Volume One, Chapter 19: Campus Belle? Even the Campus Belle Has to Haul Corpses for Me!

“Who are you? How did you get here? What are you doing here?” Chen Feng’s gun remained unwavering, his voice as cold as the Siberian wind, his sharp gaze flickering between her face and the bloodied climbing axe in her hand.

A woman so beautiful, appearing at this hour, in this place, in such a manner—and wielding a blood-stained weapon? It was far too suspicious.

“I... I...” Mu Qing, with the gun barrel pointed at her and Chen Feng’s oppressive stare fixed on her, felt her heart pounding violently as if it might burst. Overwhelming fear blanked her mind.

Her lips trembled, yet she could not utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Though she had summoned the courage to escape, facing the cold steel of a soldier’s gun and the murderous aura of a battle-hardened warrior was unbearable for someone raised in peaceful times.

At that moment, a voice filled with disbelief rose from the group of survivors:

“Eh?! You... you’re Mu Qing? The campus belle Mu Qing?!” University student Liu Ying pushed forward, eyes wide as she stared at Mu Qing.

Mu Qing was stunned. Turning toward the voice, she recognized a somewhat familiar face. “You... you know me?”

“Of course I do!” Liu Ying said excitedly. “I’m also from Jing University! The Department of Economics and Management! I even gave you flowers at the welcome party! You’re the goddess of all the boys on campus! How could you be here? And... in this state?”

Her gaze flickered between Mu Qing’s disheveled appearance and the blood-stained climbing axe, full of confusion.

Chen Feng’s brows twitched slightly.

The campus belle of Jing University?

That might explain her looks, but not her strange arrival or the weapon in her hand.

Yet he instantly understood her purpose—seeking refuge.

It was unsurprising; with such a commotion in the villa district today, nearby survivors would certainly be drawn here.

Still, Chen Feng’s vigilance did not waver.

He cast a glance at the climbing axe in Mu Qing’s hand, noting the unmistakably fresh, dark red blood that even dripped in places. His eyes deepened.

That blood was definitely not from the zombies scattered nearby.

What had happened to her on the way here?

But for now, there was a more urgent matter.

Chen Feng withdrew his gaze from Mu Qing and turned to all the survivors, his voice like an icy iron block striking the ground: “What are you staring at?! Half the time’s already passed! Anyone who wants to sleep outside feeding zombies tonight, keep watching!”

His cold eyes swept over Li Hua, the crew-cut man, and others.

“Move faster!”

“If this place isn’t cleaned up within half an hour, every one of you—including the new ‘campus belle’ here—will spend the night outside!”

---

His threatening words drenched Li Hua and the others like cold water, instantly extinguishing their thoughts of admiring the beauty and Mu Qing’s stunned relief at surviving.

The shadow of death loomed once again.

Li Hua groaned and, scrambling and crawling, threw himself back at the jammed zombie corpse, dragging with even more effort than before.

The others snapped out of it as well, hastily continuing their grim task.

Mu Qing looked around at the bloody scene and the numb, busy crowd, then at Chen Feng’s cold and ruthless back and the wary gazes of the Snow Leopard team members. A chill rose deep within her.

This “sanctuary” atmosphere was quite different from what she had imagined.

She instinctively clenched the bloodied climbing axe tighter, as if it were her only support.

“What are you standing there for? Get moving and help move the bodies!” the crew-cut man’s indifferent voice came from behind her.

“Me too?” Mu Qing instinctively pointed at herself, her voice trembling with disbelief and resistance.

For a campus belle used to the spotlight and applause to be tasked with handling these rotten, broken corpses?

It was worse than killing her.

The crew-cut man’s footsteps did not pause. Only a colder voice floated over: “What else? Want to live? Do as you’re told. Remember, this place doesn’t tolerate dead weight.”

“Dead weight...” The words stabbed Mu Qing’s heart like needles.

She watched the crew-cut man disappear behind the pile of corpses, then glanced at Chen Feng and the Snow Leopard team’s cold, scrutinizing stares.

Her survival instinct ultimately drowned out all reserve and discomfort.

She bit her lip, her eyes’ struggle turning into resolve.

To live!

She imitated those around her, suppressing a wave of nausea, holding her breath, trembling as she reached out and grabbed the relatively “intact” zombie’s lower leg.

“Ugh—!”

The apple and milk she had just eaten surged up instantly. She dashed aside and vomited violently, bile and tears mixing across her face.

The texture and smell nearly broke her.

Yet, unexpectedly, her adaptability was strong.

After vomiting, though her face remained pale and her body trembled, she returned.

This time, without hesitation, her eyes numb but resolute, she copied the crew-cut man’s method—dragging with an iron hook or lifting lighter remains in pairs.

Though clumsy and inefficient, even gagging several times, she persisted, moving several bodies without collapsing into tears like the pampered students at first.

Her tenacity and execution surprised the crew-cut man, who observed silently, his eyes briefly flickering with hidden astonishment.

---

At last, within the suffocating half hour, the corpses were piled again.

Blazing flames roared once more, consuming filth and temporarily dispelling some darkness and fear.

Amid thick smoke, the survivors seemed baptized by purgatory, each exuding an indescribable stench and exhaustion.

“Back to the garage!” The guard’s command was like a heavenly voice.

The group, as if granted pardon, dragged heavy steps like walking corpses back to the dim, stifling but temporarily safe underground garage.

The alloy door closed, sealing out the horrors beyond.

Just as everyone collapsed, unwilling even to move a finger, the garage door slid open again.

The same Snow Leopard team member entered, carrying two larger boxes and a case of bottled water.

“Here, eat up,” he said, casually placing the items on the ground, his voice still flat, “You need strength to keep working.”

No sooner had he spoken than the once lifeless survivors erupted with astonishing vigor!

Li Hua, Cai Xukun, and the students lunged forward like starving wolves!

They tore open the packaging, grabbed bread and sausages, stuffing their mouths, twisting caps off and guzzling water fiercely.

Mu Qing was utterly bewildered.

What was going on?

Just moments ago they were forced to do disgusting, terrifying work; now so much food was delivered? Enough to fill them?

“Campus belle Mu Qing! What are you standing there for?” Liu Ying, mouth full of bread, shouted unclearly, holding two sausages, “Come grab some food quick! Watch out or they’ll snatch it all! These starving ghosts reincarnated!”

Seeing Liu Ying devour ravenously and feeling the thunderous protests from her own stomach, Mu Qing’s last shred of pride shattered completely.

What campus belle image? What graceful demeanor? They were worthless against hunger and survival.

She no longer cared, hurried forward, pushing past a slower student, snatched a piece of bread, and bit down hard.

Then she twisted open a bottle and gulped several mouthfuls.

The warmth and fullness from the food quickly dispelled the cold and exhaustion in her body.

After a storm of ravenous eating, only satisfied sighs and intermittent burps filled the garage.

The survivors lay or sat, savoring this brief moment of peace and satiety.

Until the Snow Leopard team member left once more, the heavy garage door closed, and only the survivors’ heavy breathing echoed in the dim space.