32: Zombies descend, the apocalypse begins.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Zombies Arrive, the Apocalypse Begins.

A sharp buzzing sound suddenly exploded in his mind!

Lin Zhou snapped his eyes open. The crimson numbers on the System Light Screen flickered wildly, finally freezing at 00:00:00, before bursting into tiny points of light. A line of cold, emotionless black text slowly emerged:

Zombies arrive, the apocalypse begins.

Almost at the same time, a deafening explosion came from the direction of the County Seat! "Boom—"

The dull echo vibrated through the valley, and Lin Zhou trembled all over, fully awake. He rolled out of bed, rushed to the window, pulled back a corner of the curtain, and looked out with binoculars. Thick smoke was rising from many places in the distant County Seat, and survivors could be seen running in the distance. The loud noise just now was likely an explosion caused by a car losing control.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Opening it, he saw a warning message from the official government website. Suspected thugs were attacking passersby at random on all streets. The city was under martial law. All residents were to stay at home and not go out. Those outside should find a safe room to hide in as soon as possible, close doors and windows, and wait for further notice. At that moment, a piercing air-raid siren wailed outside.

His gaze swept to the house next door. The picket gate of Grandma Li's house had collapsed on one side at some point. A hunched dark shadow was moving stiffly in the yard, its movements twisted and eerie. Its arms hung limply at its sides, and every step was accompanied by the "creak" of bones rubbing together. Occasionally, it would let out a low, inhuman roar toward the sky.

That figure and back were clearly Grandma Li, who was usually kind-hearted and had difficulty walking!

Lin Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and a chill crawled up his spine. He gripped the curtain tightly, suppressing the cry in his throat—Grandma Li must have been infected and mutated as soon as the apocalypse arrived. She had been trapped in the yard before and had only just broken free.

He didn't dare delay. He immediately pulled out the phone from under his pillow, opened the family group chat, and quickly typed a line: Grandma Li next door has mutated. Is everyone awake? Keep quiet, reply with text!

Just as the message was sent, replies in the group immediately popped up.

Father: I see it. I've been awake for a while. Everything is in chaos outside. The government issued a martial law notice.

Mother: Son, I see it too.

Lin Xi: Brother, I'm scared. It's so ugly!

Lin Zhou's fingers flew as he quickly replied: Everyone stay inside and lock the doors. Don't come out. I'll take the Compound Bow to deal with it. It makes less noise and is safer.

Father: No, it's too dangerous. I'll take a Steel Pipe and go with you.

Lin Zhou: Dad, listen to me. You guard the house. Mom and Lin Xi still need someone to watch over them. I'm enough on my own.

He put away his phone, took a deep breath, and quickly grabbed the Compound Bow and quiver from the corner. He tucked a Military Bayonet into his waist, his movements crisp and neat. When he reached the door, he checked through the crack to ensure the living room doors and windows were locked tight. Only then did he gently turn the lock of his room door, lowering his body against the wall, and silently crept toward the side door.

The sunlight was so bright it was blinding. Lin Zhou's footsteps were extremely light. His shoes with silenced rubber soles stepped on the dirt and fallen leaves without making a sound. Just as he rounded the gap in the fence of the neighboring yard, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure following him from the shadows of the backyard corner—it was his father, clutching a Steel Pipe, his footsteps even lighter than his own. Clearly, he couldn't rest easy and was quietly following to protect him.

Lin Zhou didn't look back or make a sound. He just tightened his grip on the Compound Bow, his gaze fixed on the hunched zombie figure in the shadows.