Chapter 41

The fresh, shiny apples and snow pears were quickly sliced and placed in a fruit bowl, ready to be served, sweet and juicy. In addition, there was a large plate of coconut dates, peanuts, winter melon candy, beef jerky, and pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and five-spiced peanuts that Zhou Yun had stir-fried, all arranged on the coffee table.

In the kitchen, the pressure cooker was hissing, releasing steam, and the aroma of braised pork filled the air, mingling with the fragrance of rice cooking in the imported rice cooker, filling the entire living room.

Dong Kexin couldn’t help but grab a handful of sunflower seeds and nibble on them, saying, “Captain, this place feels like it’s the eve of the apocalypse.” There were flowers, grass, dogs, meat—life was truly blissful.

Guan Yuanfeng asked, “Is there a severe food shortage at the base?”

Jiang Rongqian replied, “Well, the population is large, so food is rationed. Winter is especially tough, and food supplies are scarce. Meat, sugar, fruit—all these can only be exchanged with contribution points, or bought in the market with crystal cores. But most people need to prioritize basic essentials like rice, flour, oil, medicine, and vitamins. They can’t eat as freely as before.”

Zhou Yun noticed that although everyone seemed to envy them, they were very restrained and hadn’t taken much from the table, only nibbling on some seeds and peanuts. He then picked up a strip of beef jerky and handed it to Tang Anchen, asking, “Are there no special provisions for ability users?”

Tang Ancheng nervously accepted the beef jerky and looked at Guan Yuanfeng, who nodded slightly. Only then did he shyly smile and begin eating.

Jiang Rongqian explained, “There are some provisions. Accommodation is free, and mission points are doubled for completing tasks. Ability users who return with crystal cores from missions can keep half for themselves. They also receive double the food supply compared to regular people since they require more. However, even ability users need to save up their crystal cores to exchange for mutated food, and the rationed food isn’t really enough.”

Guan Yuanfeng asked, “How many ability users are in our team?”

Jiang Rongqian replied, “Two. Little Su, who has light abilities, has the most potential. He’s already a rare second-tier healing ability user, and the base highly values him. But healers are all recruited into one unified group, so Little Su is no longer with our team.”

Guan Yuanfeng nodded slightly, but Su Jianing chimed in, “My heart will always belong to our team!”

Jiang Rongqian continued, “Yes, when we came this far, the healing center was reluctant to let Little Su go, but he insisted on coming to join you, Captain.”

Guan Yuanfeng said, “If I had known in advance, I wouldn’t have let so many of you come. Little Tang alone would have been enough. The weather conditions are bad, and bringing so many people over by helicopter is too dangerous.”

Tang Ancheng felt proud, thinking that this was a sign of Guan Yuanfeng’s trust in him, and he grinned happily.

Jiang Rongqian added, “We had wanted to come earlier, but the base was still being established, and we had continuous emergency rescue missions. Later, we chose Zhongzhou as the central base for the joint government because of the ancient city walls, which provide natural defense. After moving from the capital, we were trapped by a zombie wave in the winter and couldn’t complete any missions. The weather was bad, and it wasn’t until spring came and the weather improved that we finally made it here.”

Guan Yuanfeng said, “I don’t blame you. I know you’ve been busy with your own survival, and the weather was terrible. I also told Captain Tan that it was safe here.”

Jiang Rongqian continued, “By the way, Little Tang has awakened a soil-type ability. Foolish people have foolish luck.”

Guan Yuanfeng looked at Tang Ancheng in surprise. “Not bad, what skills can you use?”

Tang Ancheng scratched his head and replied, “Soil-type ability… I don’t have much use for it, I can only raise walls. And I eat a lot, I can barely manage to eat enough every month with the help of the brothers. Captain, if you need a wall, I can help build one.”

The whole team laughed, and Su Jianing said, “A lot of abilities don’t seem useful in the early stages, like soil, wood, or water abilities. They’re mostly helpful for things like farming or digging, but they’re useful in logistics. Combat abilities like fire or Captain’s lightning abilities are more useful. But the research institute is studying ways to awaken abilities in ordinary people, and they’ve made some progress.”

Guan Yuanfeng glanced at Zhou Yun, who was curiously asking Su Jianing, “What kind of organization is the research institute?”

