Translation review

Paragraph 1

Changed

Before

From the camp to Le Gou Department Store, the straight-line distance was no more than four kilometers.

After

From the camp to Le Gou Department Store, the straight-line distance was only four kilometers.

Paragraph 2

Changed

Before

But between them lay at least a thousand or more zombies, including no small number of "Many-Eyed Ones" whose heads were covered in eyeballs.

After

But between them lay at least a thousand zombies, and among them were quite a few “Many-Eyed Ones” with heads covered in eyeballs.

Paragraph 3

Changed

Before

Shen Qichi held the borrowed shield generator, staying in the middle of the formation. Watching the team members plunge straight into the crowd of corpses, her heart had been in her throat at first.

After

Shen Qichi held the borrowed shield generator and followed in the middle of the group. Watching the team members plunge straight into the mass of zombies, her heart had originally leapt into her throat.

Paragraph 5

Changed

Before

Up ahead, twelve team members advanced rapidly in a formation of groups of three.

After

Up ahead, twelve team members advanced rapidly in three-person groups.

Paragraph 6

Changed

Before

Their expressions were focused, their movements natural—they did not even bother to lower their footsteps.

After

They looked focused, moved easily, and did not even bother to quiet their footsteps.

Paragraph 7

Changed

Before

A zombie poked its head out from behind an overturned truck at the roadside. Before it could even open its mouth, a laser from above split open the top of its skull.

After

A zombie poked its head out from behind an overturned truck by the roadside. Before it could even open its mouth, a laser from above split open the top of its skull.

Paragraph 9

Changed

Before

Dozens of meters overhead, more than twenty black flying objects the size of fists were circling in silence, like a flock of raptors patrolling their territory.

After

Dozens of meters overhead, twenty or so fist-sized black flying objects were circling silently, like a flock of birds of prey patrolling their territory.

Paragraph 10

Changed

Before

Every few seconds, a beam of light that was almost impossible to see would fall, and then one zombie would quietly collapse.

After

Every few seconds, a nearly invisible beam would fall, and then a zombie would collapse quietly.

Paragraph 11

Changed

Before

There was no danger, no melee, not even a single drop of blood splashing beside her.

After

There was no danger, no chaotic fighting, not even a drop of blood splashing near her.

Paragraph 12

Changed

Before

And those soldiers looked less like they were fighting than going for a walk. Whenever one or two zombies charged out from a blind spot on the flank, the nearest team member would casually finish them with a single knife stroke, without even stopping.

After

These soldiers seemed more like they were out for a stroll than in combat. Occasionally one or two zombies would charge out from a blind spot on the flank, and the nearest team member would dispatch them with a casual slash, without even breaking stride.

Paragraph 13

Changed

Before

Watching all this, Shen Qichi was momentarily stunned, her lips slightly parted, completely forgetting to close them.

After

Watching all this, Shen Qichi stared blankly for a while, her lips slightly parted, completely forgetting to close them.

Paragraph 14

Changed

Before

In the past few months, she had seen too many people in miserable states in front of zombies.

After

Over the past few months, she had seen too many people in a wretched state before zombies.

Paragraph 15

Changed

Before

Running, hiding, crying—every trip out to find food was a gamble with death.

After

Running, hiding, crying—every trip outside to search for food was gambling with their lives.

Paragraph 16

Changed

Before

But these people in front of her killed zombies as casually as slaughtering chickens and dogs.

After

But the people before her killed zombies as casually as slaughtering chickens and dogs.

Paragraph 17

Changed

Before

"Walk faster, don't fall behind." A Hao patted her from behind.

After

“Walk faster, don’t fall behind,” A Hao said, patting her from behind.

Paragraph 18

Changed

Before

"Oh." She quickened her pace and could not help glancing back at the row of zombies lying neatly on the road behind her, an incredulous feeling filling her heart.

After

“Oh.” She sped up, then couldn’t help glancing back at the neat row of zombies lying on the road behind them, her heart full of disbelief.

Paragraph 19

Changed

Before

"Nervous?" Gu Changchuan's voice came from up front.

After

“Nervous?” Gu Changchuan’s voice came from ahead.

Paragraph 20

Changed

Before

"Not nervous." Shen Qichi took a deep breath. "It just doesn't feel real. You guys are too amazing."

After

“I’m not nervous,” Shen Qichi took a deep breath. “It just doesn’t feel real. You’re all too strong.”

Paragraph 21

Changed

Before

"Haha, this is nothing at all!" At that, A Hao immediately turned smug. "You should have seen us when we fought the High Court Lord—now that was—"

After

“Haha, this is nothing,” A Hao immediately said smugly from the side. “You should have seen us fight the High Court Lord. That was really—”

Paragraph 22

Changed

Before

Before he could finish, Gu Changchuan smacked him on the head. "Mind your surroundings. Don't take the enemy lightly. Be careful you don't capsize in a ditch."

After

Before he could finish, Gu Changchuan smacked him on the head. “Pay attention to your surroundings. Don’t underestimate the enemy. Be careful not to capsize in a ditch.”

