Chapter Eight: Beautiful Lady! Would You Like to Fall in Love?

“Hey, beautiful, want to date?” Gu Lang stretched his neck out from the third-floor stairwell, calling out to the little zombie girl, only to withdraw instantly.

The moment she saw Gu Lang, the little zombie girl’s eyes went wide and she immediately lumbered after him. But Gu Lang was prepared; with a single command, Yu Qiuchi, who had been lying in wait, sprang forward, pinning the little zombie girl down with ease.

No matter how she struggled, the little zombie girl, with only the strength of an ordinary person, couldn’t break free from Yu Qiuchi’s grip. This was exactly Gu Lang’s plan. Since the little zombie girl was just a weakling with intelligence and couldn’t harm another zombie like Yu Qiuchi, all he needed was for Yu Qiuchi to restrain her.

With the little zombie girl subdued, Gu Lang could complete the task without lifting a finger. Sure enough, the task was accomplished, and with it came the reward.

“Congratulations, Host, on completing the task once again. Granted, the means you used are somewhat disgraceful, relying on outside help. But, as husband and wife, mutual assistance is only natural. Task complete!”

“Task status: Completed.”

“Task reward: 5 free attribute points, one starter gift pack!”

A short while later, Gu Lang had returned to the room. The little zombie girl, now bound, was carried by Yu Qiuchi and tied up in the bathroom. Given the system’s notorious tasks, it was certain he’d have to win over the little zombie girl next. Until the task was issued, she couldn’t be allowed to escape. Gu Lang secured her with three chains before finally relaxing.

He then opened the starter gift pack. With a flash of white light, several items appeared before him: a pouch, a black handgun, and a bulletproof vest.

“Storage Pouch: Contains its own pocket dimension, roughly the size of a minivan’s interior. Weightless when carried and keeps contents fresh.”

“Black Handgun: Standard pistol with a magazine capacity of 12 rounds, currently loaded with 12. Compatible with standard handgun ammunition.”

“Bulletproof Vest: Resistant to ordinary knife wounds, blunt force, and piercing damage.”

Gu Lang paused, stunned by the items before him. He hadn’t expected the starter gift pack to contain supplies, let alone such valuable equipment. Just the handgun alone was worth a fortune. After all, Gu Lang was in the Dragon Country, where firearms were virtually impossible to come by for civilians.

Previously, whenever he needed to venture out, he worried about both zombies and other survivors. But now, with a handgun, he was untouchable among human survivors. Coupled with the bulletproof vest and his newly acquired attribute points, survival during the apocalypse was suddenly within reach.

He could now focus on completing his tasks and building his harem.

At that moment, a new task alert sounded from the system. “New task: Given the host’s excellent performance in previous missions, the system will now increase the difficulty and enhance the rewards. Task: Win over the little zombie girl, take her to the lakeside, and enjoy the scenery by boat!”

“Task Reward: 10 free attribute points.”

What the hell?

If you want me dead, just say so!

The previous tasks, though risky, were still within manageable bounds—a date at the mall, for example. The mall was small, a confined space that could be cleared and made safe. But boating at the lakeside? That was a death sentence! Did they want zombies to have an all-you-can-eat buffet?

Even without considering the risks, there wasn’t even a lake nearby. And even if there was, and he managed to get there, where would he find a boat? Not to mention, the little zombie girl was still unfamiliar and would certainly struggle along the way. If Yu Qiuchi had to carry Gu Lang the entire time, he’d lose his bodyguard, leaving him to fend for himself.

“What now? This damned system’s tasks are getting harder and harder! It’s going to get me killed one day!” Gu Lang ground his teeth but could only think it over helplessly.

Luckily, before the apocalypse, Gu Lang was very familiar with the city. There wasn’t a natural lake nearby, but if an artificial pond counted, there was one just next door. It was a water park with a lake covering over a hundred acres, artificial scenery, and a small central island. The key point was that there were boats there, docked on the shore for visitors to use. At the beginning of the apocalypse, the boats should still be usable.

But there was another problem. Even though it was close, two main streets lay between his location and the park. How could he get across unharmed? Gu Lang knew his own limits; with his current attributes, charging through would only make him zombie chow. And even if he made it, the park wasn’t safe—there were plenty of people, and it wasn’t a mall he could clear out easily.

The only way was to make use of his current advantages: Yu Qiuchi and the little zombie girl.

Gu Lang glanced at the little zombie girl, his mind turning. If only he could acquire the Sovereign skill and control zombies—then everything would be so much simpler!

“No, I need to boost her affection for me to couple status as soon as possible!”

Gu Lang knew that once the little zombie girl became his partner, not only would he gain a new bodyguard, but he’d also share her skills. Then, whenever he went out, he’d have dozens of zombies as bodyguards, allowing him to weather the early days of the apocalypse with ease.

“Gu Lang, what are you thinking about?” Yu Qiuchi’s concerned voice interrupted him.

Now that her intelligence was restored, Yu Qiuchi could communicate and strategize with him. This made Gu Lang’s eyes light up. That’s right—his wife wasn’t just a bodyguard; she could help him think through plans as well. Since her rationality was restored, she retained knowledge from her previous life. And as a fitness enthusiast, Yu Qiuchi might have useful equipment at home.

Gu Lang briefly explained his plan, omitting any mention of the system.

Yu Qiuchi’s jaw dropped. “You want to go boating? I have an idea—why don’t we drive there?”

Gu Lang was stunned. What? You want to speed through a zombie apocalypse?

Yu Qiuchi continued, “Before the apocalypse, I’d just come back from a run. Our car is still in the garage—a top-of-the-line off-road vehicle. With it, we can cut right through the city. All we need to do is mask your human scent and let me drive.”

Gu Lang’s eyes widened. Of course! By driving, the problem was solved. Two streets away, less than a five-minute drive—quick and efficient. Now, with a gun, a strength stat of thirteen, and a speed stat of seven, he was like a leopard with an elephant’s strength, and he had a gun to boot! Zombies should be afraid of him! Even if he encountered other survivor teams, he could suppress them with his firearm. With Yu Qiuchi as his bodyguard, surviving the early apocalypse would be easy as pie.

Of course, there were still risks, but for the sake of a new zombie wife, it was worth it.

Having made up his mind, Gu Lang declared boldly, “Qiuchi, pack up—we’re leaving now!”