Chapter 81: The Allure of the Unknown

Having learned about the botanical garden from Little Ming, I felt a sense of readiness.

If her words held true, then the mysterious group she spoke of undoubtedly possessed considerable influence.

To pinpoint the location of such rare treasures right at the onset of the apocalypse was a feat even I, a reborn individual, couldn’t accomplish.

Thus, as the prospect of encountering this enigmatic faction loomed, my heart held no trace of fear, only an ineffable thrill that steadily surged within me.

While my sole objective remained to grow stronger, I recognized the need for formidable adversaries to fuel my ambition and provide greater impetus for self-improvement.

Truth be told, the individuals I had encountered since my rebirth were all far too weak.

It felt akin to a university student competing against elementary schoolers—an outright cheat.

However, this situation also offered other advantages, primarily the absolute strength to protect my sister from harm in this desolate world.

Lost in these thoughts, I glanced around, wondering where my sister had gone.

She had mentioned earlier that she wanted to practice fighting a few zombies. Considering her excellent performance over the past few days, I believed her current abilities were sufficient to handle unexpected situations, so I had agreed.

Yet, a lingering unease prompted me to hastily conclude my conversation with Little Ming and set out to find her.

Even now, I hadn’t located her. Where could she have gone alone?

‘Could it be here? Was this where Sister transformed into the Faceless Butcher?’

The more I pondered, the more anxious I became, my foot tapping restlessly. My heart pounded with a frantic urgency, a desperate need to find her quickly.

‘What if this was the very period when Sister became the Faceless Butcher…’

Just as my mounting anxiety threatened to erupt, my peripheral vision caught sight of my sister’s figure, tucked away in a narrow alley.

She was intensely focused, both hands gripping her katana, locked in a standoff with a unique climbing zombie clinging to the wall.

The moment I finally saw her, the chilling fear that she might become the Faceless Butcher instantly dissipated.

Like finding my anchor, my wildly fluctuating emotions finally stabilized, returning to normal.

I had vowed before that I would never allow my sister to transform into the Faceless Butcher in front of me!

Despite the formidable power of the Faceless Butcher, her mental state at the time had been profoundly unstable.

Confronted with such immense power, I would rather my sister remain as she was now—normal, possessing a kind heart, and living a happy life—rather than becoming an emotionless executioner.

My sister was not facing an ordinary zombie, but a special one: the Licker.

Unlike regular zombies, Lickers possessed numerous tiny suckers covering their hands and feet, allowing them to cling to walls for extended periods. Furthermore, their tongues were exceptionally long and riddled with sharp barbs.

If a Licker’s tongue so much as brushed against skin, the flesh would immediately be torn away by the barbs.

However, the Licker’s true killing move lay in its ability to climb walls, hiding in shadows and waiting for someone to enter its attack range before lashing out with its long tongue to ensnare them.

The barbs on a Licker’s tongue carried a paralyzing attribute. For an ordinary person, being caught by its tongue typically meant certain death.

While ability users possessed some resistance, carelessness could still lead to being devoured by the zombie.

From the current situation, it was clear this Licker intended to ambush my sister, but she had not fallen for its trap.

So, the girl and the zombie were currently locked in a tense standoff.

As I stood watching my sister and the zombie in their stalemate, she suddenly moved.

As she swung her blade forward, the Licker’s tongue lunged from the side, aiming for her waist. It appeared to be capitalizing on the inertia of her extended sword, intending to paralyze her with its tongue.

But alas, my sister’s forward strike was a feint. As the Licker’s tongue attacked, her sword abruptly shifted, cleanly severing the Licker’s tongue in two.

The Licker, its tongue severed, was like a snake stripped of its fangs, utterly devoid of threat. Moments later, my sister cleaved its head open with another precise strike.

“Hmph, what a waste of my time. And it’s still just a Level 2 [Human] attribute crystal core.”

After dispatching the zombie, my sister retrieved the crystal core from its brain. Evidently, the core’s attribute did not satisfy her, as she pouted, her face clouded with displeasure, before tucking it into a small pouch at her waist.

“Excellent. You’re improving very quickly.”

“Hehe, Brother, aren’t I amazing!”

“Yes, you’re amazing.”

As my sister finished off the zombie, I gently clapped my hands, then offered my praise.

My sister, it seemed, had already known I was there. Upon hearing my voice, she bashfully raised a hand to touch her nose, then quickly walked towards me.

“Brother, why are you here? Are you done talking?”

“Yes, I have a general understanding of the situation now. I came to find you so we can head to the botanical garden.”

“Brother, I… I still think it’s too risky. Let’s not get involved in this and just go straight to City B!”

Once my sister reached me, I informed her of our next steps. However, upon hearing my intention to go to the botanical garden, a worried expression crossed her face. She was clearly concerned about any potential mishaps that might befall me.

“Sister, sometimes avoiding things doesn’t solve anything. Besides, this trip isn’t about saving people… it’s the rare treasures hidden in the botanical garden and that mysterious group that truly intrigue me.”

“Is it very important to you, Brother?”

“Yes, extremely important! Especially the mysterious group. I’m eager to find out who they really are.”

“Since Brother has made up his mind, then I’ll follow you!”

“Bai Xia, you truly are a good sister.”

Seeing my sister’s obedient expression, I couldn’t resist reaching out to gently pat her head.

Earlier, I had been pondering how to explain things to her. If she pressed the issue, I would have to reveal why I was interested in the mysterious group. That would mean disclosing the secret of my rebirth, and I wasn’t mentally prepared for that yet.

So, her current understanding and willingness to comply brought a significant wave of relief to my heart.

“Alright, alright! Since we’ve decided, let’s get going! To the peculiar botanical garden! Go! Go! Go!”

At this moment, my sister shed her previous caution. Upon learning they were heading to the botanical garden, a look of curiosity appeared on her face for the first time, clearly anticipating the adventure ahead.

****

This is the last chapter’s monthly pass bonus update. Author-kun has fulfilled the debt, hehehe.