Chapter 430: Rebellion
Li Zhuang then pulled Lu Weiyi aside to share the intel from the interrogation.
Meanwhile, at the Half Moon Bay base, the dozens-of-meters-thick ice wall was under heavy attack by ability users, many of them water-types.
In today’s world, where everyone was enhancing their abilities, even such thick ice couldn’t withstand this kind of assault.
Gu Qingyue and his team of water-ability users were constantly reinforcing the ice, but the attackers were clearly prepared. Before long, they were overwhelmed. Gu Qingyue hurriedly activated the ability disruptor—only to find that the enemy wasn’t affected at all.
“They have jammers. We won’t hold much longer. Did we really send all our weapons out?” Gu Qingyue asked Zhuang Mingxu.
Most water-ability users weren’t trained for combat. His team usually worked on the base’s water systems—fighting with abilities wasn’t their strength.
“Melt the ice layer down about a meter. There are cannons pre-frozen in place below—dig them out and give them to the soldiers we stationed up top,” Zhuang Mingxu issued the command coolly, not even looking up.
*
At the central island villa, the mood was tense. Only Xi Shi and Yin Jin were present with three children and three wolves. The only ability users left were Bai Miao and Lu Xi, who had been intentionally held back.
“Brother Mingxu, where’s the rest of our team? Wasn’t it just my brother and Brother Zhuang who left?”
Lu Xi had been pulled out of the lab the day Lu Weiyi left.
For the past year, he’d been buried in his research. Aside from coming out for the holidays to see his nephew, he was always busy. When Zhuang Mingxu suddenly told him to pause his work and focus on enhancing his ability, Lu Xi sensed something was wrong—and sure enough, it was.
“They’re on other missions,” Zhuang Mingxu replied calmly as he adjusted his walkie-talkie, seemingly waiting for news. His composure helped settle everyone else.
“Big Daddy, where’s Little Daddy?”
Zhuang Aiyi was curled up on the carpet, hugging the white wolf’s head, whispering.
“Little Daddy went out to kill zombies. Once spring comes, he’ll take you outside to play,” Zhuang Mingxu replied gently.
*
Suddenly, Lin Yimu’s voice crackled over the radio:
“Mingxu, the ice layer on West Island has been deliberately melted. They’re cutting the bridge next—and a group is heading toward West Island.”
“Take your men and simulate an armed counterattack,” Zhuang Mingxu instructed immediately.
Another voice came through on the walkie-talkie:
“Commander Zhuang, zombies have appeared in the civilian district. Someone brought infected materials in. Several people have already mutated.”
“Xu Chu, take the police ability users and restore order. Have Brother Xiong lead our ability users and go with you. If necessary, use lethal force. Also, bring in Cheng Chuan to assist—he knows what to do.”
*
Zhuang Mingxu then looked at those in the living room.
“Lu Xi, take them to the lab. Use your ability to shield both underground bunkers. Try not to draw attention. If you can’t manage both, abandon the storage bunker under the villa—protect the lab at all costs.”
“This is for your protection, in case anyone inside tries to make a move.”
He placed several weapons to the side and looked to Yin Jin.
“Can I trust you?”
“You can,” Yin Jin replied firmly, passing Qin Nian (the child in her arms) to Xi Shi. Her resolve was as unwavering as when they first met.
Zhuang Mingxu didn’t say more. Yin Jin had worked under him in the government for a long time and was now director of the children’s center. She was capable and dependable.
More importantly, Qin Nian was the only known child born with an innate ability. His power sometimes caused problems in his body. The base had a dedicated research team for him, and with Lu Weiyi personally overseeing things, no other base would treat Qin Nian better.
So for Yin Jin, the best option was clearly to stay and stand with them.
He turned to Xi Shi and Zhuang Aiyi.
“You two—don’t let anyone come near. If they’re carrying zombie-contaminated items, contact is extremely dangerous.”
“I know. Don’t worry,” Xi Shi replied, lifting Zhuang Aiyi from the floor.
“Big Daddy, you be careful too. Aiyi will wait here like a good boy,”
Zhuang Aiyi had been warned many times and knew exactly what those words meant. He also knew he and Zhuang Mingxu were the same.
“Brother Mingxu, I’ll stay and help you,” Bai Miao said, her pockets bulging with seeds of offensive plant species.
His combat ability had always been weak, and being young, it was hard for him to stay calm—panic still showed.
“Brother Qingji once gave me thorn seeds. I’ve wrapped our entire villa in thorns. As long as I keep channeling my power into them, no one will be able to get through.”
“Save them for protection. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be their last line of defense,” Zhuang Mingxu urged them to leave quickly as shouting from the nearby coast became audible.
“I’ll stay with you,” Lu Xi suddenly said. Zhuang Mingxu frowned, but Lu Xi spoke seriously,
“You’re just a normal human. What if someone uses zombie materials on you?”
“Brother Mingxu, think—if something happens to you, what do you think my brother would do?”
That one sentence stopped Zhuang Mingxu in his tracks. In the past, he might have believed Lu Weiyi would keep going even if something happened to him. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
“Big Daddy, Taotao will protect you!”
