The sunlight hit the car window, reflecting in pale streaks that swept across the dashboard. Thuong Sinh and Lam Thanh Moc sat in silence, each holding a cold, pre-packaged food container. No one spoke; only the faint sound of chewing and the steady hum of the engine echoed in the cabin.
It had been over an hour since they woke up. The road ahead remained empty, the wilderness on both sides interspersed with scattered, ruined house frames. The Jeep maintained a moderate speed—not fast enough to attract attention, yet not slow enough to waste time.
The map on the dashboard flickered slightly. Nam An | 23 km Thuong Sinh glanced at it with one eye before retracting his gaze, his hands remaining steady on the steering wheel.
Lam Thanh Moc swallowed the last bite, folded the box, and put it in a small trash bag at her feet. She looked out the window, her voice very soft, as if only to confirm: "There are no more safe zones ahead."
"Yeah," Thuong Sinh replied. "Nam An is not within the system."
Silence stretched out again.
The wind blew through the broken utility poles by the roadside, emitting a hoarse whistle. In the distance, a charred truck lay tilted on the shoulder, its iron frame twisted—a warning sign for those who followed.
Thuong Sinh lightly eased off the throttle.
"Twenty kilometers left," he said. "From now on, it might not be peaceful."
Lam Thanh Moc didn't turn to look at him, only nodding slightly.
"Mm."
The Jeep continued to roll, advancing deeper into the land no longer marked as safe.
The road into Nam An gradually revealed the image of a once-crowded city. The rows of houses were much denser than in Duong Nam; billboards of all sizes hung overlapping, many buildings had collapsed sideways, and power lines dangled like spiderwebs. The asphalt road was wide but full of cracks; countless abandoned vehicles, most charred or deformed by collisions, formed narrow corridors that forced them to weave through.
The Jeep slowed down. Initially, only one or two swaying figures appeared at the roadside, then three, then five.
The leaning bodies, tattered clothes, and pale gray skin turned their soulless eyes toward the sound of the engine. They hadn't gathered into a horde yet, but the density was clearly much higher than in the outer regions.
Thuong Sinh held the wheel with extreme care, constantly adjusting to avoid the corpses standing in the middle of the road. One creature even slapped its hand against the car body as they brushed past, its nails scraping the paint—a sound that made Lam Thanh Moc instinctively tighten her seatbelt.
"It's getting crowded," she whispered.
"Yeah," Thuong Sinh replied, eyes never leaving the front. "The density could be double that of Duong Nam."
As the car rounded an intersection, more than a dozen zombies were seen wandering around an overturned bus. If they tried to squeeze through, they risked getting a tire stuck or hitting the iron frame.
Thuong Sinh stepped on the brake.
The Jeep came to a full stop, the engine idling steadily. He quickly scanned every direction before turning off the engine; the air immediately became much quieter.
"We can't go further by car," he said.
Lam Thanh Moc understood his intent and didn't ask further. She opened her backpack, performed a quick check of her supplies, and zipped it up neatly.
He took the car keys, opened the trunk, and took the necessary items. His movements were orderly. Then, he closed the car door and took one last look at the Jeep.
"Leaving it here?"
"Yeah, this spot is clear. It'll still be usable when we come back."
The two followed the edge of the road, weaving between abandoned cars. A large cluster of zombies stood ahead by the overturned bus; he unwrapped the cloth from his sword and walked slowly toward them.
Within a minute, all were dead. Most were low-tier zombies; although the accumulated points would be few, it was better than nothing.
The two shadows continued along the road, Thuong Sinh taking point, killing every creature he saw. They quickly advanced toward the welcoming gate of Nam An city.
The metal sign hung tilted, its painted letters peeling, one corner collapsed onto the ground. Behind the gate were rows of high-rise buildings stacked against each other, silent as dead concrete blocks. Wind whistled through narrow alleys, carrying the faint scent of dried blood.
The zombie density clearly surged.
They were no longer isolated individuals, but small clusters scattered between intersections, in front of convenience stores, and under the shadows of overpasses. Some stood motionless like stone statues; others stumbled around small areas, their instincts suppressed by the lack of loud noise.
Thuong Sinh signaled a halt. He stood behind a tilted small car, quickly observing all four sides. His gaze was cold and alert, carrying no hint of haste.
"Stick to the right edge, don't enter the main road."
