Chapter 692 - 563: Learning to Let Go

A zombie corpse was lying on Zhang Su’s back, lacking a jaw, its body thin and frail, and even compared to an adult woman, it was visibly smaller. Yet, this zombie wielded an ability that was unfathomably difficult to comprehend!

Maple Folklore was right next to Cui Leng Pavilion, less than thirty meters apart by foot. Zhang Su didn’t even go through the front door, seeing no one around, he found a spot to tiptoe, leapt directly onto the surrounding wall, and then vanished over the wall.

As soon as he landed in the yard, Zhang Su saw Duan Wuhu standing at the staircase entrance smoking sullenly. Their gazes met, and both paused in surprise, having startled each other.

"Emma, Brother Zhang, you’re... this... this... come, put it here first."

Duan Wuhu was startled by Zhang Su’s sudden descent, and then by the corpse of the zombie on his back, nearly going ballistic. He tossed away his cigarette and helped place the corpse on the stairs.

Looking at the thin but terrifying zombie, Duan Wuhu’s expression crumpled, he whispered, "This must be a Mutated Zombie, right?"

It seemed like a redundant question, Zhang Su obviously wouldn’t carry an ordinary zombie to the lab, but not asking felt like missing something.

Zhang Su nodded, thoughtfully gazing at Duan Wuhu, saying, "Old Duan, you’re not here like you’re on watch, more like you’re blocking me. What’s going on?"

"Heh, heh, such little thoughts can’t escape you, really boring. I heard you fought nine at once before, such swagger, but it’s a shame I couldn’t descend the mountain and missed the exciting confrontation..."

Duan Wuhu laughed and scratched the back of his head. It indeed made him regretful. Due to numerous matters inside the lab, he only glanced at the surveillance footage momentarily, which was blurry and grainy, better left unwatched.

Zhang Su’s expression was odd, he listened carefully, Fu Weijun seemed to be researching data with Xie Yanshan, and there were two more voices, one of which clearly belonged to Liu Tianji. It seemed the situation was better than he had initially thought, there was no need to hurry, he took out a cigarette and lit it, casually offering it forward.

"Old Duan, you clearly have something on your mind, speak, what’s the matter?"

"I just smoked one, won’t smoke again..." Duan Wuhu pushed away Zhang Su’s offered cigarette, smirking awkwardly, "Actually, it’s nothing else, just wanted to ask about Yu Nuo, um, how she’s doing. I looked around earlier, didn’t see her. Didn’t she come?"

"Sss-hoo..."

Zhang Su took a deep drag, slowly exhaled, through the white mist he looked at Duan Wuhu, speaking solemnly, "Old Duan, some women we cannot become attached to, can you understand?"

"Huh? This... why say it like that, did something happen to Yu Nuo?"

Duan Wuhu asked apprehensively, then sighed, speaking to himself, "It’s not unexpected if something happened, that bastard Liao Youzhi is unpredictable. I hope she didn’t suffer when she passed."

"You are quite adept at self-consolation..." Zhang Su was amused by Duan Wuhu’s demeanor. Then his expression turned serious, "Yu Nuo’s death is not much related to Liao Youzhi, mainly it was because of us."

Saying these words, Zhang Su’s mood was calm, wanting to see Duan Wuhu’s reaction.

"Huh?" Duan Wuhu was dumbfounded for a moment, furrowing his brow, "Brother Zhang, was there a conflict?"

He felt Zhang Su wasn’t the type to hold grudges, moreover, given the minor verbal spat between Yu Nuo and Zhang Su initially, there weren’t any real interests at stake, it shouldn’t have led to a matter of life and death.

"Not really a conflict, just a storm. You’d find it absurd if I told you... We returned to the city, and the first stop was Lego Mall to enlist the Survivor Alliance’s members, but lo and behold, Yu Nuo publicly incited the Survivor Alliance to resist us!"

"Ha eh?"

Before Zhang Su finished, Duan Wuhu let out a strange laugh, finding the news too outrageous.

"The combat personnel in the Survivor Alliance either died or defected, few remained capable of fighting. What did she have to resist with?"

"Don’t dismiss it, many know about this, I genuinely don’t understand her thinking. Old Duan, could you explain?"

