Chapter 100: Lin Mu is Even Cuter, and So Obedient!

The two returned to their residence, where He Ze and Shen Rangchen were still waiting downstairs.

The two of them had followed Zhao Zhi downstream, only to find nothing. Apart from Zhao Zhi bombarding them with a ton of gossip, there wasn’t much else, just a lot of giggles and chatter.

Seeing Lin Mu and Fu Jingmo approaching, He Ze and Shen Rangchen noticed something off in their expressions.

“What’s wrong, Mumu?” He Ze bounced over. “Oh my goodness, Brother Fu, did you guys run into the river monster?”

Lin Mu nodded. “We did, and even fought it. Let’s talk upstairs.”

Following the two upstairs, He Ze was already bursting with curiosity.

“Mumu, did you guys kill it? Why did you just come back? What kind of monster was it?”

“A giant octopus? A man-eating shark? A nine-headed dragon?”

…

“A… giant python?” Lin Mu rubbed his temples, his head aching from He Ze’s noise. “A zombified giant python.”

Fu Jingmo stepped out of the bathroom, having rinsed off his shoes. “Tomorrow, I’ll meet Chen Yu. He must have an ability. Right now, the mutant team on the northern bank isn’t enough to deal with this python.”

“Mm, that zombie python fled as soon as it sensed things weren’t going in its favor. We’ll need more people to trap it.”

Lin Mu reflected on the events of the day. Compared to the mutated zombies in Wushi, at least this giant python wasn’t as overwhelmingly aggressive. However, killing it would undoubtedly be a challenging task.

“Mm, let’s get some rest. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

The group dispersed and returned to their rooms.

——

At dawn, the mist enveloped Shancheng so thickly that visibility was limited to five steps ahead.

As the morning light pierced through the dense fog, the city slowly began to awaken.

Lin Mu got up early and made some millet porridge. He also fried a few eggs and found two packs of pickled vegetables. They had stocked up on supplies at a supermarket along the way, so food was no longer an issue for the time being.

Fu Jingmo, having tidied himself up, quickly ate two fried eggs in one bite each before getting ready to leave.

Lin Mu, stirring his millet porridge with a white porcelain spoon, watched Fu Jingmo bend down to put on his shoes. Hesitating, he asked, “Are you going to see Chen Yu? Do you want me to go with you?”

Hearing this, Fu Jingmo looked up, and a faint smile appeared on his usually stern face. “No need. Just an old comrade reunion, I’ll have a chat with him.”

…

Lin Mu didn’t say anything more and lowered his head to drink his porridge.

He Ze glanced over and nudged Shen Rangchen with his elbow. The latter had just picked up a fried egg with his chopsticks, only for it to fall back onto the plate. He glared at He Ze in annoyance.

“Hey, hey, don’t get mad! I’ll get it for you, I’ll get it for you,” He Ze said quickly, trying to appease him.

The sound of the door closing echoed. Lin Mu finished his porridge, set down the bowl, and went to stand by the window.

He Ze lowered his voice and leaned closer to Shen Rangchen. “Tsk tsk, doesn’t this feel like the boyfriend just went to meet his ex?”

“Childish,” Shen Rangchen replied, unimpressed.

“Seriously though, cough cough,” He Ze raised his voice a bit, “Little Chenchen, didn’t Zhao Zhi say yesterday that Chen Yu used to be the captain of Team 113 and Brother Fu was one of his subordinates?”

“And also, didn’t he say the two of them were very close back then? No wonder Ye Xing is so jealous that he’s going crazy. Maybe there really was something going on between Brother Fu and Chen Yu.”

“Otherwise, why wouldn’t he take us along today, huh? Ah, they say clothes never compare to the new, but people? People never compare to the old~~~”

Lin Mu listened to He Ze’s nonsense, his temple twitching. What a load of nonsense. Didn’t they already say yesterday it was just camaraderie between soldiers?

Outside the window, Fu Jingmo’s tall figure emerged from the stairwell. Lin Mu quickly observed his walking pace, it seemed… his mood was indeed quite good.

Down below, Fu Jingmo got into the car and drove off without noticing the person watching him from the window.

——

Wunan Tower Territory.

When Li Zhou knocked on the door, Ye Xing was nestled in Chen Yu’s arms, whining and playing pitiful.

“Uncle Chen, it still hurts. Rub it for me some more.”

“Ye Xing, enough. I’ve already done it,” Chen Yu said, withdrawing his hand and standing up to answer the door.

Li Zhou nodded and stepped inside, respectfully addressing the person on the bed. “Young Master.”

The teenager on the bed looked at him with a hint of displeasure. Didn’t you come by just this morning to talk about the river monster attack last night? Why are you here again?

“What is it?”

His cold voice carried a trace of impatience, completely devoid of the soft, coquettish tone he had used earlier.

“Someone wants to see Mr. Chen, he’s Fu Jingmo. He’s waiting in the garden.”

At the mention of those three words, Ye Xing immediately furrowed his brows and looked at Chen Yu.

The man leaning against the window turned around and headed toward the door. “Take me there.”

Li Zhou glanced at his young master, then at Chen Yu, uncertain of what to do.

