Chapter 119: Reaching E City
Bright sunlight shines down over the wide main street as two vehicles speed forward. A Hummer leads the way, followed closely by an armoured car.
"E City, we"ve finally reached it!" A delicate face pops out of the Hummer"s window as Li Qing cheers, uncaring of the ruckus he is causing. Bright eyes gaze at the distant city, full of antic.i.p.ation and joy.
"We"re still half an hour away and you"re already so excited?" Qin Jun wraps his arms around Li Qing"s waist, pulling him back into the car as he laughs lightly.
"Of course ah. We"ve been cooped up in this car for ten days straight! We couldn"t even wind down the window. I"m almost bored to death. It wasn"t easy to come all the way to E City, we can finally draw down the window and we are almost at the safe zone," Li Qing says very seriously as he beams, splaying his palms on his lover"s chest.
After successfully retrieving the research materials from I City"s inst.i.tute, Huo Zaiyuan"s party, together with the commando squad and the other three survivors head directly for E City. The consecutive ten days" journey has really sapped everyone"s energy.
"When we reach E City, if we can contact A City, then we will stay there for two days," Long Zhanye says as he glances fondly at Huo Zaiyuan currently dozing in the pa.s.senger seat.
"All right! Long live older brother Long!"
~~~
Clutching an extremely ordinary-looking notebook to his chest like a priceless treasure, E City"s district leader feels so happy that tears of joy streams down his face as his shoulders tremble slightly.
Evidently, the commando squad is long used to their leader"s peculiar personality. On the other hand, the small party of four standing aside and staring at the sobbing man inwardly wonder if said leader is about to spasm from excessive joy.
"Sure enough, these results gotten by the sacrifice of Professor Wu is not a dud…this is good, very good. With this in hand, we don"t have to be afraid of that horrible poisonous gas anymore."
"Commander, we were fortunate to receive senior officer Long"s a.s.sistance for the duration of this mission. Or else, we might have perished in that place too." Lu Yi finally speaks as he knows full well that if none of them interrupts their leader, the man would have continued blubbering like a broken record for half a day. If his actions cause a slight against the legendary senior officer Long, then it would be rather troublesome for everyone.
"Eh?! Senior officer Long? Don"t tell me…" E military district"s leader abruptly snaps his head around. Seeing the calmly smiling faces staring back, he startles so badly that the notebook in his arms was nearly flung out the window. "Long…Long…Long…"
"h.e.l.lo, Uncle Ming." Long Zhanye greets with a wave of his hand, then pulls Huo Zaiyuan down with him to sit on the sofa. "Where is my youngest paternal uncle?"
"How would I know who your youngest paternal uncle is?!" The startled expression instantly shifts a hundred and eighty degrees, replaced by a frosty look as the notebook is viciously hurled onto the ground.
The bang it produced is loud enough to shock everyone within the room.
Beholding Ming Huiheng"s icy visage, Long Zhanye roughly understands what happened to cause this reaction. This explosion of resentment and dissatisfaction…no need to ask what it is, he can tell it is due to a quarrel between an old married couple. He is certain that headstrong, trouble-making paternal uncle of his stirred up Uncle Ming"s anger.
Naturally, it is impossible for Long Zhanye to show filial piety and try smothering the fire caused by his youngest paternal uncle right now. So he quickly changes the topic. "Uncle Ming, is there any new information from grandfather?"
Hearing Long Zhanye"s question, the fury dissipates as Ming Huiheng pauses for a second, then drops into his office chair. Waving a hand to permit Lu Yi and his squad to excuse themselves, he sighs. "As always, Grandpa Long is worried, afraid that something disastrous befalls you. A City"s base sent over a few pieces of equipment made by General Long. Without waiting for my go-ahead, that bunch of idiots let the soldiers use it. I thought this time, they will be met with ill fortune and nothing positive will come out of it again…that"s right. Little Zuo arrived in E City early this morning. Stay here and rest for two days. I will send someone to inform Grandpa Long."
"That"s what I intend to do. Also, why did little Zuo come here?" Long Zhanye quirks an eyebrow after hearing one of his adjutants unexpectedly appear in this safe zone.
"When General Long sent the equipment over, he came together to explain how to use them in detail as well as help the technicians fine tune it."
"Ah, no wonder." Long Zhanye nods in understanding.
Between his two aides, one possesses high fighting skills and the ability to deal with contingencies on the fly. The other has a photographic memory and a high comprehension ability. With these two working together, they make an excellent team.
"Here, this is the key to my house. Bring your friends and take rest there while I send someone to inform Grandpa Long." Ming Huiheng tossed an access card over.
"Thanks." Long Zhanye doesn"t bother to reject his offer, s.n.a.t.c.hing the card out of the air before grasping Huo Zaiyuan"s hand, leading Qin Jun and Li Qing to the exit. "Then I"ll trouble Uncle Ming."
As the commander of E City"s military base, even if it is the apocalypse right now, his accommodation is still the best. The house is rather large with a lot of rooms. Splitting into two pairs, the four of them heads up to the second floor and pick a random room.
"Urghhh…" The first thing Huo Zaiyuan does upon entering is throwing himself on the large, soft bed.
How comfortable.
