Chapter 50 Heavens above!

"Ah Qi," Chi Yanzhou's voice carried a hint of weariness, "turn right ahead and park in the alley."

The sound of tires rolling over gravel was particularly jarring.

The group carried the supplies that Lu Nange had taken out of her system backpack in advance off the vehicle.

Lu Nange lightly touched the car body with her fingertips, and the SUV disappeared instantly.

When the setting sun dyed the kindergarten's mottled exterior walls orange-red.

At the alley entrance, several weary figures returned, their long shadows trailing behind them.

He Zhuo pulled out a walkie-talkie, his voice crackling through the static: "Brother Chi, Lao Ji, we're back. Open the door for us."

Deep in the alley, Chi Yi's eyes were pressed against the crack in the door: "They're our people."

He turned and gestured, "Could you please open the door?"

The sturdy arm of the cylinder pulled open the hinge.

"Nan Nan! Brother!" Gu Wan rushed out, her finger hovering in mid-air.

Trembling, she dared not touch Lu Nange's blood-soaked clothes, "You...this is..."

Lu Nange forced a tired smile: "Sister Wanwan, don't worry, it's all zombie blood."

Gu Qi grabbed his sister's shoulder and said, "Let's go inside first."

When Da Ge and Wei Hao came up to greet them, the group simply nodded in silent acknowledgment.

Lu Xici: "Da Ge, Haozi, let's wash up first."

Rooftop.

Chi Yanzhou took the toolbox that Lu Nange handed him.

The boys worked together seamlessly, the dull thuds of hammers striking nails echoing throughout the room.

The heavy curtains were nailed on layer by layer, sealing the classroom windows completely.

The sound of desks and chairs being dragged echoed in the corridor.

Lu Xici patted the dust off his hands and turned to Lu Nange, saying, "Nannan, you're all done. Go wash up first."

The crowd gradually withdrew.

Chi Yi pulled out a chair for Ji Xian.

Ji Xian, carrying a walkie-talkie, stood guard at the stairwell.

Gu Wan leaned against the classroom door where Lu Nange was taking a shower, her fingertips unconsciously picking at the mottled paint on the wall.

Inside the classroom, Lu Nange locked the door and took out a folding bathtub filled with water from her system inventory.

The warm water enveloped her tired skin, and she couldn't help but let out a satisfied sigh, her tense nerves finally relaxing slightly.

The aroma of food wafted from the next classroom, accompanied by the clanging of spatulas and the sizzling of ingredients being added to the pot.

He Zhuo stared longingly at the rolling chunks of meat in the pot, swallowing hard: "Brother Chi, this smells so good!"

Chi Yi brandished the spatula without looking up: "Miss Lu only gave me semi-finished products. I'm just responsible for heating them up!"

...

After dinner, the boys took turns showering.

When Lu Xici pushed open the classroom door, steaming water vapor billowed out.

Lu Nange sat in the corridor drying Lu Beiye's hair, the little guy's soft hair twirling between her fingers.

As obedient as a kitten being stroked.

Lu Xici strode over and leaned lazily against the wall.

He had just finished showering; his short, choppy hair was still damp and hung over his forehead.

Water droplets slid down his sharp jawline, leaving dark stains on his collar.

He lowered his eyelashes, his voice unusually calm: "Nan Nan, I'm sorry."

Lu Beiye and Lu Nange paused simultaneously, exchanged a glance, and then looked up in unison, saying, "Brother, you've pulled this crazy stunt again!"

Lu Xici's temple throbbed with a vein.

He took a deep breath, raised his hand to rub his temples, and lowered his voice: "Nan Nan, from now on, no matter what happens, put your own safety first, okay?"

Lu Beiye nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "Sister, brother is right!"

I'll handle this newbie, bro. You just need to take care of yourself!

Don't worry, I'll protect you if I can, and if I can't, I'll protect myself!

I know I'm more important to you!

"Lu Beiye!" Lu Xici raised his foot and lightly kicked him.

The little guy reacted incredibly quickly, nimbly leaping to the side while not forgetting to taunt, "Brother, have you ever considered that you might not be able to beat me?"

......

The night was as dark as ink when a knock came at the door in the corridor.

