Chapter 318- Cultured Villain vs. Humanoid Weapon (23)
The details of Jian Minghui’s past were deliberately revealed by Mu Jin, who didn’t fabricate or exaggerate anything. He simply stated the facts, but even so, Chen Shuyun’s actions were enough to outrage them.
Chun Tou recalled that in the morning, when they were fighting the zombies, his abilities had run out. If Jian Minghui hadn’t pulled him back, he would have probably been bitten by the zombies.
Everyone understood that the reason they survived so many dangers while walking these past few days without sustaining serious injuries was thanks to Mu Jin’s strong abilities.
Even though Jian Minghui hadn’t shown any signs of having special powers, there was no doubt that he was an excellent teammate in their small group.
Each of them had received help from Jian Minghui in some way. After learning the truth, they all felt even more that Jian Minghui deserved better, and their dissatisfaction with Chen Shuyun grew.
So when they learned that Chen Shuyun had tried to drug Jian Minghui, they all considered her to be insane. What they didn’t know, however, was that this woman was capable of even more madness.
After they resumed their journey, it wasn’t long before they encountered another small wave of zombies. This wave included two Tier-3 zombies, making the fight much harder than usual.
Mu Jin intended to test Jian Minghui and Lou Bin, so he didn’t intervene initially. Most of the others were dealing with the regular zombies, wielding their weapons and abilities relentlessly, with blood and flesh splattering everywhere as usual, a gruesome sight that was as nauseating as ever.
As a normal person, Chen Shuyun was naturally surrounded by the group, staying in the center. She looked at the horrifying scene with fear, but as she watched the blood and flesh splatter around her, a terrifying thought began to form in her mind.
At that moment, Chen Shuyun realized that with Mu Jin around, she had no chance of trapping Jian Minghui. Even if she pushed him into a trap, Mu Jin, always keeping an eye on him, could easily save him.
So when they finally wiped out the zombie wave and paused to rest, Chen Shuyun excused herself to “go to the bathroom” and temporarily left the group. However, when she returned, her pocket contained something extra hidden in her handkerchief.
Due to the ongoing clearing efforts by small teams looking for supplies around the Pingcheng Base, the mutated plants and zombies in the area had been regularly dealt with. These mutated plants and creatures, having evolved with some intelligence, were now aware of the dangers near Pingcheng Base and had largely stayed away.
The zombies nearby are still attracted by the flesh and blood from within the city, but after being cleared out by the supply-seeking teams, the remaining ones are less concentrated and scattered, making them easier to deal with. This has made the area outside the base relatively safe in a smaller scope.
On the other hand, the larger cities near Pingcheng Base are more dangerous due to their original high population density, which resulted in many zombies. Crossing these cities to reach Pingcheng Base has become much more perilous.
Mu Jin protected the group, trying to train them without allowing anyone to get seriously hurt. With his strength, protecting these people was not difficult, but facing a continuous stream of enemies, even a person could eventually get tired.
After the sleeping pill incident, Mu Jin had warned Jian Mingyuan to keep an eye on Chen Shuyun, but he never fully relied on others for his own safety, so he kept a close watch on her actions. He had the feeling that she had been secretly observing their small group lately, as though she hadn’t given up yet. He knew she was still looking for opportunities, but he didn’t know what methods she might try next.
When there were less than two days left before reaching Pingcheng Base, Mu Jin opened the communication device that he had previously kept off to conserve battery and contacted the headquarters of Pingcheng Base. He informed them that his team was almost there and requested that a team be sent to meet them.
Coincidentally, when Mu Jin contacted them, Jian Zhengqing was not far from the communication room. Upon hearing that news of Jian Mingyuan’s group had finally arrived, he immediately rushed over and personally spoke with Mu Jin.
The group that had arrived early from B University had already made it to Pingcheng Base by car. However, Jian Zhengqing couldn’t find his family after searching everywhere, and his anxiety grew even more.
From their conversations, he learned that due to unforeseen circumstances on the road, the remaining team had to walk the rest of the way, with Jian Mingyuan staying behind to protect the others because of his strength. Jian Zhengqing felt deeply worried but was also proud of his child for being so responsible and capable.
Thinking that Pingcheng Base had stabilized and that the capable people under his command could manage things well here, he decided to personally join the special ability team sent to meet his family.
Mu Jin and his group had indeed been walking the entire way. While they did encounter vehicles that could have been used, there wasn’t enough space for everyone, and no one was willing to part ways with Mu Jin and the others. Even if there were vehicles, traveling alone back to Pingcheng Base still carried a great deal of danger, so in the end, everyone decided to walk with Mu Jin and Jian Mingyuan.
After all, throughout this long journey, no matter how much danger they encountered, Mu Jin and his team had always ensured everyone’s safety. By now, Mu Jin had become something of a lifeline to these people, and his strength had reached a level that inspired their reverence.
When the ability-users team from Pingcheng Base arrived to meet them, they were greeted by a group of people who, though disheveled and exhausted, had all survived intact.
