The five members of the Bellona team were stranded in a remote mountain village, which held an estimated four to five hundred people, all of whom were now gathered at the entrance of the small building where they had taken refuge.
It was easy to imagine that, like the Shanhai Unit, they too had been caught off guard by a sudden rainstorm, which forced them to stray from their original route to seek temporary shelter in this unfamiliar mountainous area. Unfortunately, their luck was as bad as Shanhai’s; they also encountered mutated creatures. The only difference was that, unlike Shanhai Unit, they didn’t have the strength to fight back and could only call for rescue in a miserable state.
The rugged mountain road was so steep and uneven that even off-road vehicles struggled to traverse it. Eventually, the path narrowed to the point where driving became impossible, so the group found a favorable spot, locked the off-road vehicle, and continued on foot.
Along the mountain path, a few scattered zombies wandered aimlessly. One of them had lost both legs but was still relentlessly crawling along the ground, its palms and elbows worn down to the bone, leaving bits and pieces of its body scattered in its wake.
Despite its condition, the moment it saw humans, it let out an excited, rasping groan. Its mouth opened and closed, sharp teeth clacking together as though it were already savoring the taste of human flesh it so desperately craved. It was practically the epitome of perseverance, a motivational symbol that would stop at nothing to fulfill its dreams.
As they passed by, the lieutenant kicked it right off the cliff.
After sending off the legless zombie, the group encountered another in a small fish pond behind a courtyard. This one was leisurely floating in the dirty, duckweed-covered water, appearing serene and carefree. However, the moment it noticed humans, it abruptly changed, thrashing its arms wildly, making a racket like a water sprinkler. Some filthy water splashed onto Zhong Yin’s clothes, and disgusted, she sent it to the pond’s depths with a single shot.
The village was small, and the tallest, most ornate building stood out clearly. With almost no detours, they arrived about five hundred meters from the building. The team paused at this safe distance as Jiang Huan sent a scout ahead to gather intel. It was the same team member who had scouted the abandoned temple earlier: Wu Fengge.
The scout soon returned, reporting, “There are around three hundred zombies, most of them aimlessly wandering around nearby and relatively calm. However, a small group closer to the building is still restless. The windows and doors of the building are tightly sealed, and the curtains are drawn, so it’s impossible to see inside. No mutated wild geese were spotted in the area either.”
“The area in front of the building where the Bellona team is sitting is an open space. Behind it stands another two-story building, though its interior situation is unknown. A small vegetable patch separates the two buildings. A high wall borders the neighbor’s courtyard to the left, where a few zombies linger, while the right side is an open area.”
After finishing his report, the scout handed Jiang Huan a rough diagram he had sketched. Jiang Huan nodded, took the paper, and jotted down a few numbers, circling them thoughtfully.
“Xu Ye, Zhang Xiaowen. Position 1.”
“Zhong Yin, Yao Wuque, Wu Fengge. Position 2.”
“…Position 3.”
“Jiang Tong…” Jiang Huan glanced at Shen Shanwu, “You’re with me.”
After Jiang Huan finished calling out all the team members’ names, Shen Shanwu realized that the lieutenant’s last name was Xu—Xu Ye. Zhang Xiaowen, who had the weakest stamina, was assigned to Xu Ye, while Zhong Yin and Yao Wuque, typically the best duo, had been paired with the scout, Wu Fengge, since Yao was injured. The remaining three male team members formed another group.
As for Shen Shanwu himself, the “burden” of the team, he had been assigned to the team’s strongest fighter, Jiang Huan.
“Plan B.” Jiang Huan’s instructions were always concise and to the point, wasting no words. Instantly, the entire team sprang into action, checking their ammunition and equipment with practiced precision before moving swiftly to their assigned positions.
Only Shen Shanwu, the outsider, had no clue what “Plan B” meant, nor did he know what he was supposed to do. Not that it mattered—his job was simply to stick close to Captain Jiang and try to stay out of the way.
The team split into four groups. Position 3, with the largest number of members, all male, was the main attack force and the first to engage. One member created a distraction to lure a group of zombies away, while teammates lying in ambush nearby took turns taking down each zombie as it strayed from the pack.
The other two teams used the same approach of luring and eliminating in small groups, circling around to different sides of the building and drawing zombies away in various directions.
Jiang Huan chose the neighbor’s courtyard on the left as Jiang Tong’s training ground. The small number of zombies and the wall separating the area made it an ideal place for a first-timer to adapt to combat in a controlled setting.
Inside the courtyard were two young female zombies, an elderly woman, a middle-aged couple, and two young child zombies—a haunting sight that seemed to capture a family that had once enjoyed peaceful, happy days here. But when the apocalypse struck, not one of them escaped the effects of radiation and mutation.
