Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Roads in developed townships are usually wide. They aren't built on dedicated land but often weave through residential areas. Residents living along these roads convert the ground floors of their houses into various shops—mobile service centers, cell phone stores, fried chicken joints, bubble tea shops, breakfast diners, noodle shops, beauty and nail salons, clothing stores, traditional Chinese medicine clinics, Western pharmacies—all neatly lining both sides of the road, forming a makeshift commercial strip.

This street, just over thirty meters long, is no different. These shops are small businesses run by locals, their merchandise not top-notch. Ordinarily, they'd be mostly deserted, but for people who have been on the move for days and are nearing the end of their rope, they were a godsend.

"Boss, these shops haven't been looted! We really came to the right place!"

"Quiet! You want to draw the zombies?"

The night was dense, a fog had settled on the road, visibility reduced to just five or six meters. Abandoned vehicles littered the center of the street. A black Lexus LX760 and a Hummer H4 picked their way through these obstacles one after the other, finally stopping in front of a Western pharmacy.

"Captain, scan complete. No moving life forms within ten meters." A calm male voice crackled over the walkie-talkie, accompanied by faint static.

"Stay alert. Make it quick." A hand clad in a fingerless glove picked up the walkie-talkie. "Get out."

Following the order, car doors opened simultaneously. Six travel-worn men and women stepped out, weariness etched on their faces as if they hadn't rested well for days.

The glass door of the pharmacy was locked, but a large hole gaped in the middle. Shards of glass lay scattered on the ground, a testament to some violent force. Suddenly, a strong beam of light shone through the hole, illuminating the medicine cabinets inside.

"It's all medicine! We've hit the jackpot this time!" one of the six, a man, exclaimed excitedly.

Before the words had fully left his mouth, the flashlight in his hand was abruptly switched off.

"I told you to be careful. Do you have a death wish?" a short-haired woman hissed, pressing down on the flashlight.

"Don't be mad, Yueyue," Guan Jianrui chuckled. "Four-Eyes already said it's clear. Besides, does this place look like it's crawling with zombies? If there were any, they'd have lunged out by now."

"I never said that. I said there were no moving life forms."

"That's pretty much the same thing."

Ji Songyue rolled her eyes and was about to let go when an icy dread shot down her spine. An indescribable sense of crisis shot from her feet to the top of her head. Before she could speak, she was shoved roughly aside.

"Watch out!"

A gust of wind swept past. Ji Songyue was knocked to the ground. Simultaneously, the sound of metal clashing and electric crackling erupted in the previously quiet air. A pungent, charred odor spread, accompanied by the thud of something heavy hitting the ground. Ji Songyue barely regained her senses. Biting back the sharp pain in her back and elbow, she looked toward where she had been standing.

The already precarious glass door had now collapsed completely onto the ground. Strangely, it didn't shatter into pieces but lay like a metal plate, pinning down a charred corpse beyond recognition.

A tall man stood before the metal plate, his raised hand still suspended mid-air, a hint of metallic sheen visible on his fingertips. Four-Eyes hid behind him, cautiously peeking half his head out to look at the ground, then at the dumbfounded Guan Jianrui. "You jinx! Whatever you say comes true."

Ji Songyue let out a sigh of relief. "Is everyone okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Me too. What about you, Yueyue?" Guan Jianrui asked, a look of belated fear on his face as he walked over to help Ji Songyue up, his eyes scanning her body, concern evident.

"I'm okay," Ji Songyue said, rubbing her elbow and looking toward the strikingly handsome man on the other side. "Thanks to Song Lan's quick reflexes."

Song Lan was a wind-type adept. The gust of wind earlier must have been his doing. Ji Songyue thanked him. Song Lan smiled, looking even more stunningly beautiful, almost otherworldly. "It was nothing. No need to be so polite."

"By the way, where's the Captain?" Ji Songyue asked again.

"I'm fine."

