Chapter 22 Surrender

At noon, someone came to bring food.

The door was knocked open. It was Zhang Mao, one of the psychics who had come with Zhou Shun to pick them up yesterday. He held a few sweet potatoes in his hand and said, "I'll get you some food."

"Thanks."

He looked inside again as he spoke, "...Where's your companion?"

Yan Chuanbai paused for a second and said, "Take a bath in the yard."

Zhang Mao seemed to prick up his ears and listen.

The tall figure blocked his view. Yan Chuanbai looked at him and asked, "Anything else?"

"No." Zhang Mao listened carefully and continued, "There's a shortage of materials. Your car can't be repaired for a while. You may have to wait until tomorrow. Brother Zhou agrees that you can stay one more night, but don't run around anymore."

After he said that, he closed the door and went out.

The door closed, Yan Chuanbai picked up the bowl and put it aside.

…

Qi He didn't come back all afternoon.

There was no signal, and Yan Chuanbai sat on the edge of the bed, his brows furrowed slightly. As the sky gradually darkened, a slight sound suddenly came from the courtyard: dong.

What sound is falling?

He immediately stood up and walked out of the door.

As soon as the door opened, a zombie face suddenly caught my eye.

Yan Chuanbai's pupils shrank and he reached for his gun in an instant.

"Don't shoot, it's our own people."

A familiar voice sounded from behind.

The zombie was moved away, revealing Qi He's clean and non-aggressive face. Wearing gloves, he placed the zombie at the door. "It's dead, don't worry."

"..." Yan Chuanbai put down his gun, "What did you do?"

"The area was so cleaned up that I hiked for a while, skipping over unimportant details—" like finding a patch of grass to bask in the sun for a while, "and finally caught a tough zombie."

Yan Chuanbai tried not to delve into it further. "Then what?"

Qi He closed the door. "The residents go back to their rooms after 8pm, leaving only patrol teams to take turns patrolling. Every 15 minutes, a team patrols from the front of the residential area. Zhou Shun's residence is in the center of the residential area."

Yan Chuanbai said softly, "You have found out everything clearly."

"It's just a matter of convenience."

Qi He suddenly raised his eyes as he spoke.

His eyes were bright, and when they were focused, they gave people a feeling that they were needed and had great value. Yan Chuanbai looked at him with longing eyes and said:

"Let me borrow your ice ability."

-

8:00 p.m.

The residents all returned to their houses on time.

Zhou Shun hasn't returned yet. As the commander of the shelter, he still has to sit in front of the small square in the residents' center for a while to make sure that tonight's patrol is proceeding normally.

Fifteen minutes later, the two patrol teams crossed each other in front of the small square on time.

Zhou Shun looked at the orderly patrol and felt relieved:

Tonight is also a quiet night.

He was about to get up and stretch his legs when he suddenly saw a dark figure rushing out from the residential area across the street. Under the cover of the night, it was so fast that it arrived in front of the square in a blink of an eye.

In the light, it turned out to be a zombie!

Zhou Shun was suddenly startled: How could there be zombies in the center of a residential area?

He quickly picked up the gun from his waist, aimed and fired: Bang!

The bullet hit the zombie's head and it fell to the ground.

Zhou Shun breathed a sigh of relief and put his gun back in, his face not looking good: "What's going on with the patrol? They just passed by in front. How could they let the zombies break through the layers of sentries and enter the residential area?"

Fortunately, everyone has returned to the house by now.

He was about to call his subordinates over as he thought about it: "Zhang——"

As soon as he opened his mouth, the zombie that had fallen to the ground in front of him suddenly stood up again.

Zhou Shun was stunned for a moment, without time to think, he quickly fired several shots at the zombies: BANG BANG BANG!!!

The zombie swayed, then jumped towards him.

What the hell? Zhou Shun was stunned.

The successive gunshots alarmed the people around and the patrol team not far away, and everyone ran over here one after another. The zombie had already rushed to Zhou Shun, nimbly dodged the attack of the supernatural power, and pounced -

"What's going on?"

“…There are zombies!”

A few more gunshots were heard, but they missed in panic.

Zhou Shun watched helplessly as the zombies rushed towards him, waving their reflective nails.

Can’t be killed, can’t be killed at all!

