Chapter 97

The panic continued to spread and devoured people's desire for life. The base ceased operating normally in an instant and no one came to execute the orders given by Father Gong. Everyone was immersed in their despair, their outlook very negative.

Once people's hope collapsed, the only thing waiting for them was death. And not by zombies, but by themselves. If this continued on, the suicide rate on the base would continue to rise and human beings would push themselves further into despair.

Lin Wenbo made a lap around the base and knew that the negative emotions of the people should be eliminated as soon as possible. After a little bit of thought, he took Gong Lixin to the broadcasting room and instructed him, "Xiaoxin, save your previous advice of using the Bugu Dan for us and tell the people about how we will find plants that are suitable to be eaten and make grow them. No matter how bad the situation, there will definitely be grain storages in strategic locations across the country. We can go and search for those granaries. There are enough food for the one billion people of country C to eat for a year, and with only thousands remaining, it should be enough. Before the food is all eaten up, we will definitely find a solution."

Gong Lixin nodded as he carefully listened, waiting for Lin Wenbo to come to an end before seriously suggesting, "Big Brother Lin, please help me write a script. I don't understand everything and am afraid that I won't be able to speak well." Something like 'strategic reserve'…when he thought about the word, he understood it, but when it was put all together, it became completely unclear. He might end up mistaking Big Brother Lin's meaning.

Lin Wenbo looked at the other's ignorant face and suddenly laughed. The last gloom in his heart disappeared without a trace. This was the so-called being so ignorant that one was fearless, right? No wonder Xiaoxin never knew what the thing called 'fear' was and always kept his calm. It was really unexpectedly cute! That's good. He didn't need to think about complicated things in his heart, because he would be there for him.

With that protective thought, Lin Wenbo rubbed the youth's hair lovingly and compassionately before he began to draft a speech as he promised. Although Xiaoxin was not good at speaking neither did he have the skill of speech, this kind of inspiring words could only be used to the greatest effect by him because, in the people's mind, he was the protector of the people and they believed him.

Lin Wenbo was a very successful businessman. The thing that he was the best at was grasping the human heart. An emotional speech soon formed under his pen. He handed the thin sheet of paper and softly said, "Xiaoxin, just follow the thought, you don't need to pay attention to any of the details. As long as you are you, the people will surely believe and cheer up." Because there was no one who knew better than him how terribly contagious this teenager was and how addictive his influence is.

"Hn." Gong Lixin nodded cautiously and, after Lin Wenbo turned on the microphone, he read out every word of the speech.

Because he had left his studies for over a year, he was not very familiar with simplified characters, so he spoke very slowly, but his pronunciation was exceptionally clear. There was no anxiety, no fear and no despair, only a melodious voice. It was calm, as calm as the clearest and purest spiritual spring in the world and had a soothing power.

Father Gong, who had been working as if he had been working for five years, didn't see anyone for a long time. When he returned from the farmland to the prison, he heard the encouraging and comforting words of his son. He paused and couldn't help listening in. His frowning brows unconsciously relaxed. The people in the base also forgot their panic, calming down bit by bit and a tumultuous smile slowly crossed their faces. On the verge of despair, on the verge of riots, the overwhelming amount of prisoners who had been exploited by Kang Zhengyuan and Bao Long also calmed down their violent emotions, even the guards with whips walked towards the farmlands, ready to work.

Dou Heng disappeared among the group of prisoners in ragged clothing and looked towards the broadcast room. His gaze was especially deep as if it seemed to penetrate the walls and see the young man standing there. His lips that were used to stretched into a straight line wanted to lift up, but he ultimately failed from his cheek muscles being too rusty. He thought that it was incredible. He didn't feel the slightest of warmth and hope in the past, during peaceful times, but during the apocalypse, he felt these two extraordinary emotions for the first time. Life was so unpredictable!

Tan Mingyuan stepped out of Bao Long's office and his respectful expression instantly turned into disdain and disgust. Thinking to Bao Long's plan of killing people for meat then to Young Master's gentle encouragement to the people and his subordinates, he disdained Bao Long even further and his eyes quickly flashed with a heavy killing intent.

Such a scum, he will kill him sooner or later, so that Young Master Gong's hands wouldn't need to get dirty! Thinking like this, it seems that Tan Mingyuan forgot that he had been one of these scums.

After Gong Lixin released the radio and walked out of the building with Lin Wenbo, his team members greeted him with smiles brighter than the hot sun.

"Boss, we responded to you call and got ready to work in the field. Let's go together!" Wang Tao, who had become an authentic muscle man, raised his hoe and said so with a smile.

"Hn, I want a hoe too." Gong Lixin frowned before he said with a smile. He had never used this kind of farming tool before and his eyes were bright with curiosity.

"Ah, Brother Song really knows you best. He knew you would say that!" Wang Tao looked towards Song Haoran, who was holding two hoes, with admiration.

Song Haoran smiled with contentment and fondness in his eyes, before handing the hoe over. Then he naturally took hold of the young man's shoulder and led him towards the distant farmland.

Watching the teenager's fair and soft little hands detach from his own, Lin Wenbo narrowed his eyes slight, put his hands in his pockets and clenched his fists quietly. Cao Yanan walked beside him and glanced meaningfully at his cold expression with an expression of interest of her own.

A group of people crouched on the edge of the farmland, waiting for the wood ability users to ripen the crops before harvesting them.

