Lu Xian grabbed Shen Feng’s hand and stood up. Hearing Shen Feng’s words, he waved his hand and replied, “Forget it, forget it. I wasn’t injured anyway, so let’s just let this matter go. Have your more than fifty subordinates find a place to sleep. Except for the fourth floor, which is where I live, you can choose any other room.”
Shen Feng frowned, sensing something was amiss, and asked, “How did you know I had so many people under me? Did you discover us approaching earlier?”
Lu Xian smiled awkwardly and said helplessly, “Actually, I’m also an ability user, but my ability is too useless, with no combat power at all. It’s thermal perception, so anything that emits heat around me can be observed. When you guys broke in just now, I was asleep, so I didn’t detect your arrival. Otherwise, no one could have caught me!”
Shen Feng suddenly understood. So that was why the other party hadn’t used his ability during the fight. It turned out his ability wasn’t meant for combat.
At this moment, Lu Xian was preparing to go upstairs. Shen Feng quickly asked, “Can I go up and have a look?”
Lu Xian waved his hand and said, “There’s nothing to entertain you upstairs, but if you want to come up, feel free to visit.”
Shen Feng quickly followed Lu Xian’s footsteps. Chu Chaoyan stamped her foot and left the third floor. She had wanted to reconcile with Shen Feng, but she didn’t expect Shen Feng to go upstairs directly after reprimanding her. Not wanting to back down, she left.
Shen Feng followed Lu Xian up to the fourth floor. Lu Xian casually placed the wood-cutting knife on a nearby shelf. Besides the wood-cutting knife, there were also axes and ropes on this shelf. All of them were stained with blood, indicating that the prey in the parking lot had met their end by these weapons.
In the living room on the fourth floor, a brazier was burning. There was a quilt on the sofa, and various tools were placed on the tables and chairs nearby, making the place quite messy. Especially by the windowsill, there was half a rotten apple. It was evident that Lu Xian hadn’t lied earlier; there really was nothing to entertain guests with.
Lu Xian quickly tidied up the things in the room, casually tossing the quilt on the sofa aside to make space for Shen Feng. He then continued to clean the room, saying as he did, “Brother Shen Feng, please don’t mind. I’m not usually this messy. It’s just that with the doomsday descending, I’ve had to fight constantly to survive, so I haven’t had time to clean. That’s why the room is in such disarray.”
Shen Feng slowly sat down, looking at the firewood burning in the brazier. He casually added two more pieces of dry wood and then asked, “Have you been living here all along? Are there still dangers in the mountains? You’re an ability user, are there any animals that can threaten you?”
Lu Xian nodded seriously and found a chair to sit down. He said, “There are still many dangers in the forest, such as many mutated animals. Not to mention wild boars and monkeys, even rats have appeared in large numbers, and many mutated individuals are not simple. Even some plants have changed, actually attacking animals! I can only be careful.”
Shen Feng looked around and suddenly noticed a guitar hanging on the wall. He became interested and asked, “You can play the guitar? Is that why you want to become a bard? To sing and travel around?”
In response to Shen Feng’s question, Lu Xian chuckled self-deprecatingly and said, “I don’t know if I’ll have the chance. I do wish I could become a musician, but surviving in these chaotic times is difficult enough. Unlike someone of your high status, people like me with average combat ability are doing our best just to survive.”
Seeing Lu Xian like this, Shen Feng immediately felt the urge to recruit him. Ability users were rare treasures; perhaps not even one in ten thousand people. Yet, he had encountered one in the deep mountains and old forests. Although this ability lacked combat power, it was very suitable for support, far stronger than ordinary evolutionaries. If their side could detect enemies from afar, wouldn’t they be able to make arrangements in advance?
“Don’t you have any thoughts of leaving here? My subordinates are currently reclaiming Yuzhou, and Yuzhou will definitely be very safe in the future. Don’t you want to develop in Yuzhou?” Shen Feng asked with a smile.
Lu Xian was somewhat moved by this suggestion. After careful consideration, he suddenly asked, “You’re saying you’re the future lord of Yuzhou? Are you kidding? Can you tell me about the outside world? I specifically drove here to hide when the zombie outbreak occurred, and I haven’t heard anything about the outside world for a long time.”
Shen Feng nodded and said seriously, “The outside world has begun reclaiming cities. Most major cities have been recovered, but smaller and medium-sized cities still lack manpower. Apart from a few mutated individuals, the combat power of other zombies is not strong. Therefore, headquarters has decided to reclaim all cities within three to five years and clear out all remaining zombies within ten years. That’s the situation. Speaking of which, Yan Jing is also at war right now!”
Hearing the introduction to the current situation, Lu Xian was somewhat moved and continued to ask, “According to you, won’t it be peaceful all over the world in a few years? Then what kind of treatment would I receive if I went to Yuzhou?”
Shen Feng quickly replied, “As an ability user, you will naturally receive the best treatment. You’ll be given the treatment of a high-level manager, and besides combat, you’ll have weekends off every week!”
Lu Xian’s eyes darted, and he suddenly asked, “Then can you set up a special channel for me? I want to make a name for myself! Preferably a radio broadcast, so my voice can reach everyone’s ears.”
“No problem, no problem!” Shen Feng was in a great mood that he had actually convinced the other party. Increasing the number of ability users on their side was certainly fine, and it might even have unexpected uses in the future!
