Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

They happened to be collecting supplies on the same street when they met.

Shen Xiuzhe and his team drove two beaten-up cars; after several days of zombie sieges, both the white sedan and the SUV were in tatters.

On the other side, there were two trucks and several small cars, with more than a dozen people circling Jiang Laixu, protecting him tightly.

Almost the moment they spotted Shen Xiuzhe, the people on the other side became tense, their expressions stern, readying themselves for defense.

In fact, Shen Xiuzhe didn't even glance at them; after getting out of the car, he brought Lin An from the back to enter the store and search for supplies.

The bald man on the other side was quite expressive, glaring and sneering arrogantly at them until Xiao Fu jumped down from the car, at which point he quickly turned to tend to his dog.

Ouyang Dong couldn't help but ask, "Do you know each other?"

"Xu Fang hummed, 'The one in the middle, the one in white, you must have heard of him, Jiang Laixu.'"

"'The spatial ability user?' Having visited several bases in Chuxi City, Ouyang Dong was familiar with the name. 'What about him?'"

"'He's a show-off. Can't quite put my finger on it, but he's annoying. And, I suspect the attack on me and the boss a few days ago had something to do with him,' Xu Fang said quietly."

"Ouyang Dong had heard of Jiang Laixu's good reputation. As the only spatial ability user known, many held him in high esteem. But after spending the past few days with Xu Fang's group, he naturally leaned towards their perspective."

"'Is that so? What should we do now...?'"

"Xu Fang, watching their leader walk away, patted Xiao Fu's head, 'I guess we'll follow the boss's lead. If he wants to confront them, we'll join in.'"

"The two men, with their dog, also entered the store, leaving the onlookers outside to exchange glances."

"Shen Xiuzhe, one of the founders of the base, was always elusive, rarely seen around. However, his formidable power with dual abilities made everyone wary of him."

"Moreover, there were rumors that Shen Xiuzhe, unable to control his dual abilities a few days ago, had violently eliminated dozens of ability users who had attempted to subdue him."

These psychics, all minor celebrities within the base, met their tragic end at the hands of the enemy.

Afterwards, Shen Xiuzhe disappeared, along with the bald man who often followed him. Both vanished on the same day.

Now, the two of them have reappeared.

"Let's escort you out of here first," a psychic said to Jiang Laixu.

Jiang Laixu, still watching the group entering the store, was dressed in white, handsome with a genial smile on his lips: "Was that Shen Xiuzhe just now? I haven't seen him around the base for a long time."

"He's dangerous. Just a few days ago, he killed over thirty psychics. The news has spread all over the base. If he goes berserk here, we might not be able to handle it."

On hearing this, Jiang Laixu frowned and said, "I've heard about this too, but there's no evidence yet that he's the killer. I hope everyone won't spread rumors. After all, Shen Xiuzhe has made significant contributions to the base. I know him, and I don't believe he's a senseless killer."

Seeing Jiang Laixu's determined attitude, the others refrained from further comment.

Until Shen Xiuzhe emerged from the store, the others hadn't left. Or rather, Jiang Laixu was waiting for them.

"Shen Xiuzhe, don't you plan to return to the base?" Jiang Laixu suddenly asked. "I've heard about the recent incident. There must be some misunderstanding. It will be fine once things are cleared up."

Shen Xiuzhe looked over coldly, his narrow eyes casually sweeping over everyone, putting them on high alert.

"Okay."

Xu Fang was about to scoff when he heard the boss agree, immediately turning his head in shock towards him.

Wouldn't returning be like lambs walking into the lion's den?

Perhaps even Jiang Laixu had not anticipated Shen Xiuzhe agreeing so readily; he was taken aback for a moment until the other's impatient voice snapped him back to reality.

Shen Xiuzhe: "Aren't you inviting me back to the base?"

Jiang Laixu: "Indeed, we've almost gathered the supplies we need for this trip, let's head back now."

