Fu Yan helplessly reached out to ruffle his hair, then handed him a cup filled with warm water. “Hold it properly.”
After saying that, Fu Yan waved him off. “Go on, now.”
“Goodbye, Fu Yan!” Jiang Xinghuai took the cup, then strode off in big steps toward the stairwell.
“Don’t run—” Fu Yan hadn’t even finished speaking before the person was already gone. With a sigh, he helplessly added under his breath, “…Be careful not to fall.”
Just as his words fell, Jiang Xinghuai, who had vanished around the corner, suddenly reappeared, arms spread wide as he came rushing back. Fu Yan thought he’d forgotten something. But before he could even ask, Jiang Xinghuai threw himself heavily into his arms.
Fu Yan was momentarily stunned, then chuckled, lifting his arms to hold him tight. “You can do it.”
“Mm.” Jiang Xinghuai buried his face in his chest, his voice muffled. “I’ll make sure to stand in front of you and protect you.”
“You will.” Fu Yan patted his back, then asked, “But… are you still on time?”
“……”
Jiang Xinghuai quickly let go, ran back, and climbed up onto the second-floor railing. Without even turning his head, he shouted, “I’m off! Wait for me tonight. I’ll pick you up after work!”
Their dorm was on the second floor, not too high. Jiang Xinghuai grabbed the edge of the floor with his hands, pushed off the wall with his feet, his body lowering, then released, caught the wall again, and bent his knees as he landed.
He supported himself with one hand as he touched the ground, descending like he’d fallen straight from the sky.
The whole sequence of movements was completed in an instant, his landing posture perfectly clean.
Jiang Xinghuai straightened up, patted the dust off his knees, and tilted his head with a grin at Kang Cheng, who was standing a few steps away under the first-floor corridor.
“Call me ‘brother’,” he said smugly.
Kang Cheng had to admit that he was genuinely surprised. The kid’s reflexes were far better than he had expected.
Far better than he’d expected, in fact.
“No respect for your elders,” Kang Cheng said with a grin as he walked over, reaching out to roughly ruffle the boy’s hair. “Barely passable. Let’s go.”
“Barely?” Jiang Xinghuai muttered unhappily as he followed along, bowing his head to smooth his hair back down. “I’ll have you know I’m the leader of our club, okay?”
“Then your club’s standards must not be very high.” Kang Cheng shrugged.
“You—”
Beep— A light, short electronic sound cut him off.
Kang Cheng’s expression shifted instantly. He removed the walkie-talkie hanging from his shoulder and pressed the left button.
“Reporting to the captain,” a clear female voice came through the device. “Search and Rescue Team No. 16 has successfully rescued 62 survivors from the library building. We’ll arrive at base in ten minutes. Please arrange for a reception.”
Kang Cheng pressed another button and replied quickly, “Copy that. Stay alert and return safely.”
The very next second, when Jiang Xinghuai heard the voice coming from the walkie-talkie, his eyes lit up like stars. Watching Kang Cheng exchange several more lines over the device, Jiang Xinghuai’s gaze shone as bright as a little light bulb.
After the viral outbreak, the communication towers had been destroyed—no signal anywhere. Cell phones had turned into nothing but powerless scraps of metal with charge left but no use. So even now, inside the base, there was still no signal, and phones remained unusable.
He knew that Fu Yan had only stopped him from joining the self-defense team out of worry. Even though he’d finally agreed in the end, Jiang Xinghuai could still tell that Fu Yan wasn’t truly at ease about letting him go alone.
So maybe… this walkie-talkie could ease a bit of that worry in Fu Yan’s heart.
“What are you looking at?” Kang Cheng noticed his gaze.
“Can you give me two of those walkie-talkies, too?” Jiang Xinghuai asked, then quickly added, “Please, Ge”
“So now you remember to call me Ge?” Kang Cheng couldn’t help laughing and crying at the same time. This kid’s slyness was way too blatant.
“These are military supplies. Quantities are limited. You don’t have the clearance to own one. But—” Seeing Jiang Xinghuai’s expression growing heavier by the second, Kang Cheng changed his tone, “—if you pass the test, I can consider rewarding you with one.”
“What kind of test?” Jiang Xinghuai immediately asked.
“You’ll find out when we get to the training ground.” Kang Cheng quickened his pace, motioning for him to follow.
