The roar was unlike anything a typical zombie would make. Yang Mu turned to see a monstrous, bloodied creature on the rooftop opposite, resembling a hellhound.

Upon closer inspection, it was not a hellhound but a massive, zombie-mutated beast, likely a Tibetan mastiff in its former life.

Such a large dog would be against regulations to keep in a residential area, and now it had transformed into a fearsome superbeast.

"What is that thing?"

"A zombie dog! Hurry, get downstairs and inside, we can't stay on the rooftop. If it leaps over here, we're done for!"

Liu Dongfeng, demonstrating both intelligence and decisiveness, directed the men to tear off their pants and shirts to fashion a rope, tying it to a protrusion on the wall. The women descended first, followed by the men.

Climbing with makeshift ropes is certainly no easy feat, but the drive for survival often brings out extraordinary physical feats.

The zombie dog finally leapt to the rooftop with a powerful bound.

Curiously, while humans turn into soulless zombies, the zombie dog retained some level of intelligence. Its hesitation before jumping suggested it feared the distance, and its ability to sprint confirmed its heightened cunning.

Yang Mu turned and entered the room, grabbing his phone and charger. The others followed him.

As the zombie dog crashed down onto the balcony, it followed them into the bedroom.

The group moved out of the bedroom into the living room, securing the door with a makeshift barricade of bookshelves and wardrobes.

"Quick, find more objects to block the door!"

Liu Dongfeng gave the correct command, and the others quickly complied, creating a solid barricade. Despite the relentless banging of the zombie dog, the door held firm.

The apartment was a three-bedroom unit with a kitchen and two bathrooms.

Yang Mu began searching for an escape route, but after a thorough check, he found no viable options for climbing out of the windows, even with his climbing skills.

He collected bed sheets and blankets, tying them together to create a last-ditch escape rope.

"Brother, you're impressive. I saw you climb down the rooftop earlier—have you trained in climbing?"

Hu Die entered the room where Yang Mu was, leaning against the doorframe.

This woman was not strikingly beautiful, but her figure was undeniably alluring. Even a man with a strong will like Yang Mu couldn't help but take a second glance.

"Why are you here instead of with your boyfriend?"

"He’s too busy trying to impress your girl to pay me any attention."

"My girl? You mean Chu Hong? She’s nothing to me."

"Really? Such a beautiful girl, and you have no interest?"

"I don't view her as a woman. She used to bully me, taking advantage of her status."

"Well, now you can bully her back."

"I'm not interested. As long as she doesn’t provoke me, I won’t hold her past against her."

"Are you sure you don’t have any feelings for her? I think you might like her."

Hu Die was a worldly woman. Though Yang Mu was quite capable and had been married for two years, he lacked experience with women.

However, he was no naive novice; he had seen much and learned.

Securing the last sheet and tying it to the bed, Yang Mu stood up and approached the door, looking at Hu Die.

"Do I like her? Perhaps. I do find her appearance somewhat intriguing, but beyond that... Miss, we’re in a crisis. Aren't you scared? How can you still be chatting?"

"People aren’t that fragile. Besides, what good does fear do now?"

"You have a point."

Hu Die’s eyes were perceptive. Smiling, she lowered her voice.

"I’m twenty-five. I wanted to find a man to marry. Gu Dason has little money and is quite timid, but his family owns three properties in the city worth over ten million. I thought marrying him would be fine. But now... money is useless here! Brother, I’m a pragmatic woman and wish to discuss practical matters with you. Can you protect me?"

As she spoke, Hu Die slightly opened her collar, revealing a hint of white, and smiled alluringly at Yang Mu.

"My face might not be exceptional, but my figure is quite attractive."

Yang Mu was taken aback by her directness, clearly flustered.

What an impressive woman! She noticed his capabilities and began to strategize.

"You’re overestimating me. In this chaotic place, it’s hard enough to protect myself."

"But you’re better than them. Your backpack is full of food, you’ve kept your axe close, and you’re carrying a dry ice extinguisher. You act independently without becoming a burden. You’ve even managed to climb from the rooftop to the balcony. You’re not swayed by beauty, making you more likely to survive this crisis! You need a helper. Although I’m a woman, I can be a strong support for you. I will follow your instructions as best as I can. Of course, if things become dire, you may abandon me without any hard feelings. I only hope you will protect me as much as you can."

Yang Mu was genuinely impressed by this pragmatic woman. Her keen observations made her a valuable ally—definitely a potential leader.

"Alright, Miss. I hope you prove useful."

"Let’s exchange WeChat. The power’s still on, so we can use it to communicate and build trust. What’s your WeChat ID?"

Yang Mu showed her his phone.

"Good, I’ll add you."

Hu Die smiled and turned to leave.

Yang Mu overheard a conversation in the living room between Gu Dason and Hu Die.

"Darling, where have you been?"

"Just chatting with that person."

"Don’t wander off. Stay with Brother Liu."

"Alright."

Yang Mu, now fully awake, gave a discreet thumbs-up—truly a talent!