Chapter 314 – If Life Were Only as Beautiful as First Meeting

“X City is indeed an interesting place. Even zombies like this exist! Hey, you zombie, can you give me some reaction?”

Yuwen Xuan excitedly reached out his hand. Amid Ma Teng’s cries of alarm, he actually grabbed the corner of the Zombie Puppet’s mouth and tugged it, forcing a smile onto its stiff face.

Such a dangerous and reckless act startled even Ling Mo, who controlled zombies.

However, he quickly realized that this person might appear casual, but he was actually in a state of high alert.

If the zombie really tried to bite, Yuwen Xuan would probably subdue it in an instant.

“The population of X City is enormous, so naturally, there are a lot of zombies. Since there are variation zombies, it’s not surprising to see other kinds as well. Luckily, there aren’t many Mutation Beasts here. Otherwise, even we would struggle to create a Quarantine Zone,” Ma Teng said nervously, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Zhang Yu, on the other hand, spoke with a stern expression: “Actually, the real danger comes when the Quarantine Zone is established and a large number of Survivors move in. Our presence will be like an enticing cake, attracting zombies from the entire city.”

While they were talking, Yuwen Xuan kept fiddling with the Zombie Puppet, and Ling Mo, who controlled the zombie, observed Yuwen Xuan.

He hadn’t thought much of him before, but after watching closely for a while, Ling Mo felt that this person seemed a bit familiar.

“Could he be someone I know? No, I really can’t remember who he is…”

“Let’s send this zombie back to the station. We can’t figure out much just by looking at it ourselves. This counts as a small achievement, right? Didn’t the higher-ups say there would be rewards for discovering new types of zombies and sending back samples?” Ma Teng said excitedly, rubbing his hands together.

What could they possibly learn from a mindless zombie shell, its very instincts erased? Even with a superhuman with mental abilities, they wouldn’t be able to find anything significant.

In fact, matters of the mind leave no trace, so they didn’t even need to bother with destroying the evidence.

Seeing the three powerful members of the camp staring at the Zombie Puppet as if they had discovered a treasure, Ling Mo couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Since their conversation didn’t touch on anything important, Ling Mo decided to sever the Psychic Link.

However, the abilities of superhumans are truly unpredictable. After cutting the Psychic Link with this Zombie Puppet, Ling Mo immediately controlled another Zombie Puppet to hide in a more concealed location to avoid any further unexpected events.

This also allowed Ling Mo to glimpse a fraction of Falcon Camp’s strength. When these Survivors are scattered across the city, they are like insects struggling to survive in a sea of zombies. But once they gather together, they have the ability to barely resist the zombies.

Perhaps, gradually, humans might actually climb to a position equal to zombies.

As for crushing the zombies or even completely eradicating them…

Although he is human, Ling Mo felt a bit anxious, even uneasy, about this prospect.

At this moment, stationed not far from Falcon Camp, what Ling Mo wanted most was to see just how strong humanity had become!

Ling Mo knew that by this stage, other cities probably had similar armed organizations. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for ordinary Survivors to sustain themselves. After all, humans are inherently communal.

“Hey, zombie?”

Yuwen Xuan tugged at his hair, seemingly tired of playing and gradually losing interest.

Ma Teng breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, “Leave this creepy thing to the researchers. Don’t accidentally kill it this time. Every time we get a chance to capture a zombie alive, you ‘accidentally’ end up killing it…”

“Do whatever you want. But do you really think those half-baked researchers can come up with some kind of serum? Besides, isn’t this thrilling world perfect for people like us who used to sit in front of computers all day, lamenting how boring life was?”

Hearing Yuwen Xuan’s words, Ma Teng looked helpless. “Not everyone sits in front of a computer 24/7. Sure, life was a bit dull before, but we don’t need this kind of excitement. Zombies, these abominations, should be completely eradicated. I really don’t get it. You used to be a horror novelist, but why are you so terrifying by nature? Do you think everyone is like you, not afraid?”

