Chapter 25 Pretty Boy

Jiang Ye had clearly planned this all along, having chosen the hotel location in advance. The hotel was only a few hundred meters from the park, separated by a main road, so he could simply walk there.

The People's Park here is extremely spacious, with a large river flowing through the middle of the park. Several bridges have been built over the river, and the air is filled with water vapor. There are many green plants around the river, and stone steps lead up a small hill, where a pavilion has been built.

In addition, there is a specially designated area with many amusement facilities such as the "giant pendulum" and the "carousel".

Jiang Ye looked at the monument in the park. "We really need you this time."

He turned to look at Bai Chenzhu, his dark eyes focused and serious. "To be honest, your mental power is very special. It covers a wide range and you can 'see' a lot of things."

"What you need to do now is to sense the spiritual energy fluctuations in the park and then find something for me."

Bai Chenzhu nodded, somewhat doubting his ability to do it. But since Jiang Ye had said so, he must know what he was doing. He wasn't surprised that Jiang Ye wanted something. "What is it?"

"I can't quite describe it, but that thing has a rather strong mental energy fluctuation." Jiang Ye stood at an angle with his hands in his pockets, thinking seriously for a moment. "It should be very conspicuous within your mental energy range."

There are hardly any living people wandering around the park now; the few zombies that are there are mostly on the streets and rarely come in. Therefore, the information displayed on Bai Chenzhu's mental website is particularly limited.

Jiang Ye pondered, "If you don't know how to use your mental power, then close your eyes and block out the interference of your five senses before trying to sense it, just like how you were able to sense the mutated rat and know my location that day. I believe you will definitely be able to detect the fluctuations of mental power."

"Let me try." Bai Chenzhu was skeptical. He raised his hand and placed it on the surface of the monument, then slowly closed his eyes.

He could no longer see anything with his eyes; he felt vast stretches of darkness. As time passed, he gradually made out the general outlines that were vaguely appearing in the darkness.

In the darkness, Jiang Ye beside him shone brightly, like a light bulb. Bai Chenzhu's eyes twitched slightly, almost laughing, but he managed to suppress it.

Besides that, there was another place where a faint light shone, like an aftershock, spreading through Bai Chenzhu's mental network.

After a moment, he opened his eyes. "There is such a conspicuous place, but I don't know if it's what you're looking for."

He gestured, "It's not a single point of light, but many tiny points of light, and among these points of light, one stands out particularly."

Jiang Ye's brows furrowed with delight, and he stood up straight, eagerly saying, "Then let's go take a look."

The location that Bai Chenzhu sensed was exactly diagonally opposite to theirs; they had to cross the river and walk to the other side of the hill.

The two walked slowly, and Jiang Ye would occasionally ask him if the area was safe and if there were any zombies.

At first, Bai Chenzhu didn't know his purpose and answered seriously. After walking for a while, before even crossing the small bridge over the river, his forehead began to throb, his face turned pale, he broke out in a cold sweat, and his eyelids became so heavy that he could have fallen asleep on the spot.

In the end, Bai Chenzhu realized that Jiang Ye was deliberately making him deplete his mental energy, another form of 'training'. He understood this in his heart, but he felt uncomfortable and wouldn't answer Jiang Ye's questions, completely unwilling to pay attention to him.

Jiang Ye only let him go after he had exhausted most of his mental energy.

Ten or twenty minutes later, the two finally arrived at their destination. It was a small lake formed by the river flowing through a certain place, and several extremely ugly swans were swimming on it.

Yes, it was a very ugly swan. Its body was bald, revealing raw flesh, and its feathers were uneven. It also had a deformed, huge fleshy growth on its head.

They stood mechanically and stiffly on the lake as if nothing had happened, occasionally shaking their feathers, with flesh and blood of unidentifiable creatures scattered around the edge of the pond.

The two crouched down in the nearby grass, observing the flock of swans.

"It's probably in the pool. This is really weird." Jiang Ye gritted his teeth. "I should have known that the spiritual energy attached to that thing would attract monsters."