The outer courtyard’s gate was locked from the inside, with a long iron chain tightly coiled around the bars several times. The chain was heavily weathered, rust spots blotching its surface, making it almost unrecognizable. The gate, once having gaps between the bars, was now covered with wooden planks studded with iron nails. Over the years, the wood had cracked, and the nails had rusted, casting a bleak, abandoned look.
The remnants of their efforts silently told the story of what had once taken place here. Shen Shanwu could imagine the people inside, suppressing their fear and fighting desperately to protect their loved ones. But, judging by the outcome, all their efforts had been in vain.
Villages like this one, and small families like theirs, could be found countless times over across the country and even the world.
Jiang Huan didn’t even use a gun; he simply drew his blade, slicing lightly through the rusty lock. The gate tilted and swung open inward, emitting a teeth-grinding creak. The high-pitched sound almost seemed celebratory, as if delighted to finally welcome new guests. A wave of mildew, rot, and metallic stench hit them, nearly causing Shen Shanwu to faint despite his helmet.
The human scent stirred the seven zombies who had been fixated on the nearby building all night. They stopped their relentless, futile wall-banging and slowly turned around, their movements rigid as they stared at the two humans standing before them.
“Don’t be afraid.” Jiang Huan’s calm voice came from behind Shen Shanwu, accompanied by a warm hand resting on his shoulder through several layers of clothing.
“The zombies’ weakness is their heads; their skulls are thin and fragile. Attacking other parts won’t incapacitate them. Their weapons are their claws and teeth—sharp claws and powerful jaws. Their black-red pupils are terrifying to look at, but they have no special abilities beyond that. Avoid direct contact with your skin; the virus on them can spread through your bloodstream within fifteen seconds.”
“Okay…” Shen Shanwu unsheathed his umbrella knife from his left waist, lifting his arm and elegantly flicking it to the right. The sharp blade sliced through the air with a piercing whistle, and in that moment, he seemed to embody the very essence of the drawn weapon, radiating sharpness and determination.
But then he realized that, given his current height, he couldn’t reach any of the zombies’ heads… except for those two child zombies.
Jiang Huan seemed to notice the issue as well. After a brief moment of contemplation, he raised his gun and swiftly dispatched five zombies. “Then your mission today is to take care of these two child zombies.”
“…” Are you looking down on me?
Even with a silencer installed, the sound of gunfire was still quite noticeable. The tightly drawn curtains of the building next door were cautiously pulled apart just enough to reveal a pair of team members in combat gear below. Upon seeing them, the curtains and window flew open, and an anxious woman’s face squeezed out. “Hey!”
Before she could finish her sentence, a man appeared behind her, covering her mouth and forcefully pulling her back inside the room, sternly warning her not to shout or make a scene. Shen Shanwu barely caught the sound of a high-pitched call from above. By the time he looked up, all he saw was a fleeting shadow and the open window, now empty of any presence.
“Don’t worry about them,” Jiang Huan said coldly. “Focus on yourself first.”
Shen Shanwu hesitated in his movements. He couldn’t imagine how a ten-year-old child who had lived in a safe zone their entire life—one that, despite being in the outskirts and lacking in resources, was still considered safe—would react upon encountering zombies for the first time and realizing they had to face them alone.
He tried to recall how young Jiang Huan had handled such situations back then, but after thinking for a long time, he realized he had no memory of it at all. At first, Jiang Huan hadn’t even needed to lift a finger; just by standing in front of the zombies, Shen Shanwu had seen them obediently divert their paths.
But then… it seemed like overnight, Jiang Huan suddenly matured. By the time Shen Shanwu realized it, Jiang Huan was already capable of handling situations on his own, fearlessly stepping on the shattered skulls of zombies, thrusting his blood-soaked blade into the ground, and then bending down by the stream to wash the sticky residue from between his fingers.
In the meantime, Shen Shanwu felt he had missed some crucial piece of information, but now, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall it.
Lacking a control group, Shen Shanwu had to improvise. He exaggeratedly puffed up his chest to feign fear and then timidly glanced back at Jiang Huan for help. The latter was busy preparing tools to climb directly into the second-floor window of the neighboring building, ignoring Shen Shanwu’s pleading gaze for assistance.
After the initial rehearsals were complete, Shen Shanwu found himself facing off against the zombies. The two child zombies, with zero intelligence, didn’t understand the concept of flanking and simply charged at him with loud screams. Shen Shanwu quickly stepped back, and the zombies continued to pursue him, so he kept retreating.
