Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Gao Qiang joined Hu Xue and the others in their car. Ren Feng was at the wheel; Chen Zui, who had driven last night, was now catching up on sleep in the passenger seat.

Ren Feng stole a glance. The man’s arms were crossed over his chest, his white T-shirt clinging to his body, accentuating his well-defined chest muscles. His head was tilted slightly against the car door, and his smooth black hair, paired with his fair skin, made him look remarkably docile.

What truly captivated Ren Feng’s attention were Chen Zui’s eyes. Even closed, their contours were exquisite, not to mention those delicate, brush-like eyelashes that appeared softly fuzzy and endearing in the sunlight, making one instinctively want to reach out and caress them.

The sunlight was bright.

Ren Feng reached for a piece of clothing from the back seat, using the car window to secure it, thereby shading Chen Zui from the sun.

He continued driving, opting for the smoothest roads available. Meanwhile, unnoticed, the baby octopus was stealthily rummaging through a backpack in the back seat.

The road was exceptionally rough. Despite Ren Feng’s careful driving, the car still jolted. Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, he suddenly caught sight of something fluffy in his peripheral vision. After navigating a large pothole, he glanced over in confusion, his eyes widening. The car screeched to an abrupt halt.

The baby octopus was there, its tentacles wrapped around a tail far larger than itself, sweeping it towards Chen Zui’s face.

Ren Feng lunged, but it was too late. The fluffy tail brushed across Chen Zui’s cheek and nose, causing him to frown and open his eyes. Before he could fully register what was happening, Ren Feng’s hand shot out, but the baby octopus deftly leaped to evade.

Noticing Chen Zui was awake, Ren Feng had one immediate thought: *He’s doomed.*

The baby octopus, clinging to the car roof with a single tentacle, bounced up and down, swinging the large tail with it. Chen Zui, looking both puzzled and curious as if seeing it for the first time, reached out a hand.

From behind, Gao Qiang honked the car horn, inquiring about the situation.

Ren Feng nearly crushed the steering wheel, slammed the accelerator, and sped forward, his mind racing to the point of overheating. He prayed the baby octopus hadn't produced an instruction manual and that Chen Zui wouldn't recognize what the item was for.

Then, he heard Chen Zui let out a soft chuckle, a sound so enchanting it made one’s ears tingle—and Ren Feng’s heart plummet.

That laugh—Chen Zui *knew* exactly what it was for!

Chen Zui grasped the tail, running his hand slowly from its base to its tip, and teased, "Baby, you’re into this kind of thing?"

What could Ren Feng say? That it wasn't his, that the baby octopus had given it to him?

Who would believe him!

Who would have thought the baby octopus was such a kinky little octopus!

For the first time, Ren Feng felt a flicker of anger towards the baby octopus, but the little rascal, having accomplished its mission, vanished without a trace, leaping into the bottle of water Ren Feng had prepared for it to play in.

Chen Zui brushed the tail against Ren Feng’s arm: "Show me how to use it tonight, okay?"

His tone was seductive.

The hairs on Ren Feng’s arm stood on end. After a moment of stunned silence, he looked at Chen Zui, feigning confusion: "What are you talking about?"

Their eyes met.

Ren Feng tried his best to appear innocent.

Chen Zui was amused. *Fine, playing that game, are we?* This time, he swept the tail across Ren Feng’s chin, gradually making him blush: "Baby, what is this tail for?"

"It’s just a toy for the baby octopus."

The baby octopus poked its head out from the water bottle: ???

Ren Feng retorted: "What? Is there something wrong with this tail?"

He wanted to see if Chen Zui dared to elaborate.

Chen Zui swung the tail, slowly dragging it down Ren Feng’s back: "There’s nothing wrong with the tail. It’s just a simple—"

He raised the tail and then smacked it against Ren Feng’s butt: "—sex toy, that’s all."

Ren Feng: … *He really has no shame.*

He quickly adopted an expression of sudden realization.

Chen Zui hadn’t expected this seemingly honest guy to be such a good actor: "I can teach you how to use it tonight."