Recalling how Chen Yu had stayed with him all night yesterday and the warning that if he misbehaved again, Chen Yu would leave Shancheng, Ye Xing suppressed his anger and refrained from throwing a tantrum. 

Instead, he pitifully looked at Chen Yu and said, “Uncle Chen, after you meet him, will you come back?”

Chen Yu paused for a moment, nodded in acknowledgment, and walked out the door.

“Go,” Ye Xing instructed Li Zhou, “keep an eye on him, and make sure he comes back after they’re done talking.”

Ye Xing tilted his chin toward the door, signaling Li Zhou to follow, then walked over to the window.

From this spot, he could clearly see the garden below in the distance.

At that moment, the man downstairs was sitting on a bench by the lake. He had one leg propped up, looking somewhat relaxed as he leaned back, his head tilted upward, basking in the sunlight.

Unlike Chen Yu’s upright demeanor, this man had a laid-back air about him. His camouflage uniform hung loosely on his frame, and his sharply defined face carried a hint of roguish charm—a contradictory combination. But Ye Xing had to admit, he was handsome, and judging by his posture, probably quite tall when standing.

Ye Xing’s lips curved into a faint smirk. Chen Yu and him… neither looks like they’d take the submissive role. Hmm, guess they really haven’t been together after all.

From the moment Ye Xing stood by the window, Fu Jingmo had already sensed his gaze.

The abilities of a level-four mutant were known only to himself, exponentially stronger than those of a level-three in every aspect.

He let out a derisive chuckle and suddenly opened his eyes, coldly glaring at the child by the window.

Hah, so this is the kid Chen Yu’s been raising? So young. Before the apocalypse, he’d probably have been taken away.

Chen Yu approached from a distance with a rare smile on his face.

“Jingmo.”

Fu Jingmo lowered his leg, making space for him, and teased with a smile, “Hmm, the kid you’re raising is really keeping an eye on you, huh.”

Chen Yu glanced back and met Ye Xing’s pitiful, pleading gaze from the window. He quickly looked away. “Yeah, he’s young and clingy.”

Without further small talk, they got straight to the point.

“The river monster needs to be dealt with. We’ll need the help of your Wunan Tower team,” Fu Jingmo said, his expression turning sharp and cold once again.

Chen Yu nodded. “I’m aware. It’s still growing. I encountered it a week ago, and it was about seventy to eighty meters long. Last night, I heard it had grown to around a hundred meters?”

“Yes, and now it’s throwing zombies from the other side onto the northern bank. This is very dangerous. If reinforcements don’t arrive in time, the zombies could easily make it ashore,” Fu Jingmo said.

“What’s your plan?”

Chen Yu looked at him. Though he had once been Fu Jingmo’s captain, from the day he handed over command to him, Chen Yu knew the man before him was far more capable than himself.

Tapping his fingers lightly, Fu Jingmo began, “Last night, I noticed a few iron cables across the river. I want to force the monster into that area and trap it. The river is its territory, and without trapping it, it’s too easy for it to escape.”

“The ones you mentioned are likely the Lucong River cableways. They used to carry tourist cars for sightseeing. They’re quite sturdy, but using them to restrain the river monster won’t be easy,” Chen Yu replied.

“Exactly, which is why I’m asking for your help. This isn’t just the northern bank team’s problem. By the way, what’s your ability?” Fu Jingmo asked.

Fu Jingmo’s cold, sharp eyes openly met Chen Yu’s gaze.

Chen Yu raised his palm upward, and a sphere surrounded by purple mist quickly formed in his hand. At its center, sparks of lightning crackled, emitting a “zzzz” sound that made one’s scalp tingle.

“Lightning ability, level two,” he stated plainly.

The sphere in Chen Yu’s hand was thrown onto the surface of the lake, and streaks of white light spread out instantly. In moments, a small patch of fish floated belly-up.

“The captain is still the captain,” Fu Jingmo said with a look of acknowledgment.

A flicker of melancholy passed through Chen Yu’s eyes. “Not anymore. Back then, I retired because of a leg injury. But even if I hadn’t been injured, I would have handed the captaincy to you. Because… you’re more suited for it.”

“The kid healed it for you?” Fu Jingmo glanced at the leg that had been injured in an explosion.

“Yeah. Aside from being a bit willful, he’s… quite adorable.” 

Chen Yu replied, a faint smile appearing on his face.

“…”

What’s there to brag about? Lin Mu is cuter, more obedient, not willful, and doesn’t cause trouble.

“Alright then, wait for my notification the day after tomorrow. We’ll meet at the cableway. In the meantime, strengthen the security along the riverbank to prevent that oversized snake from throwing another zombie package your way.”

Fu Jingmo stood up, ready to leave.

Before walking out, he turned back and asked, “Chen Yu, are you a soldier or a civilian now?”

Chen Yu paused before replying, “The same as you.”

“You hesitated. But when the time comes, I hope you can take care of the people in Shancheng, at least until the state relief arrives.”

This seemingly random remark wasn’t lost on Chen Yu. He understood what Fu Jingmo was implying. If the northern bank team ran out of survival supplies, he would ensure Ye Xing provided the necessary support.

Wunan Tower’s supplies were indeed abundant.

“Alright, see you the day after tomorrow. Bring more people.” 

Fu Jingmo said, waving his hand lazily as he walked away.