Chapter 79: I Like You, and I Mean It

Chapter 79: I Like You, and I Mean It

As more patients in the base were cured, Shenchi's body also recovered to about seventy to eighty percent, allowing him to use his ice abilities normally again.

This day, after handing over the water from the Spirit Spring, Shenchi went out for a stroll as usual, with the second-level speed ability user sent by Jiang Zhendong following behind.

He couldn't do much to Shenchi, but Jiang Zhendong's eyes and ears were everywhere in the base. Although there was only one fourth-level ability user in the base—Jiang Zhendong himself—there were plenty of second- and third-level ability users. Even at his peak, Shenchi wouldn't be able to escape.

To prevent Shenchi from hiding in another dimension, Jiang Zhendong gave him a watch, clearly telling him that it had a tracking device, an infrared thermal imager, and a transmitter. If the tracking signal disappeared, he would immediately mobilize the entire base to arrest him.

"Once you put it on, you can't take it off. The watch collects your DNA the moment you wear it. If you remove it and someone else wears it, the DNA sample will not match, and the alarm will still send a signal to me."

Recalling Jiang Zhendong's words, Shenchi glanced at the black wristwatch on his wrist. Although the watch couldn't harm him, the controlling attitude of the other party was enough to disgust him.

The Hongshan Base was surrounded by mountains and was originally a sizable and well-known prison. After the zombie outbreak, many cunning individuals rushed here, resulting in a mix of all sorts of people, each with a fierce demeanor, acting as if they could conquer everything.

After the prison was converted into the Hongshan Base, it expanded by a third due to the increasing population, now housing nearly a hundred thousand residents. Recently, many outsiders came "by reputation," including several high-level ability users.

Shenchi wandered through the bustling crowd, and because many people had entered the city recently, more vendors had set up stalls.

Unlike Luyi, where management was strict, the streets here were filled with vendors shouting their wares.

"Come take a look! Come take a look! The most comprehensive baby supplies, last batch! If you have a pregnant woman at home, stock up now; they won't be available later..."

Shenchi squatted down at a stall selling storybooks and baby supplies. He flipped through the books, scanning the pages, while secretly observing the vibrant red origami cranes strung together with bamboo by the vendor.

There were ten cranes, arranged at different heights, each trailing a long tail. One crane flew ahead, perched on a withered branch, with "snowflakes" made of tiny foam pieces scattered around them, evoking memories of the safe zone in Yushan City.

Shenchi handed a stack of books to the vendor. "I'll take these." He then looked at the cranes. "These cranes are interesting; I'll take them too."

The vendor, seeing such a generous customer, grinned widely. "Sir, you have great taste! These books are all collector's editions, with huge potential for appreciation! If it weren't for these hard times, I wouldn't sell them! How about this, I'll knock off the extra and charge you five second-level crystals!"

"What?!" The speed ability user behind Shenchi paused, his hand frozen as he pulled out crystals. His eyes turned green with envy.

He pushed Shenchi aside and yelled at the vendor, "Are you crazy? You want five second-level crystals for these lousy books? Do you know how much rice one crystal can buy? How dare you overcharge for a pile of scrap paper!"

The vendor got angry too, rolling up his sleeves and sneering. "If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Who's forcing you? Besides, business is about who you deal with. I can charge five second-level crystals to the gentleman behind you, but I might not even bother with someone like you."

The speed ability user was so furious that he ripped off his sun-protective jacket and lunged forward.

The vendor wasn't weak either, and soon they were wrestling on the ground.

Shenchi tightened his grip on the bag, ignoring the two, and walked away.

He navigated through the crowd, bypassing the bustling market, choosing quieter paths. The intense gaze from behind felt like a sharp arrow piercing his back, following him relentlessly.

When no one was around, Shenchi stopped and turned around.

Standing before him was a man in a tank top, shorts, and a baseball cap. His skin was tanned dark, and he looked much thinner. When he removed his cap and walked towards Shenchi with those long legs, Shenchi's heart began to race uncontrollably.

"Thump..."

"Thump..."

"Thump!"

"Thump!!"

It grew faster and louder.

Shenchi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but his mind replayed the moments he spent with this person, especially those days in the air-raid shelter, which now seemed oddly sweet.

Shocked by this sudden thought, Shenchi instinctively looked at the man, who had stopped ten steps away, watching him silently.

Shenchi took two steps forward but lost his strength under the man's gaze.

Cao Kun: "Did you deliberately get captured to seek revenge?"

His voice was deeper than before, devoid of any emotion, yet Shenchi felt a pang of unease.

