Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Xue Ling was forced out of the car by Wen Yi and wasn’t allowed back in for the rest of the day.

Wen Jiuzhe rested his heavy, stiff body on Xue Ling's shoulder, pressing down on her, and laughed a series of ha-has from his tablet, telling her:

"It’s no use. You can’t expect to get along well with Wen Yi. She’s hard to please and doesn’t like making friends."

Xue Ling didn’t actually want to befriend Wen Yi; she simply found it more relaxing to be around her.

Although Wen Yi liked to use persuasive tactics to get her to participate in experiments, she also treated her as a normal person.

Other people in the camp wouldn’t scream and run away when they saw them, but they would still instinctively keep their distance.

Many would immediately look away in fear if they met her eyes, not daring to look at her face for too long.

If Xue Ling accidentally got too close to them, they would show startled expressions and stiffly move away.

Even the researchers who talked to them had curious looks in their eyes.

Amidst the crowd, Xue Ling still felt like a monkey or an alien.

Xue Ling wanted to interact and chat with people normally—she could talk to Wen Jiuzhe, but sometimes he annoyed her, and she didn’t feel like dealing with his unnecessary issues.

There were also some things she didn’t feel comfortable discussing with Wen Jiuzhe. Wen Yi was a good listener.

Xue Ling had noticed that as long as Wen Jiuzhe wasn’t around, Wen Yi was usually willing to chat with her a bit more.

With the newly acquired tablet, Xue Ling typed: "She's so busy, she only eats one meal a day."

If only she could eat for her, Xue Ling thought wistfully.

Wen Jiuzhe, holding the old tablet, gossiped about Wen Yi: "Believe it or not, Wen Yi definitely envies zombies for not having to eat. She used to be a picky eater."

Wen Yi rolled down the car window, her face appearing above them: "Take your chat elsewhere. Don’t stand next to my window."

Then she slammed the window shut.

After completing their experiments, they soon prepared to return to the base.

They started dismantling the tents and packing up the equipment. Everyone had tasks, except for Xue Ling and Wen Jiuzhe.

Wen Yi wanted to temporarily assign them to Zeng Yitong’s medical vehicle, but Wen Jiuzhe disagreed. He insisted on driving his own car and following the convoy.

Wen Yi was too busy to argue over such trivial matters and let him have his way.

The motorcade set off. A large vehicle in the front was ready to handle any road damage swiftly.

Wen Yi's RV, the medical vehicle, and some other core researchers' cars were in the middle of the motorcade, escorted by military-green armed vehicles on both sides.

Wen Jiuzhe's battered car blended in, but everyone passing by would take an extra look at it.

This convoy looked very official and formidable. It was more intimidating than the previous one, and even regular zombie hordes couldn’t breach them; they would be dealt with before getting close.

They reached Northern Righteousness Base faster and more smoothly than expected.

Behind the sign that read "Northern Righteousness Base," there were countless square fields divided by fences, filled with endless waves of green wheat.

The vehicles drove into this green sea via the wide central road.

It took a long time to drive in before they could see the tall walls and electric fences of the North Base.

The walls were so long they extended far into the distance. Xue Ling looked out the window and could only see tall buildings rising behind the walls, resembling a bustling metropolis of the past.

In just three years, they had built a completely new city here.

I wonder what it's like inside? She looked out, only to see that the convoy didn’t enter through the main gate but instead turned left along the long, tall wall.

They drove past wheat fields, a large solar power installation, and through a network of roads leading in various directions, finally arriving at a heavily guarded building complex.

The walls here were even taller than those of the larger base they had passed. Inside, however, the buildings were no higher than five stories.

Each area was partitioned by walls, and every checkpoint had guards.

The convoy went through several verifications before it slowly entered the inner area.

Xue Ling looked out the window and made eye contact with a row of soldiers standing guard. They held their guns and maintained a steady gaze.

Xue Ling thought to herself, They are certainly well-trained.

Only a young soldier couldn’t help it. He widened his eyes slightly and opened his mouth a bit when he saw her. He was quickly nudged by the comrade next to him with an elbow, prompting him to quickly close his mouth.

But Xue Ling had already seen the shock of seeing a zombie driving.

The solemn and serious atmosphere inside the base made Xue Ling feel tense.

The car stopped in a parking lot of white small buildings. Wen Yi approached and said, "You two will wait in the medical vehicle for now. I’ll return to make arrangements later."

She needed to find her mentor first to confirm their identities.

Inside the medical vehicle, Zeng Yitong was still restrained to a bed, and Wen Yi’s junior, Xu Zhihua, sat beside him, organizing data.

She was a quiet girl who awkwardly invited them to sit down.

Wen Jiuzhe tapped on his tablet. "They even assigned a guard to us, as if we’re going to escape."

Xue Ling quickly disabled his auto-read function and rapidly typed, "It can also be viewed as a form of protection."

Xu Zhihua awkwardly interjected, "Senior Wen is thinking about your safety."

"This is a subsidiary of the North Base. It houses important researchers, with strict secrecy and security measures."

"Senior Wen’s mentor, Academician Rong Lanjia, is the director of the Medical Research Institute. However, there are several deputy directors under her. There are different factions, and they compete with each other."

"Your situation is unique. Senior Wen needs to report your case to Academician Rong and complete the necessary procedures to ensure your safety within this base."

Otherwise, there would be too many opportunities for manipulation, and they might be forced to participate in experiments.

Wen Yi promptly went to her mentor’s office and briefed her about Xue Ling and Wen Jiuzhe.

"My suggestion is not to treat them as experimental subjects for now. Their zombie identities could be of great help for our city search missions."

"I know Wen Jiuzhe’s capabilities well. With him, we can restart those missions we couldn’t complete before."

