Chapter Forty-Eight: The Mysterious Plant Zombie? A New Mission!

“Brother Gu Lang! Don’t worry, we’re right behind you, hiding in the wild forest by the city gate!”

At the city’s entrance, the little zombie queen and her group were concealed nearby.

Since his wives were zombies, someone as powerful as Sun Hai could easily detect them.

For safety, Gu Lang stationed the women behind the main group.

They were also responsible for protecting Gu Lang’s puppet zombie army.

“Very good, keep your distance. Once we’ve ascended the mountain, use this city as your base.”

Gu Lang closed the remote communication skill. He had to admit, this ability was truly invaluable.

Even in the apocalypse, it allowed him to communicate with his people at any time from afar.

This was one of Gu Lang’s trump cards.

Used well, it could turn the tide, allowing the weak to overcome the strong.

“Master Gu Lang! Look at that—what is it?”

Suddenly, Li Muwan pointed to a dilapidated yard not far off.

It was a villa, but it was clear it had been abandoned long before the apocalypse.

Gu Lang stepped forward and saw the courtyard was awash with blood.

The ground was as if covered by a crimson carpet.

“Strange, could someone have slaughtered zombies here?”

Driven by curiosity, Gu Lang vaulted the courtyard wall, only to gasp sharply.

In the center of the yard stood a well.

From the well, a torrent of blood surged, dyeing the ground scarlet.

The scene was unspeakably gruesome.

Even Gu Lang, no stranger to killing, shuddered involuntarily.

Without hesitation, he directed an ordinary zombie to approach the well and peer inside.

Soon, Gu Lang understood.

“Inside, there’s a massive plant, vaguely human-shaped. It’s absorbing the well water and turning it into blood. Oddly, I can’t see its attribute panel.”

He muttered to himself.

He had never encountered such a monster.

Li Muwan cast a wary glance at the well.

“Master Gu Lang, we’re only here to gather supplies in this city. There’s no need to risk provoking something like this.”

Gu Lang nodded in agreement; she was right.

But just as he turned to leave, the system’s voice sounded in his mind.

[Congratulations, host, you have triggered a mission. Please move this zombie plant to tears, restore its sanity, and strike up a conversation! Hint: To move a zombie, you must sacrifice large amounts of living humans or zombie flesh and blood, irrigating it with blood. The quantity required is immense—recommended during a corpse tide!]

[Mission Reward: Attribute Duplication!]

[Attribute Duplication: Copy the host’s attribute panel to enhance one of your wives!]

What a ridiculous mission!

A corpse tide is coming, and I’m barely able to protect myself, and you want me to irrigate this thing with blood and flesh?

Wait...

Attribute duplication?

If I wait until I reach Gold rank, wouldn’t that mean I could have a Gold-ranked wife as well?

Excitement surged through Gu Lang. The reward was indeed tempting.

But wasn’t the mission far too difficult?

And it would have to wait until the corpse tide arrived.

With no other choice, Gu Lang marked the location, intending to return later.

He then collected some supplies and returned to the rendezvous point.

Sun Hai also arrived, carrying a white box.

Gu Lang glanced at it. The letters “SPC” were scrawled across its surface.

He didn’t ask, merely committing it to memory.

Then, the group set out for the snowy mountain.

“Master Gu Lang, this is the snow mountain. The environment is harsh and bitterly cold. Take some time to get used to it. Zombies struggle to climb up here—this is our advantage.”

“There’s no turning back now. Once you reach Black Iron City, you become one of us and must obey our rules.”

Sun Hai led the group, his demeanor now far less deferential and much more imposing.

Gu Lang agreed on the surface but sneered inwardly.

His reasons for coming were twofold: the corpse tide, and SPC.

Of course, he was unafraid.

He was on the verge of reaching Gold rank.

By his calculations, he was already at the Silver pinnacle.

With his strength and his wives protecting him, it was they who should be afraid.

Soon, they reached the summit.

A middle-aged man with a head of white hair stood at the gate to welcome them.

It was the lord of Black Iron City—Gold.

“Haha! Come in, come in. We’ve prepared fine wine and food for you, and we can discuss our strategies afterward.”

Gu Lang responded with a hearty laugh, taking Li Muwan by the hand as they entered the city with Gold.

A lavish spread awaited them.

After everyone sat, Gold got straight to the point.

“The corpse tides come twice a year—once big, once small. This time it’s a small one, but even so, at least thirty to fifty thousand zombies will assault Black Iron City!”

“Thanks to our geographic advantage, we can withstand some of the assault—but only some. That’s why, Master Gu Lang, I hope you and your elite will hold the line in the city at the foot of the mountain!”

At these words, Li Muwan frowned coldly.

Wasn’t this sending them to their deaths?

But Gu Lang did not protest, instead responding with a question.

“Lord Gold, we’re just a handful of mediocre fighters. Besides, the mountain is so vast—what if the zombies bypass our line?”

Gold laughed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“Master Gu Lang, perhaps you don’t know—three sides of this mountain are sheer cliffs. The only entrance is the city at the front.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll send Sun Hai and another elite to assist you. We’re all in the same boat; we would never send you to your deaths. If you fall, our fate won’t be much better.”

With that, Gold raised his cup toward Gu Lang.

The atmosphere seemed jovial, but danger lurked beneath the surface.

Gu Lang knew that refusal would almost certainly mean open conflict.

Outwardly, he feigned reluctance, but inwardly he was delighted.

He’d been wondering how to irrigate that well.

Now, stationed at the mountain’s foot, the timing was perfect!

“Very well. Since Lord Gold insists, I will hold the line,” he replied.

Gold laughed heartily and drew a small white shield from his breast.

“Here, Brother Gu Lang! From now on, let’s call each other brothers. This is a rare silver-grade piece of equipment, and I give it to you as a token of our friendship!”

Gu Lang took the shield, discovering it was indeed an item.

[Snow Mountain Shield: When worn, can block a single fatal attack. Consumable item. Remaining uses: 1. Maximum: 3.]

Already partially used?

Still, anything that could save his life was valuable.

Gu Lang tucked the shield into his pocket.

Soon after, the banquet ended.

Gu Lang and the people from Zhao Fortress were assigned quarters at the foot of the mountain.

“Master Gu Lang, I’ve observed that Black Iron City has four Silver-ranked elites in total. The City Lord, Gold, is also Silver, but his aura is much stronger.”

Li Muwan reported her findings in a soft voice.

“Don’t worry, I’ve noticed too. This time, Sun Hai and another Silver are coming down with us—they’re here to defend, but also to watch us.”

Gu Lang lay on his bed, his expression calm.

“This time, we’re being used as tools, but I have an idea. We can use Black Iron City for our own ends.”

At these words, Li Muwan blinked her pale blue eyes.

Gu Lang didn’t elaborate, instead pointing out the window.

There stood a pitch-black factory.

Its name was SPC Pharmaceutical Factory.