The training ground was the former military camp’s large central parade field, now repurposed. The wide, flat expanse was filled with soldiers from all branches stationed in this military district.
Helicopters were landing against howling gusts of wind, military trucks returning loaded with food, and even tanks stained with dust and streaks of dried blood.
This area was far from the civilians’ living quarters but close to the base’s main gate.
—So they could respond to sudden emergencies and urgent missions at any moment.
Kang Cheng stopped with Jiang Xinghuai at a section designated for military dogs, where several soldiers were in the midst of training them to attack and subdue targets.
The dogs’ fierce growls and imposing presence carried a strong sense of intimidation.
“That dog looks so cool,” Jiang Xinghuai said in awe.
“That’s a military dog.” Kang Cheng gave him a look filled with meaning, then raised his voice and shouted, “Da Long! Bring Mo Wang over here!”
A soldier standing in the distance received the order and quickly ran over, leading a large dog.
“Do you know which of the search-and-rescue squads in our district has the lowest casualty rate?” Kang Cheng suddenly asked, using the moment to test him.
“Hmm.” Jiang Xinghuai glanced around the whole place, then pointed toward that massive, flawless tank.
“Let’s not even talk about whether a large military vehicle like a tank can enter the city or not,” Kang Cheng said, shaking his head in denial. “Even if it could, once it’s inside, it would be almost impossible for them to carry out rescue operations. The moment it gets blocked, tens of thousands of infected would trap that moving giant to death.” He then pointed toward the military dog running over. “It’s the military canine unit. They’ve been fighting on the frontlines ever since the virus outbreak. Their sense of smell allows them to quickly locate survivors. Their stamina lets them lure away large groups of infected. They can even take on five or six infected on their own. So far, the canine unit has participated in over 500 search missions and successfully completed more than 400.”
“Do you know why?” Kang Cheng asked again.
“Because military dogs can’t be infected by the virus,” Jiang Xinghuai realized.
When even a single scratch from an infected person’s nails could cause infection, soldiers had only one life. But as long as a military dog wasn’t fatally wounded, it essentially had countless lives.
“Smart,” Kang Cheng said approvingly. “So far, no military dog has shown any signs of infection after being bitten.” He looked at the motionless dog standing in front of them. “Come on, say hello to Mo Wang.”
Jiang Xinghuai looked at the stern-looking dog. It somehow reminded him a bit of Fu Yan…
Mo Wang was a purebred German Shepherd—tall, upright-eared, powerful, and robust.
Jiang Xinghuai crouched down and petted the black fur on its back. Mo Wang glanced at him once, then ignored him, still standing proudly with his chest out.
“This will be your opponent in this round of the test,” Kang Cheng suddenly said.
“What?” Jiang Xinghuai was stunned.
“Friendship first, competition second,” Kang Cheng said with a laugh, bending down to stroke Mo Wang’s head. “Mo Wang, go easy on the kid, alright?”
“You’re letting me compete with a dog?” Jiang Xinghuai finally reacted.
“This is called a dog!“ Kang Cheng suddenly roared.
Jiang Xinghuai was so startled he flinched.
Then Kang Cheng laughed again and patted him on the shoulder. “Go on.”
Jiang Xinghuai: “……”
Lunatic. Mood swings like a madman.
The test consisted of basic climbing, balancing, and sprinting. There were twelve obstacles in total. Jiang Xinghuai familiarized himself with the course briefly, clenching his fists in determination. He was fired up. He swore to take first place.
“Ready!” Kang Cheng raised his hand.
Jiang Xinghuai took it seriously. He bent his body slightly, muscles tense, ready to spring forward.
He glanced provocatively at his opponent, wanting to throw out some taunting words. His opponent wagged its tail at him.
Jiang Xinghuai: “……”
The starting whistle blew—“Pheeew—”
Man and dog shot forward at the same instant, both cutting through the air like sharp wind.
Twelve obstacles: narrow balance beams, towering wooden walls, one obstacle after another. It was only a hundred meters, but for an ordinary person, even reaching the finish line would’ve been nearly impossible.
The whistle sounded again—“Pheeew—”
“Twenty-nine seconds!” Kang Cheng pressed the stopwatch. “They reached the finish line at the same time.”
Jiang Xinghuai was dumbfounded.