Meanwhile, a man and a woman on the second floor had been peering out of various windows to assess the situation. They had gathered information about the number of rescuers and their strategies. The other teams were efficiently taking down zombies, but the noise from the group to the east was quite strange.
After waiting quietly for a while, their curiosity got the better of them, and they leaned out of the window again. They saw a man in a white cloak and gloves—clearly of the highest rank—standing in a corner with his arms crossed, passively observing everything happening in the courtyard. In the center of the yard, a child in military green combat gear was oddly “playing” a game of tag with the two child zombies, resembling an eagle chasing its chicks.
The man and woman exchanged glances: “…”
“Don’t just focus on running; never waste your stamina against zombies,” Jiang Huan finally couldn’t hold back and offered a reminder. Shen Shanwu realized that if Jiang Huan was giving him advice, it meant he had been stalling for too long. He promptly halted his steps, unexpectedly crouched down, and suddenly sidestepped, executing an unpredictable slash with his knife.
One of the child zombies shuddered and then fell straight down, its fractured skull oozing thick, dark purple liquid mixed with some foul-smelling solids, making the already filthy ground even worse.
The remaining child zombie was oblivious to its companion’s death. It was excited by the proximity of food, its sharp teeth grinding together as if it were just one more centimeter away from biting through Shen Shanwu’s protective suit.
But Shen Shanwu wouldn’t give it that opportunity. With a swift motion, the umbrella knife pierced through the zombie’s throat, and with a fierce yank, a large portion of its head came off, detaching from its body. Shen Shanwu took two steps back, watching as the child zombie’s head hung limply against its left shoulder, a massive gash visible in its neck. Yet, its black-red eyes remained wide open, relentlessly attacking him without pause.
This time, Shen Shanwu aimed the umbrella knife at the zombie’s forehead.
In the first year of the apocalypse, Shen Shanwu had already realized that chopping off a zombie’s head was much like slicing a watermelon. The only difference was that watermelon pulp whetted your appetite, while zombie guts could make you lose your last meal.
After pulling out the umbrella knife, he skillfully flicked the blade to shake off the blood. Jiang Huan stepped forward and tossed him a small bottle of disinfectant, his tone steady as he said, “Well done.” Shen Shanwu had reason to suspect that no matter how he performed today, Jiang Huan’s assessment would always boil down to those two words.
While he was cleaning the umbrella knife, Jiang Huan moved beneath the open window. The man immediately understood and backed away with the woman. She was still puzzled when, in the next second, a metallic grappling hook flew up, its sharp tip sinking deeply into the window ledge.
A hand wrapped around Shen Shanwu’s waist, and suddenly he felt his body lighten. He turned to see Jiang Huan, who had one arm around him while swiftly pressing the retract button on the climbing rope at his waist. In an instant, they were rapidly lifted upwards, and with a powerful leap, they effortlessly jumped into the second-floor room.
Once on solid ground, Jiang Huan immediately introduced himself. “I’m Jiang Huan, the captain of the Shanhai Unit from the coastal base.”
“Honored to meet you, honored to meet you!” The man was clearly excited. After Jiang Huan retracted the grappling hook, he quickly locked the window. The indicator light on the wall-mounted filter flickered rapidly, and after a few seconds, it slowly changed to green, the frequency of the blinking also calming down. The man then politely removed his mask and bowed slightly. “I’m Yang Ping, the lieutenant of the Bellona Team. Our captain was injured and is resting inside. Miss Cai has already gone in to call him.”
Shen Shanwu was reminded by Yang Ping’s actions that he had been out in the scorching sun for a while and must be hot. So, he exaggeratedly removed his jacket and helmet, using his hand as a fan to wave it back and forth. He purposely called out to Jiang Huan, “I’m dying from the heat…”
Not sure if every team’s lieutenant is clever, but Jiang Huan had no reaction at all. Instead, Yang Ping immediately went to the water jug and poured a glass of water. He disinfected the cup twice right in front of Jiang Huan and Shen Shanwu, seemingly worried that they would think it wasn’t clean.
“Hello, little brother! Come and have a drink,” Yang Ping said with a smile, bending down and offering the water with both hands. Once Shen Shanwu accepted the cup, Yang Ping stood up and smiled at Jiang Huan, asking, “Captain Jiang, who is he?”
“My adopted son, Jiang Tong.” Jiang Huan extended his left hand from under the white cloak and draped it over Shen Shanwu’s shoulder. It was an affectionate gesture, also conveying a sense of support.
