C9 He Was Afraid of the Dark, so He Followed Sun Meng and Went to the Seventh Floor to Turn on the L

Tang Bing wasn't particularly hungry, so he only nibbled at his food.

The feast laid out on the table was practically devoured by Sun Meng alone!

It was surprising, given her slender frame, that she could pack away so much food. She was a bottomless pit!

And yet, her stomach hardly seemed to bulge at all, which made Tang Bing wonder if she had some kind of extra-dimensional stomach to hold it all.

While eating, Tang Bing made use of his phone to scour the news and messages from other survivors, eager to piece together the state of the world in the aftermath.

The internet painted a grim picture; survivors were few and far between. In Z Country alone, with its population in the billions, who could say if even a hundred million remained?

Not a single message among the survivors hinted at anyone else claiming to have gained superpowers or a mysterious system.

Were those with newfound powers keeping them secret, or was he the sole recipient of such a system?

Tang Bing couldn't be sure, but he wouldn't dismiss either possibility!

He resolved that once he found Qin Mengyao, he'd investigate the meteorite crash site more thoroughly. Knowing whether he was unique in his abilities or one among many was crucial for his survival strategy.

Beyond the cries for help, survivors were sharing valuable intel.

While most zombies were the garden-variety, mindlessly chasing anything that moved, there were sightings of mutant zombies.

Descriptions mentioned a bloated, obese zombie, its belly packed with flammable substances, capable of spewing out searing flames that could melt metal. If punctured, the zombie's stomach contents would react with the air, leading to an explosion as powerful as a high-grade bomb!

Another variant was the limb-mutated zombie, scuttling on all fours with beastly speed, able to outrun a motorcycle and scale buildings with ease. Many survivors who thought they were safe in high-rise buildings met their end at the hands of these agile predators.

Aside from these mutants, animals too had succumbed to zombification.

Zombified animals were a terror, with their swift, lightning-like movements and ferocious bite. They retained their innate abilities, like zombie dogs with their keen sense of smell, or zombie eagles with their sharp vision, spotting those hidden atop skyscrapers. Even zombie bears, shrugging off full-speed car impacts, and the swarming zombie rats, adept at burrowing, posed grave threats.

The true peril of this new world wasn't the roaming undead, but the mutated and animal zombies!

The thought sent shivers down Tang Bing's spine. Even with his mysterious system, could he really survive encounters with these monstrous creatures?

But then he reconsidered. With his skills, he could max out his Agility and Strength, potentially outpacing and overpowering them. And with the ability to harvest materials and equipment from his foes, he could craft armor and weapons to fortify himself against the apocalypse.

As long as he wasn't killed outright, his instant healing potions and infection-fighting antibiotics were his lifeline.

Buoyed by these thoughts, his spirits lifted.

With a full belly and a good grasp of the situation from the internet, Tang Bing stood up and stretched.

"Where are you headed?" Sun Meng asked, her voice laced with anxiety as she rose to her feet.

"I'm going to do a thorough search upstairs for any useful supplies," Tang Bing replied. "It's best to take what we can before we leave this place."

"Oh, right!" Sun Meng nodded, her expression brightening. "Just wait for me, I'll quickly wash up these dishes first!"

Tang Bing's lips quirked in amusement. The world was ending, and she was worried about cleanliness? They could just toss the used dishes; the kitchen was stocked with more than they needed. "You can stay and wash up if you want, but I'll go ahead and start the search on my own."

"No!" Sun Meng dropped her dishwashing and rushed to his side, her eyes wide with fear. "Please, take me with you. I don't want to be left here alone."

"Didn't you just stay here to cook?" Tang Bing asked with a furrowed brow, eyeing her closely.

"It's not the same!" Sun Meng gestured toward the window, her voice tinged with urgency. "It's nearly nightfall, and the outside is swarming with monsters! It's one thing during the day, but at night, I'm truly terrified when I'm alone."

