The boss has been in a great mood these past few days!
This is the collective sentiment of all the officers and soldiers at the base these days. Watching Xiahou Shao Xuan walk back to his quarters with a meal he’d picked up from the mess hall, with a 0.5-centimeter smile playing at the corners of his mouth—and having shed the icy aura that used to make people feel as if they were shedding ice shards, replaced instead by a sickeningly sweet warmth of spring blossoms—the soldiers, who had long grown accustomed to such stimuli, mechanically sipped their nutritional supplements rather than, as they had done a few days earlier, flinging them to the ground and causing a huge commotion.
Watching Xiahou Shao Xuan’s retreating figure, Xuan Lang—who knew all too well where Xiahou Shao Xuan had been during his two-day disappearance a few days earlier—gnashed his teeth and scratched at the wall in frustration.
‘Boss! My wife is still a minor!! You shameless old pervert! I’m going to report you! I’m going to file a complaint against you!! I’m going to have you court-martialed!!’
But was that even possible?
Clutching his stomach—which still ached from the kick Xiahou Shao Xuan had delivered during training—Xuan Lang trudged away dejectedly.
You say it’s to train my ability to take a beating and that I’m not allowed to use healing devices, but isn’t that just retaliation for when I called you a shameless scoundrel last time and you heard me?
Shameless! Shameless! Shameless!!! !!
“Honey, I’ve got some things to take care of this afternoon. You’re on your own—just tell Yuan Ling to take you wherever you want to go.” Watching Lian Qiguang wolf down his food, Xiahou Shao Xuan reached out to wipe a smudge of food from the corner of his mouth.
Lian Qiguang paused in his eating, looked up blankly at Xiahou Shaoxuan, and said, “I want to go out.”
“Go out? Outside the base?” Xiahou Shaoxuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Mm-hmm.” He nodded obediently. “I want to check out the trading market to see if there’s anything good.”
“Alright.” Not wanting to disappoint Lian Qiguang, Xiahou Shaoxuan reached out and ruffled the top of his head. “I’ll have Yuan Ling go with you in a bit.”
“Oh.” Well aware of his own poor sense of direction, Lian Qiguang didn’t object to Xiahou Shaoxuan’s arrangement; he nodded expressionlessly and went back to shoveling his rice.
After they finished eating, Xiahou Shaoxuan had already left because he was in a hurry. Lian Qiguang changed into a loose-fitting black fleece-lined jacket, left the room, and boarded the aircraft with Yuan Ling.
“Sis-in-law, is there anything you want to buy today?”
“Just browsing.” Lian Qiguang gazed out the window indifferently, replying without expression.
“Last time we didn’t go all the way inside—the goods there are usually better than those on the outskirts.” Lian Qiguang’s response made Yuan Ling feel a bit flattered; she immediately became more enthusiastic and began introducing the trading market to him.
Along the way, one chattered nonstop while the other seemed somewhat distracted, offering an occasional response. Before long, the craft arrived once again at the trading market they’d visited last time.
Perhaps because Lian Qiguang had been a bit too flashy last time, the moment he and Yuan Ling stepped off the craft, they drew countless curious stares.
“You don’t need to follow me,” Lian Qiguang said, his hands in his pockets, glancing back at Yuan Ling.
“That’s out of the question,” Yuan Ling shook her head repeatedly, her expression grave. “If anything happens to you, the boss will definitely kill me.”
“……” Lian Qiguang
“Um, Sister-in-law, would it be okay if I kept my distance?” ” Sensing Lian Qiguang’s palpable malice, Yuan Ling shuddered and cautiously took two steps back.
Lian Qiguang averted his gaze and walked forward with a blank expression. Yuan Ling quietly exhaled in relief and hurried to catch up, her eyes glued to Lian Qiguang, afraid she might lose sight of him.
