I Bit Everyone and Became the Strongest Zombie Cultivator

Chapter 135: Joint Extermination

Wu Yan's purplish hair danced with the breeze as she quickened her pace to catch up to me. It was still early morning so I found it weird that anyone's walking outside. Since it was still early spring, the temperature could get so cold in the morning that I assumed no one would be outside at this time.

"Wu Yan, good morning," I smiled in greeting as I walked towards her. "Aren't you cold? It's still early in the morning and you're already spending your time outside."

"I'm used to it." She glanced down as if in embarrassment as she held a basket towards me. Just realized that she was holding a basket when she held it out. "I have the Ice Element so I don't get cold easily."

That explains it.

"What's this for?" I asked as I extended my hand to receive the basket.

"I-I made you breakfast." She said with a blush on her face. Before I could give her a word of gratitude, she turned around and left without saying another word. From a few feet away, I could tell that her ears were beginning to redden.

Seriously, how do I even respond to her? I know about her feelings towards me and I also do like her... but how do I tell her that? Besides? What would the others feel when I did? Even though they haven't told me anything, I can more or less recognize their feelings. It's not like I'm dense or something of that sort.

Shaking my head in a fruitless attempt to try to forget everything that went through my mind just now, I helplessly wore a smile as I opened the basket and sat under one of the trees around the clinic. The sun was just starting to go up so I decided to enjoy it to the fullest before another hectic day commences.

Just when I was about to open the basket Wu Yan gave me, a delectable fragrance wafted in the air, making my stomach responded with a growl. Whatever it is inside the basket made me go hungry in an instant.

What was inside the basket were a couple of handmade sandwiches made out of the freshest meat and vegetables. Why do I know this? It's because I'm a rabid human and my senses are heightened to the maximum. The fresh vegetables and meat were enough to make me salivate but I kept my composure so I didn't ravenously devour the sandwiches.

And then the bells rang...

I was about to sink my teeth into one of the perfectly cut triangular sandwiches when the bells rang.

Since I didn't want to ruin the moment of my first bite, I returned the sandwich into the basket and put it in my storage ring. I then headed towards the entrance where the bells are resounding.

Deep down, I kind of jinxed what happened to me this time since everything was going too well that I didn't keep my guards up. I knew that there will always be no rest for someone like me, a man/rabid human dwelling in the infected limbo. I, for one, have no idea what the bells are for but it sounded like an emergency so I decided to head to the location of the bells to find out what was going on. I assumed that doing so would rid me of my ruined morning.

But I was wrong, totally wrong.

When I got to the entrance to the Red Sea Shelter, a few groups were already there. Liu Zhi's party, the visitors from the Meili Sect including Master Shi Yanmei, the people from the Immovable Mountain Sect, and a few other parties who belonged to the Red Sea Shelter and other visiting shelters. For some reason, they were all already fully equipped with their high-grade equipment and some of them were in the process of polishing and sharpening their swords and weapons.

As for the others who were already prepared, their party leaders started talking in front of them. I was still too far to hear what their leaders were saying but I can more or less conclude that they're having a little pep talk before what's about to come.

"What's happening?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Oh, Yong Rui, you're here. You're up early." Shen Rong greeted as he walked towards the group. For some reason, he was wearing a red robe this time instead of his usual black robe. Also, he was wearing a few pieces of high-grade armor, probably s-rank ones, which are of the highest rank.

"Are you all heading out? Is everything all right?" I knew that that was such a stupid question to ask but I realized there was a good reason why they were heading out, fully equipped.

"It was my idea." Shen Rong proudly puffed his chest. "Since every neighboring shelter is already here, I figured that it'd be really productive if we do joint extermination of the rabid humans around us. And, I made it into a contest to see which party is the best hunting party out of everyone. Of course! There will be rewards as well!"

Without hyping everyone up, Shen Rong removed his red robes, revealing a set of armor that shone against the sunlight. Albeit its white and golden in color, it didn't seem like cheap armor at all. In fact, it looked like something that a holy knight would wear.

"This is the White Beetle Armor Set, one of the few sets I have in the Red Sea Shelter treasury. This set of armor is S-rank, meaning it can block a hit against a cultivator in the Dao Realm and quite possibly, in the Transcendence Realm as well. And not only that, it also grants additional speed and power to the one wearing it. And since I have a few sets of it at my disposal, I figured that giving it to the party who will win on this contest would be for the best."

"But " One of the hunters asked.

"I know what you're thinking. This type of high-grade set of armor can't be worn by Ancient Realm cultivators and below. But! You can always sell it. Whichever works for you is fine since I don't have the luxury to change the prize for this contest."

At the notion that the armor would probably fetch a decent price in the market, everyone was ready to partake in the contest. Even Liu Zhi's party, who never showed their enthusiasm when it comes to hunting rabid humans, was raring to go when Shen Rong announced everything.

And of course, I'll be joining their party as well. I temporarily belong to Liu Zhi's party after all.

Now that I realized it, the other parties have at least seven to ten members with them whereas our party only has four. I don't know why but Liu Zhi's party is probably one of the reserve party and the others just died off. It must've sucked being undermanned this whole time. And that explains why they really wanted me to join their party.

"This will be a mini-event before we start the semifinals of the Red Sea Tournament. I hope everyone does their utmost in eradicating the zombies. The number of points you get every time you defeat a zombie corresponds to the points attached to them. For example, a Stage-1 is one point, a Stage-2 is two points, so on and so forth. The other Shelter Leaders and I will be roaming around, tallying all your scores using a special pen and paper that prevents anyone from cheating. If anyone was caught doing suspicious things, he will automatically be eliminated from the contest. Of course, there will be voting involved.

Everyone nodded in response.

"Also, I will not allow killings in the midst of the hunt. Anyone who attempts to kill someone will be severely punished. The worst-case scenario is that you'll be put to death. I hope all the participants take this to heart since this is of utmost importance."

They nodded once again.

One thing I don't get about these things is the reason why another group would put another group down just so they could rise to the top. Even if no one told me, I know just how dangerous greediness is it eats at your soul and conscience and by the time you realized it, you're already in the deep-end, trying to crawl out of the rabbit hole you dove into. Being greedy is fine, but being greedy to the point that you'll try to put someone down just for you to go up? It seems kind of childish and yet... I've heard a lot of stories about it... true stories. Maybe I'm just so used to standing at the top in the past that it didn't matter to me. But now, as I reverted back to being weak, I realized that there are a lot of messed up things in this world and it should be changed in someone's mindset before they turn into a greedy monster.

Even right now, I can detect menacing eyes and bloodthirsty aura emanating from the other parties as Shen Rong started the countdown for the official commencement of the contest.

"3... 2... 1... start!"