Chapter 38.5

With nothing barring its way, the zombie finally entered the studio. Behind it, there were two other zombies. Its movement was very slow and it took it a good fifteen seconds before finally getting past the door. Li Xinwen made sure to conceal his presence so that the zombie would not be able to detect him. Li Xinwen waited for the staff to start attacking but to his surprise, none dared to move. In the end, he had to signal for them to start attacking by making a gesture that's similar to bashing the zombie head.

Only then did they began to move. Humans are truly a fascinating creature. Even without being told to, they already knew to group themselves to deal with the three zombies. Li Xinwen could only nods his head in satisfaction when he saw this. With everyone working together, even if they only have blunt weapon, they were still able to smash open the zombie's head after a few heavy blow.

Throughout this, Li Xinwen's eyes landed on An Yunxu who are only watching while others were working. He couldn't help but frown in dissatisfaction. But he didn't say anything, deciding to keep an eye on him more. Once the zombies were dealt with, they finally steps out of the studio. Outside the studio was messy. The floor of the hallway were stained with blood, some limbs were strewn all over the place but its main body were nowhere in sight. 

"Right now, using the elevator is risky. We'll go by the emergency exit," Li Xinwen said out loud. "Mr Director, do you know where the emergency exit is?"

"It should be to our left. And when we get to the intersection, we turn right and then straight ahead," the director replied.

After hearing the direction, Li Xinwen proceeded to walk.

"Wait, are we really going by the stairs? We're at the 63rd floor!" someone voiced out.

"If you want to take the elevator, feel free," was all Li Xinwen said as he continued to walk to the direction of the emergency staircase. After a while the staff followed several step behind him. An Yunxu was at first right at the middle of the group but when he looked back and saw the three people who were injured by the zombie earlier, he quickened his steps to catch up with Li Xinwen.

Li Xinwen noticed this, but didn't call out this action. He could understand the need to survive, but what he didn't like is that this Senior An of his didn't seem to want to work for that survival. It was as if that he didn't want to get his hand dirty.

They had only managed to advance thirty steps when they came across three zombies. They were huddled up right in the middle of the hallway, appearing to be feasting on a poor soul who has long gone. The zombies were too fixated on their meal that they has yet to notice Li Xinwen's group.

Just beside those zombies, there was an open door that leads to another studio. Li Xinwen felt that if they try to engage the zombie, with the lack of space in the hallway, it'll be more dangerous. So in the end, he decided to try another method.

"Since we don't know how long it has been since they've become a zombie, let's assume that it as recovered its hearing senses," Li Xinwen said in a low voice. "Just our luck, there's an open door just right beside them. Is there anything that you can give me that I can throw? Preferably something solid."

As he said this, Li Xinwen turned to the group and waited for someone to hand him an object. For the first few seconds, there was no one who came forward. But fortunately, before even ten seconds passed, someone volunteered to give up an item of theirs.

"Umm… Teacher Li, do you think this will do?"

The one who spoke up was one of the make-up artist. In her hand was a can of hair spray. It was only then did Lin Xinwen notice that some of the staff member had brought along their tools of trade. What's worse was that there was even someone who brought along a camera.

Taking the can of hair spray, Li Xinwen glanced over at the cameraman who brought the camera and narrowed his eyes. "You there, what are you planning to do with that camera?"

"I… well, to record?" the cameraman replied.

"…" Li Xinwen merely gave the cameraman a look of disapproval and the cameraman panicked.

"Teacher Li, I promise I won't be a hindrance. So please let me bring this camera! I mean, it's not everyday we get to see zombies," the cameraman quickly added, worried that Li Xinwen would tell him to leave the camera.

"You're right. It's not everyday we get to see zombies but after today, you will see them every single day no matter where you go," Li Xinwen scowled, but he didn't say anything else about the camera but he did warn the cameraman: "If you got into trouble because of that, I won't be saving you."

The cameraman paled, but only nods his head in understanding. After saying his piece, Li Xinwen turned his attention back to the zombies. Signalling for the group to wait for him in place, he quietly approached the zombies. Once he was close enough to the door, he raised his hand and threw the spray can towards the open door. 

The can flew right past the door and when it hit the floor, it caused a sound that attracted the zombies who were eating their meal. The zombies turned their head towards the sound before finally getting up and walked to the direction of the sound.

Patiently, Li Xinwen waited until the three zombies entered the studio before finally signalling for the group to follow him again. When he got near the corpse, Li Xinwen circled around it and looked into the studio. Inside, there were several other zombies other than the three that he baited inside.

Quickly counting it, he saw that there was about thirty of them. Knowing that it would only cause trouble if they are left alone like this, Li Xinwen quietly close the door. After all, if left open, who knows where else these zombies would wander once they are used to their movement.

The other saw his action of closing the door, but didn't comment on it. But one curious An Yunxu couldn't help asking. "Xiao Wen, why did you close the door?"

"If you're stupid enough wanting to let them follow you, feel free to open the door again. I must say though, there are about thirty inside," Li Xinwen replied.