The faint light glinted off the metal plate onto the crouching man. His long boots and military pants encased his lean, powerful calves. The man pulled out a dagger and deftly dug a pale blue stone from the charred skull of the corpse. Standing up, he tossed it to the person at the door.

"Thanks, Captain Huo." Xiang Yubo caught the stone, the metallic sheen on his fingertips now completely faded.

The pharmacy was in complete disarray, with medicine boxes scattered everywhere. Huo Changfeng turned on his flashlight and swept the beam around the room. He casually wiped his dagger on a nearby dust cover and sheathed it back at his thigh. "It's clear. Come in."

Learning from the earlier scare, all six were on high alert while gathering the medicine. Fortunately, there were no further incidents. Ten minutes later, the six emerged from the pharmacy, each carrying a bulging, heavy bag.

After the apocalypse, various factories, including pharmaceutical plants, had shut down. Due to looting and competition, medical resources had become extremely scarce. These six large bags of medicine would sustain them for a considerable time.

With the most crucial supplies secured, the group's expressions relaxed slightly. After storing the medicine in the trunk, Song Lan took inventory of their supplies and said softly, "We need to replenish our food."

"I saw a breakfast shop up ahead earlier. We could check it out." Four-Eyes looked at Huo Changfeng, clearly seeking his opinion.

Huo Changfeng nodded tersely. "Let's go."

The night fog grew denser, the shops on either side blurred into indistinct shadows, only recognizable upon close approach. The six formed a circle, backs to each other, flashlights dimmed to their lowest setting, edging forward cautiously.

About ten minutes passed, but there was still no sign of the breakfast shop.

"Four-Eyes, are your eyes playing tricks on you? We're almost at the end of the street. Where's this breakfast shop?" Guan Jianrui whispered.

This street was eerily quiet. The empty pavement and limited visibility were enough to fuel anyone's anxiety. Four-Eyes pursed his lips and retorted in a low voice, "Impossible. By my estimate, it should be right ahe—"

He suddenly stopped.

"Ahead what?"

"Shh." Four-Eyes' expression turned serious. "Listen."

He had the sharpest senses of the six, especially his hearing, often picking up sounds long before others. This acuity had helped them avoid countless dangers in the past, so the others trusted him and also stopped to listen intently.

Ding-ling—

Ding-ling—

Ding-ling—

Clear, crisp bell sounds drifted from behind the thick fog, slow and rhythmic, growing from faint to distinct, echoing in the deep night.

The bell sounds drew closer. Huo Changfeng signaled for caution, warning them not to move, dropping into a slight crouch and drawing the dagger from his thigh.

Everyone held their breath, warily watching the depths of the fog.

Two minutes later, the bell sounds stopped, and everyone could see the source.

It was a young man.

He wore pristine white sneakers, a spotless white shirt tucked into black casual slacks, which accentuated his slender frame. He'd clearly spotted them and had stopped to look their way.

The young man's complexion was pale, his black short hair falling softly just above his eyelashes. He had a clean, delicate air about him.

Huo Changfeng was momentarily stunned, his body slowly relaxing. The young man looked strangely familiar but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.

The young man's gaze swept quickly over them, finally settling on Huo Changfeng, watching him quietly. His gaze lingered a long time—so long that Huo Changfeng couldn't help but frown in confusion, so long that his team members began to shift their stiffening muscles and whisper to him:

"Boss, what's the situation?"

Huo Changfeng didn't know either, but he could sense no hostility in the young man's gaze. Yet, it was difficult to describe exactly what kind of gaze it was. It seemed to contain a thousand words, yet also seemed empty of everything.

"Huo Changfeng, don't you remember me?" the young man finally said.

*

Guan Jianrui viciously bit into a piece of instant beef jerky, racking his brains but still unable to figure out how things had ended up like this.

Half an hour ago, they were still troubled by not being able to find a place to get breakfast; half an hour later, they had already taken care of all their supplies and were sitting in a bright, warm little house.