“Mo Wang didn’t even use his full strength,” Kang Cheng said. “If he really ran seriously, you wouldn’t even be able to catch up to his tail. He likes you, that’s why he ran alongside you.”
Jiang Xinghuai was furious. His breathing, already unsteady, grew even rougher.
At that moment, a man in a military uniform approached from not far away. He was tall, broad-shouldered, middle-aged, and wore a cold, stern expression.
Kang Cheng immediately straightened up and saluted. “Greetings, Chief!”
The man with the cold face gave a small nod, then turned his gaze toward Jiang Xinghuai standing beside Kang Cheng.
Jiang Xinghuai was still panting heavily, his eyes fixed straight on the bottle of mineral water in the man’s hand.
Gong Zhenhua extended the bottle to him.
“Thank you, uncle,” Jiang Xinghuai said quickly, grabbing it and twisting off the cap. He tilted his head back and drank more than half in one go.
“Address him as Chief Gong,” Kang Cheng reminded.
Gong Zhenhua was currently the highest-ranking officer and leader in the base. Though only forty-five, he held an important position.
He didn’t get there through family connections, but through sheer iron-blooded strength and authority. Almost every soldier feared him, and for good reason. His reputation was formidable.
“Where’d this kid come from?” Gong Zhenhua frowned, sizing up Jiang Xinghuai. “Is he even of age?”
“Reporting to Chief. He’s of age and volunteered to join the self-defense force,” Kang Cheng replied, then added, “His abilities are quite good.”
“His burst power is barely acceptable, but his endurance is poor,” Gong Zhenhua said indifferently.
“He’s too young. Where are his parents?” Gong Zhenhua asked again.
“His guardian is Mr. Fu.” Kang Cheng took the information.
“Fu Yan—” After getting the answer, Gong Zhenhua turned to look at Jiang Xinghuai. An unusual expression crossed his normally cold face, “is your guardian?”
“You could… put it that way.” Jiang Xinghuai hesitated and nodded slightly.
“Fu Yan’s parents are both outstanding medical doctors aiding Africa. The Dika virus vaccine they researched has saved countless lives. I greatly admire them, and I also have high hopes for Fu Yan, because researchers are the guides of this era.” A touch of warmth softened Gong Zhenhua’s ice-cold face. “What is your relationship with him? His brother?”
Jiang Xinghuai thought for a moment: “He is my—”
Beep—beep—beep—
The walkie-talkie hanging on Kang Cheng’s left shoulder started ringing like mad.
Gong Zhenhua and Kang Cheng’s faces changed at the same time.
Kang Cheng slammed the button.
“Captain! Captain!” A hoarse female voice nearly tore through the radio.
Kang Cheng felt a pang in his chest.
“The 16th squad is under attack by more than a hundred infected mutants. All 62 survivors in the library building are infected! The convoy is less than one kilometer from the base! Requesting support! Requesting support!”
Kang Cheng’s orders flew out in an instant: “Draw the mutants away! Turn left toward the reservoir! Support will arrive in five minutes!”
No sooner had Kang Cheng finished that order than Gong Zhenhua waved and rallied a team: “I’ll take people over there. You lock down the base gate! From now on, not a single living creature is to be allowed in!”
“Yes, sir!” Kang Cheng raised his hand in salute.
Jiang Xinghuai had already frozen the moment he heard the words mutant infected.
Mutant infected bodies. He and Fu Yan had encountered them before. Those skeleton-like monsters with inhuman strength, able to climb more than thirty floors of a high-rise building with their bare hands.
A hundred of those monsters… appeared less than a kilometer from the base?
The base’s air raid siren began to wail. It was urgent and low.
This was the first time since arriving at the base that Jiang Xinghuai had heard that sound. He remembered the soldier’s explanation before he entered. Once you hear the siren:
—Take cover immediately.
“You! Get in the car!” Kang Cheng practically hauled Jiang Xinghuai onto a vehicle, shouting to the soldier in the driver’s seat, “Take him to the laboratory building!”
He had barely finished speaking when—
Boom!! A deafening explosion erupted. The air trembled, and flames shot up to the sky.
Everyone turned at once toward the direction where a fiery mushroom cloud was rising.
Jiang Xinghuai shot to his feet, his head slamming hard into the roof of the car. But he didn’t even feel the pain. His eyes were wide, staring toward the burning southeast.
That was where the base’s main gate was.
……………………
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