Chapter 26: Large Skewers of BBQ

As Fang Heng turned his head, four or five spider zombies scurried out rapidly from behind the corner at the end of the hallway.

*Clack, clack, clack!*

The spider zombies clung to the walls, racing along the side surfaces toward the direction Fang Heng was fleeing.

Fang Heng immediately abandoned his two zombie clones and ran back the way he came without looking back.

He didn't stop until he escaped the basement, slamming the heavy door shut with a loud *thud*.

[Prompt: Your zombie clone has been attacked.]

[Prompt: Your zombie clone has been attacked.]

...

[Prompt: Your zombie clone has been attacked.]

[Prompt: Your zombie clone has died.]

Now, Fang Heng finally understood.

He finally knew why that rookie prison guard in the diary had been so terrified, even abandoning his teammates inside.

Previously, he had been mocking the "useless teammate," but now Fang Heng actually felt a great deal of admiration for the kid's quick wits.

It turned out the basement was crawling with mutated zombies!

After locking the three outer layers of iron doors, Fang Heng leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.

What was the point of accumulating so many survival resources?

If he accidentally got scratched by a spider zombie and infected by the virus, he would be dead just the same!

It wasn't worth the risk.

*Luckily, I ran fast,* Fang Heng thought, feeling secretly relieved.

"This mission difficulty is truly a scam..."

Hmm?

As he was muttering to himself and celebrating his luck, Fang Heng suddenly turned his head back toward the locked basement door.

There seemed to be a lot of mutated zombies in there?

If he could kill them...

Wouldn't that mean a lot of complete evolution crystals to collect?

And he could level up quickly again?

Fang Heng narrowed his eyes, his mind racing.

But how could he kill them?

Spider zombies had incredible agility; it would be difficult for his zombie clones to deal damage to them.

As for ranged attacks, the speed at which the zombie clones reloaded crossbow bolts was too slow.

Hmm... perhaps...

That's it. He could go check with the Doomsday Merchant to see if he had any weapons capable of dealing with spider zombies.

...

The next morning.

Liao Bufan logged in as usual.

The moment he entered the game and opened his eyes, he saw two zombies carrying logs toward his small wooden cabin.

Hey! What's the deal with these zombies?

Liao Bufan was bewildered.

He had worked so hard to carry those logs in from outside yesterday.

Why were they being carried out again today?

"Is the Big Boss playing a joke on me?"

Just as Liao Bufan was about to ask Liu Lin, the night watchman, about the situation, a game prompt rang out.

[Prompt: Your survival radio has received an urgent message.]

Fang Heng: *Come to the prison. Bring supplies. We're moving.*

Liao Bufan froze, countless question marks flashing through his mind.

Moving!?

Why move?

To the prison?

What about the zombies there?

What about his little wooden cabin?

Where was Fang Heng?

Was he at the prison too?

Liao Bufan immediately replied.

Liao Bufan:???

Fang Heng: *Right now. When you get to the prison, remember not to destroy any structures. Enter through the window of the sentry hut. I'm in Building No. 3. Hurry up!*

Liao Bufan rubbed the back of his head, wearing a look of utter confusion and bewilderment.

Inside Building No. 3?!

No way. Did this kid really clear out the entire prison by himself?

He must be joking!

That was too exaggerated; how could he possibly handle thousands of zombies!

Liao Bufan didn't believe it.

Was even the Big Boss starting to brag now?

It wasn't until half an hour later, when Liao Bufan arrived at the small slope outside the prison, that his mouth fell open in a wide "O" shape.

Impossible!

Why were they gone?

Where were the zombies?

Liao Bufan rubbed his eyes, even doubting for a second that he was seeing things.

Just a few days ago, the prison plaza was covered in a vast, swarming mass of zombies.

Where did they go?

Were they really cleared out?!

How on earth did he do it!

It was impossible!

"Can someone tell me what the hell is going on!"

Liao Bufan scratched his hair in frustration; he felt as if his entire world had been turned upside down.

He had to go ask Fang Heng!

