5. Healing ability
Inside the SUV, the air was as stagnant as a substance. The thick blackout curtains blocked out even the last shred of light from the outside world, leaving only a single emergency light inside, casting a dim glow that flickered across the faces of the four people. The engine had long been shut off, and the only sounds in the cramped space were the heavy breathing and the faint, chaotic sounds of Blackrock Base outside.
"Damn, that Xiao!" Ah Yan finally exploded, slamming his fist into the seat beside him with a dull thud. A shallow dent left in the leather, a testament to the force of his punch. "What's that look in his eyes! He should be set on fire!" His chest heaved violently, his golden eyes blazing with rage, and uncontrollable flames shot out from his fingertips, glaring in the dim light.
"Calm down, Ayan." Mu Lin's voice remained gentle, but a heavy, unwavering solemnity hung between his brows. He reached out his hand, a coolness emanating from his palm as he gently pressed it against Ayan's wrist, extinguishing the restless flame. "We're on his territory now. A head-on confrontation wouldn't be wise." He turned to Lei Qing in the driver's seat, his light blue eyes appearing particularly profound in the dim light. "Captain, we must leave immediately."
Lei Qing sat in the driver's seat, his body erect, like a frozen statue. His fingers tapped the steering wheel rhythmically, making a soft "click, click" sound. His eyes, sharp as a knife, scanned the limited space inside the car, as if he could penetrate the blackout curtains and see every movement outside. "Leaving immediately is the best option." His voice was low and calm, with unquestionable authority. "But we haven't restocked the fuel and medicine yet. The situation outside is unclear. The zombies and mutants wandering the wilderness won't disappear just because we rush to leave. The vehicle's lack of range is a fatal problem." He pursed his lips tightly, and that subtle movement betrayed his inner tension. As captain, he had to weigh the risks behind every decision.
Su Lin huddled in the corner of the back row, head down, hands clenched tightly, knuckles white from the force. He could clearly feel the oppressive atmosphere in the car, and even more so the tension caused by him. Xiao's eyes, full of predatory desires, were engraved in his mind like a brand. The feeling of being scrutinized and coveted like prey made him feel uneasy and uneasy. What made his heart even heavier was that this sudden crisis was largely caused by him. It was he who attracted Xiao's attention and dragged the entire team into the dangerous vortex. "I'm sorry..." His voice was as thin as a mosquito, with a guilt that was hard to conceal, "It's all because of me..."
"What nonsense!" A Yan immediately turned his head, his golden eyes staring at him in the dim light, his tone rough but revealing an unmistakable sense of protection, "What does it have to do with you? It's that bastard who's mentally ill! He's looking around, and his men are so mean! Whoever dares to touch you, ask for my fist first!" He waved his still clenched fist, and sparks flew out from between his fingers again.
Mu Lin also turned his head, his gentle gaze resting on Su Lin's pale face. "Su Lin, this isn't your fault," his voice gurgling like a stream, attempting to soothe his uneasiness. "Beauty and uniqueness aren't inherently sinful; it's the fault of those with ill intentions." He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "It's just that we need to be more cautious now than ever. Xiao isn't just any thug; he's the ruler of this base, which means he wields powers and rules we don't understand."
Lei Qing glanced at Su Lin in the rearview mirror, his eyes calm and firm, and said concisely: "We are a team."
Those five short, powerful words, like a stabilizing force, instantly dispelled much of the anxiety and self-blame swirling within Su Lin. Yes, they were a team, supporting each other since the dawn of the apocalypse, facing countless life-or-death moments together. This time would be no exception.
Finally, after a quick, whispered discussion, the team decided they couldn't just sit there and wait for death. Waiting for a crisis to strike was the most foolish option. They needed intelligence, they needed to know Owl's next move, they needed to understand the base's defenses, especially the guard rotation schedules and inspections at the entrances and exits, so they could plan the safest and fastest evacuation route.
"Ayan and I will be responsible for going out to gather information," Lei Qing made the assignment, his voice low. "Ayan, control your temper. We're only going to listen and observe, not to fight."
Ah Yan tutted his words, somewhat reluctantly, but still nodded: "Got it, Boss."
"Mu Lin, Su Lin, you stay in the car." Lei Qing continued, "Pack all your equipment and prepare for the worst - we may break out at any time." His eyes swept across every corner of the car, as if confirming the location of every weapon and every piece of supply.
"Understood." Mu Lin nodded solemnly, "I will make sure everything goes well."
Lei Qing and A Yan slid silently out of the car, blending into the increasingly dense dusk of the base like two shadows. The car door was gently closed, leaving only Mu Lin and Su Lin inside.
Time passes slowly in the anxious waiting, and every minute and every second seems particularly long.
Inside the car, Su Lin's mind was pounding. He leaned against the window, carefully lifted the shade a tiny slit, and peered out. Outside, the night at Blackrock Base revealed its truest and most brutal side. Cries, shouts, desperate pleas, even the occasional brief sounds of fighting and gunfire, like a never-ending background sound, assaulted his eardrums, constantly reminding him of the kind of hell on earth this walled place truly was, a place where the strong prey on the weak.
