《Undead》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 ¡°Merciful God, you welcome a new soul into eternity, light, and joy, as stated in the heaven¡¯s spiritual union; When Lord Jesus descends upon us for the second time, those who had died in the name of Christ, will first be resurrected from their graves, and have their everlasting lives.¡± ¡°Amen.¡± The priest kissed the silver cross. Faint sunlight pierced through the high stained glass windows of the cathedral, and laid its shadows on the pine coffin painted in black. A caucasian lady in a black veil kneeled down, covering her mouth with a cold hand. She forced her sobs back, while hugging a little boy next to her.¡± ¡°¡­ Mama?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Does God love everyone?¡± ¡°God¡­¡± The lady took a trembling breath, saying hoarsely, ¡°God loves all living creatures, and so bestowed his only son to us, so that none of his believers would perish, and instead gain an everlasting life¡­¡± ¡°Then why did we lose our freedom instead, and suffer from pillaging and imprisonment?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Does that mean that we were born unequal?¡± The doors behind the lady burst open, and countless figures rushed into the cathedral, and hooting and yelling sounded through the hall. The lady only had time to pull the pendant off her neck and shoved it into the little boy¡¯s hands, before getting caught by a few soldiers dressed in full military gear and dragged backwards forcibly. ¡°Run, run away quickly!¡± The struggling lady¡¯s shouts pierced through the chaos. ¡°Quick! Run! Leave this place!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t turn back, don¡¯t give up!¡± ¡°Mama loves you! ¡­¡± The cathedral collapsed in a loud bang, and flames blazed up, shooting dark grey smoke into the sky. Screams and cries faded away, and the wind scattered the ashes across the vast and desolate land. On the field, the little boy was running as fast as he could, and behind him were soldiers and hounds chasing tightly after him. A sea of light gradually appeared in front of him, and an enormous city came into view below the cliff. With the soldiers shouting furiously behind him, the boy leapt! Wild winds whistled past his ears, and lifted up the pendant on his chest. Rapidly falling, the little boy closed his eyes. The last thing reflected in those black eyes was a lonely, cold, and endless night. ¡°The dead would be resurrected, and have their everlasting life ¡ª¡± In his heart, he recited. ¡°Amen.¡± * Year 2019, City T. ¡°¡­ Ah¡­!¡± A young man sat up in the dark. The next moment, a sharp pain shot through his every nerves like a current, and the dizziness from the pain caused him to retch instantly. However, having not eaten anything for a day, there was nothing in his stomach for him to vomit out. Other than the intense contractions of his organs, nothing else happened. After awhile, he finally calmed down as he panted. Focusing his vision with some effort, he discovered that he was in a cramp and dark cell, and a dim light shone from beyond the metal bars. ¡­ What is this place, a prison? Why am I here? He tried to search through his muddled mind for any useful information, but he could not even recall his own name, and just by thinking, his head pounded unbearably. When he was about to try pushing himself off the low bed, footsteps and voices suddenly sounded from outside the cell. ¡°¡­ Searching through the entire city for 3 days but we didn¡¯t find any live ones. Is it because Omega scents are especially attractive to zombies¡­¡± ¡°Apparently, Alphas are the same. Only the useless Betas are safe.¡± ¡°Forget it, these few Omegas should be considered enough for the completion of our mission¡­¡± The lock clanged, followed by the grinding shriek of the cell door opening. Two soldiers walked into the room, and within the dim light of the corridor, they could vaguely see a thin body lying on the bed. He looked lifeless, and his chest did not seem to even move. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s dead.¡± A finger from a hand in fingerless glove reached under the man¡¯s nose, then, according to their training, he searched for a pulse on his neck. ¡°He¡¯s unconscious.¡± That soldier said, ¡°He¡¯s been like this since we found him. Surprisingly, he¡¯s pretty good looking.¡± His partner laughed, ¡°As if. Covered in mud and ashes, you can still see his features clearly?¡± ¡°Even through 18 more layers of mud, I¡¯ll still be able to see them clearly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just too thirsty!¡± ¡°And you¡¯re not?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point being thirsty, it¡¯s not like we¡¯ll be able to gain anything from it¡­¡± The young man¡¯s eyes shut tightly. Pretending to be a corpse, he felt himself being lifted out of the cell. During the bumpy journey, he lifted his eyelids slightly. Because of his narrow vision, he could only see that the person in front carrying him was dressed in kevlar gear, and their arms were muscular and firm; his partner behind him was dressed in the same way too, his figure tall and broad, his feet in work boots, and a black gun harness was strapped around his thigh. Two Alphas. A shadow from around the corner fell upon the young man¡¯s eyes. Silently, he closed them again. Soon, the two soldiers entered a lift, ascended, stopped, and the lift door opened to light and chaos. Someone was running and shouting, ¡°Prepare the supplied! Get ready to retreat! The base¡¯s helicopter is on the roof awaiting orders!¡± ¡°The city has already fallen, there¡¯s no time left!¡± ¡°Hurry hurry hurry let¡¯s go!¡± The partner, behind the soldier, whose hands were empty, gave an acknowledgement and left. The young man squinted, now was the time. ¡°Bring the Omegas up onto the helicopter, don¡¯t let them escape. Send them back to the base¡­¡± The soldier was about to respond, but suddenly felt the young Omega in his arms lean sideways, and slide down from his arms to the ground ¡ª His first reaction was to bend down to catch him, but right at that moment, the young man who had been corpse-like reached out to his gun holster at his back, pulling out the gun, and landed on the floor with one knee on the ground! This whole process was too sudden. Before the soldier could yell out in fury, at that very second, with a lightning swing of the young man¡¯s leg, his feet were swept out from under him! Bang! ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Alarmed shouts surrounded them, and they watched the young man pull the Alpha soldier¡¯s hair and slammed his head into the ground. Then, pulling up the soldier whose face was covered in blood, he pointed the gun at his temple, and used him as a shield. ¡°¡­ Back off¡­¡± He wanted to say ¡°back off, don¡¯t move¡±, but having been unconscious for such a long time, his throat was hoarse. Only after a few seconds he then harshly grated out, ¡°Stand there! Put down your weapons!¡± The faces of all the approaching soldiers in the hall changed. They stopped simultaneously, forming a semi-circle around them, and the scene was set for a showdown. ¡°Lieutenant Colonel, there¡¯s an emergency ¡ª¡± Tang Hao hung up the phone and raised his head. ¡°What?¡± ¡°An Omega has revolted,¡± The adjutant officer pointed at the nearby hall, the outrage on his face yet to fade away. ¡°He¡¯s abducted our man, and even wants to escape!¡± The young man¡¯s heavy pants mingled with the Alpha soldier¡¯s shuddering breaths. The soldier felt the icy cold muzzle of the gun against his temple, and unconsciously swallowed a few times, each time tasting the blood in his mouth. He said hoarsely, ¡°Let¡­ let go of me, you won¡¯t be able to escape¡­ Ah!¡± The young man¡¯s hand, like an iron band, gripped his throat tightly. ¡°¡ª Shut up.¡± This was the public area of the prison, with a circular layout. At that moment, it was flooded with soldiers in full military gear, and with a glance, the young man estimated that there were at least a hundred of them. Beyond the crowd of soldiers were first aid supplies and stretchers covered with white cloths. He was unable to count the number of corpses there, and the air was thick with the indescribable smell of gunpowder, ashes, blood, and rotting flesh. What is this, an uprising? A war? Who am I? Why exactly am I here? The entrance, a distance away from the hall, had been locked with a solid iron door. By the side of the door was a small office, and an extremely tall and somewhat tanned man, dressed in camouflage, was striding out of there. The young man retreated step by step, his eyes staring vigilantly at his face. The man walked through the crowd and stood a few steps away, retrieving his gun from his back holster, and his lieutenant colonel emblem on his coat was revealed. ¡°Let go of my people.¡± Tang Hao looked at the nearby young Omega who had already retreated into a corner. Being from the Special Forces, although his body was built and muscular, but when speaking, he adjusted his voice so as not to make the other person feel even more oppressed. ¡°¡ª We¡¯re the ones who saved you. The city has already fallen, there¡¯s nowhere for you to escape to.¡± Under his focus, the young man closed his eyes, then wrenched them open again. ¡°Who are you guys?¡± Tang Hao did not answer his question directly. ¡°Our mission is to search for and protect the precious and critically important Omegas, and deliver you all safely to our base. You will not face any danger, and the base is also prepared to take charge over all of you, and will soon transfer you all to a safe zone¡­¡± There¡¯s no longer a safe zone, a voice from his subconscious told him. Not only this city, the entire country, even the entire world, had fallen already. The young man fell into a slight daze, he himself too did not know where that sorrowful information came from. ¡°Let go of your hostage, and we¡¯ll treat it as though nothing has happened. If my soldiers had been impolite to you, I will apologise on their behalf¡­¡± ¡°No¡­ No.¡± The young man interrupted Tang Hao. He retreated even closer against the wall, and gasped as he shook his head. ¡°Put down your guns and let me go, I must¡­ now¡­¡± Tang Hao was about to say something, but the expression on his face changed suddenly. A loud wail sounded from within the prison, and it did not sound very far away. Shuffling sounds of countless feet drew nearer, and a continuous banging could even be heard coming from the iron door! Showers of dust and grit came from the walls, and the faces of everyone changed drastically. The adjutant officer yelled, ¡°Lieutenant Colonel! The gate downstairs has fallen, the zombies are rushing in!¡± The young man called out, ¡°Put down your guns!¡± ¡°Lieutenant Colonel!¡± ¡°Let me go¡ª!¡± Tang Hao turned around, he raised his hand and fired his gun a few times! Flickering with blue light, the dart-like electrodes had hit the Alpha soldier and the young man. The sharp pain from the electrodes caused the young man to fall kneeling to the ground, then his body planted down, and even lost consciousness for a few seconds. His chest suddenly felt a heavy pressure, as though a heavy rock was pressing on it. It was Tang Hao who had a knee against his chest. The young man coughed out a spray of blood, then raised his hand in the next second. However, his wrist was easily caught and held against the ground by Tang Hao, and the current running through him did not allow his twitching muscles to contract. ¡°¡­¡± Tang Hao cursed silently, and his expression was a little discomposed ¡ª not because of the fight, but because of the blood the Omega underneath him had coughed out. The mud and dust covering the young man¡¯s face could not hide his clear and delicate features. He did not look as gentle as the usual Omegas, but had more defined features, with sharp eyebrows, bright eyes and a straight nose, from his chin to his neck, it was a perfect line of muscles. The pheromone-rich blood had sprayed onto the sleeve of Tang Hao¡¯s combat uniform. It was like a fierce whip across the Alpha¡¯s blazing nerves, a wordless stimulation welling up from his instincts. ¡°The apocalypse has made the lives of Omega a living hell. If you leave this place now, the survivors outside will be even scarier than the zombies. Especially for one like you,¡± Tang Hao¡¯s thumb dragged along the young man¡¯s face, the skin under the dirt was startling white. ¡°You won¡¯t even be able to survive the night. Maybe, getting eaten alive by zombies would be the most merciful death for you.¡± ¡°Someone take him away! We¡¯ll withdraw at full speed!¡± As though to hide his body¡¯s instinctual reaction, Tang Hao rapidly stood up and headed out. It was at this moment when he saw the expressions of the soldiers across him changed. Before he could react, he felt a force around his ankle, and in the next second he was pulled down to the ground ¡ª ¡°Fuck!¡± Tang Hao nearly brained himself on the ground, and that swear that he had suppressed for so long finally expressed itself. He could not believe that the electrodes had lost their effectiveness on this Omega in less than a minute. However, he then saw the young man pick up his gun, lean into him, and his husky voice speaking almost right into his ear, ¡°I prefer dying of old age.¡± The young man pulled out a magazine clip from Tang Hao¡¯s pocket. He stood up rapidly, and pointed the gun at the surrounding soldiers as he retreated quickly towards the window. Tang Hao seemed to have realised something, and he yelled, ¡°No¡ª¡± But it was already too late. Under the eyes of everyone, the young man threw himself against the glass window, and leapt down amidst the shards of glass. ¡ª This was the third storey! Tang Hao shot to the window, and the soldiers swarmed after him. Time seemed to slow down and freeze, and the young man twisted his body in midair, arching himself like a bow that was stretched to its limit, his black hair streaming behind him. Bang! It was clearly such a long distance, but the dull thud of the fall seemed as though it was right next to Tang Hao¡¯s ear. Bowing himself, the young man landed. He tumbled across the ground, just like a textbook performance, and stood up with two guns in his hands! Could this person really have some sort of background?! An unconcealable incomprehension finally appeared in Tang Hao¡¯s eyes. He heard his subordinate asked urgently, ¡°Lieutenant Colonel, should we chase after him?¡± Tang Hao raised his hand to stop them ¡ª it was too late. Following his line of sight, there was only an empty car park downstairs. Ten-odd zombies who had not entered the prison turned themselves around, putting down the bloody remains in their hands, and lurched their way towards the young man. The young man did not seem to have expected such a situation, and was stunned for a short while when faced with the living dead. At the same time, Tang Hao snatched a gun from a soldier, without looking, he pressed the trigger, and a zombie near the young man took a bullet right in between his eyes. Bang¡ª The living dead fell to the ground. The body that had long gone through rigor mortis stiffened, and dark, sticky, purple blood slowly flowed down to the dirty ground, making its way to the nearby drains that had long been choked and filled with stagnant water. As for the other living dead, they did not notice anything. They continued howling and making their way closer. ¡°You¡¯ll be infected if you¡¯re bitten!¡± Tang Hao¡¯s yell came from above. ¡°You must target their heads!¡± Before his voice faded away, the young man seemed to jerk awake from some confused dream, and suddenly moved ¡ª Tang Hao could not clearly see how his legs moved. In the blink of an eye, the young man rushed forward like a whirlwind. When he brushed past the second zombie, it did not even have the time to raise its hand. A shadow swept past, and flew upwards. The young man stepped on the shoulder of the third zombie with a foot ¡ª that was a convict who had escaped from the prison during the zombie uprising, his face had already been torn apart, and within the black and red rotting flesh, broken teeth could be seen ¡ª He immediately fired a few shots, in the pack of living dead, the heads of those that were reaching out towards him exploded. Still, even more living dead came rushing up. From the third storey window, Tang Hao could see everything clearly. Even the zombies that were lingering on the streets had all gathered and started heading in this direction! ¡ª¡ªHe doesn¡¯t have enough bullets! The young man did not show a trace of hesitance or fear, straight away dodging through them. He basically made his way through by stepping on the heads and shoulders of the zombies, and every step was fast as lightning and unbelievably risky. In a few seconds, he had made his way through the zombie crowd, and landed on the ground with a knee, ending up at the roadway that was outside the gates of the prison. In a split second, Tang Hao understood what he was about to do, and he raised his brow. As expected, the young man did not pause, and shot like a bullet to the nearest car. That was an ordinary Toyota Camry. All the doors were open, and the driver had already turned into a bloody male zombie. Trapped within the safety belt, he kept moaning, and his livid purple fingers were clawing the air in front of him. The pack of zombies were all chasing after him, and their heavy footsteps drew nearer. The young man did not turn back to look. He shattered the head of the driver with the gun, then lifted the body out and tossed it outside the car. Deftly sliding into the driver¡¯s seat, he slammed the door close. The male zombie fell onto the pack, and the zombies in front tripped over him. From a distance, Tang Hao put down his binoculars, his face slightly sombre. ¡°Lieutenant Colonel, we must immediately withdraw. The iron door has already¡­¡± Under the tireless attack of the zombies, the iron door of the hall was on the verge of collapse. Large chunks of concrete were falling down, and finally, with a bone-chilling shriek, the door was torn apart. Mutilated zombies in tattered clothing flocked in. The first row of soldiers fired their guns, and with the exploding bits of flesh and blood, the prison hall instantly turned into a scene of bloody slaughter. Tang Hao strode forward, with a twist of his shoulder, he swung the automatic MP5 to his front. A rain of bullets made their way continuously through the pack of zombies, and rows of the living dead flew backwards under the enormous impact of the 9mm Ruger bullets. ¡°Lieutenant Colonel!¡± Tang Hao retreated as he continued shooting. He did not turn his head, and he swung his left hand from top to bottom swiftly, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The soldiers rapidly withdrew through the building, and at the last moment when he stepped past the door, Tang Hao¡¯s eyes shifted from the terrifying faces of the countless zombies to land outside the window. On a street full of zombies, debris, and abandoned cars, a silver Toyota Camry split through like a sharp arrow, cutting through them and quickly disappearing through the burning flames at the end of the road. Tang Hao pulled his eyes away and kicked the door close, trapping all the zombies within the hall. The soldiers started running up to the roof. When he turned, he keenly caught a faint scent, and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed harshly. ¡ª That was the alluring, musky scent of an Omega¡¯s pheromone coming from his sleeve. ¡°Lieutenant Colonel?¡± A soldier asked. Tang Hao took the stairs two at a time, and pointed his gun at the blood stain on his sleeve. ¡°When we¡¯re back at the base, retrieve the DNA from this. Compare it against the population registry of City T. I want to know the identity and background of this Omega.¡± The subordinate nodded his head. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 When the end of the world arrived, the densely populated cities immediately descended into hell. Vehicle pile-ups lined the streets, rolling with smoke and flames. The living dead roamed around, and mutilated remains were strewn across the roads. The doors to the shops were open wide, with shards of glass everywhere. It looked as though a tornado had blew past the shelves, and the walls were splashed with blood and handprints. There was a person lying on the ground in front, his limbs still twitching reflexively, but his intestines were already hanging out from his stomach. A few zombies surrounded him, chewing on the flesh of his arms and thighs. One lifted his guts and swallowed it greedily, and the floor was washed with blood. The silver Toyota Camry sped past. Smelling the scent of a human, the zombies staggered up to start chasing, but the car had long left them in its dust. The young man looked at the rearview mirror. On the roof of the prison building in the distance, a military chopper was slowly ascending, flying past the devastated city, heading straight for the horizon that was engulfed in thick black smoke. Retracting his gaze, he adjusted the rearview mirror slightly. In an instant, he seemed to have seen something in the mirror, and his actions paused slightly. Those were a pair of cloudy grey eyes. Looking quietly ravenous right behind him. The young man slammed on his brakes. With the squealing sounds of the tires, he looked back, only to see that in his blindspot, a little girl was trapped within the safety belt of the backseat. Quietly huddling in a corner, she looked to be about two or three years old, no bigger than a cat. On her head was two braided buns, and she was hugging a doll. Her face had already completely turned black, and her mouth gaped open and close. Purplish red blood flowed down from the corner of her mouth to her neck. She was staring straight at the young man, and next to her was a handbag stained with fresh blood. The young man closed his eyes gently. He could imagine what the situation was like at that time. A husband unwilling to give up on his infected wife and daughter, escaping the city in his car, trying to look for help on the way, only to finally be bitten dead in the driver¡¯s seat, then the zombified wife opening the car door and running away. He opened his eyes, aiming his gun right between the brows of the little zombie girl, but his finger was unable to pull the trigger. The zombies on the streets had surrounded the car, insensibly pounding at its windows, all groaning loudly. In a moment, the young man lowered his gun, reached out and seized the little girl¡¯s neck. With a crack, the neck was broken, and the corpse sagged in the backseat. He did not toss the little zombie out of the car. After silently looking at her for a moment, he stepped on the accelerator and drove straight ahead. A kilometre ahead, beside the multi storey car park, the yellow sign of the pharmacy was abnormally eye-catching through the smoke. *** At the same moment, on the second storey of the car park. In the wide space were ten over cars riddled with bullet holes. Corpses littered the ground, and the alarms were sounding non-stop. The smell of gunpowder mingled with the bloody scent of the dead bodies, forcefully penetrating their nerves. ¡°We¡¯ve been surrounded by a group of zombies,¡± Yan Hao lowered his binoculars and said hoarsely. ¡°The alley at the back exit is a dead end, and the entrance has been blocked by a tide of zombies, I¡¯m estimating there to be about a few hundred of them. The adjacent buildings are a hospital, a school, and and drugstore. This is a Level 1 Red Danger Zone, we¡¯re unable to rappel our way through, and we¡¯re also running low on ammo.¡± Next to an armoured vehicle equipped with biochemical weapons, a few team members were quickly reorganising their equipment. Hearing his words, they simultaneously turned to look at a silhouette. The strict and harsh long-term training had allowed them to control their emotions tightly, but in the silence, they could still identify that vague hopelessness. Through the oppressive silence, the mournful wails and the pounding on the doors became even clearer. ¡°Captain¡­¡± Yan Hao spoke haltingly. Zhou Rong was leaning against a blood-spattered wall, under the eyes of everyone, he looked up, but did not speak. A cold gleam of light shot out from his hand ¡ª at the same time, about twenty steps away, a knife was embedded in the skull of a zombie hiding in behind a concrete pillar, hitting deep inside. With a thud, the zombie fell over. ¡°Pack up the equipment, get ready to breach.¡± Zhou Rong stood and and took a few steps. He was nearly 190cm tall, and was dressed in full black defensive gear. Backlit by the light, his expression could not be seen clearly, and only his low and frosty voice could be head. A team member seemed to have realised something, and suddenly straightened up, ¡°Rong-ge1! Where are you going?!¡± Zhou Rong found an Audi sports car that had bullet holes punctured through its side. As everyone watched, he shattered a window with a fist. From the glove compartment he found a key, then opened the car door and sat in it. ¡°I¡¯ll lead the zombies from the entrance to the back exit. After breaching them you¡¯ll head towards the South-East direction, the target is the underground shelter in the city 30 klicks away.¡± He started the ignition and released the handbrake, and the bullet-riddled sports car roared alive. ¡°Once I get away I¡¯ll rally up with you guys as soon as I can. If I¡¯m still not back by the time you arrive, the responsibility of the team leader would fall to Yan Hao, then send your location signal back to the base.¡± ¡°Captain!¡± In a split second, Yan Hao yelled, and a few team members stood up, unable to accept it. ¡°No, Rong-ge, you can¡¯t!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Zhou Rong stuck his head out through the window, and those tapered and pretty eyes narrowed with, ¡°Mn?¡± Without a smile, Zhou Rong¡¯s features had a cold and rebellious feeling to them, causing people to feel a formidable cynicism coming from him. Even the arch of his eyebrows and his contracted pupils would silently give off the feeling that this person was a hard nut to crack, enough to distract the person looking at him from his natural handsomeness. With the authority he had accumulated over many years, the team members all reflexively choked. Losing control, Yan Hao took a few steps forward, about to say something, but Zhou Rong then pointed at him, that gesture laid with a heavy unarguable command, and he stopped in his tracks. Zhou Rong smiled ¡ª when he smiled, his cynical air would disappear. The corners of his lips turned up, his eyes curving with a smile, and with that came a sort of disreputable charm of a yuppie. ¡°You guys, stop chirping away like sissies.¡± He jabbed one by one at his team members. ¡°Wait for Rong-ge and rally at that shelter. Now, scram.¡± The members tightened their hands around their assault rifles, looking at each other, and despair welled up in their eyes. The lights of the sports car lit up, it reversed, and rolling over the corpses on the ground it made a sharp u-turn. ¡°Wait¡­ Hold up, Captain!¡± Yan Hao¡¯s eyes were glued to the window. He seemed to suddenly see something, and said in disbelief, ¡°There¡¯s someone¡­ Someone¡¯s coming!¡± ¡ª Countless zombies were swarming the entrance of the multi storey car park, pounding away at the door. On the road behind them, a silver Toyota Camry stopped abruptly, then backed up immediately, and its window rolled down. ¡°¡­¡± Could there still be a lucky survivor in this car park? The young man scrutinised this building of eight storeys. Conspicuously, every window had been shattered, blood was everywhere, and nothing within could be clearly seen from outside. Only from a window facing the road on the second storey, a silhouette of a person could be seen vaguely. He might be a civilian who had ran into the building blindly when the city fell. The electronics for controlling the entrance of the car park had already been sealed, but under the ceaseless poundings of the zombies, the hollow metal door had started to concave inwards dangerously, and to breach it was only a matter of time. The young man¡¯s brows knitted slightly, feeling a sense of hesitancy. He gazed at the wide open drugstore nearby. Only a few zombie boys were there, dressed in a middle school uniform. They shuffled about aimlessly, and were probably infected in the nearby school before coming out here. Although he had temporarily lost his memories due to a blow to his head, overwhelming shock, or other reasons, but he still retained his common sense. He needed a pheromone inhibitor to disguise himself as a Beta, and now that that lucky survivor had drawn all the zombies away, his plan to run into the drugstore would definitely be a success. But that fragile metal door would most likely only be able to last for a few more minutes. And once he ran into the drugstore, what if the zombie crowd swarmed in after him? The young man inhaled deeply, and his eyes fell on a motorbike about twenty metres away whose rider had died in a collision with a tree. Silently counting to three, he shoved the car door open. The roar of the engine echoed through the streets, as though announcing the start of a meal. On the second storey of the car park, Yan Hao¡¯s voice was still filled with astonishment. ¡°This person¡­¡± ¡°Is¡­ is he helping us to lead the zombies away¡­?¡± Zhou Rong strode forward, looking through his binoculars towards the street. Focusing his lens, he saw a young man hunched over a motorbike, his head completely blocked by a helmet, and a leather jacket zipped all the way up to his chin. Exhaust could be seen coming out from the tailpipe of the motorbike accompanied with the growl of the engine. More and more zombies were getting lured by the sound. They stopped pounding, turned their heads, and lurched after the motorbike in a group. Twenty metres, ten metres, five metres¡­ The zombies on the road were about to reach the motorbike, and at the entrance of the car park, there were only about 30 odds zombies left. The motorbike rider raised his left arm, and motioned towards the second storey window. Ready ¡ª ¡°Yan Hao, start the car!¡± Zhou Rong tossed his binoculars away, he raised and aimed his rifle. ¡°Get into the car, everyone get into the car and get ready to break through!¡± Gunshots sounded, the bullets flew through the air. In the distant crowd of zombies, the heads of the few closest to the motorbike exploded. That seemed to signal the start of the action. At that very second, the motorbike moved, and shot forward with a roar! ¡°Go go go, hurry!¡± ¡°Hurry!¡± The members swiftly leapt up the armoured vehicle. Yan Hao steered with one hand, and the as his other hand retrieved his magazine and tossed it out of the window. As though he had a pair of eyes at the back of his head, Zhou Rong caught the magazine without turning his head. Attaching it to his rifle with a click, he rested the gun barrel on the window sill, and the rapid sound of gunfire could be heard! Under the rain of bullets, the motorbike burst through the zombie crowd, grinding the countless zombies under its wheels into pulp, and headed straight for the intersection. The zombies stumbled after it. Looking from above, it could be seen that even zombies from the nearby streets had been alerted and drawn to the commotion. Their numbers increased, and soon gathered into a magnificent mass. Some with broken limbs, some with blood trickling from their orifices, and all who were unable to rest in peace¡­ the thick throng of zombies made people shiver in fear. However, at the brink of life and death, no one was able to care about their fear, at the intersection, the motorbike rider took a sharp turn, and roared into the Dong Nan Street2! With a loud bang, the door to the car park finally raised up, and the armoured vehicle rolled over the zombies who did not have time to dodge. ¡°Captain¡ª¡± Yan Hao yelled. From the second storey, Zhou Rong pushed himself off the window sill and leapt down. With a thud, he landed heavily on the roof of the vehicle. *** Five hundred metres away, at another section of the intersection. The motorbike whipped its way through the street, then suddenly stopped abruptly. Another crowd of zombies had suddenly appeared in front, rushing and scrambling their way towards him! The cover of bullets that came from Zhou Rong had stopped, and the zombies were now blocking both ends of the street, the scene looking very impressive. The young man, through his helmet, glanced at the side mirror. At the corner of the street behind him, there was a fork, heading in the direction of the street on the east. The man tightened his fingers around the handles of the motorbike, his veins bulging, then subsiding. He breathed in deeply, turned the motorbike around ¡ª And a growl sounded. The motorbike flew down the road like a comet, the rider¡¯s body almost brushing past the sharp teeth of the zombies. The motorbike vaulted and slammed through the glass walls of the bookstore on the corner of the street, landing on the other side covered in glass! Two zombie boys in front were knocked down, and their half-rotten guts burst across the ground. A third zombie reached out to grab the handle of the motorbike, and leaned down with its mouth open. A sudden bullet whistled through the air, and its skull fragmented into bits. The young man looked up. ¡ª Two hundred metres away, a silver grey armoured vehicle was on the rampage. Zhou Rong was lying on top of its roof with a rifle. He had one eye squinted, his thin lips curling up slightly, looking as though he was greeting him from a distance. Immediately after that, a bullet shot past his helmet, shattering the head of a zombie aunty next to the motorbike. ¡°10 metres behind the bookstore on the corner of Dong Da Street3, in the 2 o¡¯clock direction. Prepare for rescue.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice sounded from the earpiece, and Yan Hao nodded and acknowledged him. When his eyes swept past the satellite map, he answered, ¡°Not possible.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Yan Hao stepped on the accelerator. ¡°Dong Da Street is a dead end.¡± The armoured vehicle roared in acceleration, but by then, it was too late. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyebrows twitched, only to see the motorbike move, piercing through the pack of zombies, and without any other options available, it headed into right into Dong Da Street! ¡°Make a detour! Look for the best route!¡± Zhou Rong commanded sharply amidst the bullet shells. ¡°Prepare to make a u-turn!¡± In the vehicle, the route on the GPS screen changed, and Yan Hao turned the steering wheel as far as it could go. At the same time, in Dong Da Street, the motorbike rider hunched down as low as possible, bursting through the tide of zombies like a bat out of hell. Then, in front of him, appeared a thick hydraulic roadblock! By then, the motorbike had already reached a terrifying speed of 200km/h. The barrier was less than three hundred metres away, and he would arrive there in six seconds. What did these six seconds mean? ¡ª Unable to reverse, unable to turn, along the road was lined with zombies, and once he collided with the roadblock, it would definitely result in his death. The pupils of the motorbike rider constricted, looking like the point of a pin. At the same time, the needle of the speedometer shuddered, turning to its limit, and the tailpipe roared like an angry beast. ¡°He¡¯s going to try breaking through¡­¡± Yan Hao said softly. Just like Moses parting the sea, the motorbike sped through the zombie horde, and all of a sudden, it drove up the metal plate of the roadblock¡ª It seemed as though time had froze, and even the wind was silent. In midair, the motorbike turned three hundred and sixty degrees, drawing an arc in the air. Zhou Rong tossed a hook attached to a rope at him. ¡°Catch¡ª¡± Still in the air, the young man stretched his arm out, and the hook caught neatly around his wrist. He immediately pushed himself off the motorbike, and flew towards Zhou Rong. The heavy motorbike spun crazily, landing straight in the midst of the zombies, and from there came an earth-shaking explosion! Bang! With a loud sound, the young man landed on the roof of the armoured vehicle. Due to inertia, he tumbled towards the edge, and was caught around the waist by Zhou Rong. With a kick, he opened the car roof, and the two of them fell with a crash into the interior of the vehicle. ¡°Rong-ge!¡± ¡°Captain!¡± The team members all hurried forward, helping the two people up in a fluster. Even Yan Hao in the driver seat had turned on the self-driving function, signalling for a team member to take over. From the driver¡¯s seat, he darted into the rear compartment. ¡°Captain, are you alright?¡± Zhou Rong hissed as he stood up, ¡°My old waist¡­¡± Behind him, lightning quick, the young man had dodged all hands reaching out to him, and retreated to a corner before standing up. Through his motorbike helmet, he gazed at these people in front of him silently. This must be a Special Forces team. However, unexpectedly, this group of strapping men were all Betas, and in the constrained space, there was no aggressive scent of an Alpha¡¯s pheromones. ¡°Here,¡± Yan Hao kindly passed him a bottle of water. ¡°Thank you.¡± It slowly quietened down in the vehicle. As everyone watched, the young man did not speak, nor did he express any intentions of raising his hand. ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao offered the bottle to him again. ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± Yan Hao had that sort of appearance where if he had not join the army, he definitely could have considered enrolling in a drama school. With a height comparable to Zhou Rong, his shoulders were broad and his legs were long, with refined brows and bright eyes. A ruby ear stud glittered on his left ear, and he had an air of a melancholy male lead of some campus romance television drama. Even the many years of pervertedly harsh training had not left any marks on his fair skin, it could be said that it was truly difficult to abandon one¡¯s natural beauty. However, this motorbike rider in front of him did not appreciate his kindness, and could even be described as being aloof or defensive. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Another team member had just opened his mouth, only to see the motorbike rider finally move. He ignored that bottle of water, reaching out to take Yan Hao¡¯s fully automatic carbine, and slung it around his right shoulder. ¡°Hey, you¡ª¡± Zhou Rong turned around as he drank the water, stopping his team member, and smiled at the young man. ¡°Hi, how should we address you?¡± The young man remained silent. ¡°You want something to eat?¡± There was no response. The atmosphere within the vehicle gradually changed. In the cramp area, a nervousness seemed to be brewing in the silence. Zhou Rong rubbed his chin, sweeping his eyes up and down the young man. He was fully covered in that tight-fitting motorbike jacket and dark coloured jeans, and his face was completely blocked from view by his helmet. Wafting off him was the smell of having battled with the zombies, cutting a very sorry figure. However, he was lean and agile, his defensive posture just like a knife. A cold, terrifying, half-sheathed sabre. ¡°Mate,¡± Zhou Rong turned a blind eye to his non-actions and asked with a smile. ¡°Where are you heading, can we give you a lift?¡± For over ten seconds, other than the sounds of breathing, only the faint groaning of the zombies outside the vehicle could be heard. ¡°¡­ Back to the car park.¡± In the near suffocating atmosphere, the young man finally spoke, and his voice sounded hoarse due to his dry throat. ¡°To the drugstore.¡± Zhou Rong gave a friendly nod. Turning around, he went to the driver¡¯s seat and tapped the driver¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Return to Dong Nan Street¡¯s car park.¡± Then, he leaned forward, and with a voice that only the two of them could hear, ¡°Find a place to stop. I want to follow him to see what he wants in that drugstore.¡± Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¡°My surname¡¯s Zhou, and Rong comes from armed forces and horses 1, not Huang Rong-meimei 2.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been squatting in this unlucky T City for more than half a month already, and haven¡¯t even got a cent of our field allowance. We¡¯re nearly out of ammunition and rations as well, and in this chaos, when we need fuel for our vehicle, we also have to sneakily do it as though we¡¯re thieves.¡± ¡°How do you think this virus broke out? Is it a mutation from rabies, or is it a crazed war tactic employed by American imperialism and the western powers to target our country? A couple of days ago I was still following a news broadcast, and last night the television signal and the short-wave broadcast have both been disrupted, what a pity for and that I¡¯ve been following unceasingly for more than half a year. However, the one that I find the most pitiful is still¡­¡± Zhou Rong lit his cigarette, inhaling deeply. He turned to see his team members trembling with fear. The window of the vehicle was wide open, and the wind whistled in. ¡°He¡­ he left already,¡± One of the men said. ¡°He just left through the window¡­¡± ¡°When did he leave?¡± ¡°When you mentioned the news broadcast.¡± Zhou Rong was silent for a moment, then said regretfully, ¡°What a pity, I was about to recommend him the eighth season of .¡± *** The zombie horde had already been lured over to the southeast side, and there were only ten odd living dead roaming the on the road. The young man somersaulted and landed on the ground, in a few steps he retreated to a corner of a wall, and quickly made his way into the disorderly pharmacy. The light bulb flickered above his head, and on the walls were splashes of fresh blood. On top of the shattered glass counters were mutilated remains of corpses, and one could imagine what sort of horrifying scene it was when the virus broke out here. With the rise in calls for racial and gender equality, the ban on Omega pheromones suppressors had been lifted in many countries, but it was still a prescription drug that was strictly controlled. The young man raised his carbine in front of him, walking around the pharmacist¡¯s corpse that had fell on the counter, and with the butt of his rifle, he shattered the glass counter. Seeing that familiar auto-injector, he let out an undetectable sigh of relief, and swiftly removed the packaging and injected the medication into the vein of his arm. The drugstore should have been looted a few times, but there were still some goods left around, like protein powder, energy bars, and energy drinks etc. From a corpse he picked up a bloodstained canvas backpack, and swept everything he could take with him into it, and even found two packs of water purifying tablets. After he was done, he looked up. Through the fragmented mirror next to the counter in the distance, he saw himself. The motorbike helmet and jacket had the rusty smell of blood on them, and the colour of his jeans could not longer be distinguished. On his ankle boots, dried flesh and blood clung to them. He suddenly discovered something, and pulled his zipper down slightly. From within his collar, he pulled a pendant out. It was an ordinary brass medallion. About the size of a pocket watch, when the young man opened it, an old photo was found inside, under a thin layer of crystal glass. A young couple was hugging a boy of about five or six years old and smiling at him. The wife was caucasian, with flaxen hair and amber eyes. Even through the limited capabilities of the photography skills from the past, her outstanding beauty was obvious. As for the husband, he was asian, his looks refined and elegant, full of a scholarly air, and had an extremely familiar face. ¡ª His face. The young man closed his eyes, unable to control his gasps. In his mind flashed a few incomplete images: a bumpy plane cabin, screams, corpses, flying bullets, a suitcase that gleamed cold and bright¡­ The image suddenly zoomed out, and under the cold, cloudy morning sky, army boots tread across the grass and dew. A voice bawled in every soldier¡¯s ears, ¡°¡­ no tomorrow, there¡¯s no hope. Waiting for help that would never come, and any mistakes made will lead to our doom¡­¡± ¡°On this planet, you¡¯re earth¡¯s last hope in fighting the undead!¡­¡± The young man subconsciously shook his head. He wanted to massage the point between his brows, only to touch the hard surface of the helmet. ¡°Be careful!¡± The next moment, a strong force coming from his side caused the young man to fall to the ground ¡ª with a loud crash. Instinctively, the young man wanted to grab his attacker¡¯s throat, but within seconds the ear splitting roar of gunfire echoed throughout the room! Under the hail of bullets, the storeroom door by the side burst open. Behind the door, a few living dead had been thrown to the ground, twitching and convulsing, and soon became a motionless pile of flesh and blood. Zhou Rong put down his gun, spitting out his cigarette butt and casually ground it out with his boot. ¡°Are the both of you ok?¡± The young man shoved his ¡°attacker¡± away and sat up, massaging the spot between his brows as his head pounded. ¡°Hi, we happened to see the zombies coming from the storeroom just as we came in¡­¡± Yan Hao climbed up, and held his hand out to the young man sitting on the floor. The latter grabbed his hand, pulling himself up, then picked up the motorbike helmet. ¡°Thanks.¡± Yan Hao, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°?¡± Hottie Yan looked away, although he had managed to hide it, but the flush on his fair cheeks was still very obvious. He coughed forcefully, ¡°No¡­ nothing.¡± Zhou Rong found it interesting, after stroking his chin, he smiled, ¡°You¡¯re here to look for food?¡± ¡ª If the apocalypse masses had to vote for the ten lousiest pickup lines, this line would definitely be at the top of the list. The young man did not reply. He picked up the backpack and tossed it over his right shoulder. Carrying the carbine he had stolen from Yan Hao with the muzzle pointing to the ground, he walked round the both of them and headed out of the door. Unexpectedly, when he walked past them, Zhou Rong grabbed his arm. ¡°This¡­¡± ¡°You followed me?¡± The two people looked at each other from a close distance. In the chaos of the drugstore, there seemed to be an invisible bowstring gradually drawing tighter. A moment later, Zhou Rong smiled modestly, ¡°Your words are so hurtful¡­¡± ¡°¡­ We¡¯re clearly only taking responsibility for the safety of the lives and assets of civilians.¡± The young man re-assessed Zhou Rong carefully, and felt that he had misjudged this person. He should not be from the local forces, but an army riffraff who had usurped the military equipment after getting dishonourably discharged. ¡°Don¡¯t consider about it anymore, just go with us. No one is eyeing those two packets of biscuits in your bag.¡± Zhou Rong flicked away a shred of flesh on the young man¡¯s shoulder, not getting disgusted by it. ¡°We¡¯re going to the city¡¯s underground shelter to rally with the rest of the team, link up with the civilians there and transmit our location signal to the base. We¡¯ll inform the local government to send a helicopter here to pick us up ¡ª they¡¯ll be detonating a nuclear bomb in T City tomorrow. Here, this is my ID.¡± With his bloodstained fingerless glove, Zhou Rong carefully pulled out a kraft envelope from his chest. In it was really a missive about the troop with an official red stamp on it. He arrogantly waved it in front of the young man¡¯s eyes, then, treating it like treasure, he tucked the missive back into his protective vest. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to go anywhere alone. It¡¯s not good to have such individualistic heroism, you should go along with our arrangement¡­ What should we call you?¡± A moment of silence, the young man¡¯s eyes swept across the floor. There happened to be an overturned box of medication at his feet, and on it were the words ¡°XX Si Nan Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd. (Batch No. 2011XXXX)¡±. ¡°¡­ Si Nan,¡± The young man said hoarsely. ¡°Nan from northeast3.¡± *** Half an hour later. ¡°Their body fluids are highly toxic, and after being bitten, it¡¯s a 100% chance of being infected and dying, followed by the mutation. The mutation rate varies amongst people, and the quickest mutation rate that has been observed for now is 50 seconds, counting from the moment the infected victim¡¯s heart stops. The slowest one is about 24 hours, and during that time, the infected victim¡¯s body would go into rigor mortis and decompose at the same rate as an ordinary corpse.¡± Si Nan looked up, ¡°Where did these observational subjects come from?¡± ¡°A few of my team members,¡± Zhou Rong said as he drank some water. On the two sides of of the vehicle compartment, seven to eight special forces soldiers sat on each side, and continuous jolts could be felt as the vehicle ran over the zombies blocking the roads. Next to Zhou Rong, Yan Hao retrieved a paper bag from behind him, and signalled Si Nan across him to take it. ¡ª In the paper bad were a few high protein chocolate bars and some hardtack. Si Nan casually tossed the paper bag back to him, pointing at his own backpack, implying that he had his own rations. He immediately asked Zhou Rong, ¡°You¡¯re from the local base troops?¡± ¡°When the outbreak of the virus just started, an expert had thought that it was collective rabies. As such, the first batch of infected victims were sent to the military to be kept under observation, and the local garrison was naturally obliterated.¡± Zhou Rong shrugged, expressing a courtesy show of grief. ¡°If you go to the military camp now, there should be tens of thousands of living dead armed with weapons trapped in there, a dense sea of chaos¡­ it¡¯s basically a claustrophobic¡¯s nightmare.¡± ¡°Then why did you come to T City?¡± ¡°To carry out our mission.¡± From the side, Yan Hao said softly. Si Nan took a quick glance at him, while he gazed at the floor of the swaying vehicle with great concentration, his lips tightening into a thin white line. ¡°We came to carry out our mission, but we got unlucky and bumped into a zombie outbreak. As such, our mission was changed on the spot, and we decided to go to the shelter to save the ordinary citizens.¡± Zhou Rong asked idly, ¡°What about you, lad?¡± Si Nan did not reply his question. ¡°What happened to your mission?¡± He thought that this team¡¯s objective was the same as Tang Hao¡¯s, that they were all here to capture Omegas from the war zone ¡ª the so-called precious and critically important resources. Who knew, Zhou Rong sighed and sorrowfully said, ¡°This time, I¡¯ve been¡­ The target of the mission has died, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to face disciplinary action when we go back¡­¡± ¡°He might still be alive,¡± Yan Hao suddenly said quietly. The team members all looked at the both of them. Zhou Rong asked him, ¡°If you freefall from a height of 9000 metres, will you be able to survive it?¡± Yan Hao fell silent. ¡°Rong-ge!¡± The driver shouted from the front. ¡°The map has been updated with the latest traffic information, come and take a look!¡± Zhou Rong stood up and walked to the driver¡¯s compartment, and clapped Yan Hao¡¯s shoulder heavily when he walked past. Si Nan suddenly realised that whenever he talked to Zhou Rong, Yan Hao would often appear, passing him something or interrupting, as though exerting his presence. Why? Yan Hao suddenly covered his mouth with a fist and coughed, passing him a box of Zhonghua lights. ¡°You want a smoke?¡± Si Nan looked very much like an asian, but his eyes were amber just like his mother. When he stared motionlessly at a person, there was an illusion of being stared at by a cold, inorganic object. He stared at Yan Hao in this way for over ten seconds before shaking his head. ¡°No, thanks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao was a little nervous. He smiled at him, then pulled out a cigarette, but did not light it. He only flipped it around his fingers, as though using this gesture to soothe his emotions. Soon, Zhou Rong returned to the rear compartment carrying an equipment bag. He sat down boldly, digging through the bag as he exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s so not easy ¡ª according to our current speed we¡¯ll need another two hours before we reach the shelter, but we don¡¯t know how big are the packs of zombies around there. I¡¯ll go up and sweep our surroundings with the vehicle¡¯s machine gun along the way, you guys should hurry up and grab some sleep¡­ why, lad, why are you looking at me?¡± Zhou Rong opened up the metal case that held the firearms. From one of the tool slots he took out a ruby ear stud and put it on his right ear. Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan sat opposite the two them, and his eyes shifted from Zhou Rong¡¯s ear to Yan Hao¡¯s ear. Two identical ear studs glittered at him in the dim light of the vehicle. At that moment, his confusion was cleared up, he felt that he seemed to have understood something. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Si Nan said sincerely, standing up and patting Yan Han¡¯s shoulder. Without turning back, he went to the front compartment and sat next to the driver. Yan Hao, ¡°¡­ ???¡± A strange deathly stillness fell upon the rear compartment. Still, Si Nan was very kind and ignored it. He nodded his head at the driver, apologising for disturbing him, then closed his eyes and snoozed. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Si Nan did not fall asleep. He tried to let his mind enter an empty state, like a fish swimming in the deep sea. He slowly meditated, grabbing at the fragments and snippets of images deep within his memories. ¡°¡­ a born weakling, he needs to be kept in custody¡­¡± ¡°Run, run away quickly!¡± ¡°The humiliation that I¡¯ve suffered today, I will definitely pay it back over and over again in the future! ¡­¡± ¡°Ask your captain to come out.¡± In the wind a shadow stood on the tall iron railings, speaking coldly, ¡°I have something to discuss with him.¡± In the next moment, a man whose face could not be seen clearly walked towards him. Before he could speak, a fist landed on his face, blood spurted out of his nose and he fell backwards! The sounds of sprinting, cursing and people talking clashed together. Numerous soldiers surrounded him, but to no avail. Suddenly, the scene changed. Faint light streamed between the narrow cracks of the window into the cell, creating a bleak shadow for the cement platform where the bed was. Covered with a coat, he sat on the edge of the bed, his palms together, his fingers propped between his brows. Suddenly urgent footsteps could be heard from outside the door, together with the jangling sound of keys. He stood up, and the door opened. ¡°The inner, the inner facility has fallen, the lab cannot hold them back anymore¡­ The cordon has been broken, there¡¯s a car outside waiting for you, quick, come with me¡­¡± He took the titanium icebox that was handed to him and walked out of the cell. The light, at the end of the corridor was as distant as the stars, the passage stretching out in front of him, like a journey that would never end. A journey that would never end¡­ The armoured vehicle did an emergency stop. Si Nan¡¯s body was thrown forward, and he was jerked awake. In an instant, he was face to face with the writhing mass of zombies outside the window. He heard the driver yell, ¡°We¡¯ve reached our destination! Quick quick quick, clear our surroundings! People inside, get ready to follow¡ª¡ª!¡± Rapid bursts of gunfire was shot from the machine gun attached to the vehicle¡¯s roof. Zhou Rong had removed his jacket, leaving him in a black tank top. His heat-resistant gloves had been burnt by the gun barrel to a terrifying degree, and shooting waves of bullets to force the zombies away from the intersection. Still, there were too many zombies in streets of the Central Business District area. One wave came after another, and as far as they could see, it was a sea of zombies. All the team members had climbed up onto the vehicle roof to provide fire support, but they only managed to clear about a few metres ahead of them, and the armoured vehicle slowly made its way through the heaving packs of zombies. This speed that was as though they were stuck in morning traffic was extremely dangerous. With the inexhaustible horde of zombies, the vehicle had nearly been pushed over a few times, and a few team members cried out, their bodies almost caught and dragged down by the zombies. Zhou Rong roared into the earpiece, ¡°Yingjie, come and take over! I¡¯ll drive!¡± The driver opened the window of the roof and pulled himself up. Zhou Rong took the opportunity to slide into the driver¡¯s seat, and slammed his foot on the accelerator! With a growl, the armoured vehicle shot straight ahead for several metres, crushing countless zombies under its wheels. At this time, a crash sounded, the driver¡¯s window had been shattered! A zombie¡¯s wail could be heard, and a few pairs of withered hands reached into the vehicle at the same time, clawing towards Zhou Rong. Zhou Rong twisted to dodge it, and Si Nan moved in perfect synchronisation, firing at the zombies. ¡°Where¡¯s the shelter?¡± ¡°Underground!¡± ¡°Where?!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s hands were occupied, and instead, jerked his chin up towards the front. A few hundred metres away, a shop building stood tall and the end of Zhongxin Street, and a banner with ¡°Opening Sale, Crazy Discounts¡± fluttered in the wind. Si Nan shattered the head of a zombie with a bullet as he dodged backwards. Greyish brain fluids, with a grisly odour, splashed across Zhou Rong, and he swore loudly, ¡°Fuck!¡± Si Nan, ¡°Fuck who?¡± On Zhou Rong¡¯s left hand were zombies trying to clamber in, while on his right was Si Nan with a loaded gun. He made an assessment, then scolded, ¡°¡­ this damn shopping mall is killing me. Why did it need to have a sale, no wonder there¡¯s so many people out there! Fuck their ancestors!¡± At this moment, the wireless radio above their heads crackled to life, sounding very clear amidst the gun shots. A girl¡¯s penetrating voice could be heard, ¡°0011 calling for Command! Calling for Command!! Do you need assistance? Repeat, do you need assistance?!¡± ¡°Yes yes yes yes yes!¡± Zhou Rong threw his arm in front of Si Nan and slammed on the brakes. Using the intercom, he gave an earsplitting roar with nearly his entire body strength, ¡°All of you, come down¡ª! Seal the roof now¡ª!¡± As his voice rang through their ears, a ray of light suddenly appeared on the roof of the shop building in the distance. In the next instant, a white flash shot up, blotting out the sky, and the brilliant light and flames engulfed the ground! In the explosion, the armoured vehicle was like a kite on a broken string. Within a short moment, it was thrown ten odd metres away, the windows fragmenting, and everyone screaming silently as the vehicle spun terrifyingly. After an unknown amount of time, feeling like an endless century, Si Nan gasped as he regained his consciousness. Vaguely, he felt something was wrong, and struggled to prop his body up to take a look. In front of his nose was Zhou Rong¡¯s¡­ crotch. Zhou Rong had a finger on his temple, and the corners of his mouth twitched. His voice was trembling because of the enormous pain. ¡°If I become impotent, I¡¯m going to kill you¡­¡± The team members were groaning awake. Outside the vehicle, the explosion from a single rocket had cleared more than half the street of zombies. The scene was devastating, and rolling thick smoke covered up the previously flourishing shopping area. Static sounded¡­ And that girl coughed. ¡°Hi everyone, are you still alive? Repeat, is anyone still alive?¡± Zhou Rong replied, ¡°Chun Cao, let¡¯s agree on this. Next time before you launch the rocket, could you discuss it with me first? Do you know that Rong-ge nearly became a eunuch just now?¡± Chun Cao responded, ¡°It¡¯s not like you use it anyway. Just get rid of it.¡± Si Nan glanced at Zhou Rong with a strange look in his eyes. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± At that moment, Zhou Rong was very sensitive to any form of provocation. ¡°¡­ Nothing.¡± I never would have guessed that it would be the boy-toy Yan that would be on top, Si Nan thought. A book really should never be judged by its cover. *** Thanks to the rocket, the heavily damaged armoured vehicle finally limped its way through the street, arriving at its final destination ¡ª the shelter. It was this shopping mall¡¯s underground warehouse. In the previous century, it was once a bomb shelter, so it functioned perfectly as a military base, withstanding countless of attacks from the zombie army as the virus outbreak spread its reach. The underground shelter had over a thousand people in it. Most of them were customers and staff of the shopping mall. Gender and age varied amongst them, and everywhere was the muffled sounds of crying. Zhou Rong finally rallied up with his team, and enthusiastically called out, ¡°Cao¡¯er!¡± Chun Cao, ¡°Captain!¡± Si Nan side-stepped hurriedly, and Chun Cao brushed against him as she flew past. The two of them crashed into a hug, spinning around, and Zhou Rong effortlessly picked up the girl who barely reached his shoulder and swung her around. If this was a cartoon, this would definitely be the moment where thick rivers of tears came down their face and scattered all around them. ¡°There¡¯s no more ammunition,¡± Chun Cao¡¯s eyes were full of pining tears. ¡°Last night, I brought Da Ding and Yang Zi to sweep the passageway, and all the bullets were used up then. Just now, that rocket we launched was also our last one¡­ Fortunately, we have enough provisions, I¡¯ve made them block up all doors and windows of the warehouse, afraid that the zombies would come in again. After all, we can¡¯t go up fighting hand-to-hand¡­¡± Zhou Rong patted her head, speaking affectionately, ¡°Call me papa.¡± Instantly, Chun Cao went, ¡°Papa.¡± Zhou Rong ejected two bullets from his gun, grabbed his cheap daughter¡¯s hand and spread it open, first putting both bullets in her palm. After a moment of thinking, he took one back. ¡°The last two bullets in the entire team.¡± Zhou Rong smiled. ¡°Save it for your suicide.¡± Chun Cao immediately cut their father-daughter relation off, walking away with a cold face. When the chaos erupted, there were about two to three thousand people who escaped to this shelter. However, as the infected were mingled amongst them, upon entering the confined space, they mutated into zombies, and rapidly infected many of the civilian survivors. Fortunately, some of the team members under Zhou Rong had managed to get in contact with the local government, and promptly escorted the medical team here. After multiple purges, only a thousand odd people were left. They had all undergone a preliminary checkup, and it was confirmed that there were no more infected hidden amongst them. Chun Cao then brought a few teammates to drag the dead zombies out for incineration. They also cleared out the zombies roaming within the shopping mall and the safety passage. With no more ammunition left, they could only anxiously wait for Zhou Rong to come rescue them. Zhou Rong stepped onto a milk crate and coughed. Not paying attention, he nearly hit his hand on a ceiling light, and quickly protected his head. The massive crowd watched him blankly, and the occasional sobs of a young girl could occasionally be heard, but it soon quietened down. ¡°Are you here to save us?¡± Someone mustered up his courage to ask. ¡°I¡¯m the captain of Squad Six, Unit 118 of the Classified Battalion from B Military Area Command.¡± Zhou Rong again pulled out that somewhat wrinkled missive, and solemnly displayed it to the crowd. Under the lights of the warehouse, that bright red government stamp was very conspicuous. As though gaining a sort of faith in that red colour, the crowd slowly got excited. ¡°The higher-ups have sent me here with a location device and establish the safety and lives of the civilians, maintain the social order of the people during this virus outbreak, as well as send a location signal to them. Soon, the government would spend the utmost effort to come here and rescue us.¡± ¡°For the time being, everyone, please maintain your calm. Do not panic, do not spread rumours. Keep to the schedule and please remember to measure your temperature at regular intervals¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on outside? Are those monsters zombies?¡± A man in the front row shouted. Zhou Rong replied, ¡°It¡¯s only a mutated strain of rabies. Please don¡¯t spread rumours, next.¡± ¡°Our, our,¡± A lady cried. ¡°Our family, what¡¯s happening to them?¡± ¡°Yes, my child is still in school¡­¡± ¡°My wife¡­¡± ¡°My mother is already over 80 years old! ¡­¡± Under the light, Zhou Rong¡¯s jaw tightened slightly, giving off a steel-like, grim air. But he immediately smiled, and although it was brief, but it was very convincing, and his voice was also very steady. ¡°Please be assured. The army would never give up on any citizen.¡± The sprouting panic subsided slightly. The people, with no other choices available, chose to believe him, and more questions appeared. ¡°When would the rescue arrive?¡± ¡°Where will we be sent to?¡± ¡°When will the plague be over? Will the government send us back?¡± ¡­ Si Nan leant against the shelves, staring at Zhou Rong who was patiently answering every single question, and on his forehead was an indiscernible wrinkle. Not far behind him, Chun Cao had her arm across Yan Hao¡¯s shoulders, lolling against him and asked softly, ¡°Why do you keep staring over there? That person looks so dirty, and is also a Beta.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Eee¡ª You clearly are.¡± Yan Hao smiled. ¡°Tomorrow, when the helicopter comes to pick the civilians up, will we also¡­¡± Before he finished, he saw Si Nan walked past them and headed to the back door of the warehouse. ¡°Si Nan!¡± Yan Hao hurried after him. ¡°It¡¯s not safe out there, where are you going?¡± Si Nan answered politely. ¡°I need a shower.¡± In the simple bathroom of the warehouse¡¯s staff area, hot water sprayed from the shower head, and steam quickly filled up the room, blurring the dirty exhaust louver. Si Nan stood under the shower with his eyes closed. The stream of water washed the dried dust, mud and blood away, and his body slowly returned to its originally clean appearance. The water flowed past his naked body to his feet, into the drain, gurgling away. He did not know how long had he not taken a shower already, only feeling that his pores were cleansed, and his muscles and bones releasing the last of their aches; if his skin could make a sound, it would most likely be singing a hymn. A while later, he turned the water off. Hastily scrubbing his body dry, he casually wiped off the condensation on the mirror, and finally, a clean face free from dirt stared back at him. In most people with asian and caucasian blood, the asian genes tended to dominate, and it was the same for Si Nan. However, after looking carefully at the tip of his brows, the corner of his eyes, and the outline of his face, his mother¡¯s classic, breath-taking beauty could be seen from his face. Only, there was no trace of a feminine delicateness on him, and what replaced it was a sort of toughness and resoluteness, as though he had experienced years of harsh reality. Si Nan bent over to pick up his trousers and shirt. Just as he was about to put his clothes on, he suddenly glimpsed something in the mirror, and his actions paused. ¡°..¡± He almost inched his body around, staring at the back of his right shoulder. He suddenly understood why he was unconscious previously¡ª¡ª Next to the clean shoulder blade, there was an obvious palm-sized bite mark. The wound gaped open, already hardened, and spreading from it were horrifying lines of purplish-black. ¡ª¡ª That was a bite mark from a zombie. ¡°Rong-ge has just sent the location signal. Tomorrow afternoon, an aircraft would be dispatched here to send these survivors to B Military¡­¡± In the corridor, Chun Cao had her arm hooked around Yan Hao¡¯s neck. Her words suddenly stopped, and she stared behind her. Yan Hao asked casually, ¡°What happened?¡± When he turned his head, he was stunned as well. A young man had just stepped out from the bathroom. His wet hair looked extra black, and because of the steam, the part of his face that was revealed looked bloodlessly white and cold. He turned and saw Yan Hao, not speaking a word, nor did he move. His eyes seemed to be hiding a pair of gleaming amber pieces. After a moment, he gave a brief smile, swinging the carbine off his shoulder and tossing it over. Yan Hao caught it unthinkingly, only to hear him say, ¡°You can have it back.¡± ¡°Si Nan¡­¡± Yan Hao unconsciously blocked him, but instead watched him turn and walk to the storeroom. His body proportion was amazing, his shirt casually tucked into his trousers. The waist of his trousers hung off his hips, and as he walked, his vigour and efficient movements were on display. Chun Cao poked at Yan Hao¡¯s arm, covering her mouth and saying quietly, ¡°¡­ You guys rescue people according to their looks?¡± Zhou Rong finally managed to disengage himself from the crowd. When he finished dealing with the snottily crying manager of the shopping mall who was grabbing on to his hand, he looked up to see Si Nan standing in the shadows behind the door. He had a hand in his pocket, and was silently staring at him. Zhou Rong observed him for a moment, then stroked his chin wickedly. ¡°What? Wanna hook-up?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do hook-ups while working, but I can consider it when we¡¯re back at the base¡­ What are you doing?¡± Si Nan undid his third button, pulling his collar slightly open. He signalled him to look at his back shoulder, where a section of the concealed bite of a zombie was exposed. ¡°¡­ I might have been infected,¡± He said hoarsely. Zhou Rong¡¯s face turned ashen, and remained standing in place for a long time. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡°Those who get infected would generally die within 24 hours. Are you sure it wasn¡¯t an overly enthusiastic bite from your bed partner?¡± Si Nan sat behind the door, his arms on his knees, and shook his head. Zhou Rong wanted to say more, but the doctor put down the thermometer. ¡°Your man has a fever, Captain Zhou. 37?C, it¡¯s a preliminary symptom of an infection. He should be immediately quarantined.¡± The faces of the people standing around changed, and the civilians standing nearby quickly retreated. A buzz spread through the crowd. ¡°He¡¯s been infected¡­¡± ¡°Will he turn into a monster?¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go! Stay further away from him!¡± A man mustered his courage and said loudly, ¡°Throw him out! We¡¯re all civilians here, what if he starts biting people?!¡± The murmurings grew louder, and Yan Hao said furiously, ¡°He¡¯s not infected! If he was, he would have mutated long ago! It¡¯s all zombies out there, where can he go?¡± The crowd whispered amongst each other, ¡°Soldiers are really unreasonable¡­¡± ¡°Exactly! ¡­¡± Zhou Rong crouched in front of Si Nan. He suddenly reached out, and forcefully pulled his chin up. The colour of Si Nan¡¯s skin was an icy fairness that was completely different from those of asians. His lips were dry and cracked, he looked slightly weary, and with his slightly lidded eyes, he shared a resemblance to his mother. It contrasted sharply with Zhou Rong¡¯s calloused, capable hand. Zhou Rong observed him coldly for a moment, and suddenly stood up. ¡°Bring him to the warehouse office, keep him under observation.¡± The doctor said disapprovingly, ¡°Captain Zhou¡­¡± Zhou Rong said, ¡°It¡¯s my people, I¡¯ll take the responsibility.¡± The warehouse office was a small space partitioned off by plywood. It was around five square metres, and before the virus outbreak, it was used by the person on shift. An old-fashioned spring lock was installed on the thin wooden hollow door, and there was also an iron latch on the other side. Si Nan¡¯s back was against the wall. He sat in the corner, a hand on his bent knees. A while later, Zhou Rong came through the door, then closed it behind him, keeping out Yan Hao and Chun Cao who were following closely behind him. ¡°Here.¡± Si Nan looked up, and in front of him was a pork floss bun. ¡°I got it from the storeroom. Eat it.¡± Si Nan stared at it motionlessly for a few seconds before turning his head away. ¡°Why, you¡¯ve just been locked up for half a day only. Going on a hunger strike? You think because you¡¯re good looking you can do anything you want?¡± Zhou Rong snorted. ¡°Let me tell you, the one thing I don¡¯t know how to do the most is to have compassion for the weaker sex, and I¡¯m best at ruthlessly destroying them. What Omega pheromones, what honeypots, I¡¯ve seen them all during my training. After that, when I was parachuted into the position of the captain, Yan Hao took the lead in refusing to acknowledge my command, and was beaten up by me three times a day¡­ Eat your food obediently, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t dare to force it down your throat.¡± Their eyes met for a moment, and Si Nan finally came clean. ¡°¡­ Food is limited, don¡¯t waste it.¡± Zhou Rong made no attempt at hiding his sardonic laughter. He tossed the bun at Si Nan¡¯s chest. ¡°Lady, why are you so sentimental, just like an Omega.¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong dusted his hands and walked away. *** The sky got darker. Soon, the sounds of people walking and distributing food could be heard from outside the door. Si Nan contemplated it for very long, but still ate the bun in the end. The food soothed his mind, and leaning against the wall, he fell asleep unknowingly. His consciousness drifted between lucidity and muddledness, as though it was travelling through miles of damp, icy winds, gazing at the war-torn grounds beneath him. He seemed to have returned to a time when he was very young. The heavy gates of the manor slowly opened in front of him, the crystal chandelier glowing brilliantly. The handwoven carpet was thick and elaborate, stretching up the marble spiral stairs. A boy dressed in black formal wear had his arms crossed, standing on the second step from the bottom, leaning against the railing. From his vantage point he looked, measuring him for a moment, and suddenly spoke harshly, ¡°You¡¯re really ugly.¡± Feeling his fingernails digging deeply into his palms, he wanted to turn and leave, but he was unable to move a step in this dream. The boy jumped down the stairs, marching in front of him. He suddenly reached out and grabbed his hair, forcing his head up to face him, ¡°From today onwards, I¡¯m your older brother, get it?¡± Si Nan¡¯s chest heaved, feeling a sour stabbing pain in his windpipe. He wanted to raise his fist and throw a punch at that boy, but his dream-self had suddenly became very young, and did not even have the strength to reach his hand out. He could only watch that face that was puffed up with pride, and those cerulean eyes that were full of ridicule. I want to hit you¡­ He thought. One day, I will crush you under my feet¡­ In a twinkling, the scene changed. His memories flew past, only allowing him a cursory glance. The hateful face of that boy gradually became older and tougher, then it turned into a surprised and dumbfounded look, and he promptly fell back as a punch landed on him. Bang! The clamour faded, he grabbed that person¡¯s collar, and saw blood flowing from his nose and his mouth; that pair of cerulean eyes that was always staring at him had turned a stormy dark grey. ¡°¡­ You¡¯ve been wanting to hit me for a very long time, haven¡¯t you? ¡­¡± Yes. Always. However, he did not reply, and what came instead was a right hook. It was hard and harsh and efficient, and the cracking sound of the nose bridge breaking reverberated from between his fingers. Even after a long, long time, he could still clearly remember that delightful touch. ¡­ When the night fell, Si Nan burned, feverish. Dazed, he felt that his body was very hot, as though he was in a warm yet non-existent sea, floating but unable to reach its bottom. Footsteps came and retreated, arguments and rackets came one after another, and a voice from an unknown person shrieked, ¡°You must send him away, he can mutate anytime!¡± ¡°As soldiers, your lives are valuable, while our lives deserve to be risked like this?!¡± ¡°What to do, he¡¯s already been infected, we¡¯re all going to die¡­¡± The sounds of scuffles drew closer, and abruptly pulled away, unclear as though he was hearing them underwater. After an unknown period of time, footsteps suddenly stopped beside him, then someone squatted down, and covered him in something thick. Si Nan struggled uncomfortably, but that person wrapped him up tightly, not even letting go of his neck. ¡°It¡¯s an ordinary illness, he¡¯s just tired.¡± That person said, ¡°The physique of a Beta is too weak. If he continues burning like this, I¡¯m afraid he might not survive.¡± ¡°Rong-ge¡­¡± That person stood up, speaking quietly, ¡°Pass me the car keys, I¡¯m going out for a bit.¡± The next time he woke up, Si Nan felt someone shoving something into his mouth. He struggled to open his eyes, but it was pitch black. A few seconds later, he finally managed to see a line of light shining from the door crack. ¡°Have some water,¡± Zhou Rong said, gave him a mouthful of water from a military-issued canteen without so much as a ¡°by your leave¡±. Si Nan swallowed. An acrid taste was in his mouth, and he realised that the medication that had just been shoved into his mouth had dissolved. ¡°¡­ You¡­¡± ¡°Ibuprofen.¡± ¡­ Where did he get the ibuprofen from? Zhou Rong removed his jacket and tossed it on the floor, sitting down. With no intentions of averting suspicions, he squeezed into the same corner as him, and rebuked him softly, ¡°I say, are you stupid or are you a fool? Only looking for food in that drugstore, didn¡¯t you think of searching for any medication? See, now you have a fever, and I¡¯m the one who has to drive out in the middle of the night, travelling over 20km, nearly turning into a snack for those hundreds of zombies out on the street. If not for the fact that you¡¯re good looking¡­¡± Si Nan gave a few muffled coughs, speaking in a hoarse voice, ¡°No need to thank me for saving you all in the day.¡± Zhou Rong immediately shut up. Si Nan recovered a little of his energy, about to say something mocking. Then he smelled a thick putrid scent of blood from his feet ¡ª coming from the jacket Zhou Rong just threw on to the ground. He touched it with his hand, the material felt sticky and coagulated with a liquid. In the dark, only deep breaths could be heard, and a moment later, Si Nan said lowly, ¡°¡­ Thank you.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± The scratch of a lighter was heard. Zhou Rong leaned against the wall, lighting a cigarette. Exhaling a stream of relaxed and satisfying smoke, he smiled and asked, ¡°You had a dream just now? I heard you mumbling away, it sounded like you were scolding someone.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Missing your family?¡± Zhou Rong asked indifferently. Si Nan shook his head. ¡°What did you use to do? You¡¯re pretty skilled, were you a private bodyguard or police?¡± Si Nan shook his head again, not responding. ¡°Don¡¯t be so nervous, relax a little and let¡¯s have a chat. If you¡¯re not having a fever, and you¡¯re actually infected, you¡¯ll be dead later. I¡¯m the only person here you can entrust your will with.¡± Zhou Rong nudged at him with his shoulder, and asked slyly, ¡°Are you married? Do you have a partner?¡± ¡°¡­ No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. I don¡¯t have one too. Everyone in the team is a bachelor.¡± Si Nan gave him a side-eye, thinking, that¡¯s because you took the lead in being gay. Zhou Rong did not notice it, sighing deeply with his cigarette. Fascination filled his voice, ¡°The asylum at B Military Command can accommodate tens of thousands of people. It¡¯s self-sufficient with water and electricity, completely separate from the rest of the world. When the virus outbreak is over, the country would definitely arrange for all of you to live in B City, then you¡¯ll meet a blind date, get married, and encouraged to have babies, boosting the population after this disaster¡­¡± ¡°And most of the people rescued by the B Military Command are Omegas. Most of them are in their optimal breeding stage, and are under the protection of the military.¡± Zhou Rong unconsciously licked his lips and smiled, ¡°Tsk, how capable. Whoever who thought of this policy is pretty smart.¡± Si Nan¡¯s voice was a little tense. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Each time a disaster strikes, Alphas form the main component of the rescue team. Whichever big-scale shelter has more Alphas, they would have the ability to fight for more resources, arms and territories ¡ª and Alphas would definitely instinctively gather around places with more Omegas. The higher ups can distribute the Omegas like strategic resources, don¡¯t you understand such a simple principle?¡± Zhou Rong sucked deeply on his cigarette, and the red cherry between his fingers glowed brightly before abating. Si Nan did not speak, and his waist was suddenly poked, ¡°What are you thinking about, so lost in your thoughts.¡± Si Nan asked casually, ¡°Do you also want to go to B Military Command and bring a strategic resource home?¡± Who would have guessed that Zhou Rong would give such a strong rejection. ¡°No!¡± For a moment, Si Nan thought that he was going to say, ¡°Because I have Yan Hao already¡±. However, before he could feel touched by this love between these two gay Betas, he heard Zhou Rong say resolutely, ¡°I hate Omegas!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan asked, ¡°Why, Rong-ge?¡± Zhou Rong shifted his position, staring at Si Nan with his eyes flashing. He said in all earnestness, ¡°Let me give you a life lesson, dear: If you¡¯re looking for a partner in the future, never ever look for an Omega.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to look for a Beta.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As they looked at each other, the corner of Si Nan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. ¡°This happens to be my plan.¡± Zhou Rong patted his shoulder in approval. Si Nan asked sincerely, ¡°But¡­ Why?¡± He thought Zhou Rong would use Yan Hao as an example of how a gay Beta could achieve sexual satisfaction in life, but Zhou Rong again shattered his romantic notions. Zhou Rong said sternly, ¡°Because, Omegas have problems with their characters.¡± In the dark, the two of them exchanged glances. Zhou Rong still had a hand on Si Nan¡¯s shoulder, and their noses were less than ten centimetres apart. Si Nan finally pressed himself back into the corner of the wall carefully, cautiously yet politely asking, ¡°Rong-ge, were you hurt by love before?¡± ¡°Hurt by love¡± was clearly an original concept to Zhou Rong. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, pondering it for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°To some extent, it can be said that I¡¯ve been deceived once, but also not ¡ª it¡¯s actually something that happened many years ago. Have you ever heard of the International Special Forces Jungle Competition?¡± Si Nan shook his head. ¡°I represented the country when I was 18. I was leading the pack, until the event when we were supposed to rescue the hostage, when I met a hostage from Country A who claimed he was ethnically Chinese¡­ a 15 years old Omega child.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Edited By: yjtc This sentence alone was enough for Si Nan to fill in the gaps of this story¡¯s beginning and end with his wild imagination. However, on the surface he remained very composed and expressed his curiosity with one word decorously. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Rong was very satisfied with his attentiveness. ¡°Rescuing the hostages involved the participation of 3 groups of people: Kidnappers, competitors, and hostages. The kidnappers were all dressed the same, while the competitors wore bulletproof vests with GPS chips embedded, and the hostages had nothing. During the competition, I had already rescued two hostages. All I had to do was to bring them through the jungle, and I would have completed my mission successfully. However, it was at this time that I met this Omega who offered himself up to me.¡± Si Nan nodded in head in understanding. ¡°It¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking. At that time, his face was all muddy and sweaty, you wouldn¡¯t be able to tell if he was pretty or not. However, he did look very pitiful and was also very clingy. No matter where I went, he would follow. Once the sky darkened, he would be scared, and insisted on hugging my arm to sleep¡­¡± Si Nan studied Zhou Rong¡¯s muscular arm under his short-sleeved t-shirt, and again gave another understanding nod. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong probed. ¡°Why do I feel like your thoughts are a little filthy.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not. What happened next?¡± Zhou Rong was unable to find evidence of his listener¡¯s filthy thoughts, and could only let it go. ¡°Next? I led these 3 hostages, trudging through the jungle on foot. Anything we had to eat was first given to this child, and if there was any danger, he would be the first one to be protected. He didn¡¯t have to lift a finger to do any work, all the tent building, fire starting, and cooking were all left to us. We really took care of him, worrying about him all the time. And he too was very attached to me¡­ Everyone understood, he was only a delicate and weak Omega, especially since he was so young.¡± Zhou Rong inhaled on his cigarette, then ground the butt out on the floor. His expression became a little strange. ¡°Until the last day, the night when we were at the edge of the jungle, about to reach the camp¡­¡± ¡°He confessed his feelings for you?¡± Si Nan asked. A moment of silence before Zhou Rong replied gloomily, ¡°No.¡± ¡°He knocked me out and tied me up. After expressing his thanks to me, he picked up my firearms and gear, then led my hostages away; only until the next day when the organising committee sent someone to rescue me did I learn that he was not a hostage, but a competitor representing Country A¡­¡± ¡°And so, I, who was originally leading the pack, had failed this event. Up till today, I still can¡¯t understand why an Omega could be so treacherous and unscrupulous, burning bridges in such a manner!¡± Zhou Rong slammed his fist into his palm then buried his face in the crook of his arm. Si Nan had to use all of his self-control before he could speak composedly, ¡°Oh, Rong-ge, that¡¯s really too tragic¡­ How did you not realise he was a competitor?¡± ¡°Because the first thing he did when he entered the jungle was to dump all his equipment, empty out his canteen, throw away his rations, and bury his firearms. As for the GPS chip that had to be on us the entire time, and commonly used to identify the competitors, guess what did he do with it?¡± Si Nan shook his head. ¡°He swallowed it.¡± Zhou Rong gritted out. ¡°It had to be removed via surgery!¡± ¡­You guys really went all out for that absurd competition of yours, Si Nan thought sincerely. ¡°What¡¯s even scarier is that this kid already has a partner. After the competition, someone from Country A picked him up. I saw that foreign Alpha bite him on the gland at the back of his neck with my own eyes.¡± Zhou Rong was furious. ¡°What else could this be other than making use of my feelings?¡± Piercing the gland at the back of the neck was a standard temporary mark. It would normally last for about three to four weeks, until it faded away with the Omega¡¯s blood circulation. This was usually used for Omegas who had not been permanently marked. The temporary mark could prevent the Omega¡¯s pheromones from being released, but most importantly, it identified the Omega as one who had been claimed, and it was a provocation for the Alphas around them. Another unsubstantiated but widely accepted theory was that a temporary mark was enough to form a short-term agreement between the Alpha and the Omega. Or in other words, a mark of the Omega¡¯s submission to its Alpha.. ¡ª Alphas would use this method of direct injection of their pheromones to increase the Omegas¡¯ natural capitulation to them, and achieve a temporary dominance. Si Nan imagined that scene. For some reason, he was vaguely uncomfortable about it, as though in his subconscious he felt that the truth was not as how Zhou Rong depicted it. However, since Zhou Rong had done him a favour, it would not be polite to doubt him. He replied earnestly, ¡°Yes, Rong-ge, you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°So now you know why you shouldn¡¯t look for Omegas as your partner? Don¡¯t think that their occasional displays of weakness mean that they¡¯re interested in you. A Beta like you, will be conned by them to the point where you¡¯ll be left with nothing, not even your bones.¡± Zhou Rong pulled out his cigarette box before putting it back in after a moment¡¯s consideration. Instead, he took out a box of fever medication and extracted two pills, motioning at Si Nan to eat them. ¡°Go and sleep, I won¡¯t chat with you anymore. If your fever subsides tomorrow, it means you¡¯re not infected. If it doesn¡¯t I¡¯ll have to shoot you tomorrow.¡± Si Nan leaned against the wall at the room¡¯s corner, and behind his head was a cushion Zhou Rong made out of a thick shirt. With the dim light coming from the door crack, he could see that a large part of the medicine box had been darkly stained with blood. ¡°¡­ Thank you.¡± He paused, then gave a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ll heed your warning¡­ I won¡¯t look for an Omega as my partner.¡± Zhou Rong patted him on his head. It was at this moment when two knocks sounded on the door. Zhou Rong got up and opened the door slightly, revealing Chun Cao standing outside. She said quietly, ¡°We need to discuss the retreat for tomorrow, Rong-ge. The helicopter won¡¯t be able to land directly on the roof¡­¡± Zhou Rong gestured at her, cutting her off. ¡°Ask Yingjie to come here and stand on guard with his gun. Don¡¯t allow those who made the most fuss earlier to come close to this area.¡± The door shut gently. Si Nan closed his eyes and listened as Zhou Rong¡¯s footsteps faded away. *** The next day, the doctor put down the thermometer, astonished. ¡°37.3?C.¡± Zhou Rong gave a courteous nod of thanks, but everyone who saw his face knew that what he wanted to say was ¡°You idiot.¡± Under Zhou Rong¡¯s triumphant expression, the doctor left resentfully. Zhou Rong kicked Si Nan with the tip of his shoe, implying that since he was no longer having a fever, he should not lie there and pretend to be dead anymore, it was time to get to work immediately. Next, he turned around and clapped his hands together, calling out loudly, ¡°Very good ¡ª time to wake up! Pack your gear, move the resources, and clear the passageway! Hurry the fuck up and prepare for the arrival of the helicopter!¡± The bodies on the floor all climbed up sluggishly. Chewing on a seaweed pork floss bun, Si Nan left his little room only to see Yan Hao sitting outside in the cramped corridor, long legs folded up uncomfortably, with the carbine that had been returned to him in his hands. Hearing Si Nan walk out, he lifted his head and revealed a tender smile. Si Nan¡¯s footsteps faltered. Yan Hao stood up, stretching his stiff limbs, then turned and left. Zhou Rong was a monster who did not need any rest, he was always energetic than anyone else. Before lunch, he had personally drawn out their path of retreat, and divided the survivors into fourteen teams in which they would successively make their way up to the roof through the safe passageway one by one. He had also cleared out all the zombies roaming about that passageway, and sealed up all the doors and windows on every floor. The special forces soldiers patrolled around, ready to report any anomalies through their walkie-talkies. At 3.30pm, when Zhou Rong had Yan Hao bring a team to clean up the roof of the shopping mall for the 101st time, the booming sound from the rotors of four helicopters echoed throughout their surroundings, announcing their arrival. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± Yan Hao waved vigorously as he shouted into the walkie-talkie. ¡°The helicopters are preparing to land. Arrange for the first team to come up.¡± The survivors had mixed feelings of joy and sorrow. They sobbed as they climbed up to the roof under the escort of the special force soldiers. The pilot opened the doors to the aircrafts, and yelled in the turbulence, ¡°Come in from the front, don¡¯t go near the back of the craft ¡ª hurry hurry hurry! Don¡¯t crowd in, enter one by one!¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t enough aircrafts!¡± A pilot shouted at Zhou Rong. ¡°We¡¯ll transport a batch of them first and then come back again!¡± Zhou Rong, so busy that he was covered in sweat, waved his hand to acknowledge it. Finding an opportunity, he ran to the back of the team and dragged out Si Nan. He shoved a military knife that had been warmed by his body temperature along with an apple from somewhere into his arms. ¡°Get on!¡± Zhou Rong pointed at the helicopters, shouting into his ear. ¡°Go, hurry!¡± Someone next to them was unhappy. ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you just say that the women and children are to go first, and the men would be in the next group?¡± Zhou Rong ignored him, pushing Si Nan forward with his strength. The white-collar worker, dressed in a suit and jostled by the crowd, was furious. ¡°This is too much! What¡¯s your name? I¡¯m going to complain about you to the military command!¡± ¡°Zhou Rong¡ª!¡± Zhou Rong berated, ¡°Go, go complain!¡± Without another word, he continued dragging Si Nan to the front. ¡°It¡¯s full, it¡¯s full! Stop coming up!¡± The pilot¡¯s roar travelled through the crowd amidst the chaos. He closed the doors of the aircrafts, blocking the few youths in front who were desperately trying to push their way in. The four helicopters simultaneously lifted off, turned, and flew off towards the north. Loud curses and groans rang throughout the crowd. Zhou Rong swore silently, exhausted, and dropped his ass onto the ground. Si Nan took out the apple and crunched into it, before leisurely handing it to him, ¡°You want half?¡± Zhou Rong took it grumpily, viciously taking a huge bite. The two of them sat by the railing, sharing this precious apple with each other. Zhou Rong went up to maintain order within the crowd and rearrange the teams. The survivors were very restless. Having their hopes of nearly being rescued dashed again, this group of people who had been left behind were especially disappointed. They were even more tense and worried than before, and their hopelessness spread through the atmosphere. The limited number of special forces soldiers were unable to completely control the scene, and even the medical team had to come help restore order amongst the crowd. ¡°What¡¯s with them?¡± Zhou Rong frowned. A couple of nurses were huddling in a corner of the roof. They crouched, leaning on each other, looking like they were in discomfort. Their faces were pale and wan and there were dark circles under their eyes. ¡°They¡¯re a little tired from overwork.¡± The doctor explained, ¡°They¡¯ve been doing rounds everyday, disinfecting everything, and they haven¡¯t been able get any uninterrupted rest. That day when your men moved the bodies of the zombies out for incineration, no one else was willing to help. They were the ones who helped move them using stretchers¡­¡± The doctor looked rather unwell himself. Zhou Rong observed those nurses for a while, and suddenly asked, ¡°How are their temperatures?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve all been checked, they don¡¯t have any wounds on their bodies!¡± The doctor said unhappily. ¡°My apologies.¡± Zhou Rong immediately said. ¡°When the aircrafts return, your men will definitely be the first to board.¡± Only then did the doctor ease up. Si Nan finished the apple. He was fine now. His fever had already abated, and his entire body had a sort of lazy ache to it. Although it was not a strong discomfort, it was enough to make him feel too lazy to move. Leaning against the railing, he observed the devastated city below. A moment later, he retrieved that locket from within his shirt, opened it, and looked at that old photo of the smiling couple in a trance. ¡°Your parents?¡± Someone behind him asked. Si Nan glanced over. It was Yan Hao. ¡°Your parents are both very¡­¡± Yan Hao wanted to say good looking, but before the words could come out, he felt that it seemed a little disrespectful, and so corrected himself. ¡°Remarkable.¡± Si Nan laughed, replying casually, ¡°Too bad I didn¡¯t inherit those genes.¡± ¡°This is something that¡¯s acquired.¡± Yan Hao smiled and asked, ¡°You¡¯re of mixed parentage? I always thought you were a member of the T City¡¯s local SWAT team.¡± Si Nan did not respond. Yan Hao silently studied him from the corner of his eye. The way Si Nan carried himself was decidedly neither elegant nor meticulous. Instead he was more similar to the special force soldiers around him, competent, sharp, and decisive. Even so, after a few interactions with him, he realised that there was an indescribable, almost invisible difference in his behaviour. It was completely different from him, from Chun Cao and even from Zhou Rong. Yan Hao thought about it, and changed the topic. ¡°What did the captain chat about with you last night?¡± Si Nan joked, ¡°The Sorrows of Young Werther.¡± 1 ¡°How he got eliminated by an Omega during the International Special Forces Jungle Competition?¡± ¡­ Zhou Rong this strange man, he had definitely spread this embarrassing incident amongst his team himself. ¡°He must have only told you about how the Omega youth knocked him out and tied him up against the tree, apologised, then stole his firearms and hostage, right?¡± Yan Hao understood at once. ¡°As for the flowers and the confession¡­¡± Si Nan asked curiously, ¡°Flowers? Confession?¡± Yan Hao peeked at the crowd. Zhou Rong was in their midst, explaining again and again why he was going to let the medical team board the helicopter first. ¡°The reason why Captain Zhou remembered this for so long is because after the youth tied him up, he kissed him to express his apology.¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That was the one and only close interaction Captain Zhou had ever had with an Omega,¡± Yan Hao said, smiling slightly. ¡°So, if he told you that after the competition, he went looking for that youth to settle their accounts ¡ª he was lying¡­ He actually bought flowers and wanted to confess, only to discover that the other person already had an Alpha, and so came back in a rage, tossing the flowers away.¡± Si Nan shook his head slowly, exclaiming after a period of time. ¡°¡­ How tragic.¡± Yan Hao agreed sympathetically, ¡°Exactly.¡± The sounds of the whirling helicopter blades drew nearer. Two helicopters had returned. ¡°Queue up! Queue up! Hurry!¡± Shouts and yells fluctuated through the crowd. The exhausted pilots bellowed through a loudspeaker, ¡°Medical team! Where¡¯s the medical team¡ª!¡± Those few nurses were pushed right to the front. Their faces were ashen and they entered the aircraft as if they were lifted into it. Zhou Rong watched this scene from afar. He did not know why, but his eyelid kept twitching, and he felt a vague sense of unease. However, by now, the scene had already reached fever-pitch. Everyone was shouting as they shoved their way to the front, and some of the smaller and weaker ones were nearly pushed to the tail of the helicopter, the rotating blades at the end nearly brushing past their heads, and shrieks rang about them. ¡°There¡¯s no more space! It¡¯s full!¡± The loudspeaker amplified that voice to an ear-splitting volume. The pilot yelled, ¡°Wait for the next one!!¡± The pilot gave Zhou Rong a thumbs-up. With a bang, the door to the aircraft closed, and slowly made its way up to the air. Involuntarily, Zhou Rong watched the helicopter depart, and a sudden unjustifiable fear seized his heart. The whooshing wind fell silent, and the world froze at this moment. Zhou Rong turned his head without consciously willing it. His eyes pierced through the crowd, and met Si Nan¡¯s rapidly contracting pupils. In the next instant, a funeral bell seemed to toll in the void. Zhou Rong abruptly started running, ¡°Fall back¡ª!¡± ¡°All of you! Fall back¡ª!!¡± The helicopter spun as it fell, its shadow getting larger. Amidst the terrible screams, it crashed into the second helicopter resulting in an earth-shattering explosion! Boom¡ª¡ª The force of the explosion immediately threw countless people off the roof, tumbling down to the ground below. Yan Hao, caught off-guard, fell over the railing. At that critical moment, his wrist was caught by Si Nan in a death grip! ¡°Climb up!¡± Si Nan called out to him. Yan Hao gasped, gritting his teeth, found footing on the ledge of a window on the top story. About to leverage Si Nan¡¯s help and climb up, he looked past Si Nan and seemed to notice something. His face changed immediately. ¡°No! Don¡¯t bother about me! Quickly, run!¡± Si Nan¡¯s chest was pressed against the railing, and with Yan Hao¡¯s weight, he could barely catch his breath. Summoning up all his strength, he barely managed to turn back to take a look. In the twisted wreckage of the helicopter, the door had been forced open. Countless people ran out, their smoking bodies on fire. They rolled on the ground, screaming miserably. Behind them, even more bodies stumbled out, gripping survivors nearest to them and biting savagely into their necks. ¡ª There had been infected people amongst the survivors on the helicopter. A new wave of the zombie virus outbreak was happening right before their eyes. