I Have the Aura of a Supporting Character in Yuri Novels - Chapter 53.1

“Boss, guess what I saw?”

A young man with a mole near his mouth returned furtively from outside. His shifty eyes and lack of integrity gave him the look of a sneak. He half-crouched beside Zhao Yuan, a man with a crew cut and handsome features. Despite the bitter cold, Zhao Yuan wore only a thin jacket because he was a fire-powered ability user. He had fought his way through with a fire dragon, earning the deep respect of his subordinates who wouldn’t be alive today without his help.

Zhao Yuan smoked a cigarette, having just returned and enjoying a smoke to pass the time. The quality cigarette in his hand made Wang Wu’s mouth water. Zhao Yuan chuckled and tossed him one.

Wang Wu caught the cigarette with both hands, not daring to smoke it yet. He tucked it behind his ear with a simple-minded grin and said honestly, “I saw that little wench next door, Liu Hua, bring back an older woman. And something’s wrong with Liu Ye. Zhou Kuang carried him out of the car.”

Zhao Yuan’s interest was piqued. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “You’re sure you’re not mistaken?”

“Boss, don’t I know what Wu has in mind for Liu Hua? The moment they got back, I was already watching her. He’s hoping she gets injured so he can be her hero. So when I saw her eyes were all red from crying, and Liu Ye was being carried, I knew that kid must be in big trouble!”

Wang Wu said with a playful smile, then tentatively asked, “Boss, should we take this opportunity to…”

Zhao Yuan shot him a glare, and Wang Wu immediately shut up. Zhao Yuan said in a low voice, “Why is this place safe? Don’t you know? Without Tang Zixi, I’d be exhausted trying to clear all the zombies here myself! There’s no need to break ties with her right now.”

Of course, Zhao Yuan coveted the supplies in Tang Zixi’s team. But what was the point of wanting them? He wasn’t sure he could kill Tang Zixi, so he had to suppress his urges and maintain a facade of peace with her.

“I understand, Boss. I’ll go back to my post.”

Zhao Yuan didn’t even move his eyelids, letting out a lazy hum from his nose.

Wang Wu stuffed his hands in his pockets, hunched his shoulders, and went back to his post at the gate. Staying outside, he would know about any trouble. He grabbed a handful of roasted peanuts and soybeans from a comrade. They weren’t great, but they filled the stomach.

“Old Wang, when I see these soybeans, I think of the roasted meat that little wench eats. It smells so good, I dream about it. Do you think our boss should try to recruit a space-type ability user?”

Wang Wu slapped him on the back of the head. “Your brain’s not growing along with your body. Space-type ability users are one in tens of thousands. We can’t just stumble upon one! Eat your beans, you idiot.”

The man who got hit just chuckled, not angry at all. He leaned closer and eyed the cigarette behind Wang Wu’s ear. Wang Wu glanced at him. “I know what you’re thinking before you even do it. Forget it, this is from the boss.”

“Fine, whatever.” He sat back down on his stool, hands in his sleeves. He looked like an simpleton.

As usual, he first looked at the shop across the street, where Tang Zixi lived. He saw an SUV pull up, and Tang Zixi got out first. Instead of going inside, she took a folding wheelchair from the car. She pushed the wheelchair to the passenger door, like a loyal knight.

“Since when did someone in Tang Zixi’s team need a wheelchair?” Wang Wu muttered to himself, bewildered. He then saw a small woman with long black hair get into the wheelchair. That wasn’t the strangest part. What shocked him was seeing the stone-faced Tang Zixi bend down and lift her into the chair.

Wang Wu gasped in astonishment. “Holy crap, who is she that Tang Zixi would carry her?!”

“A very strong ability user?” someone suggested.

Wang Wu immediately countered, “Our boss is also super strong, but have you ever seen Tang Zixi carry him? The key isn’t her ability!”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” A bored Zhao Yuan, who had come out of the car, heard Wang Wu’s “rebellious” words and gave him a smack on the head.

Zhao Yuan leaned against the wall, a cigarette still in his mouth. He smirked. “It doesn’t matter if she’s an ability user or not. Anyone Tang Zixi treats like that is not a normal person.”

