Chapter 45#

The Naive Apocalypse Celestial Master#

Bang—

A huge noise. Several more vines wrapped around the gate were shaken broken.

Mu Fei’s expression was serious, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and again produced several vines to patch the gap.

How did things turn out like this? Jiang Sile tightly clutched the jade token at his chest, as if grasping a life-saving straw. However, the space had not yet repaired; no one could enter it.

Bang—

Another huge noise. Several patches of wall plaster fell from the mottled ceiling. The vines made a teeth-aching tearing sound, but at least they barely held.

From the corner of his eye, Jiang Sile even glimpsed a rotting hand appearing outside a high window. Though the hand swayed twice and disappeared, Jiang Sile’s mind was thrown into chaos.

Those zombies used their bodies to build a ladder! Something was wrong; these low-level zombies couldn’t have such intelligence. It was that level-9 zombie—that level-9 zombie was controlling them. Wasn’t that level-9 zombie supposed to have taken most of Q County’s zombies to besiege R Base? By this time it should already be at R Base. In the previous life, in the previous life it was clearly like that!

Jiang Sile trembled all over, even his teeth began to chatter. Mu Fei heard something wrong behind him. Turning back, he saw Jiang Sile’s face white as paper, his whole person like a taut violin string, about to snap.

“It’s okay, Xiao Le, if the door really breaks.” Mu Fei gripped Jiang Sile’s hand hard. “When the time comes, I’ll hold off these zombies. You find a way to escape—escape as fast as you can.”

Jiang Sile instead lowered his head and didn’t make a sound. Mu Fei really was a good person, but he was too good, always caring for the weak. Jiang Sile sneered inwardly—wasn’t it the same in the previous life? He and Pan Rongxi fell into a desperate situation; Mu Fei risked his life to save them. Only that time, the one abandoned was himself. Merely because Pan Rongxi’s right leg was broken, weaker and more pitiful than himself.

A nightmare.

“Guess who he’ll choose to save?” Pan Rongxi said.

“Don’t flatter yourself too much.” Forced to be trapped with this duplicitous person, Jiang Sile rolled his eyes impatiently. “A Mu already said it—he just thinks your background is pitiful.”

“Is that so?” Pan Rongxi wasn’t angered; instead he smiled lightly, but his hand ruthlessly smashed a stone down and broke his own right leg.

“You—you’re crazy!” Jiang Sile cried out.

“Jiang Sile, I know you’ve always looked down on me. But what gives you the right?” Pan Rongxi’s face was as pale as gold from pain, yet the corners of his mouth still carried a smile. “Just because you were reincarnated into a good life? Just because in this chaotic apocalypse, even without awakening an ability, someone wholeheartedly protects you? Just because all you do is sit and wait for others to offer you everything?”

“Xiao Le? Xiao Le, what’s wrong with you?”

Jiang Sile woke from the memory. The handsome face before him filled with worry gradually overlapped with that face in his memory.

These lips that had kissed him with deep affection had once so mercilessly spoken heart-piercing words: “Xiao Le, Rongxi is injured. I’ll send him out first.”

Jiang Sile flung off Mu Fei’s hand. “Don’t touch me!”

Mu Fei’s face was full of shock, but his attention was drawn by the zombies ahead, and he asked no more.

The vines wrapped around the door were already mostly broken; Mu Fei no longer wasted his ability to grow new ones. He silently gathered the little ability remaining, preparing to stake everything the moment the door broke, to create an instant of escape for Jiang Sile behind him.

Bang bang bang—the sounds of hitting the door grew denser and denser. Seeing the last vine was about to snap, Mu Fei reflexively shielded Jiang Sile behind him.

Outside the door, however, suddenly there was no movement. Mu Fei thought those zombies were preparing a final strike. He held his breath and waited a moment, but found no sound came from outside. Mu Fei walked to the door and looked outside through the gap.

Unexpectedly, the zombies besieging the door had dispersed, returning to wandering aimlessly. Why would that psychic zombie suddenly stop controlling these zombies?

Though puzzled, Mu Fei knew the opportunity could not be lost. He turned back and said to Jiang Sile, “While we have this chance, let’s leave quickly.”

