Chapter 66 Claw of the Zombie Monkey

Chapter 66 Claw of the Zombie Monkey

Qin Mu laughed heartily: "City Lord Gong, you must be joking. Every citizen of Beiming City has been blessed by your kindness. Whether it's our Laojie Gang selling medicine or just trying to make a living, it's all thanks to the support and care from the City Lord's residence. Not to mention, my younger brother has been serving in the City Lord's guard team, working for you."

"We've always had a lot of respect for City Lord Gong. Although this time, our conflict with the Four Seas Gang was a bit impulsive."

"But the elders in our neighborhood entrusted their daughters to us to raise silkworms and make a living. They are just young girls, some only twelve or thirteen years old, and they were directly kidnapped by the Four Seas Gang. Everyone knows that the Four Seas Gang has captured many girls and locked them up. Who knows what would happen to our young sisters if they ended up in their hands?"

"Although our two bases are small, we spent a lot of time and effort clearing out the zombies, building walls, reclaiming wasteland, and investing many crystal cores to buy feed and fertilizer for planting trees."

"After such a long winter, and with the zombie siege lasting so long last year, the elders in the old town area saved their food for the kids, giving us, the strong laborers, enough to eat so we could fight the zombies. Now that spring is finally here, we have this brief window to plant vegetables and grains! Who knows if there will be droughts or heavy rains like last year, or another half-year winter? What will we eat? They saw that we had grown vegetables and raised chickens and ducks, and they just swooped in and took them!"

"City Lord Gong, you tell us, with the food supply for thousands of people in the old town area depending on these small bases, can we tolerate this? How can we face the elders? They pooled their crystal cores to buy fertilizer and feed, spent time planting vegetables and raising chickens, and entrusted their daughters to us because they trusted us, the Qin brothers. And what happened?"

"The Laojie Gang is nominally a gang, but it's actually a small mutual aid group formed by the lowest class of sailors who have been sailing for generations. The sailors' wives and children are looked after by the gang members and neighbors, helping each other out. If someone unfortunately dies at sea, there are people to send money back, and each household contributes a bit to help the widows and orphans get by. You know that both of us brothers are orphans, raised by the kindness of many families, uncles, aunts, and sisters-in-law. We can't forget where we came from."

"The Four Seas Gang has been a cancer in Beiming, wreaking havoc for so long, and everyone has long been unable to tolerate it!"

"I know City Lord Gong must be waiting until after the alliance conference to deal with them. But we can't wait any longer!"

His face was filled with anger.

On the screen, seeing his childhood friend acting like a movie star, with tears in his eyes and righteous anger, Zhu Zhuan's eyes widened.

Is this the same genius who used to doze off in class and run off with his backpack as soon as the bell rang?

Back then, when the teacher scolded him for being late, he didn't even bother to act or make excuses, just bluntly said he didn't want to attend and didn't care about losing points.

Gong Yanqing said kindly: "I'm not blaming you. I'm just an ordinary person, and the Gong family doesn't have any psychics stronger than that Wu Jiao. So we have indeed been somewhat negligent in dealing with the Four Seas Gang and failed to protect the people of Beiming. I feel ashamed."

"Now that you've removed this cancer, I'm very grateful to you. Today, I came to express my respect. Although you are young, you have courage and passion that we can't match. It's a shame that we, being older, with children and families, are too cautious, allowing the Four Seas Gang to run rampant for so long."

Qin Mu scratched his head, a bit embarrassed: "City Lord Gong, don't say that. It's really embarrassing."

Yuan Xuegang added: "Psychics are constantly leveling up. City Lord Gong has actually been looking for better psychics to participate in the construction of Beiming, preferably those who can suppress these chaotic and domineering gangs. We had planned to seek help from the alliance during this year's conference."

Gong Yanqing looked at Qin Mu and Qin Sheng: "But now I feel that with young people like you two brothers, who are locals of Beiming, we don't need to rely on outsiders anymore. When I heard that the Four Seas Gang had been wiped out, I was so happy that I had someone pour me a glass of wine to celebrate. With young people like you, who are capable, righteous, and have the support of the people, it's a blessing for Beiming."

Even Qin Sheng felt his ears burning from the praise and smiled sheepishly.