Ren Feng snorted, snatched the tail from his hand, and tossed it backward: "No need. It’s the baby octopus’s toy."

The baby octopus blew bubbles. This time, it hadn't managed to tease Ren Feng. *Not fun~*

Chen Zui glanced at the clothing clipped to the window, a warmth spreading in his heart. He stopped teasing Ren Feng and closed his eyes, drifting back to sleep.

Ren Feng breathed a sigh of relief. He’d managed to deflect it. The baby octopus’s mischief would be the baby octopus’s problem.

After a full day of travel, they parked the car in front of a desolate village that evening—though it barely qualified as one, with only eight or nine houses haphazardly built near the roadside.

They began scavenging for supplies, looking for a place to rest for the night and checking for any monsters nearby.

Chen Zui and Gao Qiang were tasked with checking for monsters. Chen Zui pushed open a courtyard gate, and a mantis-like monster, as tall as an adult, charged out, its blade-like forelimbs swinging at Chen Zui.

Chen Zui dodged to the side. A gunshot rang out; the bullet’s impact knocked the monster back, but it remained alive. Gao Qiang, positioned behind Chen Zui, immediately fired a second shot.

The mantis monster was agile, twisting to dodge. Before it could land, tentacles wrapped around it. But before Chen Zui could tighten the tentacles to crush it, the monster’s sharp forelimbs slashed at them.

Chen Zui controlled the tentacles, slamming the mantis monster hard into the ground, kicking up dust and leaving a deep crater. Simultaneously, he released the tentacles, and the mantis monster’s scythes cut through empty air.

Gao Qiang fired a third time.

The mantis monster, which had been about to rise, finally collapsed and didn't stir again.

The two stared at the deep crater warily before cautiously approaching. Chen Zui kicked the monster, but it showed no reaction.

Gao Qiang: "Fried mantis is a famous dish."

He swallowed. Mostly, he’d been eating nothing but bread or noodles all day, and he was craving—he was a carnivore, after all: "What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve ever eaten?"

Chen Zui thought about the roasted spiders and popping eyeballs he’d eaten before.

Before he could speak, Gao Qiang suddenly covered his mouth and chuckled, leaning closer to Chen Zui and whispering: "I know, it’s cum."

He laughed lewdly. Men, as a species, always seemed to gravitate towards crude topics and dirty jokes.

Chen Zui silently raised an eyebrow. That was a misunderstanding.

—

Ren Feng and the Hu sisters searched the houses they had already inspected for supplies. He opened a drawer in the bathroom and found several packs of sanitary pads, instinctively closing the drawer.

The next second, he opened the drawer again, momentarily forgetting that the two girls could use these.

He placed the sanitary pads in his backpack and continued searching.

They quickly finished searching the few houses. Everyone gathered in the house where they would rest for the night, taking out the supplies they’d found and sorting through them. Hu Xue opened the red plastic bag Ren Feng had set down.

"Wow, pads!"

Both she and Hu Yue were thrilled; these were incredibly useful for them. There was no stigma around periods—it was just that not using them and getting blood on their clothes was truly uncomfortable.

Having these would make things much more convenient.

Hu Xue hadn't expected Ren Feng, who seemed like such a straightforward guy, to think of bringing these back. He was quite thoughtful. And earlier, when Chen Zui took off his clothes, he had also asked her. No wonder they were a pair—they were a perfect match, both in appearance and temperament.

After dinner, simply going to sleep felt dull. Everyone gathered in the yard, sitting in a circle under the moonlight. With the courtyard walls providing cover, they could finally relax a little.

Hu Xue lay on the ground, resting her head on her arms, gazing at the starry sky. The night breeze stirred her long hair, and for once in this apocalyptic world, she felt a rare sense of contentment.

Hu Yue, beside her, was still diligently crocheting.

Gao Qiang playfully lay down next to her. "Xiao Xue, this is the back of my hand, this is my instep, and you are my treasure."

Hu Xue: "Get lost."

Gao Qiang: "Tell me off a few more times—I love it~"

Nearby, the baby octopus was juggling eight water balls with its eight tentacles, truly putting on a show. The baby octopus was completely immersed in its own artistry.