Lu Nange was startled awake from her light sleep. Her fingertips instinctively reached for the Tang sword beside her, and she only breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Chi Yanzhou's voice.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Chi Yanzhou's tense face.

"Ci-ge and A-Qi have high fevers, Nan-nan, get me some fever reducers!"

Hearing a rustling sound behind her, Gu Wan rubbed her eyes and got out of bed.

The two followed Chi Yanzhou to the classroom where the boys were resting.

On the mat, Lu Xici and Gu Qi had flushed faces.

Gu Qi's brows were furrowed, and his lips were chapped from the high fever.

Lu Xici unconsciously curled up, his fingertips twitching from time to time.

Lu Nange immediately took out fever-reducing medicine from her system backpack, and Chi Yanzhou and He Zhuo carefully lifted the two of them by the neck to feed them the medicine.

"You guys go and rest first, we'll keep watch!"

Lu Nange nodded slightly as she listened to Chi Yanzhou's words.

The sky outside the window changed from deep black to dark blue, and then gradually darkened.

Ji Xian's injury hadn't healed, and Lu Xici and Gu Qi's high fevers hadn't subsided.

The group had to postpone their plans to go out and collect supplies, and instead rest and recuperate at the kindergarten.

As Da Ge and Wei Hao climbed the stairs, Chi Yi blocked their way at the top: "They're still resting."

The two exchanged a glance. Wei Hao said, "Brother Chi, if Brother Ci wakes up, could you call out downstairs and we'll come over? Is that alright?"

Chi Yi nodded slightly, and the two turned and went downstairs.

In the dim light of the corridor, Lu Nange's fingertips suddenly touched the red crystal core in her pocket.

He pulled it out of his pocket; the crystal core looked like a drop of congealed blood.

She crouched down and asked softly, "A-Ye, can you use this?"

Lu Beiye shook his head, his hair swaying gently with the movement: "Sister, my superpower is already at level three."

He pointed to Chi Yanzhou, who was leaning against the wall with his eyes closed in rest: "This level-two crystal core is more suitable for Brother Yanzhou."

Lu Nange nodded slightly, got up and walked to the end of the corridor.

Chi Yanzhou's slender figure was half-hidden in the shadows, and he lazily opened his eyes only when he heard footsteps.

"Brother Yanzhou".

"Hmm?" He raised the last syllable of his voice, his voice hoarse from just waking up.

Lu Nange opened her palm: "This is for you."

Chi Yanzhou raised an eyebrow slightly, the drowsiness in his eyes fading somewhat: "Keep your things to yourself."

Lu Nange sighed inwardly…

If I had superpowers, I would increase my strength!

After all, having your own abilities is the most reliable thing... Unfortunately, I haven't awakened my special abilities yet! Besides, if A-Ye didn't need them, and 'Youyou' wasn't refusing to absorb them... I wouldn't have given them to you!!!

"My powers are useless right now! Besides, we'll be safer if you're stronger."

Lu Nange stuffed the crystal core into Chi Yanzhou's hand and turned to leave.

Chi Yanzhou stroked the still-warm crystal core, his dark eyes half-closed, but his gaze remained fixed on the girl's departing figure.

***

As evening fell, Lu Xici's eyelashes trembled slightly.

He Zhuo, who was standing by, was the first to notice and excitedly rushed forward: "Brother Ci! How are you feeling? Have you awakened your special ability?"

Lu Xici got up from the cushion.

He raised his hand blankly, and a cluster of orange-red flames leaped from his palm, dancing a few times in the air before quietly extinguishing.

Hearing He Zhuo's shout, Lu Nange walked in and exclaimed, "Brother, fire-type ability!"

He Zhuo exaggeratedly covered his chest and shed tears of envy!

Gu Qi slowly woke up and saw He Zhuo's tearful expression as soon as he opened his eyes.

"Old He, what's wrong?"

He Zhuo looked at him with a mournful expression: "Old Gu, don't tell me you've awakened a special ability too?... "

Gu Qi reached out his hand in confusion, and a clear jet of water suddenly shot out, leaving a water stain on the wall.

Lu Beiye: "Water-based superpower!"

He Zhuo knelt down with a thud, looked up and cried out in anguish, "Heavens above, it's unjust!"