Qin Mu said: "City Lord Gong truly cares for the people. We thought you came today to scold us and were pretty nervous for a while."

Zhu Zhuan was dumbfounded as he watched Gong Yanqing and Qin Mu exchange compliments, after which Gong Yanqing got straight to the point: "Previously, Director Yuan mentioned that you wanted to take the opportunity of the city lord conference to sell Green Bird's medicine. But wasn't this Green Bird mutated medicine originally from Central Base? Is it appropriate for us to sell it there?"

Qin Mu replied: "That's what the other party requested. I feel that things in Central Base are also not very stable. They went through such a roundabout way to make other bases think that the Green Bird medicine came from our Beiming. I think they don't care about the reputation, and they have developed many new mutated medicines. I wonder if they have some conflict of interest with certain forces in Central Base, so they put us in the front?"

Gong Yanqing pondered for a while and then smiled: "It doesn't matter. According to Director Yuan, those medicines do have some effect. So let's settle it this way. Later, you two brothers will join our delegation to the conference. I will also bring along a few merchants, so it won't be too conspicuous."

Qin Mu said happily: "That's great. I was originally worried about going alone, as it's dangerous and the journey is long. Now that City Lord Gong is willing to let us take the plane together, it's perfect."

Gong Yanqing said with a hint of melancholy: "In the future, these planes will slowly break down, and I don't know if the alliance can rebuild the industrial capacity to manufacture planes and ships. Also, with the extreme weather in this post-apocalyptic world, we might need to focus on repairing roads and building rescue stations between major bases."

Qin Mu remembered what Zhou Yun had said before and sighed: "That's true. We must protect those with professional training, valuable experience, and technical skills, even if they are not psychics. The development of a civilized society and scientific progress still rely on these people."

Gong Yanqing was surprised that this high school dropout sailor could say such things. He looked at Qin Mu with a mix of emotions: "You're right. I wish I had met you two brothers earlier."

Qin Mu smiled: "It's not too late now. We still need to rely on City Lord Gong a lot."

Gong Yanqing smiled and exchanged a few more polite words before preparing to leave. But Qin Mu said: "There's one more thing. I wasn't sure if I should bring it up, as it's City Lord Gong's family matter. They say one shouldn't interfere in family affairs, but seeing how approachable you are today, I genuinely regard you as an elder and will speak boldly..."

Gong Yanqing said, "No need to be polite, just speak your mind."

Qin Mu said, "After we took over the strongholds and captives of the Four Seas Gang, during the interrogation, we heard from their club staff that your nephew, Gong Feiyun, frequently visited the Four Seas Gang's club. Once, he even brought the city lord's brother-in-law to the club for drinks and entertainment. Of course, I heard that time was quite proper, just drinking, nothing more."

Gong Yanqing's expression changed slightly, but he still spoke kindly, "Thank you for letting me know. I will handle this matter."

Qin Mu smiled, "The main thing is that Young Master Feiyun sent an invitation a few days ago, asking me to attend a banquet, but I didn't go. However, as small fries like us, refusing too much might make Young Master Feiyun lose face. So, I hope City Lord Gong can mediate for us. If Young Master Feiyun really has any issues with our Laojie Gang, I hope City Lord Gong can also put in a good word for us. After all, small businesses can't withstand much trouble, and the people behind us... I can't afford to offend. Now, I'm walking a tightrope, fearing dangers ahead and someone cutting the rope behind. One misstep, and it's a bottomless abyss."

Gong Yanqing nodded, "You can count on it." He didn't say much more on the matter, only gave a simple promise, but the previously warm and kind smile on his face had faded, and the vertical lines on his brow became more pronounced.

Qin Mu nodded, seeing Gong Yanqing rise to leave, he quickly stood up with his brother to escort Gong Yanqing and Director Yuan out.

===

After getting into the car, Gong Yanqing leaned back wearily. Yuan Xuegang, sitting in the back seat with him, said, "How was it? Slippery, right? Can you feel the frustration I had when I talked to them last time? Clearly two young men, yet they act like old hands."

Gong Yanqing didn't speak, just closed his eyes tiredly and rubbed his brow before saying, "They have indeed been through the seas. Our family's children have had it too easy. These kids from the bottom, fighting their way up bare-handed, how can they match their depth?"