His heart rate soared, and in an instant, his arm covered the rock and soil, and he punched the zombie's head head-on! A faint chill seeped in, and the imperceptible layer of ice wrapped around his nails cut through his clothes.

“Brother Zhou——!”

With a plop, the zombie flew backwards and landed on the ground a few meters away. The surrounding psychics rushed over and subdued the fallen zombie.

…

Zhou Shun fell to the ground and had not yet recovered.

The zombies stopped moving at this moment.

The psychics stood a few meters away, surrounded by ordinary residents who were watching. They looked at Zhou Shun with sorrow and fear:

"Brother Zhou, you... were captured by zombies."

"Boss..."

Zhou Shun jumped to his feet. "What kind of mourning tone are you guys talking about?" He tugged at his sleeve. "My clothes are just torn!"

"But you have a scratch on your arm."

Zhou Shun was suddenly speechless.

After a pause, he added, "No, this zombie was already dead before you arrived!"

Everyone: “…”

Everyone: "Brother Zhou, the zombies are all dead whether we come or not."

Zhou Shun was anxious. "I mean, I killed it before that! One shot to the head, it was already dead. I don't know why it crawled back up. I'm not infected!"

Everyone looked at each other. When they arrived, they only saw the zombies rushing towards Zhou Shun: "...Did you miss? How can you get up again after killing them?"

"I also want to know how someone could get up again after being beaten to death...!"

Zhou Shun murmured in disbelief.

He felt that his understanding of zombies had collapsed.

-

There was silence in the square for a while.

No one dared to approach Zhou Shun easily.

After a while, the patrol captain couldn't help but say, "No one who has been caught by zombies will not be infected."

They were very convinced and grateful to Zhou Shun for providing them with a refuge, but if a powerful mutant suddenly mutated, who knows how many casualties would be caused.

They didn't dare to gamble on the incubation period and kept people in the shelter.

Zhou Shun was unwilling to accept it, "Impossible, I really beat it to death, how could it -"

Hesitant discussions were heard from all around:

"Isn't it that the zombies outside have evolved..."

"I didn't expect that after evolving to this level, he could still be resurrected from the dead."

"So what should we do with Brother Zhou now?"

In the stalemate atmosphere, a voice suddenly sounded: "Don't be impatient."

Everyone turned around and saw Qi He and Yan Chuanbai walking towards them.

Qi He stopped in front of Zhou Shun, carefully examined his arm, and spoke in a calm voice with a soothing tone, "There's no blood, so there's still a glimmer of hope. If you want to confirm whether you're infected, there's a most direct way—"

Zhou Shun looked over anxiously, "What?"

Qi He said, "We have detectors at our base."

Zhou Shun paused, base.

But soon, the desire to survive took over. "Is it accurate? Does a positive test result mean I'm not infected at all?"

Qi He nodded, "Very accurate."

The residents were all surprised and whispered, "There's this kind of equipment? Is the base's technology so advanced?"

"Then there's no need to wait anxiously for the incubation period..."

Yan Chuanbai looked at Zhou Shun and said, "The car will be repaired tomorrow. Do you want to go back to the base with us?"

He made up a story, "But after registering, it's assumed that I'll stay."

Qi He's gaze drifted away: Yan Chuanbai didn't blink an eye when he was trying to trick people.

Zhou Shun gritted his teeth: "...Go! I'll go."

Yan Chuanbai nodded and looked around: "The conditions here are limited. You can also consider whether you all want to go to the base."

After he finished speaking, he said to Zhou Shun, "You stay next door to us tonight, and we will keep an eye on you."

The matter has been resolved for the time being.

The patrol team strengthened the protection around the area, and the residents returned to their houses one after another.

The zombie was cremated.

The flickering firelight reflected on Qi He's profile. He looked at Zhou Shun who was climbing up in shock.

The system spoke in my mind: [Are you sure he is okay? ]

"Sure, we've done double protection."

In addition to carefully wrapping Zhou Shun's teeth and nails with thin ice to ensure that he only touched the ice layer, he also asked Yan Chuanbai to freeze and thaw the dead zombies repeatedly.

Qi He said: "Repeated freezing and thawing can allow ice crystals to destroy the virus structure and accelerate the inactivation of the virus."

The system slowly starts to work: […Oh.]

After a moment, it asked again: [Will others go to the base?]

"Yes."

Qi He and Yan Chuanbai took Zhou Shun back.