Su Jianing replied, “It’s the Ability Research Institute at Zhongzhou Base, focused on studying abilities and ability users. Almost all the ability users at Zhongzhou Base have registered as volunteers, where they can receive free treatment and new medicine.”

He looked at Guan Yuanfeng, excitement in his eyes. “Ability users like you, Captain, with precious lightning abilities, and those rare dual-ability users, are highly valued at the institute. The director and my mentor would definitely personally meet you.”

Guan Yuanfeng asked, “Dual-ability users? Are they very rare?”

Su Jianing replied, “Yes, they’re very rare. Zhongzhou Base has only discovered two cases so far—one with water and wind abilities, and another with metal and soil abilities. Lightning abilities are powerful and can easily kill zombies even at early stages…”

So rare… Zhou Yun thought back to why he was certain that he could implant two crystal cores of different properties in his body. This seemed so unlike his cautious and steady nature… unless he knew about dual-ability cores and had seen them before. But since the apocalypse started and Zhou Yun awakened his abilities, he had only been with himself—how could he have known?

Guan Yuanfeng looked at Zhou Yun, and Zhou Yun met his gaze with clear eyes and a smile on his lips.

Guan Yuanfeng felt a slight stir in his heart and recalled the night he had operated on Comet, when Zhou Yun had performed those strange blood tests.

Zhou Yun had never said that he only had water abilities.

When he performed surgery on Comet, the abilities he used didn’t seem like water abilities at all.

He asked, “Healing abilities, are they only from light abilities?”

Su Jianing replied, “Primarily light abilities, but wood abilities also have healing functions, though they’re less effective and level up more slowly. However, they’re very effective for detoxifying. For instance, wood healing can be more beneficial for treating zombie bite infections. But because wood abilities level up slowly, most users are involved in planting work at the base, as it’s easier to earn contribution points.”

He explained carefully but then remembered the answer he had not received when he asked Guan Yuanfeng earlier: “So, Captain, how exactly did you awaken your abilities? Didn’t Captain Tan say you didn’t have a fever and didn’t awaken any abilities? The experts’ conclusion now is that besides the red mist, there is no other way to trigger human abilities. If you have another method, then you must be an exception!”

Guan Yuanfeng was lost in thought and did not answer, his gaze instinctively turning toward Zhou Yun.

Zhou Yun did not avoid his gaze and remained calm and gentle, explaining to Su Jianing, “When the red mist arrived, Captain Guan was already taking painkillers, so he didn’t develop a fever. In fact, his abilities were triggered; it’s just that we didn’t realize it at first.”

Su Jianing suddenly understood, “I see now! Right, Captain, you were experiencing severe phantom pain. I helped you get quite a few painkillers, and I thought you didn’t want to take them.”

He immediately had another question, “Did you awaken your abilities and then your legs recovered immediately, or did your abilities awaken first and your legs gradually grew back? Is there anything special about it?”

Guan Yuanfeng’s gaze was still fixed on Zhou Yun, but he did not answer. Zhou Yun, however, stopped looking at him and instead answered Su Jianing, “He fell asleep, and when he woke up, both his legs had grown back.”

Su Jianing frowned in confusion, “Was there anything special about the food or the place where the amputation was done?”

Zhou Yun stood up and said to Tang Ancheng, “Xiao Tang, go catch a big goose for me, will you? Everyone has come a long way; let’s make a goose stew tonight.”

Xiao Tang perked up and stood up, and a few team members cheered excitedly, “Great! Goose meat!”

Liao Jinsheng, who had been feeling awkward and bored under the Captain’s gaze, immediately stood up, “I’ll go! I’m good at catching geese!”

Guan Yuanfeng said, “Everyone, go help out in the kitchen.”

He stood up as well, and Su Jianing opened his mouth, wanting to ask another question, but had to stand up and go help instead.

The villa’s kitchen and dining area were connected, spacious and equipped with new imported appliances. Everyone marveled at the setup.

Guan Yuanfeng directed people in the kitchen, instructing them to pull vegetables from the garden in the backyard, peel potatoes and carrots, cut cucumbers, pick vegetables and cut meat, soak dried bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, glass noodles, and lily flowers, wash rice, and cook a pot of rice. He also had people prepare water on an energy-efficient stove for plucking feathers.

