Chapter 69
TL: Moonlit
As they watched, exposed and no longer hiding, the Undead let out a roar, swapping their positions in place. One by one, they leaped toward the nearby humans. Suddenly, several wooden spikes shot out from the ground, impaling the flea-like Undead in mid-air. Xiao Hen didn’t waste a single shot and swiftly collected the heads.
Wen Qingling: “A total of 38 Undead, a total of 1,900 ordinary crystal nuclei. Thank you for your patronage.”
Chang Boheng: “…”
Wen Chu: “…”
The entire leadership team: “…”
Did you already plan everything and were just waiting to clean up?
The survivors: “…”
Their legs were still trembling, scared to death. Fortunately, they had a moment of enlightenment at this critical moment. If they had short-circuited their brains and ran with the monsters, they would have been turned into a human skewer and their heads would have exploded. That would have been an unjust death!
Chang Boheng was also shocked by their clean and efficient methods. He spoke a little awkwardly, “H-have you finished cleaning?”
Wen Qingling: “It’s clean.”
Chang Boheng: “If there are more monsters in the future…”
Wen Qingling thought for a moment. “Prepare the crystal nuclei. I will send someone regularly to clean them for you.”
Chang Boheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Wen Qingling glanced at the survivors and kindly reminded them, “You all need to work harder and strive to become monsters. That way, I can earn more crystal nuclei. As long as you choose to become monsters, no matter how well you hide, I will find you. Keep it up!”
The survivors: “…”
Is he a devil?!
Chang Boheng: “…”
Wen Chu: “…”
Dr. Wen just resolved a major crisis for them. They should be thanking him, so why do they feel like he’s a devil?
Chang Boheng dismissed everyone and brought over the prepared crystal nuclei, personally handing them to Wen Qingling.
Wen Qingling took them and shook them in his hand. “Can I release these people into your base?”
Chang Boheng readily agreed, “Of course.”
Wen Chu added, “Dr. Wen, can you introduce them to us? It would give us an idea.”
Of course, the idea was to assess their importance!
Wen Qingling: “Luo Zhi, Luo Fengjue’s birth father.”
Chang Boheng and Wen Chu were both surprised. They knew that Wen Qingling and Luo Fengjue were brothers, and they also knew that Luo Fengjue couldn’t enter Wen Qingling’s base. But upon hearing Wen Qingling’s words, they realized that Wen Qingling was protecting Luo Fengjue’s birth father. What an extraordinary brotherly love!
Chang Boheng and Wen Chu immediately shook hands with Luo Zhi politely, expressing that they knew Luo Fengjue and had worked together in a base. Luo Fengjue’s birth father was their birth father as well, and they would definitely take good care of him.
Luo Zhi was pleasantly surprised and thanked them profusely, wondering if his son had such great influence.
Wen Qingling: “Xiong Shu and his little brothers.”
Xiong Shu immediately grinned and stepped forward.
Wen Qingling pondered for a moment. “They helped me collect several loads of mutated livestock before. They may not be my little brothers, but from now on, they will be part of your base. Xiong Shu’s abilities are quite interesting and should be helpful to you.”
Xiong Shu pouted. As a tall and robust man over 1.8 meters, he felt wronged. “Boss, don’t you need us anymore? We live and die under your command. You can’t just abandon us!”
Wen Qingling: “I don’t need people, and I don’t need ghosts. So you’re useless to me.”
Xiong Shu: “…”
Chang Boheng and Wen Chu exchanged glances, unsure if Wen Qingling was telling the truth or not.
Wen Qingling called out to Xiao Hen, “Let’s go.”
“Boss!” Xiong Shu wailed and rushed forward, hugging Wen Qingling’s leg. Wen Qingling kicked him on the shoulder, and with a “crack” sound, his shoulder broke. Xiong Shu rolled on the ground in pain until he finally stopped, clutching his shoulder with a pale face.
“Boss, I’m still useful, I can still find mutated livestock for you! Boss, don’t abandon me, don’t even abandon the mutated livestock!” Xiong Shu was shameless and had thick skin. He held onto Wen Qingling’s leg and refused to let go, especially after seeing Wen Qingling’s base. He couldn’t afford to lose this backing!
Seeing the tall and sturdy man kneeling on the ground, crying with snot and tears, the others were horrified.
