“Less than two days!” Xiahou Zhong looked at the transmitted data and angrily slammed it onto the table, his fury soaring. “Less than two days, and the entire Blue Star has actually fallen by two-thirds!! Usually, every one of them is so proud and full of themselves. And now? What the hell have they been doing?! In another two days, are you telling me the entire Blue Star is going to be handed over to them?!”
“Father, this isn’t the time to get angry.” Xiahou Jue spoke in a deep voice. “Right now, we must begin rescuing the citizens. Otherwise, humanity’s tragedy from three thousand years ago will happen all over again.”
Xiahou Zhong braced both hands against the table. Because of his anger, his breathing was somewhat labored. Xiahou Jue’s words allowed him to regain some of his reason, but his tightly clenched fists still could not conceal the grief he felt upon seeing the human casualty figures in the data.
“Still can’t get through to Shao Xuan?”
“Yes!”
Xiahou Zhong was silent for a long time before raising his head and looking toward the unusually serious Xiahou Luoyu standing nearby.
“Luoyu, I’m giving you an order now.”
“I’m giving you ten combat spacecraft. Take a company of soldiers and immediately head to District Three. You must bring Xiaoguang back to me.”
“Xiaoguang?” Xiahou Jue was stunned, and Xiahou Luoyu was also somewhat astonished. “Shouldn’t it be that brat Shao Xuan at a time like this? Xiaoguang is indeed very strong, but he isn’t a match for Shao Xuan, is he? And besides, he’s pregnant right now.”
“Humanity has suffered another disaster. In less than two days, Blue Star has already fallen by two-thirds. If this continues, humanity will probably repeat the tragedy from three thousand years ago, be forced to leave Blue Star, and once again drift through the stars.” Xiahou Zhong clenched his fists tightly, his voice suppressed. “I absolutely will not allow such a thing to happen. Blue Star absolutely cannot fall.”
“Old man…”
“Luoyu, Xiaoguang’s situation is very complicated. There’s no time to explain it to you now.” Xiahou Zhong raised his head and looked at Xiahou Luoyu, his voice solemn. “In any case, you must escort Xiaoguang back safely. Even if the price is your life.”
“……” Xiahou Luoyu.
“Xiaoguang may be the only hope in this war.” Xiahou Zhong raised his head and sighed.
“Bang!”
A black figure kicked a zombie apart. A slender hand pressed against the ground, and purple lightning swept toward the surroundings. Hundreds of zombies instantly shattered into countless pieces of charred flesh.
“Zhelang!”
A cry of alarm rang out. Mi Xiaobao recovered from his shock and quickly ran over, catching and supporting Zhelang’s falling body.
“Baby, couldn’t you just not run away?” Zhelang collapsed against Mi Xiaobao, helplessly tugging at his stiff lips.
“You—you okay?” Mi Xiaobao looked at Zhelang in panic, extending both hands without knowing where to put them.
“Baby, looks like this time, I really can’t keep you locked up anymore.” Zhelang closed his eyes, his tone carrying a rare helplessness.
“What?” Mi Xiaobao froze. As if he had noticed something, he lowered his gaze to the hands that had been holding Zhelang.
They were covered in blood.
The sight stabbed painfully into Mi Xiaobao’s eyes.
“This is…” Mi Xiaobao stared blankly at his hands, his mind going completely blank.
“Don’t look.” Zhelang immediately pressed down on Mi Xiaobao’s head as he tried to raise it, forcing him against his own shoulder.
“Y-you were bitten?” Mi Xiaobao asked in a trembling voice.
Zhelang tugged at the corner of his mouth and slowly released his hold on Mi Xiaobao. “Baby, go.”
“No!” Mi Xiaobao froze for a long time before suddenly letting out a sharp cry. “Tell me! Tell me this wasn’t injured by those monsters! Tell me you just accidentally bumped into something! Tell me!!”
“Baby.” Zhelang struggled to prop himself up and looked at Mi Xiaobao’s pale little face. His cold, slender fingers slowly brushed over those eyes he had always been attached to. “You’ve also seen what happens after someone is bitten. Go. Go find that friend who saved you back then. He can protect you.”