Paragraph 23

Changed

Before

"Oh." Only then did A Hao obediently redirect his attention to his surroundings.

After

“Oh.” Only then did A Hao obediently return his attention to their surroundings.

Paragraph 24

Changed

Before

Fourteen minutes later, the Le Gou Department Store building appeared at the edge of their sight.

After

Fourteen minutes later, the Le Gou Department Store building appeared at the edge of their vision.

Paragraph 25

Changed

Before

[Target building's external personnel distribution confirmed.]

After

[Target building perimeter personnel distribution confirmed.]

Paragraph 26

Changed

Before

At the same time, Ling Yu's voice came through everyone's earpieces. [Four at the front-gate sentry post, two at the second-floor window sniper positions, five on the east-side patrol, three guarding the west rear entrance, and two at the rooftop observation post.

After

At the same time, Ling Yu’s voice came through everyone’s earpieces: [Front gate sentries: four. Second-floor window sniper positions: two. East side patrol: five. West side rear entrance guards: three. Rooftop observation posts: two. Additionally, about forty people are gathered on the first floor inside, with the rest dispersed above the second floor. In the basement, there are seventeen heat-source signals, likely people being held prisoner.]

Paragraph 27

Changed

Before

Additionally, about forty people are gathered on the first floor inside, scattered on the second floor and above, and there are seventeen heat signatures in the basement level, suspected to be detained personnel.]

After

“Understood.” Gu Changchuan halted, waved a hand gesture, and the team silently spread out.

Paragraph 28

Changed

Before

"Understood." Gu Changchuan stopped. With a wave of his hand, the team silently fanned out.

After

“A Hao, take some people and handle the frontal assault.”

Paragraph 29

Changed

Before

"A Hao, you take your people and lead the frontal assault."

After

“Roger!”

Paragraph 30

Changed

Before

"Roger!"

After

“Old Song, you’re with me to rescue the prisoners first.”

Paragraph 31

Changed

Before

"Old Song, you and I will go rescue people first."

After

“Got it!”

Paragraph 32

Changed

Before

"You got it!"

After

“Third squad, hold the perimeter and provide support as needed.”

Paragraph 33

Changed

Before

"Squad Three, stay around the perimeter and provide support as the situation demands."

After

“Roger!”

Paragraph 34

Changed

Before

"Roger!"

After

Finally, Gu Changchuan looked at Shen Qichi. “Stay on the perimeter with the third squad. Don’t get close.”

Paragraph 35

Changed

Before

Finally, Gu Changchuan looked at Shen Qichi. "You stay on the periphery with Squad Three. Don't go near."

After

The girl opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end only nodded.

Paragraph 36

Changed

Before

The girl opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only nodded.

After

“If there are no further questions,” Gu Changchuan glanced around at the team members, then made a hand signal. “The operation begins!”

Paragraph 37

Changed

Before

"Since there are no problems," Gu Changchuan swept his gaze across the team members, then made a hand signal. "Begin the operation!"

After

At the exact second Gu Changchuan’s voice fell, the “Soldier Bee” drones circling in the sky lit up at once.

Paragraph 38

Changed

Before

In the same second Gu Changchuan's voice fell, the "Soldier Bee" drones circling in the sky all lit up at once.

After

Sixteen lasers fell simultaneously.

Paragraph 39

Changed

Before

Sixteen laser beams fell at the same time.

After

At the same moment the sentries at each post noticed the drones, their heads had already been pierced through by laser beams.

Paragraph 40

Changed

Before

In the instant the sentry members spotted the drones, their heads had already been burned through by the laser beams.

After

At the same time, A Hao charged forward with twenty people. The exoskeleton assist systems made them far faster than ordinary humans.

Paragraph 41

Changed

Before

At the same time, A Hao charged up with twenty people. The assist systems of their exoskeletons gave them speed far beyond that of ordinary people.

After

The truck barricade at the main entrance was kicked aside with a single blow. The chained-up zombies were still howling when electromagnetic rifle rounds tore them into pieces.

Paragraph 42

Changed

Before

The truck barricade at the front gate was kicked open with one kick. The chained zombies were still howling when electromagnetic rifle rounds blew them into chunks.

After

“Bang!” The door was smashed open.

Paragraph 43

Changed

Before

"Bang!" The door was smashed open.

After

Inside the first-floor hall, more than forty people who had been eating, drinking, or chatting were startled by the loud noise.

Paragraph 44

Changed

Before

In the first-floor lobby, more than forty people who had been eating, drinking, or chatting were startled by the deafening sound.

After

“What—”

Paragraph 45

Changed

Before

"What the—"

After

A burly man holding a baseball bat reacted first, turning and rushing toward the weapons rack.

Paragraph 46

Changed

Before

A burly man holding a baseball bat was the first to react, turning to charge at the weapon rack.

After

But the next second, a bullet hole appeared in his forehead, and his sturdy body crashed straight to the ground.

