6 Live On! And Never Forget Tang Sect!

A wise man once articulated that a person's will is what affects the person's thought and character. In the past, that saying was utter garbage in my belief. I've always believed that the person's thoughts and character are what affects the will, totally opposite to the saying that wise man said, whomever he was.

But who would've thought that my approach was wrong?

That saying was true, and I was the one who thought foolishly. Even though it's quite late for me to prove it since I was already turning into a rabid human, I would still accept it. After all, I could feel that my will was the first to be tainted as I slowly transformed into a vile rabid human. As I disproved it, so should I prove that the saying was true.

Some people who have watched and critiqued a lot of zombie films in modern times would confidently say that one would lose his or her reason when turning, but that was a grave misunderstanding.

As someone who's turning into a rabid human, without a matter of doubt, I'm starting to lose my will to live first, not my reason. Although losing my reason would soon follow, I still want to refute that it's the will and not the person's character that's at play here. Or maybe I just wanted to refute this accepted common knowledge about zombies just to preoccupy my mind and distract it from the main subject.

Wait, did I just say zombie? No, what I meant was to call them rabid humans.

Because first of all, zombies aren't real, They're fictional characters constructed inside the minds of men and recounted like bedtime stories for a purpose. And that purpose being, to scare little children when they dream about fairy tales. Rabid humans is a more fitting term to call them since they're basically humans with the human version of rabies.

Recently, I've been talking too much to myself. Could it be a side-effect when turning into a rabid human? Well, that might be the case since I never really talk this much to myself before, I mean, as far as my mind can remember.

"Master, are you okay?" My little disciple worriedly asked, interrupting my conversation with myself.

It was Ye Zhiyun and her voice was showing much concern for me. Oh, how blessed am I to have a disciple as caring as her! Well, Natalia was also caring, and then she bit me.

"I'm f-fine," I forced a smile on my face as I bit my lip. Her flesh was looking kind of delicious right now and my brain kept on urging me to sink my teeth on her arms. It was too tempting! But I tried my best to hold on to my reason like a piece of gum stuck on someone's hair. I wouldn't want to let go of it. If I did, then that would be the end of Tang Sect for good.

And moreover, if I ever lose all reason, then I'd kill myself first before I brutally murder any of my disciples. I wouldn't want to die thinking that I was the reason they did so I'd rather end my life first if that worst-case scenario happens.

"Hang in there, we're almost there. " I told my disciples but in all honesty, I just said that so I could spur myself onwards. And we were almost at the edge of the forest just outside the city so it wasn't a made-up lie, we were really almost there.

Previously, I was mindlessly running but then I realized that the edge of the city should be the nearest safest place where my disciples would have a chance to thrive. Since the edge of the city has a forest right next to it, I deduced that there would be lots of trees to take refuge in and the food supply would be within arms reach since the city was near. Also, there's the possibility of wild fruits in the forest but provided that my disciples aren't cowardly enough, the supermarket or the convenience stores would be a few meters away from where I'll drop them off.

Regarding my disciples, I don't think they'd have the guts to return to the very city where we escape from just for the food supplies and I would very much like to get some food for them before I leave them in the forest. But I was losing my humanity and I don't think we can' afford any stopovers.

I mean, it won't be long before I see the three of them as my food supplies when I turn into a zomb- er, I mean a rabid human.

Finally, we reached the outskirts of the city. At long last, I had the luxury to drop both Luo Zhen and Xiao Liang to the ground. They grunted as their mouth was filled with soil but they didn't complain about my actions at all. At least they had gratefulness after I saved them from all the rabid humans. How admirable.

"Master Yongrui, we're really indebted to you. We express our gratitude for everything that you did for the three of us." Ye Zhiyun wiped her tears as it streamed down her cheeks and towards her chin. She bowed in front of me and once again, she spoke with great eloquence in thanking me. "We will never forget the life lessons and the little things you taught us in the sect. And we promise to never abandon our Tang Sect."

What do you mean Our Tang Sect? It's not our sect. It's mine. What are you talking about? I thought

"Master Yongrui, thank you so much for taking us in even though every sect shunned us because of our talentless and cowardly selves. I will never forget everythi- sniff..." Luo Zhen began. He was sniffling so hard I couldn't fathom what he was talking about. It's like the middle-line of gibberish and speaking in tongues. Still, I could feel the emotions welling up inside him because of how grateful he was to me.

"Ehrmm, look... " I cleared my throat, interrupting their monologues. "I don't think I could last long. I've been bitten at least twenty minutes ago and I estimate that I only have a few seconds left before I turn into a rabid human... "

"... And with that said. I'm heading out."

Although I tried to act as cool as I could, I was starting to feel exhausted and it won't be long before I faint and turn into a rabid human.

"I just want you to keep this in mind. Never ever forget the Tang Sect and do your best to live on no matter what! Don't make my death be in vain and for the sake of your fellow disciples who died in your place, don't die. That's all." I clenched my fist as I turned around and as a sign of our farewell, I punched my fists in the air with all the strength I could muster.

That's when the tearjerking crying session commenced and my disciples were all part of it. Just when I was making my grand exit, they increased the volume of their wails as if forgetting that there were rabid humans all around us.

"BE QUIET! THE ZOMBI-, er, RABID HUMANS CAN HEAR YOU! Idiots." I shouted at them since I couldn't help it anymore. Were they trying to kill themselves as soon as I saved them? Or were they crying in honor of me? I don't know but it pissed me off.

What can I say except, good riddance!

Finally, as the throes of death quickened its pace to erase me from existence, I valiantly marched in the middle of the city, enjoying the last fleeting moments of my life.

I remembered the time when I lost my parents in a city-wide arson a few years ago and the Head of the Tang Sect took me in to teach me the basics of cultivation. I recalled the time when I first shot my Fire Arrow, dismembering a fellow disciple in the process. I remember being part of the vanguard when the Black Blood sect decided to attack our very own Tang Sect. My master died that day and as the right-hand man, I automatically assumed the position of sect master.

Those days flashed past my mind in a split second, reliving my memories as the movie of my life drew to a close.

The skies were clear and sunny that day

I know because I watched it just as the virus inside me took over my body like a hacker breaching the firewall of a computer. I know because the brightness of the sun that day almost partially blinded me since my eyes were directed at it and I lost all my strength to move my head.

I know because I felt my body rot as I watched the sun.

It burned my eyes and yet, I felt at peace. I never knew that dying could be such a calming experience. Not that I wanted to die, of course. It's just... the feeling of your muscles relaxing and your breathing slowing down had such tranquility.

But there will come a time when one's death will draw near and one wouldn't have any choice but to accept it. Such was the time I was experiencing right at this moment.

Just as my body fully succumbed and surrendered to the virus, something blocked the beautiful view of the sun in front of me.

It frustrated me to no end since I wanted to look at the sun until I die.

And yeah, for some reason, it was Natalia who blocked the view.

Of all the zombi- er, rabid humans! Curse you, Natalia! I mean, not in the literal sense of the word, I still like you... as a woman and not a rabid human, of course!

.

Thus... I died while looking through a hole in someone's stomach.