Chapter 20: An Unexpected Encounter: The Poisonous Widow

While inside the small shop, facing a forceful demand for my weapons, I was moments away from striking them down. It was then that an unforeseen event abruptly unfolded.

From outside, several modified vans suddenly appeared, their engines roaring. Without hesitation, they plowed directly into the shop’s main entrance.

With a swift, instinctive movement, I flipped over and took cover behind the cashier counter. The others, however, were not so fortunate.

The vehicles crushed two individuals instantly, leaving the remaining two to shriek in terror.

My gaze fell upon the two still screaming figures, and an involuntary frown creased my brow.

Though zombies in the early stages of the apocalypse were relatively weak, their senses not yet heightened. These two individuals’ screams, however, were akin to blaring a loudspeaker, undoubtedly attracting a considerable number of zombies.

Given my current physical condition, being swarmed by zombies would undoubtedly lead to a swift and certain demise.

Therefore, I had to escape this place without delay.

With my decision made, I remained concealed behind the cashier counter, plotting my escape. My goal was to slip out through the shattered entrance before this group became aware of my presence.

Yet, at that very moment, the door of the lead vehicle abruptly swung open.

Then, a foot encased in a high-heeled shoe alighted elegantly upon the ground.

I observed the slender, fair foot, undeniably feminine, and then my gaze fixed on the ten-centimeter high heel. A scoff echoed inwardly at the sheer audacity of this individual.

To don high heels in the apocalypse was, unequivocally, an invitation to disaster.

The high heels, against all logic, sparked my curiosity. I found myself wanting to linger, to witness the identity of this person so audacious as to parade through the apocalypse in such impractical footwear.

Once the high-heeled foot found purchase, the person inside the vehicle slowly emerged, gracefully stepping past the open door. Their figure gradually came into full view.

A form-fitting black cheongsam exquisitely sculpted the woman’s curvaceous figure.

Her hair, elegantly coiled with a black hairpin, perfectly complemented the traditional dress, radiating an unparalleled aura that irresistibly drew one’s gaze.

Beyond her attire, the woman’s striking beauty was utterly captivating, enough to steal one’s breath.

Her large eyes fluttered delicately, and her rosy lips curved into a subtly alluring smile. She seemed a siren from the deep sea, enchanting all who beheld her.

Upon seeing the woman’s face, I was equally astonished. It wasn’t her beauty that shocked me, but the stark realization that I knew this woman!

The Poisonous Widow, Shen Qing!

In the apocalypse, this woman was a name whispered by all. Her vicious and ruthless tactics were etched into everyone’s memory.

Legend had it that Shen Qing was born into a wealthy family. However, a brutal internal struggle led to her parents’ tragic deaths at the hands of their own kin, and she was subsequently sold overseas.

Though initially destined for a life of forced servitude abroad, she instead caught the eye of a notorious mafia godfather. This patronage allowed her to escape her grim fate.

She was raised within the ranks of the gang, assimilating the godfather’s brutal tactics. By the age of twenty, she returned to her homeland, intent on vengeance.

Yet, mere days after her return, the zombie virus erupted. Shen Qing found herself stranded in China, her plans for revenge abruptly derailed.

All of this comprised Shen Qing’s past, but even with such a history, it alone wouldn’t have earned her such notoriety in the apocalypse.

Her true fame stemmed from a single, undeniable fact: she was a genuine ability user. The powers she had awakened were utterly formidable, dominating all others.

Before my rebirth, Shen Qing and I had only ever met once.

Unlike myself, Shen Qing had navigated the apocalypse entirely on her own.

The moniker ‘Poisonous Widow’ had propelled her to widespread fame. While her continued survival was a testament to her strength, her exceptional beauty regrettably brought her considerable strife.

Ultimately, the Poisonous Widow, Shen Qing, chose to end her own life rather than submit to becoming a man’s s*ave.

To see such a formidable woman standing before me now evoked an inexplicable swirl of complex emotions within my heart.

“Go collect supplies from the store!”

Shen Qing offered no further words. After a casual command to the vehicles behind her, her gaze settled, unwavering, on the cashier counter.

That playful glint in her eyes revealed a stark truth: she had already spotted me.

****