Paragraph 47

Changed

Before

But the next second, a bullet hole appeared in his forehead, and then his sturdy body pitched straight down.

After

“Everyone down! Hands on your heads!” A Hao shouted. Behind him, team members in exoskeletons rapidly broke into the hall.

Paragraph 48

Changed

Before

"Everyone down! Hands on your heads!" A Hao shouted. Behind him, the exoskeleton-clad team members rapidly burst into the lobby.

After

***

Paragraph 49

Changed

Before

***

After

“Boom—”

Paragraph 50

Changed

Before

"Boom—"

After

A muffled explosion came from the first floor of the department store building, and the entire structure shook violently as if struck by an earthquake.

Paragraph 51

Changed

Before

A muffled explosion came from the first floor of the department store, and the entire building shook violently as if in an earthquake.

After

The chandeliers on the ceiling swung wildly as dust and debris showered down.

Paragraph 52

Changed

Before

The chandeliers on the ceiling swung wildly as dust and debris rained down.

After

The gloom on Lu Baichuan’s face was instantly replaced by shock. He shoved the underling in his way aside and rushed to the second-floor corridor railing to look down.

Paragraph 53

Changed

Before

The gloom on Lu Baichuan's face was instantly replaced by terror. He shoved aside the lackey blocking his way, rushed to the railing of the second-floor corridor, and looked down.

After

Outside the door, the terrified screams of the patrol members had just begun when they abruptly cut off.

Paragraph 54

Changed

Before

Outside, a patrol member's terrified scream had just started when it came to an abrupt end.

After

“Enemy attack!!”

Paragraph 55

Changed

Before

"Enemy attack!!"

After

A shrill alarm tore through the “peace” inside the building.

Paragraph 56

Changed

Before

The shrill alarm cut through the "peace" inside the building.

After

“What’s going on?!” Lu Baichuan’s scalp tingled as he roared at the lower floor.

Paragraph 57

Changed

Before

"What's going on?!" Lu Baichuan's scalp went numb as he roared downstairs.

After

But no one could answer him anymore. When an unfamiliar voice rang out from downstairs, he stumbled and nearly lost his footing.

Paragraph 58

Changed

Before

But no one could answer him anymore. And when an unfamiliar voice rose from below, he stumbled, almost unable to stay on his feet.

After

“Brother Chuan! It’s the army! Has the army come to save us?” An underling who had no idea what was happening looked at the exaggerated precision strike outside. Far from looking afraid, he wore an ecstatic expression.

Paragraph 59

Changed

Before

"Brother Chuan! It's the army! Did the army come to save us?" A lackey who did not understand the situation watched the absurdly precise strikes outside. Far from fear, his face instead showed wild joy.

After

Lu Baichuan no longer had the presence of mind to answer him. His heart was pounding frantically.

Paragraph 60

Changed

Before

Lu Baichuan had no mind to answer him. His heart was pounding like a crazed drum.

After

The army? He knew better than anyone that if this really was the regular military, things would be truly troublesome.

Paragraph 61

Changed

Before

The army? He knew better than anyone—if it really were the regular army, that would be the real trouble.

After

“It’s an enemy attack!” he bellowed hoarsely, trying to cover his inner fear with volume. “Everyone! Hold the second floor! Open fire, now!”

Paragraph 62

Changed

Before

"It's an enemy attack!" He roared at the top of his lungs, trying to mask the fear inside him with volume. "Everyone! Hold the second floor! Open fire now!"

After

However, his orders were already too late.

Paragraph 63

Changed

Before

However, his order was already too late.

After

“Bang!”

Paragraph 64

Changed

Before

"Bang!"

After

Another loud bang rang out. The iron door leading upstairs was instantly smashed open from outside by an irresistible force.

Paragraph 65

Changed

Before

Another thunderous crash. In an instant, the iron door to the upper floors was blasted completely open from the outside by an irresistible force!

After

Ten intruders wearing “Guardian” exoskeletons charged upstairs in standard tactical formation.

Paragraph 66

Changed

Before

Ten intruders wearing "Guardian" exoskeletons burst onto the upper floor in a standard tactical formation.

After

“Open fire! Kill them!” Lu Baichuan’s underlings finally reacted, raising their rifles and spraying wildly.

Paragraph 67

Changed

Before

"Open fire! Kill them!" Lu Baichuan's lackeys finally reacted, raising their rifles and spraying bullets.

After

But bullets striking the intruders only raised layer after layer of pale blue ripples, unable even to make them pause.

Paragraph 68

Changed

Before

However, bullets hitting those intruders only raised layers of pale-blue ripples, unable to make them pause even for a moment.

After

“Monsters! They’re monsters!” someone shouted in despair.

Paragraph 69

Changed

Before

"Monsters! They're monsters!" someone shouted in despair.

After

A Hao charged at the very front. Facing the hail of bullets, he didn’t even bother to dodge.

Paragraph 70

Changed

Before

A Hao charged at the very front. Facing the rain of incoming bullets, he could not even be bothered to dodge.