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Edited by: yjtc Yan Hao grabbed the railing with a hand. ¡°Quick! Run!¡± However, Si Nan did not move. He gripped Yan Hao¡¯s hand and yanked him up, gritting his teeth ¡ª he was about twenty kilograms lighter than Yan Hao, and this yank nearly dislocated his arm. A frightening crack was heard originating from his shoulder joint. ¡°T-the zombies are here!¡± Si Nan panted, ¡°Don¡¯t state the obvious.¡± Yan Hao¡¯s feet kicked wildly in the air. He managed to find a foothold a few times, only to slip off again. Watching as those zombies blazing with flames lurched towards Si Nan, his voice sharpened, ¡°Listen to me! Just leave me, run!¡± ¡°How can I¡­ leave you¡­¡± ¡°The zombies are right behind you!!¡± Half of Si Nan¡¯s body had been pulled over the railing. He felt a weight on his back, and the rotting breath of a zombie could be felt on his ear. At the same time, Yan Hao finally found firm footing on the windowsill, and in an instant, pulled himself up using Si Nan¡¯s strength as leverage! Yan Hao flipped over the railing swiftly, threw his arm around Si Nan¡¯s waist and tumbled to the ground, rolling metres away! ¡°Are you alright?!¡± The zombie¡¯s teeth had missed Si Nan by millimetres, but after being knocked down and pushed around by Yan Hao he had to take a few seconds to catch his breath. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± The weight of Yan Hao¡¯s entire body squashed Si Nan to the ground. He used his left hand to support himself, and his right hand to grasp and turn Si Nan¡¯s face firmly. He saw a wound on the neck below his ear, but there was no blood. It was a scrape from tumbling across the concrete ground. Instantly, all his churning emotions and anxiety settled. ¡°No bites.¡± Yan Hao buried his face in Si Nan¡¯s neck, murmuring thankfully. ¡°Thank goodness. You weren¡¯t bitten.¡± Because that gland which could be temporarily marked was located there, and because a heavy blow to it could be fatal, the neck was the most sensitive and crucial part of an Omega¡¯s body. If Yan Hao was an alpha, his touch was a textbook example of sexual harassment, and so Si Nan¡¯s instinctively shoved him away. ¡°You¡­¡± Si Nan opened his mouth, only to see Yan Hao lift his head and look deeply into his eyes ¡ª Before he could identify the emotion in those eyes, Yan Hao pulled a knife out. With a swing of his arm, the head of a zombie flew off, and its body landed heavily onto the ground. ¡°Run!¡± Yan Hao pulled Si Nan up. ¡°Get down from the roof, return to the warehouse. Hurry!¡± The situation on the roof had become a bloodbath. From every direction, they could hear the screams of people on fire and the sounds of violence from the aggressive zombies. Many people were drenched in blood, crying and running like their lives depended on it, swarming towards the door of the safety passage; In the midst of the chaos, there were many who fell, and before they could get up, they were trampled to death. ¡°Zhou Rong!¡± Si Nan projected his voice. Zhou Rong was cutting down the zombies outside the door down with a fireman¡¯s hatchet. However, in that half second when he was pulling the axe out from a zombie¡¯s body, another two or three infected victims who had clearly been bitten made their way into the building. Si Nan grabbed his wrist ¡ª which was dripping with rotting flesh and blood, and shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s go! Don¡¯t bother with this, you can¡¯t control the situation anymore!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, the burst blood vessels startlingly obvious. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Rong-ge! They¡¯ve all been infected!¡± Chun Cao came running against the direction of the crowd, her voice sharp. ¡°Hurry! Return to the warehouse¡ª!¡± With a boom, an enormous ball of flames flew up into the sky. A second explosion had occurred in the flaming wreckage of the helicopters. Even more living dead and survivors were thrown over the building¡¯s edge from the force of the explosion, shattering to pieces on the streets. Zhou Rong exhaled a hot, shaky breath, surveyed his team covered in blood and grime, and suddenly shouted, ¡°The rest of you still remaining, listen up¡ª!¡± ¡°Come with us to the south corner of Zone A in the underground garage!!¡± ¡°The south corner of Zone A in the underground garage¡ª!!¡± Zhou Rong led the pack, running into the secured passageway. At this time, the situation in the passageway had descended into madness. Many infected victims had mutated into zombies as they ran, and started biting into people in that narrow corridor. The number of people bitten increased rapidly. The lights had been shattered some time ago, and in the dark the moans of zombies and the screams of their victims being eaten seemed to come from all directions. Zhou Rong used the sharp axe to cleave his way through the chaos, shielding Si Nan behind him. The steps under their feet were slick with blood and meat, and in the confusion, who knew how many bodies with guts spilt all over the place had they stepped on. It seemed like a long and endless journey, but now they were about to reach its end. With a swing of the axe, Zhou Rong hacked through the door of the stairwell, and charged into the underground garage! ¡°Hurry hurry hurry! Come on out!¡± The group of survivors stumbled through the doorway he had exited from. Zhou Rong turned and kicked the safety gate shut, preventing the zombie horde from entering the garage with them. Turning back, he estimated the number of people with a sweep of his eyes, then decided promptly, ¡°I¡¯ll drive the armoured vehicle. Yan Hao, drive that medium-sized bus, go!¡± This was the escape route Zhou Rong and Chun Cao had planned when she came looking for him last night ¡ª If the helicopters were unable to land on the roof, they would use this medium-sized bus they got from the streets to transport the survivors to the boarding area instead. Yan Hao held his hand out for the key, then stopped suddenly before the medium sized bus. After panting for a short moment, he stood up and gazed at the badly shaken crowd. ¡°Quick! Quickly open the door and let us up the bus!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t leave us behind!¡± ¡°They¡¯re coming, they¡¯re coming¡­¡± Panicked crying and shouting resounded through the crowd, sounding extremely harsh and grating in the spacious and empty garage. Yan Hao¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. He opened his mouth a few times, but was unable to say a word. Just at this moment, Zhou Rong strode up and patted his shoulder, then pushed him to the back. He was very tall and well-built. As he stood up straight, the shadow he cast was heavy, and his eyes slowly swept through the crowd. The shouts and cries gradually trailed off under this oppressive pressure. Everyone stared at him in fear and bewilderment, only for Zhou Rong to finally open his mouth, his voice low yet clear. ¡°Whoever¡¯s been bitten, stay behind yourself.¡± The crowd exploded instantly. ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°Quickly let us up the bus!¡± ¡°Please, please, let me up the bus!¡± ¡­ ¡°Shut up!¡± Chun Cao burst out loudly. ¡°If you all continue like this, no one¡¯s getting up!¡± The clamour stopped abruptly. In the silence, a special force soldier took the initiative to stand and roll his sleeve up. He smiled, ¡°Rong-ge, I¡¯ve been bitten. Are there any more bullets? Give me a shot.¡± Zhou Rong stared fixedly at his already rotting wrist, and did not say a word. Yan Hao tried his best to keep his mouth closed, but finally could not hold back a hopeless cry of despair, and fell to his knees in anguish. Sobs were heard. Zhou Rong shut his eyes and tilted his head up. A few seconds later, he finally managed to push back his tears, and reached for the one bullet hung around his neck. ¡°This is¡­¡± He said hoarsely. ¡°My last bullet, it was meant for myself.¡± Zhou Rong loaded the bullet into the gun, pushed the gun barrel, walked towards that special force soldier and hugged him tightly. Every member of the team said their farewells to him, choking with tears. Chun Cao¡¯s shoulders shook, and that special force soldier patted her back in comfort. Like an elder brother, he kissed her on the head then pushed her away and looked at Zhou Rong with tears in his eyes. ¡°Rong-ge, thanks for taking care of me for all these years.¡± He smiled as he wiped at his eyes. ¡°Please send me on my final mission.¡± Zhou Rong shut his eyes, and with a trembling hand, he placed the muzzle of his gun on the head of that team member. ¡°¡­ Goodbye,¡± He choked out. Around them was dead silence. A moment later, a gunshot rang through the garage. The restlessness of the crowd ceased swiftly, like boiling magma that had been crushed back underground before it could erupt. The survivors all looked at each other in trepidation. In no time, another girl hesitated before standing up, her eyes red and full of tears. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m a little scared.¡± She paused, and forced a smile on her face. ¡°Are there any more bullets?¡± She looked fairly young, with remnants of makeup left on her face. Her hair was messy, and looked like she had just started her working life. Zhou Rong buried his face in his palm. For a fleeting moment, from his tense shoulders, he looked like he was about to break down. Chun Cao slowly reached to her back, about to pull out her gun. Suddenly, someone walked past her to the front. ¡­ Si Nan? She thought, stunned. Si Nan stopped in front of that girl and said quietly. ¡°They don¡¯t have any more bullets already. Can I help you instead? I promise you, it¡¯ll be very fast.¡± The girl was both scared and overwhelmed. ¡°But I¡­¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be any pain at all.¡± Si Nan replied. Under the eyes of the crowd, he lifted his hand and brushed away the dust on the girl¡¯s face, wiping away the tears from her eyes, then carefully, meticulously tidied up her hair. He straightened out her collar and patted away the dirt off her mauve skirt, just like a knight gently serving a noble princess. Tremors were running through the girl¡¯s body, and she was trying so hard not to cry that she could not speak. Si Nan spread his arms and hugged her, asking, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°¡­ Zhao¡­ Zhao Miaomiao¡­¡± ¡°Miaomiao,¡± Si Nan spoke into her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. You look very pretty.¡± The girl swallowed her acrid tears, and gave a small smile. ¡°Mn!¡± She acknowledged firmly. The next second ¡ª Crack! It came from her neck, quick as lightning. There was no dilly-dallying, and her body immediately sagged downwards. Si Nan held her lifeless body and slowly placed her on the floor. He was very gentle, as though the girl had only fell into an everlasting sleep. ¡°¡­ Anyone else?¡± Zhou Rong surveyed the crowd, asking hoarsely. ¡°Is there anyone else? Step out by yourself.¡± No one spoke, nor did they move. The tension in the air was so thick it could be sliced with a knife. After a while, Zhou Rong nodded his head at Yan Hao. Yan Hao pulled out the key to the bus, but Si Nan suddenly called out, ¡°¡ª Stop!¡± Their eyes turned towards where he was looking at. A middle-aged man cowered as he squeezed his way towards the bus, and Si Nan went up to pull him out of the crowd. He coldly said, ¡°You¡¯ve been bitten as well.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t! I! I¡­¡± Si Nan wrenched his hand that was hidden behind his back to the front and tore open his sleeve. His arm had already started to rot, emitting a ghastly smell. ¡°It¡¯s not the infection, I wasn¡¯t bitten. I, I was cut by glass! The wound has just become inflamed!¡± Si Nan turned a deaf ear to his words, and pushed him to a faraway corner. He told Yan Hao, ¡°Go and open the door of the bus.¡± The man flew into a rage, roaring in grief, ¡°You¡¯ll get your retribution! Bastard! You won¡¯t die a peaceful death! ¡­¡± The curses echoed. Si Nan saw that all the survivors had boarded the armoured vehicle and the bus, then turned his head back and asked him, ¡°Do you want to end it yourself, or do you want me to help you?¡± The man swung his fist. Si Nan turned his head to avoid it, but unexpectedly, the man took this opportunity to break free from his hold and run away. Si Nan saw him run towards the safety gate, and his heart pounded as he came to a sudden realisation. ¡°Stop¡ª¡± Zhou Rong threw the door to the shotgun seat open, shouting harshly, ¡°Si Nan! Get on!¡± Si Nan was like an enraged leopard, chasing after that man. At the same time, Zhou Rong slammed his foot into the accelerator, and the tires shrieked through the garage. The vehicle whipped over, and with a jam of the brakes, it stopped right in front of Si Nan! Zhou Rong reached out and grabbed him. His hand, like an iron tong, was very strong. Grabbing around his waist, he carried him into the driver¡¯s compartment! ¡°Let him go!¡± Zhou Rong yelled. ¡°Come with me!¡± The armoured vehicle executed a perfect turn. Accelerating with a growl, it brazenly rammed through the main entrance of the garage! With this crash, everyone was tossed about. Si Nan glanced at the rearview mirror with the corner of his eyes, and as expected, he saw that man open the safety gate to the stairwell. All the trapped zombies swarmed forward, moaning as they stumbled towards the bus. ¡ª But they were too late. Yan Hao had already closed the door and moved off. After grinding a few zombies under the wheels of the bus, he followed the armoured vehicle and sped towards the street! The last thing he saw in the rearview mirror was that man drowning in the sea of zombies. Si Nan shut his eyes; he felt like there was something acidic choking his throat, and he could not make a sound. A hand suddenly pressed against his head. Zhou Rong forcibly dragged him over, pulling him into his embrace. ¡°Listen, don¡¯t think about it anymore.¡± Si Nan rested his head on Zhou Rong¡¯s firm and warm shoulder, nodding his head after a moment. ¡°Go by the Chengbei Expressway. We must leave this place before it gets dark.¡± Zhou Rong turned the steering wheel all the way with a hand and said solemnly. ¡°In 3 hours, the B Military Command will drop a nuclear bomb to clear out T City. We don¡¯t have much time left.¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Edited by: Planetes 8pm. Night fell, but the street lights did not turn on. Looking out of the windows of the vehicle, the expressway had became a gigantic abandoned car park, and the moaning of the zombies drifted from afar. Zhou Rong gripped the steering wheel, his eyes red, and did not say a word. Si Nan entered the driving compartment from behind. A very strong nicotine smell rushed towards him, and he coughed involuntarily, ¡°Let me take over.¡± Zhou Rong shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ve been at it for far too long.¡± Zhou Rong kept silent. Si Nan paused for a moment in the bumpy journey, then gently persuaded him. ¡°Rong-ge, you can¡¯t keep on like this. The dozens of people in both vehicles are still counting on you. If you fall, what would happen to them? Even Yan Hao and Chun Cao have swapped with each other twice in the bus behind already.¡± ¡°¡­ The armoured vehicle isn¡¯t easy to handle.¡± Zhou Rong finally spoke, his voice hoarse. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to traverse through the wilderness. We have to be fast, and leave T City as far behind as possible.¡± Si Nan wanted to say something, but the walkie-talkie suddenly crackled to life. ¡°Yan Hao to the first vehicle, Yan Hao to the first vehicle! Captain, testing, our transceiver here is silent, how about yours?¡± The look in Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes changed slightly. He turned on the vehicle¡¯s transceiver. Loud waves of static emitted, and all the channels seemed to have converged into a dark ocean. ¡ª The shortwave radio had lost signal. The three special force soldiers in the rear compartment woke up, as though they had sensed something. They too crowded the front, only to see Zhou Rong¡¯s expression turned awful. Zhou Rong gave a few smacks to the transceiver, switching to the signal for the base, but the command channel seemed to have vanished into the sea of static. No matter how they adjusted the signal, they only heard a hopeless silence. Zhou Rong abruptly slammed on the breaks, took a few deep breaths, and sprinted out of the vehicle after he opened the door. The bus following behind stopped as well. The exhausted survivors woke up with a start, and they buzzed with discussion, confused. Yan Hao and Chun Cao also came down. On their faces was unconcealable fatigue. Zhou Rong did not say anything superfluous this time, and went straight to the main point. ¡°We¡¯re unable to connect to the base.¡± The rest of the team gathered around, standing on the grass. They looked at each other in fear and panic. ¡°¡­ The nuclear bomb¡­ There¡¯s no signs of it.¡± Yan Hao said softly. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say it would be detonated at 8pm? It¡¯s already ten minutes past 8.¡± ¡°Could there have been a change in plans¡­¡± ¡°If there are any changes in plans, the base should have taken the initiative to inform us.¡± Yan Hao interrupted Chun Cao and explained. ¡°If the time had been changed to 9pm, the base would have let us go out and look for more survivors, and they would also dispatch the helicopters again; Most importantly, delaying the bomb would result in zombies spreading away from the city center. It¡¯s better if the bomb was detonated earlier.¡± From behind, Si Nan walked towards them. He stopped about two or three steps away, and silently watched them with his arms crossed. A terrifying thought gradually emerged in everyone¡¯s mind, but no one said it out. None of them even moved, as though if they kept their mouth shut, that frightening possibility would not exist. The late autumn night was very cool, and the wilderness was a rugged landscape in the dark. By the railroad a distance away, a dim glow from the street lights there could vaguely be seen. ¡°Your base,¡± Si Nan¡¯s calm voice came from behind them. ¡°Something¡¯s happened to it, right?¡± Two or three special forces rejected at once. ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°The B Military Zone has a good infrastructure, it¡¯s strongly fortified, and when the virus broke out a large force of armed police and guards assembled there. Even a housefly wouldn¡¯t be able to make its way in! Also, the country¡¯s government, the military headquarters, all the survivors from North China are, are all¡­¡± No one continued, and Chun Cao¡¯s tinny voice gradually faded away. Si Nan gazed at her gently. ¡°No matter how strong a fortress is, it won¡¯t be able to withstand an internal collapse. If the virus breaks out from within, only moments are needed for subversion. You know that too.¡± Everyone recalled the civilians who had just been transported to B Military Zone on the four helicopters this afternoon, and chills ran down their backs. ¡°Yingjie,¡± Zhou Rong said, his voice gravelly. ¡°Report our location.¡± The team member, Zhang Yingjie, had a tablet in his hand. It was not a recognisable brand that was available on the market, and was most likely a military-grade item. ¡°With our detour, we¡¯re now 57km away from B Military Zone. There¡¯s a massive jam ahead of us on the expressway, I suggest that we go through the industrial area, and the closest one to us is about 8km away¡­¡± He thought about something. ¡°There may be survivors there.¡± Zhou Rong said slowly, ¡°If B City has fallen, within two days, it¡¯ll be purged by a nuclear bomb. We won¡¯t be able to advance through it.¡± The people on the bus could no longer contain their anxiety, and they all got up and looked outside the bus, biting their tongues. After a long period of contemplation, under the eyes of dozens of people, Zhou Rong finally made a decision. ¡°We¡¯ll set up a campsite here. Make an inventory of our equipment and food rations, arrange food and shelter for the civilians. ¡°Yan Hao,¡± He instructed. ¡°Prepare a name list of the survivors, and set up a night watch on rotation.¡± The winds whistled, coming from the open wilderness around them, sounding just like ghostly wails of the dead. Zhou Rong¡¯s arrangements when they were planning their retreat was now apparent. On the bus were rice and noodles, oil and salt, canned meat and vegetables, and warm clothing. He had personally led a group of people to transport the boxes onto the bus one by one last night. On top of that, there were also tools, medication, power generators etc., all collected and stored in the armoured vehicle of the special force team. The survivors gathered in small groups, dividing the canned food amongst themselves. Occasional choked sobs and laments came from them. Si Nan sat on the steps of the armoured vehicle, holding on to a can of peaches in syrup. Zhou Rong walked over, and shoved two tablets of fever medication into his mouth. Zhou Rong¡¯s hand smelled strongly of cigarettes, his fingers a little salty to taste, and were rough and chapped. ¡°Captain.¡± Yan Hao suddenly called out from nearby. Zhou Rong was looking down at Si Nan, about to say something. Hearing him, he waved at Si Nan, then turned and walked over to Yan Hao. ¡°There¡¯s not much petrol left in the armoured vehicle. With no other choices, diesel can be used instead. Once the sun comes up, we¡¯ll check the fuel tanks of the abandoned vehicles on the streets. Tomorrow, after arriving at the industrial area, we¡¯ll try to send our location signal again to the military base. If B City hasn¡¯t fallen completely, there would definitely be someone who would come and receive us.¡± The two of the walked side by side to somewhere sheltered from the wind. Zhou Rong rasped, ¡°How many people are left?¡± ¡°36 survivors. 30 are males, 6 above the age of 50, 2 below the age of 15. 6 females, 2 of them in their 20s and 4 in their 40s. They¡¯re all Betas.¡± Yan Hao swallowed, and his footsteps halted. ¡°6 of us are left. You, me, Chun Cao, Zhang Yingjie, Ding Shi, Guo Weixiang.¡± ¡°The rest are¡­ No longer around.¡± Around them was silence. Quiet sobs from the survivors drifted towards them with the wind. Zhou Rong¡¯s teeth were clenched tightly, causing spasms across his face. Suddenly, a bang! A fist smashed into a tree trunk! The tree trunk that was thicker than a person split, creaking dangerously. Reflexively, Yan Hao took a step back. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Yan Hao growled quietly. ¡°What would we do if zombies are drawn here?!¡± Blood slowly seeped out between Zhou Rong¡¯s fingers. The extremely powerful and deterrent Alpha pheromones in the blood burst through the inhibitor, and like the roar of a beast, spread out in all directions. Zhou Rong forced himself to inhale, pulling his trembling fist back. Yan Hao pulled out a bottle and quickly sprayed the tree with it. He was about to spray it on Zhou Rong¡¯s hand as well, but was silently swatted away. Zhou Rong licked at his own wound, his eyes bright in the shadows, looking like a wolf caught in a desperate situation, but unwilling to accept it. ¡°¡­ Split into teams and take turns for the night watch. We¡¯ll leave at 6am tomorrow morning to the industrial area.¡± Zhou Rong croaked. ¡°If there¡¯s no movement in B City within 2 days, I¡¯ll go in there myself to investigate.¡± Yan Hao wanted to dissuade him, but Zhou Rong had already walked off, and he could only quickly follow after him. Si Nan ate half the can of peaches, and exchanged the other half for half a pack of Baisha cigarettes with one of the men on the bus. The man passed the peaches to his wife and son, while Si Nan tucked the cigarettes into his clothes and went to look for Zhou Rong. When he reached the edge of the woods, sensing something, he suddenly stopped. In the night air was a vague scent of something that made him uncomfortable. That scent floated in the air. It was powerful, mature, and very aggressive. Without thinking, he tried to look for the scent, but having stood there for long, his nerves jumped, and an indescribable dizziness welled up within him. ¡­ That was an Alpha¡¯s pheromones. However, how could there be any Alphas in the wild? Could there be a corpse that had been bitten to death by a zombie in the trees? Si Nan surveyed his surroundings. The area was lit up by the lights from the vehicles, and the survivors were going back on to the bus to spend the night. On the other side, the woods were hidden in the shadow, the street lights in the far distance dim, and there seemed to be an ominous feel in the air. ¡°Are you alright?¡± A girl¡¯s voice suddenly appeared next to him. Si Nan turned his head, and Chun Cao was looking at him curiously. ¡°¡­ Do you smell something?¡± ¡°No?¡± Chun Cao sniffed hard, then her eyes glazed, and she looked slightly stupefied. Si Nan, ¡°?¡± In the next second, Chun Cao gave an earth-shattering sneeze, which sprayed across Si Nan. ¡°It must be the smell of rotting bodies!¡± Chun Cao rubbed her nose, flustered. With red ears, she tugged Si Nan towards the vehicles, ¡°Quick quick quick, go to bed, don¡¯t bother with it! Hurry, go!¡± Somewhat unconvinced, Si Nan was forced into the armoured vehicle. *** That night, the special force soldiers split into three teams. Chun Cao and Ding Ye kept watch till midnight, Yan Hao and Guo Wei Xiang took over until 3am, and the last shift til dawn was done by Zhou Rong and Zhang Yingjie. Zhou Rong slept poorly, and during the change of shift at midnight, he woke up, groggy. The seats in the rear compartment had been lifted up. A few special force soldiers were sprawled out across the floor, and their snores rose and fell. He felt someone next to him, and with the glow of the vehicle lights shining through the window, he saw that it was Si Nan. Asleep, Si Nan¡¯s body temperature lowered, and so he unconsciously seeked for a heat source around him. He cuddled and latched onto Zhou Rong¡¯s arm, his breathing deep and steady. Zhou Rong felt an unusual warmth prickle his shoulder. In that moment, Zhou Rong fell into a slight trance. A few restless memories of his youth drifted into his mind. In the dusk, that gentle and good looking boyish face, his thick eyelashes, all gathered together from his long forgotten memories. Zhou Rong, as though possessed, lifted his hand and tucked Si Nan¡¯s hair behind his ears. It was at this time when footsteps were heard from the outside. The door of the vehicle was opened gently. Zhou Rong immediately shut his eyes and pretended to be in a deep sleep, not knowing why he acted so instinctively. A few seconds later, he felt someone get into the vehicle, passing through the huddle at the back almost silently, and stopping by them. Next, a person bent over and lifted Si Nan¡¯s hand up. The action was very careful and slight. The fever medication Si Nan took had a drowsy effect. So, he continued sleeping, only murmuring as he turned over. Zhou Rong lay there, motionless, till finally he heard the person open his mouth, speaking softly. ¡°Thank you, you¡¯ve saved my life.¡± ¡ª It was Yan Hao. Zhou Rong¡¯s heart jolted slightly, and he squinted imperceptibly. In the dim light within the compartment, Yan Hao lowered his head, his breathing hurried, and kissed Si Nan on his temple. It was a fleeting, anxious, and devoted kiss. The look in Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes was unreadable. Yan Hao acted like a child who had stolen candies as he swiftly stood up, exited the vehicle and closed the door without much sound. The compartment returned once more into darkness. Left speechless, Zhou Rong once again shut his eyes. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Edited By: Planetes B Military Zone, Emergency Communication Room. ¡°The summary of the analysis report is out. All the Omegas, whether male or female, have gone through genetic identification. The target is not amongst them.¡± The red emergency light flashed, reflecting on the female researcher¡¯s sweaty face. As she sprinted here, her chest was still heaving while she panted. An old man, with a star emblazoned on his shoulder, had his face buried in his palm. He lifted his head after a few seconds. ¡°I got it.¡± The old man picked up the satellite phone at the control panel and dialed a password which connected him to a direct line. Thirty seconds felt like forever as he waited for the call to be answered. ¡°Major General Qian, please report the results.¡± The old man opened his mouth, but nothing came out. The awkward silence explained everything. ¡°We will strictly investigate every city along the route that DC918 has taken. If the plane had crashed, it would have definitely left a trace somewhere.¡± The voice was very low, and sounded formidable. After a pause, he continued, ¡°Is there any information from Unit 118 of the Classified Battalion?¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯ve sent all 8 of my squads out. 3 have been confirmed dead, the whereabouts of 2 squads are unknown, and another 2 have returned without accomplishing anything. Squad 6 led by Major Zhou had rescued hundreds of trapped civilians, but after the rescue helicopters that were dispatched to assist them had been infected, we have also lost contact with them¡­¡± Major General Qian took a deep breath to steady his nerves, and his voice hardened. ¡°I can send the last two squads out, but we need more information about the target. If not, it¡¯ll be like looking for a needle in the haystack. Without a concrete plan, it would completely impossible to complete this mission!¡± ¡°No.¡± The person on the phone rejected. ¡°In the past few months, the target has only kept in contact with the Ministry of State Security¡¯s Vice Minister Guo. His identity and information has been kept highly confidential, and Vice Minister Guo has been confirmed to have died when transferring between facilities.¡± Major General Qian was furious. ¡°No details about his identity, no details about his appearance, and the only thing we know is that he¡¯s vigilant and his stand on politics is ambiguous. How are my men going to find him? Should we broadcast an announcement through the cities and wait for the target to barge in himself?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°To prevent the target from hiding from the Alphas¡¯ pheromones, all my special force soldiers have been injected with an agent to disguise themselves as Betas. Armed to the teeth, they have all gone deep into where the zombies are, and we have nothing to show for it! For all we know, the target has already died in the airplane crash!¡± ¡°If he¡¯s dead,¡± The voice in the phone was cold and clear. ¡°All our hopes will be¡­ gone.¡± The fretful breathing was indistinct over the phone line. Major General Qian shut his eyes weakly. He was about to say something, but a muffled crash was suddenly heard from the corridor outside the Communications Room. A few researchers rapidly stood up, their faces changing. Major General Qian snapped his head around. Bang! The sound happened again, this time sounding much closer. ¡°They¡­ they¡¯re here.¡± Major General Qian swallowed with much difficulty. He hung up the phone, and pulled out his gun. In the dead silence, the third crash sounded near the door, and stopped. Everyone¡¯s heart pounded as they stared at that sealed metal door in hopelessness. They could hear the animal-like impatient thuds against the door, as well as the wheezing of the zombies. After about ten seconds, an earthshaking bang occurred! The room vibrated, and cries were heard everywhere. Everyone watched as the metal door curved in at a terrifying angle¡ª *** The next morning, 6am. The rays of the sun peeked through the clouds, and the air was humid with a salty tang to it. The survivors were roused from their sleep. Some spoke to each other, some leaving the bus to stretch their limbs, and some, wrapped in their blankets, stared out of the windows of the bus in a trance. Zhou Rong had already led some people to inspect the vehicles on the expressway, and as they hoped, there were vehicles whose fuel tank had yet to be emptied. Using clear flexible tubes, they managed to siphoned a few tanks of diesel. Everyone¡¯s mouth had the lingering taste of diesel, and they all stood by the road trying to clear the taste by spitting non-stop. They departed at 6.30am, arriving at the industrial zone at 7am. The bus came to a gradual stop at a chemical fertiliser plant. Yan Hao brought a small team to scout the factory, clearing out a pack of more than ten zombies. As they exited, he signalled that it was safe for them to enter. The plant was in a mess, blood everywhere. However, the facilities had not been badly damaged, and there was even a vegetable plot in the backyard, with a few chickens. In the workers¡¯ dormitory, the thirty-odd survivors divided themselves. Headed by Ding Shi and Zhang Yingjie, the males cleaned up the dormitory, repaired the barbed wire fence, and did a recce of their surroundings. As for the females, in the kitchen they discovered pots and pans, as well as gas tanks, and took up the responsibility of preparing food. Zhou Rong stood by the tap in the front yard. The water coming out of it was yellow with rust, and he washed his face perfunctorily. ¡°The terrain here is high, the factory secure. There¡¯s even food supplies stored in the warehouse, and the nearest residential area is 5km away.¡± One of his special force soldiers, Guo Weixiang was standing behind him and reporting methodically. ¡°If we still can¡¯t get in contact with the military command, we can hold onto this place for some time, and play it by ear from here.¡± Zhou Rong did not respond. He stuck his head under the tap and let the water run over him for a moment. He shook the water droplets off, and his short, straight hair stood up stiffly. ¡°Although there¡¯s no electricity, but there¡¯s a diesel generator in the factory. Yan Hao is now recording down all information of the survivors. He¡¯s organising a team of guards to make sure that there¡¯ll be people patrolling the area 24/7¡­¡± ¡°2 more days,¡± Zhou Rong interrupted. Guo Weixiang, ¡°?¡± ¡°If there¡¯s still no detonation of the nuclear bomb, I¡¯ll go have a look around B Military Zone. You guys will stay here and help settle the crowd, and wait for news.¡± Zhou Rong lifted his t-shirt and wiped his face with it. His camouflage pants hung upon his adonis belt, and revealed his firm eight-pack abs. Guo Weixiang was anxious, following behind him he said, ¡°Rong-ge, you can¡¯t go! To get into the military zone you¡¯ll need to traverse through the entire B City. Unless you fly across it, you¡¯ll definitely meet your death. Have you managed to grow wings or what?!¡± Zhou Rong looked at him derisively, ¡°Alright, rich kid. How about you ask your grandfather to dispatch a helicopter here?¡± Guo Weixiang was grumpy. ¡°If I could contact him, I¡¯ll get him to send you a F22 combat jet. If there¡¯s even one wheel missing, I¡¯ll consider myself to have lost to you.¡± ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Chun Cao suddenly flew out from the east side of the factory. ¡°Come, quick, we¡¯ve discovered a¡­¡± Reflexively, they thought it was a zombie. However, Chun Cao came running over and grabbed Zhou Rong¡¯s hand, looking nervous, and finally squeezed out her words. ¡°¡­ Pregnant lady.¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°Huh?!¡± Zhou Rong instantly got a headache. ¡°¡­ What¡¯s your name?¡± In the cafeteria, Si Nan asked, astounded. There were only six females amongst the survivors. The two twenty-odd years old ladies seemed to be friends, and were huddled together throughout the entire journey. It was now the end of September, and the weather had turned cool. One of them was dressed especially warmly, and on the way here, everyone had only thought that she was a little plump, and afraid of cold. Who would have guessed that she was already six months pregnant. ¡°Wang, Wang Wen¡­¡± The pregnant lady replied, cowering.¡± I¡¯ve very strong, I can work¡­¡± Her friend, whose features were very good looking, stood in front of her and cut in, ¡°She doesn¡¯t eat much, and there¡¯s no need to take special care of her. If she really needs help, I can do it for her. We won¡¯t drag anyone down, and we can both run very fast. Didn¡¯t we run through the shop building with everyone?¡± Si Nan and Yan Hao exchanged glances. ¡°Don¡¯t abandon her, please?¡± The lady pled, her eyes shifting between the faces of the two young men. Although the younger one on the right was handsome, he was taciturn. Exuding a frosty air around him, he did not look like a soft-hearted person. That special force soldier on the left was very responsible, protecting all the survivors on the bus during their escape. His actions were both gentle and kind. ¡°We can both have less food.¡± The lady had already made her calculations. She turned towards Yan Hao, trying her best to blink her already big and limpid eyes at him, imploring, ¡°It¡¯s been difficult for everyone. Her husband is trapped in T City, and we don¡¯t know if he¡¯s alive or dead. If we abandon her, how is a pregnant lady going to survive? Please, handsome, you¡¯re definitely a good guy. I¡¯m Wu Xinyan, you can call me Yanyan¡­¡± Wu Xinyan was really a very pretty lady. Her pleading had a quality that would make everyone favour her. Unfortunately, Yan Hao did not pay attention to this. After they studied Wang Wen¡¯s belly for a few moments, Si Nan spoke out. ¡°It¡¯s been six months, it can¡¯t be aborted.¡± His tone was very matter-of-fact, but in the ears of the two ladies, that was not the case. Wang Wen¡¯s face immediately paled. Yan Hao hurriedly tried to prevent the situation from deteriorating. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, we¡¯re not planning on making you have an abortion! It¡¯s just¡­ with a baby¡­ diapers and milk powder¡­¡± Yan Hao was flustered. When he saw Zhou Rong¡¯s figure appearing at the entrance of the cafeteria in the distance, he quickly stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go ask my captain.¡± In these people¡¯s eyes, Zhou Rong was a harsh and heartless character. Wu Xinyan immediately panicked, and she grabbed Yan Hao¡¯s hand as he was about to leave, almost pressing it into her chest. ¡°Da-ge1, please!¡± Yan Hao swiftly pulled his hand away, and reflexively looked over at Si Nan. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll speak for you.¡± He rapidly made his way to Zhou Rong. ¡­ Why did he look at me? Si Nan was puzzled. Next, he saw the look in Wu Xinyan¡¯s eyes ¡ª this lady looked at Yan Hao as though he was her saviour, and her eyes were full of apprehensive hope. Oh, he¡¯s afraid that I¡¯ll tattle to Zhou Rong. Si Nan was enlightened. He studied the backs of the two men, thinking, there¡¯s so many things going on in the romance between two gays. ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone else know about this first.¡± After listening to the situation, Zhou Rong instructed after a moment of contemplation. ¡°There¡¯s 30 over people here, and no one knows each other. Ask the pregnant lady to try keeping to herself, and don¡¯t walk around too much.¡± Yan Hao nodded. ¡°Give her an egg from the hen in the backyard everyday, don¡¯t let anyone see you doing this. Everyone¡¯s been under immense stress, and they¡¯re all tensed up. Before we re-establish communications with the base, it¡¯s best to not have any sources of conflict.¡± Yan Hao agreed to everything. He saw Zhou Rong was about to leave, and casually asked, ¡°Captain, where are you going?¡± ¡°To the warehouse to look for some stuff.¡± ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Zhou Rong was going to answer before he noticed Si Nan with the corner of his eyes. He realised that Si Nan and Yan Hao had just been sitting together, and his mood sank a little. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s nothing.¡± Zhou Rong smiled. ¡°I¡¯m getting some cartons of beer out, let¡¯s have a gathering for everyone tonight.¡± Zhou Rong personally went to the warehouse to move a few boxes into the back of the factory, then carried out a carton of beer. During dinner, he called everyone to the cafeteria, and gave a small speech. ¡°Because of some communication issues, we¡¯re temporarily unable to get in contact with the military zone. However, please believe that the government and the army will not give up on any survivors. The supplies we brought from T City as well as the ones stored in the warehouse of this factory is enough to last us for 3 months. Within these 3 months, we will definitely bring all of you to a secure shelter.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fate that has brought us here together, and let us sit here alive. It matters not if we knew each other from before. We will not give up on any civilian, and we hope that everyone would also help and support each other.¡± Zhou Rong raised his beer can, toasting everyone. He said earnestly, ¡°Thank you, a toast to all of you.¡± Then, tilting his head back, he took two large gulps of beer. Everyone was visibly moved. Someone took the initiative to offer him a cigarette, and others started to introduce themselves. ¡°I¡¯m in sales, and was at the mall to meet my client¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m a security guard at the mall¡­¡± ¡°Telecommunications engineer here. I¡¯m a good-for-nothing scholar!¡± ¡°I work in the surgical department of the municipal hospital. Let¡¯s not talk about it¡­¡± ¡°Surgical department?¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s ears perked up. He immediately went up and enthusiastically grasped the middle-aged doctor¡¯s hand, and forced him aside. ¡°It¡¯s very good to meet you! May I ask, what sort of patients do you have normally?¡± ¡°¡­ Huh?¡± ¡°Do you know how to deliver a child?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ A little, I was an intern in the obstetrics department before¡­¡± Zhou Rong clapped him on the shoulder. ¡°I have the utmost respect for the people who save lives!¡± That middle-aged man, whose last name was Zheng, had clearly seen Zhou Rong¡¯s resentment towards the doctor back at the shopping mall. Towards his current display of respect, he was very alarmed. He hurriedly toasted him with beer and put a smile on his face, modestly saying that he could do anything, and would be willing to go along with the team¡¯s arrangement. With a beer in her hand, Wu Xinyan stood up and moved next to Yan Hao. She spoke shyly, ¡°Hi. Thank you for the matter in the afternoon¡­¡± As her head was lowered, her long hair scattered past her cheek, almost brushing against Yan Hao¡¯s shoulder. Her hair was thick and soft, and had a feminine fragrance to it. Surprisingly, Yan Hao did not wait for her to finish speaking. He stood up from the dining table, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The words, ¡°I¡¯ll like to give you a toast¡± was stuck in Wu Xinyan¡¯s throat. She watched Yan Hao walk past her and sit down at another table. Si Nan was drinking plain water and chewing on biscuits. Choking them down, he did not notice that someone had sat in front of him. He looked up, and sent a questioning look. ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao had thin eyebrows and bright eyes, and his double eyelids were very defined ¡ª if he were an actor, many teenage girls¡¯ hearts would be moved by his face. When he looked at people with that complicated yet focused gaze, few could bear to look away, and would meet his eyes. Si Nan finally managed to swallow the biscuit down, and asked, ¡°What exactly do you want to say?¡± Instead of replying, Yan Hao asked him a question. ¡°Are those boxes in the back of the factory yours?¡± ¡°Yes. Zhou Rong said that you¡¯re all out of bullets. I want to see if I can make some explosives with nitric acid, glycerin and iron filings.¡± Yan Hao was silent. Si Nan raised a brow. His look of slight query on his face politely signalled that his limited patience while eating was coming to an end. After a long while, Yan Hao finally spoke softly. ¡°¡­ The captain is usually busy. You don¡¯t have to look for him. The next time you need something moved, you can ask me.¡± ¡°Also, if you need any other help¡­ You can just look for me, no matter the time.¡± His attitude was very solemn, to the point where Si Nan could not comprehend it. It took him a few seconds to recall the relationship between the two betas. He immediately understood, and said apologetically, ¡°I won¡¯t do it again next time.¡± Lowering his eyelashes, Yan Hao smiled nervously, and walked away. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Edited by: Cyndy The worse case scenario Zhou Rong imagined had happened. He stood on the roof of the factory, put down the military binoculars, and gazed into the skyline, deep in thought. Before him the autumnal scenery faded into the clear, blue sky, stretching ahead as far as the eye could see. In the distance, B City lay in ruins, like a huge cemetery. ¡°The shortwave radio signal has been disrupted throughout the entire country. We have no communications with the base, and no one is responding to our location signal. It¡¯s been a week already. B Military Zone must have fallen, and there¡¯s no nuclear bomb to wipe the city out¡­¡± Zhou Rong muttered, ¡°What kind of situation is this?¡± He heard someone climbing up the metal ladder behind him, and a voice spoke calmly, ¡°Maybe all military zones with the capability of dropping a nuclear bomb have fallen. No matter how well a fortress is guarded, it will never withstand an attack from within ¡ª you should understand this.¡± ¡°Yan Hao,¡± Zhou Rong said solemnly. ¡°If you continue copying Si Nan¡¯s way of speaking, I¡¯ll beat you up. I¡¯m serious.¡± Yan Hao laughed and passed him a cigarette. ¡°Yo,¡± Zhou Rong was a little surprised. ¡°You still have some left?¡± ¡°The civilians gave them to me.¡± ¡°As a member of the People¡¯s Liberation Army, we can¡¯t accept anything from the civilians¡­¡± ¡°The People¡¯s Liberation Army has been keeping guard and helping the civilians transport the gas tanks. We won¡¯t be punished for a cigarette. Just smoke yours.¡± Under the bleak autumn sky Zhou Rong and Yan Hao puffed on their cigarettes while facing each other. In the front yard below them, the men were gathered and were installing a wire mesh fence. The place buzzed with activity; the women were feeding the chickens, planting vegetables, and engaging in occasional chit-chat. Zhou Rong flicked the ashes of his cigarette away. ¡°In two days when our defense perimeter is set up, I¡¯ll go to B Military Zone alone to check on the situation there. You will all wait here for my updates.¡± Yan Hao immediately frowned. ¡°Are you crazy? Do you know how big B City is? Are you going to make a helicopter appear out of thin air?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If B Military Zone has fallen, it means that hundreds of thousands of zombies are trapped in there. Do you feel like you¡¯ve lived too long or something?¡± Stroking his chin with one hand and a cigarette in the other, Zhou Rong spoke up after a long while. ¡°I feel there¡¯s something strange going on. How did this virus come about? How would it progress from here on out? B Military Zone is so tightly guarded, how did it fall? If you tell me that stringent checks were not performed on everyone who entered the military zone, I won¡¯t believe it. However, if all survivors who entered had been inspected, then how did the virus spread from within?¡± ¡°Unless,¡± Zhou Rong said lowly. ¡°The virus has mutated, and is now undetectable with our current methods of inspection. Just like how those nurses in T City were infected without any bites.¡± A cold shiver ran through Yan Hao¡¯s body. Zhou Rong continued, ¡°Speaking generally, we¡¯re the best and toughest squad with the highest security clearance out of the entire Northern China. We¡¯re also the squad closest to B City right now. If we hesitate and refuse to go then, no one will know what¡¯s going on in B Military Zone.¡± ¡°But not only that, if we don¡¯t know how the virus has mutated, then our little shelter here also won¡¯t last long ¡ª we¡¯ll have to face the situation sooner or later. We¡¯re so close to B City, how can we only just take care of ourselves?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao did not speak for a long time before finally admitting, ¡°What you said makes sense.¡± Zhou Rong just shrugged his shoulders in a gentlemanly fashion, then stubbed out his cigarette. Yan Hao pondered over it a bit more, then shook his head. ¡°But you can¡¯t go alone, it¡¯s too dangerous. We should have a plan of action¡­¡± ¡°We?¡± Zhou Rong laughed. ¡°What, all of us should go? Then what would happen to this group of thirty-odd people plus a pregnant woman? Who would protect them?¡± Yan Hao opened his mouth to say something before a man with a box suddenly appeared nearby, crossed the backyard, and chanced a look up at the roof of the factory. ¡ª It was Si Nan. From the lab in the fertiliser plant, Si Nan found a lab coat. He wore the coat along with a pair of safety glasses and gloves, the sleeves of the coat rolled up to his elbows to reveal his slender yet powerful arms. He balanced a box of reagents on his shoulder. Standing in the open space, he saw Zhou Rong and Yan Hao, then gave a small smile after a few seconds. Without saying anything, he turned and walked off. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong poked Yan Hao, astounded. ¡°Did you notice that he¡¯s been avoiding us the past few days?¡± He did not get a response. Zhou Rong turned around to look, only to see Yan Hao making his way down the roof. He landed agilely on the ground, and ran after Si Nan. Zhou Rong placed the cigarette back in his mouth, slowly mulling over it, then smiled self-mockingly. Squatting by the eaves, he was in a trance for a while. He scratched his head, and suddenly called out, projecting his voice, ¡°Cao¡¯er¡ª!¡± Chun Cao¡¯s voice rang out from where the chicken coop was. ¡°What do you want¡ª!¡± ¡°What are you doing¡ª!¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeding the chickens¡ª!¡± ¡°Papa will help you feed them!¡± Zhou Rong was reinvigorated. He bounced down from the roof, patted his hands, then headed towards Chun Cao. *** ¡°What is this, nitrocellulose?¡± Yan Hao frowned as he stood on the ground. Si Nan had a cloth spread out on the empty space at the back of the factory. Using tweezers, he picked out the dripping, wet cotton from the box of reagents and carefully laid it on the cloth. He replied smoothly, ¡°Dispersoid.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao asked, ¡°Are you trying to say dispersant?¡± Si Nan, ¡°?¡± The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds before Si Nan asked in reply, ¡°Didn¡¯t I say dispersant just now?¡± ¡°You said Dispersoid.¡± Confusion flashed in Si Nan¡¯s eyes, but he quickly reacted and glossed over it. ¡°You heard wrong.¡± He turned to a corner of the plastic cloth and continued to spread the cotton on it. Dispersoid was not a commonly used English term, and if a person could say it so smoothly, it usually meant that this person¡¯s English wasn¡¯t too bad, or he had some knowledge in chemical engineering ¡ª Yan Hao was a little sceptical, but didn¡¯t show it, only smiling and asking, ¡°Are you thinking of making a nitroglycerin bomb?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Si Nan did not look up. ¡°I¡¯m trying. Currently, I can¡¯t find anything with high levels of nitric acid, so I¡¯m afraid that without enough nitrogen content in the nitrocellulose, the bomb won¡¯t explode. However, it¡¯s enough to make incendiary bombs.¡± Yan Hao¡¯s mouth opened silently. He nodded his head, and finally could not help but ask, ¡°What was your job before this?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Si Nan asked instead. Yan Hao took some time to contemplate it, then admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t know. You¡¯ve definitely undergone professional training for your combat skills, so maybe an elite bodyguard or working in public security? If it¡¯s public security, then you may have came in contact with chemical explosives. But that also requires a high-level specialisation, and with your age¡­¡± Yan Hao studied Si Nan, and felt that he looked quite young. It was possible that he was twenty-five or twenty-six; even if he said he was in his early twenties, it was still believable. At this age, to be able to handle a gun, have good driving skills, and even manufacture bombs, he could only think of a certain group of people ¡ª Terrorists. Yan Hao¡¯s eyelid started twitching madly. He probed, ¡°¡­ Are you religious?¡± Si Nan was baffled. ¡°What religion?¡± Si Nan carefully spread out the last piece of cotton, and allowed them to dry under natural conditions without direct sunlight. Then, he returned to the back of the factory where he had personally created a confined lab. Yan Hao wanted to follow after him, but after taking only one step, Si Nan instructed him to stop, as though there were eyes at the back of his head. Yan Hao could only stop. A few minutes later, Si Nan pushed open the door and came back out. In his arms was a cardboard box, and in it contained a pipette, a piece of white paper, a hammer, as well as the leather jacket and bike helmet he brought from T City. Yan Hao did not have the time to ask him about it before Si Nan waved at him, signalling him to stand a distance away. Si Nan removed the lab coat and safety glasses, put on the leather jacket and helmet, then pulled the zipper up all the way to his chin. After covering himself up tightly, he used the pipette to pick up the liquid from a test tube, and carefully placed a drop on the piece of white paper. He then put down the piece of paper, picked up the hammer, and took a deep breath. At this very moment, at the chicken coop, a rooster seemed to have been stimulated and flew out, crowing. It rushed towards Si Nan ¡ª Zhou Rong shot after it, shouting furiously, ¡°Stop running!¡± Bang! Si Nan¡¯s hammer landed on the paper. The nitroglycerin reacted strongly. In an instant, a shocking explosion occurred! The velocity of the explosion reached 7500 metres per second, creating a blazing light. Yan Hao did not have the time to react before he felt the shockwave rushing towards him, and suddenly fell a few steps back! Bang! The rooster¡¯s blood sprayed everywhere, dropping from mid-air. ¡°Si Nan!¡± Si Nan fell on his butt, and Yan Hao ran towards him to help him up. The piece of white paper had already turned into ashes. A small crater the size of a bowl appeared at their feet, sand and dirt scattered everywhere. Throughout his entire life, Yan Hao had never seen someone so willing to sacrifice himself for science. He pointed at the crater, unable to say a word. Si Nan removed the now cracked-open helmet, and exhaled slowly. ¡°You were asking which religion I follow?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao said, ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Comrades,¡± Zhou Rong spoke sadly from behind them. Both of them turned their heads around at the same time. Chicken feathers flew everywhere; Zhou Rong¡¯s hand was full of blood, holding a big rooster with a broken neck. It was unmistakably dead. ¡°I have no opinions about your science experiments, but in consideration of the fact that this is the only rooster in the chicken coop¡­¡± He waved the dead rooster in front of Si Nan and Yan Hao, saying coldly, ¡°Congratulations, the plan of increasing our chicken count has officially come to an end.¡± Si Nan pinched his nose. ¡°Can we have fried chicken tonight?¡± *** There was no fried chicken that night, but instead stir-fried pickled cabbage with shredded chicken. Everyone received a small serving each. ¡°There wouldn¡¯t be enough fried chicken to go around,¡± Zhou Rong explained to Si Nan, then warned him solemnly. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t be testing your nitroglycerin explosives outside the chicken coop everyday for your personal interests. We still need the eggs.¡± He scooped the small serving of shredded chicken from his bowl into Si Nan¡¯s. On the other side of the round table, Guo Weixiang was pushing around the chicken bone in his bowl. He suddenly gave a long, emotional sigh. ¡°If only I could be a rooster in my next life.¡± Chun Cao was curious. ¡°Xiangzi, did you take the wrong medication today?¡± ¡°What do you know? If I¡¯m a rooster, I can have at least 20 chickens to myself, and watch them fight over me everyday. However, if I¡¯m unlucky enough to be born an Alpha?¡± Guo Weixiang picked up a chicken rib, and looked at it with refinement. ¡°With the current ratio of ABOs, I¡¯ll have to fight till I¡¯m bruised and battered with at least 20 Alphas over 1 Omega. If I¡¯m a Beta, it¡¯s even worse. Finding a Beta girl to marry and having a kid will be difficult, and I can completely forget about finding an Omega. If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s more practical to turn gay¡­¡± Chun Cao said, ¡°Your way of thinking is a little dangerous. Comrade, don¡¯t give up on your life so easily, ok?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like being gay is a huge disaster or anything. If the virus continues spreading, being gay will be in our future. But back to the topic, if I have to become gay, I will definitely not choose our captain¡­¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°?¡± ¡°Yan Hao¡¯s a good choice.¡± Guo Weixiang thought, then rejected it. ¡°But he¡¯s too muscular. If he continues like this, he will one day become a macho pretty boy. If¡­¡± Yan Hao heard his name, and from another round table, he turned his head towards them. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Chun Cao laughed, ¡°Xiangzi is talking about the possibility of topping you.¡± Yan Hao was greatly amused by that, pointing at himself then pointing at Gao Weixiang. ¡°¡ª Who¡¯s the top? You want to try it out tonight?¡± Guo Weixiang hurriedly raised his hands and pled for mercy. Then seeing Si Nan on the other side of the table, he quickly said, ¡°Right, I can do it with Si Nan!¡± Si Nan looked up from his bowl, staring coldly at Guo Weixiang. Comrade Xiangzi burst out laughing and went up to hook his arm around Si Nan¡¯s shoulder. Unfortunately, not many people at the table entertained him. Only Zhou Rong butted in with interest, ¡°Xiangzi, stop it, our Comrade Xiaosi won¡¯t like you.¡± Guo Weixiong was surprised. ¡°Really?¡± Si Nan¡¯s response was to inch Guo Weixiong¡¯s arm away from his shoulder. His movement was leisurely, but the force he used was undeniable. He commented, ¡°It¡¯s good to be a Beta. It¡¯s better than being an Alpha. Don¡¯t look down on yourself.¡± Guo Weixiang laughed, about to say something, only to hear Si Nan continue casually. ¡°It was very risky rescuing you guys in T City the other time. If you guys weren¡¯t Betas, I might¡¯ve regretted doing so.¡± Guo Weixiang¡¯s ¡°but we¡¯re not Betas¡± stuck in his throat, feeling as though he had swallowed an entire chicken egg. The entire table of special force soldiers stared at each other. Si Nan picked up some shredded potato, and suddenly registered that the atmosphere was too quiet. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong spoke slowly. ¡°Comrade Xiaosi, what were you saying just now? I always thought you advocated for gender equality¡­¡± Si Nan laughed, ¡°Who¡¯s advocating for gender equality? I¡¯ve never done that. I¡¯ve always looked down on Alphas.¡± A silence that caused one¡¯s heart to palpitate fell upon the table. Finally, Yan Hao questioned in a dignified manner, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Probably because I¡¯m afraid of trouble.¡± Si Nan thought about it, and replied calmly, ¡°Many Alphas are very weak right now. If we meet any danger, I still need to spare some effort to protect them. Also, that ingrained chauvinistic attitude of Alphas¡­ They might be the ones with the most outstanding genes, but in reality, they¡¯re just barely evolved animals.¡± Si Nan finished up the last mouthful of rice in his bowl. Putting down his chopsticks, he was surprised. ¡°I¡¯m done, you guys aren¡¯t eating anymore?¡± Under his suspicious gaze, everyone at the table was silent. They did not speak nor move. After a moment, Zhou Rong finally coughed, explaining, ¡°Our appetite today¡­ isn¡¯t very good.¡± Their dinner ended in a dead silence that was unable to be explained in only a few words. Even Chun Cao did not finish her third bowl of rice. Ever since they set up camp in the fertiliser plant, there would be two special force soldiers leading ten men to patrol the area every night. The rest of them would be in the front yard exercising, training, learning how to fight, and inspecting the wire mesh fence surrounding them along with their other defense measures. However, Captain Zhou and Vice Captain Yan, who were in charge of teaching everyone how to fight, were not very focused tonight. At 9.30pm, they ended the practice early, and let everyone head back to wash up and rest. The civilians in the front yard gathered in small groups, and headed to the dormitory at the back of the factory. A few youths even wanted to linger around Zhou Rong to ask him something, but suddenly they heard the loud squeal of tyres. Zhou Rong swung his head towards the sound. An inconspicuous danger was drawing closer to the industrial zone under the curtain of the night, bringing along with it restlessness and anxiety. Clang! The door at the back of the factory was slammed open. Si Nan removed his safety goggles, his lab coat flapping behind him, his voice fixed. ¡°The north entrance to the industrial area, 1 o¡¯clock direction, 800m away.¡± Zhou Rong remained steady and focused, perceiving everything around him. Suddenly, his pupils contracted slightly ¡ª ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Chun Cao slid down from a tree, sprinting over like an arrow. ¡°A container truck on the road by the north has been flipped over! There are ten-odd survivors, and they¡¯re attracting zombies towards them!¡± ¡°There¡¯s roughly over 100 zombies nearby, and they¡¯re following the survivors heading in our direction!¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Edited by: Cyndy The crowd, stunned, looked at each other. Zhou Rong did not give them any time to panic. In an instant, he had already given a series of clear instructions. ¡°Everyone move to the upper north corner. Reinforce the wire fence. Chun Cao, call Dading and Xiangzi back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive the armoured vehicle and bait the zombies away. Si Nan, bring the explosives.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a few hundred zombies, we can defend against them. Everyone, don¡¯t panic!¡± The survivors who had experienced the siege in T City did not disappoint Zhou Rong. After a short moment of confusion and helplessness, everyone flew into action. They retrieved axes, hammers, metal rods and other various tools from the factory, then rushed towards the north where the zombies were incoming. As the armoured vehicle shot ahead, Zhou Rong opened the passenger side door without decelerating. When he passed by, Si Nan grabbed onto the handle on the inside of the door, Yan Hao grabbed onto the ladder at the back of the vehicle, and the two of them leapt in. ¡°What¡¯s in the bag?¡± Zhou Rong shouted. Si Nan, gripping onto a school bag, slammed the door closed. ¡°Fire meteors!¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°What?¡± Zhou Rong pressed his foot all the way down onto the accelerator, and the armoured vehicle screamed out of the north entrance. Seconds later, Yan Hao jumped off from the back of the vehicle, rolling across the ground before getting up, and started to toss the nitrocellulose along the two sides of the road. Chun Cao rushed out of the warehouse, carrying three dark green metal tanks half her height, tied together on her back. In her hand was a huge spray gun, and she efficiently made her way to the top of the wire fence. ¡°Yan Hao, hurry! Come back!¡± *** The screams of people and the growls of monsters could be distinctly heard. In the night, a dense mass of zombies pressed forward, grabbing the couple of women at the back of the group and tearing them apart. Cries pierced the night sky. Behind the thermal binoculars, Si Nan¡¯s pupils constricted slightly. Zhou Rong yelled, ¡°Open the back door, put down the ladder!¡± The ten odd survivors on the road had noticed the armoured vehicle, and ran towards them, shouting loudly. Zhou Rong executed a perfect turn, the tyres shrieking. At the same time, Si Nan kicked the back door open, grabbed the custom-made pulley ladder, and used all of his might to throw it to the ground. The man at the front of the group without fail grabbed onto the ladder and leapt up. With Si Nan¡¯s help, he threw himself into the vehicle. ¡°Quickly!¡± Zhou Rong roared. A few men were pulled up, and in the chaos, the moans of the living dead were drawing closer. Si Nan did not have the time to respond, only shouting, ¡°Drive! The zombies are here!¡± The armoured vehicle started moving forward slowly. About two or three steps away from the ladder, a big and tall bespectacled man ran as he wailed, ¡°Don¡¯t leave me behind!¡± Si Nan¡¯s brows were tightly knitted. He slid out from the back of the vehicle, one hand gripping onto the end of the ladder, and the other stretching out to the man. Still, as the vehicle jolted about, the bespectacled man failed to grab Si Nan¡¯s hand. He either couldn¡¯t catch hold of it while running, or his grip would slip. At this moment, a zombie latched onto his back. The man staggered, his courage roused up, and he turned to harshly shove the zombie away. ¡°Grab hold of me!¡± Si Nan yelled. The bespectacled man wheezed fearfully. He could see the army of zombies following behind him, and he knew that it was too late. Si Nan stretched his hand out as far as he could reach. ¡°Hurry!!¡± The man ran as fast as he could, his mind completely blank, and finally managed to grab hold of Si Nan¡¯s hand. In the next second, he savagely pulled Si Nan towards himself¡ª The cruelty that a man could commit in a hopeless situation was beyond belief. Si Nan was caught off guard. He lost his balance and fell off the vehicle! Zhou Rong¡¯s expression changed drastically, and he slammed on the brakes. The first man who entered the vehicle lunged at him and shouted, ¡°Why are you stopping?! Quick, drive!¡± Outside the back door, the zombies had been blocked by Si Nan. The bespectacled man finally got the gap he needed, and caught the ladder with a leap! ¡°Si Nan!¡± Zhou Rong roared. Si Nan rolled across the ground, and fell in front of the zombies. With a twist of his hand, he pulled out a military knife from the side of his thigh, and in a flash sliced off a few rotting hands reaching out to him, then rose immediately. The few men in the back of the vehicle were shouting madly. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them come over!¡± ¡°Quick, close the door! Hurry!¡± The bespectacled man was about to close the door. Zhou Rong did not say a word, and instead pounded a certain red button on the dashboard with a fist. Buzz¡ª An electric current transmitted through the door and electrocuted the bespectacled man. He convulsed, and fell head down! Si Nan raised his hand to look at it. His palm hurt intensely, and blood slowly oozed out from a wound. A few steps away were zombies disorderly pushing their way forward. Even in the dark, those rotting faces and reeking mouths were distinct. Twenty metres away, the armoured vehicle backtracked, and Zhou Rong drove towards his direction. In a split second, Si Nan made a decision. ¡°Zhou Rong! Don¡¯t come over!!¡± Si Nan quivered as he opened the school bag and retrieved a glass bottle with a bumpy surface. Retreating, he threw it into the crowd of zombies, then immediately turned and crouched down, tucking his head into his body. ¡ªBoom!!! The earth trembled, flames lit up the sky, and the shockwave threw Si Nan forward, making him cough up blood. The heat from the blast of the nitroglycerin caused the thermite to quickly react. Molten iron mixed with countless glass shards and in the night, bright and terrifying flames shot out, clearing out the front row of zombies instantly! Bits of corpses scattered all over the ground. Zhou Rong¡¯s startled eyes looked into his rearview mirror, and he finally understood why this thing was called fire meteors. ¡°Si Nan!¡± Zhou Rong slapped the car door. ¡°Get on!¡± Wearily, Si Nan stood up. He almost fell down, and took two stumbling steps. ¡°Quick, get on!¡± Si Nan shook his head, finally becoming more alert. However, he did not enter through the back door of the vehicle, but climbed the ladder and went onto the roof of the car. Out in the distant industrial zone, the moans and footsteps of the zombies rang out, and they soon gathered into a new army of living dead. The armoured vehicle spun on the spot, crushing a few swaying zombies under its wheels, then sped down the road. *** On the road in front of the fertiliser plant, the sound of a speeding car drew closer. Yan Hao placed the last bag of nitrocellulose, then lunged into the front yard like a robust cheetah. Almost right behind him, the armoured vehicle shot in, and stopped abruptly. The survivors had been waiting for a long time already. Males, females, young and old, they worked together to push the wire mesh together, then secured them with metal chains. In the next moment, a thick mess of dark shadows appeared at the end of the road. Moans surrounded them, and the sound of shuffling feet poured in like the ocean¡¯s tide. Their numbers were more than they had imagined! They knew there was a wire fence separating them, but seeing so many rotting and putrid living dead coming towards them, their level of fear still exceeded what they had expected. Many people¡¯s knees turned weak, and they started shrieking. With a face full of sweat, Yan Hao shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared! Our defenses will hold!¡± That yell had a queer strength to it, and stopped the crowd¡¯s fearful retreat. The next moment, the zombies had made their way onto the road, entering the two hundred metres stretch of nitrocellulose. ¡ª Chun Cao raised the spray gun and brazenly pulled the trigger. A boom shook the earth. Flames spewed out, reaching up to the night sky under everyone¡¯s astounded eyes, roaring towards the zombies. With the flames, the nitrocellulose exploded! Two hundred metres of tarmac erupted, cement powderised, and trees flew up into the air. The zombies were ripped apart in the blaze that mimicked daylight, and flesh and blood rained from the sky. When the explosion occurred, everyone cried out hoarsely, then started cheering madly! The few rescued men in the armoured vehicle were flabbergasted. They stared at the spectacular sight, speechless. The last bit of explosives flashed brightly. The zombies were completely cleared, and smoke from the explosions covered the road strewn with flesh and blood. The blaze finally dissipated into the industrial zone. Zhou Rong jumped out of the driver¡¯s cabin, and moved to the back of the vehicle. The men all came out. The leader was covered in dirt, but with one glance it could be seen that he was wearing a tailored and expensive suit. He extended his hand, revealing a diamond studded, white gold watch on his wrist. ¡°You¡¯re the head of this group? Many thanks, I am¡­¡± Zhou Rong ignored him, yanking out that bespectacled man from within the vehicle. Like carrying a chicken, he dragged the bespectacled man to the foot of the wall, shoving him against the bricks. With his elbow against the man¡¯s neck, he pushed hard, and lifted up that bulky man! The rest of the people were still badly shaken from what had just happened. The feet of the bespectacled man scrabbled in the air, his throat under pressure from Zhou Rong¡¯s elbow, and his face swiftly turned from purple to black. ¡°Bro,¡± Zhou Rong stared at his bloodshot eyes and spoke leisurely. ¡°You¡¯re not a very upright person.¡± The leader hurried over. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s a misunderstanding, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding! Please calm down¡­¡± ¡°Calm down?¡± Zhou Rong laughed. ¡°My man was thrown into a pack of zombies by him. It¡¯s not going to be easy for me to calm down.¡± The crowd did not known what had happened. Hearing them, their faces changed. Yan Hao, Chun Cao and the rest immediately headed towards them. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m really sorry. When running for our lives, it¡¯s possible that our hands may slip. We owe you our lives, and we¡¯ll remember that for the rest of it.¡± The leader smiled, looking very apologetic, and he continued earnestly. ¡°They¡¯re my bodyguards, and we¡¯re all Alphas ¡ª Please at least give us some face¡­¡± The expressions of the crowd all turned a little peculiar. Zhou Rong did not release the pressure on his elbow, but he gave a laugh. Zhou Rong¡¯s facial features tended to look wicked, but when he laughed, he gave off an air of refinement. Seeing that, the leader also relaxed ¡ª however, at that moment, he saw Zhou Rong reach out with his other hand and pull off his subordinate¡¯s glasses. He tossed them onto the ground, and with a crack, ground them into dust with his foot. ¡°No wonder,¡± Zhou Rong smiled. ¡°I was wondering how you guys managed to attract all the zombies around this area.¡± When the leader saw Zhou Rong¡¯s breezy smile, a chill ran through his body. ¡°¡­¡± The eyes of his subordinate rolled back in his death-throes, and the cracking of bones was heard from his throat. The man was silent for a moment, as though he was weighing the situation. Suddenly, with a swing of his hand, he slapped his subordinate! ¡°You inhumane piece of shit, you should¡¯ve just died alone. You even dragged others down with you. No one would¡¯ve been able to save you, this heartless bastard!¡± Then, the man turned towards Zhou Rong, and smiled humbly. ¡°Please cool down. Call your man over, I¡¯ll make this callous thing kowtow to him and apologise. His life or death will be up to you.¡± The dozens of survivors and the few Alpha bodyguards stood facing each other. The burnt, rotten stench in the air had yet to fade away, and the atmosphere was so tense, a fight could break out any moment. After some time, Zhou Rong¡¯s elbow shifted slightly. That subordinate coughed harshly, and his face turned into the colour of liver. ¡°Si Nan,¡± Zhou Rong called indifferently. ¡°Come here.¡± There was no reaction from the roof of the armoured vehicle. Zhou Rong turned his head and signalled with his eyes. Yan Hao turned and walked to the vehicle, knocking on it. ¡°Si Nan! Don¡¯t be angry, come down!¡± On the roof, Si Nan panted silently, and swallowed a mouthful of blood-laced saliva. He looked at his hand. Half his palm was abraded, and the blood kept oozing out, breaking through the heavy restraints of the inhibitor, and gave off the concealed and sweet ¡ª Scent of an Omega¡¯s pheromones. After a long moment, Yan Hao still did not receive any reply. He felt that something seemed wrong, and wanted to climb up onto the vehicle roof. ¡°Si Nan? Are you ok?¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Edited by: Cyndy Dark clouds obscured the moon, and the industrial zone was silent, the distant wind carrying along periodic mournful howling. Yan Hao took two steps up the ladder, and his head popped up from the edge of the roof of the vehicle. Seeing Si Nan sitting there, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Come down!¡± Si Nan¡¯s shadow moved a little. He turned to glance at Yan Hao, but his expression was inscrutable. Next, Si Nan pulled his legs in and grabbed the edge of the window that led to the driver¡¯s compartment. He flipped backwards agilely, and slid into the driver¡¯s compartment! Yan Hao was momentarily amazed by the curve of Si Nan¡¯s body. ¡°Si Nan, hey!¡± The armoured vehicle suddenly came to life. It shot through the front yard, and headed towards the back of the factory. Yan Hao was thrown off the vehicle, but luckily for him, he landed with a roll and came to his feet. Stunned, he asked, ¡°He¡­ What¡¯s going on?¡± Hot water sprayed down, and the bathroom was quickly filled with steam. The blood on the palm was washed away, the wound paling and no longer bleeding. Si Nan gave a long exhale. He was about to turn the temperature of water down, but the door to the dormitory suddenly opened. ¡°Are you alright? You¡¯re injured?¡± Si Nan jerked his head back. Yan Hao was standing by the door. ¡°You¡¯re injured?¡± Yan Hao repeated, the anxiety obvious in his voice this time. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan stepped back from the showerhead. ¡°No.¡± Even through the glass of the bathroom, he could feel Yan Hao¡¯s doubtful eyes. ¡°You¡¯re angry?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­ Then why did you run?¡± Si Nan did not reply. Yan Hao was suspicious. Through the fogged up glass, he looked at Si Nan, and suddenly felt that the person was strangely tense. Actually, under such conditions, it was very difficult to see things clearly. But with the sound of the running water, his vision suddenly seemed to become extremely sharp, and even noticed the curve of Si Nan¡¯s neck to his shoulder. Standing in the water, his back looked very thin, his figure very gaunt, and he did not look very aggressive. However, his explosive strength was undeniable, probably because of his tightly contracted muscles. In that moment, Yan Hao was a little distracted. This body, even amongst Betas, was too thin. So what exactly was he doing before? He never talked about his past, what sort of troubled history did he have? ¡°¡­ I said,¡± Si Nan spoke slowly. ¡°Have you seen enough yet?¡± Yan Hao, ¡°?¡± ¡°Can you go out?¡± Yan Hao, ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao seemed to suddenly realise something. All the blood rushed to his head, and he turned and walked out of the bathroom, his limbs uncoordinated. ¡°Yo,¡± Zhou Rong pushed open the dormitory door with a cigarette in his mouth. Seeing Yan Hao, he mumbled, ¡°Where is he?¡± It seemed like the door to Si Nan¡¯s single room would never get any rest. Yan Hao stood by the bed, feeling his heart beat a little faster than normal, but did not know what that strange reaction was about. He pointed towards the bathroom. Zhou Rong tossed him half a pack of cigarettes. ¡°Given by those idiots just now.¡± He walked into the room and opened the bathroom door. ¡°Hey you¡­¡± Si Nan¡¯s back was facing the door, and he thought it was Yan Hao coming in again. ¡°Why do you¡­¡± He turned his head, and his eyes met Zhou Rong¡¯s. In an instant, alarms rang in Si Nan¡¯s head. Never before had he ever felt this aware of the differences in his gender. If there was no glass separating them, he might have already grabbed the towel and strangled Zhou Rong with it. ¡°Get¡ªthe¡ªhell¡ªout!¡± Zhou Rong trembled, and slammed the door closed. ¡°Are you a woman?!¡± For no reason at all, Zhou Rong had ran into a stone wall. He yelled at the door, ¡°Also, who allowed you to use the hot water like this? Do you know how many days I haven¡¯t showered?!¡± ¡°Is he going crazy or what?¡± His anger lingering, Zhou Rong pointed at the door and asked Yan Hao. ¡°¡­ He was pretty gentle with me just now,¡± Yan Hao said slowly. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re surlier.¡± *** ¡°That group of people are staying here.¡± Ten minutes later, Zhou Rong was boldly sitting by the bed and smoking. Yan Hao was leaning against the windowsill, a cigarette in his hand. The single room was filled with the stench of nicotine. Rubbing at his wet hair with a towel, Si Nan studied the both of them. He did not understand. In their free time, why were they not banging each other, but instead coming over to his room in the middle of the night? However, out of habit, he did not ask, only giving a simple acknowledgement showing that he heard the message. ¡°Why did you run just now?¡± Zhou Rong frowned. ¡°I wanted to make that fellow kowtow to you. If not, we¡¯ll make him do it in front of everyone tomorrow?¡± Si Nan replied, ¡°No need.¡± Zhou Rong and Yan Hao exchanged a look. ¡°¡­ You¡¯re angry?¡± Zhou Rong tested. Si Nan, ¡°?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t all Alphas like that anyway?¡± Si Nan said indifferently. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time already. What can I do about it, throw them outside and let them fend for themselves?¡± Turning around, he looked into the mirror, ruffling his hair, missing the looks of consternation on Zhou Rong and Yan Hao¡¯s faces. A moment later, Zhou Rong coughed. It seemed like he wanted to explain something, but after lifting his hand, he put it down again, swallowing his words. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want them to stay here, but we can¡¯t butcher them. If we make them leave, they¡¯ll be a destabilising factor, and might purposely come back to give us trouble¡­¡± Baffled, Si Nan nodded his head. ¡°Also,¡± Zhou Rong paused. ¡°That guy is a shareholder of this fertiliser plant.¡± Even Yan Hao was surprised by this. ¡°There¡¯s even such a thing?¡± ¡°Oh, their leader¡¯s called Feng Wentai.¡± Zhou Rong mentioned the name of a very famous consortium in B City. ¡°¡ª He¡¯s the young master, and he really does have investments in this industrial park. Apparently, he had seen Xiangzi before from a very far distance, and just recognised him. Immediately apologising and brown-nosing, he even took the initiative and is willing to turn over the fertiliser plant to the country to be used as a shelter.¡± ¡°Damn,¡± Yan Hao said, ¡°Xiangzi is so useful.¡± ¡°On behalf of Xiangzi, this guy won¡¯t be a destabilising factor for now.¡± Treasuring the last puff of his cigarette, Zhou Rong suddenly saw Si Nan turn his head from the bathroom and look doubtfully at them. ¡°¡­ What does this have to do with the one who wants to be a rooster in his next life?¡± ¡°His grandfather is Guo Bai, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of State Security. He¡¯s a proper third-generation official.¡± Yan Hao explained, ¡°With the current chaos, that Feng fellow wants to kiss up to the government, and probably wouldn¡¯t give us any trouble for now.¡± Hearing Guo Bai¡¯s name, Si Nan felt that it sounded a little familiar. However, that feeling was faint and fleeting. He silently pondered over it, as though reconsidering Guo Weixiang as a person. In the end, under Zhou Rong¡¯s and Yan Hao¡¯s attention, he gave an ¡°oh¡±, and as if in deep thought, ¡°Then does his grandfather know about the thing with him and the rooster?¡± *** Feng Wentai and his six bodyguards settled into the fertiliser factory. Just like Zhou Rong predicted, they did not immediately start making mischief. Instead, they were even pretty self-aware, looking for Zhou Rong the next day and insisting on offering all their¡­ money. Zhou Rong could neither laugh nor cry. Walking back with an armful of cash, he asked, ¡°Are they afraid that we don¡¯t have enough kindling for winter, or worried that we don¡¯t have anymore toilet paper, and want us to make do and use this to wipe?¡± ¡°Great! I¡¯ve never seen so much cash in my life before.¡± Chun Cao cocked her feet up, sitting on the window sill. She folded a paper plane and said admiringly, ¡°These people are really extravagant¡­ You say, why would they carry so much money when they¡¯re running for their lives?¡± On the side, Yan Hao was polishing the guns. He laughed, ¡°Because no one had expected the virus outbreak to last so long when it just started. They all thought that it was limited to an area, and as long as they could escape the area, they would be able to return to civilisation. However, as e-commerce is limited in disaster-stricken areas, many people are afraid that prices will skyrocket¡­¡± Just as he spoke halfway, Chun Cao threw the money plane. It flew out of the door, and hit Si Nan who was passing by. ¡°Si Xiaonan!¡± Chun Cao slid off the window sill. ¡°Come come come, let¡¯s divide some money!¡± Si Nan had just come back from a run, and was dressed in a fitted black singlet and camouflage pants. On his neck was a towel soaked with sweat. Hearing Chun Cao, his feet stopped and he looked into the room. Zhou Rong was standing by the bed, Yan Hao sitting by the table, and both of them simultaneously turned their heads towards him. A half-second, then Si Nan nodded his head at Chun Cao and continued walking. ¡°Eh, Si Xiaonan!¡± Chun Cao stood there stiffly, watching Si Nan¡¯s back pulling away. She marveled, ¡°Guys, why is he recently always like this? Did he take the wrong medication or¡­¡± Before Chun Cao could finish her sentence, Zhou Rong had put the money down and walked out of the room. Striding through the corridor, he grasped Si Nan¡¯s shoulder. His actions were nimble and absolute. Si Nan turned around, wanting to comment, but before he could speak, Zhou Rong suddenly picked him up in a princess carry, lifting him easily. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan was stunned. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Rong turned a deaf ear and quickly returned to the room. Under Yan Hao¡¯s dumbfounded gaze, he tossed Si Nan onto the bed! ¡°You!¡± Si Nan swiftly propped himself up with his elbows, but just as he burst out with a word, he saw Zhou Rong grabbing a bunch of cash, saying, ¡°Yo ho¡ª¡± Then he scattered the money on top of him. This action was too outrageous. Never in his life had Si Nan ever laid on a bed and had money tossed onto him. At that moment, he really did not know what to say. His mouth opened slightly and he glared at Zhou Rong, looking a little angry. From his profile, because of the way he propped up his body, his jutting shoulder blades, his suspended waist, as well as those slender, long parting legs, they all formed an exceptionally captivating silhouette. ¡ª If anyone happened to see it, they would find it difficult to drag their eyes away. However, Zhou Rong was not aware of it. He lunged onto the bed, pushing himself up and looking down at Si Nan. ¡°Who are you hiding from? What sort of tantrum are you throwing this time?¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong wanted to continue lecturing, but suddenly, from such a close distance, he seemed to smell something. It seemed as though it wafted up from Si Nan¡¯s skin and hair that were still dewy with sweat. ¡ª It was difficult for him to think of words that could represent that scent. It was not just purely aromatic; if he had to describe it, it would be a scent that, despite being obscured, mysterious, and hidden, would make a person¡¯s heart feel unsettled and restless. But it was only for a moment. Si Nan abruptly pushed him away, and Zhou Rong hastily stumbled a step back. Si Nan flipped off the bed, speaking coldly, ¡°You want to fight?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong gulped, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, and suddenly forgot what he was about to say. ¡°Si Xiaonan, what was that for!¡± A nimble and lively figure appeared from behind, throwing an arm around Si Nan¡¯s neck, nearly pushing him back onto the bed. Chun Cao then grabbed a fistful of money and shoved it into his arms, unrestrainedly saying, ¡°What is there to fight about, just take this! Those fools from yesterday insist on giving us this money, how much toilet paper do you have left in your room? Make do with these.¡± Si Nan looked down at the money, his mouth twitching slightly. With Chun Cao¡¯s interruption, Zhou Rong finally regained his lost wits. Covering his mouth with his fist, he coughed, ¡°Alright, stop making a fuss. I¡¯m just joking with you.¡± He patted Si Nan on the shoulder, then pulled him towards him and waved at Yan Hao, smiling, ¡°Come here, I didn¡¯t look for you guys for fun¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you five minutes to tidy up. We¡¯ll gather at the garage in the back, and I¡¯ll bring you guys to plunder.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s lips curved up, speaking rakishly, ¡°Today, we¡¯re going to have a windfall.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Edited by: Cyndy ¡°Oh?¡± Chun Cao was surprised. ¡°Is there a treasure trove somewhere?¡± The heat from the Indian Summer¡¯s sun roasted the asphalt road, and a few zombies in front were roaming about aimlessly. Zhou Rong¡¯s foot stepped on the gas, and slammed them away before stopping by the road. A container truck was laying on its side. Its doors were wide open, and the driver¡¯s compartment was splashed with black blood. Yan Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this that Feng¡¯s vehicle from last night?¡± ¡°They came looking for me early this morning, asking if I could lend them a vehicle, as they wanted to display their Alpha¡¯s initiative and clear out the zombies nearby.¡± Zhou Rong picked up a crowbar and jumped off the vehicle. The sunlight reflected off his spiky short hair and sunglasses, and his expression looked malicious. ¡°Once I heard him I knew something was fishy. How could these idiot Alphas be so hardworking?¡± Si Nan took the rare initiative to express his opinion. ¡°Mn.¡± Last to get off the vehicle, Chun Cao¡¯s and Yan Hao¡¯s faces twisted. ¡°¡­ Rong-ge is too shameless,¡± Chun Cao said quietly. Yan Hao nodded his head, his feelings complicated. ¡°The Feng family is a local tyrant, this Young Master Feng escaped with a group of subordinates and women, would they only bring cash with them?¡± Zhou Rong jammed the twisted lock of the container with the crowbar, his hands gripping tight and a foot against the door. He sneered, ¡°Want to deceive me and use my vehicle to transport goods? In¡­ your¡­ dreams¡ª¡± With an exclamation, Zhou Rong¡¯s muscles bulged, and he forcibly pried the door open! ¡°Whatever happened to not accepting anything from the civilians?¡± Yan Hao mocked. Zhou Rong tossed the crowbar away, pulling open the door to the container with his bare hands. In the loud screech, he took two steps back. ¡°Confiscating illegal firearms is the responsibility of the police department.¡± Zhou Rong spoke courteously, ¡°I¡¯m helping B City¡¯s police department out of goodwill, there¡¯s no need to thank me.¡± In the container was rice, biscuits, boxes of canned food and other items piled way up high. In the box against the wall were a few guns, all Type 64 submachine guns and Type 56 assault rifles. Three Uzis were on the ground, and the most shocking one was a QJZ-89 heavy machine gun. Yan Hao¡¯s jaw remained glued to the floor, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How¡­ how cool¡­¡± Chun Cao leapt into the container, gazing at the more than ten boxes of ammunition at her feet. Even her voice trembled. ¡°With all these, there¡¯s no need to be afraid of zombies, they could have just shot at them. Why were they running last night?¡± ¡°Because they didn¡¯t have enough time,¡± Zhou Rong gave her an answer. ¡°During the night hundreds of zombies came up at once, those who were mentally weak broke down straight away. In the chaos, they could only think about running. It¡¯s a problem with their combat training.¡± Yan Hao cautiously examined the heavy machine gun, then caressed the gun barrel with a worshipful look. He murmured, ¡°Ever since I was selected into 118, I¡¯ve never seen it again. Turns out there are still squads using this. I thought it had been relegated to history museums already¡­¡± Zhou Rong kicked him. ¡°Stop your bullshit. This is a real piece of crap, go back and reassemble it!¡± Ten minutes later, under the scorching sun, they moved back and forth between the vehicles transporting the guns and ammunition, sweat dripping off them. ¡°Say, Young Master Feng is really impressive. Don¡¯t tell me he robbed a police station? I heard them say that B City had completely fallen, I wouldn¡¯t find it strange for these guys to do anything¡­¡± Zhou Rong interrupted the panting Chun Cao, ¡°No, they should be from their personal collection. Look at this heavy machine gun and the Uzis, they have clearly been modified. They¡¯re probably purchased from the black market.¡± Chun Cao nodded her head, muddled. With a 30kg ammunition box in one hand, Yan Hao heaved it into the armoured vehicle. ¡°However, there¡¯s all sorts of ammunition here. People who collect guns out of interest would not have this quantity of ammo, they must have plundered the military vehicles along the way¡­ By the way, aren¡¯t they planning on coming back to transport all these? By that time, if there are no more firearms, how are we going to explain it?¡± Zhou Rong spoke coldly, ¡°Firearms? Are there any firearms? One of the top 10 outstanding youths of the country, Mr Feng Wentai, why would he have firearms in his escape vehicle?¡± Zhou Rong wrapped the ammunition belts for the heavy machine gun on his body, looking like an Asian Stallone. Swaying his way back to the armoured vehicle, he dumped the belts onto the floor, sighing deeply and stretching out his neck that had been marked by the belts. ¡°We can¡¯t touch any of the food in the container. Later on, we¡¯ll bring Feng Wentai here and let them confirm the uprightness and innocence of the People¡¯s Army. As for those bodyguards of the Feng family, I have a use for them. When we go into B Military Zone a few days later¡­¡± Zhou Rong adjusted his sunglasses, his face full of sweat, highlighting his haughty and tough profile. ¡°We¡¯ll hand the temporary shelter to them. If not, with 30-plus Betas, they might not be able to keep it defended for more than a week.¡± Yan Hao asked, ¡°Captain, you¡¯re finally willing to bring us along on the mission?¡± Zhou Rong replied, ¡°What else can I do? You¡¯re all so reliant on me, loving me so much.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao was silent for a few seconds. ¡°Are you sure we can hand over the fertiliser plant to Feng Wentai? What if they push people out again as a shield when they run into problems?¡± Zhou Rong picked up that heavy machine gun, cherishing it, as though he was carrying his one and only son. Even his voice turned extremely gentle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as they still want to kiss the government¡¯s ass, before we return from the military zone, they won¡¯t dare to go overboard. Also, for their own safety, they would need to help defend the fertiliser plant. At that time, I¡¯ll redistribute the goods¡­ and pass the key to the bus to that Dr Zheng¡­¡± Zhou Rong suddenly looked up. ¡°Why is it that we¡¯re the only two working?!¡± Si Nan and Chun Cao stopped chewing at the same time, but it was too late. Zhou Rong neatly and quickly shifted the boxes away. All the way inside the container, a cheap daughter and an off-staff combatant were crouching with their heads together. Each held a tin in their hand, and was enjoying the food. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong inhaled deeply. When he caught a glimpse of the tins, he immediately fired up. ¡°You guys are going overboard! What time is it already, you¡¯re eating caviar now?!¡± Chun Cao pointed at Si Nan with a trembling finger. ¡°I¡ªI¡ªI don¡¯t know anything, he told me this is expensive, and delicious¡­¡± Holding a spoon, Si Nan explained, ¡°I¡¯m not a part of your organisation, I don¡¯t have to listen to your command.¡± Without saying anything, Zhou Rong took the two cans from them. Like chasing a chicken, he shooed Chun Cao off to move the goods, then poked between Si Nan¡¯s brows and lectured, ¡°If the luncheon meat is not fried, you won¡¯t eat it. If there¡¯s no filling in the biscuits, you won¡¯t eat it. All day long you keep eying the chickens, would I have to look for a cow another day to provide you with milk? Who made you so pampered?¡± Si Nan looked at him coldly. ¡°Make an inventory of everything in the container within half an hour, if not we¡¯ll hand this can over to the country,¡± Zhou Rong patted him on the head, speaking in a dignified manner. ¡°Go!¡± Half an hour later, Yan Hao dropped the box of mineral water onto the ground, wiping his sweat. ¡°216.¡± ¡°500kg,¡± Zhou Rong swayed as he crouched by the side, recording the weight of the rice. Not far away, Si Nan was sitting in the rear compartment of the armoured vehicle. Cocking his leg up, he continued eating from his can. This time, it was a can of strawberries in syrup, and he occasionally even fed Chun Cao a couple. Zhou Rong was exhausted. He clapped his hands and stood up. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s pack up and return to the camp!¡± Jumping off the container, he returned to the armoured vehicle. When he walked past Si Nan, he viciously shoved the can of caviar back into his hands. *** Feng Wentai paced about the front yard of the fertiliser plant, and finally managed to see the armoured vehicle belonging to the special force soldiers returning. He immediately halted, trying his best to remain composed, but he was unable to disguise the anxiety in his eyes. ¡°Yo, Young Master Feng, what are you doing?¡± Zhou Rong stuck his head out of the window and smiled. Feng Wentai quickly made his way forward, a smile on his face. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Rong leisurely cut him off, ¡°Oh right, there¡¯s something I need to tell you. On the road, we discovered the truck that you guys overturned last night. There¡¯s quite a lot of goods inside, so we wondered if you guys should bring everything back¡­¡± The thing that Feng Wentai was most worried about had happened. His expression stiffened slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we didn¡¯t touch anything. All those rice, food, medical supplies, blankets, etc. are all there.¡± Zhou Rong beamed. ¡°We can¡¯t take anything from civilians, only you guys can take the initiative to hand it over to the country.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Feng Wentai immediately remarked, ¡°No need to be so troublesome, Captain Zhou can just hand it over on my behalf.¡± Zhou Rong of course immediately commented that it should not be like this, they had to follow regulations, and could not privately handle the assets of disaster victims. Like in a tug of war, the two of them yielded back and forth. Feng Wentai lived up to expectations and gained the victory, and Zhou Rong was really unable to make him change his mind. Forced to accept it, he represented the thirty odd disaster victims in the fertiliser plant and accepted his goods. Feng Wentai rubbed his hands, smiling, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. To tell the truth, I¡¯m a military fanatic. There¡¯s a few items in the container that belong to my personal collection. They¡¯ve been modified already, and don¡¯t have much firepower¡­¡± Zhou Rong was puzzled. ¡°What?¡± ¡°That¡¯s,¡± Feng Wentai seemed to have some trouble speaking out. ¡°When I was studying overseas, my friends who are military fanatics had gifted me¡­ a few uzis and others¡­¡± ¡°Ah, we didn¡¯t see any of that!¡± Zhou Rong slapped his thigh. ¡°Are you sure they were in the container?¡± Feng Wentai nodded. Zhou Rong was regretful, ¡°That¡¯s some good stuff, they must have been picked up by others. Say, why didn¡¯t you tell me about it last night? If I knew I would¡¯ve picked them up for you yesterday. Now, how could they still be there?¡± Although he had a premonition, seeing Zhou Rong¡¯s innocent expression for himself, Feng Wentai still choked on his own blood. ¡°¡ªBro,¡± Zhou Rong ignored the colour of Feng Wentai¡¯s face. He forcibly hooked his arm around his neck and headed towards the middle of the yard. ¡°In two days, we plan to head into B City, and go to the military zone to look for Xiangzi¡¯s grandfather. You also know, these leaders they all have their own personal sanctuaries, Vice Minister Guo would not want his grandson to be risking his life outside¡­¡± Feng Wentai quickly replied, ¡°Definitely, definitely.¡± ¡°We plan on making a three days return trip, but it shouldn¡¯t exceed a week. In this period of time, you and your subordinates might have to suffer a little, and help take care of this fertiliser plant. These 36 survivors are all people that we¡¯ve rescued from T City.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s feet stopped, his hand gripping Feng Wentai¡¯s shoulder. He spoke solemnly, ¡°When we¡¯re back from B Military zone, we¡¯ll bring everyone here who has been sharing this hardship together to the sanctuary.¡± Feng Wentai wanted to ask a question, and Zhou Rong lowered his voice, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not that type of concentration camp style where everyone will be taken in¡­ Bro, you understand, right?¡± Feng Wentai of course understood, but as he nodded his head, his expression was still a little doubtful. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be too risky for Captain Zhou to purposely make a trip out of the military zone to come pick us all up? Why don¡¯t we all go together, since that bus can fit all of us¡­¡± His words sounded very nice, but Young Master Feng¡¯s worry was fairly obvious ¡ª Who knows if you guys will still come back from B Military Zone to pick us up? The firearms have already been taken by you. If you guys were to enter the minister¡¯s sanctuary and live in comfort, abandoning us all in this fertiliser plant to fend for ourselves, it¡¯ll be anything but reassuring. Zhou Rong sighed deeply under his suspicious gaze. ¡°Bro, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to! But B City is pretty much overrun with zombies, if I bring you guys there, charging through the enemies¡­¡± He pointed towards the dormitory. ¡°Have you seen the pregnant lady?