Once everything was nearly ready, Zhou Yun returned with Tang Anchen and Liao Jinsheng, carrying a big goose, a rabbit, and a chicken—all freshly slaughtered.

Jiang Rongqian frowned and said, “Doctor Zhou, don’t spoil them. We don’t need that much meat. I saw Captain Guan open the pressure cooker earlier, and there was already a pot of braised pork inside.”

Zhou Yun smiled, “There are so many ability users, and you all traveled so far.”

Liao Jinsheng blurted out, “Deputy Captain! Doctor Zhou raises so many chickens, ducks, and geese! Doctor Zhou, let’s kill a sheep tomorrow, half roasted and half for hot pot!”

Everyone cheered.

Soon, everyone started getting to work. Zhou Yun directed them to prepare two pots—one for spicy rabbit hot pot and one for goose stew with spring water. The chicken was made into steamed salted fish chicken. Zhou Yun also chopped some mutated dried fish to slice and steam with the chicken, creating a unique flavor.

The air was filled with delicious aromas as the rabbit meat hot pot bubbled in the center of the table, rich and fragrant in red oil. The goose stew had a tender and flavorful meat, with the nourishing broth permeating every cell of the goose meat, rich and sweet. The braised bamboo rat was also a perfect blend of color, fragrance, and flavor, with its tender meat melting in the mouth.

Nearby, chicken giblets, goose wings, feet, tongue, intestines, and gizzards—ingredients that were unremarkable in peacetime—were now precious in the post-apocalyptic world. These became excellent accompaniments for the hot pot. Fresh cabbage, radishes, pumpkins, potatoes, and pea shoots were all cleaned and ready to be cooked, still fresh with the scent of the soil.

Such a scene resembled an ordinary meal in the pre-apocalyptic world, but now it felt luxurious.

What was even more surprising was that Zhou Yun directed Tang Ancheng to bring up the grape wine stored in glass barrels from the basement. The purple-red wine was filled with large ice cubes. Zhou Yun added honey to the wine, making it even more delicious.

The members of the special forces team sat around the table, savoring the rich food they had not enjoyed in a long time. Their mouths couldn’t help but smile, and each one eagerly tasted every dish, chatting and laughing with joy and satisfaction on their faces.

The weariness from their long journey from the Central Base was soothed by the delicious food. Everyone was especially excited to see that the Captain had awakened his abilities and that his legs had healed. They all crowded around to offer a toast to Guan Yuanfeng, and the atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

Su Jianing took a few bites of bamboo rat and looked at Guan Yuanfeng in surprise. “Captain, this bamboo rat seems mutated?”

Guan Yuanfeng nodded, “Yes.”

Tang Ancheng added, “The salted fish is also mutated! Doctor Zhou said they caught it from the nearby reservoir.”

Su Jianing couldn’t help but praise, “Captain, your lightning ability is really useful.”

Liao Jinsheng, sweating and with red lips, shouted loudly, “When Captain returns, our special forces team will definitely take back the first place. The second team has a fire ability and a lightning ability, and they’re so proud, saying they’re the real first team.”

Guan Yuanfeng furrowed his brow, “How many teams are there in the special forces now? Why didn’t Captain Tan come aboard? What about the others?”

There was a brief silence at the table, and Jiang Rongqian said, “General Tan gave up his spot. The special forces now only have seven teams. The base here wants to reorganize and concentrate their forces to form an all-ability user combat team. Xiao Tang and the others didn’t choose to join, so they stayed with our team.”

Su Jianing said, “Forming an ability user combat team is the way forward. Other bases are doing it too. Ability users working together can maximize their combat effectiveness. Captain, with your lightning ability, who would dare to claim the first spot? Even if you’re not in the first team in the future, you’ll still be watching over us.”

Su Jianing looked at Guan Yuanfeng with admiration, “The base wants me to join the combat team, but my teacher says it’s too dangerous. However, if the leader of the ability user combat team is you, I’ll definitely sign up.”

Guo Yuanfeng remained silent. He glanced at Zhou Yun, who was pouring wine for Tang Anchen. Zhou Yun seemed to not hear their conversation and was carefully adding honey to the wine, a faint blush on his cheeks.

Su Jianing noticed Guo Yuanfeng’s gaze and, looking at Zhou Yun, smiled and said, “Are you worried about Dr. Zhou, Brother Guo? The base is in dire need of doctors. With your recommendation and my endorsement, Dr. Zhou will definitely be able to stay at the rescue hospital in the base. But, the living areas for regular people and ability users are separated now, and since the missions are frequent, you might not meet much.”

