Holding On to My Man
Chapter 73

The current circumstances were too strange, so everyone didn't dare to hastily rush forward a second time. The situation was unclear. Xiao Li could only instruct everyone to find a place to set camp while he considered the situation.

The Northwest desert border was originally sparsely populated. According to the current situation, it could be imagined that the humans staying nearest to the desert were the first to suffer. Therefore, at this moment, there were almost no living beings in the oasis near the desert, and the only things around were some wandering zombies.

They found a highland that they could reside at, one which was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Only after ensuring that the area was safe, did they finally set up camp.

It was only the beginning of the apocalypse. Whether it was Shen Muze's space or even the materials stored in the small storage bags that Gu Bai helped make previously, it was more than enough for over 30 large men to live comfortably for decades.

Although the world was beginning to become chaotic and the situation was grim, they should still have a good meal. Everyone set up the pots and pans, bustling with noise and excitement as they began to prepare the meal and fill up their stomachs.

Gu Bai was a zombie, so he naturally couldn't eat human food. Xiao Li alone sliced a whole raw steak for him, which alleviated his demand for flesh and blood. After all, he was a zombie now. If he didn't eat all the time, his body would soon start to decay,

He enjoyed it very much. The voice in his head would restrain him from eating people, but when Xiao Li fed him raw steak, it didn't restrain him from eating it. Finally, he didn't have to suffer from hunger.

After he finished eating his fill, he laid comfortably on Xiao Li's legs, and while patting his bulging belly, he beckoned his man to rub his stomach. Naturally, Gu Bai didn't know that this type of habit was accompanied over from the previous world when he was a dog Yao, as he just felt that it was very comfortable and reassuring.

"Ao-ao, wu…"

When he felt relaxed, he narrowed his eyes and called out. He also held onto Xiao Li's arm and stuck out his tongue to lick the other's palm.

The soft and wet touch made Xiao Li give a pampering smile. The subordinates around him kept their calm expressions, but in their hearts they were secretly surprised. How is this a zombie? It’s obviously a dog!

"Hahaha, cousin, look, isn't he like the dog we used to raise? This 'rolling over to ask for belly rubs' action is so cute…"

A 17 or 18-year-old boy sitting opposite of them suddenly stared at Gu Bai and laughed, expressing everyone's hidden thoughts.

It was fine if everyone thought that in their hearts, but it wasn't good to say that their elder sister-in-law looked like a dog in front of their Boss. Everyone stared at the boy, shaking their heads without surprise. They knew the temperament of this young man very well.

A polite-looking young man with glasses who sat next to him helplessly covered his mouth quickly after he finished speaking and apologised profusely to Xiao Li.

"Boss, Qiqi is young and can't speak properly. Don't worry, I'll manage him better in the future…"

"That's enough Liu Ge. How many times have you said that you would manage his behavior better? This is all because you spoil him!"

Ah Hu interjected angrily.

"Yes, ah, my cousin dotes on me. So what? Do you hate me because you're jealous? If you dare provoke me again, I'll tell my cousin not to give you any anesthetics when he treats you in the future!"

The teenager named Qiqi had a very naughty attitude. He hid behind his cousin and grinned, relying on his cousin to defend him, and he stuck out his tongue towards Ah Hu while laughing happily.

"Qiqi…"

Liu Qing, who was usually in a bad mood, had no choice but to pat him on the head at the moment.

Ah Hu couldn't do anything to him except glare at him angrily and ignored him. His companions looked at this scene, covered their mouths, and let out a chuckle. It was a good mood adjustment in this serious atmosphere.

Xiao Li didn't care. He had been indifferent since he was born. Back then, he didn't understand Liu Qing's indulgence towards his cousin before, but now after meeting Gu Bai, he could understand.

"Roar!"

Gu Bai, who was comfortable and enjoying himself, didn't quite understand what they were talking about, but when he saw everyone looking at him from time to time, he knew instinctively that it was related to him.

He couldn't help but turn his head to roar at everyone, pulling back his lips to show his teeth.

He had long realized that every time he was close to his human man, these people would stare at him and laugh at him, humph! What were they laughing for?! Human beings were really too hateful, even making fun of a zombie!

"They aren't laughing at you; they're envying you, ne…"

Xiao Li understood his meaning almost in an instant and kissed him on the forehead to console him.

"Ao ao…"

A restless Bai was pacified by this gentle kiss. He howled twice and laughed, then took the initiative to embrace Xiao Li's head, getting closer to his face, and leaning in to deliver a messy kiss.

When people around them noticed this scene, they couldn't bear to turn their heads around and watch this zombie showing his love to this human; It was really a challenge. What if this zombie became too excited and bit their Boss? Then it would all be over…

The people around the fire were in a very good mood and laughed.

But Shen Muze and his family all had serious moods as they sat to the side all tied up.

Shen Muze, in particular, thought of his previous life when he first saw the naughty behavior of the boy called Qiqi. He was the same back then, supported by the love of his father and Wu Ge. He was willful and mischievous.

