CH 158

Chapter 158: Unusual zombie activity

Strong fingers rub the purplish-blue bruise forcefully, inciting a low moan of pain.

"Is it too painful?" Long Zhanye asks even as his hand movement doesn't pause.

"Un, a little less strength." Huo Zaiyuan nods, hands clenching tighter around the shirt bunched up at his chest, fighting off the urge to groan again. It's no ordinary pain ah.

"If we don't massage it away, it will be troublesome," Long Zhanye whispers, brushing his lips across Huo Zaiyuan's pinched ones.

"Zhanye…" The tender, light kiss conveys all of the other man's concern and care, touching the bottom of his heart and making him blush.

"I'm here."

~~~

Sitting on the edge of the bed, calloused fingers caress that peacefully sleeping face, a fond smile plays on Long Zhnaye's lips.

"Although we didn't go all the way, but…" You are so exhausted already. Really can't wait for the day the two of us officially bond in heart, mind, body and soul.

~~~

Leaning back into the soft, high-back office chair, Long Zhanye props his legs up on the desk, legs crossed at the ankles as he thumbs through some documents, a pen held between two fingers. Signing his name at the bottom right corner of the paper, he passes the file over to Zuo Hanyang standing next to him.

"Boss, you seem to be in a very good mood today." Zuo Hanyang has always been an inquisitive fellow. Seeing Long Zhanye humming under his breath as he signs documents, it is hard to avoid inciting his curiosity.

Taking another file from Zuo Hanyang, Long Zhanye twirls his pen as his eyes scan the words on the paper. After a brief silence, he drawls, "When was I ever in a bad mood?"

"Eh…" Using a file to block his mouth, Zuo Hanyang's face is filled with black lines.

He's done for. It seems like he somehow stuck his foot in his mouth again.

"Boss, this one is a report from a mercenary squad currently outside the safe zone. It seems they discovered an oddity with the zombies." You Nuandong strides into the office, placing an open folder in front of Long Zhanye.

"An oddity? Let me see…" Long Zhanye's attention shifts instantly.

Seeing that his Boss is not going to tear him a new one, Zuo Hanyang inwardly sighs in relief and gratefulness. Gaze settling on You Nuandong, who is in the middle of discussing with Long Zhanye, a grin breaks out onto his face, still half concealed by the folder.

As expected, the right adjutant is someone who upholds justice, saving him from a bad end.

"Oi, what are you giggling about? Take the file."

"Yes, Sir."

Once Long Zhanye finishes signing the documents, the two adjutants leave the office. Hugging a stack of folders to his chest, You Nuandong suddenly feels something pushing him back. Stopping in his tracks, he peers over the top of the files only to see a pair of smiling eyes.

"Right adjutant, thank you. Luckily you came in just in time to draw his attention away, or else I would be dead."

Staring silently at Zuo Hanyang's beaming face, You Nuandong's brow furrows lightly before he turns and walks away.

"Oi, why are you walking away?!" Hurriedly jogging to catch up, he mumbles, "Ah, I know, you are embarrassed!"

When Long Zhanye steps out the door of his office, he is just in time to witness his two adjutants disappear down the stairs, one walking away and the other following behind. A faint smirk appears as he shakes his head in exasperation.

Faced with such a dense fellow like the left adjutant, it appears the right adjutant will need to work harder… Hmm…or perhaps he should simply employ the blitzkrieg strategy and smash through Zuo Hanyang's natural air-headed defence.

~~~

Sitting at the dining table with a pair of frameless glasses on his face, Long Zhanye is in deep contemplation as he holds a document in one hand, the other wrapped loosely around a cup.

Coming out of the kitchen with dishes in hand, Huo Zaiyuan smiles faintly as he beholds his partner's serious look.

Someone once said before that an intensely focused man easily captivates. Gazing at this scene now, those words aren't false.

Placing the plates down on the table, Huo Zaiyuan walks over and wraps his arms around his shoulders from behind. "What are you looking at with such a serious expression? You didn't even touch the tea I made. It's gone cold already."

"Ah, sorry, I'll drink it now." Long Zhanye blinks, returning to reality and lifts the cup, intending to finish the tea in one gulp.

"Don't." Reaching out to press lightly down on Long Zhanye's arm, Huo Zaiyuan takes the cup away before sliding into the seat next to him. "What were you contemplating so deeply over? It's not like you."

"It's nothing, just a report my right adjutant handed to me today. Here, take a look at it." One hand curling around Huo Zaiyuan's waist, the other brings the document between them so they are both able to read it.

Two weeks ago, the survivors from B to E City have all been brought into A City, and this safe zone has become the sole sanctuary to exist from Z to A. The total number of survivors is five million. One week ago, Huo Zaiyuan extended an invitation to a funeral to the ‘Sorcerer's cult’s’ hidden spy, Xu Mingyi. With that person gone, it can be said a direct threat has been temporarily settled.

However, what everyone is aware of in their hearts is that the next step will not be that simple.

Skimming through the document, Huo Zaiyuan's expression becomes more and more grave with every line.

"The undead from everywhere besides those who made G City their stronghold are gradually heading towards A City…"

"Even though the mercenary squad who filed this report dares not make any conclusions, but from the small wave of undead they encountered, there is definitely something else at play. You need to know at that time, when E City was still acting as another sanctuary, almost all the zombies wandering around the city were slain. Those that remained were either gathered in buildings or hidden in isolated areas. The only reason the mercenary squad discovered this unnatural event is because they wanted to head further out in order to look for more supplies. Clearly, this ‘Sorcerer's cult’ is beginning to put their plan in motion because of Xu Mingyi's demise!" Long Zhanye analyses. "Which is why I was thinking, we should gather all commanders present for an emergency meeting this afternoon."

After all the survivors have migrated to A City and Commander-in-chief Long Haotian sustained an injury, the military ranks were thrown into slight chaos for a short period of time. With senior officer Long as the second highest rank after his grandfather, the district leaders of the other bases were given the title of commander, forming the third highest rank. Below them are the captains of the mercenary squads, and so forth. Suffice to say, the chain of command has been simplified a lot.

"I also think it is necessary. The Ability Users’ teams are almost fully recuperated. Regarding who should be sent to monitor this strange zombie activity, I reckon they will be up to the task."

Ever since He Lianming's defect, every Ability User in the city is placed under Huo Zaiyuan's command. As such, he was lucky to have fought He Lianming to a standstill in public. The results of using the powers of his space sparingly have left those who personally witnessed it with the impression that he too, possesses an ability.

"Do you mean that Stealth Ability User squad of yours?" As the senior officer, Long Zhanye is well aware of the changes and various adjustments Huo Zaiyuan made to the group he has been placed in charge of.

As he was not familiar with the capabilities of every Ability User when he first assumed command of this relatively small bunch of people, Huo Zaiyuan used the simplest method possible to separate them into squads based on their powers. Amongst them, a handful with various stealth abilities was grouped together into a team.

"That's right ah. The Stealth squad captain also said before that guerrilla work best suits them. Upon consideration, we will definitely need them to undertake this assignment. I will also make sure to stick an Aura Concealment charm on each of them."

"Heheh…little Yuan, you are a natural-born strategist ah!"