After the level-9 zombie fell, the zombies densely packed on the winding mountain road slowly dispersed. With Qin Yi’s fire ability, clearing the few remaining zombies on the road was extremely fast. Lu Heng and the other quickly arrived at Q County.

Just as they entered Q County’s boundaries, they saw a modified off-road vehicle drive toward them. The two on it were Mu Fei and Jiang Sile. The reunited few briefly discussed: now the sky was dark, and since the level-9 zombie had been eliminated, Q County was no longer very dangerous. Better to find a safe place here to rest for the night, and tomorrow collect supplies before leaving.

The four returned to the grain depot. After clearing the wandering zombies around, they prepared to spend the night there. After the fierce battle in the afternoon, all four were somewhat hungry. Jiang Sile specially took out a large iron pot and cooked a pot of steaming noodles.

As soon as the noodles came out of the pot, Qin Yi filled a full bowl. He looked at the bowl, then said to Jiang Sile, “Xiao Le, I remember I have a box of luncheon meat cans stored with you. Get me two cans.”

This box of luncheon meat cans was Qin Yi’s private stash, but he didn’t care much about food and drink, always eating whatever the group had. After throwing the luncheon meat cans to Jiang Sile to keep, he never asked about them again. Jiang Sile had already assumed Qin Yi had given him the luncheon meat cans.

Although he didn’t understand why Qin Yi suddenly remembered this, Jiang Sile had done something wrong today and was feeling guilty. He didn’t dare ask more, took out the cans and handed them over.

Jiang Sile saw Qin Yi nimbly open the cans, even carefully heating them with his ability and cutting them into small pieces, then placing them on that bowl of noodles. Had Qin Yi changed his nature? He had never been so particular about eating. Jiang Sile was very surprised.

The next thing made Jiang Sile feel quite uncomfortable. Qin Yi carried that bowl of loving noodles and trotted over to place it in Lu Heng’s hands.

“Eat it while it’s hot.”

Lu Heng looked at the basin of noodles stuffed into his hands. That bowl was bigger than his face; he really could only call it a basin.

“Too much.” Lu Heng said. What was in his belly was a stomach, really not a black hole.

“It’s fine, you eat first. Give me what you can’t finish.” Qin Yi waved dismissively. The apocalypse, after all, no wasting food—Qin Yi found himself a reason. He never considered dividing some out before Lu Heng picked up his chopsticks.

Jiang Sile watched the two harmonious people over there. Holding the noodles Mu Fei had brought him, he found them somewhat tasteless.

Qin Yi was the salvation in his heart. In the previous life, after being abandoned by Mu Fei and then dying under the mouths of zombies, Jiang Sile did not immediately leave this world; his soul attached to the jade token. Ironically, that jade token, which he had given Mu Fei as a token of love, ended up hanging around Pan Rongxi’s neck.

Jiang Sile watched Mu Fei grief-stricken after his death. Watched Pan Rongxi accompany Mu Fei unwaveringly, comforting him, enlightening him, leading him out of the pain of losing his lover. Watched Mu Fei smile and take Pan Rongxi’s hand.

Unwillingness, resentment, anger—all sorts of obsessions trapped Jiang Sile firmly inside the jade token, with no release. Until Qin Yi uncovered the truth of his death: the reason he and Pan Rongxi were trapped among the zombies was not an accident at all, but arranged by Pan Rongxi.

Qin Yi avenged him. On the day Pan Rongxi was punished, Jiang Sile felt his soul lighten, obsessions scattering, and he could step onto the road of reincarnation. But when he opened his eyes, he found himself back on the day he was preparing to give the jade token to Mu Fei.

Perhaps Heaven pitied him; Jiang Sile found he had a chance to start over. To take revenge with his own hands, no longer place his heart on someone unworthy, and hold tightly to the one who was worthy. That was his plan.

Jiang Sile believed that even if Qin Yi had never shown any romantic interest in him, avenging him back then was due to their friendship from growing up together. As long as he was willing, he could always change something. After all, in this apocalypse, turning friendship into love was not a difficult thing.