Yuan Xuegang said, "Are you worried about Feiyun and Wu Zhou going to the club? Wu Zhou is a good kid. Didn't Qin Mu just say they only drank, nothing more? I doubt Feiyun would dare to lead his brother-in-law astray."

Gong Yanqing shook his head, "Haven't you figured it out? Qin Mu's implication is that Feiyun is courting gangs, closely associating with the Four Seas Gang, and now trying to befriend the Laojie Gang, even courting Wu Zhou. That's why I say our family's children are no match for the Qin brothers."

Yuan Xuegang chuckled, "I was wondering why Qin Mu would fear Feiyun, isn't he backed by someone? Earlier, he was talking about business, then suddenly brought up Wu Zhou, making it seem like he was tattling to get you to control Wu Zhou, trying to win favor."

Gong Yanqing knew Yuan Xuegang likely understood Qin Mu's hints but didn't want to meddle in Gong family affairs. From Yuan Xuegang's perspective, Feiyun and Wu Zhou probably wouldn't amount to much. As the head of the medical institute, he could protect himself and was likely a target of Feiyun's courting.

Surrounded by enemies, with his daughter and son-in-law not up to par, even his own uncle had reservations.

Yuan Xuegang asked him, "Why didn't you mention the adopted son today?"

Gong Yanqing said, "The timing isn't right, let's take it slow. Talents are in high demand, but they might not come to us. The two brothers together are talents we can't control. We can only show more favor, and in the future, we might have to rely on them. Without sufficient benefits, how can we persuade them, especially when they have other backing? There's more than one player in this game."

Yuan Xuegang said, "So, behind them, is it really the military? Do you believe what they said?"

Gong Yanqing said, "The Central Base's military is now divided into factions, it's indeed chaotic, Old Tan can't keep it under control. If Qin Mu had spouted some grand excuse about caring for the world, I would have doubted it. But he straightforwardly said the other side just wanted to use our small southern city's name to sell drugs and develop power, that's likely true. It's a clever move, I must say."

Yuan Xuegang, "You mean, they really have conflicting interests, so they have to use our small base?"

Gong Yanqing, "Who else could it be? The Psychic Research Institute, it's obvious. Old Tan wants to suppress psychics, but the Psychic Research Institute wants to court them. Over the psychic management regulations, they've already clashed, even banging tables during meetings. They still haven't come up with terms that satisfy all parties."

"I heard the Psychic Research Institute has many grievances against the alliance government. They now hold a superior position, not only easily commanding psychics but also having demands from major bases."

"If this zombie drug isn't from the Psychic Research Institute, it means someone in the military is cultivating a force to rival the Psychic Research Institute, and this force is still lying low, so they must use our inconspicuous private bases to develop secretly."

Yuan Xuegang pondered, "Indeed, the Psychic Research Institute is quite domineering now, recklessly poaching talents from major bases. Anyone with some medical achievements or psychic research results, they spare no effort to recruit."

Gong Yanqing sighed, "That's why I haven't allowed civilian networks, only military communications. Once connected to major bases' networks, communication becomes easy, and without sufficient benefits, we'd be at a disadvantage. So now, the Laojie Gang opening pharmacies, cultivating herb gardens, recruiting extensively, and even establishing a wood psychic ability users' guild, actually benefits us."

Yuan Xuegang, "I was also wondering why you didn't mention any of this today. If that's the case, can't we do the same?"

Gong Yanqing shook his head, "The drug formulas are in others' hands. It's the same with farming; there are many abandoned farms outside. They can organize to grow herbs, ensuring the drug's raw materials, and also genuinely providing jobs for Beiming. It's a win-win."

Yuan Xuegang, "What about the wood psychic ability users' guild?"

Gong Yanqing, "How can ordinary people establish a psychic guild? They chose to build a wood psychic guild because, firstly, cultivating mutated herbs indeed relies on wood psychic abilities, and secondly, they likely have a high-tier wood psychic behind them, at least third-tier or above."

"Low-tier wood psychic abilities are quite useless, with many practitioners. Water and wood psychics are currently the most numerous. Choosing this non-aggressive psychic to build a guild won't pose a significant threat to any faction. It only brings benefits to Beiming, no downsides. The mastermind behind this is truly brilliant."

