【Why aren’t you going up?】
“I think this opportunity to shine should be left to those with the ability.” Her expression was flawless.
【But I’m not human, you don’t need to leave opportunities for me.】
Shen Suian: “…”
She cleared her throat and continued to bluff: “How can such a great task be entrusted to a waste like me? The wise and mighty Tuanzi is more suitable.”
【I won’t be fooled by you.】
Despite the tough talk, its body was honest as it inched forward bit by bit.
Shen Suian’s crimson lips curled slightly, and a sudden warmth spread from her wrist.
Her body stiffened slightly as she quickly pulled up her sleeve, revealing her snow-white wrist bone and the white bracelet tied around it.
She reached out and touched it but didn’t feel the sensation from that fleeting moment.
Was it an illusion?
【Hurry up and come in! I’m about to be overwhelmed by the stench!】
“Coming.”
Shen Suian pulled down her sleeve and stepped inside.
Whether it was an illusion or not, it wasn’t a bad thing for her.
No, if it wasn’t an illusion, it was definitely a good thing.
The moment she entered the room, Shen Suian’s eyes rolled back, and she nearly performed a low-blood-sugar faint on the spot.
Pinching her nose, she mumbled, “Tuanzi, where are you…?”
【Here, right here.】
Tuntun floated back to her side and reported its observations. 【There’s a female corpse inside, so decayed it’s unrecognizable as human. Judging by the state of the body, most of it has been devoured by that infant zombie.】
【There’s a box over there, probably containing something, but I can’t pick it up.】
Shen Suian nodded, glanced at the pale skeleton barely covered by a few shreds of flesh, and remarked, “More realistic than the ones in the lab, just a bit smelly.”
【…】
After this mission, it was going to change hosts.
Oh, wait—from now on, anyone with a personality like Shen Suian’s would be outright rejected.
Unaware of its thoughts, Shen Suian followed Tuntun’s instructions and easily found the locked box.
The box was black, stained with grime, and nothing special.
Shen Suian picked it up, shook it, then set it back down, turning her gaze to Tuntun.
【Why are you looking at me?】 Tuntun swallowed hard. 【Open it.】
“I came to you because I couldn’t open it.”
Tuntun: 【…I’m not all-powerful.】
“Oh, okay then.”
Guess she had to do it herself.
Sigh.
She leisurely moved her fingers, and the box instantly frosted over, followed by a “crack” as it shattered.
Tuntun: 【】
Is that how Superpowers are supposed to be used?
But the next scene left it even more speechless.
When Shen Suian had picked up the box earlier, the grime on it had stained her palm. Now, with a layer of ice crystals, not a single stain was visible!
It was spotlessly clean.
Tuntun recalled the previous hosts it had chosen—each had used their Superpowers for proper purposes. Only Shen Suian…
Opened a box and conveniently washed her hands in the process.
The contents of the box were revealed: a white crystal and a small lump wrapped in paper.
Tuntun’s expression changed, and it hurriedly said, 【Quick, destroy that lump.】
As if sensing danger, the lump flew toward the door at top speed.
But before it could cross the threshold, a ball of flames engulfed it. Without even time to scream, it vanished into thin air.
Tuntun breathed a sigh of relief and, looking at the white crystal, understood.
No wonder it couldn’t sense the presence of that infant zombie.
“What is that thing?”
**
Nanzhou Safe Base, Seventh District.
Unlike the environment outside, the area around the villa, including the interior, was exceptionally clean. The backyard was filled with hyacinths and gardenias.
It wasn’t even the season for them to bloom, yet strangely, both types of flowers were in full blossom, creating a strikingly beautiful sight.
A gentle breeze carried the faint floral fragrance, refreshing and invigorating.
Anyone unaware might have mistaken this for a peaceful and beautiful scene from before the Apocalypse.
Meanwhile, in the first-floor living room.
About six or seven people sat around a table, some propping their heads up in a daze, others leaning back in their chairs, and one polishing their gun. No one spoke first.
Cen Xi tapped the tabletop, the sound drawing the attention of the others. They lifted their eyelids slightly, their expressions showing no ripple of emotion.
“As usual, any discoveries from this outing?”
Song Yuanxing propped his chin up listlessly, speaking with little energy. “The place Feng-ge and I went to is already in ruins, filled with zombies. It was quite thrilling, but it took us a lot of effort. Thanks to my invisibility and Feng-ge’s speed, those zombies didn’t catch us.”
In short, it was a close call but ultimately safe.
Next was a young man with delicate features, his smile pure and clean. “Cheng Yuan-jie and I went to the northern region. All we could see was snow, and the zombies there were quite tough to deal with. Thanks to Cheng Yuan-jie, I made it back safely.”
The strikingly beautiful woman shook her head. “You were impressive too. If it were just me, I wouldn’t have made it out either.”
Sheng Tianming smiled and scratched his head.
A stern-faced man toyed with the gun in his hand, his voice deep. “I didn’t go out this time.”
Cen Xi: “Yicheng and I scouted the nearby area. Although we didn’t encounter many zombies, the ones we did were quite challenging. Besides, there are survivors in a city very close to here, but we didn’t enter.”
Fu Nanchuan leaned back in his chair, his fingers tracing the gun’s body. “As time passes, not only are our abilities improving, but the zombies are also growing stronger.”
Cheng Yuan agreed. “There’s news now that the highest zombie rank has reached sixth tier.”
It was worth noting that just half a year ago, a fourth-tier zombie had required three of them to handle.
Liang Yicheng slumped over the table in despair. “The environment is harsh, the zombies are getting stronger—are they even leaving us a way to survive?”
“There will always be a way,” Feng Jingchen said gently, pushing up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. “Everyone must be tired. Why not rest for now?”
“B—” Song Yuanxing’s words caught in his throat as he spotted the figure descending the stairs, and he quickly changed his tone. “Boss.”
The others turned to look.
The man was tall and well-built, with strands of hair falling over his forehead, partially obscuring his brows. His fox-like eyes held a mix of indifference and ferocity, his expression exuding an untamed arrogance. His features were sharp and perfectly proportioned, with clean, defined facial lines. His thin, crimson lips were slightly pursed, giving him an intensely aggressive aura.
The black clothing contrasted with his cold, pale skin. His posture was lazy and casual, yet his presence was powerful and overwhelming, radiating a sense of decadent world-weariness.
“Boss,” the others chorused.
The man responded with a faint “Hmm,” his expression weary and inscrutable.
Cen Xi sighed softly, “Do you want to say a few words?”
The man’s figure stiffened slightly, his hands slipping into his pockets. His voice was low and magnetic, tinged with a hint of hoarseness: “No, I’ll go to the backyard to look at the flowers.”