Chapter 54: Zombie Apocalypse (XII)

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Chapter 54: Zombie Apocalypse (XII)

To the survivors of this world, water held profound significance. Water was the source of life—a truth etched into humanity’s very bones. So when rain finally began to fall from the sky, countless people instinctively saw it as a blessing, a long-awaited opportunity for survival.

But the blows dealt by the apocalypse had never truly ceased, and there was still no sign that it was coming to an end. Scientists soon discovered alarmingly high concentrations of the virus in the rainwater. Any ordinary person whose skin came into contact with the rain would undergo zombification within a very short time. They had survived the first catastrophe, only to fall victim to this deadly rainfall.

Before long, a new wave of zombies appeared within the towering walls of the safe zone. Fortunately, the outbreak did not result in heavy casualties. The ability users responded swiftly, eliminating every infected individual before the situation could spiral out of control. Even so, the city that had once been filled with hope was shrouded in a heavy veil of despair. No one knew what would happen to the world next. If even the wind, frost, rain, and snow had become threats to humanity, how could mankind possibly survive? Or perhaps the future of this world would belong to zombies.

After the first rain since the apocalypse started, sunlight finally returned to the world. Yet no one dared to see it as a sign of good fortune anymore, nor did they dare expose themselves to it. The sunlight had become a double-edged sword. For ability users, it acted as a catalyst, causing them no harm while making their abilities more active. For ordinary people, it brought a greater chance of awakening an ability, but at the same time, an equally greater chance of turning into a zombie.

The zombies’ rate of evolution also accelerated noticeably, further widening the divide between ordinary people and ability users. Those in leadership roles who lacked abilities gradually saw their influence diminish. In contrast, Zhang Yang, H City’s strongest ability user, found his status rising even higher. If people had once merely observed and tried to recruit him, they were now openly trying to curry favor with him. At some point, rumors began circulating that Zhang Yang’s ability had advanced to yet another level.

They had all placed their bets on Zhang Yang. This ability user, who always seemed to stay several steps ahead of everyone else, was clearly someone extraordinary. Trying to suppress him by force would likely backfire and accomplish nothing but letting the other two major families reap the benefits.

With this mindset taking hold among the leadership, another rumor gradually spread throughout the base: that Miao Lichen was in love with the Yue family’s eldest daughter, Yue Yingying. On the surface, it seemed like nothing more than ordinary gossip, but it set countless minds calculating. After all, anyone even remotely perceptive knew about Zhang Yang’s feelings for Miao Lichen.

Yue Jiuchun knew all of this as well. The reason he had allowed the rumor to spread was never because he had intended to marry Yue Yingying off to Miao Lichen. Rather…

Just as he had expected, there came a knock on his office door. Though he was already middle-aged, years of meticulous care had left him looking far younger than his age. He could still be described as a handsome man with the composed charm that came with maturity. His features were not exceptionally refined, but they possessed a distinctive appeal. It was no wonder he had fathered a daughter as beautiful as Yue Yingying; his own appearance had never been lacking.

As the head of the family, he was expected to place the family’s interests above all else; but he was also a father, and Yue Yingying was his only daughter. How could he truly be willing to use her as a bargaining chip? What he wanted was nothing more than a smokescreen—a lure to draw Zhang Yang to him of his own accord.

He had been paying attention to Zhang Yang for quite some time, but this was their first meeting. If his initial interest had stemmed from Yue Yingying’s experiences, then what held his attention now was Zhang Yang’s himself. While part of his success could be attributed to the companions at his side, his own talent was equally indispensable. Zhang Yang might not have advanced as quickly as he had without Miao Lichen, nor become the one and only Ability King, but he would still have become a well known figure among ability users.

Now that he was seeing the man in person, Zhang Yang’s bearing did not leave him awestruck, yet neither did it disappoint. Just as Yue Jiuchun had imagined, he radiated the vigor of youth, tempered by the unmistakable presence of a true powerhouse. Without revealing a hint of it on his face, Yue Jiuchun took note of the subtle, instinctive movements Zhang Yang made after pushing open the door—the small signs of vigilance that spoke of long-honed caution. Quietly, he nodded to himself in approval.

“I came to see you. You should know exactly why I’m here,” Zhang Yang said bluntly. One of the advantages of dealing with intelligent people was that there was no need to worry about being misunderstood. Sometimes, words were unnecessary; a single gesture was enough for the other person to grasp your intentions. It had nothing to do with some ridiculous notion of being kindred spirits. Rather, when two people approached a situation with the same line of reasoning, it was only natural that they would arrive at the same conclusion.

“Is that so? I don’t believe I do…” Yue Jiuchun replied leisurely. “What is it that you want? Control of H City? Or… Miao Lichen?” Only then did Yue Jiuchun finally rise from his office chair. Turning around, he carefully took a purple clay teapot from the cabinet behind him. He measured out a small amount of tea leaves, brewed a fresh pot, then poured Zhang Yang a cup before filling one for himself. Lifting it gracefully, he savored the tea with unhurried composure.

The tea was of the finest quality. Before the apocalypse, such tea had been incredibly precious, yet after the apocalypse, it had become far less valuable. Only those at the top, free from immediate concerns about their own safety, still had the leisure to savor such luxuries. Yue Jiuchun was an exceptional negotiator who knew exactly how to set the tone. With nothing more than a pot of tea, he could ease what should have been a tense atmosphere into one that felt calm and almost pleasant. Besides, the potential ally sitting across from him was worth far more than a single pot of fine tea.

“What do you think?” Zhang Yang replied with a faint smile, calmly watching Yue Jiuchun’s every movement. He accepted the teacup, his fingers idly tracing the rim, but made no move to drink.

