Since Zhang Xuan understood his father well, she knew how to behave in that party. She knew how to make the party even livelier, she told stories that made the guests, her mother and her brother preoccupied. She helped those who tasked to serve the meal. She didn't restrain the flow of the alcohol and made everyone happy. As the party went, she exaggerated the valor of his father men in the battlefield a bit. She knew how to make sure that things didn't go too far as well.

Anyway, she was busy that whole time. Chen Yao and Xia Yue didn't suspect anything. They thought that Zhang Xuan felt extremely happy for meeting her mother. It reminded them of their family too. It made them less cheerful during that party, but seeing everyone in such a joyous occasion, they couldn't help but ignored their own feeling and tried to be a part of the party.

While Zhang Xuan was busy creating a smoke screen for his father, Zhang Hu and Fan Zheng didn't lazy around either. They had the rough explanation from Zhang Xuan. With their long friendship, they knew how to guard each other back.

Slowly they started accumulating experience and improved their levels.

Zhang Hu reached level 3 and Fan Zheng reached level 4 when each of them got their own weapons. Fan Zheng managed to get his hand on two Chinese Sabre, since he knew how to fight with twin swords, as soon as Zhang Hu got another weapon, but sabre was given to Fan Zheng.

It was when Zhang Hu reached level 5 that he found an iron staff for a weapon.

Almost as soon as they improved a level, they got the martial art passive skill. Apparently due to their previous experience in the past, they're awarded with that passive skill without actively learning like Huang Wen.

If Huang Wen saw how those two fought, he would be frightened by how fast they were killing the zombies. They improved fast, but starting from level 8, they were having hard time to gain more levels.

"Fan Zheng, bro... it seems killing even a hundred of them didn't give us many points anymore.", Zhang Hu wiped the sweat out of his brows.

"Hmm... It is to be expected. Otherwise one would have herculean strength within a day.", Fa Zheng nodded, his eyes scanned the empty field, all the dead zombies already disappeared into thin air.

"We cleared the entire perimeters... should we try to go farther?", Zhang Hu hesitated.

"Let's not.... to a certain degree we could trust our men but we only knew them for a couple of days. I can't fully entrust my family in their hands yet.", Fa Zheng shook his head.

"You're right... I felt like that too. Let's head back for now. Do you think 8 levels different are good enough?", Zhang Xuan walked back to their base.

"Should be enough... It's just that I wonder if there anyone within our group who secretly knew about this.", Fan Zheng followed and walked at his side.

"Hmm... hope not but could be... let's come what comes.", Zhang Hu answered haughtily.

Fan Zheng laughed coldly, "You're right, too cautious and we'll ruined all the fun."

"How about our plan to capture a demon, have you see those threads that brat talked about?", Zhang Hu asked, for some reason he didn't get that third eye skill but Fan Zheng did.

"Hmm... I think I saw it, but we need to go far from our base. It seemed those demons afraid of our strength and chooses to live far from our base.", said Fan Zheng.

"They afraid of us?", Zhang Hu raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, I think there would be some reason why. Perhaps the fact that we're gathered and united, something must intimidate them. Besides, I think most of them are cowards. They attack from hiding place and attack weak people. Once they have zombies to work for them, they choose to hide and use their zombies to get the food for them.", said Fan Zheng with a frown in his face.

"Hmm... maybe, but there is also demon who enjoys fighting. Zhang Xuan told me about one demon who searched Huang Wen and challenged him in a duel.", said Zhang Hu.

"Maybe... but even so... I think he looked for Huang Wen because he felt that he could defeat him.", Fan Zheng seemed had certain inclination of the demon's character.

"How do you know?", Zhang Hu asked.

"Just my feeling... just my feeling...", said Fan Zheng.

"Hmmm... back in the past, when we faced the danger you used to have some premonition before it happened and it saved our lives so many times. I guess that's why you had that 3rd eye skill while I don't", said Zhang Hu.

"Hahaha, maybe... maybe... and you play the charismatic leader role... like now, somehow you got Royal Aura skill, something perhaps only people like you get it.", said Fan Zheng.

"Hmm... Don't you think these game mechanics things rather funny? It seems like someone tried to put our personality in game.", Fan Zheng added.

"Some kind of god...?", asked Zhang Hu.

"Yes, a weird god... no... no... a mischievous god.", said Fan Zheng.

"Who cares... damn him for playing around with us.", Zhang Hu swore.

--- o ---

That night, in one of the rooms within the building, it was set as Zhang Hu's office, usually only he and Fan Zheng use this room but tonight there were Zhang Hu and Zhang Xuan.

"... that kid... he ...you and he....?", Zhang Hu's eyes bulged, the vein on his forehead too.

Zhang Xuan blushed a bit, "Yes, but father listen to me first."

"Was he forced you...? I'll... I'll....", Zhang Hu shook his humongous fist.

"Father...", Zhang Xuan silently reproached his father.

"Hmmhh... alright, let me listen...", usually Zhang Hu is a calmed person, its not easy to agitate him.

"First, he's not that bad. The truth is, he has the power to force me but he didn't...", Zhang Xuan tried to appease her father.

Zhang Xuan hesitated but she knew she needed to explain it clearly to his father. Besides she trusted her father's open mind, "It was me who initiated it father.... Otherwise he might not did it and after that happened, he said many times that he will responsible for that."

"Well, he better will, otherwise I will give him a beating and left him an inch of his life.", Zhang Hu grunted.

"Father..., I know you're not so easily angry by any situation. Now, what do you think of our current situation?", Zhang Xuan changed the topic.

