The ceiling was a rough stone wall, and the ground was uneven, littered with stones of various sizes. The most striking feature of the ground was a twenty-meter-wide chasm. It could no longer be called a crack, but an abyss. Nothing could be seen below, only the sound of whistling wind.
The abyss was dark and cold. Once you fell in, there was no coming back. The surroundings were nothing but stone walls. This was a naturally formed cave. The only exit was a passage dug by zombies, but at this moment, the passage was blocked by a Corpse King, with hundreds of mutated zombies around him.
At this moment, Shen Feng was almost exhausted. Shen Feng hadn't eaten properly for days. Without energy replenishment, eating half a compressed biscuit daily was barely enough. After it entered his stomach, he would soon be hungry, and his stomach would occasionally growl in protest. Shen Feng was, after all, a fourth-tier ability user. His daily food intake could be equivalent to four or five rabbits. Now, he was underfed, and his body was naturally weak.
Moreover, Shen Feng had been fighting for a full day. Since he left his hiding place, he had basically not rested. He was then exposed and fought with the Corpse King. Finally, he saw the exit but couldn't break through no matter what. The two Corpse Kings at the cave entrance guarded it tightly, like a high wall built of bluestone. No matter how Shen Feng crashed against it, bleeding from his head, it would not fall.
At this moment, Shen Feng sat by the abyss, holding the weak and injured Chu Chaoyan. Shen Feng's eyebrows were lowered, making it impossible to see his expression. Chu Chaoyan could barely keep her eyes open.
Ma Jing Shuang continued, "Kid, haven't you made up your mind yet? You can endure, but your girlfriend can't. She's seriously injured now. If she doesn't get treatment, she'll die soon. As a man, if you can't protect the woman you love, are you really a man?"
Shen Feng lowered his head and said nothing, but confusion appeared in his eyes. He didn't know how to choose. In the past, when making decisions, Chang Jian Yi always gave him advice, and he could ask for others' opinions. But now, he could only consider this problem himself.
Chu Chaoyan saw the confusion in Shen Feng's eyes and couldn't help but say, "Shen Feng, don't listen to the Corpse King. You are human, and he is a Corpse King. We are mortal enemies. We cannot make a deal with the Corpse King. This is like seeking a tiger for its skin!"
Ma Jing Shuang seemed to hear Chu Chaoyan's words and couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha, kid, your name is Shen Feng, right? I want to ask you, what is human, and what is zombie? What's the difference between humans and zombies? Is it whether or not they are infected with the zombie virus? Or is it just a definition you're struggling with? I'm a man of my word. As long as you tell me the information about Yanjing, I'll let you leave!"
Shen Feng didn't speak, but he looked up at the Corpse King, his eyes becoming more and more confused. He wanted to survive, and he wanted to survive with Chu Chaoyan.
Chu Chaoyan smiled at Shen Feng and said seriously, "The difference between humans and zombies is kindness. Zombies don't produce anything; they only destroy. They've done many bad things and eaten many living people, but at critical moments, they argue, believing they are human. If they are human, they should have empathy, they should learn to consider others, they shouldn't eat people, and they shouldn't vent their helplessness on humans. Don't you think so?"
At this point, Shen Feng finally smiled. He understood.
Ma Jing Shuang shrugged and smiled, "Shen Feng, such a good woman, a woman who always accompanies you and guides you, is it really good to let her die? Moreover, as long as you give me the information, we complete the transaction, you don't say, I don't say, how will outsiders know? Think about it, make a transaction that no one knows about, and you can survive, and even get more!"
"When you go back, you can brag as much as you want. You can brag about fighting zombies underground for more than ten days, killing countless zombies, and finally discovering the terrain of the zombie side. You will become a hero among humans! Do you want to be respected by others? Do you want to be a hero admired by everyone? As long as you reveal the information, you can leave, and you'll have everything!"
The Corpse King's words were like sweet poison. Although the consequences were severe, they were alluring. Shen Feng was inevitably attracted by the content of these words. He also dreamed of becoming a hero, a myth admired by everyone. Even if this myth was obtained through unspeakable means, it was enough.
However, Shen Feng stood up with Chu Chaoyan and gently shook his head, saying, "Although everything you've described is so attractive, and I can't help but imagine it happening, I refuse!"
Shen Feng said coldly, "Once you get my information, you might rush into Yanjing city, and then it will be the doomsday for millions of survivors. Although I, Shen Feng, am not a famous person, I will not betray my compatriots! You don't expect to get any information from me!"
"Is that so? Do you think I can't enter Yanjing without your information? To be honest, once spring arrives, I will still break through Yanjing! It's just a matter of time. You seem to overestimate your value!" Ma Jing Shuang's voice gradually turned cold.