Jian Zhengqing, upon seeing his family, immediately got off the vehicle, overwhelmed with emotion. Chen Shuyun, in particular, threw herself into his arms and burst into loud sobs.
Despite her malicious behavior toward Jian Minghui, Chen Shuyun was still just a woman—one without any abilities, who had spent most of her life as a pampered wife of an official. In the past, she had lived a life of luxury, hardly ever lifting a finger to do anything herself.
But in this apocalyptic world, there was no room for such ease. Seeing Jian Zhengqing at long last, Chen Shuyun’s nerves finally relaxed, and all her suppressed emotions came pouring out at once.
After comforting Chen Shuyun and letting her cry her fill, Jian Zhengqing composed himself and turned to his eldest son, Jian Mingyuan. He gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, his heart brimming with uncontrollable excitement and relief.
However, when he looked up, he noticed that Jian Minghui hadn’t approached. Instead, the younger son stood at a slight distance, his expression calm. The once warm and gentle smile that typically adorned Jian Minghui’s face was still there, but it carried an unmistakable hint of detachment. He merely nodded at Jian Zhengqing, his demeanor polite but distant.
Jian Zhengqing felt a strange, indescribable pang in his heart. Yet, before he could dwell on it, his attention was drawn to Mu Jin, who stood beside Jian Minghui.
Hurriedly, Jian Zhengqing walked over to Mu Jin and gave him a deep bow, expressing his profound gratitude. He thanked him for taking the risk of traveling alone to B University and for safely bringing back his wife and children.
The journey from B University to Pingcheng Base was long and fraught with danger. Though Mu Jin had been assigned to Jian Zhengqing by the state, his only obligation was to ensure Zhengqing’s safety; he was not required to follow anyone’s orders. Thus, Zhengqing’s request for this mission had been a significant personal favor, leaving him deeply indebted to Mu Jin.
Mu Jin could sense the sincerity in Jian Zhengqing’s gratitude. As the leader of Pingcheng Base, Zhengqing was a man with a reputation for integrity and strong ties to the central government. He had delayed seeking his family’s return for over a month, ensuring the base and its inhabitants were settled first. From a broader perspective, such selflessness was commendable.
From a family perspective, however, this might have seemed neglectful. But as an outsider, Mu Jin neither judged nor downplayed Zhengqing’s years of contributions to the country.
Seeing Zhengqing thank him so earnestly, Mu Jin offered a faint smile and nodded, assuring him there was no need for excessive politeness.
Not far away, Chen Shuyun witnessed this exchange, and her heart sank. She had always known Mu Jin was incredibly powerful and had suspected he might be among the strongest individuals. However, in her mind, Mu Jin was still just one of her husband’s subordinates, no matter how skilled he was.
But seeing Zhengqing’s deferential attitude toward Mu Jin and the undisguised admiration in the eyes of the ability-user team members from Pingcheng Base, Chen Shuyun realized she had been gravely mistaken.
Even if Mu Jin didn’t hold an official position of authority in Pingcheng Base, he clearly commanded significant respect and influence among the strong. Someone like him could not be easily controlled. His presence at Jian Minghui’s side was far too dangerous for her plans.
With Pingcheng Base now just one day’s journey away, Chen Shuyun felt a growing sense of urgency. Once they returned to the base, acting against Jian Minghui wouldn’t be nearly as easy as it was in the wilderness.
Clenching her fists tightly, she thought of the item wrapped in the handkerchief in her pocket. Biting her lip, she finally made up her mind.
She kept trying to calm herself, reassuring herself that there would still be an opportunity. She just needed to act before the night was over—before they returned to Pingcheng Base. She was determined to deal with Jian Minghui once and for all.
The arrival of the Pingcheng Base ability-user team brought a collective sigh of relief to everyone. This team consisted entirely of ability-users, most of whom were at Level 2 or higher.
Their presence significantly increased the group’s safety, especially as they drew closer to the base. The number of zombies and mutated plants or animals had noticeably dwindled, allowing the group’s tightly wound nerves to finally relax.
What the others didn’t realize, however, was that even the members of the Pingcheng Base team found themselves surprised. Though they were considered some of the strongest ability-users in the base—at most reaching Level 3—they noticed that among the team from B University, aside from Mu Jin, there were individuals like Jian Mingyuan and Lou Bin who were equally strong.
Both Jian Mingyuan and Lou Bin had already reached Level 3 in their abilities. Additionally, there were two others with Level 2 abilities who showed considerable skill in using them. It was clear that the addition of these individuals to Pingcheng Base would undoubtedly bolster its strength.
As evening fell, the group decided to rest for the night. The team from Pingcheng Base had brought along some supplies, eliminating the need to scavenge for food and allowing everyone to focus on resting and eating.
They quickly set up a temporary campsite, erected tents, and retrieved two large pots from the vehicles. The group decided to enjoy a hearty meal, replenish their strength, and prepare to reach the base as soon as possible the following day.