Chapter 9: Purgatory

“You are really… an ignorant garbage who doesn’t know how to live.” After hearing Tang Ling’s request, the words were squeezed out of the seams of Quark’s gnashing teeth.

Not giving a damn, Tang Ling turned and left.

He understood Quark well. The man would never waste his energy on useless matters. Today, Quark purposely revealed all these to him because the man wanted his help.

What kind of help could Tang Ling provide in such a tense moment? It was none other than escaping this place.

Quark had his own trump card.

Tang Ling was sure of it, but he was also certain that the man could not afford to lose his help.

Therefore, Tang Ling bet how far Quark could tolerate his so-called ‘stupidity’ since he also needed this mysterious shop owner’s trump card.

“Fine, you win. I was going to find you which would have taken time, but now you came here by yourself, so I’ll consider it time saved,” Quark said right before Tang Ling crossed the door.

Tang Ling’s heart relaxed slightly while he turned around to face Quark.

“But you have 15 minutes tops. Anything more than that, and no one would have the confidence to escape this place, even more so with two burdens. Am I right about you going to bring your Grandma and your little sister?”

“I’ll leave on my own once the time is up.” Quark was not in a joking mood.

“Why me?” Tang Ling only wanted to know this. Aside from the whole settlement, even in the Fifth Camp alone, there were others who were stronger and smarter than him.

“I’ve got too many business deals with you. I know your secret, Hmm, maybe some secrets.” Quark answered vaguely as his eyes gleamed.

A cold gleam flashed over Tang Ling’s eyes. A secret? His secret? He instinctively wanted to cover his chest but ultimately did not say a word. Instead, he turned around and sprinted towards his home.

He took fifteen minutes for a roundtrip; there was not a second left to waste.

Thankfully for the adventures in the wild throughout the years, Tang Ling was not slow at all.

Tang Ling did not even say anything after he got back to the tent. Grandma had already stood up while holding his little sister. In her other hand was a small package. “Let’s go. I’ve only packed some jerky and clean water. If we’re running, too many things will only burden us.”

Tang Ling gulped. He really had no idea why his grandmother was so certain that they had to leave this place. She also seemed to have quite the experience in fleeing.

But time didn’t allow for excessive chitchat. Tang Ling took the cloth-wrapped package and tied it on his back before taking a sharply ground iron stick out from under his bed. He carried his little sister and held his grandmother’s hand before they ran towards Quark’s shop.

“Hehehe, running away like that? This world is filled with cowards who are easily scared.”

“I assure you if you go out, you’ll die and nothing will be left behind. Hmm, maybe a pinky?”

The Fifth Camp was as merry as always. Injected with such a sudden change, their immutable depressing life somehow seemed like fun now.

A trace of sorrow flashed over Tang Ling’s eyes as he clenched his lips and could not reveal any more.

The saddest thing was nothing more than when one had nowhere to escape from a known danger. In this world, everything required qualification, and qualification mostly came from one’s value.

The law of the jungle was always cruel.

“Tang Ling, the zombies are dangerous. We should trust the Purple Moon Warriors.” Right before Tang Ling scuttered out of the gathering space, he was held back by a familiar person. It was Uncle Zhang, the generous good man who had taught him all the precious hunting techniques and experience.

“Uncle Zhang, trust me. Leave now. The Purple Moon Warriors…” Tang Ling inhaled deeply before continuing, “Didn’t do anything.”

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“You…” Uncle Zhang intuitively wanted to retort, yet what he faced was Tang Ling’s firm resolve mixed with an anxious gaze.

He knew in his heart that he had to trust this kid. Since he was young, Tang Ling had always been a man responsible for every word he uttered.

“How do I… run?” Uncle Zhang’s words sounded bitter.

“You once told me before, when facing off against a fierce beast, a wide and spacious location always has a higher chance of survival compared to a tight space. Leave the underground. The rest… Let fate have its way,” Tang Ling said. He could not bring Uncle Zhang and his family to Quark’s. Otherwise, the store owner would surely flip.

Besides that, he was not sure that when his value to Quark was depleted, what else he could provide to the man as assurance?

In this era, no one was able to be responsible for multiple lives.

The only ones he could bear were his grandmother and little sister.

Tang Ling’s words painted some color into Uncle Zhang’s eyes. As a veteran hunter, he must have prepared a backup plan for himself.

“Take care.” Uncle Zhang nodded heavily at Tang Ling.

Tang Ling replied with a nod, then took his grandmother and his little sister away.

This would be a farewell. Perhaps it was the last time seeing each other. Bitterness rose in Tang Ling’s heart but the useless emotion was killed off.

The fire burned bright in the dim passageway that it lit up. His little sister was quietly lying on his back and his grandmother was panting heavily.

The hurried scuttling steps advanced past the excited people from time to time who thought they were in a party.

The smell of Blue Jukarta leaves started to suffuse within the Fifth Camp. The forbidden plant that would make one addicted, drowsy, intoxicated, calm, and pleasant was the only spiritual reliance of many in the settlement.

As the night simmered in excitement, it finally had a chance to make its grand entrance.

Many men chewed the leaves with puffed cheeks in a daze. Their mouths widened into smiles, yet they had no idea bloody hell would befall then soon.

“It’s also fine this way.” The sorrow in Tang Ling’s eyes grew heavier as if he started to understand why Quark always scolded the people of the settlement as dirty rats.

However, not everyone had the courage to struggle in a mud pool. Living might be harder than dying in such a situation.

Embracing hell in intoxication — it was not too shabby!

“Ah!” The moment the thought arose in his head, a sharp scream sounded in his ears like a burning fuse.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Loud thumps accompanied by the teeth-numbing noise of shaking iron hinges gripped around Tang Ling’s heart.

A crawling figure wept as he ran towards the most crowded spot in the Fifth Camp. The moment when he ran past them, Tang Ling caught a glimpse of a face covered with tears and snot, horrified to the core.

Tang Ling, of course, recognized the person. He was the bastard who occupied the scrumptious job as the gatekeeper for a long time.

In order to get the best goods the quickest, Quark’s shop was very near the main door of the Fifth Camp.

“They’re coming.” Tang Ling understood that what was coming would eventually arrive.

His fingers turned cold, yet he held his grandmother’s hand tighter. He sprinted madly as if his life depended on it because he could not bear it anymore and started to feel frightened.

Quark’s shop was getting close. There was no one beyond the open door.

To Tang Ling’s horror, the inevitable thing was that through the dim lights, the gate to the Fifth Camp was visible. It was shaking violently. The loosened little window at the door burst open with a screech. When the creaks echoed, Tang Ling’s breath stopped.

Numerous zombies were clumped up at the main gate to the Fifth Camp. To them, the Fifth Camp was a box filled with scrumptious food. All that was left was to open the gate.

Maybe because they had eaten a little before they arrived, many of the zombies had blood scabs over their faces. Their sharp teeth were yellowish while their rotten bodies were accompanied by a vile stench.

Tang Ling’s stomach started to turn. The zombie near the little window noticed the food farther away and its grayish-white eyes gazed upon Tang Ling greedily.

An excited roar boomed as the door was rammed even stronger, pushing it to the brink of collapsing.