Chapter 332- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (37)

The other person had also used a power that should not exist in this small world, helping him to seal the energy that erupted from Pei Zijing’s body.

Could it be that this Zombie King does not belong to this small world? Where exactly is he from, and what is his purpose?

Mu Jin knew very well that the other person could not be Shadow, so who could he be?

In the clash of energies, Mu Jin seemed to see a faint shadow reflecting on the Zombie King’s body. The shadow was of a man dressed in white robes, with a very ethereal aura.

So, is this shadow the true appearance of the Zombie King? But Mu Jin couldn’t afford to think too much, as all his strength was currently focused on sealing the power back into Pei Zijing’s body.

When they finally managed to compress all the leaking energy back into Pei Zijing’s body with great effort, the small world finally stopped trembling, and the collapse was halted.

However, Mu Jin quickly noticed that all activity in this small world seemed to have come to a halt. Everything around him—whether people, zombies, or mutated plants and animals—seemed to freeze in this moment, not moving at all.

He even saw the trajectory of someone’s blood splattering in mid-air during battle, and it stayed suspended there. So, did time really stop in this dimension? Everyone around was frozen in this instant.

No, it wasn’t everything.

At least he saw the Zombie King in front of him had retracted his power, turned around, and was now walking towards him, step by step.

As the man walked toward him, his appearance gradually began to change. First, he transformed into the Wallis he had known in his past life, and then into Lin Yuan from the cultivation world.

Afterward, his appearance finally morphed into the form of the figure that had appeared when the energy was sealed inside Pei Zijing’s body.

The man’s long black hair was loosely tied behind his head. He wore a white robe, and his appearance was still stunning, handsome with a sharp, commanding edge.

Although he seemed to intentionally suppress his oppressive aura, it still couldn’t hide the formidable presence he carried. Mu Jin instinctively became cautious; he knew very well that this person was strong, and at the very least, he was definitely no match for him.

However, when the man got close, he flashed a smile that could be considered friendly and said, “You must be Qiong Qi’s partner.”

Mu Jin nodded upon hearing this, instinctively feeling that this person didn’t have any ill intentions toward him. Even so, he didn’t dare relax his guard.

After realizing the profound energy emanating from the man, Mu Jin suddenly guessed that the time freeze in this small world might be related to this person.

Before Mu Jin could voice his thoughts, the man seemed to have already seen through them and nodded, saying, “You’re right. The reason the time in this small world stopped is indeed because of me. I have something to say to you.”

“In a small world like this, I can’t awaken my memories in the usual way. Once I awaken, the dimension wouldn’t be able to withstand the energy within my body.”

Mu Jin believed the man’s explanation. After all, the reason he could travel from one dimension to another and follow Qiong Qi’s soul without losing his memory was entirely because of System 003.

As for others wanting to enter the small worlds, without the help of a system, it is impossible to fully retain their sense of self while effectively suppressing their own fundamental powers. Therefore, extracting memories and implanting them directly into the small worlds is clearly the safest method.

Mu Jin was someone who understood the situation, so he treated the man before him with great respect. The man then introduced himself: “My name is Qian Chen. I am the administrator of these countless small worlds. Some call me the Main God of these dimensions.”

Qian Chen.
This was the first time Mu Jin had heard this name. He was somewhat surprised by the identity Qian Chen revealed. Mu Jin naturally knew that every small world had its own governing “Heavenly Dao.” The idea that there would be an overarching administrator for all these small worlds wasn’t entirely unexpected.

But he understood very well that becoming the Main God required immense strength.

Even though the energy levels of these small worlds were not particularly high compared to his origin world, managing all the small worlds meant receiving vast amounts of energy and wielding immense control over the flow of fate.

In other words, this person’s divine rank was certainly extremely high—at least far above Mu Jin’s own. Within the Heavenly Realm, no one would dare underestimate someone like him.

While Mu Jin was grappling with his curiosity, Teng Fen’s reaction upon hearing the name “Qian Chen” was one of utter shock.

Compared to Mu Jin, who had only recently ascended to the ranks of immortals as a minor flower deity, Teng Gen had lived in the Celestial Realm for a far longer time. Though he usually avoided meddling in others’ affairs, preferring to laze about and sleep, he had heard of the Main God of these countless worlds—Qian Chen.

He knew that Qian Chen was an immensely powerful deity. Back then, the reason Qian Chen chose to oversee these small worlds was, reportedly, because his strength was so overwhelming that even the Celestial Emperor was wary of him. Moreover, Qian Chen had no interest in vying for power or engaging in conflicts.

When these countless small worlds first came into being, they were highly unstable and required a guardian. Qian Chen stepped forward, using his energy to stabilize the small worlds. In doing so, he also distanced himself from the chaos of the Celestial Realm, finding a measure of peace and quiet.

The energy within these small worlds is naturally inferior to that of the primordial Celestial Realm, yet dangers lurk everywhere within them. Over time, these small worlds even became a place of tribulation.

Countless immortals, demons, and Buddhas chose to enter these small worlds to temper themselves. As the overarching administrator of these dimensions, Qian Chen continuously monitored such events.

He would not interfere with others undergoing their tribulations, but without a manager like him, allowing powerful entities and chaotic energy to run rampant would inevitably lead to the collapse of these small worlds.

The collapse of a small world would release energy that could impact the current reality, damaging its dimensions. Qian Chen’s management effectively prevented this from happening.

Of course, overseeing these worlds came with its benefits for Qian Chen. While managing them, he could also absorb the energy generated within them. The cyclical operation of each dimension naturally produced a certain amount of virtue.

Individually, the virtue generated might not seem significant, but when accumulated across all dimensions, the sum became incredibly substantial. All this energy and virtue gathered under Qian Chen’s control, continuously making him stronger.

There were even rumors that if Qian Chen ever decided to return to reality, no one in the Celestial Realm would be able to match his power.

At this moment, Qian Chen suddenly appeared before them. His amicable demeanor toward Mu Jin left Tenggen puzzled about his true intentions.

From his place within Mu Jin’s sea of consciousness, Teng Gen naturally took the opportunity to caution Mu Jin. Meanwhile, Mu Jin, after learning Qian Chen’s true identity and the extent of his power, felt a ripple of unease in his heart but maintained a calm exterior.

Qian Chen seemed quite pleased with Mu Jin’s composure. He glanced at Pei Zijin, who stood frozen in time before him, his energy forcibly suppressed and his face contorted in pain. A flash of disgust crossed Qian Chen’s eyes as he looked at him.

The man raised his head and said to Mu Jin, “This dimension is a newly born one, not something I intervened in or created.”

Hearing this, Mu Jin froze for a moment, feeling that Qian Chen’s words carried significant implications. After all, Qian Chen was the supreme deity of all dimensions. Even if many dimensions had formed on their own initially, once Qian Chen took over, he would inevitably infuse his divine power into them.

Thus, Qian Chen’s role was equivalent to that of their creator. Yet now, Qian Chen was claiming that this apocalyptic dimension had nothing to do with him. What could this mean?

As Mu Jin pondered, he saw Qian Chen walk over to Shi Haoyu, who stood not far from him. Lowering his head, Qian Chen kissed Shi Haoyu gently on the lips, then softly caressed his face.

Following Qian Chen’s actions, Mu Jin watched in shock as Shi Haoyu transformed into another form right before his eyes.

Although the expression on Shi Haoyu’s face remained unchanged, the familiar features, crimson hair, and red eyes unmistakably revealed his true identity: Ying, the very figure who had previously plotted against him.

Mu Jin was horrified. Ying had always been on the opposing side, constantly scheming against his lover in past dimensions. Ying had made numerous attempts to harm Mu Jin’s beloved and seize the energy within him.

Mu Jin had always harbored strong hostility toward Ying. Yet now, seeing the interaction between Qian Chen and Ying, he dared not act recklessly.

Although it was clear that Ying, like Jian Minghui beside him, had also been frozen and immobilized in this small world, Qian Chen must have intentionally revealed Shi Haoyu’s true form to him.

From Qian Chen’s attitude toward Ying, Mu Jin could tell that the relationship between Qian Chen and Ying was undoubtedly similar to his own relationship with Qiongqi.

The love in Qian Chen’s eyes as he gazed at Ying was undisguised, even as such a powerful being. This realization left Mu Jin uneasy. If Qian Chen stood with Ying, wouldn’t that place him directly on the opposing side of Mu Jin and Qiong Qi?

With this realization, Mu Jin quietly took a few steps to his right, positioning himself in front of Jian Minghui, intending to shield his lover. He grew increasingly wary of Qian Chen standing before him.

Qian Chen, of course, noticed Mu Jin’s movements. However, he wasn’t offended by the reaction. Instead, he turned his head and smiled gently, saying, “Relax, I harbor no ill will toward you or Qiong Qi.”

“And now, as you’ve seen clearly, you should understand who Shi Haoyu truly is. But remember this: no matter who he is to you, to me, he is my beloved.”

Although Qian Chen’s expression was warm, Mu Jin couldn’t help but detect a subtle hint of threat in his tone. His mind flashed back to the past when Ying had approached him, even suggesting that he wanted to be Mu Jin’s partner.

Mu Jin, who had a strong sense of possessiveness toward his lover, immediately recognized that Qian Chen was likely just like him. Therefore, considering Qian Chen’s intense possessiveness toward Ying, it was only natural to wonder if Qian Chen would view him as a thorn in his side.

In truth, Mu Jin’s instincts were sharp. Qian Chen was well aware of Ying’s lingering feelings for Mu Jin. Even now, Ying had not fully accepted Qian Chen. But Qian Chen, having his own reasons for restraint, would not harm Mu Jin in the slightest.

Noticing Mu Jin’s hostility toward Ying, Qian Chen raised an eyebrow slightly and addressed him coolly, “Ying split off from Qiong Qi’s essence. Absorbing energy from him to sustain himself was the most efficient and convenient method.”

“However, you shouldn’t resent Ying. Without his existence, do you think that Qiong Qi alone—after traversing countless small worlds before you arrived—could have preserved his divine soul without it being completely worn away?”

“If it weren’t to protect Ying, who remains connected to Qiong Qi, do you think I would have gone to such lengths to ensure Qiong Qi survived until the moment you came for him?”

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Chapter 331- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (36)

However, Pei Zijin was unaware that Qian Chen was hiding in the shadows. At this moment, as he looked at Shi Haoyu, who was trapped in the midst of the zombie horde, he felt that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Especially after scanning the area and failing to spot the Zombie King, Pei Zijin believed that Shi Haoyu had somehow found a way to escape. If he could seize the opportunity and kill Shi Haoyu now, he could easily blame the zombies for the attack.

Pei Zijin, also a fire-type ability user, could clearly see that Shi Haoyu was much stronger than people had said, certainly not just a level four as rumored.

He understood where Shi Haoyu’s abilities had come from, feeling both jealous and furious. Seizing the moment when Shi Haoyu was distracted by fighting a level four zombie, Pei Zijin tried to ambush him from behind.

A level four zombie’s strength could rival that of a level five ability user. Moreover, Shi Haoyu’s abilities had only recently been upgraded, and the battlefield was in a state of chaos.

While Pei Zijin believed he could eventually win against the level four zombie, the fight still felt a bit difficult and taxing.

Just as Pei Zijin was battling the zombie in front of him, Shi Haoyu suddenly felt a burning heat approaching from behind. He was startled but was too overwhelmed to avoid the ambush.

He thought for sure that he was about to be hit, but just as the heat drew close, the energy vanished, and a muffled grunt sounded from behind him.

The level four zombie, apparently frightened by something, suddenly turned and fled. Shi Haoyu quickly turned around to see Qian Chen, whose chest was badly burned from a fire ability attack.

Seeing this, Shi Haoyu rushed to grab Qian Chen’s arm in a panic, checking his injuries. All the thoughts about Qian Chen being a zombie or having once imprisoned him were immediately pushed aside.

Right now, the only thought in his mind was that Qian Chen must not be harmed. If Qian Chen got hurt because of him, he would never forgive himself.

