The Apocalyptic Evolution.

Xia He struggled to fend off the zombies' attacks, a bittersweet smile on her face. She never anticipated that the individual she had been pursuing would sacrifice himself to save her, resulting in his tragic fate. In that moment, her heart was filled with regret.

However, she resolved to honor his sacrifice. "Since his death is tied to my actions, I will repay him with my own life," she thought.

Despite her numerous injuries, Xia He gradually ceased her resistance. As the zombies drew closer, baring their sharp teeth, she closed her eyes, resigned to her fate.

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed as a zombie's head was violently severed, landing in her hands.

Startled, Xia He opened her eyes to see Bai Yi, surrounded by corpses, unleashing fury as he wielded a dark blade with remarkable skill. Each swing of his weapon shattered a body, and with bloodshot eyes, he fought fiercely, demonstrating the extraordinary capability of the black skull-cutting knife. The weapon lived up to its name as it expertly dispatched the zombies that threatened him.

Witnessing Bai Yi's tenacity ignited a flicker of hope in Xia He. Seizing the moment, she picked up her longbow and targeted a zombie pressing against her, drawing the bowstring back with all her strength. The arrow struck true, and the zombie's head rolled away.

Bai Yi glanced at her, momentarily taken aback by her actions. Mustering the last of his strength, he plunged his black Tang sword into the eye socket of the final zombie. As soon as he released the blade, he collapsed in exhaustion, unable to lift it any longer.

Both covered in blood and wounds, they shared a moment of vulnerability. Fortunately, the zombies on the fourth floor had been eliminated; otherwise, they could have been overwhelmed.

After a brief rest, Xia He stood up, grasping her longbow. She approached Bai Yi, who was still catching his breath, and hesitantly moved closer for support.

Bai Yi felt immense pain coursing through his body. Beyond the wounds, the depletion of his strength weighed heavily on him. When he sensed Xia He approaching, dread washed over him. "Please tell me you're not coming closer," he pleaded, struggling to retrieve his weapon.

"Relax; I'm not here to harm you," Xia He replied, rolling her eyes. "Do you plan to lie there forever?"

His expression shifted to concern. "Just promise me you won't create more problems."

"If you won't get up, then perhaps you should remain there," Xia He shot back, turning to leave. Bai Yi quickly interjected, "Please, I don't want to spend the day among the corpses. Help me get up!"

Suppressing her irritation, Xia He extended her hand in reluctant assistance. After a brief moment of surprise, he grasped it, and they supported each other—a shared understanding passing between them.

This fleeting connection felt new to both, although it quickly faded as they staggered to their feet. Bai Yi extracted the skull-cutting knife, glancing at it curiously before allowing Xia He to guide him to safety on the fifth floor.

They entered room 508, where both collapsed onto separate beds. Exhausted, they exchanged glances and unexpectedly burst into laughter, each processing their recent ordeal in different ways.

With little time for rest, Bai Yi braced himself to remove his bloodied sportswear. "What are you doing?" Xia He inquired, her gaze heavy with disbelief.

"I need to treat my wounds," he replied. "If I keep bleeding like this, I'll bleed out before I face the zombies."

Xia He scoffed, "It's pointless. If a zombie bites or scratches you, you'll turn in no time. Why bother?"

Suddenly, her expression shifted, and she looked at him with urgency. "Promise me that if either of us turns, the other will help end it. I don't want to become a zombie!"

Bai Yi reassured her, "You may not need to worry. Those with special abilities like us are resistant to the ordinary zombie virus."

Her eyes widened with hope, "Are you saying we might survive?"

He nodded and continued to tend to his injuries. "However, if you don't stop the bleeding, you risk dying from blood loss."

Realizing the gravity of his statement, Xia He transitioned from panic to urgency. "Then let's work quickly. I don't have any medical supplies here!"

Amused by her sudden shift in demeanor, Bai Yi replied, "I have some supplies. Just remove your clothes, and I'll be right back." 

He ventured out to retrieve medical supplies, returning within a minute to find evidence of her earlier struggles. Bai Yi quickly cleansed his wounds, feeling a sense of relief as he applied the medicine.

With careful treatment, they both began to reclaim their spirits. Bai Yi eventually realized the mystical capabilities of his skull-cutting knife, which seemed to respond to his thoughts. This newfound awareness intrigued him.

As he reentered their shared space, he noticed Xia He wrapped in a quilt naked, a nervous flush crossing her face as he returned.