Pfft!
A soft gunshot rang out, and a Zombie's head exploded with a wet pfft. Chunks of flesh and blood splattered everywhere, and its headless body collapsed to the ground.
Li Shuangmu frowned as he lowered his Desert Eagle. He hated having a suppressor fitted to it. He was far more enamored with the gun's thunderous roar and the recoil that left his hand numb. But to avoid attracting more Zombies with the sound of gunfire, he had no choice but to put up with the suppressor.
Besides, he was feeling uneasy. When he was in a bad mood, everything annoyed him.
Even Zeng Fei had slowed the car again and again to keep the engine noise to a minimum.
Some of the streetlights along this road were still working, and the area was well lit. The road was also wider than the ones they had traveled before. If not for ordinary Zombies gradually emerging from both sides, Zeng Fei would have loved to floor the accelerator and feel the thrill of speed.
After Li Shuangmu blew the last Zombie's head off, Zeng Fei finally spoke. "This is strange. We've been following them for a while, and there haven't been any major turns along the way. Where could Xiong Ba have gone? Sigh, Yin Kuang is keeping those mercenaries occupied, but I'm worried he won't be able to hold out much longer."
Wang Ning nodded. "Since we can't find Xiong Ba, why don't we just find somewhere to hide? We've already gotten quite a lot out of this. We don't even know what we should do next. Of course, we could also find a secluded place and slowly farm Study Points."
Along the way, he had killed quite a few ordinary Zombies, as well as some special ones that could run. They hadn't given him many Study Points, but every little bit added up. Besides, they still had plenty of bullets.
Li Shuangmu seemed not to have heard Wang Ning or Zeng Fei. Instead, he suddenly said, "Zeng Fei, stop."
With a squeal of the brakes, Zeng Fei brought the car to a halt. "What's wrong?"
"The more I think about it, the less it adds up," Li Shuangmu said. "Yin Kuang must be hiding something from us. Something important. I have a really bad feeling. Maybe he really has been playing us."
"Uh..." Zeng Fei pursed his lips. "I don't think so. Yin Kuang doesn't seem like that kind of scheming bastard."
"Don't go looking for trouble, but don't let your guard down around others either," Li Shuangmu said gravely.
Wang Ning's heart gave a jolt, and he couldn't help wondering, Could he have figured something out...?
Li Shuangmu continued, "We're not that close to Yin Kuang. He has no reason to face those vicious mercenaries on his own for our sake. Do you honestly think you'd be so kind and magnanimous? I wouldn't. Besides, his explanation wasn't very convincing. Maybe he really does want to use Mary to trade with the Umbrella Corporation for the T-Virus, but he had no reason to involve the mercenaries. He could have handled it discreetly. I just can't figure out what's going through his head."
Wang Ning furrowed his brow and thought it over, but couldn't see the trick either. "Even if we go along with your theory, why would he play us? We haven't done anything to offend him. And even if he wanted to, how would he do it?"
At that moment, Qian Qianqian spoke up. "Do you remember... he said he wanted to use the Umbrella Corporation to deal with those mercenaries?"
Zeng Fei thought for a moment. "I think he did say that. But I don't think it could work. The Umbrella Corporation has a reputation for never making a deal straightforwardly. Yin Kuang can't use the corporation's power to deal with the mercenaries. He might even get bitten in the back by the corporation, which could use the mercenaries against him. Then the Umbrella Corporation would reap the benefits."
Li Shuangmu gave a bitter smile. "I'd really like to crack his head open and see what's going on inside." Then he added, "Whatever he's planning, it has nothing to do with us. I'm just afraid he's already dragged us into it without our knowing."
Wang Ning clenched the hand he had hidden behind his back. "Then what do we do? It's possible you're right."