“How could I not be afraid? In front of such increasingly perfect higher beings, I tremble from the depths of my soul. But aren’t you curious? What will these creatures eventually evolve into? Humans have stopped evolving for too long. Maybe we’re like those extinct species, and the world thinks it’s time for us to be eliminated.”

Despite talking about fear, Yuwen Xuan looked extremely excited.

Just as Yuwen Xuan was about to leave, he noticed Zhang Yu leaning in and sniffing the Zombie Puppet intently.

“Zhang Yu, I didn’t know you had such unique tastes. This zombie hasn’t bathed for at least six months. Are you particularly fond of this peculiar smell?”

Yuwen Xuan asked in surprise.

Zhang Yu’s face darkened immediately. He glanced at Yuwen Xuan and then said, “I found something very strange. This zombie has a trace of a scent similar to yours.”

“Really? But I just touched it, so it’s not surprising to have my scent,” Yuwen Xuan replied.

Zhang Yu showed a puzzled expression. “It’s hard to say right now, but it does feel odd… Forget it, I’ll tell you once I figure it out. Let’s hurry and get this zombie to the station and continue our mission. If you fail to complete the mission again, the Intelligence Team won’t let you off.”

“Hmph, those flies, always buzzing around. Huang Zhendong’s death must be a joke to many. The Intelligence Team must be furious, hahaha…”

Yuwen Xuan laughed nonchalantly.

“It’s better to be cautious,” Ma Teng reminded.

But judging by Yuwen Xuan’s relaxed expression, it was clear he didn’t take it to heart at all.

“Let’s go. I want to see just how strong the zombies in X City are, hahaha…”

As they were leaving, Zhang Yu cast his gaze into the distance, where Ling Mo and his group were in the Residential Compound.

His gaze didn’t linger on the compound, but after a quick scan, he murmured, “It’s really strange. I definitely sensed something just now, albeit faintly, but it was there… Yet I can’t pinpoint the exact location. What’s the reason? Could she have just been eaten? For now, it’s best not to tell Mad Xuan. Who knows what he might do…”

“What’s on your mind?”

Xia Na, with her feet hooked onto the chandelier, was hanging upside down, gazing at the scenery outside.

“I’m thinking about where we should go in the future…” Ling Mo sighed deeply. Leaning back, he turned his head and accidentally kissed Xia Na’s cheek.

Her eyes widened immediately, and she stopped swaying.

Since Xia Na’s upgrade, she had developed a peculiar side effect.

It seemed that the upheaval in the Psychic Realm had made her… shy!

Though it was hard to imagine a zombie being shy, Xia Na was indeed a special case.

“But… the future…”

Xia Na performed a backflip and landed on the floor, brushing her long hair to conceal her embarrassment. “Ling-Ge, do you have any dreams?”

“Dreams?” Ling Mo was taken aback and then fell into deep thought.

Surviving with Ye Lian and the others, helping Ye Lian recover all her memories—these weren’t dreams but realities he was striving for.

But dreams… the future was still unclear. With both zombies and humans having uncertain fates, it was impossible to predict what these dead cities would become.

“Dreams, huh…”

Ye Lian also flipped over from her upside-down position and lay on Ling Mo’s shoulder, her eyes, tinged with confusion, following Ling Mo’s gaze into the distance.

The towering buildings overlapped, exuding a sense of desolation. Even from such a distance, an inexplicable pressure could be felt.

“Ye Lian, do you have any dreams?”

Ling Mo turned his head, surprised, to look at Ye Lian.

In the sunlight, Ye Lian’s profile was incredibly beautiful. Ling Mo couldn’t help but recall the countless days he had looked at Ye Lian like this. Back then, Ye Lian was serene, gentle, occasionally a bit mischievous. She was often teased by him but never got angry… And he, obsessed with her, dared not confess his feelings, fearing to ruin their precious bond.

This was Ling Mo’s greatest regret. Even now, he was waiting.

Waiting for Ye Lian to show that expression again, so he could finally tell her all the words he had never dared to speak.

At this moment, a rare poetic thought crossed Ling Mo’s mind: “If life could be as it was at first sight…”