Liao Bufan found the sentry hut Fang Heng had described and cautiously climbed inside.

Building No. 3.

That must be it.

Walking across the plaza, before he even had a chance to enter the door, Liao Bufan caught a scent.

He sniffed the air.

It smelled delicious!

Was it meat?

Suspicious, Liao Bufan slowly walked up to Building No. 3 and pushed open the wooden door.

*Creak...*

As the door opened, Liao Bufan immediately saw Fang Heng tinkering with a grill in front of a campfire.

Eating BBQ early in the morning?

Is this something a normal person does?

Liao Bufan looked at Fang Heng expectantly, about to launch into a lecture.

Fang Heng happened to notice him. He turned slightly, pointed at the meat skewers on the grill, and spoke first.

"Here, take a piece and see if it's done."

"Whoa! So polite! The Big Boss is truly mighty!"

Liao Bufan stepped forward quickly, grabbed a skewer, and took a bite.

The aroma of meat filled his mouth.

Delicious!

Liao Bufan felt like he had never eaten such delicious BBQ in his life.

It was an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

Fang Heng also grabbed a skewer and took a bite.

The taste was indeed good.

After exploring the basement last night, Fang Heng had logged off to rest for a while.

He had logged in around the same time as Liao Bufan and was currently tallying his resources.

[Prompt: Your zombies have completed the building search. Obtained Recipe: Extra-Large Meat Skewers; Skill Book: Firearms Proficiency; Obtained Handgun Bullets *39; Obtained Wood Scraps *27; Obtained Bottled Water *72; Obtained Raw Meat *21; Obtained Cloth Scraps *192...]

The gains were good.

Fang Heng had learned the Extra-Large Meat Skewer recipe immediately. Since he had searched for raw meat and had found a grill two days ago...

It was fate.

Thus, Fang Heng had casually started making BBQ.

While eating, Fang Heng continued to check last night's earnings.

Skill Book: Firearms Proficiency.

Description: Upon learning, the user masters firearms proficiency, increasing firearm damage by 10%, reducing reload time by 10%, and increasing accuracy by 10%. Max level: LV 20 (Skill level cannot exceed current player level).

In the mid-to-late game, firearms would gradually become common. At that time, this skill book would be worth at least five million.

Fang Heng estimated the value, then tapped the skill book against his forehead.

[Prompt: You have learned the skill - Firearms Proficiency.]

"Big Boss!"

Having eaten the meat skewer, Liao Bufan was in high spirits, forgetting his previous frustration and approaching with a grin.

"Big Boss, how did you deal with all those zombies outside?"

"Hmm, it's a secret."

"Ugh..."

The answer left Liao Bufan a bit disappointed.

His eyes darted around, and he continued, "Then, Big Boss, what work do you want me to do today?"

"First, repair the prison. We'll take care of the rest slowly."

Fang Heng gave Liao Bufan a rough outline of the plan.

Their goal was to establish a sanctuary based around the prison.

Therefore, while collecting large amounts of materials, they also needed to re-maintain the entire prison.

But before that, they had to ensure the safety of Building No. 3.

They would be staying in Building No. 3 for the next few days.

They needed to thoroughly search every corner and every unopened door in Building No. 3.

They had to ensure that no zombies remained in Building No. 3, except for those in the basement.

Fang Heng also briefly explained the situation he had discovered in the prison last night to Liao Bufan.

"The basement actually had terrifying things like spider zombies?"

Liao Bufan picked up another skewer, looking at Fang Heng with an even stranger expression.

Compared to that, the fact that Fang Heng could actually escape from there...

Wasn't this kid even more terrifying!

"I'm heading out. Contact Liu Lin and Uncle Jimmy later and have them cooperate with you."

Fang Heng patted Liao Bufan on the shoulder.

"Where are you going?"

"To find a way to deal with the spider zombies in the underground passage."

The meat skewer Liao Bufan was about to put in his mouth paused mid-air.

Did he hear that right?

He actually intended to go deal with those mutated zombies in the basement?

(End of Chapter)