¡± Feng Wentai was full of suspicions. ¡°Why do you think we¡¯ll come all this way with a pregnant lady? She¡¯s Xiangzi¡¯s¡­ They¡¯re of that relationship!¡± Zhou Rong shook his head, lamenting. His expression was as though he really did not know what he should say. ¡°If not for the little one in the womb with the surname Guo, we would have long slaughtered our way into the military zone. Why would we still remain here?!¡± Feng Wentai, finally enlightened, felt that he had gained comprehension of everything that he had not been unable to understand. ¡°You understand, we also have no choice. However, it¡¯s fortunate that over on the vice minister¡¯s side, he¡¯ll be able to dispatch a helicopter. As long as everyone perseveres until we return from the military zone, once the helicopter is here to pick all of you up, everyone would be safe.¡± Zhou Rong clapped Feng Wentai firmly on the arm, smiling, ¡°Bro, you¡¯ve been doing great merit for the nation, this matter would naturally¡­¡± ¡°Understood, understood. We¡¯re all a family here, you don¡¯t have to keep me at a distance.¡± Feng Wentai pondered for a moment, and said earnestly, ¡°Last night, we only survived thanks to your help. That little brother of yours suffered from an injustice, it¡¯s all my fault.¡± He gestured at the bodyguard nearby who was standing by the factory door. ¡°Get Lu Hui here.¡± Lu Hui was that bespectacled man with a frightening bruise on his neck. That bruise was a result of Zhou Rong holding him against the wall in front of everyone last night. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely make this useless subordinate apologise to that little brother,¡± Feng Wentai was extremely sincere. ¡°It was an abominable thing to do, it must serve as a warning to others. Please make allowance for the great pains I¡¯ve taken¡­¡± The two of them once again engaged in a tug of war. Zhou Rong, living up to expectations, failed again, and was forced to accept it. He turned his head and yelled, ¡°Si Nan!¡± Next to the armoured vehicle, Si Nan looked in his direction. Zhou Rong was afraid that he was still eating those strawberries, and carefully looked at him. Seeing that he did not seem to be holding any canned items, he waved him over. ¡°Come here!¡± In front of outsiders, Si Nan would still somewhat obey orders. He slowly made his way over, and when he drew nearer, Zhou Rong noticed a dried trace of pink syrup next to his mouth. ¡°¡­¡± Without saying anything, Zhou Rong grabbed him, and swiped his thumb a couple of times over the stain. Si Nan jerked his head to dodge him, shooting him a cold look. ¡ª The murderous look in those eyes made Zhou Rong suddenly recall how this person shot through the seething mass of zombies on his motorbike. The cold, sharp look in his eyes under the helmet was exactly the same as the one in his eyes right then. The little man in Zhou Rong¡¯s heart immediately surrendered. ¡°This is the one who dragged you out last night.¡± Zhou Rong threw a brotherly arm around Si Nan, and coaxed quietly, ¡°He wants to apologise directly to you, that¡¯s why we called you over.¡± Lu Hui was big and tall, and his face was dark. He seemed to be somewhat reluctant to move. Only after being glared at by Feng Wentai did he unwillingly kneel down with one knee, and after a short while, put the other knee down as well. ¡°My hand accidentally slipped last night,¡± His throat was injured, and his voice was in a whisper, unable to be heard distinctly. ¡°I apologise, please don¡¯t take offense.¡± Si Nan stood there in silence, his face expressionless, not saying a word. In his black fitted singlet, his profile was well defined. Because his legs were very long, his camouflage pants had to be one size bigger, and with a belt, they hung loosely on his hips. On his feet were a pair of high cut military boots that Zhou Rong had found for him. The midday sun shone on his fair, frosty cheeks, and they glowed dimly. Feng Wentai¡¯s eyes shifted slightly, and coughed as a distraction. ¡°Captain Zhou¡¯s little brother is really¡­ highly skilled, and very handsome. I¡¯m unable to come up with any words to describe him¡­¡± He turned and scolded his subordinate again, ¡°You scoundrel! Kneeling with your body so straight, who are you doing it for? You¡¯re still not doing a kowtow?!¡± Lu Hui endured without a protest, and bent over with his head down. Who would have guessed that just as he bent, his shoulder was stepped on by a shoe. Si Nan pressed down with a foot. ¡ª His action was very slight, but the force he used made this Alpha stagger and fall back! Next, under Feng Wentai¡¯s indescribable expression, he pulled his leg back. Rubbing at the syrup stain by his mouth, he walked away without a sound. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¡°Si Nan!¡± Yan Hao knocked on the window,. ¡°Are you free? Want to go out for a walk?¡± In the centre of the empty workshop, Si Nan had found a whisk from somewhere, and was in the midst of mixing a black, ointment-like substance, and the thick kerosene smell pervaded throughout the surroundings. Hearing Yan Hao, he stopped his movements and waved at him, gesturing that he should come in. This was the first time an outsider was allowed into his workshop. Yan Hao was overwhelmed by his attention. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Si Nan passed the whisk and metal bowl to him, instructing, ¡°Beat it hard.¡± Yan Hao was confused. Holding on to the bowl, he stirred for a long time. Only when his arms were aching to the point where he could barely lift them up, was Si Nan satisfied. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re done. You can leave now, don¡¯t go around talking about it.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Gunpowder.¡± Yan Hao, ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao had wanted to look for Si Nan to discuss if he was interested in going with the special force soldiers to B Military Zone. However, Si Nan clearly was not interested in where they were going, and Yan Hao could only leave and discuss it alone with Zhou Rong. Under autumn¡¯s broad, blue sky, Si Nan placed the gunpowder in a cool, shady area of the warehouse, allowing the kerosene to evaporate by itself. He suddenly heard light yet urgent footsteps, and turned his head towards the window. Behind the warehouse was a quiet little road. A ten minutes walk to the east was an anhydrous ammonia storage and treatment tank, and towards the west was the kitchen of the cafeteria. A young lady wearing an apron turned hastily from the road towards the warehouse, her face pale and panicked. When she suddenly caught sight of Si Nan, she paused. ¡°?¡± Si Nan stared at her, recognising Wu Xinyan. Wu Xinyan flew over, reaching out to pull herself through the window. Si Nan¡¯s ¡°it¡¯s been six months, it can¡¯t be aborted¡± probably left Wu Xinyan with a deep impression, and this lady did not seem to like him much, always avoiding him. Si Nan did not know what was happening now, but it did not seem like she was bitten by a zombie and wanted to eat people. He then reached out to open the windows, but was stopped by her, and pulled back in. Wu Xinyan closed the windows, crouching down on the ground. She pulled Si Nan down to the ground as well. ¡°Shh¡­¡± She said softly. Si Nan¡¯s brows wrinkled, before hearing more footsteps outside the window. This time, it was a lot heavier, and a man exhaled roughly, speaking in a gruff voice, ¡°She was just here, where did she go?¡± Another man spoke up, his voice accented. ¡°What place is this.¡± Footsteps drew closer. The man looked into the window, but did not see Si Nan and Wu Xinyan hiding underneath. ¡°There¡¯s no one here.¡± ¡°Fuck, that girl can sure run fast.¡± ¡°You should stop making trouble too. President Feng has said to not touch this group of people, don¡¯t you remember that?¡± They were Feng Wentai¡¯s bodyguards. Si Nan¡¯s eyes clouded. Rustling sounds could be heard. The two of them seemed to be smoking. The first person spoke unhappily, ¡°I only want to have some fun with her, why can¡¯t I do that? Not allowed to this and that, President Feng sure worries about those few special force soldiers.¡± The accented voice went, ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Say,¡± That man lowered his voice in doubt. ¡°Are they really special force soldiers?¡± ¡°Why, you don¡¯t think they are?¡± ¡°It seems wrong for Betas to be so wild. Also, isn¡¯t it that only Alphas can join the special force team? I suspect that they¡¯re men from the Guo family, and are taking advantage of the current chaos, swindling and scaring everyone, including President Feng¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what they¡¯re doing. As long as they have a way to let us in to the shelter.¡± The two people groused for a couple more sentences. Completely hidden in the small space under the window, Si Nan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Right,¡± That gruff voice suddenly seemed to think of something. ¡°That day, President Feng had made Lu Hui kneel and apologise, in the end Lu Hui was kicked in front of everyone by that sissy. He¡¯s been holding himself back from looking for trouble.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something like this?¡± ¡°Mn. In my opinion, it¡¯s also embarrassing that we can¡¯t deal with this little weakling. Someday when no one¡¯s around we¡¯ll grab that fellow and teach him a lesson¡­ So fragile and delicate looking, he looks just like an Omega. Don¡¯t let him be a fake modified one¡­¡± ¡°Why, you¡¯re thinking about going in from the back door?¡± Their laughter was full of obscenity. They cursed at a few other things, and finally, they gradually walked away. Wu Xinyan¡¯s face was ashen, her body trembling as she turned around. Si Nan¡¯s brows were tight, his pupils constricted, and his eyes curved up fiercely. ¡°We¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Si Nan raised his index finger in a stop motion. He then pulled her and whirled out of the warehouse. ¡°This is the car key. Once there¡¯s something wrong, bring everyone and evacuate. The provisions have already been stored in the bus already. We¡¯ll have to trouble you to take care of that pregnant lady. We¡¯ll be back from the military zone in at most one week¡­¡± Zhou Rong was listing the things to take note of one by one to Dr Zheng. Si Nan suddenly entered, pulling with him a panting Wu Xinyan who had jogged her way here. He did not say anything, but directly grabbed the Type 64 handgun from Zhou Rong¡¯s waist. ¡°Hey!¡± Zhou Rong roared. ¡°What are you doing? Come back!¡± Si Nan did come back. He stuck his hand into Zhou Rong¡¯s pocket and pulled out a big bunch of keys before leaving again. Fortunately, this time Zhou Rong caught his wrist in time. ¡°What happened, where are you going? Are you committing a robbery?¡± Si Nan replied coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t bother about this, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Flinging his hand away from Zhou Rong¡¯s grip, he grabbed Wu Xinyan and left, heading towards the garage. Zhou Rong chased for two steps, wanting to yell at him. However, when he saw Wu Xinyan¡¯s stumbling figure, he seemed to suddenly realise something, and abruptly fell silent. ¡°¡­ Tsk, this fellow.¡± Zhou Rong murmured. ¡°He¡¯s pretty popular amongst the girls.¡± He stood where he was for a moment, feeling as though something was stuck in his throat, and he could neither swallow it down nor spit it out. Pinching hard at the center of his brows, using that pain to distract himself, he turned his head and smiled, ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Dr Zheng bit his tongue, nodding his head in understanding. ¡°Get onto the car,¡± Si Nan said. Wu Xinyan had to use both her hands and legs before she could climb into the high driver¡¯s compartment of the armoured vehicle. In great trepidation, she asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡± Si Nan slammed the door shut, starting the engine. ¡°We¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± The armoured vehicle left the garage, turning one circle in the empty space before making its way past the cafeteria, driving towards the anhydrous ammonia storage and treatment tank where few people went. Following the rocky path for a few minutes, it was so bumpy it almost made Wu Xinyan carsick, and finally screeched to a stop at a dilapidated brick building. ¡°When I was clearing the zombies last week, I discovered this place.¡± Si Nan leapt off the vehicle. ¡°How long has he been pestering you?¡± No matter how brave Wu Xinyan was, she still shivered a little. ¡°A, a few days after they arrived¡­¡± This was a garage for the waste disposal truck, and the surroundings stank of ammonia. The green metal door to the garage was already rusty, and no one knew how long it had been abandoned for. Si Nan stepped on top of the rubbish bin, flipping through the dusty window filled with cobwebs before going to the door and opening it, signalling Wu Xinyan to enter. ¡°The garage door is battery-operated, and the switch is here. It¡¯s not very clean inside, but after some tidying up, it should be fine for people to stay here.¡± Wu Xinyan wrapped her arms around herself, observing her surroundings with fear and curiosity. On the wall was a huge patch of mould, the corners were piled up with junk, and a thick layer of dust was on the ground. Si Nan moved two cartons of mineral water, instant noodles, blankets and various items off the armoured vehicle, then yanked out that Type 64 and slapped it into Wu Xinyan¡¯s hands. ¡°If something happens after we leave, bring your pregnant friend along and hide here.¡± Wu Xinyan¡¯s breathing nearly stopped, feeling as though she was holding on to a piece of burning coal. ¡°I, I, I, I d-don¡¯t dare to shoot¡­¡± Si Nan went behind her, patted her on the arms, and raised the gun along with her, aiming at the sky. Bang! The recoil made Wu Xinyan stagger, and the empty casing fell clinking onto the ground. Si Nan said encouragingly, ¡°Now, you¡¯ll dare to do it.¡± Wu Xinyan¡¯s mind blanked out, her thoughts chaotic. A moment later, she decisively nodded her head, her lips still trembling. *** ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this place, including your pregnant friend.¡± As Si Nan drove back, his attention was on the rocky path filled with potholes. ¡°For these few days, avoid those people. Don¡¯t have any direct conflict with them. Before we leave, I¡¯ll prepare a few more provisions for you.¡± Wu Xinyan turned her head towards him. Si Nan¡¯s long and curled eyelashes were lowered. His eyes were always reticent and focused, sometimes giving people a misconception that he did not have much feelings. ¡°You¡­¡± Wu Xinyan spoke up, her voice as thin as a thread. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ not afraid of them?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Wu Xinyan tried a more direct approach, but her voice lowered in volume. ¡°¡­ What they said about you, is it true?¡± This time, Si Nan glanced at her with the corner of her eyes, and did not reply. And so, Wu Xinyan was distracted the entire journey, imagining an invisible person grabbing onto Si Nan¡¯s shoulders and violently shaking him. Only when they returned to the factory, parked the vehicle and locked the doors did Si Nan suddenly waved his hand at her. Wu Xinyan, ¡°?¡± Following Si Nan¡¯s finger, she gazed at the brick wall, then suddenly something flew past ¡ª Bang! Wu Xinyan gave a start. Si Nan¡¯s fist slammed into the wall, the bricks splitting apart, and a half-metre crack silently appeared. ¡°What do you think?¡± Si Nan said calmly. Si Nan tossed the keys up in his hand before catching them. He slowly walked away, leaving Wu Xinyan behind staring at the fist-sized hole in the wall blankly. *** Zhou Rong sent away Dr Zheng, who continuously promised to do a good job or face severe penalties. Alone in the main office of the factory, he sunk into a swivel chair. Outside the window was the afternoon¡¯s calm, blue sky. The sounds of people training and chatting in the front yard drifted along with the wind, and could be heard indistinctly. Out of habit, Zhou Rong touched the cigarette box by his hand. It was his last cigarette already, and placing it in front of his nose, he sniffed at it for a long while but did not light it. He sighed. Zhou Rong took his time to retrieve his lighter. At this moment, behind him, the office door was pushed open fiercely, and Si Nan tossed a big bunch of keys over. ¡°Yo!¡± It was fortunate that Zhou Rong¡¯s reaction time was fast. Turning his chair, he caught them in mid-air. ¡°¡ª Done with your thing?¡± Si Nan did not understand, and replied casually, ¡°Mn.¡± Zhou Rong observed his expressions, deliberating over his words, thinking for a long while before asking, ¡°Are you going with us to the military zone?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong tried asking, ¡°Do you like that girl?¡± Si Nan was about to leave, but hearing his words, he stopped, a little baffled. ¡°I don¡¯t like her, why?¡± His brain filled with words, Zhou Rong did not know where to start, and his temple started throbbing, ¡°Then you still¡­¡± ¡°That girl,¡± Si Nan looked around the corridor and suddenly lowered his voice, sounding very earnest. ¡°She likes Yan Hao, you better pay more attention.¡± ¡ª Si Nan¡¯s voice at that moment could be described as being friendly. Zhou Rong stared at him, dumbfounded, and suddenly his intuition told him that something was not quite right. But he did not have time to contemplate about it. Si Nan had turned and headed to the warehouse to stir his gunpowder already. *** Three days later, Zhou Rong personally checked the last box of ammunition on the inventory list, and slammed the door to the rear compartment shut. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± With a yard full of people watching, the armoured vehicle slowly made its way out of the industrial zone. In the rearview mirror, the people¡¯s reluctance, gratefulness, anticipation, fear, and worry, their varied expressions all gradually shrinking. Six special force soldiers and one off-staff combatant sat in the vehicle. Everyone was in full gear, wearing a kevlar armour, and carrying a mini submachine gun. Zhou Rong wanted to say something to boost the atmosphere, only to see Si Nan standing up, opening the back door, and jumping off the moving vehicle. Zhou Rong stuck his head out of the window and yelled, ¡°My little ancestor, what do you want to do this time?!¡± Si Nan sprinted towards Wu Xinyan who was standing at the first row of the crowd. From his shoulder tactical bag he pulled out a glass bottle with many cracks on it, that was filled with an unknown substance. He handed it to her, and explained simply, ¡°Avoid jolting it, throw it as far as possible.¡± Wu Xinyan was like a soldier about to step on the battlefield. She had a death grip on that bottle of nitroglycerin, and anxiously asked, ¡°What if it¡¯s not far enough?!¡± Si Nan was silent for a moment. ¡°Then pray.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wu Xinyan was resigned. ¡°Then I better practise with rocks first.¡± Not far away, Zhou Rong pulled his eyes back from the window, sighing in disappointment. He suddenly reached out and mussed Chun Cao¡¯s hair. ¡°Cao¡¯er¡­¡± His cheap daughter was wiping her gun barrel with a cloth, and she replied without looking up. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Should Papa start properly looking for an omega, and settle down?¡± Everyone in the vehicle looked up at the same time, gazing at Zhou Rong in astonishment. Yan Hao, in the driver¡¯s seat, drove an ¡®S¡¯ path on the road. After running back to the vehicle, Si Nan grabbed the ladder and pulled himself in, deftly returning to the rear compartment. In an uncomprehending manner, he surveyed the group. At this moment, no one paid attention to his confusion. Chun Cao put down her machine gun, clasping her cheap father¡¯s hand tightly, speaking emotionally, ¡°Can you not talk as if there would be an Omega who would actually be interested in you?¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 T/N: For those of you are reading this chapter as a continuation from the chapters by the previous translator, I¡¯ll like to suggest that you may want to re-read our version of the first 14 chapters, as there are some differences between the two translations with regards to small details. ¡°In this vehicle, the one with the least probability of finding an Omega is you,¡± Chun Cao commented. The armoured vehicle roared across the streets, and the zombies on both sides of the road turned towards it. However by the time the dust had settled, the vehicle had long gone in the direction towards B City. ¡°When you said ¡®least¡¯, did you also consider our temp staff Comrade Xiaosi?¡± Zhou Rong asked. Zhang Yingjie who was sitting next to the driver¡¯s seat scanning the road conditions turned his head, laughing, ¡°Rong-ge, you don¡¯t know? Good looking Betas are the most popular amongst Omegas, they¡¯re apparently gentle and considerate, and would be mutually respectful of each other¡­¡± Zhou Rong pointed at Si Nan unhappily. ¡°Which part of him is gentle? How is he respectful?!¡± In Si Nan¡¯s arms was a Uzi submachine gun. He was dozing with his eyes closed, his head leaning against the wall of the vehicle, and did not have even a sign of wanting to say anything in return. ¡°Si Xiaonan might also be a little hard to take in,¡± Chun Cao appraised impartially. ¡°The best choice would either be Yan Hao or Xiangzi. There¡¯s no need to go into details for Yan Hao, his good looking face would win over everyone, and he has a natural melancholic air of a school idol. It¡¯s definitely enough to fulfil the little Os¡¯ request for gentleness and respect.¡± Holding onto the steering wheel, Yan Hao replied courteously, ¡°I thank the organisation for its recognition.¡± ¡°It¡¯s even simpler for Xiangzi, with his background he can bully and pressure anyone he wants. If it doesn¡¯t work, he can also just shower them with money.¡± Chun Cao continued, ¡°Right, Xiangzi? One day you should bring our Rong-ge and everyone else¡­¡± Zhou Rong, Yan Hao and Zhang Yingjie kept laughing, while the expression of the silent Ding Shi suddenly changed abruptly. ¡°Don¡¯t mention¡ª!¡± But it was too late. Guo Weixiang turned his head, speaking slowly, ¡°I knew this was the reason why you guys accepted me¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s descending into his illness again,¡± Zhou Rong was resigned. In B City, the empty street stretched ahead in front of them, and the roads were piled high with black, rotting corpses, the stench causing nausea for everyone. Houseflies covered about the bodies and sewers, and buzzed up in a group when the vehicle drove past. The windows of the shops along the both sides of the street were completely shattered, the shelves toppled onto the ground. Items were scattered everywhere, as though havoc had slammed through them. ¡°Tell me, how have I ever been a burden on the team?¡± Guo Weixiang was very emotional, he was filled with sorrow. He pointed at every single person in the vehicle. Si Nan who was originally seated next to him had already quietly moved three feet away, and was now sitting next to Ding Shi. His position was exactly the same, still dozing, and even the angle of his head had not shifted a bit. ¡°That year that I joined the team, I had an inkling. Out of more than a thousand applications, why was I selected? Was there something going on? Why wasn¡¯t I kicked out the first time I failed the appraisal, was it really because you guys wanted me to find partners for you?¡± ¡°Tell me, other that my first failed appraisal, how else I have not met the requirements of Unit 118? Hasn¡¯t my performance over the years been there for everyone to judge? I feel that no matter which angle I look at it from, I¡¯m qualified to remain in 118, but why is it that ever since I was a child, everyone has only noticed my background, and never acknowledged my own capability and worth?!¡± ¡°Has he been emotionally traumatised before¡­¡± Chun Cao asked quietly. The entire team shook their heads at her simultaneously. Zhou Rong replied softly, ¡°He was probably born like this.¡± ¡°Then this has happened previously as well?¡± ¡°This is the fourth time since he entered the team. The first two times, you weren¡¯t with us yet, and the third time, you were on leave.¡± ¡°You guys never saw me as a proper warrior.¡± Guo Weixiang concluded resolutely, ¡°You¡¯ve always seen me through tinted lenses, thinking that with my family background, I won¡¯t be able to endure this hardship, and sooner or later I would hand in my resignation myself. You guys think that by accepting me, you¡¯ll be giving the higher-ups some face, and with my family background, you¡¯ll be able to meet Omegas through me, and it¡¯ll be best if I can help the whole team find partners. You guys deny my worth as a member of 118, although I¡­¡± Young Master Guo was impassioned, while the entire vehicle was silent. ¡°But,¡± Si Nan suddenly opened his eyes, and spoke earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re unable to find a partner yourself either.¡± A death like silence. Si Nan continued, ¡°You even want to be a rooster.¡± Zhou Rong was unable to stop him in time, and closed his eyes in hopelessness. Yan Hao looked back from the driver¡¯s compartment, stretching his neck out to see Guo Weixiang¡¯s expression, then slowly raised the metal barrier between the rear and driver¡¯s compartments.. *** B City was like a humongous, bloody, savage beast. The streets and paths were its intricate and complex blood vessels, winding their way deep within the city, slowly approaching the beast¡¯s terrifying heart. The main road out of the city was obstructed firmly by vehicles, and groups of zombies mingled amongst the chaos. Vehicle owners who did not have time to escape were bitten to death in their seats, their bodies still trapped by their seatbelts and their rotting faces twisting blankly. The road into the city was slightly better. Although cars heading in the wrong direction of traffic were all over the place, with Yan Hao¡¯s superb driving skills, they were either crushed or pushed away. Only until they left the expressway were they blocked by the collapsed flyover. ¡°What to do?¡± Yan Hao asked. ¡°Turn around and look for another way in?¡± ¡°The GPS is dead, at this critical point we still need to rely on BeiDou1¡­¡± Zhang Yingjie sighed as he turned on the military-issued tablet, then shook his head. ¡°No, we¡¯ll need two hours to get to the closest branch in the road, and there¡¯s no assurance that it hasn¡¯t been occupied by the zombie army ¡ª Yan Hao, you¡¯re the local. Come take a look to see if BeiDou is still accurate?¡± Yan Hao oriented himself for a long time, then marvelled, ¡°This works! It seems like there¡¯s still a functioning monitoring station, it¡¯s worth lighting up some fireworks in celebration!¡± Yan Hao cautiously glanced towards the back. Xiangzi was finally done with his soliloquy, and Zhou Rong was sitting next to him, an arm around his shoulders, doing his best to convince, persuade and educate him. Everyone else was asleep. Yan Hao lowered the metal barrier and asked, ¡°Who¡¯s willing to celebrate the survival of the monitoring station of the BeiDou navigation system, and fire a bomb in front to destroy the ruins in front of us?¡± As though receiving an edict, Zhou Rong instantly raised his hand. ¡°Me me me!¡± Everyone else stared at him, and quickly averted their eyes. Now, with everyone¡¯s focus on him, Si Nan who had been pretended to sleep after lighting a fire could pretend no longer. He gave a cough and stood up, grabbing his tactical bag and getting off the vehicle. Blowing up explosives was a very precise skill. Si Nan took out his nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, soap, rubber, and a chewed chewing gum to create a plastic explosive. He carefully filled in the cracks between the tiles and bricks, used gunpowder as the initiator, then leapt off the ruins, lighting up an army matchstick. He walked back to the armoured vehicle, tossing the lit matchstick behind him. The flame left a beautiful arc in the air, accurately landing in the ruins. In the next moment, an earth-shattering explosion shook the sky, and raging winds caused Si Nan¡¯s clothes to billow out! His bag hung off one shoulder, a hand in his pocket. His handsome face was expressionless, and he was walking towards the door with the towering flames behind him. Zhou Rong laughed, ¡°Look at him, acting so cool¡­¡± He abruptly stood up, and even the pitch of his yell changed. ¡°Si Nan! Quick, run¡ª!¡± Before the echoes faded, a huge scream accompanied by a violent tremor came from the midst of an explosion! The air currents shot Si Nan through the air. With a loud bang, he landed on the windshield of the armoured vehicle more than ten feet away, his limbs spread out! Si Nan only felt that the world was spinning, his vision darkening, and blood gushing out from his nose. However, he had no time to feel any pain at the moment. When his sight recovered, through the blurry windshield, he could see Yan Hao¡¯s and Zhang Yingjie¡¯s dumbfounded expressions in the driver¡¯s compartment ¡ª Both of them were staring behind him, as if they saw something completely unbelievable. Holding onto his nose, Si Nan turned his head back. A two-storey high black shadow was rising up with countless rubble cascading off him. Its body was on fire, and its pained roars echoed down the road. Each time it pounded its chest, chunks of rotting flesh would fall off, spattering across the ground. Bang bang bang bang bang bang!!! Zhou Rong leapt on top of the vehicle, dragging the Type 89 heavy machine gun and brazenly shot at it! The artillery belt was rapidly fed into the gun, and shells scattered all over. The black shadow, under the torrent of bullets, roared out in rage, lifted up a foot, and took a step forward! Yan Hao rushed into the rear compartment, grabbing an armour-piercing round and tossing it up to the roof. Without looking, Zhou Rong caught it firmly, and loaded the gun. Yan Hao next ran towards the front of the vehicle, wanting to grab Si Nan. In the chaos, he saw Si Nan throwing himself to the side of the road, rolling into the greenery with his head tucked into his body. Yan Hao did not have time to run over. Just in the nick of time, he managed to crouch and cover his head. The next moment, Zhou Rong pressed the trigger, and the armour-piercing round whistled through the air, slamming into that beast! Boom¡ª Before the beast could even make a sound, it toppled onto the ground, finally laying there, motionless. The flames on the rotting corpse burnt brightly, crackling away. The ruins had been razed completely. Still badly shaken, the special force soldiers all jumped off the vehicle. Yan Hao stood up, swaying. Shaking his head that had been jolted painfully with the shockwave of the explosion, he wanted to go help Si Nan up. Who knew that just as he took a step, he heard Si Nan instructing him sharply, ¡°Stop there!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Si Nan retreated a step back, holding onto his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t come over!¡± Yan Hao hesitated. ¡°He just completely failed at acting cool in front of everyone, he needs a few minutes to calm down¡­¡± Chun Cao patted his shoulder from behind, speaking softly. ¡°Let him be shamed to anger by himself for a bit.¡± Yan Hao, ¡°¡­¡± *** The flames gradually died off, and the rotting stench, mingling with the smoke from the gunpowder, pervaded the entire road. The zombies within a hundred metres of the area were all swept away with the impact of the explosion. The asphalt road was riddled with potholes, and terrifying cracks spread across it, to a distance of dozens of metres. Si Nan had finally washed the blood off his nose with mineral water, and as he sniffed, he walked over. The rest of the people were crowding around that gigantic rotting corpse, and Zhou Rong prodded at the remnants of the beast¡¯s head with the barrel of his assault rifle. He spoke lightly, ¡°Gorilla.¡± Chun Cao was astounded. ¡°King Kong?!¡± Yan Hao was full of doubt. ¡°How is that possible? It¡¯s clear that it had been infected.¡± This huge black gorilla had a decomposing body, its fur falling off, and the bones of its limbs were exposed. It gave off a rotting stench that was unique to the zombies ¡ª that odour was actually very overwhelming, but no one had the time to bother about that currently. Everyone was in disbelief, and a horrifying guess appeared in their minds at the same time. ¡°If the zombie virus has started to infect the animals¡­¡± Yan Hao mumbled, ¡°No, it shouldn¡¯t be. We haven¡¯t seen any other infected animals along the way. Rats, insects, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs¡­ They¡¯ve all been avoiding the zombies, and we haven¡¯t heard about any attacks by zombified animals too.¡± Zhang Yingjie¡¯s forehead was tightly knitted. ¡°Also, how could the virus cause the carrier to become King Kong? Could it be that the virus has caused the entire body to mutate its shape? No, that¡¯s not possible, the mutation does not work like that.¡± ¡°Rong-ge, are you sure you saw correctly? Is it really a black gorilla?¡± ¡°Black gorillas share a very high percentage of similarity with human DNA, maybe, with regards to the virus infection¡­¡± Zhou Rong ignored the discussion, and walked towards the front paw of the gorilla corpse. Pulling on a black leather glove, he crouched down and started rummaging through the pungent, rotting fur of the beast, looking for something. Si Nan walked over and crouched down beside him, watching without making a single noise. Soon, Zhou Rong finally found what he was looking for. ¡ª On the right forelimb of the gorilla, in its fur was a thin metal chain. As the chain was now very tight, it was embedded deeply within the gorilla¡¯s flesh. Hooking up the chain with two fingers, Zhou Rong nodded at Si Nan. Si Nan pulled out the military knife from his thigh holster, slicing the chain. A stainless steel nameplate that was stained with flesh and blood fell with a clink onto the ground. ¡°Group E, number 91998,¡± Zhou Rong read softly. Si Nan asked, ¡°What does that mean?¡± Zhou Rong gripped the embossed plate in his hand, replying lowly, ¡°It¡¯s a laboratory code. Someone was researching on the antiviral vaccine, using the black gorilla as a test subject. In the end, the virus mutated, and it went haywire¡­¡± He slowly stood up, gazing towards the north. The smoke from the explosion was still rolling across the road. Beyond the city of ruins, it was the rubble-buried B Military Zone. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°The shelter within the military zone was built in the middle of the last century, and was originally an enormous bomb shelter. At the beginning of this disaster, the military had paid to re-use this shelter with the lives of countless of people, and within a few days, they had turned it into a shelter that could hold more than a million people.¡± Zhou Rong turned on the tablet, zooming into the complicated map on the screen. ¡°The shelter has 11 floors underground, the total shape tapering down like an upside down pyramid, and it¡¯s divided into 5 zones. A Zone in the east is mostly for the resettlement of the disaster-stricken civilians. B Zone in the west is where the management, communications and electricity sources are found. You¡¯ll find the garrison and the armoury in C Zone in the south, and D Zone in the center is the transport hub as well as the sewage system.¡± ¡°E Zone in the north is the most important, and has the highest security clearance. It¡¯s where the medical quarantine area and the research into the virus is located.¡± ¡°As Unit 118 with the highest security clearance, our ID tag allows us to enter A, B, C and D Zones, and we¡¯re allowed to enter E Zone under specific circumstances. We now suspect that there has been an outbreak of the virus in the research lab.¡± Zhou Rong drew a line on the map. ¡°Our initial plan is to enter the center of the shelter through the sewage system, then we¡¯ll split into two groups. One will follow the light rail tracks to the armoury in B Zone ¡ª¡± He marked the location on the map. ¡°We¡¯ll transport the rations found there as well as refill our ammunition supply. It¡¯ll be best if we can get another armoured vehicle there. This team will be led by Yan Hao. Xiangzi and Dingshi will follow.¡± ¡°The other team will follow me into C Zone to investigate the situation. Our objective will to be to use the satellite communication system in the shelter to try and get in contact with other military shelters. If there is a need to do so, we¡¯ll enter E Zone and retrieve the latest information about the virus in the research lab for other institutions to do further research in the future to prevent such situations from happening again.¡± Zhou Rong surveyed the group. ¡°This team will be led by me. Chun Cao and Yingjie will follow. Does anyone has any questions?¡± In the rear compartment of the armoured vehicle, the special force soldiers were huddling together, crouching. Outside the window the last rays of the sun slowly sunk below the horizon. Birds covered the sky, and night was descending. The collapsed buildings within the military zone were gradually shadowed. Si Nan raised his hand. Zhou Rong pointed at him with a pen. ¡°Comrade Xiao-Si, please speak.¡± Comrade Xiao-Si asked, ¡°Which team am I following?¡± ¡°Which team do you want to follow?¡± Si Nan stared at the map on the screen of the tablet without a sound. Next, Yan Hao coughed and spoke to Zhou Rong, ¡°The risk of going into the armoury is lower, there¡¯s no need for four people. I¡¯ll give you Da-Ding, and Si Nan can follow us.¡± Zhou Rong did not agree to it, nor did he state his thoughts. He only asked Si Nan, ¡°What do you think? Decide it yourself.¡± Si Nan was silent, and the only thing that could be heard was everyone¡¯s breathing. After an unknown period of time had passed, or maybe it was just a few seconds, they finally heard his hoarse and curt reply. ¡°I¡¯ll follow you.¡± He did not look at anyone when he replied, but Yan Hao instantly knew he meant Zhou Rong. ¡°Very good, team allocation is done!¡± Zhou Rong tucked the military-issued tablet away, suddenly standing up. ¡°Next, everyone, please stay vigilant. Prepare your gear, let¡¯s go!¡± *** Boom! The floodgate to the underground sewage system was blast open. A pungent stench wafted up from beneath. Everyone simultaneously tugged their gas masks on. Zhou Rong choked on the smell, coughing a few times. Pointing forward firmly with his index finger, he motioned the rest of them to follow closely, and took the first jump into the calf-high waters. The tunnel extended straight down, the angle becoming steeper, and the dirty water gradually rose up to their thighs. It was so dark that they could not see anything in front of them, and only the searchlight on their helmets provided a light source for them to view their surroundings. The seven people pressed forward through the waters in a row. The tunnel became wider, and the sounds they made as they waded through the waters echoed through the empty space. ¡°Say,¡± The second member in the row, Chun Cao, could tolerate it no longer, and she broke the silence. ¡°Our mission this time is so dangerous. Before we separate, let¡¯s have a good chat.¡± The moans of the zombies were heard in the distance, responding with perfect timing. ¡°¡­¡± Behind Chun Cao, Si Nan was solemnly wading through the waters, and behind him, Zhang Yingjie laughed. ¡°When was it never dangerous?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s extra dangerous this time.¡± ¡°So what should we talk about? Chun Cao thought about it. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about why we joined Unit 118. I joined because I thought it was very cool after getting the enlistment letter. Rong-ge, what about you?¡± Zhou Rong led the way in front of her. He did not turn his head. ¡°The high salary.¡± Ding Shi answered honestly, ¡°Same as Rong-ge.¡± Guo Weixiang, ¡°To prove myself!¡± Yan Hao, ¡°¡­ Career advancement in the special force is faster.¡± ¡°My wife and children can enjoy the military benefits.¡± Zhang Yingjie was embarrassed. ¡°My original unit was only allowed to take leave once a year. Rong-ge said that if I transferred to 118 they can arrange for my wife to take on a confidential job, and my children can be sent to the school in the military zone¡­¡± ¡°Sister-in-law isn¡¯t in this shelter, right?!¡± Guo Weixiang was alarmed. ¡°No, when the outbreak happened she had returned to the old family home in Dongbei.¡± Zhang Yingjie sighed, ¡°It should be already winter there. The weather is extremely cold, the zombies will be weaker, and every household should have enough vegetables in their cellar to survive through winter¡­ I hope they¡¯re still safe.¡± They fell silent. Zhang Yingjie seemed to be a little regretful for dragging the mood down further, and took the initiative in changing the subject. ¡°What about Si Nan? I¡¯ve never really heard you talk about yourself before. Your family background is pretty good, right?¡± Hidden behind the gas mask, Si Nan replied after a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t remember anymore.¡± This response made the eager audience all imagine various scenarios immediately. It ranged from a broken family to a child¡¯s rebellion and then to a problematic education as a youth¡­ As their thoughts bounced around, they finally heard Si Nan¡¯s voice again, adding, ¡°I really can¡¯t remember anything.¡± ¡°What about your parents?¡± Yan Hao asked from all the way at the back. ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten,¡± Si Nan answered indifferently. The atmosphere turned even weirder than before. They were now wading through the waist-high waters. Under their feet, the tunnel elevated sharply, and they could vaguely feel a slight change in the air current flowing from the front. Zhou Rong looked down at the tablet, studying the dense lines of the sewage system in the map, then his voice rang out, ebullient, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Comrade Xiao-Si! Now that you¡¯re in Squad 6 of Unit 118, you¡¯re a member of our friendly and loving family! When we go back, remember to remind me to give you an official position. Do you have any special requirements or needs? Like arranging for military benefits for your girlfriend, a kindergarten for your child or anything like that? Do you have any emergency contacts?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan responded, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then you have to have one.¡± Zhou Rong said regretfully. His foot landed on a step in the water. They had reached the end of the tunnel. In front of them was a stone wall covered in moss, and a cool wind was blowing from another tunnel above them. Using a military knife, Zhou Rong pried open the cover of the tunnel. With his hands grabbing onto the edge of the tunnel above him, he pulled himself up with a grunt, water spraying everywhere. ¡°The terminal station of the Blue Line on the underground light rail system in the central zone.¡± Zhou Rong surveyed the surroundings, speaking softly, ¡°It¡¯s safe, come on up.¡± The six members took turns pulling themselves up. Everyone was soaked, and the smell coming off them was unbearable. ¡°If something happens to you, the organisation will send your pension to your emergency contact¡­¡± Chun Cao quietly explained to Si Nan. ¡°If there¡¯s a need, they¡¯ll help them arrange for work as well, providing for the older ones etc¡­¡± Zhou Rong turned on the tactical flashlight, observing their surroundings. This was the back of the control station in the terminal station of the light rail system. The place was not big, and there were piles of cables all over the place. It was sealed from the outside by an iron fence. As the rail system had not been used for a long time, the power supply and the ventilation system were no longer working. Even with the flashlight, it was difficult to see what was beyond the iron fence. ¡°There¡¯s something I never understood,¡± Si Nan finally asked Chun Cao about what had been bothering him. ¡°What does Unit 118 refer to?¡± This question was not exactly complicated, but it was not that simple either. Just as Chun Cao was about to answer, her words got stuck. ¡°Uh¡­ You can think of it as a very impressive special force unit, and it¡¯s exclusively in charge of the country¡¯s confidential matters. It¡¯s something like the special force unit amongst all special force units.¡± Si Nan slowly nodded to show his comprehension. In the next moment, he asked cautiously and politely, ¡°It must have been difficult for Betas to be selected, right?¡± The entire team was silent. ¡°You guys haven¡¯t injected yourself with any medication right? Didn¡¯t they say that only Alphas are allowed in the special force?¡± In the suffocating silence, Zhou Rong finally replied slowly, ¡°¡­ Where did you hear this from?¡± Si Nan sold out his source without any hesitation. ¡°Feng Wentai¡¯s bodyguards.¡± Zhou Rong immediately refuted him forcefully. ¡°That¡¯s completely made up, they created rumours because of their jealousy! ¡ª Are we the same as those idiot Alphas?!¡± His tone was resolute and decisive, every word powerful. The jaws of everyone in the team fell open. In the end, Guo Weixiang spoke up, trembling, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve never admired Rong-ge as much as I currently am¡­¡± Chun Cao covered her face. ¡°You¡¯re admiring the thickness of his skin?¡± On the other side, Si Nan considered it, and was actually convinced. ¡°I certainly don¡¯t believe them.¡± Zhou Rong was very satisfied with Si Nan¡¯s apology. He spoke in all earnestness, ¡°In our team¡­¡± He moved the cables that were obstructing their path aside, then unscrewed the nails with the screwdriver in the handle of the military knife. ¡°We lay great emphasis on our characters and teamwork, do you understand? That means, you not only have to obey the organisation unquestioningly, you also have to have outstanding combat skills and a tough spirit to endure hardships. We believe that every gender is born the same, as long as you¡¯re willing to challenge your own limits, you¡¯ll be able to get over the difference between the genes of an Alpha and a Beta¡­¡± He unscrewed the last nail, jiggling the heavy iron fence. The clanging of the metal travelled a long distance. ¡°For example, your Rong-ge, me, has never felt that there¡¯s anything superior about an Alpha. Rong-ge only respects people who strive for the best. Other than Omegas, all genders are equal in my eyes¡­¡± Zhou Rong turned and gave a lightning-fast kick. It cut through the air, heavy and harsh, and the iron fence that weighed over a hundred kilograms flew out! Crash¡ª!! The sound from the landing of the iron fence reverberated through the place, and filled up the entire tunnel!¡± ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Zhou Rong pulled his leg back, speaking courteously to Si Nan. Si Nan responded to him with a completely blank face. Taking the lead, Zhou Rong crawled through the door. Just as he stepped on the tracks, he suddenly felt that something was not right, and so looked downwards. The next second, he flew back like a crazy man, staggering and hugging Si Nan, yelling, ¡°Fuck! So many cockroaches¡ª!!¡± Si Nan snatched the tactical flashlight from his hand. ¡°Whatever happened to gender equality?¡± Si Nan did not have a trace of fear. Carrying his tactical bag with and his assault rifle, he held the flashlight with his teeth and nimbly made his way to the tracks. With the same exact motion as Zhou Rong, he looked down onto the ground. He looked up, and the audience only saw the tactical flashlight in his mouth turned left and right along with his actions. His movements were fast, but something seemed wrong, and next he took up his rifle, and fired at the ground rapidly! Simultaneously, everyone went, ¡°Ah ah ah¡ª¡± Bullets were flying within the narrow space, the shells scattering everywhere, and sparks lit the area. A few seconds later, the deafening gunfire finally stopped, the gunpowder smoke dispersing into the air. The pervasive stench caused everyone to be unable to breath, and dry heaves could be heard from everyone. Si Nan turned around, his face pale. ¡°The underground bugs are a little bigger¡­¡± Zhou Rong roared, ¡°Don¡¯t say anymore!¡± *** An underground world without sunlight, a putrid sewage tunnel entrance, a space filled with rubbish, germs and mud, the environment had turned into a terrifying ecosystem. Three minutes later, the group crossed the track, starting to progress towards the transport hub in the central zone. ¡°I was only unprepared for the moment¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say anymore, Rong-ge, it¡¯s fine.¡± Zhou Rong led the way with an ashen face, and Chun Cao periodically gave him a few words of consolation. Behind, Zhang Yingjie laughed, ¡°Rong-ge has a phobia of bugs, it¡¯s a trauma left by a past mission. Although he can control it most of the time, occasionally seeing it it¡¯s a little hahaha¡ª¡± Si Nan spoke coldly, ¡°I want know what is `other than Omegas, all genders are equal`. I think that even an Omega wouldn¡¯t have acted the way Zhou Rong did just now. Right, can you give me another magazine? ¡­¡± The row of seven successfully made their way through the checkpoint. Following the tracks for half an hour, the tunnel ahead suddenly got brighter. The design of this bomb shelter was such that even if the shelter was flooded and the main power supply was cut off, the back up generator would be enough to maintain the basic ventilation and light source for the main zones. Ahead was a place that looked very much like a train station. On the left was gloomy, dim lighting, and the zombies¡¯ moans and footsteps could be heard indistinctly. On the right was a track stretching out towards darkness. Zhou Rong turned his head, throwing a gesture at Yan Hao who was all the way at the back of the group. The track led to C Zone in the south, where the armoury was. While Zhou Rong¡¯s little team would have to get onto the platform, head into the B Zone in the west, and search for the satellite communication system. ¡ª Here, they had to split from their friends. Yan Hao nodded, crossing the track with Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang, walking into the deep tunnel with a flashlight. Zhou Rong remained standing where he was, motioning at Chun Cao, Si Nan and Zhang Yingjie to gather close. Just as he was about to relay his instructions, they suddenly saw Yan Hao who had not travelled far turn back and headed towards Si Nan. ¡°¡­?¡± Si Nan¡¯s brow knitted slightly, but before he could ask anything, Yan Hao suddenly reached out and gave him a tight and intimate hug. Under everyone¡¯s eyes, this hug was very long, and it stunned Si Nan. No one spoke, nor did they move. Zhou Rong silently lowered his eyes. After ten whole seconds, Yan Hao let go and took half a step back, smiling at Si Nan. That smile was a little sorrowful, but Yan Hao¡¯s expression was gentle, his eyes bright, his lips kind. He looked like a very well-bred and close neighbourly elder brother. Next, he waved, raised the tactical flashlight, turned and walked into the deep tunnel. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 ¡°Rong-ge,¡± Si Nan called out quietly. The four special force soldiers were in a row, their bodies bent and their feet light, following the tracks to the platform. All the way in front, Zhou Rong replied with a low voice, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Why did Yan Hao¡­¡± Si Nan found it rather difficult to continue, while Zhou Rong tiptoed and looked up. Roaming on the platform were about a dozen zombies, and they were badly decomposed. Forty metres away was a lift to a platform above that was already out of order. Zhou Rong rapidly calculated the distance and time, adjusting his submachine gun to the single shot mode. Aiming at a target, he spoke lightly, ¡°You¡¯ve saved everyone, and then saved Yan Hao¡¯s life on the roof of the shopping mall¡­¡± Through the silencer, the sounds of the shots were dampened. The zombies by the lift all received a bullet each, and they crashed onto the ground. ¡°It¡¯s natural that he¡¯s grateful towards you.¡± Zhou Rong lifted his gun, motioning that it was safe, and leapt up onto the platform. Like ghosts, they all made their way through the platform, past the bodies who died a second time, and climbed up the lift like wind. The ticket inspector in uniform at the gate had already turned into a zombie. His back was facing the lift, and was moaning quietly. They looked past him, and beyond the gate was the bus station hall. Hundreds of living dead crowded there, swaying and lumbering about in the dim and vast space. The oxygen level here was low, and the air was stagnant. For now, the zombies had yet to discover that there were a few additions of people that were alive. However, without a doubt, once they registered their presence, this place would immediately become a hell with waves of zombies swarming over. ¡°Rong-ge, I feel that Yan Hao still feels a lot about you.¡± Si Nan stuck close behind Zhou Rong, his distance close enough to bite his ear as he spoke. He asked as he surveyed their surroundings, ¡°How did the two of you meet?¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s attention was concentrated on the hall, and did not register the strangeness of Si Nan¡¯s first sentence. ¡°I was delegated to 118, and took over their previous captain who had died in the line of duty. There I met everyone, including Yan Hao. Fuck, why are there so many zombies here?¡± ¡°Delegated?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°So where were you originally?¡± Feeling the warm breath hitting his ear, Zhou Rong unconsciously tensed his jaw. ¡°Comrade Xiao-Si, when did you start being so talkative to me? We¡¯re still about 20 minutes away from our targeted destination in B Zone, how should we make our way there¡­¡± ¡°Just having a chat,¡± Si Nan said. ¡°¡­ I used to be in charge of escorting ambassadors.¡± Zhou Rong was resigned, ¡°Comrade Xiao-Si, although I¡¯m very happy that you¡¯re getting close to me, having hundreds of our zombie friends so close, I¡¯m very interested, but I don¡¯t have the guts for it. Why don¡¯t we look for somewhere empty after getting out, I guarantee that you will have a very good user experience¡­¡± The ticket inspector zombie seemed to have realised something. He slowly turned his extremely decomposed face around. The next moment, a crack was heard. Si Nan¡¯s hands reached out lightning fast, and twisted the zombie¡¯s neck a hundred and eight degrees. ¡°What experience?¡± Si Nan lowered the zombie¡¯s body silently as he asked. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong replied earnestly, ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°So why do we have to stay here?¡± Si Nan asked. ¡°Can¡¯t we go from above?¡± They all looked up simultaneously. In the shadows above, a few thick cable pipes and air ducts tangled together, going past the hall of the bus station, and stretched outwards. *** A few minutes later on the ceiling, Chun Cao was first, Si Nan second, Zhou Rong third and Zhang Yingjie was fourth. This was arranged according to their sizes, they squeezed through the narrow gaps between the cables and the ducts, hugging the pipes as they moved forward. Below them was the tightly packed hall. If they happened to slip and fall, those hundreds of unaware zombies would immediately be alerted. ¡°Yingjie, you¡¯ve actually put on weight.¡± Zhou Rong gritted his teeth and climbed through and extremely narrow gap, grumbling in difficulty. Zhang Yingjie was panting, ¡°Rong-ge¡­ it¡¯s you who lost weight¡­ Ah¡ª!¡± Zhang Yingjie¡¯s face was covered in dust, and finally made his way through the crevice where two cable pipes were almost stuck together. ¡°If we continue for another 100m in this direction, we¡¯ll reach the fire escape. When we¡¯re there, I¡¯ll jump down and blast the safety door open, you guys will cover me with fire.¡± Chun Cao hugged the air duct tightly and inched forward. ¡°Everyone, hold on for a little while more, in front, I estimate that the number of zombies is¡­¡± Before she could finish, Zhang Yingjie tried his best to make the turn. The tactical bag on his back brushed past the steel cable support on the ceiling, and some sharp metal edge caught onto his bag and tore the left strap. The tactical bag swung to the right, hitting the air duct below him. Crash¡ª Bang¡ª! The sound of the impact was boosted by the hollow duct. The zombies all looked up at the same time, and started moaning in hunger! The bag weighing forty kilograms hung from his right arm, and the weight dragged Zhang Yingjie to the left, causing him to slip. Zhou Rong exclaimed, ¡°Yingjie!¡± With a slap, Zhou Rong gripped the strap of Zhang Yingjie¡¯s back, carrying the weight of the person and all his gear with just one hand! Chun Cao yelled, ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Luckily, this was a ninety-degree bend. If not, Zhou Rong would not have been able to grab onto Zhang Yingjie behind him, and he would have already been torn apart by hundreds of zombies. Even so, the unimaginable weight nearly caused Zhou Rong to fall as well. At the critical moment, he tightened his jaw and hugged the air duct, two legs wrapped tightly, and finally prevented himself from falling. Chun Cao shouted, ¡°Quick, Yingjie! Climb up!¡± The zombies in the hall moaned and groaned, all reaching up desperately. Zhang Yingjie was hanging in midair, the tip of his toes only a few centimetres away from the zombies¡¯ fingers. No matter how he tried, he was unable to grab onto the air duct, and cold sweat dripped off him. ¡°No¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I¡­¡± Right at this moment, a tearing sound was heard. It was sharp amidst the groans of the zombies, and everyone tensed up. Zhou Rong¡¯s field coat was unable to handle the stress of the weight, and had torn across his back! Zhang Yingjie roared, ¡°Let me go Rong-ge!¡± Zhou Rong gritted his teeth, ignoring him. His arm trembled violently. ¡°Quick, Rong-ge!¡± Zhang Yingjie could only watch as Zhou Rong¡¯s body slid down a few more centimetres, and he was furious. ¡°Quickly let go of me!¡± Si Nan raised his gun and aimed, shouting, ¡°Jump¡ª!¡± The Type-89 gun roared with fire, the bullets sweeping the zombies away! This was essentially gambling with their lives. They all jumped down from above in tandem. When they landed, more zombies swelled forward, only to get their brains blown out by Zhou Rong and Zhang Yingjie¡¯s guns! ¡°Run!¡± Si Nan yelled. A second grenade shot through a distance of a hundred metres, and blew the safety door to the fire escape into pieces! The four people sprinted through the waves of zombies. Chun Cao and Zhang Yingjie led the way, while Zhou Rong took the tail. Forcing a trail of blood and flesh through the crowd with their firepower, the bullet casings sparking everywhere. In the chaos, everyone could feel the zombies crashing against their chests, their limbs and their backs. However, they simply did not have the time to check if they had been bitten, and could only shoot wildly around them. Just as the lines of zombies approached, they were all thrown back by their guns! They soon reached the end of the short hundred metres, and Si Nan snapped, ¡°Move away¡ª¡± Chun Cao and Zhang Yingjie moved in tacit agreement, one to the left and the other to the right. Bullets from the machine gun then burst past them non-stop. At the same time, Si Nan was holding onto the Type-89 gun, the ammunition belt cutting through the air like a humongous python. The heavy firepower tore through the zombies in front of the safety door! Zhang Yingjie shouted, ¡°Go ahead! I¡¯ll take the back!¡± Si Nan grabbed the back of Zhou Rong¡¯s collar, dragging him with immense force towards Zhang Yingjie. ¡°Don¡¯t be long-winded, run!¡± Zhou Rong staggered backwards, and was caught at the same time by Zhang Yingjie and Chun Cao. They leapt out of the hall, running into the fire escape. It was two short seconds since they stopped firing and ran to where they were. However, in these two seconds, without the suppressing fire, the zombies had all swarmed close, the crowd engulfing the solitary person in the rear. Zhou Rong wrenched his head back. ¡°Si Nan!!¡± That roar was somewhat heart-rending. He struggled away from Chun Cao, and ran forward without any consideration! Chun Cao and Zhang Yingjie both lunged forward without saying a word, holding him back from behind. Just at that moment, the earth-shaking rattling of a machine gun was heard. The zombies in the hall were thrown all over the place, bits of their skulls splattering everywhere, and a slender figure rose up from the ground¡ª Si Nan was almost stepping across the heads of the zombies. Carrying fifty kilograms worth of gear, his feet however were nimble and lightning fast. In a twinkling, he shot through the safety door! ¡°Why are you all just standing there?!¡± Si Nan roared, his face covered with the blood of the zombies. Zhou Rong jolted, instantly running upstairs. ¡°Don¡¯t let them catch up, quick, run!¡± The zombies in the hall were blank for a moment, and soon found their targets again. Lurching after them, they entered through the door, and started a chase in the dark fire escape. Between every floor of the shelter were six steps. The gear on all four people added up to about two hundred kilograms, but their speed when running up the stairs was like a hundred metres dash, soon leaving the stiff-jointed zombies in their dust. Zhou Rong pulled out his electronic ID from his inner chest pocket as he ran. Each time they passed a safety door he would stop and swiped the card, but none of the doors unlocked. Chun Cao was bursting with fury, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did the back-up generator stop working as well, or has the central computer system broke down?!¡± ¡°There¡¯s not enough power! All the doors have been sealed!¡± Zhang Yingjie exclaimed. He turned and shot downwards, sweeping the zombies following them down the stairs. Si Nan pushed Zhou Rong away, raising the machine gun, about to shoot. However, the barrel was caught by Zhou Rong. ¡°Hold on, there¡¯s a shuttle bus on the plaza at the top. Follow me!¡± They were now in the central transportation hub. When the virus broke out, at least ten thousand people must have been infected. In the situation where the light rail system was stopped, the probability of their success in killing their way through the ten thousand zombies to reach Zone B in the west was close to zero. They had to look for an alternative transport. Zhou Rong took the lead and ran upstairs. Just as his feet landed, a loud sound was heard above him ¡ª Boom! The ground shook, dust from the ceiling scattered down, and the sound repeated, now closer ¡ª Boom!! Zhang Yingjie staggered, and a grenade was launched across the ceiling. Si Nan and Chun Cao steadied themselves. They watched as Zhou Rong grabbed the railing and leapt down. When he landed, he did not stop. Standing up and bundling Si Nan away, he ran down the stairs. ¡°Fall back!¡± Chun Cao, ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°Gorilla!!¡± The frenzied roar of a beast sounded right above them. The stairs above crumbled, bits of cement peppering the four soldiers. Through the green-lit night vision goggles, the head of a three metre tall gorilla corpse could be seen in the dark, its teeth dripping with fresh blood. Its murky eyes rolled, and stared directly at them. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chun Cao, ¡°The fuck is this, a gorilla can grow so big?¡± Zhang Yingjie, ¡°The zombies have caught up, Rong-ge, what to do?!¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°I don¡¯t know! I¡¯ve never been so unlucky on my missions before¡ª!¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­ Stop talking, let¡¯s run quickly.¡± The gorilla zombie gave an ear-shattering roar, a pound from its fist crumbling the corner of the staircase above. The four people simultaneously scrambled to the next lower level, and came face to face with the swaying zombies coming up. Chun Cao and Zhang Yingjie desperately cleared the zombies away, but the number of zombies were unceasing. Under the shower of bullets, they still continued inching towards them. Zhou Rong shot at the gorilla as he tried to look for a way upstairs. However, in the chaos within the stairways, a regular bullet was completely ineffective towards a zombie beast. Instead, it got further enraged, and lunged for the group! The cement platform was unable to withstand the weight of the zombie gorilla, immediately fragmenting into pieces, and the four people fell. Chun Cao yelled in panic. ¡°Rong-ge! Think of something!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s shout shook the entire place, ¡°Si Nan¡ª¡± Si Nan landed heavily. In the dark he raised the heavy machine gun, and shot a torrent of bullets at the wall of the stairway! The close distance caused the bullets, shells and cement fragments to scatter about. If not for the bulletproof clothing the special force soldiers were wearing, they would have been covered with cuts and injuries already. Even so, the other three were still forced back by the unceasing bullets, and could only protect their heads and faces. When the bullets finally stopped, the concrete wall was now riddled with holes. Si Nan kicked a giant hole on the wall, and in there was actually a passage towards the interior section! Zhou Rong turned and shot wildly at the sea of zombies, exclaiming, ¡°You guys go first, quick! One by one!¡± Si Nan, Chun Cao and Zhang Yingjie quickly made their way into the passage, and Zhou Rong took the end. Just as he was halfway through the hole, he felt a grip around his leg. It had been caught by a zombie, and only after he gave a few good hard kicks, could he finally escape and crawl through. Bam¡ª! The zombie gorilla¡¯s night vision was clearly not good. Suddenly losing its target, it was irritable, and it savagely ripped some zombies apart, then an even more terrifying crack to appear on the unsteady wall. ¡°The wall won¡¯t hold up any longer!¡± Zhou Rong shouted, ¡°Quick, let¡¯s go!¡± There were eleven floors in the shelter, but between every floor were cramped spaces for insulation, fireproofing and other things. Normally, only the personnel would check on them periodically, and no one else was allowed to enter ¡ª and this was where they were after breaking through the wall. The four people flew through the empty passage. Suddenly, they suddenly felt the ground under their feet tremble. That wall had been destroyed by the zombie gorilla! Chun Cao was gasping for breath as she ran. ¡°The virus outbreak has now created a copy of King Kong, you sure everything¡¯s going to work out?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s coming! We have to quickly come up with something!¡± Zhang Yingjie¡¯s bag hanging off one shoulder, clanging as he ran, and he was suffering. ¡°Rong-ge, I think there¡¯s still some armour-piercing bullets in your bag! We¡¯ll provide cover as you look?¡± Zhou Rong replied firmly, ¡°There¡¯s no time to look through it! The bullets are all the way at the bottom of the box, I had wanted to use them to blast the research lab!¡± ¡°Why are we so unlucky?!¡± Chun Cao was incredulous. Si Nan, ¡°¡­ When running for our lives, don¡¯t be so talkative!¡± They had reached the end of the passage, and the four special force soldiers made a quick turn. Suddenly Zhou Rong saw something through his night vision goggles. ¡°Hold on, this way!¡± In the moment, Zhou Rong could have shed tears of joy. ¡°¡ª A garbage truck!¡± At the garbage collection point of the shelter, a compactor garbage truck was quietly sitting there, with a smell that no one could not ignore. The heavens always left a way out. With a fist, Zhang Yingjie shattered the window. From under the steering wheel he yanked out two red and two blue cables, his fingers trembling slightly, and touched them together. A moment later, the engine came alive with a roar, and the other three people leapt up onto the truck. Just as the zombie gorilla appeared from the passage, the truck sped out! Outside the truck compartment, Zhou Rong rapidly pulled out the armour-piercing bullets from his bag, and took over the Type-89 heavy machine gun. Si Nan leaned closer, and Zhou Rong used his shoulder as a support for the gun, squinting his eyes and aiming. Si Nan was motionless like a rock, while Zhou Rong¡¯s body could not stop jerking along with the truck. In his scope, he saw the zombie gorilla sprinting over, drawing closer and closer to the trunk. On the other side of the compartment, Chun Cao was watching them closely, not daring to make a sound. Cold sweat slid down her face. Bang! Bang! Bang¡ª Zombie King Kong flew up, and the wind carrying its putrid scent blew across them! ¡ª If time stopped at that moment, that would have been an extremely terrifying scene. The zombie gorilla¡¯s body weighing several tons was like a mountain, casting its shadow on the three people. Blood and flesh could be seen clinging onto its sharp claws, and the body was less than a foot away from Si Nan¡¯s eyeballs. At this moment, the red dot from the scope lit up. Zhou Rong pressed the trigger. Bang!! The enormous head of the zombie gorilla exploded, bits flying into the air! Right when Zhou Rong released the trigger, he straightened, turned around, and wrapped himself over Si Nan, holding onto him tightly. A second later, the blood and juices from the gorilla spray across his back. The truck sped up, the headless corpse of the zombie gorilla falling over, landing heavily behind it. Quickly, it disappeared from sight. *** Five minutes later, on the garbage truck. Gag¡­ Si Nan wearily sat up. Finally, he could no longer vomit out anything, and managed to drink a mouthful of water. Zhou Rong was gloomy. ¡°Does it smell that bad?¡± Gag¡­ Chun Cao turned her head around, panting as she wiped at her nose, her answer resolute. ¡°Yes it is, Rong-ge.¡± In revenge, Zhou Rong shifted towards them, and the two of them immediately retreated. Chun Cao was furious. ¡°Don¡¯t come over! By keeping a distance, we can still remain father and daughter!¡± Zhou Rong felt the disappointment of being scorned. From the top of the truck compartment, he bent down and knocked on the driver¡¯s window. ¡°Yingjie! Stop the truck and let me go in for a while!¡± He did not get a response. The truck continued moving steadily forward, as though nothing had happened. Resigned, Zhou Rong sat up, the vein in his forehead twitching. The back of his uniform was stained and half-dried with the fluids from the zombie gorilla. The smell of that mingled together with the smell from the untouched garbage from the truck, and it was simply overwhelming. ¡°Comrade Xiao-si,¡± Zhou Rong cleared his throat, preparing to convince him through persuasion. ¡°Let¡¯s come up with a scenario.¡± ¡°Just now, if I didn¡¯t sacrifice myself and protect you with my body, then, who would be the one covered in zombie fluids now? Who would be the one outcasted by their teammates, scorned at, and suffer a blow to their heart? During such times of low morale¡­¡± ¡°Rong-ge, have a drink.¡± Comrade Xiao-Si hurriedly said. Zhou Rong took the water bottle in dissatisfaction. Drinking from it, he nearly vomited from the smell his own body was emitting. *** ¡°We¡¯ll traverse through the isolation section here, and twenty minutes later, we¡¯ll hit the west B Zone. That¡¯s above the emergency contact station. There¡¯s a lift here that¡¯s specifically for the use of the garbage disposal workers. 60 metres down we¡¯ll be able to reach the destination, and proceed with blasting our way in.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s finger stopped on the map shown on the tablet, and made a red mark. Chun Cao raised her hand. ¡°Comrade Xiao-Cao, please speak.¡± Chun Cao sat far away in the corner, and she shouted over, ¡°If we meet more King Kongs ¡ª what should we do¡ª!¡± ¡°What to do.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°You really think we¡¯re here on an outing?¡± Chun Cao could not help grumbling. ¡°Why does it feel like we keep having bad luck on recent missions? Should we go to Lama Temple and pray?¡± Throughout this whole time, Si Nan was holding onto Zhou Rong¡¯s baby, sitting by the side carefully checking over its scope. At this moment, he suddenly interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to ask, what are you guys talking about when you say King Kong?¡± Zhou Rong studied him suspiciously, and Si Nan calmly returned his gaze with limpid eyes. ¡°King Kong is an ancient mutated gorilla. Comrade Xiao-Si, have you watched Skull Island before?¡± Si Nan shook his head. ¡°What about Resident Evil?¡± Si Nan shook his head again. ¡°¡­ You should have at least played Counter-Strike before, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t play games.¡± Zhou Rong behaved as though he had just discovered the New World. ¡°As a 21st century thriving youth, you don¡¯t watch movies and you don¡¯t play games? Comrade Xiao-Si, how did you spend your student years? Were there any pain or troubles that you¡¯ll like to share with our group?¡± Chun Cao replied lazily. ¡°Rong-ge, this is something you¡¯ll never know ¡ª With Si Xiao-Nan¡¯s looks, he was busy dating as a student. He was either with a pure and innocent junior looking at the stars and moon, reciting poetry and writing songs, discussing philosophy, or with the prettiest girl in school watching movies, riding a bike, walking hand in hand with her to their classes. He¡¯s completely different from you military school brats¡ª¡± Si Nan spoke up. ¡°I¡¯ve never dated before.¡± Chun Cao, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± Silence descended upon them, and only the rhythmic bumping of the garbage truck could be heard. A moment later, Zhou Rong said slowly, ¡°Although not dating at a young age is a good thing¡­ Comrade Xiao-Si, people do need some occasional pastimes, if not the immense pressure would cause them to have mental troubles¡­ Say, when we¡¯re out, you really don¡¯t want to look for an empty place and share some intimacy with me? It¡¯s very important to have a way to relax your body and mind.¡± ¡°I have a pastime.¡± Si Nan replied, ¡°It¡¯s sleeping.¡± A while later, Chun Cao pinched her nose as she shifted over to Zhou Rong, speaking softly, ¡°I think that when he said sleeping, it really means sleeping.¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°I feel the same way too.¡± The garbage truck made a turn in the empty isolation section, making its way to the west. It turned around the electricity generator unit and transformer room in front, and in the corner was the lift used by the personnel that had been sealed with yellow and black warning tape. The truck stopped, and the three people on top of the truck jumped down at the same time. Zhou Rong, carrying dozens of kilograms of gear, ran as he spoke, ¡°Do you know? I finally remember what Comrade Xiao-Si reminds me of. The White Eagle team, the one who lost to us 19:8 during last year¡¯s matches¡­¡± Chun Cao, ¡°Ah! Right!¡± Zhang Yingjie, ¡°These foreign bastards are always acting cool but their work is shoddy, it¡¯s not working! Rong-ge, give me the wrench!¡± Zhou Rong sighed, ¡°Why do you need a wrench.¡± He gripped onto the edge of the doors, gritting his teeth and putting some strength into it. The muscles of his back and shoulders bulged, and he forced the doors to the lift open. Darkness lay behind those doors. Zhou Rong swept the flashlight around, but the unending darkness swallowed up the light, and he could only vaguely see glimmers of light reflecting from the bottom. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Rong murmured, ¡°Has the underground water flowed back up?¡± Zhang Yingjie took out a small sensor from the pocket of his camouflage trousers, tossing it into the elevator shaft. A moment later, the tablet displayed the depth of the shaft ¡ª 57.6m. Their targeted location was two metres below the surface of the water. They would need to dive down. ¡°Rong-ge, are we going down?¡± Zhou Rong thrust his finger in the direction of the shaft. ¡°Less nonsense, we¡¯re going down!¡± Chun Cao agilely set up the hooks and ropes, using eight suckers to fix the end of the ropes firmly on the walls of the elevator shaft. Zhang Yingjie pulled on a pair of insulating gloves, holding onto a rope, he jumped in. This time, the order was first Zhang Yingjie, Zhou Rong, Si Nan, then Chun Cao. They each took a corner of the shaft, using the wall of the shaft as support, and rappelled down. ¡°The White Eagle team,¡± Zhou Rong sighed. Zhou Rong¡¯s long legs kicked off the wall, and slid two metres down. Under him, Zhang Yingjie laughed, ¡°Before the exercise they were so cool, saying that they were all fighting machines, having no emotions to entangle themselves with. Every Alpha soldier had been trained to their best combat ability¡­¡± ¡°They really looked down on us, thinking that we were good-for-nothing special force soldiers. In the end, they still lost to us 19:8.¡± Zhang Yingjie descended further. ¡°How embarrassing!¡± Si Nan was expressionless. ¡°So my image is actually so bad.¡± Zhang Yingjie quickly smiled and denied it, and Zhou Rong exclaimed, ¡°However, that sick trainer of theirs is really very impressive. After the end of the exercise, he made a personal challenge, and broke four bones of the main instructor of 118 ¡ª Although this action is only to uphold his dignity¡­ We¡¯re here. Yingjie, get ready to dive in. Si Xiao-Nan, did you just kick me?¡± Si Nan stopped sliding down. His two hands gripped the rope tightly as his feet supported him against the wall. He focused on his own gloves, as though he had sunk deep into contemplation. ¡°You¡¯re a textbook example of a pet that has been bred arrogant!¡± Zhou Rong scolded. Zhou Rong shined the flashlight into the water. All he could see was the murkiness of the water, and not how deep it was. From his pocket he took out an electronic detonator and tossed it to Zhang Yingjie. ¡°Be careful, this is our last one!¡± Zhang Yingjie motioned that he understood. ¡°I can hold my breath for five minutes, I¡¯ll come up when I¡¯m done.¡± He then released his grip and leapt into the water. The doors to the corridor of the emergency communications office was two or three metres below the water surface. They would need to find the pivot point to fix the detonator, and set up the encoder. This work had to be done by Zhang Yingjie, who had the best results for diving. Above the water, the three people quietly hung in the air, like three locusts on a rope. A moment later, Locust Zhou could not resist. ¡°Comrade Xiao-Si.¡± Comrade Xiao-Si blinked. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you dated before?¡± ¡°Rong-ge, you won¡¯t understand.¡± Chun Cao was right at the top, and she spoke solemnly down into the dark. ¡°This is like how after the exam, everyone would gather together. Those classmates who keep moaning about how they had never studied, they¡¯re definitely the curve-wreckers who had secretly been revising till dawn everyday. If you believe them, the results ranking will teach you exactly what the reality is¡­¡± ¡°As for the curve-wreckers, when they see their names appear within the top five, they would say in embarrassment, ¡®I really didn¡¯t study!¡¯ ¡®My luck is really too good!¡¯ Some might even go, ¡®How come I¡¯ve scored 0.5 points less than the last time!¡¯ ¡ª Their objectives in saying all these is just to humiliate you, because you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s at the bottom of the ranking, and you¡¯re the only one who was honest about having not studied¡­¡± Zhou Rong could not help lifting his head and say, ¡°Daughter, although your school life sounds miserable, in the military school, I¡¯ve always been a curve-wrecker.¡± Chun Cao, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I was the top scorer in the entire school for four years. When I graduated, I even got a medal. Someday I¡¯ll show it to you.¡± Chun Cao did not respond for a long time, her face as black as thunder. Water sprayed around them. Zhang Yingjie¡¯s head popped out from under the water, smiling. ¡°It¡¯s done! Rong-ge, pull me up! I¡¯ll set the explosives off when I¡¯m up.¡± Zhou Rong adjusted his position, his two legs spread apart supporting himself. Bending down, he pulled at the half-submerged Zhang Yingjie ¡ª however, at this moment, bubbles appeared in the water. The rate of the appearance of the bubbles increased rapidly, as though something was swiftly ascending. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyebrow twitched, ¡°Come up quickly!¡± Zhang Yingjie too realised that something was wrong, and he swiftly caught hold of the rope. Just as he was about to pull himself up, a few swollen white hands burst out of the water, gripping onto him! ¡°Yingjie!¡± ¡°¡ª Zombies!!¡± Zhang Yingjie shot at them, but when the bullets entered the water, they were unable to hit the targets. In a panic, he was dragged under by the zombies! Water splashed all around them. Without thinking, Zhou Rong had retrieved his assault rifle from his back, and jumped into the water. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Edited by: Isalee When he entered the water, Zhou Rong only had one thought ¡ª it was very cold. The groundwater was bone-chilling. He did a couple of strokes to loosen his muscles. With the light from his headlamp, he saw that Zhang Yingjie was trapped by two large shadows near his feet, and could not struggle out from their hold. Zhou Rong was afraid that he would hit Zhang Yingjie. He aimed at a zombie before pressing the trigger. However, the water deflected the angle of the bullet, and it only hit the zombie¡¯s back! It was completely useless! Aggressive movements would cause a depletion in oxygen. Zhang Yingjie could finally no longer hold on to his breath, and bubbles expelled from his lungs before he silently sank further into the water. Zhou Rong swore in his heart. He resolutely dived deeper. One of the zombies who had swelled up after being submerged in water now turned back to catch him while the other chased after Zhang Yingjie. Zhou Rong used the butt of his rifle to hit the zombie, making it fall back. However, the zombie slammed against the wall of the elevator shaft and rebounded. Stretching open its dissolving mouth, the zombie leaned forward, but its mouth was blocked by Zhou Rong¡¯s gun. With a shot, its head exploded! With black blood trailing behind its body, the zombie sank swiftly. Zhou Rong felt that he could no longer hold his breath anymore. However, the situation did not allow him to hesitate at all. He lunged towards the direction where Zhang Yingjie had disappeared. In many drowning situations, the hardest type of rescue was when the victim jumped into a well. Due to the smoothness of the walls, there was no pivot point, and it was difficult to struggle to stay afloat in such a cramped space. Descending rapidly like what Zhou Rong was doing would increase the water pressure tremendously, and the oxygen consumption would instantly reach its limit. His lungs convulsing violently, Zhou Rong gritted his teeth, holding on to his last breath. Suddenly, he felt a change in the direction of the water, and the zombie who had been chasing Zhang Yingjie was now floating up! ¡ª Fuck! Zhou Rong only had this thought left in his head. His blood surged up within him, and he swung a heavy fist towards it! If this was on land, Zhou Rong¡¯s right fist could reach a force of 400 kilograms. In the arena, this could knock out a boxer. However, due to the lack of oxygen as well as the density of water, a large portion of his strength was diminished. The zombie¡¯s chest caved in with his punch, but it lunged towards him again. Zhou Rong¡¯s vision was darkening. He struggled to lift his gun up and press his trigger! The random shots made the water murky. The head and body of the zombie burst apart and finally sank down. By then, Zhou Rong could no longer feel the existence of his limbs. He pulled his gun away, mechanically sinking down. Groping about, he touched a motionless leg at the bottom. A hard-soled military boot, a leg, a tactical bag¡­ It was Zhang Yingjie! Feeling as though a cardiotonic had been injected into him, Zhou Rong used the last bit of his strength to drag Zhang Yingjie up, then did his utmost to head to the surface. ¡ª There was a sudden weight on his foot! Two icy, stiff hands reached out from the bottom of the elevator shaft and caught his ankle. The water rushed upwards. A zombie with a swollen, disgusting head came up and savagely bit Zhou Rong¡¯s calf that was covered by his uniform! ¡°¡­!!¡± Zhou Rong kicked his leg wildly. The kicks echoed in the water, but due to the lack of oxygen, his vision was dark, and he was unable to pull out his handgun. In the struggle, his mouth opened, and this insignificant action nearly ended his life there and then¡ª As his throat was relaxed, the last breath of air in his lungs escaped out in a flurry of bubbles. Was this¡­ the end? Splash¡ª A bright light came from above. A shadow dove in swiftly, brushing past Zhou Rong! Zhou Rong was really completely exhausted, he could barely see anything anymore. The last thing he saw before he fainted was that person biting a dagger, heading straight towards the zombie. The light shone upon his cold, handsome face. ¡ª It was Si Nan. Zhou Rong shut his eyes, and his consciousness finally faded away. *** ¡°There¡¯s still a pulse¡­¡± ¡°Keep it up! ¡­¡± ¡°He moved! He¡¯s moving!¡± Zhou Rong wrenched his eyes open, struggling to sit up as he coughed out a bellyful of water. This cough lasted forever, nearly forcing his spleen out. A moment later, Zhou Rong finally awkwardly stopped coughing, gasping as he spoke hoarsely, ¡°Yingjie¡­¡± Chun Cao exclaimed in joy, ¡°Rong-ge is fine! ¡ª Hey, Si Xiao-Nan?!¡± Zhou Rong raised his head only to see Si Nan kneeling next to him. When he heard that he was fine, he silently collapsed backwards. Zhou Rong was extremely alarmed. He hurriedly reached out to grab him. Si Nan was soaked, his face pale, and he had fainted away. ¡°He¡¯s overexerted himself.¡± Exhaustion was written across Chun Cao¡¯s face, ¡°We both took turns to do CPR on you both.¡± Zhou Rong leaned against the wall, pillowing Si Nan¡¯s head on his stomach. Wearily, he examined his surroundings. They had finally reached Zone B. This should be some personnel¡¯s office. Sprayed across the concrete walls was blood. Papers and files were scattered all over the ground, and the metal door was closed tightly. Outside the room, the indistinct moans of the zombies could be heard. Zhang Yingjie was lying motionless next to him. He looked as though he was dead, but after studying him carefully, his chest was rising and falling slightly. Zhou Rong gave a couple of coughs. Having nearly drowned, his throat was extremely painful. He barely managed to ask, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°There was limited space in the elevator shaft. Si Xiao-Nan and I were afraid that the two of you wouldn¡¯t have space to work. However, after two or three minutes, there was still no sign from either of you, and we could only jump in and start searching. Discovering that you had been caught by the zombie, Si Xiao-Nan stabbed the zombie¡¯s head that was biting you. I then blasted the bomb that we set up, and we were flushed out from the shaft¡­¡± ¡°However, the shockwave from the explosion was too big, and both you and Yingjie hit your heads,¡± Chun Cao gazed at Zhang Yingjie in worry. ¡°I hope he hasn¡¯t become stupid from it.¡± Zhou Rong thought of something and looked down at his calf. His pant leg had turned ragged from the bites. However, thanks to the full body bulletproof clothing, he was not injured. ¡°Did Yingjie¡­¡± Zhou Rong asked quietly. ¡°No, he was wearing his gas mask when we were flushed out. He must have immediately pulled it over his head when he was dragged underwater by the zombies. However, his clothes are full of holes, and his body is covered with scrapes and bruises. We haven¡¯t had time to check yet.¡± Zhou Rong turned over and felt for Zhang Yingjie¡¯s pulse. Although it was weak, it was still steady, and he sighed in relief. Suddenly, he discovered that under Zhang Yingjie¡¯s nose was a trace of blood that had not been wiped away completely. Abruptly realising something, he reached up and touched the area under his own nose. As expected, the immense water pressure had caused him to bleed. He instantly got a headache. ¡°What¡¯s going on?! Just now, Si Nan¡ª¡± Si Nan¡¯s head was lying on Zhou Rong¡¯s firm abdomen. He was still unconscious. ¡°Dad, you got lucky today.¡± Chun Cao spoke feebly, ¡°You didn¡¯t see what Si Xiao-Nan was like when he was resuscitating you. He had already reached his limit and was out of his mind. As he pumped your chest, I thought that he would be able to break your ribs just like that. I asked him to rest for a bit to let me take over, but even when I shouted into his ear, he couldn¡¯t hear me¡­¡± Zhou Rong was in a daze. ¡°Also,¡± Chun Cao spoke earnestly, ¡°having spent so much time next to the zombies, you guys really smell awful. For all we know, Si Xiao-Nan may have just been overwhelmed by your odour and fainted¡­¡± Zhou Rong finally completely relaxed. He leaned into the wall, giving a long exhalation. Although Si Nan did not notice their Alpha pheromones, biologically speaking, he was still affected. In his comatose state, he seemed to be suffering slightly, anxiously tossing about. Zhou Rong hugged him and shifted him up, pulling him up into his arms. He patted his back lightly, trying to soothe him in such a manner. After some time, Si Nan finally settled down a little. His breathing deepened, but his forehead was still creased. His appearance was quite young. Because of his mixed blood, his features were more defined than most. His skin was a chilly white after being submerged underwater. However, there were already apparent wrinkles on his brow. It seemed as though he was always frowning slightly, looking as though there were always things on his mind. Zhou Rong fed him some water. Wiping away the stray droplets with his thumb, he left a light reddish mark on the corner of his lips. ¡°I was negligent. When I didn¡¯t see the cabin in the elevator shaft, I should have thought of it.¡± Zhou Rong spoke lowly, ¡°When the electricity was cut off due to the virus outbreak in the shelter, the cabin would have fallen all the way to the bottom. Even if the people inside did not fall to their deaths, their injuries would have been infected with the groundwater that contained the virus and turned into zombies. Hiding under the water¡­ Fortunately, everyone is fine, if not.¡± His voice paused, and he did not continue. ¡°If not what? You¡¯ll pay with your life?¡± Chun Cao laughed lazily. ¡°Rong-ge, don¡¯t be foolish. Life and death are decreed by fate, we all understand that.¡± Zhou Rong smiled and no longer lingered around this topic. In his arms, Si Nan gave an uneasy shudder, and slowly opened his eyes. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong bent closer, listening to him grumble softly, ¡°¡­ You smell¡­¡± Zhou Rong paused, then patted him on his face as he smiled. ¡°We¡¯re all soaked in groundwater and you still wish for me to smell like Chanel No. 5? It¡¯s perfectly normal to smell like this, ok?¡± Si Nan shut his eyes, opening them again a moment later. Repeating this a few times, he finally woke up properly. Sitting up, he asked, ¡°What time is it now?¡± Chun Cao happened to be sitting across them, looking at her cheap dad with condemning eyes. She tapped on her watch with a glow-in-the-dark face, ¡°It¡¯s 11.30. It¡¯s been five and a half hours since we entered the base.¡± ¡°Very good, R&R is over. Let¡¯s get ready to go!¡± Zhou Rong kicked Zhang Yingjie¡¯s backside. The latter refused to budge, still sleeping soundly, even giving a slight snore. Zhou Rong had no choice. He could only let Chun Cao carry Zhang Yingjie as he carried Chun Cao¡¯s gear. He swayed as he stood up. ¡°We¡¯re now at the entrance of the communication department in the base. The emergency satellite communication room is here,¡± Zhou Rong marked the location in red on the map. ¡°We¡¯re about 200 metres away from it directly, and we¡¯ll need to go through 2 corridors and a metal safety door. Comrade Xiao-Si will be in charge of blasting that open.¡± ¡°Once we send a message through the satellite, we should be able to reach Zone E within 2 hours. The viral research lab is here¡­ This is a high-risk zone, don¡¯t be eager to fight. As soon as it¡¯s clear that we have no chance of making an attack there, we¡¯ll evacuate immediately. The escape route will be the one that we planned previously, and we¡¯ll meet at the rail station in the central zone. If Yan Hao¡¯s group hasn¡¯t been completely wiped out, we¡¯ll be able to drive a new armoured vehicle back.¡± Zhou Rong waved the tablet, ¡°¡ª Are there any questions?¡± No one raised their hands. Chun Cao dragged Zhang Yingjie along with much difficulty. The latter¡¯s two feet were trailing along the ground. Si Nan was sitting cross-legged as he rubbed at his eyes. They had turned red, and he clearly was not completely alert yet. ¡°Not bad, everyone still has plenty of fight in them!¡± Zhou Rong clapped his hands together, full of enthusiasm, ¡°Next, everyone, follow me, and we¡¯ll proceed towards the light of success!¡± Zhou Rong turned around and Si Nan¡¯s voice suddenly drifted over from behind him. ¡°Rong-ge.¡± ¡°?¡± Zhou Rong turned his head around. Before he could say anything, he received a tight hug. Si Nan¡¯s face was almost buried in Zhou Rong¡¯s neck. He neither spoke nor moved. Maintaining this position for more than ten seconds, he finally lifted his head up. As if in relief, he patted Zhou Rong¡¯s tense, strong back that felt as though it was on fire. ¡°How great, you didn¡¯t die.¡± Si Nan took half a step back, looking into Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes and saying earnestly, ¡°I won¡¯t let any of you die.¡± He then bent down and picked up his tactical backpack, walking past Zhou Rong¡¯s motionless body. The air seemed to freeze for a very long time. Zhou Rong finally blinked as though someone had turned his switch on. ¡°¡­ Cao¡¯er.¡± His entire person seemed to be drifting in the clouds, ¡°Papa will give you one last chance¡­ Yan Hao and Papa, whose side are you on?¡± Chun Cao observed him sympathetically, slowly shaking her head. ¡°I only know that in the future, when he discovers that he has been deceived by us, you will definitely be screwed to death, you¡¯ll definitely get it worse than Yan Hao¡­¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Maybe when a person¡¯s luck hit rock bottom, out of the depths of misfortune would come bliss. Or maybe after escaping from death, one was bound to have good fortune. Zhou Rong pushed his combat awareness to its limit. With his rifle, he looked around the corner of the corridor, but discovered that there were barely any zombies present. Chuncao shot down a few of the living dead, frowning, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are they all in hiding?¡± The lights in the corridor had all gone down, and it was pitch black. Zhou Rong swung the flashlight around, but the entire passageway was empty. A dim red light flashed from the door of an office in the distance ¡ª that was the Secret Communications Satellite Room, their objective. ¡°Stay vigilant,¡± Zhou Rong said quietly, almost whispering. ¡°A 100 metres away in the 12 o¡¯clock direction. Si Nan, prepare the explosives.¡± Three people stood in a row. Zhou Rong led the way, Chuncao took the tail, and Si Nan took over carrying Zhang Yingjie. They cautiously made their way forward, glued to the wall. Zhou Rong¡¯s feet suddenly stopped. ¡°What happened?¡± Si Nan asked softly. Zhou Rong did not respond. His fingers glided past the demolished wall, the flashlight carefully sweeping past the bricks that had shattered into dust and the rebars that had bent in, and shone ahead. ¡°Here, what do you think this looks like?¡± He asked a moment later. Under the yellow light, long scratches stretched along the wall, towards the dark. Si Nan¡¯s expression changed subtly. ¡°¡­ Claw marks from a beast.¡± Zhou Rong nodded, speaking succinctly. ¡°This may be the reason why there are few zombies here. Move carefully.¡± With an arm supporting Zhang Yingjie on his shoulder, Si Nan reached for the explosives in his bag with the other arm. Turning around a corner, Zhou Rong confirmed that the staircase was empty before signalling Si Nan to move forward as he pointed at the entrance glowing with a red light. ¡°¡­ Zhou Rong,¡± Si Nan spoke up suddenly. Zhou Rong swept his gaze sharply through their surroundings, not looking back. ¡°What do you want? You always call me Rong-ge when you need something and Zhou Rong when you don¡¯t, you¡¯re picky with your food, lazy, and always thinking about having a hot shower, when I criticise you you¡¯ll whisper into my ear and want a hug. You can¡¯t always act so spoiled¡­¡± ¡°The door is open.¡± Si Nan said. Zhou Rong turned around abruptly. The door to the satellite communication room was wide open, the debris of the bricks piled up waist high. The metal door lay quietly in the ruins, twisted into a shape that was difficult to describe. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes slowly drifted about the room. In the dark, countless racks had toppled onto the ground, bodies that had been torn apart were strewn all over the place. At the control station all the way inside, a large patch of blood splatters could be seen. ¡°¡­ Very good,¡± Zhou Rong spoke composedly. ¡°We save an explosive today.¡± There were two principles with regards to the satellite communication room. One, was to maintain its secrecy. Two, was about its urgency. When disaster struck, the forces would quickly withdraw into this heavily guarded building with its metal door. They would then send a signal for help through the satellite to other military bases as they tracked the situation through the cameras, searching for survivors in Zone A. However, this fortress had still been invaded. The three people stepped over the debris, their flashlights shining about the room. All over the floor were bodies torn apart by a beast, all heavily decomposed. ¡°Major General Qian,¡± Chuncao suddenly called aloud. In front of the dim, glowing monitors, a body in a military uniform lay across the control station. His eyes were wide open, his blood and organs already dried. His wrinkled hands hung down limply, his gleaming Type-64 submachine gun already slid down to the ground. Zhou Rong stopped, silently exhaling after a long time. Slowly raising his arm, he saluted at the corpse that had not died in peace. ¡°The head of 118. He was over sixty years of age, and he could have retired long ago. He said that he could still work for a few more years. As new blood would be entering 118 next year, he was worried about not being at the helm, and wanted to personally watch over it one more time¡­¡± In the chaosa, Si Nan found a chair that still had all four legs attached, placing the deeply asleep Zhang Yingjie on it. Carrying the machine gun, Chuncao sighed gloomily, ¡°At that time when Rong-ge had nowhere to go, it was him who pounded the table and pulled Rong-ge into 118. Leader Qian was not a flawless person, but he really understood people¡­¡± ¡°Why did Zhou Rong have nowhere to go?¡± Si Nan asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I heard that he had offended someone in the central authorities.¡± Si Nan nodded. Chuncao noticed his expression and asked in curiosity, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± The two of them held their rifles, on alert, searching through the remains of the corpses strewn about the satellite communication room. Si Nan turned his head to glance at Zhou Rong, who was sitting at the control station with his back towards them, then smiled slightly, ¡°I was only thinking¡­ Zhou Rong¡¯s the type to approach people according to their character, he can still offend others?¡± *** Zhou Rong took Major General Qian¡¯s identification card from his body. After scanning it, he managed to log into the classified communications program and sighed deeply. The communication logs displayed across the screen in order of secrecy, source, department and date. Zhou Rong filtered out those that were not as highly classified, and started reading through the ones that were left. The dim light from the monitor reflected upon his resolute and handsome face. ¡°15/09/2019, 14:27, GMT+8 Squads 1 and 4 of 118 have been confirmed to have perished. Contact with Squad 2 has been lost.¡± ¡°16/09/2019, 20:37, GMT+8 Squad 3 of 118 have been confirmed to have perished. Contact with Squad 8 has been lost.¡± ¡°17/09/2019, 16:26, GMT+8 Squads 5 and 7 of 118 have been recalled. Unable to confirm the location of Flight DC918 and Target Z.¡± ¡°18/09/2019, 18:29, GMT+8 Target Z is missing, research progress in B Military Zone has stagnated. The research has decided to start work on the S-level virus sample.¡± Unknowingly, Zhou Rong¡¯s brows leapt up. He knew that Target Z was the mission objective that the special forces of Unit 118 had been ordered to capture. It seemed like Squad 6 was not the only one who went on a wild goose chase, the other seven squads had all been completely destroyed or failed in their mission. ¡ª However, the virus sample? The source of the zombie virus could currently be rated as humanity¡¯s enigma. Where did B Military Zone get the S-level virus sample ¡ª Could it be that before this shelter had collapsed, humanity had already discovered the source of the zombie virus?! Zhou Rong¡¯s fingers trembled non-stop, and he quickly went to the next page. ¡°28/09/2019, 01:23, GMT+8 A breakthrough has been made in the analysis of the virus and biological experiments. Proto-antibodies have been obtained from the gorilla, observation of the injection experiment is in progress.