He knew Tang Zixi well. She was a merciless killer who would start a fight without a word. Hoping she’d be gentle to someone was like hoping she’d kill you quickly instead of torturing you.

Zhao Yuan’s bad habit of being a troublemaker resurfaced. He blew a smoke ring and told everyone to stay put, deciding to go join the fun.

As soon as Zhao Yuan left, his subordinates started placing bets on whether Tang Zixi would attack him this time.

Wang Wu had just placed his bet with a cigarette when he saw Zhao Yuan turn his head, and a deep gash appeared on the wall behind him. Wang Wu grinned at his simple-minded friend. “Come on, give me your soybeans.”

He knew Tang Zixi would make a move. This wasn’t the first time Zhao Yuan had done something so foolish. That’s why he was a good boss; his ability to be both firm and flexible was something most people couldn’t learn.

Zhao Yuan could still hear the sound of the space blade slicing past his ear. If he had been a second slower, his ear would have been cut off.

“Tang, a captain who’s too fierce won’t be able to get a partner.”

Zhu Yun looked over at the voice. Zhao Yuan had a good face, but his outfit was eye-catching and made him seem like a fool. Did anyone wear a light jacket in the dead of winter?

Zhu Yun shook her head with a look of dismay, her eyes full of pity.

What a waste of a good-looking person. He must think he looks cool, but only an idiot would think that. He wouldn’t last three episodes in a palace drama!

At that moment, Zhao Yuan finally got a good look at Zhu Yun. She was a pure woman, her delicate features like a porcelain doll. From her clear, smiling almond-shaped eyes, it was clear she was like a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse, not meant for the harsh, post-apocalyptic world. Her purity and beauty were too fragile for this environment.

Zhao Yuan’s gaze fell on the scar on Zhu Yun’s cheek. For the first time, he felt the urge to offer up Old Wu. He hoped Old Wu’s ability could remove that unsightly scar.

Suddenly, a cold space blade hovered right in front of Zhao Yuan’s eyes. With a single command from Tang Zixi, it could pierce his eyes.

A chill ran down Zhao Yuan’s spine. Was this woman a demon? Her abilities had improved! Before, he had a chance to defend himself, but now she had attacked without him even realizing it. Damn it, was a person not allowed to live?

Tang Zixi pushed Zhu Yun into the shop. Zhao Yuan’s heart was wounded again. He stumbled back, and a fiery dragon instantly consumed the space blade. His eyes were saved.

Zhao Yuan glared angrily at Tang Zixi’s retreating figure and shouted, “Tang, as long as I have Old Wu on my team, you’ll come begging to me one day! Don’t get too cocky!”

Zhu Yun’s fingers, which were resting on her stomach, moved slightly. She asked, “Is the Old Wu he’s talking about the healing ability user you mentioned before?”

“Yes.”

Zhu Yun smiled smugly, giving Tang Zixi a glance. Her expression was arrogant. “I’m way better than that Old Wu.”

Tang Zixi was silent. Zhu Yun, with her familiar and casual manner, patted her arm and said with a smile, “I have to say, Captain Tang, you got a great deal~”

The woman’s voice was soft and sweet. Her laugh was incredibly endearing. Tang Zixi didn’t have much of a sweet tooth, but hearing her call her “Captain Tang” made her ears feel a little warm.

Tang Zixi looked at her with deep, profound eyes. Her gaze, as deep and cold as a winter pond, held no warmth. She was questioning herself. Since meeting Zhu Yun, she felt like she was changing in strange ways, but she was calmly accepting these changes. It was as if this was how they were meant to be.

Did she dislike it?

No.

That was enough. Since she didn’t dislike it, she would just let things happen naturally.

Tang Zixi quickly convinced herself. She started paying more attention to Zhu Yun, the source of all these new feelings, without even realizing it.

“Captain, Liu Ye is awake.”

Zhou Kuang ran over with a serious expression. He spoke to Tang Zixi, but his eyes were on Zhu Yun.

Zhu Yun repeated what she had said before. “I can’t promise he’ll live, but I will do my best.”