Chen Zui jerked his chin toward Ren Feng. "Wanna spar?"

Not having properly worked out lately had left Chen Zui feeling a bit off. With Ren Feng as a ready-made sparring partner, he was eager to give it a try.

Ren Feng agreed readily—men’s competitive streak in this regard was something else.

As the two stood up, everyone turned to watch.

They stood apart, sizing each other up with a mix of caution and excitement. Gao Qiang, realizing what was about to happen, said, "Alright, I’ll count down. Three, two—" He glanced at each of them. "One!"

The moment he finished, Chen Zui launched an attack on Ren Feng, his long leg kicking out with such force that it nearly reached Ren Feng’s head, accompanied by a powerful whoosh of air.

Gao Qiang immediately began commentating: "Brother’s leg isn’t a leg—it’s the spring water of the Seine!"

The Hu sisters shot him a look; this commentary was not just irrelevant—it was completely unrelated.

Ren Feng sidestepped neatly and tried to rush forward while Chen Zui’s leg was still in the air, aiming to go for a takedown. But he hadn't expected Chen Zui’s core strength to be so formidable. Kicking empty air, Chen Zui didn't wait to land before swinging back, delivering a fierce kick that forced Ren Feng to break off his attack and dodge again.

Everyone watched with rapt attention. Though it seemed like Chen Zui was using his legs, it was clear that his core strength was incredibly powerful.

So Gao Qiang added another line: "Brother’s waist isn’t a waist—it’s a lethal curved blade!"

Hu Xue elbowed him, making him chuckle foolishly.

The moment Chen Zui’s foot touched the ground, Ren Feng threw a punch. Chen Zui smirked as he reached out, his long fingers wrapping around Ren Feng’s fist. He then pulled Ren Feng forward forcefully while driving his knee upward.

If that connected, Ren Feng’s internal organs would be rearranged.

Ren Feng instinctively blocked with his arm, but Chen Zui, still gripping him, yanked his arm upward and gave a fierce shake, sending Ren Feng spinning around him.

The two looked almost as if they were dancing.

Ren Feng grabbed the hand Chen Zui was holding him with and pulled. But Chen Zui, who had been resisting with equal force, suddenly and unexpectedly went slack. This caused Ren Feng, who was exerting force, to stumble backward.

Chen Zui, despite his large frame, was pulled forward with surprising lightness, almost crashing into Ren Feng’s arms. He then wrapped his other arm around Ren Feng, preventing him from falling.

But they were fighting—Ren Feng wasn't about to thank him.

He bent his elbow and jabbed it toward Chen Zui’s face, which was now dangerously close.

Chen Zui’s arm, wrapped around Ren Feng’s waist, suddenly slipped down.

He grabbed a handful of his ass—since his back was to the audience, blocking their view of Ren Feng, no one noticed this little move.

Ren Feng’s face fell, and his attack faltered, allowing Chen Zui to dodge.

The two were now in close combat, their hard bodies pressed tightly together.

Gao Qiang and Hu Xue still hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

The happiest of all was Hu Yue—what was the difference between this and doing it in public!

So thrilling!

Loved it!

Could watch all night!

Ren Feng attacked more fiercely, simultaneously astonished by Chen Zui’s skill. He could clearly feel his own efforts paling in comparison to Chen Zui’s effortless skill.

Chen Zui gripped Ren Feng’s arm, forcefully twisted him around, and then slammed into him, pinning him in place.

Gao Qiang: "Wow! That was a beautiful armlock!"

Hu Xue: "Finally, some decent commentary."

Hu Yue: *Tonight, I am the happiest person in the world~*

——

After showering, Chen Zui returned to the room. Ren Feng, sitting on the edge of the bed, immediately looked up at him—clearly wanting to say something.

Chen Zui pushed his still-damp hair back, revealing his smooth, full forehead. Without asking anything, he lay down. Having just exercised and showered, he felt refreshed—perfect for sleep.

Ren Feng wasn't comfortable with his current relationship with Chen Zui. This ambiguous situation kept him constantly overanalyzing. In this world, he shouldn't—and couldn't—afford to invest too much mental energy into this.