Li Shuangmu closed his eyes, his mind racing. From the moment Yin Kuang woke up to the moment he explained his plan and left with Mary in his arms, each scene flashed through his mind. What is he thinking...? No! I can't feel at ease until I figure this out. I hate being unable to control the situation. Yin Kuang... I'll have to take a closer look at him.
Suddenly, Li Shuangmu opened his eyes. "I'm going back to find him! I want to see what he's plotting."
"What?!"
Everyone was shocked, their expressions changing dramatically.
"Li Shuangmu, don't be rash," Zeng Fei said anxiously. "Raccoon City is full of danger. It's too dangerous for you to go alone."
"My unease is getting stronger. I won't feel right until I find out what's going on." Li Shuangmu's expression was grave as he said firmly, "Don't try to talk me out of it. Take care, all of you!"
With that, he jumped out of the car and headed back the way they had come, unwilling to say anything more.
"Li Shuangmu!" Wang Ning called after him, then let out a heavy sigh. "Zeng Fei, what do we do?"
Zeng Fei slapped the steering wheel. "What can we do? If Yin Kuang has dragged all of us into this, splitting up will only make things more dangerous. Let's go back, then! Worst case, we die. Besides, I'm curious about what Yin Kuang is plotting too! Wang Ning, Qian Qianqian, you're coming with us."
With that, he picked up his sniper rifle and got out of the car. "What a mess."
Wang Ning gave a bitter smile. "Looks like I was born to wear myself out."
Qian Qianqian needed no convincing. She had already been getting out of the car to catch up with Li Shuangmu. As far as she was concerned, staying by his side was the safest option. Now that Zeng Fei and Wang Ning had also agreed to retrace their steps, she was even happier. She felt proud, thinking they all revolved around Li Shuangmu.
What a strange girl, with strange ideas.
"Wait, we're not taking the car?" Wang Ning asked.
"Let's walk," Zeng Fei replied. "What Li Shuangmu said has made me uneasy too. I have a bad feeling about this car."
After they caught up with Li Shuangmu, Wang Ning asked, "How are you going to find him? Raccoon City is huge. Who knows where he went?" Wang Ning was seriously regretting not having shot Yin Kuang and dragged him back earlier. It would have saved him all this trouble.
Li Shuangmu glanced at Wang Ning, making him feel a chill run down his spine. "I left something on him too."
So he knew after all. Wang Ning smiled bitterly to himself. I really underestimated them. The Li Clan wouldn't have raised its heir to be an ordinary person. And Yin Kuang... Wang Ning, just see if you'll ever get so full of yourself again.
"What did you leave on him?" Zeng Fei asked.
Li Shuangmu took out a small box and opened it.
Bzzzz.
A tiny bee flew out and began circling around Li Shuangmu.
"What's that...?"
"A Guide Bee. It costs 20 Study Points. Its effect is tracking. It's a consumable, so you can only use it once," Li Shuangmu explained. "I left some royal jelly on Yin Kuang, which it loves."
"Uh. I didn't expect you to trade for something like that too," Zeng Fei said.
"You traded for tranquilizer rounds yourself," Li Shuangmu replied with a smile. "The Guide Bee is cheap and practical. Used well, it can be surprisingly effective. Why wouldn't I get one? The Headmaster has plenty of other cheap, useful things too. Anyone who pays attention can find them."
"Heh." Zeng Fei scratched his head. "So we just have to follow it?"
"Unless Yin Kuang takes a shower and changes his clothes, we'll find him soon enough," Li Shuangmu said. "Of course, if he really planned this far ahead, I'll have nothing to say. And maybe it's just my imagination, but now that we've left the car, I feel a little less uneasy."
Wang Ning watched the Guide Bee flying ahead of them, his feelings a jumble. Looks like I wasn't nearly as prepared as they were.
Qian Qianqian gazed at Li Shuangmu with admiration, sneaking glances at him now and then.
And so, the group followed the Guide Bee as it flew ahead, retracing their steps to find Yin Kuang, who had parted ways with them not long before.
Before you continue