Seeing that Shi Haoyu was so concerned about his injuries, the Zombie King felt immensely satisfied, yet he still pretended to be weak and leaned on Shi Haoyu’s shoulder.

It was just a fireball from a level four ability user, something Qian Chen could easily withstand. He had intentionally let himself get hurt.

After spending so much time together, the Zombie King had a thorough understanding of Shi Haoyu’s personality. He knew that Shi Haoyu appeared stern and serious on the surface, but in reality, he was very soft-hearted. Otherwise, he wouldn’t always get his way when he pretended to be coquettish or wronged.

But now that he had made a mistake and truly angered his beloved, he needed to find a way to make Shi Haoyu forgive him. So, he had deliberately let the fireball hit him, and sure enough, he saw the worry and urgency in Shi Haoyu’s eyes.

Being able to make his beloved worry about him was worth the small injury to Qian Chen.

The Zombie King entered the battlefield, and as soon as he stood beside Shi Haoyu, he unleashed his oppressive aura. The surrounding zombies, like a receding tide, scattered away, losing the earlier viciousness they had when they faced the living, as though they wanted to devour them immediately.

Although the others didn’t know what had happened, it was clear that this was a good development.

However, while no one else noticed, Mu Jin did. He had often wondered who had taken Shi Haoyu, and although he knew it had something to do with Lecheng Base, he had never thought it would be the Zombie King.

Seeing the way the Zombie King was facing Shi Haoyu, it was obvious that he held Shi Haoyu in an extremely important position. Anyone who had experienced such emotions could tell that the Zombie King had feelings for Shi Haoyu.

Since Shi Haoyu was on their side, Mu Jin could finally relax. Watching the zombies retreat, it seemed that Pingcheng Base was truly saved.

However, when facing the Zombie King, who was still wearing a gray hoodie but had made no attempt at disguise, Mu Jin couldn’t help but furrow his brow after seeing his face clearly. That face was somewhat similar to Wallis from his past life.

The Zombie King’s face was strikingly beautiful, but in his eyes and brows, there was a faint resemblance to Wallis.

Speaking of which, Wallis’ appearance had also been exceptional, Mu Jin thought as he stroked his chin. He recalled how he had encountered Lin Yuan in the cultivation world, and later met Wallis again in the vampire world. Now, seeing the Zombie King in the apocalypse…

At this thought, Mu Jin’s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly turned his gaze to Shi Haoyu, someone he had never paid much attention to.

Although Shi Haoyu’s appearance didn’t resemble that of Huangfu Jian or Mao Kun at all, and their personalities were different, if he thought about it carefully, there were actually some similarities between them.

After thinking this through, Mu Jin was completely stunned. He stared at Pei Zijing, who looked exactly like Huangfu Jian, feeling as if some clues he had overlooked for so long had finally come together.

On the other side, after the Zombie King had gotten rid of the troublesome zombies, he enjoyed a moment of his beloved’s concern before raising his head and turning his attention to Pei Zijing.

Although Pei Zijing looked exactly like the man in his mind, the truth remained that appearances were just appearances. To Qian Chen, looks had never meant anything—there was only one person he truly cared about, and that person had always been Shi Haoyu.

In the past, Qian Chen had merely treated Pei Zijing as a subordinate, someone easy to command. But now that this person intended to harm his beloved, how could Qian Chen possibly let him off so easily?

So after calming Shi Haoyu, who was extremely worried about his injuries, Qian Chen teleported in front of the fleeing Pei Zijing and grabbed his neck.

In the blink of an eye, Pei Zijing’s neck was snapped by him, and the man in the Zombie King’s hands lost all breath and was completely lifeless.

Of course, such a result was not enough in Qian Chen’s eyes. This man dared to harm his lover, and Qian Chen wanted nothing more than to tear Pei Zijing apart with a thousand cuts.

However, he didn’t want his beloved to see his brutal side, fearing that Shi Haoyu might grow afraid of him. So, he only used what he considered the lightest punishment: simply snapping his neck to take his life.

But what he didn’t expect was that after doing this, a powerful surge of energy suddenly erupted from Pei Zijing’s body, almost throwing him off his feet. At the same time, the small world also began to tremble.

Mu Jin immediately sensed something was wrong, and at that moment, Teng Gen, who had been peacefully sleeping in his sea of consciousness, suddenly opened his eyes.

Instinctively, Teng Gen protected 003, who was drowsily lying in his arms, and sharply shouted at Mu Jin: “Mu Jin, that person is dangerous. Hurry, we need to work together to push this energy back into his body!”

“If the energy inside him overflows, the entire small world will collapse, and both your and Qiong Qi’s souls will be damaged!”

Without having time to think about who was behind this, Mu Jin quickly joined forces with Teng Gen, using his primal power to start containing the strong energy leaking from Pei Zijing’s body. Mu Jin could feel that the energy seemed to be of the same origin as these small worlds.

What surprised him even more was that the Zombie King, who had just fallen from the sudden impact, now stood back up. The golden gleam in his eyes flashed, and he immediately turned his attention toward Pei Zijing and made his move.

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Chapter 330- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (35)

In the following days, Mu Jin tried several times to approach the living quarters of the people from Lecheng Base, looking for an opportunity to make contact or directly rescue Shi Haoyu.

However, each time he saw the group from Lecheng Base, he didn’t spot the man in the gray hoodie who had kept himself completely covered.

After several consecutive attempts, Mu Jin had a pretty clear idea: it was likely that man who had taken Shi Haoyu.

He wasn’t sure what the man’s intentions were, but seeing that the man hadn’t shown his face, it seemed like he was with Shi Haoyu. Mu Jin began to wonder if there was some personal grudge between them.

But before Mu Jin had a chance to take further action, Pingcheng Base suddenly faced a wave of zombies.

Normally, small teams would periodically sweep the area outside Pingcheng Base for supplies, so the number of zombies and mutated plants and animals within a certain range was relatively low. The sudden appearance of these zombies outside the city left everyone puzzled.

Mu Jin and Jian Minghui stood on the city wall, their expressions grim as they looked at the black mass of zombies below.

What concerned Mu Jin most was that the zombies below were not just low-level ones. There were many second- and third-tier zombies, and a few even seemed to have advanced to level four.

The number of zombies was clearly much greater than the number of combat personnel at Pingcheng Base. Mu Jin’s abilities were powerful, but he knew that even ants, when there were enough of them, could crush an elephant. Not to mention, even if he could ensure his own safety, what about the people around him?

Jian Minghui didn’t need to be mentioned, and even Lou Bin and the other members of their team—Mu Jin didn’t want any of them to get hurt. So, no matter how you looked at it, this was going to be a tough battle.

The sudden zombie horde threw everyone in the base into a panic. Nearly all of the combat personnel gathered by the city wall, ready to fight at any moment.

With the zombies surrounding them, escaping Pingcheng Base was completely impossible, so the only option was to fight back against the horde.

What seemed strange, however, was that although the zombies had gathered below the city walls, they didn’t immediately attack. The zombies were drawn to the scent of the living, staring up at the group of people on the walls, clearly restless.

But they only watched. It was as if they had been given orders, not doing anything extra, which caught Mu Jin’s attention.

Looking at the zombies, he feared they had been controlled. Since they had a master, this actually gave them a slim chance of survival.

If their goal was simply to destroy Pingcheng Base, they could have attacked directly, without waiting under the walls. So, even if they couldn’t win against the zombies, at least the lives of the people in the base should be safe for now.

Soon after, Pei Zijin, who had not been seen for some time, appeared before everyone. He turned to look at Jian Zhengqing, Jian Mingyuan, and the others, who were standing in front of him with serious expressions, and smiled. “Hand over control of Pingcheng Base, and I can guarantee all of you will be safe.”

“Pei Zijin, what do you mean by that?”

Hearing Pei Zijin’s words and seeing the smug expression on his face, Jian Mingyuan immediately connected the dots. He realized that this zombie outbreak was probably closely tied to the people from Lecheng Base.

Pei Zijin had actually colluded with the zombies. In the post-apocalyptic world, humans had always fought against zombies. While the zombies’ strength had been increasing, they had never encountered any zombies that could communicate with humans.

So, what method had Pei Zijin used to control these zombies?

Pei Zijin, hearing the question, glanced down at the large group of zombies and casually waved his hand. To everyone’s shock, the zombies below followed his motion, eagerly reacting.

For a moment, he felt a surge of pride, more confident than ever. It seemed as though his actions were directly answering Jian Mingyuan’s question, making it impossible for the leaders of Pingcheng Base not to believe him.

While two groups of people on the city wall were engaged in a difficult standoff, the rest of the personnel inside the Pingcheng base became increasingly panicked. Although the security here was generally good, the large number of zombies surrounding the city still made some opportunistic individuals start to think more actively.

As a result, the base, which had been relatively quiet, became noisy, accompanied by sounds of smashing and arguing. After all, the team that had been maintaining security and order within the base was now concentrated near the city wall.

Shi Haoyu, who had been quietly staying inside the house, also naturally heard the commotion outside. From the villa where he was staying, with its good vantage point, he could clearly see the extensive scene outside.

The villa’s third floor wasn’t very high, and he had had opportunities to come into contact with people outside before. However, he was well aware of how powerful Qianchen was.

Since he knew that escaping wouldn’t be possible and might even involve innocent people, he naturally refrained from making any rash moves. He focused on appeasing Qianchen instead.

But today, the situation at the base was abnormal. Especially when he looked out the window and saw a large-scale riot outside, he realized that something major must have happened within the base.

Seeing this, Shi Haoyu couldn’t maintain his calm any longer. He opened the window and leaned out. Watching the chaotic crowd below, he noticed that the patrols, who had always been responsible within the base, had completely disappeared. He speculated that the Pingcheng base might be facing a major crisis.

He knew it was no longer the time for hesitation, so he stepped out of the window, intending to leave the room and personally check what was going on.

Just as he was about to leave, the door to the room opened again. Qianchen, carrying the food he had specially prepared for Shi Haoyu, walked in and saw the sight of his lover about to jump out the window.

Seeing Shi Haoyu’s actions, the Zombie King felt like his heart had stopped, though his heart had already stopped long ago.

Before the anger of his lover attempting to leave and betray him could take over, Qianchen first thought about how the floor they were on wasn’t very low. What if Shi Haoyu really jumped out and got hurt?

Rather than being angry about Shi Haoyu trying to escape, he was more upset that Shi Haoyu wasn’t taking care of his own body.

Without hesitation, Qianchen immediately rushed over and pulled Shi Haoyu into his arms, his tone angry as he said, “What do you think you’re doing? Why are you doing something so dangerous?”

Shi Haoyu looked at the nervousness and anger on Qianchen’s face. Hearing the reprimand, he calmed down a little.

But he immediately became serious and addressed the Zombie King, saying, “Qianchen, tell me the truth—what is really going on outside? The situation at Pingcheng Base is not right.”

Hearing Shi Haoyu’s words, Qianchen averted his gaze, feeling a little guilty. He knew exactly what had happened outside. Today was the big day for the zombie siege.

The zombies he had previously ordered had all arrived at the designated location, and they were now completely surrounding Pingcheng Base. If everything went according to plan, they should be able to take over the base within the next two days.

Originally, Qianchen had planned to wait until they had completely taken over Pingcheng Base before telling Shi Haoyu, giving him a surprise. But seeing the look on his lover’s face now, the Zombie King couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty. He opened his mouth but didn’t know how to explain himself.

It was this hesitation that made Shi Haoyu’s heart race. It was clear that Qianchen knew what was happening outside. Since the disturbance had caused such a large-scale riot, could it be that Qianchen was planning to destroy Pingcheng Base?

Realizing this, Shi Haoyu immediately became anxious. He worried about Mu Jin and Jian Minghui, and about his friends and teammates. He had never before felt such a strong urge to break free from Qianchen’s embrace.

Seeing the anger and determination on Shi Haoyu’s face, Qianchen’s concern grew even more. In the end, he couldn’t resist his own feelings and reluctantly let go of Shi Haoyu, fearing that his lover might act recklessly and hurt himself.

Although he released his hold, Qianchen quickly tried to explain, saying, “Yu, Yu, don’t be angry. I just want to make you happy.”

