TL: Moonlit
Shao Fei’s level of decay was slightly worse than that of an ordinary zombie, but its eyes were exceptionally clear.
Wen Qingling asked, “How do you feel?”
Shao Fei looked down at his decaying hands and replied hoarsely, “Am I no longer human?”
Wen Qingling nodded and said, “You’re a conscious zombie with decay, but your transformation speed is extremely fast, only taking 3 minutes.”
Shao Fei pondered and asked, “How do I test my strength?”
After Wen Qingling’s strength had increased again, all civilized zombies were upgraded to Level 3 Evolved beings. Wen Qingling brought a Level 3 Evolved zombie and tossed it to Shao Fei for a battle.
The Level 3 Evolved Hunter was fast and agile, with sharp claws. Shao Fei, who used to be a research assistant and had no combat experience, was certain to die in a fight against it.
As Shao Fei struggled to dodge, barely avoiding having his neck twisted, Wen Qingling intervened and stopped the fight, allowing the Hunter to leave. He had already understood something.
Humans transformed by civilized zombies would have a power level two grades lower than that of truly civilized zombies, likely only at the Level 1 Evolved stage. This meant that humans bitten by civilized zombies would directly possess the power of an Evolved zombie, along with self-awareness and language abilities. If humans were to find out about this, they would certainly not allow their existence.
The only downside was the appearance—Shao Fei’s level of decay was severe, emitting a strong foul odor.
Wen Qingling took out a package and asked, “Do you want to eat?”
Shao Fei took it and sniffed the contents. It had a sweet aroma. He opened the package, and the fresh and sweet scent became even stronger. He wanted to eat but felt hesitant and instead opened the box and drank the red liquid inside, without consuming the chunks of blood anemones.
After drinking the red liquid, Shao Fei’s decaying flesh began to repair itself, quickly returning to its original state.
Shao Fei handed back the remaining blood anemones to Wen Qingling.
Wen Qingling raised an eyebrow and asked, “You didn’t finish eating?”
Shao Fei hesitated and replied, “I feel like if I eat it all, I might die.”
Wen Qingling repackaged the bag and said, “Well, this saves some blood anemones.”
If only the blood anemone liquid was needed, there was no need to kill the blood anemones. It could be extracted with a syringe. If zombies could also become civilized zombies using the same method, it would truly save on blood anemones.
Wen Qingling glanced at the training ground but didn’t go over. Instead, he relayed a message to Mo Yuruo, “I’m leaving.”
Mo Yuruo, terrified, urged him to leave quickly. “Go, go! Don’t come back unless necessary.”
Wen Qingling let the four research assistants find a vehicle and follow him back to Ling City.
Wen Qingling and the others were unfamiliar with the equipment needed for research, so they couldn’t make any arrangements until they arrived with the four of them. They would figure out what they needed and find a way to obtain it.
Two cars raced back to Ling City Base. Outside Ling City, survivors who had come to investigate the situation could still be seen. This group of survivors was more cautious and didn’t recklessly approach the cars. They watched as the two vehicles traveled toward Ling City.
The survivors exchanged glances and quickly got in their cars, following them.
Since someone dared to go to Ling City, it meant that the danger there had been resolved.
Ling City was a valuable resource, with abundant supplies. No one was willing to give it up. They all wanted to return there as long as there was even a slight hope.
Mu Yi drove behind Wen Qingling’s car and noticed they were being followed. He asked Wen Qingling what to do.
Wen Qingling’s mental power had been projected all along, so he naturally knew that survivors were following them.
Wen Qingling replied, “Don’t worry about it. They’ll leave soon.”
As they approached Ling City, the number of zombies increased, and Evolved zombies could be seen everywhere. The survivors couldn’t keep up and were frightened, turning back and fleeing from a small wave of zombie groups.
Some survivors couldn’t accept it and said, “What the hell? Why aren’t the zombies attacking the two cars in front?”
Someone speculated, “I heard before that there are living people in Ling City. Could it be true?”
To verify this speculation, the survivors personally watched as the two cars entered Ling City.
The survivors were stunned.
There were actually living people inside Ling City!
Who had such audacity to live in a city filled with zombies?The two cars safely made it back to the civilization base.