“If you were to say you wanted both, wouldn’t that be a little too greedy…?” Yue Jiuchun said, though the faint smile curling at his lips betrayed his satisfaction. If Zhang Yang were willing to give up power for the sake of one man, then Yue Jiuchun would have no choice but to find another partner.

He was only a Level 4 ability user. While that placed him among the stronger ability users, he was first and foremost a politician who rarely set foot on the battlefield. He had no illusions that he could compare to those ability users who constantly risked their lives hunting zombies. If he wanted to climb any higher, he could only do so by aligning himself with someone stronger. Zhang Yang wanted authority and one man, while Yue Jiuchun wanted the Yue family to become the dominant family in H City. Their ambitions did not conflict, making Zhang Yang the partner he found most satisfactory.

“It is because of my greed that you sought me out. Since that’s the case, why bother dressing it up with such high-minded words?” Zhang Yang let out a derisive chuckle. The leader of the base also happened to be the most convenient shield. As long as someone else occupied that position, H City’s dominant family would not be the first target. Zhang Yang, however, wanted that position. This was nothing more than a cooperation.

“There are some things that don’t need to be said aloud,” Yue Jiuchun replied. “As long as we both understand them, that’s enough.”

“Heh… I’m not like the rest of you.” If one were strong enough, there would be no need for pretense. Zhang Yang had worn a mask for years, and no one understood better than he did when it was necessary to keep it on and when it was time to take it off.

Yue Jiuchun shook his head with a smile. ‘Still too young,’ he thought.

There was something enviable about the boldness of youth that refused to hide itself, but to someone accustomed to navigating social and political circles, it was still far too inexperienced. Even so, this completely unmasked arrogance was exactly what he appreciated. Faced with a calculating opponent who concealed every card and one who laid all his cards openly on the table, the wiser choice was obvious.

“As for Yingying, I’ll make things clear to Miao Lichen. But you should understand that what happens between them isn’t something I can decide on my own. The rumor spread so quickly because he played a part in it as well. Which is to say…” Miao Lichen had never rejected his engagement to Yue Yingying. If anything, he had simply allowed it to continue without objection.

“I know him better than you do. You only need to deal with your daughter’s side of things. He doesn’t like Yue Yingying.” His words carried unwavering certainty, yet his hand slowly tightened around the teacup. Miao Lichen did not love Yue Yingying, but neither did he love Zhang Yang. The only thing he truly loved was that cold laboratory, the object of his lifelong pursuit. “If you can do that, then I give you my word: as long as I, Zhang Yang, am alive, the Yue family will remain the H City’s dominant family.”

There were truths he had struggled to ignore, but in that instant, the fragile illusion finally shattered.

‘Miao Lichen… have you ever considered that the thing you invented might one day escape your control?’

It wasn’t that it had failed. On the contrary, it had worked far too well. So well that the artificial human who had always remained by his side could no longer influence Zhang Yang’s actions. Miao Nianling was, without question, the “Mother” of all ability users, yet even she was incapable of exercising complete control over a practitioner of ancient martial arts.

Zhang Yang was grateful that his greatest strength had never been his ability, but the ancient martial arts that formed the foundation of his power. Without anyone noticing, Zhang Yang had gradually fused his lightning ability into his martial arts, allowing every technique to carry the power of lightning. He had truly merged his ability with ancient martial arts, rather than merely channeling his power through weapons or using his ability to strengthen his body. Yet sometimes… he wished he knew nothing at all. Had he remained ignorant, he could have continued basking in that false warmth.

To Miao Lichen, Zhang Yang was nothing more than an experimental subject. And an experimental subject, no matter how valuable, would one day be discarded.

‘Then how can I make you mine? Is the only way to bind every part of you, until you have no choice but to lie in my arms… or rather, in my bed?’

The darkness in his eyes gradually deepened before being forcibly suppressed once more. Meanwhile, the smile on his lips slowly widened, carrying with it an unmistakable sense of danger.

Yue Jiuchun’s hand paused around his teacup. In the pale amber tea, he almost thought he saw flashes of lightning dancing across the surface, and a faint tingling sensation spread through his fingers. The air itself seemed to freeze, as though everything within the room had fallen under Zhang Yang’s control, while he, in comparison, was nothing more than an ant before an overwhelming force.

Zhang Yang truly was someone who could only be befriended, never made into an enemy.

Yue Yingying, who had just opened the door, silently moved herself into a corner. Why was it that every dangerous situation somehow ended up involving her? The power surrounding Zhang Yang was unmistakably a domain. A domain was something only S-rank ability users were supposed to be capable of controlling. In the original story, Zhang Yang had only been a Level 7 ability user at this point, and not an S-rank existence beyond Level 10.

In the later classification system for ability users, those below Level 5 were collectively known as D-rank ability users. Levels 5 to 7 were classified as C-rank, Levels 8 to 9 as B-rank, and Level 10 as A-rank. As for S-rank, SS-rank, and SSS-rank, they existed beyond the boundaries of the A, B, C, and D classifications. They represented beings who had truly gained the power to influence the entire world.

What was even more absurd was that, at this point in the story, the artificial human little girl’s settings had not yet developed to the stage where S-rank ability users could even exist. Clearly, after the professor became a super major boss, the protagonist had started breaking out as well. She really wanted to ask: Hey, plot, are you doing okay right now?

The protagonist’s troublesome relatives had not even appeared yet, not to mention those zombie bosses waiting further down the storyline. Was this supposed to be a story where the beginner dungeon had barely started, yet everyone was already rushing toward the happy ending? Or had it truly become a situation where the protagonist and the boss were busy flirting with each other while everyone else was told to step aside?

Why did she feel like the protagonist had become so abnormal? And that smile… wasn’t it just a little too bright?

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