C10

The formidable Chen Yu instilled a subconscious belief in the survivors that he could protect them. This sentiment also served as an indirect message to all that the apocalypse, while a disaster, was equally an opportunity. The immense power of an Evolver was within reach for anyone willing to seize it. This notion planted a seed of hope and the will to live in those saved by Chen Yu.

In human society, the truly wicked were but a minority. Given even a sliver of hope, the deep-seated goodness within humanity would not be so easily forsaken. If they could endure these first few days, human adaptability would rise to meet the demands of this new era, forging resilience in the living, preventing them from succumbing to despair.

...

Upon opening the door to his home, Chen Yu was greeted by Lee Hao and Soong Yue, who promptly rose to their feet.

"Boss Yu!" they exclaimed in unison.

"Where are Liu Qiqi and Qu Chenchen Hao?" Chen Yu inquired, noting their absence.

Lee Hao flashed a smile, "They're on the second floor, standing watch."

Chen Yu nodded appreciatively. The four of them were commendable, autonomously devising and executing plans without the need for his direct orders.

Descending from the upper floor, Chen Yu observed that each level was meticulously supervised by team members. The able-bodied had been mobilized: some patrolled, others stood guard, while a few tended to the needs of the elderly and children, and still others managed the distribution of food and essentials.

Before entering, Chen Yu had noticed the neighboring house had been transformed into a warehouse, its contents—gathered resources—neatly organized and categorized. Everything was running like clockwork, much to Chen Yu's satisfaction, and his esteem for Lee Hao and the others grew.

"What about the mutated cat's meat?" Chen Yu inquired.

The somewhat portly Soong Yue glanced toward the kitchen, "It's still simmering. Should be ready any moment now!"

"Most of the zombies have been lured to building ten, so we're clear for the time being," Chen Yu said, nodding as he made his way to his parents' room. "Go get Liu Qiqi and Qu Chenchen Hao. It's time for them to begin."

Lee Hao and Soong Yue's eyes sparkled with recognition at Chen Yu's words, their excitement bubbling to the surface.

"Fatso Soong, check on the meat. I'll go get the others!" Lee Hao called out, his voice tinged with excitement as he dashed out the door.

Inside the room, Chen Yu gazed at his still-unconscious parents, his heart heavy with emotion. He had spent countless nights wrestling with regret, questioning the cruel twist of fate that had taken his parents from him. Now, he had saved them.

Yet as he looked at his healthy parents, uncertainty gnawed at him. He didn't know when they would awaken, and he yearned for that moment of family reunion.

Five years... Five grueling years had passed, and Chen Yu craved the solace of familial love. But deep down, he also wished for his parents to awaken slowly, to unlock their latent superpowers and become stronger.

Chen Yu was acutely aware that he couldn't always be by their side; the weight of his responsibilities was too great. Only with his parents' newfound strength could he journey forth without worry.

Torn between these emotions, Chen Yu tenderly cared for his parents, wiping their faces and hands before sitting quietly beside them, his gaze fixed on them in silent contemplation. In this moment of stillness, he soaked in the long-lost warmth, feeling a relaxation he hadn't experienced in the five years since the apocalypse began.

As he sat there, the ice that had formed in his heart began to thaw, unnoticed until the sounds from the living room stirred him to his feet.

Chen Yu felt a sudden lightness, as if a suffocating pressure had been lifted from his shoulders. With a resolute look in his eyes, he opened the door and stepped into the living room.

Lee Hao, Liu Qiqi, Soong Yue, and Chu Chenhao quickly rose to their feet upon seeing Chen Yu. He glanced at the pot of soup on the table and gestured, "Eat up! Don't leave any soup behind. It'll aid in your advancement later!"

"Boss Yu, you..." The four exchanged glances, but it was the ever-blunt Lee Hao who broke the silence.

Chen Yu instinctively knew what was on his mind and dismissed it with a wave of his hand, indicating he didn't need any help.

Without any fuss, the four sat down and began to feast heartily.

The mutated cat, resembling a black leopard, surprisingly had little edible flesh. There was just enough for the four of them to satisfy their hunger.

They devoured the meal voraciously, and in no time, the pot was scraped clean.

The flesh of the awakened mutated beast was rich in gene energy. Sated and content, they sprawled in their chairs, faces flushed with satisfaction.

As the gene energy worked its way through their bodies, enhancing their physique and vital energy, they basked in a warmth akin to soaking in a hot spring, visibly relishing the sensation.

They were overwhelmed by an indescribable surge of power, as if it might burst forth from within them.

But Chen Yu wasn't about to let them off easy.

"Stand up!" he barked.

Startled, the four scrambled to their feet.

In an instant, Chen Yu was before Lee Hao, delivering a powerful palm strike to his chest.

"Ow!"

Lee Hao cried out, expelling a mouthful of tainted blood, his face shifting from flushed to ashen as he nearly collapsed.

"Boss Yu!" Soong Yue and the others cried out in alarm, their faces etched with concern.

Before they could say more, Lee Hao seemed to grasp something, closing his eyes and exhaling deeply, a look of utter disbelief washing over him. "What the hell just happened?"

"I feel so much better... that overwhelming sensation is gone, and there's this strength radiating from my chest, making my whole body tingle..."

"Damn... I feel like I have endless energy!"

"Ha ha... Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"

"Boss Yu, come on! Hit me with another one!"

With a slight smile, Chen Yu complied, his hand descending once more.

Thud! This time, the impact was even more forceful than before.

The sheer power of the blow sent Lee Hao tumbling to the ground.

Before Lee Hao could rise, Chen Yu was on him again, delivering a third palm strike to his back.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Soong Yue, Liu Qiqi, and Chu Chenhao watched, utterly astounded, as Lee Hao was pinned to the ground by Chen Yu, who continued to deliver palm strikes. Lee Hao's screams were a mix of agony and ecstasy, punctuated by the occasional pained groan.

Eventually, Lee Hao was so overwhelmed that he couldn't even utter a groan.

Had Soong Yue, Liu Qiqi, and Chu Chenhao not witnessed Lee Hao's oddly contented expression, they might have feared that Chen Yu was beating him to death.

After a brutal session, Chen Yu finally ceased his onslaught.

He looked down at the battered Lee Hao, whose head had swollen to the size of a pig's, and pulled out five crystal nuclei from his pocket, handing them over. "Swallow these. Remember the breathing technique I showed you earlier? Use it to steady your breath!"

Grimacing in pain, Lee Hao struggled to his feet, eagerly grabbed the crystal nuclei, and without a moment's hesitation, tossed them into his mouth, chewing and swallowing them whole.