A Flower Blooms from the Ashes

Despite living in the innermost room, Ning Yu was the first to hear the cry for help.

She recognized it as Bai Xuan's voice - such an agonizing scream meant something terrible must have happened!

[Ding! Task: Remnant Flower progress updated!]

[Task: Remnant Flower (2/?) Kill Teacher Zhang]

What was going on??

She and Shen Yiyue were the first to reach the door.

Other survivors, having heard the commotion, gradually gathered around.

By then, Bai Xuan was already in a daze, tears streaming down her small face as she cradled the blood-covered Teacher Zhang.

The other survivors hesitated to approach, unsure if Teacher Zhang had been bitten by zombies.

Ning Yu quickly stepped forward alongside Shen Yiyue.

They quickly examined Teacher Zhang's injuries.

Multiple fractures throughout his body, severe internal bleeding, and wounds from zombie scratches and bites.

When Ning Yu saw the unmistakable zombie bite marks, her heart sank.

Teacher Zhang was doomed.

"It's my fault... it's all because of me..."

She suddenly heard Bai Xuan muttering beside her in a trance.

Ning Yu immediately understood what she meant - she was referring to last night's wish.

"It's not your fault, Bai Xuan."

Ning Yu tried to speak, but Bai Xuan couldn't hear anything, just repeatedly mumbling the same words.

Teacher Zhang, still in Bai Xuan's arms, suddenly showed some response. His lips quivered as he made a faint sound:

"Quick... kill me... I've been bitten."

All the survivors who heard this recoiled in horror, stepping backward.

Blue-black lines began creeping across his skin, and his pupils started turning white.

Seeing this, Ning Yu couldn't hesitate any longer. She pulled away the dazed Bai Xuan and signaled to Shen Yiyue.

Shen Yiyue immediately drew her long sword and aimed it at Teacher Zhang's head. The blue-black lines had almost covered his entire body - the infection was nearly complete.

He showed a relieved smile and pointed to a nearby bag, saying:

"I... brought back... food..."

Before he could finish saying "food," his eyes suddenly widened in disbelief:

The food bag he was pointing to was completely empty!

Someone had taken everything!

That was the food he had risked his life to bring back!

That was the hope for all his students!

"Who... did...!!"

Just as he began to question, the virus had already spread to his brain, and his skin had turned completely gray-white.

His eyes, filled with anger, confusion, and resentment, were suddenly replaced by a deathly pallor, his black pupils completely disappearing.

That was the sign of complete zombification.

"Ugh.... ah....."

He died, becoming another walking corpse.

He had thought that by sacrificing himself, he could at least bring back food, bring back a glimmer of hope.

But someone had trampled on all of that.

He was like the students' last ember of hope, burned to ashes.

And on those ashes bloomed an ugly flower, whose name was:

Human nature.

Ning Yu took in everything, and she alone understood the meaning behind his final question.

Her calm amber eyes turned ice-cold.

"Do it now!"

She commanded softly, and Shen Yiyue raised her sword, thrusting it toward the zombified Teacher Zhang.

"NO!!!!!!!"

A piercing scream rang out beside Ning Yu.

It was Bai Xuan, crying her heart out, struggling desperately, flailing her limbs, screaming until her voice gave out.

She had just snapped out of her daze, but Ning Yu held her firmly.

Shen Yiyue didn't hesitate - with a swift "swoosh," the long sword pierced Teacher Zhang's head.

The zombified Teacher Zhang immediately collapsed, truly dead this time.

Bai Xuan, still in Ning Yu's arms, seemed to have been struck by the same blade, losing all strength and falling limp.

Behind them, the survivors wore various expressions.

Some were grief-stricken, some turned away, unable to watch, while others remained emotionless, their faces blank.

Just another unremarkable day in the apocalypse.

......

In the afternoon, in Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue's room.

The dispirited Bai Xuan, with red-rimmed eyes, was cleaning the room.

This was the "cleaning" they had agreed upon yesterday.

Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue tried to stop Bai Xuan, saying she could have food without cleaning, but she firmly refused.

She said she was the class monitor, and with Teacher Zhang gone, she had to take care of her classmates.

Looking at her stubborn expression, so familiar, Ning Yu couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

Even as she worked, tears welled up in Bai Xuan's eyes again.

She wiped them away before they could fall to the ground.

"Sister Ning Yu... was Teacher Zhang's death my fault?"

"It was because of my wish, wasn't it..."

She asked in a low voice, trembling like a wounded rabbit.

Hearing this, Ning Yu's eyes flickered slightly before she walked forward.

She gently hugged Bai Xuan from behind, comforting her:

"Silly child, your wish was just for teacher to bring back food, nothing more."

"Even if you hadn't made that wish, teacher would have gone anyway, you know that."

Ning Yu's words were somewhat clumsy as she tried to comfort Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan turned around, buried her face in Ning Yu's embrace, and sobbed quietly:

"But... but... if I hadn't made that wish... maybe..."

Ning Yu gently placed her finger on Bai Xuan's lips, making a 'quiet' gesture:

"There, there, no more crying."

"You need to live well. If Teacher Zhang hears you crying, he'll be sad."

She pointed toward the roof.

Teacher Zhang was buried on the rooftop, where everyone had gathered some soil and made a simple grave in a depression.

Looking at Ning Yu's serious expression, her jewel-like eyes full of gentleness.

Bai Xuan buried her head in Ning Yu's dress, holding on tightly.

As if trying to suppress something.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, forcing a smile:

"I'm sorry, Sister Ning Yu, I got your dress dirty."

Ning Yu shook her head dismissively and pinched her cheek, saying:

"It's fine."

Then she gave her several snacks and a lollipop, saying with a smile:

"This is today's wages. Make sure to come on time tomorrow too, or I'll have to dock your pay."

Although Ning Yu seemed to have given her extra food, Bai Xuan didn't refuse this time, just said a heartfelt thank you.

Then she reluctantly left the room.

[Ding! Task: Remnant Flower progress updated!]

[Task: Remnant Flower (3/3) Find the missing food]

Only after Bai Xuan left the room did Ning Yu's expression turn cold, as the system prompt rang in her mind.

She narrowed her eyes, thinking about who might have taken the food.

That person must have been the first to see Teacher Zhang on the ground, and instead of calling for help immediately,

They had calmly and maliciously taken the food he had exchanged his life for, pretending nothing had happened.

Truly worthy of the apocalypse.

As Bai Xuan left the room, she composed herself.

Preparing to return to the main activity room where her classmates were.

But before she could get there, someone called out to her.

"Xiao Xuan, could I ask you for a favor?"