Zhou Shun’s self-confidence was gone, and he was completely immersed in a trance of cognitive collapse.

"Once the information barrier is broken, they will make their own choices."

-

The next morning, Qi He got up early.

Yan Chuanbai went to the next door and opened the door.

Zhou Shun suddenly appeared, his eyes red: "Did you guys sleep well? I couldn't sleep."

He stepped past Yan Chuanbai and walked out of the house, looking up: "Ah...it's the sun."

Yan Chuanbai glanced sideways: "..."

System: [Is he crazy?]

Qi He translated for someone: "He was expressing his gratitude for actually seeing the sun the next day."

【……】

Yan Chuanbai greeted, "Pack up your things and go to the base."

The three of them walked all the way to the community center.

A group of people were already waiting in front of them. The leading psychics first glanced at Zhou Shun, then said to Qi He and Yan Chuanbai, "We have already discussed it."

Yan Chuanbai stopped and waited for their answer.

"We...we are willing to go to the base."

The evolution of zombies does not seem to be an exaggeration.

Moreover, they finally discovered that the seemingly self-sufficient shelter lacked the most important thing: technology.

Zhou Shun's expression was a bit complicated. "Are you all willing to leave?"

The patrol leader said, "Most of us are willing. The shelter isn't as safe without you. We might as well go to the base together."

There were also those who were unwilling to leave, but since they had all left in scattered pieces, staying would be tantamount to waiting for death.

Qi He was pleased and said to Zhou Shun: "Now you can go on your journey with peace of mind."

Zhou Shun, who was already sensitive: "..."

They agreed and prepared to set off.

There were also about ten cars in the shelter, and everyone unanimously decided to evacuate the elderly, children, and the infirm first.

Yan Chuanbai said: "I will send someone to pick you up as soon as possible."

Qi He was watching people board the bus when he suddenly saw two familiar figures. Aunt Tian took Tian Xiaoluo on board, and Tian Xiaoluo was reluctant to leave: "I didn't take anything with me..."

Auntie Tian touched his head and said, "No more."

Qi He paused, then turned and spotted a small pot of flowers in front of the house. He took it and was met with Tian Xiaoluo's delighted face. The flowers were blooming vibrantly and beautifully. They weren't particularly practical, but they were carefully cultivated here, something not available at the base.

He put it in Tian Xiaoluo's arms: "You can take this."

One day, they will find another paradise.

…

When Qi He returned to the car, he saw Yan Chuanbai looking at him.

He paused, looked back, and said, "I'm not planning anything this time."

Yan Chuanbai leaned against the car door, his eyes fixed on his face for several seconds, and he smiled softly, "I know." Then he turned around and opened the door, "Get in the car."

"..." Qi He was horrified: "System, he smiled at me, is he planning something?"

The system said sarcastically: [How can I participate in your calculations?]

Qi He tolerated its extreme emotions caused by inferiority complex.

The car door slammed shut.

The car had been repaired, and Zhou Shun was in the back seat with them. Yan Chuanbai was driving, and he glanced at the convoy behind him through the rearview mirror:

"I'm afraid they can't keep up with our speed."

Qi He fastened his seatbelt and said, "It's okay, I'll add them."

Zhou Shun in the back row:?

"Okay." Yan Chuanbai released the handbrake and started the car.

-

The entire convoy sped along.

I don’t know what the people behind were thinking, but Zhou Shun, sitting in the car, began to doubt his life again after his cognition collapsed.

After rushing all the way, we finally rushed into Zone III two hours later.

The communicator signal has been restored.

Yan Chuanbai picked it up and called the base center: "The coordinates have been sent, send someone to pick us up, there are still 216 people in the shelter who need to be transferred to the base."

Zhou Shun was temporarily immersed in self-reconstruction and did not appreciate his tone.

The military is very efficient.

When their convoy was about to reach the junction of Zones I and II, they encountered a large convoy from the military.

Heavy armored vehicles rumbled over the grass and dust in the forest, and their thermal weapons skillfully swept away the mutated plants around them, clearing a path for them to return to the base.

When passing by Qi He and his friends' car.

The military convoys all slightly side-tracked to avoid the traffic and honked their horns briefly and orderly.

In the convoy behind, Tian Xiaoluo exclaimed, "Mom, what a huge car! Are they honking their horns to tell us to move aside?"