In the beginning, Meng Lao had a fervent desire to establish a research institute in Ling City, but it was unsuccessful. However, the four of them succeeded in doing so. When they saw the chaotic state of the research institute with their own eyes, they felt despair. Some important equipment had been damaged. How could they conduct research like this?
Nowadays, these things were precious. Without manufacturers or suppliers, if one device was damaged, there would be one less. When they were with Meng Lao at the research institute, they would handle experiments with extra care. But when they looked at the situation in Ling City’s research institute… it was beyond words.
Wen Qingling was confident. “You guys organize things first, and we’ll find what you need later.”
The only advantage of the apocalypse was that if you had strength, you didn’t fear poverty. If you wanted something, you could find it yourself. As long as you could obtain it, you wouldn’t worry about money.
Wen Qingling left the four of them at the research institute and went back to focus on construction.
For two whole days, Jiang Lan didn’t see Xiao Hen and found it strange. She asked Wen Qingling about Xiao Hen’s whereabouts, and even though he found it strange, he thought she was overly concerned.
Wen Qingling asked, “He went to pick up a friend. Are you looking for him?”
Jiang Lan patted him and said, “Didn’t you tell me to replenish his blood and help him recover? I asked for help in keeping an eye out for mutant black chickens, but I haven’t seen a single feather. I thought since we’re in Ling City, the chickens in the market must have been killed and eaten. It’s too difficult to find living mutant black chickens. Even the mutant pigs, cows, and sheep in Ling City are all from outside.”
“I was thinking that we can’t just rely on handouts. We have to start farming. Coincidentally, yesterday we treated an old man named Zhou who used to work at the market. When he heard that we were looking for mutant black chickens, he told us about a place. It used to be a farming facility, and there should be many mutant livestock and poultry there. I’m planning to take some people and capture the mutant animals to raise ourselves. That way, we won’t worry about not having enough to eat.”
Wen Qingling nodded. “It’s a good idea. But what does this have to do with Xiao Hen?”
Jiang Lan widened her eyes. “Of course, it’s related. If he comes back early, I’ll come back early to make him a stew with Chinese angelica and black chicken. If he comes back late, I can come back later. It’s just a matter of timing.”
Wen Qingling didn’t seem to find anything amiss and thought for a moment. “Where is this farming facility? Is it far?”
Jiang Lan replied, “I heard it’s in a small town in the countryside, not too far away. Farming is prosperous there, and many of the poultry in the Ling City market come from that town.”
Wen Qingling glanced at the core city and inner city, which were still being cleaned up. “I’ll go with you. We’ll take a large truck and capture the mutant domesticated animals.”
Jiang Lan took Wen Qingling to see Old Zhou, who used to work at the market. He knew the exact location of the farming facility, so they wouldn’t have to take a detour.
Wen Qingling entrusted the matters in Ling City to his father and the two sisters, Tiantian and Xin. He took his mother, Old Zhou, Feng Bin and his sister, and Wen Bo and his son. They were ready to set off. Old Zhou would drive the truck. Just as they started the vehicle, Wen Qingling told him to wait, and Old Zhou had to turn off the engine and wait.
Jiang Lan was puzzled. “What’s the matter?”
Wen Qingling said, “Xiao Hen has returned.”
Jiang Lan was surprised. “He’s back already? I haven’t found the mutant black chickens yet!”
Wen Qingling glanced at his mother. “What he needs right now might not be mutant black chickens but Kui Mu.”
Ji Rong drove rapidly, not even paying attention to the newly appeared city walls in front of him. They quickly reached the civilization base, where Wen Qingling was already waiting on the roadside.
Ji Rong slammed on the brakes and quickly got out of the car. “Dr. Wen, our boss’ zombie virus couldn’t be suppressed and has resurfaced.”
Ji Rong was panicking, but Xiao Hen remained calm. He stepped out of the car with his long legs and walked up to Wen Qingling.
Jiang Lan leaned on the window and greeted him. “Xiao Xiao, did you meet your friend?”
Xiao Hen turned around, called out “Auntie,” and then said, “No, they might have been delayed by something.”
Jiang Lan comforted him, “It’s okay, they will come back since you’re here.”