Mo Jing and the others admired Xiong Shu’s shamelessness. They couldn’t do the same even if they were in a miserable state. Even if they were in a dire situation, they couldn’t let go of their dignity, especially in front of their loved ones or former classmates.
Wen Qingling calculated seriously and indeed felt a bit at a loss. He had given Xiong Shu an automatic rifle, a box of ammunition, two corpse wolves, and saved him from the Nan Yan base, bringing him to the Xiang County base. He had given so much, but Xiong Shu had only found a few loads of mutated livestock for him. It wasn’t cost-effective.
Wen Qingling’s face turned cold. “Forget the mutated livestock, I want food.”
Xiong Shu was overjoyed. “Okay, okay, as long as it’s something the boss needs, we’ll definitely find it!”
Mo Jing and the others were surprised. They originally thought Wen Qingling would refuse, but the current Wen Qingling was cold, ruthless, and merciless. He couldn’t be swayed by anyone’s pleas. They never expected Xiong Shu to achieve it.
They couldn’t figure out that Wen Qingling wouldn’t let himself be at a loss. He had to get back more than what he gave.
Xiong Shu was supported by his subordinates to the side, preparing to find someone to help treat his injuries.
Wen Chu took the initiative to walk over. As a water-based esper, she had a healing ability called “Water Therapy,” but it was slower and consumed a lot of esper energy. She rarely used it unless necessary. If it weren’t for Xiong Shu still needing to work for Wen Qingling, she wouldn’t have bothered. Her actions were a way of repaying Wen Qingling’s favor.
Unfortunately, Wen Qingling refused to accept any “passive” favors.
Chang Boheng, curious, asked when he saw that Wen Qingling didn’t mention the others, “What about the others?”
Wen Qingling had almost forgotten about Mo Jing and the others. “They are not with us. You can go ask them yourself.”
After saying that, Wen Qingling turned and left.
Mo Jing and the others: “…”
Chang Boheng: “…”
Wen Qingling and Xiao Hen returned to the base. Xiao Hen went to the city center to meet Ji Rong and Shi Chong, while Wen Qingling, mentally scanning, sensed that the four research assistants were waiting for him in his clinic. He and Xiao Hen separated, and he went back to the base first.
“Have you made any progress with the research?” Wen Qingling asked as soon as he entered.
The research assistants looked a bit awkward, exchanging glances, and it was Mu Yi who spoke up. “The equipment you had someone retrieve a few days ago is not functional. It was damaged, and the existing equipment cannot conduct detailed research, so…”
Wen Qingling interrupted, “So there are no results yet?”
The four research assistants nodded simultaneously.
Wen Qingling said, “It’s fine. If you need any equipment, make a list, and I’ll send someone to find it.”
The four people: “…”
Is this a problem with the research equipment? Or is it a problem in the field of research?
Shao Fei was straightforward and couldn’t hold back his words. “Even if we have the equipment, it’s not guaranteed that we will achieve results solely based on our own efforts. It might succeed, but it could also fail. Even if we succeed, it will take a long time. We are just assistants and haven’t reached the level of independent research. If we have the research equipment from the Central Mega City and can bring Meng Lao over, then we will definitely achieve results quickly.”
The other three looked at Shao Fei. This guy was as outspoken as ever, not afraid that Wen Qingling would turn him back into a decaying zombie.
Wen Qingling pondered for a moment. “Is it certain that with these two things, we will achieve results?”
Shao Fei: “…”
The other three: “…”
Shao Fei nodded. “It’s definitely possible to achieve results.”
Wen Qingling said, “Good, I’ll figure out a way.”
The four people: “…”
Hey! Is it really true that they’re going to bring the research equipment from the Central Mega City and Meng Lao here?!
Shi Chong’s big house was almost completed. It was a huge project, and many civilized zombies were helping. This would be the residence of Wen Qingling and his family in the future. Out of respect for Wen Qingling, they also wanted to make it look beautiful.
When Ji Rong saw Xiao Hen coming alone and Wen Qingling not being there, he approached sneakily. “Where is Dr. Wen?”
Xiao Hen replied, “He returned to the base.”
Ji Rong breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good.”
Xiao Hen raised an eyebrow. “What are you up to now?”
Ji Rong lowered his voice. “Boss, compared to the Blood Corpse, who is more powerful?”
Xiao Hen asked, “Who do you think is more powerful, the Blood Corpse or Wen Qingling?”
