Chapter 20: The Feigned Suicide

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The backpack containing special medicines remained untouched, left aside for easy access when needed.
Handing over a snakeskin pouch, two backpacks, and a suitcase to the father and daughter, Mrs. Lin smiled brightly.
“You two go without worry; we’ll take care of things at home.”
Mr. Lin found this strange—truly strange.
He poked Lin Wanmei’s arm. “Daughter, don’t you feel a bit creeped out?”
“Don’t be silly! I’m just thinking that since I can’t help much, I’ll support you mentally so you can go with peace of mind.”
Mrs. Lin shot him a sharp glance. “You two go wherever you’re headed, but make sure you come back safe and sound, got it?”
“Don’t worry! I always keep my word!”
Seeing her like this was reassuring, and Mr. Lin chuckled nervously as he agreed.
Lin Wanmei approached her grandmother. “Grandma, leave the pig talisman here at home. It could help if something unexpected happens.”
Since Mr. Lin carried the dragon talisman, Grandma Lin didn’t refuse.
“You and your father come back soon.”
“We know!”
The father and daughter took along the fire axe, carrying numerous packed supplies as they stepped out.
It was Mr. Lin’s first time experiencing flight; his face flushed red all the way—whether from excitement or nervousness upon seeing zombies throughout the neighborhood, he couldn’t tell.
Returning to the snack street, everything looked the same as when they left. Lin Wanmei glanced around and led her father into the fourth shop, a fried goods store.
But as soon as they entered, a zombie lunged at them. Mr. Lin’s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively stepped back.
Lin Wanmei calmly stepped forward, activating the ox talisman, delivering a kick to the zombie’s abdomen. The creature was hurled several meters away, smashing against the counter and groaning.
Her practiced manner left Mr. Lin speechless.
After going out once, his daughter seemed transformed.
Lin Wanmei raised the fire axe and signaled to her father, “Dad, want to try?”
“Try what?”
“Chop its head off.”
Mr. Lin’s pupils contracted, his face pale. He took several deep breaths before tremblingly replying,
“All right…”
Gripping the fire axe tightly with both hands, he swallowed nervously and hesitated as he slowly approached the zombie lying on the ground, its bones shattered from the kick, reaching out toward them.
The hardest part about killing zombies was that they still retained their original human appearance, making them eerily human-like.

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Just a few days ago, Mr. Lin had bought fried goods from this very shop owner; now he was about to swing a blade at him—anyone could imagine how conflicted he felt.
But he didn’t retreat. Sometimes, honest men become even more resolute once they make up their minds.
With a powerful, precise strike, the axe cleaved the snarling zombie’s face. The force was so great the axe sank halfway in, and the zombie instantly lost all life.
Mr. Lin immediately lost strength, collapsing to his knees, gasping heavily with sweat pouring down his face.
“Dad, you’re amazing!”
Lin Wanmei praised him right away and stepped forward to retrieve the fire axe. However, it was stuck fast in the skull, immovable. She had to step on the zombie’s body and use the ox talisman to pull it free.
Hearing the sound eerily like slicing a watermelon, Mr. Lin turned away, fighting nausea and changing the subject.
“This axe is sharp but too heavy—it drains too much stamina.”
“Exactly,” Lin Wanmei nodded. “We need to find lighter, more suitable weapons. Talismans are powerful, but we still have to improve our own strength.”
“You’re right, daughter.”
Talismans weren’t suitable for all situations and could even be lost in the worst case. They couldn’t rely on them too much.
Suddenly realizing he was still kneeling, Mr. Lin quickly stood up nonchalantly, clearing his throat as he opened one of the freezers. “Daughter, take a look. What should we bring?”
Lin Wanmei leaned in and saw large bags of toothpick meat, chicken strips, chicken cartilage, crispy pork, squid rings—almost filling the entire freezer.
“Wow…”
She pondered, “Why can’t we just take the whole freezer?”
“Huh?”
Mr. Lin was stunned. “Eat and take it all?”
“The fridge at home is too small, not enough space. If nothing unexpected happens, we’ll be staying home at least a month. Having more freezers would be more convenient, right?”
“Isn’t there a chance the freezer won’t fit through the door?”
“…”
Lin Wanmei fell silent but was not discouraged.
They continued visiting several other shops—barbecue, fried skewers, spicy chicken pot, beef noodle restaurant—all the visible food had spoiled, so they focused on the freezer contents.
Besides ingredients and seasonings, they grabbed useful supplies like lighters and cigarettes but left everything else behind. Lin Wanmei felt heartbroken and again wished for more space.
Whenever their bags and boxes were full, father and daughter stealthily flew home to unload, then returned to comb through the entire street’s favorite eateries: pork patties, spicy hot pot, hamburgers, rolled cold noodles, steamed dumplings, spicy soup, pan-fried buns, sour and spicy noodles, roasted squab...
Just the three supermarkets and two fruit shops had them making seven or eight trips.
Now, every room in the house was piled high with supplies.

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Time flew by amid the busyness, and soon dusk fell.
It was already eight o’clock at night.
On their final trip, the father and daughter managed to haul the large freezer back home.
Their house had a closed balcony, so to bring it inside, they had to enter through the rooftop.
“Move faster... if someone comes out and sees us!”
As they flew up to the eighth floor, the faint sound of whispering reached their ears.
The two men, who had been leisurely enjoying the night breeze, paused and exchanged puzzled glances.
“Who’s still out wandering around now? Don’t worry about it,” a man’s hoarse voice said, cold as ever.
At the sound of that distinctive male voice, Lin Wanmei immediately recognized it as the bald man they’d met yesterday.
“Are you sure we can just toss him off? Won’t anyone get suspicious?”
The woman’s voice hesitated.
“He’ll be eaten by the zombies down there in minutes—just a pile of bones left! Who would recognize him? Besides, so many people are jumping off buildings from pressure now; who’d care about this?”
Lin Wanmei’s heart skipped a beat; she saw the same shock reflected in her father’s eyes.
Were they witnessing a murder scene?
The woman’s husband was actually at home?!
“Don’t worry, I’ve already destroyed all the surveillance cameras in the building. He’s falling from the rooftop; no one will know a thing. Hurry, come help!”
The bald man’s words finally persuaded the woman, and together they lifted the unconscious man to the edge of the rooftop.
From Lin Wanmei’s vantage point, she could even see one of his legs.
They couldn’t just stand by and watch this adulterous pair harm someone here.
Lin Wanmei turned to her father, who shared the same thought. With unspoken understanding, they quietly descended a bit, and Mr. Lin clenched his fist near his mouth.
“Ahem.”
“Someone’s here!”
The woman’s startled voice rang out immediately.