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes were fixed to the word ¡°anti-bodies¡±, until he saw the next communication log that had yet to be sent. The date was the same as the previous one: 28/09/2019, 20:25, GMT+8. ¡°Playing with fire will eventually get you burnt. Although we had expected it when we started work on the S-level virus sample, we did not think that the consequences would come so quickly. Three hours after all 18 of the gorillas in the biological lab had been injected, they all mutated simultaneously. Becoming carriers of the newly evolved supervirus, they rapidly infected the entire shelter. All twenty thousand refugees in Zone A have essentially been infected. The troops have collapsed, electricity supply, water supply and basic communications have ceased. The last of the surviving research team has all withdrawn into the fortress holding the satellite communication room. After analysing their DNA, we did not find the hidden Target Z amongst the Omega survivors. The heavens do not favour mankind. There is no longer a need for the military base to exist, please launch a nuclear bomb to clear the shelter. The only fortunate thing is that the research lab in Zone E is shielded from any nuclear blast. After destroying the shelter, please dispatch a force to enter Zone E and retrieve the newest research that hundreds of top researchers had paid for with their lives¡­ This would be a long, drawn-out war. Humanity will be experiencing its grimmest battle in history. However, we have nothing to fear. Every drop of blood shed today is to welcome tomorrow¡¯s brightest hopes. ¡ª Qian Guoqiang, 28/09/2019, to Nanhai Military Zone.¡± Zhou Rong exhaled slightly. He abruptly stood up, and his folding chair screeched across the floor. Si Nan and Chuncao looked back at the same time, only to see him looking at the display, articulating, ¡°We¡¯ll now immediately head towards Zone E.¡± Chuncao was aghast. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the highest risk zone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the military research lab,¡± Although Zhou Rong did his utmost to remain calm, he could not conceal the tremble in his voice. ¡°They achieved a breakthrough in the research into the zombie virus, and had even obtained the proto-antibodies¡­¡± Chuncao¡¯s pupils constricted swiftly, and even Si Nan¡¯s breathing paused in a twinkling! Zhou Rong entered the communications password, then clicked on the confirmation, sending Major General Qian¡¯s last message out. He was then silent for a moment before picking up the microphone and clearing his throat. ¡°26th of October, 2019, Beijing time 00:08. This is Major Zhou Rong, the leader of Squad 6, Unit 118.¡± ¡°My surviving 5 squad members and I, together with a civilian volunteer willing to join our suicide squad, have gone through 6 hours of arduous trekking to enter the completely occupied B Military Zone. We saw and confirmed the last message of the dead Major General Qian Guoqiang.¡± ¡°Next, with two of my squad members and the volunteer, I will head to the research lab in Zone E as instructed by Major General Qian. We¡¯ll try to retrieve the precious virus research as well as the proto-antibodies.¡± ¡°The four of us are Major Zhou Rong, First Lieutenant Yang Chuncao, First Lieutenant Zhang Yingjie and volunteer Si Nan. Whether we¡¯ll complete the mission successfully, or perish in the midst of doing so, please follow with the original plan of launching a nuclear bomb to clear out B Military Zone. If we can leave this base alive, we will immediately bring the antibodies to Nanhai.¡± ¡°The heavens do not favour mankind¡­ We¡¯ll give our utmost effort, and finish this journey alone.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s low and sombre words were the last message sent out in the satellite communication room before everything was scrapped. He stared at the screen. Only when the green light signalling that the message had been sent successfully light up did he take in a breath. Putting down the microphone, he prepared to shut the machine down. ¡ª However, just as his finger touched the switch, a chime suddenly sounded. The yellow light lit up, showing that a message had been received. Zhou Rong¡¯s first reaction was, the response from Nanhai came so quickly? He quickly turned on the decoder, realising that it was impossible. After the decoding, the message received had been sent ten minutes ago. It was an international classified message from the military of Country A! ¡°Rong-ge?¡± Chuncao had finished packing up the gear, and called him from far away. Zhou Rong did not turn his head back. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll be done soon.¡± After the classified message had been decoded, the contents of the message lay across the screen. It was the simple style of cryptography used for wartime communication. All diplomatic language had been omitted, and even the English used was very clear and direct. Both Zhou Rong¡¯s English and German were very good. He did not need a translator, and he could understand the message ¡ª ¡°To all militaries, Recently, an important person from my country has been missing in northern zone of your country. In consideration of the particularity of the worldwide chaos, we would like to request that your country immediately help to search for him. He is a mixed blood of Chinese descent, 26 years old, an Omega male. Attached is a recent photo. When you find him, he might be schizophrenic, mentally slow, together with a degradation in sensory function and other symptoms. Please be sure to keep him under control and at a safe distance.¡± The corner of Zhou Rong¡¯s mouth twitched as he continued reading. ¡°The target is potentially anti-social, and is very destructive. He has committed several first-degree murders, and is very cold blooded and his actions are hard to predict. Don¡¯t attempt to use any sort of stimulus to restore his sanity. In particular, do not attempt to mark him, do not do it! This would prevent any unnecessary casualties amongst your military personnel. If the person has already been infected with the virus and turned into a zombie, please kill and burn him thoroughly. All infected people bitten directly by him will also need to be immediately burnt so as to get rid of the virus. Otherwise, keep him under strict control and protection, he is critical to the global anti-virus research.¡± The signature was a long list of titles. Zhou Rong noticed that the person who sent the message shared the same last name as the previous vice president of Country A. He seemed to come to a vague realisation. Quickly clicking on the photo, the screen displayed that the downloading was in progress. The floor shook slightly. Harsh, oppressive panting could be heard from the corridor, as though a beast had scented a prey. ¡°¡­ Rong-ge,¡± Chuncao¡¯s voice trembled a little. ¡°Something seems to be coming.¡± The speed of the transmission suddenly slowed down a lot. The download had reached 90%. Zhou Rong said hoarsely, ¡°Hold on, it¡¯ll be done soon, soon¡­¡± Roar! The sound drew closer rapidly. The ground shuddered, and with the light from the flashlight, an enormous shadow was cast¡ª Si Nan suddenly shouted, ¡°Be careful!¡± The download had reached 99%. A completely rotting gorilla ran madly, slamming into the debris at the door! This collision shook the earth. The King Kong weighing several tons shattered the concrete rocks, and the fragments scattered everywhere. In the chaos, the three people were thrown into different directions by the shockwave. Zhou Rong rolled across the ground along the control station. He swiftly picked up the submachine gun and fired rapidly! The vision of the zombie gorilla was useless in the dark. However, the smell and the sound of the gun allowed it to instantly lock onto its target. It immediately rushed forward! Zhou Rong quickly retreated. In that thousandth of a second, he still managed to look at the screen with the corner of his eye ¡ª clearly seeing the download reaching 100%. Next, a gust of wind blew across his head. Zhou Rong was almost plastered to the gorilla¡¯s paw, and he rolled behind the control station. Chun Cao and Si Nan fired at the same time. Bullets flew out, and the ammunition belt was fed quickly into the gun. Under the hail of bullets, the zombie gorilla was infuriated. It swung out a fist, and pulverised the steel frame next to Zhou Rong! Countless metal shards exploded outwards. Zhou Rong was thrown a few metres away to the ground by the shockwave, and felt a pain in his head. Fresh blood flowed down as though it came from an open tap, sliding down his cheek. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Bullets were flying around the few hundred square metres of the battleground in this communication room. Broken shards of glass from the lights as well as bricks and rubble were scattered all over the place, and screens and monitors had been pulverised. Through the night vision goggles, only a hazy dark green could be seen, and nothing could be made out clearly. Chuncao desperately climbed up to the top of the large mainframe, shooting as she made her way up, wanting to jump onto the back of the zombie gorilla and hit it on the back of its head. However, when she was still in midair, the gorilla¡¯s arm swung into her, and the bomb flew away! Roar¡ª Zhou Rong¡¯s face was entirely covered in blood, and his potent Alpha pheromones enraged the zombie beast even further. The gorilla ignored Si Nan¡¯s rapid gunfire from a distance, its feet crushing the shelves and equipment under it, and its paw swung down upon Zhou Rong. Zhou Rong scrambled backwards. With the corner of his eye, he saw the Type 89 heavy machine gun trapped under the rubble. Rolling over, he reached out to grab it, but he could not free it! Just as he was about to be pounded into ground meat by that paw, he felt a force coming from his side. Someone had lunged over, yanking Zhou Rong and tumbling away. Right next to Zhou Rong¡¯s ear, the ground shattered with the might of the gorilla¡¯s paw. ¡°Yingjie?!¡± Zhang Yingjie was panting, seeming to be suffering from pain. ¡°Quick, run¡­¡± Zhou Rong pulled him up. Before he could steady himself, the paw of the gorilla that had smashed the ground swept towards them like a truck, throwing them a distance away! This was the first time ever that Si Nan had felt such a strong terror. ¡°Zhou Rong!!¡± At this time, the surroundings were covered in gun smoke. Visibility was poor, and nothing could be made out beyond a few steps. Si Nan was completely unable to distinguish if Zhou Rong had been torn into pieces by the gorilla. In a moment of desperation, he pressed down on the trigger, only to get silence. There was no more ammunition! The firing speed of 1250rpm caused the gun barrel to glow a visible red. He still had an ammunition cartridge on him, but by then, he no longer had the time to replace it. In this second of silence, the gorilla again rushed towards the direction Zhou Rong and Zhang Yingjie had been thrown towards! Si Nan¡¯s breathing increased rapidly. In that moment, his brain blanked out, and he did not think about anything. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out the explosives that were not used just now. Flinging them at the gorilla, he took out his dagger and slid it across his palm! The black explosives smashed onto the back of the gorilla. The explosion rocked the room, and the gorilla¡¯s flesh was stripped of its back, and as expected, its focus turned back to Si Nan. Si Nan¡¯s chest heaved, fresh blood spilling from his spread open palm. He stared straight into the zombie¡¯s milky eyes, retreating step by step. Although there was no theory about this, the publicly acknowledged truth was that zombies would instinctively chase after the scent of the pheromones belonging to Alphas and Omegas, and the pheromones of an Omega were even more potent. The intensity of the pheromones was proportional to one¡¯s sex hormones. However, the ability to scent the pheromones varied from one person to another. For example, Zhou Rong¡¯s Alpha pheromones were extremely overpowering, but his ability to scent an Omega¡¯s pheromones was only average. As for Si Nan, he was the opposite. Si Nan was very sensitive towards Alpha pheromones, and he had strong adverse reactions towards them. However, his own pheromones were very weak ¡ª and this actually had to do with him injecting a pheromone-inhibitor over so many years. A silence fell upon them. From dozens of metres away, Chuncao made her way up groggily. On the other side of the room, Zhou Rong pushed himself up with much difficulty on his elbows, his face stained with blood. Two seconds later. The gorilla gave a loud cry. Without any hesitation, it ran at Si Nan! Si Nan immediately ran off, heading out of the room in the speed of light. Behind him, the ground trembled, and the zombie gorilla followed closely! ¡°Motherfucker¡­¡± Zhou Rong was covered with rubble, and he stood up, swaying. Finally, he was unable to retrieve the Type-89 heavy machine gun from under the debris. As he loaded the gun with armour-piercing ammunition, he shouted hoarsely, ¡°Cao¡¯er! Yingjie! Are you still alive?¡± ¡°Why did it follow Si Nan? Quick, let¡¯s go¡­¡± Chuncao coughed, and flecks of blood could be seen. Zhou Rong reached out to pull Zhang Yingjie. However, the moment he touched him, Zhang Yingjie jolted, as though he received an electric shock, and took a step back. ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Rong asked. In the corridor, the roars of the zombie gorilla sounded further and further away. Time was tight, and in the dim light, Zhang Yingjie¡¯s face was ashen, his lips cracked, and his eyes were bruised-looking. He seemed to have given up on something, and gave a short laugh. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have saved me, Rong-ge. I¡¯ve been infected.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s breath caught. Zhang Yingjie pulled up the legs of his trousers, and next to his sock was a broken patch of skin. Having been submerged in water, it was a dark purple, and it had started to fester. ¡°What expression is that, Rong-ge?¡± Zhang Yingjie smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. Come, give me a gun¡­ Let¡¯s not waste the last bit of time we have, let me accompany all of you for this last journey.¡± ¡°A warrior shouldn¡¯t kill himself, nor should he turn into a monster. Let me die in battle as a soldier.¡± *** Si Nan shot down the stairs. As he landed, he grabbed onto the handrails and leapt down to the floor below ¡ª Just as he released his hands from the railing, the metal rails were blown outwards by the impact of the zombie gorilla! After running out from the communications room, he did not take the same route they came from, but headed in the opposite direction into the stairwell. Although in his haste, he was unable to select a path, unknowingly, the narrow staircase was an obstruction to the zombie gorilla. Heading straight towards a corridor, it took about five or six seconds before the roar of the gorilla shook the building, and it chased after him. At his speed, Si Nan was unable to see what was around him, and he did not even have the time to reach for his handgun. He never knew that he could run so quickly, and when bumping into a few groups of zombies along the way, he just shot right through them. The Omega pheromones roused the gorilla¡¯s predator instincts. The gigantic beast that was taller than four metres and weighing several tons was like a roller machine, coming down on him thunderously, and grinding those groups of zombies into paste! The few circuitous corridors soon came to an end. In front was a fork, and both the left and the right passages were shrouded in darkness. Si Nan¡¯s feet slowed down. Having gone through over six hours of intense activities without food, his insides cramped with unbearable pain. With that pause of 0.01 second, the zombie gorilla lunged forward, and slapped Si Nan into the wall! A loud slam, and blood spurted from Si Nan¡¯s mouth. He felt as though a tank had collided with him, and the extraordinary pain drowned out all his other senses. He slid to the ground dizzily, and in a daze, he saw the zombie gorilla running towards him, the ground under him trembling. No, he thought. I still have something very important¡­ very crucial to do. I can¡¯t let things end like this. He did not know where this thought came from, and had no idea what this crucial mission was as well. Si Nan¡¯s hands shook, pulling out the Type-64 handgun from his waist, and shot up towards the air. The metal duct came crashing down, causing the zombie gorilla to reel back! Si Nan staggered up, dragging a gun of dozens of kilograms as he sprinted, loading it with ammunition quickly. The zombie King Kong was now completely enraged, easily tearing the duct that was thicker than a person apart. Like a supersonic fighter jet, it swept the remnants behind it. Its bloody mouth gaped wide open, and bit down towards his back. The foul, rotten stench engulfed the area. Si Nan unexpectedly turned his foot, taking two quick steps on the wall, and flipped himself in midair. His body turned 360 degrees in the air, almost dragging past the gorilla¡¯s lowered head, and he landed on its neck! The zombie gorilla shifted wildly, continuously slamming into its surroundings, and the light fixtures on the walls all feel. The deadly jolts injured Si Nan¡¯s head, causing him to bleed heavily. His body hurt from all the impacts, but his legs were still tightly wrapped around the zombie¡¯s neck. Gritting his teeth, he pushed his machine gun against the back of this monster¡¯s head. He pressed down on the trigger, and a hail of bullets shot straight into its skull! Bam¡ª The extreme pressure lasted for over ten seconds without ceasing. The gun barrel was like an arrow that was on the end of its trajectory, and it finally exploded! When it exploded, Si Nan was in a trance, and when thrown out by the shockwave he did not feel any pain at all. A trail of blood could be seen coming from his body as he flew outwards, landing in a deep pit at the end of the fork dozens of metres away¡ª [Restricted Biohazard Area, Unauthorised Entry Will Result In Death] In the dark, a green sign glowed dimly, like a will-o¡¯-the-wisp. A loud thudding sound was heard. Si Nan landed in the pit, spraying out a mouthful of blood. His ear was soaked in blood, muffling the sounds. Warm liquid trickled continuously from his nose, and spasms ran lightly through his body. He wrenched his eyes open, wanting to keep conscious, but his vision gradually dimmed. The darkness was like feathers falling upon him, gently submerging his consciousness. *** ¡°Noah¡­¡± ¡°Noah!¡± The lady quickly walked through the garden, crouching down and hugging the little boy whose back was facing her. ¡°What are you doing, why aren¡¯t you going in?¡± The slight breeze in the misty morning brought with it the damp smell of earth. Dark green foliage hung from the metal frames in the garden. The yellow roses had already wilted, leaving behind only a few dead blossoms amidst the thorny branches. ¡°Papa doesn¡¯t like me.¡± The little boy stared at his feet, where a fresh mound of dirt had just been dug up. He again quietly repeated, ¡°¡­ Papa doesn¡¯t like me.¡± The lady held the little boy¡¯s arm, making him turn around. Her beautiful, melancholic eyes studied her son. She was dressed in a deep pink silk dress, her facial features deep and beautiful, her light-coloured eyes a pure, clean amber. That beauty that could withstand the test of time was heart-moving, but when she focused on something, there was always a slight melancholy in her eyes. ¡°Why, Noah?¡± The little boy¡¯s lips pursed. Only a moment later did he softly say, ¡°He scratched me.¡± The lady picked up her son¡¯s hand, gently pushing his sleeves up. The few scratches on his wrist were startling, and bruises could be seen as well. ¡°¡­ Papa is tired.¡± The lady evaded her son¡¯s statement after a long while. ¡°He¡¯s fallen asleep already¡­ Come back with Mama, all right?¡± The little boy no longer resisted her. He allowed his mother to hold his hand, and they walked deeper into the garden. ¡°Mummy.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Why is Papa sleeping in a wooden box?¡± On the top of the church not too far away, the stained glass windows could be seen, and the cross pierced the dark sky. His mother was silent for a long, long time, before her feet stopped. She bent over and kissed the tender center of her son¡¯s brows. ¡°One day, Papa would leave the wooden box, and return to us forever¡­¡± Her voice was a little sorrowful, but still very gentle. ¡°That day won¡¯t be too far from us.¡± *** Cough¡­ Cough cough cough! Si Nan coughed a couple more times, thick blood forced up from his throat. His hands shivered as he pushed himself up. There were a few seconds where he did not know where he was, nor what had happened. He was confused for a short moment. However, the memories of the past few hours quickly returned to him. In intense pain, he slowly regained his senses, and his injured internal organs caused his trachea to spasm, vomiting out the last bit of water in his stomach. Did the zombie gorilla die? That person called Zhou Rong¡­ undisciplined and frivolous like an army riffraff, but surprisingly very reliable, was he saved? Si Nan finally managed to stop dry heaving. Thinking about Zhou Rong, he was hunched over ungainly, and he slowly straightened up. At this time, he suddenly heard a sound from in front ¡ª thump. This sound was exceedingly clear in the silence, and Si Nan lifted his head. This was an underground round lab. The ceiling was not sealed, and there was an elevator by the side, going upwards. The walls that were made of an alloy metal glowed white, illuminating a test site in the center that was about the size of a football field. The sound came again ¡ª Thump! Si Nan looked towards the center of the lab. Unconsciously, his pupils shrank, and he finally understood what had jolted him awake from his loss of consciousness. That was a coffin. The black-lacquered pine wood was crusted with earth, as though it had just been dug up from an English manor from the last century. In this laboratory surrounded by modern biochemical equipment, it was undeniably out of place. What was even more out of place was a humongous silver cross embedded crookedly onto the lid of the coffin. Flowers and leaves were also carved around the cross, and the silver had already oxidised badly, almost splitting the coffin into two. Thump! The coffin lid jerked up. Thump!! Dirt and soil rained onto the ground. Si Nan stood up, staggering backwards. His chest heaved visibly because of a terrifying premonition. Thump!!! An immense force cracked the coffin lid. The silver cross tumbled onto the ground, causing a huge crash. Si Nan turned and ran towards the elevator. Pressing the button furiously, but there was no reaction from the control panel! Bang¡ª! The heavy coffin lid split apart, followed by a demonic, beastly roar. A black figure sat up from within the coffin! Si Nan¡¯s eyes were glued tightly to it. A ghastly conjecture welled up in him, and chills spread through his limbs. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The flashlight shone upon the fractured wall. Zhou Rong studied it for a moment, then signalled to the right. ¡°Here.¡± The three people quickly pressed on, following the wall. Zhang Yingjie staggered a little. Chuncao turned back to help him, only to be avoided. ¡°I can do it myself,¡± Zhang Yingjie gasped, smiling self-mockingly. ¡°Later I will¡­ no longer recognise you. Let¡¯s not harm our team, stay further away from me.¡± Chuncao¡¯s little face was stained with tears, and she was silent. Right in front, Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes were red. However, he did not turn back, and his voice was very steady, ¡°Yingjie, hold on for a while more. We¡¯ll get out within two hours, there¡¯s still time for you¡­ to at least return back to open ground. They passed through a passageway, going along the stairwell destroyed by the zombie gorilla. Zhang Yingjie smiled, ¡°Is there enough time? Actually, I¡¯m fine with anything. When a person¡¯s life goes out, it¡¯ll be the same anywhere. It¡¯s just that I really want to know if my wife and child are still alive. If I could just see them one more time¡­¡± They were now travelling through a long corridor with labs on each side. Chuncao suddenly stopped, shining a light incredulously at a safety sign above their heads. ¡°Look, Zone E.¡± They all looked up. ¡°North Zone E¡± was in white with a green background, hanging askew in the dark. Did Si Nan somehow managed to stumble into Zone E while getting chased by the zombie King Kong? Zhou Rong made an attempt at gallows humour. ¡°Very good, at least we saved time walking around.. This way.¡± Zhang Yingjie stopped for a moment, wheezing a couple of times. Zhou Rong ignored his dodges, reaching out and supporting him, speaking in a low voice, ¡°Zone E has the latest antivirus research, there may still be some proto-antibodies left behind. From the estimated time when the base had collapsed, the antibodies may have yet to expire. If it¡¯s still effective¡­¡± Zhang Yingjie instantly responded, ¡°Rong-ge, I¡¯m not getting that injected into me. Don¡¯t joke about this. If the hope of the entire world is exchanged for my life, I will definitely descend all the way down to the 18th level of hell in the future.¡± ¡°¡­ If there are two samples.¡± Zhou Rong said hoarsely, ¡°If there are, I¡¯ll definitely inject you with one of them.¡± Zhang Yingjie still wanted to say something, but Zhou Rong tugged at him. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The fork ahead was lit up by the flashlight. On the ceiling six metres above, the air duct had broke and fell, hanging down like a python on a tree. Zhou Rong looked at the map on his tablet. ¡ª The left led to a testing site, but it was not stated what sort of testing site it was; on the right was a classified bio-information lab, and as it was important, it was ranked a red S-level. Zhou Rong was unable to decide on which direction to choose, then Chuncao¡¯s ears suddenly perked up. ¡°I hear something.¡± In the dark, Zhang Yingjie barely managed to stop his heavy pants. Sound gradually drifted down from upstairs. It sounded as though a group of people were pounding towards them, and the noise they made was interrupted with the familiar sounds of suppressed gunfire. The three of them looked up, and within a few seconds the chaos was right above their heads. Dust and dirt rained down on them. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong suddenly realised something, and his face changed abruptly. ¡°Fuck! No!¡± But his yell was to no avail. Loud, rapid bursts of gunfire could be heard from above, sounding no different to an exploding missile. The reinforced concrete ceiling suddenly collapsed, and Zhou Rong, Chuncao and Zhang Yingjie scrambled out of the way. Three other special force soldiers came crashing down along with the concrete chunks! Yan Hao rolled and stood up, his voice hoarse from shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t let them come down! Shoot! Shoot! Captain?!¡± Zhou Rong really wanted to kick him right on the spot, but by then it was too late. An unceasing mass of zombies followed them, tumbling right through the hole in the ceiling, and swiftly moved around the place! Zhou Rong fired his weapon as he roared, ¡°Why did you guys come here?!¡± Guo Weixiang, ¡°To provide you with assistance!¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°Fuck off!¡± Ding Shi, ¡°¡­ We were chased here by zombies!¡± Yan Hao lifted the heavy assault rifle, tossing an ammunition bag half the size of a person out. In the midst of gunfire, he turned his head around and shouted, ¡°There was nowhere else to go! We could only go through the floor! Don¡¯t say anymore, it was all an accident!¡± Zhou Rong hugged the ammunition bag with two arms, grabbing a grenade in the mess. Throwing it towards the crumpled ceiling, he yelled furiously, ¡°Everyone get down¡ª!¡± The sounds of an explosion thundered around them, and half of the corridor above them was blown to pieces. The six people who finally managed to meet again did not even have time to reminisce before they were thrown into different corners by the impact of the explosion. Next, fragments of metal and concrete came raining down, blocking the passage completely. It took dozens of minutes before the ground stopped shaking. Dust billowed about in the dark. Zhou Rong coughed as he pushed away the rubble pressing down on him with great force, standing up, looking wretched. ¡°Is everyone still alive?¡± Some time passed before a moan could be heard from nearby. It was his invulnerable daughter Chuncao, ¡°I¡¯m alive¡­¡± Zhou Rong raised his voice, ¡°Yingjie! Yan Hao! Xiangzi! Ding Shi! Are you still alive?!¡± ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Guo Weixiang was up ahead on the right. ¡°I dislocated my elbow¡­¡± Ding Shi hissed in pain. ¡°Deal with your own dislocation!¡± Zhou Rong called out as he casually shot at the remaining zombies around them, then turning his flashlight on. The blast had thrown them into the right fork, towards the classified bio-information lab ¡ª if Yan Hao and Zhang Yingjie had not died under the collapse, they were most likely in the corridor that led to the testing site. Zhou Rong tried to call out a few more times, but did not get a response. In front of him, the rubble had formed a seamless obstruction, and countless zombies were trapped underneath it. Behind him, the corridor with alloyed walls stretched ahead endlessly. They had already entered the central area of Zone E, and what came next was the sealed focus of the shelter ¡ª the classified bio-information lab. Zhou Rong¡¯s flashlight swung back down. Although the corridor looked a mess, there was no damage on the walls and ceiling. There was no sign that violence had occurred in here ¡ª which meant that when Si Nan had been chased by the zombie gorilla to the fork, he had chosen the passage that was now blocked to him. He had gone to the testing site. Zhou Rong lifted up a large piece of debris, tossing it to one side. He then heaved up a rebar, and moved it away. Just like a trapped beast forcing a path through its cage, he panted hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot. After a long while, he shakily stood up, staring straight at the endless pile of rubble, and finally sobered up. Slap! He gave himself a harsh, tight slap. Chuncao happened to be walking behind him, and her feet paused. ¡°Rong, Rong-ge¡­¡± He had his back facing her and only after a moment did he slowly turned around. His expression had already regained its calmness, and only in his voice could the pained, unconcealable hoarseness be heard. ¡°Everyone, get ready. We¡¯re going to the classified lab.¡± ¡°Once we blast open the doors, we¡¯ll leave after retrieving all the virus research as well as the proto-antibodies.¡± *** At the same time, on the other side of the forked path, Yan Hao gripped his bleeding shoulder, gritted his teeth and stood up. ¡°Yingjie?¡± Zhang Yingjie had already climbed up from the floor full of rubble. Leaning against the wall, he could not stop coughing blood. Thinking that Zhang Yingjie had injured his internal organs when the ceiling collapsed,Yan Hao stumbled towards him and crouched down. Yet before Yan Hao could say anything, Zhang Yingjie pushed him away. ¡°You¡­¡± Zhang Yingjie vomited a mouthful of black blood! Yan Hao was stunned. Zhang Yingjie could barely lift his head, wheezing as though his chest was a pair of bellows. His face was ashen and haggard, with bloodshot eyes and dry, chapped lips. ¡°If¡­ if I don¡¯t recognise you later¡­¡± Zhang Yingjie pointed at his own temple, smiling wanly. ¡°Stick a knife right here. Do it cleanly¡­¡± Yan Hao¡¯s mind turned blank. His lips trembled as he shook his head. ¡°We didn¡¯t have time to exchange a few words just now, but at least I managed to see all of you again. Luckily you¡¯re all¡­¡± Before Zhang Yingjie could finish, Yan Hao¡¯s knees came crashing down, and he hugged him tightly. Yan Hao did not make a sound, his shoulders and arms shuddering fiercely, and hot tears rolled down his cheeks. By this time, Zhang Yingjie had already started to feel a little muddle headed. He wanted to push Yan Hao away, but in this darkness of dozens of metres, in this hell on earth where the smell of gunsmoke still lingered, a warm embrace and tears from a comrade-in-arms made him unable to raise his hands against him. Moments passed before he finally shivered and patted Yan Hao¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. At least everyone¡¯s fine¡­ At least everyone¡¯s still around, 118 is still around, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You must complete your mission,¡± Zhang Yingjie swallowed. ¡°You must collect the data and the antibodies and walk out of this place, all right? You will definitely be able to reach Nanhai. When the higher ups finally develop the vaccine, the entire country, the entire world¡­¡± Yan Hao sobbed. ¡°Listen to me, Yan Hao!¡± Zhang Yingjie pushed him away by a little. Looking into his eyes, he enunciated clearly, ¡°You can¡¯t be like this. Do you know why the higher ups had pulled Rong-ge up from nowhere to become our leader? Because you¡¯re too careful! Because you¡¯re reluctant to hurt people! Because you always want to take care of everyone!!! If it¡¯s Rong-ge, will he be doing this now? He would definitely not waste any time on crying!¡± ¡°Stand up, move forward!¡± Zhang Yingjie helped himself up with the support of the wall in much difficulty. He looked to the front, gritting his teeth. ¡°As a soldier, I have yet to complete my mission. How can I die in this place?!¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Bang! The bullet shot through the zombie¡¯s head that was wrapped up in bandages, and out puffed a cloud of dust. Bang! The zombie staggered, but still continued pressing on. Ten metres, five metres, three metres. Bang bang bang! Three more shots, and Si Nan threw away the empty Type-64 handgun. Exhaling a heated breath tinged with the taste of blood, he swung his fist at the zombie¡¯s temple! When a person was at a critical moment in time, they would usually find an astonishing strength within themselves. Si Nan¡¯s punch was comparable to that of a professional boxer, and it slammed into the zombie¡¯s forehead without any restraint. If this head belonged to a human, it would already have been split apart. However the head of this zombie that smashed out from the coffin only tilted to one side. It grabbed Si Nan, and threw him out! With the sounds of things falling, Si Nan¡¯s body flew out over ten metres and crashed into the wall. As he landed, he knocked over some equipment, falling heavily on the ground covered in glass and metal shards. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan swore silently. With bloodshot eyes, his vision was unclear, and in a haze he could see the zombie walking step by step towards him. This zombie was wrapped entirely in thick, greyish-yellow bandages, looking just like a mummy. Its facial features were completely concealed, only revealing bloodstained teeth in a gaping mouth. Although it was not very nimble, it did not look as stiff-jointed with dry, cracking flesh like the ordinary zombies outside. Instead it had an unimaginable extreme strength, and even a bullet shot at its head could not cause any damage to it. Si Nan shook his head slowly. What exactly was this thing?! In the round, underground testing site, other that an elevator that was cut off from the power supply, there was nothing else that he could use to climb out. Am I about to die here today? The zombie drew closer, and Si Nan struggled to get up. In his panic, he saw a row of glass tubes about the width of a finger under him. They had essentially been crushed by him, and a dark red serum exploded over half his body, looking just like blood. He did not have the time to contemplate what this liquid was. Dodging the iron claws the zombie swung at his head, he lunged to the side in a flash. Howl¡ª The zombie¡¯s speed was even faster than he had expected. It caught his leg, dragging him towards it. Si Nan was thrown into a panic. Fortunately for him, the power in his kick was greater than that of his punch, and he actually managed to escape a second before he was bitten. Instantly, he clambered up and rushed forward. He was unable to run out of the testing site, and could only run along the alloyed metal walls with the zombie chasing behind him. There were several times when Si Nan could feel the zombie¡¯s hands at the back of his clothes, but he forced himself away at the critical juncture. With the aid of the large-sized equipment strewn about the site, he was able to barely evade the zombie¡¯s pursuit. The zombie was after all not alive, and in the midst of the mess of equipment, it was very clumsy, knocking apart various items with crashes. In the dim lighting, one was in pursuit while the other escaped, and like this they ran around the testing site the size of a football field seven or eight times. Si Nan¡¯s energy was completely spent, and towards the end he was running and coughing blood at the same time. Suddenly, he was tripped by a cable that extended out from nowhere, and he tumbled over. Under the zombie¡¯s foot, a metal chair shattered. The stench of decay was right behind Si Nan. A dagger in his hand, Si Nan was like a fish out of water. Bonelessly, he flipped over and stabbed the dagger right into the zombie¡¯s throat. The zombie looked down and roared, its teeth almost scraping across Si Nan¡¯s head. However, the dagger still did not pierce its throat! Never in his life had Si Nan been so close to death before. Every second of the stalemate dragged on like a year. The veins on his arms bulged out, and because of the amount of force he used, the base of his fingernails started bleeding. The mouth of the zombie came closer and closer, almost pressing right into Si Nan¡¯s eyes! Just at this time, a voice was heard above him. ¡°Si Nan!!¡± Yan Hao! Yan Hao had a knee on the ground, and he had his assault rifle aimed at the zombie. ¡°Quick, get away!!¡± Si Nan dropped to the ground. Leveraging the force exerted by the dagger on the zombie¡¯s neck, he slid across the floor a few metres away from the zombie. The zombie got up, wanting to chase after him. At the same time, Yan Hao pressed the trigger¡ª A 9mm armour-piercing bullet was fired, hitting the zombie accurately, and throwing it back! This timing was perfect. Yan Hao had a good shot, and he immediately handed the assault rifle over to Zhang Yingjie. Retrieving a rope, he tossed it down into the pit. ¡°Si Nan, come up!¡± Si Nan gasped a couple of times, getting up with much difficulty. He was covered in blood, and even his ears were blocked with blood clots. His pheromones would definitely be exposed to anyone within ten metres of him. ¡ª However, to think about this matter now would be unreasonable. Si Nan stumbled across the testing site, heading towards Yan Hao. Just as he was about to reach out and grasp the rope, a beast-like figure lunged at him from the back. Bam! Si Nan was knocked right over his head! Because of the bullet, the parts of the zombie were bursting apart. It was extremely enraged, and with a slight movement, it grabbed hold of the rope and yanked Yan Hao down the pit at lightning speed! With the abrupt change in situation, they were at a loss. Zhang Yingjie did not have any time to even aim and fire, and Yan Hao tumbled down the pit a dozen metres deep, falling right into a humongous centrifuge. This was not the end. The other end of the rope was tied to Yan Hao¡¯s waist. When the zombie yanked savagely on the rope, Yan Hao did not even have the time to yell, and was dragged all the way out! Zhang Yingjie roared, ¡°Yan Hao!!¡± His finger touched the trigger, only to move away as though he had been shocked ¡ª the zombie had caught hold on Yan Hao. If he were to fire now, the bullet might not be able to kill the zombie, but it would definitely turn Yan Hao into paste! Si Nan suddenly jerked his head back. ¡°No¡­¡± His pupils constricted and then expanded rapidly, a glint appearing in his eyes. Aiming at Yan Hao¡¯s carotid artery, the zombie bit into it! Yan Hao¡¯s pained cry rang aloud. Blood gushed out, swiftly painting half the zombie¡¯s face in red. Making his way across the ground covered with sharp metal fragments, Si Nan lunged over. Pushing the zombie¡¯s body that was as heavy as steel away with one hand, he grabbed at Yan Hao with his other. In the chaos, Yan Hao pushed Si Nan away fiercely. With a trembling hand, he pulled out a hand grenade, shoving it into the zombie¡¯s chest¡ª Four seconds of silence, then an earth-shaking tremor! Yan Hao, his arms protecting his head, was thrown outwards. The zombie fell against the wall, rolling across the ground. ¡°Fuck your ancestors¡ª!¡± Taken over by bloodlust, Zhang Yingjie shot another armour-piercing bullet into the zombie, and the zombie¡¯s body bounced up under the light of the fire. Without waiting for it to land, Zhang Yingjie again reloaded the rifle, taking another shot and bursting the zombie¡¯s chest open! Si Nan called out with a shaky voice, ¡°Yan Hao!¡± Yan Hao¡¯s eyes were unfocused. In a pool of blood, his body was convulsing, countless of bones broken, and his chest caved in terrifyingly. The scent of an Alpha¡¯s pheromones burst into the air, surrounding the place in seconds. The masculine smell was so thick it could not hide its traces. When Si Nan smelled it, he staggered back, dumbfounded. However, with the rapid decline in Yan Hao¡¯s life, the Alpha pheromones swiftly faded away. Kneeling down next to him, Si Nan shuddered as he removed his jacket, pressing it forcefully against Yan Hao¡¯s bleeding neck. ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao mumbled, but no sound could be heard. His ears, nose and throat were all blocked with blood. His consciousness drifted about, as though it was sinking down a warm, deep sea. Someone was pressing hard on his throat, and he knew that was Si Nan. I¡¯m sorry, he thought. We lied to you, but¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t speak,¡± Si Nan wheezed. ¡°It¡¯s fine, don¡¯t move¡­ don¡¯t speak.¡± Four armour piercing shots had been fired, and Zhang Yingjie knelt on the ground, breaking open a new box of ammunition. However, by this time, the condition of his body could no longer keep up. As he was reloading the rifle, his hand shook, and the bullet fell onto the ground. He hurriedly went to pick it up, and in these few moments without suppressing fire, the zombie shrieked, and again stood up, stumbling! Half of the zombie¡¯s chest had basically disintegrated, a few bits of flesh dangling off its left shoulder. However, it still was not dead, and charged right at Si Nan¡¯s back like a tank! With a click, the rifle was loaded. Zhang Yingjie raised the rifle, but he was unable to aim accurately. His vision was already very blurred, and from his distance, the target looked like it was doubled. If his aim was just a tiny bit off, he might end up shooting at Yan Hao and Si Nan. ¡ª Fuck! It was as though the last drops of blood all rushed up to his head. Zhang Yingjie breathed heavily as he stood up. I¡¯m about to die already, what am I still afraid of? Fuck, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s anything that I can be afraid of now! Holding his breath, he leapt down, carrying the rifle, like a furious lion! As the zombie made its way through the site, it was thrown to the ground by Zhang Yingjie who landed on it and made a series of strange calls. Next, Zhang Yingjie crouched on its body, the zombie¡¯s deafening roars piercing his head, and he shoved the barrel of the rifle right into its mouth! Bang! The zombie¡¯s bandages fell apart. Bang!! Blood ran from all seven orifices of the zombie. Bang!!! The zombie gave a shrill cry, and with a swing of its arm, it swept Zhang Yingjie away! Zhang Yingjie crashed onto the mess on the ground, unmoving. The zombie was like a pile of clattering, rattling bones. Its skull almost completely broken, its scrambled brains exposed to the air, its eyes, ears, nose and mouth all squished together. It stood there, looking confusedly around its surrounding, seeming as though it could not find its target. ¡°You¡­¡± Si Nan stood up, his vision darkening, his pale face stained with blood. In that moment, he was like an uncannily savage monster. ¡°You need to die¡ª!¡± Si Nan threw the dagger. It spun around midair, and pierced heavily right into the zombie¡¯s brain! With a splash, the brain fluids splattered around. The zombie finally twitched a couple of times, crumpling onto the ground. *** The testing site was silent. Si Nan knelt onto the ground, falling as he looked up to the heavens. There was a moment when he too felt that he was dead. His eyelids had never felt this heavy before, as though once he shut his eyes, he would immediately fall into a peaceful sleep. Once he shut his eyes, he could immediately be free from the heart-rending pain, the weight of being parted by death, the devastated world. The eyes covered with blood slowly fell shut. Five minutes later, he coughed unexpectedly, and once again opened his eyes. Enduring his pain, Si Nan flipped his body over. A pair of hands dripping with blood pressed upon the metal and glass shards on the ground, and he could feel some sort of thick, sticky liquid flowing past his fingers. At first, he thought that it was blood, but quickly discovered that it was not. That was the red fluid in the test tubes that he had broken just now. In that instant, the atmosphere thickened. Si Nan stared blankly at the three remaining test tubes made of metal. In his confusion, fractured images flashed through his mind. The plane jolted about. Screams of terror sounded, and the seats were dyed with blood. The door of the cockpit slammed shut, and the swarm of the living dead vanished behind the door. A blood red syringe fell out from the refrigerator¡­ Si Nan shivered, his brain suddenly blanked out, and an immense pain tore through his head! ¡°¡­ Ahhh¡­¡± Hugging his head, he curled his body. His memories seemed to appear as though rising up from the depths of the sea, but then, in a blink of an eye, they all disappeared into clean air! ¡°The serum,¡± He mumbled. ¡°Serum, serum, serum¡­¡± In the dim lighting, it was as though Si Nan was possessed. He picked up the test tubes, feeling out a syringe from the mess of instruments on the console. Crawling his way to Zhang Yingjie, he did not even check if he was breathing before he injected the entire serum into his jugular vein. He then repeated his actions, stumbling over and kneeling by Yan Hao who was taking his last breaths, injecting his arm with another full vial of serum! Minutes ticked by very very slowly, but it felt like seconds to Si Nan. He knelt there, a wound on his forehead, blood drying on his chilled face. His arms, his legs, his stomach, they were all dyed red. The dried portions of his clothes were maroon, and the wet portions a bright, fresh red. Damp, they clung onto his body, looking like a red canvas of varying shades that were due to poor dyeing techniques. Bundling up his jacket to press it against Yan Hao¡¯s bleeding wound, he had never used so much strength in his life ever before ¡ª it was as if he was in a race with fate that hung invisible in the air, as if he was desperately, tightly, gripping the scythe of the grim reaper. ¡°¡­ Ah¡­ Ahhhhh¡­ Ah¡­!¡± Si Nan wrenched his head towards Zhang Yingjie. The serum was reacting rapidly in Zhang Yingjie¡¯s body, but it was the worst case scenario ¡ª all his blood vessels were bulging out, turning bruised. It was as though someone was strangling him, and his eyes were fixed looking up. Next, under Si Nan¡¯s hopeless gaze, Zhang Yingjie¡¯s body bowed upwards, the last spurts of bloody foam escaping his mouth, and he collapsed back down, motionlessly. ¡ª He was dead. He was staring into the endless darkness, his eyes empty and void. However, his face was turned slightly towards Si Nan and Yan Hao, as though he wanted to see his comrades-in-arms for the last time. Until the last moment when his life elapsed, Zhang Yingjie had maintained a human¡¯s awareness and pain. There was no sign of him turning into a zombie. Si Nan did not make a sound. He held the empty syringe he had just on Yan Hao tightly, his neck turning inch by inch with much difficulty¡ª Behind him, Yan Hao¡¯s death struggles suddenly intensified, and became exceptionally distinct. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 ¡°Don¡¯t die¡­¡± Si Nan choked on the blood welling up in his throat, feeling at a loss. ¡°Don¡¯t die, please, don¡¯t die¡­¡± Yan Hao¡¯s body bowed up, his face grimacing. The blood vessels on his exposed arms and necks bulged, as though green earthworms were writhing around him. He looked extremely horrifying, and Si Nan lifted up his body and placed him on his own thigh. Pressing the blood soaked jacket tightly to his wound, he used this elevation method and hopelessly tried to make a miracle happen. ¡°Ahh¡­ AH!¡± Yan Hao spasmed for the last time, his chest heaving fiercely. In that moment, Si Nan¡¯s hoarse cry turned sharp. ¡°Yan Hao! Hold on! Look at me, Yan Hao!¡± ¡°Ahh¡ª¡± There were a few seconds when Si Nan felt like he had received a very hard slap. A buzz sounded in his ears, and he could not hear anything. He could only watch as Yan Hao¡¯s moans abruptly seized as though he was being strangled. Yan Hao¡¯s body suddenly collapsed, his bulging veins subsided, and all his convulsions and death throes all vanished. Silence descended upon them. The world turned into nothingness, bringing away with it all the light and hope, drifting into the dark. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan felt as though he was sinking down to an ice-cold seabed, falling backwards in despair. Clang! The centrifuge had long been broken and damaged as they were fighting the zombie. With the weight of his body, it fell apart. Yan Hao¡¯s body suddenly jerked, and an earth-shaking spasm exploded from him. Cough cough cough¡ª!! It was as though a shot of adrenaline had been injected straight into Si Nan¡¯s heart. He sprung up and grabbed Yan Hao¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Yan Hao! Yan Hao! Wake up, hold on! Hold on!!¡± The jacket fell onto the ground. The gaping wound on Yan Hao¡¯s neck rapidly coagulated, turning into a dark red scab. His chest heaved violently, and in the midst of his struggles, his eyes opened slightly. With a lot of effort, he moved his lips. In a couple of moves Si Nan removed all possible items of clothing he could on his body, leaving him in only a thin black singlet. He threw the rest of his clothes all at once over Yan Hao to keep him warm. Pressing his fingers against Yan Hao¡¯s faint pulse, he felt that a miracle was slowly happening. That faint pulse that had almost faded away was now thrumming vigorously again! ¡°¡­¡± Yan Hao made a sound. Si Nan pressed his ear right to his lips, focusing all his attention before he heard a word. ¡°Jie¡­¡± Zhang Yingjie had died. Si Nan¡¯s heart sank. It was as though a bucket of cold water had been thrown over his churning emotions. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s fine,¡± Si Nan said hoarsely, averting his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re all fine¡­ D-don¡¯t worry.¡± Yan Hao¡¯s smile could barely be detected. His dried and cracked lips were unable to even quirk up, and he fainted away. Si Nan was exhausted, but Yan Hao was still in a critical condition. He did not dare to allow himself to faint as well, and so he could only bite his tongue to keep awake. The temperature in the underground lab was very low. During the violent struggle just now, the cold could not be felt. Now that he was sitting down, together with a large loss of blood, the chill soon crept up his limbs and travelled through his body. Si Nan rubbed at his arms, his teeth chattering non-stop. Shuddering, he surveyed his surroundings, considering possible solutions for getting out of this place. However, after looking around the entire circular space a few times, there seemed to be no answer. Did that mean they really could only sit there and wait for their team to rescue them? But where was Zhou Rong? ¡°Zhou Rong¡­¡± Si Nan tried his luck and shouted. ¡°Zhou Rong!¡± He looked up to the ceiling, his voice increasing in volume. ¡°Zhou Rong!¡± ¡°Captain Zhou!¡± ¡°Chuncao! Ding Shi! Guo Weixiang!¡± Si Nan was both furious and hopeless. ¡°Rong-ge!!¡± Bang¡ª Far away from the top of the pit, he could hear the sound of gunfire! Si Nan di not expect that calling for ¡°Rong-ge¡± would actually work, and he was stunned. He heard the loud rattling sounds of the machine gun, and next, a heavy object landed on the ground with a crash! Zhou Rong yelled, ¡°Si Nan!¡± Zhou Rong sprinted over madly. From the edge of the pit, he stretched half his body out. When he saw the situation inside, he almost collapsed. Huffing for breath, he spoke, ¡°A gorilla appeared in a corridor. We wanted to make a detour, and when you shouted we¡­¡± ¡°Yingjie is gone,¡± Si Nan said hoarsely. Zhou Rong froze. Chuncao, Dingshi and Guo Weixiang all stuck their heads out, stunned. Si Nan was unable to describe what he was feeling. He had still able to composedly consider an escape route just now, but upon seeing Zhou Rong¡¯s head appear over the edge, hearing his torn and hoarse voice, he suddenly could not control his emotions, and hot tears flowed down his cheeks. Brokenly, he told that what had happened. Trying his best to summarise it concisely, he still choked several times during the short narration. Zhou Rong¡¯s gaze fell onto Zhang Yingjie¡¯s body not too far away. He closed his eyes, and spoke in a low voice after some time. ¡°We¡¯ve downloaded all the information related to the virus. The red fluid you discovered should be the antibodies. They¡¯re unstable, and their effects vary from person to person¡­¡± ¡°Now, Si Nan,¡± Zhou Rong opened his eyes, giving him directions clearly. ¡°Search for any remaining antibodies, bundle them onto Yan Hao¡¯s body, and try your best to carefully pass it up.¡± Si Nan was already completely worn out. He had to try a few times before he managed to stand up. The chiller section on the equipment table meant to store the antibodies had already been smashed by him. Out of the four tubes left, he had already used two. Fortunately, the two remaining metal tubes still felt cold to the touch, and the tubes seemed like they were designed to keep cold. Si Nan used his blood soaked shirt and wrapped the two extremely priceless tubes up in it. Thinking about it, he changed to using Zhang Yingjie¡¯s jacket, then attached the bundle firmly onto Yan Hao¡¯s body. He tried his best to lift Yan Hao up and placed him on the makeshift stretcher that Zhou Rong and the rest had used clothes to make. ¡°We need to quickly leave this place. Yan Hao¡¯s team had managed to get an armoured vehicle from the armoury. It¡¯s now parked at the north exit all the way above¡­¡± Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang worked together to pull the stretcher up. Zhou Rong detected Yan Hao¡¯s undeniable Alpha pheromones from his blood, and his words came to a halt. ¡ª But his expression still remained very calm. Zhou Rong retrieved a stimulant shot meant for military use from his bag and jabbed it into Yan Hao. Turning back to the pit, he called out to Si Nan. ¡°We¡¯ll need about two hours to reach the top. Everyone is nearly at the brink of collapse, and we need to move fast.¡± Zhou Rong personally took the rope, tossing one end down the pit. He gestured at Si Nan to come up. However, Si Nan¡¯s hands remained on his knees. He did not speak for a long time, and suddenly headed towards another direction. ¡ª He wanted to bring Zhang Yingjie¡¯s body with him. Zhou Rong wanted to say something, but swallowed it back. No one in the team spoke. The silence thickened, turning the atmosphere acrid, blocking everyone¡¯s throats. Si Nan¡¯s footsteps suddenly stopped. In the shadows in front, Zhang Yingjie seemed to have moved. For an instant, Si Nan even thought that there were problems with his vision, and he had seen wrongly. However, a grating sound could then be heard, and Zhang Yingjie leapt backwards in a very strange position. It was that zombie! It still had yet to fully die, and wanted to drag Zhang Yingjie¡¯s corpse away! Zhou Rong, ¡°Don¡¯t follow!¡± Si Nan, ¡°Stop!!¡± Zhou Rong was stunned by Si Nan¡¯s wild roar. He then saw Si Nan fly into a rage, shooting straight at the zombie! This zombie even knew to avoid people. Dragging Zhang Yingjie along, it started running. Despite being unarmed, Si Nan chased after it. He really had no disregard for his life, and flew across the toppled instruments and shattered glass with no hesitation. A large equipment blocked his way, and gritting his teeth, Si Nan slammed into it, knocking it over and creating an extremely loud noise. ¡°Give me the gun!¡± Zhou Rong snatched the Type-89 gun from Guo Weixiang¡¯s arms, aiming aiming at the target. However, under the dim lighting, as well as the zombie¡¯s speed, Zhou Rong was unable to lock on to the target. As he was feeling anxious, he saw the zombie escape into a corner of the testing site. Somehow, the zombie suddenly hunched over and vanished with Zhang Yingjie¡¯s body. Si Nan ran over to take a look. The zombie had entered a waterway! Chewing could be heard coming from below. Blood lust took over Si Nan. ¡°I¡¯ll die here with you today!!¡± Then, he leapt down! Zhou Rong swore loudly, throwing the Type-89 gun back at Guo Weixiang. ¡°Don¡¯t follow us!¡± Chuncao, ¡°Rong-ge?!¡± Zhou Rong grabbed his knife, holding it in a backhand grip. From his thigh holster, he pulled the Type-64 gun out, jumping into the pit like a bird of prey! Probably due to the amount of drainage required, the drains below the testing ground led in every direction. Si Nan landed in the knee-high waters, staggering. Not too far from him, he saw a shadow flash past and immediately stumbled after it. His speed could not be considered to be slow, and in his rage, he was even quite agile. However, the drain was very dark. Every turn led to four or five different passages, and after a while, he could no longer see where the zombie was. Si Nan surveyed his surroundings. He heard a splash behind him. Turning around, a figure could be seen, it was Zhou Rong! Zhou Rong called out, ¡°Don¡¯t come over, be careful!¡± Before the echoes even faded away, the groans of the zombie could be heard right in front of him! Zhou Rong squinted in the dark, his eyes sharp and cold. The many shots and explosions had caused the zombie¡¯s face to be completely destroyed, and its brain had even been blasted away. However, for some reason, it could still move. Seeing Zhou Rong, it tossed Zhang Yingjie away. With a strange sounding roar, it moved towards him! Leaping up, Zhou Rong grabbed hold of a beam on top of the drain. A beautifully executed pull-up, and the zombie ran past below him. Water splashed about. Zhou Rong let go, landing back on the ground. A knife in his hand, his calculations were perfect, and he accurately stabbed the zombie who had turned back to try taking a bite out of him! The zombie screamed and reeled back before lunging forward again. The narrow, constrained space was filled with sprays of water and the zombie¡¯s sharp claws. In such harsh visual conditions, Zhou Rong¡¯s night vision goggles were no longer effective. However, he was able to press on and retreat as needed, handling the situation skilfully. Just by listening, he could judge the location of the zombie. Suddenly, using his left foot as a pivot point, he spun. His back was plastered to the zombie¡¯s chest, and he threw his elbow heavily into its stomach! His speed was even faster than lightning. The zombie was thrown back, and crashed into the water. Zhou Rong moved so quickly it seemed as though he disappeared and reappeared instantly right in front of the zombie. The zombie stretched its neck out to bite him. Expressionless, Zhou Rong deftly slammed his knife between the sharp teeth of the monster. Crunch! A corner of the military-issued tungsten steel knife broke off, and the blade was stuck right into the zombie¡¯s mouth! Zhou Rong planted a foot onto the zombie¡¯s chest. The mud and blood stained military boot felt as though it weighed a thousand pounds, shoving the zombie back into the water. Next, he raised his gun. Aiming at its throat, he pressed the trigger. Bang! Bang! Bang¡ª!! Every bullet hit at the exact same spot. Six shots went through, the zombie¡¯s neck severed, and its head was smashed a few metres away. Zhou Rong tossed the empty gun away. Violently, he tore away the stainless pipe from above his head, and hurled it fiercely down to the ground! The pipe pierced through the zombie¡¯s chest, and was pinned right to the floor! The ground trembled non-stop, and the ripples dispersed out. The muffled thunderous noise lingered. Zhou Rong exhaled a long breath. He stepped back, no longer looking at the zombie, and turned away, walking towards the main waterway. Right at this moment, he saw someone flash past, stumbling as they ran into the distance. From behind, Zhou Rong shouted, ¡°Si Nan!¡± Zhou Rong sprinted after him, but who would have guessed that Si Nan would turn a deaf ear to him. Turning around a corner, he disappeared. The rapid chase through the drains did not last very long, and Zhou Rong soon discovered the weary figure just ten metres away. ¡°Si Nan! Wait!¡± The clanging of metal could be heard. Si Nan ran past a metal door. Zhou Rong immediately stopped. ¡°Don¡¯t close the door, I won¡¯t go over!¡± Holding the door, Si Nan seemed to be hesitating a little. From his posture, it was very evident that he had gone through some form of training before. Even in such a wretched situation, his back was still firmly upright. From his raised chin to his long and slender neck, his defined collarbones, his tense shoulders, the exposed parts of his skin glowed slightly in the dark. Zhou Rong stared at him closely. Observing him carefully, the muscles of Zhou Rong¡¯s back and legs were contracted tightly. He seemed like a cheetah ready to pounce on its prey at any moment. However, when he opened his mouth, his voice was strangely gentle, and even a little placating. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t harm you, nor will I touch you.¡± Zhou Rong raised his hands up, his palms facing outwards, exposing his blood-stained body ¡ª his Alpha pheromones aggressively filled the area, and his masculine scent was overbearing. If a comparison had to be made, Yan Hao¡¯s pheromones could be described as being gentle. ¡°The base is about to be blasted with a nuclear bomb,¡± Zhou Rong spoke slowly. ¡°You have to withdraw with us.¡± Si Nan still remained motionless, as though he did not hear anything. Zhou Rong could not see his expression clearly. Actually, Zhou Rong could guess what he was thinking. In this world with the current disparity in the ratio of Alphas and Omegas, for people who looked like Si Nan, even though they were Betas, they would have definitely experienced various sorts unhappy pasts with regards to these pheromones. After the apocalypse, humanity now followed the law of the jungle. All rules and regulations had been eroded. For Si Nan, being surrounded by a group of dominant, masculine Alphas, he might feel that it was even more dangerous than being surrounded by zombies. But Zhou Rong did not give up. ¡°Come here.¡± His eyes were fixed on Si Nan. Using a comforting, gentle, yet commanding tone, he emphasised every word. ¡°We¡¯re withdrawing, come with me.¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 The underground waterway was filled with a deathly stillness. Only the sound of dripping water could be heard, echoing softly through the tunnels. Si Nan turned his head away slightly. Separating them was distance of over ten metres. Zhou Rong could see the shadows further carving out his sharp features. From his straight nose to his lips, his chin, it was like a paper-cut silhouette. ¡°You guys go ahead.¡± He suddenly spoke, ¡°I¡¯ll return to the entrance and drive the old vehicle back.¡± Before Zhou Rong could persuade him, he heard the metal door clanged shut, followed closely by the sound of the door locking. Zhou Rong was furious. He ran up and grabbed the bars of the door. ¡°Si Nan!¡± The echoes from shaking the door reverberated through the tunnels. However, Si Nan was already a few metres away, stepping through the water. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous for you to be alone, go with us!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to care about me!¡± Zhou Rong looked at his blood stained, handsome and cold face, unable to understand what he was thinking. The Si Nan who would take the initiative mumbling into his ear quietly, the Si Nan who cried aloud immediately when seeing him in the pit, the Si Nan who burst into fury when seeing Zhang Yingjie¡¯s body being stolen, had suddenly turned back into that distant, aloof, on guard Si Nan whom they met for the first time in T City, even staying several metres away from him. It was as though after experiencing a life and death situation, all his liveliness and intense emotions too vanished along with him, turning him back into that icy, cold, shell. Si Nan¡¯s unusual defensiveness against Alphas made Zhou Rong think of some extremely unpleasant guesses. However, he was unwilling to think further about it, and only gave a long sigh. ¡°Comrade Xiao-Si, it¡¯ll take at least two hours to get to the entrance from here. You¡¯re all alone, and you don¡¯t have any weapons¡­¡± Si Nan extended his hand. ¡°Give them to me.¡± ¡°?¡± ¡°A gun, and the car key.¡± ¡°You!¡± Zhou Rong pointed at his nose, furious. ¡°You better not go overboard! You don¡¯t even trust your own teammate?! You¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not giving them?¡± Si Nan spoke coldly, then turned and left. Zhou Rong immediately removed the Uzi submachine gun from his body, taking out the key to the old armoured vehicle they had used to drive into B City. ¡°Come here!¡± Si Nan refused. ¡°Toss them over.¡± Time ticked on. Si Nan¡¯s attitude was as immovable as solid ice. Zhou Rong felt conflicted for a moment, and he could not think of anything else to do. As such, he could only toss the uzi and the key through the bars. Thinking about it, he was still worried, and he advised him. ¡°The sewage system of the base is very complicated. There might also still be zombie gorillas near Zone E. Just wait here, I¡¯ll go up and get a signal flare. If you happen to be in danger you should immediately¡­¡± Before he could finish, Si Nan picked up the car key and the submachine gun before turning and leaving. Zhou Rong choked, ¡°Hey! Where exactly are you going?!¡± Si Nan did not even look back, replying calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll see you at the factory.¡± Zhou Rong listened to his footsteps getting further away. Finally, he exhaled, giving up. The distance between people was truly like this. A one-sided endless pursuit would only cause the other side to vigilantly retreat even more quickly ¡ª he thought self-mockingly. Turning around, he returned down the same path he took here. Suddenly, Zhou Rong rubbed at his nose, smelling something strange. The stink that had been brewing over the years in the tunnels was thick. Mixed with the rusty smell from the metal doors, the mold from the walls, it was as though an atomic bomb with strange smells was attacking his nose. However, amidst this indiscriminate combination of smells, where Si Nan stood just now had an indistinct scent of something he could not put into words. He was unable to describe what it was, but his heart sped up. However, when he paused for a moment, the scent was again covered up by the pungent smell of the tunnels. ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Chuncao¡¯s voice travelled from a distance. ¡°Where are you? Are you all right? Where¡¯s Si Nan?¡± Chuncao could wait no longer, and decided to come down to take a look. Zhou Rong regained his senses, and coughed. ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ I¡¯m here, come and give me a hand.¡± Zhou Rong and Chuncao worked together to move Zhang Yingjie back up the tunnel. Si Nan had jumped very quickly into the tunnel, and Zhang Yingjie¡¯s body did not suffer much damage. Only his eyes were still wide open. Zhou Rong tried to close them, but no matter how he tried, they never shut. Ding Shi said that there was something his village used to say. A person whose eyes could not be closed after death was because there was still something they were worried about. As such, Zhou Rong crouched on the ground, looking at Zhang Yingjie. ¡°Yingjie, Yan Hao has survived, we all have survived. We¡¯re about to take the information and the anti-bodies to Nanhai. When the mission is done, we¡¯ll go steal a helicopter and go to the northeast to bring your wife and child to the shelter. In the future, whatever I have, your wife and child would have them too. As long as I still have a breath, your wife and child will live a good life¡­¡± Zhou Rong reached out again, and this time, Zhang Yingjie¡¯s round eyes slowly closed. When entering the base, the seven of them had been making quips and jokes. Now, when leaving, there were only four standing, one unconscious, and another who would never wake up again. Zhou Rong and the group first returned to the central zone before heading up. Along the way, they met waves and hoards of zombies. However, Yan Hao and his group had managed to gather large amounts of ammunition, and a few rounds of shooting as well as hand grenades soon cleared the passage. They arrived at the surface half an hour quicker than they estimated. Seeing the explosion-proof armoured vehicle, Zhou Rong exclaimed, ¡°You guys are sure capable. You even managed to drive this over?¡± Guo Weixiang responded, ¡°We had to manually blast a few doors open before we could drive it up. At first, we wanted to head back to steal a helicopter, but then we got caught by the zombies.¡± ¡°So, this shows that people should really not bite off more than they can chew. If you¡¯ve just waited here, wouldn¡¯t you guys have been fine? However, you guys really can run. Running all the way from the south zone to the north zone. Not sending you guys to the Olympics was truly a loss for our country¡¯s track and field team¡­ Oh? There are even mortars!¡± Chuncao spoke, ¡°Enough, Rong-ge. You¡¯re starting to drool.¡± Zhou Rong smiled. He lifted the mortar onto his shoulder, testing it. He then tossed it back into the trunk and slammed it shut. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The armoured vehicle made a turn, rushing out of the parking lot of the base. With a crash, it blew through the gate, flying towards the south. Six am at dawn, the sky was dark and grey over the blood red earth. Along the metal chain fence, Zhou Rong made a turn. In front was the entrance to the tunnel they had used to enter the base. The old armoured vehicle they had used earlier was still parked by the road. A figure was leaning against the door. Hearing the sound, he turned around. Si Nan had clearly done some washing up. He found a set of the uniform worn by the riot police somewhere. On his feet were a pair of black leather boots with thick soles, and on him hung an uzi submachine gun. He looked as though he was waiting for the sunrise, or he was simply just resting over there. The blood stains on that handsome face had already been washed off. Due to being dressed entirely in black, his face seemed even more coldly pale. When the armoured vehicle drove past, through the windows, he composedly met Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes. Zhou Rong looked at him from his elevated position with a scrutinising gaze. Si Nan was quickly left in the dust. From the rearview mirror, Si Nan could be seen getting into the vehicle, and it slowly made its way onto the road. *** The distance between both vehicles was less than two hundred metres, sticking together closely. The few times Zhou Rong looked up, he could see the shadow of the vehicle behind. The sky gradually lightened. Each time they drove past a big supermarket and a petrol station, Zhou Rong would always stop and lead the group to look for goods as well as stocking up their food and water supply. Si Nan too stopped his vehicle as well, but he did not get down. Instead, he took a nap in the driver¡¯s seat. Rummaging through the messy shelves, Zhou Rong gathered up the batteries, salt, soap, paper clips and other various items into a cardboard box. He carried them out of the supermarket, casually kicking a stumbling zombie away. He grabbed a bottle of aspirin and tossed it at Ding Shi, signalling him to feed it to Yan Hao. Turning around, he saw Chuncao on tiptoes, leaning against the window of the armoured vehicle and speaking to Si Nan. Zhou Rong was not very happy to see this. Standing still, he pondered over it for a moment, then returned to the supermarket, shooting some zombies. He headed towards the food section and found a few packs of candied fruit, bringing them along with him. ¡°Daughter!¡± Zhou Rong stood between the two vehicles and shouted, raising the candied fruit and waving them. Chuncao looked up, and as expected, she was scornful. ¡°It¡¯s sweet and sticky! Who would ever want to eat that!¡± Zhou Rong could distinctly see the bob of Si Nan¡¯s throat, as though he had just swallowed his saliva. ¡°Then forget it,¡± Zhou Rong spoke disappointedly. Holding the candied fruit, he slowly walked away. On their way back, they stopped for about seven or eight times, ransacking several supermarkets. With their strength, they transported more than a ton of food staples and dozens of boxes of daily necessities, a remarkable quantity. Yan Hao¡¯s situation did not improve, but neither did it worsen. He was still unconscious, and by evening time, he had a slight fever. Zhou Rong wanted to break into the hospital¡¯s pharmacy, but the public hospitals were the worst-hit areas by zombies. They only had four fighters at full strength. Together with Si Nan who was very likely to leech off them and just gain experience, there were a total of four and a half of them. With tanks and no healers, they really did not have the strength to invade the public hospital, and so Zhou Rong had to give up. Fortunately, before the sky darkened completely, they finally found a hospital dealing with plastic surgery. The doctors and nurses had all turned into zombies and ran away. Zhou Rong then brought along his trash daughter and swaggered into the pharmacy. He did not care if he recognised them, but as long as they were medication, he brought them all with him. ¡°Don¡¯t try it!¡± Zhou Rong was appalled. ¡°There¡¯s no chance for you ever in this life, don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Chuncao stretched her neck as she stood in front of a mirror. Holding a fake silicon chest, she held it up to her own chest. ¡°Say, on our journey, is there a chance to rescue a plastic surgeon?¡± Chuncao seemed to be in deep thought. ¡°Don¡¯t they all say female Alphas are mostly curvy? Why is there nothing happening with my chest? I think I might be a fake Alpha¡­¡± Zhou Rong was helpless. ¡°The second puberty of another body part of yours doesn¡¯t seem to agree with that.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even use it now. Also, I can¡¯t take a photo of it and ask for likes.¡± Her words were very logical. Zhou Rong was unable to respond to that, and could only console her. ¡°The next time, just take a photo and send it to your friend circle. We¡¯ll like the photo.¡± They each carried two boxes of medication. Around Chuncao¡¯s neck hung her fake silicon chest, and they exited the plastic surgery hospital. Ding Shi was standing guard, carrying his gun. Guo Weixiang was pissing onto a telegraph pole by the roadside. Behind them, the trunk of the armoured vehicle was open. Half of Si Nan¡¯s body was inside, seeming to be looking for something. Zhou Rong coughed. Si Nan immediately stopped, taking a bottle of water out from the trunk. As he drank, he quickly made his way back to the vehicle behind. ¡°¡­ You¡¯re really not talking to each other anymore?¡± Chuncao asked quietly. Zhou Rong asked in return, ¡°What were you talking about just now?¡± ¡°N-nothing much¡­ He doesn¡¯t like Alphas, and feel that the pheromones are too oppressive, and he doesn¡¯t feel safe¡­ I said that my pheromones are weaker than all of yours, he agreed, and nothing else after that.¡± Zhou Rong nodded, remaining silent. Chuncao continued sympathetically, ¡°I think that Si Xiaonan might have suffered some trauma in the past. If the viral outbreak didn¡¯t happen, he would actually be suitable for promoting the rights of Betas, asking for equal treatment and organising charities etc¡­¡± The night fell, and the group returned to the armoured vehicle for dinner. As they had gathered many resources, the stingy, miserly Zhou Rong finally was willing to be generous this time. He broke open the beer and several cans of meat and vegetables, dipping the bread into a jar of Lao Gan Ma1 and eating. Si Nan was still hiding in the old armoured vehicle, unwilling to join them. Chuncao then took some food and drinks to go look for him. A moment later, she returned. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want beer, and asked if there¡¯s any more Lao Gan Ma.¡± ¡°Does he really plan on cutting all ties with us?¡± Guo Weixiang was disappointed. Zhou Rong said, ¡°You tell him, if he cuts off ties with us, there¡¯s no more Lao Gan Ma.¡± Obeying the instructions, Chuncao left, only to return very quickly. ¡°¡®Fine, no more then no more, just wait and see. Tonight I want two blankets to sleep.¡¯¡± Zhou Rong was about to say that if he cut off all ties, there would be no blanket. However, the entire car stared at him with deploring eyes. Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­ Give him three!¡± *** Late October nights up north were very cold. The few people squeezed in the armoured vehicle, making their beds on the floor. Only Zhou Rong was separated a distance away from the rest, sleeping at the furthest spot right next to the car door. In the middle of the night, the moon and stars shone brightly. The vehicle door slid open silently. Si Nan was wrapped entirely in a blanket, and only his right hand was extended. Rummaging through the cardboard box that stored food, he seemed to be looking for something. His breathing was even quieter than a feline on a hunt. However, the box did not contain his desired target. It did not even have any other snacks, only an empty bottle of Lao Gan Ma. The plastic bag was full of plain soda crackers and bread. Si Nan¡¯s eyes slid about. Zhou Rong¡¯s back was facing him, snoring steadily. There was a bulge in the pocket of his camouflage pants, looking as though something was stuffed in it. A corner of a packaging was revealed. Si Nan, ¡°¡­?¡± Si Nan did not make any sound. Using two fingers, he pinched that corner. Just as he was about to exert some strength to pull the bag out, Zhou Rong suddenly turned around and raised his arm. Grabbing hold of Si Nan¡¯s waist lightning quick, he caught him and pulled him under himself! Thunk! Si Nan¡¯s head hit the bedding, and a dull thud could be heard. Not far away, Guo Weixiang scratched his ass as he turned around. Mumbling, he seemed to be mentioning something about braised pork. Si Nan¡¯s brows were knitted tightly. Under the moonlight, his pursed lips reddened slightly, and he stared at Zhou Rong in silence. Holding their overlapping positions, they did not move. A few seconds later, peace returned to their surroundings. Zhou Rong studied Si Nan¡¯s amber eyes, a lofty amusement in his own eyes, as his lips quirked up. He then pulled out that packet of candied apples from his pocket, shaking it. Leaning into Si Nan¡¯s ear, he spoke slowly, ¡°You¡­¡± Before he could finish, his hand was empty. The candied fruit had disappeared. Si Nan pushed him away, huffing as he wrapped the blanket around him. Rushing back to his vehicle, there was no more movement. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 The next morning, Zhou Rong had a headache ¡ª the old armoured vehicle was gone. Carrying his gun, he turned a couple of times, roaring out, ¡°Si Xiaonan!¡± ¡°Si Xiaonan, you better come out now. I¡¯m not joking, quick!!¡± The sound of an engine drew closer, and the armoured vehicle slowly made its way over from the other end of the street, stopping in front of the steaming Zhou Rong. The window wound down, and the driver seat will piled with milk powder, candy, and dehydrated cake. Si Nan had an assault rifle slung around him, and in his hand was a jar of honey. As he ate it, his face was tinted a light red. When Zhou Rong saw that his shoulder was stained with the dark red colour of blood, he knew Si Nan had made a solo trip to rob a supermarket, and exploded. ¡°Leaving the team without official permission! A lack of discipline! Comrade Si Nan, if you were an official member, I would have beat you up personally! Leaving without saying anything, did you consider the consequences?!¡± Si Nan stared coldly at him. ¡°What are you looking at?! If you don¡¯t want to comply, just¡­¡± Zhou Rong had yet to finish, and Si Nan suddenly threw two cartons of cigarettes at his head before swiftly winding the window back up. With a foot to the pedal, he drove towards the main road. ¡°Hey! Bastard!¡± Hit by two cartons of Chunghwa cigarettes, he yelled after the vehicle. Si Nan was truly angry. Zhou Rong finally ended his tour of plunder. Carrying the two cartons of smoke, he drove his vehicle with a dark expression. The two vehicles drove down the expressway in a row out of B City, and returned to the industrial zone in the evening before night fell. The vehicle Si Nan was driving suddenly sped up, making a turn and headed to the factory¡¯s back garden through a side road. Was he trying to imply that they should go their own ways? Turning the steering wheel abruptly, Zhou Rong chased after, a distance behind Si Nan. A few minutes later, he saw him stop by the back gate of the industrial zone. Si Nan jumped off his vehicle with some food items, and with a few moves, he flipped over the fence. Zhou Rong got Chuncao to watch the vehicle while he silently followed after. With a run, he leapt over the fence, then climbed up the gingko tree beyond the fence and sneakily looked downwards. Si Nan was still moving forward, following the deserted path and walking towards the ammonia treatment plant. There was an abandoned garage surrounded by weeds. A slender figure was crouching at the empty space under a window at the back of the garage. Hearing footsteps, that person turned their head, and delightedly came forward. ¡ª It was Wu Xinyan. Being far away from them, Zhou Rong could not hear what they were saying. He watched them for a moment, an unpleasant feeling welling up within him, and he gave a long exhale. What have I hoping in vain for? Zhou Rong thought self-mockingly. That person clearly advocated for Beta rights. It was already good if he did not hate Alphas, what more could he want from him? Also, with his appearance and skills, in an apocalypse like this, there were probably tons of girls who would be willing to attach themselves to him. Zhou Rong¡¯s throat ached a little. Holding onto the branches, he jumped over the fence, and returned. *** ¡°They¡¯re back?¡± Feng Wentai was incredulous. The subordinate nodded. Feng Wentai hastened out of the door, jogging down the stairs to the front yard of the factory. There were already several people gathered there, all survivors who had escaped from T City along with the special force soldiers. The three Alpha bodyguards from the Feng family were on guard there as well, blocking these people, and eyeing the outside with much hostility. Outside the chain fence was a military armoured vehicle. Coming down from the vehicle, Zhou Rong and his people looked exhausted and weary. They were carrying the injured and comatose Yan Hao, as well as the body bag that contained Zhang Yingjie¡¯s remains. When Feng Wentai saw their dirty clothes and their mood, he understood, and his heart sank. However, that captain with the last name Zhou turned his head with a quirk to his lips and ridicule in his eyes. ¡°Feng-xiong! How have you been? Is everything at home ok?¡± He did not wait for Feng Wentai¡¯s response, and turned back to give his subordinates some instructions. ¡°Make an inventory of the items as you carry it in, and record them down. Find a place for Yingjie¡¯s body and wait for me to handle it.¡± He then waved at the crowd, smiling, ¡°Dr. Zheng! My brother here is a little injured, could you please bring two people with you and carry him in to take a look?¡± Other than these few special force soldiers, the thirty-odd survivors had already somewhat saw Dr. Zheng as their leader. Hearing Zhou Rong¡¯s words, they did not say anything, and immediately went up to carefully carry the stretcher Yan Hao was on. ¡°Ah¡ª We¡¯ve only left for a few days, yet it feels like forever has passed!¡± Zhou Rong stretched his muscles that had stiffened up due to driving for a long time. His joints cracked, and he first waved at the crowd again, then smiled and patted Feng Wentai¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ve really troubled Feng-xiong for the past few days! We¡¯ll note your effort down!¡± Once the blood had coagulated and dried, after a period of time, the scent of pheromones would fade away, like how corpses would not leave fingerprints after a few days. Zhou Rong¡¯s intense Alpha pheromones had long dissipated. If not, Si Nan would definitely not have been able to accept him striding about like a long-legged masculine hormone nuclear bomb. However, Feng Wentai did not know that. He only felt that upon returning, Zhou Rong had immediately acted as though he was the head of the family, and his despondent attitude increased further. Still, he was unwilling to reveal his feelings, and so smiled at Zhou Rong. ¡°It¡¯s good, everything¡¯s good. This is my duty, there¡¯s no need to talk about being troubled. Has Captain Zhou contacted Vice Minister Guo yet?¡± Zhou Rong shook his head. Feng Wentai¡¯s smile dimmed slightly. ¡°Then¡­ We¡­¡± Zhou Rong threw an arm around his shoulders. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to the canteen. We¡¯ll talk as we walk.¡± ¡°So this is the case now.¡± Ten minutes later, Zhou Rong shrugged, sitting at one of the tables. It was dinner time, and all the survivors were queuing for food. Only some thin gruel and potatoes were available for them. Not far away, Feng Wentai¡¯s bodyguards were sitting at another table. Each one of them had a gun in their waist holster, and in front of them were white rice accompanied by four other dishes. There were both meat and vegetables, as well as two bottles of beer. Zhou Rong pretended to not see anything. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll leave the factory. All the survivors will take the bus, and we¡¯ll head to the general headquarters in Nanhai. We¡¯ve already gotten the most updated information about the virus research, which is very important for developing a vaccine¡­¡± ¡°One of your people has died, and another has been seriously injured?¡± Feng Wentai interrupted. Zhou Rong replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And one that looks like¡­ rather young?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve lost him,¡± Zhou Rong spoke succinctly. ¡°Which means, there¡¯s only the four of you now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Feng Wentai was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, there was an evident change in his tone, with some slight traces of aloofness in it. ¡°Pardon me for being rude, Captain Zhou. It¡¯s best for us now to remain staying in the factory, and we shouldn¡¯t act rashly. You should transmit our location to the HQ in Nanhai and get them to send a helicopter over to pick us up. If the information you obtained is as important as you say it is, the central authorities would definitely take the initiative to come collect us¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no more ¡®central authorities¡¯ anymore,¡± Zhou Rong replied calmly. ¡°They¡¯re unable to receive our location signal. Before we get into contact with Nanhai, we cannot be sure if Nanhai has fallen yet.¡± ¡°Then we should go to Dongbei,¡± Feng Wentai immediately responded. ¡°My family has some territories in Dongbei, as well as a grain processing plant. If the people under our employment are still alive, when we gather them up, they can form a relatively impressive military force. Also, the cold in the north can hinder the zombie¡¯s movements, and from every angle, it is safer than going down to the south where the population is denser.¡± Feng Wentai had clearly thought about this already, and he spoke continuously and pleasantly, changing the topic again. ¡°Captain Zhou and the other brothers are very loyal to the country, and are very respectable. However, in this apocalypse, you should still think about yourself. If Captain Zhou is willing to bring your subordinates and join us, I would definitely not dare to slight all of you. When we reach Dongbei, I would make sure everyone of you would have an easy and comfortable life ¡ª there¡¯s no need to mention about riches and luxuries in the apocalypse, but at least, your life will be no worse than how it was before. What do you think of this?¡± Chuncao, Guo Weixiang and Ding Shi finished taking stock of all items. Carrying their lunchboxes, they entered the canteen. From afar, they saw Feng Wentai and Zhou Rong sitting face to face in a corner, and a few bodyguards from the Feng family were sitting nearby, drinking beer, looking as though they were up to no good. Chuncao immediately took a couple of steps forward, only to see Zhou Rong waving her away with his hand behind his back. ¡°How should I put this,¡± Zhou Rong laughed. ¡°As a special force soldier, we¡¯ve been trained by the country for so many years. Right now, it¡¯s the time when the country needs us the most¡­¡± Feng Wentai was impatient. ¡°I understand that, but Captain Zhou should also consider your subordinates as well. Two of your people have already sacrificed themselves, and what can the country give them? A medal? A pension? Even the entire B Military Zone could perish! The government seems like they can barely even protect themselves, what pension can the country provide?!¡± ¡°Feng-laoban,¡± Zhou Rong scoffed. ¡°Yan Hao hasn¡¯t died.¡± Feng Wentai choked. Zhou Rong observed his countenance, and coughed before he could continue. ¡°Also, if we set off to the north, what happens to everyone here?¡± Feng Wentai surveyed the surroundings. In the distance, they were queuing for their food. Many were looking at the miserable gruel in their bowls, then looking over to the bodyguards¡¯ food and beer, revealing an unsatisfied expression. ¡°We don¡¯t have much supplies,¡± He spoke in a low voice. Zhou Rong quietly looked at him. ¡°If we were to bring everyone, I¡¯m afraid all the food will be finished halfway. In the freezing weather, if we¡¯re unable to gather more supplies, everyone might just die.¡± Feng Wentai deliberated for a moment, and finally continued, ¡°In my opinion, those who have problems walking, as well as the weaker ones, it would be better for them to remain in this factory. Also, the non compliant ones, to prevent them from causing any internal struggle in our journey, we should just let them survive on their own. This is also a way of mediating¡­¡± Zhou Rong did not utter a word, and his amusement deepened. Feng Wentai¡¯s meaning was very clear. There was no need to bring along the women, the old and the young, and it was better to leave the ones who looked more argumentative behind as well. He was an Alpha, their destination was his home. For all they knew, when they arrived at Dongbei they even need to rely on him for supplies. And so, only the ones who were willing to yield to him, comply with him would be allowed to come along with him. As for the food and items stockpiled in the factory, they would definitely bring the supplies back with them. By the time they returned to Dongbei, Feng-laoban would naturally be able to stage a comeback with everyone, constructing a strict and impartial Utopia ¡ª Of course, by then, Zhou Rong and the others who had been with them since the start would not be slighted. ¡°Feng-laoban is truly farsighted,¡± Zhou Rong clapped and exclaimed. Feng Wentai smiled modestly. ¡°But,¡± Zhou Rong said earnestly. ¡°We still have to go to Nanhai.¡± ¡°¡­ Why?¡± ¡°The zombies still retain many of their basic functions, and one of them is seeking warmth. Once winter sets in, most of the zombies would head south. If we were to head north right now, we would definitely meet countless zombies along the way, and this is one reason.¡± ¡°As for the second reason,¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s unscrupulous smirk gradually faded away. That pair of deep set eyes, his face with its sharp features, finally revealed his real attitude ¡ª his disgust, his haughtiness, his anger. No matter what he was looking at, he was above them, and his aura was of an oppressiveness that did not allow anyone to rebut him. ¡°The virus research that Zhang Yingjie had used his life to exchange for must be delivered to the army. Even if Nanhai has fallen to the enemies, we will still persevere until the day we can find the military.¡± ¡°On this journey, we will not give up on any one of the survivors. Whether old, female, pregnant, or a child, as long as we see them, we¡¯ll save every single one of them. If we¡¯ve exhausted our food supply, we¡¯ll plant our own food. If there are no materials, we¡¯ll look for them. As long as us soldiers are still here, the country will survive. No one would be abandoned.¡± Zhou Rong leaned back in his seat, raising his chin slightly. His thick and defined eyebrow rose up, and he looked at Feng Wentai condescendingly. His lips that were as thin as a blade, his tanned, muscular neck, his biceps that even his uniform could not hide, as well as the assault rifle hanging off his right shoulder, they all radiated with a domineering, masculine strength. Feng Wentai was oppressed to the point where he seemed to have lost his breath. When he regained his wits, he then realised that he had actually been threatened by a Beta. His embarrassment turning into anger, he spoke, ¡°You make a nice speech, but you soldiers are still¡­¡± ¡°You can go canvass the people you want to bring along,¡± Zhou Rong said composedly. He held his hand out, an elegant gesture that motioned Feng Wentai to go ahead. ¡°I won¡¯t stop anyone who wants to leave with you. However, you¡¯re not allowed to bring even a bullet with you. Now, go.¡± Feng Wentai stood up quickly, and a few bodyguards stood up with him as well, their hands all on their waists. The three special force soldiers immediately walked towards them, each with an assault rifle. Chuncao coughed loudly. Zhou Rong was still seated comfortably, as though he did not register the hostile atmosphere in front of him. Feng Wentai gritted his tetteh, staring at that wicked curve to his lips. He wanted to say something harsh, but did not have the guts to do so. A moment later, he could only raise his hand, commanding angrily, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The Alpha bodyguards followed their boss out of the canteen. Chuncao sauntered over, glaring fiercely at their backs. ¡°The Feng fellow cannot be contained anymore.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Zhou Rong cut her off. He thought for a moment, and slowly made his arrangements. ¡°Tonight, set up a watch duty overnight. Make sure there¡¯s eyes on the granary, the garage as well as the front and back gates, and pay attention to Feng Wentai¡¯s movements. The window of the armoured vehicle Si Nan is driving has been pierced, and it cannot withstand any bullets. Move everything inside including the weapons into the new vehicle and lock them up. Chuncao nodded along with his instructions, and Zhou Rong suddenly seemed to recall something. ¡°Where¡¯s Si Nan?¡± ¡°He just returned to the dorm to get some bedding and blankets, and said he¡¯ll be sleeping behind the factory tonight.¡± Chuncao found it strange, ¡°Why is he going there?¡± Zhou Rong remembered Wu Xinyan who was waiting in the garage behind the factory. He kept silent, and his eyes were gloomy. His cold expression made the three members a little apprehensive, and Chuncao leaned against the seat, quietly asking, ¡°Rong-ge?¡± ¡°Comrade Xiao Si is an adult ¡ª If you have the time to care about other people¡¯s matters, why don¡¯t you start thinking about how to get a partner yourself instead?¡± Zhou Rong stood up and ruffled Chuncao¡¯s hair. He laughed, and returned to his usual, careless manner. ¡°Daughter, be good. Go get some potatoes for your father, don¡¯t forget the chili and soy sauce.¡± *** ¡°That¡¯s mine,¡± Si Nan said indifferently. Wu Xinyan, ¡°¡­¡± Wu Xinyan pulled her extended hand back, giving up on that jar of honey. Instead, she turned to that vacuum sealed pack of braised eggs. Si Nan lifted his lids. His possessiveness over the braised eggs were evidently not very strong, and his thick eyelashes again swept down. There were no lights in the abandoned garage. In the winter night, everything was dark. The howling winter wind could be heard, as though a herd of zombies were groaning in the distance. Eating the braised eggs, Wu Xinyan shrank within her blanket. She did not seem able to tolerate the quiet, and so broke the silence. ¡°Hey¡­ Why do you have such a sweet tooth?¡± Si Nan rarely took the initiative to start a conversation with outsiders, but he would answer the questions they posed him. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Do you like anything as long as they¡¯re sweet?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find them cloying?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°My body needs sugar,¡± Si Nan said indifferently. ¡°I often have low blood sugar.¡± Wu Xinyan sighed in relief. ¡°I was still thinking about having heard others saying that only people who had experienced a lot of suffering like eating sweet stuff. If you were to have a tragic story, then I would really be unable to handle it ¡ª Fortunately, I¡¯ve only thought too much into it.¡± ¡°¡­ Be a bit more normal.¡± Si Nan took out that pack of candied apple he could not bear to eat from his pocket. He then started eating it, and the sound of chewing could be heard in the dark. After a while, Wu Xinyan¡¯s voice could be heard again, and this time, she was a little hesitant. ¡°Say, would that Wan fellow really come here tonight?¡± ¡°He will.¡± ¡°¡­ Why?¡± With a chunk of candied apple in his mouth, Si Nan mumbled. ¡°If Zhou Rong asked where did you go, Feng Wentai would definitely say that you ran away yourself, and are missing. That bodyguard with the last name Wan knows that when Zhou Rong starts asking others about it tomorrow, he would no longer have the opportunity to get to you anymore. So, he would definitely grasp this last chance tonight.¡± ¡°Also, you¡¯ve said that the Wan fellow has followed you here today,¡± Si Nan swallowed the candied apple, licking his sticky fingers. ¡°Tonight, when everyone is asleep, he would definitely come here.¡± Nodding, Wu Xinyan¡¯s face was pale. On the ground were two sets of bedding lying parallel to each other. Si Nan and Wu Xinyan each nested within one set, and in between was a pile of snacks. After Wu Xinyan finished the braised eggs, she wanted some chocolate. Just as she picked a piece up, she suddenly thought of something and politely asked, ¡°Can I eat this?¡± ¡°You can.¡± Si Nan said, ¡°Chocolate is one thing I don¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°¡­ Why?!¡± Before Si Nan had to time answer, they suddenly heard a series of light footsteps that stopped outside the window. He was here! A shudder ran through Wu Xinyan¡¯s body, and chills spread to her limbs. With a pleading gaze, she turned towards her side, only to see Si Nan glancing towards the back with a preoccupied look. ¡°¡­ Zhou Rong?¡± Suspicious, he stood up, his blanket wrapped around him. ¡°What are you doing standing there?¡± The person outside the window who never spoke a word finally coughed, and it really was the very unique mellow, bass voice of Captain Zhou. Somehow, it sounded a little guilty. ¡°Yo, Comrade Xiao Si! I¡­ I was unable to fall asleep, so I was strolling about randomly. Have you eaten?¡± Si Nan replied him with a cold silence. ¡°¡­¡± Wu Xinyan greeted him nervously. ¡°C-captain Zhou, g-g-good evening¡­¡± Si Nan signalled at her to ignore him. Zhou Rong was extremely awkward. ¡°Good evening, good evening. Why aren¡¯t the two of you going back to the dorm? Without any lights or fire, isn¡¯t it cold huddling here?¡± ¡°We¡­¡± Just as Wu Xinyan spoke, Si Nan again signalled at her. This time, he even creased his forehead unhappily. Wu Xinyan, ¡°???