It was in this moment of eye contact that Zhang Wei clearly saw the other party's form.
The entire body was bound like a mummy, wrapped round and round with long strips of cloth, covering everything except the head. These cloth strips were inscribed with numerous Taoist patterns and symbols, plastered with dense purple talismans, and further bound with chains made of ancient coins.
Looking up the wrapped body towards the face.
It was a zombie face like that of a dried corpse, the skin a deathly gray, as if it had been dead for about ten days. However, setting aside these aspects, judging solely by the facial features, the appearance was not as terrifying as imagined. The face was gentle, possessing an approachable and amiable quality, with a subtle, peculiar ethereal aura.
It was certain.
In life, this appearance of the Fengmen Zombie would have drawn attention even walking down the street, not the kind of attention a handsome celebrity gets, but rather a Daoist immortal-like presence, similar to the Old Celestial Master.
"Who was this guy in life?"
Zhang Wei's eyes flickered as he observed the Fengmen Zombie, murmuring to himself.
Even now, with a withered face and corpse-like skin, it couldn't conceal that aura. Clearly, he had been extraordinary in life.
Just then.
As if sensing Zhang Wei's thoughts, Sun Jianyun's voice came:
"Surprised, aren't you? That the Fengmen Zombie's appearance isn't ferocious or terrifying."
"Yes, the Fengmen Zombie I imagined would be like in that 2013 movie 'Rigor Mortis,' at least giving off a chilling feeling. The kind that, if it went out, not only people but even chickens and ducks would be so scared they'd lose control of their bowels."
Zhang Wei nodded noncommittally.
[Ding! Fengmen Zombie...??????]
[Host gains System Points +200]
Accompanying the system's prompt, with Anya's skills, Zhang Wei's thoughts moved, and the Fengmen Zombie's inner thoughts reached his mind.
Instantly.
A scene appeared.
It depicted the Fengmen Zombie walking down a road, and then a group of farm animals passed by – chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, cattle, and sheep. The moment they saw the Fengmen Zombie, they all let out animal cries, excrement and urine pouring onto the ground, fleeing frantically away from him.
Clearly.
Influenced by Zhang Wei's words, the Fengmen Zombie was unconsciously imagining the scene Zhang Wei described, his mouth twitching slightly.
[Who is this brat, badmouthing me to my face? I'm a zombie, not an ugly monster.]
Zhang Wei didn't hide anything and continued,
"Warden Sun, who was this Fengmen Zombie in life? I feel his status in life must have been quite high. His aura is still so well-preserved after death, he's quite handsome."
[Ding! Fengmen Zombie... Hmph, brat, you know what's good for you.]
[Host gains System Points +210]
Simultaneously.
An emotion of pride and arrogance flooded Zhang Wei's mind. It was the Fengmen Zombie's good mood upon hearing Zhang Wei's compliment, but the next second, a wave of sadness washed into Zhang Wei's mind.
The Fengmen Zombie, while feeling proud, seemed to recall something, murmuring in his heart:
[Who was I in life? Why can't I remember it even now? What did I do in life? Why is so much of my memory gone after death? I can't even recall who I am. What is that battlefield in my memory? Why isn't it recorded in ancient history?]
Following that.
The Fengmen Zombie, lost in recollection, recalled one of the few fragmented memories he had – the 'battlefield' memory, trying once more to recall who he was in life.
At that very moment.
A grand ancient war scene appeared in Zhang Wei's mind.
In the picture.
It was on a vast plain, perhaps an ancient grassland, or somewhere else vast and boundless.
However.
What attracted Zhang Wei was not the plain, but the two opposing forces that appeared there. They were a group of people dressed in ancient attire; some resembled Taoist priests, others ancient Xia Dynasty shamans. They were engaged in a fierce battle, with yellow talismans filling the air, and flashes of lightning spells and golden light spells.
The two sides fought like mortal enemies, their every move a deadly strike.
Although the scene was brief.
The brutality of the battlefield was fully visible. This clear green grassland was stained red with blood, littered with corpses, rivers of blood flowing. Despite the vast number of dead, they did not cease their slaughter.
Afterwards.
The scene shifted, or rather, the viewpoint shifted. This scene was what a person saw before their eyes, clearly a scene witnessed by the Fengmen Zombie in life. After killing a powerful being at least at the level of a Ghost King, his gaze swept across the battlefield.
Soon.
As his gaze swept, it landed on someone. Although the person's back was to him, he recognized them by their silhouette.
Then.
The viewpoint began to zoom in frantically towards that person. Clearly, the Fengmen Zombie was moving to kill that person, intending to ambush them from behind while they were engaged with someone else. Just as he was getting close, the sound of swords piercing flesh, "puchi," rang out, accompanied by splashing blood.
The next second.
The viewpoint moved away from that person and slowly shifted downwards, towards his own chest. A sword was embedded in his heart, blood gushing out without restraint.
He had been ambushed.
He tried to turn to see who had killed him, but the ambusher from behind kicked him, sending him flying.
Finally.
The scene faded into darkness, stained with blood. From the perspective of lying on the grass, as his eyes slowly closed, he could vaguely see a companion running towards him, their eyes wide with fury upon seeing him ambushed and killed.
A memory lasting less than a few seconds.
It passed by so quickly.
And at this moment.
An emotion of rage flooded Zhang Wei's mind.
[Who killed me? Who was the person I was going to kill in life? And what was that battlefield fought for? Were the combatants two factions of ghost exorcists? Or multiple factions? Which faction did I belong to? Damn it, why can't I remember after all these decades!]
The Fengmen Zombie was enraged by his amnesia.
In response.
Zhang Wei was not surprised. Anyone who lost their memory, and only had images of their own death, would feel frustrated and want to curse.
Just then.
Sun Jianyun's voice sounded, interrupting Zhang Wei's thoughts.
Upon hearing Zhang Wei's question, Sun Jianyun stroked his beard and said:
"It's not strange that you have this thought, Zhang Wei. Everyone who has seen the Fengmen Zombie's appearance has this thought, believing his status should be extraordinary. However, I don't know his identity in life."
"He was a high-ranking official of the Senluo Division, and also a corpse brought out from the Suolong Well. Naturally, we also want to know who he was in life and why the Senluo Division brought him out."
"Therefore, we have interrogated the Fengmen Zombie."
"Unfortunately, after years of interrogation, he has refused to reveal even a shred of information. Although he claims to have amnesia, through years of observation, we can detect that he should still possess some memories. It's a pity we can't get them out."
In his words.
Sun Jianyun sighed in his heart. If only he could get something out of him. It was a pity that the Fengmen Zombie was too stubborn. How could the people of the Senluo Division be so resilient and unyielding? Couldn't they betray and reveal some information?
...