TL: Moonlit

The commotion here was too loud, and Xiao Hen didn’t have time to feel sorrow and sadness. He heard rustling sounds and immediately grabbed He Lin from the ground, stuffing him into an armored vehicle. Xiao Hen personally took the driver’s seat.

From the dense grass on both sides of the road, numerous red-eyed zombies suddenly emerged. They were incredibly fast, leaping and quickly approaching.

Xiao Hen started the armored vehicle and shouted to Ji Rong, “Get in the car!”

Ji Rong turned around and jumped into the car, immediately closing the door. A red-eyed zombie slammed into the door.

Xiao Hen stepped on the gas pedal and the armored vehicle burst forward, knocking over the red-eyed zombies blocking the way. They raced in the opposite direction, with several red-eyed zombies clinging to the roof and continuously attacking the windows, trying to get inside.

“F**k them and their ancestors! I’ll kill them!” Ji Rong grabbed a wooden pole and tried to climb out through the skylight, but Xiao Hen pulled him back.

Xiao Hen said, “Stay put!”

Suddenly, Xiao Hen slammed on the brakes, throwing the red-eyed zombie clinging to the roof away. Then he stepped on the gas again, running over and completely dealing with the remaining red-eyed zombies.

“Are you calm now?” Xiao Hen asked.

Ji Rong wiped his face and completely calmed down. When he saw He Lin thrown into the compartment, Ji Rong still couldn’t accept it. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked out the window in silence.

Xiao Hen was also forcibly trying to stay calm, holding onto the only straw he had, which was Wen Qingling.

He placed all his hopes on Wen Qingling, desperately wanting to believe that he could turn zombies back into humans.

Ji Rong said despondently, “What does all our perseverance mean in the end? We’ve watched our loved ones and comrades turn into zombies one by one. We can only watch, powerless. It’s been over two years since the apocalypse began, where is the vaccine that Central Megacity has always talked about? Is there really hope for humanity?”

Ji Rong covered his head. “The three of us went out, but only two of us could come back. I don’t know how to explain it to Old Shi.”

“Old Shi doesn’t need you to explain. We are prepared to sacrifice ourselves at any time,” Xiao Hen said.

Xiao Hen drove the armored vehicle all the way back. By the time they arrived at Ling City, it was already dawn.

Xiao Hen parked the armored vehicle outside the southern city without driving straight in. The armored vehicle was loaded with weapons, and Xiao Hen didn’t want Wen Qingling to misunderstand. He planned to enter when it was daylight.

They hesitated to enter the city, but then Wen Qingling took the initiative to speak. “This vehicle is good.”

Both Xiao Hen and Ji Rong couldn’t sleep, and hearing Wen Qingling’s voice suddenly startled them.

Xiao Hen asked, “You didn’t rest?”

“Resting is not important to me,” Wen Qingling’s focus was still on the vehicle. “Where did this vehicle come from? Are there any more?”

Xiao Hen replied, “Yes, it’s a bit far from here.”

Wen Qingling asked, “Ownerless vehicles?”

“It’s ownerless now,” Xiao Hen answered.

Wen Qingling said, “Very good, I want all these vehicles.”

Xiao Hen remained silent.

Xiao Hen started the armored vehicle and drove into the southern city. They headed straight for the civilized base, and the city gate was already open. After the armored vehicle entered the base, the gate closed behind them.

The civilized base was very quiet at night, with only one area, the Southern City Clinic, having lights. Wen Qingling was standing at the door, waiting for them.

Xiao Hen and Ji Rong got out of the car, and Wen Qingling didn’t have time to greet them. He was completely attracted to the armored vehicle, circling it a few times, liking what he saw.

“There are still how many vehicles left?” Wen Qingling asked.

“About thirty more, and we brought one back,” Xiao Hen replied.

Wen Qingling couldn’t wait and said, “Let’s go, let’s bring back the rest of the armored vehicles.”

“Wait a moment. Armored vehicles are different from regular cars. Knowing how to drive a car doesn’t mean you can drive an armored vehicle. We need to learn,” Xiao Hen explained.

Wen Qingling understood and said, “Then let’s learn. How long do we need to learn?”

“For now, we’ll find someone to learn from. We should be able to set off by daybreak,” Xiao Hen said.

Wen Qingling nodded and released his mental power, already preparing to call someone to learn how to drive armored vehicles.

Xiao Hen reminded, “It’s best to find someone who knows how to drive cars. Once they learn, they can teach the others more quickly.”

Wen Qingling had the same idea and gathered some of the people in the base who he trusted, and they began learning how to drive armored vehicles overnight.Xiao Hen entrusted the responsibility of being the instructor to Ji Rong and asked him to teach while he wanted to have a private conversation with Wen Qingling.

Facing Wen Qingling, Ji Rong didn’t have the same ease as before. It was impossible for him not to hold any grudges, especially since Wen Qingling disregarded He Lin and remained focused on the armored vehicles, which irritated him even more.