"Hmm... seeing how things spread out and the fact that we don't see any army moved to secure a big city like Fuzhou, I think the government isn't functioning right now. I bet many of the upper level were either dead or turn into zombies. But men are quite tough, if I could build a base here in Fuzhou with less than a hundred people then I believe there were many who will be able to form such group of survivors everywhere. I only spend a couple of days, but already gathered more than one thousand. Give me more time and it will grow even more. Such as human is, it's not easy to destroy a society that was formed for thousands of years.", Zhang Hu explained his thoughts.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Given time, if there are no more catastrophic events, we'll clear the land from zombies", said Zhang Hu.

"I agree with you, father but how about these demons and the supra natural power that now available to us?", asked Zhang Xuan.

"Adding this new information of otherworldly skills and power systems... Surely there will be changes. Most likely we'll turn into some medieval society where those with martial art power stand at the highest level of the structure. Just like samurai became the highest class in medieval Japan, or the warrior caste in ancient India.", Zhang Hu answered without any hesitation, obviously he had given it a thought long before Zhang Xuan asked him.

"Yes, I think so too. And just like the ancient times were filled with an era of turbulent and chaos. Until the power structure within the country firmly formed, we'll have times of chaos. Wars, intrigues, battle for power... It will take years before everything reached its balance. Things settled down and we could live in peace."

"Hmm... I taught you well.", Zhang Hu nodded, satisfied with his daughter assessment.

"That's where we need Huang Wen to play a role for us.", said Zhang Xuan.

"Do you take a liking to him?", Zhang Hu grumbled.

"What if I say yes?", Zhang Xuan answered and looked at his father intently.

"Hmm.... Fan Zheng said this before, that I got myself a good son in law.", Zhang Hu gritted his teeth.

Zhang Xuan laughed, "Well... aren't Uncle Fan have sharp eyes as always."

Zhang Hu could see that his daughter already decided it, "Hmph! You think too highly of him."

"Ah... but your eyes are as sharp as his. Aren't you agree with him? Don't you think Huang Wen has the qualities to be my husband?", Zhang Xuan teased her father.

"Hmph... he's not that bad.", Zhang Hu still grumbled.

"I hope not... Father, I know you well. When these things started I already gave it a long thought. Aren't you thinking of founding some sort of kingdom on this ruined world?", suddenly Zhang Xuan asked her father seriously.

Zhang Hu didn't answer right away. His daughter certainly knew him well, almost as good as his brother Fan Zheng. He did want to found a kingdom, but it was not out of selfish desire or at least that was, what he believed. He already thought about it and finally concluded that it was the only way to ensure the safety of his family. If he wanted to live in a peaceful world once more, then he needed to do it.

Years ago, before he met his current wife, he and Fan Zheng worked in the underground world. The two of them, started as nobody, slowly they built their reputation and started their own organization. Zhang Hu was a charismatic leader by the time he met his wife, his men numbered around two hundred, if you counted the numbers of people who worked indirectly, it would reach thousands. Both of them enjoyed the challenge, racing against all the blood curling danger. It made them felt alive.

But after years of dangers, they began to feel bored and began to miss the peaceful life. It was then, when he met his current wife.

As soon as Zhang Hu decided to leave that world, Fan Zheng followed him. Both truly deserve to be called sworn brother. Just like Zhou Yu and Sun Ce, they shared their pain, their life and their dream.

Zhang Hu never regretted his decision to leave all the wealth that he accumulated over the time. Nor his position and power. He truly enjoyed the life of normal people. He used to wonder, how people who live in comfort want adventures but then he realized that's the nature of humanity. Men tend to want things that isn't his. Knowing this, Zhang Hu learned how to appreciate his life, all the things he had and loved in his life. He became a good father and a good husband.

Now his world was turned upside down but he never was a man who would bow down to adversity. If God or god, or The Devil wanted to turn his world into chaos, he himself, with his own two hands will create order within that chaos. He would create a safe place for those he loved.

With all that in his mind, he answered, "Yes, I am."

Those were three words, but the weight behind those three words was truly a weight that would press down and kill an ordinary man if he ever try to bear it on his shoulder. Zhang Hu was no ordinary man. His daughter was no ordinary girl too.

"Then you will need Huang Wen. We'll need him and I'll make sure that he will be one of us. As Liu Bei needed Zhao Yun, or Cao Cao needed Xu Zhu. You, my father will need strong generals, whose worth is thousands of soldiers.", she said it in such a determination and certainty.

Zhang Hu quietly assessed the look on his daughter's face. He seemed satisfied with what he saw.

"Go do it then.", but he added quickly, "... but if he ever disappoints you, I don't care how strong he is, I will fight him to death."

Zhang Xuan smiled, "He won't, I guarantee you, he won't"

"Hmph!, Don't be so sure. Keep your eyes on him and don't compare him to Zhao Yun or other heroes of the past. He wasn't at that level yet.", Zhang Hu snorted.

"I know he isn't a hero, but I'll make him into one.", Zhang Xuan answered confidently.

Zhang Hu shook his head, "I never dream it will happen like this. All those stories...it got into your head."

"And you're the one who told me all that stories. The romance of three kingdoms, the water margin and its 108 of heroes. You told it one by one. In detailed... and I think you add something of your own experience and your own opinion in it too.", Zhang Xuan haughtily answered.

Both father and daughter laughed and reminiscent of the old days, before the world turned upside down.

"You've grown up, huh?", Zhang Hu shook his head.

"Hmm... don't worry father... I know how to look after myself.", answered Zhang Xuan.

"I believe you and whenever you're in trouble. I'll be there to help you.", said Zhang Hu.