He thought of the ordinary people he had seen in the trading district that day, their faces pale and their eyes dull. They were driven like animals, plundered, their lives as cheap as a piece of moldy bread. He also thought of the henchman whose wrist A Yan had broken and who was dragged away like a rag by his companions. No one cared about his life or death, even a superfluous groan seemed unnecessary. This was the law of the apocalypse, naked and cruel.
Su Lin's kindness and empathy become an endless torment in this extreme environment. He has the ability to heal, but he can't save every dying person; he has compassion, but he can only watch the tragedy unfold before his eyes.
In the evening, a faint, suppressed cry and the child's intermittent moaning of pain came clearly into Su Lin's ears through the crack in the car window. His heart tightened, and he leaned over to the crack again to look out.
Not far away, outside a shack made of tattered plastic sheeting and sticks, a skinny, ragged woman knelt on the ground, tightly hugging a child, perhaps five or six years old. The child's face was abnormally flushed, his body twitched violently and intermittently, his lips were cyanotic, and his breathing was so weak that it seemed as if it would stop at any moment. The woman cried helplessly, her voice hoarse and desperate. She repeatedly wiped the cold sweat from the child's forehead with her dirty sleeve, but it was obviously useless.
Occasionally, people passed by, but they either walked away indifferently with blank expressions or took a detour in disgust, as if they were afraid of being infected by the poverty and disease. No one stopped, no one asked, and no one offered a helping hand.
Su Lin's heart suddenly tightened, as if being gripped by an invisible hand. The child's face, twisted in pain, and the woman's helpless, hopeless eyes, were like two sharp thorns, piercing his heart. His healing ability... perhaps just a little bit would be enough to stabilize the child's condition, at least ease his pain and help him survive until tomorrow...
"Mu Lin," Su Lin turned his head and looked at Mu Lin who had been keeping vigilant beside him, his eyes full of pleading and reluctance, "Outside... there is a child who is very sick and may not be able to die... I..." His voice trembled slightly.
Mu Lin followed the direction he indicated, peered through the gap, and immediately frowned. He understood Su Lin's feelings; he knew Su Lin's soft heart better than anyone. However, reason told him how dangerous this was. "Su Lin, I know you want to help him," Mu Lin's voice was low and serious. "I understand. However, we are in a difficult situation right now, and Xiao's people are likely still watching us from the shadows. Any additional action, even the smallest act of kindness, could attract unnecessary attention and put us all in greater danger."
"I'll just take a look," Su Lin's voice was pleading, his clear eyes full of persistence and the pain of empathy caused by witnessing pain, "Maybe... maybe I only need to consume a little bit of my superpowers to stabilize his condition. I'll be quick, just a few seconds, and no one will notice. Mu Lin, I can't do it... I can't just watch..." He couldn't continue, just looked at Mu Lin earnestly.
Mu Lin fell silent as he watched the pain and persistence threatening to overflow from Su Lin's eyes. He knew Su Lin's character well; kindness was his essence. Failing to help would be a far greater psychological burden on him than a battle. He also understood that if he forcibly stopped him, Su Lin might live with guilt for the rest of his life. Finally, he sighed almost inaudibly, as if in compromise, yet also as if helpless. "Be extremely careful," he lowered his voice, his tone as solemn as an ultimatum. "If anything goes wrong, if you sense any spying, retreat immediately! Absolutely no hesitation!"
A light of gratitude suddenly flashed in Su Lin's eyes, and he nodded vigorously.
Taking advantage of the moment when dusk completely enveloped the earth, the light was dim and the surrounding vision was blurred, Su Lin pushed open the car door silently like a ghost, and slid out of the car nimbly without making a sound. Using the shadow of the car and the cover of the debris on the ground, he quickly and nimbly slipped behind the dilapidated shack.
The woman's full attention was on the child in her arms. It wasn't until Su Lin approached that she was startled, trembling with fear and looking up in terror. When she saw Su Lin's face and the unfailing concern in his clear eyes, her tense nerves relaxed a little, but his eyes were still full of vigilance and confusion.
Su Lin said nothing, but gently pointed at the child in her arms, who was twitching in pain, and then sent a kind signal with his eyes. He squatted down, stretched out his hand, and slowly covered the child's hot forehead with his palm.
The next moment, a warm, soft white light quietly illuminated, as faint as a firefly, barely perceptible in the dim light. The pure light quickly penetrated the child's scorching body. Miraculously, the child's violent convulsions subsided, the labored gasps in his throat became smoother, the frightening flush on his face faded at a visible rate, and his breathing became steady and long. Though still weak, he was clearly out of the most dangerous situation.
The woman was stunned, her eyes wide open. She looked at the child in her arms, who seemed to be asleep, in disbelief, and then looked at Su Lin's hand, which seemed to contain magical power. A huge ecstasy and gratitude instantly overwhelmed her. She opened her mouth, tears streaming down her face, as if she wanted to say something, to kowtow and express her gratitude.