Ji Rong asked, “Where’s Ild Shi? Did he go outside again?”

“He came over,” Wen Qingling replied.

Shortly after, Shi Chong rushed over in a hurry upon hearing the sound of the car. When he saw the gathering of people at the clinic entrance, he looked around but couldn’t find He Lin, so he couldn’t help but wonder, “Where’s Old He?”

At the mention of He Lin, Ji Rong’s temper flared, wanting to curse someone.

Inside the car, continuous banging sounds could be heard. Xiao Hen and Ji Rong struggled together to drag He Lin out, while he kept roaring and struggling.

Seeing He Lin in this state, Shi Chong froze on the spot and fell into a long silence.

Without giving Shi Chong time to digest the situation, Xiao Hen said, “You and Ji Rong will teach them how to drive armored vehicles together.”

Xiao Hen held onto He Lin and pulled him into the clinic, also dragging Wen Qingling along. Only after closing the door to the office, ensuring that He Lin wouldn’t go crazy and escape, did Xiao Hen let go.

Wen Qingling looked at the raging He Lin and asked, “Did you encounter the evolved blood anemone?”

“We didn’t encounter it. It should be Yin Cheng’s armored vehicle team that was attacked by the evolved blood anemone. Everyone disappeared, and the armored vehicles were filled with toxic mist. When we inspected the armored vehicles, He Lin got infected, but both Ji Rong and I are fine,” Xiao Hen explained.

Wen Qingling shook his head and said, “Since he has turned into a zombie, just let him be free. There’s no need to bring him back.”

“If it were before, I might have really let him go, but now, he still has hope,” Xiao Hen said.

Wen Qingling raised his gaze and looked at him, asking, “Where is the hope?”

“You are the hope,” Xiao Hen replied.

Wen Qingling shook his head. “I am not hope. I might be your disaster.”

“You won’t become a disaster. I know,” Xiao Hen stared at him.

Wen Qingling didn’t comment, whether it was hope or disaster, it was only a thought away for him.

Xiao Hen asked, “You can save him, right?”

Wen Qingling shook his head, “I can’t save him.”

Xiao Hen stared at him intensely, “If you can’t save him, then where did all these people in the base come from?”

Xiao Hen said each word clearly, “Don’t say they are survivors. I don’t believe it.”

Wen Qingling had already anticipated that having too much involvement with humans would eventually expose them.

With a low growl, Wen Qingling pounced on Xiao Hen, pressing him against the wall. Xiao Hen didn’t resist, his hands were empty, and his long knife had already been stored in the space.

Wen Qingling’s strength was immense, and he ruthlessly exerted pressure, not showing any mercy. Xiao Hen took a breath and said, “Now you want to bite me?”

Wen Qingling replied, “Even without biting, I can turn you into a zombie. Your antibodies are useless against me.”

Xiao Hen felt suffocated in his chest and said, “Save He Lin. I’ll go along with whatever you decide.”

Wen Qingling whispered, “Not only you, but Ji Rong and Shi Chong also can’t leave unscathed.”

Xiao Hen wanted to support Wen Qingling but was once again firmly pressed down. If Wen Qingling applied just a little more force, he could easily crush Xiao Hen’s chest in a matter of moments.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Hen said, “I’ll go along with whatever you decide. Don’t harm them.”

“They are the condition for saving people. It’s a trade-off. Whether to save them or not is up to me,” Wen Qingling stated.

Xiao Hen asked, “Am I not enough on my own?”

Wen Qingling replied, “You no longer belong to yourself. You have repeatedly provoked me, and I haven’t killed you. It’s not because I’m kind, but because you are already in my possession. There are only two choices for you: either die or become one of my kind. It’s impossible for you to leave Ling City as a human.”

Xiao Hen remained silent.

Xiao Hen said, “So, I don’t even have the qualification to exchange for He Lin?”

“Yes, you don’t. I won’t engage in a losing deal by using my people to exchange for others,” Wen Qingling confirmed.

Xiao Hen raised his hand and embraced Wen Qingling’s waist, pressing him tightly against himself. The two of them were in close proximity, their breaths intertwined. Xiao Hen asked, “Now, do you still find me dirty?”

Wen Qingling’s slender fingers caressed Xiao Hen’s handsome face as he whispered, “If you want to completely remove the ‘General’s’ zombie virus, there is one method.”

Wen Qingling’s slender fingertips hooked onto Xiao Hen’s collar. “That is, I personally come and suck out the virus.”Wen Qingling forcefully tore open Xiao Hen’s collar and bit down on his left neck artery. Xiao Hen let out a muffled groan, and blood sprayed out—it was the same spot where the “General” had bitten him before.

Wen Qingling sucked out a mouthful of poisonous blood, feeling disgusted by the “General’s” zombie virus. He spat out the black poisonous blood and sucked out a second mouthful. By the third mouthful, the blood he spat out was already bright red.

