Chapter 149: Strange Floral Scent
“Zhao Hu, don’t panic. You came into contact with these flowers even earlier than Madam, and you’re still fine… so they should be safe.”
Xiao Yuntian’s weary eyes stared blankly at the vanity table. His voice was heavy, because deep down, he wasn’t optimistic.
The fiery red roses stood perfectly still, gorgeous and dripping with life. Who could have thought they might be murderers?
Mu Lantu said, “Whether or not it’s because of them, it’s best to throw them away.”
Xiao Yuntian instructed, “Zhao Hu, wrap them in clothes or a bedsheet—several layers—and then throw them out.”
Although Zhao Hu was afraid, he couldn’t disobey his boss’s orders. “Yes.”
He went to another room, fetched a bedsheet, and wrapped the roses and vase several times before tossing them straight out the window.
To guard against mutants breaking in, it was best not to open the door; and since there were only mutants below, there was no worry about injuring normal humans with falling objects. If they happened to kill a mutant, all the better.
“Keep calling the police—once every five minutes.”
“Yes.”
But even by nightfall, no one answered.
Mrs. Xiao regained consciousness, but her mind did not. Black lines surged restlessly in her eyes, twisted and hideous, making her unbearable to look at.
Xiao Yuntian blindfolded her with cloth strips, gagged her mouth, and left her to struggle in the room. The sounds of crashing never ceased.
Everyone except Xiao Yuntian had gotten used to it after listening all afternoon; they didn’t even lift an eyelid anymore.
After cleaning up the dishes, Wang Long came out and whispered, “Boss, we don’t have much food left. Only a 2kg bag of flour and a 2kg bag of rice.”
Zhao Hu grew nervous. There were five of them, all grown men; that much food would barely last a single meal. If they couldn’t even fill their stomachs, how could they deal with danger?
Xiao Yuntian explained to Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, “The presidential suite door is sturdy; we’re safe in here. Food is my only concern. To keep ingredients fresh, unless ordered in advance, the hotel usually only prepares two days’ worth of food for two people in the fridge. Add in what you two brought, and at best we can manage tomorrow’s three meals. The day after that, we’ll run out.”
“Do you have a plan, Mr. Xiao?” Mu Lantu asked.
Xiao Yuntian replied, “This entire sixty-eighth floor is the presidential suite, but only this one is occupied. We can try breaking into the other rooms and taking whatever food is inside. That’s the simplest and safest method. The trouble is, the hotel locks are all electronic—it won’t be easy to pick. The second option is the restaurants downstairs, but that’s risky; with our floor so high up, taking either the stairs or the elevator is dangerous.”
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang exchanged a smile. Perfect—because they had a “master key.”
Xu Huazhang said, “Leave it to us. Since we’ve become Mr. Xiao’s bodyguards, we should show some ability.”
That was exactly what Xiao Yuntian wanted, though he dared not think Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were easy to control. He remained polite: “I’ll trouble you both.”
Xu Huazhang said, “We’ll act at dawn.”
Naturally, Xiao Yuntian wouldn’t force them to go immediately.
“Alright.”
Mu Lantu glanced at Madam Xiao’s room, wrinkling his nose. “What a strong fragrance.”
“There’s scent outside too,” Xu Huazhang said, stepping onto the balcony and raising his binoculars. “The mutants are eating flowers.”
Mu Lantu felt uneasy. If they fed on blossoms, would they become even stronger?
“Huazhang, let’s go find food now.”
Xu Huazhang nodded.
Xiao Yuntian, Wang Long, and Zhao Hu weren’t fools—they were all restless.
Xiao Yuntian said, “Gentlemen, please be careful. I’ll raise your daily pay by ten thousand!”
Mu Lantu paused. This Mr. Xiao had guts—no wonder his business card could turn into a tool. Though he and Xu Huazhang didn’t care about the money, from Xiao Yuntian’s perspective, this was a clever way to win loyalty.
“Thank you, Mr. Xiao,” Mu Lantu said. “If we manage to bring back enough food, could you give us another of your business cards? We’d like to gift one to a friend.”
Xiao Yuntian laughed. He had expected some major request, but this was just for a card—what harm in that? He never doubted why Mu Lantu asked for the card instead of money.
He was five-time reigning richest man of Wuxian Province; his card wasn’t something just anyone could obtain. In many circles, it could serve as a pass!
“I’ll give you two more.”
Mu Lantu was very satisfied.
Xu Huazhang pressed his ear against the door. No sound outside—either all was normal, or the soundproofing was simply too good.
“Baby, you open the door,” Xu Huazhang said. He stood at the door with a frying pan raised, ready to take the first hit if anything rushed in.
Mu Lantu didn’t move, lifting his own frying pan. “You open it.”
Unable to win the standoff, Xu Huazhang gripped the doorknob and slowly cracked the door open.
The strong floral fragrance drifted in. The corridor was silent.
