Ch 52: A Turn of Fortune

After the training ended, Ji Chuan still talked about the importance of growth, emphasizing that everyone should rely more on themselves rather than others. Xia Yiqing proactively took on the task of Training Teacher; he was very strict.

Ji Chuan nodded; he was very satisfied with Xia Yiqing’s training.

Lin Lulu lowered her head. She knew that Ji Chuan had always been very lenient. As the base’s main combat force, she needed to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the base and couldn’t blindly rely on Ji Chuan.

She decided to train more with Xiao Mei and have Song Ci guide her. Although he’s foul-mouthed, his judgment is sharp, and he can see her potential.

Ji Chuan was about to further investigate with Xia Yiqing and Song Ci. He wanted to know the whereabouts of Song Huai within the base; the two, as Combat Team Leaders, might know something.

But he sensed two lifeforms with Golden Crystal Cores approaching within the area.

A large number of zombies were also surrounding them.

Ji Chuan sighed. He originally wanted to let them fend for themselves, hoping for two more Crystal Cores. However, after possessing them, he saw a father protecting his daughter, his face covered in dirt. He softened.

Ji Chuan flew over.

Zhou Yu’an cowered in her father’s arms. The zombies had surrounded them. Although her father was wielding a scavenged cleaver with all his might, it posed no threat to such a number of zombies.

She felt that she and her father would die here. She didn’t understand why Baba didn’t get on the base’s vehicle, but Baba’s decisions always had their reasons.

Being with Baba was the most reassuring thing.

Zhou Mi’s eyes were bloodshot. Although his legs were trembling, he still raised his knife and frantically hacked at the zombies in front of him.

Why was this happening? He had clearly been reborn once; why couldn’t he escape death’s fate?

He wanted to activate his Special Ability again, but he couldn’t find the time-based screen without falling asleep.

Zhou Mi felt despair. Dying on an operating table or in the mouths of zombies—the current situation was worse than the former.

“Nannan, I’m sorry; Father chose wrong.”

Seeing the zombies rushing towards them, Zhou Mi hugged his daughter, protecting her tightly in his arms.

Zhou Mi’s whole body was trembling, but the anticipated tearing pain didn’t come.

The surrounding zombies all stopped moving. They silently retreated, welcoming their King.

Ji Chuan slowly descended from the sky, standing in front of the father and daughter. Zhou Mi noticed the anomaly around him; he slowly raised his head and met Ji Chuan’s crimson eyes.

Zhou Mi couldn’t understand the situation before him. He looked around. The zombies, which had been ferocious and frenzied just moments ago, were now unusually quiet.

“You’re safe.”

Ji Chuan’s low voice was the most beautiful sound Zhou Mi had ever heard. In his understanding, zombies couldn’t speak.

Therefore, although the Ji Chuan in front of him looked somewhat gloomy, he should just be a human with powerful Special Abilities.

“Thank you. Do you know how to get to the Aolijiaer Hotel…? I heard there’s a stronghold there; I want to try and see if my daughter and I can join…”

After giving up on going to the Esper Base, Zhou Mi had been considering where to go. With their father-daughter abilities, they absolutely wouldn’t survive.

He could only place his hope in a collective. Online, it said that there was a new stronghold in Xinghe District. Since he was close to Xinghe District, he could only try his luck.

In a city full of zombies, he didn’t have enough time to think; he could only keep moving forward with a faint hope.

“I am the Leader of the stronghold. I can take you there.”

Zhou Mi burst into tears. It seemed he hadn’t wasted this opportunity.

With Energy Perception, Ji Chuan used it more thoroughly than Yuan Sen. Yuan Sen could only sense the types of Special Abilities, but Ji Chuan could directly sense the specific abilities.

When he saw Zhou Mi and his daughter, he wanted them to join the base. He didn’t expect that they were already looking for their own stronghold.

Because he saw that Zhou Mi’s Special Ability was actually Time-Based 【Sleep Retrospection】. Although Tang Yue’s Rebirth was more domineering, Zhou Mi’s ability had more strategic value.

Even if the activation conditions were somewhat harsh and it might not be usable in an emergency, this Special Ability was undoubtedly very powerful.

