By the time the group returned to the base, night had completely fallen.
The surrounding area was plunged into darkness, with only the base and its perimeter electric fences occasionally crackling with sparks.
Though the early days of the apocalypse had been chaotic, the government’s strong control had quickly gathered people and established highly secure, well-defended bases across the country. Social order had been restored rapidly.
To manage its population, the base implanted identity chips in all newcomers. It offered a wide range of jobs and missions, with rewards paid in credits that could be spent within the base. This allowed even ordinary people to live a stable life.
Yet, in the post-apocalyptic world, strength was everything. Those with power naturally fared better.
After entering the base, regulations required them to wait in the observation room for six hours. Even ability users who were scratched by zombies faced a one-in-ten-thousand chance of infection and zombification.
The mission had been to clear out zombies, retrieve Jiang Xu, and bring back supplies.
No one had expected to run into another horde. Despite the chaos, they managed to haul back three truckloads of supplies. Many had been seriously injured, yet Jiang Xu, though unconscious, was completely clean, with only a few scratches on his face.
They had exceeded the mission’s goals.
Feng Jinghuai’s untouched appearance drew curious glances from the inspectors. They exchanged confused looks, trying to recall any information they had on him.
He must be someone important, they concluded. Their attitude immediately became several degrees more polite.
After ruling that the team had over-delivered on the mission, the base promptly issued full credit and supply rewards. The severely injured and Jiang Xu were taken directly to private observation rooms.
Qi Chaoyang watched Jiang Xu being carried away on a stretcher and smugly turned to the rest of the group. “See? I told you we should have cleaned him up better.”
He had gone so far as to use a whole bottle of water and two sheets of paper, scrubbing Jiang Xu’s face so hard he’d accidentally removed a few of his eyebrows. He’d even changed the man’s clothes.
The others silently gave Qi Chaoyang a mental thumbs-up.
Feng Jinghuai and Huazhi were the first to enter the observation room.
It was late, and a steady stream of teams returning from missions or newcomers arriving at the base were trickling in.
Every person who entered habitually scanned the room, their gaze invariably settling on the furthest corner. No one could look away from the clean, composed man and the snow-white little rabbit beside him.
Feng Jinghuai leaned back in his chair, legs crossed in a relaxed, elegant pose. Huazhi lay across one of his thighs, her nose twitching softly with each breath.
The warmth of her breath condensed into tiny droplets, leaving her pale pink nose damp. Even with her eyes closed, two thin pink slits were visible. Her fur looked long and soft, and Feng Jinghuai occasionally twirled a tuft of it around his finger.
Her fur felt as smooth as satin and as soft as willow catkins, warm to the touch.
Clean, neat, obedient, and cute, she could even understand human speech and possessed a special ability. She was truly a treasure.
After being petted like this the entire way, Huazhi had gradually grown accustomed to his touch.
The fluffy white rabbit lay motionless on the man’s lap, her ears draped beside her head. She looked as exquisite and cute as a doll in a display window.
The crowd stared for a long moment, unable to tell if she was a real rabbit or a toy.
Suddenly, a rough, cheerful male voice came from the left. “Brother, is that an unmutated ordinary rabbit?”
Feng Jinghuai raised his gaze. When he saw the newcomer, a flash of surprise crossed his dark eyes.
The group had likely just returned from a mission. Several of them were injured, their fresh bandages already stained red.
Feng Jinghuai shook his head slightly. “No.”
The man’s interest piqued. He sat down nearby, though not too close. “Hello, I’m Zhao Guo.”
He studied Huazhi intently, his eyes gleaming.
Huazhi’s ears twitched, and she sat up, looking around in confusion.
Her ruby-red eyes opened slightly, and her fluffy head turned from side to side as her nose continued to twitch. She had sensed they had reached the base while she was still half-asleep. So, this must be it?
Huazhi stretched her limbs and finally shook off the last of her drowsiness. She was still on the man’s lap. She tried to jump down, but it was no use.
Huazhi sighed and settled back down, resting her chin on Feng Jinghuai’s crossed legs. As she scanned her surroundings, she realized that waking up had only made her hungrier.
Rabbits were natural hoarders, and she had always kept her burrows stocked with food. She had never gone this long without eating.
So hungry, so hungry, so hungry. Her stomach felt like it was on fire.
The hunger was unbearable, and Huazhi felt utterly miserable. She couldn’t speak, and she couldn’t leave Feng Jinghuai’s lap.
Overwhelmed by frustration, she began to squirm and nudge against his leg.
To anyone else, it looked like a little rabbit acting spoiled, her fluffy head bobbing and rubbing against him. A few tufts of white fur clung to Feng Jinghuai’s trousers.
Zhao Guo watched her, his eyes gleaming as if he’d found a precious treasure.
Qi Chaoyang crouched nearby, his expression grave. “Does she need to go? I’ve heard rabbits have simple digestive tracts—they just eat and go.”
He paused, then added, “Or maybe she’s just a defective rabbit who likes to run into things?”
He’s wrong about everything!
Huazhi stopped nudging him, turning her head and burying it against Feng Jinghuai’s leg, refusing to look at Qi Chaoyang.
Feng Jinghuai thought for a moment, then pulled a carrot from his pocket.
