Zombie Tide Apocalypse：The Rise of the Son-in-Law

"Let's divorce."

The three words, as heavy as a mountain, finally escaped Yang Mu's lips.

In the opulent living room of the villa, Wen Sijia sat across from him.

She stood at 1.7 meters, with alabaster skin, delicate features, and a gym-toned body, her long legs especially captivating—once a source of Yang Mu's infatuation.

Yet after two years of marriage, he hadn't even touched her pinky, let alone those legs.

In these two years, they had only seen each other seventeen times, and she had spoken a mere four sentences to him:

"We're married now, let's keep it like this for the time being."

"I won't eat the food you cook."

"Don't come into my room."

"When Chu Hong visits, don't let her see you. I can't be bothered with your quarrels."

Four sentences, spoken across four separate occasions. The fourth one was the most infuriating—am I a stray dog? I can't even show my face when her friend visits?

Yang Mu was three years younger than Wen Sijia, 21 this year, standing at 1.79 meters tall, with a fit body and decent looks. A handsome guy, really. So why couldn't he meet that airhead Chu Hong?

Sigh...

These two years had been nothing but tears.

Also in the room was a mature and sophisticated woman—Wen Sijia's mother, Guan Haishan.

At 43, she looked like she was in her early thirties, often dressed provocatively and calling herself Sijia's elder sister. She always wore a frosty expression in front of Yang Mu, as if he owed her money.

Upon hearing Yang Mu's words of divorce, she sneered:

"You were merely my husband's driver. When he fell ill, a master was summoned, and he suggested a marriage to dispel bad luck. Since your horoscopes matched Sijia's, we let you into the house. My husband died on your wedding day. I wanted to throw you out then, but Sijia had just become the heir to the family business, and people were using her marriage against her, so we tolerated you for two years... And now you're asking for a divorce? Fine! We'll head to the civil office shortly. You won't leave empty-handed; here's a card with 100,000 on it—a severance package."

Throughout this, Wen Sijia remained expressionless, her eyes fixed on the TV, as if none of it concerned her.

Feeling the chill of her indifference, Yang Mu's heart sank. He spoke up:

"Let's go, to the civil office."

Wen Sijia still didn't look at him, but she uttered the fifth sentence she had ever spoken to him in two years:

"Let me finish this episode first."

Seeing her apathy, Yang Mu had half a mind to strip her down, tie her up, force-feed her chili water, and drip wax on her! But alas, it was just a thought—he couldn't bring himself to act.

He stood and walked to the door, pausing before leaving.

"The office is open until noon. Don't keep me waiting."

"You're not taking the money?" Wen Sijia's sixth sentence to him.

"I can't be bothered with anything from the Wen family, especially this card. It reeks of Guan Haishan. Just looking at it makes me angry."

With that, he strode out, slamming the door behind him as Guan Haishan's scolding followed:

"Ungrateful brat! Mooching off us for two years, you pretty boy!"

"Mom, stop. It doesn't matter anymore..."

"Didn't you say you had several suitors? Now that you're divorced, bring them over for me to see."

"I'm not thinking about remarriage right now."

"I'm not saying you should remarry immediately, just let me see who's fit for you."

"I haven't thought about it."

"Well, start thinking! You're single now, my darling."

Yang Mu curled his lips and closed the door behind him.

Wen Sijia was right... from now on, none of it mattered. He was once again alone.

At three, he had been abducted, carrying nothing but a small golden pendant engraved with his birth date and time.

At five, he escaped from his kidnappers, pendant in hand, and wandered the streets for two years before arriving in this city.

To survive, he fought other beggars for territory, battled thugs to avoid being bullied, and stole meat from wolves in the forest while evading his captors.

From as early as he could remember, he had never had a real home.

He had lived in sewers, ATM rooms, beside West Lake, even in animal pens. This life had made him intimately familiar with every corner of the city, hardening his spirit and body in the process.

Two years ago, Yang Mu had saved Wen's chairman from a kidnapping attempt on the streets. He became the man's driver and bodyguard, and by some twist of fate, he ended up marrying the Wen family's second daughter.

He thought his destiny had finally changed.

But reality proved that a toad could never feast on swan meat—he remained a mere speck of dust in the city's underbelly.

Lost in thought, Yang Mu had walked several kilometers without realizing it.

If not for the sudden flash of light that struck his forehead, he might have walked straight to the civil office. A wave of dizziness hit, and a voice echoed in his mind:

"The undead will descend, and the apocalyptic clouds will darken the planet. These glowing stones, called Primal Stones, are brimming with energy, granting you the power to fight the undead. Merge ten of the same color to forge higher-tier stones, amplifying your abilities. You must collect them—they are crucial. Vital!"