The trading market was bustling with people; the shouts, hawking cries, and arguments all mingled together, creating a din that made one’s head spin. Yet Lian Qiguang watched with great interest; everything here reminded him of the black market back at the base. The only difference was that these people no longer wore expressions of numbness, indifference, or despair.
Lian Qiguang stopped in front of a small stall and lingered to watch. His sudden halt startled the vendor, who fell silent from his loud hawking and looked at Lian Qiguang with nervous unease. After all, the last time Lian Qiguang had appeared, he’d sent a vendor straight to prison—and hadn’t been seen since.
With powerful connections, formidable supernatural abilities, and ties to the Blood-Thirsty Wolves—such a person inspired not even a hint of envy in them; they could only look up to him in awe.
“Young Master, may I ask what you’re looking for? Feel free to take whatever you like—no need to be polite.” Seeing that Lian Qiguang had been standing there motionless for quite some time, the vendor asked cautiously.
“Sis,” Yuan Ling leaned in and whispered. “This is just a common kind of stone found at the bottom of the water—it’s useless.”
“Why haven’t I seen this before?” Lian Qiguang asked in a flat tone, looking at the fist-sized, multicolored, sparkling stones on the stall.
“These are unique to the Unfallen Star. The geographical conditions and temperature on Blue Star prevent them from forming.”
Lian Qiguang bent down, his face expressionless as he simply scooped up a handful of stones from the stall and tossed them into his spatial pocket. “Checkout.”
“……” The vendor
“……” Yuan Ling
As the vendor tremblingly accepted the Star Card and processed the payment, Lian Qiguang turned and walked away, unaware that the moment he turned his back, the vendor’s legs buckled and he collapsed to his knees. Yuan Ling shot the vendor a cold glance before turning to follow him.
“Sis-in-law, what are you buying these for? If you want some, I can go get you some that look even better than these.”
“Gifts. They’re cheap.” She dropped those four words expressionlessly.
“But Sister-in-law, these are just the most ordinary stones—they’re not worth much.”
“Only Unfallen Star has them; Blue Star doesn’t. That’s what makes them a local specialty.”
“……” Yuan Ling
Lian Qiguang wandered around for a while longer. As they ventured deeper into the market, the surroundings grew livelier, and the items for sale became increasingly bizarre.
“Help!!! There’s a mutant!!!” A piercing scream echoed from the path Lian Qiguang had just come from. Yuan Ling’s expression changed instantly; she reflexively shielded Lian Qiguang behind her and watched warily as the crowd nearby suddenly erupted into chaos.
“How could there be a mutant inside the protected zone?” Yuan Ling frowned.
“You go check it out,” Lian Qiguang suggested, sensing Yuan Ling’s unease.
Yuan Ling glanced at Lian Qiguang hesitantly, but she couldn’t bring herself to ignore the commotion. If a mutant had truly infiltrated the sanctuary, it would be disastrous. And if that mutant was also an infection carrier, it would spell the end for Buluxing.
“I’m really good. Around here, aside from Shao Xuan, no one can beat me.”
“Sis-in-law, wait here for me. I’ll be right back,” Yuan Ling said, then quickly ran toward the direction of the recent scream.
Watching Yuan Ling’s retreating figure, Lian Qiguang turned and continued walking deeper into the reserve.
“Whoosh!” A filthy, shadowy figure slammed into Lian Qiguang and then darted swiftly into the crowd. A flicker of recognition crossed Lian Qiguang’s eyes as he watched the dark silhouette; it seemed vaguely familiar.
As if sensing Lian Qiguang’s gaze, the shadow stopped at a turn, tilting its head slightly. The face hidden beneath the hat was obscured by sticky hair, revealing only the lower half—a face covered in scars and looking utterly hideous.
The figure grinned, revealing two rows of sharp, terrifying fangs. Lian Qiguang’s eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists.
‘Mutant’
The figure turned and vanished around the corner.