After

Seeing that there seemed to be a leader giving orders behind the crowd, he immediately shouted, “Put down your weapons! Hands on your heads!”

Paragraph 71

Changed

Before

Spotting someone at the back of the crowd who seemed to be the leader giving orders, he immediately shouted, "Drop your weapons! Hands on your heads!"

After

Then he smashed into the crowd like a human tank.

Paragraph 72

Changed

Before

Then, like a human-shaped tank, he plowed into the crowd.

After

A burly man who tried to block him with his body was grabbed by the head with one hand and slammed viciously into the nearby wall, instantly falling silent.

Paragraph 73

Changed

Before

A burly man who tried to block him with his body was caught by the head with one hand, smashed hard into the wall beside him, and went silent in an instant.

After

Then a fierce-looking, tall, thin man swung a fire axe at him from the side. Without even looking, A Hao returned a backhand slash.

Paragraph 74

Changed

Before

Then another fierce-looking, lanky man swung a fire axe at him from the side. Without even looking, A Hao replied with a backhanded knife stroke.

After

The blade flashed, and the man’s arm flew away together with the axe.

Paragraph 75

Changed

Before

A flash of blade light, and the man's arm, along with the axe, flew away.

After

Meanwhile, Gu Changchuan led another team. Gu Changchuan took Old Song and eight team members through the rear entrance, following the fire passage straight to the basement.

Paragraph 76

Changed

Before

At the same time, Gu Changchuan led another team—Gu Changchuan, with Old Song and eight team members, burst in through the rear entrance and followed the fire stairs straight down to the basement level.

After

“Is anyone here? We’re here to rescue you!”

Paragraph 77

Changed

Before

"Anyone here? We're here to rescue you!"

After

***

Paragraph 78

Changed

Before

***

After

Le Gou Department Store, first-floor hall.

Paragraph 79

Changed

Before

Le Gou Department Store, first-floor lobby.

After

By the time Gu Changchuan led his people up the stairs, the battle was already over.

Paragraph 80

Changed

Before

When Gu Changchuan led his people up the stairs, the fighting was already over.

After

A Hao and his team were escorting the last group down from upstairs. Some were still in pajamas, and some were still cursing under their breath.

Paragraph 81

Changed

Before

A Hao and his team members were escorting the last batch of people down from upstairs. Some were still in pajamas; some were still cursing under their breath.

After

But the moment they saw their accomplices kneeling in a neat row on the floor, surrounded by a semi-circle of gun muzzles and drones, all sound vanished.

Paragraph 82

Changed

Before

Only when they saw their accomplices kneeling in neat rows on the ground, and the guns and drones surrounding them in a half circle, did all sounds vanish instantly.

After

Lu Baichuan was among them. A Hao kicked him in the back of the knee, sending him sprawling to his knees, his face nearly bloodless.

Paragraph 83

Changed

Before

Lu Baichuan was among them. A Hao had kicked him in the back of the knee, sending him to his knees in a sorry state, his face almost bloodless.

After

Several hundred ordinary survivors were brought out from various rooms and stood at the periphery, their expressions varied.

Paragraph 84

Changed

Before

Hundreds of ordinary survivors were brought out of the various rooms and stood at the periphery, their expressions varied.

After

Some were afraid, some were bewildered, and some, upon seeing Lu Baichuan and the others kneeling on the ground, suddenly went red-eyed with fury.

Paragraph 85

Changed

Before

Some were afraid, some were at a loss, and some, seeing Lu Baichuan and the others kneeling on the ground, went red-eyed with fury.

After

When Zhou Yutang, supported by Old Song, walked from the basement into the hall, a muffled commotion broke out among the crowd.

Paragraph 86

Changed

Before

When Zhou Yutang, supported by Old Song, walked from the basement into the lobby, a suppressed stir burst through the crowd.

After

It was a woman who had become so thin she was almost unrecognizable. Her once-beautiful face was covered in sickly pallor, her lips cracked, her eyes hollow.

Paragraph 87

Changed

Before

She was a woman who had wasted away beyond recognition. An originally pretty face was covered in a sickly pallor, her lips cracked, her gaze hollow.

After

Her limbs were bound in iron chains, and her wrists and ankles were covered with raw, bloody abrasions.

Paragraph 88

Changed

Before

Her limbs were bound with iron chains, her wrists and ankles covered with chafed, bloody wounds.

After

“Sister Yutang!”

Paragraph 89

Changed

Before

"Sister Yutang!"

After

“Dr. Zhou!”

Paragraph 90

Changed

Before

"Doctor Zhou!"

After

Zhou Yutang did not respond to their calls. Her gaze passed over the crowd and fixed dead on the kneeling Lu Baichuan, filled with bone-deep hatred.

Paragraph 91

Changed

Before

Zhou Yutang did not respond to those calls. Her gaze passed over the crowd and fixed, unmoving, on the kneeling Lu Baichuan, her eyes filled with bone-deep hatred.