Lu Xian took down the guitar from the wall and smiled, saying, “I have a dream, which is to become a widely known musician. It’s a pity I never had the chance before, but now, I’ve finally waited for the opportunity. I believe I can definitely become a household name in the future. Brother, I’ll follow you from now on!”
“No problem, follow me, and I definitely won’t treat you unfairly!” Shen Feng said with a smile.
Afterward, Shen Feng and Lu Xian talked for a long time, and only then did Shen Feng understand the use of Lu Xian’s ability. It turned out that Lu Xian could detect all heat sources within a one-kilometer radius. In his mind, a unique picture was presented, and within this range, all movements of animals and plants escaped his eyes.
“So, you could predict my movements during the previous fight because you detected my heat!” Shen Feng suddenly realized.
Lu Xian looked a bit embarrassed and said awkwardly, “At that time, I thought you weren’t strong and believed I could take you down. I didn’t expect you to be an ability user as well, and much more powerful than me.”
Shen Feng, however, didn’t care about this. He continued on his own, “Humans and other animals have multiple ways of dissipating heat, one of which is radiant heat dissipation. That is to say, any living, active creature can be detected by its heat. In terms of scouting enemy positions, this ability is still very useful.”
Thus, for his dream of becoming a musician, Lu Xian successfully defected to Shen Feng. Shen Feng announced this matter to everyone, and everyone was very supportive, finding it reasonable. Since he was an ability user, it was best for him to become one of them.
As it was late at night, Lu Xian was sitting on the rooftop watching the stars. But at this moment, he sensed two strange heat signatures. A man and a woman left the small building one after another and walked towards the forest. He closed his eyes and sensed carefully, realizing it was Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan. So, he quietly came to the edge of the rooftop and observed cautiously.
Under the moonlight, Shen Feng and Chu Chaoyan were heading towards the forest, their stealthy movements observed by Lu Xian.
“Oh, I thought these two were just ordinary friends. I didn’t expect them to be a couple. Going out so late, could they be looking for a secluded spot for some… activities?” Lu Xian speculated in his mind.
Lu Xian returned to his seat and closed his eyes, using his ability to observe the two leaving. He could sense heat within a one-kilometer radius, so he prepared to carefully observe their movements, or rather, their actions, wanting to know where they were going.
Shen Feng, as usual, had Chu Chaoyan lie on his back and then carried her rapidly towards Yuzhou. He exerted his speed to the maximum, instantly covering a great distance.
This scene was perceived by Lu Xian, who was almost stunned. “Such speed, it’s too fast! Where are these two going?”
Lu Xian was completely shocked. He could very directly sense Shen Feng’s speed, leaving his sensory range like an arrow shot from a bow. He had never seen anyone possess such speed, or rather, such speed had never appeared in animals.
…
Late at night, Qi Lingshan was not asleep but was hiding in an alley, waiting to meet Lin Yue. As agreed, he needed to find out information about the murderer and then report to Lin Yue to join the investigation team.
Qi Lingshan didn’t wait long. Soon, Lin Yue arrived in the alley. At this time, Lin Yue was wearing white clothes and had a smile on his face as he walked into the alley.
“Damn it, big brother, can’t you have some common sense? Wearing white clothes and walking on the street late at night, are you afraid people won’t notice you?” Qi Lingshan couldn’t help but complain upon seeing Lin Yue’s attire.
Lin Yue calmly explained, “Don’t worry about that. The more you try to be sneaky, the more attention you attract. So, I’m acting normally, and no one will suspect me. Speaking of which, it’s been so long, have you gathered any news?”
Qi Lingshan carefully observed his surroundings to ensure no one was nearby, and then said, “I investigated the information about the gangs in Jiangyang and indeed found several gangs that suddenly disappeared during the zombie siege. But the subordinates all said they went to earn extra money, which actually meant stealing food and valuables.”
Lin Yue’s eyes suddenly turned cold as he asked, “Which gangs were they?”
Now, Lin Yue only wanted to know information about his enemies and avenge Fu Ya. If he couldn’t even avenge his beloved woman, what kind of man was he?
Qi Lingshan quickly replied, “First, there are over a hundred people under Scar. When the zombies entered the city, no one saw where they went to take shelter. Then there’s Old Bachelor’s group, with over forty people, all bachelors. It’s said that they looted property during the chaos. The rest are over two hundred people from the black market, but they only do business and don’t hurt people.”
Lin Yue nodded upon hearing this answer and said, “These people? I’ll investigate them one by one. You continue to go undercover. Once I find my enemy and get revenge, you can openly follow me.”
Qi Lingshan nodded and said seriously, “You need to act quickly. I estimate that in about two months, I’ll become a core member of the gang myself, and it will be difficult for me to get away then.”
Lin Yue didn’t say anything but handed Qi Lingshan a bag of candy before leaving the alley.
Qi Lingshan looked at the fruit candy in his hand, peeled one, and put it in his mouth. This stuff was actually his operational funds. Now that food was rationed, food had become the universally recognized currency. Candy, which could replenish energy, had become the most suitable and popular item. Qi Lingshan had stabilized his position in a small gang by bribing people with candy.
“I really don’t know when this kind of life will end!” Qi Lingshan muttered under his breath.