Those who came with Jiang Laixu didn't understand why they should take this dangerous individual back, and they were quite unhappy with Shen Xiuzhe's attitude. Jiang Laixu, one of the most important ability users in the base, was kind and humble, yet Shen Xiuzhe spoke to him in such a tone, with a look of disdain.

However, they were too intimidated to voice their anger and too weak to challenge him, so they could only vigilantly protect Jiang Laixu.

Suddenly, Jiang Laixu inquired, "Who is that person behind Shen Xiuzhe?"

Lin An had been reluctant to leave the vehicle upon noticing the crowd, but in the end, Shen Xiuzhe had dragged him out.

After coming out of the shop, Lin An found everyone's gaze on them. Though he lacked awareness, he felt so uncomfortable that he eventually hid behind Shen Xiuzhe.

These past few days, whenever Lin An went out, Shen Xiuzhe would put a mask and gloves on him, so those people didn't realize Lin An was a zombie.

Ouyang Dong, initially frightened, gradually came to accept the situation. He thought Lin An was a relative of Shen Xiuzhe, turned into a zombie, whom Shen Xiuzhe couldn't bear to kill and didn't want to harm others, so he kept him close.

Unaware that he was nearly devoured by the gluttonous little zombie, Ouyang Dong was astonished by Lin An's behavior—after all, such a timid yet clean zombie was a first for him.

"I don't know, I can't recognize without seeing the face." The others were more focused on Ouyang Dong, whose physique was too conspicuous; to be so plump half a year into the apocalypse meant either a health issue or a very abundant food supply.

Now, with food shortages, even they, the ability users, barely had enough to eat, let alone the ordinary people in the base.

The two dilapidated cars followed behind the convoy, and Xu Fang couldn't help asking, "Boss, what are we doing going back there, seeking revenge?"

Shen Xiuzhe, deep in thought, watched the convoy ahead: "I hear people in the base have been going hungry lately."

"Ah, hasn't it always been like that?"

Shen Xiuzhe dropped the subject: "Zombies locked in houses are trying to get out; too many could form a horde, and then no base would withstand the onslaught."

"So, should we go back and notify them? Although there are many people I dislike in the base, most of them are ordinary people. Right, we should let them prepare early."

The base was located in a university, which was almost empty during the summer vacation when the apocalypse happened. It was initially used as a refuge and later fortified and expanded to its current size.

There are several such bases in Chuxi City, including schools, prisons, and factories. Each base was established by survivors at that time, but some have now vanished. Their base, however, is the most populous and the largest safe haven.

The school's originally low fences were thickened and heightened with barbed wire and various metals, while zombies lured by the smell were all slain by the vigilant psychics.

Their convoy entered unobstructed, and no one noticed that two battered cars had been added to the fleet that left in the morning.

The main entrance of the university led to a spacious open area, surrounded on three sides by academic buildings, now filled with people sitting, setting up stalls, lying down, and chatting.

The corridors of the academic buildings were also crowded, with clothes of all kinds hanging out of the windows.

Everywhere one looked, the faces were numb, some well-dressed, others barely clothed, but mostly gaunt and expressionless, devoid of any vitality.

Ouyang Dong had visited the base in its early days, failing not only to find anyone willing to venture to the city center with him but also nearly getting kidnapped due to exposing his powers. He hadn't returned since, even though the survivors at the base were in good spirits back then.

It wasn't until the convoy stopped and they got off the vehicle that Ouyang Dong finally voiced the doubts in his heart.

Xu Fang, leading Xiao Fu, said, "The main issue is the lack of food. Now, the shops and supermarkets in Chuxi City have been nearly stripped clean, except for those overrun with zombies."

Ouyang Dong, who had a large appetite even before the apocalypse, consumed a lot of food in his dwelling. Plus, since developing plant-based powers and aiming to use them to return home, he practiced daily, consuming almost all the fruits he produced, leading to a higher sugar intake and more weight gain than before the apocalypse.