"I can’t explain it..." Duan Wuhu shook his head in confusion, taking a deep breath, "Brother Zhang, this is purely Yu Nuo’s own fault, it’s not your fault, not anyone else’s. Actually...

Her mind was already twisted, dying was quite a good ending. If she had stayed with us on Celestial Horse Island, you’d have found it tough. It’s good; this conclusion is favorable for everyone, had she...

Mutter, mutter.

Exactly as Zhang Su described, Duan Wuhu was indeed capable of self-consolation, rambling on, while Zhang Su stood opposite, earnestly perceiving his internal emotions, without feeling anger, resentment, or much sadness, though with some regret, it was evident he was gradually coming to terms.

Who exactly ended Yu Nuo, Duan Wuhu didn’t ask, and Zhang Su didn’t say. Some matters were better left unclear.

"Hoo."

After about three to four minutes, Duan Wuhu exhaled deeply, as if blowing away some inner obsessions, his eyes turned a bit clearer.

In the apocalypse, one of the most necessary psychological techniques to learn is letting go.

"Are you staying in the lab recently, facing strange doctors every day, getting a bit gloomy? How about I arrange some work outside for you, go out more, you saw, many women have come, surely there’s one suitable for you. In this environment, we shouldn’t be too picky."

Zhang Su patted Duan Wuhu’s shoulder, revealing an expression understood among men.

"What picky, Brother Zhang, you jest... I’m quite accustomed here, no need for anything special. So, let’s head upstairs soon, Weijun will start fussing soon."

After saying so, Duan Wuhu turned and picked up the zombie corpse on the ground. "Whoa, this guy is light, at most... sixties pounds? What’s special about it?"

Seeing Duan Wuhu seemingly in good spirits, Zhang Su didn’t dwell on it, and while heading upstairs he said, "It possesses an intriguing ability. While alive, it had a defensive shield in the form of a black mist surrounding it, impervious to bullets, and then..."

"Mr. Zhang, you’ve finally arrived!"

As they reached the second floor, Fu Weijun rushed in his wheelchair to greet them.

While Duan Wuhu was rambling, he heard Zhang Su arrive, hence he came to the door to await.

His mouth was addressing Zhang Su, yet his eyes fixed squarely on the corpse held horizontally in Duan Wuhu’s arms.

"Dr. Fu, that’s rude of you, addressing without looking at people."

Zhang Su saw Fu Weijun preoccupied and lightly teased him.

"Sorry..." Fu Weijun, realizing his inappropriate behavior, coughed, somewhat "struggling," turned his face towards Zhang Su, "Mr. Zhang, this zombie... come, quickly, it’s cold outside, let’s speak indoors."

How impolite to block someone at the stairs, Duan Wuhu hurriedly maneuvered the wheelchair backwards, gesturing for them to proceed this way.

Plop.

Entering the lab, Duan Wuhu placed the zombie corpse on the bed, then sat aside, with curiosity on his face, waiting for Zhang Su to reveal the answer.

"Ah, this incision, exquisite..."

Xie Yanshan studied the zombie corpse under a lamp, seeing the neat cut at the jaw, he couldn’t help but praise, turning his head towards Zhang Su, "Mr. Zhang, if not mistaken, only you could deliver such a cut, correct?"

Clearly experienced, more than Fu Weijun, in understanding etiquette, compliments were given without fail.

"That’s right, its jaw was indeed chopped off by me. Strangely enough, once the jaw was gone, its ability disappeared too. Without its ability, it was a weakling, easily dispatched. As I hadn’t finished mentioning the zombie’s situation earlier, with everyone present, I’ll continue..."

Following this, Zhang Su shared everything he knew about the liquid gas zombie without any holds barred or concealing details, hoping the lab could uncover more possibilities, he certainly wouldn’t keep things private.

Upon hearing the liquid gas zombie’s ability, Fu Weijun and the others wore varied expressions.

Duan Wuhu nodded with a look of undefined impressiveness, Xie Yanshan rested his hand against his chin chewing over thoughts, while Fu Weijun circled the corpse full of anticipation, appearing eager to dissect it immediately.