Yuan Xuegang thought for a moment, "Indeed, if they had chosen light, fire, or lightning psychics, which are highly aggressive, no faction would tolerate them."

"Wood psychics... inconspicuous, yet vital to people's livelihoods. The mastermind behind this is truly brilliant."

Yuan Xuegang said, "Qin Mu is the first dark psychic we have discovered so far. Moreover, he publicly claims that he awakened after being bitten by a zombie. This has put a lot of pressure on our medical facility. Now, when people are bitten by zombies, they demand treatment from our medical facility."

Gong Yanqing said, "Psychic abilities are still continuously developing and being discovered. It's no surprise that we're encountering new abilities. I suggest you could use this case for research. There will also be a psychic research forum summit at this Alliance Conference, which would be a good opportunity for you to exchange and discuss."

Yuan Xuegang said, "Qin Mu is very cautious. I asked him if he would be willing to collaborate with us on dark psychic ability research, but he politely declined. However, I heard that his psychic ability allows him to manipulate shadow energy and can turn people into zombies. This energy is quite intimidating, and its evolution at higher levels is unclear."

Gong Yanqing said, "In these apocalyptic times, talented individuals are popping up everywhere, and psychics are becoming increasingly powerful. It's normal for them to be wary of research. I heard that psychics at Central Base are also starting to refuse research by the Psychic Research Institute. Psychics are now subtly becoming more powerful and are no longer content to be mere tools or weapons."

"Just look at Wu Jiao to understand. This has been giving me a headache, and I was considering asking the Alliance's military to step in this time. I didn't expect him to bring about his own downfall by provoking the Laojie Gang first, and knowing full well that we are cooperating with the Laojie Gang to sell medicine, it was clearly a deliberate move to send us a message."

Yuan Xuegang said, "The Four Seas Gang did come to us, wanting to sell medicine. Later, I explained that we are also distributors, and Wu Jiao was indeed very dissatisfied."

Gong Yanqing said, "Did Feiyun also approach you, wanting the medicine distribution channel? He asked me, and I refused. He probably harbors some resentment."

Yuan Xuegang laughed, "He did inquire. I told him to ask you because I only handle the sale of medicine here and don't know the supply source."

Gong Yanqing fell silent and said no more.

Yuan Xuegang asked with concern, "How is your health now? Should we leave early and head directly to Central Base to seek treatment from the Psychic Research Institute?"

Gong Yanqing said, "After taking that medicine, I do feel much better. The stomach pain has significantly reduced, and I can eat normally. I originally wanted to go to Central Base and the Psychic Research Institute earlier, but then this sudden obstacle came up. I'll deal with it first, stabilize things, and then go."

If he were to leave Beiming City with his daughter and son-in-law, what would Gong Feiyun do? He had previously befriended the Four Seas Gang, and Wu Jiao was so reckless, his ambitions exposed. We should also thank his arrogance and overconfidence for crossing someone he shouldn't have.

A shadow psychic, a metal psychic, a fire psychic variant dog, and a high-level wood psychic behind them could wipe out the Four Seas Gang overnight.

Fortunately, fortunately, the Qin brothers removed this poisoned thorn and unhesitatingly warned me. Gong Feiyun is also trying to win them over.

The Qin brothers' implication is that they will not intervene in the power struggle within the Gong family, which is indeed good news for me. But the warning is clear: they want my support, otherwise, they can easily replace me as the city lord. This is the threat from the force behind them.

I really have no choice but to cooperate with them.

===

"Zombie monkeys? Monkeys are similar to humans in structure and are highly intelligent. A pack of zombie monkeys would indeed be very dangerous. Are you okay?"

Zhou Yun stood on the rooftop, watching the bustling pedestrian street in Beiming City, as if returning to the peaceful times of the past. Comet rubbed against his feet and then ran back and forth on the rooftop.

"Are you still fighting them? I heard monkey calls," he said with some concern.

Guan Yuanfeng chuckled lightly, "Yes, they are harassing the villages in groups. It's probably because of the snow; they climb high and enter the base at night to eat people, steal human babies, and prey on livestock. The police have tried to catch them several times, but they come and go like the wind, and we can't catch them. So, we called in the special forces to handle it."