¡± She tilted her head, looking at Si Nan. Si Nan frowned, looking back at her. Zhou Rong chuckled a couple of times. ¡°You guys should head back to the dorm. It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not good if you catch a cold out here in the cold weather. I¡¯ve gone through this before, everyone understands this. You guys are still young¡­¡± Wu Xinyan sincerely felt that she should provide an explanation, she really should explain the situation. However, Si Nan¡¯s expression evidently did not want her to say anything. The two of them silently looked at each other for several seconds, and Wu Xinyan finally could not help herself but explode. ¡°What exactly is going on between the two of you?!¡± Si Nan said, ¡°He yelled at me.¡± Outside the window, Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He even said that he wanted to beat me.¡± Si Nan spoke frostily. ¡°Who exactly will be beating who? I¡¯ll leave him with one hand.¡± Wu Xinyan¡¯s jaw dropped. Zhou Rong¡¯s embarrassment had reached the apex of his life. ¡°Si Xiao Nan! I¡¯m wrong, I¡¯m here to apologise to you! I shouldn¡¯t have shouted at you in the morning, don¡¯t be angry anymore. Come, I¡¯ll give you something to eat¡­¡± A rustle of a plastic bag. Zhou Rong took something out. ¡°Here,¡± He said. ¡°Come on out. I¡¯ve brought you a large piece of Dove chocolate.¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 After a long moment of silence, Wu Xinyan finally felt that she could not endure this any longer. She swallowed, and her voice sounded weak, ¡°Umm, Captain Zhou¡­¡± ¡°That chocolate, why don¡¯t you first put it¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Si Nan scrambled out from the blanket. He pulled his jacket on, and exited the room. Wu Xinyan was once again dumbfounded, and did not snap out from her daze immediately. ¡°What do you want?¡± Si Nan¡¯s voice was composed. ¡°Quickly, I¡¯m in a hurry.¡± Si Nan was only wearing a black tight-fitting police t-shirt. He had his arms folded, and the jacket of the riot uniform was hanging off his shoulders. His expression was very similar to when Zhou Rong saw him for the first time. In the armoured vehicle, he ignored the water handed to him, and took Yan Hao¡¯s gun without a word ¡ª even the way Si Nan was standing was exactly the same. Zhou Rong sighed in his heart. Shoving the chocolate in the pocket of Si Nan¡¯s jacket, he turned and walked away. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five¡­ The moment he counted to zero, as expected, Si Nan¡¯s voice came from behind him. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Zhou Rong stopped, but did not turn back, sighing. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan finally walked forward. His slender and defined eyebrows joined together, observing Zhou Rong doubtfully. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Zhou Rong spoke listlessly, ¡°Si Xiaonan.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®Xiao¡¯ in the middle of my name.¡± ¡°Comrade Xiao Si.¡± Zhou Rong smoothly changed his address. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re still friends?¡± The question was too complicated, mainly because Si Nan rarely interacted with other Omegas in his life. He was unable to verify if ¡°an Alpha and an Omega were really able to just have friendship between the two of them¡±. But he had interacted with many, many Alphas, so many that even if he had lost his memories, his accumulated vigilance and wariness were deeply ingrained in his subconsciousness. He narrowed his eyes, observing Zhou Rong. Zhou Rong had a hand in his pocket. With his boots, he towered at 190cm, and his shadow stretched fairly long under the moonlight. Zhou Rong was not the bulky, muscular type, but was the wiry and symmetrical type due to the many years of special training ¡ª this stature was also very obvious on Si Nan¡¯s body. However, Si Nan¡¯s muscles were leaner, and Zhou Rong¡¯s shoulders were broader, full of the power of a masculine Alpha. His facial features came together with a sort of rakish handsomeness. Especially when he cocked his brow and laughed, there was an undeniable haughtiness and arrogance coming off him. This sort of appearance was very different from the image of upright soldiers the citizens had in their mind. If the military were to choose someone for promotional activities, with Zhou Rong¡¯s aura, he would definitely be eliminated from the first round of selection. However, if he was out of the military uniform, he would seem like a dapper young master. In any circumstances or events, he would definitely receive a lot of attention. A thought suddenly popped into Si Nan¡¯s head, this person was different from others. He did not know why he would have such a strange thought. But under the moonlight, there was a sort of indescribable atmosphere, and deep inside him, his heart trembled a little. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan averted his gaze. ¡°I guess so.¡± Zhou Rong looked down slightly, refusing to let it go. ¡°So what?¡± ¡°¡­ I guess we¡¯re friends.¡± Zhou Rong was almost plastered right onto Si Nan. There was less than an inch between their noses, and they could both see their own reflection in the other person¡¯s eyes. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Rong spoke slowly, ¡°But why do I feel like you¡¯re scorning me? You don¡¯t even want to talk to me, and we have to drive in two separate cars, and you no longer whisper into my ear¡­¡± Si Nan could feel his breath brushing past his cheek. He could not help but take a small step back. However, Zhou Rong immediately came closely, his thin lips curving. ¡°Or, now that you know I¡¯m an Alpha, you¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll start wooing you?¡± Si Nan continued leaning backwards. Unable to avoid him, he had no choice but to turn his head and look directly at Zhou Rong. With their distance, Zhou Rong only had to lower his head, and their lips would meet. ¡°Say,¡± Si Nan lowered his gaze, speaking slowly, ¡°If I were to be an Alpha, we won¡¯t know who will be wooing who. Maybe I¡¯ll be the one wooing you.¡± Zhou Rong was slightly stunned, and Si Nan added, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe, just try it. I¡¯ll leave you with one hand.¡± Zhou Rong laughed out loud. ¡°Comrade Xiao Si, it¡¯s good to have dreams¡­¡± Zhou Rong ruffled Si Nan¡¯s hair. Pulling his head towards himself, he laughed till he could barely catch his breath, ¡°However, I feel, hahahaha, this sort of things, hahaha¡ª¡± Si Nan did not manage to struggle away, and Zhou Rong placed a kiss on his hair. With a smile, he looked at him, ¡°Very good, then I¡¯ll wait for you. Go back now, don¡¯t let your little girlfriend wait anxiously.¡± Before Si Nan could react, Zhou Rong had already let go and strode off. ¡°¡­¡± An indescribable feeling once again welled up within him. Si Nan was unable to describe what it felt like. After a panicked moment, he suddenly thought about something, and turned to shout, ¡°I¡¯ve already said, she likes Yan Hao¡ª!¡± Zhou Rong stumbled. Si Nan watched his figure vanish into the night before he quietly looked away. ¡°Ah, I forgot to tell him about the Wan guy.¡± He suddenly remembered, ¡°I should have asked him to stay back and help.¡± Having wasted an opportunity of gaining extra help, Si Nan was disconsolate. He slowly walked back towards the garage. It was already 9.30pm. In the factory a distance away, noise from the dormitory was fading. In this apocalypse, the people had once again ended a day of being on tenterhooks, and sank into a sleep where they would temporarily forget their fear and terror. Under the shadow of the gingko tree, the garage was immersed in darkness. There was an indiscernible crack in the metal door. Sensitive to the changes, Si Nan¡¯s eyes stopped there. Next, a crash could be heard in the garage, and a girl shrieked, ¡°Help¡ª! Mm¡­¡± A struggle, panting, and low cursing sounded at the same time. Si Nan pulled out his dagger from his thigh holster, kicking the door open. As expected, in the dark, a bulky man was holding onto Wu Xinyan, cursing and swearing. When he heard the noise, he turned back. ¡°Who¡¯s that?! This is none of your business! Go away, and pretend¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± Si Nan said. Before the Alpha bodyguard with the last name Wan understood what that sentence implied, he felt a pressure around his throat. The back of his collar was yanked by an iron-like strength, and his body was lifted into the air. By the time he realised he was flying backwards, it was too late. ¡°Ahhh¡ª¡± The bodyguard slammed into the ground. He did not even have the time to climb up, and was pressed back onto the ground with a foot on his chest. Then, crack! That foot broke his ribs, and the scream of the bodyguard tore through the air. *** Zhou Rong had just returned to the factory. Sitting down, taking a drink of water, he did a routine inspection of Yan Hao. Before he could even stand up to inspect the warehouse, he heard something had happened. ¡ª Bang! The front door was kicked open with a lot of force, so great that even the ground trembled twice. The people who had yet to fall asleep completely all jerked awake, gathering at the corridor and looking down. In the space, Si Nan¡¯s roar pierced through everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°Feng¡ª Wen¡ª Tai!¡± He shoved the person he was holding towards the front. The latter stumbled and fell, crashing onto the ground! Dishevelled, Wu Xinyan was shaking as she stood behind Si Nan. Shock rippled through the crowd. Feng Wentai led five bodyguards quickly down the stairs, only to see his blood soaked, appalling looking subordinate that barely had any uninjured skin lying on the ground. He exclaimed in disbelief, ¡°Wan Bin?!¡± ¡°What the fuck did you do?!¡± ¡°You want to die?!¡± The few Alpha bodyguards were furious. Si Nan pushed the shivering Wu Xinyan further behind him. There was a gleam in his hand. Blood dripped down the tungsten steel military dagger. ¡°Kill this fellow!¡± ¡°Fuck, he¡¯s seeking trouble! Guys, let¡¯s go!¡± The bodyguards ran forward with their guns, and from up above, the crowd screamed in terror. In this chaotic, crucial moment, a gunshot occurred at the stairs. The loud burst made everyone yell in fright! ¡°Stop!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s shout echoed through the air. He had his assault rifle raised with one hand, pointing up, and his finger was still on the trigger. Behind him, Chuncao, Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang were carrying the submachine gun as well as their assault rifles, coldly surveying the people under the Feng family. In the suffocating silence, Zhou Rong walked step by step down the stairs. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The submachine gun from the armoury of the special force soldiers was on a different deterrent level of the ones issued to the police and stolen along the way. The few bodyguards paused momentarily, each retreating as they nursed their hatred, shielding Feng Wentai. The one called Wan Bin convulsed continuously on the ground. Blood seeped from his many wounds onto the floor, pooling. ¡°Captain Zhou,¡± An indistinct fury could be heard in Feng Wentai¡¯s voice. ¡°Your people actually dared to¡­¡± Zhou Rong responded calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you. Si Nan, give me an explanation.¡± However, Si Nan seemed as though he did not hear him, only staring at the twitching bloodbag Wan Bin. In his eyes, there was something that gave people chills down their spine ¡ª a cruelness, an apathy, he was cold and unfeeling, as if the groaning, struggling thing under his feet was not human. This gaze was different from how he usually was like. If they observed it carefully, it was like the unfamiliar darker side of the soul, screaming and struggling, trying to awaken from within its shell. But this change was not obvious. At least, out of so many people on the scene, only Zhou Rong noticed it. For some reason, Si Nan¡¯s current state shot fear through Zhou Rong¡¯s heart. Zhou Rong exclaimed, ¡°Si Nan!¡± ¡°He, he kept harassing me¡­¡± Wu Xinyan¡¯s sobbing voice spoke up, and many people¡¯s attention turned towards her. ¡°Before you all left, he already started harassing me, saying that he wanted to make friends with me. Thankfully, Si Nan-ge found a hiding spot for me, but he still followed me and found it¡­ Tonight, he came to f-force himself on me, and when I screamed for help, Si Nan-ge rescued me¡­¡± To speak of this in front of everyone, it clearly made Wu Xinyan extremely uncomfortable. However, she still mustered up her courage. ¡°He had a gun on him, nearly killing us, and said that after d-doing it, he would drag me out to feed the zombies¡­¡± The crowd exploded, and everyone had something to say. Zhou Rong spoke coldly, ¡°Feng-laoban, do you still have anything to say?¡± ¡°How can we trust a one-sided statement?¡± Feng Wentai immediately objected forcefully. ¡°This girl was the one who said that it was Wan Bin who wants to be her friend. Who knows if she had first agreed, then after seducing him, is trying to play the badger game now?¡± Wu Xinyan cried out, ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± Feng Wentai answered sarcastically. ¡°If you didn¡¯t, why did Wan Bin not harass others, but you?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°There are so many girls here, but he only looked for you. In my opinion, you were the one who seduced Wan Bin first, right?¡± ¡°This is nonsense!¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s nonsense or the actual truth, little lady, you know it yourself.¡± Feng Wentai eyed her mockingly, but his voice was gentlemanly. ¡°Excuse my impertinence, a simple Beta girl like you can seduce Wan Bin, an alpha, and even get a special force soldier to participate in this sort of stereotypical badger game, you clearly don¡¯t have a very decent character!¡± Wu Xinyan was so angry her entire body shook. Feng Wentai glanced over at Zhou Rong. ¡°They all say that only those with weaknesses are susceptible to evil influences. Captain Zhou, can you tell me why did something like this happen right at this time? This timing is really¡­¡± Feng Wentai wanted to seize on this to make a pretext. However, Wu Xinyan could no longer endure it, and went up, slapping him across the face! Smack! Feng Wentai caught her wrist. Just as he was about to shove her away, Wu Xinyan;s shoulder was suddenly supported by someone ¡ª Si Nan. Other than his bodyguards, Feng Wentai himself too did not react. Si Nan lifted his foot to Feng Wentai¡¯s chest and kicking him away! ¡°President Feng!¡± This kick could shatter rocks and metal. Feng Wentai was a tall and sturdy man, but he still flew over ten metres before crashing onto the ground. The bodyguards all ran over in unison, clumsily helping him up. Blood flowed unceasingly from Feng Wentai¡¯s mouth, and they went crazy. ¡°This fellow wants to kill President Feng!¡± ¡°Fuck, he¡¯s killing people!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you all going to run? Soldiers are killing people now!¡± The crowd drew back in panic. The timid one screamed, the children cried, and the entire situation was chaotic. Lu Hui, that bodyguard who had once kowtowed to Si Nan took the opportunity and fired a blank gun. In the silence following the gunshot, he suddenly yelled, ¡°They¡¯re killing everyone¡ª! Those soldiers want to seize power, they want to kill all the Alphas!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you all going to run? They¡¯re about to shoot!¡± The space was big, the situation confusing. The terrified citizens would not have noticed who was the one who shot first. Hearing the yells, they pushed and shoved at each other even more frenziedly. In this second of chaos, Lu Hui, hiding behind the crowd, aimed his gun at Si Nan¡ª Bang bang bang! Shots came from the assault rifle. Lu Hui cried out in pain, and his arm burst into flesh and blood! ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang simultaneously called out in alarm. Zhou Rong raised the gun, the smoke not yet dissipating. Around him, people were fighting to run back into their rooms. Women were protecting the children, huddling together, and the braver men only dared to close the door, gazing outside in terror. Tables and chairs strewn across the ground, along with bloody footprints. Amidst his subordinates¡¯ shouts, Feng Wentai coughed, nearly at the edge of death. ¡°Rong-ge,¡± Chuncao spoke quietly, holding her gun. ¡°We¡¯re losing control of the situation, we have to think of something.¡± ¡°Don;t come over!¡± The four bodyguards left raised their guns, trembling and shouting, ¡°D-don¡¯t¡­ Everyone, let¡¯s attack together!¡± Zhou Rong exhaled. That exhalation seemed as though he was relieved, and was laced with a bit of resignation as well. Next, he took a couple of steps forward, standing in the middle of the empty space. Crooking his finger at the three special force soldiers behind him, he spoke, ¡°Seems like there really are these sort of Alphas who would refuse to surrender when they think that their opponents are ordinary people¡ª¡± ¡°Brothers, today, let¡¯s convince President Feng.¡± Zhou Rong slid out a swiss army knife from his sleeve. Snapping the blade out, he cut his palm. Chuncao, Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang cut their palms too at the same time. Blood welled up, and the thick Alpha pheromones of the four special force soldiers filled the air, covering the entire area! The faces of the Feng people changed abruptly, and even Feng Wentai stopped his violent coughing in shock. Si Nan suddenly turned away, holding his breath, retreating half a step. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¡°Put down the gun.¡± Zhou Rong emphasised every word, his rifle pointing at Feng Wentai. Lu Hui was bleeding like a pig, rolling about on the floor in pain. As for the other three special force soldiers, they each had a machine gun locked onto one bodyguard each. The safety of every gun was off, and each had their finger on the trigger. ¡°I¡¯m going to count to three. Put the guns down, and no one will die.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes swept past the faces of the bodyguards, and he spoke slowly. ¡°However, if someone shoots first, you¡¯re all going to die. I guarantee that you¡¯ll end up like paste.¡± ¡°One¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± Before he could say three, a bodyguard all the way in front trembled as he put his gun down to the ground. The small little handgun, when compared with the machine guns that could shoot 900 rounds per minute, felt way less significant. There was not even a need to mention the bulkiness of the gun, how it was nearly half the height of a human. That colossal lethality was extremely oppressive. When one took the lead, others would follow. The other two bodyguards too surrendered, placing the guns at their feet with trembling hands. Zhou Rong said, ¡°Kick them over.¡± The three people all kicked their guns into the central area. Zhou Rong shot a look towards his back. ¡°Chuncao.¡± The girl placed the machine gun on her shoulder before walking forward to retrieve the handguns. She then unloaded the magazines into the pocket of her uniform. The tense and explosive atmosphere had finally vanished. The men in the corridor, in great trepidation, opened the doors, and the women too looked outwards, observing the situation out there nervously. Guo Weixiang¡¯s and Ding Shi¡¯s guns were still pointed at the Feng group. However, Zhou Rong had let go of his rifle, raising both his hands up high. He turned towards the ordinary citizens, his frosty gaze sweeping past every fearful face. ¡°Tomorrow,¡± He spoke, his voice carrying out across the space. ¡°We¡¯ll leave the factory and lead everyone down south, to the main shelter in Nanhai.¡± ¡°Before the catastrophe, we, Squad 6 of Unit 118 came from B Military Zone to T City for a covert operation. Due to the mission objectives, we were all injected with a drug to control our pheromones. After the catastrophe, we¡¯ve been leading everyone up north in our escape, and there was no chance and no need to explain our origin to everyone, until today.¡± ¡°However, what I hope everyone would understand is, we will treat everyone in this group equally, whether you¡¯re male, female, old or young¡­ After the catastrophe happened, laws and regulations no longer exist, and we have now descended into a dark society where it¡¯s now the law of the jungle. However, in this group where there¡¯s less than forty of us, we¡¯ll still uphold all the laws, duties and rights of human society here.¡± ¡°During the journey to the south, we will meet even more survivors: male, female, old and young, the weak and disabled. There will be Alphas, and there may even be Omegas.¡± Zhou Rong paused slightly, ¡°But no matter how much more the group expands, we will still have the same standpoint, which is to provide mutual protection, help, support, and let the spark of our survival continue.¡± He looked at the varied expressions in front of him, then pointed at the machine guns Guo Wei Xiang and the rest were carrying. ¡°These guns are here to protect you. Their muzzles will always point outwards, and may everyone please bear witness to this.¡± There was a long silence, and no one spoke. Finally, someone started clapping. The survivors all started responding. They all applauded, and the applause only got louder. Zhou Rong bowed his head, acknowledging the ground. He quietly instructed Chuncao, ¡°Ask Dr. Zheng to come over and take a look at those two bodyguards. We don¡¯t want them to actually die.¡± He was referring to Wan Bin and Lu Hui. Chuncao responded, ¡°Mn.¡± The Wan fellow was still sprawled on the ground, nearly bleeding dry ¡ª if he was not an Alpha, he would probably have died from blood loss already. That scene was truly impactful, and even Zhou Rong, who had been in all sorts of situations, had a bit of twitching in his eyes. He could see the differences in the knife wounds on Wan Bin¡¯s body: they were mostly not wounds received in a fight. Those were wounds left deliberately, painfully and torturously. Si Nan was standing far away in a corner. His lips were pressed tightly together. His dagger was in his hand, hanging by his side. Zhou Rong met his eyes, and a strange feeling suddenly welled up within him. Words suddenly appeared in his mind, ¡°The target is potentially anti-social, and is very destructive. He has committed several first-degree murders¡­¡± ¡°¡­ and is very cold blooded and his actions are hard to predict. Don¡¯t attempt to use any sort of stimulus to restore his sanity¡­¡± Zhou Rong gave a very slight start. ¡°Captain Zhou,¡± Dr. Zheng hurriedly came forward. Zhou Rong turned his head only to see that Dr. Zheng¡¯s expression looked rather awful. His forehead was covered with sweat, and he whispered, ¡°That pregnant lady Wang Wen¡­ She was alarmed by the gunshot, and she¡¯s going into premature labour¡­ According to Zhou Rong himself, when he was young, he was scared of nothing. He would crash through all obstacles, and he had a fearlessness such that he could even carry a time bomb and detonate it amongst terrorists. If not because of being forced to become more sedate in his later life due to work requirements, he could even have fucked a hole out of the sky. But he had never seen a pregnant woman gone through a difficult labour before. Zhou Rong quickly got people to tie up Feng Wentai and his unlucky bodyguards, then shoved them into the garage behind and locked them there. Wringing his hands, he then headed up to the dorms. It was a mess, and a few older women were surrounding the bed. Wang Wen¡¯s hair was extremely dishevelled, and she was groaning lightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t she supposed to be screaming in agony?¡± Zhou Rong was perplexed. ¡°Don¡¯t you need hot water, scissors and cloth, and shout at her to push?¡± Dr. Zheng¡¯s response was rather blunt. ¡°Captain Zhou, you¡¯ve watched too much TV. Her current situation is very dangerous, quick, get some people to boil some water to disinfect the bandages. Maintain the lighting, maintain the temperature in the room¡­ Hurry, quick, go! She¡¯s already going through more frequent contractions!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong was abashed. ¡°I¡¯ve really only watched before.¡± Zhou Rong quickly got people to prepare the needed items, boiling water and disinfecting them, and carried an electric heater and a diesel generator as well. D. Zheng was not an obstetrician, and faced with an early labour, he was also not very experienced in many of the procedures. The women then each interjected with their own labour experience, encouraging and cheering on Wang Wen. Some even ran to the kitchen, preparing soup for her to drink after the birth. All the survivors had been mobilised. Even the males who were standing on guard like night duty cops were all eager, anxiously discussing the matter. It felt as though that this new life that was about to be born in the dark winter night carried along with it a hope that was both subtle and remote. ¡°You can do it, you can!¡± Dr. Zheng was all sweaty. He raised a hand, pointing at someone. ¡°More light, make sure there¡¯s enough light!¡± Zhou Rong quietly took a few steps away the group. He looked around and frowned, ¡°Where¡¯s Si Nan?¡± Out of nowhere, Guo Weixiang felt as though he had suddenly turned into a father, and was expected to know where his child was. Tiptoe-ing, he looked up and down the corridor, then spoke unconcernedly, ¡°He¡¯s probably back in his room.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± After tossing his words at him, Zhou Rong left them. *** ¡°Si Xiaonan?¡± The door to his room was tightly shut. Zhou Rong knocked a couple of times. ¡°Comrade Xiao Si?¡± No response came from within. Zhou Rong had all keys to the single rooms in the dormitory. After a bout of hesitation, he unlocked the door and entered. Si Nan was lying on his side in the single bed. The moonlight shone through the windows, casting a cold gleam on his back. He was asleep. Due to his position, his head was tucked slightly into his body, his long neck extending into his collar. The arc of his slender waist created a deep, curved shadow. That curve had an unspeakable seduction to it, drawing people¡¯s eyes all the way down. However, the rest of it was hidden under the blanket. Zhou Rong stood by the bed. As though possessed, he lifted his hand, but held it up in midair. He only needed to let his hand fall a few inches, and he would be able to feel the narrowest part of that waist. Through the thin layer of clothes, he could then feel that heat burning deep within. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan suddenly moved, as though he was a little uncomfortable, rubbing slightly against the bed. He curled up towards the further edge of the pillow, and because of his movement, his cheek was revealed under the moonlight. It was a little flushed, and his brows were knitted. The tip of his nose was beaded with sweat, and Zhou Rong could not help but freeze slightly. ¡°¡­ Mnn¡­¡± Si Nan exhaled, the sound trembling a little. He seemed to be trapped in some confusing dream. He then flipped over, and because of the way his neck was stretched, his collar fell, exposing his collarbone clearly. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes could not resist following the lines, only to discover that his skin was a little red. He reached out and touched his forehead, and found that Si Nan¡¯s temperature was extremely high. Was he having a fever? ¡°Si Nan?¡± Zhou Rong called him softly. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s throat tightened, swallowing heavily. His action was as though he was forcing some sort of strange feeling down. Lifting up Si Nan¡¯s upper part of his body, he patted his face lightly. ¡°Wake up! You¡¯ve fallen sick, get up and take some medicine!¡± However, the usually vigilant Si Nan was now in a muddled state. A moment later, he opened his eyes blearily, and closed them again. ¡°Si Nan?¡± ¡°Go¡­¡± Zhou Rong leaned closer to his mouth, only to feel Si Nan starting to struggle. Si Nan spoke hoarsely, ¡°Go away¡­!¡± His movements were surprisingly violent, and he even managed to actually struggle out of Zhou Rong¡¯s arms. Curling under the blanket, he twisted himself into a ball. Because of his struggling, his shirt rode up his back, revealing an expanse of smooth, fair skin, and the bones of his back was visible. Zhou Rong could not endure seeing this. He shut his eyes, taking a deep breath before he finally managed to force himself to speak strictly. ¡°What temper are you throwing?! Get up and take some medicine!¡± ¡°¡­ Go away!¡± Zhou Rong grabbed his heated shoulder, forcing Si Nan to turn around and face him, but discovered that something was wrong. ¡ª Si Nan¡¯s lips that were usually tightly closed were now bright red. They even shone wetly, and through his teeth, hoarse breathing could be heard. They sounded like very subtle moans. A possibility suddenly appeared in Zhou Rong¡¯s head. A very small percentage of Betas, who were extremely sensitive to pheromones, would exhibit short periods of signs as though they were in heat when faced with intense stimulation of pheromones from either Alphas or Omegas. This sort of false heats were usually very easy to handle. If the person stopped being stimulated by pheromones, he would gradually calm down. Si Nan¡¯s averseness towards Alpha pheromones was very extreme, if he had been thrown into a false heat¡­ Unknown to himself, Zhou Rong¡¯s breathing got heavier, and his heart pounded faster and faster. He did not realise that his fingers on Si Nan¡¯s shoulder had already sunk into his flesh, and how much strength he was using. If Si Nan¡¯s shirt was to be removed, red fingerprints would definitely be visible right at those spots. As for that thin piece of material, it seemed to be unable to conceal anything. In the rapidly rising temperature, its ability to cover the body seemed to even gradually vanish. ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Rong asked in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯re already so old, and yet you¡¯re still so shy?¡± He lifted his hand, seemingly wanting to touch Si Nan¡¯s sweaty forehead, only for the latter to abruptly catch his wrist. Zhou Rong looked at his reddened eyes. Their eyes met, and neither spoke a word. A moment later, Zhou Rong finally could not help but lower his head. His lips were almost plastered to Si Nan¡¯s ear, ¡°Hmm, so what exactly do you want? Come, tell me.¡± Si Nan still continued grabbing his wrist. He did not let him go, but he did not push him away too. With careful observation, it could be seen that Si Nan¡¯s lower jaw had completely tensed up. He was gritting his teeth, unwilling to relax even a single bit. Zhou Rong knew that he should leave now. If he did not come in, this false heat would have came and went in Si Nan¡¯s sleep. When he woke up the next morning, he would not even have been too aware of what he had experienced. But Zhou Rong was now here. Pheromones that were stronger than those that belonged to ordinary Alphas continuously surrounded Si Nan. That disturbance was almost tyrannical and malicious. Towards this alluring body that was descending into an abyss, the pheromones pushed him even further down. Zhou Rong shifted about in his half-kneeling position by the bed. The swelling in his trousers also started to make him a little uncomfortable. When he spoke again, his voice was extremely husky. ¡°Do you want me to leave?¡± Si Nan¡¯s lips opened slightly. His breathing was damp, extremely moist, but he still refused to speak. Zhou Rong looked into his eyes, smiling slightly. ¡°Hmm? Si Xiaonan?¡± Si Nan¡¯s hand was still gripping onto him tightly, trembling non-stop. A long period of time seemed to have passed before he seemed to suddenly give in, and his fingers relaxed a little. ¡°¡ªRong-ge!¡± Pounding steps could be heard from outside the door, then Guo Weixiang¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°Rong-ge, are you here? Something happened!¡± Zhou Rong jerked his head around, asking darkly, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Where are you?! It¡¯s a disaster!¡± Guo Weixiang panted, his voice even shaking slightly. ¡°Feng Wentai has stolen the bus and crashed through the chain fence. He¡¯s about to escape up north!¡± Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Zhou Rong¡¯s brows twitched fiercely a couple of times, and barely half a second later, he responded succinctly, ¡°Got it.¡± He ignored the slight resistance, lifting Si Nan up with one arm under his back and the other under his knees. Carrying him into the bathroom, Zhou Rong placed Si Nan in the shower stall and picked up the showerhead, spraying Si Nan¡¯s face with the ice cold water of winter. ¡°Ahh¡­ Ahh!¡± Si Nan naturally opposed it, struggling and twisting about for over ten seconds. Finally, he swatted the showerhead away, shouting, ¡°Get the hell out!¡± He was entirely drenched, his skin gleaming from the water. However, his eyes looked like they were about to burst into flames ¡ª from fury. Zhou Rong immediately raised both his hands up. ¡°Sorry.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s t-shirt was also soaked completely, clinging tightly onto his body and revealing his sculpted muscles of his torso. What was awkward was that his camouflage pants, because of the water, was bulging out very explicitly, and there was no way of hiding it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zhou Rong repeated earnestly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you hit me a couple of times to vent your anger?¡± Before his voice even faded away, his head skewed to one side from Si Nan¡¯s punch! ¡°Bastard,¡± Si Nan said coldly. Rubbing his face, Zhou Rong reached out ¡ª Si Nan did not even have time to dodge it before he felt his hair being ruffled. Zhou Rong laughed hoarsely, ¡°Alright, we¡¯re even now.¡± He then stood up, clearing his throat. When he spoke again, his voice had returned to normal. ¡°Comrade Xiao Si, you have three minutes to suit up, and gather downstairs with your weapon!¡± Crossing over his body, Zhou Rong walked out of the room. Guo Weixiang was standing in the corridor, waiting. Upon seeing him, Guo Weixiang swept his eyes up and down his body, astonished. ¡°Rong-ge, you¡­ you¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I wear my clothes to shower?¡± Zhou Rong spoke fiercely. ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh. Feng Wentai and his group had knocked the guards out, stealing the keys to the bus, then drove right through the chain fence in the north and causing it to collapse¡­¡± Zhou Rong strode towards the stairs, sighing in his heart. In this life of mine, it seems like I¡¯ll only be able to rely on my right hand. Half an hour after midnight, on the north side of the factory. Everyone was in a hurry, running back and forth. The light from the torches swung up and down in the night. A big chunk of the chain fence had fallen in the inky black weeds, and Chuncao was directing the men to attach several rope hooks onto the fence. She herself was holding onto one rope, and she called out, ¡°Three, two, one¡ª¡± ¡°Up!¡± Everyone worked in unison, and the distorted chain fence was slowly pulled back up, creaking dangerously. Next, amidst the cries of alarm, it split apart into pieces, and fell back into the mud! Zhou Rong stopped, and his breath could be seen in the air. ¡°What¡¯s the temperature currently?¡± ¡°-5,¡± Guo Wei Xiang replied. ¡°There¡¯s a drop in the temperature tonight.¡± The last ray of moonlight had vanished. Darkness descended upon them, without any light from the moon or the stars. Without the protection of the chain fence, the industrial zone looked endless. It was so dark that they could see nothing in front of them, and it felt like the yawning gape of a demon was right in ahead. An uneasy feeling suddenly welled up within Zhou Rong, but he hid his unsettledness. ¡°What about the guard watching Feng Wentai and his people?¡± That guard had been hit severely at the back of his head, and when he was discovered, he was bleeding on the grass behind the garage, and had yet to gain consciousness. Zhou Rong checked his breathing and his pulse, swearing in a low voice. ¡°Fuck!¡± Guo Weixiang covered the guard with a thick blanket to keep him warm. ¡°Ding Shi has already driven after them, I think he¡¯ll soon¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible, it¡¯s too late. How could we have let the guard take care of the key to the bus?!¡± ¡°The key had originally been kept by Dr. Zheng. Just now, when preparing for the birth, he changed into a set of clean clothes, and handed the key to this person ¡ª the relationship between these two people are very good, and he did not expect that he would be assigned to guard Feng Wentai and his people¡­¡± Zhou Rong knew that now was not the time to find out who was to be held accountable, and interrupted Guo Weixiang loudly. ¡°Chuncao! Gather a group to repair the chain fence as soon as possible, and get Si Nan to bury the gunpowder in the road. Hurry! Where¡¯s Si Nan?!¡± Chuncao ran to do as instructed, and Guo Weixiang immediately spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll go drive after Da-Ding and call him back!¡± ¡°No,¡± Zhou Rong said abruptly. He seemed to have suddenly heard something. Raising his hand to stop Guo Weixiang, he slowly walked up ahead. At the vast edge of the wilderness, and B City was up north. The cold wind blew about the pitch-black darkness. Along with it came mournful wails. Guo Weixiang watched Zhou Rong¡¯s back, anxious and not daring to speak. Just as he was hesitating, he heard two words. ¡°¡­ Not good.¡± The sound of an engine drew closer, and the headlights of a vehicle could be seen at the end of the road. It was followed closely by Ding Shi¡¯s gut-wrenching cry. ¡°Rong-ge! Get everyone to quickly escape¡ª!¡± ¡°A hoard of zombies are heading south, coming here from B City. They¡¯re only 2 kilometres away, and will reach soon!¡± The faces of everyone changed, and terrified shouts rang out! ¡°Quiet! It¡¯s fine! There¡¯s no need to be scared!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice could be clearly heard amidst the chaos. Everyone paused to listen to him. ¡°Everyone, bury gunpowder and nitrocellulose in a 500 metres radius around the factory, quick! Guo Weixiang, arrange for the pregnant woman and the injured to get onto the vehicle. Move all the weapons, and drive the armoured vehicle out!¡± ¡°Ding Shi! Get ready to transport the citizens, if the food rations can¡¯t fit, then just leave them here!¡± Everyone moved, all looking terrified and anxious. Standing in the crowd, Zhou Rong turned his head, shouting at Guo Weixiang who was sprinting towards the garage. ¡°Remember about Yingjie¡ª!¡± His roar pierced through the noise. ¡°Don¡¯t leave Yingjie behind!¡± Guo Weixiang got a little tearful. ¡°Yes!¡± Ding Shi sped over, slamming on the brakes and coming to a stop right next to Zhou Rong. Panting, he shook his head. ¡°I couldn¡¯t catch up, it was impossible to do so. They¡¯ve headed up north, and looking at their direction, they would most likely end up facing the hoard of zombies.¡± ¡°The number?¡± Ding Shi¡¯s voice shook slightly. ¡°The sudden decrease in temperature has made the zombies all move down south. It¡¯s hard to count, there¡¯s most likely thousands of them.¡± Zhou Rong made a prompt decision. ¡°Get a flamethrower and 3 signal flares from the garage, and head back to the end of the road. When the first wave of zombies are 1.5 kilometres away, shoot a flare. Shoot the second one when they¡¯re 1 kilometre away, and the third one 500 metres away. Then, immediately return to pick up all the survivors, we¡¯ll gather on the first floor of the dormitory. Chuncao!¡± Chuncao was directing the men to place the explosives along the road, and sweat dripped down her face. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°When you see the second signal flare, immediately get everyone to head back. One less, and I¡¯ll take it out on you!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zhou Rong stood there, a finger rubbing the center of his brows. A moment later, he recalled something. ¡°Where¡¯s Si Nan?¡± ¡°Si Nan!¡± He looked up and yelled. His eyes swept through the busy crowd, but did not see that familiar and silent figure. His heart sank a little. Is he angry? No, he shouldn¡¯t be. Now is definitely not the time to throw a tantrum, and Si Nan is not that type of person¡­ ¡°What do you want?¡± A cold voice sounded next to him. Zhou Rong turned. Si Nan was dressed entirely in the riot police gear, the key to his explosives lab hung around his neck. In his arms were two dozen bottles of nitroglycerin, and he was standing behind Zhou Rong with his brows creased. ¡°I knew you didn¡¯t run away,¡± Zhou Rong relaxed, reaching out to pinch his cheek. ¡°You¡¯re really my little darling¡­¡± Si Nan pulled away to dodge his hand, annoyed. ¡°Do you want to drink some nitroglycerin?!¡± Zhou Rong was used to taking such advantage of him, and just as he was about to respond that he would drink anything Si Nan fed him, a signal flare shot up in the distance, lighting the sky. The zombies were now one and a half kilometres away. The people who were transporting the explosives ran wildly back to the factory. Zhou Rong no longer had the time to try taking any advantage, but instead, personally picked up Si Nan¡¯s ¡°fire meteors¡±. He half-buried the explosives with immense firepower in the road the zombies were going to pass by, then again shouted loudly to get people to hurry Guo Weixiang. Whiz¡ª The second signal flare now lit up the sky! Chuncao¡¯s ear-splitting roar rang out in the dark. ¡°Everyone, withdraw¡ª! Quick quick quick!¡± The survivors ran back like crazy. However, Zhou Rong removed his assault rifle from his shoulder. Holding it in front of him, he moved against the crowd. ¡°Captain Zhou!¡± A woman¡¯s voice shrieked, so sharp it went offkey. ¡°Captain Zhou, something bad¡¯s happening!¡± Zhou Rong would now shudder reflexively whenever he heard the words ¡°something¡¯s happening¡±. He turned his head to see Wu Xinyan stumbling towards him, running from the dormitory, her face flushed and her hair disheveled. ¡°C-captain Zhou, Dr. Zheng¡­ Dr. Zheng has asked me to tell you¡­¡± ¡°The woman in labour can¡¯t be moved.¡± She reeled to a stop, gasping, and spoke hopelessly. ¡°She can¡¯t move, her labour¡¯s too difficult.¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¡°Push! Push harder!¡± Dr. Zheng¡¯s hands were covered in blood, and his voice had long turned hoarse. ¡°Hold on! HOLD ON!¡± The mother¡¯s voice was completely hoarse as well. She shook her sweaty face desperately, and pain had twisted her face into a terrifying grimace. A few women with children gathered nearby, some praying in unison and others unable to stop themselves from crying out loud, ¡°Push a little harder!¡± ¡°Hold on, you must hold on!¡± Guo Weixiang pushed the door open. ¡°We have to go, quick! A hoard of zombies are here!¡± The women looked at each other, and the shrieks of the mother turned even sharper. Their eardrums all felt as though they had been pierced by knives. Guo Weixiang had no time to care about the ongoings. He move forward to carry the mother. Dr. Zheng stopped him anxiously, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time already, do the delivery in the car! I¡¯ll carry her!¡± ¡°She can¡¯t be moved! She¡¯ll bleed excessively!¡± Dr. Zheng roared, ¡°I¡¯m not going, I¡¯ll stay here and deliver the child!¡± Guo Weixing panted urgently. After Dr. Zheng¡¯s shout, he turned towards the mother with a broken voice, ¡°Harder! You have to hold on!¡± Outside the window, not far away, the third signal shot up the night sky with a long trail behind it, reflecting upon every blank and hopeless face. The zombies were 500 metres away. *** The armoured vehicle came hurtling from the end of the road, executing a flawless drift when it entered the gates and came to a ear-screeching stop in front of the crowd. Zhou Rong kicked the back door open, ¡°In in in, hurry!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t fit anymore!¡± Ding Shi stuck his head out of the window. ¡°I¡¯ll drive the first group of people to the dormitory and let them get up Xiangzi¡¯s car, then I¡¯ll come back for the rest!¡± It was true that the vehicle could not fit everyone, as there was a limit to its capacity. With the space available, there were at least ten people on site who would need to wait till the next round. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes swept across the crowd, speaking decisively. ¡°The rest of the people will run after the vehicle first, just run as much as you can! We won¡¯t leave any of you behind. The ladies will get on first, you!¡± Wu Xinyan straightened, gasping. Her arm was caught by Zhou Rong, and she was rudely shoved into the vehicle. ¡°The older and the slower ones, you! You! And you!¡± An old man was pushed a couple of times. He slowly stood up, and voices rang around him. ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°Quick, don¡¯t take your time!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t get on,¡± The old man spoke slowly. ¡°I¡¯m already 68. To be able to get here I¡¯ve already been very fortunate. Why would I unabashedly continue living? It¡¯s better to let the young ones get one first, I¡¯ll¡­¡± The anxious crowd immediately interrupted him. ¡°There¡¯s space! Get on!¡± ¡°Mister, don¡¯t say anymore, hurry up and get on!¡± The old man was almost pushed up the vehicle by the crowd. The space was soon entirely filled, and both Zhou Rong and Si Nan worked together before finally managing to close the door. Other than Zhou Rong, Chuncao and Si Nan, there were nine young and fit men. Only a few had wanted to get on the vehicle but failed to do so, while most of them were young men with no homes and families, and they stayed behind willingly. Zhou Rong exhaled, and he shone his high lumen tactical torch towards the north. The dark scenery looked haunting. The rotting stench of the zombies had wafted over to them, and they could smell it clearly. ¡°Everyone,¡± Zhou Rong leaned towards the nine survivors, each with a different expression. He spoke, ¡°Thank you all. I won¡¯t be saying any more sentimental words. Let¡¯s run.¡± Just as he finished speaking, a loud explosion happened nearby. The zombie hoard had entered the area laid with mines, triggering a series of earth-shattering explosions! *** In the inky black night, a life-and-death race with time was happening. On the northern highway, the explosions gradually came closer, and the army of the living dead staggered towards a clear objective. Rows and rows of broken bodies fell onto the road, a carpet formed from rotten meat and black blood. Even more zombies were moaning, making their way towards the factory on the meat carpet. One after another, they seemed tireless. Far away, in the direction towards B City, an endless swarm of zombies were moving, looking like an enormous tide. Guo Weixiang sent everyone in the dormitory, except for Dr. Zheng and the woman in labour, into the armoured vehicle. Together with the first group of survivors Ding Shi had driven over, the entire vehicle was almost bursting at its seams. Ding Shi seemed to speed like the wind. Before he even came to a full stop, he saw several people sprinting towards him, with flames in the background. ¡°Where¡¯s the mother¡ª?!¡± Zhou Rong shouted. Ding Shi was almost in tears. ¡°She¡¯s still in labour! She can¡¯t be moved! I asked Xiangzi to first drive towards the south!¡± ¡°Chuncao, Si Nan, bring them up the vehicle!¡± Zhou Rong yanked open the door to the driver¡¯s compartment, motioning at Ding Shi to move seats. ¡°I¡¯ll drive. Quick, go to the dorm and pick up the mother. Fuck, why didn¡¯t they just move to the vehicle to give birth? Just remove a door and use it as a stretcher!¡± Ding Shi, ¡°I don¡¯t know, Xiangzi said moving her would cause her to bleed excessively¡­¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°You guys don¡¯t know anything, this sort of thing always happens in television dramas! Once you move her onto the door, she¡¯ll give birth immediately!¡± In the back compartment, Chuncao called out. ¡°I know, I know! In the second season of The Village Committee, the female lead had given birth like this! It¡¯s fine!¡± Si Nan, ¡°You Alphas, don¡¯t brag about your knowledge of childbirth. What shallow ignorance¡­ The zombies are here!!¡± Dragging their feet, the moans and shrieks from the first wave of zombies tore the sky, and they rushed towards the gap in the barbed wire fence at the north side of the factory. Ding Shi leapt up from his passenger seat, climbing to the roof of the vehicle with a flamethrower and aiming it behind the vehicle. In an instant, flames roared out, blanketing the sky, roasting the zombies into ashes! Zhou Rong slammed the accelerator, and the vehicle shot forward. Chuncao stuck her head out, yelling, ¡°Rong-ge, beware of 2 o¡¯clock!¡± The flamethrower ignited a second round of explosions from the nitroglycerin. Tens of millions of Si Nan¡¯s carefully shattered glass bits erupted, cutting through the heads of countless zombies. Still, there were too many of them, and what was left standing of the wire fence was unable to withstand the zombies¡¯ assault. The fence soon collapsed under the attack of the swarming living dead. Flanking the factory, zombies rushed from all over! With a hand on the steering wheel, Zhou Rong shifted the gears of the vehicle. The armoured vehicle performed several perfect drifts, creating a bloody path like an F1 car and ruthlessly grounding many zombies into paste. A sharp squeal of the tires, and the armoured vehicle came to a steady stop at the dormitory. Zhou Rong commanded clearly. ¡°Chuncao, go up and carry the woman down! Ding Shi, cover us!¡± Carrying her assault rifle, Chuncao kicked the door open and ran. She received a sudden clap on her shoulder, and Si Nan¡¯s hoarse voice was heard. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± In the rearview mirror, Zhou Rong¡¯s brows twitched, but he hesitated from saying anything. However, no one noticed this trivial detail. Si Nan turned to wave at Zhou Rong, then jumped off the vehicle with his submachine gun. ¡ª He would not discover that moment of complicated feelings in Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes. Or maybe, even if he discovered it, he would also not have the time and the mood to slowly work through that mixture of guilt, sadness and self-doubt. Once again, Ding Shi blasted the flamethrower, clearing the zombies running after the vehicle. Just as he was about to switch over to the Type 89 machine gun, yells exploded from within the vehicle. ¡°Behind! Behind!¡± Ding Shi turned to look, only to a wave of zombies following Si Nan and Chuncao the moment they stepped into the dormitory. No one knew where they came from, but in a few seconds, they filled up the empty area between the dormitory and the vehicle, blocking the passage for them to move the expecting mother. ¡°Fuck!¡± Ding Shi raised the flamethrower. He pressed the trigger, but nothing happened. ¡ª The high octane petrol had burnt out, it was out of fuel! ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Ding Shi nearly broke down on the spot. When he turned back again, he saw the zombies drawing closer. They were less than a hundred metres away from them! The armoured vehicle they were in was already riddled with holes. The bulletproof glass had been shattered by Chuncao¡¯s RPG when they were in T City, and they had replaced it with normal glass after that. The chassis of the vehicle was in an even worse state. The moment the vehicle was surrounded by zombies, everyone in the car would have problems surviving! Amongst the terrified yells of the people, although Zhou Rong looked composed, he could not hide the pallor of his face. Sweat dripped down his always spiky, messy sideburns. ¡°Attention, Si Nan. Attention, Si Nan.¡± Zhou Rong turned on the vehicle¡¯s megaphone. ¡°You might be unable to retreat. Report on the lady¡¯s situation, report on the lady¡¯s situation.¡± At the same time, in the dormitory¡ª The dying cries of the mother rang out one after the other. Dr. Zheng was covered with blood, his eyes bloodshot, and he suddenly shouted joyfully. ¡°I see the head! I see the head!!¡± Si Nan and Chuncao looked at the dense crowd of zombies below. They exchanged a glance, and no delight could be seen in both their eyes. ¡°Si Nan, Chuncao.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice was trembling slightly. ¡°Report on the situation.¡± Crash! The Type-89 machine gun rained bullets, accompanied by Ding Shi¡¯s furious yells. However, it was still not enough to stop death¡¯s advance. The first zombie slammed into the vehicle, its arms pounding against it blindly, shattering the rear window. Glass shards covered the backseat, and everyone rushed to crouch down. Cries of terror rang out! ¡°A little more!¡± Dr. Zheng shouted with his might. ¡°Harder! Just a little more!¡± ¡°Go, Rong-ge.¡± Si Nan murmured. He took in a deep breath, sticking his head out of the window. He yelled as loud as he could. ¡°Go, Rong-ge! Quick, go!!¡± In the driver¡¯s compartment, Zhou Rong shut his eyes. More and more zombies gathered, and the windows on both sides of the vehicle had been shattered. The zombies reached into the vehicle, grasping above the survivors¡¯ heads. Some zombies were even holding onto the ladder at the back of the vehicle, trying to climb onto the roof of the car to catch Ding Shi. Zhou Rong opened his eyes, and stepped on the accelerator. The armoured vehicle made its way through the crowd of zombies, crushing them under its wheels and leaving a path of blood behind them. ¡°Si Xiaonan, wait for me.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s powerful voice rang from the loudspeaker. ¡°Rong-ge will come back very soon.¡± Leaning against the windowsill, Si Nan watched the armoured vehicle drive slowly away. In the mass of zombies below, it looked like an insignificant speck. ¡°¡­¡± His lips moved slightly, as though he wanted to say something. But his voice was very very quiet, and even he himself was unable to hear it. ¡°Ok.¡± *** The zombies who had lost the armoured vehicle scrambled about blankly, but it only lasted for a few seconds. An indistinct scent of blood in the air stimulated them, and following after the source of the smell, the zombie hoard found a new target. Bang! The first zombie started crashing into the metal door of the dormitory, followed by many others. The door creaked dangerously! Chuncao¡¯s face paled, but when she opened her mouth, her voice was still very calm. ¡°I still have about 900 bullets. You?¡± ¡°A thousand and six hundred,¡± Si Nan replied. Chuncao nodded. ¡°Alright, you can use your knife to commit suicide, there¡¯s no need to save any bullets for that. Remember, before you die, help me first. Like how you did it for that girl in T City, make it fast.¡± Si Nan smiled slightly. ¡°Sure.¡± The two exchanged a smile. At the same time, they aimed their rifles downstairs, and fired! The submachine gun and the assault rifle created a storm of bullets, and a large number of zombies blocking the door fell. However, this high pressure firepower was limited, but the number of zombies was unlimited. Even more zombies tirelessly lunged forward, and the pounds on the door became heavier and more hurried. Finally, after a few exceedingly loud bangs, the metal door was forced open! Crash¡ª The ground even shook slightly. Simultaneously, a baby¡¯s bright cry pierced the air. ¡°Wah¡ª!¡± ¡°It¡¯s out, it¡¯s out!¡± Tears of joy rolled down Dr. Zheng¡¯s face. Carrying the baby, he sobbed silently, ¡°It¡¯s finally here!¡± The zombies downstairs flooded into the building, and wave after wave surged upstairs. Si Nan and Chuncao burst out of the room at the same time, shouting, ¡°Prepare for retreat!!¡± *** The industrial area was to the south, about thirty kilometres from the factory. The zombie hoard had yet to reach that area, and there was only the occasional zombie stumbling about in the wild. Zhou Rong stepped on the brakes. Twenty metres ahead, Guo Weixiang jumped off his vehicle like a mad man. ¡°Rong-ge! Dading! Where¡¯s Chuncao? Where¡¯s Si Nan? Where are our people?!¡± He seemed to have sensed something. His tone during the last question was laced with disbelief and sorrow. ¡°They¡­¡± Before Ding Shi could answer, Zhou Rong patted his shoulder and jumped off the vehicle. He too went to pat Guo Weixiang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Rong-ge?¡± Guo Weixiang asked in alarm. Slinging a bag off one shoulder, Zhou Rong carried the heavy machine gun and walked down the road. In the unending pile of abandoned vehicles facing the opposite direction of the city, he selected a modified Jeep. Opening the door, he dragged the already rotting owner of the vehicle down the car. Ding Shi scrambled down the vehicle. ¡°Rong-ge, what are you doing?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back,¡± Zhou Rong replied lightly. He got into the driver¡¯s seat and started the jeep. Slowly turning away from the traffic jam, he stopped in front of the stunned Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang. ¡°My team members are still in the factory,¡± Zhou Rong said. ¡°I promised Si Nan that I¡¯ll go back and pick them up.¡± Guo Weixiang shook his head, unable to make even a sound. Tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°If Yan Hao wakes up, let him take up the position of the captain of Squad Six, Unit 118. If he doesn¡¯t wake up, the two of you shall discuss what to do in the future. You must definitely send the serum to Nanhai.¡± ¡°Find a place to cremate Yingjie, and bring his ashes back for his wife and child.¡± ¡°These few years that Rong-ge has been your captain, I didn¡¯t manage to get much benefits for you guys, and had no ability to lead you guys in a brilliant career. Instead, in the end, one by one we all lost all lives. Rong-ge has done you wrong.¡± Zhou Rong reached out through the window, clasping their heads. He smiled, ¡°Stop crying, it¡¯s very embarrassing, alright? I¡¯ve hidden two cartons of cigarettes under the driver¡¯s seat. If I don¡¯t come back, I¡¯ll leave it to the both of you.¡± The survivors all stuck their heads out of the windows, blankly and sorrowfully watching this scene. If there was an opportunity for Zhou Rong to wash his face and change his clothes, he would probably be a stylish, handsome, rakish hero popular amongst the Hollywood films. However, this hero now did not have much style to him. His combat uniform was dirty, and who knew how much guts and blood was stuck on his boots. His hair had not been washed for a few days already, and there was even stubble on his chin. Zhou Rong finally waved at them, and that action was indescribably cool. ¡°Tell Yan Hao that idiot, he lost again.¡± He started the car. The modified Jeep rumb Chapter 30 ¡°Push! Push harder!¡± Dr. Zheng¡¯s hands were covered in blood, and his voice had long turned hoarse. ¡°Hold on! HOLD ON!¡± The mother¡¯s voice was completely hoarse as well. She shook her sweaty face desperately, and pain had twisted her face into a terrifying grimace. A few women with children gathered nearby, some praying in unison and others unable to stop themselves from crying out loud, ¡°Push a little harder!¡± ¡°Hold on, you must hold on!¡± Guo Weixiang pushed the door open. ¡°We have to go, quick! A hoard of zombies are here!¡± The women looked at each other, and the shrieks of the mother turned even sharper. Their eardrums all felt as though they had been pierced by knives. Guo Weixiang had no time to care about the ongoings. He move forward to carry the mother. Dr. Zheng stopped him anxiously, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time already, do the delivery in the car! I¡¯ll carry her!¡± ¡°She can¡¯t be moved! She¡¯ll bleed excessively!¡± Dr. Zheng roared, ¡°I¡¯m not going, I¡¯ll stay here and deliver the child!¡± Guo Weixing panted urgently. After Dr. Zheng¡¯s shout, he turned towards the mother with a broken voice, ¡°Harder! You have to hold on!¡± Outside the window, not far away, the third signal shot up the night sky with a long trail behind it, reflecting upon every blank and hopeless face. The zombies were 500 metres away. *** The armoured vehicle came hurtling from the end of the road, executing a flawless drift when it entered the gates and came to a ear-screeching stop in front of the crowd. Zhou Rong kicked the back door open, ¡°In in in, hurry!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t fit anymore!¡± Ding Shi stuck his head out of the window. ¡°I¡¯ll drive the first group of people to the dormitory and let them get up Xiangzi¡¯s car, then I¡¯ll come back for the rest!¡± It was true that the vehicle could not fit everyone, as there was a limit to its capacity. With the space available, there were at least ten people on site who would need to wait till the next round. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes swept across the crowd, speaking decisively. ¡°The rest of the people will run after the vehicle first, just run as much as you can! We won¡¯t leave any of you behind. The ladies will get on first, you!¡± Wu Xinyan straightened, gasping. Her arm was caught by Zhou Rong, and she was rudely shoved into the vehicle. ¡°The older and the slower ones, you! You! And you!¡± An old man was pushed a couple of times. He slowly stood up, and voices rang around him. ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°Quick, don¡¯t take your time!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t get on,¡± The old man spoke slowly. ¡°I¡¯m already 68. To be able to get here I¡¯ve already been very fortunate. Why would I unabashedly continue living? It¡¯s better to let the young ones get one first, I¡¯ll¡­¡± The anxious crowd immediately interrupted him. ¡°There¡¯s space! Get on!¡± ¡°Mister, don¡¯t say anymore, hurry up and get on!¡± The old man was almost pushed up the vehicle by the crowd. The space was soon entirely filled, and both Zhou Rong and Si Nan worked together before finally managing to close the door. Other than Zhou Rong, Chuncao and Si Nan, there were nine young and fit men. Only a few had wanted to get on the vehicle but failed to do so, while most of them were young men with no homes and families, and they stayed behind willingly. Zhou Rong exhaled, and he shone his high lumen tactical torch towards the north. The dark scenery looked haunting. The rotting stench of the zombies had wafted over to them, and they could smell it clearly. ¡°Everyone,¡± Zhou Rong leaned towards the nine survivors, each with a different expression. He spoke, ¡°Thank you all. I won¡¯t be saying any more sentimental words. Let¡¯s run.¡± Just as he finished speaking, a loud explosion happened nearby. The zombie hoard had entered the area laid with mines, triggering a series of earth-shattering explosions! *** In the inky black night, a life-and-death race with time was happening. On the northern highway, the explosions gradually came closer, and the army of the living dead staggered towards a clear objective. Rows and rows of broken bodies fell onto the road, a carpet formed from rotten meat and black blood. Even more zombies were moaning, making their way towards the factory on the meat carpet. One after another, they seemed tireless. Far away, in the direction towards B City, an endless swarm of zombies were moving, looking like an enormous tide. Guo Weixiang sent everyone in the dormitory, except for Dr. Zheng and the woman in labour, into the armoured vehicle. Together with the first group of survivors Ding Shi had driven over, the entire vehicle was almost bursting at its seams. Ding Shi seemed to speed like the wind. Before he even came to a full stop, he saw several people sprinting towards him, with flames in the background. ¡°Where¡¯s the mother¡ª?!¡± Zhou Rong shouted. Ding Shi was almost in tears. ¡°She¡¯s still in labour! She can¡¯t be moved! I asked Xiangzi to first drive towards the south!¡± ¡°Chuncao, Si Nan, bring them up the vehicle!¡± Zhou Rong yanked open the door to the driver¡¯s compartment, motioning at Ding Shi to move seats. ¡°I¡¯ll drive. Quick, go to the dorm and pick up the mother. Fuck, why didn¡¯t they just move to the vehicle to give birth? Just remove a door and use it as a stretcher!¡± Ding Shi, ¡°I don¡¯t know, Xiangzi said moving her would cause her to bleed excessively¡­¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°You guys don¡¯t know anything, this sort of thing always happens in television dramas! Once you move her onto the door, she¡¯ll give birth immediately!¡± In the back compartment, Chuncao called out. ¡°I know, I know! In the second season of The Village Committee, the female lead had given birth like this! It¡¯s fine!¡± Si Nan, ¡°You Alphas, don¡¯t brag about your knowledge of childbirth. What shallow ignorance¡­ The zombies are here!!¡± Dragging their feet, the moans and shrieks from the first wave of zombies tore the sky, and they rushed towards the gap in the barbed wire fence at the north side of the factory. Ding Shi leapt up from his passenger seat, climbing to the roof of the vehicle with a flamethrower and aiming it behind the vehicle. In an instant, flames roared out, blanketing the sky, roasting the zombies into ashes! Zhou Rong slammed the accelerator, and the vehicle shot forward. Chuncao stuck her head out, yelling, ¡°Rong-ge, beware of 2 o¡¯clock!¡± The flamethrower ignited a second round of explosions from the nitroglycerin. Tens of millions of Si Nan¡¯s carefully shattered glass bits erupted, cutting through the heads of countless zombies. Still, there were too many of them, and what was left standing of the wire fence was unable to withstand the zombies¡¯ assault. The fence soon collapsed under the attack of the swarming living dead. Flanking the factory, zombies rushed from all over! With a hand on the steering wheel, Zhou Rong shifted the gears of the vehicle. The armoured vehicle performed several perfect drifts, creating a bloody path like an F1 car and ruthlessly grounding many zombies into paste. A sharp squeal of the tires, and the armoured vehicle came to a steady stop at the dormitory. Zhou Rong commanded clearly. ¡°Chuncao, go up and carry the woman down! Ding Shi, cover us!¡± Carrying her assault rifle, Chuncao kicked the door open and ran. She received a sudden clap on her shoulder, and Si Nan¡¯s hoarse voice was heard. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± In the rearview mirror, Zhou Rong¡¯s brows twitched, but he hesitated from saying anything. However, no one noticed this trivial detail. Si Nan turned to wave at Zhou Rong, then jumped off the vehicle with his submachine gun. ¡ª He would not discover that moment of complicated feelings in Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes. Or maybe, even if he discovered it, he would also not have the time and the mood to slowly work through that mixture of guilt, sadness and self-doubt. Once again, Ding Shi blasted the flamethrower, clearing the zombies running after the vehicle. Just as he was about to switch over to the Type 89 machine gun, yells exploded from within the vehicle. ¡°Behind! Behind!¡± Ding Shi turned to look, only to a wave of zombies following Si Nan and Chuncao the moment they stepped into the dormitory. No one knew where they came from, but in a few seconds, they filled up the empty area between the dormitory and the vehicle, blocking the passage for them to move the expecting mother. ¡°Fuck!¡± Ding Shi raised the flamethrower. He pressed the trigger, but nothing happened. ¡ª The high octane petrol had burnt out, it was out of fuel! ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Ding Shi nearly broke down on the spot. When he turned back again, he saw the zombies drawing closer. They were less than a hundred metres away from them! The armoured vehicle they were in was already riddled with holes. The bulletproof glass had been shattered by Chuncao¡¯s RPG when they were in T City, and they had replaced it with normal glass after that. The chassis of the vehicle was in an even worse state. The moment the vehicle was surrounded by zombies, everyone in the car would have problems surviving! Amongst the terrified yells of the people, although Zhou Rong looked composed, he could not hide the pallor of his face. Sweat dripped down his always spiky, messy sideburns. ¡°Attention, Si Nan. Attention, Si Nan.¡± Zhou Rong turned on the vehicle¡¯s megaphone. ¡°You might be unable to retreat. Report on the lady¡¯s situation, report on the lady¡¯s situation.¡± At the same time, in the dormitory¡ª The dying cries of the mother rang out one after the other. Dr. Zheng was covered with blood, his eyes bloodshot, and he suddenly shouted joyfully. ¡°I see the head! I see the head!!¡± Si Nan and Chuncao looked at the dense crowd of zombies below. They exchanged a glance, and no delight could be seen in both their eyes. ¡°Si Nan, Chuncao.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice was trembling slightly. ¡°Report on the situation.¡± Crash! The Type-89 machine gun rained bullets, accompanied by Ding Shi¡¯s furious yells. However, it was still not enough to stop death¡¯s advance. The first zombie slammed into the vehicle, its arms pounding against it blindly, shattering the rear window. Glass shards covered the backseat, and everyone rushed to crouch down. Cries of terror rang out! ¡°A little more!¡± Dr. Zheng shouted with his might. ¡°Harder! Just a little more!¡± ¡°Go, Rong-ge.¡± Si Nan murmured. He took in a deep breath, sticking his head out of the window. He yelled as loud as he could. ¡°Go, Rong-ge! Quick, go!!¡± In the driver¡¯s compartment, Zhou Rong shut his eyes. More and more zombies gathered, and the windows on both sides of the vehicle had been shattered. The zombies reached into the vehicle, grasping above the survivors¡¯ heads. Some zombies were even holding onto the ladder at the back of the vehicle, trying to climb onto the roof of the car to catch Ding Shi. Zhou Rong opened his eyes, and stepped on the accelerator. The armoured vehicle made its way through the crowd of zombies, crushing them under its wheels and leaving a path of blood behind them. ¡°Si Xiaonan, wait for me.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s powerful voice rang from the loudspeaker. ¡°Rong-ge will come back very soon.¡± Leaning against the windowsill, Si Nan watched the armoured vehicle drive slowly away. In the mass of zombies below, it looked like an insignificant speck. ¡°¡­¡± His lips moved slightly, as though he wanted to say something. But his voice was very very quiet, and even he himself was unable to hear it. ¡°Ok.¡± *** The zombies who had lost the armoured vehicle scrambled about blankly, but it only lasted for a few seconds. An indistinct scent of blood in the air stimulated them, and following after the source of the smell, the zombie hoard found a new target. Bang! The first zombie started crashing into the metal door of the dormitory, followed by many others. The door creaked dangerously! Chuncao¡¯s face paled, but when she opened her mouth, her voice was still very calm. ¡°I still have about 900 bullets. You?¡± ¡°A thousand and six hundred,¡± Si Nan replied. Chuncao nodded. ¡°Alright, you can use your knife to commit suicide, there¡¯s no need to save any bullets for that. Remember, before you die, help me first. Like how you did it for that girl in T City, make it fast.¡± Si Nan smiled slightly. ¡°Sure.¡± The two exchanged a smile. At the same time, they aimed their rifles downstairs, and fired! The submachine gun and the assault rifle created a storm of bullets, and a large number of zombies blocking the door fell. However, this high pressure firepower was limited, but the number of zombies was unlimited. Even more zombies tirelessly lunged forward, and the pounds on the door became heavier and more hurried. Finally, after a few exceedingly loud bangs, the metal door was forced open! Crash¡ª The ground even shook slightly. Simultaneously, a baby¡¯s bright cry pierced the air. ¡°Wah¡ª!¡± ¡°It¡¯s out, it¡¯s out!¡± Tears of joy rolled down Dr. Zheng¡¯s face. Carrying the baby, he sobbed silently, ¡°It¡¯s finally here!¡± The zombies downstairs flooded into the building, and wave after wave surged upstairs. Si Nan and Chuncao burst out of the room at the same time, shouting, ¡°Prepare for retreat!!¡± *** The industrial area was to the south, about thirty kilometres from the factory. The zombie hoard had yet to reach that area, and there was only the occasional zombie stumbling about in the wild. Zhou Rong stepped on the brakes. Twenty metres ahead, Guo Weixiang jumped off his vehicle like a mad man. ¡°Rong-ge! Dading! Where¡¯s Chuncao? Where¡¯s Si Nan? Where are our people?!¡± He seemed to have sensed something. His tone during the last question was laced with disbelief and sorrow. ¡°They¡­¡± Before Ding Shi could answer, Zhou Rong patted his shoulder and jumped off the vehicle. He too went to pat Guo Weixiang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Rong-ge?¡± Guo Weixiang asked in alarm. Slinging a bag off one shoulder, Zhou Rong carried the heavy machine gun and walked down the road. In the unending pile of abandoned vehicles facing the opposite direction of the city, he selected a modified Jeep. Opening the door, he dragged the already rotting owner of the vehicle down the car. Ding Shi scrambled down the vehicle. ¡°Rong-ge, what are you doing?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going back,¡± Zhou Rong replied lightly. He got into the driver¡¯s seat and started the jeep. Slowly turning away from the traffic jam, he stopped in front of the stunned Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang. ¡°My team members are still in the factory,¡± Zhou Rong said. ¡°I promised Si Nan that I¡¯ll go back and pick them up.¡± Guo Weixiang shook his head, unable to make even a sound. Tears welled up in his eyes. ¡°If Yan Hao wakes up, let him take up the position of the captain of Squad Six, Unit 118. If he doesn¡¯t wake up, the two of you shall discuss what to do in the future. You must definitely send the serum to Nanhai.¡± ¡°Find a place to cremate Yingjie, and bring his ashes back for his wife and child.¡± ¡°These few years that Rong-ge has been your captain, I didn¡¯t manage to get much benefits for you guys, and had no ability to lead you guys in a brilliant career. Instead, in the end, one by one we all lost all lives. Rong-ge has done you wrong.¡± Zhou Rong reached out through the window, clasping their heads. He smiled, ¡°Stop crying, it¡¯s very embarrassing, alright? I¡¯ve hidden two cartons of cigarettes under the driver¡¯s seat. If I don¡¯t come back, I¡¯ll leave it to the both of you.¡± The survivors all stuck their heads out of the windows, blankly and sorrowfully watching this scene. If there was an opportunity for Zhou Rong to wash his face and change his clothes, he would probably be a stylish, handsome, rakish hero popular amongst the Hollywood films. However, this hero now did not have much style to him. His combat uniform was dirty, and who knew how much guts and blood was stuck on his boots. His hair had not been washed for a few days already, and there was even stubble on his chin. Zhou Rong finally waved at them, and that action was indescribably cool. ¡°Tell Yan Hao that idiot, he lost again.¡± He started the car. The modified Jeep rumbled and tore through the bloody night, speeding straight towards the factory surrounded by zombies. led and tore through the bloody night, speeding straight towards the factory surrounded by zombies. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Edited by Beth ¡°Can you hold on?¡± Chuncao asked without turning around. After a few hours following the nerve-wracking birth, Dr. Zheng was on the brink of collapse. He was carrying the howling baby in his arms, while on his back was the weak yet gasping mother. However, the weight of both the mother and child seemed to have filled him with endurance. Dr. Zheng replied firmly, ¡°Yes!¡± Si Nan spoke quietly. ¡°Be alert. We¡¯ll go upstairs.¡± Chuncao led the way, with the doctor in the middle and Si Nan at the rear. Taking advantage of the lack of zombie activity in the corridor, they ran as fast as they could. Still, despite having put in their best effort, the small team who were determined to survive lacked any speed to speak of. The shuffling steps of the zombies drew closer; moans could then be heard coming from around the corner. The zombies were catching up! Si Nan, ¡°Fire!¡± Chuncao spun around, aimed, and both simultaneously pulled the triggers. Dr. Zheng was a citizen used to living in peace. Shocked by the sudden burst of gunfire, he shouted. Vaguely, he could feel someone pulling on him. However, in the dark surroundings, with bullets flying about, he was unable to tell if it was human or zombie. All he could do was protect the child as best he could. ¡°Run, run, run!!¡± A few seconds later, Dr. Zheng had someone roaring in his ears. It was Chuncao. ¡°The stairs¡ª get upstairs!¡± Carrying the mother on his back, Dr. Zheng ran for his life. Chuncao and Si Nan suppressed the zombies with their firing whilst they dragged him towards the stairway. But just as they were about to head upwards, Chuncao¡¯s voice cracked as she shouted, ¡°There are zombies here as well! Be careful!¡± Standing in the middle of the corridor, Si Nan fired ceaselessly at the zombies whilst glancing to his left and at the floor below. Within the bright bursts of gunfire, he spotted another group of groaning and staggering zombies as they made their way up! Zombies were suddenly flanking them from both sides¡ª they were truly unlucky. Si Nan steered his weapon, shooting nonstop while back-to-back with Chuncao, attacking as best they could. He barked a command at Dr. Zheng without looking at him, ¡°Go! Get upstairs!¡± However, Dr. Zheng was restricted while carrying a child in his arms and a woman on his back. With the deafening firing of the guns, bullets spraying all over within the darkness, and his age catching up with him, he stumbled a few steps and nearly tripped up the stairs. Wang Wen opened her eyes with great effort. Their surroundings were enclosed in darkness, but with a burst of light which came from gun-fire, as well as a ray of moonlight which flooded in from somewhere, she was still able to see her daughter¡¯s face. The baby was so small, so delicate. Her face was flushed, and her little limbs were flailing as she cried. Wang Wen smiled, trying her best to reach out. This is my darling¡¯s little face. These are my darling¡¯s little hands. These are my darling¡¯s legs, and look at how much energy she has. How nice, she thought. My darling will definitely be able to grow up strong, unlike her useless mother who is dragging down so many good, capable people despite being on the brink of death. Grabbing hold of the handrail, Dr. Zheng finally managed to reach the top floor. Before he even had the time to steady himself, he felt a cold hand patting his back. It was actually rather scary, but at such a critical point in time, Dr. Zheng did not react at all. He heard Wang Wen¡¯s hoarse voice right next to his ear, and she only said two words. ¡°Run quickly.¡± It was followed by a weight lifting from his back. Wang Wen had actually pushed herself off. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ª!¡± Dr. Zheng realised what was happening. He abruptly roared, only to see a figure lean over the handrails and fall to the floor below! Chuncao jerked her head back. ¡°No!!¡± With a slam Wang Wen landed heavily amongst the zombies! The scent of fresh blood stopped the zombies swarming up the stairs. Chuncao and Dr. Zheng were both frozen in shock. ¡°..ru-run! Quickly!¡± Si Nan shouted as his voice trembled. ¡°Don¡¯t watch! Run!¡± After only half a second, the three people who had taken advantage of the zombies wrestling for food, scrambled their way up! There was a total of ten floors in the dormitory building. Carrying the child, Dr. Zheng scrambled up the stairs. Si Nan and Chuncao were either side of him, supporting him as they ran. They soon arrived at the top. At the end of the day, the speed of the zombies was lacking in comparison to that of a human. So when they reached the top floor they could barely hear the movement of the zombies. Only hollow moans and groans could be heard, reverberating up the stairway. The top floor seemed to have been used by the building¡¯s supervisor. There was a metal door at the top of the stairway and Si Nan swiftly shot the lock with his gun. After making sure that Dr. Zheng and Chuncao went through first, he reacted quickly and blocked the door with some junk. ¡°Si Nan! Here¡ª quickly!¡± Chuncao opened one of the doors off the corridor. It was a large suite, with a couch and a bonsai tree. Dr. Zheng collapsed immediately upon entering, falling straight onto the ground as he held onto the infant; not even having the strength to stand up. Si Nan locked the door. Together with Chuncao, they pushed the couch and all other available items of furniture to block the doorway. ¡°¡ªwaah!!¡± The infant¡¯s cries became louder amidst the silence of the room. Before Dr. Zheng could even coax her, Chuncao plonked herself straight down onto the ground and could no longer suppress her tears; they dripped down her face. ¡°Why did she have to jump?¡± Si Nan sat down in the corner of the room. He gasped for air, covering his eyes. ¡°Why did she have to seek death in such a way? She just gave birth, how could she bear to do it?¡± The infant seemed to have been influenced by the sorrow and despair of the adults. Her limbs flailed continuously as she wailed at the top of her lungs. Chuncao took the child from Dr. Zheng¡¯s arms and bundled her in her arms. She was extremely upset. ¡°We were willing to protect her, so why did she have to kill herself? She might have survived! We weren¡¯t at such a point where we had no other options!¡± Dr. Zheng covered his face as his shoulders trembled. A moment later, he raised his tear-stained face and sighed. ¡°When the zombies come.. I¡¯ll.. just let me go and divert them away. The two of you can quickly escape with the child. You¡¯re soldiers.. you¡¯re more qualified than us ordinary people. Your chances of surviving this are greater..¡± ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?!¡± Chuncao demanded. ¡°You¡¯re a doctor! Even more people need you! Do you understand?!¡± Dr. Zheng could only respond dejectedly, ¡°I¡¯m just a useless doctor. If only I could¡¯ve sped up her birth.. if I had run faster.. things wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this. At the end of the day, this is all because of my uselessness and I¡ª¡± ¡°If you¡¯re saying stuff like that, then doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m the one who deserves to die the most?¡± Si Nan suddenly spoke up from the corner of the room. ¡°I¡¯m no one, nothing more than a volunteer.¡± Dr. Zheng and Chuncao exclaimed simultaneously, ¡°Shut up!¡± ¡°So stop speaking like that. For all we know, Zhou Rong will be here soon to pick us up.¡± Si Nan sighed before reminding them, ¡°Quickly, keep the child quiet.¡± ¡ªwill your Captain Zhou really return to a place crawling with zombies? Dr. Zheng¡¯s lips moved but he didn¡¯t voice his thoughts as in the following moment, the howling infant drew his attention away. It was actually a good sign that a baby eight-weeks premature could cry like that, but zombies retained their basic biological instincts and would naturally chase after both sounds and the smell of blood. With the current volume of crying, the zombies would eventually find them. A large crowd of zombies had already broken through a metal door downstairs, how long would a door being propped up by junk last? If and when the zombies started looking for the source of the noise, the three of them would be sitting ducks! Dr. Zheng was anxious. He took back the child from Chuncao¡¯s arms and paced about while coaxing her gently. ¡°Be good, be good, don¡¯t cry anymore, go to sleep, go to sleep, be good¡­¡± Still, as the child had yet to taste a drop of milk since her birth, her cries became even more strenuous until she looked almost out of breath. It was impossible to make such a young baby quieten down. If they covered her mouth, she would most definitely suffocate. Dr. Zheng shuddered; trapped between a rock and a hard place. ¡°They¡¯re on the move,¡± Si Nan looked over from pressing his ear against the floor. ¡°¡ªwaaaaahhhh!!¡± The desperate cries of the baby became everyone¡¯s death-call. Dr. Zheng and Chuncao looked at each other, the circumstances becoming more perilous by the second. ¡°Give her to me,¡± Si Nan instructed. Dr. Zheng responded without thinking. ¡°What are you planning?!¡± Si Nan removed the bedsheet and tore it into strips. After a few alterations, he tied the baby to the front of his chest and knotted the fabric so she firmly positioned. After that, he pushed the nearby window open and looked downwards. The area in front of the building was swarming with zombies; too many to count. In the distance, the industrial zone had completely turned into a sea of zombies as well, so it was likely there would be thousands of them making their way south. Si Nan rotated his head, looking up. Above the window, a pipe, and further up was the rooftop. ¡°It¡¯s too.. it¡¯s too dangerous..¡± Dr. Zheng¡¯s voice trembled. Si Nan tightened the strap of his gun, fixing it securely over his shoulder. After spitting into his palms, he rubbed them together. ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t make a sound. Chuncao, take care of the doctor,¡± he commanded clearly. ¡°Wait for Zhou Rong to come rescue us.¡± Then, under the nervous gaze of Chuncao and Dr. Zheng, he leant out of the window and grabbed hold of the pipe. He firstly tested its strength before heaving himself upwards. ¡°Ah!¡± Dr. Zheng exclaimed before covering his mouth tightly. Chuncao reached out of the window, ready to catch him at any moment. Si Nan twisted in the air, curving his body upwards. With astonishing flexibility, he managed to hook one of his legs onto the railing of the rooftop. Using the strength of just that one leg, he managed to support his entire body. Then, with a gracefully athletic movement, he curled his body upwards! Bang! He managed to grab hold of the railing and flip himself over it! In that instant, both him and the baby were completely suspended in the air. The only support being the slender ankle hooked over the railing. Chuncao¡¯s heart jolted so hard it almost stopped. Only when Si Nan¡¯s call of, ¡®Done!¡¯, echoed down from the roof did she give a sigh of relief. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared!¡± Si Nan called from where he stood on the roof. ¡°Make sure the door is properly reinforced and don¡¯t make a sound!¡± The baby was crying to the point of breathlessness. Si Nan didn¡¯t know how to comfort her, so out of courtesy, he rubbed her little belly with two fingers as he strode towards the only passage between the top floor and the rooftop¡ª the skylight. The skylight was covered by a wooden board. After removing it, he found a ladder. The facilities of the dormitory were old and this wooden ladder was typically used by the cleaner when tidying up the rooftop. Zombies continued to flood the building, about to reach the floor they were on. The resonating sound of a baby crying was like a beacon for them that dinner was about to start. Increasing numbers of zombies crammed their way up, bringing with them a bloody, rotting scent as they went for the wooden ladder. Si Nan raised his machine gun. Just when he was about to pull the trigger, he remembered something. Tearing two small pieces off the corner of his shirt, he rolled them into tiny balls and carefully popped them into the baby¡¯s ears. From there, he open-fired on the wooden ladder, shattering it. Growls and groans rose into the air. The zombies were hit by fragments of the wooden ladder. They moaned unhappily, desperately reaching upwards. Under the lifeless eyes of the living dead, Si Nan slammed the wooden board down over the skylight and heaved a breath of relief. Fortunately, the design of the building was old-fashioned. It was lucky because there was no emergency stairway which reached the roof. Otherwise, to ensure everyone¡¯s safety he would have had no other option but to kill the baby. It was currently already half four in the morning. The darkest period before dawn. The moon was hidden, the stars invisible, and the earth was like an abyss reaching out with its bloody jaws. Si Nan shivered from the cold. He looked at his multifunctional military watch. It was -6 ?C. The child was not wearing any thick clothes so her skin was pale from the chill. Her sobbing had gradually weakened too. With the child kept close, Si Nan found a sheltered corner from the wind and sat down. Trying his best to curl into a ball and keep the tiny body of the baby as close to his chest as possible. He wrapped his arms around her, putting all his effort into sharing his body warmth to preserve the child¡¯s life. As a baby which was eight weeks premature, the function of her organs had yet to fully develop. Immediately upon birth, she had already experienced so much suffering and it really made one wonder how she would be able to survive. ¡°You have to live,¡± Si Nan whispered. ¡°Your mother will be watching from up above.¡± He looked at the child¡¯s soft downy hair, wondering if the little girl was hungry. However, he didn¡¯t dare ask Dr. Zheng, in fear that the zombies would be attracted to them once he did. He had no other option, with a lack of supplies for the baby, but to lick his ring finger as a form of basic sterilisation before allowing the infant to suckle on it. The newborn had very good survival instincts and actually sucked on Si Nan¡¯s finger a couple of times. However, as she got nothing out of it, feeling deceived, she cried even harder. ¡°Ah, damn.¡± Si Nan thought, ¡°This little thing is really picky.¡± Steeling himself, Si Nan bit down on his index finger. Squeezing out a droplet of blood, he once again fed his finger to the baby. At least this time, there was some form of warm fluid. The little mouth worked on suckling his finger, but started crying afterwards. However, her cries were a little quieter and less desperate. Si Nan could only pray for the little girl¡¯s digestive system as he continued squeezing out blood. But this time, the blood supply from his ring finger stopped. So he changed to his little finger, and then to the index finger on his other hand. The baby continued to sob as she sucked on the finger, but just as if she was suckling her mother¡¯s milk, she gradually quietened down¡ª even becoming a little docile. At least blood could be considered somewhat nutritious. It should be able to sustain the child for a little while, but it was not feasible long-term. Si Nan was not afraid that the child would be sick from his blood, but that it would be troublesome if she suffered gastric inflammation due to the bacteria on his hands. Each time before feeding her, he would carefully lick his finger clean, so in the end his fingers were covered with the taste of gunpowder. It was 5.30am. The night grew a little lighter and the sky a little brighter. Peering down from the building¡¯s rooftop, the previous sea of zombies had somewhat lessened, with the marred and damaged industrial zone appearing hazily in the distance. Si Nan felt the fatigue coursing through his body. He shuddered and hugged the baby closer to him. Would Zhou Rong return? Actually, he himself was not really sure. There was no solid reason why Zhou Rong should return, but there was even more reasons why he definitely shouldn¡¯t. He needed to deliver the antivirus data along with the serum to Nanhai. He needs to lead the team and safeguard the two vehicles filled with survivors. He is the Captain of the Special Forces, and by living, he would be able to save even more citizens. Objectively speaking, if that person had any sense, they would definitely not return. But he was Zhou Rong. The same Zhou Rong who carries his emotions on his sleeve; was overbearing and tyrannical while carrying with him the hope even in dark times that made everyone entrust him with their lives. Si Nan exhaled slowly. He raised his head, looking out into the distance, his eyes sweeping aimlessly through the sea of zombies. He had already repeated this action countless times over the past hour. However this time, something caught his eye. Travelling along a road in the distance, lights of a car flashed brightly, followed by the roar of an engine growing closer. The zombies that were too slow to dodge, were ground to paste under its wheels and the bloodbath extended into the horizon behind the vehicle. The car was headed straight for the centre of the building which was surrounded by the sea of zombies. Casually, a window wound down and the barrel of an RPG launcher slid out. Boom! Wherever the mortar landed, the zombies exploded and soon countless living dead burst into pieces. The gunfire was like a gorgeous fireworks display in the gradually-lightening sky, smacking viciously into the swarm of zombies. The smoke was thick and sparks flew everywhere. The vehicle¡¯s headlights were like swords slicing through the shadows, forging a path through death and blood, through the obstacles of heaven and earth and yet were seemingly invincible. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Edited by Beth Si Nan jumped to his feet. In the industrial zone, explosions created from the bombs followed the winding roads, clearing the zombies in the way. The SUV sped away with the backdrop of black and red explosions; drifting to a perfect stop just below the building. Next, with a rocket launcher supported on his shoulder, Zhou Rong leapt out from the window and onto the roof of the vehicle, smiling brightly. ¡°Si Xiaonan!¡± ¡°Chunxiaocao!¡± ¡°Rong-ge has come back for you¡ª!¡± Dr. Zheng looked out of the window with an expression as if he was personally witnessing Moses part the Red Sea. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Whilst Chuncao leapt up from her previously depressed state and leant out of the window, wanting to scream, ¡°You came back to die?!¡± Fortunately, before she opened her mouth, she remembered that the corridor was filled with zombies, so had to forcefully swallow her words. ¡°You came back to die¨C?!¡± Above her, Si Nan shouted. Si Xiaonan! My twin in this world! Chuncao thought as her eyes filled with passionate tears. Zhou Rong laughed, ¡°Watch! I¡¯ll let you guys see the secret techniques of 118!¡± Zhou Rong took out something that looked like an Uzi machine gun. However, its barrel had an attachment that could shoot triangular projectiles. Seeing that thing, Chuncao immediately pulled Dr. Zheng away. She had no time to worry if they would attract the zombies. ¡°Quick, retreat!¡± Before her words echoed away, the two had withdrawn several steps away, and the glass windows shattered. The projectile, with a rope attached to it, swept past the top of their heads, and pierced right into the cement wall! The other end of the projectile launcher was attached to the roof of the car via a very strong magnet by Zhou Rong. The rope stretched from the ground to the top of the ten-storey building. In the vast sky, it became a bridge of survival. Si Nan re-wrapped the baby, tying her firmly to his back, then asked Chuncao, ¡°You first, or me?¡± Chuncao was rifling through the entire room for a rope to tie Dr. Zheng up. ¡°You!¡± Si Nan inhaled deeply. Patting the baby¡¯s little bottom, he spoke quietly, ¡°With your mother¡¯s blessing, please don¡¯t fall out.¡± He then tightened his military gloves, leapt off the building, and caught the rope in a flash. The wind rustled his hair, his jacket flapping in the wind as he shot straight down from thirty metres up. With a knee on the ground, Zhou Rong steadied himself¡ª and caught hold of Si Nan! Zhou Rong, ¡°Good!¡± The force made the two fall back and onto the rooftop of the vehicle. Si Nan was pressing down on Zhou Rong¡¯s body, and for the moment, the two were only millimetres apart. Defeated, the sea of zombies receded. The gunfire that had yet to end, increased. Smoke curled upwards to the sky. And all of this was reflected in Zhou Rong¡¯s smiling eyes. That moment was something completely unexpected, and yet it felt as though it had been deeply engraved in his memories. They stared into each other¡¯s eyes, and Si Nan eventually lowered his head, touching the same lips that felt rough due to dryness. It was a fleeting kiss. But the vast, hazy world froze in that moment, before shattering into countless shards, swirling away with the wind. ¡°¡­¡± Chuncao shivered. ¡°In¡ª in broad daylight! Out in the open they¡ª did they forget about us two..¡± ¡°Before Captain Zhou retrieves the rope and leaves, let¡¯s hurry up and move!¡± Dr. Zheng urged. Zhou Rong laughed delightedly, whilst Si Nan flipped over and got up. He was slightly blushing as he slid down from the SUV. Chuncao reacted. She tightened the rope around her body, afraid that it might not be able to take the weight of a full-grown man. She signalled for Dr. Zheng to hold onto her as tightly as he could. If the bedclothes were to tear apart, it would mean Dr. Zheng falling midair. Dr. Zheng was hesitant, ¡°Why don¡¯t we.. let me do it, you¡¯re still a girl..¡± ¡°Stop your nonsense and hold on tight.¡± Chuncao laughed. Dr. Zheng wanted to tell her that if he had a daughter, Chuncao would be around her age. However, in that critical moment, he couldn¡¯t think about anything else and could only hold his breath as he gripped Chunao¡¯s shoulders. Grabbing on, he felt the firm and sturdy frame under his palms. The girl¡¯s lean muscles were tenser than a rock, as if they contained a boundless amount of strength. Chuncao caught the rope and stood on the windowsill. With an exclamation, she leapt into the air! Bang! A few seconds later, Chuncao fell firmly onto the roof of the car, her face landing first. She was nearly crushed to death by Dr. Zheng. ¡°Yo, my daughter!¡± Zhou Rong kept the grappling hook gun. Crouching by the side, he spoke hypocritically, ¡°Let daddy see if you¡¯ve been injured, does it hurt? ¡­¡± Chuncao raised her head, two streams of blood flowing from her nose. ¡°You could at least pretend to catch us! Would you die pretending?!¡± ¡°There are two of you, with my old arms and old legs, how would I be able to catch you? Alright, where¡¯s the mother?¡± Chuncao replied, depressed, ¡°She jumped into the zombie hoard, I couldn¡¯t stop her.¡± Zhou Rong patted her on the head. ¡°I¡¯ll settle this with you when we get back.¡± He fired a mortar as he stood up, clearing the zombies that were again swarming towards them from dozens of metres away. Jumping into the driver¡¯s seat, he exclaimed, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± It was 6 in the morning. The night was ebbing, and light was growing. Still carrying the child, Si Nan sat shotgun and fell asleep. Slumped in the backseat, Chuncao and Dr. Zheng were sleeping with their mouths wide open and drooling. Even the non-stop explosions from the mortars could not disturb them. The SUV drove through the highway, heading down south. Behind them was an endless stream of zombies, and in front were magnificent fireworks. At the end of the wilderness, when the first light appeared over the horizon, Guo Weixiang gazed at the highway from the vehicle¡¯s bonnet and shouted, ¡°They¡­ Da Ding! They¡¯re back!¡± ¡°Rong-ge!¡± ¡°Rong-ge¡ª!¡± Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang both rushed towards the highway, frantically jumping and waving their arms. Behind them, the civilians all sped out from the vehicle, staring at the SUV heading swiftly towards them with mixed feelings of both grief and joy. Yan Hao was groggy, struggling to get up. The survivors carefully supported him. ¡°He¡¯s back!¡± ¡°Rong-ge is back!¡± ¡°Captain Zhou has returned¡ª!¡± ¡­ Covered with dew, the SUV stopped by the roadside, its outer layer reflecting the sunlight. Zhou Rong opened the door, and just as he exited, he was immediately embraced by Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang on both sides. The survivors clustered around with tears in their eyes. The women competing to take the baby from Si Nan¡¯s arms, hugging, kissing and coaxing her while the men stood on tip-toes to watch. ¡°Is there anything to eat? I¡¯m starving. Willing to exchange a kissy-kiss for some food,¡± Zhou Rong laughed. ¡°Also, since he¡¯s still sleeping, steal some of that milk powder Si Xiaonan has been hiding to prepare milk for the child, quick.¡± *** The temperature had dropped sharply overnight. The freezing cold conditions had caused zombies from the three north-eastern provinces, as well as the entire North China, to gather and spread down south as a large force. They needed to reach Nanhai ahead of the zombies and reach the safe zone. If not, they¡¯ll end up like the Feng fellow and the other unlucky bastards, submerged in the crush of the thousands, even millions of zombies. That bus was destined to become their metal coffin. Fortunately, other than Wang Wen, all the other survivors were unharmed, and none of the special-forces soldiers had been sacrificed in this flee for their lives. They had maintained their full strength to transport the information and antibodies to their destination. The unfortunate part was also very obvious ¡ª there were no longer enough supplies. When Si Nan woke up, he drank some cold water and ate two packets of compressed biscuits expressionlessly. From the speed of his chewing, it was obvious that he wasn¡¯t happy. Zhou Rong was squatting beside him, eating his biscuits whilst reprimanding him, ¡°You¡¯re far too spoilt and pampered! The coddled generation will definitely be destroyed! Do you remember the Long March, 25000 miles trekked by the Red Army, they traversed grasslands, our ten years of Cultural Revolution and three years of disasters, fighting against floods and working on earthquake relief! It¡¯s already a miracle you have biscuits to eat¡ª yours even with raisins inside! If you¡¯re still not satisfied then we¡¯ll exchange!