It was a fresh, bright orange carrot, cleaned of mud and leaves, about the thickness of a finger. The moment it appeared, Huazhi’s nose twitched. Food!
She lifted her head from his trousers, her eyes fixed on the carrot. Her tail began to wag uncontrollably, her desperation plain for anyone to see.
Feng Jinghuai held the carrot out to her. Huazhi took a tentative lick, then a small bite. The burst of juice flooded her mouth.
She actually disliked carrots, always finding their taste strange. She preferred alfalfa, romaine lettuce, and sweet potatoes. But she was so hungry now that even a carrot was acceptable.
Huazhi nibbled on the carrot, her cheeks bulging with every bite. To an outsider, it looked as if she were savoring it, absolutely delighted.
Feng Jinghuai had assumed she could survive on crystal core alone. He hadn’t realized she needed regular food just like any other rabbit.
Feng Jinghuai rubbed her ears. After she finished the carrot, he offered her a small cup of water.
Clean water! Huazhi lapped it up in tiny sips, her tail wagging even more vigorously.
A living, breathing rabbit that showed no signs of zombification or mutation, and one with such a gentle temperament!
Zhao Guo couldn’t contain himself any longer. “Brother, will you sell me this rabbit? I’ll give you thirty Tier 2 crystal cores!”
The onlookers erupted in a wave of noise, and the once-quiet observation room instantly became a hub of chatter.
“That rabbit is worth a fortune!”
“Rarity drives the price. You might run into a Tier 2 zombie once in a while, but have you seen a rabbit like this since the apocalypse started?”
“He’s a Tier 3 ability user. Killing a few Tier 2 zombies is a piece of cake for him.”
“If I had the money, I’d buy one too. It’s so damn cute. And if it dies, you can still make spicy rabbit head out of it.”
***
Residential areas in the base were divided into five tiers, each requiring a different amount of points to access. A single Tier 2 crystal core could cover a full year’s rent in the lowest-tier cubicles reserved for ordinary people.
Feng Jinghuai’s expression cooled. “Sorry, no.”
Surprised by the swift refusal, Zhao Guo pressed his case. “Brother, my daughter’s birthday is coming up. She’s always loved rabbits like this. You know how hard they are to find now. If you’re willing to sell, I’ll add another ten Tier 2 crystal core to the offer.”
A brusque male voice cut in. “We’re from the Beacon Wolf Squad, and he’s our vice captain. Consider selling the rabbit a way of making friends with us. If you ever run into trouble, just give our name.”
The surrounding chatter died down instantly. No wonder they were so extravagant. They were one of the top ten squads in the country, a position that gave them plenty of reason to be arrogant.
The onlookers wondered how he had even found a rabbit in the first place. To use it as a way to network with the Beacon Wolf Squad was a stroke of incredible luck.
The man said this with his nose in the air, and Qi Chaoyang’s annoyance flared. They wanted to snatch the rabbit before he could even cuddle it, and they were trying to pay him in Tier 2 cores? Who were they looking down on?
Without a word, Qi Chaoyang produced a Tier 3 crystal core and slid it directly in front of Zhao Guo.
Zhao Guo froze. “What is this?”
Qi Chaoyang took out another Tier 3 crystal core, then another.
The three cores gleamed under the lights, and Qi Chaoyang wore the smug expression of someone who had money to burn.
Staring at the crystals, Zhao Guo was inwardly stunned by their strength. He suddenly recalled his own words from moments ago, and a wave of embarrassment washed over him.
Huazhi! That’s the energy we didn’t finish absorbing! Charge, charge, charge!
The vibrant energy was so tempting that Huazhi’s eyes glazed over. She was about to pounce when Feng Jinghuai grabbed her by the scruff of her neck.
He gently stroked her ears. “Go back to sleep after a full belly.”
He still had uses for those cores and couldn’t let her eat them all.
Right, right. We can’t absorb this energy. Huazhi shook herself awake, the temptation fading. She lay back down obediently. We can’t eat this. They worked hard to get these cores.
Many of them were wounded, after all.
If I eat them, I can officially boot up.
Huazhi shook her head firmly. There are plenty of zombies outside. We can absorb their energy. This energy belongs to someone else. We have to be good bunnies, not little thieves.
After waiting for a long time without any response, the man with the arrogant voice walked over. “Brother Zhao, are they still refusing to sell? You guys—”
“Shut up!” Zhao Guo shot to his feet. “Go back!”
“Brother Zhao, I—”
Zhao Guo kicked him. “Stop embarrassing us!”
With Zhao Guo taking such a stand, no one else dared to disturb them. The six hours passed relatively quickly. By the time they left the observation room, the sky was already beginning to lighten.
“I’m dead tired. I’m going to sleep. See you tomorrow,” Qi Chaoyang muttered. He lived in the apartment below Feng Jinghuai’s. He went inside, shut the door, took a quick shower, and fell fast asleep.
Feng Jinghuai locked the windows and doors, then placed Huazhi on a chair. Knowing she understood human speech, he added, “Don’t run around.”
Huazhi tilted her head, watching him without nodding. Feng Jinghuai gently rubbed her rabbit ears before turning to go into the bathroom.
Only after the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom did Huazhi hop into the bedroom, where a full-length mirror stood.
A flash of golden light flickered before the mirror. The little rabbit that had been crouching on the floor vanished, replaced by a naked young woman.