Zhao Gang had only brought his team’s newest “pet” out for a casual stroll when he came to issue the mission. He hadn’t expected to come across something like this. Such a catch. The three women standing ahead drew his eye almost instantly. One had delicate, refined features, her bearing calm and elegant, like someone raised with quiet grace. Another wore her hair short, the clean lines of it sharpening her already beautiful face, lending her a faint, almost androgynous charm (a kind of beauty that blends softness and masculinity). And the third his eyes lit up.
The young girl had long, flowing curls that fell loosely over her shoulders. Her features were lively, almost playful, her eyes round and dark like grape seeds (a common Chinese comparison for large, bright black eyes), her skin fair with a natural rosy glow. She felt… alive in a way that stood out painfully against the deadened world around her. Like a young deer stepping into the open forest. Pure. Unaware. The kind of purity that stirred something ugly in the hearts of men. It made one want to drag her down. To watch that innocence dissolve, slowly, helplessly, into a river of desire.
Zhao Gang leaned forward slightly, wanting a closer look. But before his gaze could settle, a figure stepped in front of her, cutting him off completely. He frowned and looked up and in the very next instant, before his mind could even catch up, a ball of purple lightning tore through the air. It crackled with violent force, thunder roaring within it, as it struck him head-on. Startled, Zhao Gang reacted on instinct, throwing up a golden shield in front of himself. The impact exploded against it. Light flared. Sound shattered the air. And then the lightning vanished.
As Zhao Gang staggered, his body swaying before he dropped to one knee. A sharp pain surged through his chest, and he coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. “Brother Zhao!”
“Boss!” Cheng Hui and Li Liang’s expressions changed instantly. They rushed forward, panic written all over their faces, grabbing onto him as the surrounding crowd scattered in fear, unwilling to be caught in the aftermath. “You’ve gone too far!” Li Liang’s anger flared. He stepped forward, ready to argue, his voice sharp with indignation but before he could take more than a step, Zhao Gang grabbed him and pulled him back. Hard. This was not the time for pride. Zhao Gang’s mind raced.
He was a second-tier ability user (a ranking system for awakened powers, where higher tiers indicate greater strength), yet that single, casual strike had already pushed him to his limit. That man was at least late-stage second-tier. Possibly even third-tier. And the boy standing beside him the one who looked gentle at first glance carried a presence that pressed down like invisible weight. Calm, yes… but suffocating. He was almost certainly an ability user as well. And not a weak one. Zhao Gang swallowed the metallic taste in his mouth.
He himself was only at the early stage of second-tier. Li Liang hadn’t even reached second-tier yet—just late-stage first-tier. If they fought—
they wouldn’t even have the chance to regret it. “Brother, perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding.” Zhao Gang forced himself to stand straighter, pulling Li Liang behind him as he stepped forward. His tone softened, controlled, even respectful. “We may have been a little rude earlier and offended the ladies.” He paused, then lowered his head slightly. “I, Zhao Gang, on behalf of my brothers, apologize.”
“We’re sorry.” A short silence followed. Then— “Heh.” Gu Wang let out a low, cold laugh. Another ball of lightning gathered in his palm, purple arcs dancing wildly between his fingers, casting flickering shadows across his sharp features. “Then gouge out your eyes as an apology.”
His voice was calm. Too calm. But the intent beneath it— was unmistakably lethal. Zhao Gang’s heart dropped. Without hesitation, he activated his ability again, a golden shield forming in front of him, trembling slightly under the strain. If that attack landed—
he might not survive it. Behind him, Cheng Hui and Li Liang huddled together, their earlier confidence completely shattered. As fear gripped them tightly now, their bodies trembling despite themselves. “Gu Wang! Stop!” A voice rang out. Soft—but firm. Clear enough to cut through the tension. And yet the lightning did not fall. The expected strike, the one they had been bracing for in sheer terror… never came.
Lu Xi saw it clearly. That shift within him . That moment where Gu Wang’s intent crossed a line where he was no longer just punishing, but truly preparing to kill. Her heart skipped. Without thinking any further, she rushed forward to stop him . The B City base had its rules. Fighting was allowed. Killing was not.
Anyone who crossed that line would be expelled without exception. “Gu Wang, I’m alright.” Lu Xi stepped forward and gently took his hand.
Almost the moment her fingers closed around his, the purple lightning that had been writhing across his skin stilled—then shrank back, as if startled, retreating into silence. She caught the shadow in his eyes, that dark, gathering storm, and quickly softened her voice. “Gu Wang, I’m really fine. You can’t kill people inside the base… if you do, you’ll be driven out.” She hesitated, then added lightly, almost coaxing, “I just finished decorating our place. I still want to stay a few more days.” Gu Wang’s gaze dropped. To her hand.
