Yao Ming's eyes filled with determination but his body wasn't ready to face the challenge of gaining experience and improved his stats. When he tried to get up from the bed, he cringed from the pain.

"Let me be the one who goes.", his wife, Chen Xiu Min stood.

"No.., no, this is my job!", Yao Ming tried to hold her hand but stopped in the middle, from the pain.

"And what are you going to do with a body like that?", Chen Xiu Min stomped her feet.

Yao Ming couldn't answer. He opened his mouth but couldn't find a word to argue back. Huang Wen regretted that he didn't take Chen Wu Xiang with him. Perhaps because he was a doctor, as soon as they improved several levels after Zhang Hu introduced them to the level system, unlike Huang Wen who earned the passive skill third eyes, Chen Wu Xiang earned an active skill Healing level 1. With that skill he could use his spirit point to heal any injuries.

It seemed that each people might receive different kind of skill depended on their aptitude. Zhang Tian Yi and Liu Wang Yun earned a passive skill: Marksmanship, which gave hit rate and attack bonus whenever they use any kind long range weapon. Ma Heng the mechanic earned a skill called Engineer, which will help him understanding various machinery and fix it. Tian Zhong earned a skill called Eloquence, which supposed to help him in negotiation.

That was why Zhang Hu picked them among his men to assist Huang Wen, since each one could fill a role.

Huang Wen realized it now. He failed to consider each of their strengths and used it in his planning. Rather than going to the village alone, he should take Chen Wu Xiang and Tian Zhong along with him. They saw how those people beat Yao Ming, so Chen Wu Xiang must be useful in such situation.

He could also use Tian Zhong Eloquence to help him convince the villagers.

Instead put the strength and weaknesses of his colleagues into consideration, he thought about how he could show his ability to them and took the main role. When he thought about it, he realized that he made an error judgment.

He couldn't back down now, it took time to secretly enter the village, it would take time to leave the village secretly and then brought back Chen Wu Xiang and Tian Zhong along with him. It would waste the entire night and they must postpone any plan to free Yao Ming's daughter.

Thinking about the girl and what would happen to her. Huang Wen determined to redeem himself from his miss-judgment over the situation.

"Yao Ming, tries to check your stat?", Huang Wen asked Yao Ming.

"Stat?"

"Yes, when it was starting, don't you hear a man talking inside your head? And then after a while another voice told you about your stat.", Huang Wen explained.

"Oh... yes, but I don't remember it now.", Yao Ming answered.

"That's not a problem. Just think inside your mind, asking for your stat. That voice will give that information. It represents your current stat.", said Huang Wen.

Yao Ming nodded his head and after a while he said. "Level 1, Strength 9, Agility 10, Vitality 15, Stamina 16, Spirit 9, Health 7/17."

Huang Wen secretly thought, 'Hmmm.... maybe because he used to physical labor, his vitality, stamina and health are higher than mine, even at level 1 but that's because I spent my points on agility, spirit and strength. Health points, so whenever we received injuries, our health point will drop. When it reached zero, I guess we'll die. Now what should I do?'

Finally he said, "Yao Ming, lets me tell you, currently I'm at level 20 and I'm only 1 point stronger than you. I think since you do much physical labor. Your physic already good even at level 1. Now all we need is to raise your level until it reaches level 3-4. Around that level you will receive a skill."

Yao Ming nodded his head, "Ah... okay. I'm ready."

Chen Xiu Min opened her mouth when Huang Wen said, "But your health point, I think that showed your injuries. I guess when it reaches zero it means you died. So listen to me now. I believed the higher your vitality is, the faster your body healed. We would spend all the points you earn into your vitality. Let's hope it will make you healed faster. But I need someone to help me, to carry you out there, so I can hunt zombies for you. All you need to do is to kill it after I capture one."

Chen Xiu Min, "Let me help, I can help you to carry him."

"What do you say?", Huang Wen asked Yao Ming.

"Husband... how could I stay at home when you're out there with that injuries and not worry?", Chen Xiu Min asked Yao Ming.

"Or if you have other people you can trust... but the problem, I think is how to convince them. If we could heal your injury tonight, it would convince them, right? So how about we let your wife to come with us?", said Huang Wen.

"But wouldn't that be dangerous?", Yao Ming asked.

Huang Wen answered, "Actually the only danger came from those men, the zombies, they run away from me. So it is safe for you if I came with you to hunt them but its going to take a lot more work since I need to chase them. But hey, they're slow and I'm pretty fast out there. So I have the confidence, in a short time, I'll raise your level until you and your wife could hunt for yourself. When we reached that level, we could take other people with us. We'll show how you are healed less than a night. It will give them something to think."

"And I could raise my speed or strength, so I can give them some demonstration to convince them too.", said Chen Xiu Min.

"Yes, that's true. Actually since the higher your level is, the more zombies you need to kill. It's easier to raise both of you to level 3, compared to raise one of you to level 6. So I agree that both of you need to level up.", said Huang Wen.

Now Huang Wen and Chen Xiu Min turned to Yao Ming to hear his decision. Yao Ming sighed a few times, but at the end he nodded his head. Huang Wen didn't waste any time, with Chen Xiu Min scouted their way out of the village. He carried Yao Ming on his back.

It wasn't easy. Huang Wen did carry Zhang Xuan in the past, but back then they didn't need to hide. Now he had to walk carefully. Sometimes he needed to bend as he walked to avoid too much exposure. Not to mention that Zhang Xuan was 45kg, while Yao Ming was close to 70. Less than 15 minutes later, he needed to take a rest.

"Sorry..." Yao Ming whispered to him.

Huang Wen just smiled bitterly, "no... problem..."

He secretly cursed, but he knew it was his own fault. It was the result of his greed on getting merits.