The house was a typical three-bedroom, one-living-room layout, kept spotless, with not even a speck of dust on the lightbulb on the ceiling. The sofa was as soft as cotton candy. Guan Jianrui sat on it, glanced at Four-Eyes beside him, and the two exchanged a look, finding the same dazed expression mirrored on each other's faces.

"Is the beef good?" Four-Eyes asked, his tone vague and uncertain.

"It's good," Guan Jianrui said gravely.

"Give me a piece too."

Guan Jianrui hauled out a large basket of plastic-wrapped food from under the coffee table, fished out a packet of beef, and handed it over. Four-Eyes tore open the packaging, bit into it with a serious expression, and then couldn't help but let out a sigh of satisfaction.

Half a minute later, the two of them, chewing beef, simultaneously shifted their eyes toward the kitchen.

An iron pot sat on the stove, blue flames licking its sides. Inside the pot, soup bubbled and boiled, making a gurgling sound. Billowing steam rose upward, carrying the aroma with it. Even though it was just the smell of instant noodles, the two couldn't help but have their mouths water.

The young man was still busy in the kitchen, continuously adding vegetables, ham, and eggs to the pot.

Guan Jianrui thought back to half an hour ago when they first saw this young man.

After the long standoff, the first thing the young man said was: "Huo Changfeng, don't you remember me?"

To their astonishment, the second thing the young man said was: "There are no zombies ahead. It's very safe."

Then, to their shock, the third thing the young man said was: "I know where the gas station and supermarket are. Follow me."

After saying these three sentences, the young man turned and walked away. It was then that Guan Jianrui noticed he was carrying a very large backpack. At the same time, the bell sound that had kept them on high alert once again echoed through the night with the young man's unhurried, steady footsteps.

It was all too bizarre. In an environment that should, by all logic, be full of danger, suddenly appeared a person who was unnervingly clean, swaggering down the street as leisurely as if taking an after-dinner walk, even with his own background music (BGM). After uttering three cryptic statements, he turned and left. This routine, this demeanor, was so reminiscent of the reclusive master in martial arts novels who guides the protagonist out of a desperate situation.

They were deeply suspicious of this. However, after a brief moment of thought lasting only a few seconds, their captain sheathed his dagger and followed.

Thus, in the following half hour, they cleaned out the supermarket, filled their car with gas while also storing several large canisters of gasoline. When they were about to force their way into a police station they passed, the young man stopped them, informing them there were no firearms inside. Finally, they were brought to the young man's home, where he showed them an entire room full of firearms, ammunition, and various cold weapons that should have been in a police station armory.

The young man was incredibly generous, saying they could choose any weapons from inside. He then brought out a basket of instant meals, gestured for them to help themselves, and went into the kitchen.

And now—

*Click.*

Bai Tu turned off the stove, transferred a pot of noodles into a bowl, brought it over to the table outside the kitchen, set out the bowl and chopsticks, walked to the door of the room storing the firearms (the door was ajar), knocked to interrupt the low conversation inside.

"The food is ready," he said, looking at Huo Changfeng.

Huo Changfeng was a little surprised. He paused for a moment, then walked to the door and followed Bai Tu to the dining table.

On the table sat a bowl of steaming hot noodles. The broth was rich, the noodles golden, topped with greens, eggs, and ham. It was a rare, well-balanced bowl of noodles. But there was only one bowl, a single serving.

Bai Tu had already pulled out a chair. "Sit down."

Huo Changfeng hesitated for a second, then sat down.

Bai Tu pulled out the chair beside him and sat down, pushing the bowl of noodles closer to him. "Be careful, it's hot."

Huo Changfeng didn't move.

Bai Tu thought for a moment, then got up again, got a bottle of apple juice from the refrigerator, poured it into a glass, and placed it to Huo Changfeng's left, so he could easily reach it while eating.