After

Lu Baichuan felt her gaze and instinctively turned his face away.

Paragraph 92

Changed

Before

Lu Baichuan felt that gaze and instinctively turned his face away.

After

But soon he straightened his back and lifted his head, and with a fierce front concealing his fear, he shouted at A Hao.

Paragraph 93

Changed

Before

But soon, he straightened his back, lifted his head, and, brazening it out, roared at A Hao beside him.

After

“Y-you... who exactly are you people?”

Paragraph 94

Changed

Before

"You... just who are you people?"

After

“Us?” A Hao planted a foot on his back, pinning him hard to the floor, and grinned. “You’re not qualified to know who we are.”

Paragraph 95

Changed

Before

"Us?" A Hao stepped on his back, pressing him hard to the ground, and grinned. "You're not worthy of knowing who we are."

After

“You just need to know we’re people who specialize in killing beasts like you.”

Paragraph 96

Changed

Before

"All you need to know is that we're the kind of people who specialize in killing beasts like you."

After

“Beasts?” When Lu Baichuan heard that, he immediately retorted stubbornly. “What have I done wrong? I’ve been managing a shelter! More than a thousand people have survived until now. I’ve done a huge service!”

Paragraph 97

Changed

Before

"Beasts?" On hearing this word, Lu Baichuan immediately stiffened his neck defiantly. "What have I done wrong? I'm managing a shelter! More than a thousand people have survived until now because of me. My contribution is enormous!"

After

“If it weren’t for me, the people here would have starved long ago! I’m the true hero, not a criminal!”

Paragraph 98

Changed

Before

"If it weren't for me, the people here would have starved to death long ago! I'm the real contributor, not a criminal!"

After

The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, as if he truly were a hero who had endured humiliation and shouldered infamy for the greater good.

Paragraph 99

Changed

Before

The more he spoke, the more impassioned he became, as if he really were that kind of hero who endures humiliation and bears a bad name for the greater good.

After

“A muddle-headed saint like Zhou Yutang is the real criminal, the real beast! She’ll only get more people killed!”

Paragraph 100

Changed

Before

"Muddle-headed saints like Zhou Yutang are the real criminals, the real beasts! She would only cause more people to die!"

After

“But wasn’t your life saved by her?” Old Song asked coldly from the side.

Paragraph 101

Changed

Before

"And wasn't your life saved by her?" Old Song asked coldly from the side.

After

“So what?” Lu Baichuan stuck out his neck, putting on a self-righteous air. “I’ve always had principles. I would never let the fact that she saved me cloud my judgment.

Paragraph 102

Changed

Before

"So what?" Lu Baichuan stiffened his neck, looking grand and righteous. "I've always had principles. I would never get muddle-headed just because she saved me once."

After

By choosing to save me, didn’t she accept the risk that I might betray her in the future? What did I do wrong?

Paragraph 103

Changed

Before

"By choosing to save me, didn't she accept the risk that I might betray her in the future! What did I do wrong?"

After

She deserved to die anyway. I only locked her up and kept her properly fed, which already more than repays her life-saving kindness. It was also a lesson for her.”

Paragraph 104

Changed

Before

"She deserved to die anyway. I merely locked her up and kept her well-fed. That's already much more than repaying her life-saving kindness—it's a lesson I taught her."

After

Hearing this utterly shameless speech, A Hao laughed in fury. The next second, his fist came crashing down.

Paragraph 105

Changed

Before

Hearing this utterly shameless reasoning, A Hao laughed in fury. The next second, his fist came straight down.

After

The punch landed square on Lu Baichuan’s face with bone-deep force.

Paragraph 106

Changed

Before

The punch landed dead center on the face, force penetrating to the bone.

After

The sound of a nose bone shattering was clearly audible. Two front teeth flew far, trailing blood, and went “ding, ding,” bouncing across the floor tiles several times.

Paragraph 107

Changed

Before

The sound of a shattered nose was clearly audible. Two front teeth flew out a long way, trailing bloody threads, "clink-clink"-ing as they bounced on the floor tiles and rolled several times.

After

Lu Baichuan was sent reeling backward, his mouth bubbling with blood like a broken ketchup bottle.

Paragraph 108

Changed

Before

Lu Baichuan was knocked backward, blood bubbling from his mouth like a burst bottle of ketchup.

After

“If you love being a beast, just be a beast. Why make up so many excuses for yourself? Do you take everyone else for fools?”

Paragraph 109

Changed

Before

"If you want to be a beast, then be a beast. Why make up so many excuses for yourself? Taking people for fools?"

After

“I’ll give you a line, too—no matter how much you talk, any normal person can still see at a glance that your true nature is that of a beast.”

Paragraph 110

Changed

Before

"I'll give you a saying too: no matter how much you talk, any normal person can still see at a glance that you're a beast through and through."

After

After saying this, he raised the muzzle of his gun and aimed it at Lu Baichuan’s head.

