Chapter 7: Leaving Home

That is true...

Her father and mother share the same room, so naturally, they understand her mother’s state of mind better than she does. Last night, Lin Wanmei had gotten up to use the restroom and heard her mother sitting alone in the dark living room, letting out a sigh every now and then. From beginning to end, her mother never mentioned her second brother or the others, but Lin Wanmei knew she was burying all her worries and anxiety deep within herself. She did not want her family to face the zombies directly or risk their lives. But in truth, they also wanted to do whatever they could for the people they loved.

"Yes, yes, exactly. If you must go out, let your father go with you; he can protect you," Grandmother Lin chimed in repeatedly.

Lin Wanmei thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Although it would be safe with Dad, there is only one Snake Talisman. If we both want to stay invisible, we would have to hold hands the entire time, which would make the probability of being discovered much higher."

That was a fair point.

"Are you saying you have to go out there all by yourself?" Mother Lin’s eyes turned red. "No, absolutely not."

Lin Wanmei could see that her resolve was wavering, so she quickly hugged her mother’s arm and acted spoiled. "Oh, don't worry, Mom! I’m just going to the snack street next to our residential complex. It’s very close to home, and I’ll be back in no time! Just think, if I can bring back all that food, how long will it last us?"

"If you insist on going, then take a few more talismans with you."

As soon as Father Lin said this, Mother Lin glared at him, eyes brimming with tears: "Lin, how can you be so unconcerned about our daughter?"

"Of course I’m worried." Father Lin reached out and patted her mother’s shoulder. "But the child has grown up and has her own opinions. Especially since the world ahead is filled with bloodshed, we cannot just keep her hidden under our wings. That would be the real harm to her."

Although both Mother Lin and Grandmother Lin were pained, they had to admit that Father Lin was right. No one knew when danger would strike, and if they were separated, Lin Wanmei, who was being protected, would actually be in greater danger. The zombie outbreak had just begun, and few people dared to venture out; it was, in fact, the best time for growth. Not just for her, but every one of them needed to go out and gain experience.

"Alright..." After a long silence, the two finally relented. "Meibao can go, but she must take more talismans."

Lin Wanmei’s eyes lit up, and she cast a grateful look at her father. It really took her old man to step in; her own influence was still too low!

Father Lin gave a wry smile and shook his head. The next second, Mother Lin and Grandmother Lin produced the Ox Talisman and the Pig Talisman respectively, handing them both to Lin Wanmei.

"A burlap sack will be very heavy when full, and it will be easy to give away your position. Take the Ox Talisman, and you can carry it back with ease!"

"Use the Pig Talisman for self-defense; it has high precision and is less likely to go wrong. Although it makes some noise, it’s still much better than the explosion of the Dragon Talisman!"

Before Lin Wanmei could even finish smiling, Father Lin handed over the Rooster Talisman as well: "If there are too many zombies, just turn invisible and fly back. You’ll definitely have a clear path!"

Holding the three talismans, Lin Wanmei couldn't even close her mouth. They were all her favorites—who could understand how she felt!

"With the blessing of so many powerful talismans, I feel like I’m invincible!" she said, trying to please them. Now, she was even more confident about braving the hospital!

However, how to carry them was a problem. She left behind the Sheep Talisman, which she wouldn't need, and only took the Snake, Rabbit, Rat, Ox, Chicken, and Pig talismans. Six of them... well, if she put them all in her pockets, they might start clattering around.

Before she could say anything, Father Lin had already anticipated this issue and brought over the results of his day-and-night research from the storage room. "Come, put on this collar. Keep each talisman separate so you don't make any mistakes when using them."

The collar was welded from iron. It was thick enough that, once around her neck, she looked like Nezha. Several iron rods were welded at intervals, each ending in a small compartment specifically designed to hold a talisman, complete with a lid—much more secure and sturdy than a necklace. It was just a bit... uncomfortable and chafing.

The first collar Father Lin prepared had four slots, which would have been enough for her. However, she now had six!

Grandmother Lin had a flash of inspiration. She found one of Lin Wanmei’s jackets and sewed several layers of sturdy fabric inside, placing the Rabbit and Rooster talismans into them respectively. She sealed them shut so tightly that they couldn't be taken out, let alone lost, unless the jacket was ruined.

"There, the two most useful ones are kept separately for you. If anything happens, just run!"

"Okay! Grandma, you’re the best!" Lin Wanmei provided plenty of emotional validation and, not caring about the sweat, quickly put on the jacket.

"Don't wear shorts. Don't let an inch of skin be exposed. If you get scratched by a zombie, it would be such a shame! Tie your shoelaces tight, don't let them trip you while you're running..." Mother Lin chattered on and on. Lin Wanmei followed every instruction, and feeling like it would be lunchtime if this kept up, she decisively placed her hand on the Snake Talisman, focused all her energy, and turned invisible!

"No more talking, I’m off!" she said with a carefree tone, vanishing from her family’s sight.

Seeing her daughter disappear, Mother Lin was filled with panic: "Meibao, keep your word! You can only go to the snack street. Get the food and come back immediately, do you hear me?"

"No problem! Wait for my good news!" Lin Wanmei’s voice already drifted toward the window; she planned to head out from there.

There were no security bars on the second floor. Once the screen was removed, she could reach the outside. Lin Wanmei touched the Rooster Talisman, and her already transparent body suddenly became incredibly light.

Stepping onto the windowsill and leaning out, she saw the dense crowd of zombies in the complex. Those familiar yet strange faces now looked hideous and terrifying, wandering aimlessly below. Lin Wanmei suddenly felt a surge of tension; if she fell now, there wouldn't be a scrap of her left.

Behind her came her grandmother’s instructions and her father’s parting words. Gritting her teeth, she gathered her courage and jumped.

Suddenly airborne, Lin Wanmei wobbled for a moment. Panicking, she quickly followed Grandmother Lin’s advice to find her balance. Once she steadied herself, she looked down. She was at least three meters above the ground. Gently swaying her feet, the sensation of floating made her brain buzz with excitement.

She was actually flying! The feeling was indescribable.

After bidding farewell to her family, she flew out of the complex while invisible. The view from the sky was far wider than walking on the ground, allowing Lin Wanmei to see the current state of things more clearly. The once clean and tidy roads were now covered in patches of dried blood and human remains, with large swarms of flies gathering to feast.

The glass on the first floor of every building had been shattered, as if looted. Discarded items and tools lay scattered on the ground, stained with layers of blood. Former fellow citizens, now dead in various ways—whether missing limbs or gutted—remained as walking corpses, still "working" diligently.

Only a day had passed, and the number of infected had doubled. There were not only dense crowds of zombies inside the complex, but even inside some of the residential buildings. Looking around, many windows reflected the pale, eerie faces of zombies, which was spine-chilling. In contrast, those rooms with curtains drawn and quiet were clearly occupied by survivors.

Lin Wanmei’s eyes welled with tears, and her heart was filled with grief. Her home was no longer a home. And their world was no longer the world it once was.