Lam Thanh Moc nodded, stepping half a step behind him. The distance was perfect for him to shield the front, while ensuring she wouldn't block his way if he needed to turn or retreat.
A zombie stumbled out of a ruined grocery store. Before it could make a sound, Thuong Sinh stepped forward, his sword piercing cleanly into its head. The body fell soundlessly, blood soaking into the cracked cement.
He didn't stop. The second and third were also low-tier zombies. His movements were decisive, minimizing energy expenditure to the maximum. Lam Thanh Moc watched that silhouette; an indescribable feeling rose in her heart—not fear, but a sense of distance.
It was as if he had been accustomed to this for a very long time.
After deepening into a few more streets, a three-story administrative building appeared. The glass doors were shattered, but the structure remained intact, and there were significantly fewer zombies around. A rusted sign hung on the wall: Community Service Center – Nam An.
Thuong Sinh halted. "We will rest here."
Lam Thanh Moc looked around, then at him, and nodded.
They quickly approached, checked the first floor, and cleared out the three remaining zombies inside. The main door was temporarily barricaded with desks and chairs.
Thuong Sinh went first, his steps light, sword still at his hip. The tips of his boots touched the floor almost soundlessly. He searched every hidden corner and staircase, his gaze lingering longer on spots smelling of blood.
The second floor was empty. Only a few overturned desks, scattered papers, and broken windows remained. The wind whistling through the glass shards created a steady, light shriek. Thuong Sinh stood at the stairs, listening for a few seconds before nodding slightly.
"Safe for now."
Lam Thanh Moc let out a soft sigh, not from exhaustion, but as if only then allowing herself to relax slightly. She set her backpack by the wall and took a small sip from a water bottle.
"Is it high here?"
"No, but the visibility is very good."
Thuong Sinh dragged a heavy wooden table next to the broken glass door to partially block the gap. His movements were neither rushed nor redundant.
Lam Thanh Moc watched him for a moment before turning away to organize her gear. She placed bandages and antiseptic on the table, even though there were no immediate wounds to treat. It was simply a habit.
Thuong Sinh noticed but said nothing.
Once everything was settled, he sat down near the window, leaning his back against the wall with one leg pulled up, his hand resting on his sword hilt. The afternoon light filtered through thin dust, illuminating his face, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes and his paler-than-usual skin.
Lam Thanh Moc saw this. She hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Your breathing is a bit heavy right now."
Thuong Sinh looked at her, glanced away, and quickly dismissed it. "It's nothing."
It wasn't an evasion, nor a reassurance. Just a concise answer.
Lam Thanh Moc didn't press further. She understood that if he said "nothing," it meant it wasn't worth discussing yet. However, she still placed an extra bottle of water beside him.
"Leave it there, for when you need it."
He looked at the bottle for a second and nodded. "Yeah."
Outside, Nam An city was unnaturally silent. No sirens, no human voices calling out—only the wind through the alleys, carrying a faint whistle.
In the distance, a low thud echoed, like a heavy object being dragged across the pavement. Both looked up; Thuong Sinh tilted his ear to listen, his eyes narrowing slightly. The sound was irregular—not a horde, and not an ordinary low-tier zombie.
"Something large, but still far off."
Lam Thanh Moc stood up and stepped near the window, looking in the direction he pointed. She saw nothing but overlapping buildings and the encroaching darkness.
"Staying here tonight?" she asked.
"Yeah," Thuong Sinh replied. "It's not good to be out at this time."
Silence fell again, but it was no longer as heavy as it had been in the car. A moment later, Lam Thanh Moc sat down opposite him, leaning against an old filing cabinet. She pulled her jacket tighter, not because of the cold, but the wind.
"Tomorrow..." she said slowly, weighing each word. "What if Nam An isn't what you expected?"
Thuong Sinh didn't answer immediately. He looked out the window where the last light of the day was fading, the city sinking into a familiar murky gray.
"Then we keep going. We don't stop."
Lam Thanh Moc nodded. "I thought so, too."
There were no promises, no commitments. Just a simple confirmation, but enough for both to understand that, at least for this stretch of the road, they were still heading in the same direction.
Outside, that low dragging sound echoed again, a bit closer this time. Thuong Sinh stood up, placing his hand on his sword hilt.
"We'll sleep in shifts. I'll watch over you first."
Lam Thanh Moc looked at him and softly replied: "Alright."