She said this for Liu Hua’s benefit. Although Zhu Yun wanted to use Liu Ye to test her hypothesis, she didn’t want to get into trouble. If Liu Ye hadn’t been infected, Zhu Yun wouldn’t have offered to help.

Liu Hua said firmly, “Don’t worry, I understand. Whether Liu Ye lives or dies depends on his will to live. I will be grateful to you either way.”

Zhu Yun didn’t want her gratitude or her resentment. She only did what she wanted to do.

“Find me a quiet place where no one will disturb me.”

Her smile was gone, replaced by a calm and composed demeanor that made people trust her words.

Zhou Kuang took Liu Ye to his bedroom, which was a simple room that had a bed, just a makeshift bedroom.

Liu Hua said, “I’ll stay here.”

Zhu Yun grabbed Tang Zixi’s sleeve, her eyes sparkling. “I need you to stay.”

Tang Zixi understood her meaning. Zhu Yun wanted to use this time to deal with the virus in her arm as well.

Tang Zixi nodded without a word, looking as if she was simply following Zhu Yun’s orders.

The other team members watched them interact, wondering who Zhu Yun was to be able to control Tang Zixi. It was a miracle.

Gu Shuyi said nothing, giving Zhu Yun a meaningful look. For a moment, she even hoped that Zhu Yun wouldn’t be able to save Liu Ye. If that happened, Zhu Yun would be a sinner, and she wouldn’t have any reason to be so arrogant!

At first, Gu Shuyi had no opinion of Zhu Yun; she was just a stranger. But Tang Zixi’s attitude toward her was clearly different. Gu Shuyi admired the powerful Tang Zixi. Without her, she probably would have died. Even though Tang Zixi didn’t remember who Gu Shuyi was back then, Gu Shuyi had memorized her face and joined her team.

In this team, besides Tang Zixi, she was the strongest. As a fellow lightning-type ability user, Gu Shuyi had every right to be proud and was the second-in-command. She could have been Tang Zixi’s best partner, but now this Zhu Yun had appeared, and it made her feel an unprecedented sense of loss. She also knew that with Zhu Yun on the team, her lightning ability would no longer be the most special one. Her status would be stolen by this healing ability user!

She hid the anger in her eyes and closed the door behind her as she left.

Gu Shuyi changed her mood and looked at Liu Hua with pity. “I believe she’ll save your brother. After all, she’s a rare healing ability user. There’s no one she can’t save. She looks very confident, too. I bet she’s even stronger than the ability user on Zhao Yuan’s team, so Liu Hua, what are you worried about?”

Her voice was soft, like a gentle breeze behind the clouds, inviting people to open up to her.

Zhou Kuang felt that something was off about her words. He said gruffly, “Shuyi, stop talking and just let Liu Hua be alone.”

Liu Hua’s clenched fists had not loosened. Gu Shuyi’s words, however, had given her more confidence in Zhu Yun. She stared at the door and said, “Thank you for the comfort, Shuyi. I feel a lot better now.”

Gu Shuyi smiled gently, patting her on the shoulder. “We’re teammates, it’s my duty to comfort you.”

She left it at that. She glanced at Zhou Kuang and left to change her clothes.

Zhou Kuang was about to say something else when a thin man in glasses walked over and shook his head. He had already noticed Gu Shuyi’s ill intentions. Looking at Liu Hua’s worried expression, he gave Zhou Kuang a meaningful look, wanting to know who Zhu Yun and the unfamiliar middle-aged woman were.

Inside the room, the infected Liu Ye was much calmer than Zhu Yun had expected. She studied Liu Ye, whose skin was no longer healthy and whose festering wounds gave off a strong smell of decay.

“Knock him out.”

“Okay.”

Tang Zixi had no time for pleasantries. Seeing Liu Ye’s bloodshot eyes and bared teeth, she knocked him out without hesitation. Once she was done, Zhu Yun, guided by her own intuition, began to use her energy.

Zhu Yun had already used up all her healing energy treating her wounds. She hadn’t had time to recover, but she could still use her energy now. This confirmed her hypothesis: she indeed had two types of energy in her body, but she had never noticed it until she met Tang Zixi, an infected person, which had triggered her ability.

