She’s Fiercer Than Zombies - Chapter 49

After seeing the government officials out of the safe base, Qi Miao watched Wei Quan’s retreating figure with some concern and asked Qiao Muyi, “Master, do you really think they’ll agree?”

When Qiao Muyi had presented her demands, the officials had clearly hesitated. After discussing some details, they said they needed to go back and consult with others.

“If they didn’t outright refuse, then there’s a high chance they’ll agree,” Qiao Muyi replied, letting out a slight sigh of relief. She knew that the leader they had met seemed reasonable.

Turning around, she looked at Yinxi and couldn’t help but smile softly. Such a good child no matter what, they would protect her.

“Xiao Yin, I’m afraid you’ll have to endure some inconvenience for a while,” Qiao Muyi said.

“Auntie, it’s no trouble at all. It’s not like I wander around much anyway,” Yinxi tilted her head, slightly puzzled.

Wei Quan had requested that, regardless of whether they agreed to their conditions, Yinxi should remain in H City and avoid going out unnecessarily. To Yinxi, this was hardly an issue. As long as Gao Gao was in H City, she would be there too. Besides, if she really wanted to explore, H City was large enough for her to roam around freely. On top of that, she rarely even stepped outside the base gates unless necessary.

“That’s good then,” Qiao Muyi nodded and didn’t say anything more, taking Qiao’s father with her to attend to other matters.

Qiao Gaogao stayed by Yinxi’s side, holding her hand. “Senior, the weather is slowly starting to warm up. When spring comes, this place will be full of flowers. Even inside the base, the scenery won’t be bad!”

Yinxi gently squeezed her hand back, her smile soft and warm, her voice gentle. “Mm! I hope there will be even more flowers blooming this year.”

After the catastrophe humanity had just endured, if more flowers could bloom, it would bring a sense of hope for life to many.

The government acted swiftly. Within two days, they had made their decision and agreed to Qiao Muyi’s demands.

While the authorities searched for Yinxi’s parents, they would also send people to the safe base to set up a laboratory for future research.

As for the researchers involved, no one had been selected yet. Everything would have to wait until Yinxi’s parents were found, and they would be the ones to choose suitable personnel for the research.

For now, all they could do was wait.

Waiting was undoubtedly a long process.

The winter snow had completely melted, but the good weather lasted only two days. Before the flowers could even sprout, the temperature had already soared into the height of summer, reaching over forty degrees Celsius. Stepping outside felt like having a layer of skin scorched off, and the whole world seemed to wilt under the heat.

Many people in the base fell ill due to the rapid temperature change, but fortunately, Tang Jiu was there, so it wasn’t a major issue.

The real problem was the extreme heat. Many were now afraid to venture into the city. With so many zombies, the stench was overwhelming, and in the hot weather, the zombies became even more agile and swift.

When people saw highly decomposed zombies, covered in white maggots, charging toward them, many developed traumatic psychological scars. The sight was so disgusting and horrifying that they would rather endure a year of harsh winter than face maggot-infested zombies in the scorching summer.

Fortunately, the zombies stationed outside the base were high-level enough to avoid such issues; otherwise, the guards at the gate would have found it hard to keep their meals down.

Night fell, and the temperature finally dropped slightly.

Yinxi sat on the rooftop, her legs dangling over the edge as she swayed them gently. She gazed up at the dark, starless sky, her lips pressed together as if lost in thought.

Qiao Gaogao sat down beside her, a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead. She too looked up at the sky, her tone tinged with disappointment. “I thought once the snow melted, we’d get to see flowers.”

Who would have thought the world’s climate would remain so unpredictable?

Yinxi turned to look at her, noticing the sweat on her forehead. She pulled a pack of tissues from her pocket and gently wiped it away, her voice soft and warm. “It’s okay. You’re even more beautiful than flowers.”

Qiao Gaogao’s face instantly lit up with a radiant smile, her eyes fixed intently on Yinxi. At such close range, she could even count every single one of Yinxi’s eyelashes.

“Senior, your words are so sweet~” she murmured, her lips curving into a delighted grin.

Yinxi bit her lower lip shyly, clutching the used tissue in her hand. “I’m not just saying that to make you feel better.”

She truly believed Gaogao was more beautiful than any flower. Just seeing her made all her worries vanish, leaving her feeling light and carefree.

“Hehe, of course I know you’re not just teasing me, Senior.” After all, I really am this good-looking,” Qiao Gaogao said smugly, cupping her face in her hands.

Yinxi smiled, unable to resist leaning in to give her a quick kiss.

Even when she was narcissistic, Gaogao was utterly adorable.

Qiao Gaogao’s eyes widened slightly before she eagerly threw her arms around Yinxi, pressing a firm kiss to her lips. “If you’re going to kiss me, do it properly!” she mumbled.

What was the point of such a tiny peck?

Yinxi wrapped her arms around Gaogao’s waist, laughing softly as she parted her lips to welcome her in.

“What? There’s news?”