“Make me happy?” Shi Haoyu took a deep breath, unsure of what expression to wear as he faced Qianchen. He could only say sternly, “I’m going outside, immediately.”

This was the first time Qianchen had been treated by Shi Haoyu with such an attitude. He felt somewhat sad inside, but instinctively, he thought it would be better not to go against his spouse’s wishes at this moment.

To put it bluntly, over the past few days, Shi Haoyu’s attitude toward Qianchen had been gradually improving. Qianchen could feel it, and he had a vague sense of happiness. But now, Shi Haoyu’s attitude toward him had changed again, which made Qianchen deeply regretful.

He regretted not consulting Shi Haoyu before taking action, and even his attempt to stop Shi Haoyu from leaving wasn’t as firm as it should have been.

Anyway, as long as he was by Shi Haoyu’s side, it was impossible for him to escape. With these thoughts running through his mind, Qianchen finally nodded at Shi Haoyu and opened the door, following his lover out of the room.

Shi Haoyu moved quickly, rushing out of the villa and running toward the direction where the crowd had gathered. In a short time, he reached the city wall. Once there, he saw Mu Jin, Jian Minghui, and the others, as well as Pei Zijin and his group facing off against them.

But before Shi Haoyu could say anything, Pei Zijin noticed him.

Seeing Shi Haoyu standing not far from him, Pei Zijin’s heart tightened. He realized that his time was running out, so he quickly waved his hand, signaling the zombies to start attacking the people of Pingcheng Base with all their might.

Previously, he had already placed his people inside the base, so it was easy for them to open the gates of Pingcheng Base. The zombies rushed in, and the people from Lecheng Base mixed into the group fighting the zombies, seizing the opportunity to attack the people inside Pingcheng Base.

Mu Jin felt that Pei Zijin’s actions were somewhat sudden, but when faced with an attack, he couldn’t just stand idly by. He immediately joined the fight alongside the others.

The hurriedly arriving Shi Haoyu saw the zombies flooding into the city. He quickly found his position and joined the fray, battling the horde of zombies that had entered the city.

At this point, Shi Haoyu’s ability level had reached level five. He had a large amount of energy stored within him, but since he hadn’t had a chance to practice when his ability level increased, he still felt a bit awkward applying his newly upgraded powers.

On the other hand, Jian Minghui, who was also at level five, was much more proficient. With each of his attacks, mutated plants charged out of the zombie horde.

These mutated plants were incredibly strong and were not afraid of the zombies’ bites or the viruses they carried. They immediately became a significant fighting force within Pingcheng Base.

Jian Minghui’s strength was formidable, something that only those in his team knew firsthand, though others had only heard rumors. Now that everyone could see his power, they realized just how strong he actually was.

In the minds of most people in Pingcheng Base, Mu Jin had always been considered the strongest. Since Jian Minghui was usually with Mu Jin, his abilities were often overshadowed by Mu Jin’s presence.

But now, with Jian Minghui’s spiritual abilities having reached level five, and with his ability to control these mutated plants in battle, he seemed even more powerful. With these mutated plants fighting by his side, Jian Minghui’s combat prowess appeared grand and overwhelming.

Although his combat abilities may not have been stronger than Mu Jin’s, on the surface, he was certainly the one who stood out the most.

However, neither Jian Minghui nor Mu Jin had any interest in seeking attention. Their only goal now was to eliminate all the zombies.

On the other side, after Shi Haoyu engaged in battle with the zombies, Qianchen hid at a distance, watching his lover. Seeing Shi Haoyu’s anxious expression, Qianchen finally realized that he might have made a mistake.

He was conflicted, unsure whether he should intervene, so he kept a close watch on Shi Haoyu. Fortunately, his lover’s recently upgraded level five fire ability, although not yet fully mastered, was still much stronger than the surrounding enemies, so the zombies posed no threat to Shi Haoyu.

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Chapter 329- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (34)

Who would’ve thought that as soon as Qianchen slipped under the covers, the first thing he’d do was hurriedly confess his feelings? However, his words were repetitive, circling around the same few phrases—how much he liked Shi Haoyu and how he’d been searching for him all this time.

Clutching Shi Haoyu’s hand tightly, Qianchen gazed at him with an earnest intensity, repeatedly calling his name. Shi Haoyu could only sigh helplessly and ask where Qianchen had seen him before. Yet, Qianchen couldn’t provide any clear answer.

Perhaps it was Qianchen’s overly deceptive appearance—those innocent, pitiful looks. Against his better judgment, Shi Haoyu found himself feeling a hint of sympathy.

Through their conversation, Shi Haoyu began to speculate: could this zombie have been a junior of his during school? Or perhaps someone he’d encountered while working? Maybe Qianchen had developed an unspoken crush on him long ago.

The idea that this person had been so deeply infatuated, holding onto his feelings through the apocalypse—even after becoming a zombie—was unexpectedly bittersweet. It seemed tragic that Qianchen’s unwavering devotion had driven him to such lengths to find Shi Haoyu. Just thinking about it tugged at his heartstrings.

Looking at Qianchen’s seemingly harmless face, Shi Haoyu realized he simply couldn’t bring himself to dislike him. Yes, Qianchen was clingy and, well, a zombie—but he seemed genuinely innocent and lacked any malicious intent.

Since Qianchen stubbornly refused to let him go and the night had grown late, Shi Haoyu decided there was no point in fighting further. Feeling tired himself, he resolved to rest and sort things out with this troublesome zombie in the morning.

Meanwhile, back in their respective rooms, although Mu Jin and Jian Minghui had ostensibly retired for the night, Mu Jin wasn’t about to let things end there. As soon as he returned to his quarters, he expanded his spiritual awareness to continue his search.

Mu Jin had a strong hunch that Shi Haoyu was still somewhere in Pingcheng Base, and naturally, his primary suspects were the group from Lecheng Base.

Although Mu Jin’s spiritual awareness was powerful, it was somewhat suppressed in this small world, limiting its range. Nevertheless, luck seemed to be on his side. The quarters where Jian Zhengqing had arranged for the Lecheng group to stay weren’t far from his own apartment. It didn’t take long for Mu Jin to detect a faint, unfamiliar trace of energy lingering in Shi Haoyu’s room.

Of course, after picking up on this energy, Mu Jin didn’t act rashly. He didn’t want to alert the other party too soon, especially since Shi Haoyu was still in their hands. Instead, he confirmed that Shi Haoyu was indeed with the Lecheng group and then withdrew his spiritual awareness. He decided to wait for a better opportunity to investigate further and see if he could rescue Shi Haoyu.

The next morning, Shi Haoyu didn’t wake up until the sun was high in the sky. Blinking groggily, he felt a strong pair of arms still holding him in place.

Turning his head, he saw a patch of pale white in his line of sight. As his thoughts slowly cleared, he realized that the white expanse was the bare chest of the zombie tightly embracing him.

Shi Haoyu’s face darkened instantly. He suddenly wished he could go back in time and give himself a good beating.

How could he have thought last night that this zombie was simple?

After just one night, he’d come to the unmistakable conclusion that this wretched zombie was anything but innocent.

He was utterly and thoroughly bad!

Thinking about how he had somehow allowed himself to be utterly disarmed by this zombie—who outwardly appeared so pure and harmless—Shi Haoyu felt his thoughts spinning in disarray. He had been coaxed, half-pushed, and half-pulled into doing that kind of thing.

He didn’t know whether to blame the enchanting atmosphere of the night or the zombie’s impossibly beautiful face. Even though this creature was supposed to be undead, it somehow wielded such disarming charm. Shi Haoyu had foolishly fallen for the zombie’s sweet words and pitiful demeanor, allowing his heart to soften.

Now, his body was covered in faint marks left by the zombie’s kisses. Moving slightly, Shi Haoyu grimaced and nearly cursed aloud. His inner thighs—he didn’t even need to look—were undoubtedly rubbed raw.

Frowning deeply, Shi Haoyu felt an unsettling frustration. His reaction to the zombie made no sense.

He had always been a cautious and vigilant person, yet his wariness seemed to vanish entirely when dealing with this creature. Whenever he saw the zombie’s pitiful or pleading expressions, he instinctively let his guard down. Worse, he even felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as though he’d known the zombie before.

As Shi Haoyu lay there brooding, the zombie emperor, Qianchen, who had been holding him tightly, opened his eyes as well. Zombies didn’t need to sleep, but Qianchen simply enjoyed the comfort of holding his beloved. The moment Shi Haoyu’s breathing changed, Qianchen became fully alert.

Looking down at Shi Haoyu with joy in his eyes, Qianchen planted a firm kiss on his face, his gaze brimming with happiness.

Caught off guard by the intense affection in the zombie’s eyes, Shi Haoyu froze for a moment. Then, memories of the previous night came rushing back: despite how much Qianchen clearly wanted him, he had held himself back.

Even when touching him, Qianchen had been careful not to let his sharp nails graze Shi Haoyu’s skin. Every kiss, every embrace was executed with extreme caution.

Shi Haoyu could still hear Qianchen murmuring softly in his ear, as though chanting a mantra:
“Be careful, be gentle. Can’t hurt Yu. Can’t hurt Yu.”

Qianchen repeatedly muttered those words, as if he was terrified that he might lose control and accidentally hurt Shi Haoyu. In the end, he hadn’t even gone all the way. This left Shi Haoyu with increasingly complicated feelings about him.

Letting out a deep sigh, Shi Haoyu felt like he was losing his mind.

Meanwhile, Qianchen, who had been holding him tightly and observing his every expression, only relaxed when he saw that Shi Haoyu’s face had softened. When he had first opened his eyes and noticed the anger on his beloved’s face, it had nearly scared him out of his wits.

He was truly afraid of Shi Haoyu being angry and leaving him. While Qianchen was powerful and it would be difficult for Shi Haoyu to escape, he couldn’t shake the feeling that if someone was determined enough, they could always find a way.

Because of this, he desperately wanted to win over the person in his arms, to ensure Shi Haoyu couldn’t bear to leave him.

But Qianchen had no idea how to do that, and the uncertainty was gnawing at him. Just then, there was a knock at the door. Without even opening it, Qianchen immediately recognized the visitor as Pei Zijin.

Qianchen didn’t like strangers entering his space and disturbing him. However, noticing Shi Haoyu frown slightly at the sound, he reluctantly went to open the door.

Thankfully, Pei Zijin came with a large food tray, laden with an assortment of breakfast dishes. This stopped Qianchen’s expression from darkening.

After taking the tray, Qianchen hurriedly brought it to the bed and placed it in front of Shi Haoyu. He planted a quick, ingratiating kiss on Shi Haoyu’s face, urging him to enjoy his meal before stepping out and carefully closing the door behind him.

Qianchen stood right outside, ensuring he could immediately react to any sound from within the room. He wasn’t worried about Shi Haoyu trying to escape. Instead, he quietly turned to Pei Zijin and asked, “What do humans like?”

“Huh?” Pei Zijin was momentarily stunned by the question, unsure of what the zombie emperor was asking.

Seeing his confusion, Qianchen frowned and clarified, “What do humans like? How can I make someone happy?”

Pei Zijin finally realized what Qianchen was asking, and naturally, he understood that the question was directed at Shi Haoyu. A wave of jealousy surged in his heart for Shi Haoyu.

However, he dared not give a dismissive answer. He lowered his eyelids, forcing down the anger inside, and instead gave Qianchen a gentle smile as he replied, “Humans always want something. It’s mostly to satisfy their desires—food, beauty, power, and control.”

Qianchen nodded thoughtfully, though he didn’t fully understand.

Pei Zijin, thinking about how much Qianchen valued Shi Haoyu, felt his jealousy intensify. He continued, “Your Majesty, humans always like to become stronger, to stand at the top. I’m sure Shi Haoyu is no exception.

If I had a large army of zombies, I could easily conquer Pingcheng Base, and even more territories. At that point, if you gave those lands to Shi Haoyu, he would surely be pleased.”

Qianchen pondered for a moment upon hearing Pei Zijin’s words, finding some merit in them. He had almost forgotten about the siege by zombies, but after this reminder, he realized it might indeed be necessary.

