After resting to recover his strength, Thuong Sinh slowly stood up.
With every movement, he could feel a distinct transformation within his body. His joints were more fluid than before, and the strength in his arms had surged. Most notably, the weight of the knife in his hand felt strangely familiar, as if he had trained with it for a lifetime.
"Help! Please, someone help me!" a male student screamed in agony. He was being pursued by a pack of Zombies. In his frantic flight, he stumbled. As he struggled to get back up, a rotting hand latched onto his leg, teeth sinking deep into his flesh.
"Agggh! Damn you, let go of me!"
He thrashed wildly, trying to break free from the zombie's grip, but another lunged from behind, its teeth tearing ruthlessly into his shoulder. The student's screams echoed through the air, but no one came. Soon, his cries were replaced by the sickening sound of flesh being ripped apart.
Watching silently from the window, Thuong Sinh observed the entire scene. He had no intention of intervening. First, he lacked the power to rescue the boy from such a swarm. Second, they were strangers. Why should he risk his life? He was no saint.
He watched indifferently as the zombies picked the corpse clean, leaving nothing but a severed head. In this apocalypse, the weak were mere fodder for the strong. Survival of the fittest—a ruthless, unyielding law.
He had just executed a newly learned combat skill that exhausted his reserves. If he encountered multiple zombies at once, his fate would likely be no different from that boy's.
He needed more power. His gaze shifted to the remaining manual on the bed.
"Source Breath Cultivation."
Without hesitation, he picked it up and flipped to the first page. Time ticked away.
Once he had finished the contents, Thuong Sinh sat cross-legged, adjusted his breathing, and began to circulate his essence according to the manual's instructions.
A warm current of energy slowly stirred within him, weaving through his meridians and seeping into every fiber of his muscles. The aches and fatigue of the day gradually dissolved, replaced by a profound sense of mental clarity.
Immersed in the sensation, Thuong Sinh lost track of time. When he finally opened his eyes, darkness had fallen. "Has that much time passed already? It's night."
Standing up, he felt a vivid change. His body felt lighter, his joints moved with oiled precision, and his muscles thrummed with newfound power. He clenched his fist; a solid sense of strength surged through him, far greater than before. Even his heartbeat was steadier, his breath deeper. The bruises from his previous encounter had nearly vanished.
"System."
[ Thuong Sinh ]
[ Cultivation ]: 0/100
[ Realm ]: Body Refinement (Early Stage)
[ Merit Points ]: 103
"Is this… Body Refinement?"
Even though it was only the first stage, the sheer difference between his past and present self astonished him.
Suddenly, a ravenous hunger hit him as if he hadn't eaten in a week. He needed fuel. Fortunately, there was enough food left in the room to last the night.
The night was deathly quiet, save for the occasional sound of footsteps in the corridor. He had no desire to venture out and gamble with his life. Looking around the dormitory, his room was the only one with light. He surmised he might be the only soul left here.
It was summer break. Most students had gone home early, leaving the dorms nearly empty. Those who stayed were likely repeaters, interns, or those with nowhere else to go. And given the current situation… they were likely either gone or no longer human.
Thinking of this, Thuong Sinh dimmed the lights, leaving only a small glow to navigate by. In the apocalypse, light was a beacon for danger. As the lights faded, shadows swallowed the room. He lay on the bed, hand hovering near his knife, his mind sharp. He didn't dare sleep deeply.
After an unknown amount of time, a tiny sound broke the silence.
...Click...
It was faint, but enough to make Thuong Sinh's eyes snap open. He held his breath, listening. Footsteps echoed in the hall—light, rhythmic, and intentional. Not the heavy, dragging shuffle of a zombie.
A human?
A whispered voice drifted through the door: "...Keep it down."
Two shadowy figures moved stealthily down the hall, clutching bulging cloth bags. They stopped before a dark room.
Snap—
A door was pushed open. Faint sounds of rummaging followed, mingled with hurried breaths.
"No water left."
"Damn it... keep looking."
As they passed Thuong Sinh's darkened room, they stopped. The lock was tampered with. Inside, Thuong Sinh stood ready behind the door.
Click—
The lock gave way. The door creaked open a fraction. The first person slipped in, followed by the second, who turned to close the door behind them.
In that heartbeat, an arm reached out from the darkness. A cold blade pressed against the second person's throat.
"Don't move," a low voice hissed in his ear.
The intruder froze, cold sweat instantly soaking his brow. The person in front spun around, nearly screaming, but the glint of the blade in the dark choked the sound in his throat.
"Wait—wait!"
"It's a misunderstanding... just a misunderstanding!"
Thuong Sinh stood half-submerged in shadows, his hand steady. "What are you doing in my room?"
The man at knife-point swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "We're... we're students. Just looking for supplies... someone in our group is hurt, we need water and food... otherwise, they won't make it."
He slowly raised his hands, careful not to provoke the man behind him. "We thought the room was empty... since the lights were out..."
The silence in the room was suffocating. One wrong move and blood would spill. Thuong Sinh remained silent. In the endtimes, words could be the truth—or a lethal trap.
"Big brother..." the man's voice rasped with fear. "Can you... can you put the knife down? We really don't mean you any harm."
Thuong Sinh's eyes remained cold. "How many are in your group?"
"Twelve... we're traveling together," he answered instantly.
The other added hurriedly, "All students from this dorm. There were six at first... but we picked up survivors along the way."
Thuong Sinh was silent for a long time. Finally, he lowered the knife, though he didn't put it away.
"There's nothing left in this room. Find somewhere else. There are no supplies for you here."
The two exhaled in collective relief. "Alright... we'll leave right now. Thank you for sparing us."
They backed out toward the door, wary of turning their backs too quickly. Before leaving, the one in front hesitated, then turned back.
"Um... if you don't mind... we're gathering survivors. It's dangerous out there alone. Why don't you join us?"
Silence fell once more. Thuong Sinh stared at the door, his gaze pensive.
Finally, he shook his head. "I won't join."
The two were stunned. "Why?" the man couldn't help but ask. "In the apocalypse... isn't there safety in numbers?"
Thuong Sinh gripped his knife, his eyes cold but calm. "I have my reasons."
He offered no further explanation. The two looked at each other, knowing it was useless to push. They nodded. "Understood... stay safe, then."
The door closed, and the corridor returned to silence. Only when their footsteps faded completely did Thuong Sinh allow his tense body to relax. The uninvited guests were gone, and the night was finally still.