Chapter 9 - Departure

As the boss, Wu Ye gets to decide where to go and what to do. After breakfast, he informed his "younger brothers" that he couldn't live in this place any longer. He wanted to go to the nearest base to have a look and trade for some supplies. Qin Wuhua's naturally black eyes confirmed his agreement. On the other side, Ji Yun rejoiced because the nearest base from this place is Lan Cheng Base. This base is where he was from. This morning, he thought about his teacher's safety and even planned on how to convince his boss to go there. Fortunately, that's exactly where his boss wanted to go. This is great news!

Lan Cheng Base is about 20 kilometers away from here. However, there is a shortcut which could cut distance to around 15 or 16 kilometers. Wang He's pickup truck ran out of gas when they came here, so Wu Ye tried to negotiate with the system to get gas through credit. But the system still held a grudge from being called useless in the past, and it wouldn't budge no matter how much Wu Ye tried to flatter it.

In the end, they were left with no choice but to travel on foot. Military troops usually march at an average speed of 4 to 5 kilometers an hour. Should they use this speed to travel along the shortcut, they would be able to reach Lan Cheng Base in 3 to 4 hours. That is if they would not encounter zombies on the road. It is already late right now, so they need to move quickly. If they set out now, they would be able to reach Lan Cheng Base before dark, counting in the possibility of something unexpected happening along the way.

Wu Ye did not carry much. He only had a backpack, a crossbow, 15 arrows, an unloaded pistol, an empty vaccine syringe, and a small tube of nutrients. There were also more than 20 crystal nuclei that Ji Yun had collected from Wang He. As the boss, he generously shared it among Qin Wuhua and Ji Yun. Wang He's stash also had 5 or 6 kilograms of rice, 6 fried baked scallion pancakes, a small bag of salt, half-a-pack of cheap tobacco, 3 semi-automatic rifles in good condition, and a few odd things.

After crossing Ming Road with Wu Ye, Ji Yun put all their loot into his canvas bag and carried it without any sign of effort.

T/N: *I don't understand what 'Ming Road' meant, but…well, I checked with several source and it truly translate as it is.

Before they set to travel, Wu Ye and Qin Wuhua worked together to fill some empty water bottles with leftover porridge and some with cooled boiled water. After putting all the bottles of porridge and water in the backpack, it was heavy.

Without a word, Qin Wuhua took the bag from Wu Ye and carried it on his back. Wu Ye was left to carry the quiver with arrows and the crossbow, a very light load. The quiver was a 'supporting equipment' Wu Ye casually asked the system during that time when he was trading for pure steel arrows.

As Wu Ye reluctantly left the farmhouse where he took shelter in for the past 20 days, the system suddenly issued a mandatory task to go to Lan Cheng Base.

After the rain poured for two days and nights, the cracked land was drenched and the forsaken weeds were vibrant once again. The heat that prevailed since the beginning of summer was washed away immensely, and the air was filled with the freshness that comes after the rain.

Wu Ye is a total urbanite. Before Father Wu made his fortune, Wu Ye's grandparents were all iron rice bowl employees* in state-owned enterprises. Like Wu Ye, they also lived in the city. Furthermore, Wu Ye was born after Father Wu had made his own fortune in the city, so Wu Ye had never experienced living in the countryside at all. Even when he grew up and went camping, he drove in a Hummer. It's no wonder that up until he became an adult, he had never walked along different types of terrain, such as this narrow and wide, uneven ridge of barren grassland.

T/N: Iron rice bowl mean secure employment.

After falling into the mud for the tenth time, Wu Ye decided to give up the shortcut route. Using his position as the boss, he ordered everyone to take the main road instead.

Seeing that Wu Ye was having a hard time, Qin Wuhua had long wanted to give up taking the shortcut. Ji Yun said he had no opinions and would follow whatever the boss would order.

After a short detour back to the cracked main road covered with withered grass, Wu Ye sighed in relief.

They have traveled at top speed for a while when the system suddenly released a random mission, [Hunt for Zombie Dogs].

Before Wu Ye could say anything, Ji Yun was already a step ahead of him. "10 zombies are approaching us. Look for a place and take cover, quick!"