He was even more difficult than that boy. At that time, people might have not hated him just because of Su Yu, but because of his willfulness and his "little Master" temper. So everyone liked the smart and sensible Su Yu.

"Xiao Ze, do you know why things are like this today? It's because you're too stupid…"

In a trance, he remembered what Su Yu had said to him when he left the base before his death.

At that time, he didn't understand it very well. He just felt very furious. Yet when he recalled it, he suddenly found that Su Yu was right. He was too stupid.

Su Yu didn't need to fight at all. Su Yu originally should have been loved by his father. At that time, his father clearly still loved him, and it was just that he was too stupid and caused himself to lose everything he had.

While Shen Muze thought foolishly, his heart had a kind of unspeakable regret. He realised that he might have done a very unreasonable thing.

After a night's rest in the camp, Xiao Li brought the others to search and study the black desert early in the morning.

According to Shen Muze, this desert was the root of the apocalypse. All the zombies had changed because of the corrosion caused by the "demonic qi". The only way to save those who had become a zombie was to get rid of the thing that emitted the demonic qi.

It was just that the thing that could cause such a terrible situation couldn't be dealt with by ordinary people. In fact, everyone was very scared. The only consolation was that Gu Bai, the rebellious zombie, would help them be aware of the approaching and murderous zombies.

After searching and investigating for a week, they finally found a suspicious area. In a faraway spot in the desert, they found a large light barrier that was flashing with red lights.

The strange light barrier resembled a kind of semicircular glass bowl which was fastened to the ground. Due to the red flashing lights, people standing outside couldn't see inside it clearly, but everyone could instinctively feel the danger.

"Look, Boss, there's black liquid coming out of the light barrier!"

Someone yelled out. Everyone hurriedly took out their binoculars to look at it. As expected, there was black liquid flowing out of the boundary where the mysterious light barrier and the land met.

The liquid was thicker than what they had seen on the edge of the desert from before, and it seemed to be highly corrosive, burning the sand with bubbles as white smoke flew into the sky.

Along with the oozing of the black liquid, they could hear an abnormally terrifying, yet mournful sound. They didn't know what kind of animal was making this kind of noise, but it made their ears ache.

It seems that this is the root of the apocalypse!

It was frightening to everyone. It was so weird, that at first sight, it didn't seem ordinary. It was like the monsters seen on TV. No matter how powerful they were, they were just a group of ordinary people. How could they deal with mysterious monsters?

"Ao ao!"

While everyone was horrified, Gu Bai suddenly became restless. Since he arrived in the Northwest desert, the demonic qi inside his body seemed to begin moving erratically. When he had arrived here, he felt like he was being summoned by something.

After becoming a zombie, his actions were easily controlled by the demonic qi inside his body, so under the strong influence of being summoned, he couldn't control himself and jumped from the high perch towards the blank, covered sand.

"He jumped down…"

The crowd didn't respond at all. After a while, they cried out in alarm. At a glance, the bubbling black sand was more corrosive than the saliva of the zombies. No matter how fierce Gu Bai was as a zombie, his body was still that of a human, so his body might be completely corroded if he jumped in.

Xiao Li's heart became tense, then he relaxed again, because Gu Bai jumped into the swamp and wasn't affected. Nothing happened at all, as if he was just standing in a normal swamp.

He watched how Gu Bai, who had jumped down, excitedly ran towards the light barrier. Xiao Li looked at the light barrier and also took action.

"You guys stay here. No matter what happens, don't come down…"

After saying this, he also jumped down.

"Boss!"

Everyone cried out in alarm once again, but after seeing that nothing happened to Xiao Li after jumping down, they were relieved.

Seeing how one human and one zombie were able to jump down without a problem, everyone guessed that this black liquid only looked scary. In fact, there was no danger at all. They couldn't help but want to walk down from where they were and follow Xiao Li.

However, when one person tentatively touched the liquid with a branch, the branch quickly rotted and started to melt in an instant. All the people watching this covered their chests in fright and retreated in alarm.

Obviously, Gu Bai and Xiao Li were the only ones who wouldn't be hurt. With no other choice, everyone had to listen to Xiao Li's instructions to stay where they were for the time being.

On Gu Bai's side, after he jumped onto the black sand, he quickly ran towards the red light barrier.

At the moment, his mind was very confused. He only felt that something was summoning him. The demonic qi inside his body forcibly controlled his actions, making him unable to hear the calls from Xiao Li who was behind him, and nor was he capable of controlling himself.

In that moment after he entered the light barrier, Gu Bai's demonic qi seemed to be absorbed by something, and the purple and blue tendons, which belonged to the appearance of a zombie, disappeared from his body.

"Master, is that you?"

Following this excited voice, Gu Bai suddenly opened his eyes, and his human intelligence was restored.

Happy Belated Valentines Day for all the couples and single dogs out there~ Hope you guys feasted on lots of lollies and chocolate and had the time of your life staying in bed like I did!