A Shocking Dream

Suddenly, a low roar echoed from the woods beside the mill, followed by a group of dark shadows that quickly flashed by. Zeng Mu's heart tightened, and he shouted, "Be alert! Zombies are coming!" The soldiers quickly formed a circle, pointing their torches outward and gripping their weapons tightly.

The zombies gradually became clearer, their eyes glinting eerily in the darkness, their mouths dripping with black slime as they frantically charged towards Zeng Mu and his men. "Shoot!" Zeng Mu commanded, and a hail of arrows poured down, but the zombies, undeterred, continued their charge. A few zombies broke through the barrage and pounced on the soldiers. For a moment, shouts and screams echoed from the old mill south of the city.

At that moment, the candlelight in the room suddenly began to tremble violently, as if manipulated by an invisible hand. Qin Ruoyu was startled, and an inexplicable sense of tension enveloped him. "Do you feel... anything unusual?" he whispered to the guards around him. The guards looked tense, their hands on the hilts of their swords, and they glanced around vigilantly.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside, faintly interspersed with the growls of zombies. Qin Ruoyu's face changed. "Oh no! Could some zombies have broken through the defenses and entered the city?" He hurried to the door. As soon as he opened it, a bloody stench hit him. Not far away, several figures swayed in the darkness, their movements stiff but extremely fast. They were zombies.

"Protect this place!" Qin Ruoyu shouted, drawing his sword and dashing out to engage the zombies. His figure was lightning-fast, his blade gleaming coldly in the moonlight, and every swing sent a shower of blood. The zombies, their maws gaping, let out chilling roars, and pounced on him repeatedly.

"Your Highness, attack the spinal cord!" Lin Wunian shouted anxiously from the doorway. Her eyes were fixed on Qin Ruoyu, full of worry. Qin Ruoyu heard the shout and changed his sword moves, stabbing fiercely at the zombie's spinal cord. But the zombies were too numerous. As soon as one wave fell, another surged out of the darkness.

The doctors, terrified, hid inside, afraid to leave. They trembled, huddled together, some even covering their eyes, unable to bear the bloody and brutal scene. The room was filled with fear, as if zombies would burst through the door at any moment.

Lin Wunian was terrified. She knew she couldn't let Qin Ruoyu face this alone. Just as she was about to rush out to help, she heard a cry of alarm behind her. A zombie had somehow wandered around the back of the house and was pouncing on the doctors inside. Without hesitation, Lin Wunian turned, grabbed a wooden stick, and smashed it hard on the zombie's head, temporarily forcing it back.

Suddenly, a deep roar echoed from the inner room, followed by a figure swiftly leaping out. It was a mutated zombie, its skin festering, black veins bulging, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust. Lin Wunian reacted quickly, dodging the attack and stabbing the zombie's spinal cord with his sword. The zombie struggled frantically, but Lin Wunian steadied himself and plunged his sword into the zombie, sending it falling to the ground instantly.

The doctors were filled with shock at Lin Wunian's bravery and decisiveness as she slew the zombies. They had never imagined a woman could possess such courage. Before, they might have doubted Lin Wunian, or simply been in awe of her because she was a disciple of the Crown Prince. But now, those complex emotions melted into deep admiration.

Lin Wunian, club in hand, descended like a god of war. Her eyes, sharp as an eagle's, locked onto the zombie charging into the house, unfazed. The zombie, its rotting body twisted in a twisted, foul-smelling maw, lunged at her with astonishing speed. Just as the zombie was about to pounce, Lin Wunian dodged sideways like a ghost, sending the zombie slamming into the doorframe, sending up a cloud of dust.

Lin Wunian seized this moment of opportunity, leaping high into the air. Like a dragon emerging from the sea, he hurled his wooden club into the zombie's back with a whistling roar. With a thud, the club collided with the zombie's body, sending it careening forward under the immense force. But it remained steadfast, struggling to turn and lunge at Lin Wunian once more. Lin Wunian remained composed. Landing firmly on his feet, he slid forward, deftly avoiding the zombie's attack. At the same time, he twisted his club and thrust it at a sharp angle, piercing the zombie's spinal cord. The club penetrated with pinpoint precision, like a piece of rotten wood. The zombie instantly lost its strength and collapsed to the ground, sending up a small cloud of dust. The entire attack was seamless, and Lin Wunian's bravery and decisiveness amazed everyone present.

This scene left a deep impression on the doctors, and their opinion of Lin Wunian deepened. This trip to Linzhou was like a nightmare, but Lin Wunian's bravery was like the brightest star in the night sky. This battle with the zombies, the pervasive aura of death, and Lin Wunian's resolute back would become unforgettable memories for them, forever etched in the depths of their souls, indelible no matter how time passed.

The zombies outside the door were mostly eliminated thanks to the fierce fighting of Qin Ruoyu and his guards. The ground was littered with zombie remains, blood and gore, and a pungent stench emanated. Qin Ruoyu was panting heavily, his clothes, already soaked with sweat and blood, clinging to his body. His sword-wielding arm was trembling slightly, clearly exhausted.

He dragged his exhausted body towards the house. As soon as he stepped through the threshold, he saw zombies had infiltrated the house. However, they had all been killed by Lin Wunian. The house was in a mess, with tables and chairs overturned and medicinal herbs scattered all over the floor.

"Is everyone alright?" Qin Ruoyu forced himself to ask, his voice hoarse but full of concern. His body was swaying slightly, but he still used his sword to support himself, his eyes quickly scanning the room, checking on everyone.

"We're fine. Thank you, Your Highness." Seeing Qin Ruoyu charging bravely, the doctors hurriedly responded. They crouched in a corner, their bodies trembling with fear, their eyes filled with terror, but they dared not say anything was wrong. They knew that Qin Ruoyu and Lin Wunian were already doing their utmost to protect them, and they couldn't add to the chaos.

"Ruoyu, report this immediately to the court. Have the emperor order a comprehensive inspection of the towns surrounding Linzhou for any abnormalities," Qin Rongchen said anxiously, sword in hand. He looked battered from the battle, his clothes ripped in places by zombies, specks of dark red blood spattered across them. His hair was a little disheveled, beads of sweat still beaded his forehead, and his face was pale with exhaustion.

"I guess he's encountered zombies too," Lin Wunian thought. She walked out the door, her eyes filled with worry, as if she had already witnessed the terrifying scene of the plague spreading like wildfire to the surrounding towns.