Ji Chuan suddenly found the answer to the strange feeling he’d had all day.

That feeling that everything seemed to have been experienced before, that strange feeling of precognitive plot points.

Upon seeing Zhou Mi, he understood. It seemed Zhou Mi had already activated his ability once.

But it seemed that no one else had this feeling. Why did he retain the impression?

Ji Chuan couldn’t understand.

And Ji Chuan couldn’t understand the Special Ability on Zhou Yu’an. It was a Healing Ability, but it was called 【Mermaid】. What was the relationship between a mermaid and a Healing Ability?

Zhou Yu’an, experiencing flight, gradually relaxed. She curiously looked down; she was really flying.

“Baba, we’re flying!” Zhou Yu’an said excitedly. Although this Big Brother’s body was a little cold, he could actually fly! He’s a superhero!

“Nannan, don’t move around.”

Zhou Mi was a little airsick. He was somewhat acrophobic and had never been on this kind of open-air flight. He was pale, trying to control himself.

Fortunately, the entire journey was short. He saw that he was entering the black mist above the hotel.

Upon landing, he found that the hotel was surprisingly clean in the apocalypse.

“Ugh…”

Zhou Mi couldn’t hold it in; the moment he landed, he vomited. His stomach was empty; he only threw up some sour water.

He kept apologizing to Ji Chuan.

Ji Chuan raised his hand. Zhou Mi fearfully closed his eyes, thinking Ji Chuan was going to hit him, but a warm feeling swept through his entire body.

Green light emanated from Ji Chuan’s hand. Zhou Mi, who had been dizzy just moments ago, now felt refreshed. Ji Chuan was healing him.

“Thank you, thank you, Leader.”

“It’s dinner time. You and your daughter can go to the restaurant to eat.”

“Okay, thank you, Leader…”

There was no Special Ability registration, no mobile phone surrender. Although he looked around and saw two ferocious-looking zombies in the courtyard,

they didn’t seem to have any hostility towards him. Recalling that all the zombies had stopped attacking, the Leader must possess a powerful Special Ability targeting zombies.

Su Shen saw the newcomers and quickly came out to greet them. Everyone in the restaurant was chatting and laughing, a harmonious scene.

But Zhou Mi still couldn’t relax. After Ji Chuan handed them over to Su Shen, he left; he didn’t need to eat.

Although Zhou Mi was very hungry, he didn’t dare to take too much food and told his daughter to take less as well, afraid of leaving a bad impression.

“Your daughter is still growing; how can she eat so little?”

Seeing Zhou Mi’s discomfort, Su Shen directly took a lot of food for them.

“The stronghold’s supplies are sufficient; don’t worry, eat your fill. After dinner, I’ll take you for a tour.”

Zhou Mi nodded gratefully.

He found a corner and ate with his daughter. He hadn’t eaten such a sumptuous meal in a long time. His hands trembled slightly.

Xiao Xuan noticed them from afar and excitedly ran over.

“This is for you.”

Xiao Xuan took out a very cute doll. Zhou Yu’an looked expectantly at Zhou Mi, waiting for his answer.

Seeing Xiao Xuan and his daughter’s expectant gazes, Zhou Mi nodded. “Quickly thank your Jiejie.”

Zhou Yu’an immediately smiled; she really liked the doll.

This was the first time Xiao Xuan in the base had met someone her own age; she was overjoyed.

Children’s friendships are also very pure; they had already made plans to play together after dinner.

“Xiao Xuan, let your Meimei eat properly; don’t disturb her.”

Zhang Yun walked over, smiling apologetically at Zhou Mi. “Xiao Xuan is a little excited to meet someone her own age; I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“No, no, An’an hasn’t played with someone her own age in a long time either.”

After saying this, feeling the fresh food filling his taste buds, Zhou Mi felt a little dazed.

His daughter should have been happily playing with her peers, enjoying her parents’ care, but he was so useless; he hadn’t even saved his wife. An’an had lost her mother.

This ordinary scene was a happiness he hadn’t felt in a long time in the apocalypse.

Whether it was the joy of surviving a disaster or guilt towards his daughter, Zhou Mi’s tears kept falling.