Chapter 159: Eve of an event
In the darkness, even though there is nothing moving in the vicinity, one can hear the faint sound of footfalls before it is replaced by a light scuffle of something climbing up the surface of a several meters high wall. Only when the noise ceases with a final thud does a humanoid figure gradually appear out of nowhere.
"It"s exactly like Commander Yuan"s prediction. The zombies are moving in an organised manner," Couching on the top of the wall, the individual clad in black says. "Tong Ying, let"s go. We need to return quickly and report."
"Roger that, Captain." A voice answers from somewhere before the crouching person too, vanishes from plain sight…
As dawn slowly breaks the horizon, a trickle of undead makes their way stiffly past the wall. Any zombies wandering around aimlessly as this group approaches pauses in their steps, swaying back and forth on the sport before they turn and join the horde, seemingly being controlled by some unseen force.
~~~
A City"s Ability User compound
"…That"s the current situation, Commander Yuan."
A group of five male and females wearing black from head to toe stands at attention in the room, giving their reports with a solemn expression.
"They"ve already reached D City. It appears the situation is not too optimistic." Seating in a rattan chair with an ancient text in hand, Huo Zaiyuan frowns. "Did you manage to find the person controlling the undead?"
"We did." A long-haired female beauty nods as she plays with the hem of her coat nervously. "I saw…I saw the person controlling them. He is a soldier called Ah Si who follows Lord Commander He."
"So it is him. Did you find He Lianming"s whereabouts?"
"No, Sir."
Regarding He Lianming"s defect, almost every Ability User knows about it. While it is fortunate Long Haotian managed to keep the news from spreading, it still impacted the Ability Users greatly.
After listening to the rest of the report from the other members of the Stealth squad, Huo Zaiyuan closes the book in his hand and presses two fingers between his eyebrows, deep in thought.
"Hmm…none of you sustained any injuries or suffered an attack?" Huo Zaiyuan inquires as he rises to his feet. Although his face remains calm and indifferent, it is clear that he is genuinely concerned about their wellbeing.
"No, thank you for your concern, Commander Yuan."
"You"re welcome. Go and rest, I will discuss what you have reported to me with senior officer Long." Huo Zaiyuan dismisses them with a small smile.
"Yes, Sir."
As soon as the door closes behind the last one out, Huo Zaiyuan"s brow furrows. With a wave of his hand, the book vanishes before he too, leaves the Ability User"s compound.
Ever since Long Haotian transferred most of his responsibilities to Long Zhanye, the latter became really busy. However, there are still moments when said busy senior officer Long wants to slack off. Like now!
When Huo Zaiyuan enters the office, the man sitting behind the desk snaps the folder in his hands shut, handing it over to Zuo Hanyang.
"That stack of doc.u.ment regarding resource allocation in your arms, just sent them directly to Hongjian and my uncle." The implication of "Quickly scram, quickly scram. Don"t interrupt my alone time with little Yuan" is very clear.
Having witnessed this scene countless times, Zuo Hanyang isn"t fazed anymore. Doc.u.ments in hand, he complies with his Boss" demands and gets out of there as fast as he can.
Hmm…after delivering all this, let"s find the right adjutant to go out for a meal. Recently, there seem to be a few more newly created flavour of bread they should sample.
"Slacking off again." Huo Zaiyuan closes the office door before walking over to the desk.
"I"ve been working for the entire day, so I must, of course, make sure the others also have work to do." Drawing him into a hug, Long Zhanye kisses his cheek. "How was it?"
"The situation is fast becoming unfavourable. The Stealth squad has returned and according to their report, the large horde has already reached D City. Their numbers are steadily increasing as well."
"D City, huh? Their speed is rather fast. If you take into account the time taken by that squad to return, the horde would have more or less reached C City now. On top of that, undead can travel without needing to stop for a rest. If they continue at this rate, they will enter A City"s range in two days." Long Zhanye"s strokes his chin thoughtfully. "That"s right, is there still no news of He Lianming"s whereabouts?"
"None of them manage to catch even a glimpse of his shadow. What should we do?"
"I reckon he has his own plans to set in motion. That person"s character is so smelly. There"s no way he will die so easily or willingly become the slave of a demonic being," Long Zhanye muses.
"You really understand him well ah." Huo Zaiyuan smiles as he playfully pinches the older man"s cheeks.
Towards other matters, Long Zhanye is very perceptive. But regarding matters of the heart, he is naturally slow. Ever since Huo Zaiyuan emerged from closed-door cultivation, he has witnessed more than a few high official"s children trying to get close to Long Zhanye either due to personal admiration or urging from their families. However, this man never even notices their blatant seduction. Thus Huo Zaiyuan feels that perhaps Long Zhanye is observant only when it comes to him…because he was the one who first opened his heart to Huo Zaiyuan.
