A fierce, cutting wind rushed straight at him. Zane Zhuang stared in shock as Eugene Henderson, his mouth curled to reveal sharp fangs, his face twisted and eyes blood-red, lunged toward him.
For a moment, Zane Zhuang was stunned. He looked at Eugene Henderson with a complicated expression. At this moment, Eugene was like a wild beast gone mad, his eyes void of any human emotion, letting out animalistic howls.
"You looking to die, kid?"
Lance Quinn grabbed Zane Zhuang by the back of his collar, yanking him aside. He kicked Eugene Henderson in the face, making Zane cry out in shock.
"What are you doing?"
With a loud crash, Eugene Henderson fell to the ground. Under the moonlight, several teeth could be clearly seen scattered on the ground. Zane Zhuang glared angrily at Lance Quinn, who wore a mocking grin but suddenly dropped it and glared back.
"If you want to die, I'll let you."
With that, Lance Quinn let go of Zane Zhuang. Eugene Henderson, just kicked, seemed unable to get up, struggling on the ground and wailing loudly.
Zane Zhuang rushed forward, but suddenly Luna Quay blocked his way.
"He is no longer the person you knew. He's just a corpse devoured by his own desires. Don't go any closer."
"Get out of the way."
Luna Quay's eyes were cold and merciless as he stared at Zane Zhuang. After a long moment, he stepped aside.
"You'll die, you know."
Zane Zhuang said nothing, walking forward step by step. Inside, he was torn—waves of sorrow welled up, but there was also a trace of joy at seeing his dearest friend again.
"Eugene, it's me, Zane. Snap out of it—do you still recognize me?"
Zane Zhuang quietly crouched in front of Eugene Henderson and reached out a hand.
"Kid, don't get too close. If he bites you, I'm not responsible. Even though I knocked out all his teeth, these blood-sucking revenants regenerate fast. Come back here."
Zane Zhuang didn't move. Just then, Eugene Henderson suddenly lunged at him, grabbing Zane's outstretched arm and, with a howl, sank his teeth into it.
"Eugene, do you remember? When we were kids, our families would hunt together. You once said the difference between beasts and people is that beasts can't control their desires. Eugene... what are you doing now?"
Zane Zhuang roared, suddenly standing up and lifting Eugene Henderson completely off the ground. He punched Eugene hard in the chest. Blood sprayed through the air. Zane looked at his own arm—a row of deep bite marks, blood streaming down.
Eugene Henderson fell to the muddy ground again, clutching his chest and groaning in pain.
Rage was boiling inside Zane Zhuang. He couldn't understand what had happened to his closest friend—this wasn't a ghost, nor a corpse acting like this. It was the first time he'd seen anything like it. The bite on his arm burned painfully.
His right hand was starting to go numb. Zane Zhuang quietly watched as Eugene Henderson lunged at him again, not moving an inch.
"Sigh, kid, he's beyond saving. This guy's lost all reason. Looks like I should just finish him off—bringing him back is pointless."
"Wait, Lance."
Luna Quay blocked Lance Quinn from going forward.
"Eugene, damn it, snap out of it!"
Zane Zhuang roared, clenching his left fist. A swirl of black energy appeared. He punched Eugene Henderson in the face with a loud thud, caving in his cheek. Eugene flew thirty or forty meters before finally coming to a stop.
"Damn, he's getting away."
Lance Quinn said, then with a whoosh, drifted off toward the fields, and soon floated back.
"Boss, that guy's gone."
Zane Zhuang stared at his bitten arm. Though the bleeding had stopped, it was now turning a dark blue-black, and the whole limb was gradually losing sensation, the flesh hardening.
"Kid, you've been bitten by a blood-sucking revenant. In less than three hours, you'll turn into one yourself. As a newborn revenant, his strength is terrifying, but he can't control his bloodlust—he's already killed two people."
"What the hell is going on?"
Meanwhile, Luna Quay watched Zane Zhuang quietly from the side, his eyes filled with confusion and incomprehension.
Zane Zhuang followed Luna Quay and Lance Quinn to a wooden cabin in the woods outside the Henderson Village. He widened his eyes as he heard a wailing sound—it was Old Wu. Lance Quinn had brought along another villager who'd just been bitten, tossing both of them together.
"Corpses have no emotions, but blood-sucking revenants have a trait—they attack those close to them. There's an old rumor: to control the bloodlust, one must drink the blood of their own kin."
In that instant, Zane Zhuang's eyes widened in shock.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"No need to rush, hehe. Go on."
Lance Quinn said, shoving Zane Zhuang over beside Old Wu and the villager, watching him coldly.