"The search could be perilous, and I might not be able to keep you safe," Tang Bing admitted, his reluctance clear. He had no desire to have anyone accompany him on the search, especially not a vulnerable woman. If it were up to him, he'd prefer Sun Meng to stay put in the kitchen where the locked door could at least prevent her from becoming zombie fodder.

"Hold on a second!" Sun Meng didn't miss a beat, darting into the kitchen. Moments later, she emerged brandishing a kitchen knife in her right hand and clutching a lightweight stainless steel pot in her left. "These are my shield and weapon. I can defend myself! Plus, I can watch your back to prevent any surprise attacks!"

Tang Bing stared at her blankly, his inner monologue a mix of disbelief and silence. He seriously doubted Sun Meng's utility in a fight. Did she genuinely believe that a kitchen knife would suffice against zombies? Even he wasn't that confident. A kitchen knife was no fire axe; cleaving through a zombie's skull was no easy feat.

Yet, confronted with her resolute gaze and clear unwillingness to be left behind, Tang Bing found himself conceding after an internal struggle. "Fine, but remember to stay behind me and keep a distance of at least three meters! That way, if zombies ambush me, you'll have a chance to get away."

His words carried an unspoken caveat: Stay three meters back so I can relax a little. I don't want your kitchen knife greeting my head by mistake. After all, we're strangers; who knows what the other is thinking?

Sun Meng's face lit up with a grateful smile upon securing Tang Bing's agreement. She hurried to his side, then paused as if recalling something important, and dashed back to the dining table to grab her charging phone and charger.

"Three meters, remember!" Tang Bing reiterated before they set off. "If anything seems off, run for it!"

"Okay!" Sun Meng nodded earnestly, unaware of Tang Bing's guarded thoughts. She interpreted his constant reminders as a sign of his protective nature, which she found impressively manly. It sparked a flicker of admiration in her, and she silently vowed to assist him if danger arose. They were in this together, after all—two grasshoppers on the same string. If he perished, her chances of surviving the zombie apocalypse would be slim.

The pair ascended the staircase to the seventh floor with caution, Tang Bing leading the way with a fire axe in hand, surveying their surroundings with a vigilant eye. He occasionally glanced back at Sun Meng, ensuring they maintained a safe distance.

Sun Meng mistook his vigilance for concern, feeling a surge of warmth. In her eyes, the unity displayed in life-or-death situations was a testament to human solidarity. Having a reliable teammate, a strong man who could protect her, gave her a profound sense of security.

If Tang Bing could read her thoughts, he'd be at a loss for words. In a lawless, apocalyptic world, her innocence was astonishing. She was far too naive. And perhaps, his guard wouldn't be up as much as it was now.

Conversely, if Sun Meng knew what Tang Bing was really thinking, she'd be livid. She saw him as a trustworthy protector, a true ally, and yet he was constantly wary of her? That was beyond the pale.

Luckily, neither possessed the ability to read minds, so they remained oblivious to each other's internal musings and proceeded with their individual plans.

As darkness enveloped them with the setting sun, Tang Bing struggled to discern any movement in the shadowy corners, his anxiety peaking at the thought of an unseen zombie leaping out at them.

"Hey!" Sun Meng broke the tense silence. "The switch for the seventh floor is in the second room on the left—that's the power supply room. Just turn on the lights, and we'll see everything clearly. The layout's the same on every floor, so it's always the second room on the left."

Grateful for the tip, Tang Bing nodded his thanks. "Appreciate it."

"No problem," she beamed, relieved to be of assistance. "If you're in trouble, it spells danger for me too, right?"

"Right," he muttered, wondering if she genuinely believed that. But it was irrelevant now. The priority was to illuminate their path. "Keep watch from behind; I'm going to turn on the lights."

"Got it! Be extra careful entering the room—watch out for zombie ambushes," Sun Meng whispered.

"I know," Tang Bing assured her, approaching the power supply room door with caution.

It was unlocked. He gently pushed it open...