"That doesn't make sense. Our Chuxi City's agriculture was thriving, and we used to export food to the neighboring Mechanical City. Plus, with most people turned into zombies, there should technically be no shortage of food," Ouyang Dong felt a sense of guilt among so many emaciated people.

Actually, he was the type who would gain weight even from drinking water, not really from overeating.

"Who knows? Anyway, we go out for supplies every day. Food isn't an issue for us, but the problem lies with the ordinary people and psychics in the base who dare not venture out. What we find is barely enough for everyone. It's frustrating. It hardly feels like living, watching this every day."

Shen Xiuzhe, accompanied by Lin An, stepped out of the vehicle, overhearing the conversation. He remained silent, his gaze settling on Jiang Laixu, who was smiling and chatting amiably nearby, exuding a warmth and charm that was hard to dislike.

Perhaps feeling Shen Xiuzhe's scrutinizing gaze, Jiang Laixu looked their way, exchanged a few words with the person beside him, and then walked towards them.

"The base is buzzing with rumors about you killing many psychics. I know you're not that kind of person. It's better to clear up such matters."

Shen Xiuzhe, much taller than the other, didn't like to look down when speaking. So from the perspective of others, it appeared as if Shen Xiuzhe was looking down at Jiang Laixu with a sense of insurmountable pride and disdain.

"I have other matters to attend to, I'll be leaving first."

Shen Xiuzhe didn't respond to him, merely giving him a few glances before turning to leave, with Xu Fang and Ouyang Dong hurriedly following.

After alighting from the vehicle, Lin An stayed hidden behind Shen Xiuzhe, clutching at his clothes as if terrified of getting lost.

Jiang Laixu watched the group leave, unfazed by Shen Xiuzhe's impolite demeanor. His gaze lingered on the well-bundled figure of Lin An, observing his retreating back for a long time.

They made their way through the crowd, attracting the attention of everyone nearby.

Numbness, fear, jealousy, envy, resentment, and covetousness - gazes filled with various sentiments surged towards them. Shen Xiuzhe and his companions were unaffected, but Lin An couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.

Even as a zombie, his social anxiety had not abated.

Usually, just a few people were enough to confuse him and induce sweaty palms. Now, exposed to countless stares, they felt like sharp needles pricking his skin, causing immense discomfort and leaving his body rigid.

A portion of the onlookers' eyes were fixed on the dog, Xiao Fu, their hungry gazes so intense as if they could strip the dog of its fur and flesh with their desire.

Xiao Fu's body tensed up, sensing the malicious stares and instinctively moved closer to its owner, inadvertently drawing even more attention to Lin An.

No, don't look at him.

Xu Fang, holding the leash, found Xiao Fu constantly edging towards Lin An, and he had no choice but to move closer, only to notice the young zombie's distress.

"Hahaha, boss, look at how Lin An is walking all stiff," someone remarked.

Shen Xiuzhe turned around and noticed that Lin An had become completely rigid, with a vacant look in his eyes and his hand shaking as it clutched his clothes.

Recalling Lin An's terrified demeanor around himself and Xu Fang, Shen Xiuzhe immediately realized something and took off his coat to wrap the small zombie entirely.

"Let's head back to the dormitory first."

Only then did Xu Fang remember Lin An's social anxiety and the potential disaster if he became unhappy and decided to flood the place.

Xu Fang glared at the onlookers who had been sizing them up and said sharply, "What are you looking at? Turn your heads! Yes, you, heard me? Turn around, and don't let the dog look either!"

With his delinquent-like appearance and bald head, plus the fact he was leisurely walking a chubby dog, Xu Fang seemed like someone not to be trifled with.

Ou Yang Dong used to be a cheerful and eloquent man, but recent despair, the tragic death of his mother, and his expressionless, burly figure had left him unable to smile, adding to his intimidating presence.

The most imposing of them all was Shen Xiuzhe. Perhaps due to his foul mood, his face was sullen, and he walked briskly with a fierce look

The small zombie was tightly wrapped in a large black coat, almost being forcibly carried forward in an embrace.

It looked as if they were abductors kidnapping a child.