Hearing the number, the rest of the group shivered. While An Yunxu also felt fearful after hearing the number, he couldn't help but feel that Li Xinwen was making him sound like an idiot. They increased their pace and urged Li Xinwen to quickly lead them out. 

After that, whatever Li Xinwen does, they never question. Whenever Li Xinwen ask for items to throw, they gave him. The person who contributed the most in giving Li Xinwen item throw able objects was the make-up artist from before. 

Usually, to reach the emergency staircase from the studio they were in before should've only taken five minutes at most and that was even when you walk in a very relaxed manner. Now, they took a good fifteen minutes to reach the emergency staircase, and there was a single zombie that blocked the door.

"Senior An, you go and deal with that," Li Xinwen gestured at the zombie blocking the door.

"Eh? Why? Can't someone else do it?" An Yunxu asked, completely unwilling to do as Li Xinwen ordered. "Ah, right. What about letting that guy with your dagger deal with it?" he suggested as he looked over to the man who was still holding Li Xinwen's dagger.

"Senior An, I want you to be the one to deal with the zombie."

"B-But… Xiao Wen, I'm scared…" An Yunxu gave him a pitiful expression. Unfortunately, this does not work with Li Xinwen. 

Li Xinwen was about to tell An Yunxu to go for the third time when the man with the dagger offered himself. "Teacher Li, Teacher An is scared like this. Let's just let me go and deal with it. It is just one zombie, no big deal," he said to Li Xinwen.

Turning to face the man, Li Xinwen could see that he was determined to cover for An Yunxu and he couldn't help but let out a sigh. "What's your name?"

"I am called Wei Qiu," he replied.

"Then, Brother Wei, let me ask you this. You covered for Senior An now, then what about the next time? And the next after that? Do you plan on covering for him every time?" Li Xinwen asks.

"I… don't think there is anything wrong with that," Wei Qiu replied. "I mean, if I can protect someone and have the ability to do so, why not?"

"Yes, you are right about that," Li Xinwen said. "But what happen once we separate? Surely you have a family of your own and you will want to make sure that they are safe. But Senior An will be following me to return to our residential area. I, for one, do not want to always cover for someone who doesn't work for his own survival."

Li Xinwen had made his point across. He turned to An Yunxu once more and once again, told him to deal with the zombie.

"Xiao Wen… do you have to be this cruel?" An Yunxu asked with a timid voice.

"Cruel? Senior An, I am merely teaching you how to survive. The faster you get used to it, the better. Cruel would be me, not letting you gain experience in dealing with zombies then leaving you out in the open with no knowledge of protecting yourself," he told An Yunxu.

"B-But…" An Yunxu was still reluctant to go forward and kill the zombie. In the end, Li Xinwen had to resort to threatening him.

"Senior An, forgive me but if you don't do as I say, I will leave you here. Anyone who wants to help him in this, then I will simply leave all of you," Li Xinwen said out loud, warning the rest of the group not to meddle in the matter.

"Teacher Li is right," suddenly, the director spoke out. "You guys may think he's cruel but he is doing this for the good of Teacher An. After all there is a saying, 'give a hungry man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime'."

At this, Wei Qiu who had wanted to help An Yunxu earlier brighten up. "So, it wasn't that Teacher Li doesn't want to help Teacher An once we separate! But Teacher Li just want Teacher An to rely on himself!"

Li Xinwen who actually didn't want to be An Yunxu's golden thigh: …

An Yunxu who didn't want to get his hands dirty: …

In the end, An Yunxu could only tighten his grip on the metal pole in his hand as he slowly walk over to the zombie. When he was close enough, the zombie turned, attracted by An Yunxu's smell. With a groan, the zombie move towards An Yunxu who is now shaking in fear. 

When Li Xinwen saw that An Yunxu appeared to be rooted in place out of fear, he was prepared to take out his gun. But then, An Yunxu suddenly lifted the metal pole up high and with a loud yell, he rushed over to the zombie and smashed its head. Even though An Yunxu appear to be weak, gentle and kind in public, he was still a man after all. Not to mention, as an actor, he needed to train to keep his body in check. 

The zombie fell, but it was not enough to kill it. An Yunxu also know this before hand so he had already prepared to hit the zombie the second time. Then the third, followed by the fourth, the fifth…

An Yunxu seemed to be in trance as he continued to hit the zombie on the head over and over again as if he was trying to vent out his frustration. Blood splattered all over his face and clothes, and the image of the scene made people somehow feels scared. When Li Xinwen counted to the twentieth hit, he went forward to stop An Yunxu.

"Enough. It's already dead," Li Xinwen informed An Yunxu. "Let's go. Your cry earlier might have alerted few zombies nearby."

An Yunxu's breathing was heavy. When he turned to look at Li Xinwen, there was a murderous intent within his eyes. Li Xinwen inwardly scoffed before turning to the rest of the group. 

"The space in the staircase will be narrower, and there might also be zombies there. But if we're lucky, we won't be encountering any," Li Xinwen told them. "I will take the lead. The three who were injured by the zombie earlier will guard behind us."