Lin Yan leaped across rooftops, holding the child named Xiao Li.
Lin Yan had recently achieved a minor success in her internal energy cultivation, which had improved her Qinggong (lightness skill). She moved with the lightness of a butterfly as she jumped from roof to roof.
"Are you scared, Xiao Li?" Lin Yan asked the girl in her arms, looking down.
"No! Sister, can I be this amazing when I grow up?" Xiao Li's eyes sparkled. Her sister was truly incredible. If only she could be as powerful someday.
"As long as you study hard, Xiao Li, you definitely can."
Leaping across rooftops was something even parkour athletes without Qinggong could achieve. She was merely more agile because of her martial arts.
Once her internal energy improved further, she would be able to leap farther and higher, making it impossible for zombies to even touch her clothes.
"Xiao Li will study hard!" The little girl's eyes shone brightly, full of hope for the future.
This was why the original owner had rescued the child, not just out of sympathy for the weak. Children were the hope for the future; with children present, there was a future for this apocalypse.
"Then Xiao Li must work even harder. Practicing martial arts is tiring, much more tiring than studying."
"Xiao Li isn't afraid of being tired! Xiao Li wants to fight monsters too!"
Lin Yan felt that the children in this base might have some minor issues with their values. However, this was not a major problem; battle-hungry individuals seemed to fit well with the apocalypse.
Lin Yan found some zombie corpses and then used her abilities to drag them together.
"Try it, Xiao Li, but don't push yourself. Tell me if you can't handle it," Lin Yan cautioned, full of concern.
This was their first test, and the first time she had brought Xiao Li out.
Although she was certain this method would work, Xiao Li was still a child, and she wasn't sure if she could endure it.
"Okay, Sister!" As she spoke, a small flame appeared in Xiao Li's hand, which she then threw onto the pile of zombie corpses.
The flame burned higher and higher, but Xiao Li's expression grew more solemn.
Her small brows furrowed tightly, and her face became increasingly pale.
"It's okay, Xiao Li," Lin Yan wanted to interrupt her.
"Sister, Xiao Li can keep going." She controlled the flames, and though sweat began to bead on her forehead, she did not give up.
At this moment, more zombies were drawn by the scent and began to approach. Lin Yan quickly killed them and threw them into the fire as well.
She dared not stray too far from Xiao Li, fearing she wouldn't be able to rescue her in time if anything happened.
However, as more and more zombies were thrown into the fire by Lin Yan, the flames did not diminish but instead burned more fiercely.
Just as Lin Yan threw another zombie into the fire, the flames suddenly surged exceptionally high, engulfing all the corpses.
Then Xiao Li's body went limp, and she collapsed forward. Lin Yan rushed to catch her and took her pulse, finding that she had fainted from exhaustion, which put Lin Yan's mind at ease.
It seemed to be due to excessive consumption of her powers, but judging by the height of the flames at the end, Xiao Li's powers had likely upgraded.
It seemed her suspicions were correct; Xiao Li's initial powers were quite weak. With more usage recently, the temperature of the flames had increased.
This time, Xiao Li had exerted herself greatly, but this usage had also caused her powers to upgrade.
However, Lin Yan found herself looking at the somewhat introverted girl with new respect because of this event.
Lin Yan had initially thought Xiao Li would manage, given her young age.
But to her surprise, Xiao Li had not only endured but also completed the task and upgraded her powers.
Holding the soft, small girl, Lin Yan felt a pang of sadness. A child this young should be clinging to her parents.
But in this apocalypse, they had to strive to improve their abilities to protect themselves, to avoid becoming a burden to others.
Half of today's mission was completed, so Lin Yan picked up Xiao Li and took her back.
After Lin Yan took Xiao Li to her bedroom, explained her condition to others, and asked the older children to look after her, she left the residential area.
The zombies were evolving faster than Lin Yan remembered. Lin Yan didn't know if it was the result of her own butterfly effect, but she had to nip such dangers in the bud.
The inhabitants of their base were generally young. In the face of danger, these children had no means of self-protection.
Lin Yan leaped across the rooftops, not engaging the ordinary, slow-moving zombies, but searching for some special ones.
However, after searching for a long time, the zombie from that day seemed to be an anomaly. All she saw were zombies that were slightly more agile, not enough to produce crystal cores.
Yet, Lin Yan did not let down her guard. Since one such zombie had appeared, there would be a second and a third. She couldn't risk people's lives.
Lin Yan took out a piece of bread and a bottle of water and sat on the rooftop to eat her lunch, her eyes constantly scanning the situation below.
She witnessed many horrific scenes. Among the zombies were not only adults but also children.
It was important to remember that there were two kindergartens in this town. Even a small kindergarten would have dozens of children. Below the rooftop where Lin Yan was, there was a kindergarten.
Many young zombies, under the age of six, roamed within. They wore cute clothes and had round faces, but their clothes and faces were stained with blood. When the apocalypse struck, they couldn't escape. They were too young; if even one of them mutated, the others couldn't get away.
Lin Yan also saw an adult zombie. It was a young girl wearing the uniform of this kindergarten; she was likely a teacher.
There were still wounds and bloodstains on her thigh. The wound was not large, precisely the size of a child's mouth.
Lin Yan surmised that when the apocalypse arrived, a few children must have mutated first and then began to bite their companions and their teacher, leading to the entire kindergarten falling.
Lin Yan couldn't bear to see them continue to wander. After finishing the bread in her hand, she put away the water and leaped into the kindergarten.
Lin Yan ended the lives of these zombies with the gentlest touch, then gathered the children and the teacher together. She then brought a barrel of gasoline, poured it over the corpses, and set them alight.
"System, is the zombie virus truly incurable? Once mutated into a zombie, is there really no turning back?"
The wave of heat that washed over her made Lin Yan uncomfortable, but she did not move far from the burning pyre. She gazed steadily at the flames and asked the system softly in her mind.