It was just that after this strange person named Yun Lan, whom he had never seen in the previous life, appeared, everything seemed to go wrong.

“Do you want to get rid of this person who stands in your way?” Suddenly a voice sounded in Jiang Sile’s mind.

Clang—

Jiang Sile suddenly stood up. The stainless steel lunchbox in his hand hit the ground with a harsh sound. He saw the other three looking over in confusion, and knew in his heart that only he could hear this voice.

This was not the first time Jiang Sile had heard this voice; only last time it was more ethereal, similar to a kind of feeling-like guidance. It guided him to discover the secret of the jade token, and afterward he obtained a very important thing.

Jiang Sile somewhat flusteredly picked up the lunchbox, pretending to rinse it, and retreated to a corner.

“Do you want to remove the person who obstructs you?” The voice repeated.

In Jiang Sile’s mind flashed Mu Fei’s face, Pan Rongxi’s face, Qin Yi’s face; flashed that nightmare-like memory, and finally settled on the scene of Qin Yi looking gently at Lu Heng eating. He shook his head, flinging away the trace of dark thought that had emerged from the bottom of his heart.

“No, he doesn’t owe me. He is innocent.”

“Then what do you want?” The mysterious voice was full of temptation.

“Power.”

The voice did not respond to him. Jiang Sile was somewhat disappointed. Was all this only his hallucination?

“Jiang Sile, come here.” Jiang Sile heard Qin Yi’s voice.

Hearing Qin Yi call his full name, Jiang Sile immediately knew what the following conversation would be about. He walked over somewhat uneasily.

“What I said to you last night, I trust you haven’t forgotten so quickly.” Qin Yi said bluntly. “After we return this time, you will be transferred to base logistics personnel.”

“Brother Yi!”

“Orders must be obeyed; that is my basic requirement for leading the team. Not kicking you out of the team is already out of consideration for our friendship from growing up together.” Qin Yi waved his hand, not wanting to hear more.

Jiang Sile grew anxious. He had already been demoted three levels; now if he were transferred to base logistics personnel, then to rise to a level where he could receive high-grade crystal cores, who knew how long he’d have to wait. This time Mu Fei was probably going to be demoted too; even if not, the pitiful crystal cores Mu Fei received would be completely insufficient.

In desperation, Jiang Sile blurted out: “The reason I acted on my own today is because I knew that level-9 zombie was not in Q County!”

The other three present all looked at Jiang Sile. Lu Heng was surprised inwardly. Was this person, at the end of his rope, going to expose his rebirth?

“I—during this time I often have dreams, and in the dreams are things about a period of time later.” Jiang Sile said.

This Jiang Sile still had some brains, to actually come up with such a reason. Anyway, abilities in the apocalypse were bizarre and varied; a precognitive ability was not impossible.

“The location of that air-defense facility before—that was something I saw in a dream. I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me, so I said I found it from the materials my dad left behind. Today too, I dreamed that level-9 zombie would leave Q County during this period. I was afraid of missing this excellent opportunity, so I acted on my own.” Jiang Sile spoke more and more smoothly. “I think I may have awakened a precognitive ability; it’s just that right after awakening the ability is a bit unstable, so there are some errors in the details.”

Over here Qin Yi frowned, not knowing what he was thinking; over there Mu Fei already believed seven or eight parts.

“The psychic beast in the mountain forest you told me about before, that was also predicted in a dream, right?” Mu Fei said.

Just worrying that Qin Yi wouldn’t believe, Jiang Sile hurriedly nodded, then said: “Brother Yi, if you don’t believe me, have Yun Lan take out the crystal core. One look and you’ll know.”

Lu Heng only then remembered that in his small bundle he still had a beast crystal core stuffed. Too many things had happened these two days; he had completely put it out of his mind. This Jiang Sile could not remain at the base, otherwise who knew what trouble that demon would stir up. Better to keep him at his side under watch, safer.

Thinking this, Lu Heng took out that beast crystal core.

Crystal clear, without any impurities; indeed, it was a psychic crystal core.

Only then did Qin Yi somewhat believe. The mountain forest had a psychic beast; even he himself didn’t know. That Jiang Sile could know this news was already somewhat incredible.