“Mental power attracts monsters?” Even though Bai Chenzhu had some expectations, this was the first time he had heard Jiang Ye explain it so clearly.

“Yes, mental energy will attract monsters. This is what they crave after losing their minds, which is why you can become ‘roasted chicken’,” Jiang Ye explained to him.

It's roast chicken again. Bai Chenzhu said expressionlessly, "That's truly my honor."

Jiang Ye said, "People like me are more attractive to them than ordinary people. You and Bai Tao are even more attractive than me. Monsters will instinctively devour each other because of their difference in mental strength. When it accumulates to a certain level, they will regain their intelligence."

"However, it is no longer the original 'it', but a new 'new life'."

Bai Chenzhu seemed to be deep in thought, and Jiang Ye looked at Bai Chenzhu.

The two stared at each other for a moment, and Bai Chenzhu's scalp tingled instantly. He quickly leaned back, widening the distance between himself and Jiang Ye, and asked, "What are you going to do!"

Jiang Ye blinked. "Roasted Chicken, do you remember how we cooperated last time? This time, it's the same as before. You go lure them away, and I'll go get something."

Bai Chenzhu gave him a push, and Jiang Ye, who was half-squatting, lost his balance and fell directly onto the lawn. But he wasn't angry; he just smiled and said, "Can you help me out? I'll do it as soon as possible."

Bai Chenzhu stared at him, glanced around, and finally looked at the grove behind him, lost in thought: "The geese probably won't climb the trees, right?"

Seeing that the risk wasn't high, Bai Chenzhu assessed his own capabilities and figured he could help. So, Bai Chenzhu raised his chin and asked, "What's in it for me?"

"Shall I catch a swan for you and roast it?" Jiang Ye stroked his chin.

The mutants swam freely on the lake. Bai Chenzhu imagined what they would look like as roasted meat and instantly lost his appetite.

"Then what do you want?" Jiang Ye asked directly. Since Bai Chenzhu had offered what he could give, it meant that he already had something he wanted.

But he was overthinking it; Bai Chenzhu had only mentioned it casually. After all, given Jiang Ye's character, Bai Chenzhu knew perfectly well that if he didn't agree to help, the consequence would probably be being tied up by Jiang Ye and used as a carrot dangling in the rabbit's toy.

That's something Jiang Ye would actually do.

Being proactive is always better than being reactive. So he took the initiative and made his request. Bai Chenzhu thought for a moment, "I want roast chicken, the real thing, not some mutated kind."

“Sure.” Jiang Ye thought he was going to bring something up, but upon hearing this, he felt the deal was very worthwhile. He raised his hand and gestured for him to begin, as if to say: Please begin your performance.

Bai Chenzhu clicked his tongue, took off his backpack and rummaged around for a while, finding a fruit knife. He stuffed the bulky backpack into the bushes, glared at the person next to him, and said, "Jiang Ye, you bastard, if anything goes wrong because of your plan, I'll never let you go."

"Okay, welcome." Jiang Ye's deep eyebrows curved into a smile as he urged them on repeatedly before running off to squat down elsewhere.

There were about five swans, their long necks bent as they preened their sparse feathers. Looking at them, Bai Chenzhu took a deep breath, knowing he'd been tricked into joining a traitorous scheme.

His current method of using mental power is crude and rudimentary; he simply closes his eyes, holds his breath, and focuses his attention on a certain place. His mental threads, like a school of fish, tremble and drift towards the flock of swans according to their master's will.

When the spiritual threads approached them, the mutated swans visibly raised their heads and looked around. Bai Chenzhu gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and increased the release of his spiritual power.

The flock of swans immediately located Bai Chenzhu, and one by one they spread their wings, stretched their necks, and took off from the water. Their feet quickly crossed and stepped on the water, rushing to the shore at an incredible speed.

The speed at which swans walk on land far exceeds Bai Chenzhu's imagination.

Faced with this group of monsters the size of kindergarten children, he belatedly felt fear, his face turned slightly pale, and he quickly turned and ran away.