The remaining apple juice wasn't put back in the fridge but was left on the table by Bai Tu. He sat back down, moved his chair a bit closer to Huo Changfeng, then casually took Huo Changfeng's right hand, took off the fingerless glove, took a tissue, and wiped away the dust and grime from Huo Changfeng's right hand. Only then, as if satisfied, did he say, "Alright, eat."

Huo Changfeng's expression was complicated. He still showed no intention of eating. Bai Tu picked up the chopsticks, took a small bite of the noodles, then took a small sip of the apple juice. "It's safe to eat."

Huo Changfeng was taken aback. "That's not what I meant."

Seeing Bai Tu's clear, bright eyes gazing at him, showing not the slightest displeasure but instead a good-natured smile, Huo Changfeng couldn't help but pick up the apple juice glass to hide his feelings. He thanked Bai Tu quietly and asked, "You... what's your name?"

Bai Tu blinked. "Bai Tu. 'Bai' as in white, 'Tu' as in to apply, like paint."

"Bai Tu," Huo Changfeng repeated softly.

Bai Tu didn't ask if he had remembered anything, only urged him to eat quickly before the noodles got soggy.

Huo Changfeng was hungry. They had driven for three full days to get here from their last location, encountering countless zombies along the way. The depletion of his superpower and lack of sleep had left him utterly exhausted. He said no more, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat.

Whenever the apple juice in the glass fell below half, it was immediately refilled.

Bai Tu remained quietly seated beside him the whole time, watching his every move, which made Huo Changfeng feel uncharacteristically uncomfortable. Since meeting, he hadn't seen Bai Tu eat anything, so he put down his chopsticks, intending to get another bowl to share some noodles with him. But Bai Tu seemed to see through his thoughts and immediately placed his hand over his after he set the chopsticks down.

"I've already eaten. I'm not hungry."

Bai Tu's palm was soft and warm. Huo Changfeng pulled his hand back as if scalded and picked up his chopsticks again.

"Is this enough? If not, there's more," Bai Tu said gently.

Bai Tu's voice was clear and pleasant, with a soft lilt at the end of his sentences. Huo Changfeng felt as if a feather had brushed his ear, stirring a strange feeling in his heart. He began to ponder where exactly he had met Bai Tu before, to make the latter show such unusual intimacy and familiarity toward him.

Lost in his memories, he unconsciously finished the entire bowl of noodles and the whole bottle of apple juice, also ignoring the complex gazes from his teammates.

"You can rest here for the night. There's hot water in the bathroom. If you want to shower, I'll get you a towel and clothes."

Bai Tu said this while looking at him, his gaze very calm, making it impossible to feel any wariness. Huo Changfeng, as if bewitched, nodded.

The bathroom was in the master bedroom. Bai Tu hung a brand-new towel and a change of clothes by the door, knocked to inform Huo Changfeng. Through the sound of running water, Huo Changfeng acknowledged with a "Thanks."

Bai Tu pursed his lips, disliking him saying thank you to him.

He exited the master bedroom, closed the door, and began clearing the dining table and stove. Only after finishing did he remember there were other people in the house. So he said, "There's a bathroom outside. Please make yourselves at home."

After saying this, without even looking at them, he entered the bedroom. The door closed with a *click*, and the sound of the lock turning was very distinct.

Ji Songyue: "..."

Guan Jianrui: "..."

Four-Eyes: "...So he just didn't see us at all until now?"

Guan Jianrui: "...Is our boss about to be done for?"

Ji Songyue delivered a sharp knock to his head: "Can you not talk nonsense?"

Guan Jianrui yelped: "...I mean, has our boss been... taken a fancy to?"

Four-Eyes: "Obviously."

Xiang Yubo: "Seems like it."

Four-Eyes: "When did you come out?"

