RIACMET chapter 21

 

Noticing his anxiety, Cheng Jing bent down, kissed his face, and gently comforted him.

“Since I’m being so cooperative, can you tell me? Believe me, no one else will know about this.”

He didn’t mean to force him; he just wanted to protect Jiang Nian, and to do so, he needed to know the source of his unease.

Jiang Nian looked up at him.

“I’m worried you won’t believe it…”

Cheng Jing chuckled.

“I believed in an outrageous reason like a dream, so what else couldn’t I believe?”

“Sometimes the truth is even more outrageous than a dream.”

Jiang Nian sighed helplessly. After a moment, he spoke with an encouraging look in his eyes.

“Brother Jing, I have already died.”

His tone was calm, but Cheng Jing’s face suddenly changed.

Before he could speak, Jiang Nian continued.

“Just like in some fantasy novels, I was reborn after death. I experienced this situation once before in my previous life.”

“…”

Cheng Jing’s expression was extremely serious. It was indeed more outrageous than a dream, but it made the most sense when he thought about it.

Jiang Nian steadied himself, shifted into a comfortable position, and leaned into Cheng Jing’s arms. He told Cheng Jing everything—from his mother’s death to the arrival of the apocalypse and his own tragic death.

More than two years of the apocalypse sounded like a long time, but, in fact, because he was imprisoned, there wasn’t much to tell about his hometown except for his daily life as a test subject.

“…”

Jiang Nian didn’t cry this time. In the end, he took a few deep breaths, looked at him with red eyes, and smiled.

“You asked me to come, so I came…”

Ever since reuniting with Brother Jing, the fog of pain from his previous life had largely lifted. He had been reborn, and now that he had atoned, he no longer needed to let the pain of his previous life hold him hostage.

“…”

Cheng Jing held him for a long time without saying anything, his warm breath on his neck.

“I should have taken the initiative to look for you. Forgive me… Forgive me…”

He shouldn’t have suppressed his desire to find someone just for the sake of a bet.

Jiang Nian held back his urge to cry. He gripped his fingers tightly and said,

“This isn’t your fault, Brother Jing. It was my choice. Look, I made the wrong choice in my previous life, but then I changed it. Isn’t everything fine now?”

He listened to the advice and didn’t act self-righteous just because he felt he’d been reborn.

“Mm.”

Cheng Jing’s voice was muffled. He refused to look up. Instead, he hugged him tightly and gently stroked the back of his neck with his broad palm.

“Brother Jing, let’s work hard together and get through the apocalypse.”

Jiang Nian suspected that Cheng Jing might be crying. As a man, though, he needed to save face, so he quietly let Cheng Jing hold him.

“We’ll definitely be fine.”

Cheng Jing’s tone was firm and certain.

“Yes.”

After telling the truth, Jiang Nian suddenly felt better. Otherwise, no matter what he wanted to do or say, he always had to come up with weak excuses to cover it up while keeping the secret buried in his heart.

After opening up to each other, Jiang Nian became even more shameless, and his words and actions completely reflected the pride of being pampered. As a result, the frequency of accidental flirting increased dramatically.

What could Cheng Jing do? Of course, he would indulge Jiang Nian and work hard for him without complaint.

…

After learning what would happen next from Jiang Nian, Cheng Jing took advantage of the early stage. With supernatural help, he led his team to gather supplies quickly, using the safest routes and channels to stockpile in other people’s hideouts.

After all, their teammates weren’t as prepared as they were, so they shouldn’t rely on past achievements. For now, it was best not to depend on them.

At the same time, they could teach their teammates how to fight zombies, as Jiang Nian suggested. A headshot was the most effective.

Their team reacted quickly. After collecting enough supplies, others started to act, some individually and some in groups.

The official team was the largest force, of course.

However, the civil servants on the front lines suffered the heaviest losses from the toxic rain. They were on duty and training in the rain, and they also served as front-line personnel during the riots. Ultimately, some departments were completely wiped out.

The current official team is a rescue team formed by the combined efforts of all departments in Qingyun City:

Firefighters, police officers, stationed officers and soldiers. The total number was only about half of the original. They were collectively called the Rescue Police, and the city government building became the Rescue Command Center.

As reports of people awakening special abilities came in from various places, the command center called on those with abilities to help gather and distribute supplies to ordinary people.

They had to work together to ensure their survival until the army arrived.

After ensuring their supplies were sufficient and secure, Cheng Jing led his team to assist with official operations. He also took the initiative to report his awakened superpower.

Since their team consisted of security personnel, and since their captain had awakened a special ability, all team members were equipped with weapons. They carried out rescue operations together with the rescue police.

Jiang Nian wanted to go too, but Cheng Jing wouldn’t allow it. He asked Jiang Nian to train with his superpower at home instead.

On September 16, half a month later, water and electricity outages began in all districts of Qingyun City.

Within two days, the entire city, except for the command center, was plunged into darkness, and there was no mobile signal.

Only satellite radios and phones were available, but ordinary people didn’t have access to them.

The weather was hot, and many people died. Zombies roamed amid the chaos. Mutilated corpses and bloodstains could be seen everywhere on the streets. Coupled with the shortage of supplies, the city was temporarily enveloped in panic and a foul stench.

Jiang Nian tightly drew the curtains before daring to turn on the light and cook in the house.

Although there were few people in their community and Cheng Jing secretly cleaned up the zombies, the occasional roar from the darkness was still frightening.

The community’s security guards and property staff had either been eaten or turned into zombies. When no one was looking, passing zombies would follow the scent of living people and enter the building.

Today, Cheng Jing’s team was going to the new urban area to distribute supplies to residents, and they wouldn’t return until late at night.

The system worked one day and rested one day, with wages paid in material goods — after all, money was just waste paper now.

Fortunately, someone in the official organization had the ability to store tens of hectares, which made it easier to act.

Although they weren’t short on supplies, many people were eyeing Cheng Jing and would try to take them. People’s minds were unpredictable, so it was very important not to show off your wealth in the apocalypse.

At 10:30 p.m., Jiang Nian used a battery-powered AC fan while opening a box of potato chips and pickled pepper chicken feet. He ate and sent a message to Cheng Jing.

This was the satellite phone that Cheng Jing had given him. Its design resembled an old-style phone. Its black body was heavy and sturdy with waterproof buttons. The battery could last up to six months under normal use. However, it could only make directed calls to specific numbers and send messages.

Each time a task was completed, Cheng Jing would send him a message to confirm his safety.

[It may take about another hour to get home. Go to sleep if you’re tired.]

Jiang Nian held a potato chip in his mouth and quickly typed:

[No, I’ll wait for you.]

Cheng Jing:

[Okay.]

These were the messages they sent to each other most often lately, word for word. It seemed childish, but they never got tired of it.

Bang, bang, bang—

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the reinforced stainless steel front door. It was very striking in the middle of the night.