Zhou Yun said, "It sounds tricky. Be careful."

Guan Yuanfeng stared at the zombie monkey king opposite him. It looked at him anxiously, even scratching its head with its metal claws. The dark green mold fell off, and the last few strands of hair and rotting flesh were torn off by its own claws, turning into a skull, even more terrifying.

He remembered something, "By the way, this zombie monkey king is a metal monkey. Its claws are all metal. I remember you wanted metal crystal cores. Do you still want them?"

Zhou Yun said, "If it's convenient, keep them. If not, it's fine. These things carry viruses and are very fast. Be careful, don't overestimate yourself, especially your ordinary team members. Don't let them take risks."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "Hmm, I came alone, didn't bring anyone, just worried they might get infected by these agile monkeys. Now, we're just wearing down their patience. You know, monkeys are very impatient. These little monkeys are too annoying; we'll wear them down first."

Zhou Yun said, "With one lightning strike, wouldn't that metal monkey be directly killed?"

Guan Yuanfeng said, "The institute wants it alive. The virus on it should be relatively primitive and unmutated. Monkeys are very close to humans, and they want to study it, saying it has great research value."

Zhou Yun: "..."

He said firmly, "I want that crystal core. You'd better kill it quickly. If you give it alive to the institute, you definitely won't get the crystal core."

What a joke, a zombie monkey king! And with a pack of zombie monkeys! Just thinking about it makes it clear how difficult it would be to capture alive! If they want it alive, they should let Guan Yuanfeng take the risk? He definitely wants to make things difficult for them.

Guan Yuanfeng couldn't help but laugh again. Zhou Yun, who disliked the entire Psychic Research Institute just because he met an annoying Xiao Su, showed such a childish side that was really quite endearing. But he also knew that Zhou Yun's primary concern was for his safety.

Zhou Yun said, "What are you laughing at? Just kill it quickly and be done with it. Don't drag it out. Be careful not to let it escape, who knows how many more people it could harm."

Guan Yuanfeng replied, "Alright, I'll listen to you." Countless tornadoes had already formed on the ground, shredding the emaciated limbs of the zombie monkeys. A massive bolt of lightning tore through the sky, striking down from above. The zombie monkey king sensed the danger and sprinted away at an incredible speed, but it was no match for the speed of lightning!

With a devastating strike carrying the power to annihilate everything in its path, the zombie monkey king was reduced to a charred lump. Within the shriveled corpse, a pair of metallic monkey claws gleamed.

Guan Yuanfeng leaped down from the tree, and the tornadoes swept the remains of the smaller monkeys aside.

Guan Yuanfeng drew his battle knife, split open the monkey king's skull, and extracted the crystal core. He spoke into the phone, "It's dead, don't worry. The crystal core is here, along with a pair of mutated monkey claws, made of metal. I'm not sure what they're made of, but I'll have someone send them to you later."

Zhou Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the Qin brothers escorting City Lord Gong into a car below, he said, "It's okay. I think Gong Yanqing will likely head to Central Base in the next few days. Both Qin brothers will go to Central Base as well, so you can hand it over to them then. Qin Sheng is a psychic, and he's been looking for some good steel to make weapons. These metal monkey claws might be just right for him. You can let him try them out and see if they work."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "Alright. I thought it was just one person? How come it's two brothers now?"

Zhou Yun explained, "Well, he has an older brother named Qin Mu. Both brothers are selling medicine for me. Qin Mu recently awakened a shadow psychic ability, which is quite conspicuous. It's the first time I've seen a human possess such an ability. If he goes to Central Base, it might attract the attention of the Psychic Research Institute. It would be best if you could keep an eye on him."

Guan Yuanfeng's brow furrowed tightly, but his tone remained gentle, "Alright, I'll keep an eye on them."

Zhou Yun said, "Then you should hurry back too. The weather over there is still bad, and it gets dark early. Don't linger outside."

Guan Yuanfeng disdainfully kicked the charred corpses that crumbled at a touch with his combat boots, uncovering the pair of metal claws, "Alright, I'll head back later. I'll call you when I have time."

Zhou Yun couldn't help but laugh, "Alright."