Chapter 25: "I Don't Owe Her Anything!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Zombies furiously pounded on the door, their numerous hands creating a relentless noise. Inside the yoga studio, the ground floor was swarming with zombies, all the way up the stairs to the second floor and the corridor leading to the storage room. The door, although locked and made of solid wood, was shaking violently under the zombies' assault. Chen Shiru, terrified, watched the door while reinforcing it with shelves and boxes, trying to protect herself and simultaneously refusing to submit to Zhang Cheng.

As Zhang Cheng started his motorcycle engine, the zombies glanced at him but continued their advance towards the studio. "Miss Chen, I'm leaving," Zhang Cheng called out, his last words before actually riding away. He believed there were many women like Tang Ying in the apocalypse, willing to do anything for food and survival. He had tried to use the same tactics he used on Tang Ying on Chen Shiru, luring her with food and scaring her with zombies. However, Chen Shiru, seemingly naive but with a strong character, refused to yield. Zhang Cheng felt he had given her a chance and didn't owe her anything, including saving her from her predicament. He questioned whether he should even bother rescuing her.

The zombies continued to pound on the door, which seemed like it could give way at any moment. Chen Shiru, now regretting her defiance, rushed to the window, but Zhang Cheng was nowhere to be seen in the dark night.

...

Zhang Cheng rode his motorcycle through the empty streets, searching for stores selling bird's nest, shark fin, deer antler, and ginseng. Before the apocalypse, his life had been simple, limited to the market, convenience stores, and banks, so he was unsure where to find such luxury items. The increasing groans and roars of zombies indicated that they were gathering in one direction, possibly attracted by another survivor.

Intrigued, Zhang Cheng followed the zombies into a narrow alley, pushing aside those in his way. The zombies, undisturbed by his presence, were focused on a yard enclosed by a cement wall and a locked iron gate, behind which were two police cars. "Police insignia, POLICE," Zhang Cheng noted. "A police station... could there be police officers inside?"

Just then, three muscular, tattooed men emerged from the building, each wielding a machete. One of them also had a police handgun strapped to his waist. They began slashing at the zombies at the gate, seemingly engaged in a routine clearing of the undead.