Upon hearing that Shen Shanwu was the great-grandson of the coastal base’s commander, Yang Ping quickly showered Jiang Tong with exaggerated praises, calling him a stunning beauty and comparing his eyes to shooting stars. Shen Shanwu listened without any reaction, casually finding a chair to sit down, pushing his mask down to his chin, and childishly swinging his legs while drinking water.
During his water break, Jiang Huan glanced out of the windows on either side of the small building to check on the other team members below. Most of the zombies had already scattered in three different directions, leaving just a few that he could handle with the remaining ammunition he had.
“Are you ready?” Jiang Huan returned to the room where Shen Shanwu was. “I’m going to open the window.”
“Okay.” Shen Shanwu quickly swallowed the last sip of water and prepared to put his mask back on. Yang Ping, who had been accompanying him the whole time, also lowered his head to fasten his mask. Just then, a man suddenly walked in through the door. Even his excessively pale complexion couldn’t hide the handsomeness in his brows and eyes. He wore a gray coat adorned with the Bellona insignia draped over his shoulders, and layers of bandages tied around his waist showed hints of blood seeping through. He first noticed Jiang Huan by the door, weakly smiled, and his slightly curved eyes added a touch of color to his face. “Captain Jiang Huan…”
Before he could finish his sentence, the man’s peripheral vision seemed to catch sight of something that shocked him immensely. The abrupt change in his tone and the constriction of his pupils revealed his inner astonishment.
“Shen… Shen Shanwu?!”
Just the simple two words “Shen Shanwu” made Jiang Huan forget to breathe in an instant. The man, who always seemed unperturbed by any situation, suddenly trembled all over. The cold, murderous aura that usually surrounded him vanished in an instant, leaving only a mix of anticipation and despair.
These were two entirely opposite emotions, yet they appeared simultaneously within Jiang Huan. After hoping for so long, that hope gradually turned into despair. In extreme astonishment, he followed the man’s gaze, only to see Jiang Tong, who had just set down a cup of water.
His heart, which had been soaring high, suddenly plummeted. The abruptly awful mood surged up instead.
Shen Shanwu tilted his head and blankly murmured, “Huh?” God knows how much effort he had expended just to suppress the instinct to raise his head the moment he heard his name.
Yang Ping looked at the newcomer in confusion and asked, “Captain, what’s wrong?”
The captain of the Bellona team, He Jingyang, gritted his teeth and covered his side. He struggled to force a fake smile as he looked at Jiang Huan, but his gaze uncontrollably darted toward Shen Shanwu multiple times. “…I am He Jingyang, the captain of the Bellona team. I apologize, Captain Jiang. I appreciate your special trip to rescue Bellona. The kindness of Shanhai is something we will never forget…”
Jiang Huan felt quite displeased by He Jingyang’s wandering gaze. He stepped to the side, positioning himself in front of Shen Shanwu, and coldly asked, “No need for pleasantries. Jiang Tong, are you okay?”
Shen Shanwu pulled his helmet down, his voice muffled, “I’m fine.”
“Jiang Tong? He’s called Jiang Tong?” He Jingyang’s voice sounded overly excited, as if he were about to leap forward and speak directly to Shen Shanwu. However, he managed to keep his composure. Noticing Jiang Huan’s unusually cold and rejecting reaction, He Jingyang quickly added, “You see, Captain Jiang, he looks almost identical to a dear friend of mine whom I lost many years ago. My friend, at his age, looked almost exactly like him.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Huan’s tone dropped below zero, and he didn’t bother to conceal his current displeasure.
After saying “is that so,” Jiang Huan fell silent, allowing the awkward atmosphere to spread throughout the room. He Jingyang seemed lost in thought, appearing completely distracted. Yang Ping, the lieutenant, had no choice but to step in to ease the tension. “What a coincidence, hahaha! Captain, this child is Captain Jiang’s adopted son, named Jiang Tong.”
“Adopted son?” He Jingyang’s heart raced even faster. He wanted to ask, if he was just an adopted son, what was his original name? Who were his biological parents? Did he have an older brother named Shen Shanwu?
However, Jiang Huan’s strong protective demeanor caused He Jingyang to wisely keep his mouth shut. He didn’t understand why Jiang Huan was so resistant to him. Under normal circumstances, he thought, the other party should at least not exhibit such an attitude, even if they weren’t eager to discuss the relationship between his adopted son and his friend.
Could it be that he knows something?
Aside from the cold, distant aura radiating from Jiang Huan, Shen Shanwu was also filled with impatience. If He Jingyang continued to chatter on, he feared he wouldn’t be able to resist the urge to physically confront him.
A dear friend? He and He Jingyang had never had that kind of relationship.
Ten years ago, they were the closest of lovers, and ten years later, they were eternal enemies who would never meet again.