So, what kind of ability was this one?

A deep purple light gathered in her palm. The noble purple light shone on her fair face, giving her a mysterious aura. Her features remained the same, but to Tang Zixi, who had been watching her, she seemed to take on a seductive quality. It was as if a pure flower fairy had suddenly fallen into a demonic path. She was both innocent and alluring, breathtakingly beautiful.

Zhu Yun focused on healing Liu Ye, unaware of Tang Zixi’s intense gaze. Through the use of this energy, she discovered what new ability she had.

She could extract the virus from an infected person, and conversely, she could also worsen the virus.

She curled her lips, very pleased.

I knew I forgot something. When I brought my dear Bamboo to this world, the Heavenly Dao whispered something to me.

“Moo?”

The Heavenly Dao said it sent you a gift, and maybe this is it!

Zhu Yun blinked, smiling. “Is this the Heavenly Dao’s way of making up for all its bad deeds?”

I didn’t hear a thing! I don’t know anything about bad deeds or anything like that.

857 was afraid Zhu Yun would ask more questions, so it quickly went offline. No way was it going to stick around! When it came to certain things, it was best not to confront Zhu Yun directly, so it made the smart decision to flee.

Zhu Yun was speechless at how cowardly 857 was. She quietly stored the matter of the Heavenly Dao in her mind. She was already here, already rooted in this world, so why trouble herself with why the Heavenly Dao did what it did?

Her hand hovered over Liu Ye’s wound, and the festering area around the wound visibly began to heal. Tang Zixi’s eyes were deep. She thought back to what Zhu Yun had said earlier, and it was true, she had found a great deal.

The energy swirling around Zhu Yun’s jade-like palm was quickly draining her energy. The rosy color in her face began to fade, replaced by a hint of fatigue. Tang Zixi quickly reached out to support her waist as Zhu Yun swayed.

“Are you okay?”

Zhu Yun withdrew her hand decisively. She gasped for air, her eyelids drooping with exhaustion. She frowned delicately. “I’m still too weak.”

Tang Zixi looked at her intently and said in a low voice, “Let me take you to rest.”

Zhu Yun shook her head. She gathered her strength and, without hesitation, placed her hand on Tang Zixi’s arm. “Liu Ye is almost done, but I can’t clean it up too thoroughly. I’m afraid it will arouse suspicion, so let him suffer for a couple of days first.”

“Zhu Yun!”

Tang Zixi couldn’t bear to see Zhu Yun struggle. She hadn’t expected that clearing the virus would be so taxing on Zhu Yun. If she had known, she would never have agreed.

Zhu Yun smiled, her eyes moist, as if to melt one’s heart. She seemed to have read Tang Zixi’s mind and said softly, “Actually, I didn’t expect this either, otherwise I would have helped you first. But it’s okay, I can do it. Tang Zixi, don’t refuse me. Your virus is about to flare up. If we don’t treat it now, it’ll be too late, and I can’t beat you.”

She increased the power, working hard to drive out the virus of death and rebirth. She laughed. “Be good.”

She was lying. Zhu Yun’s ability was very strong, and it was suppressing the virus’s backlash. It wouldn’t have flared up now but tomorrow.

But Zhu Yun was cunning and wanted to make Tang Zixi owe her a favor. And wasn’t a favor the hardest thing to repay?

Tang Zixi felt as if Zhu Yun’s hand was a thousand pounds, and she couldn’t move.

Zhu Yun’s words hit hard at Tang Zixi’s cold exterior. If it were to break, not even Tang Zixi herself knew what she would become.

Zhu Yun licked her dry lips, sweat running down her temples, and gritted her teeth, pushing through.

Tang Zixi was different from Liu Ye. She needed a 100% removal of the virus. Zhu Yun didn’t want to leave any hidden dangers behind for Tang Zixi, so she had to be very careful.

“Finally, it’s done.”

After an unknown amount of time, with every second feeling like a year, Tang Zixi looked down at the sleeping Zhu Yun. She smiled wryly and whispered, “What an idiot.”