¡± ¡°What Cultural Revolution? I know nothing about that,¡± Si Nan responded coldly. ¡°If you talk instead about General Washington crossing the Delaware River during the winter¡¯s night, then I might identify more with it.¡± Zhou Rong was transfixed on the biscuit crumbs on the corner of Si Nan¡¯s lips. Desire flooded him; really wanting to kiss them off. However, the space around them was filled with people, and after thinking it over for a moment, Zhou Rong could only reach out and brush the hair off Si Nan¡¯s forehead. Stopping his chewing, Si Nan swallowed the remaining bite of biscuit. He yawned, wrapped his jacket tightly around him and returned to the armoured vehicle to catch up on some sleep. The women were carrying the baby, clamouring to be the one to feed her milk. They built a fire with the wood they picked up, carefully heating up half a bottle of water to prepare the powdered milk. With his clothes wrapped tightly around him, Si Nan leant in his seat, gazing at that bottle of thick and warm milk. Gulping his saliva, he suddenly felt something hard in his arms. He took it out, it was a bar of Dove chocolate. ¡°Wow, chocolate!¡± Wu Xinyan was picking up wood, getting ready for breakfast. She happened to walk past the vehicle, and casually said, ¡°Let me have it!¡± Si Nan glared at her. Wu Xinyan looked back guiltlessly. A few seconds later, Si Nan put the chocolate back into his pocket, speaking slowly, ¡°You¡¯re a girl, so you can¡¯t eat too many sweet things. You¡¯ll gain weight.¡± Wu Xinyan, ¡°¡­¡± Chuncao and Dr. Zheng both woke up as well. Chuncao was extremely hungry, and clambered down the SUV to look for food. She happened to see a kind Auntie preparing a meal for invalids such as the half-asleep Yan Hao, so immediately headed towards her while drooling. Who would have guessed that before she could steal a can of food, a roar exploded behind her. ¡°First Lieutenant Yang Chuncao! Get your ass over here!¡± A shock ran through Chuncao¡¯s entire body. Zhou Rong was rested and recharged, and he was about to start settling accounts. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you save the mother Wang Wen?¡± Zhou Rong emphasised every word. In front of him, Chuncao was standing up straight, yet her head was bowed, like a frostbitten little cabbage. Dr. Zheng wrung his hands, wanting to explain. However, before he could even speak, he was forced back by Zhou Rong¡¯s loud berating, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you carry her yourself?! Why didn¡¯t you tie her to your back?! Why did the retreat take so long?!¡± ¡°There were 2500 bullets between Si Nan and you, Si Nan emptied all of his! Why didn¡¯t you?!¡± ¡°You still had a 160 bullets left in your magazine, why was there 160 left¡ª?!¡± Zhou Rong was almost yelling into Chuncao¡¯s ear. The people around them were terrified, and none dared to speak. Si Nan was woken up by the shouts, and he cut in coldly. ¡°I was on the scene as well, and I didn¡¯t catch her then. If you want to scold someone, you should scold me too.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t afford to scold you!¡± Zhou Rong raged mercilessly. ¡°You¡¯re not my team member, and you did not take any vows. The country isn¡¯t paying you either!¡± ¡°What could I do with that pittance of a wage? Which individual here, giving their absolute all, did so because of their military pay? Is 118 even paying you your salary now?¡± Under the eyes of an audience, Si Nan was actually opposing Zhou Rong. No one had expected that someone, who had always been very quiet, would be able to speak such harsh words. ¡°How much is your salary? How many kilos of oil and rice can we convert it into? You¡ªthat fellow, get me a gun and I¡¯ll go to the market close-by and loot the amount it¡¯s worth. However much the First Lieutenant Yang Chuncao¡¯s salary is, I¡¯ll loot that amount just for you. Then from now on, she will work for me¡ª how about that?¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± Chuncao, ¡°¡­¡± Guo Weixiang who had been referred to as ¡®that fellow¡¯, ¡°¡­¡± Dr. Zheng¡¯s jaw hit the ground. A moment later, he finally mustered up the courage to speak and feebly called out, ¡°Uhh..umm¡± Everyone turned their heads to face him, and Dr. Zheng forced himself to explain, ¡°They both tried their best. There truly was too many zombies surrounding us from every direction.. it¡¯s my fault for not holding the lady tight enough. She let go of me and jumped off secretly, wanting to give us time..¡± Many people appeared unable to bear those words. Even the baby was woken up by the noise, and wailed loudly. ¡°If they were afraid of being burdened, then why would they put in so much effort to bring the baby back? If not for the two of them.. if not..for the two of them, we would have long been dead.¡± Dr. Zheng shrank back, emotional. ¡°We really would have died.¡± The survivors eyed Zhou Rong with veiled opinions, most with implications being that Zhou Rong was being unreasonable and how he could possibly act like he was. So Zhou Rong had no other choice. ¡°Do you admit your mistake?!¡± Chuncao responded listlessly, ¡°I do.¡± Zhou Rong could only cease his aggression. Thinking over it, he added another sentence, ¡°Go over there, you¡¯re not allowed to eat!¡± Dejectedly, Chuncao walked over to the vehicle and crouched down. With much shame, her fingers rubbed the hem of her dirty uniform. Si Nan exited the car, wanting to snatch a gun. Guo Weixiang recalled that this person was the one who fought his way out of a zombie hoard alone. Afraid that he would really go loot supplies without a word, Guo Weixiang promptly hugged his gun and retreated a dozen metres away. ¡°Calm down, you have to calm down!¡± Si Nan had no other options, and spoke unhappily, ¡°I won¡¯t be eating too.¡± He walked over to Chuncao, sitting down on the ground next to her. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong was resigned. ¡°My ancestor, you¡¯ve just eaten, alright?¡± In a trance, Yan Hao was fed a few mouthfuls of warm soup by others, and finally woke up fully. He had heard Zhou Rong scolding Chuncao and Si Nan, and had wanted to speak up to stop him. Helplessly, he was unable to make a sound, and now he could finally cough a few times while pressing against his ribs. ¡°Rong-ge, Rong-ge¡­¡± Huffily, Zhou Rong turned to walk over to the other armoured vehicle. ¡°You¡¯re awake now? Are you ok?¡± Seeing that he had turned away, the women preparing breakfast all exchanged a look. Then, the auntie who prepared Yan Hao¡¯s meal nodded, hiding something in her arms and moved over to Chuncao sneakily, shoving it into Chuncao¡¯s hand. It was two braised eggs. Before Chuncao could say a word, Zhou Rong turned his head around, as though he had eyes in the back of it. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The auntie answered quickly, ¡°Nothing!¡± Cough cough cough!! Yan Hao immediately coughed loudly ¡ª he truly gave it his all. A few of his ribs were already broken, and this bout of coughing made him ache even more, he nearly fainted from the pain. Zhou Rong could only return to his duty as the captain. ¡°Quick quick quick, bring some warm water here. Tighten the plywood tied around his chest¡­¡± The auntie spoke extremely tenderly, ¡°My pitiful little child¡­¡± She signalled Chuncao to hurry up and eat, then slipped away. Chuncao was extremely hungry. Peeling the shell off an egg, she started gorging herself on it. Seated on the grass, Si Nan peeled the other egg for her. He looked up and observed the armoured vehicle nearby. Zhou Rong had his back towards him, half-crouching. He was holding onto Yan Hao¡¯s head, and was calling out for anyone near to help the injured by boiling water to disinfect the bandages. In the eyes of outsiders, their position was a little intimate. Inexplicably, Si Nan¡¯s mood sunk a little, and without a sound, he averted his eyes. ¡°Are you still upset?¡± Guo Weixiang came over with two bottles from another side, handing one each to them. He smiled, ¡°It¡¯s fine. In front of so many, and not saving the mother, it was bound to have happened that Rong-ge would scold you. Now that he¡¯s done, everything¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t take it to heart, he knows that you both tried your best.¡± Lazily, Si Nan did not respond. ¡°¡°Rong-ge said all of those things because he feels guilty.¡± Guo Weixiang lowered his voice, persuading him. ¡°You¡¯re not one of the special-forces, and should be a civilian receiving the needed protection from us. However, forced by circumstances, he has had to treat you like a member of a death squad. If you achieve any honours, you won¡¯t be able to receive any promotion or pension, so he¡¯s actually very apologetic towards you¡­¡± ¡ª if Dr. Zheng was next to them, he would have definitely realised something was wrong, and try to give an explanation. However, Chuncao was an ignorant girl, with her mouth stuffed full with eggs, so she nodded along as she listened. ¡°¡­ Just shut up.¡± Si Nan held his hand to his forehead, finally unable to tolerate it anymore and interrupted Xiangzi¡¯s nagging. ¡°What do you know? You¡¯re just a big cock.¡± Si Nan stood up, pulling the chocolate from his pocket and handing it to Guo Weixiang. ¡°For you two.¡± After that, Si Nan got back into the car without turning back. Raising his knees, he huddled in a corner of the backseat. Wrapping his jacket tightly around him, he closed his eyes. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Edited by Beth Chuncao and Guo Weixiang obliviously ate the chocolate and midway through, Miss Wu Xinyan, who wasn¡¯t afraid of damaging her figure, also came over to share it too. When Si Nan woke up that afternoon- yawning- he seemed to have forgotten everything that had happened before. Stretching, he asked out of nowhere, ¡°Where is everyone?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve gone to look for supplies,¡± Wu Xinyan replied while washing clothes. ¡°Captain Zhou led a group of over ten people, but when he saw you were sleeping, he didn¡¯t want to wake you.¡± ¡°Probably because I¡¯m not part of his 118,¡± Si Nan shot coldly. Wu Xinyan laughed, ¡°He only scolded you a little, why do you bear such a deep grudge?¡± Zhou Rong and the group had left in one vehicle, and the other one was parked by the river. The clouds had been very low and heavy last night, but today¡¯s weather was surprisingly fine. The sunlight scattered across the surface of the water, and its reflection glimmered in gold. Done washing, Wu Xinyan hung the laundry. A short distance away, the people in charge of tidying up got to work and those in charge of preparing food cooked. It was a rare moment of harmony amidst the apocalypse. Si Nan climbed down from the vehicle and stretched his body. He breathed in deeply, breathing in the cool early winter¡¯s air. In his surroundings behind him, he saw Dr. Zheng examining Yan Hao¡¯s injuries while an older lady was carrying a baby while boiling water to prepare milk¨C there was no need to mention that the full cup was for the injured, and the half cup was for the baby. From afar, Si Nan looked at the packet of milk powder that he himself had not had the time to open. He felt rather disconsolate knowing that from then on, he would never again get the opportunity to touch any milk products. Wu Xinyan was done hanging the laundry, and carried the cup of milk over to Yan Hao. With Dr. Zheng, they squatted by the side of the bedroll, discussing something. After awhile, Dr. Zheng stood up and left, and she continued speaking with Yan Hao for a little longer, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as she laughed. Si Nan shook his head, massaging his aching neck as he gave an old man¡¯s sigh. These people¡­ At that moment, Dr. Zheng returned with a crutch made from a tree branch, motioning for Yan Hao to take a couple of steps forward while using it. Yan Hao sat up, grimacing in pain, but Dr. Zheng alone was unable to help him up. Wu Xinyan wanted to assist, but was stopped by Dr. Zheng. After eyeing the surroundings, he waved at Si Nan. ¡°Comrade Xiao Si, come and give us a hand!¡± Massaging the back of his neck, Si Nan made his way over. Before he even got close, he saw Yan Hao smiling at him. Si Nan tested the splint on his chest. ¡°Would the bones shift if he starts walking now?¡± Yan Hao called out quietly, ¡°Si Nan.¡± Dr. Zheng answered, ¡°They won¡¯t. The bones have already joined together. This sort of clean break, the Alphas can handle it themselves.¡± Si Nan didn¡¯t want to go into the river for a bath, and the women would almost definitely not allow him to mess with the cooking. So with nothing better to do, he obediently held onto Yan Hao¡¯s right arm; and with Dr. Zheng they supported Yan Hao in walking slowly. Wild grass covered the land, with rays of the setting sun spreading across the ground. The cities far off in the distance appeared to be melting into the golden waters, with the scenery being washed in red and gold. Si Nan was originally not the one to initiate conversation, so while they walked Dr. Zheng reminded Yan Hao to use boiled water to clean his wounds. A short while later, the two fell into silence, and Yan Hao coughed slightly. ¡°¡­ Si Nan.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Back then..¡± Yan Hao paused, feelings complicated, before shortly continuing hoarsely. ¡°I believe I heard you say that Yingjie had survived, but at that time I was on the brink of consciousness, so I¡¯m not sure if I heard right¡­¡± ¡°I lied,¡± Si Nan answered quietly. Yan Hao sighed. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± After a few moments of silence, Yan Hao seemed to be struggling with his thoughts, before stumbling over his words. ¡°Was it then that you¡­ discovered that we were Alphas?¡± Dr. Zheng was initially not paying attention, but he quickly realised what was happening and the corners of his lips twitched a few times. Si Nan froze. ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± He looked up at Yan Hao, and unexpectedly met his eyes. With the glimmering gold reflection from the surface of the river, there seemed to be a sort of warmth in Yan Hao¡¯s eyes that gave Si Nan a sense of deja vu ¡ª when the two teams split in B Military Zone, and Yan Hao had came over to hug him tightly, there was also this warmth in Yan Hao¡¯s eyes that he dared not express at that time. Si Nan lowered his head, thinking. His brows knitted slightly, the same crease which had been present on his forehead since a long time ago, deepened further. Yan Hao kept track of the subtle changes in Si Nan¡¯s expression, and he probably understood them. Immediately, he spoke. ¡°There¡¯s something that I¡¯ve been wanting to say to you. At that time¡­¡± He did not expect that Si Nan would interrupt him tactfully. ¡°There¡¯s something I have to do. Is it ok if I get that lady to help you?¡± Si Nan let go, only to have Yan Hao grab him the next moment. Cough cough! The two turned their heads simultaneously, and Dr. Zheng had a very proper expression on his face. ¡°Uhh, the baby¡¯s crying over there. I¡¯m going to go take a look, and I¡¯ll call you guys over when it¡¯s dinnertime!¡± Si Nan thought, what does that baby crying got to do with you? For every four hours the baby¡¯s awake, she¡¯s crying for three and a half hours. It¡¯s not like you can make her stop crying¡ª Before he could stop him, Dr. Zheng had fled into the distance. Yan Hao felt a little awkward. ¡°Will you still listen to what I have to say?¡± Si Nan scanned his surroundings. Everyone was cooking or washing clothes, and Dr. Zheng had already picked up the baby as though that was his only duty, patting her and coaxing her. No one seemed to have any intentions of coming over. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan sighed. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± They sat down by the riverside. Around Yan Hao¡¯s chest was a medical wrap, so his sitting position was a little strange. Si Nan then gathered up the grass next to him into a sort of pillow, tucking it behind Yan Hao¡¯s back, so as to allow him to sit more comfortably. ¡°I had already wanted to say this to you back in T City, but everyone thought you had been bitten by a zombie so it was chaotic. After that, the helicopter crashed onto the roof.. then we came to the factory and I heard that you look down on Alphas.. so I dared not even mention it anymore.¡± Yan Hao paused, bowing his head and staring at his hands, speaking quietly. ¡°I know that there are some extremely outstanding Betas who would look down on Alphas, thinking that they¡¯re chauvinistic or something. However, our team is not like that.. and I¡ª I¡¯m not either. I¡¯ve always respected you very much, especially when you saved my life twice. And if we count the time when you found the antibodies back in the base, and injected them into me, it will be three times.¡± Si Nan shook his head. ¡°That sort of situation should not be counted.¡± ¡°Then the previous two still count.¡± ¡°The previous two times were only a happenstance¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for us to argue over this,¡± Yan Hao cut him off decisively, yet gently. ¡°In this apocalypse, each and every day is filled with crises everywhere. No one would risk their life for a ¡®happenstance¡¯. You can treat it as though they didn¡¯t matter, but I definitely have to be grateful for them. This is a matter of our own standpoints.¡± Yan Hao was very clearly different from Zhou Rong ¡ª ever since Zhou Rong¡¯s Alpha identity had been exposed, he no longer had any scruples about it. Often, he would make others feel his extremely unyielding and dominant aura, and during confrontations, he would even make the other feel a trace of being oppressed. However, there did not seem to be much changes with Yan Hao. His temperament was still very mild, and even if he felt a little bit impatient, it would soon pass. Si Nan looked at him. Ever since they left B Military Zone, the doubt that had left his heart shaken countless times again came to his mind. Should I take this opportunity and just ask him? ¡­ But it was rather awkward. What if these two Alphas really had such an astounding relationship? Just as he was pondering over it, he heard Yan Hao continue. ¡°There¡¯s a question that I wanted to ask you only after considering it carefully over a period of time¡­ but in this apocalypse, we might die at any moment. Closing my eyes at night, I don¡¯t even know if I¡¯ll still be able to see the next morning¡¯s sun. If I never get the opportunity to speak my mind, I would probably regret it for the rest of my life.¡± Yan Hao raised his hand slowly, placing it on the back of Si Nan¡¯s hand. That action was very gentle, but Si Nan could still feel the rough calluses and old, faint scars on his palm. ¡°I just want to know¡­¡± Si Nan¡¯s facial muscles were a little stiff. He watched at Yan Hao drew slightly closer, and his gaze was extremely, extremely focused and solemn. ¡°Having interacted with each other during this period of time, what do you think about¡­¡± An uproar occurred abruptly a distance away, and everyone was alarmed. The two people fell silent, turning to look in the direction of the noise. Si Nan lifted his gun, aiming at the road¡ª However, it was not the sneak attack of zombies, but their own armoured vehicle and a tour bus parked by the entrance gate. Zhou Rong leapt out of the driver¡¯s seat, dragging Guo Weixiang down from the passenger seat, and raised a foot to his chest¡ª kicking him! ¡°Scram! Go over there!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s roar was very clear despite the distance ¡°What a disgrace! Scram! Don¡¯t come over!¡± ¡°I was wrong, alright¡­¡± ¡°Get lost! What an abomination!¡± Zhou Rong was evidently filled with fury, completely different from how his anger had ceased when scolding Chuncao that morning. After a few kicks, he left Guo Weixiang scrambling and tumbling away while almost vomiting blood. It was Dr. Zheng, who was afraid that Zhou Rong¡¯s anger would create another patient for him, who went over and tried to persuade him to stop, signalling for the gloomy Guo Weixiang to escape. ¡°Don¡¯t let me see you, you bastard¡ª¡± Zhou Rong wanted to go up and give him a few more kicks. A few people flew down from the tour bus, and finally held him back. Yan Hao had Si Nan help him to walk over slowly. But just as they reached the middle of the camp, they saw many more people getting off the tour bus. Among them was a sheepish-looking youth; estimated to be around sixteen or seventeen. His appearance was delicate and not very tall. A bandage was wrapped around his forehead with a faint stain of blood. Si Nan froze in his steps. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yan Hao asked receptively. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan replied quietly, ¡°There¡¯s an Omega.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hitting him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really not hitting him.¡± ¡°I just couldn¡¯t control my temper for one moment¡­ I swear I¡¯m not going to hit him!¡± It took a lot of effort for Zhou Rong to convince the anxious crowd. Wearily, he stepped away from them. Asking Dr. Zheng to lead some people to update their inventory as well as to give the new batch of survivors a physical examination. Zhou Rong then twisted a bottle of water open. He was extremely thirsty; a bead of water trickled down his chin and rolled down his sinewy neck. After rage-drinking half of the bottle, only then did he wipe his mouth satisfied. ¡°Yo, Comrade Yan Hao!¡± Zhou Rong exhaled, studying that crutch in Yan Hao¡¯s hand with narrowed eyes. ¡°What are you doing? You¡¯re not resting properly, but dragging my family¡¯s Comrade Xiao Si around for a spin?¡± Yan Hao was unamused. ¡°Who is your family¡¯s Comrade Xiao Si? He may actually be my family¡¯s.¡± Zhou Rong tutted. ¡°Running amuck now, are you? Just let Si Xiaonan tell you which family he¡¯s from. Didn¡¯t Da Ding convey my parting message to you yesterday?¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± Under two intense pairs of eyes, Si Nan pointed with his thumb towards a spot not too far from them. Guo Weixiang was squatting there with his head down, pulling at the grass. ¡°What did he do?¡± Actually, when they saw the young Omega, everyone had a vague suspicion. As expected, Zhou Rong¡¯s answer did not surprise the two of them. ¡°That,¡± he pointed at the youth huddled by the side of the tour bus, stating solemnly, ¡°is the species that I least want to interact with in my life, the species that I¡¯m most afraid to meet especially when running for my life, an Omega.¡± Si Nan was expressionless. Yan Hao immediately spoke up. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like this, Captain. The two of you are rather compatible. How nice, for a hero rescuing a beauty.¡± ¡°But I already have Comrade Xiao Si. While clearing out the supermarket, we bumped into this group of people. They¡¯re survivors who hid in a warehouse when the virus broke out. Due to their abundant supplies, they had been eating and drinking well everyday, and they even have self-heating instant noodles. Do you know those kind of instant noodles where all you have to do is pull a string and they¡¯ll cook by themselves? When we went in to rescue them, they happened to be having dinner. There was a pot of steaming hot Kang Shi Fu pickled vegetable and beef flavoured ramen accompanied with sliced ham sausages¡­¡± Both Si Nan and Yan Hao swallowed a mouthful of drool at the same time. ¡°What sort of expression is that on your faces? We really went in to rescue them,¡± Zhou Rong was upset. ¡°Also, they were very eager to leave with us. You two didn¡¯t see the situation then, it was like the workers joining the Red Army leading to the successful Long March¡­ or maybe it was like Comrade Xiao Si¡¯s General Washington successfully crossing the Delaware River, but this is not the main point.¡± ¡°The main point is, among the survivors is an Omega.¡± Zhou Rong sighed deeply, looking exhausted. ¡°During the transfer, this child was chased by zombies, and he hit his head on a shelf, bleeding heavily. The smell of the pheromones was truly something. At that time, I was standing guard outside. It was only a few minutes, and Comrade Guo Weixiang nearly committed an offence that would require him to be executed by a gun squad¡­¡± Nearby, the youth was tilting his head towards them, seemingly wanting to know what they were discussing. However, he looked very timid. ¡°Don¡¯t come here! Scram, go further away!¡± From the corner of his eye, Zhou Rong saw that Guo Weixiang seemed to want to come closer, and immediately yelled at him. Guo Weixiang drooped, having no choice but to continue plucking at the grass. Zhou Rong snorted heavily, traces of his anger still evident. ¡°The scent of this child¡¯s pheromones is extremely thick. He¡¯s already sexually mature, and is about to enter his heat for the first time. We have to bring him with us, but sooner or later, even if he stops bleeding his heat pheromones will spread out over 5 kilometres and attract a hoard of zombies. Everyone will be at risk.¡± ¡°We can either depart immediately in order to find him suppressants, or we can let him experience his heat and deftly settle everything.¡± Zhou Rong patted Yan Hao¡¯s shoulder, speaking warmly, ¡°The organisation has deliberated this prudently, and they¡¯ve decided to give you this chance of escaping singlehood.¡± Yan Hao immediately fell two steps back, as though there was wind under his feet. That nimble action made him seem like a completely different person from the feeble patient Si Nan had been supporting. ¡°No, no, Captain, Rong-ge! You¡¯re the boss, it¡¯s for the best if you handle this personally.¡± Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Edited by Beth ¡°Captain, you have to cure that gender prejudice of yours. There¡¯s nothing bad about Omegas¡ª look, he was secretly staring at you just now¡­¡± ¡°No, no, he was secretly looking at you just now. The two of you look so fitting when standing next to one another, how can you refuse it?¡± ¡°But Captain, you¡¯re two months older than me. It¡¯s even more imperative that you should quickly settle down and start a family. So the one who shouldn¡¯t refuse is clearly you!¡± ¡°I already have Comrade Xiao Si. See, he was just looking at me right now. He clearly has secret, tender affections towards me and is just too embarrassed to say anything. How can I pretend not to see it and hurt him?¡± Zhou Rong and Yan Hao were seated next to the fire, their heads bowed together. They looked like they were having a secret meeting¡ª or were two terrorists planning an unmentionable scheme. Everyone consciously kept at least ten metres away from them. When suddenly, the two of them simultaneously turned their heads, four eyes directed towards Si Nan who was leaning against a vehicle and polishing his dagger. It left him puzzled. ¡°Look,¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s lips didn¡¯t move as he whispered from the corner of his mouth. ¡°He¡¯s looking at me, right? You see how focused he is.¡± Yan Hao was doubtful. ¡°No, I think he¡¯s actually looking at me?¡± Zhou Rong shoved his head, forcing him to turn back. ¡°You¡¯re dreaming!¡± After leaving Military Zone B, every time Si Nan had almost managed to convince himself that the relationship between the two Alphas was something he had imagined, the couple would do something astounding. Those actions had blinded Si Nan¡¯s alluring eyes; so pretty they could tempt anything within eight-hundred metres of him. Out of habit, Si Nan rubbed the center of his brows. Slowly exhaling, he unconsciously tried to smoothen out a wrinkle. ¡°See, he¡¯s sighing,¡± Zhou Rong spoke icily. ¡°If you refuse again, I¡¯ll beat you!¡± On the other side of the fire, Guo Weixiang was sprawled out face down on the ground¡ª so not to put pressure on his buttocks, which Zhou Rong had just delivered a fierce kick to. ¡°¡­ Say,¡± Guo Weixiang spoke feebly. ¡°Did you all forget that there¡¯s still one more Alpha on our team?¡± Yan Hao responded sympathetically. ¡°Ding Shi? No, Da Ding has a crush on his little Jing Hua back home. Our team can¡¯t force another soldier to go against his personal feelings.¡± ¡°Mn! Mn!¡± Next to them, Ding Shi nodded. Guo Weixiang hemmed and hawed. ¡°Other than Da Ding, there¡¯s still one more, right?¡± ¡°Chuncao? No, not Chuncao,¡± Zhou Rong replied. ¡°Our Chuncao¡¯s pheromones have yet to even mature. This extremely slow and delayed puberty of hers, she¡¯ll have to go and see the doctor when we reach headquarters. Alright, Chuncao?¡± Chuncao looked very serious. ¡°Mn! Mn!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Guo Weixiang swept an indignant and grievous gaze across the faces of his team mates. After some time, he couldn¡¯t hold himself back any longer and sat up, pointing at himself. ¡°What about me?!¡± Everyone ignored him. ¡°Am I not considered an Alpha? Can¡¯t you hand him over to me?!¡± Zhou Rong took the baby away from Dr. Zheng and passed her over to Guo Weixiang. With a doting expression, Zhou Rong patted Guo Weixiang¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You have a child already, so what are you complaining about? Come now, we have to respect the old yet love the young, so you should give-way to your Vice-Captain who is two years your senior.¡± The new Omega was called Ren Junyang. He was actually of-age already, but it was his appearance which was rather delicate and pretty that made him look much younger than he really was. Worse still was how unfit he was. It was unknown if it was innate, or due to his lack of exercising, but he couldn¡¯t lift nor carry anything. Not only was he unable to take shifts throughout the night with the rest of the men, he also couldn¡¯t help the women with the kitchen work. Dr. Zheng thought hard but still couldn¡¯t think of where he would be best assigned. So finally he had no other choice but to send Ren Junyang with Wu Xinyan to assist in washing some lighter pieces of laundry. The few Special Forces soldiers didn¡¯t dare to let him wash their clothes. The inhibitors which they had been injected with in order to hide their Alpha identities could only last for two months. Now it was completely ineffective, and they were afraid that any remnants of pheromones left behind on their clothes would stimulate the Omega and send him into heat prematurely. With no other choice, Zhou Rong had to scrub his t-shirt in the river every day, with a cigarette between his lips. They headed down south, moving through the small villages and towns along the road, through Hubei by way of Wuhan, and tried their best to avoid the highways that were jam-packed with zombies, as well as densely packed cities. Each time they went past a village, Zhou Rong would personally lead a team to search for necessities, and would sometimes be able to rescue a few survivors. But as time went by, the amount of food that was salvageable and the amount of civilians they could rescue started decreasing. Because, the number of people alive was dwindling. Including the crowd who left the fertiliser factory with the soldiers, and the survivors which were rescued from various villages, they now had formed a group of over seventy people. Zhou Rong said that if they entered the bigger cities, they would definitely be able to find more survivors. However, they were running out of time, nor did they possess the ability to fight their way into such high-risk areas in order to seek out those who were still alive. No one knew how stable the proto-antibodies they had were, and how long they would remain effective for. If the headquarters in Nanhai were really waiting for them, and the critical period for the antivirus research was delayed due to their side trips, the consequences of that were unthinkable. Yan Hao lay low behind the bunker. He squinted and aimed at the zombie about 40 metres away through his sight. ¡°Captain.¡± The silencer emitted a soft sound, and the zombie fell. Zhou Rong, ¡°What?¡± They had just finished searching through a village. It had completely fallen, with no survivors found within. The supplies which were left behind were only the bare minimum, and Wu Xinyan had ran halfway through the village before managing to catch a terrified rooster. With his surgical skills, Dr. Zheng killed the rooster with much precision, and was about to pluck it of its feathers and drain it of its blood to supplement everyone with an additional bowl of chicken soup that night. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking it over for a long time,¡± Yan Hao spoke solemnly. ¡°I think you really need an Omega.¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­ Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been single for too long, and so you¡¯re really pent up. There¡¯s obviously an issue with your pheromones, as the last time when you were peeing in the grass you nearly knocked Chuncao out with the smell. Also last night, you pretended to be asleep and hugged Comrade Xiao Si, so he had to keep avoiding you¡­¡± ¡°I was sleepwalking.¡± There was no change in Zhou Rong¡¯s expression or his heart rate. Steadily, he pulled the trigger of his gun, and the zombie sixty metres away was killed in one shot. Yan Hao sighed. ¡°Captain, stubbornness won¡¯t work anymore,¡± he said sympathetically. ¡°You¡¯re too deep in the closet of Omega-phobia, it¡¯s time to come out from that closet. Also, the scent coming off that Xiao Ren is becoming heavier, and we haven¡¯t found any pharmacy along the way. If this continues, everyone will be in big trouble when the day of his heat arrives. In my opinion, you should take the initiative to¡­¡± Footsteps came from behind them. Maintaining his primed position, Zhou Rong tilted his head back only to see Si Nan placing the ammunition case on the ground while watching the two of them from above, his arms crossed. Unconsciously, Zhou Rong wanted to pull the fruit candy out from his pockets to curry favour with Si Nan. However, before he could even move, he heard Si Nan ask frostily, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just ask for their opinion?¡± It was as though Zhou Rong had heard the world¡¯s greatest joke. ¡°Whose opinion?¡± Si Nan pointed a finger to the back. Xiao Ren was seated next to Dr. Zheng, clumsily plucking the feathers off the rooster. ¡°An Omega¡¯s opinion?¡± Zhou Rong burst out laughing. ¡°What opinion does an Omega have to express? They¡¯re just for marking and giving birth¡­¡± ¡°If he couldn¡¯t find an Alpha, it would be very difficult for him to survive. Besides, the marking of an Omega was never the choice of the Omega themselves even before.¡± Yan Hao looked at Si Nan¡¯s face, and realised something wasn¡¯t quite right, so he hurriedly explained himself, ¡°Omegas innately search for weaker Alphas whose pheromones aren¡¯t that strong, but if they¡¯re allowed to carry on like this, Alphas would have long collapsed due to the weakening of the genes ¡ª many people now criticise Alphas for being chauvinistic, but this is the current state of society, and this is also taught to us when in school as well.¡± Si Nan¡¯s eyes narrowed. If they were to carefully observe him, they would have noticed that his facial muscles were actually quite tense. Zhou Rong shrugged, and he seemed to agree with Yan Hao. ¡°Also, just look at him, he simply doesn¡¯t look like the decisive sort. If we really can¡¯t find any inhibitors, we¡¯ll just arrange an Alpha for him. In any case, just don¡¯t attract a horde of zombies over to us¡­ actually, it isn¡¯t like Xiang-zi isn¡¯t a possibility.¡± Guo Weixiang was standing not too far away, armed and alert. As such, Zhou Rong¡¯s last sentence was spoken very quietly. Si Nan lifted up the 30kg ammunition box with one hand. Expressionless, he opened the box, and flipped it over. Countless bullets rained from above, causing the two Alphas to wail aloud. Si Nan then placed the empty box over Zhou Rong¡¯s head, dusting his hands as he walked away. From that day on, Si Nan refused to sleep in the same vehicle with Zhou Rong, moving his sleeping-bag to another vehicle. Yan Hao was a little delighted over this, and packed up to move to the other vehicle as well. However, before he had even laid down for two minutes, Si Nan flipped over, saw him, got up, packed his sleeping-bag and moved away again. Hugging his pillow, Si Nan circled the camp a few rounds. Under the close watch of Zhou Rong and Yan Hao behind the windows of the vehicles, he silently entered the tourist bus. This fleeing group of seventy passed through Wuhan, went by Xianning, and headed for Changsha from the suburbs of Yueyang. After they got through Hunan, what came next was the coastal region where the density of zombies were highly concentrated. This journey that cut across half the country was finally at the stage where they would be facing danger. ¡°There¡¯s no chance that we can drive all the way to the harbour.¡± Zhou Rong chewed on a long stick of grass, his finger dragging through a torn, ragged map they found along the way. ¡°The population of Guangdong is too high, and they eat everything, even deep-frying fujianese people and dipping them in hoisin sauce¡­ When I was in military school, on the bottom bunk was a dude from Guangdong. He¡¯s nice, but I always suspected that the disappearance of the Fujian classmate from next door had something to do with him¡­¡± ¡°As such, it¡¯s best that we don¡¯t personally experience the lethality of zombies from Guangdong. Here¡ª¡± His fingers paused on where Changsha was located on the map. ¡°We can try searching for aviation locations around the suburbs of the district. It¡¯s best if we can find a civilian helicopter company, and fly the helicopter directly to Nanhai. When we¡¯re closer to the base, we can then send a location signal.¡± Yan Hao and Chuncao were sat by the map. Si Nan was seated alone in a corner of the vehicle, resting with closed eyes. ¡°Where would a civilian helicopter company be located?¡± Chuncao asked. ¡°We can try our luck around the airport, and for all we know, we might even find a pharmacy.¡± ¡°Will we still be divided into groups?¡± ¡°Mn. As usual, I¡¯ll lead one and Yan Hao will lead the other¡­ No.¡± Zhou Rong paused slightly, murmuring, ¡°Yan Hao hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet.¡± His eyes darted to one side. In that corner, Si Nan looked up, gazing back silently. Zhou Rong had an idea, and waved his hand at Si Nan. ¡°Come here.¡± Leaning against the leather seat, Si Nan watched him lazily. If the mountain doesn¡¯t come to me, I¡¯ll go to the mountain. Not only can I be close to the mountain, I can even hug the mountain ¡ª Goodnaturedly, Zhou Rong walked over. Half-kneeling in front of the seat, and in front of Si Nan¡¯s startled gaze, he removed that ruby stud from his right ear and reached out to grope about Si Nan¡¯s right ear. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Rong laughed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you get a piercing or something?¡± Under the eyes of everyone, the hair on the back of Si Nan¡¯s neck stood up. ¡°Why would I do something so gay?!¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Edited by Beth The metal gates that were topped with high-voltage electric coils, slowly drew apart, letting a blue and white Anti-Riot vehicle slowly make its way through; all under the untrusting eyes of the guards. In front of the vehicle, was a large military base hidden in the mountain side, with a reinforced roof that glinted under the sun. In a spacious meeting room, a graceful figure sat at the head of the table. The glass door slid open soundlessly, and a guard strode in. He bent down, quietly speaking into the ear of that figure, ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± The figure spun his chair around, ¡°Let them in.¡± ¡ª it was a girl who looked very young. She was very thin. Dressed in business casual, her shoulder length hair was tied in a ponytail. If not for the four savage-looking scratch marks on her left cheek, her face could have been described as beautiful. With his head bowed, the guard withdrew. A moment later, the glass door again slid open again. The guard gestured, ¡°Please enter.¡± Three unwelcome guests from the Anti-Riot vehicle stepped into the meeting room, coming to a stop in front of the table¡ª two men and a woman, all of whom were caucasian. And all Alphas. ¡°Yo.¡± The blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl had a very voluptuous figure. She looked at the seated person flippantly, smiling. ¡°She really is an Omega¡­ what a rare sight.¡± The two-metre tall man standing beside her didn¡¯t make a sound, while the man in front wearing shades also ignored her. Behind the table, not far away, the girl studied them silently. The room was quiet for a few moments until she slowly spoke up, ¡°¡­ Colonel Romuller.¡± The man stood in front, removed his sunglasses, revealing a pair of greyish-blue eyes. When he opened his mouth, he spoke in extremely fluent Mandarin. ¡°Nice to meet you, Miss Chen Yajing. Many thanks for seeing us despite being so busy.¡± He then bowed courteously, at a degree no more than twenty. ¡°There¡¯s no need for mindless chatter.¡± Chen Yajing held her hand up, stopping the fake courtesies. She asked directly, ¡°Who is the person you¡¯re looking for?¡± Romuller reached out, holding a brown envelope with a smooth, shapely hand. He took a few steps forward and placed it in front of Chen Yajing. ¡°¡­¡± The mouth of the envelope was sealed with a string. After a moment of consideration, Chen Yajing finally reached out and undid it. There were only two thin pieces of paper within, recording the target¡¯s history and the methods he used to deal with situations, as well as a sharp profile photo. The young man in the photo had sharp features, the profile of his face defined, looking as if he was carved from snow white marble. He had a sort of lustrous, yet stiff beauty about him, and his eyes were fixed on the lens of the camera. It was clearly an expressionless ID photo. However, that empty yet focused gaze caused a chill to spread throughout the viewer¡¯s body. Chen Yajing put the envelope down. ¡°At this critical point when the entire world faces catastrophe, your country¡¯s army comes all this way to ours, to look for this person?¡± Romuller spoke up, ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Miss Chen. My country no longer possesses a government nor an army. The entire fabric of society has collapsed, and now, it is every man for themselves.¡± ¡°So what do you get in return for coming here, knowing the risks?¡± Chen Yajing tapped the envelope. ¡°What is so special about this person? And how does he relate to you?¡± An indescribable, yet somewhat terrifying light, crossed Romuller¡¯s greyish-blue eyes. ¡°He¡¯s my brother,¡± he said. Chen Yajing raised her brow slightly. ¡°Pardon my bluntness, Colonel Romuller. But with your appearance, you don¡¯t look like you¡¯d have a brother of an Asian race. And you also don¡¯t seem like the sort of person who would make their way through a zombie-infested world due to familial ties. So if this person really does have secrets, you best tell us now, or our cooperation will become very difficult.¡± Romuller smiled. ¡°Are you threatening me, Miss Chen?¡± A pocket pistol suddenly slid out from his sleeve. Catching it in his hand, he aimed it at Chen Yajing¡¯s temple in the blink of an eye! ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The guard standing by the door shouted. Before he could make a move, the blonde woman pointed another gun at him, her finger on the trigger! The situation changed so abruptly, and emotions flared up, making everyone tense and on edge. However, Chen Yajing didn¡¯t look frightened at all. She could even give a rare laugh, raising her chin up and towards Romuller¡¯s chest. ¡°Colonel, please look down.¡± Romuller looked downwards. On his chest was a bright red dot. Despite his movements, it stayed firmly in line with his heart¡ª realising this, he looked out of the window. In the building across from them, standing in a window with a rifle-sight glinting in the sunlight and yet barely visible. A sniper. ¡°You can choose not to cooperate with us, but if you kill me,¡± Chen Yajing said, ¡°both you and your subordinates won¡¯t walk out of here alive.¡± Romuller took a few seconds to think it over. Then was the first one to put his gun down; he had surprisingly given in. Giving an earnest and polite nod, he said, ¡°Apologies, Miss Chen. I had a slip of the hand, so please excuse me. What exactly would you like to know?¡± The blonde lady snorted lightly and kept her gun. The red dot on Romuller¡¯s chest too disappeared. Although the crisis had been averted, the guard still looked very resentful. However, Chen Yajing did not fuss over this phoney, alarming slip of the hand. She rotated her neck, stiff from having sat down too long, then pointed at the envelope. ¡°How is this person you¡¯re searching for related to you?¡± ¡°He really is my brother.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Although we have different parents, in the eyes of the law, we were once brothers.¡± ¡°So why did he come to our country, and does he carry any sort of risk?¡± Romuller pulled out a swivel chair and sat down across Chen Yajing. His index and middle fingers pressed against each other, and he tapped lightly on the thin brown envelope. ¡°I am not certain as to where he is, and when I previously contacted your army, I received no response. I assumed that it was because your country¡¯s government had collapsed as well.¡± ¡°Throughout our journey, I contacted a few known survivor bases. Unfortunately, these bases were shabby and so were quickly overrun by zombies. Some, in order to gain power and control, fought among themselves and died, thus becoming the trigger for the collapse of the base.¡± ¡°I will continue up north, but it seems like only your base is the most secure and orderly one that I¡¯ve seen in this world of chaos.¡± Chen Yajing replied politely, ¡°Although things are not what you see, I thank you for it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me, I believe what I see. However,¡± Romuller changed the topic, ¡°if you really found my brother, please remember one thing: he will become the most serious threat your base has ever seen.¡± Chen Yajing¡¯s brows tightened. ¡°Oh? He¡¯s very dangerous?¡± ¡°¡­ Very dangerous,¡± Romuller repeated these two words. His tone was a little peculiar, and he started smiling. ¡°He¡¯s a complete and utter murderer, a natural born sociopath. He has the talent to turn any ordinary item into a murder weapon: chopsticks, spoon, plastic film, stones, and even an average cup of water. Broken, fractured body parts along with blood, would stimulate him¡ª and the cries of a dying Alpha even more so. The first time he killed someone, he was only six.¡± ¡°Yes, an Alpha.¡± Romuller paused under Chen Yajing¡¯s astonished gaze. ¡°As he was growing up, he didn¡¯t have many opportunities to interact with Betas nor Omegas. However, he viewed Alphas as his enemy¡ª and just like a serial killer, he would focus on a specific characteristic of his prey.¡± Chen Yajing frowned. ¡°Why?¡± Romuller shook his head, he did not give her a direct answer. ¡°I can tell you about his most famous incident.¡± ¡°One afternoon, a few years back, he left a restaurant to go to the bathroom. When he returned, there were a few Alphas sitting at his table. At first, he didn¡¯t show any signs of unhappiness at all, sitting down, he picked up his burger and took a bite then suddenly commanded them to leave his table, if not he would kill all of them.¡± ¡°Terrified, two of them left, while a few others didn¡¯t take him seriously. He counted to three, then the next ten minutes was a nightmare for those who would be unwilling to recall it even if they were reincarnated. Using a fork, he pierced their throats¡ª¡± ¡°All of this derived from others sitting down beside him while he was eating.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chen Yajing was silent for a moment, then she spoke, her voice indifferent, ¡°Colonel Romuller, you¡¯re making me a little hesitant to work with you. Maintaining the balance of this survivor base is already a very delicate operation, and this dangerous individual¡­¡± Romuller smiled insouciantly, signalling the blonde lady to bring the suitcase forward. The small metal suitcase was locked by a password. When it opened, a cold, misty air spilled out from within. Chen Yajing glanced at the contents, only to see three syringes the size of an index finger on a suspended shelf, and they were filled with a light red medication. ¡°This,¡± with Chen Yajing¡¯s look of disbelief, Romuller spoke, ¡°is an antiviral vaccine.¡± Chen Yajing reached out involuntarily, but she was quickly blocked by Romuller. He then laughed oddly. ¡°¡ª But it¡¯s now only a fragment of the vaccine.¡± Downstairs, ten minutes later. Carrying the suitcase, Romuller led his two subordinates out of the building. Chen Yajing¡¯s guards pushed her along in her wheelchair, and they stopped at the steps. ¡°One last question, Colonel Romuller.¡± Halfway through opening the door to the vehicle, Romuller paused. He heard Chen Yajing¡¯s voice coming from behind him, laced with mockery that could barely be detected. ¡°You don¡¯t look like a person who aspires to learn about my country¡¯s culture, but your Mandarin pronunciation is very good. Did you learn it specially for your legally recognised brother?¡± Romuller stood there, motionless for a long time. He then turned his head around, his gaze dark. ¡°Miss Chen, I¡¯ve said it before,¡± he said slowly, ¡°we were once brothers.¡± *** ¡°Haha¡ª¡± ¡°Hahaha¡ª¡± ¡°Hahahahahaha¡ª¡± Si Nan sat cross-legged in the back of the vehicle. He was covered by a hooded coat that could almost bury him within. Using the huge hood to cover his entire face, he still could not block out the wild laughter coming from the front. ¡°Captain, have you had enough?! Are you looking for a fight?!¡± ¡°Hahaha Rong-ge¡¯s and Yan Hao¡¯s Alpha pheromones repel each other, how can they be dating? Is theirs a pure, platonic love? What a touching romance hahahahaha¡ª¡± ¡°Pa, so it turns out Yan Hao is my biological mom that I¡¯ve never acknowledged before! Why did you ever tell me the truth, how hurtful hahahahahaha¡ª!¡± I knew I shouldn¡¯t have asked, Si Nan thought expressionlessly. Let¡¯s just kill off all these Alphas. Zhou Rong turned his head around from the passenger seat in front. Through the hood, he patted Si Nan¡¯s head, his voice filled with delight, ¡°Let me take a look. Oh? You¡¯re still angry?¡± Let¡¯s just kill off all these Alphas, Si Nan thought, turning his head away and dodging him. Pressing against his head, Zhou Rong forced Si Nan to lean into his arms, and even pinched his cheeks while laughing. ¡°You little kids who grew up in Country A are really very imaginative. What can two Alphas do when in bed together? Come, tell me, have you seen people go to bed before, and do you know what happens when they go to bed?¡± Si Nan huddled into himself, avoiding him. ¡°¡­ You, why didn¡¯t you ask earlier¡­¡± Yan Hao poked his head out from the back seat. Ever since he woke up, he had an expression as though he wanted to cry, but no tears would come. ¡°Then, after you left the military zone, and knew that we were all Alphas, why didn¡¯t you ask Chuncao, Xiangzi or Da Ding?¡± Si Nan: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What did Captain and I do to make you misunderstand?¡± Yan Hao asked earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s already been so long, but haven¡¯t you ever doubted it, even just once?¡± ¡­ Of course I did, I frequently did, Si Nan thought. But who knows why your 118 had to design your locator beacons into something so ostentatious? The idiot designer must have been an Alpha. Si Nan sighed. Resting his forehead in his hand, he turned his gaze towards the window. The ruby ear stud on his left ear glowed in the sun. Just as he thought, he should just kill off all these Alphas. ¡°There¡¯s a civilian-owned airline company located near the local airport. Yesterday, Chuncao and I monitored the surroundings. On the tarmac are two large helicopters that can just about meet our desired size in order to transport everyone all at once.¡± The vehicle jerked slightly as it progressed. Holding onto a short, stubby pencil, Zhou Rong made a cross on the location of the airport on the map. ¡°This is the preliminary plan. Yan Hao, Chuncao, Ding Shi and I will form a team, using strong firepower as suppression and burst through the railings of the tarmac. We¡¯ll force our way onto the runway, and fly the two helicopters; Si Nan and Xiangzi will lead the rest of the people, and search for a nearby platform suitable for a helicopter to land, as well as help our little Omega friend find a pharmacy¡­ If you can¡¯t find one, don¡¯t take the risk. Your lives are more important.¡± ¡°When you find a platform and arrive there safely, Si Nan will activate the locator beacon¡ª which is the gay-ear stud. Within a thousand metres, the other gay-ear stud on Yan Hao¡¯s ear will receive the signal, and both locations will be confirmed. We will then fly the two helicopters to pick you up.¡± Zhou Rong folded the map back up, surveying the crowd. ¡°Any questions?¡± Yan Hao: ¡°Which part of me looks like I¡¯m someone who will like being with the Captain? And yes, I¡¯m talking about the implied meaning of being with.¡± Chuncao: ¡°Papa, Papa, is Yan Hao my mother? Then is Si Xiaonan my new mother?¡± Xiangzi: ¡°If you can¡¯t find a partner, then don¡¯t force it. I¡¯m saying, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t look for anyone as well¡­ Rong-ge? Rong-ge!¡± Zhou Rong punched Yan Hao, knocked Chuncao on the head, and in the limited space of the vehicle, kicked Xiangzi. In the chaos, across him, he saw Si Nan raising his hand. Zhou Rong thought: now, in our team, the only ones left who love and are fully dedicated to their jobs are the temporary personnel. ¡°Comrade Xiaosi, please speak.¡± Si Nan asked, ¡°How do you confirm if the signal has been sent successfully?¡± ¡°Originally, once you¡¯ve signalled your location, the Beidou-Satellite-System will then transmit it to both the tablets and terminals which are for the specific use of 118. However, a month after the crash of GPS, Beidou was also destroyed; a moment of silence for the unnamed base-station worker in an unknown part of the world,¡± Zhou Rong said. ¡°So, it is now left only with its physical reaction. Once the signal within a thousand metres has been received, the two gay ear studs will vibrate together.¡± Silently, Si Nan nodded, showing that he understood. ¡°Are there any more questions?¡± The ones who were covering their heads, covered their heads, and the ones who were covering their faces, covered their faces. They quickly all expressed that they had no other questions. ¡°Very good,¡± Zhou Rong raised a fist, encouraging everyone confidently. ¡°Let us set our objective to survive the night, and tomorrow we¡¯ll set out towards the beautiful Nansha Islands!¡± He stood up, leaving the back of the vehicle and returned to the front seat, watching the disordered, cluttered road to the airport as well as the occasional zombie that had been sent flying by the vehicle.¡± ¡°¡­ They will vibrate together,¡± Zhou Rong came to a sudden realisation. Ding Shi turned to glance at him while driving, his gaze indescribable. Zhou Rong muttered, ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t tell me this thing is really something for gays.¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Edited by Beth ¡°Alone I stand in the autumn cold, on the tip of Orange Island, the Hsiang flowing northward¡­1¡± ¡°I see a thousand hills crimsoned through by their serried woods deep-dyed, and a hundred barges vying over crystal blue waters¡­2¡± Ding Shi looked pained. ¡°Rong-ge, I beg you. Please stop reciting. You¡¯re making it sound like we¡¯re going on the Long March. All we¡¯re doing is breaking through a barbed-wire fence and stealing two helicopters, let¡¯s just fly and leave, alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m making full use of every opportunity for patriotic education. When going past the Xiang River, a sacred place of revolution, doesn¡¯t it bring anything to mind?¡± Zhou Rong was a little unhappy. ¡°The road in front is torturous, and our situation so difficult. Shouldn¡¯t you all be immersed in the surging enthusiasm of the revolution, and prepare to go all out and do your best?¡± Ding Shi shoved the military binoculars towards him and pointed out the window, gesturing for him to take a look for himself. In the distance, thick black smoke spewed from the local airport. On the viaduct, the multi-storey car-park, and within the terminals, all they could see were zombies. Two helicopters had crashed against each other, wings and turbines laying in fragments around them, with the bodies of the helicopters having already blackened from the fire. Ding Shi shifted the angle of the binoculars Zhou Rong was using, showing him what was happening on the other side. It was a privately-owned helicopter company. A few medium-sized helicopters were parked in front of the building. The tarmac was surrounded by a wire fence, with a few hundred zombies stumbling about beyond it. Within the fence, the tarmac was empty. Not a single zombie could be seen. ¡°¡­ It seems like the journey of revolution isn¡¯t that difficult,¡± Zhou Rong spoke to himself. They followed their original plan, dividing the team into two. Zhou Rong and the other three drove the two armoured vehicles and barged onto the tarmac, while Si Nan changed into the anti-riot uniform, slinging a rifle across his back and moved with Guo Weixiang onto the bus. They were to seek out a platform where the helicopters could land for them to eventually board. ¡°Yan Hao,¡± Zhou Rong suddenly called out. Yan Hao was about to stand up to see Si Nan off, but hearing Zhou Rong, he stopped. Zhou Rong patted his shoulder, speaking unconcernedly, ¡°Lend me something¡­¡± Lightning quick, he reached out and removed the ear stud on Yan Hao¡¯s ear. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Yan Hao evaded him immediately, bolting out of the vehicle. Zhou Rong yelled, ¡°On what basis do you get to wear a couple ear stud with my Comrade Xiao Si? Give it to me!¡± Before his voice had even faded away, he also jumped out of the vehicle. The two people momentarily descended into a fight. Si Nan was stunned. Standing in front of the bus, he stared at Zhou Rong blankly. ¡°Who said that Si Nan is yours? Who are you to say that?!¡± ¡°Scram! In any case, he¡¯s not yours! If you don¡¯t believe me, just ask him!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to ask, he¡¯s definitely not yours anyway! You¡­ go away!¡± Zhou Rong pushed Yan Hao hard against the vehicle, desperately grabbing at the stud. Yan Hao struggled desperately under him, ¡°I¡¯m going to fucking scream! I¡¯m really going to scream¡ª!¡± ¡°So, why would you think that they were a couple?¡± Chewing on gum, Guo Weixiang leant lazily against the door of the bus. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan answered blankly, ¡°I don¡¯t really understand you Alphas.¡± Yan Hao raised his foot, kicking Zhou Rong away. Covering his ear, he rushed up the armoured vehicle. Zhou Rong snorted. Surprisingly, he did not chase after Yan Hao, but immediately changed his target. Turning around and running to Si Nan, he placed his arms around Si Nan¡¯s waist. With a burst of energy, he lifted Si Nan and his equipment up next to the bus. Si Nan¡¯s feet hung one centimetre above the ground. Si Nan: ¡°¡­?¡± Daringly, Zhou Rong kissed him. It had been a few days since Zhou Rong smoked, but there was still a slight taste of tobacco in his mouth, so slight that it actually didn¡¯t smell bad. His tongue probed between Si Nan¡¯s lips, gently brushing across Si Nan¡¯s tightly clenched teeth. Without giving Si Nan any chance to refuse, he parted Si Nan¡¯s lips. ¡ª although the action was swift and fierce, it was also surprisingly careful and considerate. It felt as though in that lick, it expressed countless indescribable emotions. ¡°Wait for me to come and pick you up,¡± Zhou Rong whispered right into his ear, then shot back to the armoured vehicle. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan stood where he was, his expression drawing a complete blank. ¡°Chuncao, let me go! Fucking hell, he¡¯s taking advantage of him, Si Nan is definitely unwilling¡­¡± ¡°Yan Hao, don¡¯t be agitated! Look, he¡¯s clearly very willing!¡± Pleased, Zhou Rong burst into the driver¡¯s cabin, whistling happily. Si Nan felt as though his head was steaming. However, he did not say a word, turning around and entering the bus. With an awkward gait, he walked into the bus and sat down behind the driver¡¯s seat. Burying his face into his palms, it seemed as though he did not hear Guo Weixiang¡¯s unwarranted exclamations coming from behind him. Zhou Rong cupped his hands around his mouth like a trumpet. ¡°Wait¡ªfor¡ªme¡ªto¡ªcome¡ªand¡ªpick¡ªyou¡ªup!¡± He then waved vigorously before pulling back into the car, watching the bus start slowly and vanish behind the viaduct. In the other vehicle, Chuncao yelled, ¡°Rong-ge! If you don¡¯t move, I won¡¯t be able to hold Yan Hao back anymore!¡± It was four in the afternoon. The sun was shining brightly, the sky was still a long way from turning dark. The city had transformed into an enormous graveyard. The bus drove down the viaduct, heading towards the city centre. In the opposite direction, it seemed as though cities and towns formed a skyline. Two armoured vehicles sped swiftly towards the airport. The zombies loitering outside the tarmac where the helicopters were parked were alerted to the sounds and they started moving. However, a mortar appeared from a window of one of the vehicles. A shell exploded ruthlessly in the crowd of zombies, and smoke wafted across the area. Bang¡ª Two armoured vehicles smashed across the guardrails and through the wire fence. The shockwave turned the walls into ruins, and the vehicles rumbled their way onto the cement runway. Behind the vehicles were two long trails of zombie flesh and blood. But soon, many zombies with broken limbs staggered their way up, moaning and groaning, following the vehicles past the barrier. ¡°Yan Hao¡¯s team, get ready!¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice sounded from the loudspeaker mounted on the vehicle. ¡°Our targets are confirmed, Yan Hao and I will drive and act as cover, Ding Shi and Chuncao get ready to board the helicopter! Hurry!¡± In front of the office building was a row of colourful helicopters parked on the grass. The two armoured vehicles blazed their way through, arriving in front of the grass patch. The vehicles turned and drifted, and even the angles of their swings were exactly the same. Swish¡ª The rear wheels of both vehicles turned outwards. Bits of wild grass sputtered up, fanning out perfectly in mid air. ¡°Why are the two of you so in unison?! Exactly what sort of relationship do you have!¡± Chuncao clamoured. She opened the window on the roof and climbed on top of the vehicle, starting to pry open the door of the helicopter in front of her. ¡°I¡¯m going to tattle! My new mom is going to get angry!¡± Yan Hao: ¡°Shut up! This is how the military driving course taught us! It¡¯s a standard move, understand?¡± Zhou Rong: ¡°If you continue, I¡¯m going to abandon you, and have a new child with your new mom!¡± A second of silence descended upon them. Zhou Rong bit his tongue. Ding Shi: ¡°¡­ A new mom?¡± Chuncao: ¡°Who¡¯s the old mom?¡± Yan Hao: ¡°¡­?!¡± Zhou Rong knew that he had said something wrong, and thus shouted hysterically, ¡°I picked all of you up from the trash can! Shut up and work!¡± Zhou Rong lifted the mortar, and with a long bang, the runway was razed to the ground. Torn bits of zombie flesh flew up into the sky, spraying outwards like a fountain. After a couple sounds of metal clanging together, Chuncao shouted, ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Ding Shi: ¡°Rong-ge, come on up!¡± The doors of two large helicopters were forced open by military crowbars. Zhou Rong carefully surveyed the runway and the tarmac, confirming that there were no longer big groups of zombies before packing away the mortar. He swiftly picked up the equipment and items from the armoured vehicle and tossed them all chaotically into the helicopter. The explosion alerted the zombies in the office building. The boss and staff of the helicopter company were dressed in dirty suits, their face drooping, and they swarmed out of the building to welcome the Alphas. ¡°Da Ding, don¡¯t shoot anymore!¡± Zhou Rong shouted. ¡°We¡¯ve just stolen their aircrafts, killing and robbing is wrong!¡± Ding Shi cupped his hands towards the leading zombie dressed in an Armani suit, Hermes tie and A.testoni leather shoes, babbling, ¡°Sorry, boss. It¡¯s now a critical period, so please understand. The army needs to temporarily take possession of your personal properties. After this war, you can bring your purchase receipt and invoice to the government and request for compensation¡­¡± Zhou Rong slammed the door of the armoured vehicle shut. He carefully tucked the key away, and then leapt into the pilot¡¯s seat of the helicopter. Not far away, Yan Hao and Chuncao had also entered the other helicopter. They switched on the power and started the engine. The propellers churned out a huge wind, causing the zombies to stumble collectively. A few seconds later, two dark green helicopters slowly raised into the sky, flying towards the city centre. *** The city, the outer street of the second ring. The business district was empty, and the roads still maintained the scene of when the apocalypse came upon them. The bodies that had been eaten by the zombies had turned black from rot, and flies were buzzing around the bones and rotting flesh. Mice scurried across the street as the bus made its way down, and dark human blood soaked the trash on the ground, slowly seeping its way into the drains. Around corners and behind buildings, zombies would periodically appear, stretching their hands out blankly towards the speeding bus. The sky was overcast and grey, watching over this hell on earth. Guo Weixiang looked out of the window, gradually falling silent. Between his youthful brows was an undeniable sadness. He suddenly realised that in the window, behind his shoulder, another face was reflected. Turning his head instinctively, he looked into Si Nan¡¯s emotionless gaze. ¡°¡­. Eh? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Si Nan studied him for a few seconds before asking, ¡°You¡¯re worried?¡± Guo Weixiang nodded, sighing deeply. He leant back into his seat, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about my grandfather.¡± Si Nan remained quiet, not saying a word. ¡°My grandfather¡­ hai, I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s currently fine. My parents had passed away very early, and I was brought up by my grandfather as a child. He¡¯s of an age already, and I don¡¯t know if he moved to Nanhai with the government. Say, why did this apocalypse come out of nowhere? Rong-ge keeps joking and laughing all day, but most of the time, he¡¯s only putting on a front. When he¡¯s sombre, he¡¯s terrifying, but he would deliberately hide away and not let anyone see him like that.¡± Guo Weixiang¡¯s tone was very earnest. Listening to him, it was clear that in his life, other than his grandfather, he would only concede to Zhou Rong. ¡°Rong-ge says that as special force soldiers, we cannot be sighing and gloomy, as the hopes of the civilians rest upon us. Just one look from us, their hearts would pound in anxiousness. If we were to keep talking about the dangers and the apocalypse and things like these, they would not be able to endure it, and they would kill themselves.¡± ¡°Hai¡ª¡± Guo Weixiang still could not help himself and gave a long, quiet sigh. ¡°However, I cannot stop wondering about why this has to happen to our generation. Why are we so unlucky?¡± Comrade Guo Weixiang¡¯s eyes were unfocused, his limbs spread loose. With his neck straight, he looked like a wilting, yellowed little cabbage. Si Nan looked pensive. A moment later, he bent over and picked up his backpack. Grabbing a can of Redbull out from his bag, he silently handed it over to Guo Weixing. ¡°¡­ Huh?¡± Guo Weixiang was very surprised, and even a little moved. ¡°¡­ No, no, thanks, I¡¯m not thirsty. Thank you, thank you, just keep it for yourself¡­¡± It did not seem like he was down because of exhaustion. Si Nan pondered for a moment, then asked, ¡°Do you need Zhou Rong?¡± Guo Weixiang had a pained expression. ¡°Hmm, how should I say this. Although the way Rong-ge nags is really asking for a beating, we¡¯d sometimes still miss his nagging, especially during times like this¡­¡± Si Na slowly returned to his seat. No one knew what he was thinking, and a moment later, words quietly escaped his lips. ¡°I do miss him.¡± ¡°Right? The poem he recited, alone I stand in the autumn cold, on the tip of Orange Island, the Hsiang flowing northward¡­ Under freezing skies a million creatures contend in freedom¡­ How does the rest of the poem go?¡± Si Nan responded coldly, ¡°I¡¯m referring to Zhou Rong, not Zhou Rong¡¯s nagging.¡± At first, Guo Weixiang did not realise what he said. A few seconds later, he shot up straight, looking at Si Nan¡¯s frosty face with an expression that was both moved and shocked. Si Nan was indifferent, as though he had forgotten about the bombshell he had just released. He then closed his eyes, muttering to himself. Guo Weixiang: ¡°¡­¡­¡± Guo Weixiang perked his ears up, listening carefully for a long time. The measured unrecognisable chanting even sounded familiar, and he finally could not help but humbly ask, ¡°What are you reciting?¡± ¡°On 4th July, 1776, the Declaration of Independence from Pennsylvania,¡± Si Nan replied. ¡°I don¡¯t know any poems, so just make do with this first.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Edited by Beth ¡°Do you see a pharmacy?¡± ¡°No¡ª¡± ¡°There¡¯s none here too¡ª¡± The bus driver turned the steering wheel, speaking seriously, ¡°Young comrades, there aren¡¯t any here. I used to drive along the Xiangjiang River, working long distances, so I¡¯m very familiar with the area. There aren¡¯t any big pharmacies here, while the small ones don¡¯t have those¡­¡± ¡°Inhibitors,¡± Guo Weixiang reminded. ¡°Right, inhibitors, they don¡¯t have the inhibitors you want,¡± the driver said. ¡°There¡¯s a Tong Ren Tang for traditional medicine just round the corner of the street ahead of us. But it¡¯s been many years, I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s still open¡­¡± Dr. Zheng spoke affably, ¡°Xiao Ren, let¡¯s go take a look?¡± Ren Junxiang was an introverted, gentle Omega who wasn¡¯t talkative and often blushed before speaking. On the night after his arrival, Zhou Rong got into a fight with Yan Hao over the issue of whether or not they were able to force a match between him and one of their team¡¯s members. After the fight, Zhou Rong was left with no other choice but to seek out Xiao Ren himself and ask for his opinion. However, perhaps because Zhou Rong had just finished fighting and was unprepared to listen to Xiao Ren¡¯s opinion, but his tone was no longer warm like the spring. At a loss for what to do, Xiao Ren stammered continuously, unable to form a complete sentence. Zhou Rong asked a couple more times, but the Omega actually started crying aggrievedly, scaring Zhou Rong into withdrawing twenty metres away. So, Dr. Zheng gentled his tone. ¡°Xiao Ren?¡± Xiao Ren twisted his fingers, his voice so small like the buzzing of an insect. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­¡± The few people exchanged a look. Guo Weixiang patted the driver¡¯s seat, saying resignedly, ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± However, the driver¡¯s memory disappointed everyone who placed their hopes in him ¡ª after twisting and turning for over ten minutes, they finally found a Tong Ren Tang a few streets away. However, written on the sign was: The shop is located on B2 of the shopping mall. It was winter, and with the recent change in weather, most of the zombies were hiding in the basements of buildings to hibernate. With a rifle on his back, Si Nan glanced down at the basement and shook his head. ¡°Forget it, we¡¯re not going in.¡± Dr. Zheng reminded them, ¡°Captain Zhou and his team should be nearly done, we should hurry up and search for a pick-up location nearby. Xiao Ren, what do you think?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned towards him. His face bright red, Xiao Ren¡¯s mouth opened and closed, but he did not say a word. Si Nan shot Guo Weixiang a look, and the latter shrugged. ¡°You,¡± Si Nan clapped a hand on Ren Junxiang¡¯s shoulder, his tone not allowing for any refusal, ¡°Come with me.¡± He dragged Ren Junxiang to the corner of the last row of the bus. After a sharp look from Si Nan, the man originally sitting in that row immediately stood up and quickly moved away, smiling and gesturing at Si Nan to take the spot. Si Nan pushed Xiao Ren into the row, making him sit down. He sat down himself as well, crossing his arms as he studied the little Omega¡¯s timid face. ¡°What do you plan on doing?¡± Tears instantly gathered in the corners of Ren Junxiang¡¯s big eyes, and he was about to start sobbing. Si Nan¡¯s brows came together. ¡°¡­¡± The sob that was about to make its way out was scared back into Ren Junxiang¡¯s throat. ¡°If you¡¯re about to die, out of responsibility, the special force soldiers will go all out to save you. However, things like going into heat, if lives need to be paid in exchange for the inhibitors, no one owes you this.¡± Si Nan¡¯s voice had an innate huskiness to it, and when he whispered in someone¡¯s ear, his voice could really stir up a person¡¯s emotions. However, when his voice was flat and emotionless, it was like the heartbeat of a dead person; with no rise or fall to it, and giving off a terrifyingly heartless feel. ¡°You decide for yourself. If you don¡¯t want them to assign you an Alpha randomly, then just tell me who you like. I¡¯ll make them respect your decision. If not, this will make our survival even harder. Work with me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Ren¡¯s face was paper white. He looked at Si Nan in a daze, seeming to be scared by the phrase ¡°you decide for yourself.¡± Si Nan tapped on the face of his watch. ¡°My patience only lasts for thirty seconds.¡± Xiao Ren seemed to be in disbelief that Si Nan could be so harsh against an Omega like himself. It took him some time before he finally squeezed his words out, faltering, ¡°¡­I-I don¡¯t know anything, I have no opinions¡­¡± ¡°You have no opinions?¡± Xiao Ren bowed his head, tugging at the hem of his clothes. ¡°You have no opinions about randomly assigning you an Alpha? Zhou Rong, Yan Hao, Chuncao, Ding Shi and Guo Weixiang, you¡¯re fine with any one of them?¡± Xiao Ren¡¯s face was deep red, almost like the colour of blood, and his acknowledgement barely audible. Si Nan recalled that day when Zhou Rong mocked him, ¡°What opinion does an Omega have to express?¡± At that moment, he could not say a thing. Adding salt to his wound, Xiao Ren again bowed his head low, his tiny voice buzzing, ¡°As¡­ as long as they take responsibility for me, it¡¯ll be fine¡­¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s a partner you choose, after he accepts you, you both have the duty to be responsible for each other. How can that be an issue?¡± Xiao Ren fell silent, shifting slightly, looking scared as he wanted to say something but dared not. A moment later, he finally forced out, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m only an Omega¡­¡± Si Nan studied his face carefully, coming to a sudden realisation. He had never once thought of himself as one of the weak ¡ª not biologically, but mentally. However, if he looked at it from the other side, Ren Junxiang¡¯s behaviour actually expressed how he felt very clearly, that he wished to be governed by another. He hoped that Zhou Rong and the others would decide for him, and whether things turn out for good or bad, he would have someone to thank, to blame or to rely on. He hoped that he would be selected by an Alpha, offered up as a property, to be protected and kept. Like this, he would rid himself of all the risks that came with making his own choices, and he could thus be like dodder, clinging on a tree, happily having someone take responsibility for him. This was actually the belief that most Omegas would have right now. Si Nan vaguely felt that he had met such Omegas before. He closed his eyes, in a trance, but his mind was blank and he couldn¡¯t recall anything. ¡°Si Nan!¡± Guo Weixiang called out from the front of the bus. ¡°Come here for a bit, there¡¯s a platform over here!¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Si Nan got straight to the point. He no longer looked at Ren Junxiang, standing up and leaving the seat. Xiao Ren raised his head hesitantly, seeming to hear a subtle sigh as Si Nan turned around. However, before he could decide if it was an illusion, he saw Si Nan walk down the aisle, striding towards Guo Weixiang and the rest. Carrying an Uzi gun on his back, his black anti-riot uniform made his body look strong and flexible. Above his collar, his neck looked snow-white in contrast to his black hair. This set of uniform fit well on top, but the pants were two inches too short. However, as the pant legs were tucked into the tall, black leather boots, it couldn¡¯t be seen. In the get-up, his legs looked unreasonably long, and his steps were sure and quick, making one feel as though they needed to jog to catch up. ¡­ How could he understand? Ren Junxiang lamented. He¡¯s not an Omega, not like us, how could he understand our suffering. However ¡ª a thought churned within his mind. There¡¯s nothing bad about being an Omega. At the very least, we¡¯ll be able to stay behind and be well protected. And all we need to do is bare children and take care of them. There¡¯s no need for us to face those scary monsters directly, and no big responsibilities or duties will be given to us. Thinking like this, Ren Junxiang felt slightly satisfied. ¡°It¡¯s a gynaecological hospital.¡± Guo Weixiang pointed at a three-storey building at the end of the street, signalling for Si Nan to look at the roof. ¡°The roof is rigid, and from what I can see, there¡¯s no obstructions. Most hospital roofs fulfil the requirements for a helicopter landing. When the virus broke out, the first round of infected people were mostly sent to general hospitals and police stations, so gynaecological hospitals should be safe. Shall we give it a try?¡± Si Nan took a few seconds to think, then nodded. ¡°Alright!¡± The driver exclaimed. He slammed down on the accelerator and the bus rushed onto the walkway, jolting all the passengers at the same time! A few loud clangs, and the bus ran over a few zombies before stopping outside the building. Guo Weixiang and Si Nan ran out of the bus, their backs against each other. They cleared all the zombies rushing over on the walkway as well as the hospital; the bullet shells rattling down onto the ground. Dr. Zheng and the driver swiftly led the survivors down from the bus. They instinctively formed a line, and followed Si Nan, running into the hospital. There were not many zombies in the lobby. A few pregnant women were shuffling about blankly, and before they reacted, they were sent to rest in peace. Only the two nurses behind the front desk were a little more agitated, shrieking as they scrambled towards the survivors, seemingly unhappy with the group of survivors suddenly trespassing onto their turf. Guo Weixiang turned and shot them both, shouting, ¡°Si Xiaonan!¡± The group was anxious but not chaotic, and they remained orderly as they ran upstairs behind Si Nan. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Did you notice? Although Rong-ge is normally quite neurotic and abnormal!¡± Si Nan: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But his IQ! Is actually very high¡ª!¡± Si Nan: ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Si Nan¡¯s feet never stopped, his assault rifle firing away. The twenty-odd zombies swarming the corridor which had caused the survivors to give a short scream, were pushed back. However, no one¡¯s legs turned weak, nor did the situation turn chaotic. They quickly rearranged themselves, placing the women and children in the center as they continued moving upwards. ¡°Look!¡± Guo Weixiang shouted proudly. ¡°Everyone¡¯s ability to flee has been trained by him! The group¡¯s arrangement was also set by him! Look at how much foresight he has! Don¡¯t you feel even a little proud?¡± ¡°¡ª Yeah!¡± The driver agreed while running. ¡°Captain Zhou is very capable!¡± Wu Xinyan: ¡°He¡¯s not too bad!¡± Dr. Zheng: ¡°His genes are very good too!¡± Guo Weixiang: ¡°If he proposes, will you agree?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan mumbled, ¡°I really want to leave you guys behind and wash my hands off you.¡± A dozen doctors and nurses stumbled out from the lounge, their hands holding onto various items like manual blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes and forceps, as they roared and shot towards the staircase. Si Nan¡¯s reaction was miraculously quick. He first shot the zombie right in front, then a few more after that. However, there were still a few doctors who, with agility and deftness that had developed over the years of chaos within the hospital, managed to rush forwards screaming with all their might. Si Nan gave them all a kick to their chests, and then fired at their heads. ¡°You¡¯re too violent,¡± Guo Weixiang said, discontented, ¡°our country¡¯s doctors have it tough, you must treat them more gently.¡± Si Nan: ¡°It¡¯s all business. Doctors are part of the highly paid elites¡­¡± Guo Weixiang: ¡°What do you know, Comrade Xiao Si! Don¡¯t talk nonsense! They study for five years and intern for three years¡ª¡± ¡°Then another two years of specialised training, there¡¯s completely no money in it!¡± Dr. Zheng yelled in anger. Dr. Zheng was panting from climbing the stairs, and he harped on, grumbling, ¡°The number of surgeries we perform in a day is equivalent to the number of surgeries doctors in other countries perform in a month, and once we leave the operating theatre, we have to deal with rowdy patients and their families. When we go to work, we¡¯re at risk of receiving slashes and stabs from others ¡ª I¡¯m old now, but when I was young, once I heard the chief shout for us to get out of there, I could run the fifty metres corridor of the emergency ward in six seconds¡­¡± A loud crash occurred. Si Nan had opened the door to the roof, his head aching very badly. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m sorry, alright?¡± Guo Weixiang cleared off the last few zombies before chasing after them. The entire group arrived at the rooftop, and he turned to close the metal door, swiftly locking it. ¡°We¡¯re safe!¡± He shouted. ¡°Mission accomplished!¡± The roof of this three-storey building was flat and wide, with no obstructions. It was perfect for a helicopter to land, and was one of the rare spots in the city for a platform. Si Nan surveyed the gradually darkening sky. Lifting his hand and pressing on the ruby ear stud, he felt the rice grain-sized button depress. The survivors were still badly shaken. Ignoring the strong winds blowing across the roof, they all sat down to rest. ¡°Alright, nice job.¡± Guo Weixiang walked forward, studying the sight around the hospital building. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll settle down and¡­ wait for Rong-ge and the rest to pick us up¡­ Hmm? Isn¡¯t that a pharmacy?¡± Behind the hospital was a construction site. The zombified workers had probably all ran away, leaving behind emptiness and bleakness. A street behind the construction site, through the winter-bared branches of trees, a corner of a green sign ¡°Civilian Pharmacy¡± peeked out. Guo Weixiang estimated the distance silently. Feeling the distance was reasonable, he exhaled heavily. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± Si Nan cast him a side-eye. ¡°What?¡± Guo Weixiang was very sensitive. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan said slowly, ¡°I thought you liked him¡­¡± ¡°Ai, actually, no.¡± Guo Weixiang paused, then continued self-mockingly, ¡°I do have some physiological attraction to him, but the main issue is that I just want to not be single anymore. As for really liking him¡­ there¡¯s not much to it¡­ Can you understand that? Ai, it¡¯s fine that he doesn¡¯t like me, it¡¯s not like I must find a partner.¡± Si Nan spoke politely, ¡°Congratulations on your heartbreak, you¡¯re a nice guy.¡± Guo Weixiang: ¡°Why are you the one giving me the nice guy label!!¡± Guo Weixiang scratched his nose. From his bag, he took out Zhou Rong¡¯s 118¡¯s secret weapon ¡ª the grappling gun. He instructed, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon, it¡¯ll at most take 5 minutes. Give me your extra ammunition, you¡¯ll stay here on guard.¡± Si Nan had no opinions about it. He watched as Guo Weixiang fired the grappling gun onto the ground, then slid down the rope onto the path and ran across the construction site. His body was spry and deft, and he quickly vanished into the pharmacy. It was 5.30 in the afternoon. The sky was gloomy, the cold wind whistling through the air. Dark clouds gathered at the horizon, swirling like a harbinger of doom. Si Nan frowned, his eyelid twitching twice out of the blue. Next, he saw two barely detectable little dots far away in the sky. ¡ª Those were the helicopters! Si Nan immediately pressed on the locator again. The people behind him broke out into discussion as they stood up, repeatedly cheering in delight. Then, at that moment. In the distance, gunshots were fired. Si Nan jerked his head down to see the windows of the pharmacy explode, and Guo Weixiang rushed out madly covered in glass. Two seconds later, zombies followed him out, rushing down the street in a formidable group! Why were there so many zombies hiding in the pharmacy? Si Nan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He grabbed onto the rope of the grappling gun, only to hear Guo Weixiang shouting without even looking up, ¡°I can handle them! Don¡¯t come down! Stay up there!¡± The speed of Guo Weixiang¡¯s hundred-metres-dash was not something the zombies could catch up with. Like an illusion, he dashed across the street, running into the construction site. Leaping over a pile of sand, he left the zombies far behind, then sped towards the walkway behind the hospital where the rope of the grappling gun was. However, at that moment, he made a mistake. Between the construction site and the hospital was a brick wall, and at the corner of the wall was a door for people to pass through. Guo Weixiang had left through the door, but perhaps he wanted to save some time, or perhaps he had too much confidence in his dexterity, when he rushed over to the wall, without even thinking, he leapt up onto the top of the wall, landing heavily¡ª With a weight of eighty kilograms plus forty kilograms worth of equipment, along with the earth-shattering force in the jump ¡ª The brick wall hastily piled up by the construction company as a barrier was not like the obstacle wall the special force soldiers used during training. It was unable to withstand the force exerted on it, and collapsed with a loud crash. Guo Weixiang had no time to react. He and his equipment were now buried under the bricks! This was way beyond what Si Nan had expected. During the first two seconds, he did not react, and then he heard Dr. Zheng yell, ¡°Oh no!¡± They watched as the zombies were drawn to the scent of fresh blood, stumbling their way into the construction site, moving step by step closer to the pile of bricks. As for Guo Weixiang, he tried his best to crawl forward, poking his bleeding head out from the bricks, and it looked like he would soon be caught by the zombies. Si Nan yanked out the handgun from his thigh holster, tossing it to Dr. Zheng. Grabbing the rope of the grappling gun, he spoke succinctly, ¡°Take care of the group.¡± Dr. Zheng fumbled as he caught the gun. In a blink of an eye, Si Nan vanished from his sight. When the doctor looked down, Si Nan had appeared on the ground, running straight into the construction site. ¡°Why did you come?!¡± Guo Weixiang gasped. Without a word, Si Nan grabbed his hand and dragged him out. In a hurry to escape, Si Nan didn¡¯t hesitate. Even if Guo Weixiang was a sumo wrestler stuck under a truck, at that moment, Si Nan would still be able to drag him out alive. However, he did not expect that with his bout of strength, Guo Weixiang would scream painfully, ¡°¡ªAh!¡± ¡°What happened to you?¡± Guo Weixiang¡¯s face was ashen, beads of sweat dripping off his face. Bearing with the pain, he shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t bother about it, hurry!¡± With a few shots, Si Nan killed the zombies within a twenty-metre radius of them. Steeling himself, he dragged Guo Weixiang out from the rubble, only to see blood streaming down his calf, and his ankle at a weird angle ¡ª it had dislocated. The two people cooperated very well together, with great coordination. Si Nan stood up, shooting the zombies, while Guo Weixiang fell sitting onto the ground. He grabbed his ankle, gritted his teeth, and with a crack, he shifted the joint back into position. ¡°You OK?¡± ¡°OK! Hurry, run!¡± From the rooftop came the group¡¯s anxious shouts. ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°Here, here!¡± Si Nan supported the sweating Guo Weixiang with one hand as he fired at the hoard of zombies drawing closer with the other, moving towards the back entrance of the hospital. However, a dislocated ankle that had just been popped back was not able to bear much weight. No matter how hard Guo Weixiang tried to move, his speed was limited. Not only the zombies spilling forth from the pharmacy were drawing close, even the zombies from the nearby streets had detected the scent of Alpha pheromones in the freshly spilt blood, and they also headed towards them. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang bang! Guo Weixiang gritted his teeth as he fired at the few zombies coming from the right. He yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t bother about me anymore, I can¡¯t climb the rope!¡± Amidst the shots from the guns, Si Nan shouted, ¡°Just bear with it for a little more, Zhou Rong is back!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t bear with it anymore¡ª!¡± Guo Weixiang roared right into Si Nan¡¯s ear. ¡°Don¡¯t get dragged down by me! Quick, run! Take the inhibitors!¡± The zombies surrounded them. Guo Weixiang braced himself. He struggled free from Si Nan, pushing him forcefully ahead. ¡°Hurry up and leave!¡± Si Nan stumbled, firing his gun at the first few rows of zombies, then turned, wanting to carry Guo Weixiang on his back. However, there was no way he could lift a person as heavy as Guo Weixiang in a fireman¡¯s carry, and furthermore, the latter was uncooperative, struggling as he swore, ¡°Fuck off! Hurry up and fuck off! I don¡¯t fucking know you, why the fuck aren¡¯t you leaving¡ª!!¡± Bang bang bang bang!! Bullets sprayed wildly. Guo Weixiang shot a path through the zombies huddling around, then pushed Si Nan hard in that direction. ¡°Hurry up and get lost! Quickly!¡± Si Nan ran a few steps, only to stop. He turned and looked at Guo Weixiang¡¯s calf that was covered in blood, his amber eyes contracting wildly. While trying his best to move forward, Guo Weixiang cursed Si Nan wildly. However, under the non-stop hail of bullets, his yells and shouts could not be heard clearly. Zhou Rong, Yan Hao, Chuncao, Ding Shi, and the already dead Zhang Yingjie¡­ Among the flying bullets, the images of those people laughing, joking and fighting next to each other flashed by like a zoetrope, gradually melding with Guo Weixiang¡¯s image that was yelling away. Si Nan¡¯s lips trembled faintly. His chest heaved, and from the back of his waist, he drew a military dagger. Guo Weixiang suddenly smelled something sweet. This scent was soft and ethereal, yet was highly penetrative, instantly concealing the thick smell of gunpowder in the air. At this juncture of life and death, he did not immediately recognise this scent. However, in the next moment, he turned his head unconsciously¡ª Si Nan strode close, his face paper white, his steps starting to falter. On his exposed left arm were seven or eight long cuts left by the military dagger. They criss-crossed, blood dripping from it. ¡°Si¡­¡± Guo Weixiang was in disbelief, mumbling as though he was in a dream. ¡°¡­ Si Nan¡­?¡± Si Nan¡¯s feet paused, and he shot forward! The zombies discovered an even more enticing, delicious-smelling target, moans and shrieks bursting out from them. In front of their shrivelled, outstretched arms, Si Nan was like a raptor unafraid of death, heading straight towards the spot next to Guo Weixiang, where there was the highest concentration of zombies. A second later, he leapt up, stepping right on the zombies¡¯ heads! Chapter 38 Chapter 38 TLC: AlexPT Editor: Beth The descent of a heavenly warrior was not enough to describe the shock of that moment. Guo Weixiang was dumbfounded, petrified in place. It happened in a blink of an eye. Si Nan aggressively rushed forward, basically stepping on zombie¡¯s shoulders as he leaped and bounded to the front, his movements so quick that only faint traces, like afterimages, were left behind. Countless rotten and withered hands reached out to grab the leg of his trousers, but were all ruthlessly trampled into paste before they could even touch him. But like lightning flashing in the lower atmosphere, he jumped off the zombie¡¯s body, landing on the ground at the furthest end, rolling over and dashing off without looking back. ¡°Growl¡ª¡ª¡± Most of the zombies were drawn towards the strong Omega pheromones. One after another, they changed directions and swarmed behind him in a large crowd! Si Nan was very strong. He didn¡¯t lose out to any of the carefully-selected Special-Forces soldiers of Squad 118. This, Guo Weixiang had always known. However, this was still the first time he was personally experiencing the strength of this person¡ª that he was actually so strong. Right before his eyes, with nothing blocking his vision, he witnessed for himself Si Nan¡¯s explosive power, comparable to a wild cheetah, thoroughly jolting a person¡¯s heart. It all became engraved on his retina for a long time, almost making him doubt his own sense of smell. That definitely could not be an Omega. But what was drifting in the air was definitely the scent of an Omega¡¯s pheromones. The rumbling of a descending helicopter came from above his head. Guo Weixiang jolted alertedly, pulling the trigger on the numerous zombies still left around him. The machine gun instantaneously poured out bullets and before he could reload it, several more bullets from a shotgun shot past him from a higher altitude; the heads of the zombies around him exploded. ¡°Rong-ge!¡± Two dark green helicopters landed on top of the hospital. Before it completely touched down, Zhou Rong had already forcefully broken free from Ding Shi¡¯s hold, leaping down from the cabin, his coat flapping wildly in the turbulence of the propellers. Dr. Zheng stumbled towards him, his limbs weak. ¡°C-captain Zhou, I d-don¡¯t know what¡¯s with Si- Si- Si Nan, he w-went¡ª¡± Wordlessly, Zhou Rong grabbed the climbing rope at the edge of the roof and slid down to the ground. He hastily cleared out the zombies with a few shots, and then was stopped by Guo Weixiang. ¡°R-R-Rong-ge, quickly, that way, Si Nan went that way¡ª¡± ¡°You alright?¡± Guo Weixiang¡¯s tongue had knotted up, so he could only frantically nod his head. Zhou Rong nodded. About to chase after Si Nan in the direction where he disappeared, his footsteps faltered abruptly. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± Yan Hao, who was not too far behind, stopped in place in disbelief as he seemed to have realised something. Judging by Guo Weixiang¡¯s expression, he probably didn¡¯t even believe the words he was saying either. However, in this time-sensitive situation, there was no time to cushion nor hide the truth, and so the deception which hid the bare-naked truth was torn to shreds in front of everyone in one swift go. ¡°O¡­ Omega.¡± Guo Weixiang¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s an Omega.¡± *** Looking down from far above, zombies from several blocks away had caught wind of the situation and had begun moving. Slowly, their numbers increased as they relentlessly chased after the speedy black dot out front, gradually forming a terrifying torrent. Cold air poured into his lungs, slicing at his internal organs like knives, but Si Nan knew he couldn¡¯t stop. Zombies emerged from the corners of the streets, the alleys, behind dumpsters and all other kinds of unimaginable places. On several occasions, he could feel the back of his jacket being caught by the zombies sharp nails. If he paused for even a moment, he would be immediately torn to bloody pieces of flesh right then and there. The buildings on both sides of the street turned into a blur. Suddenly, something catching the corner of his eye, Si Nan turned his head to see large words painted in red on the side of a wall¡ª to be demolished. The old city was being demolished, and so behind the fence on the other side of the street was a construction site. Within the construction site stood a lone crane which towered up into the sky. With densely-packed steel bars and half-stacked cement slabs, as well as dried concrete which had not been poured in time, it looked quite odd at first glance. Si Nan had no time to even wonder if his luck today was in opposition with construction sites. He spun on his feet, grazing past the arms of the zombies closest to him as he ran onto the pavement. Flipping sideways and over the guardrails, he dashed onto the construction site, and after grabbing the scaffolding, took a couple of tries before he started climbing up. A large portion of the zombie hoard had tripped over the waist-high guardrails, while the rest stepped over the bodies of their companions and flooded onto the construction site, growling and chasing as they clumsily climbed up the scaffolding. However, as the zombies joints were stiff, and they completely lacked the consciousness to work together, they often managed to only get two steps up before stumbling back down to the ground. The enormous pack of zombies clambered up, one after another, swarming forward with extraordinarily liveliness. Si Nan climbed up the scaffolding to a height of more than ten metres. He stumbled into the building, finally stopping on a piece of concrete slab before exhaling convulsively. The seven to eight cuts on his left arm had dried up, as the blood had coagulated and left scars that overlapped which looked terrifyingly hideous. Si Nan folded down his sleeves with trembling hands, and only then did he feel the needle-like stabbing pain on his arm that throbbed with the slightest exertion of strength. The excessive blood loss made him slightly dizzy, and so his originally pale complexion had now become frighteningly pallid. Truthfully, he hadn¡¯t needed to scratch himself up so ruthlessly, and it would be troublesome if he accidentally damaged any ligaments or arteries. However, if he had sliced open his abdomen, thighs or any other part of his body instead, it would have affected his running speed, and he would be filled with grievances if he had gotten caught by the zombies because of that. Si Nan knelt on the suspended concrete slab. After letting his mind wander for a moment, he finally came to the wild conclusion that he could only slice his face next time. He gave a self-deprecating smile. But suddenly hearing something, he raised his head and looked out onto the street. The rumbling of an engine drew closer. A motorcycle sped out from the corner of the street, drifting into the turn with a harsh screech of the brakes, before accelerating towards the construction site ¡ª two riders sat, one behind the other, and even from such a distance, Si Nan recognised Zhou Rong from a single glance. Zhou Rong and Yan Hao! ¡°You two¡­¡± The corner of Si Nan¡¯s lip curved upwards, despite not realising that it was a smile. ¡°Exactly what sort of love affair do you share between the two of you.