Seeing that Qianchen didn’t oppose him, Pei Zijin relaxed. He had been worried that once Qianchen found a target, he might stop helping him. Fortunately, he had thought of using Shi Haoyu as an excuse.

However, he continued to advise Qianchen, “But people love surprises. It would be best if you don’t mention this to him just yet. Once you have conquered all the bases and they are under your control, then tell him as a surprise. He will definitely be even happier then.”

Qianchen considered Pei Zijin’s words and decided to follow his advice. He gave a casual “Mm,” then returned to his room.

Although Shi Haoyu was imprisoned, he wouldn’t let himself go hungry. In this post-apocalyptic world, food was scarce, and he believed in not wasting anything. By the time Qianchen returned to the room, the food tray had been completely cleaned out by Shi Haoyu.

Looking at the food, which tasted far better than anything he’d had in the past, Shi Haoyu couldn’t help but sigh, realizing he had truly fallen into decadence. He then rubbed his now-full belly without a hint of guilt.

When Qianchen entered the room, he saw this scene. Despite Shi Haoyu’s typically stern face, after eating and feeling a little dazed, Qianchen couldn’t help but feel a tightness in his throat.

The ever-bold Zombie King immediately rushed over and kissed his beloved with abandon.

Afterwards, Shi Haoyu lay on the bed with a face full of saliva marks, feeling utterly defeated. He suddenly had the sense that he had become a kept man, living off someone else.

After talking with Pei Zijin, Qianchen never left Shi Haoyu’s side, constantly finding ways to win his heart.

He remembered how, when he had met Pei Zijin earlier, he had enhanced Pei Zijin’s abilities to make it easier for him to serve him. After the enhancement, Pei Zijin’s face had lit up with ecstasy.

Qianchen didn’t know exactly how he had done it, but he knew he had the ability to improve others’ powers. Although it drained his own strength and the increase was limited, he didn’t hesitate to use it on Shi Haoyu.

As a result, Shi Haoyu quickly ascended from level 4 to the peak of level 5. The leap from level 4 to 5 was huge, requiring nearly as much energy as leveling up from level 1 to 4.

After doing this, Qianchen felt mentally exhausted, but he sensed that the bond between him and Shi Haoyu had deepened, which pleased him immensely.

Feeling the surge of energy within his own body, Shi Haoyu was momentarily stunned. He quickly realized that his abilities had improved. Looking at the paler-faced Qianchen in front of him, he wasn’t sure what to say.

In the post-apocalyptic world, strength was the most important thing. No matter how Qianchen had done it, Shi Haoyu was grateful for the effort he had put into helping him.

However, even though he had reached the peak of level 5 and his abilities had become formidable, he still knew that he wasn’t a match for the zombie king in front of him. So, Qianchen was indeed the Zombie King.

On the surface, Shi Haoyu and Qianchen seemed to be getting along just fine, but back at Pingcheng Base, except for the members of Mu Jin’s ability team, no one knew that Shi Haoyu had gone missing. After all, Mu Jin didn’t want to raise any suspicions.

---

Chapter 328- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (33)

Shi Haoyu pressed his lips together and tentatively asked the zombie in front of him, “You can understand what I’m saying, right?”

He reasoned that since the zombie had been able to give orders to Pei Zijin, communication was clearly possible. Sure enough, the zombie reacted quickly to his question, nodding in affirmation.

‘Good, at least we can communicate.’

Relieved, Shi Haoyu exhaled slightly and said to the zombie with a mix of helplessness and resolve, “So, why did you bring me here? Is there something you need me to do?”

Given the current situation, Shi Haoyu no longer believed that the zombie had gone to all this trouble simply to eat him.

The Zombie Emperor tilted his head in response, the motion almost childlike in its curiosity. Although his sharp, alluring features gave off a slightly menacing aura, the gesture struck Shi Haoyu as oddly endearing.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Shi Haoyu suddenly found himself enveloped in a firm embrace. The zombie locked eyes with him, the deep red in his gaze glowing with determination, and said one word, firmly and possessively:
“Mine.”

Before Shi Haoyu could react, the zombie leaned in and planted a forceful kiss on his cheek.

Shi Haoyu’s heart skipped a beat at the unexpected action, and he flailed slightly, trying to push the zombie away. However, when he saw the hurt expression on the other’s face, he hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. After a moment, he asked, “I’m Shi Haoyu. What’s your name?”

Hearing the question, the Zombie Emperor seemed to pause, his expression thoughtful. Since the moment he had gained awareness, his mind had been filled with fragmented memories of blurred figures and little else. He didn’t know where he came from or who he was.

But when Shi Haoyu posed the question, a flicker of recognition sparked within him. Slowly, as if uncovering a long-forgotten truth, he replied, “I am Qianchen.”

As the name left his lips, Qianchen felt a surge of joy, an unexpected delight in introducing himself to the person he liked.

Shi Haoyu sighed inwardly at the sight of Qianchen’s slightly dazed and innocent demeanor. With a touch of exasperation, he asked again, “Qianchen, why did you bring me here?”

After asking Qianchen his question, Shi Haoyu was already on guard. Sure enough, he saw Qianchen leaning in again, clearly intending to kiss him. Quickly, Shi Haoyu raised a hand to block the zombie’s lips, glaring at him with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

For a long moment, his mind raced with thoughts before landing on a rather implausible idea. Hesitating, he looked at Qianchen and asked, “Do you… like me?”

‘Like me?’ Qianchen froze at the question.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with the concept of “liking,” but the feelings he had for Shi Haoyu didn’t seem to fit neatly into such a simple term. What he felt was deeper, something far more profound and irreplaceable than mere “liking.” It was as though their connection was destined, an unbreakable bond.

Still, seeing Shi Haoyu’s expression, Qianchen nodded without hesitation, as if agreeing would make his intentions clearer.

This time, it was Shi Haoyu’s turn to be utterly stunned. He hadn’t expected that the reason this zombie had captured him was… love? But as he wracked his memory, he couldn’t recall ever meeting Qianchen before.

After going back and forth with the zombie for what felt like ages, Shi Haoyu realized he’d gleaned little useful information beyond Qianchen’s name and feelings. Frustrated and exhausted, he reluctantly gave up on getting answers.

Still, the thought of his sudden disappearance worried him. Surely, by tomorrow, Lou Bin and their leader would notice his absence and be frantic. With that in mind, he softened his tone, attempting to negotiate: “Qianchen, how about you let me go back for now? We can talk about this later.”

However, the seemingly agreeable Qianchen immediately stiffened at those words. His expression darkened, and he tightened his hold on Shi Haoyu, pulling him closer. His crimson gaze bore into Shi Haoyu’s, unyielding and possessive, as he shook his head and firmly declared, “You are mine.”

Shi Haoyu glared at him in disbelief, anger flaring in his chest. He didn’t find it remotely romantic that someone he’d just met—let alone a zombie—was making such a possessive declaration. No matter how attractive Qianchen might be, Shi Haoyu had never believed in love at first sight, and this situation was no exception.

Moreover, Qianchen was part of the group from Lecheng Base that had arrived at Pingcheng Base. As a powerful zombie with ties to Lecheng’s leadership—evident from the fact that their leader, Pei Zijin, had personally brought him food—it was clear that Lecheng Base’s motives for coming here were far from innocent.

Although Shi Haoyu typically came across as cold and distant, he was unwaveringly loyal to Jian Minghui, Mu Jin, and the friends around him. Betraying them was something he would never do.

Shi Haoyu was pragmatic, but he also had his principles. Seeing that soft persuasion wasn’t working, he decided to try a more assertive approach to provoke a reaction from the zombie.

However, just as he was about to deliver some harsh words, the zombie casually interrupted him and said, “I’m yours too!”

After making this bold declaration, Qianchen even put on an aggrieved expression, as if Shi Haoyu were some kind of heartless cad. The anger bubbling in Shi Haoyu’s chest deflated like a balloon pricked by a needle, leaving him utterly speechless.

The feeling of trying to feign anger but hitting a soft wall of obliviousness was maddening. Shi Haoyu suddenly realized that while this zombie might understand human speech, communicating with him was proving to be exceedingly difficult.

Meanwhile, Qianchen kept a close eye on Shi Haoyu’s expressions. Noticing that his beloved looked a little upset, he grew anxious, unsure of what to do. He briefly considered finding Pei Zijin again to ask how he could make his beloved happy.

But seeing that the night was already deep, Qianchen remembered that humans rested at night. He didn’t want to disrupt Shi Haoyu’s sleep by running around and causing a commotion. Instead, he stayed where he was, his expression pitiful, and softly called out, “Yu…” His voice was low and husky, carrying an inexplicable sensuality that made Shi Haoyu’s ears involuntarily heat up.

Qianchen’s voice wasn’t clear or melodious, but when he called Shi Haoyu’s name, there was a certain endearing charm to it. He even managed to learn how to pout and act coquettishly on his own, which only added to his appeal.

Even though Shi Haoyu wasn’t someone who was easily swayed by appearances, having such a stunning beauty persistently expressing affection for him stirred up an inexplicable feeling in his heart.

Just as Shi Haoyu was struggling with his conflicted emotions, Qianchen finally seemed to relent. With an air of dramatic mercy, the zombie released him and darted into the bathroom.

Qianchen reasoned that since it was late, his beloved needed a proper rest. He didn’t want to act thoughtlessly and disrupt Shi Haoyu’s sleep.

After all, from the moment Qianchen first saw Shi Haoyu, he had secretly followed him everywhere. He had tailed his beloved all the way back to his apartment and naturally saw Shi Haoyu go into the bathroom to clean himself before returning to bed.

Humans seemed to prefer keeping themselves meticulously clean when conditions allowed, and since Qianchen liked Shi Haoyu, he felt he should do the same. With this thought, he hurried into the bathroom and quickly scrubbed himself down.

Fortunately, the bathroom was well-equipped. For a zombie, the temperature of the water didn’t matter, so Qianchen used cold water to wash himself thoroughly.

After a quick towel dry, Qianchen swung open the bathroom door and rushed back to the bed, immediately pulling Shi Haoyu into his arms.

Shi Haoyu, however, felt as though his eyes were about to burn out of their sockets.

Qianchen hadn’t bothered to change after his shower and had run out completely naked.

His skin was extraordinarily pale, his physique unexpectedly appealing. While his clothed frame seemed slightly slender, without clothes, his body revealed smooth muscle definition, with a toned abdomen and the striking lines of a V-cut. He was the very definition of “lean but muscular,” the kind of figure that could turn heads regardless of gender.

Yet Shi Haoyu wasn’t in the mood for admiring such things. His mind was occupied by one glaring issue—Qianchen’s complete lack of clothing as he emerged from the bathroom.

This left Shi Haoyu with an unfiltered view of… everything. And as Qianchen sprinted across the room, a particular part of him—decidedly well-endowed—bounced with every step. Shi Haoyu felt his face burn as he realized he couldn’t unsee what he had just witnessed.

Logic was failing him, and brute strength was out of the question. Shi Haoyu began to suspect that his fate was to be at the mercy of this exasperating zombie.

---

Chapter 327- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (32)

Shi Haoyu quickly opened his eyes and was startled to see a pair of blood-red eyes glowing above him, gleaming brightly in the moonlight.

His heart involuntarily tightened, and he immediately swung a punch at the unknown figure above him from his lying position. However, before his punch could fully land, the man leaning slightly over him reacted swiftly, gripping Shi Haoyu’s arm with an iron hold.

Although the man’s arm didn’t appear as muscular as Shi Haoyu’s, Shi Haoyu found himself utterly unable to break free from the grip.

Under the moonlight, Shi Haoyu recognized the familiar hoodie the other man was wearing and immediately realized who this person was. More importantly, he understood that the man wasn’t human—he was a zombie. A zombie with such formidable strength could only be the Zombie Emperor. But why would the Zombie Emperor be with the people from Lecheng Base?

Shi Haoyu’s mind raced. His first thought was that the Zombie Emperor was colluding with Lecheng Base and had been sent to assassinate him.