Behind him was a grove of trees. The swans that were chasing him flapped their wings and cried out. He heard the sound of wind behind him. Bai Chenzhu ducked down and a large white goose flew over his head. He barely managed to grab it.

The goose turned and pounced, stretching its neck to bite the pocket on his chest. It was only a finger's width away, a close call indeed. It was clear that if it had pinched his flesh, a piece of flesh would have been torn off.

The swans rushed over, gradually forming a siege. Bai Chenzhu quickly scrambled up the tree trunk, slightly panting.

The mutated geese below were reluctant to leave, lingering under the tree, stretching their necks to attack the trunk, emitting loud cries, and staring intently at their prey in the tree with their round eyes.

Damn it! Where is Jiang Yeren? Why is he moving so slowly! Bai Chenzhu was still shaken and dared not climb down the tree.

He closed his eyes, searching for the bright spot in the darkness. He could only vaguely 'see' Jiang Ye's bright spot in the pool, close to that star.

Bai Chenzhu opened his eyes and looked down at the noisy flock of geese that wanted to eat him. Thinking of the dangerous scene just now, he gasped.

He turned to look at the torn corner of his shirt and casually straightened the disheveled fabric. Thinking of the goose that had tried to nibble at his pocket, he touched his chest pocket and inexplicably pulled out a small handkerchief.

The handkerchief was stained bright red with blood, and because it had been there for a while, it had turned reddish-brown, with spiritual energy that did not belong to him floating on it.

When did Jiang Ye put it on me? Bai Chenzhu frowned, recalling that Jiang Ye had been trying to stuff things into his backpack on the way here, and he guessed that it was during that time that he took the opportunity to stuff it in.

He rubbed the handkerchief between his fingers, the scent of fresh blood lingering on his fingertips. After a moment's thought, he forcefully tore off half of the handkerchief and tentatively tossed it below.

The ravenous mutant geese saw the "food" falling from the sky, which was even more attractive than the "food" they had just eaten, and they rushed over to peck at it frantically.

Their teeth grew in a strange way; it took Bai Chenzhu some effort to tear a handkerchief apart, but once the handkerchief fell into their mouths, it tore apart as easily as a tissue and was swallowed whole.

Then, they emitted sharp cracking sounds and frantically rammed their heads against the tree. Bai Chenzhu quickly hugged the tree trunk tightly, which swayed and fell leaves as it was hit.

The swans, their heads spinning, stumbled away as if they had encountered the King of Hell, screeching as they ran.

A goose that had just been nibbling on the bamboo leaves fell to the ground with a thud after taking a few meters and remained motionless.

Seeing the familiar scene, Bai Chenzhu had already guessed who the bloodstains belonged to.

That's ruthless. Bai Chenzhu silently stared at the half-eaten handkerchief in her hand.

While Bai Tao's spiritual power is equally captivating, she is a mutated spiritual ability user with extremely aggressive abilities. The last time I saw her use it was when she was overwhelmed with grief and anger and killed someone remotely. Anyone who touches her will suffer. Those swans who dare to attack her directly will definitely not have an easy time.

It must be the blood that Jiang Ye asked for when he was chatting with Bai Tao before leaving the house, but he doesn't know why the blood has spiritual power.

Bai Chenzhu cautiously refrained from climbing down immediately. Instead, he sat down on a branch, intending to wait for Jiang Ye to arrive. With the threat gone, he leaned against the tree trunk, casually surveying his surroundings.

Unexpectedly, some people couldn't stand his refusal to go down.

A drooling dog leaped out of the bushes, its eyes bloodshot, breathing on the cypress and bamboo trees, revealing its ferocious, blood-red maw.

It was a huge dog, taller than a person's knee, with sharp claws on all four paws and a collar around its neck. Behind it, a man appeared on a leash.

A man and a dog emerged from the grove.

If it weren't for the inconvenient time and place, Bai Chenzhu would definitely admire the bond between the master and pet behind him; even after mutating, they could still stay together... Wait, no?!

