Chapter Three: Desperate Straits

Hunting three hundred red-haired zombies in ten days was nothing short of a fantasy for the current Ke Bei.
Should he accept the task?
If he did and somehow managed to complete it, it would be another chance to change his fate. Yet, he would also risk facing punishment for failing the mission.
Would failure really bring punishment? What kind of punishment would it be? Ke Bei had no answers.
"Take the risk!"
He hesitated for a moment, but remembering that in three months, the seventy-year Great Purge would descend, Ke Bei gritted his teeth, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes.
Even if failure meant punishment, at worst he would lose his flying blade skill. This first attempt could serve as a test; perhaps there would be no punishment at all. If so, he could be bolder accepting future tasks.
Having decided to accept the system's mission, Ke Bei’s worries vanished completely. Once he made a choice, he would stop at nothing and devote himself fully to its completion—such was his nature.
He cautiously poked his head out, searching for an opportunity to strike, but now that he was inside Chen Village, the density of zombies far exceeded his expectations.
Every three to five minutes, a group of red-haired zombies would drift by, at least five or six at a time, leaving Ke Bei no chance to act.
The sun gradually sank westward. He estimated that in another three hours darkness would fall. From here to Lingfeng City was at least a two-and-a-half-hour journey; Ke Bei had to leave, otherwise, once night fell and he was stranded in the wild, he would face endless zombies, and even more terrifying, monstrous beasts.
"It's time to go back."
Squinting at the setting sun, Ke Bei stood up. After resting for two hours, his stamina was mostly restored. Seizing a brief lull, he swiftly left the small building, sprinting away from Chen Village.
On the dilapidated highway, Ke Bei ran with all his might, gasping for breath, sweat streaming down his forehead, his clothes soaked through. Darkness had already fallen. Whether fortunate or not, on his way back to Lingfeng City, he encountered two zombies wandering alone. Though he killed them with his flying blade skill, it cost him precious time.
With night fast approaching and still five or six kilometers from Lingfeng City, Ke Bei grew anxious, disregarding his stamina and running at full speed.
A fierce roar suddenly echoed. Ke Bei's body froze, his eyes wide, staring intently ahead.
Five figures scrambled desperately, evading a monstrous beast.
"Bloodthirsty Wind Wolf!"
Ke Bei drew a sharp breath, instinctively stepping back, his mind fixated on escape.
The Bloodthirsty Wind Wolf was a primary-level beast, its whole body covered in blood-red fur as hard as iron, with deep blue, razor-sharp claws capable of smashing stones, and lightning-fast speed.
"Beast, die!"
Among the five, a burly man lunged like lightning, stepping sideways, his huge mountain-splitting blade gleaming coldly as it slashed toward the wolf’s throat. The Bloodthirsty Wind Wolf gave a low roar, ducking its head and using its blue-glinting claws to block the blade.
A black shadow whipped by, aiming for the man's head. The shadow moved too quickly; the man barely managed to twist his body before it struck his shoulder—the wolf’s tail, as tough as a steel whip.
The burly man reeled from the blow, his shoulder a bloody mess, staggering backward. The wolf’s eyes flashed with ferocity, its jaws opening wide, exposing gleaming fangs, poised to bite the man’s throat.
"Father!"
Among the five, a youth wielding a shield of iron-clad wood saw his father about to be bitten. His eyes were bloodshot, tears streaking down his face, veins bulging on his forehead, as he screamed in despair.
He wanted to rush forward to shield his father from those savage fangs, but it was too late—the wolf moved too quickly. Tears mixed with blood fell from his eyes, and just as hopelessness engulfed him, a figure who had been about to flee suddenly halted.
The youth's anguished cry of "Father" struck a chord deep in Ke Bei’s heart.
Two throwing knives appeared instantly in his hands; they flashed with cold light and shot like lightning straight toward the wolf's eyes.
The Bloodthirsty Wind Wolf howled in agony. One knife pierced its eye, the other bounced off its skull. Writhing in pain, the wolf rolled frantically across the ground.
The burly man seized the opportunity to retreat two steps, quickly putting distance between himself and the berserk beast, clutching his shoulder as he backed away.
"Father!"
The stout youth, his eyes red, threw himself at his father, embracing him and sobbing like a child.
To a son, no matter how old he grows, his father is an immovable mountain.
Ke Bei watched, a smile blooming on his face, his gaze growing ever more steely. He must become stronger; his burly, bearded father had shielded him like a mountain for fifteen years. He would never allow anyone or anything to harm his father! Even facing the seventy-year Great Purge targeting those who lived in the shanties, he would protect his father at all costs!