Although he wasn’t someone of significant importance, in the eyes of outsiders, he was one of Jian Minghui and Mu Jin’s most trusted allies. Killing him could serve as a warning to others.

Shi Haoyu knew he stood no chance against this zombie and had already come to terms with the inevitability of his death. Yet, to his surprise, the Zombie Emperor’s next action was entirely unexpected.

Rather than harm him, the powerful zombie released its grip on his arm and instead wrapped him in an embrace, holding him tightly in its arms.

The zombie then began to observe him up close, scrutinizing him as if examining some extraordinary treasure.

Shi Haoyu felt a chill under the zombie’s intense gaze, but it didn’t stop there. After a while, the zombie seemed dissatisfied with just staring and began sniffing him, its nose brushing against his face and neck as it inhaled deeply, seemingly savoring his scent.

This strange behavior made Shi Haoyu swallow nervously. He couldn’t help but wonder if the zombie was debating whether or not to eat him—or perhaps contemplating the best place to take a bite.

The absurdity of his thoughts at such a dire moment left him feeling speechless with himself.

But then, a sudden smack sound rang out beside his ear, shocking Shi Haoyu as if he’d been struck by lightning. He realized with horror that the zombie hadn’t bitten him at all; instead, it had planted a heavy kiss on his cheek.

The Zombie Emperor, holding what he now considered his long-lost treasure, felt a profound sense of completeness. His mood soared, intoxicated by the indescribably pleasant scent of the man in his arms—the best scent he had ever encountered.

He found himself utterly enamored with the person he was holding. How could he even think of harming him? In fact, as he embraced Shi Haoyu, he was careful not to let his claws scratch him, his movements gentle and restrained.

Overwhelmed by an urge to act on his feelings, though unsure how, the Zombie Emperor recalled fleeting memories in his mind and decided to act on instinct. He kissed Shi Haoyu.

The moment his lips touched the man’s warm skin, he was hooked. One kiss wasn’t enough, and soon a cascade of kisses followed—light, scattered touches that fell like raindrops on Shi Haoyu’s cheeks, forehead, nose, and even his lips.

Fortunately, the Zombie Emperor still retained some sense. Deep in his mind, he understood that while ability users had a certain resistance to the zombie virus, they weren’t completely immune. So even when his lips brushed Shi Haoyu’s, he kept the contact brief and refrained from anything more intimate.

Still, Shi Haoyu, immobilized and utterly at the mercy of this zombie’s whims, was left fuming. His face flushed bright red—not from embarrassment, but from a combination of frustration and indignation at the bizarre situation he found himself in.

He had just been taken advantage of by a zombie. A zombie had stolen his first kiss—one he had kept for over 20 years!

Although Shi Haoyu didn’t consider his first kiss particularly valuable, losing it in this manner was undeniably upsetting.

At this moment, Shi Haoyu couldn’t quite describe how he felt. All he knew was that life was unpredictable. Weren’t zombies supposed to eat people? Since when did they have the leisure to sneak into someone’s room and flirt? The world seemed to have taken a bizarre, fantastical turn.

Meanwhile, as the Zombie Emperor had his encounter with Shi Haoyu, Mu Jin, who had been sleeping soundly in his lover’s arms, suddenly opened his eyes. He had sensed something foreign intruding into the vicinity of his territory.

Realizing that Shi Haoyu and Lou Bin lived directly below his room—and that the unknown presence seemed to be located there—Mu Jin’s heart grew uneasy.

Quickly shaking Jian Minghui awake, he rushed downstairs at lightning speed. Without hesitation, he kicked open the door to Shi Haoyu’s room and charged in.

However, upon entering the room, Mu Jin found only an open window with curtains billowing gently in the night breeze. Standing by the window, he looked out into the darkness but saw no trace of anyone.

Shi Haoyu had disappeared, seemingly taken by someone.

Jian Minghui and Lou Bin, who had followed closely behind Mu Jin, quickly realized what had happened. Someone had abducted Shi Haoyu—but who could have done it?

“Boss, where’s Haoyu? Could it be someone from the Lecheng Base? Those people are the only suspicious ones who’ve come to our base lately. Boss, you’ve got to save Haoyu!” Lou Bin exclaimed, visibly distressed.

Jian Minghui nodded grimly. Watching Lou Bin prepare to storm out, it was clear he intended to confront the group from Lecheng Base directly and demand answers.

Sighing, Jian Minghui quickly stopped Lou Bin in his tracks and tried to calm him down, saying, “Don’t act rashly. We don’t have any evidence yet. Rest assured, Xiao Jin and I will bring Haoyu back safe and sound.”

Hearing Jian Minghui’s words, Lou Bin, though still visibly anxious, managed to regain some composure. He knew that Lecheng Base was formidable, and barging in without solid proof could backfire, potentially putting Pingcheng Base at a disadvantage.

For now, he could only place his hopes in Mu Jin and his boss, believing that their capabilities would ensure Haoyu’s safe return.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side, Shi Haoyu—whom Lou Bin imagined to be in mortal danger—was currently being carried princess-style by the Zombie Emperor, his expression dark. He was being brought to the latter’s quarters within Pingcheng Base.

The man’s room was, naturally, the best in the entire villa: spacious and well-lit, complete with a private bathroom. The large, soft double bed was far more luxurious and comfortable than the modest bedroom Shi Haoyu had been living in.

Under the Zombie Emperor’s control, Shi Haoyu couldn’t speak initially. Only after being taken into the room did he confirm his suspicions. This man was indeed the same figure he had noticed when returning to the base with his team earlier.

But why had this person singled him out and abducted him?

As the lights in the room turned on, Shi Haoyu finally got a clear look at the zombie. Even someone like Shi Haoyu, who typically didn’t pay much attention to appearances, couldn’t help but feel a bit stunned. He had to admit—this was the most attractive individual he had ever seen in his life.

The Zombie Emperor’s face was expressionless, exuding an icy aloofness. His stunning features, paired with those blood-red eyes, carried an inexplicable allure. Despite this, there was a certain dignity about him that deterred any improper thoughts, even in his unnerving beauty.

When those crimson eyes turned to meet his, they were filled with a storm of emotions so overwhelming that Shi Haoyu didn’t even want to try deciphering them.

The Zombie Emperor leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on Shi Haoyu’s forehead, whispering softly, “Stay here like a good boy,” before leaving the room.

As soon as the zombie left, Shi Haoyu exhaled in relief, his mind racing to find a way to escape. Yet, before two minutes had passed, the Zombie Emperor returned.

Upon his return, the first thing the zombie did was pull Shi Haoyu firmly into his embrace. Shi Haoyu even heard a satisfied sigh escape from the other man’s lips as if simply holding him brought immense contentment. The sheer absurdity of the situation left Shi Haoyu deeply unsettled.

Here he was—a tall, sturdy man with rugged features—now forced into the embrace of another man. The sheer indignity of it made Shi Haoyu’s expression darken.

Fortunately, after a few moments, a knock at the door broke the tension, prompting the Zombie Emperor to release him.

The zombie quickly got off the bed and walked to the door. When he opened it, Shi Haoyu recognized the visitor as Pei Zijin, the leader of the delegation from Lecheng Base.

Pei Zijin held a tray laden with what could only be described as an abundant meal, which he handed over to the Zombie Emperor.

Just moments earlier, Pei Zijin had been resting in his quarters when his door was abruptly pushed open. Upon seeing the Zombie Emperor, his heart filled with both nervousness and excitement, thinking the zombie had finally taken an interest in him.

To his surprise, the Zombie Emperor simply instructed him to prepare some human food before vanishing without further explanation.

It wasn’t until the Zombie Emperor had disappeared entirely that Pei Zijin processed what had just been asked of him.

Why would the Zombie Emperor suddenly request human food? And who was it intended for?

Pei Zijin didn’t have much time to ponder these questions. He quickly prepared the finest food he had on hand and delivered it to the Zombie Emperor. When he knocked and the door opened, he immediately noticed a man in the room.

The man was lying on the large bed in the center of the room, dressed casually in nothing but a tank top and sleep shorts—clearly bedtime attire.

What shocked Pei Zijin even more was that he recognized the man: Shi Haoyu, a fire-ability user. Like himself, Shi Haoyu was a level-four ability user and known as one of the closest allies of Jian Minghui and Mu Jin.

He’d heard that Shi Haoyu had been ill recently and was recovering in his quarters, only recently resuming his missions.

But what kind of relationship did this person have with the Zombie Emperor? Why had the emperor brought him here?

Pei Zijin had no chance to ask. When he dared to glance at Shi Haoyu for a moment too long, a suffocating wave of pressure descended on him. Cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead as he met the Zombie Emperor’s eyes, which blazed with unmistakable displeasure.

Sensing the danger, Pei Zijin quickly stepped back, understanding the limits of his position. Before he could say another word, the door slammed shut in his face with a loud bang, nearly hitting the tip of his nose.

Left standing outside the tightly shut door, Pei Zijin clenched his fists in frustration. Gritting his teeth, he thought bitterly about Shi Haoyu. How could someone with neither his looks nor his rank catch the attention of such a supreme figure?

Meanwhile, the Zombie Emperor, holding the tray of food, paid no mind to Pei Zijin’s thoughts. With his prize in hand, he eagerly approached Shi Haoyu, presenting the food as if it were a priceless treasure. His eyes shone with anticipation, waiting for Shi Haoyu’s reaction.

The Zombie Emperor’s eagerness was so transparent that Shi Haoyu was momentarily stunned. On the tray were premium items: fine ham, high-quality canned goods, and even a few perfectly preserved fruits.

Shi Haoyu blinked in disbelief at the display of offerings. After a brief pause, he tentatively picked up an apple as a token gesture.

For the first time, a thought crossed Shi Haoyu’s mind: ‘perhaps this zombie truly had no malicious intentions.’

---

Chapter 326- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (31)

While at Lecheng Base, Pei Zijin had secretly looked for people who resembled him, but most of them were ordinary individuals. He quietly killed them off, handling the bodies discreetly.

In any case, no matter what happens in the future, for now, he was the one by the Emperor’s side, and he was determined not to waste such a good opportunity.

Meanwhile, Mu Jin had ordered the people under him to closely monitor the movements of Lecheng Base’s group. The others naturally didn’t question Mu Jin’s intentions, as they knew that those people were from another base, and it was only logical to be cautious.

After recovering from his fever, Shi Haoyu rested for several days. Only after repeatedly assuring that he was fine did Lou Bin finally allow him to go outside and join the team on some simple tasks.

During this time, Jian Minghui’s abilities continued to grow, especially with the enhancement of his mental powers.

Jian Minghui discovered that not only could he suppress the abilities of ordinary ability users, but he could also directly attack and destroy the brains of zombies. Moreover, he had begun to control the movement of low-level mutated plants.

After the apocalypse, mutated plants also developed strong combat abilities. Compared to mutated animals, whose brain regions were more complex, the consciousness of newly sprouted mutated plants was easier to control, making them more manageable for Jian Minghui to use in combat.

Once Jian Minghui gathered some powerful mutated plants around him, mastering this new ability effectively doubled his fighting strength.

After he became proficient with his new skills, Jian Minghui immediately told Mu Jin. As expected, Mu Jin showered him with praise and even sent him a lot of affectionate kisses and hugs.

Sometimes, Jian Minghui didn’t quite understand why, even though Mu Jin was so powerful, he always seemed so delighted and full of praise whenever Jian Minghui made progress.

He could sense that Mu Jin genuinely admired him from the heart. What man wouldn’t enjoy being noticed and even revered by the one they loved? Mu Jin’s behavior deeply satisfied Jian Minghui’s vanity.

As a result, Jian Minghui became even more determined to improve his abilities, vowing to make his beloved Xiao Jin proud of him.

Ever since the group from Lecheng Base had arrived, they frequently wandered around Pingcheng Base, gathering information. However, the man in the hoodie and mask was peculiar—he didn’t engage with others, merely observing the people coming and going.

Even when someone tried to start a conversation, he remained silent. At first, Mu Jin was cautious of him. Yet, seeing that the man exuded no hostility, Mu Jin couldn’t quite figure out his intentions.