Shen Shanwu found it hard to forget that morning when dozens of fully armed mercenaries burst into the wooden cabin where he was hiding. They came equipped with a large supply of tranquilizer bullets; even a single bullet was enough to instantly incapacitate an elephant. The area outside the cabin was filled with traps, and snipers were on high alert. The mercenary group had set a meticulously planned snare over several days, vowing to capture this ‘freak’ alive.
At that time, only He Jingyang knew Shen Shanwu’s identity as a mutant and the location where he was hiding.
Shen Shanwu hoped that He Jingyang had at least been forced to reveal his secret, or that it was done unintentionally. However, as he desperately struggled to escape and caught a glimpse of He Jingyang standing at the back of the crowd, he instantly understood everything.
He Jingyang’s face displayed seriousness, fear, anxiety, and guilt, but there was no trace of concern or worry.
In the first year of the apocalypse, Shen Shanwu and his high school sweetheart, He Jingyang, arrived at the northern border of Anping together. Having lost all their friends and family, they relied on each other for support. However, a few months later, Shen Shanwu tragically died during a mission, caught in a tide of zombies.
In the following two years, He Jingyang faced numerous challenges but eventually climbed to a position of power as the leader of the third largest mercenary group in the northern border of Anping, becoming the leader’s lover and living a life free from worry.
In this moment of being reborn from the dead, Shen Shanwu became a thorn in He Jingyang’s heart. He was always clear about how to choose between the powerful leader and his former lover.
He Jingyang had once considered whether to have it both ways, especially since the leader was unattractive while Shen Shanwu was consistently charming and handsome. However, he understood that Shen Shanwu’s character would never allow him to agree to be his secret lover, sharing his boyfriend with others.
Particularly after discovering the various strange signs in Shen Shanwu and hearing him confess that he was no longer human, He Jingyang made his decision.
—Even though Shen Shanwu had willingly jumped into the tide of zombies to save him back then, even though Shen Shanwu had unhesitatingly used his own life to give him a chance to escape.
“He Jingyang, three years ago I saved your life, and three years later, this is how you repay me…” After killing half the mercenaries, Shen Shanwu was covered in blood, yet his emotions were surprisingly stable, even liberated. “I suppose we’re even now…”
Shen Shanwu appeared very magnanimous, as if he didn’t care at all, but he hadn’t truly let go… At least, he hadn’t let go at that moment, and this unresolved tension led to a significant change in his personality in the following years.
—
“Jiang Tong.”
“Jiang Tong?”
“Ah!” Shen Shanwu was jolted awake from his memories, and to his surprise, he saw Yao Wuque’s face magnified up close. He was startled. “Hey, how did you get here?”
“What do you mean, how did I get here? I’ve been here for quite a while; I just saw you staring blankly.” Yao Wuque carefully found a place to sit. The left side of his backside had also suffered from the earlier vine cocoons, so he could only awkwardly use his right side as a pivot to lower himself down.
“Where are the zombies?”
“They’ve all been dealt with. But you still need to be careful when you go downstairs; you never know if there might be a stray one lying around.” Yao Wuque said, pointing at Shen Shanwu’s face. “By the way, aren’t you hot? You’ve got your helmet, mask, and hood on all at once?”
Shen Shanwu belatedly looked at the wall and noticed that the window Jiang Huan had just opened a moment ago was already locked again. Even the filter had lit up green once more. Inside, most of the members from both teams had gathered, with Shanhai and Bellona seated on opposite sides of the round table. The two lieutenants, sitting closest together, were leaning over the table, discussing how to deal with the mutated wild geese.
Jiang Huan sat with his legs crossed in the chair, his back against the backrest, arms folded across his chest. The new metallic mask rested at the edge of the table, and the expression on his face matched his posture—cold and rigid. Opposite him was the captain of Bellona, He Jingyang, leaning forward with his elbows pressed against his thighs, his gaze contemplative.
Having heard Yao Wuque’s words, Shen Shanwu slowly removed his helmet, leaving only the breathing mask on. As soon as he lifted his head, two gazes converged on him—one from He Jingyang and the other from Jiang Huan.
Compared to Jiang Huan’s gaze, which was brief and nonchalant, He Jingyang’s look was fiery and intense, almost burning the name “Jiang Tong” into ashes. He greedily traced the features of Shen Shanwu’s face that were visible beyond the mask, becoming increasingly alarmed and increasingly nostalgic as he looked on.
He met Shen Shanwu in middle school; they were merely acquaintances at the same school. After being placed in the same class in high school, they learned each other’s sexual orientations and grew closer. By the second year of high school, they had established a romantic relationship, and after the college entrance examination, they were both successfully admitted to their ideal university.