“Zhelang…”
“Weren’t you always trying to escape from my side? Baby, I’m letting you go.” Zhelang shook his head, closed his eyes, and no longer looked at Mi Xiaobao’s face. He turned around and staggered toward the door.
Looking at Zhelang’s weak, powerless back, Mi Xiaobao remained silent for a long time. Then he suddenly rushed forward and hugged Zhelang, bursting into loud sobs.
“I don’t want to!! You say I should leave, so I’m supposed to leave? Why should I listen to you?!”
Looking at those chubby little hands around his waist, Zhelang tugged up the corner of his mouth.
“Baby, don’t tell me… you’ve fallen in love with me?”
“Don’t even think about it!” Mi Xiaobao wiped away his tears, turned around, walked in front of Zhelang, and grabbed his arm tightly with both hands, refusing to let go. “What about you, then? Why did you come looking for me? And why did you come to save me?”
“Heh…” Zhelang chuckled softly, his fox-like eyes as bewitching as ever. “Baby is someone I raised. As your owner, letting my little pet get hurt would be very embarrassing.”
“You…” Mi Xiaobao glared at him.
“Baby.” Zhelang bent down and touched the corner of Mi Xiaobao’s lips with his finger. He wanted to lower his head and kiss him, but remembering the wound on his back, he stopped.
He was already infected.
“Baby, you are mine.”
Mi Xiaobao bit his lips tightly and gritted his teeth. “Then don’t die. Otherwise, I’ll find someone even better-looking than you, marry him, and have little babies.”
Zhelang laughed despite himself, but his eyes were ice-cold. “If you really dare to do that, Baby, even as a ghost, I won’t let you off.”
The virus had already begun invading his body. Zhelang’s vision started to blur, while a scorching force coursed through his body, tearing at his reason.
“Go!” Feeling that he was about to mutate, Zhelang’s expression changed. He suddenly shoved Mi Xiaobao away and roared furiously, “Get lost!!”
Thrown to the ground by Zhelang’s powerful movement, Mi Xiaobao cried out in pain and clutched his wrist.
Zhelang had already fallen to his knees. Bulging blood vessels spread throughout his body, turning a terrifying black. He hunched over in agony, while his eyes had already begun to take on a faint blood-red hue.
“What are you still standing there for!! Hurry up and get lost!!” Zhelang roared at Mi Xiaobao.
His rationality was already beginning to fade. Looking at Mi Xiaobao in front of him, Zhelang could clearly feel the urge to rush forward and tear him apart.
“Ba… Baby.” Zhelang’s breathing was heavy as he looked weakly at Mi Xiaobao and whispered. The pain inside his body had already robbed him of most of his strength.
“Baby, I’m begging you. Please, hurry and leave! Go…”
“No!!”
Mi Xiaobao suddenly let out a miserable cry and lunged forward, tightly embracing Zhelang as he burst into tears.
“I’m not leaving! I won’t leave even if I die!! Didn’t you say you were going to raise me? Didn’t you say I was yours? If you’re gone and someone bullies me, who will protect me?!”
Idiot!!
Zhelang laughed bitterly inside.
Since the day he, Zhelang, was born, he had dominated the underground world for decades. Which underground power in the several districts didn’t tremble with fear upon hearing his name? Even when the military sent troops to suppress him, he dared to fight them head-on without changing his expression.
Outsiders all said that Zhelang was a madman, a madman who didn’t care about his life.
Yet now, this madman had unknowingly fallen for a little chubby boy—and had fallen so deeply that there was no way back.
The consciousness in his mind gradually disappeared. Zhelang looked at the neck so close to him. Its sweet scent lingered before his nose, refusing to disperse.
After a long while, the last trace of clarity in Zhelang’s eyes vanished.
His two bluish, sharp hands suddenly seized Mi Xiaobao’s body and pinned him beneath him. He opened his mouth and lunged toward Mi Xiaobao’s fair, tender neck.