Ji Rong didn’t hesitate. “Of course, Dr. Wen is more powerful.”
Xiao Hen said, “I was personally transformed by Qingling. Who do you think is more powerful, me or the Blood Corpse?”
Ji Rong replied, “Definitely, Boss, you are more powerful.”
Xiao Hen asked, “Then why are you asking?”
Ji Rong sneakily reached out his hand. “Boss, let me borrow your hand for a moment.”
Xiao Hen instinctively felt that he wanted to do something mischievous. “What are you up to?”
Ji Rong beckoned. “Let me use it for a moment, I’ll give it back soon.”
Xiao Hen refused. “Can a man’s hand be borrowed so casually? I’m not interested in you!”
Ji Rong jumped up. “Everyone has their own preferences. Boss, I really misjudged you!”
Ji Rong pounced directly, grabbing Xiao Hen’s hand and biting down on his wrist. Xiao Hen hissed and threw Ji Rong, who was biting him, to the ground. When he looked at the bitten area, blood was already seeping out.
Xiao Hen: “…”
Xiao Hen couldn’t believe it. “Are you crazy? You even bit a zombie?!”
Ji Rong: “…”
Ji Rong couldn’t believe it. “You have such thick skin, Boss. You almost broke my teeth!”
Xiao Hen kicked him angrily. “If you want to die, don’t drag me down. I’m already dirty enough!”
If Wen Qingling finds out, he will definitely be disgusted with him!
Ji Rong smirked. “Didn’t Dr. Wen forbid you from biting me? So, if I bite you, it shouldn’t be dirty, right?”
Xiao Hen, infuriated, landed another punch. “I got bitten by ‘General’ once, and he was already very disgusted. Now you bite me too. Are you intentionally trying to mess with me?”
Ji Rong whispered, “Shh, as long as we don’t say anything, Dr. Wen won’t find out…” Suddenly, Ji Rong grabbed his own neck, his face twisted in pain, and the skin on his face began to peel off, revealing bloody flesh.
Xiao Hen didn’t know what the transformation process was like when he turned himself into a zombie. Seeing Ji Rong suddenly change like this, he was a bit taken aback.
Shi Chong put down his work and ran over. When he saw Ji Rong rolling on the ground, he was also at a loss. He randomly grabbed a civilized zombie. “Brother, is he… is he normal like this?”
The civilized zombie looked at them strangely. “I used to be a zombie, but I haven’t experienced shedding my skin. However, I have experienced regeneration. You should ask Dr. Wen about this.”
Shi Chong: “Boss!”
Xiao Hen stared at Ji Rong. In just a moment, Ji Rong’s entire body had lost its skin, and he was covered in a bloody mess, looking very similar to the old Blood Corpse. Xiao Hen instinctively counted. When he reached 180 seconds, Ji Rong stopped struggling and his eyes went blank. He looked exactly like a second Blood Corpse.
Ji Rong couldn’t believe his eyes as he looked at his new appearance. “Did… I switch places with the Blood Corpse?”
His voice was hoarse and unpleasant, completely different from when he was human.
Ji Rong flipped over and jumped up, his movements agile and his sense of smell sharp. He looked at himself and then at Shi Chong. Suddenly, he burst into laughter. “Old Shi, so this is what you taste like!”
Shi Chong had a blank expression on his face. “Brother, your smell is a bit strong.”
A putrid smell filled the air!
Ji Rong was the source of the stench. He couldn’t smell it himself and waved his hand, creating a large fireball and throwing it away.
Ji Rong chuckled with a hand on his hip. “I’m more badass than the Blood Corpse. My powers are still intact, hahaha… hiccup!”
His mouth split and his chin fell off.
Xiao Hen: “…”
Shi Chong: “…”
Ji Rong panicked and held his chin. He shouted in distress, “Boss, help! I don’t want to be a mouthless monster!”
Xiao Hen looked at Ji Rong’s bloody appearance with extreme disgust.
Shi Chong looked at their boss expressionlessly and said, “Boss, it’s better to give up on the treatment. I’ve always felt that he’s not very bright.”
Xiao Hen nodded in agreement, “I feel the same way.”
Ji Rong shouted, “I’m also very intelligent! Boss, your blood is special. If you use your blood for transformation, you can retain your powers! Why don’t you hurry up and transform old Shi as well?”
Xiao Hen looked at Ji Rong’s bloody appearance and felt extremely disgusted.