Xiang Yubo: "Just now. I counted. Inside, there are 32 Type 19 pistols, 27 Sig Sauer P226s, 25 Type 92FS pistols, 23 Nambu M60s, 19 HK USP pistols, 15 Tasers, 10 Type 95 rifles, 10 AK-12s, 10 G36s, 10 FN FNC 5.56mm rifles, and several crates of various types of ammunition, grenades, and landmines."

Guan Jianrui's eyes went wide. "We're rich... Is this the benefit of selling the boss?"

Ji Songyue coughed.

Guan Jianrui asked, "What's wrong, Yueyue? Is your throat bothering you? Do you have a cold? Do you need some medicine?"

Exasperated, Ji Songyue shot him frantic looks. Guan Jianrui's gaze followed.

Song Lan stood there glowering, not saying a word.

Beside him, Four-Eyes was still muttering to himself, "I never realized the captain was so charming before..."

Guan Jianrui immediately fell silent and started poking Four-Eyes' thigh.

"What are you doing, getting handsy? Are your eyes twitch—" Four-Eyes finally noticed Song Lan, his voice trailing off, "—ing?"

Oh no. Blinded by the sudden wealth, they'd forgotten there was someone else in the squad who liked the captain.

"Uh, haha, I'm a bit hungry. I'm going to cook some noodles. Do you guys want any?"

"Yes! Add an egg, some veggies, and ham!" Guan Jianrui sprang up, dragging Four-Eyes toward the kitchen. "Come on, come on, I'll lend a hand."

"I'm going to take a shower first," Ji Songyue said, grabbing her bag and heading to the bathroom.

Xiang Yubo glanced at the kitchen, then at the bathroom, and silently turned back to the weapons room.

The living room was suddenly left with only Song Lan. After a long moment, he slammed the door and stormed out.

"..."

Guan Jianrui poked his head out from the kitchen, watching the still-vibrating front door, and let out a long sigh of relief.

A wet head also peeked out from the bathroom. Ji Songyue, her hair full of lather, asked, "He's gone?"

Guan Jianrui nodded, instinctively lowering his voice. "Probably went back to the car."

He looked a bit awkward. Song Lan had confessed to the captain just three days ago and had been giving everyone the cold shoulder since being rejected. The squad's atmosphere had been strained and uncomfortable because of it. And now, out of nowhere, a rich beauty who's taken a liking to the captain wants him to live off her, and it seems the captain is accepting it quite well and digging in. It was just adding fuel to the fire.

Ji Songyue shrugged, indicating there was nothing she could do. She swiped away some foam that had dripped onto her eyelid, ducked back in, and closed the door to continue her shower.

The bedroom had excellent soundproofing, so the ruckus outside didn't reach Huo Changfeng.

He dried himself off and put on the clothes Bai Tu had given him—silk pajamas. The fabric was smooth, soft, light and comfortable against the skin. Since the world had changed drastically, Huo Changfeng had been constantly on the run, never having the chance to take a proper hot shower or wear comfortable home clothes like these. The steam from the bathroom had made him drowsy, and the tension in his mind had completely relaxed.

Given all this, Bai Tu surely couldn't mean him any harm. He wasn't some Tang Monk; there was nothing to gain from him.

Huo Changfeng turned the doorknob and stepped out. Bai Tu was sitting at the foot of the bed, zoning out, the mattress slightly dipping under his weight.

"The bed is big enough for two," Bai Tu said, stopping his reverie and looking at him.

Huo Changfeng glanced back at the bedroom door—it was already locked. His expression turned odd for a moment; he had genuinely let his thoughts wander for a second.

"There are no other beds. I sleep very well and won't crowd you," Bai Tu paused, then added, "Don't worry, it's safe here. There aren't many zombies left."

Huo Changfeng had already verified the latter point. He fell silent for a moment before saying, "Okay, thank you."

"Do you have to thank me?"

"What?"

"Even though you haven't remembered me yet, you don't have to thank me. I don't like it when you're so formal with me," Bai Tu said, looking at him.