The morning air in the safe zone was colder than usual, but Jiang Ye’s heart remained calm. He stood on an open patch of land near the camp’s edge, holding the Lingfeng Sword in his hand, his eyes closed as he focused on the flow of inner energy within his body. Ever since the zombie outbreak, he had noticed a remarkable acceleration in his progress. What used to take months to achieve now only required a few weeks, or even less.
At first, this anomaly puzzled him, but after observing his surroundings, he gradually began to understand the reasons behind it.
In the past, even those with talent and perseverance needed at least a year to cultivate their qi. Now, in this post-apocalyptic environment, the process had been drastically shortened. Jiang Ye speculated that this was either due to a special energy lingering in the environment or changes in human physiology caused by the virus, making people more attuned to inner energy.
Over the past few days, Jiang Ye also observed that zombies were growing stronger. Their strength, speed, and agility were steadily improving, and this evolution seemed directly linked to their consumption of human flesh. Realizing this, Jiang Ye was more determined than ever: he had to teach his companions how to cultivate inner energy and become stronger.
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THE FIRST LESSON
As the sun rose, Jiang Ye’s group gathered on the open ground. Each person wore a mix of curiosity and apprehension on their faces. None of them knew what Jiang Ye intended to teach them.
“I know you’re all curious,” Jiang Ye began, looking at familiar faces: Michael, Elaine, Wang Han, Anna, Reynes, and Emily. “Starting today, I’m going to teach you a set of techniques. This isn’t ordinary training; it’s a method that can truly enhance your physical abilities.”
“Chinese kung fu?” Elaine raised an eyebrow. “You mean the kind of stuff where people fly and walk on walls in wuxia novels?”
Jiang Ye chuckled. “You can think of it that way. But it’s not about flying; it’s about making you faster, stronger, more reactive, and more resilient. More importantly, it will sharpen your focus, giving you a better chance of survival when facing zombies or other threats.”
Wang Han raised his hand with a skeptical tone. “Brother, does this really work? Can you guarantee we won’t mess up and hurt ourselves?”
“It works,” Jiang Ye replied with unwavering confidence. “Just follow my guidance and take it step by step.”
Jiang Ye led the group in basic physical exercises to relax their muscles and regulate their breathing. He explained that the first step to cultivating inner energy was learning how to control their breath.
“Breathing is crucial,” Jiang Ye explained. “You need to learn abdominal breathing, not chest breathing. Take a deep breath, then exhale slowly, feeling the air flow from your dantian to the rest of your body.”
The group attempted it, but not everyone grasped it immediately. Elaine performed relatively well, quickly mastering the rhythm of abdominal breathing. Michael, on the other hand, grew impatient, while Wang Han joked, “Brother, my belly’s full of beer. Can I even cultivate inner energy?”
Jiang Ye shook his head helplessly. “Can you take this seriously?”
Anna, however, was exceptionally focused. She closed her eyes, following Jiang Ye’s instructions as she tried to sense the flow of energy within her. Though her progress was slow, her determination earned Jiang Ye’s silent approval.
After some time, Jiang Ye guided them to the next step: sensing the flow of qi within their bodies.
After a morning of practice, none of them had yet to sense their inner energy, but their attitudes had shifted. They began taking Jiang Ye’s training seriously, realizing that survival would no longer rely solely on weapons or luck.
During the lunch break, Elaine turned to Jiang Ye. “I never realized humans had this kind of potential. If we had known this earlier, maybe fewer people would’ve died when the disaster first began.”
Jiang Ye looked at her, his voice steady. “It’s not too late. As long as we’re alive, there’s still hope.”
Elsewhere, Wang Han leaned against a tree, muttering, “I never thought I’d end up practicing kung fu.” He looked at his hands. “But you know what? It’s starting to feel pretty good.”
Michael silently adjusted Emily’s hair, his expression resolute. Anna sorted through medical supplies nearby, preparing for the next round of training.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, its rays fell on this group of individuals striving to adapt to a new world. They didn’t know what challenges lay ahead, but Jiang Ye’s teachings gave them a new path—a chance to reclaim control over their fates.
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After a few days of Jiang Ye’s training, life for the team had become a disciplined cycle of survival. Every morning began with rigorous martial arts practice, with Jiang Ye correcting each member’s movements and guiding them on mastering proper breathing techniques. In the afternoons, they ventured outside the safe zone, searching the abandoned city for supplies while testing their newly acquired skills. These excursions not only brought the team closer together but also served as a constant reminder of the dangers lurking just beyond the camp walls.
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During one of these supply runs, Elaine was the first to notice something unusual.
“Is it just me, or do there seem to be more zombies around here lately?” she asked, gripping her metal rod tightly and scanning the empty streets.
Wang Han, carrying a bag of canned goods, glanced over. “Maybe they’re just wandering. Zombies don’t exactly follow traffic rules.”
“No,” Elaine said firmly, her sharp eyes narrowing. “This isn’t random. They’re… moving in the same direction. And they’re running faster now, almost as fast as a human jogging.”
