Chapter 98: Shancheng: Night Investigation of the River Monster

On the other side, Chen Yu, whose body was being hugged by the child, clasped the boy’s thin wrist.

“Ye Xing, I’ve indulged you enough!”

The teenager shook his head. “I’m sorry, Uncle Chen. Please don’t be angry. I beg you.”

Chen Yu steeled his heart and pulled away the person clinging to his waist. Lowering his head to look at him, his cold and stern eyes carried a trace of helplessness deep within.

“Begging me is useless. Captain Fu and I are merely comrades-in-arms. He’s an excellent man, and I admire him. I will meet with him. You also know the current situation in Shancheng. Ye Xing, you’re not a child anymore. Stop being so willful.”

“Do you want us all to die together?!”

He withdrew his hand. The teenager kept his head lowered, listening to him speak, his voice carrying a soft, tearful tone. “Then will you leave me? Will you go with him?”

Chen Yu took a deep breath. It was time to teach the child a lesson. “If you don’t learn your boundaries, even if I don’t go with him, I will leave here. I’ll leave Shancheng.”

The thin figure trembled lightly, his small hands clutching the blanket tightly. Unlike usual, he didn’t throw a tantrum. Chen Yu glanced at him, then looked away and turned to leave.

The breathing behind him grew heavier, and Chen Yu’s steps halted as he reached the door.

“Ugh…” A suppressed cry of pain escaped. Ye Xing clutched tightly at his chest, his fragile heart unable to bear such intense emotions.

His porcelain-white teeth bit hard into his soft lips, and bright red blood quickly seeped from the wound.

“Ye Xing, Xingxing.”

Chen Yu’s heart skipped a beat. He turned back and ran to the bedside, holding the boy tightly. “Where’s the medicine, Xingxing?”

Ye Xing clutched his clothes, his stubborn little face covered in tears, yet he refused to say a single word.

“Li Zhou!! Li Zhou, bring Ye Xing’s medicine up here!” Chen Yu shouted toward the door.

Soon, footsteps echoed from the stairs. Li Zhou rushed up, retrieved a small medicine bottle from under the pillow, and brought warm water.

The teenager gritted his teeth tightly, greedily observing the nervous expression on the man holding him.

A strong hand gripped his delicate chin, applying just enough force to part his lips easily. The small white pill was placed into his mouth, and water trickled down the corner of his lips, sliding along his pale neck and dripping onto the soft swan-patterned quilt.

Chen Yu’s voice carried a trace of sternness. “Take your medicine, Xingxing.”

The deer-like eyes trembled slightly, and he sniffled, pleading softly, “Don’t leave…”

“Don’t threaten me, Ye Xing,” Chen Yu said, staring at the fragile madness in the boy’s eyes. “If you don’t take your medicine, I’ll leave right now.”

“Mm…” Enduring the discomfort in his body, Ye Xing looked at him for a moment, then lowered his head toward the water glass. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed the pill.

Afterward, his lowered eyes glanced at Li Zhou, who understood immediately and nodded before leaving.

Ye Xing’s tense body gradually relaxed, but he still nestled in Chen Yu’s arms, refusing to let go.

Chen Yu’s expression remained icy, though it carried a hint of worry he hadn’t noticed himself. “Xingxing, why can’t your ability heal yourself?”

The person in his arms shook his head, his eyes gently closing, stubbornly resisting sleep.

“Sleep,” Chen Yu said.

“No, if I sleep, you’ll leave.”

Chen Yu said nothing, gently laying him down on the bed and tucking the blanket around him. “I’m not leaving. Go to sleep now. I’ll deal with you when you wake up.”

Reassured by the promise, Ye Xing reached out a small hand, grasping his, and only then did he close his eyes with a sense of relief.

Chen Yu’s greatest weakness was his unwavering commitment to his promises and his soft heart. Once he said it, he wouldn’t leave.

—

Night fell, and the four prepared to set off.

The Lucong River stretched a long distance along its banks, so they split into two teams. He Ze and Shen Rangchen went downstairs to call Zhao Zhi, heading toward the lower reaches of the river.

Fu Jingmo and Lin Mu headed toward the upper reaches, starting their vehicle and setting out.

By this time, the streets were already deserted. In Shancheng, no one was allowed to go out after 8 p.m., effectively enforcing a curfew.

