Chapter Seventy-Five: The Gathering Storm

"Alright."
Chen Yi revealed a satisfied smile.
"If you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost forgotten about it."
The construction of the air-raid shelter had been a spur-of-the-moment idea, but unexpectedly, it proved invaluable in a critical moment.
As they entered the shelter together, the automated power systems that had been set up in advance switched on in unison.
Chen Yi nodded approvingly.
"This is a really clever design. Who was responsible for it?"
"It was originally arranged by Architect Zhou," Chu Yunxi replied, but her gaze quickly dimmed.
"During the last storm, Architect Zhou was killed by a mutant, so his apprentice Wang Song took over the project."
Chen Jianyi turned around and saw a gaunt, skeletal figure curled up in the corner. The sight was shocking—more unsettling, in truth, than any mutant.
If mutants were terrifying, then someone so emaciated as to barely resemble a human was even more so.
"Say..."
Chen Yi looked at Chu Yunxi, "How much food has he eaten lately? He looks like he hasn't had anything in years."
Chu Yunxi burst out laughing, slapping Chen Yi on the shoulder.
"I knew you'd react like this. To tell the truth, Wang Song ended up this way because he was exposed to the first round of the disaster roulette. Unfortunately, instead of gaining any superpowers, he was left with nothing but illness."
Chen Yi turned to find Wang Song shrinking further into the corner, clearly frightened.
Chu Yunxi offered an explanation.
"Wang Song, don't be shy. Haven't you always said you admire Brother Chen Yi? Why not come over and say hello?"
Wang Song edged further back, head bowed, nervously clutching his clothes.
"I... I'm scared."
Chen Yi stepped forward and extended his hand. "It's good to have someone like you..."
A thunderous roar interrupted him as the shelter shook violently.
Chu Yunxi quickly activated the underground communications equipment.
When the computer screen flickered to life, everyone was stunned.
Through the device, they saw tens of thousands of zombies in the ocean swarming to attack the Kunpeng.
Though these zombies were only at the blue level, their movements were swift and fierce. In no time, the larger Kunpeng, which had been shielding the smaller one, was wounded in several places.

Chen Yi studied the Kunpeng closely, realizing that neither the large nor the small one were contaminated mutants.
There was no strange glow about them; instead, they possessed a primal strength akin to humans.
It became clear that the female Kunpeng had attacked humans not out of mutation, but to destroy the source of the zombies—humankind itself.
After all, zombies originated from humans.
With this realization, Chen Yi turned to leave the shelter.
"Don't go!"
Chu Yunxi grabbed his arm in alarm.
"You know as well as I do that nothing we do now will change the outcome."
"But we must ensure the Kunpeng survives."
Chen Yi looked at Chu Yunxi with greater solemnity.
"We've all seen the Kunpeng's power—it can handle the zombies. In circumstances like this, if we don't help it, we'll be doomed ourselves."
She couldn't argue.
Chu Yunxi understood Chen Yi's reasoning, but after so many brushes with death, she felt lost.
"Can you guarantee you'll come back unharmed?"
"Silly girl!"
Chen Yi smiled, pinching her cheek, his gaze unwavering.
"Only fate can guarantee the future!"
With those words, he glanced at Chen Yaxi and Hu Sanhan.
"This time, the three of us will go. We can't let this situation escalate any further!"
"Alright!"
As the three left, Lu Kai tried to sneak after them but was quickly stopped by a glare from Chu Yunxi.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Lu Kai scratched his head sheepishly.
"Um, I just feel stuffy in here and want to get some air."
"You're not allowed!"
Chu Yunxi shot him a cold warning.
"Didn't you hear what Brother Chen said? If you use your power again, it'll kill you!"
Lu Kai knew this well.
But Chen Yi was his best friend. In the apocalypse, without Chen Yi's help, he wouldn't be alive, let alone have the chance to gain abilities.

Seeing Lu Kai determined to force his way out, Chu Yunxi had no choice but to draw her pistol.
"Sister-in-law, what are you doing?"
Lu Kai was taken aback.
Chu Yunxi, always calm and wise, suddenly made such a move—he couldn't comprehend it.
Before he could react, she turned away.
"Your loyalty to Chen Yi sometimes puts me to shame. But life isn't a game; you must live well!"
Meanwhile, outside the shelter, Chen Yi and his companions prepared to solve things at their root.
The Kunpeng wasn't incapable of fighting the zombies to the end—it retreated only out of concern for its sole offspring.
"Damn!"
Hu Sanhan slapped his thigh. "We should have brought the old man. He could have communicated with the Kunpeng!"
"Not necessary!"
Before anyone could respond, Chen Yi, blades in hand, charged straight toward the zombie horde on the shore.
In a flash, under everyone's astonished gaze, Chen Yi struck down a group of zombies.
Chu Yunxi, delighted yet attentive, noticed that throughout his actions, Chen Yi used both the toxic light and venom abilities granted by the ant genes.
With these two powers at his disposal, even faced with swarms of zombies, Chen Yi moved with terrifying speed, as if unchallenged.
Reaching the giant Kunpeng, Chen Yi leaped onto its tail, heading directly for the smaller Kunpeng atop it.
Sensing danger, the Kunpeng lashed its tail, trying to throw Chen Yi off.
But Chen Yi seized the tail with one hand.
The healing energy he transmitted soothed the Kunpeng, its agitation gradually subsiding.
Watching through the monitor, Chu Yunxi suddenly understood.
"So that's why Chen Yi was so eager to go out—his two powers combined create a healing force! It seems that the abilities he gained this round are far more useful than ours!"
"Exactly!"
Lu Kai was incredulous.
"No wonder shaking his hand made my exhausted body feel better. That must be his help. When he comes back, I'll ask him to help me again, so I can recover and fight alongside him!"
"Enough!"
Chu Yunxi frowned.
"Don't just rely on him. You know, instead of dispersing our powers, we should focus on him—our chances are much better that way!"