Tang Ancheng looked surprised, “Dr. Zhou is an ability user too? Shouldn’t he be able to join our team?”

The members of the team looked at Zhou Yun, equally surprised. Zhou Yun smiled slightly, “It’s not a powerful ability, just water-related, for watering plants and washing hands.”

Tang Ancheng responded, “Dr. Zhou is impressive. He can freeze water into ice cubes. These ice cubes in the wine were frozen by Dr. Zhou just now.”

Dong Kexin praised, “That’s quite impressive! Freezing water into ice with a water-based ability is difficult.”

Zhou Yun exchanged a glance with Guo Yuanfeng. Zhou Yun smiled and said, “Is it really that difficult?”

Su Jianing replied, “It is. Freezing water into ice or forming wind blades from wind is challenging. Some say ice abilities are actually considered mutated abilities. Not all water-based abilities can create ice. It requires absorbing many crystal cores and a long time to upgrade.”

Guo Yuanfeng remembered the shock he felt when he first saw Zhou Yun freeze a mutated eagle into a huge ice block. How long had it been since Zhou Yun awakened his ability? A month?

Guo Yuanfeng stared at Zhou Yun, but Zhou Yun didn’t look at him, just smiling as he poured a glass of wine for Dong Kexin. “Maybe it’s because it’s been so cold lately.”

Dong Kexin happily drank, clearly having had too much: “All ability users have such high egos, but there are too few like Dr. Zhou who are so down-to-earth.”

Su Jianing felt a bit awkward and glanced at Guo Yuanfeng, but he seemed not to have heard, simply asking, “What are the tasks you are doing? What other bases are there? Are they all official? Who is in charge of the bases?”

Jiang Rongqian replied, “What official? There’s some so-called Survivor Union Government, but each base is managing itself. No one submits to anyone, and no one is willing to hand over power easily. If it weren’t for General Tan here at the Zhongzhou base, it would have already been in chaos… but he’s facing difficulties now.” He glanced at Su Jianing, wanting to say something but stopping, and then said, “In any case, the outside world is in chaos now.”

Su Jianing commented, “General Tan is too rigid. All other bases are recruiting ability users freely, regardless of background, while he insists on strengthening control and vetting of ability users. If this continues, Zhongzhou base will soon fall behind the others. Ability users have been recruited by other bases, and Zhongzhou base will struggle to maintain itself.”

“Without ability users guarding the base and going out to collect supplies, the basic food and medical supplies aren’t sufficient, and ordinary people won’t want to come to Zhongzhou base anymore.”

Jiang Rongqian explained to Guo Yuanfeng, “Now, in addition to Zhongzhou, there are major bases like Lindong Base, Jingnan Base, Xining Base, and Zhenbei Base, all of which have stationed troops. Officially, they still seem to follow the United Government’s orders, but communications are difficult, and after a winter, each base has become self-reliant. The generals of those bases aren’t easy to deal with, so on the surface, there’s only a fragile peace.”

“There are also some private smaller bases, mostly run by ability users themselves. These bases recruit ability users and guards privately and manage their own resources. The Zhongzhou United Government plans to form a stronger armed force to manage these private bases, requiring them to take in refugees unconditionally.”

Su Jianing said, “It should have been this way. If we don’t strengthen ourselves quickly and let them control all the resources, withholding medical talent and ability users, we won’t even be able to live a stable life.”

“Over the winter, many private bases were overrun by ability users, and many were destroyed by the zombie horde. Now, we’re still open to accepting survivors, but the other bases have closed their doors to refugees and only accept ability users or people who can work. The pressure is all on Zhongzhou base!”

Su Jianing looked at Guo Yuanfeng, “General Tan must be thrilled to know you’re back, especially with your lightning ability. He’s been having some issues with General Ye, and now he’s weak, but once you’re back, you can help mediate. General Ye used to value you a lot. He asked me to make sure you return safely.”