“Your explanation still needs verification, but even if it is true,” Qin Yi said, “it cannot cover up the mistake you made.”

“Yi…” Jiang Sile still wanted to argue, but Qin Yi interrupted him.

“My decision remains unchanged. If you really awakened a precognitive ability, making contributions should be easy. Then use your ability to prove that you are qualified to go out on missions.” Qin Yi ended the topic.

Seeing the matter was settled, Jiang Sile curled his lip, turned, and walked into the small room to the side. Seeing this, Mu Fei wanted to chase after him, but Qin Yi called him back.

“A Mu, there’s something to tell you.”

Mu Fei could only stop, but his gaze kept drifting to the side, clearly extremely worried about Jiang Sile.

“Pan Rongxi may have a problem. You’re close to him, so pay more attention to his movements normally.” Seeing Mu Fei like this, Qin Yi didn’t waste words.

Hearing Pan Rongxi’s name, Mu Fei’s attention was immediately caught. His gaze no longer drifted to the small room but fixed seriously on Qin Yi: “What happened to Rongxi?”

“When we caught up, he pointed out a wrong direction.” Qin Yi didn’t believe excuses like being too nervous and misseeing; he wasn’t an idiot—how could he get such a simple thing wrong? But he also had no actual evidence, so he could only remind Mu Fei, who was close to him, to pay more attention.

Mu Fei didn’t quite believe it and subconsciously defended Pan Rongxi: “It won’t be. Rongxi’s personality is very simple. He must have been too worried about us and got nervous for a moment and remembered wrong.”

Qin Yi knew Mu Fei’s hopelessly good-natured personality; he sympathized with and took care of the weak in every way. He was too lazy to argue more, only thinking to himself that he must pay more attention to Pan Rongxi. Once he found he had harmful intentions, he definitely would not let him off.

Seeing there was nothing else, Mu Fei hurriedly chased into the small room to comfort Jiang Sile.

As soon as Mu Fei disappeared, the mature and reliable expression on Qin Yi’s face instantly vanished. His face collapsed, shoulders slumped, and he revealed a pitiful expression, complaining: “What kind of crappy things are these? I feel like I shouldn’t be Captain Qin—I should be Dad Qin.”

The Captain Qin who always prided himself as a tough guy did not realize his current behavior was called acting spoiled. Even if he did realize it, he would probably comfort himself: in front of Lu Heng, he was a junior brother. A junior brother acting spoiled to his senior brother was normal.

“From what I know, in a family, the one responsible for mediating relationships among family members is usually the mother.” Lu Heng said seriously.

Captain Qin, who went from Dad Qin to Mom Qin, felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

Worthy of being a human-shaped cream puff cat; even his personality was the same. At first he looked soft and cute and pinchable, but actually he didn’t put his owner in his eyes at all, and from time to time he’d scratch you. Qin Yi thought this, yet also felt that after being scratched, the annoyance filling his heart just now instantly vanished.

W Base.

Northern A Base, southern X Base, and central W Base were currently the three strongest and largest bases in Hua Nation. W Base was controlled by three forces; these three forces had been famous great clans before the apocalypse.

Today, the heads of these three high and mighty forces were all waiting respectfully at the base entrance. This drew the newly joined survivors to stop and watch.

“What are these three big shots doing at the gate?”

“One look and you’re new. What else? Waiting for Boss Qin.”

“Boss Qin?”

Seeing this was indeed a rookie, the person became excited and began explaining the basic common knowledge of W Base to the newcomer.

Don’t look at these three families that jointly controlled W Base, usually their word was law, awe-inspiring and imposing. That was when the Qin Boss of the mercenary squad hadn’t spoken. If Boss Qin said something, these three big shots absolutely wouldn’t dare let out even a fart.

In the apocalypse, fists were the truth. What schemes, what intrigues—before absolute strength they were all paper tigers. Qin Yi’s mercenary squad was the absolute strength of W Base. If not for his laziness to manage base internal affairs, W Base would not even be the other three families’ turn to speak.

Qin Yi was the actual controller of W Base.