The Zombie Emperor had, in a short time, observed almost everyone in Pingcheng Base, except for those who rarely left their residences. Even so, he hadn’t found the person he was searching for, leaving him deeply disappointed.

At this moment, Pei Zijin stepped forward at the right time, once again urging the Zombie Emperor about the benefits of quickly taking over Pingcheng Base. He explained that as Lecheng Base expanded its territory, more people would be under their command.

When that happened, it would be much easier for the Zombie Emperor to find whoever he was looking for.

Hearing Pei Zijin’s argument, the Zombie Emperor finally nodded and instructed some of his higher-level zombies to drive nearby low-level zombies toward Pingcheng Base. The goal was to amass them around the base within a few days.

When the zombie siege began, it would coincide with Pei Zijin’s ambush of ability users lying in wait near Pingcheng Base. Together, they would launch an assault, making it easy to capture the base.

Ecstatic at receiving the Zombie Emperor’s approval, Pei Zijin immediately went out to contact the ability users already stationed near Pingcheng Base.

The stated purpose of Lecheng Base’s visit was to exchange supplies, but in reality, they aimed to assess Pingcheng Base’s situation. If the base proved weaker in strength, they intended to seize it in one swift move.

Unfortunately for Pei Zijin and his team, upon arriving, they discovered that while Pingcheng Base had fewer ability users than Lecheng Base, the strength of its elites was formidable.

During their stay, Pei Zijin managed to gather detailed intelligence about Pingcheng Base. Its leader, Jian Zhengqing, had two sons who were notable but not the main concern. What stood out was the unexpectedly high number of ability users at level three and four.

Above all, there was Mu Jin—a figure celebrated as a hero. Despite not having any abilities, Mu Jin was even stronger than most ability users, a figure of unfathomable depth and power.

This discovery left Pei Zijin wary of making any rash moves. Instead, he focused on persuading the Zombie Emperor to help him.

Now, with the zombie siege in motion, Pei Zijin finally felt confident enough to start directing his subordinates more boldly. Backed by the Zombie Emperor’s power, he saw Pingcheng Base as already within his grasp.

Once he seized the base and its arsenal of weapons, those obstinate old men in Lecheng Base would have no choice but to step down from power.

In the days that followed, Pei Zijin became so busy he barely had a moment to rest. Meanwhile, the Zombie Emperor remained indifferent to it all. Although he felt deep down that the person he was searching for was unlikely to be in Pingcheng Base, he lingered there regardless.

Each day, he stayed near his residence, basking in the sunlight and lost in thought, unsure how long it would take to find his target. The absence of the one he sought made him feel as though his entire existence as a zombie was losing its meaning.

One day, during one of his moments of dazed reflection, the Zombie Emperor suddenly heard the commotion of voices nearby. It was Luo Bin and Shi Haoyu’s team returning from a supply run.

The members of Jian Minghui’s team were exceptionally capable, so Mu Jin and Jian Minghui didn’t need to accompany them on every mission.

Lately, due to the arrival of people from Lecheng Base, although Jian Mingyuan and Jian Minghui’s teams continued to venture outside the city, they mostly chose locations close to the base as a precaution.

With Luo Bin and Shi Haoyu leading the group, there was naturally little to worry about.

Luo Bin, a lively and talkative character, enjoyed the hustle and bustle of activity. During their latest supply run, the team passed by a villa, where they discovered a large stash of fine liquor in the basement.

Alcohol, while not a primary necessity, was considered a rare and valuable commodity in the apocalypse due to its high caloric content. Since they had driven a truck, they loaded it all and brought it back. Luo Bin was already planning to send some of the liquor to their boss and his “sister-in-law,” knowing it would certainly please them.

The Zombie Emperor casually glanced up as the group returned. However, that single look froze him in place.

Among the returning group, he noticed a tall and upright man walking beside the talkative human. The man had neatly trimmed short hair and sharp, defined features. Though his face was expressionless and his demeanor quiet, he exuded a natural aura of reliability and trustworthiness.

This man’s presence wasn’t overtly commanding—he often seemed to blend into the background. Yet, when someone truly focused on him, they couldn’t help but recognize his exceptional qualities.

From his appearance to his bearing, everything about him was captivating. His brilliance seemed deliberately subdued, as though he hid his strengths, but even so, it was enough to etch his image deeply into the Zombie Emperor’s mind.

The Zombie Emperor clenched his fists, his gaze locked onto Shi Haoyu without wavering. He realized, with a mixture of relief and shock, that he had nearly overlooked this man despite being in the base for so many days. He had almost missed him entirely.

For some reason, even though this person’s appearance was completely different from the one in the fleeting image in his mind, the Zombie Emperor just knew that this was the person he had been searching for. The moment he saw him, his long-dead heart seemed to start beating rapidly again.

His originally black eyes, which he had altered to hide his identity, now couldn’t help but reveal a strange red hue.

Shi Haoyu, not far away, keenly felt a hot, burning gaze locked onto him. He looked up and saw a strange man with his features obscured, standing in the direction of the villa where the people from Lecheng Base were staying.

So, was this person from Lecheng Base?

As he noticed the man’s unmasked gaze directed at him, Shi Haoyu furrowed his brow and chose not to look back at the strange man. Silently, he followed the group and left the area.

Initially thinking it was just an unimportant person, Shi Haoyu didn’t pay much attention. After completing the task of exchanging supplies for mission points, he returned to their residence with Luo Bin.

Once back in his room, Shi Haoyu took a quick shower. As the sky darkened, he changed into his night clothes and lay down on the bed, hoping to rest. However, not long after lying down, he felt as though something was watching him.

Shi Haoyu was always cautious. Since the apocalypse, he had maintained a high level of alertness, even sleeping lightly. So, even though the room was quiet and still, his instincts immediately tensed, and his nerves were on edge.

---

Chapter 325- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (30)

As expected, no matter the world, Mu Jin’s man always had an extraordinary possessiveness, something Mu Jin found he quite enjoyed.

This time, the group sent by Lecheng Base wasn’t large, totaling only about twenty individuals. However, their strength was evident; even the weakest among them was already at level three. It seemed that high-level ability users were more numerous and powerful at Lecheng Base.

Still, Mu Jin didn’t give it much thought. After all, he alone could hold his own against ten opponents.

What’s more, he was accompanied by the protagonist Jian Mingyuan and his own Jian Minghui, both of whom were level-five ability users. With Lou Bin and Shi Haoyu having reached level four, Mu Jin was confident that, if a conflict arose, they could easily overpower the group from Lecheng Base.

After the formal welcome, as everyone made their way to the main conference building, a man walking past Mu Jin caught his attention.

This man stayed close to Pei Zijin, wearing a gray hoodie and a mask that concealed his face entirely. Mu Jin couldn’t discern his appearance but noted that he was tall, just slightly shorter than Jian Minghui, with a lean build.

The man remained silent the entire time, but the moment Mu Jin noticed him, a chill ran through him.

If not for the man passing so close, Mu Jin might not have even realized he was there. For someone to escape his notice right in front of him could only mean one of two things: either they were incredibly weak, or they were exceptionally strong.

What’s more, Mu Jin couldn’t gauge his strength at all—a realization that set his guard on high alert.

Truckloads of grain were being transported into Pingcheng Base, and Jian Zhengqing naturally offered a warm welcome to the visitors from Lecheng Base.

However, as discussions turned to the specifics of resource exchanges and collaboration, Mu Jin quickly lost interest. Noticing that there were plenty of people accompanying them, he decided there was no need to stay. Jian Minghui, equally indifferent to matters of power, accompanied Mu Jin and Lou Bin as they left.

Since their residences were together, they walked as a group. As Mu Jin glanced at Lou Bin beside him, he suddenly remembered that Shi Haoyu had also been notified about today. He was supposed to join them in welcoming the team from Lecheng Base.

However, there had been no sign of him all day. Mu Jin casually asked Lou Bin, “Lou Bin, where’s Haoyu? Why haven’t we seen him today?”

Hearing the question, Lou Bin scratched his head with a slightly troubled expression. “Haoyu’s been acting a bit off since last night. When I asked him about it, he just said it was nothing. This morning, I noticed his face was flushed, so I checked his forehead and found he had a fever. I told him to stay home to rest.”

“But there’s no need to worry. On my way out, I stopped by the infirmary and grabbed some fever medicine. Once I get back and give him a few pills, he should be fine.”

Mu Jin nodded at Lou Bin’s response, but when he turned, he saw an unmistakable look of concern on Jian Minghui’s face.

Mu Jin understood this reaction. After all, ability users generally had excellent physical resilience. Once their abilities awakened, minor illnesses like fevers and colds were almost unheard of. With Shi Haoyu suddenly falling ill—and reportedly with a high fever—it was only natural for Jian Minghui to worry about the possibility of a more serious condition.

Knowing his lover’s concerns, Mu Jin, who was well-versed in medicine and remedies, was more than willing to ease his partner’s worries.

He suggested that Lou Bin head home first, then took Jian Minghui to the canteen. Using a significant amount of contribution points, Mu Jin exchanged for several rare fruits—hard to come by in the apocalypse—saying they could bring them to visit Shi Haoyu.

Seeing this, Jian Minghui immediately understood that Mu Jin was trying to soothe his feelings. Overjoyed, he nodded with appreciation.

However, when Mu Jin finally saw Shi Haoyu, he realized the situation was far more complex than he initially thought.

The fever appeared to be just a symptom. From Mu Jin’s perspective, it seemed as though Shi Haoyu’s vitality was being drained away.

Mu Jin couldn’t understand why such a thing would happen, but he observed that the energy within Shi Haoyu’s body was gradually dissipating. For an ordinary person, this condition would likely lead to death within days.

Fortunately, Shi Haoyu was an ability user, and his naturally strong physique was helping him hold on. Still, Mu Jin couldn’t fathom who would go to such lengths to target him in this way.

Reflecting on their interactions over the past days, Shi Haoyu hadn’t exhibited any unusual behavior. He was reliable, trustworthy, and deeply loyal to Jian Minghui. With these qualities in mind, Mu Jin couldn’t bring himself to ignore what was happening to Jian Minghui’s subordinate.

Thus, while Lou Bin was administering the fever medicine to Shi Haoyu, Mu Jin discreetly infused him with a strand of energy.

Mu Jin’s intention was to investigate the root cause of Shi Haoyu’s condition, hoping to trace the source and uncover the culprit behind this attack.

To his surprise, as soon as Mu Jin’s energy made contact with Shi Haoyu, the latter’s body gave a noticeable shudder. Immediately afterward, Mu Jin sensed a presence—an external force—that had been leeching Shi Haoyu’s vitality. The force surfaced briefly, its energy lines becoming discernible, before dissipating completely in an instant.

The sheer fragility of the opponent’s mechanism puzzled Mu Jin. It felt as though whoever was responsible feared detection, retreating the moment they sensed any interference.

Regardless of the true intentions behind the attack, one thing was certain: Shi Haoyu was now out of danger, and Mu Jin’s timely intervention had made all the difference.

Feeling relieved, Mu Jin turned to Jian Minghui and nodded, offering a reassuring, “He’s fine now.”

Jian Minghui let out a sigh of relief after hearing Mu Jin’s reassurance. He had unwavering faith in his lover’s judgment.

Meanwhile, after being well-received by Jian Zhengqing, the group from Lecheng Base had their fill of food and drink before retiring to the accommodations prepared for them.

Late into the night, after ensuring everyone was settled, Pei Zijin walked quietly to the door of the most spacious bedroom on the third floor’s right side. He raised his hand and knocked softly.

It was a long while before he heard the sound of the door lock turning. Pei Zijin took a deep breath and pushed the door open, revealing the man who had been wearing a hat and mask earlier. Now, with both removed, the man sat quietly on the edge of the bed.

His waist-length hair draped casually over his shoulders, and his previously disguised black irises had returned to their natural, striking red color.

The man’s ethereal, almost divine beauty made Pei Zijin’s breath hitch. He quickly suppressed his admiration, knowing the man disliked such gazes directed at him.