It was small—so small it barely filled his palm. Her fingers were slender, pale, the kind that had never known hardship, untouched by rough work. A hand that belonged to someone who had lived gently, once.
“Heh. Idiot.” His voice was cold, almost mocking. But he still pulled his hand away instead of striking. His eyes lifted again, sweeping over Zhao Gang and the others sharp, cruel, filled with a silent warning so heavy it pressed the air thin. They didn’t dare move. Didn’t even dare breathe.
Around him, the restless sparks of lightning slowly faded, dissolving into nothing. “Hehehe… come on, let’s go,” Lu Xi said quickly, seizing the moment before his temper could turn again. She caught his sleeve and tugged lightly, guiding him away. “I’ll make you egg tarts when we get home.” To everyone watching, it was almost unreal. Gu Wang, who had just moments ago been ready to kill without hesitation… now allowed himself to be led away, his expression still distant and disdainful, yet offering no resistance.
Xu Yiyi blinked, staring at the retreating figures, then turned to Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun in disbelief. Lin Bai met Xu Qiaoyun’s eyes.
They both smiled helplessly. Then, at the same time, they shrugged at Xu Yiyi. The meaning was obvious. Some things in this world… naturally restrain others. (“One thing subdues another”—a common saying meaning everyone has their natural counter.) Time passed quietly.
Unhurried. Before they knew it, more than a month had gone by since they arrived at the B City base.
During that time, the five of them had taken on mission after mission from the mission hall, mostly focused on clearing zombies from surrounding areas. Ever since the last cold wave, the zombies had undergone a complete evolution. If they didn’t grow stronger ,if they didn’t learn to control their abilities and absorb crystal cores (energy cores formed inside zombies that can be used to enhance abilities) they would eventually be hunted down and torn apart. The base had begun to realize it too.
The zombies were no longer the slow, predictable creatures they had once been. They didn’t just wander during the day anymoreat night, they attacked in waves, pressing against the base like an endless tide. Worse their speed had increased dramatically. Faster than ordinary humans.
Closing the gap… even with ability users. In response, the base leaders issued a new rule: ability users only needed to hand over 20% of the crystal cores they obtained. The remaining 80% could be kept for personal use, to accelerate their growth.
Only by evolving faster than the zombies could humanity survive. Over the past month, Lu Xi’s group had gathered a considerable number of crystal cores. With the team’s support, Xu Yiyi and Xu Qiaoyun had grown more skilled with their Tang swords. Their movements had become steadier, more precise. Slowly, their ability to protect themselves improved. Gu Wang, more than half a month ago, had absorbed a second-tier crystal core and broken through to the third tier. Now, he was already nearing the middle stage of that level. Lin Bai had also advanced just yesterdayinto early third tier. As for Lu Xi and Xu Qiaoyun, they had absorbed enough crystal cores to skip past early second tier entirely, stepping directly into mid-second tier. Lu Xi even had some left over. Enough to recharge her system. She opened the panel in her mind.
[Lu Xi: Points 500, Space Level Lv3, Currently Usable Space: 13 cubic meters] A small smile curved her lips. She had quietly become… a little rich woman. And all of this was thanks to the dozen or so second-tier crystal cores Gu Wang had brought back. Not only had her abilities improved, but her spatial storage (a personal dimensional space used to store items) had expanded as well. Lu Xi made a silent decision.
She was absolutely going to cling tightly to this big boss .
“Gu Wang,” she said, her tone bright as she leaned closer to him, her eyes wide and glistening as she blinked up at him, soft and deliberately charming. “How about I make you egg tarts tonight?”
Gu Wang: “…” Without a word, he reached out and pushed her away. Then as if venting his irritation he hurled one ball of lightning after another at the zombies ahead, each strike fierce and merciless. So, naturally that night, when Lu Xi really did make egg tarts for him a few second-tier crystal cores were casually tossed in her direction. This man… wasn’t some terrifying demon king at all. He was practically an absolute softie.
Lu Xi’s eyes lit up. She happily accepted them, her mood instantly soaring. Without hesitation, she slipped into full-on “clingy little deer” mode (a playful way to describe acting sweet and dependent), moving behind him to massage his shoulders.
“Thank you for your hard work, sir~” she said sweetly, her tone bright and fawning. “The egg tarts will be ready soon. I even added mango chunks today~” Gu Wang fell silent. For perhaps the first time in his life he didn’t know what to say. He had never seen someone so blatantly flattering… after getting what they wanted. And yet she did it so naturally. So shamelessly. As if adapting to the situation was simply second nature to her. And just like that peace settled over their days like a thin layer of warmth.
