Chapter 44: Hello, Captain Yan

Half a year ago, a rumor appeared out of nowhere: anyone who ate the flesh of an ability user could gain abilities. Yan Xi tapped the table, pushing a folder of documents toward Yan Zhuo. So far, five ability users have gone missing in the Yueishan Base.

Yan Zhuo's gaze swept over the documents. Is this what you call cooperation?

Yan Xi nodded. According to intelligence from Yueishan, they seem to have a suspect in mind, but their opponent must be formidable. Otherwise, they would never have chosen to cooperate with us.

Over the past two years, although various bases had maintained peace on the surface, minor frictions were inevitable behind closed doors. Therefore, barring an emergency, Yueishan would never seek them out for an alliance.

Chen Yuning, lounging at the other end of the long table, was still dwelling on the rumor Yan Xi had just mentioned. Eating human flesh... I cannot believe anyone would actually fall for such a rumor.

There was a potted cactus on the table. She lightly touched it, carefully avoiding the sharp thorns, and suddenly a thought struck her. If those people ate the flesh and found they gained no abilities, would they think that eating another piece would do the trick? One piece didn't work, so what about two? Perhaps a little more...

Chen Yuning was horrified by her own train of thought, breaking out in a cold sweat.

The snow piled outside the window reflected the blinding sunlight. Yan Xi reached up and pulled down the blinds. Exactly. That is why I agreed to this cooperation. Although it has not reached us yet, resolving hidden dangers early is the only way to find peace of mind.

He pointed to the documents on the table. These contain information regarding the abilities of several senior figures in Yueishan. Look them over and prepare in advance.

Chen Yuning gathered the documents and left, leaving only Yan Xi and Yan Zhuo in the room.

Anticipating what he would ask, Yan Xi spoke first. The second-in-command at Yueishan was newly appointed and hardly anyone outside knows him. It is true that his surname is Qu and he uses a wheelchair, but I cannot guarantee whether he is the person you are searching for. If you do not wish to go, you are free to decline.

I will go. Yan Zhuo's tone carried a hint of urgency.

This answer was well within Yan Xi's expectations. He nodded, his eyes catching the gauze wrapped around Yan Zhuo's wrist. It was obvious the owner had merely tied it hastily without applying any ointment, and fresh blood was still seeping through, faintly staining the white fabric.

Yan Xi curved his lips, tossing back the medicine he had just retrieved from the drawer. Never mind, do not bother with the medicine. If you truly manage to meet the person you seek, perhaps you will win a shred of pity from him.

Pity? Yan Zhuo's eyelashes trembled like snow-laden tree branches, revealing a trace of self-mockery.

Would Qu Yan pity him?

No, Yan Zhuo thought.

Three days later, Yan Zhuo set out with his team. Chen Yuning and two other ability users accompanied him. The journey was not short, and it took them three full days on the road just to arrive near the Yueishan Base.

In the third year of the apocalypse, the landscape along the road was desolate. Unpruned trees grew tall and thick, their sturdy branches stretching toward the sky beneath a heavy layer of snow.

The tires rolled past, leaving two ruts in the snowy ground. Chen Yuning looked out the car window and whispered, I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I feel like these plants are growing a bit too large.

In the bitter cold of winter, the man driving was wearing short sleeves, seemingly immune to the chill. Hearing Chen Yuning's remarks, he replied dismissively, You just overthink everything. Aren't plants always like this? Without human interference, they naturally thrive.

Perhaps, Chen Yuning murmured, leaning back in her seat.

We used to be so busy with work every day. Now that we have the chance, let's climb Yueishan together.

The Yueishan Base was located in what used to be a famous tourist city, boasting a scenic mountain named Yueishan. Before the apocalypse, countless tourists flocked here during every holiday.

Someone started the topic, and the others began chattering about interesting travel memories from the past.

Yan Zhuo sat alone in the back row, using a water-soaked soft cloth to wipe a long saber over and over. This weapon had been custom-made for him half a year ago. The tip was slightly curved, and the blade was longer than standard sabers.

Although the shape was somewhat unusual, it rarely splattered blood when used. The first thought Yan Zhuo had when he received the blade was that his clothes would no longer be stained with blood. Qu Yan disliked the smell of blood.

The cold wind whipped withered branches from the ground against the car window. Yan Zhuo's movements paused slightly. The conversation inside the car abruptly died down as the bespectacled young man in the front passenger seat turned around. Captain, there are zombies.

He closed his eyes and tilted his head, listening intently. A few seconds later, he opened them, his expression tense. Level two zombies. No fewer than twenty.

Many intelligent zombies had emerged over the past two years, leading ability users to classify them. Level one zombies were the most ordinary and common; level two zombies not only possessed intelligence and agility, but were also skilled at hiding and even knew how to cooperate as a team.

Twenty level two zombies were not easily dealt with.

An ambush? Chen Yuning guessed. Could Yueishan be playing tricks?

Yan Zhuo put away his saber, his expression unchanging. Can we shake them off?

It will be difficult, the bespectacled young man replied with a solemn shake of his head. They have blocked all the roads.

Then we get out and kill them all. It's not like I haven't been itching for a fight anyway, the driver said nonchalantly, glancing at Yan Zhuo in the rearview mirror. Right, Captain?

The bespectacled young man offered a suggestion. Let's take the left road. There are fewer zombies there.

Yan Zhuo pondered for a second and gave a concise command. The left. If we can't shake them, we get out of the car.

You got it!

Withered branches snapped beneath the tires, the cracking sound resembling firecrackers. The scenery on both sides of the road rushed backward, and the previously relaxed and pleasant atmosphere vanished completely.

