Chapter 360: The golden fruit 71.

The tendon mass around its neck moved gently as though something beneath the skin was breathing.

When Bai Li stepped toward it, the zombie finally turned.

The air became heavy.

Yan Cijin felt it too.

"Something is coming."

Bai Li’s stance changed.

The zombie raised one hand.

The pressure slammed down.

Bai Li’s knees bent.

The concrete beneath her boots cracked.

Yan Cijin fired.

The bullet hit the zombie’s chest.

Its concentration broke for half a second.

The pressure vanished.

Bai Li lunged.

Whisperfang carved a line across the creature’s face.

The zombie did not react to the cut. It answered with a backhand strike that caught Bai Li in the shoulder and sent her sliding across the roof.

Yan Cijin’s expression tightened.

Bai Li rose before the slide ended.

The zombie was already there.

They collided.

Whisperfang blocked the first claw.

The second claw struck the flat of the blade.

The third hit Bai Li’s side.

She twisted with the blow, reducing the damage, and drove her elbow into the zombie’s throat.

The creature staggered.

Yan Cijin fired.

The bullet struck the same wound on its chest.

The zombie roared.

The sound caused the remaining windows in a nearby rooftop structure to shatter.

Bai Li jumped.

The monster struck the air where she had been.

The pressure from the blow created a visible ripple.

Yan Cijin moved back.

"Keep it away from me."

"I am trying."

The zombie rushed toward her instead.

Bai Li intercepted it halfway.

The two bodies hit with enough force to shake the rooftop.

Bai Li’s boots slid backward.

The zombie grabbed her forearm.

Its fingers tightened.

She looked at the hand.

Then she looked up.

"You really do not know when to let go."

She drove her forehead into its nose.

Bone cracked.

The grip loosened.

Bai Li caught the wrist, twisted, and forced the arm behind the creature’s back.

Whisperfang cut down across its shoulder.

The zombie’s body bent.

Bai Li kicked the back of its knee.

It dropped to one leg.

She tried to cut the neck.

The zombie moved its head aside.

The blade only grazed it.

That was when the creature smiled.

It was the first expression any of the zombies had shown.

Bai Li’s eyes narrowed.

The zombie released a pulse of black mist directly between them.

Bai Li jumped backward.

The mist swept across the floor.

Where it passed, dust turned black.

A metal pipe corroded in seconds.

Yan Cijin swore softly.

"Do not get hit."

"That was the plan."

The zombie advanced through its own mist.

Bai Li backed away, measuring the pattern.

The mist was not random.

It was moving with the zombie, but it stayed attached to the ground. The creature wanted to close the space until there was nowhere safe to step.

Bai Li noticed the one place the mist was not spreading.

The space immediately around the golden tree.

The barrier was pushing it back.

She looked at the fruit.

Then at the zombie.

An idea formed.

"Yan."

"Yeah?"

"Keep shooting its legs."

"That is the plan?"

"Trust me."

Yan Cijin fired.

One bullet struck the left ankle.

The zombie slowed.

Second shot.

Right knee.

Third shot.

Left knee.

Yan Cijin’s cylinder was empty.

She clicked it open.

"I am out."

"Crossbow."

She switched.

Bai Li ran directly toward the zombie.

The mist climbed around her boots.

She jumped over the first wave.

The zombie struck.

She turned in the air and let the claw pass beneath her.

She landed almost behind it.

Whisperfang cut through the damaged knee.

The creature staggered.

Yan Cijin fired.

The bolt struck the shoulder.

Bai Li cut the other leg.

The zombie dropped.

For one moment the black mist remained spread across the roof around them.

Bai Li stepped backward toward the barrier.

The zombie dragged itself after her.

The closer it came, the thinner the mist became.

Bai Li finally understood.

The barrier was suppressing the zombie’s energy.

That was why it had avoided going too close.

She drew the creature forward another meter.

Then another.

The zombie lunged.

Bai Li sidestepped.

The zombie crossed the invisible line by a fraction.

The air snapped.

The creature was thrown backward.

Bai Li used the opening.

She cut through its throat.

The head came free.

She immediately stabbed the chest.

The dark core was bright now.

Too bright.

It was resisting.

Bai Li pressed the blade down.

The zombie’s hand closed around her wrist.

The core surged.

The body began to explode outward with black energy.

Yan Cijin shouted, "Bai Li!"

Bai Li did not pull away.

She drove her free hand into the zombie’s chest.

Her soul energy collided with the core.

The two forces pushed against each other.

The rooftop trembled.

The golden tree responded.

A pulse of golden light rolled outward.

The zombie screamed.

Its grip opened.

Bai Li twisted Whisperfang.

The core cracked.

One more push.

It shattered.

The black energy collapsed inward.

The zombie’s body dropped.

Bai Li stood over it, breathing hard for the first time.

Yan Cijin came running.

"You idiot."

Bai Li looked up.

"I am fine."

"You almost got yourself killed."

"I had it under control."

Yan Cijin stared at her.

For a moment Bai Li thought she might actually argue.

Instead Yan Cijin sighed.

"Fine. You win."

Bai Li’s expression softened slightly.

"Good."

The level 2 monster chose that moment to attack.

It moved so quickly that Yan Cijin barely had time to turn.

Bai Li caught its first claw with Whisperfang.

The force nearly knocked the sword from her hand.

The monster was smaller than the zombies but much faster.

Its four shoulder eyes flashed.

Bai Li saw the mental attack before it hit.

She closed her eyes.

The world changed.

The rooftop became a bright field.

The golden tree stood in front of her.

Yan Cijin was beside it.

The fruit was already ripe.

The false image of Yan Cijin smiled.

"Bai Li."

Bai Li frowned.

"Come take it."

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TO BE CONTINUED.