C21 Explosion

Lin Shuchen could fully grasp why Prof. Zhang was so driven. If she were in his shoes, she'd be just as relentless. She had to find the boy behind her at all costs, because he possessed a strange serum. Prof. Zhang had mentioned that this serum might be the key to saving the world.

The weight of the mission felt immense to her. Lin Shuchen reminisced about her past life in her hometown, where her days were filled with the normalcy of going to work.

Life was so idyllic back then. She never imagined that such events would unfold. It was bizarre; one day, on her way to work, several men in black abducted her and tied her up in a van. Initially, she thought it was a kidnapping. But the men spoke of an unusual power within her, which she didn't understand at the time. They took her to a secret base, where she discovered her ability was Soul Separation, allowing her to remotely control her body. However, this power was limited to a short range, and beyond that, her soul would automatically return to her physical form.

This limitation was a source of frustration for Lin Shuchen. If only she were a bit more powerful, they wouldn't have to worry about who was sent out, as her soul could fully venture forth. But now, she was the one who had to go out, and this left her feeling somewhat resigned.

It was now nighttime. She glanced at the map and realized she was still a long way from her destination. Suddenly, her stomach began to rumble. She chastised herself for rushing out without bringing any food. The thought made her incredibly irritated, and she blamed Xue Rang for his abrupt appearance and for bringing this situation upon her.

Prof. Zhang had slept for several hours, and when he awoke, it was already night. He stepped outside, and the sound of gunfire had slowed considerably. Were there fewer Zombies now?

Xue Rang spotted Prof. Zhang emerging from the doorway and approached him, asking, "Professor, you're awake? How are you feeling?"

"Much better. Regular rest is essential. I feel rejuvenated after that sleep," Prof. Zhang replied with a smile.

Xue Rang gave Prof. Zhang a brief rundown of the day's events. Prof. Zhang listened with a hint of shock. He was reluctant to send Lin Shuchen out, but it appeared she was indeed the best choice for the task at hand.

Lin Shuchen wandered into a small town, her soul leading the way. Inside the supermarket, she gathered some food to satisfy her hunger. The town seemed devoid of zombies, offering her a chance to rest for the night and secure more provisions.

"The zombies may be fewer, but we're almost out of bullets," Wang Loong remarked, inspecting the magazine of his gun. He counted a little over a dozen rounds remaining.

The other soldiers were in a similar predicament, and Chu Yue was well aware of their dire situation, though he was at a loss for a solution. Wang Loong pulled some grenades from his backpack and addressed his comrades with resolve, "Chu Yue saved our lives; we can't let them down. Even if it costs us our lives, we won't let them be sacrificed here."

"Agreed!" The soldiers bellowed in response. As Chu Yue was about to speak, Wang Loong and the others expended their remaining bullets and charged forward with grenades in hand. Minutes later, a series of explosions echoed.

"Boom!"

The thunderous blasts jolted Lin Shuchen awake from a distance. She sat up, lamenting, "I wonder which survivors have now fallen victim to the zombies, resorting to suicide. Sigh."

Chu Yue witnessed the aftermath, his heart heavy with mixed emotions. Though these men had once pursued him with lethal intent, they ultimately laid down their lives for his cause. The majority of the zombies had been annihilated in the blast. At that moment, Chu Yue felt an urgent need for unity among the living to exterminate the remaining zombies. Yet, he knew all too well that the selfish motives and hidden agendas among humans were precisely what had allowed the Zombie Virus to spread so rapidly.

Approaching the scene, Chu Yue's gaze was drawn to a figure that struck a chord of familiarity. Narrowing his eyes, he recognized the form as that of his late father, now transformed into a zombie. Despite having his legs severed by the explosion, the figure was still dragging itself forward.

Without hesitation, Chu Yue drew his pistol and aimed at the creature's forehead. He knew the man before him was no longer his father, but a zombie, seeing humans only as prey. His resolve was clear: there could be no room for mercy.