"How did you know?"

"I'll explain it later. There's a car over there. We should hide there, fast!" Ji Yun was anxious. He noticed that the approaching number of zombies were remarkably faster than the usual.

After he had awakened with his ability, Qin Wuhua's five senses had become sharper. He also sensed the unusual movement of the zombies. While running towards the abandoned truck, he said to Wu Ye, "Don't be scared. Hide behind me."

"Who's scared?!" What Qin Wuhua said was a jab on his pride as a young master and it angered him immensely.

"Just do it."

"…." Second Young Master Wu held back his breath and vowed in his heart. One day, you'll see how powerful your boss is, you son of a b*tch!

Even with this thought, he still followed what Qin Wuhua told him to do. When they have finally climbed up the truck, he obediently stood behind Qin Wuhua with his back to his.

Around 10 zombie dogs surrounded them from every direction. They were furless and deformed, and it was hard to recognize which breed they originally came from. Their dark red flesh were exposed, their grey eyes were muddy, and their open mouths showed sharp sets of teeth. Black liquid oozed out from between their sharp teeth as they roared eagerly and pounced on Wu Ye's group.

As the zombie dogs jumped, a thunder boomed as lightning fast arrow zipped through the air and hit two zombie dogs, which both fell heavily on the ground and rolled far away. The arrow hit two dogs. One got its skulled blown off while the other one was pierced through the head.

This system-made crossbow and arrows were effective in long-range combats and had incredible attack power compared with man-made and machine-made ones. When steel arrows were used in close-combat, it could be as destructive as a machine gun. This crossbow was also equipped with thermal vision which, to a certain extent, caused Wu Ye's inaccuracy. Despite all of its advantages, they could not make up for its biggest weakness which is the slow reloading of arrows.

When Wu Ye shot at the second zombie dog, another taller dog leapt with its claws sprung out. It hung firmly on the truck, almost piercing through the thick steel plates.

At the same time, a zombie dog jumped into the truck and pulled Ji Yun into action. He rushed forward like a ghost, ready for a kill. With his field knife, he aimed at the zombie's brain by piercing directly through its eye.

"Watch out! Get out of the way!"

Another zombie dog was mid-air when Ji Yun heard the warning, so he leaned back as Wu Ye's steel arrow came whistling through the air. It pierced through the dog's throat and pinned its head to the ground.

Just then, a zombie dog leapt stealthily from the back of the truck. When Wu Ye sensed it, he turned his head only to see a shadow flash by. By the time he could see clearly, the dog was already so close, he could smell the stench coming from its mouth.

'Zap!' A thunder boomed and the zombie dog was thrown away from Wu Ye. It crashed heavily and its brain matter splattered on the concrete floor. The rest of its body was charred black with smoke still coming out from its corpse.

Once again, death was so close.

Wu Ye turned pale. It took him a lot of effort to keep his cool and avoid losing face in front of his younger brothers.

"Pick up the nucleus and let's leave at once," Qin Wuhua said calmly, without showing any emotion.

Ji Yun nodded and instantly jumped off the car. With his field knife, he skillfully gathered the spoils of war.

Wu Ye was still shaken that he squatted down, unmoving.

Before the apocalypse, Qin Wuhua served as a special forces coach for a brief period of time. Those who got admitted into the force under his training called him the "Devil Teacher" behind his back. If the soldiers under his charge dared to be a cowardly as Wu Ye, he would simply kick them, no questions asked. However, when he looked at Wu Ye's pale face, he couldn't say a word.

Qin Wuhua hesitated for a while before he stretched out his hand to pat Wu Ye's head. "Don't be scared," he coaxed.

Wu Ye sprang out like an angry cat and roared, "Who's scared? Who the hell are you talking about? This daddy is not afraid!"

Qin Wuhua wrinkled his eyebrows. "What sort of tasteless language are you using? You're still young."

"… You're the one who's young! Everyone is your family is young! This daddy is 23! Do you hear me? 23!" Second Young Master Wu's pride was shattered again and again that he instantly exploded in anger.

Qin Wuhua and Ji Yun, who were busy collecting crystal nuclei, gave him an incredulous look.