To become strong—at that moment, it was the only thought in Ke Bei’s mind.
He had meant to slip away unnoticed, but now he turned resolutely, stepping toward the Bloodthirsty Wind Wolf.
"It’s not dead yet," Ke Bei whispered, staring at the frenzied wolf.
"Surround it!"
The burly man tore off a sleeve and hastily wrapped his wounded shoulder, watching the wolf with grim determination.
The other four, including the burly man’s son, quickly formed a circle around the maddened beast, shields raised.
"Young man, Wu Shengke thanks you for saving my life. Once we’ve dealt with this beast, I’ll show my gratitude properly," said the burly Wu Shengke, hefting his mountain-splitting blade and stepping forward coldly.
"Finish it quickly!"
"Now!"
Wu Shengke gestured fiercely.
All five drew their mountain-splitting blades.
"Kill!"
They dropped their shields in unison, coordinating perfectly, and in a flash, five blades swung at the Bloodthirsty Wind Wolf.
The wolf, as large as a calf, leapt up suddenly. Its fur was extremely tough, defenses astonishing. Of the five blades, only Wu Shengke managed to carve a wound into its right leg; the others glanced off its steel-like blood-red hairs, showering sparks.
"Careful!"
A shout rang out.
The wolf charged at Wu Shengke’s son, Wu Jie, its massive body hurling him through the air. Hearing his father’s warning, Wu Jie managed only to raise his shield to his chest.
There was a loud crash; Wu Jie was sent flying, blood spraying, ribs audibly snapping in his chest.
Though the wolf was blinded in one eye, its strength was overwhelming. Wu Shengke and the others struggled to contain it. Ke Bei frowned at the beast, gripping his last two throwing knives.
Unlike zombies, beasts had no fatal weaknesses, and their speed was greater. To kill one, its head must be severed.
Clearly, Ke Bei lacked that ability.
He rubbed his aching wrist, eyes locked on the wolf’s remaining eye. Killing it outright was impossible, but if he could blind its other eye, Wu Shengke’s group would be under far less pressure.
But the wolf was too fast, and Ke Bei was not in peak condition. What if he missed? He had only two knives left, two chances. Once thrown, the knives—made of ordinary materials—would be damaged beyond use.
The wolf’s tail lashed again, striking a shield and splitting it. Zhang Yuan, Wu Shengke’s other companion, had his left arm smashed, the bone broken in two, dangling by skin, blood pouring, enough to make one’s scalp crawl.
"Such speed!"
Ke Bei’s brow knitted. Two of the five were nearly out of the fight; if he didn’t act now, it would be too late. If the wolf broke free of Wu Shengke’s group, Ke Bei himself would be doomed.
The wolf roared, its massive body springing over Wu Shengke’s head, lunging for Ke Bei.
Its claws sliced through the air, sharp as blades.
Ke Bei’s eyes were icy, fixed on the wolf’s eye. A throwing knife whistled out, plunging into the beast’s eye. As he threw, Ke Bei dropped and rolled, the claws scraping his body and slamming into the ground, scattering stones and gouging a shallow pit in the ruined highway.
The wolf, now blinded in both eyes, howled to the sky, thrashing madly at the ground.
Ke Bei lay motionless, silent; any sound might provoke a frenzied attack.
Wu Shengke, Liu Li, and Zhang Kun—three who still had strength—watched Ke Bei, only two meters from the berserk wolf, tense and anxious.
Wu Shengke tried several times to rush forward, but his companions held him back. Facing a crazed beast now was not wise; wait for it to tire, then finish it.
"Not good!"
Wu Shengke cried out. The wolf suddenly lunged, jaws gaping, fangs gleaming—it had sensed Ke Bei.
Wu Shengke could no longer hesitate. Ke Bei had saved his life; he could not stand by and watch his savior be devoured.
Wu Shengke moved fast, but the wolf was faster, and Ke Bei was a mere two meters away. In an instant, the beast’s jaws were above his head.
Life and death hung in the balance.
Ke Bei seemed to hear his own heartbeat and the flow of blood; time stretched endlessly as he watched the wolf’s gaping maw descend upon him.
At the critical moment, thoughts flashed like lightning through his mind; the last throwing knife already gripped in his palm. The wolf’s thick hide would render his attack ineffective—he lacked the strength for a killing blow.
What to do? What to do? Was he to die here?
No!
He refused to accept it—he would not resign himself!
Ke Bei roared inwardly, staring at the blood-red jaws before him. Suddenly, a bolt of inspiration struck, and his vision blazed with clarity.