Dinner was simple yet hearty: a generous serving of steamed white rice, a small crucian carp, and a plate of stir-fried greens.
After all, this was the countryside. There was no expectation of a lavish meal with rich meats and delicacies.
In truth, this kind of dinner was already quite luxurious for a rural village in these troubled times.
Most of the rice ended up in Vincent Fox's stomach.
Autumn Summer also finished a full bowl something she wasn't used to, but the long day of travel had left her both hungry and exhausted.
After eating, she placed her bowl down a bit awkwardly and whispered, "Normally I don't eat this much…"
She wasn't sure why she felt the need to explain that.
Vincent smiled. "It's a good thing. As your attributes increase, you'll need more nutrients. Otherwise, your body might become unbalanced. Rest a bit. I'll go return the dishes to the village chief."
With that, he stood, picked up the empty bowls, and walked out.
Moments later, he arrived at the village chief's house and knocked on the door.
The door was opened by the village chief himself, wearing slippers, clearly getting ready for bed.
In rural life back then, there wasn't much to do at night. Most villagers went to sleep early.
"Chief, thanks for the meal. I came to return the bowls," Vincent explained.
"You could've brought them tomorrow!" the chief replied, smiling. "Come in and have a cup of tea."
Vincent waved him off. "No need. My wife's still waiting. She gets scared alone."
The chief chuckled. "Understood. Then rest well, the both of you."
But Vincent didn't leave immediately. Instead, he asked, "Chief, earlier you mentioned there were bandits nearby?"
"Yeah," the chief sighed. "Several nearby villages have been raided."
"Then… do you know where their hideout is?"
The chief blinked in surprise. "You looking for those bandits? Why?"
Vincent smiled. "You took us in and gave us shelter. I can't repay you with gold, but I can clean up the trouble in the hills."
"You… you're going to take on those bandits?" The chief looked stunned.
Vincent offered a faint smile.
He had already figured it out. This chief wasn't as simple or kindhearted as he appeared.
Earlier in the day, the reason he let them into the village wasn't out of goodwill it was fear.
Anyone who could carry a coffin that size, with a corpse inside no less, clearly wasn't someone to cross.
Even the dinner delivered that evening had more to do with appeasement than generosity.
Still, Vincent had no intention of calling him out.
He simply played along.
"Chief, I'm sure you can tell I've got some strength. I practiced martial arts when I was young. Dealing with a few bandits shouldn't be an issue."
The chief grinned, understanding Vincent's true meaning, and pointed toward a hill on the left.
"The bandits are holed up in those mountains."
Vincent followed the direction of his finger. Under the moonlight, he could make out the silhouette of a small mountain.
"Alright then. Tomorrow morning, I'll go drive them out."
Hearing that, the chief smiled broadly. "We'll send you off properly tomorrow. The whole village will see you off with gratitude."
Vincent nodded. "Then I won't disturb you further tonight."
…
Back in the woodshed, Autumn Summer breathed a quiet sigh of relief when Vincent returned.
She was still a girl, after all.
Being left alone in a room with a coffin especially one containing a corpse on the verge of zombification was bound to stir fear.
"Vincent, according to Professor Charles Joe's timeline, this zombie should awaken tonight…"
She couldn't help but remind him, voice slightly trembling.
Vincent noticed her unease and reassured her. "I know. You go rest. If anything happens, I'll wake you."
"Don't worry. Nothing's going to go wrong."
If someone else had said that, Autumn would've scoffed.
But when Vincent said it, she believed him.
Because in Forbidden Zone #2, he had "saved" her facing a Licker alone without hesitation, just so she could escape.
"You're not sleepy?" she asked.
Vincent shook his head. "My Mental stat is high. Staying awake for one night is nothing."
And that wasn't bragging.
With his current mental strength, he could go two nights without sleep and still fight at full strength.
Autumn said no more and obediently lay down to rest.
With Vincent beside her, she felt safe.
…
Around 11 p.m., deep into the night
Thud!
A dull sound came from the coffin.
It wasn't loud, but in the stillness of night, even a whisper felt amplified.
Autumn jolted awake, eyes wide with alarm as she stared at the coffin.
"Go outside. Shut the door. Don't let anyone near. I'll handle this."
Vincent's voice rang out from the darkness.
Autumn turned toward him.
In the shadows, his eyes seemed unusually bright.
"Be careful," she said softly.
She stepped outside and stood guard by the shed door.
Even though fear gripped her, she didn't run.
The plan had reached its most crucial stage zombie domestication.
If Vincent failed, they were both dead.
----------------------------------------------------
Enjoying the adventure so far? If this tale has you hooked, please drop a review and let me know what you think! Your feedback powers the next chapter.
The deeper he goes, the more the truth unravels. Don't wait read ahead and witness Vincent's rise before the world catches up!
[ Happening's in advanced chapters:She defies her powerful family for love. He's chosen to lead a rookie squad into a national-level tournament inside a MOBA-style Forbidden Zone?! As Autumn breaks free from her past and Vincent faces a battlefield like no other, their destinies collide. ]
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