"You"re learning from little Qing now?" Seeing Huo Zaiyuan sprawl happily on the bed without even taking off his shoes or jacket, Long Zhanye chuckles dotingly.
The road from I City to E City is cla.s.sified as a high-risk journey, which is why for ten days, Huo Zaiyuan has been put under a huge mental strain, focus stretched taunt as he was afraid they would run into trouble halfway. Fortunately, it was smooth-sailing all the way.
"I haven"t slept on such a soft bed for a very long time. I missed this feeling a little," Laying on his stomach, Huo Zaiyuan mumbles, stretching his shoe-clad feet towards Long Zhanye, looking forward to what he might do.
Seeing the always serene and able youth willingly exposing such an adorable att.i.tude, Long Zhanye smiles softly as he bends and helps Huo Zaiyuan take off his shoes. To be able to make the legendary, young and promising senior officer Long personally remove their shoes for them, only one person under the Heavens can achieve it.
Long Zhanye even attentively helps Huo Zaiyuan remove his jacket before tossing his own coat and boots aside. After that, he lays down next to the youth.
"Since we are here, take advantage of this time and rest properly. Once we reach A City, I will most likely be busy for quite a while," he murmurs, leaning in to kiss Huo Zaiyuan"s forehead.
"I can help you with some of your work." Snuggling into Long Zhanye"s chest, he drapes his arm over the older man"s waist.
"I know, but I don"t wish to see you so exhausted." Although the child in his arms looks delicate and weak, he is in no way a caged bird. As long as there is an open sky to soar freely, he is akin to an eagle.
"Zhanye, what is your relationship with this safe zone"s leader?"
From Z City until now, every high-ranking officer defers to and respects Long Zhanye. However, this person"s att.i.tude is clearly very different, addressing Zhanye as an elder would a member of a younger generation.
"Ah, Uncle Ming is my youngest paternal uncle"s spouse. My youngest paternal uncle is D City"s chief of staff." Long Zhanye replies.
"Isn"t your Long family"s power all concentrated within A City?"
Regarding this country"s military power, Huo Zaiyuan doesn"t have the faintest clue. However, after knowing Long Zhanye, he knows that the older man is a member of A"s military base and according to common knowledge, the Long family"s might is stationed in A City, with Grandfather Long being the Commander-in-chief.
"My grandfather"s power is in A City while great-grandfather"s is in B City. C, D and E are somewhat involved with the Long family. This is also why when the apocalypse first began, A to E were all able to quickly come to an agreement and prevent any of the five bases from being overrun." Long Zhanye explains as he rubs Huo Zaiyuan"s head with a chuckle. "Isn"t my family incredible?"
"Un." Huo Zaiyuan nods. "Then what generation military officer are you?"
"Hmm…this…is a little more difficult to count. The Long family can be considered a militaristic line since my ancestors have been involved in the army for countless generations." Long Zhanye smiles before flipping his body over, pressing Huo Zaiyuan into the mattress. Eyes half-lidded and face extremely close, he seems ready to take liberties with Huo Zaiyuan at the drop of a hat. "Therefore, you must make sure to seduce me properly. Or else if I decide to leave you, you can only cry helplessly when the time comes."
"I"ve always been one to cherish my loved ones." An arm wraps around Long Zhanye"s shoulder as Huo Zaiyuan moves his face closer, then pecks him lightly on the lips. A sentence that doesn"t match his personality falls from his lips. "Whoever has the guts to leave me after I gave my heart to them, I will definitely let him experience a taste of not being able to live but unable to seek death…"
The lips pressing against his is very soft, bringing along a trace of innocent sensuality that contrasted greatly with his words causes Long Zhanye"s heart to thump as though shocked by a sudden electric charge.
Seductive vixen.
These two words flashing through his mind, Long Zhanye can"t hold himself back anymore, lifting a hand to cup Huo Zaiyuan"s face. Sealing his mouth over Huo Zaiyuan"s, his lips part and moves. Nimble tongue sliding over the closed seams, seeking entrance. As soon as the plush lips part, his tongue slips in, entangling with the softer, more hesitant one.
As the kiss grows deeper and more intense, Long Zhanye"s hand slides unhurriedly down from Huo Zaiyuan"s slender neck to trail lightly down that slim chest until his fingers reach the hem of Huo Zaiyuan"s shirt. Without hesitation, his hand pushes the cloth up, bunching it near Huo Zaiyuan"s ribs as strong, slender fingers finally touch smooth, flawless skin. Hand spanning the trim waist, he lightly kneads the flesh there, relishing in the light moan his actions produce.
"Wuu…" Huo Zaiyuan gasps into Long Zhanye"s mouth, heartbeat sky-rocketing as alarm bells ring in his head. Forcefully pulling his scattered mind together, he shoves at the older man"s chest feebly. "Wait…wait a minute. Mmm…"
"Can"t wait, little Yuan, I - "
"Boss, I heard from Uncle Ming that you"ve arrived - ahh - !"
Suddenly, the door of the room opens with a bang as someone kicks it open. An unfamiliar young man clad in a navy blue military uniform strides in with a dazzling smile on his face. The moment he catches sight of the two people on the bed, his words abruptly cuts off as he freezes in place.
Oh my G.o.d, Heavens ah! He…he is actually seeing his…his Boss forcing himself on a beauty…
"Zuo. Hang. Yang!"