Paragraph 111

Changed

Before

With that, he raised his gun, aiming at Lu Baichuan's head.

After

“Wait.”

Paragraph 112

Changed

Before

"Wait."

After

However, Gu Changchuan suddenly stepped forward and pressed down on A Hao’s shoulder, stopping him.

Paragraph 113

Changed

Before

However, Gu Changchuan suddenly stepped forward and pressed down on A Hao's shoulder, cutting off his movement.

After

Then he walked over to Lu Baichuan, slowly crouched down, and met his gaze at eye level.

Paragraph 114

Changed

Before

Then he walked over to Lu Baichuan, slowly crouching until his eyes were level with the latter's.

After

“I heard you’re also called Brother Chuan?”

Paragraph 115

Changed

Before

"I hear you're also called Brother Chuan?"

After

“So what if I am?!” Lu Baichuan, struggling up from the ground, looked into the other man’s calm, unruffled eyes, and for some reason a chill shot up his spine.

Paragraph 116

Changed

Before

"And what if I am?!" Lu Baichuan, who had just struggled up from the ground, looked into those eyes before him—so calm that not a single ripple stirred—and for some reason, a chill shot up his spine.

After

“Nothing,” Gu Changchuan said in a flat tone. “I just think your reasoning is truly ingenious. By your logic, since you didn’t travel all the way here to kill me at the first opportunity, you’re allowing me to slash you to death as I please, right?”

Paragraph 117

Changed

Before

"Nothing." Gu Changchuan's tone was flat. "I just think your way of thinking is truly ingenious. By your logic, since you didn't travel a great distance to kill me at the first opportunity, that means you're allowing me to chop you to death however I like, right?"

After

“Y-you... what do you want?! Aren’t you official troops? You can’t...” Lu Baichuan’s face finally changed. He began shouting desperately,

Paragraph 118

Changed

Before

"You... what are you trying to do?! You're not the official army! You can't—" Lu Baichuan's face finally changed. He began to shout frantically, without any restraint.

After

“I can control zombies! I have united front value! I can contribute to rebuilding civilization! I’m very smart!”

Paragraph 119

Changed

Before

"I can control zombies! I have united-front value! I can contribute to the rebuilding of civilization! I'm very smart!"

After

But Gu Changchuan ignored his shouting. He simply stood up, walked over to Zhou Yutang, who was still supported by Old Song, and held out a scalpel.

Paragraph 120

Changed

Before

But Gu Changchuan did not heed his shouts. He simply stood up, walked to Zhou Yutang, who was being supported by Old Song, and handed her a scalpel.

After

There are always people like this: they want to be villains themselves, yet they expect everyone else to be fools.

Paragraph 121

Changed

Before

There are always people like this: they want to be the villain themselves, yet they expect everyone else to be muddle-headed.

After

They expect others to definitely forgive them, to think they’re so very valuable, and to keep them around so they can continue to “shine and contribute.”

Paragraph 122

Changed

Before

They expect that others will surely forgive them, surely find them valuable, surely keep them around to continue 'shining and giving off heat.'

After

But contribute to the development of civilization? Are you worthy? They aren’t the kind to take in just any trash.

Paragraph 123

Changed

Before

Contribute to the development of civilization? Are you worthy? They don't take in just any garbage.

After

“I heard you were a doctor, too.”

Paragraph 124

Changed

Before

"I hear you used to be a doctor too."

After

“Can you dissect?”

Paragraph 125

Changed

Before

"Do you know how to dissect?"

After

A trace of emotion stirred in Zhou Yutang’s hollow eyes. She looked at the knife, then at Gu Changchuan, and nodded seriously.

Paragraph 126

Changed

Before

Zhou Yutang's hollow eyes rippled. She looked at the knife, then at Gu Changchuan, and nodded seriously.

After

“Good.”

Paragraph 127

Changed

Before

"Very good."

After

***

Paragraph 128

Changed

Before

***

After

The operating table was two long tables pushed together.

Paragraph 129

Changed

Before

The operating table was two long tables pushed together.

After

Lu Baichuan was bound to it, a cloth stuffed in his mouth, only muffled whimpers coming from his throat.

Paragraph 130

Changed

Before

Lu Baichuan was tied to it, a cloth wad stuffed in his mouth, only muffled whimpers coming from his throat.

After

Zhou Yutang, now in protective clothing and gloves, stood to the side, clutching the knife tightly. Looking at Lu Baichuan’s terrified expression, a trace of satisfaction flickered through her eyes.

Paragraph 131

Changed

Before

Zhou Yutang, in a protective suit and gloves, stood to one side, gripping the knife in her hand. Watching Lu Baichuan's terrified appearance, a hint of satisfaction flashed through her eyes.

After

The next second, the blade sank into his abdomen.

Paragraph 132

Changed

Before

The next second, the blade entered his abdomen.

After

Lu Baichuan’s face contorted to a horrifying degree. His screams were blocked by the cloth and turned into desperate whimpers.