The voice faded, leaving Yang Mu standing there, stunned.

"What was that? Who's talking?"

"Yang Mu, what nonsense are you shouting? Have you lost your mind?"

A convertible screeched to a halt beside him. Inside sat a stunning woman, scantily dressed like a rebellious youth. She had heard Yang Mu shouting and mocked him.

Her name was Chu Hong, Wen Sijia's best friend, 22 years old, and Yang Mu's nemesis.

If it weren't for her, maybe there could have been something between him and Wen Sijia.

Seeing him still in a daze, Chu Hong laughed:

"Just left the house, didn't you? I heard you asked for a divorce. You're really going to leave such a beauty? I drove here to find you at the civil office, and look, I did!"

"Get lost. You know, if there's one person I want to screw and kill more than anyone, it's you."

"Screw and kill? What's the 'screw' mean? Say it if you dare."

"You're insane. Don't mess with me!"

"Aw, don't be mad. I might even miss you. For two years, bullying you has been my hobby. Once you're gone, I might feel... lonely."

"Psycho."

"My mom says the same."

Fed up with her, Yang Mu decided to teach her a lesson.

He lunged towards the car like a predator.

Startled, Chu Hong's heart raced. Was this guy really going to hit her?

In an instant, Yang Mu was at the car. She scrambled to start it, but it was too late.

Yang Mu's hand pressed down on her head.

Chu Hong let out a scream as a shadow swept over her.

My god!

Yang Mu had vaulted right over her head!

Though the sports car wasn't particularly wide, it still had a windshield. How had Yang Mu, so strong and agile, leaped over it like that? Over her, no less!

His crotch had passed right above her head. Did that mean she had just been beneath him?

Furious at the thought, Chu Hong glared at him, watching as he walked backward, smirking and flipping her off.

"You little bastard! Wait and see if I don't run you over!"

She revved the engine, spun the car around, and floored the gas.

She drove recklessly, slamming her foot down on the accelerator. As the car rounded the corner, a cyclist appeared out of nowhere and collided with the vehicle.

The person was thrown several meters into the air, landing with their body grotesquely twisted. One arm was broken, with bone piercing through torn flesh.

Chu Hong slammed on the brakes, her face pale as death. She stepped out, trembling, to check on the victim, whose once fair face had turned a sickly blue.

"No breath... there's no breath at all! I killed someone! Yang Mu, what do I do? I killed someone!"

Yang Mu paid her no mind and continued walking, still mulling over the strange events from earlier. After a while, finding no answers, he shook his head in frustration, glancing at the street signs to find the way to the civil office.

Wen Sijia might have already arrived; she drove fast.

His thoughts drifted back to the past two years, spent as a full-time "domestic worker"—cooking, cleaning, doing laundry—just like a servant.

It wasn't the life he wanted, but he had loved Wen Sijia, and that love had kept him from seeking work, obeying the demands of both mother and daughter.

Wen Sijia's path to becoming a CEO had been fraught with obstacles, and she feared that her enemies would use him as ammunition. That's why she severed his ties with the outside world.

He understood, and because he understood, he endured.

His only reprieve in two years had been the late-night adrenaline of urban parkour.

Lost in his memories, a piercing scream shattered the air behind him. It sounded like a slaughtered pig.

"Help! Yang Mu, help me! Please, I beg you! Save me!"

The spoiled princess, who had just killed someone, was now screaming for help?

Yang Mu turned around, his eyes widening in shock.

Chu Hong was crawling on the ground, her short skirt disheveled, revealing a pair of pale yellow underwear. A hand gripped them, tugging, exposing half her hip.

That hand belonged to the man she had just hit.

How could this be? Wasn't he dead? Chu Hong, who had medical training, had already pronounced him dead!

Suddenly, the man lifted his head, revealing his face.

Yang Mu's heart leapt in terror.

Blood dripped from his nose and mouth, and his lips were stretched open, baring yellowed, slimy teeth.

But what frightened Yang Mu most were his eyes.

They were mostly whites, with only a small, pinpoint black dot in the center.

Was that a pupil?

Yang Mu had never seen eyes like that before...

This wasn't a busy street—there were few pedestrians, and even fewer cars.

Chu Hong's convertible was parked at the curb, while she and the man with those ghostly eyes were sprawled in the middle of the road.

Yang Mu stood five meters away, watching the scene unfold.

Suddenly, the sound of a vehicle roared from behind him. He dodged quickly!

A large truck sped toward them, the driver seemingly out of his mind, with the accelerator pressed to the floor. The truck barreled forward at full speed.

It didn't slow down. In an instant, it crushed both Chu Hong and the man beneath its wheels.

Yang Mu instinctively ran forward to check, but the sight before him was even more grotesque and terrifying, sending chills racing down his spine.