Chapter 7
Qian Hui felt utterly lost, the restraint around his throat acutely present, stirring unprecedented fear within him.
Yet the person before him was unmistakably Nan Tingjin—even the scent emanating from him was identical. There was no mistaking this man.
To Qian Hui, they had been separated for less than three days. Why did Nan Tingjin seem to not recognize him?
From the moment he heard Nan Tingjin’s voice until now, emotions had surged through him like turbulent waves. Now, a profound sense of hurt welled up.
A mist of tears rapidly formed in his eyes as he stared blankly at Nan Tingjin.
Whether it was Qian Hui’s pitiful appearance, Nan Tingjin’s grip loosened slightly, though his gaze remained cold and scrutinizing.
Though Qian Hui bore zombie-like characteristics, upon closer inspection, he didn’t resemble one at all.
His skin, though pale, held a faint rosy hue. His eyes were clear and innocent, framed by thick, light-colored lashes that accentuated his vulnerability.
He looked nothing like a zombie, nor like a human undergoing zombification. Rather, he resembled a spirit creature that had wandered out from some other realm.
“Xiao Jin…” Qian Hui’s breath hitched as he stammered, “It’s… it’s me… Don’t you remember?”
Nan Tingjin’s face remained impassive as his gaze traveled downward, sweeping past Qian Hui’s right wrist and jacket pocket.
Lajiao tried to tuck everything away, pressing down on Xiao Baocai’s head while keeping Ruanteng’s leaves from peeking out of his sleeve.
But the difference in power between them was too great. No matter how faint the plants’ presence might be, they couldn’t hide completely from Nan Tingjin.
Qian Hui himself was also frail, his slender bones seeming as if they could break with a single squeeze.
A strange appearance, unpredictable behavior, and carrying mutated plants…
Nan Tingjin’s expression grew colder. “An experimental subject?”
Among the major bases, only Sky Base had a penchant for researching peculiar things. Recently, they’d been capturing numerous mutated plants, though their purpose remained unclear.
The base’s highest authority, Wen Jue, was once a researcher. The medication he developed could indeed significantly alleviate the disorientation symptoms of ability users.
Yet Nan Tingjin refused to use it and forbade his subordinates from purchasing it openly.
Sky Base had been trying to negotiate with him for years, attempting to discern his preferences. They’d even sent over various miscellaneous items in the past.
Unfortunately, Nan Tingjin’s moods were unpredictable, his personality eccentric. He showed no interest in anything except for occasionally accepting high-value bounty missions.
Therefore, the most likely origin of this youth before him was connected to Sky Base.
And the fact that Nan Tingjin had no family and no past was no secret.
When the apocalypse first struck, he seemed to appear out of nowhere before swiftly rising to become the leader of the Black Spine Mountain Base.
Wen Jue must have investigated his past as well. Perhaps he uncovered something real, or perhaps he simply fabricated a story and delivered it as a “gift.”
Nan Tingjin’s expression grew increasingly stormy. The recently deceased zombie corpse lay at his feet, its metallic stench lingering in the air and muddling his thoughts, his patience nearing its limit.
Qian Hui tilted his head in confusion. “What…?”
Standing so close, Nan Tingjin detected a faint herbal scent from Qian Hui, which gradually calmed him.
“Isn’t it?” he growled, his eyes darkening. “I could kill you right now.”
Terrified, Qian Hui tried to back away, but the collar around his neck kept him immobilized.
Meanwhile, the pepper in his pocket was nearly frantic with anxiety.
What’s going on?! The human’s aura was incredibly strong. Judging by Qian Hui’s reaction, could this be the leader of the Black Spine Mountain Base…?
But wait, they might actually know each other.
Yet the way he’s acting doesn’t seem right.
The pepper regretted following Qian Hui here, and at the same time, it was frustrated by Qian Hui’s complete lack of self-preservation.
He’s threatening to kill you! Why aren’t you running away?!
Lajiao couldn’t just sit and wait to be defeated. He quietly prepared his pepper seeds.
When the moment came, he thrust his head forward and launched an attack at Nan Tingjin.
The two pepper seeds had scalding-hot shells. Any clothing or skin they touched would be instantly burned.
But this attack couldn’t hurt Nan Tingjin at all. He turned his head to dodge, the strength in his hands loosening.
At the same time, Ruanteng worked in perfect harmony. Two branches suddenly grew out, hooking around Qian Hui’s body and pulling him back to a relatively safe position.
Nan Tingjin felt his arms empty. His gaze swept toward the exposed Lajiao in his shirt pocket.
His face showed no expression, clearly not taking the plants before him seriously.
Just then, several zombie moans echoed, accompanied by the sound of broken bricks being crushed underfoot. The noises came from above the building.
In an instant, a mid-level zombie caught the scent of its dead companion and burst through the window.
It roared at Qian Hui and Nan Tingjin, lunging forward with terrifying speed.
Nan Tingjin raised his hand. A wooden board beneath his foot shot toward the zombie, knocking it down just in time.
He glanced sideways. Qian Hui had already retreated to a safe corner, clutching the plants in his arms.
Qian Hui pulled out a dagger and held it ready. He watched uneasily toward the window, pressing against the abandoned wardrobe beside him. His beautiful red eyes turned toward Nan Tingjin. “You need to be careful…”
With so many fresh zombie corpses outside and Nan Tingjin being right here, it could only be his doing.
Qian Hui guessed that Nan Tingjin was very strong, but he still couldn’t help feeling worried.
Nan Tingjin’s breathing paused briefly as he looked away from him.
