Chapter 29
Qian Hui didn’t understand what was wrong with himself. It wasn’t fear, but rather a lack of familiarity.
Perhaps it was because Nan Tingjin hadn’t regained his memories and didn’t remember him.
Most of the time, Nan Tingjin was gentle enough. When he had been entangled by the Ruanteng’s vines, he had obediently massaged Qian Hui’s hands every day.
Yet Qian Hui could still sense subtle differences in him—in his overall aura, his mannerisms, or something else entirely.
Even so, Nan Tingjin was still Nan Tingjin, and Qian Hui loved him.
He was his boyfriend, without a doubt.
As for the changes in him… perhaps it was because he had lost his memories and been here for too long.
Six whole years could change a person profoundly, just like the wooden ring that had changed color.
Thinking of this, Qian Hui felt a pang of sympathy for Nan Tingjin and reached out to hug him.
Nan Tingjin’s breath hitched slightly when Qian Hui suddenly took the initiative after having just pulled away. Surprised, he lowered his gaze and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Qian Hui mumbled vaguely. “I… I still want to see where you live.”
“Alright.” Nan Tingjin couldn’t resist leaning closer, wanting another kiss.
But Qian Hui had already released him and was now scrutinizing the entire room.
He had only glanced around earlier, but this time he examined everything more thoroughly, like exploring a maze. He opened wardrobes and drawers, picking up unfamiliar items to inspect them closely, such as the communicator and radio.
Unfortunately, the radio was broken and hadn’t been repaired yet.
In one of the drawers, Qian Hui found a small telescope. He peered into it, puzzled. “What’s this…?”
Nan Tingjin showed him how to use it, and Qian Hui was captivated. He held it up to his eye, playing with it for a long time.
Seeing how much Qian Hui liked it, Nan Tingjin offered, “You can have it.”
“Really?” Qian Hui’s face lit up. Without hesitation, he played with it until he was satisfied, then tucked it into a side pocket of his backpack.
His greatest fascination remained the bathroom faucet. Nan Tingjin taught him how to turn on the hot water and use the shower, explaining that he could bathe there.
Qian Hui wasn’t afraid of the cold, but he couldn’t stand the heat. He only slightly warmed the water, just enough to make it feel lukewarm.
Next door, Lulian the durian was sound asleep, guarded by Luobo and Xiaokui, whose disguises hadn’t yet worn off. The other plants gradually returned.
Intrigued by the novel bathroom, several plants wanted to join Qian Hui for a bath.
Yumi rushed to the front, but Nan Tingjin’s gaze swept over him. “No.”
His tone was indifferent, yet carried an implicit warning.
Throughout their journey, Nan Tingjin had rarely interacted with the plants, and Qian Hui often nearly forgot he was there.
But after their encounter with the Zombie Horde, both Qian Hui and the plants had gained a new understanding of Nan Tingjin’s strength.
Yumi skidded to a halt, glaring at him briefly before reluctantly backing down.
Inside the bathroom, Qian Hui beckoned to it. “Bring the towels. I’ll bathe you all first.”
Yumi perked up, darting to rummage through the backpack for the small towels. He deliberately paraded past Nan Tingjin, holding the towels aloft.
When bathing the plants, Qian Hui used cold water, quickly rinsing each one before drying them with a towel. The process was swift and efficient.
But when it was his turn, Qian Hui slowed down considerably.
As Nan Tingjin knocked impatiently on the door, Qian Hui was still holding the handmade soap, contemplating carving a design into it.
“Almost done!” Qian Hui replied hastily, using the other end of his toothbrush to carve a large “Hui” character into the soap.
Satisfied, he carefully placed the soap down and quickly finished tidying up before getting dressed.
Just then, a game notification popped up.
[ Triggered Story Point: Progress 5% (Reach 100% to unlock Story Analysis) ]
Huh?
Qian Hui stared at the notification, puzzled.
The previous two times he’d triggered story points, he’d immediately received the original endings for two Special-Grade Mutant Plants, along with a hidden mission to secretly approach a Zombie Horde, which stated that completing it would grant a chance to unlock Story Analysis.
That hidden mission had only reached 60% completion after the battle with the Zombie Horde. This new notification was unlike anything he’d seen before.
Moreover, the notification didn’t specify what the story point was about, nor did it issue a mission. He had no idea how to progress it.
Qian Hui’s first thought was whether it might be related to the Special-Grade Mutant Plant Nan Tingjin had mentioned taking him to find.
Or perhaps it was something else—some human, or even an entire Base?
Truthfully, Qian Hui still didn’t fully understand what “story points” truly represented. Much of the game’s mechanics required him to figure things out on his own.
He dismissed the notification, silently noted the matter, and finished dressing.
The pajamas were an extra set Nan Tingjin had prepared. They were a bit too big for Qian Hui, who lifted them to his nose and inhaled. The scent was identical to Nan Tingjin’s own.
Qian Hui rather liked it. He lingered over the scent for a while before finally opening the bathroom door.
