CHAPTER 261: 9.7

"Yes, I also have a space ability."

Jiang Jiamian quickly calmed himself. After all, Ling Zhuang wasn’t exactly in a position to expose anyone. What would happen if he did? It’d be mutually assured destruction.

He had something on Ling Zhuang, and Ling Zhuang had something on him. Unless the guy had a death wish, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to expose him.

Chen Ran stared at Jiang Jiamian, stunned. That faint smile on his face, paired with his eerie, ghost-like appearance, gave off an unnerving vibe.

"You have space abilities? Then how do you have such high attack power?!"

A space user?

But the greatest strength of space abilities was storage, carrying supplies.

Their weakness was obvious: low offensive capability. Most space users required a dedicated team to protect them.

But this person...

Chen Ran himself didn’t have real space powers. His small combat boost was linked to a jade pendant, hardly enough to count. Compared to those who had genuinely awakened offensive abilities, his combat strength was average at best.

Jiang Jiamian smiled faintly, "Oh, I have both space and poison abilities. As for the sword skills and agility, I learned martial arts before the apocalypse. That’s just training, not ability-related."

That sword? It was from the cultivation world.

When he refined his soul space, he brought back quite a few nice toys.

Didn’t mean he could flash them around without thinking.

"W-what!?"

This time it wasn’t just Chen Ran. Everyone around him froze, jaws practically dropping.

"You’re saying... you took down that evolved zombie with martial arts, not powers?!"

That evolved zombie had almost wiped out the entire team, even with their abilities.

Jiang Jiamian hummed in agreement and looked over at Ling Zhuang, whose initial surprise had already faded into something more amused, his lips curled in a slight smile, his eyes deep and unreadable.

As expected, the pervert wouldn’t expose him. Just silently played along with the lies.

"Yeah!" Jiang Jiamian continued, straight-faced. "Before the apocalypse, I was actually the heir to a hidden martial arts clan. I learned some ancient techniques. This sword is a family heirloom."

Ling Zhuang: "..." I almost believed you.

The rest of the squad: "..." Did that kind of thing actually exist?

They were all thinking the same thing, but Jiang Jiamian’s serious face made it hard to actually say anything.

The awkward silence was broken by a sudden pounding on the metal door.

Xiao Jinfeng’s heart dropped. He was first to react, quickly heading toward it.

"The zombies outside might be closing in! I’m not sure how long that door will hold!"

Jiang Jiamian said lightly, "Instead of relying on a door, I would rather rely on myself."

The silver sword reappeared in his hand with a flash, gleaming coldly under the dim lights. It radiated the powerful force, prepared to strike.

Xiao Jinfeng’s face stiffened for a moment, but then he nodded, "You’re right. Better to be ready to fight than count on a door to save us."

"I’ve been watching you..." Jiang Jiamian said, gaze landing squarely on Ling Zhuang, "He’s important to you, isn’t he? From your posture, it looks like you’re protecting him. You’ve seen what I can do. Why not let me take over?"

"This..." Xiao Jinfeng looked uncertain. He glanced at the others.

Truthfully, Ling Zhuang was their mission. Keeping him safe was top priority.

If a fight broke out, they might not hold. Jiang Jiamian clearly had the better odds.

After a moment, Xiao Jinfeng turned to Ling Zhuang, "Professor Ling, what do you think?"

Ling Zhuang adjusted his glasses, smiling politely. "Okay."

Jiang Jiamian almost choked. If he didn’t know the plot, hadn’t been monitoring this freak’s micro-expressions from the moment they met, he might have actually fallen for the act.

Elegant. Easygoing. Gentle.

Yeah. Right.

Xiao Jinfeng nodded at Jiang Jiamian.

"Thanks. Just so we’re clear, protecting Professor Ling is still our Gale Squad’s responsibility. You’ll take point, but we’ll help."

He still has to protect Chen Ran, and as for the rest of the squad, facing such a large number of zombies, they’re bound to be struggling.

It’s true that they may not be able to protect Professor Ling.

Jiang Jiamian does have the ability to do so, but it’s better not leave Professor Ling completely in one person’s hands.

Ling Zhuang stepped closer. Polite smile in place, he extended a hand. "Thank you, Jiang Jiamian."

Up close, face to face, Jiang Jiamian saw it clearly, Ling Zhuang’s fingers were trembling. The guy was shaking with excitement.

Jiang Jiamian swallowed, reaching out to shake the other’s hand, "You’re welcome... Hiss!"

Damn!

This psycho’s grip strength was no joke.

He was basically Zombie King level now with a body tempered by soul spring water. And yet Ling Zhuang had nearly crushed his fingers.

This guy needs protection?

Come on!

"Ah?" Ling Zhuang blinked at him innocently.

"Did something happen?"

Jiang Jiamian forced a smile and glanced toward the others. "Nothing."

"That’s good. I was worried my hand was too dirty and you didn’t want to touch it."

Ling Zhuang released him and looked down at his own hand with fake self-blame, "Sigh... apocalypse life. Who has time to be clean anymore? Hope you don’t mind."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

Wow. That performance deserves an award.

Bang! Bang bang!

The pounding on the door grew louder, zombies were definitely closing in.

The group moved away from the entrance, positioning themselves to face the threat.

Bang!

A dent appeared in the metal door.

Their eyes widened.

"That... that’s not a regular zombie!?"

"Another evolved one?!"

Everyone turned instinctively to look at Jiang Jiamian, the silver sword already in his hand.

If it was another evolved zombie, he was their only hope.

Jiang Jiamian spun his sword in a smooth arc. "Looks like you’re lucky to have met me tonight."

No one argued.

Even Xue Fang, normally the first to voice doubt, kept his head down and stayed quiet.

But Chen Ran was unsettled.

Something was wrong.

In his last life... was there already a second evolved zombie in K City at this point?

He only remembered one.

Tonight was supposed to be his breakthrough moment, kill the zombie, get the core, level up. He had planned it perfectly based on past life memories. They could’ve survived without help.

But now, Jiang Jiamian existed. A powerful unknown.

And suddenly the zombie horde was acting strange.

Had their arrival disrupted things?

Was this all because of him?

Chen Ran said nothing, forcing down the question.

Ling Zhuang glanced at Jiang Jiamian, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Jiamian felt the gaze and glanced back, a puzzled look on his face.

Ling Zhuang’s smile didn’t fade, but he offered no reply.

No one in this world understood Jiang Jiamian’s identity better than him. The zombie swarm, the evolved zombie, none of it was coincidence.

He was the king.

But why summon them?

To show off?

To win these people’s trust?

Was this a performance?

Bang!

The door gave out.

Rotten air poured in with the rush of zombies.

At the front, an evolved one.

Swish!

Jiang Jiamian didn’t hesitate.

With a graceful, lethal sweep, the silver sword flashed, and the zombie’s head hit the floor.

One strike.

Clean. Effortless.

The others stood frozen, still processing what just happened.

Jiang Jiamian raised a brow, turned, and grabbed Ling Zhuang’s arm, "Alright. That was the worst of it. Professor Ling with me. The rest of you, good luck."