The zombie that had been knocked down by a wooden board crawled back up and attacked again.
Intermediate-level zombies all had varying degrees of enhancement or mutation. This one had a robust build and skin that glowed with a coppery hue.
Its entire body was hard as iron, yet it couldn’t last half a minute against Nan Tingjin. A steel rebar pierced through its throat with brutal force.
Qian Hui had been tense to the point of trying to help, but Lajiao had grabbed his sleeve in a death grip.
Only after confirming Nan Tingjin hadn’t been injured did he feel slightly relieved.
Then another intermediate-level zombie crawled through the window.
There must be an advanced-level zombie nearby about to evolve. These intermediate-level zombies would protect it with their lives when they detected danger.
Judging by the sounds outside, there were two more zombies beyond the window, constantly making noises to attract other intermediate and low-level zombies closer.
Nan Tingjin pulled the steel rebar out of the zombie’s body and walked out of the room.
His aura was the strongest, his presence and threat level the highest. Several zombies focused their attention on him, abandoning Qian Hui who stood in the corner.
Qian Hui waited anxiously in the corner for a while before he couldn’t resist the urge to go out and look.
Lajiao emerged in time, pointing at the zombies on the ground, signaling them to quickly dig out the crystal cores.
Mutated plants didn’t have the various conditions of human ability users. The only way to enhance their abilities was by consuming crystal cores, which didn’t conflict with the game’s upgrade system.
However, Nan Tingjin had killed the zombies, so Qian Hui thought perhaps Nan Tingjin might need these crystal cores. If he didn’t want them, they could give them to the plants.
So he endured the stench of blood, dug out the crystal cores with his dagger, and wiped them clean with fabric torn from his shirt.
Xiao Baocai also came to help. From the room to the corridor outside, they dug up three crystal cores in total.
As they continued down the stairs, they encountered another intermediate-level zombie.
Lajiao, being physically impaired, was responsible for identifying the zombie’s level, while Ruanteng cleared obstacles from Qian Hui’s path.
When they reached the lower floor, Qian Hui climbed over the rubble and found the last intermediate-level zombie.
After digging out the crystal core and storing it, he stood up and looked around, searching for Nan Tingjin’s figure.
While Qian Hui was busy digging out crystal cores, all approaching intermediate-level zombies had been eliminated.
The surroundings fell silent. Nan Tingjin, having reached a more distant area, was about to leave.
Qian Hui immediately jumped down from the ruins and hurried after him.
Now certain he wouldn’t mistake the person, he called out, “Xiao Jin…”
Nan Tingjin didn’t slow his pace, leaving it unclear whether he’d heard.
Lajiao tugged at Qian Hui’s sleeve and shook its head, “Woo!”
It wanted Qian Hui to give up and stay far from that human.
Though finding crystal cores was exciting, Lajiao felt that this human was more dangerous than zombies.
Understanding Lajiao’s meaning, Qian Hui pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Ruanteng slowly climbed up his shoulder, affectionately brushing against him with its leaves. It wrapped its branches around Qian Hui’s shoulders and arms.
Then, the vine’s extended branches suddenly shot out, climbing up the surrounding ruins.
Qian Hui’s feet lost their footing, but with the vine’s assistance, he was propelled forward a great distance.
He steadied himself and patted the vine’s leaves, exclaiming in surprise, “So amazing…”
Xiao Baocai in his pocket peeked out, eyes shining with admiration. Seeing this, Lajiao closed its mouth.
Ruanteng’s new skill was still unpracticed, but it proved sufficient to accelerate Qian Hui’s pursuit.
As he closed the distance to Nan Tingjin, Qian Hui vaulted over a crumbling wall. His heart leapt as he called out to the retreating figure, “Xiao Jin…!”
This time, Nan Tingjin halted mid-stride and turned.
Qian Hui’s face lit up with hope. He vaulted down from the wall, but a razor-sharp brick suddenly materialized before him.
“Don’t follow me,” Nan Tingjin said coldly.
His earlier restraint didn’t mean he’d show mercy now or in the future—regardless of Qian Hui’s connection to the Sky Base.
The hovering brick shifted forward slightly, its edge now pressing against Qian Hui’s throat.
The mutated plants beside him would die too.
Qian Hui froze. “Why?” he whimpered.
Nan Tingjin remained silent. Qian Hui pulled out several crystal cores from his pocket. “Then… these?”
“I don’t need them.”
Lajiao snatched the cloth pouch containing the crystals and shoved it back into his pocket.
“Oh,” Qian Hui said, his nose stinging with unshed tears. “Do… do you… not remember me?”
Nan Tingjin seemed to have forgotten him, as if he didn’t recognize who Qian Hui was. Otherwise, why would he refuse him?
Qian Hui had never been particularly articulate, and now, overwhelmed by emotion, his words came out muddled, sounding almost like he was trying to act cute.
Nan Tingjin remained silent, his gaze fixed calmly on Qian Hui.
Suddenly, he began walking forward.
The brick blocking his path remained unmoved. Qian Hui didn’t budge, watching as Nan Tingjin drew closer.
“Then tell me,” Nan Tingjin stopped just half a step away, lowering his gaze. “Who am I?”
The brick trembled slightly. If Qian Hui answered wrong, it would pierce his throat immediately.
Unaware of the danger, Qian Hui didn’t catch the subtle meaning in Nan Tingjin’s words.
He looked up earnestly and said, “You’re my boyfriend.”
The brick wavered briefly before steadying.
After a moment, Nan Tingjin leaned forward without expression. He stared at Qian Hui and slowly repeated, emphasizing each syllable, “Boy… friend?”