So he finally asked, "What exactly do you want?"

Chen Zui: "Probably want to fuck you."

This was the conclusion he’d recently reached, especially during their sparring session earlier—he really wanted to pin this body beneath him.

The overly blunt answer left Ren Feng silent for a moment as he processed it. But he couldn't accept it. He hadn't given it much thought before, but Chen Zui’s appearance made him realize that even if they were together, he wanted to be the one topping Chen Zui, not the other way around.

"Then don’t even think about it. I’m not a bottom." Ren Feng figured that laying it out clearly would make Chen Zui stop teasing him, and he could gradually let go of his feelings for Chen Zui.

Love wasn't the most important thing to him anyway, and besides, they weren't even at the love stage yet—at most, it was mutual attraction, and the kind filled with desire at that.

Ren Feng lay down.

Since he’d said that, Chen Zui probably wouldn't try anything else.

But there was one thing Ren Feng was curious about: "What did you used to do?"

"Mercenary," Chen Zui replied, not lying to him.

Ren Feng hadn't expected that identity; if he was a mercenary, that explained a lot.

That identity was pretty cool, and Ren Feng felt a bit envious.

Chen Zui turned toward Ren Feng: "What about you?"

Ren Feng was originally lying flat, but Chen Zui suddenly turning over made him a little nervous. He stared fixedly at the ceiling light: "I’m a gym teacher."

A gym teacher whose classes were almost always getting canceled for other subjects.

"So you’re a teacher."

Chen Zui moved closer to Ren Feng, almost resting his chin on Ren Feng’s shoulder, as if unaware of Ren Feng’s stiffness, breathing hotly into his ear: "Teacher, I’ve got a problem here. Teach me what to do?"

He grabbed Ren Feng’s hand and placed it on his own...

Ren Feng clenched his fist, refusing to touch: "I told you, I’m not doing the bottom stuff..."

"You’re overthinking it. It’s just simple helping each other out. We’re both men, what’s there to fear?"

Chen Zui pinched both sides of Ren Feng’s wrist bone with a slick move, making his fingers spread open again, and pressed them onto...

His words got Ren Feng thinking.

Chen Zui continued whispering in his ear: "We’re going to travel together. Since neither of us minds this, why not have some fun together? We’ll definitely get more enjoyment."

He curled Ren Feng’s fingers one by one, making him grip.

"It’s swollen here. Help me take care of this, Ren—tea—cher—"

The heat almost burned Ren Feng’s ear. Swept up in Chen Zui’s persuasion, he began to take care of the swelling for Chen Zui.

Chen Zui smirked and rolled Ren Feng toward him.

Their foreheads pressed together, both looking down at the same place.

Chen Zui saw at a glance that Ren Feng was in the same state as him. He reached his hand over, and Ren Feng instinctively blocked but then stopped. Since he’d already helped Chen Zui, wouldn't he be getting the short end of the stick if he didn’t let Chen Zui help him in return?

Thinking this, Ren Feng gave in.

The summer night, the air was thick and humid. The temperature kept rising, and soon both were sweating, but it did nothing to kill the mood.

Ren Feng felt like he smelled the scent of roses again. He worked him, treating Chen Zui just as he would himself.

The other’s thing was pale and clean, and because it was pale, the veins bulged, making it look almost fierce. He thought what spilled from Chen Zui wasn’t cum... but something like rosewater.

Thinking this, he swallowed hard without thinking.

Neither of them rushed, wanting to make it last.

Gradually, Ren Feng got distracted by Chen Zui’s actions and could no longer focus on taking care of the swelling for him.

Seeing him slacking more and more, Chen Zui directly moved his hand away.

He took both in hand.

The contrast in color was stark.

Chen Zui had originally thought Ren Feng was sun-tanned, but clearly not—he must have been born with this skin tone.

This skin tone was good. When the hot release fell on him, the color contrast was quite exciting.

—

—

Chen Zui watched as the white slid down Ren Feng’s bronze-toned abs, a few drops landing on his pecs.

He raised his hand and wiped.

His thumb brushed over where the tentacle had bruised Ren Feng before...