Forcing a smile, Pei Zijin did his best to present himself in the most favorable light, though it seemed to make no difference. The man before him remained completely indifferent.

Pei Zijin took another deep breath and said respectfully, “Your Majesty, this is Pingcheng Base. The ability users who welcomed us earlier are all exceptionally strong.”

“Additionally, their stockpile of firearms, ammunition, and advanced weaponry is substantial, making them the most powerful force in the northern region. I believe that once we take over Pingcheng Base, Lecheng Base will gain the strength to conquer and unify the other bases in no time.”

After speaking, Pei Zijin kept his eyes fixed on the man, awaiting a response. Yet, the man merely nodded, his expression unchanged and devoid of any visible emotion.

Pei Zijin clenched his teeth in frustration but had no choice but to accept it. He turned and left the room, a bitter taste lingering in his mouth.

Pei Zijin always addressed the Zombie Emperor with the utmost respect, referring to him as Your Majesty. The Zombie Emperor was notoriously taciturn, rarely speaking, and had never disclosed his name.

At first, when this powerful Zombie Emperor sought him out, Pei Zijin was consumed by fear. Despite the Emperor’s otherworldly, almost divine beauty, it was clear he was not human but an undead creature.

Fortunately, the Emperor did not immediately tear out his throat. Instead, after capturing Pei Zijin, he simply stared at him for an uncomfortably long time.

Pei Zijin had no idea what the Zombie Emperor did to him, but in an instant, his ability rose from Level 2 to Level 4, making him one of the most powerful ability users in Lecheng Base.

This transformation left Pei Zijin ecstatic. He cared little whether the Emperor was human or zombie; as long as he could grow stronger, he was more than willing to serve under the Zombie Emperor’s command.

Initially, Pei Zijin assumed the Emperor’s unusual attitude toward him indicated some special interest. However, over time, it became clear this was not the case. Apart from issuing occasional orders, the Emperor would sometimes fix his gaze on Pei Zijin, as though looking past him toward someone else entirely.

Whenever Pei Zijin asked if the Emperor had any specific demands, the Zombie Emperor only ever gave one answer: to go to places where humans gathered.

Pei Zijin couldn’t fathom why a zombie would be so intent on entering human settlements without preying on them. Yet, he knew one thing with certainty—without the Zombie Emperor, he would be nothing.

Even if the Zombie Emperor only saw him as a tool, Pei Zijin was determined to cling tightly to the Emperor’s power. Moreover, the Zombie Emperor seemed to have no interest in power himself, leaving all the affairs to Pei Zijin and allowing him to gain immense influence at Lecheng Base in a very short time.

This fueled Pei Zijin’s ambition, and he began to fantasize about using the Zombie Emperor to become the ruler of all humanity. After all, this was the apocalypse, a time of chaos, and chaos often gives rise to heroes. He realized that becoming the ruler of humanity was not entirely impossible.

However, Pei Zijin still had one lingering question: who exactly was the Zombie Emperor searching for?

Was it someone who looked like him? The thought of being a mere substitute for someone else filled Pei Zijin with a strong sense of impending danger.

Although the Zombie Emperor possessed immense power, he had never intentionally harmed ordinary humans. While he was indifferent to human life, he didn’t seem to take pleasure in killing, which Pei Zijin found odd.

It seemed as though the Emperor was simply searching for something, but he didn’t mind Pei Zijin using his power to act.

But Pei Zijin knew that he wasn’t the person the Emperor was truly looking for. If he were, he could have simply told the Zombie Emperor and commanded the zombies to overwhelm the base. Taking over any base would be effortless.

However, despite Pei Zijin’s indirect hints, the Zombie Emperor paid no attention to his suggestions. No matter how much he spoke, the Emperor only occasionally stared at him in silence, which left Pei Zijin feeling deeply frustrated.

---

Chapter 324- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (29)

Seeing the angry glares of those around her, Chen Shuyun couldn’t help but shrink back, regret flooding her for impulsively rushing out to confront Jian Minghui. She wished she could find a corner to hide in, away from the harsh and condemning gazes.

Jian Mingyuan watched her, a sigh escaping his heart. He noticed that even as Chen Shuyun avoided the crowd’s stares, she continued to sneak glances at Mu Jin and Jian Minghui.

Even now, after everything that had unfolded, there was still a flicker of venomous resentment in her gaze. This left Jian Mingyuan both disappointed and weary.

But she was still his mother. Resigned, Jian Mingyuan bowed deeply once more to Jian Minghui and solemnly promised that he would always be available to assist him if needed. Afterward, he cooperated with the guards who had rushed over to apprehend Chen Shuyun, helping escort her back to her place of confinement.

Once Jian Mingyuan and Chen Shuyun were gone, the surrounding onlookers gradually dispersed. However, the earlier commotion had dampened Mu Jin’s mood for continuing their leisurely stroll. He and Jian Minghui decided to head back to their residence instead.

As they walked at a relaxed pace, Mu Jin couldn’t stop himself from observing Jian Minghui’s expression. Although his lover had remained silent and seemingly unaffected earlier, Mu Jin couldn’t help but worry about how he was feeling.

Perhaps such incidents wouldn’t happen again, but as long as they stayed in this base, Jian Minghui would inevitably cross paths with Jian Mingyuan and Jian Zhengqing. Those encounters would inevitably stir up unpleasant memories.

After mulling over his thoughts for a while, Mu Jin finally spoke.
“If you don’t like it here, we can leave and go to another base. Or, if you’d prefer, we could create our own safe haven—it wouldn’t be a problem at all.”

Jian Minghui was surprised, his eyes betraying his astonishment. He had never expected Mu Jin to suggest leaving, let alone offer to build a base just for the two of them.

He understood what Mu Jin was worried about, and the truth was, Jian Minghui had long since stopped caring about those old grievances. But the thoughtfulness and care from the person he loved deeply touched his heart.

Perhaps in the past, Jian Minghui had been an ambitious man. But now, ever since meeting Mu Jin, all his ambitions had shifted to the person by his side.

Now, Jian Minghui had nearly reached a state of having no personal desires—whatever Mu Jin wished for had become the goal he was most willing to strive toward.

The journey from B University to the Pingcheng base had been long and arduous. Along the way, they had passed through several smaller bases, experiencing the conditions in those places firsthand.

Jian Minghui knew that, in terms of size and facilities, the Pingcheng base was among the best. Furthermore, he trusted Jian Zhengqing’s capabilities. Staying here would save them a great deal of trouble.

Most importantly, creating their own base would require enormous effort and resources. Establishing a base would demand a large workforce, not to mention the management of incoming refugees and numerous logistical challenges.

If Jian Minghui were to become the leader of a new base, Mu Jin, as his partner, would inevitably take on responsibilities to help alleviate his burdens. This would mean Mu Jin would have to divide much of his attention among other people and tasks—something Jian Minghui didn’t want to see.

So without hesitation, he shook his head at Mu Jin, smiling as he reached out to ruffle his hair. Pulling Mu Jin into his arms, Jian Minghui softly reassured him in return.

Only after confirming that Jian Minghui’s mood hadn’t been affected by Chen Shuyun’s earlier appearance did Mu Jin finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The days that followed passed in quiet simplicity. Mu Jin believed that the apocalypse would eventually come to an end, though it would still take a long time. As for the scientist capable of developing a cure for the zombie virus, Mu Jin knew he would one day be rescued by the story’s protagonist, Jian Mingyuan.

For now, however, he didn’t know where that person was. His focus from the beginning had always been on his beloved.

Their team of ability users had become one of the most prominent groups, second only to the protagonist’s team, thanks to their overwhelmingly powerful individual capabilities.

In a few years, when Jian Zhengqing’s health inevitably deteriorated further, Jian Mingyuan would take over as the leader of the Pingcheng base. Mu Jin’s plan was for their team to become the strongest fighting force in the base, earning respect and accumulating a significant amount of fortune and influence.

As the protagonist blessed by fate, Mu Jin never deliberately sought to compete with the main character for resources or attention. In fact, for key plot events, he was more than happy to let others take the lead, saving himself the hassle. Thus, their team obediently followed the sequence assigned by the base leadership, diligently collecting supplies and patrolling the surrounding areas of the base.

During this time, Mu Jin discovered a mutated plant particularly suitable for fire-ability users. After Shi Haoyu consumed it, his ability leapt to Level 4, further solidifying their team as the strongest in the Pingcheng base.

However, something began to feel off to Mu Jin. The zombies seemed to be evolving much faster than they had in the early days of the apocalypse.

In the original storyline, at this point in time, the highest level of zombies was supposed to be Level 3. But as his beloved Jian Minghui advanced to Level 5, Level 4 zombies had already begun to appear. Mutated plants and animals had also grown increasingly ferocious.

Thankfully, with Mu Jin in the team, while injuries during battles were inevitable, none of their members had lost their lives.

Time passed relatively peacefully until news suddenly arrived from the Pingcheng base’s management department: representatives from the Lecheng base were coming to exchange supplies.

This announcement immediately caught Mu Jin’s attention. In the original storyline, the people from the Lecheng base had once conspired with Jian Minghui, almost placing the Pingcheng base in a dire situation and severely undermining the protagonist, Jian Mingyuan.

Of course, with Mu Jin’s “butterfly effect” in play this time around, Jian Minghui was no longer capable of betraying the Pingcheng base or forming any alliances with the Lecheng base.

Still, the people from the Lecheng base were unlikely to come with honest intentions. It was evident that they harbored ambitions for the resources and stability of the Pingcheng base. Thus, Mu Jin decided to secretly monitor this group closely to ensure their actions didn’t pose any threat.

According to Mu Jin’s understanding, the Lecheng base had a significant number of ability users, and its overall size even surpassed that of the Pingcheng base.

However, due to its proximity to grain depots, the Lecheng base had an ample food supply but lacked sufficient weaponry. Their primary reason for coming to Pingcheng was to exchange their surplus grain for some of Pingcheng’s weapons.

While the Pingcheng base wasn’t exactly overflowing with food supplies, it wasn’t suffering from a shortage of resources either. Considering Pingcheng’s abundant weapon reserves and the shared struggle of humanity against the apocalypse, Jian Zhengqing agreed to the trade. After all, having extra food stockpiled in the base would be beneficial in the long run.

Once Lecheng received confirmation of the agreement, they quickly sent their representatives to Pingcheng.

In the apocalypse, while humanity should ideally stand united, wherever people gathered, schemes inevitably arose. Jian Zhengqing, though not one to judge others harshly, knew the importance of vigilance and took precautions to avoid any unexpected issues.

On the day the Lecheng representatives arrived, Jian Zhengqing deliberately kept Jian Mingyuan, Mu Jin, and their entire team within the city, temporarily halting their external missions.

During the reception, Jian Zhengqing specifically arranged for the most powerful ability users, including Mu Jin, Jian Mingyuan, and Jian Minghui, to accompany him. This was not only a security measure but also a calculated display of strength to deter any potential troublemakers.

Mu Jin had no particular opinion about Jian Zhengqing’s arrangements, but when he saw the leader of the Lecheng delegation, he froze momentarily in shock. The reason? The leader’s appearance was identical to that of Huangfu Jian from his previous life.

The representative from Lecheng was named Pei Zijin, a fire-ability user who had reached the peak of Level 4. He was considered one of the most powerful ability users in Lecheng.

While Pei Zijin’s appearance and demeanor were strikingly similar to Huangfu Jian’s, Mu Jin quickly noticed a fundamental difference in their auras upon closer observation. It was clear that the two were entirely different individuals.

Moreover, although Pei Zijin presented himself as upright and magnanimous, the occasional flicker of calculation in his eyes told Mu Jin that this man was far from as virtuous as he appeared.

Watching Pei Zijin, who was engaging in an animated conversation with Jian Zhengqing, Mu Jin couldn’t bring himself to believe that such a coincidence could exist in this world. Abnormalities often signal something sinister. Why would this world introduce someone who looks exactly like Huangfu Jian from the previous one?

In the last life, Huangfu Jian eventually ended up with Wallace. The two of them shared a strong bond and maintained a good relationship with Mu Jin and his partner, spending centuries together peacefully.