Shenchi's hesitation made Cao Kun's expression turn grim, and his words became harsher. "You never thought we'd worry, did you? You never considered us friends; you just saw us as a mutual benefit group, disposable once the job was done. You even left Ping'an with us without a second thought!"

"I didn't!" Shenchi had never thought that way, nor did he plan to get captured. He trembled with anger and retorted, "What about you?! You recognized me that night, knew whose child I was carrying, and watched my misfortune from afar! Saying I left Ping'an with you suited you just fine, didn't it? You stayed by my side for Ping'an, now pretending to be a big shot!"

Cao Kun laughed bitterly. "You're good at turning things around."

The distance between them was too short for Cao Kun's long legs. By the time he finished speaking, he was already standing right in front of Shenchi.

He removed his hat, revealing the same chiseled face, but the coldness in his eyes had faded.

Cao Kun: "So you've been angry with me because of this? You thought I liked you only because of Ping'an?"

Shenchi turned his head away. "...I didn't say that."

"But I heard it."

Cao Kun took another step closer. He was tall, and this proximity made him completely overshadow Shenchi, creating a strong sense of pressure.

Uncomfortable, Shenchi took a step back.

Cao Kun followed, his tone firm. "Shenchi, whether you believe it or not, I've liked you far longer than you think, and my feelings for you are far more serious than you imagine."

—These words were genuine.

His expression conveyed this truth to Shenchi.

Cao Kun reached out and slowly wrapped his arms around Shenchi.

Shenchi didn't dodge.

The two embraced in the alleyway at the corner, the scorching sun slicing a distinct boundary overhead, casting shadows that made the withered leaves appear overly beautiful for a moment.

"Oops, did we interrupt something?"

A voice filled with amusement suddenly came from above. Shenchi's eyes turned cold as ice arrows and fireballs shot toward the source!

"Whoa, someone's got a temper!"

The two figures on the roof instantly appeared in another direction. Shenchi looked at the stall owner selling baby supplies and the Level Two speed ability user.

Something wasn't right; a Level Two speed ability user couldn't be this fast.

The speed ability user snorted, "Jiang Zhendong's men have already surrounded us. You're still here flirting? Couldn't you pick a better time and place?"

Cao Kun glanced at the speed ability user and then at the stall owner. "Who are you guys?"

The stall owner chuckled, "We're here to help you, of course."

As soon as he said this, an alarm blared overhead, followed by the sound of chaotic footsteps approaching.

Cao Kun grabbed Shenchi's hand. "Come with me."

Shenchi hesitated. "But..."

"Cai Shi!" Cao Kun interrupted sternly, "You have no reason to stay here. None."

Shenchi sighed and then removed his watch, tossing it aside.

Cao Kun looked at the stall owner. "What did you mean by that?"

"Just getting you out of here!" The stall owner looked at them, focusing mainly on Shenchi. "But I have one request: take us to Jiang Zhendong's lab and help us get in."

The moment Shenchi leaped off the wall, he realized the alarm wasn't for him but for the swarm of zombies rushing towards them like a horde of wasps!

Since the weather warmed up, zombie waves occurred at least once a month. People in the safe zone gradually gained experience from fighting, venturing out to kill more zombies.

Unlike the battle-hardened warriors, ordinary people in the outer city always fled in panic during each zombie wave, seeking shelter. In contrast, some in the inner city continued to run their stalls and drink their liquor calmly.

Shenchi kicked off the wall, leaped to the right, and performed a 360-degree flip before being thrust back into the air by an ice pillar.

Looking down, he saw a thick plant root system beneath the ice pillar!

Hundreds of thorns emerged from the ground, intertwining to form a massive cage that trapped Shenchi inside.

On the other side, Cao Kun wielded a large sword, throwing out several fireballs that transformed into fiery dragons several meters long.

Unlike the metaphorical "fire dragons," these had actual limbs, like eagle claws, grabbing guns from people and wrapping their tails around them.

Water splashed down, white smoke rose, and the person let out a terrible scream before collapsing, their skin completely burned.

As one person fell, others rushed forward. Initially, the four had been weaving through the crowd, hoping the pursuers would hesitate.

However, they showed no restraint, accidentally "misfiring" and killing others to display their power and prowess.

Shenchi retreated into the space, reappearing behind those who aimed their guns at innocent bystanders, striking them down with a single sword stroke.

The four avoided crowded areas, running towards less populated places. As they passed a residential street, the speed ability user suddenly pushed open a door. "In here!"

Shenchi and the others entered, and the door was closed again. Inside, there were about twenty people, some sitting, some standing, all sizes.