Night fell quickly. The night wind, carrying coldness and the smell of mold, seeped into the second floor through the broken window frames, blowing around old papers stuck to the walls.
Thuong Sinh leaned by the window, his eyes never leaving the dark streets below. The city at night was entirely different from the day; the slowly moving black shadows became clearer, and clusters of zombies began to huddle by instinct, even without making loud noises.
He didn't move. His breathing was adjusted to a slow pace, his heart rate much steadier than during the day. The heavy sensation in his body remained—smoldering, but under control.
Behind him, Lam Thanh Moc sat leaning against the filing cabinet, eyes closed but not fully asleep. her hand remained near her short knife, positioned as if she would wake instantly if anything happened.
About an hour later, Thuong Sinh raised his hand slightly. A tiny signal. Lam Thanh Moc opened her eyes immediately, showing no signs of panic, only her familiar alertness.
"Your turn," he whispered.
She nodded and stood up to switch positions. Thuong Sinh retreated to the wall and sat down, his back against the cold concrete. He closed his eyes, but his consciousness remained in a state of semi-awareness.
Around midnight.
A strange, very small noise echoed—not the sound of dragging footsteps, but the sound of metal lightly striking the pavement.
Lam Thanh Moc frowned. She leaned over to look down at the eastern street, where a black shadow taller than a normal human was moving slowly between two tilted trucks. Its body was thin, but its long arms touched the ground, each step accompanied by a tiny metallic scrape.
Not a low-tier zombie.
Before she could speak, Thuong Sinh opened his eyes. He stood up instantly, his gaze locking onto the target in the street.
"Only one, but the feeling isn't good."
The creature stopped in the middle of the intersection, its head tilting slightly to one side, as if listening for something.
Lam Thanh Moc whispered: "Should we deal with it?"
Thuong Sinh observed for a few more seconds, then shook his head. "No need to risk the night. It's not worth it."
Lam Thanh Moc nodded. Thuong Sinh lightly pulled the wooden table closer to the window, sealing the last gap. Outside, the creature circled once more before gradually vanishing into the darkness; the sound vanished with it.
Silence returned. Lam Thanh Moc exhaled very slowly.
"You seem more used to this than I imagined," she said.
Thuong Sinh didn't answer immediately. After a moment, he spoke: "Just lived a bit longer."
The next morning.
Faint sunlight filtered through the white clouds, shining directly into the administrative building. Nam An city appeared in its ruined daytime glory.
Thuong Sinh opened his eyes and stood up before Lam Thanh Moc even woke him. He looked down at a simple hand-drawn map on paper, marking a few potential areas: supply warehouses, gas stations.
"Moving out?" Lam Thanh Moc asked, her voice still a bit hoarse from waking.
"Yeah, but we're changing direction." He pointed to an area in the north of the city. "This sector has fewer broken cars. There might be an escape route."
Lam Thanh Moc followed his gaze and nodded.
The two began packing their gear quickly, requiring almost no further exchange. As they left the building, Thuong Sinh took the lead, his steps light but decisive, sword already in hand.
The northern direction of Nam An was not a random choice. Thuong Sinh hadn't voiced it, but his steps slowed by half a beat when turning into the sloping road in that direction. The buildings here were lower, older—a residential area formed long before the city expanded. Trees squeezed through wall cracks, and vines wrapped around almost-broken balconies.
The atmosphere here was familiar to him.
Lam Thanh Moc recognized the abnormality early—not because he said anything, but because he no longer observed things with the gaze of a stranger. Thuong Sinh's eyes swept across the turns as if cross-referencing with an invisible map in his mind.
"You've been here before?" she whispered.
Thuong Sinh didn't deny it: "I used to live here."
A very short answer, but heavy enough. Lam Thanh Moc fell silent. She didn't ask further, nor were there any other questions. At this moment, questions were almost unnecessary.
The street ahead was blocked by a tilted container truck. Underneath the chassis, two low-tier zombies were struggling to bite a dried corpse. Thuong Sinh didn't change direction; he simply drew his sword and took three steps forward.
One strike. Then another. Two bodies fell almost simultaneously.
"Your home... is it still intact?" Lam Thanh Moc asked, her voice much softer than before.
"I don't know," he replied after a second. "But I need to go there."
It wasn't out of hope, but because there are things that, even when the outcome is known, one must confirm for themselves.