Mu Jin was far too familiar with Huangfu Jian. Regarding this new person’s appearance, Mu Jin instinctively felt that their target wasn’t him. If it were, they would have likely replicated someone resembling Huangfu Yu instead.

So who was behind this, and why?

Moreover, in the recent worlds, the malevolent force that had relentlessly pursued him seemed to have disappeared entirely. Could it truly have been mortally wounded and dissipated into nothingness? Or was there a more intricate scheme at play?

While Mu Jin’s thoughts raced with countless possibilities, his expression remained calm and composed. However, his prolonged gaze at Pei Zijin, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Huangfu Jian, didn’t escape Jian Minghui’s notice. Feeling a pang of jealousy, the man couldn’t help but grow uneasy.

Unable to contain himself, Jian Minghui tightly clasped Mu Jin’s hands, his grip firm, as though reclaiming his rightful place in Mu Jin’s attention. Pulled back to reality by the sudden squeeze, Mu Jin turned to see the disgruntled look on his lover’s face and could only respond with a helpless smile.

---

Chapter 323- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (28)

They couldn’t quite determine what level Jian Minghui’s mental ability truly was, but one thing was certain: his power was formidable.

Over time, they also noticed how well Jian Minghui took care of their leader, Mu Jin, to the point of being the picture-perfect, doting partner. Eventually, any lingering resentment they had toward Jian Minghui dissipated. They decided it was easier—and much safer—to just follow his lead. After all, they couldn’t beat him in a fight, and listening to him often meant they’d earn one of Mu Jin’s rare but dazzling smiles.

In the harsh and unforgiving environment of the apocalypse, people often needed a figure to rally behind, a kind of spiritual anchor. Back in the Pingcheng base, Mu Jin had long been regarded as a heroic figure by most of the ability users. This admiration often bordered on blind reverence when they interacted with him.

Mu Jin accepted their adoration with calm composure. For one, his strength truly warranted respect. For another, the sense of awe he inspired in others meant fewer people would dare to challenge him, which saved a lot of unnecessary trouble. Why not let them be in awe?

Perhaps it was the comfort of the past few days that made both Jian Minghui and Mu Jin completely forget about the meeting at the base’s headquarters. As the captain and vice-captain of the strongest squad, their attendance was naturally expected.

Although their squad had fewer than 20 members, the team’s strength under Mu Jin and Jian Minghui’s leadership easily rivaled that of much larger squads, even those with over a hundred members.

When they arrived at the conference room, Mu Jin immediately spotted a few familiar faces. Jian Mingyuan was already there. He had established his own squad, primarily composed of people who had escaped from University B alongside them.

The ability users who had come from University B had grown significantly stronger after enduring a long journey and countless battles with zombies.

Of course, most of the elite members from that group had been recruited into Jian Minghui’s squad. Mu Jin didn’t care much about the others who remained with Jian Mingyuan, as they were largely unremarkable. However, standing next to Jian Mingyuan was someone very familiar to them both—Wei Xuezhen.

Jian Mingyuan and Wei Xuezhen nodded at Mu Jin and Jian Minghui when they entered, though Jian Mingyuan had a hesitant expression, as if he wanted to say something but decided against it. Now wasn’t the time for conversation; with everyone gathered, the meeting needed to begin.

The person in charge explained that the meeting was primarily to organize the upcoming rotation for teams to search for supplies and clear out zombies. Each team would take its turn as scheduled.

In addition to these assignments, teams could also pick up other missions or apply for permission to conduct independent supply runs. The latter option was more like freelancing—teams that chose to search for supplies on their own only needed to turn over 20% of their findings to the base. The rest could be kept and divided among team members as they saw fit.

Jian Minghui listened to the rules and found them quite reasonable. Knowing that the Pingcheng base’s leader was Jian Zhengqing, he wasn’t surprised; it was expected.

Jian Zhengqing was a capable and disciplined leader, and any responsibilities entrusted to him were bound to be managed in an orderly and efficient manner.

Since the apocalypse had no room for unnecessary bureaucracy, the meeting was concise and to the point. There was no time wasted on lengthy speeches. Once the tasks were assigned, everyone was free to leave.

As Mu Jin and Jian Minghui left the conference room, Mu Jin spotted a familiar figure near the door—Qian Zhenzhen, who had previously arrived at the Pingcheng base with a convoy of ordinary survivors.

The moment Qian Zhenzhen saw them exit, she immediately clung to the arm of one of the squad captains who had also attended the meeting. With a flirtatious laugh, she walked away with him, acting as if she hadn’t even noticed Mu Jin, Jian Minghui, or the others.

Mu Jin raised an eyebrow at the sight. He couldn’t help but think that Qian Zhenzhen was quite resourceful. It hadn’t taken her long to find herself a powerful ally.

The ability user that Qian Zhenzhen managed to charm was of only average strength within the Pingcheng base. However, his team had the largest number of members, granting him a significant degree of influence in the base. For Qian Zhenzhen to win his favor, she must have been clever.

Mu Jin and Jian Minghui’s team had been assigned a later slot for venturing out of the base to search for supplies. With no urgent need to rally his team, Mu Jin wasn’t in a hurry. He trusted his teammates completely, knowing them well in every aspect.

So, he leisurely strolled through the base with Jian Minghui, casually chatting about what they should have for lunch.

Unexpectedly, after walking for a while, a shout came from behind. Mu Jin turned and saw Jian Mingyuan, who had stayed behind to speak with the coordinator, now running toward them.

Seeing Mu Jin and Jian Minghui stop and wait for him, Jian Mingyuan sighed in relief, quickly approaching until he stood in front of Jian Minghui. But once face-to-face, he found himself tongue-tied.

Jian Mingyuan had never been good with words. For a long time, he’d wanted to talk to Jian Minghui, but he didn’t know how to start. Acting on a sudden impulse, he had chased after him.

Now, under the gaze of the two men, Jian Mingyuan hesitated in silence before finally bowing deeply and saying with genuine sincerity, “I’m sorry.”

Over the years, he had intentionally or unintentionally neglected Jian Minghui. However, his feelings for him were genuine. Having grown up together, Jian Mingyuan had always regarded Jian Minghui as his little brother.

The emotional distance between them had been due to a misunderstanding that had left Jian Mingyuan conflicted. But now, after learning the truth, he was filled with regret, deeply aware of his wrongdoings toward Jian Minghui.

Jian Minghui, however, had long since let it go. With Mu Jin by his side, he no longer cared about the past.

Coincidentally, they happened to be passing through a stretch of farmland at that moment. Resources in the post-apocalyptic world were scarce, and while the Pingcheng base covered a sizable area, it couldn’t rely solely on scavenging. Thus, it had begun cultivating grains and vegetables to sustain its population.

Among the laborers were some of the base’s most exploited individuals—those who had committed offenses and were sentenced to labor as a form of rehabilitation.

It was midday, and the laborers undergoing reform through hard work were on their lunch break, sitting in the fields to rest. Among them was Chen Shuyun.

Chen Shuyun had lost an arm, and though she had recovered somewhat after some time to heal, the wound still caused her pain. Yet, no one showed her any compassion. She was still required to perform heavy labor every day.

Life had become especially hard for Chen Shuyun after losing her arm. The others who were being punished alongside her were far from kind or gentle.

Even though Jian Zhengqing and Jian Mingyuan occasionally provided covert assistance, it only meant that Chen Shuyun didn’t go hungry. She still had to endure the same grueling workload as everyone else.

Each laborer had their own farming quota. Seeing that Chen Shuyun was a one-armed, delicate woman, the supervisors had set her quota relatively low. Yet even so, for Chen Shuyun, who had lived a life of luxury before the apocalypse, the workload was almost unbearable.

At this moment, Chen Shuyun sat in the fields eating the roasted sweet potato distributed to the workers. Her heart was filled with bitterness. She no longer reflected on the mistakes she had made in the past.

Instead, she harbored deep resentment. She hated Jian Minghui for surviving despite all her efforts to harm him and hated Mu Jin for constantly opposing her and exposing her, which had led to her current plight.

Her only wish was that the two of them would meet some unfortunate fate during one of their missions—preferably being surrounded and killed by zombies.

However, Chen Shuyun’s thoughts were nothing more than a way to vent her frustration. What she truly wanted was to escape her current hardships. So, as she nibbled on the roasted sweet potato and looked up to see Jian Minghui and Jian Mingyuan standing not far away, she grew visibly excited.

Chen Shuyun thought this was her chance. Seizing a moment when the nearby guard wasn’t paying attention, she dashed forward with all her strength. She shoved aside the female ability user stationed at the gate and ran directly toward Jian Minghui.

She had begged Jian Zhengqing and Jian Mingyuan countless times before, but neither of them had freed her from this predicament. Now, Chen Shuyun no longer counted on that father and son duo. Instead, she pinned all her hopes on Jian Minghui. She believed that if Jian Minghui forgave her, perhaps she could escape her suffering.

Chen Shuyun tried to grab Jian Minghui’s leg in desperation. However, Jian Minghui, whose abilities had become far more acute, easily sidestepped her attempt, causing her to fall to the ground.

Left with no other option, Chen Shuyun remained on the ground and began sobbing as she pleaded:
“Minghui, Minghui, I really know I was wrong. It’s all my fault. I misunderstood Zhengqing—I thought you were the child of some woman he had outside. That’s why I treated you that way and tried to harm you so many times.”

“But I truly know my mistakes now. Please, give me a chance to make amends! I’ll do anything to repay you in the future!”

Jian Minghui looked down at the woman who had once been so lofty and domineering, who had always acted high and mighty in front of him. Now, disheveled and filthy, she lay sprawled on the ground, sobbing and shouting like a common street beggar.

His face remained expressionless.

Onlookers, unaware of the backstory, saw a woman kneeling before a man, sobbing uncontrollably and kowtowing desperately.

People often sympathize with the weak, especially when faced with someone as pitiful as Chen Shuyun—missing an arm and appearing so wretched. Even though Jian Minghui stood next to Mu Jin, whispers and gestures of disapproval toward him began to ripple through the crowd.

Yet, Jian Minghui remained unmoved. He had never been a forgiving person, nor did he care about the opinions of others.

Why should he be magnanimous? Why should he forgive a woman who had hurt him so deeply, who had tried to kill him time and again? None of these people had endured the suffering, humiliation, or helplessness that he had. They had no right to judge him.

While Jian Minghui stayed silent, Mu Jin couldn’t bear to see the man he loved so dearly being misunderstood.

Watching Jian Mingyuan repeatedly try to help Chen Shuyun up, only to be shoved away each time, Mu Jin smirked coldly, his tone laced with disdain.

“Now you come to apologize? Don’t you think it’s a bit too late?”

“When Minghui was just a child, did you ever consider that he was innocent and helpless? When you starved him and beat him relentlessly, did you ever think that he had done nothing wrong?”

“Everything you did was just an excuse to justify your own malice. Before the apocalypse, how many opportunities did you have to prove that Minghui wasn’t Jian Zhengqing’s child?”

“There were countless scientific methods at your disposal, weren’t there? But you did nothing because you didn’t care whether or not Minghui was really Jian Zhengqing’s son.

“What you cared about was Jian Zhengqing’s attitude. He gave Minghui a name, a place in the family, and a claim to inherit wealth. That’s what you couldn’t tolerate. Because Jian Zhengqing valued Minghui so much, you saw him as a threat to your interests and treated him as an enemy.

“If you had even a shred of kindness in your heart back then, you wouldn’t have done what you did during the apocalypse. You wouldn’t have fed an entire squad of people zombie meat.

“Even though ability users have some resistance to the zombie virus, they aren’t completely immune. Your actions could have gotten every single one of us killed.”

Mu Jin’s words stripped away Chen Shuyun’s last layer of dignity without mercy. Her face turned red and pale in quick succession, and she momentarily forgot to cry or act out.

The crowd, now aware of the truth, was stunned. They hadn’t expected the woman to be so cruel—not only harming a defenseless child in the past but also attempting to kill her companions for selfish reasons in the apocalypse.

They believed she deserved death for her actions. The fact that she was still alive was a mercy in itself.

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