Su Lin immediately raised a finger to his lips and shook his head vigorously, his eyes sternly signaling her to keep quiet. He didn't dare pause for a moment. After confirming the child's condition was stable, he immediately withdrew his hand and turned without hesitation. He followed the same path, quietly and swiftly returning to the car, gently closing the door. The whole process took only a dozen seconds, but his heart was pounding wildly in his chest with nervousness and fear, almost breaking his ribs.
"Is it solved?" Mu Lin had been keeping a tense eye on the outside. Seeing him return safely, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked in a low voice.
"Yeah." Su Lin nodded, raising his hand to wipe the fine beads of cold sweat that had seeped out of his forehead. Although he was terrified, the satisfaction and relief of having helped the child and brought him back from the brink of death slightly alleviated the uneasiness that lingered in his heart.
They thought the operation was swift, covert and seamless.
However, what they didn't know was that, behind a glassless window on the second floor of an abandoned building across the way, a pair of eyes, as greedy and sinister as a vulture's, had already clearly observed the faint yet unique white light, a flame of hope in the dim light. It was an informant sent by Owl to secretly monitor their every move. He had originally been ordered to record the team's whereabouts and contacts, but he never expected to stumble upon a scene that would shake the entire Blackrock Base and even all the survivors' strongholds.
Healing power!
It turned out to be an extremely rare healing ability that was considered a strategic core resource in all human bases!
This is a thousand times more valuable than any spatial ability! What does this mean? It's practically a second life! It means quick recovery from injuries sustained in battle! It means the combat power lost due to injuries can be restored! This is a priceless treasure!
Eyeliner's breathing suddenly became heavy and rapid, and he clutched his hand tightly to prevent a cry of excitement. He realized the immense value of his discovery, enough to earn him unprecedented rewards and status in Owl's presence! He cast one last, greedy, deep glance in the direction of the squad's vehicle, and like a venomous snake spotting its prey, he silently retreated into the deeper shadows behind him, eager to report this tremendous news to his master!
At the heart of the base, in the most heavily guarded building, the top floor, converted from the former logistics center office building, in a spacious yet ruggedly styled room, Xiao was half-reclining on a couch covered in intact animal hides, listening to his men's reports on the losses from the day's clash and the basic situation of the foreign team. He casually toyed with a ferociously shaped dagger with a cold blue blade, a hint of impatience on his face.
"...the four men are all quite strong and work well together. They should be veterans who have worked their way through the world...the most handsome one is suspected to have spatial abilities and can take out supplies out of thin air..." the subordinate reported cautiously.
Xiao narrowed his eyes, and the dagger flipped flexibly at his fingertips: "Spatial ability? Although it's not bad, it can store supplies and is very convenient... but it's not to the point of..." His tone was full of contempt, as if he felt that it was an exaggeration to make a big fuss over a person with spatial ability.
Before he could finish his words, the heavy wooden door of the room was flung open with an almost rude aggression! The spy in charge of surveillance rushed in breathlessly, not even caring about proper etiquette, his face flushed with excitement. He rushed to Xiao's front, his voice trembling in a forced hushed tone: "Boss! Major discovery! A huge discovery! That pretty boy... he has more than just spatial abilities!"
"Hmm?" Xiao raised his eyebrows, and the dagger in his hand stopped, as if he was a little interested.
"He has healing powers!" The eyeliner was so excited that he was almost incoherent. "I saw it with my own eyes! It's absolutely true! He just secretly cured a dying homeless bastard! That white light! That warm feeling! It's definitely a healing ability! I can't be wrong!"
In an instant, all the amusement, impatience, and nonchalance on Xiao's face vanished like dust swept away by a gust of wind, leaving no trace! He suddenly sat up straight from the sofa, his previously lazy eyes suddenly bursting with a terrifying gleam—a mixture of extreme greed, ecstasy, and a fierce determination to win! It was as if a hungry wolf had finally discovered its long-desired, plump prey!
"Healing...power?" He repeated in a low voice, his voice becoming hoarse and unclear due to extreme excitement. Then, he suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly. The laughter echoed in the empty and ornate hall, filled with chilling madness.
"Great...it's just great!" He stopped laughing, and all expression disappeared from his face, leaving only naked, undisguised plundering desire and cruel determination. His eyes were as cold as a venomous snake. "Not only is she a rare beauty, but she's also a priceless treasure, one in a million! Pass the word!" He shouted sternly to his trusted subordinates who had come in at the noise. "Change of plan! All previous arrangements are void! No matter the cost! I want him alive! I must get him intact and unharmed! Prepare immediately!"
"Yes! Boss!" The subordinates felt the terrifying aura emanating from Xiao, and hurriedly bowed their heads to accept the order, then quickly retreated to deploy.
Xiao sat back on the sofa, picked up the dagger, and gently stroked the cold blade with his fingertips. A determined, cruel smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. The darkness outside the window was as thick as ink, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.
The darkness of the abyss was completely stirred up by Su Lin's instinctive and kind act of compassion. A more sophisticated and deadly web, aimed at them, began to quietly close in.
Inside the off-road vehicle, the four people who knew nothing about this were still nervously waiting for their companions who had gone out to explore to return, and they felt a little comforted that they had just completed a secret good deed.
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