Chapter Fifty: The Peaceful Base

A month had passed, and the construction on the island was nearly complete. Standing atop a makeshift watchtower, Chen Yi gazed down at the houses taking shape below, a sense of accomplishment stirring within him.

Though these dwellings could hardly be called luxurious, for survivors in the aftermath of the apocalypse, they were nothing short of extravagant. The air carried a faint scent of dust, sunlight reflecting off the brand-new rooftops with a subtle gleam.

"Chen, these houses are really something!" Lu Kai approached from behind, excitement written on his face. He glanced back at the busy crew, feeling a growing sense of calm. No longer would they have to worry about wandering from place to place, uncertain of their survival.

"Yes, and we've gained another measure of hope," Chen Yi nodded, turning to watch Chu Yunxi and Chen Yaxi approach.

Chu Yunxi smiled and said, "I checked the water source just now—the quality is excellent, more than enough for us."

"Good. Once everyone moves in, we can try planting some crops," Chen Yi replied.

Chen Yaxi, visibly excited, spun around them, an energy shuttle in her hand tracing elegant arcs through the air. She seemed increasingly adept at wielding the weapon.

"Next, we’ll need to plan out our land use," Lu Kai suggested.

"I have a preliminary idea," Chen Yi said. "Let’s designate a plot for farming and get the crops planted as soon as possible."

"And the engineering team should have good news soon," he added, glancing at the busy mechanics nearby, anticipation glimmering in his eyes.

Just then, a member of the engineering team hurried over, his face alight with joy. "Captain Chen, we've used the leftover materials to make a batch of new communication devices!"

"Really? That’s a major breakthrough." Chen Yi's excitement was immediate.

Lu Kai clapped him on the shoulder, "Fantastic, Chen! With these devices, even if we’re a little spread out, we won’t have to worry about losing contact."

"Yes, though the range is still limited—about five hundred meters for now," the engineer clarified.

"That’s already a great improvement. It’ll boost our efficiency," Chen Yi said. "Next, we’ll distribute the devices to ensure every team has one."

He nodded in satisfaction.

That night, flames flickered across the island as everyone gathered around the bonfire, sharing food and conversation.

---

"What do you all think our next task should be?" Chen Yi asked.

"I think we should quickly identify all the resources available on the island," Lu Kai replied.

"Agreed. That way, our construction will be more efficient," Chu Yunxi chimed in.

"Right. Beyond the basic infrastructure, we need to consider long-term issues, like stockpiling food and water," Zhou Jianguo added, cradling a bowl of hot soup.

"You’re all correct—our goal is to build a true utopia," Chen Yi nodded. "You’ve worked hard today. Tomorrow, we’ll push to finish the rest of the infrastructure, and then focus on strengthening our defenses."

"Understood, Chen!" everyone responded in unison.

---

The next morning, sunlight poured over every corner of the island. Chen Yi led a small group through its interior, recording the terrain and discussing plans.

"This is where we’ll plant our crops," Chen Yi said, pointing to a broad, fertile patch of soil. All eyes turned to it.

"This land is even more suitable for farming than we expected," Chu Yunxi said, picking up a handful of earth in satisfaction.

"It’s really quite good. Let’s start with some hardy crops and see how they fare," Chen Yi suggested.

"It’ll take a while before we see sprouts," someone observed.

"I hope the soil hasn’t been too affected by the apocalyptic rains," Zhou Jianguo said, his expression somber.

"No need to rush—we’ll let things unfold," Chen Yi replied, still confident in the land. In his previous life, he’d seen bases that could produce their own food. This land seemed promising, unlikely to present any major issues.

Afterward, the group moved on to survey other parts of the island. Everything appeared calm and peaceful.

No one realized what was about to happen. Especially Chen Yi, who’d almost forgotten that the most terrifying threat in his previous life wasn’t the mutated zombies, but the mutated creatures lurking in the sea.

---

Should those creatures come ashore, they would pose a tremendous threat.

Standing on a coastal high point, Chen Yi looked out over the shimmering waves, lost in thought. Chu Yunxi walked up and stood beside him. The breeze stirred her long hair, adding a delicate beauty to the bleak landscape.

"The sea breeze is wonderful today," Chu Yunxi said with a smile. "Days like this are rare—I hope they last."

"Yes, I wish these peaceful days could last a little longer," Chen Yi nodded, though his expression remained troubled. Something felt off, but he couldn’t quite recall what.

Memories from his previous life flashed through his mind, but the cause eluded him. Sensing Chen Yi’s unease, Chu Yunxi asked gently, "What’s wrong? You look worried."

"It’s nothing—just a strange feeling," Chen Yi shook his head, trying to steady himself.

Suddenly, hearty laughter echoed from afar—Hu Sanhan’s voice. "Chen, come drink with me!"

Hu Sanhan strode toward them, carrying two bottles of liquor, his towering figure all the more imposing in the sunset.

Chen Yi accepted a bottle with a smile. "You’re just in time, Hu. I could use a break."

He took a deep swig, the fiery liquor warming his throat and bringing a sense of long-lost comfort.

Hu Sanhan laughed heartily and drank deeply, then sighed, "Days like this are wonderful—drinking by the sea breeze together, not bad at all!"

Chu Yunxi, watching Chen Yi, felt her worries ease a little. She turned to the beautiful seascape and sighed, "Yes, I hope these days last."

"Life in the apocalypse is so hard," Chen Yi nodded, turning to Chu Yunxi and speaking gently, "Don’t worry, as long as I’m here, I’ll make sure everyone on Newborn Island survives and thrives."

Just then, Hu Sanhan laughed and raised his bottle. "Come on, let’s toast!"

"Alright, cheers!"

The two men lifted their bottles and drank heartily, clearly enjoying themselves.