Until— three days later. Xu Qiaoyun was in the kitchen, cooking for everyone, the soft sounds of utensils and simmering food filling the space. Xu Yiyi stood nearby, practicing her movements with the Tang sword, her strikes still careful but steadily improving. Then a knock sounded at the door. Lu Xi walked over and opened it. Outside stood a man. Tall. Handsome. Dressed in a neat, well-fitted suit that seemed almost out of place in this world of ruin.
He looked momentarily surprised to see a young girl answering the door. “Hello,” he said politely. “My name is Chang Feng, assistant to the base commander. I apologize for the disturbance, but our commander would like to meet you.” He stepped slightly to the side. Only then did Lu Xi notice the man standing behind him. He was of average height, his build neither imposing nor weak. His features were gentle, approachable. Though he appeared to be only in his forties, most of his hair had already turned gray, giving him an air of quiet fatigue. This was Wei Guozhong the base commander. Wei Guozhong smiled at her, his expression warm.
“You must be Lu Xi,” he said. “I’ve heard of you—a water-type ability user (an elemental power associated with controlling water). You’ve dealt with quite a number of zombies.” There was a faint note of approval in his voice. “You’re truly impressive for someone so young.”
His tone was sincere, and the way he looked at Lu Xi was gentle soft, almost paternal, as though he were looking at his own daughter. For a moment, Lu Xi didn’t quite know how to respond. In her previous life, she had been an orphan. After her parents died in an accident, all they left her was compensation money—cold, impersonal, untouched by warmth. She had grown up alone, surrounded by comfort, yet never truly cared for.
It had been… a very long time since any elder had looked at her like this. So a faint awkwardness rose in her chest. She quickly stepped aside, lowering her head slightly as she spoke, “No, no, you’re too kind, Base Commander. Please come in.” She moved quickly, almost flustered. “The house is a bit messy… please sit here.” As she spoke, she hurriedly cleared the things scattered across the sofa, stacking them to one side with slightly clumsy hands. For a brief moment, the room stilled. Gu Wang remained where he was, lazily stretched out on the recliner Lu Xi had specially prepared for him, as if nothing in the world concerned him. Meanwhile, Lin Bai and the others paused what they were doing, their attention shifting toward the two guests.
“Haha, no need to be so nervous,” Wei Guozhong said with a light laugh. He patted the seat beside him, his tone easygoing. “Come, sit down.”
His calmness softened the air. Xu Qiaoyun soon came out with two cups of hot water, placing them gently in front of the guests. “We only have hot water at home,” she said with a small, apologetic smile. “There’s nothing else to offer. Please don’t mind.”
Wei Guozhong waved his hand dismissively, still smiling. “At a time like this, what more could anyone ask for? Hot water is more than enough.”
His attitude—so steady, so unpretentious eased the tension in the room, bit by bit. Lu Xi hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice soft but cautious. “Base Commander… did you come because you need something from us?” She had been thinking ever since he appeared, turning it over again and again in her mind—but no matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t recall any connection between herself and him.
And this man… The one who, in the original storyline , would eventually build the B City base into the largest stronghold outside the military—
He couldn’t possibly be as harmless as he seemed. Someone like him had to have methods. Decisive ones. Thinking this a quiet unease settled in her chest. On the other hand Wei Guozhong fell silent for a moment. Then he let out a low sigh. “I didn’t come here to trouble you,” he said slowly. “But… I had no other choice.” He paused, as if weighing his words. “Our base has a research team,” he continued. “All of them are leading figures in the field of biological science. When the base was first established, I sent people to bring them here from C City—even at the cost of their lives.” His voice grew quieter.
“I only wanted to preserve a few sparks for humanity… and to develop a way to deal with the zombie virus as soon as possible.” The room seemed to dim slightly with his words. “But the journey was too rushed,” he went on. “A lot of their equipment was left behind. Since then, the research has been interrupted again and again.” He clenched his hands faintly. “We tried sending out teams of ability users to retrieve the equipment.” But , “None of them… have come back.” Silence fell.
Heavy.
At some point, Wei Guozhong lowered his head. His hair—already streaked with white—seemed even more so under the dim light. He was only just stepping into middle age, yet time had carved exhaustion deeply into him. Lu Xi didn’t speak. She glanced sideways at Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun—and as expected, she saw the concern in their eyes, unmistakable. The weight of what had just been said pressed on all of them.
“So,” she said quietly, breaking the silence, “you want us to go and retrieve the equipment?” Her words had barely settled—
when another voice cut in. Low. Hoarse. Carrying the unmistakable edge of someone disturbed from rest. “So you want us to go fetch it?”
