Chapter 341: Mutation

A week later, Beichen came over to give the two elders another treatment, healing some of their hidden internal injuries.

The young man brought a bombshell with him.

"Last night, a group of people in the underground shelter got agitated and planned to storm the underground warehouse to loot food supplies."

"Captain Zuo clashed with them and even got slightly injured."

Xie Ning was immediately annoyed.

With Zuo Li’s power nearing the Fourth Rank, how could she possibly lose out to a group of ordinary people?

’Unless she was intentionally holding back.’

"They took a group of the elderly, weak, women, and children as hostages. We eventually rescued them, but many were injured," Beichen said casually. "Those ungrateful commoners... it’s useless no matter how many times you save them."

"They think this is just what Superpower Users are supposed to do. The greater the superpower, the greater the responsibility, right? They believe we should bow and scrape for them, serving them until the day we die."

Xie Ning glanced at the boy, then suddenly reached out and flicked him on the forehead.

"What was that for??" The youth turned and glared at her, fuming.

"Stop being so cynical and world-weary."

Beichen looked like he was about to die of indignation. He opened his mouth and yelled, "I’m older than you!"

’This infuriating woman always treats me like a little brother.’

They were born in the same year, and Beichen was even a few months older than Xie Ning.

’But a certain someone just had to act like his big sister with such confidence. She’s clearly too used to the role.’

"Xiao Chenchen, have you gotten taller again? Are you getting enough to eat? Make sure to eat your vegetables." A member of the Song Family chimed in, chatting familiarly with the youth.

Beichen’s handsome face flushed slightly, likely because he wasn’t used to this kind of concern.

"Is your captain back yet?"

Beichen shook his head. "Looking for her? She’s been staying at the shelter lately. There’s a lot she needs to handle."

Xie Ning pulled a sack of vegetables and fruits from her Space and handed it to the youth. "Head back quickly. Don’t get sick from the cold again."

"I did not!"

Xie Ning shot him a look. "Stubborn till the end. Your captain told me everything. You walked a few steps and got sick from the cold, then you were caught secretly using your Healing Technique while huddled under the covers."

"Your constitution is pretty weak." Before Xie Ning could finish, the young man angrily slammed the partition door shut and stormed off.

Xie Ning looked at her family, who were all staring at her, and asked in confusion, "What did I say?"

She had been so brutally blunt, yet she was completely oblivious. The family exchanged a speechless look.

"Ningning, I feel like I’m about to break through to the Fourth Rank," her uncle said. "I want to join the recruitment for the snow-shoveling and ice-breaking teams. Maybe I can find the opportunity I need to advance."

Xie Ning nodded. "Okay."

’With Song Youzhi’s current abilities, going out shouldn’t be a problem. Shoveling snow and breaking ice would be good training for his superpower, too. This is a good thing.’

Besides Song Youzhi, Song Kexin and Song Shijun also wanted to join the snow-clearing efforts, and Xie Ning didn’t stop any of them.

’It’s a good thing that everyone is so motivated to improve.’

「Another three long months passed, and the situation grew even worse.」

The temperature failed to rise. Some biologists predicted that over eighty-five percent of the planet’s flora and fauna had already entered a period of rapid mutation.

The harsh environment left them with no other choice.

Mutate or die; it was their only way forward.

Xie Ning noticed her boyfriend seemed to be receiving more satellite messages lately. After he received more than a dozen at once, she finally couldn’t resist asking, "Is the Capital urging you to return?"

"Don’t worry about it." Gu Chen took her hand, and they walked slowly along the edge of the field.

Here in the Space, it was just the two of them, and Gu Chen felt an inexplicable sense of warmth and bliss.

"I don’t think ignoring it is an option," Xie Ning said, shaking her head. "They’re pushing you over and over again to return. Has there been some kind of breakthrough?"

Gu Chen nodded. "The biomedical research institute in the Capital has developed a new drug that targets the zombie virus."

"But for now, it only works on certain types of zombies. They want me to return as soon as possible to collect some samples."

"The biomedical research institute." Xie Ning’s gaze gradually turned cold. "Oh."

Gu Chen could feel his girlfriend’s mood plummet like a roller coaster, dropping from the clouds straight into an abyss.

"Ningning, is something wrong?" Gu Chen asked, his heart uneasy. "Don’t worry, I’m definitely not leaving. Besides, in this extreme weather, the engines are all frozen solid. No form of transportation is working anyway."

Xie Ning gave him a small smile. "When the ice age starts to recede, I’ll go back to the Capital with you."

"Zong Xuan and Tai Xian should go back and see their families, too."

’It’s been so long. Even though neither of them ever said a word, I just know they miss them,’ Xie Ning thought.

He hadn’t expected happiness to strike so suddenly. Xiao Gu’s face lit up, and he couldn’t contain his joy. "Of course, that would be amazing!"

’He would be overjoyed if Ningning could go back with him.’

He rubbed his hands together nervously, then squeezed her hand and asked, "My parents would also like to invite you for a meal. Would that be okay?"

Xie Ning glanced at him, amused by his cautious and hopeful expression.

"Of course. In fact, I should be the one to pay your parents a visit and treat them to a meal."

Gu Chen was instantly over the moon. He scooped Xie Ning up by the waist and spun her around twice. "Ningning, you’re the best!"

’Ningning was wonderful, and her whole family was wonderful. He had no idea what he’d done to get so lucky, to have found such a treasure.’

「Jingji Base – Gu Family Villa」

"Auntie, why are you so happy all of a sudden?"

A tall girl with short hair squeezed onto the side of the sofa, inching closer to the beautiful, sweetly smiling woman. "Auntie, is it because Chen is coming back?"

"Before the ice age hit, I told Chen to come back with me and Wanrong, but he absolutely refused. Honestly," the girl complained nonstop. "I don’t know what’s so special about Golden City Base that has him hooked."

The beautiful woman, who had short, curly hair and a natural air of nobility, smiled. "Chen said he’ll be back soon, and he’s bringing his girlfriend to meet us."

"What?" Feng JiaMin’s mouth formed an exaggerated ’O.’ "Chen has a girlfriend? When did this happen? Why haven’t any of the guys heard about it?"

Qin Qiyun gave Feng JiaMin a surprised look and gently pulled her hand away. "Jia Min, you need to have a better sense of boundaries. From now on, Chen is a taken man. Whether he’s dating or not, and who his girlfriend is, isn’t something he needs to report to you all."

Feng JiaMin stuck out her tongue. "Auntie, what are you thinking? Chen, Lu Wei, and I all grew up playing together in the same compound. I have absolutely no romantic feelings for them."

Qin Qiyun raised an eyebrow but didn’t call out her flimsy excuse. She just nodded with a polite smile. "I’m a little tired."

The demurely dressed Mo Wanrong quickly took the hint and stood up, saying with a smile, "Then we won’t disturb your rest, Auntie. Jia Min, we should go."

Feng JiaMin kicked at the small stones on the path, venting her frustration. "What’s Chen’s problem? Starting a relationship and not even telling his friends."

"He’s so naive. I hope he’s not being deceived."