Chapter 545: Core Signal

One technician struck the barrier hard enough to injure his arm.

"That made him angrier," she observed.

"You appear very pleased."

"I am."

The gate on the road outside Qinghe Base became stable.

However, the zombie horde divided before reaching it. Half continued forward while the others changed direction and moved around the opening.

"The command subject recognizes the gate," Leng Pan said. "It is ordering the zombies to avoid it."

Lu Zhen searched through the control options. "We need control of the horde."

The gate anchor showed the command carrier’s signal but did not provide access.

Little Vine crawled closer and pressed the crystal fragment from the infant’s beacon against the panel.

The two devices connected.

New options appeared.

[Unit movement.]

[Attack target.]

[Core signal.]

Leng Pan selected the core signal and moved its location through the gate.

A powerful energy marker appeared on the alien platform at the other end.

The zombies reacted immediately.

The horde changed direction and rushed toward the opening.

Unlike before, when they had moved across the wasteland in a controlled formation, they became a dense mass of decaying bodies fighting to reach the false core first.

The leading zombies entered the gate.

On the alien platform, soldiers opened fire.

Energy beams tore through the first rows, but more zombies followed. They climbed over the fallen bodies and spread across the platform.

The aliens tried closing the gate from their side.

Leng Pan kept one hand against the crystal and said, "They are attempting to disconnect."

Lu Zhen covered her hand with his. "Let them try. You are more stubborn than anyone they have met."

"Is that a compliment?"

"Today, it is."

"And on other days?"

"It depends on whether you are arguing with me."

Leng Pan leaned closer. "You usually enjoy making up after our arguments."

Lu Zhen’s gaze dropped to her lips. "That is why I occasionally allow you to win."

"Allow me?"

He noticed the dangerous light in her eyes and corrected himself. "My wife wins because she is intelligent, capable, and always right."

"That sounded rehearsed."

"I can make it more convincing later."

The gate trembled as another alien override struck it.

This time, the impact caused the spiritual spring connection to weaken.

Lu Zhen’s expression became serious again. "How long can you hold it?"

"Long enough for this horde to cross, but we will need to release the crystal before the connection damages my space."

Nearly half the western zombie army had already entered the alien world.

Among them were several giant zombies and mutated creatures carrying metal armor. The alien soldiers continued firing, but the zombies spread beyond the platform and entered the silver city.

An alarm echoed from the other side.

Lu Zhen looked at the remaining zombies on Earth. "Send the command subject through. Without it, the horde might return to Qinghe Base."

Leng Pan located the strongest signal.

A large armored vehicle was moving near the rear of the horde. Its windows had been covered with black metal, and dozens of zombies protected it.

"The command carrier is inside that vehicle."

"Move the false core signal directly in front of it."

Leng Pan changed the coordinates.

The gate disappeared from the road and reopened several metres ahead of the vehicle.

The driver tried to turn, but the zombies surrounding it blocked the road.

The armored vehicle passed through.

The moment it reached the alien platform, Lu Zhen touched the control panel and closed the gate.

The connection broke.

Leng Pan pulled her hand away from the crystal as the black ring stopped rotating.

Her body weakened, but Lu Zhen caught her before she could fall. He lifted her into his arms without asking.

"I can stand," she protested as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You nearly collapsed."

"I only lost my balance."

"You may argue after resting."

Leng Pan noticed the blood spreading through the bandage on his shoulder. "You are injured too. Carrying me will make your wound worse."

Lu Zhen started walking toward the energy chamber’s exit. "My back is injured, not my arms. Let me enjoy holding my wife before the next disaster interrupts us."

She relaxed against his chest. "You could hold me without waiting for a disaster."

"I intend to. For three uninterrupted days, if you remember our earlier arrangement."

"I remember. You still have not explained your plans."

Lu Zhen lowered his head and whispered something near her ear.

Heat climbed into Leng Pan’s face.

She looked toward Little Vine, but the plant had already covered its leaves with two tendrils.

"You have corrupted my plant," she accused.

"It spends most of its time with you."

Before she could defend herself, the transport vessel shook violently.

The lights in the energy chamber went out.

A message appeared across the control panel.

[Primary Passage reached.]

[Navigation control unavailable.]

[Emergency crossing initiated.]

The damaged vessel began entering the Passage before they could escape.

The transport vessel entered the Primary Passage.

A silver light swept through the energy chamber and covered everything around them. The vessel’s walls became transparent for a moment, allowing Leng Pan to see countless streams of energy twisting outside.

There was no sky or ground inside the Passage.

Only a seemingly endless tunnel of silver and black light.

Lu Zhen tightened his hold on Leng Pan as the vessel shook again. "Can you still enter your space?"

Leng Pan tried opening it, but an invisible pressure immediately closed the entrance. "I can sense everything inside, but the Passage is preventing me from entering."

"Then I should put you down before the vessel throws both of us against a wall."

"You should have put me down when I first asked."

"I was enjoying myself."

Leng Pan looked at the blood spreading across his shoulder. "You were reopening your wound."

"That part was less enjoyable."

She slipped out of his arms, then steadied him when another violent movement passed through the vessel. "If we survive this crossing, I will tie you to the bed until your back heals."

Lu Zhen placed one hand against the wall and looked down at her. "You should be careful when making promises like that. I might become injured more often."

"I am talking about forcing you to rest."

"So am I."

"You are shameless."

His hand moved around her waist again, keeping her close as the floor tilted. "My wife is threatening to tie me to our bed, yet I am the shameless one?"

"The difference is in the intention."

"I look forward to discussing your intentions when we are no longer travelling toward an alien world."