"Mm... okay, Juan'er is amazing. There, there, no more tears, be good..." I casually pulled a candy from my pocket. "Here you go. Juan'er's really something!"

"Really, big sister?" Juan'er reached up with small, grubby hands to take the candy, gazing at me.

"Mm... at least better than those single-minded adults." I shot a sideways glare at Bai Xiao. She caught my look and laughed awkwardly—pure embarrassment.

Downstairs was impossible. Even though that man risked his life clearing a path, the lobby was likely swarming with zombies. Going down meant suicide.

Only one route left. I didn't know where it led, but the metal stairs probably didn't go to the front yard. Best case: the backyard. Closer to my home, streets I knew well.

The city hospital sat south of downtown; my place was southeast, near the east edge. The backyard detour was longer, but irrelevant now. Escaping this hellish hospital mattered.

So... I had to take risks.

"Bai Xiao, take your daughter upstairs to... no! Sixth floor. Stand by to cover me." As I spoke, I drew my fruit knife. Blood-splattered and chipped, it was useless. I sheathed it at my waist and grabbed the combat knife from that man.

Long blade—over twenty centimeters. Handle nearly ten. Fit both hands perfectly. But I kept my pistol in my right, knife in left.

"What are you doing?!" Bai Xiao stared, voice trembling with panic.

"Roar!!!"

Her shout must've drawn it. A low growl echoed from behind the fifth-floor metal door.

"Shut up, idiot!" I flinched, glaring at Bai Xiao. Gun aimed at the door. Footsteps approached, paused, then faded. I relaxed slightly.

Women are trouble.

I glanced back at frozen Juan'er. Weakly, I added in my mind: Brats are just as bad.

"Now! Obey my orders. No hesitation. If anything goes wrong, I take no blame!" I snarled low, pointing upstairs.

"Go up!!"

Bai Xiao flinched at my tone. Scared I'd abandon them? Or thinking I'd gone mad—pulling knives and guns to fight zombies head-on?

I'm no mind reader, but her gaze screamed "lunatic"—fear laced with disgust.

She'd never understand. In this hellish world...

No madness, no survival.

Once a joke. Now truth.

By luck, my first crisis was the green monster—superhuman strength. Surviving it boosted my confidence. So did killing those dozen zombies.

My enhancements, pistol, and sharp combat knife made me overconfident.

But I knew better. Boldness was fine. Carelessness? Deadly.

I inhaled deeply. Wanted a cigarette to calm nerves. But weapons filled both hands. Forget it.

"Inhale... exhale..."

A foul stench hit my nose. My body tensed.

Behind the metal door, a shadow stood. Through the gap, crimson pupils locked onto me!!

"Hiss!!!"

I gasped, startled. Simultaneously, a roar blasted from the door's side!

"Roar!!!"

The fifth floor erupted. Dozens of footsteps thundered.

"Damn! How many?!"

Too late for regrets. The zombie spotting me slammed the unlocked door open—bang!

No hesitation. I fired at the zombie half a meter away.

"Bang!"

The shot echoed. A fiery streak pierced its head. Yellow gore burst from the back skull.

Brain matter splattered the wall—black, yellow, white goo. Disgusting!

My reflexes had sharpened. No wonder time slowed against the green monster. Just like now.

Footsteps slowed around me. Yet I pinpointed each one's distance.

My hand flicked toward the door's edge. A zombie lunged out!

"Bang!"

Bullet hit the temple. The body flew back, crashing down.

'Only two bullets left!'

Counting yellow pellets in my head, I sidestepped. Another zombie charged into my peripheral vision.

My sight sharpened. The dagger felt weightless. I swung—like hot knife through butter—plunging it straight into the emerging zombie's eye.