Xiao Hen was in so much pain that he could barely stand. Wen Qingling reached out and checked the bed, causing it to drift over. He threw Xiao Hen onto the bed. Xiao Hen was undergoing transformation, but his process was different from other infected individuals. His skin did not rot. The zombie virus from the “General” and Wen Qingling’s zombie virus were fighting inside his body, causing him immense agony.

Wen Qingling held him down, preventing him from falling off the bed. Suddenly, Xiao Hen’s strength surged, and he flipped over, overpowering Wen Qingling. His eyes were bloodshot as he forcefully pressed his lips against Wen Qingling’s. He did something he had always wanted to do but couldn’t.

Xiao Hen’s actions were rough, completely controlled by the zombie virus. Wen Qingling’s lips and tongue were crushed, blood spreading with a bloody taste. Xiao Hen unknowingly sucked his blood.

Wen Qingling grabbed Xiao Hen’s neck, pushing him down on the bed, staring at him with wide eyes.

Wen Qingling, usually calm and composed, showed some fluctuation in his emotions at this moment.

Xiao Hen was consuming his blood!

Xiao Hen was likely to explode and die like those zombies.

Xiao Hen’s skin began to rot, his eyes turned crimson. He was enduring pain that ordinary people couldn’t bear.

Wen Qingling didn’t want him to die, nor could he let him die. In a panic, he grabbed his backpack and took out blood anemone without hesitation, stuffing it into Xiao Hen’s mouth, and making him consume it.

The blood anemone had a healing effect on zombies, and Wen Qingling hoped it could save Xiao Hen.

Perhaps due to the blood anemone, Xiao Hen’s decaying skin began to repair itself, and his crimson eyes returned to black. When he stopped struggling and calmed down, he was still the same Xiao Hen, as if nothing had happened.

Xiao Hen looked at the messy examination bed and then at himself. His skin was intact, his consciousness clear, no different from his previous self.

Wen Qingling was also startled by Xiao Hen’s transformation. He breathed heavily and asked, “How do you feel?”

Xiao Hen looked at him blankly and said, “Am I not human anymore?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he furrowed his brows because he could clearly smell the scent of fresh flesh and blood. Outside the clinic, there were two living people, their scent incredibly enticing, making him want to devour them, but he managed to restrain himself.

Many things that he had previously not understood now became clear.

So, Wen Qingling’s statement about conscious zombies being able to control their desire to eat people was not a lie. It was true, he could restrain himself.

“Is this the sense of smell of a zombie?” Xiao Hen murmured.

Wen Qingling raised an eyebrow and said, “What do you feel?”

Xiao Hen looked at him and replied, “There are only two living people within the entire civilization base.”

Wen Qingling smirked, “Didn’t you already know that?”

Xiao Hen shook his head in a daze, “I used to speculate, but I never dared to believe it was true.”

Wen Qingling asked, “And now?”

Xiao Hen was still a little dazed as he said, “I feel like I’m not a normal zombie.”

Wen Qingling asked, “Why do you say that?”

Xiao Hen reached out, and a long knife appeared in his palm. “My ability is still present.”

Wen Qingling raised an eyebrow, confirming that he was indeed not a normal zombie.

Wen Qingling asked, “What else?”

The oppressive aura around Xiao Hen instantly surged, and he let out a roar. In the silent Lingcheng, the roars of the zombie horde could be heard from all directions, responding to Xiao Hen’s call.

Xiao Hen said, “It seems like I have the ability to command all zombies like the ‘General’?”

Wen Qingling wrinkled his nose in disdain and said, “Your aura is also similar to that zombie, but it carries my scent.”

Xiao Hen fell silent.

Xiao Hen said, “Is there something wrong with me?”

Wen Qingling sarcastically congratulated him, “Congratulations, you have finally mutated into a mishmash.”

Xiao Hen emitted a mixed scent, a blend of human, “General,” and Wen Qingling’s scents. Wen Qingling’s scent was dominant, followed by the human scent, and the scent of the “General” was the weakest. After all, Wen Qingling’s main purpose was to force out the General’s toxins, so even if there were remnants, they wouldn’t be significant.

Wen Qingling remarked, “Luckily, you don’t stink; otherwise, don’t think about getting close to me.”

Xiao Hen: “…”

Xiao Hen had obtained some of the abilities of the level-eight evolved “General” and retained Wen Qingling’s ability to preserve his powers. Whether this could be considered a blessing in disguise, he had consumed Wen Qingling’s blood and miraculously didn’t explode, surviving by sheer luck.

Wen Qingling could sense the connection between him and Xiao Hen, which was different from the other civilized zombies. Xiao Hen’s connection with him was unique. Perhaps it was because his transformation process was too extraordinary, resulting in a mutation that made it so peculiar.

Overall, it was Wen Qingling who transformed Xiao Hen. The connection between Xiao Hen and him couldn’t be severed, and with the reinforcement of his blood, no matter how strong Xiao Hen became, he couldn’t escape Wen Qingling’s control.

Ooooh, their first kiss… O///O