Chu Xuan stood motionless as Hu swiftly positioned himself in front of him. With a loud clang, he swatted away the filth hurled their way.

"Kill them. They're just wasting food anyway," Chu Xuan waved dismissively.

"Roar roar!" Hu and Bao responded eagerly.

The two corpse puppets propelled themselves off the ground like springs, instantly leaping onto the watchtower. The two guards widened their eyes in shock, unprepared for what was happening, and were swiftly disemboweled.

Hu and Bao relished their feast, devouring with gusto.

"Stop eating, open the gate," Chu Xuan commanded casually.

Hu let out a few embarrassed roars and hurried to the gate, smashing it open with a single powerful swipe of his claw.

Chu Xuan then leisurely walked into the Haotai Hotel. The loud noise from the gate drew the attention of many inside. They peered out of windows or stepped out of doors, only to be met with the sight of Chu Xuan and the two guards being devoured. Panic ensued.

"My god! Zombies have breached our headquarters!"

Quickly, more than twenty men armed with long guns and clubs confronted Chu Xuan. They eyed the oddly dressed youth, feeling an inexplicable sense of dread.

"I'm here for Zhao Hong," Chu Xuan stated indifferently.

"Ridiculous! You think you can just ask to see the boss?" one of the men scoffed, growling at him.

Chu Xuan simply waved his hand, and Bao charged out, dragging the man from the crowd and slashing his throat open. Blood spurted out like a fountain, causing the others to shiver.

Their gaze towards Chu Xuan shifted dramatically.

The zombies were obeying him! This man can control zombies! No wonder he dared to storm into the Spirit Hounds's stronghold!

Some looked more closely at Hu and Bao, recognition dawning on them. After a moment, someone screamed, "They are Brother Hu and Brother Bao!"

The others caught on, filled with horror. Tang Hu was Zhao Hong's brother-in-law, and Wang Bao was one of his trusted subordinates. Both had once held significant status within the Spirit Hounds, far beyond ordinary members.

Now, they had both turned into imposing zombies, following orders from this young man. The situation was utterly unbelievable.

Chu Xuan frowned, his impatience growing with these slow-witted gang members who still hadn't fetched Zhao Hong. He seriously doubted the utility of the Spirit Hounds; even if he took control, these people seemed more like freeloaders than useful subordinates. Perhaps letting the corpse puppets consume them was the better option.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"You looking for me?" A voice suddenly emerged from the crowd, which parted to create a path.

A gaunt figure strode forward confidently, followed by three muscular, enormous dogs. Each beast exuded a menacing, bloodthirsty aura. This man was Zhao Hong, the leader of the Spirit Hounds.

Chu Xuan eyed the man with a trace of surprise. He could sense a fluctuation of energy emanating from Zhao Hong, an energy different from Spiritual Qi and inherently weaker in essence.

However, it was clear that Zhao Hong's superior physical condition and his ability to tame such massive dogs were due to this peculiar energy.

"If he were refined into a corpse puppet, his strength would undoubtedly be formidable," Chu Xuan thought, his eyes lighting up as he examined Zhao Hong as if he were a perfect piece of art. This scrutiny made Zhao Hong quite uncomfortable.

Yet, recognizing that Chu Xuan was no ordinary individual—especially given his unheard-of ability to control zombies—Zhao Hong suppressed his discomfort and asked calmly, "Who are you, why are you looking for me, and what exactly do you want?"

Chu Xuan responded evenly, "The Walmart you burned down was under my control."

Zhao Hong paused, taken aback. That incident had occurred months ago, almost forgotten until now. Only at Chu Xuan's mention did he vividly recall the ice-cold ambiance of the mall.

Zhao Hong nodded, "Yes, I burned it. I was unaware of your ownership at the time. If you wish, I can arrange for another mall to be prepared for you. Most of East Lake City is under the control of the Spirit Hounds."

A gang member, outraged, interjected, "Boss, he killed our men!"

Zhao Hong swiftly backhanded the man, sending him flying.

"Not enough," Chu Xuan shook his head.

Zhao Hong, meeting Chu Xuan's gaze coldly, replied, "I've offered compensation. Whether you accept it is your choice, but the Spirit Hounds will not keep making concessions."

"Don't forget, you also killed my men!" He stood firm, the gang leader in front of his subordinates, unwilling to let Chu Xuan push him too far.

Chu Xuan chuckled and snapped his fingers, "Simple. I want the entire Spirit Hounds."

Zhao Hong was taken aback, then laughed out of sheer anger, "Interesting. This is the first time I've encountered someone as brazenly foolish as you!"

"Dahei, Daho, Erho, attack! Devour him alive!" As his command echoed, the three ferocious dogs lunged forward, their slobbery jaws aiming for Chu Xuan's throat, left arm, and right leg.

Yet, Chu Xuan remained composed, hands behind his back.

Hu swiftly moved in front of him while Bao vanished from sight. A golden aura enveloped Hu, making him appear as a celestial warrior descended to earth.

Clang!

The three giant dogs slammed into Hu, their powerful bites snapping shut. But in the next moment, they began to whimper in pain. Their teeth, capable of crushing human skulls, shattered like glass.

Zhao Hong's heart trembled with shock. These must be high-level zombies! And such formidable zombies were being controlled by a human? But wait—weren't there two zombies? Where was the other one?

As this thought crossed his mind, a piercing pain suddenly erupted in his back.

Twisting his body in a reflexive attempt to evade, Zhao Hong still felt the acute, tearing pain. A blade, formed from condensed Yin fire, sliced through his back, spewing blood and leaving a long, deep wound. The Yin fire continued to burn, sending agonizing pain piercing through his mind like countless needles.

In just a few breaths, Zhao Hong felt his strength draining from his wound. His complexion turned pale, and his body swayed, needing support to remain upright.

Whimpering sounds filled the air.

By then, Hu had already dealt a brutal beating to the three spiritual dogs. Dahei, who had attacked Chu Xuan most fiercely, was now bleeding from every orifice and convulsing on the ground, evidently on the brink of death. Daho and Erho, more sensible, immediately rolled over to expose their bellies in submission.

Seeing this, Zhao Hong's heart turned ice cold. His long-trained spiritual dogs were effortlessly defeated and had even switched allegiances. His own vaunted physical strength seemed as fragile as tofu.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Hong suddenly pulled out a pitch-black metallic object from his bosom and, without hesitation, opened fire on Chu Xuan.

"Die!" he snarled with a malevolent grin.