¡± Si Nan quickly stood up and waved his arm vigorously, only to see the bike soar up into the air, leaping over the guardrails beautifully, and then the machine gun opened fire! The bullets caused the zombie hoard to stagger. Finding a new target, they roared as they turned around. Zhou Rong stopped the bike, and the excessive inertia forced the body of the bike sideways, instantly knocking a few zombies flying. With tacit understanding, Yan Hao cooperated without a word and fired the machine gun frantically. Bullets rained like a thunderstorm, ripping through the first wave of zombies rushing forward, breaking their arms and legs, and leaving them convulsing on the floor. Zhou Rong dismounted the bike and took out an assault rifle, opening fire while heading towards the tide of zombies. His roar was broken up in the rain of bullets, ¡°Si Xiao¡­ Nan, you¡­¡± The amusement in Si Nan¡¯s eyes gradually faded, and he began to realise a problem ¡ª they knew. They definitely knew already. What would Zhou Rong, that idiot, say? What would other people think about it? The thought flashed across his mind, but before he had the time to even think about it, his internal danger alarm suddenly blared, and his conditioned reflexes kicked in. Tilting his head, he avoided the sharp nails that were reaching towards the back of his head. ¡ª A zombie! The large rotting body attacked, accompanied by a gust of wind that smelled raw and bloody. Si Nan tumbled out of the way, avoiding the sharp teeth of the zombie by the skin of his teeth. However, the concrete slab fixed between the steel bars of the building was very narrow, and there was absolutely nowhere to run. The zombie turned and lunged towards him, crashing down right onto his chest. The air was knocked out of him, Si Nan barely managed to avoid coughing out his own lungs! The zombie was wearing a yellow hard-hat, he must have been a contractor before death. Perhaps he was even the kind of contractor who owed a lot of migrant worker¡¯s wages. Possessing a thick head and a fat belly, the zombie was gigantic¡ª weighing at least three hundred kilograms. If it stood up straight, it was likely to be as tall as Zhou Rong and Yan Hao. Si Nan grabbed the zombie¡¯s neck with all his might in order to try and keep it from chomping down on him. It was so fat that he couldn¡¯t imagine how it even managed to climb more than ten metres off the ground¡ª but maybe he had desperately climbed when the virus broke out and just couldn¡¯t get back down after turning into a zombie since he was too fat. This was a logical explanation for why he was stranded atop the scaffolding made up of reinforced concrete. ¡°Glurgh¡­¡± The sound gurgled out loudly from the zombie¡¯s clenched throat, and the large, fat and grey face inched closer and closer. Si Nan grabbed the submachine gun shoulder-strap and tugged twice, but he was unable to tug it free. Drawing out a dagger with a backhanded movement, he intended to give the zombie a full face of blossoming cuts. However, right at that moment, a sudden crack sounded around him. Si Nan did not immediately realize what it was, but in an instant, his body sank downwards. ¡ª¡ªCrack! The cement slab! Boom¡ª¡ª Si Nan didn¡¯t even have time to curse the tofu-level of engineering in his heart. The cement slab broke into pieces, and his whole body fell off the scaffolding that was more than ten meters high! Actually, if you break it down in slow motion, Si Nan¡¯s reflexes at that moment could be considered textbook-level, a model example: tucking of the head, arching the body, protecting the heart and lungs and doing his best to curl himself up into a ball. Crashing and rebounding against the mess of steel bars, he successfully avoided hitting all his potentially fatal regions. However, the zombie who was a few sizes larger than him was not so lucky. He was subsequently pierced directly through the chest by one of the steel bars that stuck out vertically, stopping him mid-air. Thump! The recoil made Si Nan bounce, and mouthful of blood instantly spurted from his lips, as the back of his head crashed heavily into the concrete ground! For the first few seconds he struggled to keep his eyes wide open, seemingly wanting to stay conscious, and even trying to get up. But it was all in vain. Dizziness, nausea, the pain of his internal organs being violently knocked around, the thick and sticky fresh blood¡­ everything, including the entire bustling world, gradually grew distant, as though he was separated from the world, the surface of the river above him. It seemed like he had fallen like this before, not too long ago, but he couldn¡¯t remember anything no matter how he tried. A black fog rose from the flat ground, gathering from all four directions, slowly enveloping his sight and silencing all of his five senses. *** ¡°¡­ Hurry up and start searching¡­¡± ¡°Damn, can you still survive if you jump down from so high up¡­¡± ¡°Fuck this kid, hurry up and grab him! ¡­¡± The distant city was brightly lit, but the wind under the cliff bitterly cold enough to seep into the bones. In the dark night came footsteps and barking, the cursing of soldiers coming and going, and the light of countless flashlights sweeping around. Suddenly someone shouted, ¡°Over there!¡± Si Nan¡¯s entire face was covered with blood. He got up from the grass under the cliff, stumbling forward and running a few steps, before being pushed down by several military dogs at the same time. ¡°We got him, quickly¡ª¡± ¡°Bite him, teach him a lesson!¡± Who am I? Where am I? What is this place? ¡­ The severe pain and struggles were blurred in the chaos. In a daze, he found that he had become very small. Even his hands and feet were also small, and he was completely unable to push away the ferocious giant dogs in a single move. ¡°Hahaha, just look at him¡­¡± Harsh laughter, blinding flashlights, the hot and humid panting of the beasts, the cold and wet grass; the innumerable scenes were bright and bizarre, turning into blades in the void, cutting severely into the core of his brain, turning them into a bleeding mess. The last trace of his human consciousness shattered. Blood, burning with hatred, seeped into his pupils. In the moment before he fell into darkness, he could only hear an inhuman roar come from his throat. ¡°Four military dogs and two soldiers were unfortunately killed in their duties. Six people were wounded and two were seriously injured¡­¡± Si Nan opened his eyes in the stark white laboratory. The hexagonal space was surrounded by mirrored walls. He raised his head, and countless familiar and young faces locked eyes with him from all sides. Blood-stained bandages were tangled in his black hair, and handcuffs and several wires had restrained him to a chair similar to a dentist¡¯s chair. ¡­¡­What happened? He closed his eyes, but could not recall anything no matter what. In his mind, there was only exhaustion left over from his burnt out despair, resentment, and agony. ¡°Shock him,¡± someone said coldly. Defenseless, the electric current tore through his whole body in a flash. Caught off guard, Si Nan let out devastating screams. His small body trembled violently, and he continued to struggle desperately! The shock ended after a few seconds. Tiny Si Nan convulsed constantly. He opened his eyes with difficulty, then saw that the laboratory mirror to the front had changed, and several researchers wearing white masks had appeared. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan panted roughly as he gritted his teeth tightly. ¡°Shock him.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Aah¡ª!¡± The electric shock stopped. Si Nan¡¯s whole body twitched and his eyes lost focus. He was unable to regain consciousness from the painful aftermath, and it took a long time before he could slowly begin to see the surrounding scene clearly again. The researcher appeared behind the screen, not far away, looking at him coldly. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Si Nan turned his head away, his chest heaving vigorously as though he was on the brink of death. ¡°Shock him.¡± ¡°Ahhhhh¡ª¡± ¡°Shock him.¡± ¡°Ah, ah¡­ Ah¡­!¡± ¡°Shock him.¡± Time stretched out, becoming extraordinarily long under the endless torture, and after countless rounds, Si Nan¡¯s body looked as though he had just been fished out of cold water. His black hair was dripping wet, clinging to his pale forehead, his lips were blue, he was shivering, and the exposed skin of his bare hands and feet were completely marred with tiny scars from the electroshock torture. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan gasped for a long time, and finally opened his mouth. The six year old¡¯s voice was as hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper: ¡°Noah.¡± The researcher noted it down. The screen changed after a few seconds, turning into an image of a row of test tubes. Solutions of different colours were lined up from left to right: light blue, light red, turquoise, crimson, leading up to the disturbing deep black to the far right. The researcher¡¯s mechanically-changed voice sounded again without any inflection. ¡°The one your mother injected into the test subject daily, and the one injected into you.¡± ¡°Which two serums are they?¡± Young Si Nan¡¯s pupils dilated. He stared straight at the test tubes, and a sort of savagery gradually spilled out from within his eyes after some time¡ª The little beast at the end of his rope had been forced into dire straits, and he burned with a flare of rage and madness. The wires creaked and the handcuffs clattered from being pulled taut. The researcher turned the screen off, and the next moment, a voice rang out, ¡°Shock him.¡± Heart-rending screams resounded through the laboratory, until Si Nan lost his voice. After an unknown period of time, Si Nan woke up from unconsciousness again, his mind in chaos and his memory fragmented. He stared blankly at the snow-white metal ceiling, as well as looking dazedly at the countless reflections of himself. The door silently slid open. He moved, barely managing to look over. A middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes with blond hair and blue eyes steadily approached. He had a face that looked very familiar because of his several appearances on the TV and newspapers. ¡ªhowever, this face was not as enthusiastic and kind as when he was speaking to the people, nor as solemn and dignified as when speaking on TV; he looked cold and stoic, and due to him standing up and looking down at him, he even gave off a neurotic sense of dismality. Standing still in front of Si Nan, he swept his eyes across the six-year-old¡¯s body that was twitching constantly due to the electric shocks. He narrowed his eyes slightly, suddenly taking out a knife on his key ring to cut the wires, then unlocked the handcuffs with two clicks. ¡°Do you recognise me?¡± Standing up, he asked indifferently. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The silence lasted for a long time, but the man did not throw out the icy command to shock him like the researcher. On the contrary, his patience was abnormal. Staring at Si Nan¡¯s eyes that were vigilant like a wild beast cub, he said slowly, word for word, ¡°I¡¯m your new father.¡± Slap! The sound rang out clearly, and Si Nan¡¯s swift punch came to an abrupt stop. The man tightly gripped his wrist, forcing him to lower his hand, inch by inch. ¡°You¡¯re not my father¡­¡± Si Nan replied with a hoarse voice as he fixed his eyes on the man. ¡°My father is sick and he¡¯s sleeping in a wooden box¡­he¡¯s only sick¡­¡± ¡°Sick, like this?¡± The man sneered. With no effort, he dragged Si Nan to the corner of the laboratory, swiping his card and opening a metal door. Several skeleton-like people in ragged clothing wandered back and forth on the empty floor, staggering and dragging their feet. They reached forward with all their strength, letting out harrowing roars without a hint of awareness. It was probably the breath of the living that alerted them, and the few living dead slowly turned around. Looking right at them, they started to move towards the door. Si Nan took half a step back in fear, and was immediately caught and pushed back into the room by the man. ¡°Break their necks, or you will die.¡± The man¡¯s voice rang out from behind, sounding like the devil. From then on, it pierced through his memories, taking root and sprouting in his subconscious, madly growing into a lifelong nightmare. ¡°Kill them, destroy their brains.¡± ¡°Or you will die.¡± Changsha, the construction site. ¡°¡­ Si Nan¡­¡± ¡°Si Nan, wake up¡­¡± ¡°Si Nan!¡± The bullets kicked up the hot sand. In the vague haziness, there was someone running, while another was shouting. The sounds were muffled, as though he was submerged deep underwater. Si Nan opened his eyes slightly. The blood clouding over his pupils suddenly pooled out, he raised his hand as he trembled. Kill them all¡­ Kill them all¡­¡­ ¡°He¡¯s awake! Si Nan, Si Nan, how do you feel?¡± Yan Hao turned around and shouted, ¡°Captain, quickly! Break through and we¡¯ll retreat¡ª!¡± At the end of the sentence, his tone suddenly changed. Yan Hao¡¯s voice abruptly stopped. He felt a hand, cold due to excessive blood-loss, accurately gripping his wrist. Crack! A lightning-like sense of pain struck. Yan Hao turned his head in shock, almost unable to believe his eyes¡ª His wrist was bent at a weird angle, snapped broken right before his eyes. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 TLC: AlexPT Editor: Beth ¡°No one will help you, no one will save you. No one in this world is on your side.¡± ¡°You were born a monster.¡± ¡­¡­ Rotten flesh, poisonous insects, dead branches swaying in the wind, and gruesome sharp teeth¡­ the undead traipsed the vast mountains and plains, casting their shadows in an endless nightmare. Young Si Nan looked back in a panic. In his dream, a lone cross stood tall in the distance, a church collapsing soundlessly into black flames, and a priest¡¯s voice echoing throughout the skies. ¡°An immortal warrior, the future of the dark age¡­¡± ¡°Rise from the grave and enjoy eternal life.¡± The child¡¯s amber pupils constricted reflexively. He wanted to run but there was nowhere to hide, and his entire consciousness was shrouded by a familiar and icy voice. ¡°Virtual scenario E7364.1.0: establishing Stress-Response-Sequence, kill-speed of less than 2 per second. In event of failure, implement electroshock.¡± ¡°Start the timer.¡± Despairing, Yan Hao roared, ¡°¡ªSi Nan!¡± Before the echo could fade, Si Nan sent Yan Hao flying with a back-kick to the chest, he collided heavily against the wall! The forceful impact caused Yan Hao¡¯s body to rebound off the wall. Caught off guard, he spat out a mouthful of blood. In the next second, fingers tightly wrapped around his neck, aggressively throwing him back against the wall. With no control over his own body, Yan Hao was lifted off his feet. ¡°¡­¡± His eyes widening, Yan Hao struggled to no avail as he felt his feet leave the ground. ¡°Si¡­ Nan¡­¡± He managed to squeeze out two words from between his teeth. Si Nan remained impassive. Like a cold and vicious war machine, he had no thoughts nor semblance of humanity. His fingers, locked firmly around Yan Hao¡¯s throat, were like steel, solid and unmoving. But his eyes were half-lidded, eyelashes obscuring all expression to the point where one could not even see the focus of his vision. Yan Hao¡¯s complexion reddened rapidly and then turned pale. The hand that was not dislocated, trembled as he grasped Si Nan¡¯s wrist. With the rapid deprivation of oxygen, his struggles amounted to nothing, and he was unable to loosen Si Nan¡¯s fingers even a little bit. ¡­Why¡­ He thought in pain. Wake up¡­ Please, Si Nan, wake up¡­ His inner prayers were doomed to be futile. Yan Hao only heard the creaking sounds coming from the bones of his throat, that were caving under the intense pressure, then his vision blurred and faded to black, where even the pain of his dislocated wrist faded away. But in the split second before he fell into the abyss, he saw Si Nan raise his hand, where fingers as sharp as knives suddenly started digging into his own eyeballs. . Who am I? How was I born? Millions and billions of countless lives, in sickness and in health, in life and in death, in joy and in sorrow. Time gathered into history that left no stone on earth unturned, and yet, why was it that ¡°I¡± appeared? ¡°What did you turn me into? What did you turn him into?!¡± The sixteen year old boy stood in the fields, pointing at a steel-grey tombstone covered in moss behind him, his voice echoing through the cemetery, ¡°Did you ever ask for our opinions? Do you know that this was never something he would have wanted? Why must you insist on forcefully keeping someone who is already gone? Let him go! Let the dead rest¡ª!¡± The woman¡¯s expensive black dress spread out on the dirt as she wept bitterly. ¡°You¡¯ve turned us all into monsters, knowing no passage of time nor life or death, you¡¯ve turned the people you love into monsters¡­¡± The boy staggered backwards. He looked at the woman, tears finally overflowing and sliding down his pallid face. ¡°Father wasn¡¯t sick, he¡­ he¡¯s already dead¡­¡± ¡°¡­He¡¯s no longer here.¡± The first flash of lightning finally lit up the sky above the manor as thunder rumbled across the horizon. The boy ran up the stairs and rushed into the hall, pushing open the heavy mahogany door at the end of the corridor. The wind blew into the hall, the burning candle fell onto the silver plate with a clatter. The boy stopped in his footsteps, a pair of feet suspended in mid-air reflected in his eyes. He slowly lifted his gaze, and looked into the eyes of the woman with dishevelled hair and paused. Bit by bit, his knees gave out and he fell to a kneel on the ground. ¡°Noah.¡± A voice came from the other end of the corridor. The hand-woven carpet was shredded into pieces beneath his trembling fingers. After some time, the boy stood up and staggered across the corridor, passing by the person without even an inch of wavering in his gaze. ¡°Noah!¡± That person grabbed his hand. The boy didn¡¯t break free from the hold, but said indifferently, ¡°Are you happy now?¡± Words yet to leave the mouth were forced back down the throat. The person snorted after a brief pause, their face growing ever so slightly twisted. ¡°Yes, of course I¡¯m happy, do you still remember how you¡­¡± Before he finished speaking, the boy broke free of the hold on his hand. Step by step, he made his way out of the large luxurious hall. Following along the path that had become particularly verdant and ominous right before the rainy season; he walked out of the manor. The rain fell like countless lines that connected the sky and earth, turning all that the eyes could see into a world of white. His every step sludged through the mud heavily, as if both feet were entangled in countless inescapable, invisible chains that stretched out towards the endless horizon of a nightmare. Dead, they were all dead. Then why were these chains still here? He clearly had nothing to do with the world anymore, and yet, why did the ache, the pain, and the restraints still exist so vividly, deep in his bones and unable to be erased out of existence no matter what? His panting breaths amidst the torrential rain were like the cries of a wailing beast. The boy¡¯s footsteps gradually sped up, overwhelmed with anxiety, it became a frantic and relentless run. There was no other way¡­ he thought. Just like the countless electric shocks that had been imprinted into the depths of his soul, all of fate and destiny had already dictated the final outcome. Other than endless slaughter, there would be no other way. ¡ªPa! Yan Hao felt the unyielding grip loosen, fresh air rushed into his lungs and choked him into a violent cough¡ª he didn¡¯t even realise that he had fallen to the ground. It took a few seconds before the stars in his eyes began fading away, and in a daze, he heard Zhou Rong roar, ¡°Careful!¡± Yan Hao tumbled on the spot, the army knife brushed right past his body and plunged into the concrete floor. Just as Si Nan was about to pull out the knife, Zhou Rong¡¯s leg flew up and kicked the dagger, sending it flying far away. He then twisted Si Nan¡¯s whole body and pressed him onto the ground with a close-combat technique, the two were tangled together and rolled several meters away, crashing into countless wooden beams and stone slabs along the way. Yan Hao had no time to think about the throbbing pain in his throat, and with a crack, he snapped his wrist back into place. Using his other uninjured hand, he picked up a dagger and stabbed it upwards into the jaw of a zombie behind him, forcing it straight through the zombie¡¯s skull! The zombies on the construction site were nearly swept clean by Zhou Rong, only a few zombies with broken limbs were left groaning in place. Yan Hao stumbled around and found his gun, then cleared out the rest of the zombies with a few clicks. Hearing loud crashing noises behind him, he turned to look, Si Nan had grabbed Zhou Rong by the neck and forced him up the cement wall! But Zhou Rong wasn¡¯t Yan Hao. Curling up his body and tucking in his knees the moment his feet left the ground, he kicked Si Nan in the chest with both feet and sent him falling into a pile of gravel several meters away! Zhou Rong swiftly came forward and helped Si Nan up from the gravel pile with a pull. First massaging Si Nan¡¯s chest, he then sat on top of his body without a word, using the strength of his knees to hold down Si Nan¡¯s elbows to keep him from moving. He pinched Si Nan hard in a death-grip, ¡°Si Nan! Wake up, look at me!¡± Look at me¡­ Si Nan¡¯s unfocused eyes wavered, dazedly staring at Zhou Rong. ¡°Look at me! How many fingers is this?¡± Zhou Rong gripped Si Nan¡¯s chin and forced him to look at his pointer finger. He patted Si Nan¡¯s face hard, ¡°You don¡¯t recognise me anymore? I¡¯m Zhou Rong! Your Rong-ge! Damn it, you dare to forget me?!¡± Zhou Rong¡­ Si Nan shut his eyes and opened them again, just like the mentally-ill succumbing to their chaotic nightmares, fear and hatred flashed beneath his eyes. This was clearly a symptom of hallucinations borne from severe trauma to the brain, an inability to distinguish between illusions and reality. Zhou Rong¡¯s heart sank, pinching the back of Si Nan¡¯s neck like one would to subdue a feline, he forced Si Nan to look closely into his eyes, ¡°Look at me, Si Nan. I¡¯m Zhou Rong, We escaped T city together, and we escaped the factory together. Rong-ge has always liked you, you like Rong-ge too, right?¡± ¡°You know Rong-ge would never hurt you, and would always protect you. You¡¯re willing to come with me, right?¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s rich and domineering voice flowed straight into his ears, entering his dream world like a lullaby. It became the one distant halo of light in a world awashed with thunderstorms. ¡°Zhou Rong¡­¡± he whispered neurotically, avoiding his gaze. ¡°It¡¯s me, look at me.¡± Zhou Rong held his beautifully structured jawline and forced his eyes back onto himself once again, ¡°It¡¯s okay now, I¡¯ve come to get you, you¡¯re safe¡­be good and listen to me, good boy, look at me.¡± Si Nan¡¯s wandering gaze was like a small fish, firmly captured by Zhou Rong and caged in his palms, forced to look him in the eyes. Within Zhou Rong¡¯s deep gaze seems to exist some sort of invisible power, and Si Nan dazedly relaxed his guard. After a while, a certain sort of violence finally receded from his eyes. He called out softly, voice full of uncertainty. ¡°¡­ Zhou Rong?¡± Zhou Rong leaned over and left kisses on his trembling eyelids, slowly travelling downwards, kissing the tip of his nose, his cheeks, and then his lips. The contact, warm and gentle like the sun, dispersed the rainstorm, and sent his memory returning to a certain hot summer. In the lush and dense forest, bringing along with it the salty scent of sweat and the fresh fragrance of vegetation, the young man stood up on tiptoes and gave a kiss to the jaw of a ragged-looking special soldier, a glint of slyness flashing in his eyes. ¡°¡­Zhou Rong.¡± Si Nan murmured. He was only calling out his name ordinarily, but it melted Zhou Rong¡¯s heart. He couldn¡¯t help but hum in response, subconsciously massaging the tender white skin at the back of his neck. Si Nan quietened. Zhou Rong could feel the body beneath him beginning to relax, but suddenly a huge boulder landed on the ground, so he released his hold. He signalled for Yan Hao to push the bike over, then casually picked up the submachine gun, tightening the gun straps that were about to slip off his shoulders. He smoothly stretched out his hand, intending to carry Si Nan in his arms. But right at this moment, Si Nan caught a glimpse of the sight of him holding the submachine gun. The reality that was reflected into the back of his retina and sent to his brain had become wildly exaggerated, distorted and enlarged, his neurons firing chaotically had painted a different version of reality: Fully armed soldiers, the wild barking of hunting dogs, and the sparks of light from the barrel of a machine gun firing bullets in the dark¡­ Run! Run quickly! Someone screamed hysterically amidst the flames. Hurry up and run! The woman screamed behind her, disregarding everything else. They¡¯ve come for you, quickly, run¡ª! ¡°Why did we lose our freedom, and suffer from pillaging and imprisonment?¡± The little boy held his mother¡¯s hand, raised his head and asked, ¡°Mama, does God love everyone?¡± In the hazy light, his mother lowered her head. Her familiar face gradually grew distorted, decaying black spots climbed up her beautiful face, dirt and maggots covered her amber eyes, the flesh and blood of her fingers fell off, revealing hints of hauntingly white bones, everything was projected into the little boy¡¯s terrified eyes. Quickly run, Noah. Don¡¯t get caught by anyone, run quickly. ¡°Si Nan!¡± Zhou Rong stood up immediately, but it was too late. In the thousandth of a second where he let down his guard, Si Nan had shot up like a cannonball and forcefully knocked Yan Hao off! ¡°Grab him!¡± Yan Hao rolled over and got up, but before he could do anything, Si Nan had mounted the bike. One long leg propped on the ground, he looked at them with panting breaths. ¡ª¡ªNo, he was not actually looking at anyone at all, his gaze passed right through the space between Zhou Rong and Yan Hao, as if he were looking at something in the empty space that struck incomparable fear and terror into him. It was a demon buried deep beneath the ground, a nightmare that had never left from this life. ¡±Come back¡­¡± Zhou Rong gently said with a waver in his voice, spreading out his arms, ¡°Come back, Si Xiao-Nan, please come back here to Rong-ge¡­ Si Nan!!¡± Zhou Rong sprung forward in the same second the engine ignited, his momentum like that of an arrow leaving the bow, but he only managed to graze a corner of the backseat. Immediately after, as if transforming into flowing flames, the bike rushed towards the street with a roar! Vroom¡ª! In Zhou Rong and Yan Hao¡¯s stunned gazes, the bike leapt high over the guardrail and landed with a loud thud. Si Nan no longer hesitated, without even looking back, the bike rumbled and disappeared into the corner of the street like a meteor racing through the sky! Zhou Rong chased after him for a few steps. He grabbed the submachine gun and violently threw it to the ground, then gave himself a slap to the face. Yan Hao shook his head in horror, ¡°Why, what happened, this is¡­¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice was filled with fury and constraint, ¡°Come back!¡± Yan Hao forcefully stopped his feet, and only then did he realise in the far distance of the street, the zombies that had been scattered before had appeared again sometime ago. In twos and threes, they slowly approached the construction site. ¡ªthey were still standing on an unbarricaded and unobstructed large street, in the heart of a city filled with millions of zombies. It was far too dangerous. Yan Hao had grabbed a gun, but suddenly above his head, the roar of a propeller approached rapidly, and the consecutive blasting sound of a machine-gun firing followed, shooting up the zombies on the street until they were sent flying! The two raised their heads and saw two large dark green helicopters hovering at low altitude. The hatch opened with a bang, and Chun Cao dropped the ladder, ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Si Nan? What happened?¡± Ding Shi asked loudly in the raging winds. Zhou Rong¡¯s face was gloomy, he shook his head and didn¡¯t answer, instead he briefly said, ¡°Switch on the bright lights and search along the city center, hurry!¡± *** The sky darkened rapidly, a black veil fell, and the terrifying night of the apocalypse was almost upon them. A lone rider on a bike in a delirious mindset with no warm clothing, no food, and no gun, how long could such a person last in the heart of a city infested with millions of zombies? Would he survive to see the daylight of a second day? Like the dark clouds of the night sky, the answer weighed down heavily on everyone¡¯s hearts. Both helicopters had turned on their searchlights, the built-in loudspeakers were turned on to the maximum, but all of their calls were like pebbles thrown into a stormy sea, disappearing instantly into the raging wave of zombies. The helicopters hovered along the large streets and small alleys, flying past every building top at low altitude, but a miracle did not happen. The slender and lean figure that everyone had grown familiar with, was really gone without a trace, just like that. Just like the way he arrived, he disappeared, as if it was an undeniable destiny that they could do nothing about. ¡°Rong-ge¡­¡± Ding Shi¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°The fuel is limited, we still have to fly to Nanhai, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± There wasn¡¯t enough fuel. With everyone¡¯s eyes on him, Zhou Rong sat behind the pilots dashboard. Hidden in the shadows behind the searchlights, from the forehead, nose bridge, down to the tightly pursed thin lips and jawline, the light and the shadows outlined the astonishingly sharp features of the man¡¯s handsome and somber side-profile. ¡°When I left,¡± he suddenly spoke without warning. ¡°I told him, wait for me to come get you.¡± ¡ª¡ªit was spoken in a very calm manner, but Ding Shi had been silenced by a certain terrible pressure from his words. ¡°He really waited. At the construction site, he smiled the moment he saw me, waving to me from afar.¡± ¡°But I was unable to go get him as promised.¡± ¡°¡­Rong-ge,¡± Ding Shi choked up, ¡°This wasn¡¯t anyone¡¯s fault, this¡­¡± ¡°He wanted to come with me. The moment he got on the bike, he hesitated for a second. He was looking at me, maybe he was giving me one last chance. I shouldn¡¯t have touched the gun. He was so scared at the time, and I had scared him away.¡± Zhou Rong closed his eyes. Besides the roar of the helicopter, it was frighteningly quiet in the cabin. After a while, he removed something silver and shiny tied to a string around his neck, and Ding Shi recognised that it was the chip that held all the virus research data that they had downloaded from the B military base. Zhou Rong held the chip in his fingers, seemingly mindlessly tapping on the control dashboard. He suddenly pointed downwards, ¡°What¡¯s on that roof? Let¡¯s take a closer look.¡± Ding Shi didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary, manoeuvring the helicopter into descent, the searchlights swept across the roof of the large building, ¡°There¡¯s nothing here, the target area is about 200 square meters¡­ Rong-ge?!¡± Zhou Rong threw the chip onto the dashboard, unfastening his seat belt, he opened the hatch. The icy cold wind blew violently as he turned back with a smile, ¡°Wait for us at Nanhai.¡± His smile was unrestrained and overflowing with arrogance. Ding Shi reached out to grab him immediately, but Zhou Rong had already leapt out, he had jumped down in the midst of shocked exclamations! Whizzing down a height of eight to nine meters, Zhou Rong hit the ground in a solid landing, and reached back to retrieve the assault rifle on his back. Despite the chaotic shouts and yells behind him, he left resolutely, disappearing into the dark night of a city lurking with danger. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¡°Si Nan!¡± ¡°Si Xiao-Nan¡ª!¡± ¡°Rong-ge is here to pick you up, come out!¡± In a night so dark he couldn¡¯t even see his fingers stretched out in front of him, his voice echoed down the long streets. Zhou Rong put down the megaphone he had just scavenged from the abandoned ruins of an old shop, his eyes sweeping across his surroundings through the infrared lenses. Where, within a radius of a hundred metres, humanoid figures began gathering at high speeds due to the stimulation through movement. If you looked over, the zombies were densely packed, overlapping into swaying ghostly shadows. Zhou Rong cleared out a few zombies behind him, which had been alerted to him through the hint of a breeze, then deployed a grappling-hook and swiftly climbed up an electrical pole. In the very instant he left the ground, the crowd of zombies surged forward, mindlessly stretching their arms upwards with all their might. Shouting up and down the large streets and winding alleyways could be said to be one of the most ineffective, while simultaneously dangerous, plans he had. Zhou Rong knew the best way would be to find a safe and secure location first, where he could rest while maintaining his body temperature and quietly await daybreak, where visual conditions would be easier for making a move¡ª but he also knew that Si Nan didn¡¯t have the luxury of time. He could not, under such terrible conditions, survive through a long and life-threatening night in the perilous heart of the city, riding alone on a bike equipped only with a single gun. Zhou Rong took a breath of freezing cold air, focusing only on the piercing pain that came about from his lungs trying to keep him conscious. Like a beast on the prowl, in the dead of night, he narrowed his eyes: ¡°Sunken into antisocial behaviour, schizophrenic, unpredictable. Do not attempt to use any sort of stimulative measures to restore his sanity¡­¡± ¡°Mixed-blood omega,¡± he murmured. He raised his gaze and looked into the empty space; the afternoon after their first meeting, surrounded on all sides in a large parking-lot, a young man who was tightly covered from head to toe in a biker¡¯s jacket and helmet on the main road raised his head and made eye-contact with him from afar. ¡°Was that you?¡± Zhou Rong whispered, and as if he had secretly done this many times before, he raised a hand, wanting to pinch the soft cheek of that face, but all his fingers could feel was the bone-chilling winds of the winter¡¯s night. ¡°Rong-ge was wrong, I didn¡¯t mean to look down on omegas, I¡¯m also willing to respect your opinion.¡± ¡°That is, if you¡¯re willing to come back¡­¡± ¡°As long as you come back, Rong-ge will wait for you to decide for yourself.¡± Zhou Rong closed his eyes, only allowing himself a short moment¡¯s respite to wallow in his sorrows and regrets. He opened his eyes after a few seconds and forced himself back into a state of combat-readiness. He dislodged the grappling-hook from the top of the electric pole and rapidly made his way down to the next street. *** At the same time, only a kilometre away: In a random residential home. The soles of a boot stepped onto a floor full of shattered glass, making light crunching noises. The moment the noise was heard, a shadow in the corner of the house moved. In the pitch darkness, a black and rotten face could be seen as it turned around, as if smelling the scent of fresh human flesh. It¡¯s cloudy eyes rolled over. A flash of a shadowy figure brought with it a body wrapped in cold winds, staggering his way into the house, as if completely unaware of the life-threatening danger that lay hidden in the corner of the room. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Air constantly leaked out of the chest cavity that had largely rotted away, the zombie climbed up onto its shaky and unsteady limbs, its instinct to hunt exploded through the stimulation of the sweet Omega pheromones. It pounced and clutched onto the stranger and bit down! The taste of bloody flesh filled its rotten mouth in an instant, but before the zombie could take a second bite, a sharp cracking sound came from its neck. The zombie¡¯s head had been twisted at a weird angle, which was followed by being picked up by the oncomer in a one-armed manoeuvre and slammed heavily into the wall; its brain fluids splattered across half of the wall. Si Nan let out an unintelligible slurred whine, and in his haze, he could feel that his wrist hurt a lot, but he could not clearly see what had happened. So he lifted his other hand to feel, and seemed to touch what felt like wet blood and flesh. I¡¯ve been bitten by a zombie, such a thought flashed in his subconsciousness. This was actually very bizarre, because his whole body felt as light and airy as though he was walking on clouds, dizzying flashes of lights and spots endlessly flashed before his eyes, his mental state switched back and forth between reality and fantasy. He couldn¡¯t even recall who he was, much less figure out if he were standing, sitting, or passed out. But in spite of all that, he knew that he had been bitten by a zombie. He made loud clattering noises and stumbled to a sit on the ground, leaning against the damp and dirty wall, he stretched out both his long legs shakily, as painful ripping sounds came from his chest when he gasped for breath. Bitten again, he thought. ¡­¡­ ¡°You¡¯ve been bitten again.¡± Someone spat out the words one by one, fueled with anger. It was a blond-haired, blue-eyed young man dressed in military camouflage, who didn¡¯t appear to be that much older, looking to be in his twenties at most. However, due to his prestigious background, the man¡¯s shoulder was already decorated with badges, with the line of his brows and the corners of his eyes giving off an air of arrogance; an expression of contempt and anger combined. Si Nan leaned back into the electric chair, he wore a white tee-shirt, his figure slim and lean like a youth going through puberty, and his head was raised up with nonchalance. ¡°So, you gonna punish me?¡± It¡¯s probably been a while since he cut his hair, but his tousled fringe could not hide his bright gaze full of mockery. Speaking without a care, ¡°Do it, then.¡± The man was probably enraged by this sort of attitude, the man gripped his collar and shouted, ¡°You think we¡¯re doing this to harm you? You¡¯ve always been a monster! Besides being experimented on and receiving special training, what other options do you have! Had father thrown you into an orphanage to begin with, you would have become just a low-life, punching hours in at a convenience store or delivering take-outs!¡± Si Nan raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh? In your eyes, the definition of a low-life are those who drive to make food deliveries? You sure are an educated young master.¡± The man opened his mouth again as if to continue scolding, however, Si Nan¡¯s lips curved up at the corner with malevolence. ¡°I had thought that after the ¡®dirty and scheming¡¯ mother of mine had died, your father who fell into a drunken haze of despair up until the end of his life, was the real definition of a low-life.¡± A loud smack rang throughout the room, the man¡¯s slap had sent Si Nan¡¯s head sideways, where slowly, drops of blood dripped down out of the corner of his mouth. ¡°¡­¡± The youth gasped for two breaths, then turned his head back to smile at him ¡°Or you could also say that, you, who harbored a heart full of hatred for your father, yet still worked as hard as you could just to be acknowledged by him, probably couldn¡¯t even begin to be compared to a low-life¡­¡± He had thought he would be receiving another slap to the face, but after the man raised his hand, it stopped abruptly in mid-air instead. After five seconds of complete silence, he suddenly roared angrily: ¡°Shock him!¡± The moment his words fell, blue light sizzled alight. Si Nan¡¯s whole body tensed and arched backwards from the shock, his hands and feet unable to resist cramping up from the seizure. The electroshock ended after a few seconds. However Si Nan did not regain consciousness, his posture remained sunken deep into the back of the chair, unmoving, and for a moment there were no signs of movement, not even the rise and fall of his chest could be seen. The man waited another ten seconds, and suspicion finally arose from the depths of his eyes. He cautiously walked up and stopped for a moment, before placing his hand to the youth¡¯s artery on his neck, only to feel that the pumping beneath his thin skin was abnormally weak. He tried again and reached for the youth¡¯s nose with his forefinger, his breathing coming out in small wisps, it was almost undetectable. How could this be? ¡°Send a few people over.¡± He switched on his own communicator on his shoulder, curtly issuing an order, and unlocked the cuffs on the youth¡¯s wrist. Right at this moment, Si Nan¡¯s originally pale and slender fingers that had been devoid of any signs of life, clenched into a fist, the veins in the back of his palm tensing. The moment the man noticed something was up, he swiftly retreated, however the oncoming sharp winds were as quick as lightning, Si Nan grabbed ahold of the arm-rests and lifted his whole body up sideways, sending the man flying towards the corner of the room with a kick! The thundering sound of collision rumbled through the ground, the man who was caught off guard cried out in pain, his body spun and sank down. He opened his eyes in alarm, only to see Si Nan leaning down in front of him, a knee on his chest as he aggressively pulled him up by the collar of his military camouflage uniform. Cold sweat dripped down from the corner of the youth¡¯s pallid forehead, the after effects of the electroshock treatment had yet to fade completely; however in doing so, the pain had shrouded him with a striking layer of eerie light upon him, forming an unknowing, domineering attraction, that made one unable to keep their eyes off him. ¡°Are you scared of me?¡± He asked with a smile. The man¡¯s breath was stuck in his throat, the anger burning from the overbearing shame, as well as another sudden raging yet indescribable emotion, had forced him to the point where he couldn¡¯t make a sound. ¡°You¡¯re scared of the monster that I am, and yet you still wish to control the power of this monster¡ª¡± When Si Nan smiled, a hint of white teeth peeked out from the corner of his lips. On such an elegant young man¡¯s face, it appeared quite playful and attractive. But if you looked into his eyes, you would only feel cold terror in your heart, as if you were looking right at a demon screeching awake in the deep abyss of hell. ¡°Foolish and greedy, yet so ignorant,¡± The young man leaned in next to his ear, speaking softly, ¡°You will all pay for it.¡± The door to the laboratory behind them was forced open, security guards rushed in and pulled the youth away in a flurry, one of them came forward to help the man up from the floor carefully. Someone was loudly berating, someone was roaring, and yet Si Nan did not hear anything clearly. He didn¡¯t even look at the man shooting him disbelieving looks from across the crowd of people. The moment he turned around, he had already forgotten whether he had received heavier punishment that day, he could only remember the twisted feeling of joy in the depths of his heart. You will all pay for it. And I would not care at all. Because fate brought everything with it into the grave, leaving me behind with nothing, so I have nothing left to care about at all. *** Dawn, six o¡¯clock: The depth of the night rotated and lifted from the ground, an endless expanse of ash blue appearing at the peak of the dome of the sky, just like discoloured spots on black cloth after several washes, it expanded slowly within sight. Zhou Rong held the gun in with one arm, and hid behind an electrical circuit box in the corner of an alley. He licked at the wound on the back of his hand that had been cut when he stumbled down from the second floor, exhaustedly puffing out a breath of hot air that condensed into white clouds. On the road not too far ahead, zombies were slowly walking out of the shadows, roaring and staggering, forming into groups. It¡¯s another brand new day in the apocalypse. ¡°Si Xiao-Nan¡­¡± Zhou Rong mumbled coarsely, ¡° Give me a bit more courage, I¡¯m begging you,¡± As if realising something, the zombies changed directions in unison, squeezing into the small alley. With gritted teeth, Zhou Rong stood up from behind the electrical circuit box and pulled the trigger, felling several zombies upfront. Alongside the gunshots, however, more living dead simply excitedly stepped over their comrade¡¯s corpses, fighting and scrambling as they pushed forward. Zhou Rong made a break for it and ran, his shouting had nearly used up all the energy he had in his body, ¡°Si¡ªXiao¡ªNan!¡± *** ¡°Si Xiao-Nan¡ª!¡± On the messy floor full of filth inside the rental house, Si Nan suddenly twitched from his unconsciousness, his eyelashes trembling as he opened his eyes. The first rays of sunlight shone through the window lattice, illuminating the beheaded body of a zombie, a black and dry withered bones of an infant in the corner of the house, the wall splattered full of rotten blood and spinal fluid, as well as a digital clock that still blinked with green light underneath the desk that had toppled over. 6:12 AM. The daylight grew clearer at an exceedingly arduous pace, showing itself as a long and thin strip of light on the floorboards. At the end of the light¡¯s trail, the unidentifiable bite wounds in the mess of blood and flesh on Si Nan¡¯s wrist had dried out and scabbed over, turning into a dark purple scar, just beginning to ¡­ Beneath the scab was newly regrown tender skin, the pink that had yet to completely fade away, quietly bathing in the thin fog of the dawn of a new day. Si Nan shut his eyelids tightly, and only opened them again after a few minutes, sitting up in a daze. ¡°¡­Is anyone here?¡±¡± He looked around him, asking with a hoarse voice. Silence spread across the rental home with no reply. ¡°Zhou Rong?¡± He asked quietly, ¡°Rong-ge?¡± Si Nan dragged himself up, his mind still a little foggy, and walked to the window with unsteady footsteps. In the gap between buildings, the first rays of daybreak suddenly shone through from the horizon on the east, making his pupils contract instinctively. As if lightning had just struck into the hazy depths of his mind, everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours replayed in a quick flash before his eyes¡ª the cement slab that collapsed in the construction site, Yan Hao whose wrist had been snapped broken, Zhou Rong who had been yelling in a panic, the endlessly bustling and crowded zombies¡­ The last scene that remained frozen in his memories was the searchlights that swept to and fro in the skies above the city, the loud roar of the helicopters as it broke through layers of clouds, flying faraway towards the south. ¡ªthey¡¯re gone. They went to Nanhai. In the moment he registered this reality, Si Nan¡¯s blood ran cold, as though his lungs were suddenly frozen into ice. ¡°None of you¡­¡± He immediately grew anxious, looking out the window with all his might, hoping to see a hint of the helicopter¡¯s shadow in the dim light of dawn. None of you waited for me. ¡ªWhy didn¡¯t they wait for me? Si Nan stepped backwards precariously, then sat down defeatedly on the floorboards, and held his head in his arms. The strong feelings of regret bit down mercilessly onto his heart like a venomous snake, the indescribable pain seeping into every organ and limb of his body like venom. I¡¯ve ruined everything, he thought as he grabbed at his hair frantically, I ruined everything again. Yan Hao was injured by me, maybe Zhou Rong too¡­ I lured my teammates into the heart of a city infested full of the living dead, injured them, then left them behind and ran off on a bike! How could I run off just like that?! Are they safe now, where are they? Did Zhou Rong try to look for me, would they circle back? Countless questions mercilessly pulled his heart deeper and deeper into hell, where Si Nan couldn¡¯t breathe. I was wrong, I¡¯m still here, please come back and look for me¡­ He thought as he trembled, fingers subconsciously scratching at the floorboards, leaving behind countless criss-crossing white lines. I was wrong, please come back and look for me¡­ The light of daybreak shone brightly through the window from up above, scattering into the narrow rental home, Si Nan closed his eyes from pain in the bright light. He was willing to pay any price just to go back twenty-four hours ago, to grab onto the him who was leaving on the bike in a craze, and give himself a hard slap. Or alternatively, he was even more willing to return to the moment right before he had turned against the unprepared Yan Hao and Zhou Rong, and snap his own wrist clean, stopping the consequences he couldn¡¯t take back right there before it could happen. However, there was nothing he could do now. He had no weapons, no food, no transportation, and stood alone in the heart of a city packed full of zombies. Alone with no backup. Never before has he ever realised as clearly as now, after he had painstakingly established new connections to this new world, that he would actually cut them all off with his own hands, falling back into the dark depths of loneliness. Dawn, 6:30 AM: Strong pangs of hunger woke Si Nan, he opened his eyes in a blur, the corners of his eyes wet and reddened. It was already bright out in the city, the sounds of the zombies¡¯ heavy footsteps and groaning came from the streets. ¡ªhe needs to leave. Si Nan stood up, and stars exploded beneath his eyelids. As a result of spending a winter-night on the cold hard floor, he had come down with a fever. He could even feel his own forehead burning up, his footsteps were light and airy, and every step felt like he was walking on springs, but he knew he absolutely cannot collapse now. Zhou Rong had left the military tanks parked at the helicopter landing bay out on the outskirts of the city, if he hurried over now, he could probably still make it to Nanhai. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Si Nan spoke softly, pausing for a moment and talking to himself again, ¡°Wait for me.¡± He pushed open the door, shivered from the cold, and staggered out of the rental house. . Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Zhou Rong couldn¡¯t recall how many times he had pulled the trigger, using the heavy-fire of the submachine gun to keep the zombies at bay, then narrowly escaped up the wall or tree branches. How many times had he relied on the aerial route to clutch onto a slim chance of survival? Fortunately, lady luck favoured him, never once was he truly pushed to the brink of desperation with nowhere else to go, not only that, he even found an unimaginable blessing in broad daylight: in the corner of a ruined cupboard inside a shop, he found several small pieces of bread, although dried and yellowing, it was still good enough to eat. ¡°I thank the greatest invention of all mankind¡ª preservatives,¡± Zhou Rong mocked in a self-deprecating manner, he squatted on top of the wall and finished two pieces of bread in a few bites, and carefully wrapped up the remaining two to keep. ¡°Comrade Si Xiao-Nan, ge is warning you, if you still choose to be picky at this time I really will spank you on the butt¡­¡± He stood up while leaning on the branches, the crowd of zombies and their claws beginning to encroach a few centimetres below his feet. He jumped up onto the roof, following along the wall and speedily walked towards the main road.. If Si Nan was able to regain sanity, there was a large possibility that he would take full advantage of the daylight to leave the city center, and head towards the expressway to the airport where they parted ways¡ª even if he did feel disappointed that squad 118 had left him behind, he would still probably scavenge the military tank for extra resources and think of a way, or snatch another helicopter, to fly to Nanhai. But now, he should still be in the city. Zhou Rong surveyed the environment of his surroundings, his gaze locked onto the roof of an office building not too far off, and calculated the probability of success of gathering fuel to light up a signal, and after a while, he clamped down his teeth and made up his mind. ¡°Not much, I¡¯ll hit it just once,¡± Zhou Rong pondered on Si Nan¡¯s butt, and his teeth itched while thinking, ¡°At most twice.¡± This imagination gave him boundless energy. Zhou Rong pushed his body forward and leaped, climbing onto the tree branches next to the sidewalk from the rooftop, jumping to the ground following after, and sprinting off before the group of zombies on the road could react. . Clang! Si Nan lifted up the display racks that had fallen to the ground, and disappointedly realised that besides garbage and junk, there was nothing edible. When the apocalypse occured, the city had been robbed clean by the people escaping from the danger, and then later, the survivors that remained in the city had scavenged through it repeatedly. Not mentioning vacuum-packed food and cans, even bubblegum, snacks, seasonings were all snatched clean. Right now, not even bread crumbs would be left over. Si Nan grabbed a chair, and knocked over a zombie that had secretly snuck up to him from behind, and then stood up in dizziness with a bloated head. Hunger and thirst consumed all his senses, other than the intense overpowering hunger, he basically couldn¡¯t feel anything else. If only there were something to eat¡­. he thought in a haze. Just a little to eat is good¡­ Suddenly his ears were piqued, he heard the sound of car tires rolling across the asphalt not too far from him¡ª there¡¯s someone here! How could there be people here? Are they survivors or a rescue team? Or was it¡­ had squad 118 came back for him? As if he had suddenly been injected with a vial full of heart-strengthening medicine into his bloodstream, Si Nan¡¯s whole body felt reinvigorated, he ran out of the small alley like he was flying, rushing onto the main road like a sharp arrow, and barely managed to catch a glimpse of a blue and white striped car leaving far away. ¡°Hey! Hey¡ª!¡± Si Nan shouted without a regard, ¡°Zhou Rong!!¡± However that car did not stop, it made a turn at the end of the road and drove into another district. Si Nan didn¡¯t even think about it and chased after it. He has probably never ran this fast before in his life, not even when he was pursued by bloody zombies in B military base, the zombies that had gathered up into masses hadn¡¯t even had the chance to graze the corners of his clothes before he leaves them far behind to eat his dust. ¡°Zhou Rong!!¡± He shouted with all his strength until his vocal chords tore. ¡°Zhou Rong¡ª!¡± After turning into countless different streets, Si Nan¡¯s footsteps stopped at the crossroads, and surveyed the surrounding area with gasping breath. A hospital, a school, a traffic guardhouse, streets and gardens¡­ the zombies walked in twos and threes, circling in place, dragging their rotted feet in limping steps, roaring in unintelligible grumbles. Where is he? Where¡¯s Zhou Rong?¡­ Si Nan¡¯s gaze slowly fell inch by inch into despair, and just like he had suddenly caught sight of a life-saving grass, he skidded to a halt¡ª Not too far ahead, behind one of the gas filling stands of the petrol station, the back of a white-blue coloured SUV peeked out from behind. Si Nan couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps forward, and stopped his footsteps right after. Through the gaps between the petrol stands, he sees the door of the car pushed open, a large hulking figure of the driver in a hoodie got out and went to the trunk of the car, the man dug out several packs of compressed biscuits and water, and then reentered the driver¡¯s seat. Si Nan, who had been in a feverish haze, felt as though he was suddenly doused in ice and snow¡ª that wasn¡¯t Zhou Rong. Who are they? Are they dangerous? Do they have weapons? Are they an alpha? The heat of the moment passed, and Si Nan¡¯s battle-worn senses began blaring instinctively, logic reminding him that he should immediately hide himself, keep tailing them, observe their behaviours before making any moves; however the hunger that had reached its limits made him hesitate, he really wants to ask for some¡­ or pinch a bit of something to eat. He had never been this hungry before. Si Nan quietly gulped down his saliva, his mouth watering. Chapter 41 - Edited by Beth Chapter 41 Edited by Beth Reality did not give Si Nan a chance to hesitate. A few minutes later, the SUV slowly moved, driving out of the petrol kiosk. The last shred of Si Nan¡¯s rationality as a warrior won over his hunger. He did not immediately choose to move ahead, but first retreated a few steps and hid himself, watching the SUV make a turn and slowly move towards the main street. What were they going to do? Si Nan surveyed the surroundings. Near him was a mess of cars and scooters that had been involved in a collision, the scene horrible and tragic. Other than that, there were no other transport options available that could be seen, where not even a single undamaged bicycle could be found. The SUV gradually grew further away, almost out of Si Nan¡¯s sight. Gritting his teeth, Si Nan sprinted after it. ¡°There¡¯s someone following us.¡± Inside the SUV, the driver murmured, glancing at the rearview mirror. The blonde, blue-eyed female Alpha seated next to him was currently studying her fingers. Hearing that, she immediately looked up. However, she only saw a horde of zombies slowly chasing after them, only to be left in the dust. ¡°Where? Who?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t manage to see clearly, they hid too quickly.¡± The vehicle jolted slightly as the car made its way forward, but Romuller did not say a word. ¡°It might be a survivor,¡± the female Alpha pondered. ¡°Drive a little faster, Abel, and lose him. We still have to search another base of survivors.¡± Abel stepped on the gas. The bumper guard at the front of the car savagely crashed through a few of the living dead, speeding away in the dust and smoke. The city had turned into a paradise for the zombies, and every building along the streets, reinforced with concrete, had become enormous coffins, their roots deep in the grounds, and reaching high into the sky. Gusts of icy winds travelled through the bleak roads, where the bus stops, the supermarkets and the schools were all empty. Trash and plastic bags danced and whirled across the dirt and dust, only to be trampled underneath the feet of the zombies. The SUV made its way into a small community hub. In the side mirror, the trees along the wall trembled imperceptibly. ¡°They¡¯re still following us,¡± Abel said. This time, the female Alpha too had noticed it, and she became more vigilant. ¡°Could there be a large number of them?¡± She turned to look at her superior. In the backseat, Romuller finally stopped polishing his dagger. ¡°There¡¯s only one.¡± He did not look up, but said indifferently, ¡°Drive a little slower. Find somewhere to stop in front, and see what sort of person it is.¡± *** His heart beating furiously in an unruly manner within his chest, Si Nan panted, feeling cold sweat drip down his temples. If he were to continue like this, he would soon become dehydrated. Should he give up? Or should he think of a way to move ahead of the vehicle, trying his luck to seek aid? Si Nan¡¯s strong instincts of vigilance made him shy away from the latter option. However, he had already been chasing them for a long period of time, and the great amount of energy he had already spent made him not want to give up so easily. Just as he was caught in the middle of these two options, the SUV in front suddenly shifted, turning off from the streets into a long alley lined with terraces. It¡¯s on. Si Nan did a short run up, leaping from the wall to the tree top, then from there, he jumped to a rooftop. Swiftly running across the roofs of the terraces, he was like a nimble and light footed feline creature, silently coming to a stop at the edge of a roof. He saw the SUV stop in front of a house. The driver got out and opened the trunk, lifting out half a carton of mineral water and heading towards the house. It looked as though this was their temporary stronghold. Si Nan lay down on top of the roof. From up above, he gazed at the items within the trunk, instantly freezing ¡ª there were so many! Boxes and boxes of ship biscuits, canned meat, dehydrated fruits, high-protein provisions, all sorts of energy drinks, winter wear and woollen blankets, equipment to start fires and generate electricity¡­ Si Nan gulped. He carefully observed the surroundings, quickly designing a path of retrieval and escape, and silently chanted ¡ª I¡¯m only going to steal a can. Just one, enough to let me survive until I can reach the heliport at the edge of the city. After making his decision, Si Nan silently leapt down from the roof. Like a vigilant and wary leopard, he did not make a sound when he landed on the ground. Making his way to the trunk, he reached a hand out towards a can of luncheon meat. ¡ª Right at this moment, his nerves buzzed, and he turned his head. The blade of a knife slid past his face! Si Nan wrenched himself around, and the quick peek he had of the face belonging to his sneak attacker stunned him a little ¡ª the other party was a strong, caucasian female Alpha, and she was rather good looking. However, for some reason, the moment he saw this female Alpha, a warning bell rang loudly in his head. A feeling of dread mixed with disgust welled up within him, and it seemed as though he had seen her somewhere before. The female Alpha froze too. Reflexively, she spoke to him in English. ¡°Y-you¡­ Why¡­¡± In that thousandth of a second while she was dazed, Si Nan decisively withdrew. Even the can that he was about to obtain was abandoned, and he immediately ran a few metres away. ¡°Halt!¡± The female Alpha shouted. That muscular driver from before thundered out from the house, raising his gun and started to fire! Si Nan yelled angrily, ¡°All I wanted was some food!¡± Before his voice could fade away, he immediately tumbled across the ground, avoiding the series of bullets. He heard the female Alpha shouting at the driver about something, and the two people ran over after that. Any other time, even if the other party had guns, Si Nan would not be very worried about being attacked simultaneously by two Alphas. However, right now, he was not in the best condition. The fatigue from his fever and the dehydration was taking over his body, and under the current circumstance where the other party was clearly out to kill, it was not worth taking such a huge risk to obtain just a little food. With a swing of his arm, Si Nan blocked a swift kick from the driver, the impact forcing him back a few steps. Bending over lithely, he avoided the dagger thrown by the female Alpha. The blade whistled past him, plunging straight into the wall behind. Si Nan again turned, dodging another powerful blow from the driver, so strong that it seemed as though it could blast through a mountain. He then yanked the dagger out and scaled the wall. The female Alpha shouted something in English. At the last moment, Si Nan caught what she was saying. ¡°¡ªchange to a tranquiliser!¡± A twitch of his brow, and Si Nan immediately jumped up instantly from where he stood. Grabbing onto the eaves of the roof, he felt his leg turning numb. A tranquilising dart had grazed his skin. Fuck! Si Nan silently cursed. He bit the tip of his tongue savagely, using the pain to maintain a shred of alertness through the effects of the sedative which was taking over him. Swaying, he took a few steps along the eaves, only to discover that there was actually someone lying in wait in front! This time it was a caucasian male, over the age of thirty, and he was standing up slowly on the rooftop. Si Nan had no extra energy to wonder why the expression of the man was so strange, and why his actions were so slow. That man looked as though he was in a dream, like something would be broken if he were to touch anything. Right now, all Si Nan wanted was to quickly leave this group of Alphas behind. He would rather return to the zombie horde, searching through the supermarkets and shops. Even if all he had to eat were broken bits of rice and grains, he would rather do that than get any closer to those people at all. ¡°¡­ Noah,¡± Romuller called out quietly. Si Nan ran, but Romuller quickly moved to stop him. The instant when the two people connected, Si Nan shifted on the spot. Romuller didn¡¯t see what he did at all, only feeling a slight breeze brush past his arm. ¡ª This speed was truly nimble, Romuller thought. A familiar nimbleness that he had already witnessed for himself countless times before. Romuller narrowed his eyes. Lightning quick, he swept out with his leg. There was no way Si Nan would be able to dodge it, and at the same time, Romuller reached out, about to grab his neck¡ª However, right then, it was as though Si Nan was aided by the heavens. With a crisp slap, he caught Romuller¡¯s arm, spinning himself around it. Romuller quickly realised what he was about to do, and surprised, he paused. In the next instant, a blade was pressed to his throat. Si Nan was concealed entirely behind him, facing the female Alpha and driver who had caught up, shouting, ¡°Stop there!¡± The two people froze at the same time. They exchanged a look with Romuller, and the atmosphere became very tense. Romuller shook his head very slightly, stopping his two subordinates from moving forward. ¡°Noah.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan was holding the dagger in a reverse grip with his right hand, pressing it against Romuller¡¯s throat and forcing him to retreat with him, step by step. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be able to run anymore,¡± Romuller said. Si Nan blinked repeatedly, forcing himself to remain conscious despite the gradually increasing effects of the sedative weighing down on him. He did not notice the complexity of the tone behind those words, how they felt as though the person speaking was unable to put his feelings into words. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to run anymore,¡± Romuller again repeated. He sounded as though he was speaking to himself, as though he was swearing an oath to himself. Si Nan¡¯s dagger was right on his throat, and he said hoarsely, ¡°Shut up! Who are you people? What are you doing here?¡± Romuller said, ¡°Your temperature is very high¡­ You have a fever.¡± The tiles under his feet suddenly shattered. Si Nan¡¯s legs buckled. His calf, which had been grazed by the tranquiliser dart, had finally turned completely numb. His leg was no longer able to bear his weight, and in extreme dizziness, he stumbled. All I wanted was to steal a can to eat¡­ Si Nan thought groggily. As expected, one should never do such sneaky and thieving things. Si Nan¡¯s hand, which had been holding the dagger against Romuller, relaxed a little and it seemed he wanted to use what little was left of his energy to escape alone. However, he had overestimated his resistance towards the tranquiliser, and a few seconds later, he staggered, falling. Before his knees could land on the ground, he was caught by two arms wrapping around him. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan mumbled a curse, but it could not be heard clearly. Next, his body turned limp. Under the effects of the sedative, temporarily, he had finally entered a sleep that had no hunger, regret and disappointment. *** ¡°His systolic blood pressure is 79, diastolic 40, temperature is 39.5¡ãC.¡± ¡°Give him an injection of nutrients.¡± The door to one of the terraces opened, and the chilling afternoon breeze roared through. The female Alpha and the driver both looked up, only to see Romuller crossing the threshold, signalling at them expressionless. The signal was for them to get out. The two subordinates stood up with tacit understanding, leaving the room. The door was once again closed. Romuller walked to the bed, gazing at his prey that he had just caught from above. The house, facing north, was against the sun. In the gloomy and snowy winter, it seemed even darker and wetter. The bed was narrow and low, and the prey should not feel very comfortable in it. Romuller¡¯s eyes fell between his brows, and as expected, there was a tiny wrinkle there, as though the prey was very, very unhappy despite being unconscious. However, as he lay there, unaware of everything, it seemed as though his body was enveloped in a soft and ethereal light, giving an extraordinarily charming air to the plain and dilapidated room, as well as the old and narrow windows. This was not the first time Romuller had this feeling. He exhaled, finally sitting down by the bedside, bending his neck and carefully studying the familiar face in front of him. Again, he confirmed where that gleam came from ¡ª it was too pale. Just like a beautiful, snow white slab of marble that had been polished over and over again, with the baptism of time and age, it still remained as smooth and bright as new. In a world that was ageing and changing, it still gave off an innocent and bitingly cold luster. Why? He thought mockingly, this was clearly a monster. His mother was a slut, who after getting married and giving birth, still enthralled his father so powerfully to the point where he was infatuated with her. He too was a reformed monster, who had been born with abilities beyond what was normal or common. Romuller reached out slowly, but his hand never made contact. With a distance the width of a finger, he drew his fingers across Si Nan¡¯s unconscious face. He could still remember, when he was very young, he had once sat in the garden filled with rage and jealousy, waiting for the car driving ¡°that woman¡± to go past. He wanted to see what that face, despite the passage of time and basically unforgettable to his father, looked like. He had already forgotten the exact shape and appearance of that woman¡¯s facial features, but the moment he saw it for himself, that astounding charm, a twisted disgust was born right there and then, deeply engraved within his heart. That was a beauty that symbolised an inauspicious attraction, and a premonition of a tragic fate. As for this younger brother in name only that appeared later, it was exactly the same. At first, he had thought about murdering this weak child more than once ¡ª in the gorgeous and luxurious manor, achieving this goal was actually an easy feat. However, during one dark night, with a servant covering for him, he slipped into Noah¡¯s bedroom and watched this adopted brother of his. Just as he was deliberating over whether he should choke him to death or strangle him, he suddenly seemed to notice a light that was difficult to see coming from him. Just like warm water flowing past porcelain, it exuded an intriguing tenderness and softness. Perhaps it was the scattered light from the fountain in the garden, or it was an illusion caused by the cold moonlight. ¡ª That was a monster, he told himself. He decided that he would personally strangle this little monster to death himself. He placed his hands on the other¡¯s thin neck, but Noah awoke with alarm. He started to struggle, to scream, and in the fight, sounds of collisions were heard. The housekeeper and the other servants were woken up, and his father rushed over, putting an end to the murder attempt. That was an incident that happened when he was eleven, and Noah was six. From that day onwards, he had never been able to come close to an unguarded Noah deep in sleep, like how he was like today. As long as he came close, Noah would wake up, as though the murder attempt of a child many years past had left a deep imprint in his subconscious. Even if he was dreaming, any disturbance was enough to alert his sensitive nerves. Finally, Romuller¡¯s finger descended, brushing against the tightly shut eyes. Those eyelashes were so dense and dark, like the feathers of a crow. However, calluses caused by frequent usage of guns would not allow them to feel something so slight and imperceptible. Still, Romuller¡¯s breath caught a little, and he slowly leant down. Where there was less than two inches before their breaths would mingle, Si Nan abruptly opened his eyes. Romuller froze. Their eyes held for a few seconds, then Romuller smiled, sitting up straight. ¡°Noah.¡± The effects of the sedative were still coursing through Si Nan¡¯s body. Si Nan¡¯s unfocused eyes gradually sharpened as he looked at Romuller, a clear and unconcealed vigilance appearing in them. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± ¡°Do you remember who I am?¡± Romuller studied his expression. ¡°Oh, seems like there was a side effect, after all.¡± Si Nan was a little dazed. His fever had yet to recede, and his chest heaved in discomfort. ¡°Just now, when I saw you lying here, I remember that year when you just entered the secret military base in Florida¡­¡± Romuller seemed not to be bothered that the other party could not understand, and gave a short laugh, uncaring about anything else. ¡°At that time, I had been there for a number of years already, and one night, on a whim, I went to your room to take a look while making my rounds of the dormitory.¡± ¡°You were sleeping so soundly, even snoring a little. However, when I drew closer to your bed, and had yet to even place my foot down firmly, you woke up suddenly. It seemed as though that at any moment, you were on guard against me sneaking in, that I would do you harm.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan¡¯s dry throat finally managed to make a sound. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ what you¡¯re talking about¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Romuller said, ¡°in any case, it has already been so many years, and I just wanted to let you know. That night, I didn¡¯t come to murder you.¡± He seemed to find it very interesting, and started chuckling. However, this expression of friendliness that was normal for others, on his dignified face, inexplicably made Si Nan feel a prickle of disgust. Unconsciously, he shifted away in his bed, and his protruding carpal bone in his wrist was caught in a handcuff. Romuller did not mind this action of his. Romuller picked up a jar of maple syrup from the bedside, slowly opening the lid. Under Si Nan¡¯s abrupt attention, he pulled out a spoonful of golden, sticky syrup. ¡°You know why you fell sick?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Because you don¡¯t have enough sugar. Your reformed body requires a large amount of sugar, if not it will quickly weaken. Both your metabolism and respiration will be affected, and if severe, you might¡­ you might even die.¡± ¡°During this period of time, whether you had been hiding alone, or with others,¡± Romuller gave a mocking smile, ¡°the other party clearly did not provide you even the most basic care.¡± Si Nan said hoarsely, ¡°¡­ They will come looking for me.¡± Romuller seemed to have heard a joke. ¡°Oh? Back to the city teeming with a million zombies just to look for you?¡± It was as though Si Nan had been savagely stabbed, and he fell silent. Romuller put the jar of maple syrup down, his right hand steadily raising that sweetly scented spoonful, and his left thumb lightly massaged Si Nan¡¯s temple. ¡°Noah.¡± Si Nan did not make a sound. ¡°Kiss me. Kiss me just once. Just like how you kissed that special forces soldier, that Zhou fellow, that year.¡± Romuller even used a somewhat warm voice to tempt him. ¡°Do it, and this entire jar will be yours, alright?¡± A slight look of surprise appeared between Si Nan¡¯s brows, as though he had heard something that had made him confused ¡ª however, he quickly glanced at Romuller, disgust evident in his eyes. Pressing his dry and cracked thin lips together, he swiftly turned his head away, facing the wall within and shut his eyes. There was not an ounce of hesitation or indecision. Romuller seemed to have already anticipated this. Not only did he not fly into rage, his smile deepened further. ¡°Good¡­ Very good.¡± He casually threw away the spoonful of maple syrup, reaching back and pulling out a gleaming, silver suitcase. Opening it, he took out some instruments and cables, wrapping two wires of red and blue around Si Nan¡¯s handcuffed wrists that had no way of struggling. Si Nan seemed to feel something. His eyes flew open, and his body jerked up! ¡ª The electroshock device! In that moment, the confused details of the dream all came back to him. That blond hair, blue-eyed, hateful young man in that laboratory, merged together with the face right in front of him. They were the same person! Romuller held Si Nan¡¯s throat with one head, firmly pressing him back onto the bed. From above, he looked at Si Nan¡¯s eyes that were extraordinarily bright due to his hatred, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the freezer you carried with you after the crash?¡± Si Nan did not know what he was talking about at all. He pressed his lips together firmly. ¡°Where is it?¡± There was still no response. ¡°Right from the start, I knew¡­¡± Romuller nodded slowly, inhaling with a self-mocking expression, ¡°as expected, sentimentality does not suit you.¡± Just as he finished speaking, he gritted his teeth, and decisively pressed a button on the electroshock device. Chapter 42 TLC: AlexPT Edited by Beth The door was pushed open and Romuller nodded his head towards his armed subordinates standing guard on the front porch, ¡°Jane.¡± The female Alpha responded and looked back at him, but noticed her chief commander¡¯s expression looked horrific; a large portion of his shirt was drenched in sweat, the edges of his pupils cloudy¡ª it was a sign that he couldn¡¯t hold back his emotions any longer. ¡°Chief, you¡­¡± ¡°Truth serum.¡± Jane was extremely suspicious, but quickly controlled the expressions on her face, retrieved the truth serum and handed it over. ÂÞçѶû·´ÊÖ˦ÉÏÁËÃÅ¡£ Romuller swung the door shut and locked it behind him. Si Nan¡¯s whole body looked like it had just been fished out of cold waters, dripping-wet hair slicked onto his snow white face, the blue veins on his arms and neck strained visibly against his skin, even his tightly shut eyelids had light traces of the terrifying blue lines. But it was useless, Romuller knew, he had already built up an immunity towards the electric shocks. Romuller forced out the air in the syringe, grabbed one of his arms, gritted his teeth and injected the whole serum into him. The truth serum was prepared before he came to China, but based on past experiences, the serum could not force out the finer details of information from the user, there was a certain margin of error. Even worse, sometimes the truth serum couldn¡¯t make the user immediately recall all the answers from memory, and it would only begin taking effect slowly within a week¡¯s time; in other words, it¡¯s not a very convenient tool of interrogation. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he had no other option, he wouldn¡¯t plan to ever use this method either. Si Nan began struggling in his daze, his efforts making the cuffs clank with every movement, but was firmly pressed into place by Romuller. ¡°Where are the finalised antibodies?¡± He held Si Nan¡¯s sweat drenched jaw in his hand, not allowing him to turn away in pain, ¡°After you jumped from the plane, that sub-zero briefcase you had with you, where are the finalised antibodies inside?¡± Si Nan whined, his eyelids lifted a little, but he couldn¡¯t see anything clearly at all. ¡°Did you inject yourself with it?¡± Romuller asked over and over again in English, forcing him to look at him, ¡°Did you use up the antibodies?¡± Antibodies¡­ Finalised antibodies¡­ Si Nan gasped, as if he were floating in the middle of the deep ocean, the boundless ocean with no end in sight that had cut off all sounds, from his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, to every pore on his body, it seeped into him, squeezing all his organs and intestines into a ball. ¡°There are no antibodies,¡± he heard a delicate female voice speaking slowly. In his haze he was suddenly very young, the twelve apostles depicted on the stained glass windows of the church appeared in his eyes, if he wanted to look up any further, he¡¯d have to crane his neck all the way back in order to see the white sculpture of a cross that stood up straight towards the ceilings. The woman dressed in a black veil held his hand, and stood in front of a black pine coffin. The priest asked, ¡°Have you thought about it, madam?¡± ¡°I dragged him back from the pits of hell, but failed to fully bring him back to humanity. He¡¯s not alive, and he¡¯s not dead anymore. He paces back and forth in my lab, day by day, as seasons come and go, crying and sobbing with loneliness and hatred¡­¡± Tears fell down her sweet and beautiful face, and dripped onto the white flower adorned on her chest. ¡°Pandora¡¯s box has been opened, catastrophe, pestilence, famine and agony have flown out in manic glee, and in the end it spread across the land right before winter fell, before spring arrived, it destroyed the entire world.¡± ¡°I am powerless to stop it, there is no cure in this world that can save everything, I can only seal the box closed with my own two hands¡­¡± The woman walked forward, and received a black wooden box from the priests hands, retrieved a turquoise test tube two fingers wide after opening the box and placed it on top of the lid of the coffin, and then removed a torch that burned brightly with vigour from the walls. Young Si Nan took half a step back in fear. Under the light of the blazing fire, the test tube that glowed green seemed like the fang of a venomous snake, emitting a mesmerizing and yet deadly light. ¡°¡­The punishment that mankind received for stealing the heavenly fire, will be scattered to ashes under the roaring fire¡­¡± Suddenly the door was thrown open and the woman looked back in shock as bullets tore through the air, the torch was hit and sent flying far away from her hands. Soldiers poured into the church, crying sounds and curses drowned out everything. Si Nan tripped and fell amidst the throng of people running for their lives, soldiers seized them like tigers and wolves would their prey, and snatched away the test tube from the woman¡¯s hands. ¡°Reporting, reporting, successfully retrieved the virus specimen¡­¡± ¡°Run!¡± The woman¡¯s sorrowful shouts echoed through the chaos, ¡°Quickly, run¡ª!¡± And then the following scenes overlapped messily in his memories, creating countless bizarre hallucinatory images. Si Nan only remembered that the ground wouldn¡¯t stop rumbling, and that it was actually he himself that was stumbling backwards; the last scene he saw before he completely lost consciousness, was that of a soldier opening the freezer case, in the midst of the cold white haze that dissipated into the air, he carefully placed the turquoise test tube inside. It was clearly just a minor detail, but he didn¡¯t know why that scene would remain so clearly embedded in his mind after all those years, even in his faded memories it remained so blindingly vivid¡ª On the cover of the sub-zero briefcase, embossed was an expressionless eagle, with its wings spread wide open. *** Above the lab, a white eagle was carved into the steel ceiling. The last drop of turquoise green liquid was injected into his spine, and after a few minutes of complete silence, under the watchful eyes of the audience, the dead person¡¯s body began convulsing, and it made a deep and rumbling roar from the bottom of its chest. The room rang with applause, the researchers congratulated each other, there were people hugging, but suddenly there was a shocked scream¡ªthe dead person stumbled to the ground, grabbed a researcher closest to it and bit into his ankle! There were anguished screaming and struggling, fresh blood splattered in all directions, and following that, were the erratic sound of footsteps running for their lives. Si Nan stood behind the glass window at the top of the lab, and looked down on this group of people who slammed and punched at the doors repeatedly, crying in despair. The undead threw away the remains of a corpse that was more than halfway bitten to shreds, propped itself up on the floor, it crawled towards them step by step, dragging behind its body a long trail of black blood. Si Nan raised his gun, but didn¡¯t make any other moves for a long time, until the glass reflected the silhouette of someone that walked up behind him, ¡°Noah.¡° Si Nan pulled down on the trigger. It whizzed lightly through the air, and the head of the zombie exploded only two to three steps away from the crowd of frightened people, brain fluids splattered across the ground. ¡°What were you doing just now?¡± that person asked coldly. Si Nan did not answer, instead turned around and threw away the empty gun, fixed his cuffs and walked outside. However in the instant they brushed shoulders, Romuller violently grabbed the collar of his shirt, and slammed him heavily into the glass wall, staring down into his cold eyes at close distance: ¡°You were obviously able to shoot it dead the moment you realised the experiment went wrong, why didn¡¯t you do anything?¡± Si Nan didn¡¯t make a sound. ¡°You were purposely looking right as the researcher was bitten to death, because when you were younger you had been punished by him,¡± Romuller said lightly, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± They looked eye to eye for quite some time, and the corners of Si Nan¡¯s mouth slightly curled upwards. The colour of his lips were pale, if it were someone who didn¡¯t know him and they just gave a cursory glance over him, they would feel that the smile looked really good, even giving off a hint of gentleness. ¡°You destroyed the reports I submitted to request for a closure of all experiments and the destruction of the virus, didn¡¯t you?¡± The corners of Romuller¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Si Nan cut off his explanation before he could say anything, his voice that was tinted with a hint of hoarseness actually sounded rather good, if one ignored the blatant mockery behind his words, ¡°After all, it¡¯s the last time.¡± Si Nan got out of his hold, and walked towards the large door, Romuller looked at the straight back of his silhouette and shouted, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, Noah! ¡®Pandora¡¯s Virus¡¯ is a groundbreaking advancement for humanity that will help us achieve longevity and resurrect the dead, from this day onwards there will be no god, humans can achieve immortality!¡± Si Nan did not look back. ¡°Your mother¡¯s experiment failed because she didn¡¯t manage to decode the last genome of the virus -that, is the real key to the secret of immortality. Just like how the last object left inside of Pandora¡¯s box was Hope, today is the day that humans release it. As long as we persist, only can the last gene sequence be¡­¡± ¡°There is no such thing,¡± Si Nan said plainly, ¡°That is not hope.¡± Romuller crossed his arms and furrowed his brows, only to see Si Nan¡¯s face turn sideways to look at him. ¡ªFrom this angle, he actually looked a lot like his mother, there was a look on his face that words could not describe. ¡°The last thing left inside of the box is an unrealistic delusion, in the myth, it spread all over the passage to hell, the territory under Ajax.¡± ¡°Just like everything that you have done today, when Pandora¡¯s box is opened once again, the last gene sequence of the virus will send all of humanity to its grave, dragging the whole world with it into hell¡­¡± ¡°But that has nothing to do with me.¡± Si Nan paused for a moment, and smiled once more, ¡°I won¡¯t die, after all.¡± Romuller stood frozen in place, and watched as he left with unhurried footsteps. *** The lightning broke past the dark clouds, the rainstorm poured down, the gravestones scattered in the cemetery were drenched wet in the rain, appearing as a salty dark gray colour. A helicopter began slowly descending amidst the loud thundering, a few casually dressed Chinese people were on the phone, and jumped into the sticky dirt stained cemetery, however Si Nan did not look back at them. He stood in front of the grave stone, his lips icy cold but soft, muttering an unknown passage, he kissed the brass pendant that hung in front of his chest, leaving the droplets of water to drip down his raincoat and bucket hat in streams. The light of the torchlight and footsteps drew closer to him, the footsteps amidst the showering sounds of rain were cautious and careful, and in the end someone cleared their throat and spoke in Chinese with a hoarse voice, ¡°Sir.¡± Si Nan gave no recognition of his words. The person diligently continued, ¡°According to the agreement, Mr. Guo had us send you something.¡± He stepped forward, footsteps kicking up mud and water, held in his hands was a white rose drenched wet in the rain. Si Nan stopped his prayers, and under the attention of the crowd he stood silently for a moment. Only then did he reach out to take the stalk of the rose, then bend down and place it into the dirt in front of the gravestone. This pre-arranged action made everyone simultaneously breathe a sigh of relief, the newcomer found it hard to contain his excitement, ¡°Hello, we tried for a long time, but we never had the chance to meet with you successfully. Mr. Guo has already completed all preparations, the people under the internal chief of the White Eagle base have already prepared for the follow-up¡­¡± Si Nan opened his mouth, and exceeding everyone¡¯s expectations, his Chinese was much more fluent that they originally thought: ¡°And the responder?¡± The visitor froze, and said, ¡°He will be Senior Guo¡¯s personal trusted aide.¡± Si Nan shook his head. Nobody knew what he meant, and for a moment the cemetery fell into silence, only the heavy rain that clouded over the skies rumbled on. The soldiers out of uniform exchanged glances amongst themselves, and waited for the moment to pass before hearing Si Nan slowly speak: ¡°Your esteemed country¡¯s military has a secret operations team with the highest security clearance, numbered 118, divided into 8 sub-units.¡± The other party quickly gave a response after a short moment of contemplation, ¡°Very well, keep talking.¡± However Si Nan didn¡¯t care whether he agreed or not, there wasn¡¯t a single difference in his unwavering tone of voice. ¡°In Squad 118 there¡¯s a captain surnamed Zhou, I request for this person to bring Vice President Guo¡¯s only grandson to meet me at the destination. If I don¡¯t see these two people when I get off the plane, I will immediately assume that my identity has been exposed and kill the responder, and leave with the target. If at any time during the meeting, the safety of I or the target is threatened in any way, as punishment, I will first kill Vice President Guo¡¯s grandson, and then leave.¡± ¡°There are billions of people on earth, you will never again find a trace of my whereabouts.¡± Si Nan turned around, rain boots stepping on murky waters, making squelching sounds. The special agent that took the lead spoke deeply, ¡°No problem, all of your requests will be granted and fulfilled, we will immediately relay this to Senior Guo.¡± Si Nan smiled, ¡°Your Senior Guo knows I don¡¯t trust anyone¡­¡± He walked out of the cemetery under the watchful eyes of the plain clothes officers, his plain voice fading out in the distance in the curtain of rain. ¡°¡­I only want the people I arranged for to come get me.¡± *** In the summer that year he was fifteen, in the tropical rainforest, the flora and fauna flourished densely, sunlight scattered spots of light into the wide and luscious viridian green leaves of the jungle. A young special forces soldier has his palms crossed, having fallen asleep cushioned in his own palms. His face was painted with dirt and war paint, but you could still make out his handsome face from the sharp brow line, straight nose bridge and angled features. A young man stepped over the ground covered full of softly fallen leaves. As he carefully tip-toed his way over and squatted down next to the special forces soldier, making no noise like a cat. He held his breath, the tip of his finger held an ant that he wanted to place on the tip of the special forces soldier¡¯s nose. In the instant right before he almost succeeded, the special forces soldier¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t open, but he flipped over and pounced on to the youth before the youth could react, pressing him beneath his body like a beast hunting its prey, and began tickling the youth¡¯s neck and armpits without a word of warning. ¡°Hahaha¡­.¡± The youth laughed so hard he couldn¡¯t catch a breath, scrambling to beg for mercy with flailing limbs, ¡°I was wrong, I was wrong, I¡¯ll compensate with a fruit¡­ hahaha!¡± The youth took out a ripe red berry from the pocket of his pants, but before he could say anything, the special forces soldier straightened up his body and retrieved an even bigger red fruit from his clothes pocket, and retorted as the youth stared in amazement, ¡°Who is it that wants to eat that, hn?¡± The bonfire burned fiercely, illuminating the flying bugs that constantly hovered around the pile of fire as well as the rest of the dense forest that surrounded the fire in a radius of several metres. The youth sat with his legs crossed next to the fire, lazily peeling off the skin of a fruit, and dragged out the syllables of his question: ¡°Why is the fruit that you picked sweeter than mine¡ª¡± His corner of soft lips had been dyed a healthy flush of red from the berry juice, the special forces soldier was walking around putting up the sleeping hammock while occasionally looking back at the youth, his unnoticed gaze staring at the side of his relaxed face unblinkingly, giving a cursory hum of reply, ¡°Who knows, I had to walk a few miles to find it, who told you to refuse to eat normal food.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m not eating energy paste.¡± ¡°Only you¡¯d be this picky.¡± The special forces soldier finished setting up the hammock, and tested how secure it was. The youth watched the soldier¡¯s busy figure from a comfortable spot, a hand supporting his head, ¡°Da-ge, you¡¯ve kept watch several nights in a row now, let me keep watch tonight¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯ll keep watch? What will you do if a wild animal comes and snatches you away?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just shout, then.¡± ¡°Shout what?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll shout hero! Save me! Save me¡ª¡± The special forces soldier laughed, and walked over to ruffle the youth¡¯s hair. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep in the hammock,¡± The youth next to the fire rolled over, talking with a mouth still biting the core of the fruit. ¡°Why, is it uncomfortable?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do about the cold.¡± The youth circled around the fire and agilely flipped his body, his movements appearing very agile and flexible, successfully avoiding the arms of the special forces soldier who wanted to carry him onto the hammock. ¡°Little student!¡± The special forces soldier had no choice, he held his forehead in his fingers and asked, ¡°What do you want to do, then?¡± Under the illumination of the flames, the youth rolled his eyes that were as clear and bright as glass beads, and smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll sit here and keep watch for the night, give me the gun, you just go and sleep.¡± Before he finished his sentence, the special forces soldier sat his butt down next to the bonfire, and waved him over, ¡°Come here,¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do magic tricks for you.¡± The youth came forward just a little and was then dragged into the soldier¡¯s arms, long legs dressed in camouflage cargo pants held onto the person firmly trapped in his embrace. He hadn¡¯t even the chance to struggle before he had been wrapped up in the warm military jacket, even his neck was stuffed tightly, not even a bit of breeze could blow in. ¡°Magic done,¡± the special forces soldier explained curtly, ¡°Sleep.¡± The back of the youths head was held firmly in place, his head leaned onto a broad and solid chest, he was a little dazed for a while. He could hear the other person¡¯s solid and thundering heartbeat, alongside the gentle sounds of the crackling bonfire, as well as the distant sounds of wind blowing through the forest. But the cold winds that whistled as it made its way through the jungle suddenly seemed so far away, as if it no longer had anything to do with him, the warm arms that surrounded him had cut off the icy cold, dangerous and lonely world. He carefully breathed in, in his nasal cavity was the pheromones of the young and exuberant alpha, mixed in with a hint of sweat. This was the first time in his life he¡¯s ever felt safe surrounded by these scents. ¡°¡­I haven¡¯t asked, what¡¯s your name.¡± The youth mumbled out a question in a state between wakefulness and slumber. The special soldier held the gun in one hand, cautiously scanning the dark forest that had danger in every corner in the night, ¡°Hm? Contestants and hostages revealing names to each other is against the rules.¡± ¡°Just tell me¡­¡± The special forces soldier pressed the youth back into his arms, helplessly, ¡°Sure sure sure¡­ don¡¯t you dare tell anyone else.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°¡­My last name¡¯s Zhou.¡± ¡°Zhou what?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Zhou one, Zhou two, Zhou three, Zhou four¡­¡±1 ¡°Zhou Rong!¡± The special forces soldier was annoyed to no end, and smacked the back of the youth¡¯s head as punishment, even if his movements were so gentle they could be considered careful, ¡°The Rong that means armed forces and horses2.¡± The young man finally displayed a semblance of satisfaction, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Next time you¡¯re in danger, just call for Rong-ge.¡± The special forces soldier paused for a second, his handsome face appeared as though it had flushed slightly redder in the light of the fire, and he quietly said, ¡°As long as you call Rong-ge¡­ no matter where you are, I¡¯ll save you.¡± No matter how far, I¡¯ll always come get you. Eleven years later, zombies invaded T city center. Si Nan caught hold of the hook from mid air, and was caught by the waist in an embrace by Zhou Rong, the motorcycle spun out of control behind him and crashed into the tide of zombies. The two held onto each other tightly amidst the deafening explosions that shook the earth, and stumbled into the military tank together. ¡°Last name Zhou, first name Rong from bing ge rong ma3. And you?¡± ¡ªNoah. My name is Noah. In the dim and dark apartment flat, Si Nan¡¯s brows were furrowed as he gasped hoarsely, painfully curling up his body littered full of electric shock scars, his cold sweat seeped through the layers and layers of bedding. Across high mountains and wide oceans, years since we last met¡­ Just like the promise you once made me, please come and get me again, one more time. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Edited by Beth 6.08am The third morning. Zhou Rong collapsed on the eaves of the roof. Just as the sun hit the horizon, the sky looking like a fish flipping over and revealing its belly, he exhaled a breath of white in exhaustion. He had twenty-one bullets left, along with four hand grenades, his combat knife, a dagger, an assault rifle, and a handgun. His stock of food and water had been completely depleted. Although he was pretty much at his limit, he had spent an entire two long nights in a city of zombies. Even Zhou Rong felt that there was a sort of unseen force blessing and protecting him. But, was Si Nan still alive? Zhou Rong looked out into the sea of zombies. Which corner, which crevice of this city was he exactly hiding in? He glanced at his watch. It had already been thirty-six hours since Si Nan disappeared. ¡ªWas he already disheartened, hopeless, or even¡­ dead? No, that wouldn¡¯t happen ¡ª although there was completely no evidence to suggest otherwise, for some reason, Zhou Rong felt that Si Nan wouldn¡¯t be killed so easily. The most likely situation was that he was unarmed and trapped somewhere, gradually losing confidence that Squad 118 would be turning back to retrieve him, so was hiding in some unknown corner wiping at his tears; otherwise he would be packing up, preparing to set forth and fight his way to the heliport in the city suburbs. Just hold on for a little while longer. Zhou Rong clenched his jaw, forcing himself to sit up. If after searching for forty-eight hours without any conclusion, Zhou Rong would take a gamble and head to the heliport. Realistically, it would definitely be a fruitless endeavour, but he still started the armoured vehicle, returning back to the city to continue his search. ¡°Hold on,¡± he murmured. It was unclear if the words were directed at himself, or towards the imaginary Si Nan smiling and waving at him. ¡°As long as we hold on, we¡¯ll be able to see each other again.¡± Zhou Rong tightened the bandage on his left thigh. When being chased into a dead end by a zombie horde, he had no choice but to escape by bounding from one tree to another. In the end, he had been pierced by a tree branch, leaving a wound that was even bigger than his palm. However, it was no longer bleeding. Left on the dirty and yellowed bandage was a dried, dark blood stain. It looked a little frightening, but fortunately it didn¡¯t really hinder his movements. Carrying a megaphone, Zhou Rong leapt down from the eaves, ignoring the zombies gathering nearby. He jumped from the treetops towards the street, and just as he was about to roar loudly, his feet came to a sudden stop. ¡ªOn a street corner, in the distance, there was someone with his back towards him, walking into a hardware store. That person was wearing a hoodie, and from his back, his figure was muscular. Zhou Rong eyed him for a while, thinking that this person might even be half a head taller than him. Furthermore, along with a height comparable to Yao Ming, this person even had the muscles of Mike Tyson. Despite such a distance, it still made one feel as though they were looking at a mountain moving along the ground. There were actually still people alive here? Zhou Rong pondered for a moment. He did not reveal himself, but followed behind noiselessly. *** ¡°¡­ Ahh¡­!¡± Romuller flipped over, holding Si Nan down. ¡°¡ªJane!