Chapter 53: Cannibalism

After three days on the road, Lin Chao and the group had arrived unscathed at Tianjing. They were only half a day away from the capital base.

“Are there many Evolveds in the base?” Fan Xiangyu gazed towards the far, standing on a car. A slight worry clouded her fair face under the black veil.

Lin Chao was seated on the car hood eating a cup of instant noodles. Several zombie carcasses and heads scattered around the vehicle but the piercing scent of blood did not affect his appetite at all. He savored every fried noodle while replying, “Should be plenty of them but you don’t have to worry. Other than a rare few top notch Sensory powers, the others won’t be able to detect your kind.”

“What if I’m discovered?” Fan Xiangyu was still anxious.

“There’s still me,” Lin Chao replied casually.

The three simple words stunned Fan Xiangyu. A few seconds later, the corners of her lips curled up softly into a lighthearted beam as she lifted her fair finger wagging it; the ten special zombies behind her spread out instantly like the queen’s guards, they set up a uniform battle formation. Their duty was a few miles away; to kill the normal zombies that were attracted over by the group’s scent.

Having come so far, the group reaped generous rewards. Lin Chao’s physique was enhanced to twenty-six times from twenty-two times. He was basically a monster in human form that could flip even a tank at this stage.

Fan Xiangyu had nurtured ten special zombies with an average physique of five times using carcasses of small-sized mutated beasts like mice and cats. They would trigger an evolution when their physique reached ten times more enhanced and become Level E special zombies, significantly strengthening the special abilities they had.

When that time came, the combat force of these ten special zombies could easily wipe out an excellently equipped company!

Lin Shiyu had been inside the alternate dimension space during this period of time testing You Qian’s cells. Although she had discovered some characteristic results, they were not specific. For example, when she provoked the cells with a weak electrical spark, the cells could resist it and gradually could even eat up the electricity as the number of experiments increased!

This could only be achieved by an Electricity/Lightning Manipulation!

Based on the current tests, she learned that You Qian’s cells had four ability traits while other aspects were still being tested. Regardless, the currently known information has already put his power in the top ranks.

You Qian was still a physique of three times more enhanced. Before his power was analyzed, Lin Chao did not plan to provide him any fortification.

After three days of cooperation, You Qian had slowly become familiar with the group’s personalities and concluded that they were not bad people. This emboldened him as he kept his questions going and occasionally joked with Fan Xiangyu. However, there were only Fan Xiangyu’s eye rolls and fists that answered him.

Concluding that the time was late after his meal and it would be risky to continue their journey, Lin Chao picked a cake shop nearby named “Floating Forest” as their shelter for the night.

Pushing the door to the cake house open, three slim backs stood by the cashier, they were eating with their heads lowered. When they heard the door opened, the silhouettes turned around swiftly to reveal three decaying faces. Held in their hands was a fair leg that was chowed down to the bone.

Roar!

All three female zombies sprang an attack.

Before Lin Chao instructed her, the thought in Fan Xiangyu’s mind controlled the three female zombies to stop instantly, commanding them to break their necks with their own hands.

Lin Chao stepped across their carcasses and seated himself down on the chair behind the cashier, closing his eyes to rest. He had been the main line of defense in their journey to the capital base, a huge toll was taken on his physical strength.

Fan Xiangyu commanded a special zombie to quickly clean the zombie carcasses and human remains in the shop away before ordering all ten special zombies to spread out to set up a patrol.

As dusk began to fall and the sun slowly set, the weighted scent of decay drifted from the roads.

You Qian closed the door and pulled the curtain gate down before he lit a candle. In the dark, the feeble flame flickered weakly as if it would extinguish at any time.

Fan Xiangyu lay on the cake table and rested her face on her palms, dozing away with her eyes closed, laying on her side.

Alone, You Qian grew bored and yawned from his sleepiness after staring at the lit candle for a while, falling asleep seated on the floor.

As the dark night lapsed, dawn ultimately rose. When Lin Chao lifted the curtain gate, he saw a person leaning against the wall outside of the door sleeping. It was Ye Fei.

Catching the noise of the door opening, Ye Fei rubbed her eyes dreamily. She grinned at once when she saw Lin Chao. “Good morning.”

Lin Chao nodded slightly in acknowledgment and turned back to call Fan Xiangyu and You Qian in preparation to depart.

You Qian had a piece of bread in between his teeth. Although there was a dab of the virus on it, he did not mind as he was already an Evolved. He was shocked when he saw Ye Fei who was outside. “Girl, did you sleep outside the whole night? Aren’t you scared of the zombie coming to eat you?”

Ye Fei smiled as she answered, “He’s here. I’m not scared.”

You Qian exclaimed, “It’s been three days and you’ve consistently caught up with us. Have you eaten breakfast? You must be famished huh? Here you go.” He took out a pack of instant noodles and a bottle of water from the blue rucksack on his back and passed them to her.

“Thank you,” Ye Fei replied immediately.

Chuckling, You Qian said, “It’s all thanks to him. I don’t feel a pinch, don’t thank me.”

Ye Fei nodded with a smile.

Out of the blue, a shadow sped from the alley opposite the street. It was a little boy only seven or eight years old covered in dirt and dust; his clothes were dirty, stained with dried droplets of blood. He looked at Lin Chao and his company timidly, attempting to come close.

“A survivor?” The group noticed him.

The little boy’s gaze was attracted by the noodles and water in Ye Fei’s hands. Once he approached them, he carefully asked with a shallow voice, “Big brothers and big sisters, can you give me a little food?”

A light frown formed between Lin Chao’s brows when he looked at the boy’s teeth as he spoke, an unnoticeable cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Taking in the pitiful appearance of the boy, Ye Fei immediately gave him the noodles and water in her hands and stroked his hair fondly. “Have these.”

You Qian took out another bottle of water and a pack of noodles from his backpack. “There’s more if it’s not enough.”

The boy instantly inhaled what he received from Ye Fei, now staring at You Qian’s bag, greed glistening in his gaze.

He finished the noodles soon and had a few gulps of water before accepting another from You Qian, He seemed to be encouraged and asked carefully, “Thank you big brother, thank you big sister. Can – can you guys help my mommy? She’s sick. She’s going to die…”

Without hesitation, Ye Fei stood up at once and asked, “Where is she? Take me to her.”

You Qian agreed as well. “I’ll go too.” Then, he seemed to recall something and looked over to Lin Chao in question, asking for his opinion.

Fan Xiangyu scoffed coldly. Just as she was about to speak, Lin Chao stopped her with a hand and answered distantly, “You guys go ahead.”

“Okay.” You Qian was delighted from his approval.

The little boy looked at Lin Chao and Fan Xiangyu timidly. “You guys are not going?”

Fan Xiangyu looked at him icily, her gaze cutting like a blade. His eyes sunk down timidly, the little boy stepped back subconsciously and looked down in fright.

You Qian and Ye Fei did not contemplate, dashing off with the little boy.

Watching as they retreat, Fan Xiangyu could not help asking Lin Chao, “Why did you let them go? The kid is not kind. The gaps in his teeth reeked of human flesh. He must’ve eaten humans. They’ll possibly face danger if they go over. Although You Qian’s an Evolved, his three times physique is still too weak.”