Xiao Hen exchanged a few more words with Jiang Lan, and Ji Rong felt completely invisible throughout the whole conversation.
Ji Rong: “…”
Wen Qingling stared at Xiao Hen’s neck and then pulled open his collar to take a look. The dark-blue frost zombie virus had already spread to his shoulder. If he had come back a little later, it probably would’ve spread throughout his whole body.
Wen Qingling turned around and started walking back. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to meet Kui Mu.”
From what they could see now, Kui Mu could suppress the “General’s” zombie virus for a maximum of three days, longer than the time the blood anemone and Kui Bao could suppress it.
Xiao Hen went to follow, and Ji Rong also wanted to go, but Xiao Hen stopped him. “You stay here.”
Ji Rong: “…”
No, why did he have to stay here?
Xiao Hen walked alongside Wen Qingling and asked, “Where are you guys going?”
Wen Qingling replied, “Old Zhou knows about a farming facility where they have black chickens. My mom wants to go there and catch black chickens to make soup for you.”
Xiao Hen: “…”Xiao Hen looked at him, unsure, and asked, “Are you serious?”
Wen Qingling looked at him strangely. “Why else would we be driving such a big truck?”
Xiao Hen blocked his path and looked into Wen Qingling’s eyes. “That’s not what I’m talking about.”
Wen Qingling blinked. “Then what are you talking about?”
Xiao Hen hesitated for a moment. “Why are you so good to me?”
Wen Qingling replied, “Maybe my mom likes you.”
Xiao Hen: “…”
Xiao Hen: “…”
Xiao Hen: “…”
When you say things like that, have you considered your father’s feelings?
Xiao Hen sighed. He finally understood that Wen Qingling’s paralysis wasn’t just physical but emotional as well. His reactions were too dull, always unintentionally teasing him, without even realizing it.
Wen Qingling continued walking ahead. “If you dawdle any longer, you’ll turn into a zombie.”
Xiao Hen reminded him, “You mentioned before that you could bite me and become one of yours. What does that mean?”
Wen Qingling replied, “I wanted you to become like me, my kind. You know too much, and I don’t want to let you go, but I can’t kill you either. So the only option is to make you like me.”
Xiao Hen pressed further, “Why can’t you kill me?”
Wen Qingling shook his head and walked up the stairs. “There’s no specific reason. Some people meet and want to kill each other, while others find the encounter pleasant. You belong to the latter category, I suppose.”
Xiao Hen’s gaze deepened, but his lips couldn’t help but curve upwards. “So, do you still want to bite me now?”
Wen Qingling replied, “I don’t want to.”
Xiao Hen stiffened. “Why?”
Wen Qingling said, “Because you’ve already been bitten by the General. I don’t want to bite any other leftovers from zombies.”
Xiao Hen: “…”
Xiao Hen: “…”
Xiao Hen: “…”
The smile on his lips gradually faded until it disappeared completely.
What kind of feeling was this, being considered “dirty” by his partner after cheating on them?!
Xiao Hen tried to persuade him, “If you bite me, maybe the virus in your body can counteract the zombie virus. I could become your kind. What do you think?”
Wen Qingling replied, “No, it’s not possible. You’re already dirty.”
Xiao Hen: “…”
Can he ever start over?!
Xiao Hen finally realized that the real barrier between him and Wen Qingling wasn’t his lack of emotions or their identities and positions—it was him! He had become dirty!
Wen Qingling didn’t want him anymore!
Xiao Hen took two quick steps forward. “Wen Qingling.”
Wen Qingling entered the room where Kui Mu was kept. “Come in.”
Xiao Hen followed and tried calling him again. “Qingling.”
Wen Qingling coldly said, “Please call me Dr. Wen, thank you.”
Xiao Hen: “…”
Suddenly, one of Kui Mu’s tentacles pierced Xiao Hen, catching him off guard and causing him to cry out in pain.
Wen Qingling looked at him. “Does it hurt?”
Xiao Hen initially wanted to say “I can bear it,” but he changed his words on the spot. “A bit.”
Wen Qingling reached out his hand and gently touched the skin on Xiao Hen’s neck as if trying to alleviate the pain.
The tough Xiao Hen instantly became truly tough, his whole body going numb.