“Zhelang!!!”
Inside the shopping mall, the people who had originally been huddled in the corners all stood up. Their faces were filled with joy as they looked at Xiahou Shao Xuan, their eyes brimming with expectation.
“Major General Xiahou! Y-you came to save us?”
One person clenched his fists and spoke excitedly.
“No!”
Before Xiahou Shao Xuan could speak, Lian Qiguang coldly interrupted them.
“Who are you?! We’re talking to the Major General. Who the hell do you think you are?” The plump woman looked at Lian Qiguang mockingly, her voice shrill.
Xiahou Shao Xuan’s face instantly darkened.
Qing Yi stepped forward two paces and blocked Lian Qiguang, sneering. “He is Major General Xiahou’s legal partner, Young Master Lian!”
Legal partner?
Everyone was dumbfounded.
They had heard that the Major General had a partner who possessed formidable combat strength, a violent temper, extraordinary supernatural talent, and, moreover, was a natural human.
But…
Looking at Lian Qiguang ‘frail and helpless’ in Xiahou Shao Xuan’s arms, suspicion immediately appeared in everyone’s eyes.
“Xiahou Shao Xuan was relieved of his position not long ago. He is no longer a soldier. Right now, he is just an ordinary civilian like you.”
After saying this, Lian Qiguang shook off Xiahou Shao Xuan’s hand and turned around, walking toward the elevator.
“Major General Xiahou!”
Seeing Xiahou Shao Xuan about to leave, everyone was startled and couldn’t help following him a few steps.
“What he said is correct.” Xiahou Shao Xuan stopped and looked coldly at the group. “I have already been discharged from the military. I’m just an ordinary civilian now. I have no weapons, no spacecraft, and no way to rescue you. If you want to follow us, I won’t refuse. But I will not guarantee your safety. Once we go outside and face the zombies, you will have to fight for yourselves.”
After saying this, Xiahou Shao Xuan turned around and quickly caught up with Lian Qiguang.
The people who had originally wanted to follow stopped in their tracks after hearing Xiahou Shao Xuan’s words.
No weapons.
No spacecraft.
No army…
Looking at the terrifying zombies roaring outside, everyone fell silent for a moment. A few people quietly retreated, returning to their original seats.
Qing Yi and the other two glanced at these people, unable to help shaking their heads before turning around and following.
No one noticed that among the group, a thin, frail young man curled up in a corner suddenly began convulsing. Faint blackness appeared on the hand hidden beneath his sleeve.
Inside the intelligent elevator, Xiahou Shao Xuan looked at Lian Qiguang, who had his back turned to him and remained silent. He opened his mouth, breaking the stalemate between them.
“Wife, why did you say that just now?”
“Are you blaming me?” Lian Qiguang said coldly.
“No, I just…”
“A human’s heart will always be more disgusting than a zombie’s appearance! Excessive pity only brings the price of merciless betrayal!! Anyone who hasn’t experienced it will never understand!!”
Lian Qiguang suddenly turned around and shouted at Xiahou Shao Xuan, completely losing control.
“……”
Xiahou Shao Xuan was stunned.
Seeing the slight astonishment on Xiahou Shao Xuan’s face, Lian Qiguang lowered his eyes and fell silent. His tightly clenched fists trembled slightly.
The two had never truly quarreled before. This rare loss of control caused the atmosphere between them to instantly turn extremely cold.
“I’m sorry.” Lian Qiguang turned his face away and said calmly.
“It’s just… I don’t want to experience the same thing in the same place a second time.”
Looking at Lian Qiguang’s straight yet weathered back, Xiahou Shao Xuan slowly reached out and placed his hand on Lian Qiguang’s shoulder.
Just as Xiahou Shao Xuan was about to say something, a notification suddenly sounded, and the elevator doors opened.
As the elevator doors opened, a figure shot toward Lian Qiguang at an extremely fast speed. The speed was so great that no one had time to react.
“Wife!!”
“Kumu!”
“Kumu, watch out!”
…………