"So... who is the leader of this gang of thugs?", Huang Wen used this chance to learn more about their enemies.

"The leader is a youth named Shi Long, he liked to show his upper body that had a tattoo of a dragon coiled its body from his right forearm, all the way to his left forearm. He didn't seem as tough as the other leaders under him, but for some reason they obey him.", told Yao Ming to Huang Wen.

"You said there are other leaders, who are they?", Huang Wen asked.

"Oh there are four other leaders within the gang, Fei Hou, Han De, Fu Ming and Yee Zhong. They all obeyed Shi Long. Fei Hou is the youngest but among those four, it could be said he is the strongest one. The rest isn't that special compared to Shi Long and Fei Hou.", Yao Ming explained.

"Hmm... How many men work for them?", Huang Wen asked.

"Uh... I think it's around 100? I guess... perhaps more...", Yao Ming hesitated for a while.

"How they arranged the security around the village?"

"Most of the time, they just guard the two main roads toward this village. About 10 men for each entrance. Then there are two groups who patrol around the border. They took three biggest buildings in the village, most of their men lived in the village hall. Many women were held there to serve them. Then the richest man's residence, their leader lived there, many young girls were held there to serve them. The last was the village's granary. Each building has about 10 men as guard. Every once in a while they sent larger groups outside, I think they laid ambush to travelers on the road.", Yao Ming was trying to explain it in detail.

"Hmm... we killed those groups of robber when they tried to rob us.", said Huang Wen.

"They are not that strong... we already killed third of their people. Now it's time for you and your neighbors to retake your village from them.", he continued.

Yao Ming nodded his head, "You're right... but back then we are terrified by Shi Long's power. He's just like the incarnation of the devil himself.... besides, once our family members were taken as their hostage, we're worried that they might hurt them."

Huang Wen nodded his head, "You're right. Our main goal should be to secure those buildings where they held your families. Once I give my friends a signal, they will create trouble and withdraw the leaders and most of their men out of those buildings. That's when we take back that building from them and defend it."

For half an hour of they rested and made plan, before they continued their journey. Fortunately since Huang Wen went with Yao Ming and Chen Xiu Min, it was easier to find a route to avoid the patrol. Once they reached the outer part of the village, Huang Wen left Yao Ming and Chen Xiu Min to hunt for zombies. With his speed, even as the zombies tried to run away from him. Within a few minutes he would capture 3 to 4 of them and brought them back for Yao Ming and his wife to kill.

As planned Yao Ming spent all his points on his vitality. Just as Huang Wen expected, the higher his vitality was, the faster his health point restored. As soon as half of his health restored, Yao Ming began to hunt by himself. Using Huang Wen's sword he killed many zombies, without Huang Wen interfering, it was easier to find zombies, but that it also came with the risk of being overwhelmed by them. But both husband and wife fought bravely. They always reminded themselves of their daughter.

Huang Wen watched them from afar, ready to help them whenever they needed it. He didn't need to fight the zombies, just by approached them, would reduce the number of zombies greatly.

They almost spent the entire night and stopped when Yao Ming's health almost completely restored. When they returned to the village, Yao Ming had reached Level 7 and Chen Xiu Min was at Level 6.

"Alright, do you think you're ready to hunt alone with your friends now?", Huang Wen threw away all his worries and turned to Yao Ming.

"Yes! I'm ready!", Yao Ming quickly answered, he gave a very determined expression.

"Good, first let's get few more people. Choose people you could really trust.", said Huang Wen.

Yao Ming thought for quite some time before replied, "Okay, I have about five people in mind."

"Let's pick them, come now, we can't waste time. Before the sun rises, let's have six of your friends at least reach level 3.", Huang Wen said no more, he opened the window and jumped outside.

Chen Xiu Min said, "I'll come with you two."

Yao Ming only hesitated for a few seconds, "Okay, you come with us."

He turned to Huang Wen, "Little hero, could you lend me your sword? So my wife could use mine."

Huang Wen nodded his head, "Okay... but don't be tempted to keep it to yourself."

Yao Ming hastily replied, "Never... never... I won't have the courage to do that. Hero, what would you do yourself?"

"If you don't mind, I'll be waiting at your house. Until you both got your weapon. Once you have enough weapon and I get my sword back. I'll explore the forest a bit.", Huang Wen said, there was a small forest near the village, he sensed a demon lived there.

With everything decided, they began to work on their plan.

Yao Ming and his wife moved carefully from place to place, it took times to convince Yao Ming's neighbor but when they saw how Yao Ming who was beaten during the day now was completely healed without any injuries, and Chen Xiu Min extra ordinary strength, it was easier to convince them. Yao Ming carefully chose people who had been hurt by the criminals in the past and secretly harbor the thought of revenge in their heart.

That night they left the village through the bamboo forest. Since they knew the area better than Huang Wen, it was easier for them to make it out secretly compared to when Huang Wen got into the village by himself.

However, it was a bit hard to find enough population of zombies for them to raise their level. They needed to travel a bit far before they met their first zombie. At first Yao Ming and his wife maimed the zombies for their neighbor and let them use their sword to kill the zombie, but soon each of them had their own sword and kill the zombies on their own.

As they go further and further from the village, it was became easier and easier to find zombies.

They stopped when everyone reached level 3.

"We should hurry now."

Everyone felt excited, they could feel how 4 points of agility affect their speed, some of them secretly wanted to raise their level even more but they know that they' didn't have much time before the dawn. On the way back to the village, they discussed of their next move. With heavy heart,Yao Ming agreed to wait once more. Tomorrow night, they would take a few more villagers to raise their levels and Huang Wen also needed to raise his level. Huang Wen insisted that they needed more power to ensure their victory. Otherwise once they failed there might be no second chance.

Next : Chapter 29.