Paragraph 133

Changed

Before

Lu Baichuan's expression twisted to a horrifying degree. His scream, blocked by the cloth, turned into desperate whimpers.

After

At first, Zhou Yutang’s movements were somewhat unpracticed, carrying the precision and restraint of a medical student dissecting a specimen.

Paragraph 134

Changed

Before

Zhou Yutang's movements were a bit unskilled at first, carrying the precision and restraint of a medical student dissecting a specimen.

After

But soon, as warm blood splattered onto her clothing and the pained grunts of her enemy reached her ears, her eyes grew increasingly full of satisfaction.

Paragraph 135

Changed

Before

But soon, when the warm blood splattered onto her clothes, when the pained groans of her enemy reached her ears, her eyes grew more and more gratified.

After

The blade began to slice chaotically through flesh and blood, no longer following any procedure.

Paragraph 136

Changed

Before

The blade began to slash aimlessly through flesh and blood, no longer following any rules.

After

Blood ran down the edge of the table and gathered in a small stream on the floor.

Paragraph 137

Changed

Before

Blood ran off the edge of the table, pooling into a stream on the floor.

After

Seeing Lu Baichuan’s whimpers weaken, Zhou Yutang stopped. A faint emerald glow began to appear on her palm.

Paragraph 138

Changed

Before

Seeing that Lu Baichuan's whimpers were growing faint, Zhou Yutang stopped. A faint emerald-green glow began to gather in her palm.

After

But Gu Changchuan pressed her hand down and instead took out a tube of high-efficiency tissue repair agent.

Paragraph 139

Changed

Before

But Gu Changchuan pressed down on her hand and instead took out a vial of high-efficiency tissue repair agent.

After

“Use this. Since using your ability has a price, don’t waste it on someone like him. We have better things.”

Paragraph 140

Changed

Before

"Use this. Since using your ability has a cost, don't waste it on someone like him. We have something better."

After

As the high-efficiency tissue repair agent was injected into Lu Baichuan’s body, his vital signs, which had been on the verge of failing, instantly stabilized again.

Paragraph 141

Changed

Before

As the high-efficiency tissue repair agent was injected into Lu Baichuan's body, his nearly exhausted vital signs stabilized once more in an instant.

After

Then Gu Changchuan continued calmly, “Peel off those two eyes on his chest as intact as possible. They’ll be useful for follow-up research.”

Paragraph 142

Changed

Before

Then Gu Changchuan calmly continued: "Peel the two eyes on his chest off as intact as possible. They'll be useful for later research."

After

“Mm,” Zhou Yutang nodded seriously. “I understand.”

Paragraph 143

Changed

Before

"Mm." Zhou Yutang nodded seriously. "I understand."

After

And so, this long and meticulous “surgery” was completed under the horrified gaze of hundreds of survivors. (Children like Shen Qichi had already been kept outside beforehand.)

Paragraph 144

Changed

Before

And so, a lengthy and meticulous "operation" was completed under the horrified gazes of hundreds of survivors. (Children such as Shen Qichi had been kept outside in advance.)

After

When the final cut fell, Lu Baichuan’s life also came to a difficult end.

Paragraph 145

Changed

Before

When the last cut was made, Lu Baichuan's life also painfully came to its end.

After

But at the moment he stopped breathing, his corpse suddenly began to swell violently. Under the skin, eyeball after eyeball bulged frantically, as if a new mutation was about to occur.

Paragraph 146

Changed

Before

But at the instant he stopped breathing, his corpse suddenly began to swell violently. Beneath the skin, eyeballs bulged crazily one after another—a new mutation was about to occur.

After

But just then, a layer of white frost suddenly spread rapidly over the corpse, freezing the entire body within seconds.

Paragraph 147

Changed

Before

But just then, a layer of white frost suddenly spread rapidly over the corpse, freezing the whole body within seconds.

After

“What right do you have to mutate?” Only then did Gu Changchuan, who had been standing nearby, pull his hand away from the corpse. His eyes were full of deep disgust and hatred. “A thing like you should just die thoroughly and cleanly!”

Paragraph 148

Changed

Before

"What right do you have to mutate?" Gu Changchuan, who had been standing beside it all along, only now took his hand off the corpse, his eyes full of deep loathing and hatred. "Trash like you should die clean and be done with it!"

After

After he spoke, Gu Changchuan swayed.

Paragraph 149

Changed

Before

After saying that, Gu Changchuan's body swayed.

After

“Boss, are you okay?” A Hao hurried forward to support him.

Paragraph 150

Changed

Before

"Boss, are you okay?" A Hao hurried forward to support him.

After

“I’m fine,” Gu Changchuan waved his hand, his face somewhat pale. “Just a little tired. Move the ice block to the Lightning-Chasing Shadow outside and send it back to Zhuangsheng for research.”

Paragraph 151

Changed

Before

"I'm fine." Gu Changchuan waved a hand, his face somewhat pale. "Just a little tired. Move the ice block over to the Lightning-Chasing Shadow outside and have Zhuangsheng take it back for research."