Mu Lantu tiptoed out, confirmed it was safe, and gestured. Xu Huazhang followed and shut the door.
“Boss, will they really come back?” Wang Long asked doubtfully.
Zhao Hu said, “Even if they don’t, that food should last us four or five days if we ration. In four or five days, rescue will definitely come.”
Xiao Yuntian shot him a glance—short-sighted. Still, Zhao Hu was just a bodyguard. As long as he did his job, there was no need to criticize further.
“The presidential suite is the safest place in the hotel. If they don’t return, we still have nowhere else to go.”
With Xiao Yuntian’s business card swiped at the suite’s reader, the door opened silently.
Xu Huazhang searched the kitchens, bundling up the food in bedsheets.
In this way, the two of them looted all the presidential suites.
But when leaving the last one, trouble came.
They were surrounded by a group of survivors.
The group was ragged, armed with kitchen knives, fire axes, mops—clothes and shoes stained with blood.
“The door’s open! Quick, get inside!”
“Shut the hell up! Don’t draw mutants!”
“Move! Let us in!”
Xu Huazhang had opened the door; Mu Lantu stood behind him carrying a huge bundle.
One man at the front reached to shove Xu Huazhang, but Xu Huazhang kicked him aside. “Let us out first.”
The others’ eyes greedily locked on Mu Lantu’s big bundle.
“If you want to leave, fine—leave the stuff!”
“Yeah, hand it over! That’s food, right? You took everything—what are we supposed to eat?”
Outnumbered, they showed no fear of Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In less than three seconds, Xu Huazhang knocked them all down with his invincible frying pan and went to help Mu Lantu with the bundle.
Mu Lantu gave him a sweet smile.
The others could only watch as the two slipped into another suite, grinding their teeth in hatred.
Luo Guanghe rubbed his hungry stomach, his rough face clouded with gloom.
“Get inside first, then we’ll plan.”
A young boy rushed to the kitchen, slamming the fridge shut in frustration.
“Shit! Brother Luo, there isn’t a single grain of rice in here!”
Luo Guanghe reclined on the sofa, eyes closed, giving a subtle signal to the man beside him.
The boy stormed out of the kitchen, grumbling, “Brother Luo, those two just now—”
He Mingliang darted forward and slapped him hard.
The room fell silent.
Feng Lixuan clutched his stinging cheek, tears welling up. “Brother Luo, why’d you hit me?”
He Mingliang slapped him again. “Because you talk too much—satisfied?”
Feng Lixuan lowered his head and backed off. No one else dared to speak.
Luo Guanghe crossed his feet arrogantly on the coffee table. He was just a hotel janitor, while the others were wealthy enough to stay at the New Noble Hotel. Normally, he wouldn’t even have a chance to talk to them. Now, they bowed and scraped before him—it felt exhilarating!
He knew some of them must curse him in their hearts, but he didn’t care. The apocalypse had arrived. If they wanted to escape, they had no choice but to rely on the one who knew the hotel best—him!
“You. Come here.”
He pointed at a curly-haired girl cowering in the back.
The girl flinched in fear.
“B-Brother Luo, whatever you want, just say it. I’ll do it—I don’t need to come over…”
“I told you to come. Don’t make me say it a third time.” Luo Guanghe slashed a single-seat sofa in half with his watermelon knife.
The girl looked helplessly at the others.
“No…”
The only other woman in the group, about forty, plump and strong, wearing the same janitor uniform as Luo Guanghe, hesitated before stepping forward to shield the girl.
“Old Luo, what we need right now is food. Aren’t you hungry too?”
“What did you just call me?”
Zhou Yuanfen froze under Luo Guanghe’s stare. His eyes were shadowed, crawling like insects along her spine, raising every hair on her body. She couldn’t fathom how a man usually so honest could transform in a single day.
He even had a daughter himself—eighteen, about this girl’s age. How could he look at this child with such disgusting eyes?
She slapped herself hard. “Brother Luo, Brother Luo! I misspoke, please forgive me! We’ll make you some tea!”
Cautiously, she pulled the girl toward the kitchen. But suddenly, searing pain pierced her back, her body lost control, and she collapsed.
“Auntie!” the girl screamed.
Luo Guanghe pulled out the bloody watermelon knife and crooked a finger at the girl, his voice warm but saturated with malice. “Come. Here.”
Zhu Huange’s face streamed with tears, her legs trembling as she slowly inched toward him.
“Brother Luo…”
“Good girl. Come here, come here.” Lustful excitement danced in his eyes.
The others turned away, not daring to make a sound.
Finally, Zhu Huange reached him.
Luo Guanghe tugged her hand lightly, and she fell into his arms. Her delicate hand rested weakly against his chest.
Luo Guanghe burst into loud laughter—only for it to cut off abruptly. He looked down to see a dagger buried in his chest!
He Mingliang was stunned. “Brother Luo?!”
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