Shen Shanwu was handsome, outstanding, and gentle, embodying almost all the virtues. Even his occasional mischievousness only made him more irresistible. He Jingyang, too, had matching looks and excellent academic performance. If nothing unexpected happened, they would meet each other’s parents after graduation and then start a family together.
But an unexpected event did occur, and it wasn’t just between the two of them; the entire world faced unforeseen changes. What was once a beautifully predetermined future suddenly became completely different.
Shen Shanwu hated the way He Jingyang looked at him now—ardent and affectionate, as if the betrayal that had scarred him so deeply had never occurred. He Jingyang was still the widower who mourned his deceased partner.
In the third year of the apocalypse, Shen Shanwu awoke bewildered in a desolate ridge. His memories were frozen in the pain of two years ago when he had his shoulder bitten off by a zombie.
He didn’t know why he was still alive. He didn’t know where he was. All his loved ones had died, and everything he saw was in ruins. The stench of decaying corpses piled high in the streets, and the only creatures that could move were mindless zombies. The world was a complete mess.
Crimson eyes, dark sclerae, sharp claws, and teeth—he didn’t even know what kind of creature he had become. Had he turned into the zombie he hated the most? Would he have to align himself with the enemies who had killed his family and friends? How was he supposed to survive?
Fear and loneliness left him in a constant state of unease. While his mind was tormented, the initial awakening of his abilities as a mutant brought about excruciating physical pain. The agony in his bones kept him awake through the night.
At that time, the only solace he could find—and the first person he sought after being resurrected as a mutant—was He Jingyang, who had betrayed him and sold him out.
He had only slept for a short while, while others had endured two unimaginable years of hardship.
“The teeth of the mutated wild geese are extremely sharp, and they are aggressive and highly territorial.” Bellona’s lieutenant, Yang Ping, sketched a simple diagram on the paper. The multiple layers of razor-sharp teeth were akin to those of a ferocious great white shark. One of the most familiar domesticated birds to humans had transformed into a gigantic beast the height of a car. For some unknown reason, they had taken a liking to Bellona’s off-road vehicles; a male and female pair of wild geese had taken over the cars and brazenly built a nest nearby.
As he spoke, Yang Ping sighed. “We’ve battled them before and suffered heavy losses. The captain sustained minor injuries, and another team member had his abdomen bitten through…”
“What about that team member now?” Lieutenant Xu Ye asked. Yang Ping shook his head. “His intestines were all out; we had to use a bowl to catch them… But we had no means to treat him, and he stopped breathing an hour ago.”
A brief silence fell over the room. After some apologies, Lieutenant Xu leaned closer to Jiang Huan and whispered in his ear, “Captain, what do you think? The threat posed by the mutated geese is greater than I imagined, and I’m worried about potential issues…”
“What do you mean?”
“If it really doesn’t work, we can take someone with us first and have more people from the squad come back to get the supplies later.”
“No,” Jiang Huan said coldly. “I want to resolve this matter immediately.”
Lieutenant Xu was surprised and asked, “How do you plan to resolve it?”
“Kill the wild geese, take back what belongs to us, or leave the person here and let them find their own way out while we leave.”
Lieutenant Xu: “…”
Lieutenant Xu was really shocked. “Captain, are you serious?”
To be honest, Jiang Huan’s thoughts mirrored those of Shen Shanwu. Just looking at He Jingyang made him feel incredibly annoyed. If they had to share a vehicle and coexist for several more days, Shen Shanwu would undoubtedly punch him right away and then jump out of the car to escape.
“Let’s wait for Wu Fengge’s intel first…” Jiang Huan also felt that he was being somewhat ‘willful,’ but since this involved that person, he couldn’t maintain his usual composure.
Long ago, the scout Wu Fengge and Zhong Yin had been sent by the captain to the location where Yang Ping had described the vehicles were parked, to check on the current situation of the mutated geese. Jiang Huan pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to calm the anger rising within him.
He inadvertently caught a glimpse of He Jingyang, who was resting his chin on one hand, his eyes fixed intently on Jiang Tong. Jiang Huan felt increasingly displeased and said coldly, “Jiang Tong, come here.”
Shen Shanwu had been quietly planning how to deal with the wild geese stealthily, eager to leave this dreadful place as soon as possible. However, he was taken by surprise when his name was called. He exclaimed and looked up, obediently walking over to Jiang Huan. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Huan ran his fingers through Shen Shanwu’s tousled hair and adjusted the collar that Xiaowen had just straightened. “Nothing, your hair is a bit messy.”