"Heh, perhaps, but this is not a matter of degree, but a matter of doing or not doing. If I do it, I will be a traitor punishable by everyone. Conversely, if I die here today, perhaps I will be unknown, perhaps I will be forgotten soon, perhaps only a few people will shed tears for me, but as long as I have a clear conscience, it is enough!" Shen Feng showed a look of relief. After staying underground for so long, he still couldn't survive. He finally let go. There are things in life that cannot be achieved even with effort.
"Then are you worthy of the girl in your arms?" Ma Jing Shuang asked. "You know, her life is also in your hands. If you choose death, it's equivalent to killing her. You could have had a beautiful ending. Can you really bear it?"
"It can't be helped if I can't bear it. If I have guilt, I can only explain it to her slowly in hell. I only hope she can forgive me then!" Shen Feng said with a wry smile.
"Alas, what a pity. The world is always stubborn, the world is always persistent. Persistence leads to obsession!" Ma Jing Shuang turned his head and said in a low voice, "Finish him!"
Instantly, hundreds of mutated zombies rushed towards Shen Feng, wanting to tear him apart. It would be best if they could grab some meat and put it in their mouths. They hadn't tasted human flesh and blood for a long time.
Shen Feng did not resist. Instead, he held Chu Chaoyan and leaned back, falling backward uncontrollably. He fell into the abyss with Chu Chaoyan. The whistling wind blew past Shen Feng's ears, and he no longer had the strength to use the wind to support his body.
After falling two hundred meters, Shen Feng finally managed to use his ability with great effort and erected the "Wind King's Barrier." This was the last bit of strength he could muster. Shen Feng knew that even with this barrier, they would still die upon impact.
Shen Feng fell into boundless darkness, and not a single speck of light could be seen in his eyes. But at this moment, the two wrapped in the Wind King's Barrier fell to the bottom of the abyss. There were no rocks or soil here, but boundless flowing water. Instantly, the two were swept into the undercurrent and tumbled with the water.
Shen Feng hadn't expected that there would be an underground river at the bottom of the abyss. He had always wanted to go up because going up meant leaving. But since the zombie outbreak, he had led Chu Chaoyan step by step downwards, from the first underground level to the second, then to the third. As he got farther and farther away from the surface, he had already despaired. Who knew that at the last moment, he had to jump into the abyss, and at the bottom of the abyss was an underground river.
The real way to survive was actually underground. As long as the underground river was flowing, it would definitely carry Shen Feng to the outside world.
This was a period of endless darkness. Chu Chaoyan had lost too much blood and had fallen unconscious. Before she lost consciousness, there was a slight smile on her face. She was very happy that Shen Feng had chosen to believe her words.
Unfortunately, Shen Feng had no lighting tools. In the darkness, he couldn't see Chu Chaoyan's face clearly. He also didn't know that Chu Chaoyan didn't blame him. He could only watch the boundless darkness, only waiting silently, waiting for the underground river to carry him and Chu Chaoyan away from here.
Shen Feng had a rare opportunity to rest, but upon careful searching, he found nothing in Chu Chaoyan's bag except a notebook. It was impossible to replenish his energy. Shen Feng didn't know how long the "Wind King's Barrier" could last, and he didn't know himself. Once the barrier broke, he and Chu Chaoyan would inevitably die in the underground river.
This was a place where sunlight could not penetrate, cold and deep. Shen Feng, carrying Chu Chaoyan, was constantly impacted by the water underground. The "Wind King's Barrier" continuously hit submerged rocks. After supporting for half a day, the barrier shattered. Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan fell into the icy river water. It was the depths of winter, and the underground river was bone-chilling. Shen Feng tightly held Chu Chaoyan. He couldn't separate from Chu Chaoyan because if they separated, he might survive, but the unconscious Chu Chaoyan would definitely not.
Fortunately, the underground river reached its end at this time. Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan emerged from underground and finally saw the light. For a moment, Shen Feng could only close his eyes. His face was pale. He had been frozen in the water for a long time, and he was severely hypothermic.
The most critical thing was that in the underground river, Shen Feng's legs had violently hit submerged rocks. Both of his lower legs were immediately broken. Sharp bone spurs pierced his muscles, and Shen Feng was bleeding continuously. Although his blood vessels were not broken, he could no longer run.
Shen Feng struggled in the river water. Chu Chaoyan's body was sinking, and he himself felt unable to hold on, as if he might sink to the bottom at any moment. This was a wide river surface. Shen Feng, who had fallen into the water, could not see the shore at all. After struggling for a long time, Shen Feng finally found a piece of wood floating in the river and quickly grabbed it, placing himself and Chu Chaoyan on the wood.
Shen Feng tried his best to swim to the shore, but his legs were broken and he couldn't exert any strength. In the end, he could only float on the river with Chu Chaoyan, letting the water carry him and Chu Chaoyan away.
