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38: It Has Intelligence, Little Green-Tea Schemes

Su Yun saw the group’s shocked faces and felt exactly the way she had when she first heard the news, so she sighed and said, “Some experts estimated that at the growth rate back then, this tree would cover half the city in at most 3 months!”

“Therefore, to protect Shancheng, most of the police force was deployed to deal with that tree.”

“In the end the tree was alive and struck back, killing any people or animals that approached!”

“Even helicopters were swatted down by its branches.”

“Th-then why not burn it; aren’t trees afraid of fire?” Zhou Wan’er asked curiously.

“Yes, some experts did propose using fire.”

Su Yun nodded and went on, “However, the tree took root in a densely populated downtown area, and if we set it ablaze there would be massive civilian casualties.”

“So the order never came; we had to wait until the people were evacuated before we could use fire.”

“But by then it was already too late.”

“Its growth rate was simply too fast.”

“In just 1 day its size multiplied many times over.”

“When we finally tried fire, no one expected the tree to break off parts of its own branches to smother the flames, and it even lashed out first at any weapons that threatened it.”

Su Yun ended her story looking utterly drained.

Only those who had witnessed that battle with their own eyes could understand how terrifying the tree was.

“It actually has intelligence!?”

Zhou Wan’er and the long-haired girl were both stunned.

It snapped off branches to survive!

It could distinguish its enemies!

Could a tree really possess that level of intellect?

Su Yun sighed and nodded, her eyes full of sorrow. “By the time we tried other methods, it was already too late because most of the officers had died in that operation…”

After listening, Shen Yi felt a tension he had never experienced before surface in his eyes.

If that giant tree was still growing wildly, then in at most half a year it would cover the whole of Shancheng.

At that point everything in the city, humans included, would become the tree’s nutrients!

Shen Yi pondered grimly for a moment and then asked, “Didn’t the army come to help? Missiles and the like should be able to take it out, right?”

“I don’t know; I only heard that the higher-ups contacted the military, but the army seemed to be busy with other mutants.”

Su Yun shook her head lightly.

After all, she was not a high-ranking official and knew little.

Yet even this much news made Shen Yi feel an immense sense of crisis!

The greatest danger in all Shancheng right now was that ever-growing tree downtown.

If it was not destroyed, no matter how well he hid, sooner or later he would be consumed and turned into fertilizer.

But destroying it was almost impossible.

The police had poured in who knew how many officers, even helicopters and armored vehicles, yet achieved nothing, and all he had was a little pistol… utterly useless!

It looked like he had to plan ahead and leave Shancheng for another city as soon as possible.

Although the apocalypse had engulfed the whole world, the other cities probably did not have such a monstrous tree.

Otherwise humanity really would face extinction!

Moreover, since the army had not come to Shancheng, they must have been protecting cities that were nearer or more important.

With the army’s firepower they should at least be able to hold a few cities and establish safe zones, right?

If even that failed, Shen Yi truly had no idea how to survive.

Unless…

He could unlock more supplies, including a superpower fruit, obtain a few powerful abilities, and perhaps then he could deal with that ever-growing tree.

Thinking of this, Shen Yi could not help looking at Su Yun.

It seemed he really needed to claim her reward now.

Previously Shen Yi had only wanted to lie low with ample food and drink and just coast along.

But now the fire was truly at his doorstep, and he felt the urgency.

Even if he could not gain the power to fell the tree, he at least needed absolute self-preservation!

Teleportation was strong, but a range of only 20 meters was still too short.

“Are you all ready? I’ll open the door now; once I lure that gecko away, leave immediately and don’t waste a second!”

Su Yun drew her gun and got ready for battle.

“Sister Su Yun, be careful too…” Zhou Wan’er and the long-haired girl said, reluctant to part.

Although they had selfish little thoughts, they were genuinely grateful for Su Yun’s help.

Knowing she would probably not survive, Su Yun still nodded to the two girls, then looked at Shen Yi and said earnestly, “Comrade Shen Yi, I hope you can take care of them; in this world we humans can only keep going by helping one another!”

“I understand.”

“Then get ready; as soon as you hear noise, run and don’t waste time!”

After speaking, Su Yun walked to the door and carefully opened the convenience-store entrance.

Outside there was only dense black fog and the sound of wind; no danger was in sight.

Su Yun took a deep breath, stepped out cautiously, and scanned the surroundings.

She saw no trace of the gecko.

Once this color-changing monster hid in the black fog, it was hard to spot with the naked eye.

Su Yun glanced back at the store, then walked into the fog, deliberately making noise with her footsteps to draw the gecko out.

“Brother Shen Yi, s-should we go out now?” Zhou Wan’er asked hurriedly.

The long-haired girl clutched her backpack, ready to bolt at any time.

Shen Yi looked at her and said, “Hide in the inner room; come out only when I call you.”

“Huh? W-why? Sister Su Yun has lured the monster away; shouldn’t we leave quickly?”

Zhou Wan’er asked anxiously.

“Shut up! If you won’t listen, go now, but stop following me!”

Unwilling to waste words, Shen Yi stepped out of the store.

If Zhou Wan’er obeyed, he would not mind saving her in passing; if she disobeyed, she was courting death.

Reprimanded, Zhou Wan’er dared not speak; only after Shen Yi left did she stamp her foot in anger.

“Damn it! That pigheaded jerk!!”

After cursing a few times to vent, Zhou Wan’er exchanged a look with the long-haired girl, finally shut the door, and obediently hid in the storeroom.

Without protection they could never survive in such a dangerous world.

Though they did not understand Shen Yi’s intention, they could only obey for now.

After all, Shen Yi had a gun; staying with him was their only hope of living!

Zhou Wan’er might be scheming, but she was not stupid.

…

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

In the black fog, Su Yun held her gun with both hands and moved slowly on her long legs, making deliberate noise while watching her surroundings, hardly daring to breathe.

She knew very well that the mutant gecko might ambush her at any moment!

She had to react instantly.

Even if she was attacked, she still had to kill this creature!

Su Yun walked very slowly, her footsteps loud.

That undoubtedly heightened the mutant gecko’s urge to hunt her.

At that moment, In the black fog a pair of cold vertical pupils stared silently at Su Yun.

The owner of those eyes blended almost completely with the fog.

It stayed motionless where it was.

It was waiting for the prey to come to it.

The slowly approaching Su Yun was its prey.

Silence.

No sound.

When the prey was about 2 meters away, it moved.

Its body, which had merged with the surroundings, was exposed the instant it lunged!

It was a huge gecko!

Its speed was lightning-fast; even at that distance the prey could not react in time.

Moreover, Su Yun was side-on to it and could not notice it at the first moment!

By the time she sensed it, it was already too late…

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Suddenly, Several gunshots rang out in the black fog.

Startled, Su Yun spun around.

She saw a huge gecko collapse less than a meter from her…

Several bullet holes dotted its body, blood oozed out, and its breath was fading rapidly.

Without hesitation Su Yun fired two more rounds into its head, finishing off the mutant gecko.

Then, She finally exhaled sharply and gulped for air.

Her back was already drenched in sweat!

The hands holding the gun were trembling slightly!

She had been this close… just a moment from death!

To say she felt no fear would be a lie.

She was human too.

It was only that, once she wore this uniform, she had to live up to the responsibility it represented.

She could not retreat and must not retreat.

If she could stay alive, she certainly did not want to die… really, she did not!

“Thank you…”

Su Yun looked at the armed man who emerged from the black fog, gratitude flickering in her eyes.

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