He took the opportunity to wash his hair. The dye’s color proved remarkably stable, showing almost no change.
Afterward, Qian Hui experienced a hairdryer for the first time.
Nan Tingjin helped him dry his hair, holding the device at a distance to prevent the heat from burning him.
Qian Hui sat obediently on the edge of the bed with his eyes closed, savoring the novel sensation.
Lajiao squatted nearby, watching for a moment before letting out a soft snort and popping the pepper seeds in his paw into his mouth.
Once his hair was dry, Qian Hui asked, “When will we go find the plants?”
“Tomorrow,” Nan Tingjin replied, putting away the hairdryer. “The Restricted Zone isn’t nearby.”
He gently stroked Qian Hui’s hair. “Sleep first.”
Qian Hui nodded with a soft “Mmm” and watched Nan Tingjin rise and head to the bathroom alone.
When Nan Tingjin returned, the room was still brightly lit, and a cabbage shell sat squarely in the center.
The interior of the cabbage shell was dimly lit, with a narrow gap left open in the leaf-door, presumably for Luobo and Xiaokui next door.
Nan Tingjin approached and peered through the slit. He saw Qian Hui lying inside, seemingly asleep, surrounded by plants. Lajiao was curled up against his chest.
After quietly observing for a long moment, Nan Tingjin turned and switched off the light.
Later that night, Luobo returned.
Two hours passed before he finally transformed back. He stood at the window for a long time, letting the wind dissipate the lingering durian scent, then went to the bathroom to wash himself thoroughly. Only then did he return to the cabbage shell.
The next morning, Qian Hui woke up early.
Anxious about whether Lulian’s escape had been discovered, he secretly watched from behind the curtains with binoculars. He saw three modified vehicles driving away from the Inner Gate.
Each vehicle bore a white cloud-shaped emblem—the symbol of Cloud River Base.
Inside one of the vehicles, Qi Yue contacted the base via communicator, reporting his team’s return.
A metal cage sat in the back seat. A team member asked curiously, “Why is it so quiet? Does it need another sedative?”
Qi Yue glanced in the rearview mirror. “No need. It’s probably just hungry. Let’s get back to base.”
Qi Yue noticed nothing amiss. He felt well-rested from the previous night and woke up refreshed.
The supplies and medications Nan Tingjin had asked him to transport to Sky Base were loaded onto another vehicle.
The subordinates who delivered the goods claimed they had failed to capture the man-eating flower during their mission and were returning the bounty deposit, including the portion Liang Jie had provided midway through the operation.
Unfamiliar with the details, Qi Yue first contacted Sky Base for confirmation before accepting the items.
The heavy iron gate ahead swung open, and the three modified vehicles exited the outer perimeter, gradually distancing themselves from Black Spine Mountain.
As they drove, Qi Yue couldn’t stop thinking about the young man accompanying Nan Tingjin.
Anyone could see that Nan Tingjin and Qian Hui shared a deep connection, likely as lovers.
Nan Tingjin’s personal assistance with Qian Hui’s every move—helping him in and out of the vehicle—seemed at odds with his rumored aloofness.
Yet Qi Yue considered this a positive sign.
In the post-apocalyptic world, Human Ability Users who grew emotionally detached risked losing their way and becoming irredeemable.
Regardless, everyone needed something they cherished—someone they cared for, or something they were willing to embrace.
Following the designated route, the modified vehicle encountered no obstacles and arrived at Sky Base before noon.
Two team members unloaded the supplies from the vehicle. Qi Yue, carrying the iron cage containing the mutant plant, personally delivered it to the attic under the escort of a guard.
The second floor of the attic housed the research lab, where a glass enclosure had already been prepared. Upon arrival, the new mutant plant would be fed and observed for several days.
Qi Yue entered the lab and respectfully called out, “Mr. Wen.”
Wen Jue nodded warmly. “Little Qi.”
Wen Jue had awakened two days prior and was in much better condition, showing no visible signs of his previous illness.
Qi Yue hurried closer, took out his key, and carefully unlocked the iron cage.
Several lab personnel stood nearby, having heard earlier that the mutant plant was extremely volatile. They held tranquilizer guns, ready to intervene at any moment.
Qi Yue opened the cage door and found the mutant plant motionless inside.
He frowned slightly, worried it might have fainted from hunger. He put on gloves and reached in to pull it out.
The moment he grasped it, Qi Yue sensed something was wrong.
He paused briefly, then tore away the tin foil wrapping the plant, revealing a yellow durian… shell.
Several stones had been stuffed inside the shell to increase its weight, making it difficult to detect anything amiss when lifting the iron cage.
A staff member exclaimed in surprise, “This… could this be the mutant plant?”
“No,” Qi Yue said quickly, “this is just its shell. It escaped! But how…?”
It had been securely locked up yesterday. Before going to bed, he had given the mutated durian half a dose of anesthesia, worried that a full dose might have adverse effects.
Then… this morning, a team member mentioned that the mutated durian was unusually quiet.
So, it had escaped from the Black Spine Mountain Base?