After

This dissection had yielded a rich harvest.

Paragraph 152

Changed

Before

This dissection yielded a rich harvest.

After

In addition to the pair of intact eyeballs, Gu Changchuan also found an abnormal crystalline body the size of a grain of rice in Lu Baichuan’s brain, faintly emitting red light.

Paragraph 153

Changed

Before

Besides that pair of intact eye tissues, Gu Changchuan also found in Lu Baichuan's brain an anomalous crystal the size of a rice grain, emitting a faint red light.

After

The brains of the other underlings’ corpses had no similar structure. Gu Changchuan guessed that this might be related to Lu Baichuan’s ability to control zombies.

Paragraph 154

Changed

Before

But none of the other lackeys' corpses had a similar structure in their brains. Gu Changchuan guessed that this might be related to that man's ability to control zombies.

After

Afterward, on the other prisoners, they also tested the effect of inhibitors on mutated eyes.

Paragraph 155

Changed

Before

Afterward, on the other prisoners, they also tested the effect of the inhibitor on the mutated eyes.

After

Unfortunately, the inhibitor could not make the eyes disappear; it could only make them close for a period of time.

Paragraph 156

Changed

Before

But unfortunately, the inhibitor could not make the eyes disappear; it could only make them close for a period of time.

After

Finally, after the survivors identified people one by one and cross-verified their accounts, fewer than seven hundred of the more than twelve hundred people were deemed qualified to return to the temporary camp.

Paragraph 157

Changed

Before

In the end, through the survivors' one-by-one identifications and cross-verification, of the more than twelve hundred people, fewer than seven hundred earned the right to return to the temporary camp.

After

As for the rest, their crimes would be repaid with their own lives.

Paragraph 158

Changed

Before

As for the rest, they would repay their crimes with their own lives.

After

All samples with experimental value, together with that ice sculpture, were quickly packed up and taken by the just-returned “Lightning-Chasing Shadow” back to the research center in Lishan.

Paragraph 159

Changed

Before

And all the samples of experimental value, along with that ice sculpture, were quickly packed up and taken back to the research center in Lishan by the "Lightning-Chasing Shadow," which had just returned.

After

***

Paragraph 160

Changed

Before

***

After

Temporary camp.

Paragraph 161

Changed

Before

Temporary camp.

After

The campfires had been lit again, but the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Paragraph 162

Changed

Before

The campfire was relit, but the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

After

Looking at the seven hundred or so survivors with their varied expressions, Gu Changchuan rubbed his brow and said to the Sentinel Robot beside him, “Zhuangsheng, we’ve run into trouble.”

Paragraph 163

Changed

Before

Gu Changchuan looked at the more than seven hundred survivors with their varied expressions, rubbed his brow, and said to the Sentinel Robot beside him: "Zhuangsheng, we've run into a problem."

After

[I saw.] Ling Yu’s voice came through the speaker.

Paragraph 164

Changed

Before

[I saw it.] Ling Yu's voice came from the speaker.

After

“More than seven hundred people...” Gu Changchuan gave a bitter smile. “Our team only has one hundred and fifty in total.”

Paragraph 165

Changed

Before

"More than seven hundred people..." Gu Changchuan laughed ruefully. "Our unit only has a hundred and fifty people in total."

After

Including the children from before and the people they had taken in along the way, the total number of people now traveling with them had already surpassed nine hundred, yet their core members numbered only 150.

Paragraph 166

Changed

Before

Adding the children from before and the people they had taken in along the way, the total number of people currently traveling with them had already exceeded nine hundred—yet their core members numbered a mere 150.

After

Carrying and managing several times their own number of survivors was far more difficult than winning a battle, not to mention that most of these people carried unknown mutations and should actually have been quarantined for observation.

Paragraph 167

Changed

Before

To carry and manage survivors several times their own number was far more difficult than winning, let alone the fact that most of these people carried unknown mutations and, in fact, should have been quarantined and observed.

After

[I know.]

Paragraph 168

Changed

Before

[I know.]

After

“So what should we do next?”

Paragraph 169

Changed

Before

"So what's the next step?"

After

[I suggest leaving Rongcheng first. The Hundred Eyes mutation ecosystem here is likely already close to maturity. It would be unwise to stay long.] Ling Yu’s tone was steady. [As for these people...]

Paragraph 170

Changed

Before

[I suggest leaving Rongcheng first. The Hundred Eyes mutation ecosystem here is likely approaching maturity. It's not wise to stay long.] Ling Yu's tone was steady. [As for these people...]

After

[After leaving the city, you can find a relatively safe temporary settlement point, settle them there, and then continue south.]

Paragraph 171

Changed

Before

[After leaving the city, you can find a relatively safe temporary site to settle them, and then you can continue south.]

After

[Afterward, I will arrange a temporary transport team to meet them and bring them back to the shelter.]

Paragraph 172

Removed

Before

[Afterward, I'll arrange a temporary transport convoy to come and bring them back to the shelter.]

After

—