Guo Yuanfeng remained silent, but Jiang Rongqian said, “General Tan is just worried that you might get trapped here in your hometown, especially since you’re physically unwell. He’s concerned no one is taking care of you and that you lack food and clothes. That’s why he rushed to send us here to get you, not to put pressure on you… It should have been done earlier, but the base was surrounded by zombies all winter, and the snowstorms haven’t stopped, making things tough for everyone. Food has been in short supply…”

Guo Yuanfeng said in a low voice, “I know. Team Tan has treated me very well. There’s really no danger here for me.”

Wu Jun, who had been eating quietly, suddenly said, “Captain, we don’t want to reorganize. We don’t want to be cannon fodder for the ability users.”

The room fell silent. Zhang Qi, sitting beside Wu Jun, chuckled and said, “Ah Jun is drunk. Now that the captain has recovered and has an ability, he will lead us. Our Special Forces team will be the same as before!”

Dong Kexin laughed, “The captain is living the good life here. Why go back? I think it’s better to stay with the captain here.”

Tang Ancheng grinned, “Kexin is right! Here’s great, with the captain we get to eat meat.”

Liao Jinsheng, looking puzzled, asked, “But what about General Tan…?”

Jiang Rongqian scolded, “What nonsense is that? Where’s the discipline?”

The room fell silent again.

Su Jianing said, “Guan-ge! That’s a bit unfair! Whenever someone from our team gets injured, I’m always the first to treat you all. When have I ever treated you like cannon fodder? Besides, I know many ability users, and they’re just like regular people. They can get hurt, they can suffer; they’re no different from ordinary people.” He looked very aggrieved.

“We take on more dangerous missions than others, and we need crystal cores and high-energy ability food more than others… If I were a combat ability user, I’d definitely be at the front!”

Jiang Rongqian quickly mediated, “You’re a medic, it’s different. You’re supposed to be a protected target. Wu Jun must have had too much to drink.”

Dong Kexin, however, sarcastically added, “The plan has already spread. The ability users are taken out to form combat teams responsible for the main offensive tasks, that’s true. But every ability user team is also paired with a special forces team to assist with reconnaissance, backup, and protecting logistics. Sometimes, when the abilities are insufficient, the most dangerous tasks still fall to us. If someone can’t be deployed for fieldwork, they must sign a voluntary agreement to undergo ability activation experiments.”

Su Jianing argued, “The ability activation experiments are completely voluntary! And with healers like us watching over them 24/7, there’s no risk of life-threatening accidents! Those who have undergone the experiment haven’t experienced any negative effects. It’s just that they need to sign a confidentiality agreement, not disclose the experiment details. I can guarantee that it’s safe!”

“Abilities are the direction of human evolution! They are humanity’s hope to defeat zombies! For the sake of all mankind and scientific progress, sacrifices must be made. This is an inevitable part of history, and we’re already doing our best to minimize harm to the body!”

He looked excitedly at Guan Yuanfeng, “If the captain hadn’t gained abilities and recovered his legs, I would have come here to persuade him to accept the experiment. If his legs hadn’t healed, this would have been a great opportunity. Abilities are a new chance! With the captain’s physical condition, he would definitely be the first to succeed in the experiment, make history, and be the first to activate abilities successfully…”

“Bang!”

A loud crash startled everyone at the table.

Su Jianing screamed as he saw the glass of purple-red wine in front of him suddenly explode for no apparent reason. The deep red wine splattered all over his off-white wool sweater, and even left a blood mark on his face.

Zhang Qi, sitting next to him, grabbed a towel to help wipe him down. “Be careful! Could it be that the glass expanded and contracted from the temperature change, causing it to burst?” He also exclaimed, “There’s blood on your face! The glass shards must have cut you. Go to the bathroom and clean up.”

Su Jianing felt the sting on his face and, feeling annoyed, hurried to the bathroom. He quickly used his healing abilities. Jiang Rongqian had already stood up to find a broom to clean up the glass while asking if he had been hurt, causing a flurry of activity at the table.

However, Guan Yuanfeng, for some reason, was looking at Zhou Yun. Zhou Yun had been smiling throughout the meal, though not speaking much, hosting his teammates with a sense of authority and friendliness, especially toward Tang Ancheng. But now, Zhou Yun’s expression was emotionless as he watched Su Jianing, his eyes and lips showing a hint of coldness.

It seemed that Zhou Yun immediately noticed Guan Yuanfeng’s gaze and glanced back calmly, not avoiding it.

Guan Yuanfeng knew he was angry.