A shadow of doubt flashed across Lian Qiguang’s eyes. The figure’s appearance had been far too eerie—there was definitely a plot afoot. Now that he was alone and had no other targets, this shadow must be trying to lure him there.
Lian Qiguang pursed his lips. Without giving it much thought, he set off in pursuit of the shadow’s vanishing direction.
He had previously researched the mutants of this world. These mutants were similar to the zombies of the apocalypse, but much larger in size, and their bodies had undergone mutations. Some of these mutants didn’t carry the virus, but they were extremely aggressive.
However, others were infected with the virus. These were known as “infected,” and if one were injured by them, the outcome would be much the same as being bitten by a zombie in the apocalypse.
One infects two, two infects four…
If this dark figure was an infected, Buluoxing would become a second apocalypse.
This had nothing to do with him—but he was doing it all for Shao Xuan.
Yuan Ling followed the sound through the crowd, weaving his way down the street until he finally turned into an alley. But there wasn’t a single mutant in sight—not even a petty thief. The crowd, which had been noisy and chaotic just moments ago, had gradually calmed down, and people were now returning to their original spots amid shouts and curses.
Looking at the deserted alley, Yuan Ling furrowed his brow, and anger welled up inside him. But just as he turned to leave, he suddenly looked up, a look of panic crossing his face.
“Oh no!! My sister-in-law!!”
Realizing something was wrong, Yuan Ling, without a second thought for whether he might hurt anyone, used his superpower to rush toward Lian Qiguang’s location.
Lian Qiguang raced after the black figure, and the people around them gradually thinned out until, eventually, not even a single house was in sight.
Since Lian Qiguang had never been to the Unfading Star and hadn’t grown up there, he knew little about the place. If he had opened his optical computer to check the map at that moment, he would have discovered that he had already left the safe zone.
The black figure came to a halt at the edge of a forest, with its back to Lian Qiguang, its shoulders rising and falling with heavy breaths.
“Who are you?” Lian Qiguang asked in a flat tone, staring at the black figure.
“Heh heh heh…” A hoarse sound escaped the shadow’s mouth, like a rusty, dull saw scraping against metal—unbearably grating.
“Does my lady not remember me? Yet I have always remembered you, day and night, never daring to forget.” The shadow slowly turned around, removed his hat, and revealed a face covered in deep gashes, a mangled mess of flesh and blood.
His eyes were entirely white, and his mouth was split open, exposing two rows of sharp, crocodile-like teeth—a hideous and terrifying sight.
A flash crossed Lian Qiguang’s eyes as he suddenly recalled Ye Chengcheng after her mutation.
“Li Yu.” Lian Qiguang realized who this person was.
“So the lady still remembers me, does she?” Li Yu grinned, blood bubbling and spilling from the corners of his mouth in a nauseating sight.
“You’ve mutated,” Lian Qiguang stated matter-of-factly, his expression unreadable.
“And it’s all because of you!” Li Yu’s eyes were completely white as he spoke in a hoarse voice, struggling to suppress his madness and hatred.
“If it weren’t for you, how could Brother Xiahou have driven me out? If it weren’t for you, how could I have ended up like this?!!”
“So what?” Lian Qiguang looked at Li Yu calmly, his voice without the slightest fluctuation, as if Li Yu were nothing more than a clown in his presence.
“I want you dead!!!” Lian Qiguang’s composure enraged Li Yu. She let out a furious roar, her crocodile-like teeth bared, and instantly, countless mutants began slowly closing in from all directions.
Li Yu glared at Lian Qiguang, her contorted face overflowing with overwhelming malice and hatred.
“Lian Qiguang!! You’re just a commoner from Zone 3—what right do you have to marry Brother Xiahou!! If it weren’t for you, Brother Xiahou would have loved me, and I would have been the one to marry him!! It’s all because of you! I want you dead!!” Li Yu screamed hoarsely.
“You’re no match for me,” Lian Qiguang said calmly, surveying the swarm of mutants surrounding them.