Thinking up til here, Huo Zaiyuan"s heart throbs as a burst of exhilaration fills him. Aiya…he feels so embarra.s.sed now.
"We enlisted, trained and graduated together, so I would naturally pick these things up. Beloved, what are you thinking about, hmm? You face is all red."
Very suspicious ah.
"Eh…no - nothing. Er…let"s continue…what were we talking about just now?" Huo Zaiyuan immediately snaps out of his daze, attempting to change the topic.
Not pushing the matter, the two men continue discussing the matter pertaining to the zombies approaching A City.
Even before the survivor migration proposal was implemented, they already had plans regarding the safe zone"s perimeter walls. Now with all five over million survivors in A City, the wall plans are put into action, transforming this place into less of a safe zone and more of a fortified city.
After finishing their meal, Long Zhanye and Huo Zaiyuan head out to the patrol the newly established city walls. The soldiers there salute Long Zhanye as they pa.s.s before continuing their duties.
"Ai, the weather is really not cooperating ah," Standing at the top of the wall, Long Zhanye mumbles as they are directly hit by the cold, early-spring wind.
"The period has long been chosen by the mastermind behind this event. Or it could have been that demonic head. Either way, they know where the undead"s weakness lies. Compared to cold climate or snow, rain will greatly hinder the zombies" movements, hence they picked this moment. He Lianming"s defect and Xu Mingyi"s death are no more than excuses." Standing next to Long Zhanye, Huo Zaiyuan stares at the distant horizon. "Even if these two events did not occur, after the ice and snow melt, the same decision to march zombies towards A City will be made. Lay siege to the final stronghold and ensure all humans are transformed into zombies. Afterwards comes the mutual devouring until only one remains to break the seal."
"Un. Only in the end, what kind of being is that head? Even the Elder Taoist priest can"t find records of it within the ancient scrolls in the temple"s library." Long Zhanye"s brow wrinkles.
"Un…I have discussed this matter with Master a few days ago. There was a record of a monster that closely resembles it. However, that creature in the scrolls is not a demonic being, but a deity," Huo Zaiyuan explains slowly as he recalls what he read from the ancient scroll.
"A G.o.d? What kind of G.o.d is it?"
"Chi You[1]."
"In mythology, the one who was beheaded by the Yellow Emperor is…" While Long Zhanye has no interest in myths and legends, he is still somewhat knowledgeable regarding the more popular tales.
"Whether this is the real "Chi You" or not, I have no idea. But their circ.u.mstances are similar. Perhaps there are still some unknown factors at play. In every folklore, Chi You is always depicted as the villain and is more well-known as the "Demon G.o.d" than the G.o.d of War." Huo Zaiyuan sighs softly. "If it really is the "Demon G.o.d", there wouldn"t be another "Yellow Emperor" to chop his head off again."
"If that head really belongs to the real "Chi You", then who sealed it away? It shouldn"t be the "Yellow Emperor", right?"
"If this "Yellow Emperor" is a Taoist pract.i.tioner, then it is very possible."
Just as the two of them are conversing, a person walks over to mock. "Yi, you two have good taste ah. Running all the way out to the city walls for a romantic date."
Hearing this, Long Zhanye quirks an eyebrow as he eyes the approaching man. "Didn"t I send my left adjutant over with some doc.u.ments? Have you finished looking through them?!"
"Hmm? Doc.u.ments? I don"t know what you are talking about." Long Hongjian places his hands on his hips, shamelessly denying all knowledge. "Ah, older cousin, everything we"ve discussed in the meeting earlier has been put in order. Besides the army and the mercenary squads, it"s a confidential matter to everyone else."
"Un."
"You truly think there"s something more unusual about to occur? Beside the large horde coming to siege this city, are there more p.a.w.ns hidden amongst the survivors like that Taoist priest?" Long Hongjian asks lowly as he stands at Long Zhanye"s other side.
"It took ‘him’ a year to uncover just these two individuals concealed within the safe zone. But my intuition tells me that things are certainly not so simple. In addition, with all survivors gathered together here, the situation has gotten more complicated," Long Zhanye answers as his hands clench into fists.
"Your intuition has always been sharper than a dog"s nose. Since you say so, I trust you." Long Hongjian narrows his eyes, gaze sweeping over the horizon. "The storm will approach very soon."
"That"s right ah…"
Footnotes:
[1] Chi You (蚩尤): The G.o.d of War and weapons. A half-man, half-bull demon who is an enemy of the Yellow Emperor.