Seventy

Under Ye Yu’s careful orchestration, the false news of the Second Base’s fall and the migration of a million zombies toward the Third Base reached Commander Mu’s ears as planned. It struck him like lightning—his resolve instantly doused by cold water. Clinging to hope, he repeatedly sent people to verify the rumor, never realizing that all his investigators were Ye Yu’s men. Each report was worse than the last, none confirming his wishes.

“Suppress the news. Anyone who leaks it will be executed,” Commander Mu’s eyes flashed coldly. “Send Zuo Qing to my office.”

Zuo Qing had served as Commander Mu’s confidant for decades and was now Minister of Division Five. Commander Mu’s summons could only mean sensitive matters. Yu Gan’s eyes spun craftily, and he bowed out respectfully.

Meanwhile, in a private tea room at Yushuihuan, Ye Yu raised her cup to her lips, her gaze lingering on Zhiqiu’s expression. “You’re so calm upon hearing the news of her death? Some people acted as if the sky were falling when they heard.”

“What do you want?” Zhiqiu’s expression remained unchanged—gentle and composed as always.

“How about an alliance?” Ye Yu replied, sidestepping the question. “I know you’re not a meek, docile person. You’ve lain low for so long—surely waiting for some upheaval?”

“There’s no need,” Zhiqiu said. “And I don’t quite understand your meaning. If there’s nothing else, excuse me. Chunxue has many affairs to handle.”

“Oh, how melancholy.” Ye Yu’s interest waned. “Do you think you’re fit to handle anything in your current state?”

“Hm?”

“Your close friends have died one after another—it must be a blow. Though your demeanor is nearly flawless, the light has faded from your eyes, and your right hand betrays your feelings.”

Zhiqiu looked down and saw he’d absentmindedly spilled some tea on the table—a lapse unthinkable for someone usually so calm and elegant.

“So?” Zhiqiu asked. “Is there any connection between these two matters?”

“Apparently not,” Ye Yu shook her head. “But as long as the Third Base remains unstable, your plans will have to change, won’t they?”

Zhiqiu said nothing.

“I have no great talents, but I know many people.” Ye Yu grinned. “I heard a bit about you from your old acquaintances. The legendary lord and the present you are worlds apart. Is there a reason—or some hidden past? My curiosity torments me, but I suppose you won’t tell me; I’ll have to investigate myself.”

A deathly silence.

“You’re such a detestable woman,” Zhiqiu murmured, lips curling. His gaze was brilliant and strange, filled with myriad specters.

“Oh, yes! That’s the look I like.” Ye Yu smiled devilishly. “We’re alike—why oppose each other? Needless conflict only benefits our enemies, don’t you think?”

“There’s some sense in that,” Zhiqiu said. “What do you want me to do?”

“If the military asks you to redeploy your troops, conceal your true strength,” Ye Yu said lightly. “Let him make the most foolish decision.”

“I understand,” Zhiqiu replied. “Is there anything else?”

“No,” Ye Yu said. “Once this is done, we won’t interfere with each other.”

Zhiqiu’s voice carried a trace of icy chill, barely perceptible. “Agreed.”

While turmoil brewed at the Third Base, the Second Base was calm and peaceful. Ye Yin spent her days idly wandering about, looking utterly lazy.

“When will we finally go back?” Too much leisure breeds fatigue and boredom. After a day of feasting and drinking, Ye Yin yawned and asked Li Lei, “Isn’t everything here pretty much settled?”

“Wait for orders. I guess the boss isn’t done yet,” Li Lei replied. “Why rush? You’ve already been paid.”

“I’m eager to reunite with Huahua! Don’t you miss your own family?”

“I don’t have one.” Li Lei smiled lightly. “Nor any friends bound by life-and-death. I only have the boss.”

“You’re secretly in love with her?”

Li Lei glanced at Ye Yin as if she were an alien. “Why are your thoughts so filthy? It’s called loyalty, understand? Knightly loyalty! Besides, I don’t see the boss as a woman at all—just like you.”

Ye Yin was furious. “What do you mean I’m not a woman? Do I have chest hair or an Adam’s apple?”

“Those are secondary,” Li Lei said. “It’s fine for a woman to be strong, but if you always act invincible and independent, you might never get married. Most men—except freeloaders—want to protect their beloved woman. Sometimes, showing a bit of vulnerability or acting spoiled is more genuine than anything.”

“That’s rather chauvinistic.”

“Believe what you want,” Li Lei said earnestly. “Even if you don’t need protection, pretending can move most men’s hearts.”

“You know, the more theoretical knowledge someone has, the less actual romantic experience they possess.”

Li Lei seemed stung.

“But thanks for the advice,” Ye Yin said. “Though it’s not much use nowadays.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Li Lei laughed. “The more chaotic the times, the more deadly a touch of love is.”

Ye Yin pondered and nodded, half understanding.

Just as Ye Yin was about to grow mushrooms out of boredom, Ye Yu finally gave the order for the mercenaries to return to base. Everyone, eager to go home, wasted no time rushing back to the Third Base.

They were greeted not by the Mu family, nor any familiar military officer, but by a middle-aged man in uniform, accompanied by a large entourage.

“I am Liao Hongya, the newly appointed Minister of Division One.” He smiled like a fox. “Commander Ye asked me to welcome you and arrange your upcoming commissioning ceremony.”

Commander Ye?

Ye Yin broke out in cold sweat. Could it be…

Her guess proved correct. Ye Yu had destroyed the Mu family without a single soldier, relying solely on an audacious scheme. She severed their ties with Qingyun Sect and cut off all escape routes.