Firstly, it was to prevent river monsters from appearing at night. Secondly, like in Wushi, residential areas stopped providing electricity after 8 p.m.

The area along the river was a long street. Before the apocalypse, the riverside scenery here was breathtaking, a must-visit spot that everyone flocked to.

Now, not a single person was in sight. Patrols were stationed roughly every 100 meters, each standing outside the greenery with guns at the ready. Any unusual activity would prompt them to fire warning shots.

The river wind was strong. Lin Mu rolled down the car window, and the wind carried the stench of rotting zombies and their guttural growls from across the river, sending a chill down their spines.

With so many people gathered here, the zombies on the opposite bank naturally craned their necks, trying to cross over. However, the Lucong River blocked their path, and any that accidentally fell into the river were swiftly carried away by the current.

“There are quite a few zombies across the river. Why hasn’t a cleanup been arranged?” 

Lin Mu asked, gazing at the opposite bank, where shadows of swarming heads moved faintly in the night.

Fu Jingmo’s eyes swept past Lin Mu and glanced at the other side. “They’ll be cleared out eventually. But for now, ammunition is precious, and with the Lucong River as a barrier, it’s relatively safe for the time being.”

“Mm, but this is a hidden danger. The weather has gotten much colder this year. It’s only September, but it already feels like winter. If the temperature keeps changing and the river freezes over in winter, the zombies from the other side might cross over.”

Lin Mu analyzed calmly. He didn’t have much evidence, just a gut instinct. In this world, even the smallest oversight could cost countless lives.

Fu Jingmo held the steering wheel with one hand while resting the other casually on the edge of the car window. Lin Mu was truly intelligent, just as sharp as when they first met—or perhaps even more perceptive now.

“The government is planning to bomb zombie-infested areas with no human presence. However, in densely populated cities in the Central Plains, they still need to send people in to ensure no survivors are hiding before proceeding with cleanup.”

Fu Jingmo was referring to the information from the black box. This plan was still in its early conceptual stage and had not yet been implemented. Sending people into zombie-filled cities to search for survivors was an extremely arduous task, requiring immense manpower and time.

It might take many years before such a plan could be fully realized.

“Mm.”

No matter when it might be realized, just knowing that in this boundless darkness, someone is striving and struggling for the dawn brings a sense of comfort.

The car moved at a steady pace, and along the way, they didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.

Lin Mu’s position offered a clear view of the river. Although it lacked the dazzling lights from before the apocalypse, the moonlight made the water shimmer beautifully.

He rested his folded hands on the car window, casually laying his head on his arms, with his back turned toward the driver’s seat.

The white shirt made him look particularly thin, and his hair, recently trimmed by Fu Jingmo a few days ago, was now tousled by the river breeze.

Fu Jingmo glanced at him and, for some reason, felt as though he was taking a child out for a drive.

The car continued forward, eventually reaching the western area near Wunan Tower’s territory. This section was guarded by the people of Wunan Tower.

Fu Jingmo drove the car all the way to the end of the road, where it was blocked by a concrete wall. It was clear that beyond this point, vehicles couldn’t pass.

The two got out of the car and walked toward the riverbank. A young man stationed there noticed them and issued a warning.

“Curfew is already in effect. Go home quickly—you’re not allowed near the riverbank!”

Fu Jingmo smiled nonchalantly and reached into his pocket. But, ah, he had taken a bath earlier and forgotten to bring anything with him.

Fu Jingmo discreetly extended his hand behind him toward Lin Mu. Understanding his intent, Lin Mu pretended to reach into his own pocket and took out half a pack of cigarettes, slipping it into Fu Jingmo’s palm.

Fu Jingmo accepted it, casually crumpled the cigarette pack to make it look battered, and tossed it to the man standing guard.

“Smoke up, brother.”

The man’s eyes lit up as if he had found a treasure. He eagerly caught the pack, pulled out a cigarette for himself, and quickly stuffed the rest into his pocket, as if afraid they might ask for it back.

Fu Jingmo smoothly handed over a lighter, lighting the man’s cigarette for him. Then, he tugged at his pants slightly and crouched down near the edge of the greenery, speaking casually.

“So, why’s it so quiet tonight? Didn’t they say there’s a river monster here?”