C17 The Mysterious Girl(2)

After a prolonged silence, Ho Lan started to busily tend to the vegetables in her hands, as if she were whipping up some fresh dish. Soon after she finished cooking, she served a generous portion next to Damo before placing a smaller amount on the table. Chu Yue, with a hint of displeasure in his voice, remarked, "What's the matter? Is my worth now less than Damo's?"

"Woof!" Damo's bark elicited laughter from Chu Yue, Ho Lan, and the others. Chu Yue tasted the food and was pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was, coming from the big-breasted girl. He smiled and complimented, "Looks like you're not completely useless after all. You actually cook quite well!"

"What kind of comment is that? Can't I cook a delicious meal?" Ho Lan replied playfully. "Is Chuxue still resting? Should we wake her up to have something to eat?"

Chu Yue shook his head, signaling that it wasn't necessary and that Chuxue should continue resting. Ho Lan sat across from him and started eating, smacking her lips in approval of the meal she had prepared.

She wandered the streets of the small town, her body swaying. Her red, tight-fitting clothes suddenly transformed into a large red dress, and her hair cascaded down. She seemed a bit unwell, leaning against the wall for support and coughing a few times. Slowly lifting her head, she squinted and murmured softly, "Where am I?"

The girl felt a pang of hunger in her stomach. Luckily, there was a decrepit shop ahead. She dashed inside, grabbed some bread from the shelf, and began to eat. The bread was a bit dry, so she reached for a drink behind her and started gulping it down.

Suddenly, a throbbing pain surged through her head. The intense headache brought her to the ground as visions flashed before her eyes.

She remembered a man in a pharmacy who had bumped into her and tried to speak to her, but the details of their encounter slipped her mind. The next time she saw the man was amidst a horde of Zombies, and she had saved him.

Who was this man? Why did she feel this slight attraction to him? It was as if they were magnets, irresistibly drawn to each other, destined to meet.

The pain had subsided slightly. The girl stood up slowly and pulled a necklace from beneath her clothes. Engraved on it were three words: Moo Jinxi. Who was Moo Jinxi? Why was she carrying this necklace? Could it be that her name was Moo Jinxi?

Where did she come from? Why was she here in this place?

The girl shook her head, pushing aside these questions to focus on the more immediate concern of satisfying her hunger with the food in her hands.

Chu Yue had finished his errands and was sitting at the doorway, playfully engaging with Damo. Yet, his thoughts kept returning to the girl he had encountered, as if they had met before. She seemed strangely familiar to him, almost endearingly so.

He found himself hoping for another chance to see her. If they did meet again, he resolved to clear up all these mysteries.

Chuxue awoke and scrambled out of bed, hastily dressing and rushing downstairs. Seeing Chu Yue at the door, she was flooded with relief. She ran to him and embraced him tightly, nestling into his arms as she said, "Mr. Chu Yue, I'm always so scared that you won't be there when I open my eyes. You know I can't stand the thought of you leaving me, right?"

"Silly girl, how could I possibly leave you?" Chu Yue was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Xue, are you hungry? Ms. Ho Lan has prepared some delicious food for you. Go on, have some."

At the mention of food, Chuxue's eyes sparkled. She dashed inside and perched on the counter, her large eyes blinking expectantly as she asked, "Ms. Ho Lan, is it true you've made something tasty?"

"Yes, but it's gone cold. Tell you what, I'll warm it up for you. It's really delicious!" Ho Lan replied, her smile warm.

"Great!"

Meanwhile, in another small town...

"Who's there?" Moo Jinxi sensed an overwhelming presence approaching from behind. She whirled around to see a man standing before her, his gait exuding a forceful aura that instilled a hint of fear in her. The man's strength was palpable. Moo Jinxi stepped back cautiously and inquired, "Who are you?"

"You really have lost your memory," the man said with a smile. "I'm your old battle companion, Lin Ning! Don't you remember me?"

"Lin Ning? Who is Lin Ning?" Moo Jinxi inquired with a hint of skepticism. "I don't recall knowing anyone by that name..."

The man introducing himself as Lin Ning offered a smile and produced some documents, which he handed to Moo Jinxi. As she perused the information, she recognized the woman in the documents as herself. Yet, she had no recollection of the events described, nor any idea of what had transpired in her past.

"Poor Xin, I've come to take you home," Lin Ning said. In an instant, he stepped closer to her, and just like that, they vanished from the spot.

"Boss, Xin has returned," Lin Ning reported in a hushed tone to a man clad in a military uniform. The man turned his intense gaze upon Moo Jinxi, prompting her to retreat several steps and cry out, "I don't want to be here! I don't want to be here!"

Lin Ning quickly approached Moo Jinxi, seeking to soothe her, "Xi'er, Xi'er, there's no need to fear. This is our home, our sanctuary. You're safe here."

"Let's have him stay for the time being," the man suggested quietly. Despite the deliberate pace of his speech, his words carried a weight that was almost suffocating.

A short distance from the man, a woman materialized from nowhere and settled gracefully onto a nearby sofa. Her figure was enchanting, her gaze so intense it could unnerve any man. She chuckled and teased, "Oh, our esteemed leader, what's amiss? Have your followers become so fearful of you?"

The man responded with a mere hum, taking a seat and fixing his eyes on the woman. "What do you want with me? I've already told you not to show up unannounced. What will people think if they see you here?"

"True, true. I'm here because I have something to discuss with you," the woman replied, moving closer to whisper in the man's ear. His expression shifted to one of surprise as he exclaimed, "What? You're saying the girl has been found? Where is she now?"

"We can only detect the girl's signal when she uses her abilities. When she's not using them, we're in the dark. However, she's been activating her abilities more frequently of late, so I've managed to pinpoint her exact location."

"We need to pinpoint the exact location!" the man exclaimed as he stood up and forcefully slapped the table. "With that girl on our side, we'll be practically invincible. Once we set our plan in motion, no one will be able to stop us!"

"Hehehe... Brother Long, do you really think you've had a thought that hasn't crossed my mind? I've already sent people to handle it," the woman said, resting her hand on the man's shoulder and whispering in his ear, "There's no need for you to lift a finger. My subordinates will suffice."

"Excellent! That's just perfect!" the man roared with laughter.

Chu Yue stood up, stretching languidly as he admired the day's splendid sunshine. He chuckled as he entered the room and caught sight of Chuxue indulging in her meal. The adorable girl's messy eating habits were quite a sight. His laughter caught her attention, and she looked up with a huff, "Mr. Chu Yue! You're so mean! I'm just eating, and you're making fun of me?"

"I wasn't making fun of you, not at all. How could I dare to tease our little darling?" Chu Yue quickly soothed her. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was already afternoon. "We've been here for several days, and our pursuers haven't let up. We can't afford to stay any longer; we need to make a move soon."

"But there aren't any zombies around here right now," Ho Lan murmured, her voice tinged with fear. Chu Yue understood her anxiety; being terrorized by zombies was no small ordeal. He explained, "The absence of zombies is only temporary. It won't be long before new ones emerge, more formidable than the last. And with our hunters on our trail, we'll be caught between two enemies. How will we escape then?"

"Uh... Okay, you're right," Ho Lan conceded with a smile, though she seemed at a loss for words and fell silent. After finishing her meal, Chuxue wiped her mouth and reassured Chu Yue, "Don't worry, Mr. Chu Yue. I'll follow you wherever you decide to go."

Once they had finished eating, the group ascended the stairs to gather their belongings. They had enjoyed a few days of serene tranquility, and the thought of such a life continuing indefinitely was appealing. But Chu Yue was acutely aware of their dire circumstances, and they all recognized the tough situation they were facing.