Xie Yubai suddenly laughed.
The curve of his lips carried a hint of madness and morbidity.
Yes, he wanted to live, to live happily.
So, some things needed to be brought forward.
It’s alright, Suisui. Just wait a little longer for Little Bai. Little Bai will definitely bring you back.
He lowered his thick, long eyelashes, hiding the surging darkness in his eyes.
The change happened almost in an instant. By the time the others regained their composure, Xie Yubai’s expression had already returned to normal.
He carefully folded the letter and tucked it back, along with the small slip of paper.
Cen Xi couldn’t see through his thoughts and didn’t bother trying to figure it out.
After all, her task was complete.
As for the rest, it could be handed over to anyone, as long as it wasn’t her.
Feng Jingchen’s eyes flickered behind his glasses, a strange expression flashing across his face.
He couldn’t have been mistaken just now…
Before he could withdraw his gaze, it met those indifferent fox-like eyes. Feng Jingchen’s heart skipped a beat, and he offered a gentle smile in response.
Xie Yubai paid no further attention, preparing to return to his room to read the letter a few more times.
Just then, a series of urgent doorbell chimes echoed through the villa.
Song Yuanxing shot to his feet, his expression grave. “Could zombies be attacking?”
“Unlikely. The area around the Seventh District is mostly wasteland. Plus, we’ve been keeping an eye on things, and there are people guarding the base. It shouldn’t be zombies, but we can’t rule it out,” Cen Xi frowned.
If it really were zombies, then wouldn’t that mean…
A Zombie Tide?
The others clearly thought the same, exchanging glances.
Fu Nanchuan spoke first, “Let’s go check outside before jumping to conclusions.”
Liang Yicheng immediately raised a hand, “I’ll go.”
With that, she dashed off in a flash.
Song Yuanxing and Sheng Tianming followed closely behind.
As for the commotion, Xie Yubai had no intention of diverting his attention. The moment he stepped onto the first stair, a wave of warmth spread from his wrist, causing his entire body to stiffen.
His body reacted faster than his mind, pushing up his sleeve to reveal the black bracelet wrapped around his wrist.
He reached out to touch it, but the sensation from moments earlier was gone.
Was it an illusion?
Xie Yubai narrowed his eyes and turned on his heel.
He didn’t believe it!
There had never been an illusion all these years, so why would one appear now?
Considering one possibility, his breathing grew slightly hurried.
“Boss, are you heading out?” Feng Jingchen noticed his movement and asked.
“Yes, I have something to take care of.”
“Need company?”
“No.”
With those words, the man had already vanished from the living room.
**
“You’re saying that thing is a Zombie Egg?”
【That should be correct.】
The surrounding air was truly foul. She took the white crystal in hand and left the room.
“Is this thing also a crystal core? It doesn’t seem very pure.” Shen Suian glanced at it, a hint of disdain in her expression.
Tuntun circled around her twice, explaining, 【This should be a Psychic-type Crystal Core. It’s already been partially used, which is why it masked the infant zombie’s presence.】
Hmph, it definitely wasn’t because it was incompetent!
Shen Suian nodded in understanding.
【Want to try again?】
“Why not?”
Even a mosquito’s worth of meat is still meat, isn’t it?
In less than three seconds, the already faint glow completely faded.
【How does it feel?】
Tuntun felt utterly numb. It had a strange premonition that as long as Shen Suian absorbed a crystal core, she would awaken the corresponding Superpowers.
“No particular feeling.” Shen Suian shook her head slightly.
Tuntun silently glanced at the rubble below. 【Maybe I haven’t found the right way to use it.】
If it was all absorbed, how could it not be?
Shen Suian nodded and didn’t dwell on it further.
“But why would that box contain these two things?” Tuntun was extremely curious.
Before it could come up with a reasonable explanation, it noticed Shen Suian staring at it with a strange expression.
“W-what’s wrong?”
“You spoke.”
“I could always speak…” Tuntun’s voice trailed off instantly.
“Can you still not speak now?” Shen Suian tapped her slender fingers against her cheek, analyzing. “If nothing unexpected happened, that infant zombie shouldn’t have been able to get close to me. Also, with the System’s capabilities, seeing what’s inside the box shouldn’t be difficult. But you couldn’t.”
“Lastly, I can feel your power growing weaker and weaker.”
Perhaps the Psychic Crystal Core had taken effect, making her perception of this world much more accurate.
Tuntun lowered its head and whispered, “Didn’t you say it yourself? I’m the System.”
“Hmm?” Shen Suian raised the corner of her eye, guessing. “Do you need to bind with a host?”
“Yes, the System’s power can only be obtained after binding with a host. Not only that, but things like enhancing the host’s strength or giving them advantages all depend on the binding.”
“Because the place I usually stay in has abundant energy, I don’t need to replenish it. This time, it happened so suddenly—before I could even fully charge, the Lord God threw me in here.”
The hat on its head drooped, making it look listless.
“And using certain methods, like washing your hands, killing zombies, or trapping that second-order zombie, pretty much drained all my energy.”
“The remaining energy automatically activated a protection mechanism, temporarily sealing it. Unless I encounter a life-threatening situation, it won’t be accessible.”
“To use it again, I either have to go back, or we bind together.”
Shen Suian asked, “So there’s no life-threatening danger, right?”
“I’m the System. Without specific conditions, I can’t die.”
Shen Suian breathed a sigh of relief. “Alright, then I won’t need to rely on you from now on. Since no one can see you, just focus on keeping yourself safe.”
“Hey!” Tuntun was shocked. “You’re not planning to bind with me?”
Shen Suian glanced at it and spoke calmly. “To fulfill your wish.”
In truth, she disliked bonds.
They would make her hesitate in her actions.
She didn’t like that.
Tuntun muttered, “Actually, it’s not impossible. Besides, this way, I can gain power to help you…”
“You can gain power without binding.”
To delve deeper, she wouldn’t always rely on someone else’s power. Also, although she didn’t know how Superpowers were ranked, surviving here didn’t seem too difficult.
It was just a matter of how well or poorly one did.
“How can you gain it? I’ve never heard of such a thing.” It sounded absurd.
“Don’t stick to your fixed way of thinking. Just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Shen Suian’s gaze fell on the doorway, her eyebrows lifting slightly. “Since you didn’t speak up from the start, it means you don’t want to stay like this forever, right?”
Tuntun fell silent for two seconds before saying, “Don’t you think it’s ridiculous?”
Relying on others from the start, yet still wanting to preserve your own power, and even dreaming of breaking free.
Shen Suian glanced at it, a wild and unrestrained smile curling at the corners of his crimson lips. His posture was lazy and casual, exuding an indescribable arrogance. “Why do you think it’s laughable? Only by holding your own fate in your hands can you feel at ease.”