”…“ Shen Shanwu was a bit confused about what Jiang Huan was doing, but that was secondary. The main focus was how he could get rid of He Jingyang. “Captain, I also want to see the mutated geese.”
Hearing this, before Jiang Huan could speak, Lieutenant Xu frowned and scolded, “Nonsense! Do you think you can just go see mutated animals? Didn’t you hear how dangerous they are from Vice Captain Yang just now?”
“…But I’ve never seen a mutated animal.” Shen Shanwu leaned against Jiang Huan’s shoulder, wrapping his arms tightly around him, and said dejectedly, “…I haven’t even seen any animals besides rats.”
“Be good, Jiang Tong.” The caretaker, Xiaowen, quickly came over to comfort him gently. “Once we get back to the coastal base, I’ll have the captain take you to see the big dog he has.”
“But…”
“The mutated geese aren’t very fast; their movements are still clumsy like regular geese. They don’t have keen senses of smell or sight, but their combat power is astonishing. The reason we can escape is precisely because of this,” He Jingyang suddenly spoke up, looking seriously at Jiang Tong and showing a very kind smile. “If Jiang Tong just wants to take a look from a distance, I can…”
“There’s no need to trouble yourself.” Jiang Huan firmly rejected him. “Captain He is still injured; I can personally take Jiang Tong.”
“It’s just a minor injury,” He Jingyang said as he stood up. “We should at least satisfy the child’s curiosity appropriately…”
Jiang Huan ignored him, stood up, put on his mask, and took hold of Shen Shanwu’s hand to find his helmet. The lieutenant quickly followed, lowering his voice to ask, “Are you really going?”
“Why not?” Jiang Huan pressed the communication device on his mask with one hand, asking Zhong Yin and Wu Fengge about their locations. Seeing that the captain had made up his mind, Xu Ye was stunned, “Wait, Captain, are you really just going to let Jiang Tong do as he pleases?”
“What do you mean ‘do as he pleases’?” Jiang Huan replied without a hint of fluctuation in his tone. “Isn’t it the duty of the Shanhai Unit to let him take a look at the mutated animals?”
“But… it’s too dangerous! If something goes wrong, it could cost lives…”
Listening to Lieutenant Xu’s earnest persuasion, Shen Shanwu felt like the mesmerizing Bao Si who bewitched King Zhou1According to legend, Bao Si was extraordinarily beautiful but also known for her cunning nature. King Zhou, captivated by her beauty, became increasingly tyrannical and neglected his duties as a ruler., or the scheming Daji2Like Bao Si, Daji is known for her manipulative nature. She used her beauty to control King Zhou and encouraged him to commit heinous acts, including torturing his subjects and neglecting the state’s affairs. who disrupted the court. Once the tyrant Jiang Huan had made up his mind, no amount of persuasion would be effective. Lieutenant Xu, seeking help, looked at Yao Wuqie, who had always been at odds with Jiang Tong. Enjoying the spectacle, Yao Wuqie quickly straightened up and, after holding back for a while, finally said, “If Jiang Tong wants to see… then let him see! I have a telescope here…”
“…” Lieutenant Xu decided he would resign when he got back; he couldn’t stay in this completely dysfunctional dog team any longer.
Five minutes later, Shen Shanwu was excitedly embarking on his wildlife park tour. Although Jiang Huan insisted on fulfilling his dream of seeing large birds of prey despite the objections of others, he didn’t completely indulge him. Before they set out, Jiang laid down three rules for Shen: First, he must listen to him at all times. Second, if there’s any dangerous behavior during the trip, they will turn back immediately. Third, they will drink two servings of functional water tonight.
The third rule felt like a stab to the heart, and Shen Shanwu seriously suspected that Jiang Huan’s ultimate goal was precisely this. However, in order to quickly distance himself from He Jingyang, he obediently agreed to everything: “Yes, yes, yes, okay, okay, okay. I’ll do as you say.”
When Zhong Yin learned that Jiang Huan was taking Jiang Tong to see the animals, her usually stoic expression finally cracked. “What’s so interesting about wild geese?” she exclaimed, lying on the ground at the edge of a cliff overgrown with weeds, sweating profusely under the scorching sun.
Beside her, Wu Fengge also didn’t quite understand. Fifty meters away from their hiding spot, on a steep slope, was the off-road vehicle that Yang Ping had mentioned, while two gray-white wild geese majestically patrolled the area like giant dragons guarding their treasure.
Lieutenant Xu was at a loss with Jiang Huan and finally had to join the tour group. It was clear that Yao Wuque wanted to join in on the fun, but unfortunately, due to his serious injuries, he had to stay with Zhang Xiaowen in the small building.