Seeing Gong Xiangyi, who was standing at the edge of the field, bending down and talking to Dou Heng who was harvesting rice, Gong Lixin raised his brows and put down his hoe before walking over to them. He knew that Gong Xiangyi was the kind of person who wouldn't bother herself with just anybody. Dou Heng must have caught her eye, otherwise she wouldn't bother to make friends with him. On the other hand, Gong Lixin had a good opinion of Dou Heng and paid a little more special attention to him.

He heard Gong Xiangyi constantly assuring Dou Heng that he would be able to enter Gong family base and would no longer need to live like a slave. Gong Lixin hooked up his lips and his eyes were full of irony. A man like Dou Heng doesn't need a woman to rescue him. Even if he wanted to escape from this sea of suffering, he would rely on his own strength. If he's not able to, he would pull the people blocking his way into hell. No one knows more about Dou Heng's madness buried deep in his bones than him. And that’s because, he used to be the same kind of person.

"You don't need to bother, Dou Heng doesn't need you to save him." Silently walking up to Gong Xiangyi, Gong Lixin said so lightly.

Gong Xiangyi startled and turned around to look at him in horror before she stuttered out, "How did you hear me?"

"You speak so loudly, how can I not hear you?" Gong Lixin tilted is head and asked with a serious expression.

Gong Xiangyi gritted her teeth and had nothing to say, so she just up and left. After having gotten an ability, Gong Lixin seemed to have undergone some sort of change. Every move of his seemed to have a hint of magic to it. As long as he had the intention, his fingers could kill at will. Faced with such a person, her whole body filled witch was filled with vigor became powerless and, whenever she saw him, she couldn't help but avoid him and keep her distance, using escapism to cope.

Gong Lixin glanced at Gong Xiangyi's receding figure thoughtfully as he sat down on the edge of the field, holding his cheeks in his hand and fixedly staring at Dou Heng harvesting rice without looking at him directly.

Knowing that Gong Xiangyi was the teenager's sister, Dou Heng had gritted his teeth and endured his desire to kill her as she tested his patience by making noises next to his ears. Seeing the young man appear, his heart jumped for a moment, but his face did not show any visible trace of it and his expression only became tense. As the young man sat down and focused on him, Dou Heng's body gradually became even more stiff and his movement in harvesting rice became messy and disorderly.

But Gong Lixin didn't know how to harvest rice, so he didn't see this abnormality at all. His bright eyes looked at him from head to toe, trying to find what was so special about him that attracted Gong Xiangyi's attention.

Dou Heng's thin lips pressed tightly into a straight line as he was substantially away of the young man's gaze on him and it caused him to rush his work. He was so panicked and at a lost that his movement became even more stiff. If he was a fierce beast, he would have gone mad by now.

However, Gong Lixin didn't notice his abnormality and stared at him without obstruction.

Dou Heng couldn't tell whether he was nervous or excited, or both. Sweat dripped from his forehead, his face was flushed to the tip of his ear, but was hidden under the façade of his dark skin, making it imperceptible. His palm had also gotten sweaty. The grip on the handle of the sickle had also gotten quite slippery.

"Be careful!" Gong Lixin's attentive eyes flashed as he whispered a warning. He quickly threw a stone, making Dou Heng drop his sickle and he twisted his brows into a frown. "You almost cut you ankle just now."

"Thank you." Dou Heng's brows were crunched up as he unconsciously thanked him while feeling annoyed and ashamed in his heart, daring not to look at the teenager's expression. Damn it! How could I look so unsightly in from of him!? He scolded himself in his heart out of embarrassment.

"No thanks needed." Gong Lixin waved his hand and suddenly jumped up, walking towards him. He took the other's wrist and held it quietly for a moment before seriously reminding him, "Your palms are sweaty, so you can't grip the handle well. Rub your palms dry before going back to work again to avoid any injury."

Dou Heng retracted his wrist in a hurry and quietly felt the trace of the unfamiliar heat left there, wondering if it was his own imagination. However, whether it was his imagination or not, this feeling made him extremely nostalgic.

Watching the young man jump about the edge of the farmland as he smiled and waved his hand goodbye him. Dou Heng, under the pressure of his turbulent heat, spoke in a deep and hoarse voice and hastily asked, "What's your name?" He had heard others call the youth 'Young Master Gong', however, he longed to know the teenager's real name and not an alienated title.

"My name is Gong Lixin." Gong Lixin's slick, cat like eyes curved into a crescent moon shape as he smiled, making him look indescribably cute. After that, he paused and cautiously said, "You will become very strong in the future, so you must believe in yourself and live well."

He just discovered the majestic energy contained in Dou Heng's body. And it was the kind of ability that he had never detected before, therefore he understood why Gong Xiangyi paid close attention to him. This person would definitely be a strong person in the future. Maybe he could open his meridians for him and give him strength. As soon as that idea floated into his mind, it was instantly rejected by Gong Lixin. Only by relying on the strength obtained by your own efforts could one achieve indomitable destruction. This former strong person seemed to need help, but help was only an obstacle for him. Forget it, he'll just watch him quietly and wait for his awakening!

Thinking of this, Gong Lixin grinned, showing his rows of white teeth. Dou Heng stood still in the paddy field, chewing on the other's name and words of encouragement over and over again.

CrazedCookies: Here’s this week’s bonus chapter. Enjoy!