Qiao Gaogao jumped to her feet excitedly. It had been over half a year since the authorities had promised to look into it, and now there was word that traces of Yinxi’s parents might have been found.

“Yes, the authorities have already sent people to investigate,” Qiao Muyi confirmed with a nod.

Yinxi was also thrilled, though a hint of worry lingered. Why would her parents have gone to such a dangerous place?

The authorities had traced all of Yinxi’s parents’ contacts before their disappearance. Through the phone number they contacted most frequently, they eventually linked it to the CEO of another biotech company. Following the trail, they discovered that this company had purchased a large amount of research equipment and stockpiled substantial supplies during a specific period. All these items had been transported to the largest uninhabited area in the country.

It seemed Yinxi’s parents might have anticipated this outcome long ago and, together with others, had made preparations early on.

“Now we just have to wait for news,” Qiao Muyi said, equally excited. She speculated that if Yinxi’s parents had prepared so thoroughly and foreseen such a situation, perhaps they had already been researching something like a serum.

Yinxi pursed her lips, feeling both anticipation and a nervous fear, as if approaching something long missed after being away for too long.

It had been so long since she had spent time with her parents.

Qiao Gaogao held her hand tightly, trying to convey strength and support.

Yinxi gave her a faint, grateful smile.

The authorities acted swiftly. Once the target was confirmed, they quickly located the place where Yinxi’s parents were. It was said that when they arrived, a group of people happened to be bringing zombies back otherwise, it would have been very difficult to confirm the entrance to their research institute.

They had built the research institute underground, with an entrance so well-hidden that it was nearly impossible to detect. Initially, Professor Yin and the others had not trusted the authorities, which was why they hadn’t contacted them even after the zombie outbreak had persisted for so long.

Later, however, the authorities managed to persuade them with some unknown conditions, and they agreed to cooperate.

But if the research base was to be set up at the Tianxia Base, Yinxi would likely need to make a trip to the uninhabited zone to retrieve all their research equipment. After all, so far, she was the only one discovered to possess spatial abilities.

“I’ll go with Senior!” Qiao Gaogao immediately declared.

“I’ll go too,” Song Qingxu added.

“Me too,” Tang Jiu chimed in right after. None of them were willing to let Yinxi go alone.

Qi Miao also looked eagerly at Qiao Muyi, waiting for her to give the go-ahead for all of them to accompany Yinxi.

Qiao Muyi sighed, “If you want to go, then go together. Don’t make me seem like the villain here.”

Truth be told, she wasn’t comfortable with Yinxi going alone either. With familiar companions by her side, and given their considerable abilities, she felt reassured.

“Master, you’re the best!” Qi Miao cheered, planting a kiss on Qiao Muyi’s cheek before dragging Qiao Gaogao and the others off to pack their belongings. The authorities were already waiting outside, and they would all travel together on an official helicopter.

Qiao Muyi smiled helplessly. She had intended to remind them to be careful, but they had dashed off so quickly that they were already out of sight.

Turning her head, her eyes met her father’s, and she smiled softly. “I hope this chaotic era ends soon.”

“It will,” her father nodded.

Since this disaster was caused by human actions, it could surely be resolved by humans as well.

Yinxi, holding Qiao Gaogao’s hand, still felt somewhat dazed even after boarding the helicopter. The uncertainty of the journey ahead made her heart flutter with unease.

“It’ll be fine,” Qi Miao patted her shoulder reassuringly.

Looking at her friends, Yinxi gradually calmed down, a faint smile appearing on her face as she firmly replied, “Mm!”

There was no need for her to be so anxious or afraid she had her loved ones and friends by her side.

Yet, no matter what, she never expected that when she finally saw her parents again, they would be in such a state.

Their hair had turned completely white, and their faces were etched with exhaustion. Still, when they looked at her, their eyes brimmed with suppressed excitement, as if they wanted to step forward and take her hand but hesitated, holding back.

The moment Yinxi saw them clearly, her eyes reddened, and her nose tingled with sorrow. She couldn’t understand how, in just two years, they had aged so much.

“Dad, Mom,” Yinxi stepped forward, holding back her tears as she called out to them.

“Yes, yes,” Yin’s mother’s eyes were already red. She held Yinxi’s hand, gently stroking it, her gaze fixed on her daughter as if trying to make up for all the lost time in one long look.

Father Yin was more reserved; although his eyes were slightly red, he didn’t cry in front of everyone. He simply patted Yinxi’s head and invited them inside.

However, when they entered the underground research facility and saw the zombies confined in silos, they were completely stunned.

They hadn’t expected to find so many zombies here, and it appeared they were all in a dormant state.

Father Yin noticed their gazes and spoke in a slightly somber tone, “To develop an effective serum, we must use them for experiments.”

The others looked at him, pursed their lips, and showed signs of displeasure.

If Yinxi were required to participate in the research, would she be confined in a silo like these zombies, connected to various instruments?

Father Yin stared at the zombies, a faint trace of pain flickering across his face. “Don’t worry. They are restrained this way because they are aggressive.”

But Yinxi, she is conscious.

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