Screech—

With an emergency brake, snow flew into the air.

Yan Zhuo was the first to leap out of the car, kicking away a lunging zombie.

The zombie was sent flying back a few steps, throwing its head back to emit a shrill roar.

The bespectacled young man was not a combat-type and stayed firmly behind Yan Zhuo. Upon hearing the roar, his complexion worsened. Hurry up! The other zombies are coming!

Chen Yuning planted one foot on a zombie's shoulder, executed a graceful flip, and immediately hurled a wind blade.

A wind blade swept past. Against ordinary zombies, it would have reduced them to a pile of minced meat. However, this level two zombie moved with eerie agility, dodging the attack in a bizarre posture.

Its body folded almost ninety degrees, its head pressed against its heels, and it scrambled toward Chen Yuning using all fours.

Chen Yuning had no choice but to leap onto the hood of the car and unleash another wind blade.

After finally dispatching the creature, she squatted on the roof, took a long breath, and complained, I wanted to be fast, but it's just too difficult.

Zombies were evolving, yet human abilities remained stagnant. If this continued, humanity would perish.

After clearing out the small horde, the long saber Yan Zhuo had just cleaned was stained with blood once more.

We're safe, the bespectacled young man panted heavily.

These intelligent zombies also knew how to weigh risks. Realizing the ambush had failed, the remaining creatures had retreated.

He leaned against the car, struggling to catch his breath, when he sensed something else. Wait, there's more...

Before he could finish, a zombie suddenly lunged out from the bend ahead. Everyone instinctively assumed a defensive posture, only to see a woman leap out right behind the zombie.

She was extremely thin, yet not frail. When she dropped down from a tree trunk, her muscles were taut, presenting a striking and lethal grace.

She vaulted down from the tree, wielding a dagger that she ruthlessly drove into the zombie's neck, twisting it from side to side before completely decapitating the creature.

Her movements were remarkably swift and practiced.

Having dispatched the zombie, the woman raised her head. Streaks of blood stained her face, and her short hair clung to her cheeks, making her look like a warrior.

It was evident she was not an ability user. To achieve such physical feats purely as an ordinary human was truly admirable.

That sister is so cool! Chen Yuning blurted out in amazement.

The woman put away her dagger and walked toward them. Su Ting, from the Yefeng Research Institute.

The Yefeng Research Institute was comparable in scale to the Yueishan Base, yet unlike other bases that recruited ability users, it focused entirely on scientific research. Rumor had it that Yefeng possessed a brilliant scientist who had been studying the zombie virus; if successful, it might alter the destiny of humanity.

However, the truth of this rumor remained unverified. The Yefeng base had always been shrouded in mystery, and no one knew whether this scientist truly existed.

Yan Zhuo did not move. Chen Yuning stepped forward with a smile and shook Su Ting's hand. Chen Yuning from the Shuangcheng Base. This is our team captain, Yan Zhuo.

Su Ting naturally glanced at Yan Zhuo. Are you all heading to the Yueishan Base as well?

Yes, yes! Chen Yuning kept holding Su Ting's hand, speaking with easy familiarity. Were you invited by the Yueishan Base too, Sister Su?

The roar of an engine drowned out Su Ting's reply. A fiery red motorcycle sped into view, its body painted with colorful graffiti that looked dazzling under the gray sky.

The bespectacled young man's jaw dropped slightly. Whoa, cool.

A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy climbed off the motorcycle, muttering, Shuangcheng Base, Yefeng Research Institute... It looks like everyone has arrived. Please follow me, everyone.

He pushed the motorcycle a few steps before pausing, slapping his forehead in annoyance. Oh right, I am Cheng Ran from the Yueishan Base, sent here to pick you up.

They hadn't walked far when Cheng Ran stopped, spreading his arms and waving. Big Brother!

Disregarding his motorcycle entirely, he bounced over and squatted down, flashing two canine teeth when he smiled, looking thoroughly endearing. Brother Qu, I've brought the people.

Qu Yan? Chen Yuning murmured, abruptly raising her head to look at Yan Zhuo.

Yet Yan Zhuo wore a hat, and his expression hidden in the shadow was impossible for her to decipher.

Except for Chen Yuning and Yan Zhuo, the others were newcomers who had never laid eyes on Qu Yan, leaving them clueless as to why Chen Yuning was acting this way.

Yan Zhuo's gaze remained fixed ahead, unmoving.

Qu Yan had lost a significant amount of weight; even beneath his winter clothing, it was apparent. The glasses on the bridge of his nose softened his eye color, lending him an inherent indifference.

Yan Zhuo suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. This sudden sensation was tangible, piercing his heart like a thorn.

The intensity of Yan Zhuo's gaze was impossible to ignore. Qu Yan turned his head away, as if deliberately evading it. I am Qu Yan, representing Yueishan to welcome you all.

His lenses were slightly fogged, and Qu Yan failed to notice when Yan Zhuo strode forward. It felt as though the moment he lifted his head, Yan Zhuo was already standing right before him.

Shuangcheng, Yan Zhuo. Yan Zhuo looked down at him from above, his expression calm, yet his ink-dark eyes churned with overwhelming emotion.

Qu Yan looked up at him, and just as he raised his hand, it was seized.

Yan Zhuo's fingers were long and chillingly cold, so frigid that Qu Yan's fingertips instinctively shrank back.

Yet he was denied even the right to retreat. Fearing he might slip away, Yan Zhuo merely tightened his grip after a slight flex of his fingers.

A sharp pain came from his hand, and Qu Yan smiled faintly. Hello, Captain Yan.