When the river water took a bend, it impacted the wood, causing it to stop by the shore. Shen Feng quickly took Chu Chaoyan to the shore. This was a reed marsh, and the reeds had already withered. In the wind and snow, only withered branches and leaves shivered. Shen Feng had also lost his last bit of strength and fell to the ground. His legs were trembling uncontrollably. After soaking in the water for so long, he had cramps.
Shen Feng woke up in severe pain. It was no longer snowing, and he could see the stars in the sky. Shen Feng roughly calculated that it must not be the night he jumped into the underground river. It must have been another day. He didn't expect to wake up now. His stomach was empty, and he had no strength in his body. Chu Chaoyan was lying beside him.
Shen Feng quickly checked Chu Chaoyan's condition. Chu Chaoyan's body temperature was very low. Shen Feng could only feel a chill when he touched her, but she still had a pulse. She was still alive.
Shen Feng couldn't stand and run because his legs were broken. He could only carry Chu Chaoyan on his back and crawl on the ground with his hands. He wanted to use his abilities, but he lacked strength, and his abilities couldn't be used at all.
Fortunately, at this moment, Shen Feng discovered a boat in the bend of the river. It was a boat that had been washed downstream and stopped in the bend. Shen Feng immediately found hope. Since it was a boat, there must be fuel on board. As long as he could find fuel, he could keep warm and also send a signal.
Shen Feng painstakingly brought Chu Chaoyan and himself onto the boat. It was a fishing boat. There were blankets and coal on the boat, and a lighter was in the cabin. Shen Feng quickly dismantled things on the boat that could be burned to start a fire. Coal was not easy to ignite; he had to light firewood first to ignite the coal.
On the seventeenth day, Shen Feng lit a pile of dry branches and leaves. Thick smoke rose into the sky. It was no longer snowing, but the ground was still covered in ice and snow. Chu Chaoyan's condition was not good. She had not woken up, and her temperature fluctuated. Once, Chu Chaoyan's pulse disappeared for ten minutes, and Shen Feng quickly performed CPR on her.
After waiting for a long time, Shen Feng did not receive any rescue. At this moment, Shen Feng was completely desperate. He hid in the cabin and muttered to himself, "Yes, it's the apocalypse now. Where is the rescue? Even if I send out a signal, what's the use? I can't save anyone, I can't do anything!"
Shen Feng held Chu Chaoyan in the cabin to keep warm. His eyes were vacant. He knew he could still survive, but Chu Chaoyan would die if she didn't get treatment. Now, it seemed he could only watch his beloved die in his arms.
However, just as Shen Feng was completely desperate, a person suddenly fell from the front of the fishing boat, and a powerful voice came, "Need help?"
Shen Feng looked up and recognized the guy. He had a pair of black wings on his back and a casual smile on his face. Shen Feng immediately said excitedly, "Birdman, no, Angel, quickly take me and my girlfriend to Yanjing. She needs treatment. I can't move now. Please help me!"
Zhang Jue said displeasedly, "I'm not an angel, nor am I a birdman. I'm Zhang Jue! Remember my name. However, I want to clarify one thing: I never do anything that doesn't benefit me. You'd better give me something in return!"
Fortunately, Shen Feng had read Journey to the West and knew what "something in return" meant. He quickly said, "If you take us back to Yanjing, I'll give you an evolution potion. I'm Shen Feng, and I keep my word!"
Zhang Jue was stunned when he heard this. He quickly bent down and examined the cabin carefully, "You're Shen Feng? I really didn't recognize you. Since you said it, I naturally believe you. Remember, one evolution potion, no cheating!"
If Shen Feng hadn't introduced himself, Zhang Jue wouldn't have recognized him. Zhang Jue had watched the live broadcast of Shen Feng fighting the Corpse King alone. Back then, Shen Feng was spirited and heroic. Facing the Corpse King's fierce attacks, he swung his sword and killed the Corpse King in Rongcheng. But now, Shen Feng was disheveled and ragged. Even if he said he was Zhang Jue, the five-bag elder of the Beggar Clan, people would believe him.
At this moment, Zhang Jue had no time to ask more questions. He quickly stepped forward to help, tied Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan together, brought them to the front of the boat, grabbed the rope, and took off. Zhang Jue also wanted to ask clearly why Shen Feng was here. After all, this place was already outside Yanjing's jurisdiction. This was the middle and lower reaches of the Yongding River, nearly a hundred kilometers away from the western suburbs of the city that Shen Feng had explored before. Under what circumstances would he appear here?
However, the situation was urgent. Zhang Jue took Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan and flew towards Yanjing. If it was about combat power, ten Zhang Jues couldn't compare to Shen Feng alone, but in terms of flying ability, he was the number one in the world, and no one could surpass him.