Rong Lanjia was already quite old, with short white hair and glasses. Her eyes behind the glasses always exuded wisdom and gentleness.

She listened carefully to her student’s explanation and put down the application form in her hand.

"I understand what you’ve said, and it does sound very helpful to us, but are they truly controllable? The most important thing is, can you guarantee this? As their guarantor, you will be held jointly responsible if something goes wrong."

"Teacher, if it were just Wen Jiuzhe alone, I wouldn’t choose to collaborate with him or entrust important tasks to him. But after observing him, I believe that with Xue Ling around, he is controllable."

"I trust my judgment and am responsible for my decisions."

...

When Wen Yi returned to the medical van, she brought identity cards and new clothes for Xue Ling and Wen Jiuzhe.

Wen Jiuzhe’s outfit was military green, similar to the soldiers' uniforms, while Xue Ling’s resembled the attire of research personnel, like Wen Yi’s.

Wen Jiuzhe was indifferent to this, but Xue Ling was very excited. She eagerly examined her uniform and ID card.

"Getting a work uniform means you're starting a job, and you're still so happy about it. Are you crazy?" Wen Jiuzhe’s electronic voice was precise and clear.

What thrilled Xue Ling was: "We’ve joined the organization without any exams!"

After all, on the way there, she had quietly reviewed some civil service exam materials.

No interviews, no exams—she was delighted.

Wen Yi led them to their assigned rooms for rest, a secluded white building where Wen Yi also lived.

The rooms were small singles, with Xue Ling’s and Wen Jiuzhe’s rooms adjacent to each other.

"We’re staying separately?" Wen Jiuzhe was dissatisfied.

Xue Ling didn’t mind staying separately, especially since they were next door.

She looked innocent, and Wen Jiuzhe then turned to Wen Yi: "Did you arrange for us to stay separately?"

"I’m not getting involved in your accommodation arrangements," Wen Yi said.

Wen Yi was so speechless that her expression became especially cold. "Just a reminder, don’t attack anyone in the compound. Otherwise, if you’re caught and forced into experiments, don’t blame me for not being able to save you."

"Also, I need to rest. Whether you argue or fight outside, keep it quiet. This place isn’t soundproof."

She entered her room.

Wen Jiuzhe grabbed Xue Ling’s door and refused to budge.

Xue Ling held up her tablet: "I need to shower, so get out."

Wen Jiuzhe: "Haven’t I seen it before?"

Xue Ling: "Then go shower in your own room."

Wen Jiuzhe: "We’re zombies, we don’t sweat, why do we need to shower?"

Xue Ling: "If you don’t shower, you can’t lie down with me."

She forcibly pushed him out and closed the door, carrying her bag around the room and heading into the bathroom.

After locking the door, she first examined her face in the mirror from both sides, then took off her clothes to carefully check her body.

Next, she took a soft measuring tape out of her bag to measure her hands, legs, waist, and other parts of her body, recording the data.

The figure reflected in the mirror was thinner than it had been in winter.

This year, her changes were greater than they had been in the previous two or three years.

She noticed but couldn't figure out the reason, and only knew why after hearing what Wen Yi had privately told her last time.

Before, she had never bitten a living person. Tai Sui had stabilized her condition, making her look better than an average zombie.

After reuniting with Wen Jiuzhe, she had bitten several people. The virus in her body multiplied and grew stronger, disrupting the balance. Tai Sui’s medicinal effects conflicted with the virus, starting to rapidly consume her.

Wen Yi said that she would eventually wither away.

Shrink into what? A shriveled mushroom?

Xue Ling imagined this as she stood under the shower to bathe.

Actually, no matter how zombies washed, it wouldn’t make much of a difference, but she still carefully washed her hair with shampoo, applied conditioner, and washed every part of her body with body wash.

Putting on the new uniform, she made sure every hem was properly worn, dried her hair, and neatly tied it up with a hairband.

Taking out the tablet Wen Jiuzhe had found for her, she took a photo of herself as a keepsake, not forgetting to make a V sign.

After getting ready, she opened the door and looked out, not unexpectedly seeing Wen Jiuzhe leaning against her door.

His hair was still wet, and he had changed into a military green uniform, looking overly handsome. If there were a zombie beauty contest, he could win first place.

As soon as the door opened, he walked in and sat on the only chair in the room.

"You took too long in the shower. Is it inconvenient for you?"

Xue Ling shook her head. She sat in front of Wen Jiuzhe and poked at the tablet. A voice came from the tablet: "Wen Jiuzhe, you can't bite people, understand?"

Wen Jiuzhe's first reaction was, "Why are you repeating what Wen Yi said?"

Xue Ling said seriously with a stern face, "Promise me, you absolutely mustn’t bite people."

"Alright," Wen Jiuzhe casually agreed, "Don't worry, I won't cause trouble in this base."

Xue Ling: "You can't bite people outside either."

Wen Jiuzhe: "Do I look like I enjoy biting people? Between the two of us, who is the real biter?"

Xue Ling: "……I’ve decided to improve myself and will never bite anyone again."

Wen Jiuzhe gave her a thumbs up.

Xue Ling punched him in the arm.

Wen Jiuzhe looked confused, "Why did you hit me again?"

Xue Ling: "You're mocking me."

Wen Jiuzhe: "I’m cheering you on."

Xue Ling: "I’m upset and want to hit you."

Wen Jiuzhe: "I don’t mind, but I’m already hard. Won’t it hurt your hand?"

Xue Ling demonstrated that it didn't hurt her either, and gave him three more punches.

A cold voice from Wen Yi came from the neighboring room, "Turn down the volume of the auto-reader, and if you’re going to fight, do it in the gym downstairs, and hit hard."

This room has no soundproofing at all.