Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]-Chapter 176 - Going back

"do you see that thing?" they both gazed at the muddy water trying to find traces of that runaway water zombie.

"I don’t see it." Muchen gazed at the exit that was quite far. The maintenance ledge does not run all the way. They wont be able to walk to that exit that easily. Plus the tunnel went deeper it was possible that the water level might be deeper the more they went in.

Yunfeng and Muchen stood at the edge. The cold, muddy water clung to their legs, and Muchen was still on Yunfeng’s back, arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

"I think we should go back the way we came," Muchen murmured, his voice low in Yunfeng’s ear.

Yunfeng nodded grimly. That bloated zombie had vanished, and it wasn’t the type to forget its prey. It was better to deal with what they knew than risk facing what they didn’t in the unknown waters ahead.

"okay..." Yunfeng jumped into the water carefully holding his flaming hands out in defense.

Muchen’s legs tighten slightly around his waist. He was heavy—but he wasn’t complaining. In fact, Yunfeng felt safer like this. The water was unpredictable, and the thought of Muchen—his pregnant lover—wading through it alone made his skin crawl.

As they retraced their steps, the water sloshed ominously. Yunfeng kept the flame burning in his hand, but it barely reached more than a few meters in front of them.

Then, up ahead, there was loud groaning.

Zombies. Three of them, shambling at the edge of the tunnel, eyes milky but alert. They stood half-submerged, snarling like feral dogs.

"Hold on tight," Yunfeng muttered.

"I am," Muchen grumbled in his ear. "I’m literally clinging to you like a backpack. Just don’t fall."

Yunfeng suppressed a snort, then raised his free hand, fire crackling and building in his palm. With a fierce throw, the ball of flame launched forward and burst against the chest of the first zombie, lighting it up like a paper lantern.

The others lunged, but Yunfeng surged forward. He grabbed a metal rod floating nearby—a bent, rusting pipe—and with one wide sweep, he knocked the next zombie aside, its body slamming into the tunnel wall with a wet crunch.

The last one lunged just as Yunfeng reached the ledge. He swung hard, catching it in the jaw. Its head snapped back with a disgusting squelch, and it fell into the water, face down, sizzling where the flame had brushed its skin.

"Okay, okay, I take it back. That was sexy," Muchen muttered breathlessly as Yunfeng hauled them both out of the water, finally out into the open again.

The sun hit them in the face like a blessing. Muchen jumped off his back, landing with a soft grunt and immediately raising his gun.

Pop-pop-pop! Three bullets rang out, dropping the zombies that had begun shambling near the exit. The suddenness made Yunfeng blink in mild disbelief.

"I didn’t even see those," he muttered.

"Of course you didn’t," Muchen said smugly. "Because you were too busy playing Superhuman Dad with fire fists."

Yunfeng smirked, then sighed. But that smirk quickly faded as he looked up the path ahead.

It was the other way now.

The road that cut straight through the city’s center... and directly past the zoo.

His face paled slightly.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath, eyes squinting at the distance. "I really don’t want to go that way..."

But he stepped forward, body tense, shielding Muchen instinctively.

Until he felt a hand on his arm.

"Wait," Muchen said gently, tugging him to a stop.

Yunfeng turned back, frowning. "We don’t have another route."

"If you’re scared," Muchen said with a serious face, "get on my back. I’ll take you through it."

Yunfeng blinked, jaw falling slightly open. "What? No! I’m not scared!"

"Really?" Muchen lifted a brow.

"Yes! And—wait—you were just screaming in the tunnel and clinging to me like a baby koala!"

"I was pregnant and floating in a zombie-infested sewer! Excuse me for not being chill!"

They stared at each other for a moment, breathless. Then Muchen’s expression softened.

"Yunfeng," he said seriously. "I think we should go back."

Yunfeng froze.

"But we haven’t found Jiang Hao’s mother..."

"I know." Muchen’s gaze darkened slightly. "But look where we are. That tunnel behind us led to a monster waterhole. This one leads through a zoo. A goddamn zoo full of mutated animals that probably already got turned."

He stepped forward and grabbed Yunfeng’s hands. "We tried. But I won’t let you risk your life for this. No. Correction—I refuse to let you."

Yunfeng bit his lower lip, looking torn. His heart screamed that an innocent was still out there. But his mind knew better. They were already out of time.

"The military... Shin Kailun will arrive in a day or two," he said softly. "We’ll never stop the massacre if we waste time."

"Exactly," Muchen said.

Yunfeng nodded, "And there’s also the city-wide bombing in two days. We can’t be here when that happens." He let out a strained sigh. "But that guy has Hana..."

"Then we take him down. We can... we can sneak in. We take him from behind and get her out. That’s the smart way. That’s the winnable way. Not running into death traps on every road."

Yunfeng looked down, uncertain. Muchen reached up and cupped his face.

"Yunfeng," he said softly. "Yes, she hasn’t done anything wrong. But you’re not a superhero, for god’s sake. You don’t owe anyone this. You’re not obligated to save everyone."

Yunfeng opened his mouth, but Muchen didn’t let him speak.

"If Jiang Hao was so desperate to save his mom, he would’ve come with us. He would’ve risked himself. But he didn’t. He’s hiding somewhere safe while we run through hell for his family."

Muchen’s voice cracked slightly. "You’re not invincible, Yunfeng. You’re not supposed to be. And I can’t—" his voice shook— "I can’t watch you throw your life away just to live up to some image of a hero."

Yunfeng’s eyes burned. His fingers tightened around Muchen’s.

Silence lingered between them.

Then Yunfeng pulled him into a quiet hug.

"...Alright," he whispered. "We’ll go back."