A voice suddenly chirped from within the wolf’s fur. It was Taotao, bundled up in a bright yellow puffer jacket, looking like a little round ball.
“You…” Zhuang Mingxu remembered that mutant plants all seemed scared of Taotao, but he’d never seen the child fight.
“I can protect Big Daddy.”
Taotao walked up to Zhuang Mingxu and extended his arms, which turned into countless emerald green vines, wrapping Zhuang Mingxu up into a green cocoon, just like how he had once wrapped up Lu Weiyi while asking for help.
Thinking of how Taotao could still return to Lu Weiyi’s space at any time, Zhuang Mingxu nodded and agreed.
“Lu Xi, take the others and leave immediately. And remember, keep an eye on the lab personnel too.”
“Lu Xi, no matter what, protect the lab. Don’t let anyone find it,” Zhuang Mingxu reminded again.
“Got it, Brother Mingxu. You be careful too.”
The group quickly left. Zhuang Mingxu held Taotao in his arms when the voice of Gu Qingji came over the radio:
“Brother Mingxu, someone broke into South Island and was attacked by mutant creeping vines.”
“Coordinate the response. Don’t hold back.”
“Understood.”
Zhuang Mingxu tapped his fingers on the table. Hearing footsteps approaching, he told Gu Qingyue,
“Qingyue, Zheng Jun should have arrived. Hand over command to him and support his efforts. Ning Yuan and the others are lying in wait outside. Just stall for time and work together from inside.”
“Got it.”
Just then, a dozen people entered the villa, led by Du Ping, with the sharp-looking Li Feng standing at his side.
“What brings you all to my house so early?” Zhuang Mingxu asked.
Du Ping remained silent, but Li Feng scanned the room, noticed the absence of others, and asked,
“Commander Zhuang, why are you alone this early in the morning?”
“They went to West Island to have fun,” Zhuang Mingxu said calmly, as if he hadn’t noticed the tension.
“What a coincidence,” Li Feng said, gesturing outside with a polite wave.
“Commander Zhuang, the base is holding a meeting. Please come with us.”
“The base is holding a meeting? Funny—I’m the base commander and no one told me.”
Zhuang Mingxu didn’t move.
“Well, we’re here to inform you now. Please.”
Li Feng finished, and several ability users behind him entered the villa and searched every room. When they came back, they shook their heads—no one else was found.
“Is this a mutiny?” Zhuang Mingxu sneered at Du Ping.
“Captain Du, upgraded and already forgets those who helped him?”
“Only two people got upgraded. You have so many high-level ability users. Handing out two slots is supposed to make everyone forever grateful? Isn’t that a bit naïve?”
Du Ping stayed silent. Li Feng studied Zhuang Mingxu’s expression and continued, “Besides, Du Le is just a kid. And just because he said a few words, you pulled all of our Peace Squad members off duty? What, you think we have no pride?”
A voice buzzed from the walkie-talkie urging them on. Li Feng added, “Commander Zhuang, better come quietly. Don’t make us use force.”
Zhuang Mingxu rose with Taotao in his arms. When Li Feng reached out to take the child, Zhuang Mingxu sidestepped and coldly warned, “Touch him, and I’ll kill you on the spot.”
Although both were ordinary humans, Zhuang Mingxu had received proper training and had never let himself go even after recovering physically. In every way, he was more capable than Li Feng.
“Enough, it’s just a child,” Du Ping stopped Li Feng from acting.
“Don’t forget—he’s still useful to us.”
“Hmph. We’ll deal with you later,” Li Feng spat a threat and led the others out of the villa.
*
Zhongdao Island wasn’t large, just a single large villa. The rest of the facilities were clearly visible at a glance.
Li Feng, unhappy with the search results, asked the scouts, “Nothing underground?”
“Already checked. There’s nothing down there,” someone reported.
Lu Xi’s ability was still only A-rank. Zhuang Mingxu didn’t know how long he could hold out and didn’t want to waste time here. He exposed himself deliberately, asking,
“What exactly are you looking for?”
Li Feng’s frown eased the moment he saw him.
“Oh, nothing really. Just heard there’s a lab here that researches weapons.”
“Didn’t you already send your people to West Island?” Zhuang Mingxu said mockingly.
“Captain Du! They say the ice wall isn’t breaking!”
Someone came running over, breathless, yelling.
“Didn’t we give them jammers? Even with the ability disruptor active, they shouldn’t be affected. How are over ten thousand people losing to just a few hundred water-type users? Did Zhang Hang hire useless idiots?” Li Feng raged.
Zhuang Mingxu’s expression twitched slightly at hearing that number.
“They have hot weapons. Zhang Hang’s side is taking heavy losses,” the man explained.
“Didn’t you say you deployed all weapons to the city center?” Li Feng looked at Zhuang Mingxu in shock.
Zhuang Mingxu raised an eyebrow and said nothing. That was the last straw—Even the ability users couldn’t take it anymore. One of them stormed forward and punched Zhuang Mingxu.