Zhu Yun’s innocent and sweet sleeping face made people want to protect her. Tang Zixi couldn’t remain a heartless person.

She picked up Zhu Yun. This was the only safe place for her.

A space blade cut open the door, and Tang Zixi walked out with Zhu Yun in her arms.

Liu Hua didn’t have time to ask Tang Zixi anything and rushed inside. When she saw that Liu Ye’s face was no longer pale and purple, and his wounds no longer smelled of decay, she covered her mouth and burst into tears.

Zhou Kuang saw Zhu Yun’s state and, careful to keep his voice low, asked, “Captain, is she okay?”

Tang Zixi nodded. “She overused her ability. A night’s rest is all she needs.”

Gu Shuyi gave a natural smile. “Let me take care of her.”

Tang Zixi refused. “I’m enough.”

This statement completely changed Gu Shuyi’s expression. She stared at Tang Zixi’s back, her forced smile strained.

Suddenly, she clenched her teeth. A puppet pushing the wheelchair had accidentally run over her foot. The puppet looked at her, then at the wheelchair, and passed her without any expression.

“Hey, what’s your problem?”

Zhou Kuang tugged at her. “It’s your fault. Why were you blocking the way? I called you, but you didn’t respond, so don’t blame it for running over your foot.”

Gu Shuyi was on the verge of shouting. She had just realized something: since Zhu Yun appeared, nothing had gone her way!

Zhu Yun was her nemesis!

“Captain Tang, would you like a lychee-flavored lollipop?”

Zhu Yun, sitting in the passenger seat, looked up at Tang Zixi with a smile. The woman expressionlessly took out a lollipop, exactly the flavor Zhu Yun had requested.

Zhu Yun unwrapped it and put it in her mouth, her cheek puffed out.

Zhu Yun didn’t have to drive or kill zombies. All she had to do was be a healer, and life was pretty comfortable.

“Another one.” She held out her hand, asking for another snack from Tang Zixi.

Tang Zixi gave her a strawberry-flavored one, but she didn’t expect the sickeningly sweet lollipop to end up in her own mouth.

Zhu Yun’s almond-shaped eyes curved into crescent moons. “A treat for you. Am I not good to you?”

Tang Zixi’s tongue licked the lollipop. Her eyes swept over Zhu Yun’s smiling face. She said faintly, “Yes.”

“Since I’m so good to you, when we get to the warehouse, can you carry me down? Please, please~” Zhu Yun clasped her hands together, looking at Tang Zixi with a hopeful expression.

Tang Zixi frowned in exasperation. “When have I not carried you?”

“You’re so boring. I can’t even make an excuse to be cute with you.”

Zhu Yun pouted, feeling a little regretful for bringing Tang Zixi here. It would have been better to let Ling Chenze continue his lucky streak of finding large caches of supplies.

My dear, don’t bother Tang Zixi. She’s a closed book. What makes you think she’ll say something flowery?

“Do you know what a closed book is best for?”

Zhu Yun held the lollipop in her mouth, her eyes darting slyly toward Tang Zixi.

What?

“A loyal dog.”

“Obedient and well-behaved, isn’t that adorable?”

Once a deserted factory, this place was sparsely populated. A staff member who had stolen from the warehouse took advantage of this, turning the factory into a secret base to hoard various canned goods. He planned to sell the goods at a low price once the commotion died down, but disaster struck. The apocalypse came, and the staff member died at the hands of zombies before he could do anything with his stockpile.

One day, Ling Chengze’s team was tracking a Level 4 zombie and passed by the abandoned factory. He accidentally discovered the hidden canned goods, which was a huge fortune. Ling Chengze had the space-ability user on his team collect all the cans, which he then privately took for himself without informing the base’s management.

Later, the space-ability user who had taken the cans grew greedy and wanted to keep all the supplies. Unfortunately, he was no match for Ling Chengze. He was stripped of his abilities and nearly lost his life. After a narrow escape, he seized the opportunity to expose Ling Chengze’s ambitions to outsiders, which created a feud between Ling Chengze and the base manager.

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