"If there's anything else you want to know, I'll tell you—before I kill you."
Zane Zhuang clenched his fists and stared quietly at Luna Quay, anger surging from deep within.
"Staring at us won't help. You've already been bitten, and soon you'll become a ghoul—something between a human and a revenant, a low-level corpse with no rationality. If we don't deal with you, this village is doomed."
"It won't be doomed."
Zane Zhuang said each word deliberately, looking at Lance Quinn and Luna Quay.
"I won't let you kill me. I made a promise to my friend—to protect the Hendersons until the day I die. Until that day comes, I won't die."
Lance Quinn burst out laughing, raising a hand.
"I'll make sure you die without feeling any pain. Relax."
A hand pressed down on Lance Quinn's shoulder.
"Wait a moment, Lance."
As he spoke, Luna Quay suddenly moved behind Zane Zhuang, grabbing Old Wu and the villager with both hands. The moment Zane turned around, the two screamed, then turned to dust in Luna Quay's grasp.
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The corpse transformation is being suppressed by something.
Luna Quay looked at Zane Zhuang's arm as Lance Quinn hurried over.
"Oh, boss, maybe this kid's constitution is a bit unusual. Getting bitten by such a fierce revenant, corpse transformation is only a matter of time."
Just as Lance Quinn finished speaking, Zane Zhuang was about to leave the cabin, worry written all over his face—especially after Luna Quay's words about controlling bloodlust by drinking the blood of one's kin.
"Wait until dawn, young man—is your name Zane Zhuang?"
Luna Quay reached out and grabbed Zane Zhuang.
"Let go. I have to go back."
"Relax. That guy's already injured. I saw the power in your punch just now—it's not something of this world. I think I've seen it somewhere before. That's probably why you haven't turned into a corpse yet."
Dawn was breaking, the sky turning gray. Zane Zhuang leaned quietly in a corner of the cabin. Luna Quay had already gone back, leaving Lance Quinn to watch over Zane, with strict orders not to intervene until the last moment.
"Looks like you can't hold out much longer, Zane. Let me put you out of your misery."
Several hours had passed. Zane Zhuang clutched his right hand, drenched in sweat, his face pale. He felt waves of cold invading his body and shot a glare at Lance Quinn.
"If you want to do it, go ahead. But I won't just let myself be slaughtered. You guys are just like Eugene, aren't you?"
"You're wrong. We've become a higher existence, beyond humans. We're not like those who are slaves to their desires and kill without reason."
Zane Zhuang closed his eyes, deciding to rest for a while. He hadn't slept since yesterday morning.
In his dreams, Zane Zhuang saw Eugene Henderson standing across from him, baring white teeth and staring coldly. Suddenly, Eugene lunged and bit Zane's neck.
"Eugene..."
"Hey, hey, it's already mid-morning. Can you still stand?"
Zane Zhuang staggered to his feet, glancing at his arm—it was still the same as last night, cold sweat breaking out all over him.
Back at the Henderson manor, Luna Quay was already talking with Henry Henderson about something. After changing his clothes, Zane Zhuang checked on Maggie Mute and Quentin Henderson—nothing seemed amiss, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zane, did something happen?"
Victor Fan could tell Zane Zhuang had encountered something, with Lance Quinn following behind.
Zane Zhuang said nothing, only telling Victor Fan not to worry.
By dusk, Zane Zhuang found his arm unbearably itchy. Sitting in the woodshed, he kept scratching until chunks of dead flesh, like bark, peeled off.
"Corpse transformation is starting."
Lance Quinn muttered from the side. Zane Zhuang was furious, glaring at him. With a tearing sound, he ripped off a large chunk of flesh from his arm, and black blood immediately gushed out.
"Zane, what's happening?"
Victor Fan suddenly came over. Lance Quinn glanced at him, then left.
With no other choice, Zane Zhuang told Victor Fan everything.
Victor Fan fell silent, sorrow flickering in his eyes. The disciple he'd once pinned his hopes on had turned out like this—unable to rest even in death.
"Zane, let Eugene be freed."
The words hit Zane Zhuang hard. He stared quietly at Victor Fan, realizing this might be the best answer.
"If you want to lure out the wolf, the best bait is the cub."
The teacher and student went to Maggie Mute's room at dinnertime. After talking with her for a while, they picked up Quentin Henderson, who was full and fast asleep.
"Do it, Zane. Use Quentin's blood—it should draw out Eugene. Then, you let those two..."
Zane Zhuang shook his head, clenching his fists as he looked at Victor Fan.
"I'll take care of it, teacher."