Chapter 106: Doomsday 21

Le Yixian rubbed her bruised face and looked at Ke Yuandao, who was nursing his own mouth after accidentally biting it, looking rather sheepish.

"What do you want to do?" Le Yixian asked.

Ke Yuandao mumbled incoherently, "A... kiss."

Le Yixian didn't hear him clearly. "What?"

"I said I want a kiss!" Ke Yuandao, overcome with embarrassment, felt his ears turn beet red as he shouted.

Seeing him look so adorable, what could Le Yixian do? Naturally, she had to indulge him. She grabbed his collar, pulled him down, and planted several firm, audible kisses on his face.

Finished, she smacked her lips in satisfaction. "There. Kissed."

Ke Yuandao: "I said 'a' kiss!"

This woman had actually kissed him several times—it was too... excessive, taking an inch and wanting a mile!

"Hmm, then you can kiss me back," Le Yixian suggested after a moment's thought.

Hearing this, Ke Yuandao felt an unexpected surge of excitement. He lowered his gaze to her fair, delicate face, but remained stubborn. "Who said I wanted to kiss you back?"

"I did. I want to kiss you more," Le Yixian replied.

Ke Yuandao was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Ahem!" A cough broke the silence. The two, currently operating without the aid of their common sense, looked over in unison. General Xia stood nearby, a smile still plastered on his face. "Captain Ke, did you come to pick up Meimei for the banquet?"

With the General's arrival, the two could no longer continue their conversation. They parted ways, and Le Yixian went back to her room to sleep. Lying on the bed, she checked her wound. Thanks to the secret healing she had performed that morning, there was no change for the time being. She breathed a sigh of relief, suspecting that the reason the wound wouldn't heal properly was entirely due to Yang Zhengqi. After all, he was the only zombie in this world who possessed both consciousness and intelligence.

***

The base had recently received visitors from three other bases. They were here to observe the situation and consider whether to form an alliance. As time passed since the apocalypse, human ability users had greatly enhanced their powers by absorbing energy crystals, but the zombies had grown stronger as well. Bases with long-term goals had begun searching for partners or groups of equal standing and strength to join forces with.

The base was rooted in a corner of a second-tier city, an area that had been a wealthy suburb before the apocalypse. Consequently, the banquet was held in the most luxurious villa, decorated with opulence. Outside, the garden and pool were surrounded by champagne, drinks, and exquisite snacks, and the attending ability users had even dressed in formal attire.

Ke Yuandao, dressed in his camouflage training gear, attracted countless stares as he entered. Aside from his attire being completely out of place, his handsome features drew whispers from many of the female ability users. He stood there, slightly stunned by the interplay of lights.

"Did you think you were seeing things and had returned to the days before the world ended?" Li Ziqing appeared at his side and sighed at the scene. "Anyone who didn't know better would think we had defeated the zombies and were throwing a victory celebration."

Ke Yuandao remained silent, his brow slightly furrowed, showing his lack of interest in such matters.

"What a waste," Li Ziqing said, shaking her head as she swirled the goblet in her hand. "I wonder if this is crystal or glass?"

Ke Yuandao glanced at it. "Glass."

"How do you know?"

"Captain Ke, Captain Li, so this is where you were hiding. You gave me quite a search," General Xia said. He was wearing his military uniform with medals from before the apocalypse pinned to his chest. Several strangers followed behind him. "Come, let me introduce you. These two are the captains of our base's strongest squads, Ke Yuandao and Li Ziqing."

"These are the guests from Base D," General Xia said after a brief introduction of his companions, then pointed to a handsome young man. "This is Captain Yang Zhengqi. I hear he is also an exceptionally gifted ability user."

"General Xia is too kind; no matter how strong one is, they cannot compare to you," Yang Zhengqi said with a smile.

"It's you?" Li Ziqing was surprised to recognize him.

"It is me, Captain Li. I hope you'll forgive my previous rudeness," Yang Zhengqi nodded, looking apologetic. "I was doing some work for Base D, and since my schedule was tight, I had to leave without properly saying goodbye."

"You two know each other?" General Xia asked.

"We met by chance before," Yang Zhengqi replied.

"It’s better when young people already know each other. You all chat; this old man won't disturb your world." General Xia gave Li Ziqing a wink before leaving.

The latter was slightly stunned. Yang Zhengqi looked her over and complimented, "I didn't notice it in the wild, but I only now realize that Captain Li is also an incredibly beautiful woman."

"Oh? Does that mean you've seen other very beautiful women before?" Li Ziqing remained unmoved.

"Well, you could say each has her own charms," Yang Zhengqi mused. "She was like a delicate dodder flower, while you are a rose with thorns."

Li Ziqing: "..."

"Where did you learn these cheesy pickup lines?" Li Ziqing said with clear disdain. "They sound so awkward."

Yang Zhengqi: "..."

"Captain Li is truly an interesting person," he said with a laugh.

Li Ziqing rolled her eyes. "Are you from Base D?"

"Yes, you could say that." Yang Zhengqi nodded.

"You could say?"

"I joined halfway through. How should I put it? The people at Base D are a bit cliquey; I still haven't found my own squad," Yang Zhengqi said, hinting at more than he said.

Li Ziqing finally understood the reason for General Xia's wink—he wanted her to recruit this guy. "What kind of ability do you have?" To be recruited by General Xia like this, his strength must be considerable.

"Fire," Yang Zhengqi said. With a flick of his finger, a dark red flame appeared at his fingertip. The flame was small and flickered in the air as if it were about to go out at any moment, but those who saw it dared not underestimate it. In fire-based abilities, the deeper the color of the flame, the greater the strength—this flame's color was nearly black.

"We should spar sometime," Ke Yuandao, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

"It would be my honor to spar with a master of the lightning ability," Yang Zhengqi said, wearing an expression of feigned humility.

Ke Yuandao looked at him. "Hypocrite."

Yang Zhengqi: "..."

Was his way of speaking wrong? Why did both of these people dislike what he had to say?

"By the way, I heard General Xia has three talented children. I wonder if I might have the honor of meeting them at this banquet?" Yang Zhengqi awkwardly changed the subject.

"There, Xia Linlin and Xia Liang," Li Ziqing said, pointing to the siblings laughing and chatting on the other side of the hall.

"And the third one?"

"Meimei? That's right, I heard you were coming with her tonight? Where is she?" Li Ziqing asked, remembering something.

Ke Yuandao glanced at Yang Zhengqi. "She's not feeling well and is resting at home."