Chapter 226: Another Bronze-skinned and Iron-boned Zombie
Chapter 226: Another Bronze-skinned and Iron-boned Zombie
There aren’t many summer clothes available. After all, when Anran gives birth, Xiangcheng has already entered late autumn. The city’s autumns and springs are notoriously short—so much so that many long-time residents joke that Xiangcheng only has two seasons: summer and winter.
Merchants adapt to this pattern, skipping autumn entirely. As soon as summer ends, they replace their stock of summer clothing with winter apparel.
Now, the clothing stores are filled with cotton-padded jackets, down coats, thermal underwear, and leather jackets—but not a single short-sleeved shirt in sight.
Little Mint clutches a small bucket, already half-filled with shiny crystal cores. Just then, Hengheng’s cries echo from the second floor once again.
Anran emerges from a high-end sportswear store with an expressionless face, holding Doll in one arm and a few moisture-wicking, quick-dry sports outfits in the other. She walks over to Little Mint and hands her a set.
At thirteen or fourteen, Little Mint is about a head shorter than Anran. The adult-sized sports T-shirt is a bit loose on her, but it will do.
Anran also finds a set for herself, made of stretchy, quick-dry fabric. However, since they are long-sleeved, wearing full-length clothing in this sweltering heat is uncomfortable—though at least they dry quickly.
Hengheng’s cries grow hoarse. He has refused to eat for days, constantly searching for his mother. If this continues, he will inevitably fall ill.
Anran sighs, nudging Little Mint to change clothes before taking Doll into the fitting room to change as well.
Afterward, she stands in the middle of the flower field, straightens her back, and silently gazes in the direction of Hengheng’s cries. The sea of lilies around her sways ever so slightly, as if stirred by an invisible wind, their stems tilting toward her.
Anran snaps out of her thoughts and looks down at the trembling flowers.
They are afraid.
“What are you afraid of?”
She reaches out and gently touches the petal of a lily. The moment her fingers brush against it, an even deeper fear surges through her. Closing her eyes, she focuses, trying to sense what the flowers are feeling.
Suddenly, her mind goes blank. It’s as if countless voices are whispering to her at once, delivering fragmented messages.
"Humanoid… hard… flying blades… can’t be bitten…"
Anran repeats the words in her mind, her eyes snapping open as realization strikes.
The flowers are warning her.
Another bronze-skinned and iron-boned zombie is approaching the mall.
A chill runs down her spine. Without hesitation, she scoops up Doll, grabs Little Mint, and rushes up to the second floor. She heads straight for the maternity store, where she finds Yun Tao.
“Another bronze-skinned and iron-boned zombie is heading our way,” she says urgently.
Yun Tao’s expression darkens. Holding the exhausted, tear-streaked Hengheng in his arms, he stands up and says, “Pack up—quick. We’re leaving. I’ll find a car.”
Right now, their group consists of just two adults, two children, and a fragile thirteen-year-old—Little Mint—whose mental state has been fractured by the horrors of the apocalypse. Among them, Anran is the strongest.
Yun Tao has his hands full with Hengheng, who cries the moment he wakes up.
Given their situation, there’s no way they can take on another bronze-skinned and iron-boned zombie.
Leaving is the only option.
But first, they need a car.