When faced with imminent death, most people make impulsive, foolish decisions. Upon learning that the zombie horde would soon surround the base and doom everyone, Commander Mu quietly took his elite troops—including his son—and relocated to the Fifth Base, where his former subordinates were stationed. Due to issues with helicopters and fuel, he had to seek help from the only spatial ability user capable of mass transfer—Zhiqiu. Because of Zhiqiu’s “limitations,” he reluctantly abandoned a large portion of his men, and for certain reasons, left behind the heroine Qiao Xinran and Qingyun Sect, ultimately escaping with only three thousand people before the “crisis” struck.

The base had long been dominated by the Mu family. With its backbone gone, everyone was left directionless and simmering with resentment—they were too angry even to think. Qingyun Sect, though aloof from worldly affairs, found Mu’s actions so disgraceful they refused further association. Qiao Xinran, furious, declared a complete break. Ye Yu took advantage of the chaos, swiftly eliminating dissent and promoting her loyalists, becoming commander of the Third Base.

When Ye Yu casually recounted the events to Ye Yin, Ye Yin was speechless for a long time. She finally understood why some people were born leaders, while others were destined to be high-level workers.

“I’ve seen Li Lei’s report on your actions—you did quite well. I won’t shortchange you,” Ye Yu said. “So I’m promoting you to Minister of Division Five. If I advance further, the commander’s seat will be yours.”

“Thank you for your trust.”

“No need for thanks—I’m counting on your friends’ little treasures.” Ye Yu smiled gently. “By the way, I forgot to mention, to ensure the success of this takeover, I played a little joke on your friends. You’d better go explain.”

Ye Yin was about to ask what joke, but noticed Ye Yu’s secretary outside with a large group waiting for approval. Seeing Ye Yu so busy, she thought it must be harmless mischief and took her leave.

Leaving the command center, Ye Yin saw it was late. If she went to the farm now, they’d make a big fuss and no one would sleep well, so she decided to go home for the night and fetch Huahua in the morning. Passing Chunxue, she felt a sudden urge to surprise everyone and slipped inside.

Normally, Chunxue was lively at this hour—a riot of spirits. Tonight, however, things were oddly subdued. Everyone sat quietly around the bar, and, curiously, there were white candles burning on the counter, as if conducting a holy rite.

“She died for us, in a way,” Ming Shi said softly. “The military said she was heroic, turned the tide, and at the last moment took a high-level zombie with her, barely suppressing the situation and stopping the horde’s advance.”

“She was a fool,” Ah Hui sniffled, choking back tears. “Cold outside, warm inside. Always complained, but never hesitated to help. Just a hopelessly good person. The good die young, while the wicked linger…”

“We used to worry she’d never leave, and that we’d lose touch after moving to the First Base. But now, we stayed and she’s gone forever.”

“I still owe her two thousand base credits. I’ll burn them for her next year or I won’t sleep easy.”

Ye Yin, intrigued, approached. “Who are you all remembering?”

“Of course, our deputy manager,” Ming Shi replied, disgruntled. “Who are you anyway, barging in like—”

“Ghost!!!” came a blood-curdling scream.

“Deputy manager has risen from the dead!!”

Chunxue erupted in chaos—screams, scrambling, utter pandemonium. Ye Yin realized they’d been holding her memorial! She was torn between amusement and annoyance. “Quiet down—open your eyes and see who’s a ghost.”

“Yinyin, you’re really alive?” Ming Shi asked, daring to step forward and touch her for proof.

Ye Yin slapped his hand away. “Stop cursing me! I nearly died working out there and you’re wishing me dead? No wonder it felt so eerie tonight—a chill kept creeping up my back.”

“Thank goodness! Who spread such nonsense, saying you were dead?”

“Careful—manager told us.”

“Oh, then even the manager was fooled…”

“Yinyin, go to the tea room and find the manager,” Ming Shi said. “He’s been depressed these days, probably hurt by the false news.”

After comforting everyone with a grin, Ye Yin hummed as she headed for the tea room. As she reached the door, she suddenly hesitated.

Zhiqiu’s shadow was cast on the paper door by the lamp; he seemed lost in thought, his silhouette stark and lonely. Was he really grieving her loss as Ming Shi claimed? Or was she overthinking—maybe he was troubled by something else?

“Who’s outside?” came Zhiqiu’s voice.

Ye Yin startled—she’d never heard him so cold. After a moment’s hesitation, she replied softly, “It’s me. I’m back.”

The paper door slid open, and as Ye Yin prepared to greet him with a smile, Zhiqiu gently embraced her. The familiar scent, the warmth, the inexplicable sense of peace, and the flickering lamp left Ye Yin somewhat dazed.

“Welcome home,” Zhiqiu said.

“Thank you,” Ye Yin blushed, repeating herself, “I’m back.”

Zhiqiu released her, smiling as he stroked her head.

The first thing Ye Yu did as commander was send her trusted aides to escort Zhuo Chenglan back to the First Base. Commander Zhuo, upon hearing that the old Mu dog was toppled and his son could return, was eager to celebrate with banquets, until he saw his beloved eldest son…

“Lan’er, what…what happened to you?” Commander Zhuo asked, voice trembling.

Zhuo Chenglan wore a black coat. His once-healthy skin was pale from long confinement, his hair longer, his face thinner, his features now sharper and more severe.

“I’m fine,” Zhuo Chenglan said lightly. “No need to worry.”

Feng Ying whispered a few words to Commander Zhuo, whose face immediately fell, on the verge of tears. “Let the past be past… the dead cannot return…”

Zhuo Zhelian, standing nearby, glanced at his father and brother in surprise, a sudden sense of foreboding rising in his heart…