Yuhu City, as Gu Chi had mentioned, was nearly 4,000 kilometers from the headquarters. Even traveling nonstop, it would have taken at least ten days to reach.
But something felt wrong. By the fourth day after leaving headquarters, everyone could sense it.
Then the call came.
The Supreme Commander of the Human Alliance personally contacted them, requesting that Gu Chi’s team accelerate their pace and reach the No. 23 Safety Zone immediately.
“In any case, please arrive as soon as possible. If you can uncover the reason for the supernatural disappearances, there will be heavy rewards waiting when you return.”
It wasn’t just a task—this was practically a plea. The highest-ranking commander issuing a direct request to an exploration team was unheard of.
Gu Chi didn’t need details to understand how dire the situation had become. Over the past month, multiple elite exploration teams had been sent to investigate the mysterious disappearances around Yuhu City.
But now it seemed… none of them had made it back.
To lose even a single supernatural user—a one-in-a-million individual—was devastating. But dozens?
And worse, it came at the worst time possible. Just as the newly developed leader detector was ready, the alliance was bleeding the very talent it needed most.
__
Song Shi, listening to the call, felt her heart race.
The rewards must be astronomical to justify this kind of desperation. How many powerful ability users had already risked their lives for the promise of advancement?
She clenched her fists.
This time, even the Supreme Commander had given his personal endorsement. It wasn’t just any mission—it was a rare opportunity.
If she could stand out here, then even someone like Gu Chi might start to take her seriously. She could earn a title. Recognition. Power.
She thought back to when she first met him—on the day he was officially named Commander by the Alliance. Since then, despite joining his team, she’d never received a title. Not even a special commendation.
Even Mu Yu, whose power level was technically below hers, had been awarded the status of a mid-tier dual-ability executive officer.
All because she was a healer?
Song Shi lowered her eyes. This time, she would prove herself.
Even if it was a gamble, she had to take the risk.
__
For the next three days, the group drove nonstop, with Gu Chi, Lu Yunfei, Lin Xun, and Mu Yu rotating behind the wheel. Finally, on the seventh day, they reached their destination.
“Captain, it’s freezing,” Lu Yunfei muttered, rubbing his arms.
“The Northern District’s climate is colder. Put on the thick gear we packed.”
Gu Chi’s eyes shifted to Chi Ying, who stood quietly, dazed. He stepped closer and tapped her gently on the brim of her hat.
“Chi Ying, go change your clothes.”
Chi Ying’s hands were buried deep in her coat pockets, fingers wrapped tightly around the black and red pendant hidden inside. Her brows pinched together in frustration.
What worried her wasn’t the pendant itself—but the person hiding within it.
Yun Ling.
Ever since discovering the pendant tucked in her hood after their departure, she hadn’t seen Yun Ling once. But Chi Ying knew, better than anyone, that Yun Ling was inside the Lingquan space.
And the worst part? She couldn’t tell anyone.
No one would believe that a space spirit body existed—let alone that someone had hitched a ride this far north.
[The plot has completely gone off course] the system sighed, equally troubled.
Chi Ying glanced at her point balance—1.97 million.
Almost there.
Once this mission was over, she could return to the headquarters and submit the medicine. Once the anti-zombie virus serum was analyzed, even ordinary people would be able to fight back.
She shivered and looked up at the desolate, empty North District.
Something about this place was… wrong.
Trying to ignore the unease in her chest, she looped the pendant around her neck and climbed back into the vehicle to change.
__
Time was short. After only a brief rest, they departed again, this time heading directly for the ruins of Yuhu City.
Gu Chi studied the map on the locator.
“This used to be a sub-base of the Human Ability Research Institute,” he explained. “It was shut down six months ago due to overwhelming zombie presence and rising safety risks.”
Chi Ying looked up.
That institute… wasn’t that where Ye Wuhan worked?
But the moment she stepped foot into Yuhu City, she understood what had been bothering her since they arrived.
“Wori—!” Lu Yunfei gagged at the sight ahead.
Even Song Shi instinctively covered her mouth and nose, trying to fight the urge to retch.
Even Gu Chi, calm as he was, frowned.
The headquarters report had said there were “many” zombies. But this… this was something else entirely.
This wasn’t a dead city. It was a mass grave.
Bloated, rotting corpses were piled high. Gray-green flesh fused with blackened blood, forming grotesque mounds. The road itself was buried—layer after layer of lifeless bodies strewn and stacked like the remains of a primitive slaughterhouse.
It was hard to even find a place to step.
“Find another path,” Gu Chi ordered.
Lu Yunfei pinched his nose. “Captain, I can deal with the smell. We can step over it—”
“It’s not the smell I’m worried about.” Gu Chi stepped aside, scanning for a safer route. “If any of these corpses are still… active, we won’t know until it’s too late.”
Lu Yunfei froze. “…Good point.”
Gu Chi turned back. “Mu Yu, Lin Xun, Chi Ying—you’re one group. Song Shi and Lu Yunfei, with me.”
Lu Yunfei blinked. “Three per group?”
“We don’t know what’s in this city.” Gu Chi’s voice was steady. “Chi Ying and I both have adaptive combat abilities. We lead separate groups to keep everyone safer.”
“Whatever happens, avoid the corpses. If you see anything suspicious, report immediately. No recklessness. No solo action.”
“Understood!”
__
During the sweep, Lu Yunfei couldn’t help noticing that Song Shi was unusually proactive.
She dashed ahead to examine anything remotely out of place—uncharacteristically bold for someone usually passive during missions.
Strange, Lu Yunfei thought. Was she trying to impress Gu Chi?
By sunset, however, they’d found nothing.
Yuhu City was massive, and traversing it without stepping over corpses made progress agonizingly slow. Even a month of searching might not be enough.
“Captain,” Lu Yunfei sighed as Gu Chi returned. “Still no leads.”
“I figured,” Gu Chi narrowed his eyes. “Tell the others to regroup at the original meeting point.”
“Roger.”
Lu Yunfei messaged the team and turned to leave.
“Song Shi, let’s go.”
“Coming,” she answered—somewhat distracted.
Then—
Hiss.
She froze.
That… sounded like someone breathing.
Song Shi opened her mouth to call out—but no sound came.
She turned her head slightly, glancing around from the corner of her eye. Nothing. No movement. Just silence.
“Song Shi?” Lu Yunfei looked back. “What’s wrong? Did you see something?”
She hesitated. “N-No, nothing.”
Her heart thumped hard against her chest. Should she tell him? What if he stole the credit?
The reward was too great. She couldn’t take that risk—not even with Lu Yunfei.
Besides… she hadn’t actually seen anything.
She bit her lip and quietly memorized the location where the sound came from.
Then she followed them in silence, saying nothing.
Author’s Note:
Countdown to offline…
Loveguy On CFRFGC Chapter 12