Lu Xi turned instinctively toward the balcony. There, on the recliner, Gu Wang had opened his eyes.
He was awake. His dark gaze fixed on Wei Guozhong and Chang Feng, cold and unyielding. There was irritation in his expression, a faint impatience curling at the edges—like a predator forced to acknowledge something beneath its notice. The air in the room shifted again. Tense.
Unpredictable. Wei Guozhong’s expression remained calm, but his words carried weight. “Yes,” he said, nodding slowly. “I realize this request may be unreasonable. But your team has completed the most missions, submitted the most crystal cores over the past month. You are undeniably the strongest team in the B City base right now. If you can’t do it… I honestly can’t think of anyone else who can.”
He paused, then added, “And you won’t go alone. The Crimson Flame Team—the second-strongest team in the base—will accompany you to ensure the mission’s success.” The man sitting beside him, Chang Feng, his assistant, gave a slight nod in confirmation.
Gu Wang’s tone remained sharp, dripping with impatience. “So… you expect us to go? And we have no choice?” Wei Guozhong met his gaze steadily. “We will provide your team with enough points to live here at the B City base for life. As long as this base exists, your points will sustain you indefinitely.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. Then he continued, “In addition, we can provide one thousand first-tier crystal cores, one hundred second-tier cores, and one third-tier crystal core. If you accept this mission, half of these can be delivered to you tonight, immediately helping your team strengthen your abilities.”
The room fell into stunned silence. Lu Xi’s mind raced. Frantically, she called 003. “Holy crap… no way… is he serious?!” 003’s dry, calm reply echoed in her mind: “Probably… yes.” Lin Bai, Xu Qiaoyun, and Xu Yiyi shared shocked glances. Even just half the promised crystals equaled at least a month’s worth of their normal accumulation—and there was also a third-tier crystal core. The implications were staggering. With a third-tier crystal core, Gu Wang could potentially break through directly to the fourth tier.
Gu Wang, noticing Lu Xi’s outward calm but seeing the slight gleam in her eyes and the involuntary curl of her lips—the sort of gleeful, almost sycophantic delight someone feels at an unexpected windfall . He became even more annoyed. Meanwhile, Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun were silently torn. They didn’t want to accept the mission, yet the offer was… overwhelming. “Host, don’t forget your mission: help the male and female leads grow,” 003 whispered in Lu Xi’s mind. Her eyes widened as she remembered. Right. That was why she was here. If she stayed cooped up in the base, completing minor missions, the male and female leads would never gain the experience and crystal cores they needed.
Xu Yiyi still hadn’t awakened her special ability. Xiang He, the other member of the team, wasn’t even present.
Zombies were evolving faster than ever. A second cold wave was expected in six months, marking the first appearance of a fifth-tier zombie. According to the story, Lin Bai was supposed to lead his team to defeat that zombie—but by then, he would already have been a late-stage fifth-tier. Currently, though, Lin Bai was only early third-tier. Advancement would be grueling. The team wasn’t fully assembled, and if a fifth-tier zombie appeared now… how could they possibly survive?
Lu Xi felt her chest tighten. She looked at Lin Bai and Xu Qiaoyun. Their eyes met hers, and she understood immediately—they wanted to go.
But Xu Yiyi remained unready, lacking any special ability. And Gu Wang—he seemed outright unwilling, even resistant. Her heart beat faster. She couldn’t decide alone. Wei Guozhong’s voice, calm yet heavy with pleading, broke through her thoughts. “Miss Lu, I know this isn’t fair. I know it feels like we’re… forcing you. But for the future of humanity, for the survival of the base… I beg you. Please help us this time.”
He stood and bowed slightly, his posture respectful. The base leader’s gaze didn’t miss a thing. He had noticed the strongest person in the group was the man sleeping in the chair—Gu Wang—but once awake, Gu Wang’s attention flicked repeatedly to Lu Xi. Even when the mission was explained, the rest of the group hesitated, waiting for her cue. The strongest person’s presence had centered the team around Lu Xi. Naturally, she held the real decision-making power.
Lu Xi felt a chill of responsibility. Seeing the base commander bow so earnestly before her, she was startled—and frightened. “Base Commander, please… don’t put me in this position,” she said quickly, helping him rise. “We can’t give you an answer immediately. This… this needs to be discussed with our team first.” She understood the danger. The mission was far from trivial. To rush a decision could mean death.
Wei Guozhong exhaled slowly, a reassuring smile touching his face. “Alright. I will wait for your decision.” Lu Xi could only nod, stiffly, her mind already racing through the consequences of whatever choice her team would make.