The old residential area wasn't as crowded with zombies as the city center, but it was more unpredictable. Some stood motionless inside houses, where a small noise could draw out an entire cluster. Others were stuck between staircases, their bodies deformed, but their attacking instincts remained.
Lam Thanh Moc used her Ability several times. Vines erupted from cracks in the ground, tightly binding the zombies' legs and pulling them down in silence. She coordinated perfectly with Thuong Sinh—he slashed, she locked—without needing to look at each other.
This wasn't the first time they had done this, but it was the first time they had coordinated for so long as just a pair, rather than in a squad.
At the end of the northern street, a row of terraced houses appeared. The red brick walls had faded, the iron gates were rusted, and the house number plates had mostly fallen off. But Thuong Sinh halted right in front of the third house from the left.
He stood still for a long time. Too long for someone who always prioritized safety.
Lam Thanh Moc didn't urge him. She simply stepped back half a pace behind him, keeping his back safe.
The house gate was slightly ajar. Inside, there were no obvious zombies, but the smell of old blood and mold mixed together was heavier than elsewhere.
Thuong Sinh pushed the gate. Creak— The sound rang out dryly in the silent space.
He entered the front yard, his eyes scanning every detail: the dried-up almond tree, the broken flower pots, the cracked steps. Everything was exactly as in his memory, except... it lacked life. It lacked something.
It wasn't objects, but the breath of the living. The main door wasn't locked. He placed his hand on the doorknob.
In that moment, the True Essence within him vibrated slightly—not because of danger, but because of his "state of mind"—an uncomfortable sensation, as if something in his chest was being squeezed tight.
Lam Thanh Moc stood behind him, her voice very soft, almost a whisper: "If it's not okay... we can leave."
Thuong Sinh shook his head. "No."
He pushed the door.
Inside the house, it was dark and cold. There were no signs of zombies, no metallic stench of fresh blood, only the smell of mold and long-accumulated dust.
The furniture was shuffled, but not in the chaotic style of looting. Some cabinets had been opened, and several essential items were gone, as if someone had proactively packed to leave.
Thuong Sinh walked in slowly. Step by step. He passed the living room, then the kitchen. On the dining table, there was still a porcelain bowl chipped at one corner—the bowl his mother used to use. It wasn't broken, only chipped, as if no one had the heart to throw it away.
Nothing. It was too quiet. A silence that made one shiver.
Thuong Sinh stopped before a closed wooden door at the end of the hallway. His parents' bedroom. This door... was shut.
He stood still for a long time. The True Essence in him began to vibrate more clearly—not erupting, but heavy as if being suppressed. His breathing slowed, each breath carrying a cold sensation running down his spine.
He reached out his hand. He pushed the door.
Clack—! The door opened.
In the first moment, his eyes couldn't adapt to the light in the room. Then, he saw it.
A rope.
Two bodies hung silently in the air. Motionless. Soundless.
Necks stretched, heads tilted to one side, faces that had lost all vitality long ago. There was no blood, no signs of struggling. It was just... too quiet.
As if they had chosen this outcome very early on.
Thuong Sinh stood frozen. In one breath, the True Essence in him "froze." No riot, no loss of control. Just a retraction, a shrinking, silently sinking to the bottom of his dantian, numbingly cold.
He didn't step forward. He didn't call out. He didn't touch them. He just stood there watching.
For a long time.
So long that Lam Thanh Moc, standing in the hallway, felt his aura change completely. It was no longer sharp, no longer filled with killing intent, but something cold to the point of emptiness, making it hard for anyone near him to breathe.
She didn't look into the room; she only watched his back.
Thuong Sinh finally took a deep breath. A very deep one.
"It wasn't the zombies." His voice was a bit hoarse, but steady. "They chose it themselves."
He entered the room, took down the rope, and placed the two bodies on the bed. His movements were careful to the point of being mechanical. No trembling, no haste, and certainly no disorder.
But the deep purple veins beneath his skin rose vividly. The blood poison in him was being stimulated by his "state of mind."
It didn't explode. Instead, it sank deeper.
From this moment on, the poison was no longer just power. It was an OBSESSION.
Thuong Sinh stood up and turned to leave. As he stepped over the threshold, he paused for a moment, his voice rising very softly, as if speaking to himself.
"If this world gives people no way to live..." "Then I will walk a different path."
Lam Thanh Moc stood there, for the first time sensing that the person before her was very different—not stronger, but much colder.
From this moment, Thuong Sinh's path had officially veered away from the righteous way.