Jiang Ye, who had been silently observing their surroundings, spoke up. “She’s right. I’ve noticed it too. They’re converging.”
The team fell silent, the weight of his words pressing heavily on them. Converging zombies could only mean one thing: something was drawing them in.
On their way back to the safe zone, the team passed through a narrow alleyway blocked by abandoned vehicles. Suddenly, a few zombies shuffled out of the shadows, their decaying bodies reeking of death, their hollow eyes fixed on the group.
“Get ready for a fight,” Jiang Ye said calmly, drawing the Lingfeng Sword from its sheath.
Michael gripped his rifle, hesitating slightly as he adjusted to the frequency of these battles. Elaine and Wang Han flanked the group, guarding the sides, while Anna stayed in the rear to protect the supplies.
“Let me go first,” Wang Han said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. He hefted his fire axe and charged the nearest zombie.
The axe struck true, biting into the zombie’s neck but failing to sever it completely. The zombie let out a guttural snarl, spinning around to swipe at Wang Han with its claws.
“Watch out!” Jiang Ye stepped forward, the blade of the Lingfeng Sword flashing as it sliced cleanly through the zombie’s neck, its head tumbling to the ground.
“Thanks, man,” Wang Han panted, stepping back.
“Next time, put more strength into it,” Jiang Ye advised.
Meanwhile, Elaine was locked in combat with another zombie. Her movements were swift and precise, her metal rod delivering rapid blows that forced the creature back. Taking advantage of its momentary stumble, she landed a decisive strike to its head, felling it instantly.
Michael fired his rifle, the bullet striking a zombie squarely in the head. However, the gunshot drew more zombies from deeper within the alley, their numbers swelling to over a dozen.
Even more alarming, these zombies moved with a disturbing fluidity compared to a few days ago. Though they weren’t sprinting, their steady, relentless pace and improved coordination made them significantly more dangerous.
“Retreat to open ground! We can’t let them corner us here!” Jiang Ye shouted, covering the team as they repositioned.
The group quickly moved to a nearby clearing. Jiang Ye directed them into a semicircular formation, their backs against a high wall, as they prepared to face the advancing horde.
Jiang Ye moved like a force of nature, the Lingfeng Sword glinting as it cut through the air. Each strike was precise and lethal, dispatching the zombies with practiced ease. His mastery of inner energy allowed him to flow seamlessly from one attack to the next, clearing the front line with remarkable efficiency.
Elaine and Wang Han worked together on the flanks, their coordination improving with each encounter. Wang Han’s fire axe blocked the zombies’ advances while Elaine’s metal rod delivered crushing blows to their vulnerable points.
Michael and Anna guarded the rear. Though Anna wasn’t a frontline fighter, she used makeshift knives fashioned from metal scraps to fend off any stragglers that got too close. Her quick reflexes saved them more than once.
The battle lasted nearly twenty minutes. When it was over, the ground was littered with the corpses of decapitated or destroyed zombies. Though exhausted, the team had emerged unscathed.
During these days, Jiang Ye’s group not only observed the troubling behavior of the zombies but also rescued several survivors.
One day, they discovered a mother and her young daughter hiding in an abandoned supermarket. The woman, trembling with fear, clutched her child tightly as several zombies closed in. Jiang Ye led the charge, his Lingfeng Sword flashing as he dispatched the creatures with swift, decisive blows. The mother sobbed with relief, repeatedly thanking the team as they escorted her and her daughter back to safety.
Another time, they found a man trapped under rubble in a collapsed apartment building. Zombies lurked nearby, drawn by his muffled cries. While Michael and Wang Han worked to free the man, Jiang Ye and Elaine held off the encroaching zombies. The man’s gratitude was palpable as he clasped Jiang Ye’s hand, his voice trembling with emotion.
These survivors were brought back to the safe zone, their presence injecting a glimmer of hope into the beleaguered camp.
Once back at the safe zone, Jiang Ye and his team immediately reported their observations to Carter, the military leader of the camp.
“Zombies are converging?” Carter asked, his brow furrowing deeply as he listened to Jiang Ye’s account.
“Yes,” Jiang Ye said with certainty. “They’re moving in unusual patterns, all heading toward this area.”
Carter’s expression darkened. “That’s not good. If their numbers keep growing, our walls might not hold.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’ll increase patrols and reinforce the defenses. If you notice anything else, report it to me immediately.”
“Understood,” Jiang Ye replied.
With this new information, Jiang Ye intensified the team’s training. He pushed them harder, demanding precision and discipline as they honed their skills. Elaine’s strikes grew sharper, Michael’s stamina improved, and even Wang Han began to take things seriously. Meanwhile, Anna focused on medical preparations, readying herself for the challenges ahead.
One night, as the team sat around a small campfire, Wang Han broke the silence.
“Do you think we’ll make it through this?”
Jiang Ye looked at him, his expression calm but resolute. “We have to. Giving up isn’t an option.”
The firelight flickered, casting long shadows over their determined faces. Though the future remained uncertain, one thing was clear: whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.