That's a person!

Bai Chenzhu looked at the man she hadn't noticed before and discovered that the person leading the ferocious-looking mutant dog was actually a living human.

The man noticed his gaze, smiled slowly, and fine wrinkles appeared on his face. He was a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties with a sharp look in his eyes. He wore a watch on his wrist and was dressed in what looked like a brand-name outdoor fishing outfit. The muscle lines revealed by his close-fitting clothes did not match his face.

He picked up a shard of handkerchief from under the tree, fiddled with it a couple of times, and fed it to his subordinate's dog. He stood up, raised his hand, and waved, saying, "What a coincidence, young man, you're also a superhuman?"

What does 'also' mean?

That damned mutant dog was circling around under the tree. Bai Chenzhu's eyelids twitched. "Do you need something? If not, could you please keep your dog on a leash?"

The mutated dog ate the handkerchief and began to fidget, shaking its head and baring its teeth. Occasionally, it would bark excitedly at the man, but after being slapped by him, it would quiet down, whimpering and staggering.

Two minutes later, under their gaze, it panted heavily, wobbled to its feet, lowered its body, wagged its tail, and circled around the tree, sniffing the air.

Something's wrong with this dog. It also drank the blood of the white peach, but this dog woke up so quickly and obeyed the man's commands. Bai Chenzhu immediately thought of Jiang Ye's earlier statement about 'rebirth'.

How could a mutant dog possibly have an 'owner'? Even if a man resorts to violence, the mutant dog will never be subdued because it is no longer a sentient or intelligent being.

Unless, the dog has been fed enough 'spiritual power'.

Was the man in the park looking for food to feed his pet?

Bai Chenzhu immediately had an idea. Looking at the master and pet under the tree, he assumed that the man was planning to hunt swans to feed the mutated dog, so he watched the man and dog indifferently.

"Of course something's wrong." The man said calmly, uttering chilling words, "My dog ​​likes you very much."

These words made Bai Chenzhu's heart skip a beat. His face turned cold as he warily observed the man. "What do you mean?"

The man chuckled in a hoarse voice, "Are you deaf? Pretty boy, I'm telling you, my dog ​​really likes you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the mutated dog barked and wagged its tail, scratching at the tree trunk and leaving scratches on it. Its blood-red eyes stared longingly at the cypress bamboo on the tree.

In an instant, Bai Chenzhu's heart sank into the cave.

Aside from Jiang Ye and Bai Tao, this was the second time he had encountered a person with superpowers.

The last superhuman, the security chief, used the guise of "eliminating evil for the people" to massacre people in a hotel. This one in front of us looks no different; he's also a brutal criminal.

What's worse, while security guards might use some excuse to cover up their misdeeds, this man was clearly insane, making him even more terrifying than the former. This shows that the man was very confident in his abilities.

More terrifying than zombies are people. Bai Chenzhu looked at the vicious dog gnawing on tree bark and scratching at the trunk, and the smiling man watching from the sidelines, and coldly shouted, "Do you know what you're saying? You madman, are you trying to kill someone?"

"Hahaha, what are you saying?" The middle-aged man remained unfazed. "Do you have any evidence?"

After he finished speaking, he loosened his grip on the rope. The mutated dog barked and kicked off with its thick hind legs, grabbing onto the tree trunk, but then slid down.

The uncle grinned, clenched his fist, and punched the thick tree trunk. The tree trembled and shook off a few leaves.

Having witnessed Jiang Ye's strength, Bai Chenzhu's expression suddenly changed, and he steadied himself against the tree trunk.

"Looks like your superpower isn't all that great." The uncle's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Trash doesn't deserve to live. You'd better just be dog food."

As he spoke, he roughly and eccentrically used the tree trunk as a punching bag and launched a fierce attack.

Each punch produced a tremendous impact, the tree shook violently, countless leaves fell with a rustling sound, and Bai Chenzhu was almost shaken off.

A small horizontal crack suddenly appeared on the tree trunk, and the crack continued to widen.