Another person who insisted on coming along was He Jingyang. No matter how much Yang Ping tried to stop him, it was useless; he simply ignored Jiang Huan’s indifference and walked slowly beside Xu Ye, intentionally inquiring about Jiang Tong.
Xu Ye wasn’t a fool; he could see Jiang Huan’s attitude. He casually replied to a couple of comments and then deliberately steered the conversation elsewhere. He Jingyang sighed and said, “Lieutenant Xu, I really mean no offense. Jiang Tong resembles a friend of mine too much; I suspect they might be related by blood.”
“Is that so? Where is this friend of yours now?”
“He…” He Jingyang paused, “Well, that’s not really convenient to discuss.”
“Lieutenant.” Jiang Huan, holding onto Shen Shanwu with one hand while using the other to shield himself with an umbrella, said without turning his head, “Let’s move a bit faster.”
“Understood.” Xu Ye quickly quickened his pace.
Just as the four of them approached Wu Fengge and Zhong Yin, Jiang Huan’s communicator suddenly buzzed with Zhong Yin’s voice: “Captain, the wild geese are acting up.”
Jiang Huan immediately tightened his grip on Shen Shanwu’s hand and stopped in his tracks. “What’s going on?”
“They suddenly became restless and assumed an aggressive posture facing southeast, making a lot of noise,” Zhong Yin reported, lowering her body even more. “But we’ve been observing for a while, and there’s clearly nothing in that direction.”
“Retreat immediately.” Jiang Huan decisively issued the order. He then pulled Shen Shanwu closer and lowered his head to say, “The situation with the wild geese has changed; we can’t go to see them anymore.”
“Ah?” Shen Shanwu looked up at him, clearly disappointed. “Aren’t we almost there? I even brought Brother Wuque’s binoculars. Can I just take a quick look? Just one look…” He thought to himself, Let me get a little closer; I want to use my dominance to scare these two foolish geese to death.
“Didn’t you promise to listen to me?”
Shen Shanwu pouted, perfectly embodying the role of a spoiled child. “Captain, you’re doing this on purpose! There’s no way there could suddenly be a problem; you just don’t want to take me to see!”
“Jiang Tong!” Xu Ye was almost driven crazy by this unreasonable little boy. “If the captain really thought that, he wouldn’t have brought you all this way. Why didn’t he just refuse you back at the building?”
“How would I know?” Shen Shanwu tried to break free from Jiang Huan’s grip. “You adults just love to say one thing and mean another! You’re all liars!”
“Jiang Tong.” Jiang Huan tightened his grip, his tone icy. “Are you going to act up again?”
Xu Ye silently cursed in his heart, Damn it, now he finally admits that he’s acting up! How did you argue with me just a moment ago? Captain, you had it coming!
“Captain Jiang,” He Jingyang quickly approached to smooth things over, “Don’t be so harsh on the child; he’s still young and needs to be reasoned with.”
Shen Shanwu shot him a disdainful glance and said, “Who do you think you are, you big idiot? Stay away from me.”
He Jingyang: “…” Damn, whose unruly kid is this?
“Come on, just let me take a look,” Shen Shanwu whined, shaking Jiang Huan’s hand and throwing a tantrum. But Jiang Huan was always firm; he wrapped an arm around Shen Shanwu’s waist and hoisted him over his shoulder like a sack, turning to walk away.
“Jiang Huan!” Shen Shanwu was furious. Calling his name like that earned him a sharp smack on the butt from Jiang Huan, leaving Shen Shanwu momentarily stunned, forgetting to struggle.
He really just got spanked by Jiang Huan???
“What did you call me?”
Shen Shanwu, enraged, laughed in disbelief: “Jiang—”
“Captain,” Zhong Yin’s voice suddenly came through, interrupting Shen Shanwu’s outburst, “The wild geese have new developments.”
Jiang Huan gently patted Shen Shanwu’s butt, calming him down. “Didn’t I tell you to evacuate immediately?”
“Captain, it’s like this. Just now, we were about to leave when the two wild geese suddenly closed their wings, lowered their long necks, and then they communicated with each other for a moment before running off in the opposite direction.”
“Hmm,” Jiang Huan stopped rubbing Shen Shanwu’s butt. “Are you sure they left?”
“We’ve been keeping watch until now and saw them head northwest without stopping. Fengge has already gone after them. Captain, what do you think…?”
The author has something to say:
35: So you like spanking, huh?
Cub Huan: …you only know to bully me at times like this.
![The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/image_2021-09-11_143139.png "The Rebirth of the Last Days and Return to [Fang] Hao")
