After Bai Yaoyao left, a shadowy figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the garment factory.
Watching Bai Yaoyao’s departing figure, the figure pondered for a long time. Perhaps only you can end all this. I can no longer do it myself. May the world regain its peace and prosperity…
With a wave of the hand, the previously defeated Mental Power and Speed Zombies were revived. All the corpses scattered at the garment factory entrance vanished without a trace.
Gazing in the direction Bai Yaoyao had left, a trace of warmth surfaced in the figure’s cold eyes.
I hope we can meet again. It would be even better if the Apocalypse has ended by then…
……
After returning to the villa, Bai Yaoyao knocked on Fatty’s door before heading upstairs to her room, signaling her return.
There was no need to use Mental Power to check or even think about it—Fatty was definitely still awake, waiting for her without fail.
It was just like her first mission. That year, she was eight years old. The mission itself went smoothly, but on the way back… ahem, she got lost. The mountains all looked the same, and somehow she ended up wandering to the back hills.
It took her two days to return to the base. The moment she stepped inside, Fatty burst into tears, crying even harder than when their master whipped him.
Later, Lulu told her that ever since Bai Yaoyao left, Fatty would sit by the door waiting whenever he had free time. He didn’t even notice when Monkey stole his chicken drumstick at lunch.
When she didn’t return that night, he stayed up all night. If their master hadn’t forbidden anyone from leaving, he would have rushed out to search for her.
Only after learning that Bai Yaoyao had merely gotten lost and wasn’t injured did Fatty finally relax. He ate six large steamed buns in one go before his sobbing subsided.
Their master, seeing that a whole batch of freshly steamed buns had disappeared before mealtime, was so furious he nearly grabbed a stick to beat someone.
In the end, it was Bai Yaoyao who calmed him down with wild fruits she picked from the mountains and her sweet, coaxing words.
……
Recalling these childhood memories, Bai Yaoyao couldn’t help but smile. Today was truly a happy day—she had gained Xiao Wai and eliminated so many zombies.
Hearing Bai Yaoyao’s knock, Fatty finally relaxed his furrowed brows. The light, brisk sound of her footsteps climbing the stairs told him that not only was the girl unharmed, but she had also achieved her goal and was likely in good spirits.
With his mind at ease, he closed his eyes. In less than three seconds, thunderous snoring echoed through the room.
Next door, Shitou thought: The long-awaited snoring has finally returned! Without Fatty’s snoring, it’s simply impossible to fall asleep!
……
Back in her room, Bai Yaoyao entered her space directly. She first took a bath and changed clothes.
Then she began absorbing crystal cores. A single Tier-2 Special Type crystal core boosted her Mental Power to Tier-2.
After some thought, she realized that while Space Blade would become available at Tier-3 Space Ability, its power would still be weaker than Dog Brother’s claws at that stage.
In the early phases of the Apocalypse, Mutated Zombies were scarce, and she often relied on wielding a blade or baseball bat. Thus, she prioritized upgrading her Strength Power.
Using the crystal core from the Speed Zombie along with 222 zero-level crystal cores, she just reached Tier-3.
The higher the level, the harder it became to advance. Reaching Tier-3 alone required over ten times more crystal cores than advancing to Tier-2, though the exact number varied from person to person and was never fixed.
If one wanted to advance an ability to Tier-4, zero-level crystal cores would no longer suffice. Approximately one hundred Level One Crystal cores would be needed, but the most critical requirement starting from Tier-4 was a crystal core of the same level.
To reach Tier 4, one must obtain a Tier-4 crystal core.
But currently, even Level One Zombies are rare, let alone Tier-4 Zombies. Advancing to Tier-4 will likely require waiting some time.
Bai Yaoyao glanced at the time—3 a.m.—and without further delay, went to sleep. Although staying up late was routine in her line of work, her master had said that avoiding all-nighters would help her live longer.
…
Early morning.
“Dada Juan, look!” Monkey raised his hand and released a stream of water toward the outside of the balcony. Though it still lacked much offensive power, it looked far stronger than yesterday’s.
“Brother Monkey, you leveled up too! Watch this!” Dada Juan, who possessed Fire Power, started setting fire to the tree downstairs.
“Whoa, Fire Power is awesome! Looks way stronger than my water spray. Let me put it out for you!”
Then the two began mercilessly tormenting the tree downstairs.
Dada Juan burned, Monkey extinguished; Dada Juan burned, Monkey extinguished; Dada Juan burned, Monkey extinguished…
Keke, witnessing their actions, hurriedly intervened, “Stop it, quick! The big tree is getting angry!”
“Ah, what the—has it mutated too?” Dada Juan hastily withdrew the flames he’d released.
“Even if it hasn’t mutated yet, you’ll annoy it into mutating.” After saying this, Keke didn’t bother with the door and directly leaped down from the second floor.
She closed her eyes and gently placed her hand on the tree’s trunk.
The tree suddenly shuddered all over.
“Keke, be careful!” Monkey, worried she might be in danger, warned.
“It’s fine. My Wood Power has leveled up too—I can sense the tree’s emotions now.” Keke explained.
Since gaining Wood Power, Keke had discovered she felt differently about the plants and grass along the roadside, even though she hadn’t been particularly nature-loving before…
“Sorry, my friends didn’t mean it. They’re just too excited about their superpowers leveling up. Here, take this as an apology!” Keke took out a crystal core. She had only used 24 for her upgrade yesterday, leaving exactly one spare.
The tree rustled its leaves, as if saying it was okay.
But it still coiled the crystal core back and, at the same time, handed Keke a vine.
“Is this for me?” Keke asked.
The tree shook again.
“Hahaha, thank you! Today, I’ll work hard to kill zombies and bring you back more crystal cores!” Keke tied the vine around her wrist, speaking excitedly.
The tree swayed its leaves, as if cheering Keke on.
Bai Yaoyao came out just in time to see this scene and couldn’t help but marvel at Keke’s luck. This tree had probably just mutated, still inexperienced in the world. After being bullied, it sensed Keke’s kindness and help and directly offered the best thing it could give.
Bai Yaoyao suddenly turned her gaze to Dada Juan and Monkey—these two troublemakers!
Dada Juan and Monkey felt a chill run down their necks. Turning around and seeing Sister Yao’s expression, they instantly wanted to bolt. Damn, Sister Yao’s glare was a true inheritance from their master—clearly, she was itching to throw punches.
“Wrong, wrong, we’re sorry, Sister Yao!”
“Yeah, yeah, we forgot for a moment that plants and animals can mutate too.”
…
Bai Yaoyao rolled her eyes helplessly: “No next time. For lunch today, you two are having Mutated Dog again.”
“Ah, no way, Sister Yao! Didn’t you say yesterday we’d only have it for dinner?”
“Wah, Sister Yao, I was wrong!”
After everyone had gathered, Bai Yaoyao quickly brought out breakfast. While eating, she discussed the day’s battle plan with the group.
Monkey and Dada Juan cradled their egg pancakes in both hands, not willing to let even a single crumb fall to the ground—this was the only proper meal they’d had all day.
The two exchanged a glance, kindred spirits recognizing one another!
…..