Upon returning to his room, Chuxue immediately ran over to him. Chu Yue, with a smile, took the pearl from around her neck and asked, "Did you get everything explained?"

"It's all settled. We're okay now," Chu Yue reassured her, guiding her into the room. He continued with a gentle smile, "Xue, try to get some sleep early. You must be frightened. Rest up."

Chuxue gave a small nod. Chu Yue then stepped out and advised Ho Lan, "You should get some rest too."

Ho Lan acknowledged with a nod.

Left alone in the living room, Chu Yue pulled out the family photo he had found earlier that day. As he gazed at it, memories of how he had fatally shot his own father overwhelmed him, and tears began to stream down his face. He whispered remorsefully, "Father, I'm so sorry. If there's another life, I promise to honor you properly. In this life, I've failed you as a son..."

Suddenly, someone embraced him from behind. Recognizing the height, he knew it was Ho Lan. Quickly, he wiped away his tears and stood up, asking, "Why haven't you gone to rest? Didn't I ask you to?"

"Why put on a show for me? If you feel like crying, just let it out," Ho Lan said with a comforting smile. "What's wrong with a man crying? You're always the one protecting us; can't I offer you some comfort? I know you're under a lot of pressure, but it's okay. If you need to cry, let it out."

Chu Yue, moved by her words, gave a brief account of the recent events. Ho Lan consoled him, "You shouldn't blame yourself. I believe your uncle would have preferred to meet his end at your hands rather than suffer at the hands of those twisted scientists. He didn't get peace even in death, but dying by your hand, he must have found some happiness. Now, he's neither human nor ghost. If his spirit is watching over us, I'm sure he's still looking out for you."

Chu Yue's sobs subsided. It was the first time in many years that he had allowed himself to cry in front of someone else. Chuxue, hearing the noise, peeked from outside the door. Despite feeling a pang of jealousy, she had overheard the conversation and chose not to interrupt.

Chu Yue dried his eyes and stood up, resolved. "Alright, you should get some rest. Wang Loong and the others are gone, and Zhang Zuosi will surely hear of it. He'll think I'm responsible and send more people after us. We need to rise early tomorrow, so you should too. We'll prepare some food and then move to a new location. It'll make it harder for them to track us down."

"Okay." Ho Lan had barely finished speaking when she opened the door, only to find Chuxue stumbling and nearly falling. Ho Lan quickly steadied her. Chuxue's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she dashed into her room, dove under the covers, and fell asleep.

Chu Yue chuckled to himself. He knew exactly what was on the young woman's mind and why she hadn't come in. Having Chuxue by his side was a privilege he cherished.

The next morning, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of delicious food. Chu Yue, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, made his way to the kitchen. There, he caught Ho Lan preparing a tasty meal. He sneakily snatched a bite but was caught red-handed by Ho Lan, who playfully smacked his hand with a spoon and scolded, "Since when did you start sneaking food like a thief?"

"Ow, that hurts!" Chu Yue laughed, snatching another piece when Ho Lan looked away and darted outside. As he left, the door continued to shake, and Chu Yue's expression darkened. He hadn't expected the zombies to be so audacious, even in broad daylight.

He drew his weapon, aiming at the door, but before he could fire, a girl's voice from outside pleaded, "Don't shoot!"

"A woman?" Chu Yue was taken aback. Chuxue, who had been in her room, and Ho Lan, who was in the kitchen, had both heard the noise and peeked out to assess the situation outside.

The girl outside cautiously peered in, surveying the scene. She then confidently stepped forward, smiling at the commotion. She inquired about the enticing smell coming from the kitchen and quickly made her way inside, heading straight for the kitchen. Without hesitation, she began to eat, showing no signs of shyness.

Chu Yue observed her from a distance, waiting patiently for her to finish. After about ten minutes, Chuxue emerged from her room, fully dressed, and entered the kitchen. She saw that most of the food had been devoured by the big sister before her. She looked slightly displeased, pouting at Chu Yue as if someone had stolen her meal.