“Shut up!! Tear him to pieces!!” Li Yu roared, and instantly, mutants from all directions pounced on Lian Qiguang.
Lian Qiguang’s eyes darkened as flames began to burn around his body, enveloping him. His still gaze was filled with a sinister, murderous aura and the stench of blood, making him look like a demon from hell.
“I’m sorry! It’s my fault!! Boss! I’m willing to accept any punishment!!” Yuan Ling shouted through gritted teeth, her face filled with regret and self-reproach.
Xiahou Shao Xuan stared silently at the lightbrain in his hands, his knuckles turning bluish-gray as he clenched his fists tightly. A violent storm raged around his body, and the terrifying pressure made it almost impossible for Yuan Ling to breathe.
“Assemble Third Squad immediately.”
“Boss!?”
“Head to the boundary between the safe zone and the quarantine zone.” With that, Xiahou Shaoxuan stood up and walked toward the exit. An eerie, chilling aura signaled that Xiahou Shaoxuan’s rage had been held back to the breaking point.
“Yes, sir!!”
Flames formed a protective shield around Lian Qiguang; the mutated creatures lunging at him were reduced to ashes before they could even get close to the flames.
“You, you… how is this possible!?” Li Yu took two steps back, staring at Lian Qiguang with a look of utter shock and disbelief.
“You’ve only just mutated, yet you’re already able to command so many low-level mutants. It seems you harbor quite a bit of hatred toward me. You’re very talented; if we were in the apocalypse, you’d likely be another zombie king.”
“Shut up!!”
“I’ve fought twice inside the base. I assume you didn’t see either of those times—otherwise, you wouldn’t be provoking me now.” As Lian Qiguang spoke, he walked toward Li Yu with a blank expression, surrounded by flames and accompanied by piercing screams. In that moment, Li Yu felt as though she were looking at a true demon.
“You! Don’t come any closer!!” Li Yu was forced to retreat step by step under Lian Qiguang’s overwhelming pressure, fear etched across his face.
“Do you want to die? Or would you rather suffer a fate worse than death?” His emotionless voice carried a chilling, sinister undertone.
Li Yu kept backing away, terrified by the oppressive pressure and the heat that was gradually closing in on him.
Suddenly, Li Yu seemed to spot something, and a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
Lian Qiguang had forced Li Yu to retreat deeper into the forest. Just then, Li Yu—who had been filled with terror—suddenly crouched down and vanished into the ground in an instant.
Lian Qiguang’s eyes darkened as he activated his “Earth-type ability.”
“Boom!” With a thunderous roar, Lian Qiguang leaped into the air. The ground beneath his feet instantly collapsed several meters, and Li Yu burst out of the earth, glaring at Lian Qiguang with a vicious, malevolent glare as he crouched on the ground, hands braced against the earth, like a ferocious beast.
“Die!!!”
Earth spikes shot up one after another. Lian Qiguang kept retreating, using the surrounding tree trunks to brace himself, his heart growing colder by the moment.
No matter how exceptional one’s natural talent might be, it couldn’t defy the laws of nature like this—someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes!
Is it him!?
Just as Lian Qiguang’s attention wavered, he suddenly felt a tight grip around his waist. Startled, he looked down to see a thick vine tightly coiled around him.
“Hahahaha… Die! You wretch! Die!!” Li Yu laughed maniacally.
Lian Qiguang turned around and saw, hidden behind the tree trunks and thickets, a patch of man-eating plants several meters tall, their tendrils reaching out menacingly.
Just as Lian Qiguang was about to cut the vine, his body went limp, as if all his strength had drained away, and his vision began to blur.
‘This vine is poisonous!!’
As Lian Qiguang stood there in shock, the vine wrapped around his waist suddenly tightened. He felt his body grow heavy and plummeted rapidly toward the cluster of man-eating plants.
“No!!!”