Aunt Tian had a doubtful guess in her mind: "...No, it seems that it is a courtesy to meet a superior."

…

With the support of all parties, they finally arrived at Base I before daybreak.

The convoy stopped in front of the base.

When everyone got out of the car and saw the towering gray wall standing before them, everyone got goosebumps.

——Is this building that looks indestructible and concentrates high-intensity firepower the city defense used by people outside to resist the invasion of zombies?

Yan Chuanbai and Qi He also got out of the car.

Zhou Shun hurriedly followed, "Where is the test?"

Yan Chuanbai gestured, and the inspector at Port A immediately led him to the instrument. Zhou Shun nervously extended his hand, and the small needle pricked it, and the inspector identified it:

“Not infected, safe.”

Zhou Shun breathed a sigh of relief. Having experienced a life-and-death situation, he no longer wanted to go back and live in fear.

The people who followed him were also happy for him: "Brother Zhou! Congratulations on being alive!"

The inspector glanced at them: "...?"

Zhou Shun, a psychic, took another psychic test. The signal lights lit up layer by layer, finally stopping at A-level. He was a little disappointed: "Oh, why is it only A-level? I thought I could reach S-level."

The inspector comforted him: "A-grade is already very good. Currently, there are less than 20 known S-grade ones."

Zhou Shun seemed to have regained some balance and looked at Qi He and the others: "Hey, so you are..."

Before he could finish his words, an officer came out.

He stopped in front of Yan Chuanbai, stood at attention, and saluted: "Colonel! Professor You, please go over."

Zhou Shun stopped talking:…???

Yan Chuanbai said, "I understand."

The officer said this and left.

Silence fell in front of the base, and everyone held their breath. "Wait, Colonel? Isn't that the one who took over Base I? The one who personally led them back?"

Zhou Shun was the first to regain his composure and turned to Qi He, "So you are his subordinate?"

Qi He just handed over his ID card for verification.

Ding! A sound: [Verification passed, S-level superpower.]

Zhou Shun: “…”

Everyone: “?”

The inspector smiled and explained, "Mr. Qi is also a senior executive at our base."

A longer silence fell.

After a moment, Zhou Shun, who knew the current situation, was a hero. Thinking of what he had done before, he said to Yan Chuanbo in a friendly manner, "Brother Ji," he treated them all equally, "and...Brother Guo."

Qi He, “…”

Yan Chuanbai, "..."

The inspector looked puzzled:?

Zhou Shun said, "We have offended you before, but now we have surrendered. I hope you will not hold it against us."

Yan Chuanbai stared at him without saying anything. Qi He kindly reminded him, "Talk less and make fewer mistakes."

Zhou Shun was confused and said, "Okay, okay."

-

The task of resettling the residents was handed over to my subordinates.

Qi He and Yan Chuanbai went to the research institute first, saying that You Tianxing wanted to see them for something and was already waiting there.

The two of them went up to the third floor one after the other.

Qi He asked, "If he has something to do, why didn't he send a message?"

Yan Chuanbai looked ahead: "Because he has too many scenes."

“…”

"Let's go, we'll find out when we get in."

As they were talking, they arrived at the office door.

The sensor door slid open to both sides, and three figures stood in front of the bright floor-to-ceiling window: You Tianxing, Yu Jiang, and another person with his back to the window.

Qi He looked over and felt that the person looked familiar.

You Tianxing clapped his hands in joy and said, "Oh my! I'm glad you came back safely. We lost contact and couldn't communicate before, but now that you're back, I'll introduce you in person."

The person in front of me turned around, his slightly long hair brushed across his eyebrows, his face was thin and pale, revealing a pair of moist and soft eyes.

"This is the new S-rank member who joined the base, Jun Kanjou."

Those eyes lit up when they met Qi He's.

Then, as if remembering something, he called out, "It's you, Qiqi..."

In the office:?

The author has something to say:

Qi He:?

Yan Chuanbai: What are you yelling about? [Question mark][Question mark][Question mark][Question mark][Question mark][Question mark][Question mark][Question mark][Question mark][Cracked][Cracked][Cracked][Cracked][Cracked][Cracked][Cracked][Cracked][Roll eyes][Roll eyes][Roll eyes][Roll eyes][Roll eyes][Angry][Angry][Angry][Angry][Angry][Angry]

Guan Shangjun: But that’s what he said. [Poor]