But the iron cage was intact, and he hadn’t heard any disturbances during the night. How could Durian have escaped…?
For a moment, Qi Yue’s mind raced. “I’m sorry, Mr. Wen. This was my negligence…”
Wen Jue observed everything, a cold glint in his eyes.
He concealed it well, showing no outward reaction. “It’s fine. If it escaped, it wasn’t meant to be.”
Cloud River Base was unaware that Wen Jue needed a live mutant plant, or what he intended to use it for. They assumed he was simply trying to domesticate it, study its habits and abilities, and perhaps find a way to cure Ability Users who had lost control of their powers.
Qi Yue lowered his head. “I’ll take a team to search for it immediately…”
“That won’t be necessary,” Wen Jue said, waving away the staff. He changed the subject. “You’re back from Black Spine Mountain Base?”
“Yes,” Qi Yue replied. “I happened to run into Leader Nan yesterday.”
Nan Tingjin had gone missing, and numerous search teams were still looking for him. News of his return had already reached several bases.
Qi Yue recounted the previous day’s events, omitting any mention of the mutant plant’s potential loss at Black Spine Mountain. He referred to the youth accompanying Nan Tingjin simply as a “companion.”
Wen Jue, ever perceptive, seized upon this key detail. “Companion?” he repeated.
“I believe so,” Qi Yue answered. “I’m not entirely sure.”
“Very well, I understand,” Wen Jue said gently. He instructed his subordinate to escort Qi Yue out. “Don’t worry about the missing mutant plant for now. Get some rest.”
Qi Yue thanked Wen Jue and turned to leave.
As he watched Qi Yue’s retreating figure, the smile slowly faded from Wen Jue’s face.
Once his subordinate had seen Qi Yue’s squad off and returned to the attic, he found Wen Jue sitting quietly on the sofa, eyes closed in contemplation.
The subordinate didn’t disturb him. After a long silence, Wen Jue opened his eyes.
He tapped his fingers on the chair’s armrest. “Prepare to depart for Black Spine Mountain Base.”
“You’re going personally?” the subordinate asked urgently.
Wen Jue stood up. “Yes.”
Wen Jue’s supernatural ability was non-offensive, requiring close protection. He was even at risk of falling into a sudden sleep at any moment, making leaving the attic extremely dangerous.
But he had made up his mind. He had to go himself.
The closer he got, or the more contact he had, the easier it would be for his ability to activate, and the clearer the results would become.
Yesterday at noon, the team that had gone out to investigate the sunflower’s whereabouts returned with information and several photos.
The chaotic forest floor was unrecognizable to everyone except Wen Jue, who immediately thought of Nan Tingjin.
If it was his ability, it could certainly achieve such a thing.
Seemingly ordinary natural object manipulation, yet it could disregard the rules, almost transcending all limitations.
Wen Jue was eager to confirm his suspicions and was also very interested in the “companion” Qi Yue had mentioned.
Moreover, the recent anomalies were too numerous… Those that even precognition couldn’t clearly foresee might all be related to Nan Tingjin.
And there was the message from another small base some time ago: a team had witnessed mutant plants fighting in coordinated formations.
Mutant plants… in formations?
He hoped that after he went, Nan Tingjin would tell him…
What exactly those mutant plants were trying to do.
With Xiaokui keeping watch, Lulian in the next room slept soundly through the night and was still asleep after breakfast.
Eager to venture into the Restricted Zone to find the Special-Grade Mutant Plant, Qian Hui left the other plants behind to guard the base, taking only Lajiao, Luobo, and Zhusun with him.
The three small plants could easily hide inside Qian Hui’s large hood, completely concealed from view.
As a precaution, Qian Hui also left behind a bottle of Sleep Spray. If the durian woke up and became agitated again, the plants could use it to put him back to sleep.
Yumi accepted the spray with a solemn nod.
The base was vast, and the Restricted Zone was located on the back mountain, quite a distance away. The car Nan Tingjin had arranged was already waiting downstairs.
He forbade anyone from accompanying them, and the subordinate who delivered the vehicle left immediately.
Qian Hui put on his blindfold and was carried downstairs by Nan Tingjin, who placed him directly into the car.
The outside was quiet, and unsure if anyone else was around, Qian Hui sat quietly in the passenger seat, nervously fidgeting with his fingers.
Even Nan Tingjin couldn’t identify the exact species of the Special-Grade Mutant Plant. But if it was one from their old Small Courtyard, Qian Hui was confident he would recognize it.
The car began to move. After about ten minutes, Nan Tingjin spoke: “We’re here.”
Qian Hui immediately removed his blindfold. The three plants in his hood simultaneously poked their heads out and peered out the car window.
Now far from the central base, they had reached the outskirts. There were no humans nearby, and the surrounding terrain grew increasingly disheveled, littered with unraked fallen leaves and scattered rocks.
The ruins of completely destroyed buildings flashed past the window. Qian Hui, leaning against the glass, spotted a vast mountain forest in the distance.
Within the forest, a massive, indistinct shadow stood motionless.
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