¡± The female Alpha rushed swiftly into the room, pressing down on one of Si Nan¡¯s legs. She was entirely on the ground, her left hand on the edge of the bed, and the entire process was very practiced. It was as though in the past day and night, she had repeated this many times already. Si Nan¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. He was trying his best to curl up, as he moaned painfully. Romuller signalled for the female Alpha, Jane, to leave the room, then he sat across Si Nan¡¯s body, holding him down against all his struggles. Pinching his chin, he roared, ¡°Noah! Look at me!¡± Si Nan turned a deaf ear to him. ¡°Noah!¡± Romuller was right against his ear, shouting at him nonstop. The volume was loud enough to even wake the dead. It took quite a number of minutes before inhumane-like gasps and pants finally came slowly to a stop, and he opened his eyes groggily. ¡°Look at me!¡± Romuller yelled. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°What did you remember?¡± Romuller stared fixedly into his bloodshot eyes, enunciating his every word clearly. ¡°When at the White Eagle base, how did you get in contact with C Country¡¯s military? Where are the finalised antibodies? Tell me!¡± Si Nan moved his lips. However, having had no water or food for the past dozen or so hours, as well as the ongoing, forceful interrogation that had been happening, he was extremely exhausted, and it was difficult for him to even make a sound. Romuller mixed some maple syrup with water, returning and half-kneeled by his side. From his height, he commanded, ¡°Drink it.¡± Si Nan turned his head away. ¡°Drink it!¡± There was no response. ¡°It¡¯s just like the chocolate, right?¡± Romuller finally gave up, asking coldly. Si Nan completely had no intention of paying him any attention, and closed his eyes. This silent refusal, like an iron wall, caused Romuller to feel at a loss for what to do. He threw the glass of syrup water hard onto the ground, and shards of glass covered the floor. The humble room descended into silence. Cold wind whistled through the gaps in the window, and other than that, only Romuller¡¯s breathing, as he forced down his anger, could be heard. The suffocating stalemate lasted for a number of minutes. ¡°¡­ Fine, I¡¯ll admit it.¡± Romuller again opened his mouth. Surprisingly, he was not spewing in rage, and his tone could even be described as being calm and controlled. He said, ¡°Ok, I admit, I was wrong to have done the chocolate thing.¡± ¡ªIn Romuller¡¯s life, the number of times he had said that he was wrong could be counted with the fingers of one hand. Even his own father might not have heard it for the second time before. But Si Nan was unmoved. ¡°During your weakest period, I shouldn¡¯t have let you turn on the electroshock device yourself as punishment, and to use chocolate to bait you into doing so.¡± ¡°¡ªBut you know,¡± Romuller paused, before continuing stiffly, ¡°when bitten by a zombie during the test scenario, one would be punished. As soldiers who have gone through special training, both of us have experienced this before. Although the degree of the simulation you¡¯ve experienced was higher than anyone in the White Eagle base, and you believe that using food as bait is a sort of humiliation¡­¡± Si Nan did not react. ¡°Are you listening to me at all?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Romuller inhaled deeply, controlling his emotions. ¡°This childish stubbornness of yours is pointless, Noah. Just imagine, right now, you¡¯re about to die from hunger, and there¡¯s only a piece of chocolate in front of you. If you don¡¯t eat it, you¡¯ll die. Would you still insist on this sort of bland, ridiculous attitude towards me?¡± He never expected that Si Nan would actually open his eyes and turn back towards him, smiling slightly and saying, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡ªThe two words were so hoarse that they were almost imperceptible, but the slight curve of those lips was real. Romuller was dazed just looking at it. ¡°I¡¯ve long since started to eat chocolate already,¡± Si Nan said, making no secret of the malice in his smile, ¡°a couple of days ago, someone gave me some, and I ate one big chunk.¡± Romuller completely had no idea what he should say. He remained standing there, frozen. Si Nan sat on the ground, again resting his head against the edge of the bed. It seemed as though that sentence had used up all the energy he had. Romuller had always known that Noah¡¯s true character had an exceedingly extreme and puzzling side to him. If he had to make a comparison between him and ordinary people, on some points, he was very much like a child, and it was the very childish and vengeful type of child. He hated others, and he hated himself. When he could no longer endure his hunger, because of a bait, a temptation ¡ª chocolate had become his greatest need, and he was thus willing to accept Romuller¡¯s condition, starting the electroshock device himself, enduring the double torture of the physical pain and the mental humiliation. But after that, he would also develop PTSD from it, and from then on, he rejected chocolate in all its forms, even vomiting reflexively when eating such things. Romuller had observed that his vomiting was similar to some eating disorders. During its earliest stage, it was a punishment he gave himself, a self-loathing that made him behave that way. However, not too long later, it became true PTSD, and on one occasion, he completely could not even touch anything that was chocolate flavoured. ¡ªStubbornness, self-controlled, and fixated. Upon believing in something, he would constantly strengthen his own thought process of it, carving it deeply into his brain, forming a catalyst for instinctive behaviour. This sort of character would usually never change. Romuller completely didn¡¯t expect that there would come a day where this so-called younger brother of his would overcome that trauma ¡ª if he wasn¡¯t lying. Somewhere deep inside Romuller¡¯s heart twitched. He seemed to want to test it out, only to falter. A moment later, with a complicated feeling, he coughed. Pulling down the zipper of his jacket, he revealed a corner of the scarf inside. ¡°¡­ Noah.¡± ¡°Look at this, Noah.¡± He pinched Si Nan¡¯s chin, forcing him to turn towards him. However, this time, his actions were deliberately a lot gentler. ¡°Do you still remember this?¡± That was a very ordinary, dark grey, wool scarf. There were no prints on it, and it was very thin. Due to its age, the edges were already frayed, and it actually was not very compatible with the upper class air that exuded from Romuller. Si Nan shot a glance at it. ¡°That year, when my mother passed away, I flew from New York to Los Angeles to attend her funeral. At that time, you were present too,¡± Romuller said slowly, ¡°after the funeral, I walked into the forest alone. It was raining then. You suddenly walked over, and handed me this scarf¡­¡± ¡°¡®Aren¡¯t you cold like this?¡¯ That was what you asked me then. And my response was to swing my hand, flinging the scarf away, angrily rebuking you, asking you to scram. You did not say anything more, only looking at me for a while before turning away and walking out of the forest.¡± Many years later, Romuller could still clearly recall all the details of that memory, including his younger brother¡¯s pale face, how he was wrapped up in a black coat, his extremely dewy eyelashes due to the drizzle, as well as the arc of his clothes swirling in the air as he silently turned away and left. As for why the memory was so deeply imprinted in him, it was because that was the first time ever, that Noah had used such a gentle attitude and spoke to him on his own initiative. However, that was also the last time. As such, never again did Romuller have the chance to confirm his notion that twisted about in his brain countless times ¡ª at that time, if he had responded with a completely different attitude, would things have all turned out differently? ¡°The next day, before I left Los Angeles, I returned to that forest. Picking up your scarf, I kept it all the way until now.¡± Romuller removed the scarf from his neck, staring straight into Si Nan¡¯s calm and unruffled eyes. ¡°This time, before coming to China, I brought it along with me purposely, as I know that an unprecedented disaster had already started, and humankind may soon be wiped out from earth. Then, today, when we¡¯ve reunited during the apocalypse, with regards to many things that had ended before they could even start, is there still a chance that we can return to the time before everything began, and redo everything again?¡± ¡°¡ªIf you agree, tell me where the finalised antibodies are,¡± Romuller spoke quietly, almost in a whisper, ¡°Once the vaccine is developed, humankind will build the final security fortress, and both of us can be among the first batch of people to enter it¡­ I guarantee, all the painful past will forever only be memories, and I¡¯ll let you live a very good life, the sort that you could not even imagine in the past, and live well.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± he said solemnly, ¡°as long as you trust me.¡± After a long period of silence, Si Nan said quietly, ¡°I¡¯ve never trusted you ever.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Romuller paused, and asked in return, ¡°But just like chocolate, something that you thought you would carry with you until the end, ultimately, also changed, didn¡¯t it?¡± Si Nan lifted up his right hand that had not been cuffed. Using two fingers, he stroked the edge of the scarf that had frayed due to wear and tear. Romuller looked at him, his eyes full of encouragement. In them, there was even a trace of hungry anticipation that he himself had yet to discover. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan gave a sudden small smile. Although that smile was very weak, it was undeniably peculiar, and promptly, he let go, shaking his head. ¡°What?¡± Romuller could not help asking. ¡°I don¡¯t remember anymore,¡± Si Nan said as he smiled, ¡°but I¡¯m not the sort of person that will do something like this, especially towards you. So, it¡¯s either you¡¯re lying¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Si Nan said lazily. ¡°Then that should have been me wanting to take the opportunity of you being alone, and strangling you with the scarf, only to be mistaken by you.¡± Romuller stood up immediately, his complexion switching between red and green. Still, before he could say anything, Si Nan¡¯s final words successfully lit up the fuse to his rage. ¡°You¡¯re flattering yourself too much, ¡®gege¡¯,¡± Si Nan said sympathetically, ¡°Just like how your father behaved towards my mother¡­ even until her death, she had never even looked straight at him once.¡± A sharp growl, slightly offkey, suddenly came from the room. ¡°Jane!¡± The female Alpha quickly pushed the door open to see her superior standing by the bed. When he turned around, his pupils had turned into a terrifying clouded grey. ¡°The truth serum.¡± He gnashed his teeth, his fury making his every word chilling. ¡°¡­ Bring all the truth serum here!¡± *** Abbas casually shot at the few half-rotting zombies in the alley, killing them. Carrying a cardboard box, he stepped into the yard, only to see his female comrade standing under the pagoda tree with her arms crossed. Behind the tightly shut door came the sounds of something hitting the floor, as well as things being rummaged and thrown about. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Jane took the cigarette away from her lips. ¡°Anything good?¡± Abbas silently put the cardboard box down, taking out the items inside one by one. Batteries, knives, hardware parts, half a bottle of engine oil, half a bottle of baijiu. Jane picked up the bottle of baijiu, throwing her head back and gulping some down. Clicking her tongue, she said, ¡°This place is not ideal, the goods at the southern coast are a lot more plentiful. Seen anyone alive?¡± Abbas shook his head. Jane suddenly shot a look behind him, calling out sharply, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Abbas jerked his head back, and the two people simultaneously gazed at the top of the wall that had been covered by the trees. For a few seconds, there was no movement at all, then the trees suddenly shook a little. A black shadow shrieked sharply, scrambling across the top of the wall ¡ª it was a skinny and ragged grey cat. ¡°Just a little thing,¡± Jane mocked. It was unclear if she was referring to the cat or the person inside the house. Gloomily, Abbas asked, ¡°When you just entered White Eagle, this was not what you said when you were being trained by him.¡± Jane laughed, ¡°So, don¡¯t you feel very satisfied to see this sort of person being tortured now?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Especially for an instructor like him, harsh and cruel, always holding himself aloof, never looking straight at anyone¡­ to torture someone like this, it would definitely be very stimulating.¡± Abbas thought about it. Before he could respond, the door opened. Wrapped in an air of violence, Romuller strode up, not looking at his two subordinates that had snapped to attention. ¡°To the north.¡± Jane had yet to make the connection. ¡°What?¡± ¡°The plane had crashed in the north,¡± Romuller said coldly, ¡°he must have dumped the things there. Abbas, get him into the car, and prepare to depart.¡± The subordinate that seemed to have been cast from metal immediately acknowledged the order. With his head bowed, he entered the house. A moment later, when he exited, on his shoulder was an unconscious, motionless figure. From a corner of the wall, behind the shelter of the trees, Zhou Rong¡¯s pupils constricted without a sound. ¡ªAlthough he had a vague premonition along the way, to see it personally, it still felt as though a needle had pierced right into his heart in that instant, stabbing him and leaving him bleeding and spasming. That was Si Nan. Si Nan would never approach unknown Alphas, not to mention being caught easily. Zhou Rong could almost imagine the scene then ¡ª a hungry and thirsty Si Nan, after hearing the sound of a vehicle drawing nearer, thinking that it was Squad 118 returning to rescue him, and happily ran out from his hiding spot, waving and shouting at the vehicle. However, when he discovered that the other party had no good intentions, it was already too late. Not only did the other side have three well-trained Alphas, they were even armed with loaded guns¡­ Zhou Rong forcefully suppressed his heated, scorching breaths, clutching the wall tightly. His fingernails dug deeply into the wall, leaving four very distinctive marks on the old bricks, as traces of blood seeped out from the seams of his nails. Now, what was he going to do? Noiselessly, Zhou Rong landed on the ground, swiftly moving over to the turn next to the gate of the yard. He was entirely hidden behind the wall, and behind his rifle sight, he studied the three Alphas. Two males and one female. For some reason, that man who gave the command vaguely left him with a sense of familiarity, but right now, Zhou Rong had no time to think about it. If he were to fire under the current conditions, Zhou Rong was certain that with his capability, he could kill this man in one shot, or at least cause his target to lose his ability to move. However, the other party still had two reserve forces with him, and what if he grabbed Si Nan as a shield? They had a car, and once they fled with it, it would be difficult to catch up with them again. At that time, what would they do to Si Nan?! The muzzle of the gun shifted slightly, and the target in the sight now changed over to the muscular man carrying Si Nan. Zhou Rong narrowed his eyes. If he were to fire at this man, Si Nan would have a chance to free himself from his restraints, and quickly flee. However, from this angle, it seemed like Si Nan was not moving at all, and it was possible that he had already lost consciousness¡­ Calm down, Zhou Rong told himself, calm down. He had worked in a department of the country where the political examination was the strictest, and the security level the highest. He had once been the bodyguard of the top leader of the country, and he too had been responsible for the safety of many foreign guests who were the head of state of their own countries. He had experienced many dangerous situations, and had achieved many meritorious deeds. With regards to his professionalism, Zhou Rong¡¯s official error rate had always been zero. ¡ªNever had he been like now, feeling a trace of uncontrollable anxiety and rage creeping over his entire self. Zhou Rong shifted his gun towards the left, aiming right at Romuller¡¯s leg, his finger on the trigger. ¡ªBut right at this moment, the female Alpha suddenly shouted, ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Zhou Rong turned his head. From his unconscious state, Si Nan suddenly spasmed, he gave a beast-like, terrifying growl, and flipped onto the ground! He had not eaten anything for nearly forty-eight hours already, and all his systems were extremely weak. However, the force in this struggle of his was so strong that even Abbas could not defend against it. Taken by surprise, he let Si Nan fall to the ground, urgently yelling, ¡°Quick, come help!¡± Romuller and Jane shot forward. Abbas grabbed Si Nan¡¯s arm, throwing him, and the sound of his elbow dislocating was heard clearly. Still, it was as though Si Nan had lost the ability to feel pain, and even such an acute pain did not slow him down in the slightest. In the blink of an eye, he actually twisted his elbow backwards, leaping up and kicking Abbas¡¯s back, and his other elbow slammed viciously into his opponent¡¯s spine! Abbas roared in pain, instantly throwing Si Nan to the ground¡ª It was this instant, when Zhou Rong pulled his trigger thrice. The first bullet slammed into Abbas¡¯ calf, and with a loud crash the muscular man knelt onto the ground; The second bullet hit the female Alpha¡¯s shoulder. Before she could even place her finger on the trigger of her gun, it flew out of her hand; The third bullet was in mid-air, when Romuller turned around, quick as lightning, and fired a shotgun towards Zhou Rong¡¯s hiding spot! Zhou Rong avoided it deftly, and the impact caused part of the brick wall to shatter into fragments and dust! ¡°Over there!¡± Romuller shouted, using rapid firepower to suppress Zhou Rong, causing him to be unable to return fire. With large strides, he walked towards the wall! ¡°Commander!¡± Jane¡¯s ear-piercing scream rang out. ¡°Come back! He¡¯s lost control!¡± They saw Si Nan standing up, swaying. His pupils were extremely dilated, the veins running through his eyes a dark red. With his ashen face, he looked just like a frenzied zombie. Shifting his elbow that had been twisted into a strange position, with a loud crack, it returned to position, and he stared fixedly at Abbas. A rattle emitted slowly from his chest ¡ª that sound was like a groan of an animal on the verge of death, its mind confused and frenzied. Kill them all, a voice repeated constantly in his mind. Everyone had all transformed into zombies, their faces vague and indistinct. The hallucinations from the overdosing of truth serum flashed across his vision ceaselessly, and there was no way Si Nan could see who was in front of him clearly. Kill them all. Anything that moves is a zombie, kill them all. In that moment, Abbas could even feel a chill running down his spine. Dragging his leg, he withdrew a couple of steps, only to see Si Nan rushing towards him. There was no time for him to dodge at all, and with a punch, he fell onto his back! The female Alpha cursed loudly. Holding onto her injured shoulder, she ran towards Si Nan. Zhou Rong leapt up the wall. Under the hail of bullets, he jumped, shoving Romuller down to the ground. During that moment, all the bullets shot past right by his carotid artery, and the two people simultaneously hit each other¡¯s gun away from the other. Spraying its bullets, the AK47 flew up into the air, and in the very next moment, craters appeared on the ground as well as the brick wall! Zhou Rong pressed an elbow to Romuller¡¯s throat, shouting, ¡°Si Nan!¡± Si Nan lifted his head. Right at that critical moment, Zhou Rong saw his eyes, and his heart sank. Si Nan¡¯s eyes were unfocused, his veins bulging. He was so thin that he barely looked human, and his appearance was even more terrifying than how he looked like at the construction site, even giving off a bloodthirstiness of the living dead. ¡ªSi Nan could not recognise him. His eyes, directed towards Zhou Rong, held no difference from when he was looking at the other three Alphas, or even when he was looking at the zombies. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Edited by Beth ¡°Si Nan.¡± Zhou Rong¡¯s voice trembled. He promptly shot a glance at Abbas, catching sight of him enduring the pain and moving towards them, his leg dragging behind him. Doing his utmost best to reach his gun, Zhou Rong yelled, ¡°Run! Quick, run away!¡± ¡ª He was holding Romuller down, but he had no gun in his hand. In this critical moment, he could only ask Si Nan to run away quickly. Even if Zhou Rong had to spend another three days and three nights searching for him in this city fraught with danger, he could not just let Si Nan stand there blankly and be gunned down! However, Si Nan continued staring straight at Zhou Rong, as though he did not recognise him. He neither ran away, nor did he even move. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s you.¡± Romuller spat suddenly, gritting his teeth. Zhou Rong frowned. Romuller sat up, swinging his fists and flipping Zhou Rong over. The two people rolled across the ground, fighting, their fists slamming into the other person¡¯s body. Almost every punch landed accurately at their weak points, and in an instant, the situation was now a deadlock. ¡°Fucking hell, why is it you again?!¡± Romuller shouted. He reached out, grabbing Zhou Rong¡¯s throat! Romuller¡¯s fighting style was surprisingly the same as Si Nan¡¯s ¡ª cunning, swift, and a strong emphasis on skill and technique. However, as an Alpha, he had much more muscle than Si Nan, and it could be seen that he was in a different weight category than the other female and male Alphas. This was slightly beyond Zhou Rong¡¯s expectations. With two hands, Zhou Rong gripped Romuller¡¯s hand that was around his throat. Twisting it deftly, at the same time, he raised his knee and gave him a flying kick, throwing the man off his body¡ª There was half a ton¡¯s worth of strength in Zhou Rong¡¯s lower body, and Romuller flew backwards, over a distance of ten metres. With a loud crash, the brick wall crumbled behind him, and Romuller spat out a mouthful of blood! Bang bang bang! Gunshots rang in his ears. Instantly, Zhou Rong¡¯s blood ran cold. He had no time to pay attention to Romuller, who was still lying on the ground, choking up blood, but immediately rolled across the ground and picked up his gun, the tip of his brow twitching violently. He saw that Si Nan had actually not run away at all, but was now entangled in a fight with Abbas. Compared to this Alpha that towered over two metres, Si Nan looked just like a thin and fragile youth. However, despite his current confused mental state, he was still able to release unimaginably explosive strength, and grabbing Abbas¡¯ hand that was holding the gun, he pulled the trigger. Bullets sprayed out like a storm, shattering and pulverising the windows, and the branches of the trees shook wildly in the aftermath. Hiding behind the corner of the wall, the female Alpha cursed. Struggling, she lifted her gun, the barrel aimed at Si Nan. From behind the wall, she had only exposed a tiny bit of herself, a target that was no bigger than the size of a housefly. However, with Zhou Rong¡¯s insane accuracy, a bullet was shot at her wrist, and the female Alpha yelled in pain! There was only one bullet left. Zhou Rong was well aware of that. He aimed his gun at Abbas, but through the sight, Si Nan¡¯s raging figure kept flashing past. For a while, he dared not pull the trigger, and suddenly felt a movement behind him. Twisting, he dodged, and simultaneously, bullets kicked up dirt on the ground from where he was previously standing! It was Romuller! Zhou Rong swore at him loudly. While falling onto the ground, at the same time, he pulled the trigger. The last bullet shot out from the chamber, creating a beautiful arc through the barrage of bullets from the AK47. Like a poisonous tooth, it pierced Romuller¡¯s stomach, and a spray of blood appeared! Pressing his hands to his gunshot wound, Romuller dropped to the ground. Zhou Rong roared, ¡°Si Nan!¡± The moment the fury of the bullets stopped, Si Nan forcefully grabbed Abbas¡¯ machine gun from his hands. The latter kicked him flat onto the ground, his fist the size of an enormous bowl slamming into Si Nan, causing foamy blood to spray out from his mouth. Before a second punch could land, Zhou Rong was already there. Yanking at Abbas¡¯ hair, he threw him to the ground, and swung at him with his fists! The muscular man yelled out, covering his head and struggling non-stop. However, Zhou Rong did not give him any moment of respite at all. With fists that were like steel cannonballs, his first punch broke Abbas¡¯ nose, his second shattered Abbas¡¯ teeth, and his third had actually caused his chest to cave in! Zhou Rong stood up, kicking Abbas over with one foot. His handsome face was filled with a savage fury, and in his eyes were the murderous, icy gaze of an Alpha wolf. Exhaling, he tried his best to change his expression, then turned around. Si Nan had already stood up. Withdrawing a few steps, his back was plastered right up against the wall around the yard, and his body seemed slightly bowed ¨C Zhou Rong immediately recognised the cause. It was not the result of a long period of starvation and the injuries after a fight, causing him to be unable to stand straight. But a trapped beast, gathering its last shreds of energy just before attacking, filled with vigilance and hate. Zhou Rong shook his head slowly, spreading his palms apart, gesturing for Si Nan to look at his empty hands. ¡°Si Nan.¡± Si Nan did not make a sound, narrowing his eyes warily. ¡°Come here, Si Nan. I won¡¯t harm you.¡± Zhou Rong took half a step forward, his voice vibrating in the air. ¡°Rong-ge did not abandon you. Look, I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡± *** The zombie has taken a step forward, Si Nan thought. He tried his best to close his eyes, then opened them again. The madness overwhelming his brain, caused by the overdose of the truth serum, had caused the scene in front of him to appear bizarre and grotesque. ¨C It was as though he had returned to a time when he was very young, and he was in a training simulation, where he could not leave if he did not kill all the zombies. Behind the wall was a zombie, on the ground was a zombie, in the ruins a distance away was a zombie. Here, this blurry face, holding its hands out to him¡­ was also a zombie. Kill them all, a voice in his brain urged him anxiously, causing a headache to split through him. Kill them all, or you¡¯ll be electrocuted. Kill them all. Behind them, a chuckle mingled with a cough, suddenly sounded. ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s no use. Just look at him¡­¡± ¡°When he¡¯s out of control, he doesn¡¯t recognise anyone. In his eyes, we¡¯re all zombies¡­ get it?¡± Leaning against the ruins of the wall, Romuller gasped out, mocking them, ¡°It¡¯s a reflexive hallucination caused by severe stimulation to his brain. Even if his mother comes, there¡¯s no use. He will only kill everyone¡­ every zombie¡­¡± His words ended in a fit of coughs. Zhou Rong shouted, ¡°What did you guys do to him?!¡± Romuller did not answer. He adjusted his position, exhaling painfully, his breath tinged with blood. ¡°Your last name is Zhou, right?¡± ¡°¡­ Who are you?¡± Zhou Rong narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Without responding, Romuller turned his eyes towards Si Nan, as he started to laugh maliciously. ¡°You¡¯re overestimating yourself.¡± Coughing and panting, Romuller sneered. ¡°Go, go there. In his eyes, you¡¯re the most dangerous zombie here¡­ he will personally kill you. If you don¡¯t believe me, just go there and see for yourself.¡± Panting, Si Nan retreated again. However, he was already tucked into the corner of the wall, and if he were to withdraw any further, he could only press his back even tighter against it. It really hurts, he murmured to himself. ¡­ I¡¯m really in a lot of pain. The extreme hunger had already transformed into pain, tearing through his internal organs. The injuries caused by the electrocution and beating were like needles and thorns, torturing every nerve ending in his body. Still, that robotic, icy, emotionless voice he had heard countless times since he was a child did not let him off. Like maggots, it scurried through his bones, emitting a terrifying light from every crack and joint, whipping him to the point where his body was covered with lashes. Kill him. Kill him. Kill them all. Or you¡¯ll be punished. Kill them all. ¡­¡­ From Si Nan¡¯s chest, a sharp hissing sound, as though something was leaking, could be heard. He hurried to cover his ears, but to no avail. From a distance not far away, that zombie took another step forward. It seemed to be shouting something, and it was going to come up and eat it. But I¡¯m really in a lot of pain, Si Nan thought groggily. Please, I beg all of you¡­ I really can¡¯t fight anymore¡­ ¡°¡­ Si¡­ Nan¡­¡± ¡°Si Nan¡­¡± In his subconscious, another voice appeared. Faint, it seemed as though it was right by his ear, but suddenly, it was again far away, drifting along with the wind. Unknowingly, Si Nan put his hands down, his brain completely blank, and he stood there, right where he was. A zombie, whose face could not be seen clearly, had already made its way right up to him. ¡°¡­ Rong-ge is here¡­ to pick you up¡­ Si Nan¡­¡± Si Nan shook his head, not knowing what the words meant. His mind was in chaos, and he used all of what was left of his strength to push that zombie away. In his struggle, the back of his head, along with his elbows, collided harshly into the cement wall behind him. Painful thuds could be heard, but Si Nan could not feel any pain at all. There was not a single bit of pain. He could not feel anything at all. ¨C It was as though in this pain-riddled body, at the very last moment, fate was finally willing to show it a little shred of kindness, sparing him from the heartrending pain. Si Nan sank down to his knees, trying his best to move backwards. Even he himself knew how tragic he looked at this moment. However, that persistent zombie in front of him would not let him go despite so. It grabbed his shoulders, bowing its head down. In a trance, Si Nan knew he was about to be bitten. He would be torn apart alive by those rotting teeth, watch as his skin split apart, his flesh rendered, his blood spilling forth, his muscles and veins ripped through like rotten meat, and he could even see his own bone marrow burst out from the breaking of his bones. Next, he would be electrocuted, or perhaps he would die. He would rise above the collapsed spire of the church, and through the murky sky, he would rise up to the heavens, where there would no longer be any hunger, loneliness and pain. Si Nan¡¯s body convulsed, and he curled up his body. The zombie was already leaning into his ear. However, the expected warmth and iciness from blood spilling out of his body did not come, and in his confused mind, that soft, dreamy voice gradually became clearer. ¡°Look at¡­ Look at me¡­¡± ¡°Si xiao-Nan, do you not recognise Rong-ge anymore? ¡­¡± Rong-ge. Everything Si Nan saw was in double. Distorted lines and disorganised shadows switched around, as though his brain was on heroin, and everything was transformed into a pulsing light. Still, in the drowning confusion and clamour, something seemed to be revealed, gradually becoming clearly. Rong-ge. Zhou Rong. ¡°¡­ Rong-ge did not abandon you¡­¡± ¡°Look at me¡­¡± ¡ª In the haziness, Si Nan felt a heat upon his hand. It was like a boiling drop of water, hitting his palm, so painful that he shrank into himself. ¡°¡­ Rong-ge has come to pick you up. Look at me, Si xiao-Nan¡­¡± In the serene forest night, the bonfire was blazing and glowing. There was someone by his ear, whispering softly, ¡°Call Rong-ge, and no matter how far I am, I¡¯ll come and save you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Rong, the Rong from armed forces and horses.¡± ¡°Si¨C xiao¨C Nan¨C! Rong-ge has come to pick all of you up!¡± ¡°Sorry, Rong-ge shouldn¡¯t have yelled at you¡­ Here, I brought you chocolate.¡± Countless scenes and images spun around in Si Nan¡¯s head, scattering down like snow, smoothing out the disorder and chaos in his mind. Exhausted, Si Nan panted tiredly. His gaze was unfocused and blank, and he stared at the ¡°zombie¡± kneeling in front of him. The two people were so very close, close enough to see each other¡¯s faces clearly. ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan murmured, ¡°Rong-ge.¡± He did not know what he was saying, nor could he recognise this familiar face that was crying in front of him. However, from this two short syllables, he gained a warm and powerful sort of comfort, as well as a calming strength. ¡°Rong-ge,¡± he repeated quietly. Under all the disbelieving eyes, Si Nan reached out, holding out his soft and unguarded palm, which was caught tightly by Zhou Rong. The next instant, like hiding into a safe place in his dreams, Si Nan buried his face and tucked his exhausted body into Zhou Rong¡¯s embrace. *** Romuller¡¯s eyes widened swiftly in disbelief, and his face could be described as ashen ¨C this was impossible! How could this be possible?! Once Noah entered such a reflexive hallucinating state, he would only treat every moving thing around him as zombies, and attack them without any differentiation, to the point where one party would be completely annihilated. This was an instinct that had been developed through thousands and thousands of electric shocks since he was six years old. Even if he forgot how to breathe, he would never forget this. This instinct was something that could not be rid of even when his mother died in front of his eyes! Then what about now?! Why was he not attacking?! In his hallucinating stage, was he willing to be bitten to death by this ¡°Zombie¡± Zhou?! Romuller shook his head in horror, only able to watch as Zhou Rong wrapped Si Nan within his arms. The man kissed a corner of the forehead that was smeared with blood and grime, patting his skinny back, quietly consoling him. A moment later, Si Nan¡¯s convulsions and tremors gradually stopped, and Zhou Rong kissed his ear, lifting him up with just one arm. Romuller pressed a hand against the gunshot wound on his abdomen, his other hand clenched tightly in a trembling fist. Zhou Rong did not even give them a glance. He walked out of the yard, kicking away a zombie that had been making its way towards them. Carrying Si Nan into a blue and white SUV, he turned and wanted to get into the driver seat from the other door. However, Si Nan was unwilling to part from Zhou Rong, grabbing onto his sleeve tightly and refusing to let go. Zhou Rong softly coaxed him a few times, but seeing how Si Nan was shaking his head, refusing to listen, he gave up. The man carried Si Nan out from the passenger seat, and instead the two of them moved into the driver seat together. Zombies were slowly moving towards them. In the distance, the alleys seemed to be heaving, and they were all filled with the living dead. The SUV made a turn, driving into the yard, and the window wound down. From his height, Zhou Rong stared down at Romuller, asking, ¡°Who exactly are you guys?¡± Romuller answered darkly, ¡°You¡¯re Zhou Rong, right?¡± ¡°Yo~ when did I become this popular?¡± Zhou Rong chuckled carelessly. ¡°Why, do you want an autograph?¡± The unique shuffling sounds of the zombie were gradually drawing closer, but Romuller did not have a trace of fear about his impending death. His body, covered in blood, leant against the ruins of the brick wall. Through the window, he could see Si Nan huddling into Zhou Rong, his head buried into the crook of Zhou Rong¡¯s neck. He looked just like an exhausted little animal, covered in blood and a murderous air, who had finally found its den after enduring all this while. An acrid hate swelled up within Romuller¡¯s heart, and he gave a small sneer. ¡°No, Zhou Rong,¡± he said indifferently, ¡°it¡¯s good to see that you¡¯re still alive. Take good care of this life of yours¡­ Soon, we¡¯ll meet again.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhou Rong mocked him. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± More and more zombies were gathering, obstructing the entire alley. Zhou Rong no longer spoke to a person that was about to die. The SUV reversed, turned, and the wheels shrieked loudly on the ground. He threw out his final words, ¡°Thank you for your supplies!¡± Zhou Rong slammed his foot down on the accelerator. The engine roared, and the SUV flew out. Romuller stared at the trail of dust left by the SUV, narrowing his eyes slightly. With his high brow bones and his deep-set eyes, along with his tall and straight nose, he looked like the ideal Aryan. Due to his elite military training, his body was powerful and muscular, and Alphas with such appearances were very popular in the western world. However, right now, his expression was so peculiar that it made one tremble with fear. The zombies were swarming over, slowly pressing closer to the yard. Romuller coughed out a mouthful of blood, then from his shirt, he pulled out a sealed syringe. Yanking the cap off with his teeth, he injected all of the light red fluid into his arm. Then he tossed it away. The syringe drew an arc in the air, shattering at the feet of the first zombie who managed to squeeze into the yard. *** The SUV jolted continuously as it progressed forward, crushing the zombies in front on its way. Finally, as a hand grenade exploded, spewing smoke in the air, the SUV sped along an endless road. Zhou Rong had a hand on the steering wheel, and his other arm was wrapped around Si Nan¡¯s groggy body. Gently, he patted his shoulder. ¡°Si xiao Nan?¡± Curling into himself, Si Nan did not respond. Zhou Rong stepped on the brakes. He then turned around and rummaged through the backseat, casually tossing away the random personal belongings of the three Alphas out of the window, then found a jar of maple syrup tucked in a corner. There should be more medical supplies in the trunk, but right now, Zhou Rong had no way of searching through it carefully. He twisted the jar open, then rubbed Si Nan¡¯s pale face with his thumb, softly asking, ¡°Drink some, alright?¡± Si Nan did not even have the energy to open his eyes. Smelling the scent of the maple syrup, he turned his head away with great difficulty. His refusal could not be anymore obvious, but at this moment, Zhou Rong could not allow him his inexplicable pickiness with food. Kissing his hair, Zhou Rong coaxed him, ¡°Be good.¡± He then drank a mouthful of the maple syrup himself, and pressed his mouth against Si Nan¡¯s. With coaxing licks of his tongue, he tried to persuade him to part his tightly sealed lips. For some reason, Si Nan was extremely resistant towards the taste of the maple syrup. However, a moment later, his cold lips and tongue seemed to gradually warm up with the aid of Zhou Rong¡¯s breath. His jaws relaxed slightly, and a tiny, soft slit parted between his lips. 48 hours after landing in the city of zombies. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes turned slightly bloodshot. Staring at Si Nan¡¯s calm and sleeping side profile, he again gave him another gentle, cloying, honey sweet kiss. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Edited by Beth Standing on the viaduct, Zhou Rong carried Si Nan with one arm, his other hand holding onto a pair of binoculars, and the corner of his lips was twitching slightly. In one night, the highway towards the airport was now bustling with activity. As far as the eye could see, it was all zombies. The sea of zombies spread all the way to the commercial airport in the distance, and their numbers could be counted in the tens of thousands. Unless they grew wings, there would be no possibility for them to make their way through this terrifying zombie horde, to steal another helicopter. ¡°We have to head south now.¡± Zhou Rong caressed Si Nan¡¯s face. Very knightly, he sought his opinion. ¡°Does Comrade xiao-Si have any objections?¡± Si Nan still remained in his semi-conscious state, groggily wrapping his arms around Zhou Rong¡¯s neck. Zhou Rong said in satisfaction, ¡°Very good, our plan of action has been agreed on unanimously¡­ Rong-ge is very democratic.¡± There were even more supplies than Zhou Rong had expected in the SUV, so much so that he was a little astonished. If they were to head south at a standard speed, the supply of food in this vehicle was enough to last them all the way until Nanhai, and even the picky Comrade xiao-Si would have no objection about it. Zhou Rong folded down the backseat, forming a nest with the woollen blankets. Carefully, he placed Si Nan on top, and then undid his shirt to look at his injuries. Si Nan was covered in tiny wounds and injuries, so many that it was nearly countless. On his abdomen and limbs were some soft tissue injuries, and it could not be seen if they were caused by torture or fighting. His wrists and elbows were in even worse states, where one could hardly bear to look at them. Zhou Rong recognised that they were marks and injuries formed by electric shocks, and momentarily, his anger rose to its very limits. Why did they have to torture and abuse him? What sort of people would carry electroshock devices in an apocalyptic world such as this? Zhou Rong poured water onto a towel, warming it up with his own body heat, before wiping Si Nan¡¯s body bit by bit. His actions were so gentle that it seemed as though he was touching a piece of velvet. In his semi-conscious state, Si Nan was very obliging. He was too exhausted, and even as the towel went past his throat, his heart, and other vulnerable parts of the body, he only symbolically shifted away from the touch a couple of times. After being tucked into Zhou Rong¡¯s arms, he stopped his wordless complaints. The sky gradually darkened, and in the dim interior of the vehicle, Si Nan¡¯s pale skin was as smooth as ivory. Due to having a lack of hydration and electrolytes over the past two days, his already thin yet sharp figure had become even skinnier. Doing a general estimation, Zhou Rong felt that right now, his arm would be able to make one full circle around Si Nan¡¯s waist, and his body could not help but slowly heat up. ¡°Little Classmate Si xiao-Nan¡­¡± Zhou Rong hummed softly, switching to a clean towel. He carefully wiped Si Nan¡¯s face and hair clean, then kissed his brows in satisfaction. ¡°Mn. Our Si xiao-Nan is a good student who loves cleanliness, isn¡¯t he?¡± Groggily, Si Nan said, ¡°Mn.¡± Zhou Rong, after all, was a strong, virile Alpha bursting with testosterones. If this was under normal circumstances, and if he had a little less training, waking up the next morning, even when against the bed board, he would think of rutting. Although ever since the explosion of the virus, he had been kept constantly on the run, once there was time to relax, he would definitely have wet dreams at night. To make it worse, Comrade xiao-Si was extremely clingy. Despite his semi-conscious state, he refused to let go of his grip on Zhou Rong. During the few seconds when Zhou Rong was changing the towels, Si Nan would even grumble quietly in dissatisfaction, the murmurs and moans causing heat to rush up towards Zhou Rong¡¯s head. ¡°Do you miss Rong-ge?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°Is Rong-ge handsome?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± Zhou Rong kissed the corner of his lips repeatedly, as he could not be any more satisfied. He praised Si Nan, ¡°Good boy, our Comrade xiao-Si is very handsome too¡­ As long as he stops disappearing, he would be even more handsome.¡± In the warm interior of the SUV, the sweet and fragrant scent of an Omega¡¯s pheromones gradually wafted through the air, so stimulating that Zhou Rong hardened periodically, and he could not help but want to ravage and conquer. Taking a deep breath, he bit forcefully at an extremely soft and tender spot on the back of Si Nan¡¯s neck, but he did not dare to actually break the skin. Then, he yanked up the blanket and braced himself, rolling Si Nan up within it, and felt that right now, he was so noble that he could replace Liu Xiahui1 as the paragon of virtue. However, the sleepy Si Nan was not grateful towards Zhou Xiahui at all. When he was being wrapped up, he even struggled a little. With his eyes shut, he looked a little unhappy. Zhou Rong stretched out, rummaging through the trunk. He wanted to find something easily digestible to feed Si Nan, and suddenly saw a backpack in the corner. He did not turn the interior lights on, afraid that the light would attract zombies towards them. Holding the torch with his teeth, he opened the backpack, only to see two guns that had been disassembled, bullets, daggers, batteries, gloves and other items. There were also some identification documents, and there was no need to mention that the name and birthday on it were false. Zhou Rong glanced at the caucasian face on the documents, and the vague sense of familiarity became more evident. With the torch, he carefully studied the photo. He came to a sudden realisation, recognising where the sense of familiarity came from ¡ª he did see an extremely similar face in the past before. The ex vice president of Country A! Before he had been dispatched to 118, this person had once come on a diplomatic visit! There were too many people on earth who looked alike. Together with the fading of memories over the years, Zhou Rong did not dare to decisively confirm his own judgement. However, in the light cast by the torch, he started recalling even more things, like that secret missive from Country A in the communications office of B Military Zone, how the person signing it had the same last name as the ex vice president of Country A. Searching for a missing wanted man by the military, an Omega of mixed blood, to strictly avoid using any provoking methods to bring him back to his senses, so as to prevent causing unnecessary deaths¡­ In horror, Zhou Rong looked at Si Nan. The latter was currently curled up within his blankets. He seemed a little fretful in his sleep, his brows slightly furrowed. Could there be something so coincidental in the world? But if they were searching for Si Nan¡­ Over the oceans and thousands of miles, and dangers lurked everywhere in this apocalyptic world. What did Si Nan have that they would chase after despite having to risk their lives? Zhou Rong found a few bags of high protein chocolate powder. It was a high-calorie food substitute used by the military in field missions. Mixing it with water into a gruel, he placed Si Nan¡¯s head on his thigh, and carefully fed it to him spoonful by spoonful. Si Nan was very resistant towards such paste-like food, and he had a hard time feeding it to him. Almost every mouthful had to be accompanied by all sorts of coaxing and lying before he would swallow it, and after a few spoons, Si Nan refused to eat anymore. With no other choice, Zhou Rong could only lift him up. Smacking his buttocks as a form of punishment, he then finished that sweet, chocolatey gruel himself. There were various types of ship biscuits in the trunk as well. With the torch between his teeth, Zhou Rong rummaged through the supplies for a while, feeling deeply dissatisfied with how uncreative Country A¡¯s military was with their food. Finally, he managed to dig out half a box of biscuits with dried meat floss, and it was as though he had found treasure. ¡°Very good, Comrade xiao-Si. In the future, this will be your personal snack box,¡± Zhou Rong murmured. He threw the jar of maple syrup, chocolates, milk powder and other similar items into the biscuit box, then took out a marker and scrawled, ¡°Personal Property of Si Nan¡±, on the cardboard box. Fortunately, Si Nan seemed much more accepting of the sticky, pasty texture of the maple syrup, and intermittently, he managed to finish half a bowl. From the individual rations, Zhou Rong took out the dehydrated cake. It was about the size of a dried beancurd, and he fed it all to Si Nan. Seeing how Si Nan¡¯s lips had turned slightly red from eating, Zhou Rong was very satisfied. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Through the blankets, he held the roll of Si Nan in his arms, asking softly. Si Nan seemed to have regained a shred of consciousness. He nodded almost imperceptibly, ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°Are you from Country A?¡± ¡°¡­ Mn.¡± Zhou Rong thought about it. Weighing it over, he asked, ¡°They¡­ Those three people, why did they capture you?¡± Si Nan¡¯s brows creased. His subconscious seemed to be experiencing some form of painful memory, and he struggled a little. ¡°Why did they capture you? Did you bring something with you?¡± Si Nan turned his head away aggressively, his struggling and twisting about becoming more evident. Zhou Rong could no longer hold him with just one arm, and he trapped him firmly with both hands on his own thigh. However, he saw how Si Nan became more and more anxious, how his chest started heaving quicker, and next, a weak but sharp exhalation could be heard. He was wheezing! ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine¡­¡± Seeing that Si Nan¡¯s condition was not right, Zhou Rong immediately pulled him into his arms, patting his hair and back energetically. He repeated continuously, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s Rong-ge¡¯s fault. I won¡¯t ask anymore¡­ It¡¯s fine, don¡¯t be afraid¡­¡± After some time, Si Nan¡¯s struggles gradually ceased. Lying limply in the crook of Zhou Rong¡¯s arms, he was still frowning deeply. ¡°Rong-ge is wrong, I won¡¯t ask anymore, alright?¡± Zhou Rong brushed his stubble across Si Nan¡¯s icy face, to the point where Si Nan shifted away unhappily. Exhaling, Zhou Rong dared not ask anymore questions related to this matter. Still, that warm body was still clinging tightly to him. In the serene environment of the vehicle, even their heartbeats could be heard clearly. After a moment, a desire again scratched at Zhou Rong¡¯s heart, and he could not help but cough. ¡°Si xiao-Nan?¡± Si Nan was still dozing away. ¡°Do you like Rong-ge?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± Before Zhou Rong¡¯s heart could even start pounding violently, he was stunned by this clear, crisp, and unhesitant response. He sucked in a breath in delight, then with no good intentions, he asked, ¡°Do you like Yan Hao?¡± This was too much, he was taking advantage of others¡¯ misfortunes. If Yan Hao was here, he would most likely rush over and beat him up. This time, Si Nan hesitated for a few seconds. ¡°¡­ Mn.¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°?!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Thoughts churning in Zhou Rong¡¯s head, he asked, ¡°Do you like Chuncao?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°¡­ What about Guo Weixiang?¡± ¡°Mn.¡± ¡°Then Ding Shi?!¡± ¡°Mn.¡± Zhou Rong wailed indignantly, ¡°Stop giving so many ¡®mns¡¯! You have to be more specific!¡± Si Nan made a few sounds of protest. It probably meant that he did not want to be specific. Like a wolf that had its food snatched away from it while still eating, Zhou Rong sat there, scratching his ear. Abruptly, his forehead wrinkled, and an idea came upon him, and he changed his way of questioning. ¡°Then, among all of us, is Rong-ge the one you like the most?¡± Si Nan shifted about, even looking a little shy. Quietly, he said, ¡°Mn.¡± Flowers bloomed, and firecrackers burst. Extremely satisfied, Zhou Rong felt that a golden path had appeared in front of him. He was about to reach the peak of holding a wedding, receiving the wedding gifts, exchanging wine with his partner, and entering the bridal chamber. Tilting his head back, he chuckled out loud and pinched Si Nan¡¯s thin face. ¡°Very good, Rong-ge likes you too. Rong-ge likes you the most.¡± He then pressed a kiss on the corner of Si Nan¡¯s forehead. Stepping on the accelerator, he started driving, and in the darkness of the night, he headed towards the next town. *** At the end of the twelfth lunar month, the weather was chilly, and the sources of water had frozen over. Zhou Rong drove through the night, only daring to rest a little during the day. He carefully identified the traces of the zombie horde, trying his best to choose roads that were empty with steep terrains. Slowly and safely, they made their way to the south. All the towns and villages along the way had transformed into ruins in the spanse of a night. Far away from everything, the northern wind whistled through the air. From where they stood, the village in the distance was silent and empty, and the wild grass in the fields were all blown in one direction. Indistinctly, figures the size of ants could be seen slowly moving through the fields. They were zombies. One gloomy noon, Zhou Rong parked the SUV halfway up the mountain. After forming a barricade both in front and behind the vehicle, he locked its doors. Tucking the unconscious Si Nan comfortably on his thigh, he leant against the steering wheel, taking a nap. Not too long later, he was alarmed into waking up by some tiny movements. Opening his eyes, he saw that Si Nan had actually woken up. He was still curled up in his lap, but was struggling non-stop, and he seemed very uncomfortable. These days, Zhou Rong had become very used to kissing, hugging and nuzzling him. Casually, he pressed kisses to his eyelids. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Si Nan immediately looked up at him, his eyelashes drawing a clear arc in the air. It could be seen clearly from his eyes how troubled he was, as though he was asking Zhou Rong why he was randomly kissing him. ¡°!!¡± Zhou Rong immediately came to a realisation, telling himself silently that this was no good. However, he did not reveal the slightest bit of guilt, but frankly met Si Nan¡¯s eyes. With the warmth and love of spring in his expression, he asked, ¡°You¡¯re awake? Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan was still very groggy. He shut his eyes, before opening them again the next moment. With an exhausted and hoarse voice, he said, ¡°¡­ It¡¯s warm¡­¡± Zhou Rong touched his palm, confirming that he was very warm, and thus pulled the blanket open a little. ¡°What about now?¡± Si Nan shifted up a little, resting his neck even more comfortably on Zhou Rong¡¯s firm and muscular thigh. This time, he said, ¡°Water.¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± Captain Zhou was suffering greatly. Due to the slight change in their positions, right now, Si Nan¡¯s face was almost right against his crotch, and the Alpha¡¯s heated desire once again seethed and rushed up to his head. ¡°Comrade xiao-Si.¡± Zhou Rong fed him two mouthfuls of water. When he saw Si Nan turn his head away, refusing more, he then bent his head down, asking sincerely, ¡°Can we have a solemn and serious talk about our current positions?¡± Si Nan shut his eyes, his breaths soft but steady. Comrade xiao-Si clearly did not wish to speak. Again, Zhou Rong descended into a cycle he had been continuously experiencing over the past few days, the cycle of hardening ¡ª softening ¡ª hardening again ¡ª softening ¡ª hardening again. He sprawled back into his driver¡¯s seat, feeling that the sensitivity of that area had increased by a few hundred times. Through his thick uniform pants, he could still feel the warm breaths of the Omega right against his organ. Let me do this crime, he thought in despair. Comrade xiao-Si likes me very much. Perhaps, after doing this crime, he might like me even more? After the unexpected, short moment of awakening that afternoon, Si Nan¡¯s occurrences of waking up gradually increased. The next day, when Zhou Rong fed him some dehydrated vegetables mixed with luncheon meat, he even hazily called out ¡°Rong-ge¡±. On the third morning, as he was leaning against Zhou Rong¡¯s shoulder, sleeping, he woke up suddenly as the vehicle jolted. Softly, like a newborn kitten, he asked, ¡°¡­ Where are we going?¡± With a cigarette between his lips, Zhou Rong said mournfully, ¡°We¡¯re getting a room.¡± With how profound Chinese was, Si Nan¡¯s level of understanding clearly had yet to reach that level, and so he gave a puzzled ¡°oh¡±. Zhou Rong was actually telling the truth, that they were going to get a room. Before the night fell, he found a two-storey concrete house belonging to a team of forest rangers. The amenities were all available, but it had been a long time since anyone lived there. The corners were all filled with dust, and in the kitchen was half a tank of gas and some pots and pans. Skilfully, he parked the SUV such that it blocked the entrance to others, becoming a firm and solid barricade. The car door was faced right towards the exit of the house, such that they could immediately flee if there were any surprises. Then, after spending half a day cleaning up, tidying the bed, and heating up some water, there was a pot of delicious smelling vegetable and meat porridge simmering on the stove. ¡°Si xiao-Nan?¡± Crouching by the bed, Zhou Rong pinched Si Nan¡¯s cheeks that were flushed from sleeping. Gently, yet sternly, he lectured him, ¡°Tonight, we¡¯re ushering out the old and welcoming in the new. Be good, we both have to shower, or we can¡¯t get rid of any bad luck.¡± Si Nan¡¯s steady and regulated breathing filled the air. ¡°If you still don¡¯t wake up, Rong-ge will wash you instead.¡± Zhou Rong waited for a moment, then mumbled to himself, ¡°It seems like you really want Rong-ge to wash you¡­ Alright then.¡± He carefully peeled the blanket back, removing Si Nan¡¯s jacket and shirt, before taking off his shoes. Then, preparing himself mentally, he repeatedly meditated on the Eight Virtues and Shames as well as the Twenty-Four Character Strategy of the republic. Only then did he remove Si Nan¡¯s pants. Trying his best not to look at the naked body in his arms, he carried Si Nan into the bathroom, placing him in the bathtub filled with warm water. Their journey had been full of hardships. To be able to have a warm bath right now, it was something that was so luxurious. Just as Si Nan lay in the bathtub, he groaned in pleasure. In his semi-conscious state, he hugged Zhou Rong¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t move around like this, the water is spilling out¡­¡± Sitting by the bathtub, Zhou Rong picked up the bar of soap, rubbing it disorderly against Si Nan¡¯s body that was gleaming with water. To him, this was a very difficult task, not because of the values and virtues of the republic, but because Si Nan himself was very uncooperative. Half asleep, he seemed to have extreme interest in Zhou Rong¡¯s hand, always struggling to hug it, and he ended up splashing water everywhere. Zhou Rong¡¯s upper half was drenched in water. It was very uncomfortable for his shirt to be plastered to his body like this, and he was somewhat frustrated. ¡°Comrade xiao-Si, please cooperate a little.¡± Zhou Rong tapped on the tip of his nose, speaking solemnly, ¡°If you continue like this, I¡¯m going to beat your backside.¡± A vague snorting sound could be heard from Comrade xiao-Si, and his damp hair clung onto his long and slender neck. Zhou Rong dared not look too closely, hurriedly turning his head away and muttering, ¡°I¡¯ll beat you later. Once you¡¯ve put on some clothes, I¡¯ll beat your backside.¡± The Omega¡¯s pheromones melded into the warm, humid air, causing Zhou Rong¡¯s heart to beat very quickly for no reason. He held his breath, leaving the bathroom and gulped down some ice water. His blood, running heated through his body, finally calmed down a little. He had to quickly finish this bath in one shot. Once he got through it, things would be fine. Zhou Rong made his decision. He removed his soaking wet shirt, his upper body now bare and he was only left in a pair of trousers. Opening the door, he entered the bathroom, and froze immediately. ¡ªDuring the few minutes that he stepped outside, Si Nan had woken up. Sitting in the warm water, Si Nan was a little muddle-headed from having just woken up. He looked down at himself, then lifted his head and looked at Zhou Rong, who had his powerful and sinuous muscles exposed. Stunned, he was lost in his thoughts. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Edited by Beth The bathroom descended into silence, and an inexplicable stifling sensation gradually arose with the steam. Si Nan was seated in the bathtub, the warm water lapping at his waist. Due to how flat his stomach was, faint mermaid lines on his abdomen could be seen, and his upper body was slightly hunched over. His wet hair clung to his temples, and his eyes were slightly narrowed. From his lower position, he looked up at Zhou Rong, and because of this, the corners of his eyes seemed extra sharp. Zhou Rong recognised this stance, and it had two meanings to it: Due to being naked, the Omega was hunching forward because of shyness; Or the soldier¡¯s body was tense, preparing to go on the offensive at any moment. According to his understanding of how Si Nan normally acted, it should be the latter. Zhou Rong said sincerely, ¡°If I say to you that I¡¯m only helping to bathe you, would you believe it?¡± After a long bout of silence, Si Nan said slowly, ¡°Out of courtesy, I¡¯ll believe it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Then, do you want to bathe together now, or¡­?¡± Of course, yes! Like a boiling dumpling, a roar bubbled up within Zhou Rong¡¯s mouth a few times, before he finally managed to swallow it back down with great difficulty. He retreated outside the door, saying politely, ¡°No, when you¡¯re done, just call me.¡± He then gently shut the door. Click. Si Nan maintained that taut position, slowly leaning back into the bathtub as the sounds of water splashing could be heard. His body was submerged in the hot water, the heat slowly seeping into his cold, hard and aching muscles, melting them, sending tingles through his nerves and bones. His entire body softened, and during the moment he regained consciousness, he felt something very mysterious within him¡­ something that he had never experienced before in his life, but vaguely, innately, he knew what it was. However, before he had time to think about it carefully, Zhou Rong had opened the door and entered, interrupting his thoughts. The Alpha pheromones wafting towards him instantly aggravated this change. When Zhou Rong opened his mouth, listening to his voice, Si Nan could even feel a certain part within his body suddenly become less tight. ¡ª this was not good. Si Nan shut his eyes, his back leaning on the cooling porcelain. In his mind, he swiftly tidied up the scattered memories of the past few days. By using the power of reasoning, he suppressed the peculiar feeling of his insides softening and becoming slick. Still, it was not very effective. In the rising fog, deep within his body, there seemed to be warm water slowly seeping through, feeling as though it was filling up his body, and almost about to spill out. As Si Nan tried to recall what Romuller and his group of idiots were trying to interrogate out of him, what constantly came to mind was surprisingly not the pain of getting electrocuted, but Zhou Rong¡¯s strong and powerful arms, as well as that little triangular piece of tanned skin that could be seen at his collar. The corners of Si Nan¡¯s mouth twitched. He dared not continue staying in the warm water. With water splashing everywhere, he stood, and roughly wiped his body dry. Zhou Rong had folded the clean clothes neatly and placed them on the shelf, like blocks of tofu. Si Nan changed into a clean shirt. Casually wiping the mirror, he saw how his face was flushed, and how limpid his eyes were. ¡°¡­ Done.¡± Cooking congee in the kitchen, Zhou Rong lifted his head upon hearing the voice. With his hands behind his back, Si Nan stood by the kitchen door. He stood tall and straight, his voice steady, and his expression calm. He looked just like a news broadcaster, but for some reason, the corners of his eyes seemed a little reddened. Although he was no longer that little sluggish Si Nan burrito wrapped up in his blanket, this image of his was also very handsome and good looking; a kind of cleanliness that made people yearn for it. In that instant, Zhou Rong felt a little ashamed for his despicable thoughts, and he gave a cough. Putting down the ladle, he smiled. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take a shower too. Watch over the congee, don¡¯t let it burn. There¡¯s salt and sugar on the shelf.¡± Si Nan did not respond. Zhou Rong walked out of the kitchen, brushing past Si Nan as he walked through the door. At that moment, he felt like Si Nan¡¯s eyes had swiftly slid across his collar. Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­?¡± Was he coveting my perfect figure, or did I just see wrongly? While opening the bathroom door, Zhou Rong could not help but turn his head back, only to see Si Nan moving calmly and peacefully towards the stove. He ladled up some vegetable and meat congee, blowing across it with complete focus. In the steam, only his elegant chin could be seen clearly. He must have seen incorrectly, Zhou Rong thought with no lack of regrets as he closed the bathroom door. Having suppressed himself almost to the point of explosion, Zhou Rong supported himself against the door. All he could think about were indescribable R-rated images. In the bathroom, where the warm wet air was mingled with honey-scented pheromones, he brought himself to climax twice with his hands, and only then did his nerves, that had been pushed to their very limits, finally cool down. Using cold water, he finished this combat shower of his, and walked out of the door in high spirits. Right then, he happened to see Si Nan standing in front of the stove, sneakily adding things into the congee. ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Rong asked loudly. ¡°The congee is already full of ingredients! Don¡¯t add anymore canned food into it!¡± Si Nan immediately turned around, hiding his hands behind his back. ¡°Alright.¡± He then licked his lips clean. Captain Zhou was entranced by his light pink lips, and did not raise enough of his vigilance at first sight. Zhou Rong went to the car and rummaged through the boot, digging out a packet of cookies from a corner. Opening the packet, he fed it to Si Nan, taking advantage of the opportunity to examine the shape and shine of Comrade xiao-Si¡¯s lips from a close distance. After that, he then mixed the dried onions and sauce from the individual combat rations and warmed up the mixture, before cooking it with the diced italian meatballs to be eaten together with the dried and hard pieces of bread. Without anything to do, Si Nan walked around the kitchen aimlessly. Zhou Rong tossed him the car keys, instructing, ¡°Go, go find something to drink in the car. See if there¡¯s any beer.¡± Si Nan followed his instructions. A moment later, he returned with a packet of instant powder drink. Pinching it between two fingers, he held it out to Zhou Rong. An isotonic, high protein, high fibre beverage. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s better than nothing,¡± Zhou Rong consoled himself. He then eyed Si Nan. ¡°Why is there only one? You don¡¯t want any?¡± Si Nan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s an auspicious day today, and it should be celebrated. How about having something to drink?¡± Si Nan said, ¡°No need, we¡¯ll leave it all for you.¡± The two people looked at each other for a long time. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes were very considerate, while Si Nan¡¯s face was filled with innocence. In the kitchen, only the gurgling sound of congee cooking could be heard. A moment later, Zhou Rong finally sighed, reaching out and wiping away the milk-white powder at the corners of Si Nan¡¯s lips. ¡°The milk powder is all yours, don¡¯t hide away and eat it dry. Be good, bring it here and mix it with water before drinking.¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± *** Si Nan continued loafing around, occasionally picking up a piece of bread, or Zhou Rong would feed him some meat sauce. When it was dinner time, he was nearly full. Zhou Rong had set up a dining table by the window on the second floor. He pulled open the curtains, revealing a sky full of stars. On the table were two piping hot pots ¡ª a congee made with luncheon meat, dehydrated vegetables and rice, as well as an onion and meat sauce with pieces of bread soaking in it. Each had a bowl and chopsticks. Zhou Rong had the high protein, high fibre drink, while Si Nan had the warm, sweet milk. The two people clinked their glasses. Zhou Rong cleared his throat, speaking solemnly, ¡°Today is a day worth commemorating. Our little fleeing 118 detachment force, after enduring four months of exile, has finally welcomed back an important time of family reunion, ushering out the old and in with the new ¡ª the new year.¡± Expressionlessly, Si Nan applauded. Zhou Rong took a mouthful of his beverage. ¡°The first toast, the organisation wishes that in this new year, Comrade Si xiao-Nan will grow up healthily, peacefully and may happiness be with you always.¡± Si Nan played along with him. ¡°The same goes for Rong-ge.¡± Zhou Rong patted his head, giving him a red packet ¡ª a small packet of raisins. ¡°The second toast, wishing that the currently absent members of Unit 118 Squad 6, Comrade Chuncao, Comrade Yan Hao, Comrade Ding Shi, as well as Comrade Guo Weixiang have already arrived at the Nanhai base, successfully completing the handover with the government. Also, here¡¯s to the seventeen comrades-in-arms who have already left us to go to heaven; we wish that everything is fine, and that they will be successfully rebirthed¡­ no, better wait for the apocalypse to be over before their rebirth.¡± Zhou Rong drank another mouthful, reciting the seventeen names according to their order of sacrifice. The last name was Zhang Yingjie. After reciting those names, he fell silent for a moment, and Si Nan quietly watched him. ¡°The third toast, wishing that the government would quickly develop an antivirus, and that humanity would soon be able to be free from the apocalypse, rebuild their homes, where peace and stability would return.¡± Zhou Rong raised his glass to the glittering sky, and poured out his last mouthful onto the floor. ¡°Heaven and earth, and the spirits around, please bear witness to us ordinary folks, working to carry out the hopes of the race¡¯s survival.¡± There was no moon tonight. However, under the light of the countless stars, the mountains and rivers glowed with a faint, white light. Zhou Rong turned towards Si Nan, giving him a small smile. ¡°Go on, eat. Otherwise, the food will get cold. Have a taste of Rong-ge¡¯s culinary skills.¡± Si Nan nodded, reaching out to pick up a piece of bread soaked in the meat sauce. Zhou Rong¡¯s tastes catered more towards Chinese food, and so he picked up his bowl to scoop up the fragrant, thick meat and vegetable congee he had cooked for a few hours. In the end, the congee he ladled up was very watery, and when he inspected it closely, he realised that there were some pieces of meat and vegetables that had yet to be fully melded into the congee. It was obvious that they had just been added into the congee not too long ago. ¡°Si¡ªxiao¡ªNan!¡± Zhou Rong immediately turned belligerent, speaking sternly, ¡°How much did you secretly eat? Tell me!¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You even know how to top it up after eating it secretly. You¡¯re very resourceful, aren¡¯t you?! If you¡¯re that clever, don¡¯t just add the canned ingredients, add some rice as well! With the current state of this congee, you thought I wouldn¡¯t discover it, is that it?!¡± Knowing perfectly well that what he had done had been exposed, Si Nan was silent for a moment, then threw his spoon onto the table. He continued with a successful counterattack by picking up that little packet of raisins. ¡°Where¡¯s my big red packet?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no big red packet during the new year? Who are you trying to coax? So what if I had a few spoons of your congee? Didn¡¯t you make it for me anyway?¡± Choked by this ridiculous reasoning, Zhou Rong was speechless, and Si Nan¡¯s next words were the last trigger to his surrender. ¡°Or did you make it for Yan Hao?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong said sincerely, ¡°Comrade xiao-Si, I feel that if Yan Hao were to hear what you just said, he would vomit blood¡­ you must never say this to his face.¡± Eating the italian meatballs, Si Nan curled up one corner of his lips, his eyes brimming with joy and satisfaction. *** The night of New Year¡¯s eve, the unceasing northern wind blew across the woods. In the distance was an undissolvable, inky darkness, with zombies roaming and howling in the valleys, and the lonely yet bright stars silently watched over the land. In this tiny piece of the universe, there was warm food, clean clothes, and a strong and dependable sense of security. Leaning back into the chair in a cross-legged position, with both his feet on the seat, Si Nan was completely content after a hot bath, and the desire to stretch lazily was imbued in him. The anger, hatred and pain he experienced a few days ago at the hands of Romuller, as well as the pinprick of regret and hope he felt at that time deep inside him, seemed to have all become the memories of a previous lifetime. During that moment when Zhou Rong had appeared like a soldier from heaven, they had all vanished into thin air. Si Nan squeezed along the edge of the table. Like a boneless cat, half his body weight leant upon Zhou Rong¡¯s shoulder. Zhou Rong¡¯s voice was a little husky. ¡°Little Comrade, let me tell you, this action of yours is considered sexual harassment.¡± Si Nan replied lazily, ¡°Sue me then, I¡¯m sexually harassing an Alpha from the Chinese People¡¯s Liberation Army. Quick, get the police to catch me.¡± This position resulted in the two people almost plastered together. In an instant, the food in Zhou Rong¡¯s mouth had turned bland, and what filled his nose was the scent of the Omega¡¯s pheromones. It was like an invisible yet soft little hook, scratching and teasing the most sensitive part of his heart. ¡°Si Nan,¡± Zhou Rong said with difficulty after swallowing his congee. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Your¡­ inhibitor¡­¡± It seemed like Zhou Rong was a little embarrassed to say this aloud, ¡°seems to have failed.¡± While drinking his milk, Si Nan unconcernedly said, ¡°How could that be? It was injected at the end of September, the effects should only wear off half a year later.¡± Zhou Rong silently commented that his scent was already very obvious. Could it be that due to his multitudes of injuries, the inhibitor in his blood had been excreted ahead of time? ¡°How did you find me?¡± Without realising what he was doing, Si Nan nuzzled into Zhou Rong¡¯s firm biceps as he asked casually. Seduced by the pheromones to the point of distraction, Zhou Rong gave a simple narration of how he jumped from the helicopter, searching through the hinterland of zombies for forty-eight hours without any sleep or rest, even running to a tall building to light up a smoke signal, then finally meeting Abbas, the Alpha that was over two metres tall, and how he followed him until he found their temporary stronghold. Si Nan said gloomily, ¡°They¡¯re from Country A¡¯s White Eagle forces, and Romuller is their head. They have a secret military base in Florida specialising in all sorts of biochemistry research, and they might be directly related to the spread of the zombie virus.¡± ¡°Then why do they want to capture you?¡± ¡°¡­ I¡¯m not really sure.¡± Zhou Rong bent his head down. Si Nan happened to lift his head at that moment, and their lips nearly brushed against each other¡¯s. Right then, Zhou Rong¡¯s heart pounded restlessly, but Si Nan didn¡¯t notice anything at all. ¡°My head was a little injured. They gave me an overdose of some drug, making it difficult for me to recall some things¡­¡± Zhou Rong opened his mouth, and he suddenly realised the source of why he was feeling at odds! ¡ª Si Nan¡¯s eyes were actually fixed right on his lips! They were too close, and thus Zhou Rong could not see too clearly, but he was very certain that there was a sort of dazedness in Si Nan¡¯s unblinking eyes. It could not be said that he was completely entranced, but he was also far from sober. If one had to put it into words, it seemed to be a sort of instinctive reaction. ¡°I think they asked me about some box,¡± Si Nan murmured as though he was sleep-talking, ¡°and some scarf¡­¡± Zhou Rong quietly reminded him, ¡°Si xiao-Nan?¡± Si Nan closed his eyes, opening them a moment later. Realising what he was doing, he sat upright in his chair. ¡°What?¡± ¡ª That extremely ambiguous atmosphere instantly shattered. ¡°What were we talking about just now?¡± Si Nan did not know that he had been staring the whole time at Zhou Rong¡¯s lips. He said earnestly, ¡°If I can remember, I will definitely tell you. Right now¡­ my brain is a little confused, and I cannot remember any clues. The drug they injected me with might need a few days before it can be fully cleared from my body.¡± Slightly regretful, Zhou Rong massaged Si Nan¡¯s temples, smiling. ¡°If you can¡¯t remember, then don¡¯t think about it anymore. Take it slow. Rong-ge believes in you.¡± With that caress from Zhou Rong¡¯s broad and warm hand, Si Nan again reacted oddly. He reflexively tilted his head back, looking just like a feline seeking a pleasing touch. But that was only for an instant. Si Nan seemed to have suddenly registered that there was something wrong with his actions. He stiffened, then grabbed a spoon and shoved some congee into his mouth. Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious,¡± Si Nan said calmly, his every syllable filled with a rigid attempt at trying to conceal what he had done, only to make it more obvious. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong warned him considerately, ¡°Be careful of choking.¡± *** Zhou Rong¡¯s original plan was that since Si Nan was both in an unconscious and clingy state, he would just hug him to sleep in one bed. However, man plans but god decides, and Si Nan had woken halfway through his bath. Their sleeping arrangement for that night had become something very awkward. ¡°You¡¯ve yet to recover, you can take the bed.¡± Huffing and puffing, Zhou Rong dragged a couch over from the house next door. Dusting his hands, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll just sleep on the couch. We¡¯ll sleep in the same house, it¡¯s more convenient to give a warning if something happens at night.¡± Leaning against the headboard, Si Nan opened an eye. He watched Zhou Rong busying around. That shapely and firm figure seemed to have some sort of magnetic ability, causing him to be unable to drag his eyes away in his drowsiness. Without any hindrance, Alpha pheromones filled his nose and the air. However, Si Nan started to feel that this scent was very pleasant. Like a warm and thick cloud, it enveloped his body, and he felt so comfortable that he started to become limp. Lying on the pillow, Si Nan shut his eyes. The last image he saw right before he slept was Zhou Rong lying on the couch opposite him. In the dark, his eyes were bright and shiny, and he was gazing at the bed. The Alpha seemed to want to do something, but after flipping himself over, in the end, he did nothing. What did he not do? ¡­ A good night kiss that had been given very regularly over the past few days seemed to be missing. Si Nan huffed out a breath, his thoughts spinning as he fell into a deep sleep. ¡°Good night, Si xiao-Nan,¡± Zhou Rong said softly in the dark, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± In the middle of the night. The moment a movement occured, Zhou Rong opened his eyes. His senses were tense, and he immediately sat up. Starlight shone into the bedroom through the windows, and he saw Si Nan, bleary-eyed, carrying a pillow and swaying his way over, before squeezing onto the couch. He wanted Zhou Rong to move further aside, and then he laid down right next to him. This was a huge shock to Zhou Rong. Using his elbows to support the upper half of his body, he stared for a moment, then asked probingly, ¡°Si Nan? ¡­ Si xiao-Nan?¡± Si Nan¡¯s jujitsu must have been trained to perfection. In this cramped little space, he could still lie down with his back facing Zhou Rong, curling up into a ball and hugging his pillow. He was sleeping very peacefully, even snoring very slightly. ¡°¡­ Are you throwing yourself at me, Comrade Si xiao-Nan?¡± The bedroom was silent, and no reply came. Zhou Rong¡¯s heart warmed. He couldn¡¯t help but smile. So he lifted Si Nan up, in a princess carry, and moved him over to the bed. There, under one blanket, the two people fell asleep. In his grogginess, Si Nan felt a slight warmth on his temple ¡ª the good night kiss missing tonight. In his clouded consciousness, he mumbled something. It was not clear what he had said, but he tucked his head into the bare and muscular crook of Zhou Rong¡¯s neck, falling asleep comfortably. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Edited by Beth The next day. Zhou Rong woke up in the light of dawn. He gave a long stretch, then bent down and kissed Si Nan¡¯s face that was flushed with sleep. Feeling all refreshed, he got out of bed and started working. He packed up all the tools that could be used, rationing out the food into daily portions, then took out the map and carefully planned their journey, as well as possible locations for replenishing their supplies. The sun slowly peeped out, only for it to immediately disappear behind thick clouds. Standing in the front yard, Zhou Rong felt the moisture in the air, and surmised that it was probably going to snow. The woods, the river, and the faraway villages were all shrouded in the thick, dense layers of clouds and fog. The world was extremely quiet. If it were to start snowing, their departure would be affected. Zhou Rong chose a random can of food. Turning on the gas stove to toast some bread, while making milk from the milk powder and hot water, he prepared breakfast for Si Nan, then called out for him to wake up. Still, when he walked over to the bed and took a look, Si Nan had yet to open his eyes at all. Sprawled across the bed, he was sleeping very comfortably. Recently, Si Nan had been very lethargic. Perhaps, it was his body¡¯s method of self-repair after experiencing a certain degree of exhaustion. When they were living in the factory, every day, Si Nan would sleep for less than six hours, and even in his sleep, he was still very vigilant. If someone got even the slightest bit close to him, he would immediately jerk awake. Compared to how he was now, lying down in front of Zhou Rong, even snoring slightly, they were like two completely different people. Zhou Rong pinched his nose, softly calling out to him a few times. However, Si Nan slapped his hand away, flipping over, revealing an army-green piece of clothes he had been lying on. Zhou Rong¡¯s eyes fell upon it and froze. That was the T-shirt he wore last night. He had clearly hung it up by the door, but hadn¡¯t been able to find it this morning. Never would he have expected that Si Nan had taken it away, scrunching it up into a ball and hiding it inside his blanket. ¡°Little thief.¡± Zhou Rong laughed, reaching out to pull his T-shirt out. He was unable to free it. ¡­¡­ He still could not free it. Zhou Rong ridiculed, ¡°Comrade xiao-Si, are you this demanding for a love token?¡± He then tried to pull the T-shirt out from another side, and just as he exerted some strength, Si Nan suddenly sat up groggily, wrapping his arms around Zhou Rong¡¯s waist. ¡°?¡± Zhou Rong had yet to register what was happening. In his half-asleep state, Si Nan abruptly gave a fierce yank! Thud! Zhou Rong fell entirely onto the bed, nearly winding himself in the fall. He then felt Si Nan wriggling a little next to him. It seemed as though Si Nan had found an even more comfortable position, and snuggling into the crook of Zhou Rong¡¯s arm, he quickly fell asleep again. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong was dumbstruck, his eyes slowly sliding downwards. Only to see the sunlight reflecting upon Si Nan¡¯s face, his expression peaceful and calm. His breaths were warm and sweet, and all in all, he looked just like a little angel¡­ a little angel that would exert a force of over a hundred kilograms in his sleep and nearly concuss an Alpha. ¡°Si Nan¡­¡± Zhou Rong said, his voice trembling. ¡°Do you¡­ want to wake up first and calm down a little?¡± Si Nan licked his lips unconsciously. Zhou Rong¡¯s breathing became laboured, his heart pounding rapidly. In a trance, he felt his head reeling. It was unknown if he really had a concussion, or if what he was feeling was due to the pink lips right in front of him. Exhaling harshly, he wanted to use his strong willpower to control his heated blood from going south¡­ but the pervasive, increasingly rich, sweet scent left him barely able to catch his breath. It was pheromones. However, it was different from the scent of the pheromones enveloping Si Nan last night. If last night¡¯s version could be described as a faint, honey scent, then today¡¯s version had become sweet and cloying, even a little musky. When carefully scenting it from a close distance, one would even find it a little stimulating. Zhou Rong stared fixedly at the ceiling, his ears buzzing. His brain seemed to have been repeatedly smashed into pieces by a hammer that weighed a ton. A thrilling possibility came to his mind. By the time Si Nan woke up, it was already close to noon. He was a little listless, and as he got up from the messy bed, rubbing his eyes, he asked Zhou Rong without much thought, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What time is it now?¡± His actions were natural, as though he knew that they were for him, as Si Nan picked up the cool milk and toast next to the bed. Not disdaining them at all, he ate the food while glancing outside the window. ¡°Is it going to snow?¡± With difficulty, Zhou Rong exercised his arm that had lost feeling due to having a weight on it for the past few hours. Sitting up, he said mildly, ¡°Comrade xiao-Si, the organisation would like to speak to you¡­¡± Si Nan turned around, leaning against the windowsill as he raised a brow. ¡°¡­ Are you certain that you injected your inhibitor at the end of September?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Si Nan said unconcernedly, ¡°I found you guys on the way to the pharmacy to look for inhibitors. Fortunately, Yan Hao and you only rushed in after I finished injecting it. Otherwise, if I knew then that you were Alphas, you would long been riddled into sieves¡­ Why?¡± Zhou Rong did not know if he should laugh or cry. ¡°Then, do you know that there are actually two types of inhibitors in our country?¡± Si Nan paused his chewing. ¡°The ones that are easily found in pharmacies are the ordinary inhibitors, and they can hide the pheromones of Omegas who are in their normal state. These prevent any distractions while working outdoors or jobs that require discipline, and they¡¯re effective for half a year. The other type can let Omega avoid their annual heat, and it¡¯s a controlled prescription. Normally, it would not be left in the cabinets for sale. A prescription is needed, and they can only be found in the warehouses of state-owned pharmacies.¡± ¡°In other words,¡± Zhou Rong explained, ¡°the ordinary inhibitor you took from the cabinet after breaking the glass, although it can help you disguise yourself as a Beta, once your heat arrives, it becomes useless. At most, after your heat, it can continue working for another two months¡­¡± Si Nan, ¡°¡­¡± Their eyes met, and Si Nan¡¯s expression turned very strange. Zhou Rong carefully deliberated over his words, then slowly said, ¡°According to what I know of biology ¡ª the army doesn¡¯t really teach us about this ¡ª your heat might be coming.¡± ¡°The organisation would like to seek your opinion, Comrade xiao-Si ¡ª Will you be exerting the subjective view to overcome this difficulty, or would you take the objective view, selecting an Alpha you like in this ten-mile radius, and the organisation can help arrange a meeting?¡± After a long bout of silence, Si Nan confirmed, ¡°There are two types of inhibitors.¡± Zhou Rong nodded. ¡°The prescriptive type is not stored in the cabinets.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­ The one Guo Weixiang found for that Ren guy¡­¡± ¡°He had broken into the pharmacy warehouse, but when the outbreak occurred, all the staff hiding inside had turned into zombies, and that was why he was chased by so many of them.¡± Si Nan was unable to say a single word. ¡°As such, if you need it,¡± Zhou Rong said regretfully, ¡°we can also try moving now and searching for it. However, the nearest city is more than two thousand miles away, and you best try to endure for this entire journey¡­¡± Si Nan stood up absent-mindedly, his grip relaxing. Long prepared, Zhou Rong shot forward. Lightning-fast, he caught the freefalling cup, placing it back again into Si Nan¡¯s hand, gesturing for him to hold it properly. ¡°A ten-mile radius,¡± The corners of Si Nan¡¯s lips quivered. ¡ª Although he had no intentions of taking this option, other than Zhou Rong, there could not be any other Alphas in the ten-mile radius. Even if there was, they would be zombies. ¡°The organisation will definitely help you set a meeting,¡± Zhou Rong promised solemnly. ¡°The organisation is very democratic.¡± Tilting his head back, Si Nan finished his milk and shoved the empty cup into Zhou Rong¡¯s hand. He then pushed at Zhou Rong¡¯s chest, signalling him to leave. ¡°¡­ I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Si Nan said mechanically. ¡°May the organisation first give me twenty minutes.¡± *** Zhou Rong left considerately with the empty cup. When he was in the kitchen, he meticulously washed all the bowls and cutlery, then transferred three days worth of food and water for two people from the car. After that, he picked up a rifle and patrolled nearby, confirming that there were no zombies or beasts within the vicinity, or any other possible danger. Finally, he reversed the SUV to a spot where it would block the only entrance of the little cement building, and took all possible preventive measures. Upon returning to the first floor, he stopped when passing by the bathroom. Standing in front of the mirror at the sink, he carefully examined himself. Zhou Rong, currently twenty-nine years of age, with a height of 1.89 metres, weight of 83kg, and a body fat percentage of 9. He had black hair and black irises, his visual acuity in both eyes 20/10, and his genes were excellent. Zhou Rong had been fooled by a phrase from his old instructor, that ¡°scars were the best medals a man could have¡±. After being dispatched to 118, there was a year where he led a mission in Bali to carry out an ambush. As they were setting it up, he saw Yan Hao teaching Chuncao to apply sunscreen. Right there and then, he laughed mockingly at them with no restrain, and gleefully claimed that even when he was up in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, he had never used sunscreen, this sort of sissy thing. He even bragged about his copper-tanned skin. At that time, Yan Hao gave him an unfathomable look, shaking his head and sighing, but did not say a word. When the mission was completed, and they were on the way home, because of the fourth-degree burns on his face, Zhou Rong had nearly been disfigured. The healing process of half a month gave him a painful lesson on what it meant to be a human being. Staring at the mirror, Zhou Rong studied himself, feeling that he was too coarse-looking. If he was ten years younger, just by his facial features alone, he would definitely be able to compete with Yan Hao for the label of the belle of 118. He gave a cough, then straightened his collar and sleeves, feeling a little nervous. ¡­ A ten-mile radius. There should be no other Alphas here, right? Zhou Rong pondered uneasily. *** Zhou Rong tidied up his hair, trying to flatten that little flick of hair in front of his forehead that always stood up haughtily. Again, he coughed, then went over and pushed the bedroom door open. ¡°It¡¯s been twenty minutes already, Comrade xiao-¡­¡± Zhou Rong froze. Si Nan was sitting cross-legged on the bed, and he happened to be looking at a brass pendant on his chest. Hearing Zhou Rong, he looked up, his eyes bright and guileless. The T-shirt that Zhou Rong had changed out of, the singlet that Zhou Rong wore right against his skin, the pillowcase that Zhou Rong was using last night when he slept¡­ They were scattered in a mess around Si Nan, just like the beginning of a nest made by a feline. ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong looked at him, unable to decipher right now, if Si Nan was alert or not. Instead, it was Si Nan who first spoke, baffled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°¡­ I,¡± Zhou Rong said cautiously, ¡°I came to tidy up.¡± Only then did Si Nan realise the mess of clothes around him, but his first reaction was, ¡°Why do you have to tidy up?¡± Zhou Rong said, ¡°¡­ For laundry.¡± ¡°But they¡¯re not dirty.¡± Zhou Rong had nothing to say in response. Si Nan leant back, nesting into the pillow Zhou Rong was sleeping on last night, looking a little fatigued. ¡°Just now, I was trying to recollect what those people asked me after injecting me with the drug.¡± Zhou Rong walked over and sat down by the bed. Docilely, Si Nan rested against him, allowing Zhou Rong to place an arm around him and pull him onto his chest. In the short twenty minutes, the scent of the pheromones in the room had changed. It was even more fragrant and richer than when he woke up in the morning, and even if Zhou Rong were to hold his breath, he could still sense it clearly. ¡ª That was because the hormones worked directly on the central nervous system. ¡°What did you remember?¡± His voice slightly husky, Zhou Rong asked softly. ¡°They asked me where something was located, but I really cannot remember what it was. Romuller¡¯s father is the director and investor of many biological research projects. Could it be that I stole some information related to the zombie virus?¡± Si Nan pressed the center of his brows with the knuckle of his index finger, massaging the spot wearily. Zhou Rong could not help asking, ¡°Then the relationship between that Romuller and you¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re step brothers,¡± Si Nan replied, ¡°after my father passed away, I think my mother married his father. However, the reason for the marriage was very complicated, and right now, I can¡¯t remember what it is exactly.¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong completely did not know how to continue this conversation. A beat later, he pointed outside the window. ¡°You¡­ you know that his father is the ex-vice president of Country A, right?¡± ¡°Probably,¡± Si Nan said sleepily. At that moment, Zhou Rong¡¯s thoughts basically could not be described in words. ¡°Look.¡± Si Nan opened up the brass pendant that had never left his body. ¡°These are my parents¡­ Mn¡­ Don¡¯t look like that. You¡¯ve only beaten up the son of Country A¡¯s ex-vice president, then threw him to the zombies. To think of diplomatic issues now would be too late.¡± Zhou Rong did not know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°Comrade xiao-Si, tell me first if your parents are some high level government officials, noted public officials or something like that. If that¡¯s the case, our diplomatic relations might still be salvageable¡­¡± Si Nan chortled. ¡°No,¡± he said slyly, raising the pendant and waving it in front of Zhou Rong. ¡°My parents were just ordinary people, and I can no longer remember what they did.¡± Zhou Rong gently took the pendant. Placing it in his palm, he looked at the old photo within. The pendant was still hung on Si Nan¡¯s neck, and with this position, if Zhou Rong were to pull hard, he would immediately be able to gain control over one of Si Nan¡¯s vital areas. However, Si Nan seemed to be like a fierce beast who had put down their defenses against the human race, and was currently leaning lazily against Zhou Rong¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your looks¡­ ¡° Zhou Rong scrutinised the photo. ¡°At first glance, you look just like your father, but after looking closely, you look like your mother. However, as an Alpha, your father looks very¡­ hmm¡­ very dignified¡­¡± ¡°You can just tell me directly that he looks like a scrawny weak chicken among the Alphas, the sort that read a lot of books.¡± Si Nan smiled. ¡°However, he¡¯s actually a Beta, and I¡¯m the one in ten thousand Omega born out of a Beta/Omega pairing. Do you want an autograph?¡± Extremely surprised, Zhou Rong studied Si Nan in wonder. Si Nan turned around, rummaging through the bedside cabinet for a pen and paper. Before he could pretend to sign an autograph, the items were taken away by Zhou Rong. ¡°No, darling, I was only marvelling for a moment as courtesy only. Actually, in our squad, there¡¯s a readily available Alpha born from an Alpha/Beta pairing. The way they just stroll about everyday, there¡¯s no longer any novelness to it already¡­¡± Si Nan thought that he was talking about Chuncao. After all, Chuncao¡¯s rate of growth and development had always left people puzzled. However, Zhou Rong shook his head regretfully. ¡°Although medicine has proved that a union between any Alpha or Omegas with a Beta would only result in producing Betas, if this pairing were to produce Alphas or Omegas, it means that their genes are perfect, and are of great genetic value. However, I¡¯ve once swore that before I find a wife, I am determined to avoid praising the genes of Yan Hao, that fellow, in front of any Omegas.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Si Nan was expressionless. ¡°You¡¯ve done it in front of me already.¡± Zhou Rong smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Yan Hao is a thousand miles away, and he has long been out of the ten-mile radius set by the organisation already.¡± Si Nan glanced outside. The sky was vast, the wind whistling through the trees. In the radius of five thousand metres, putting aside any Alphas, it would even be hard to find any Alpha zombies. ¡°Still, even if he¡¯s around, it¡¯s useless.¡± Zhou Rong said suddenly as he fiddled with the pendant. He pulled Si Nan a little closer to him. Almost plastered together, the two men nestled into the pillow. In the bedroom, the Omega pheromones wafting about had become even more distinctive, musky and sweet, swirling through the air, as though some sort of feelings were vaguely about to be revealed. His head pillowed on Zhou Rong¡¯s triceps, Si Nan made a small questioning sound. ¡°If he¡¯s here, I¡¯ll let you make the choice yourself, and you will definitely choose me. Right after that, I would exile any other male creatures out of this area, guarding you tightly within this piece of land. Without blinking, I would be watching you, waiting until you whimpered and held out your hand¡­¡± Si Nan¡¯s body melted, and he countered lazily, ¡°Why would I definitely choose you?¡± ¡°Do you still need to ask?¡± Zhou Rong teased. ¡°Ever since the first time you met me, you¡¯ve been entranced by my good looks, my debonair demeanour, and my mature dignity. From then on, your heart has been secretly set on me, and you keep thinking about me day and night, insisting on no one else but me. Everything you¡¯ve done, I¡¯ve noticed them all.¡± Si Nan released a small snort. Curling up under the blanket, he felt as though that part, deep inside him, had become even wetter. It seemed as though that at any moment, it would dribble out with any careless motion. Ignoring Si Nan¡¯s protest, Zhou Rong tossed away his T-shirt that the Omega had secretly taken and hid. He removed the clean shirt he had just changed into, giving it to Si Nan who then shoved it under the blanket. The replacement did a very good job at settling Si Nan¡¯s currently somewhat muddled emotions. Struggling, he stretched two fingers out, pinching one of the buttons on the shirt so as to prevent Zhou Rong from taking it away again. Bending over, Zhou Rong kissed him on his temple, softly asking, ¡°Seems like you¡¯re going down the route of the objective stance, hmm?¡± Si Nan was exhausted, and he could not be bothered to answer. ¡°Get some rest,¡± Zhou Rong comforted him. ¡°I¡¯ll bring some food up.¡± Si Nan shut his eyes. After tucking Si Nan under the blanket, just as Zhou Rong was about to stand up, something suddenly caught his little finger. Turning around, he saw Si Nan open one eye ¡ª every time he was a little bit interested in something, yet still remained very wary, he would do this action. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Do you like me?¡± Si Nan mumbled huskily. Zhou Rong laughed. ¡°Of course.¡± Just as he was filled with tender affection, feeling that Si Nan had asked a foolish question, the next question left him instantly on tenterhooks, and all his goosebumps appeared. ¡°Then, what about the other Omega?¡± Si Nan asked, his voice full of hope. ¡°That one, the one you met during the special forces competition. Do you still remember him?¡± Zhou Rong, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Rong realised that he was currently experiencing his most rigorous test in his entire life. The demand for eloquence and ability to express himself would definitely not lose out to the world¡¯s hardest question ¡ª If your mother and I were to fall into the water at the same time, who would you rescue first?