"….."

This encounter had been profitable. All 11 zombie dogs they've killed had crystal nuclei. All of them amounted to 2 transparent Level 1 nuclei, 3 pink quasi-Level 2 nuclei, 5 bright red Level 2 nuclei, and one larger red nucleus with orange tint inside. It should be a rare quasi-Level 3 nuclei.

Seeing all these nuclei, Ji yun sighed as he lamented, "The speed of zombie transformation is getting faster than ever. I don't know how long we, humans, could hold out."

"Don't lose heart. I believe you can defeat the zombies and reclaim your country."

Qin Wuhua found Wu Ye's words strange, but he chose to ignore it and wondered if there were quasi-Level 3 zombies in a place so close to the base, then what about in disaster zones? Would those places have even higher level zombies?

Ji Yun was a little discouraged and listlessly said, "I hope so."

Right now, Wu Ye has nothing to offer to his younger brothers, so he divided the nuclei amongst themselves according to the amount of work that each one had done.

Ji Yun got a Level 2 crystal nuclei, Wu got a Level 1, a quasi-Level 2, and a Level 2 crystal nuclei. The rest were given to Qin Wuhua since he hunted them all. Qin Wuhua was not polite and instantly received all of the nuclei, since he needed them to supplement and enhance his ability.

On top of the crystal nuclei he gained, Wu Ye also scored 20 points in this mission. He got 1 point for the first grade zombie and 5 points for second grade zombies. In total, he got 10 points for those 2 second grade zombies, and an additional 4 points for completing the random mission according to mission standards.

Wu Ye immediately paid off all his debts and became a 'rich man' with a small balance. He wanted to use these points and nuclei to trade for a gun with a silencer and bullets with the system. However, the system still kept mum. Before Wu Ye could complain, a button appeared on the system's control panel. It read 'Gene Enhancement.'

[What is this?] Wu Ye wondered as he reached out and clicked it. The moment he pressed on to click, he felt a slight numbing on his finger, as if he had been electrocuted. When he looked again, the integral balance in the system read: 5 system points, and 0 crystal nucleus.

Wu Ye fumbled in his pockets and found out that the crystal nuclei he just earned earlier had turned into a pinch of fine powder. He was so shocked he couldn't help but should out loud, "How could this be?!"

"What's the matter, boss?" Ji Yun asked politely.

Qin Wuhua regarded him silently.

"It's nothing!" Wu Ye exclaimed angrily as he stared at the green progress bar under the Gene Enhancement button in the system's control panel. It read: Progress: 2.1%.

[System, what is going on here?] [Transforming nucleus energy, strengthening gene, and enhancing host's body type.] the system explained coldly.

[Why don't I feel anything?] [....] [Fine. What will happen when it reaches 100% strength?] [First-level gene chain unlocked.]

Wu Ye sensed a taste of domineering power, but suppressed his excitement with reason. [What would happen after the gene chain was unlocked? Would it be possible to have special abilities?] While he had a sturdy and powerful little brother, he was still not confident to assert his authority as a boss, knowing that he was not as strong.

The system reminded him the cost. [It takes 1000 points to unlock the gene chain.] [...…] In an instant, Second Young Master Wu, was left with no more questions to ask.

After noon, the temperature gradually returned to its usual heat. Unknowingly, Wu Ye and his group had gone closer to Lang Cheng Base after fighting with the zombie dogs. Soon, they could hear roaring cars passing by the road. All kinds of vehicles can be seen, from luxury cars to powerful armored vehicles. The most conspicuous vehicles, however, were the wear-resistant, practical trucks that might be loaded with people.

As night approached, most of the cars could be seen heading towards Lan Cheng Base. Teams that could afford to buy a car to go out of town to hunt and kill zombies, all had experts in it. Riding a car holds more advantage for hunters. Those with good harvest drove directly into the town. Those who didn't, would find some way to make a profit before they entered the base. Anyway, as long as they did not cause trouble in the base, no one would care about how they got the kills.

After Qin Wuhua used his ability to scare numerous number of looters, Wu Ye finally saw the towering walls in the distance.