Ren Feng’s eyes fluttered. He glanced at Chen Zui and quickly got up.

What just happened was too intimate, like an afterglow.

He borrowed the octopus guy’s basin and started to clean up.

Then he heard Chen Zui say: "Teacher Ren, you’re really good at this~ Next time it swells, I’ll come find you again."

Ren Feng: "Get up. I’m changing the sheets."

Chen Zui: "Okay."

Watching all this from a bystander’s perspective, 996 thought it wouldn’t be long before Chen Zui would have Ren Feng. Although the mission in this world was failing again, it couldn't be bothered to intervene at all. Why should the Transmigration Bureau’s arrangements be considered right when the feelings developing naturally between them were their own?

—

Later that night, Gao Qiang let out a scream. With prior experience, everyone wasn't as nervous—more surprised and excited.

Everyone gathered in the living room. Gao Qiang was so excited he was practically bouncing off the walls.

He had finally awakened a superpower too!

Gao Qiang: "Guess what superpower I awakened?"

Hu Yue: "Fire?"

Hu Xue couldn't care less to guess and yawned.

Gao Qiang looked at Chen Zui and the others. Ren Feng: "Just tell us."

Gao Qiang still played coy. He asked Chen Zui to punch him, which stunned everyone. Though none of them had been punched by Chen Zui before, taking one would probably leave them crippled.

Chen Zui: "Are you sure?"

He was quite willing to help.

Gao Qiang patted his chest: "Come on, hit me here!"

Chen Zui raised his fist, rotated his wrist, and struck fiercely toward Gao Qiang’s chest.

But just before impact, he held back at the last second. Then, a layer of something rock-hard appeared on Gao Qiang’s chest, though it wasn't physical.

But when Chen Zui’s fist landed, he could still feel its hardness.

It was about what he expected. When Gao Qiang asked him to do this, he thought the other might have awakened a defensive-type ability. Good thing he pulled back, or else that punch would have injured him.

Gao Qiang stood with his hands on his hips, brimming with pride: "From now on, I’m the main tank of our team! The shield!"

"Even my head can be defended from every angle," he said, as a layer of the same stuff materialized, swirling around his head.

However, after the substance disappeared, Hu Yue smacked him: "Then why did you let Chen Zui hit you? You trying to get his hand broken?"

Only then did it dawn on Gao Qiang, and he quickly apologized to Chen Zui. He had been too focused on showing off and hadn't considered that possibility.

With everyone laughing and chatting, Gao Qiang excitedly demonstrated his ability several more times; even the baby octopus came over to test it.

Gao Qiang: "Hehe, this time your little slaps won’t land on me."

Everyone was stoked to have another superpower user in the group. Back in their room, Hu Yue hugged Hu Xue: "Sister, you should get your powers soon too. I’m so looking forward to it."

Hu Xue smiled but said nothing.

——

Su He and Li Shou had managed to scrounge up another bicycle. There was no other choice—most vehicles were too busted to drive without a major repair, and neither of them knew how to fix them. Having a bicycle was better than nothing.

They took turns riding, with one sitting on the back. To catch up with Chen Zui’s group, they traveled through the night, risking danger and barely resting. After all, Su He now possessed a healing ability—as long as they weren’t dead or missing limbs, a few injuries were no big deal.

Su He was counting on this ability to earn a place in Chen Zui’s team.

He glanced at Li Shou, who was pedaling hard. *Useless... after all this time, he still hadn’t awakened any superpower.*

After pushing themselves relentlessly, even after the bike chain came off multiple times, they finally caught up with Chen Zui’s group.

Li Shou recalled the scene from that night. Even though they had caught up, he still had no idea how he could possibly kill Ren Feng.

Su He: "Let’s surrender first."

They had to give it a shot.

Just as Chen Zui and the others were about to get into their vehicle, two figures came rushing over frantically and collapsed not far from them.

Su He lifted his head, his voice hoarse: "Save me... I’ve awakened a healing ability. Just give me something to eat, please…"

He led with what he thought was his ticket in, while Li Shou pretended to be unconscious beside him.