C19 Old Friends and Acquaintances

"Boss Yu! This is the guy in charge!"

Liu Qiqi angrily tossed the man in her grasp before Chen Yu.

Liu Xingzhong picked himself up off the ground, his expression one of utter confusion.

Moments ago, everyone was chatting and laughing, and he was expressing gratitude to the two superheroes for their rescue. How had the situation turned on a dime?

Having spent years on the police force, Liu Xingzhong's mind raced, and he quickly pieced things together.

The issue lay with the intense, murderous gaze of the young man before him—Boss Yu, the one the superheroes had spoken of.

Moreover, he had witnessed Boss Yu's actions on the first floor.

The formidable power he displayed was evidently greater than that of the superheroes who had come to their aid.

Liu Xingzhong's heart pounded with trepidation. He couldn't fathom what he had done to incite such wrath from Boss Yu.

From Boss Yu's eyes, Liu Xingzhong read a chilling intent to kill.

As a seasoned detective, he recognized that look—it spelled trouble.

"Boss Yu... Hello! My name is Liu Xingzhong, I was in charge here. If I've done something to upset you, I apologize." Liu Xingzhong's voice carried a mix of caution and awkwardness.

Times had changed, and Liu Xingzhong adapted swiftly to his new reality.

He was aware that the future belonged to these superheroes.

For his own safety and for the survivors who had depended on him, Liu Xingzhong understood that he needed to humble himself and seek a favorable resolution.

"You're Liu Xingzhong?" Chen Yu paused, the lethal look in his eyes softening slightly.

The name Liu Xingzhong was etched in Chen Yu's memory.

Not because of any remarkable strength or fame Liu Xingzhong had during the apocalypse,

but because he had led the only large-scale group of survivors—over a thousand strong—to be rescued from Rorerin by the government forces.

Chen Yu later learned that Rorerin hadn't originally been slated for rescue. It was Liu Xingzhong who had tirelessly established contact with the government forces, and upon discovering the significant number of survivors in Rorerin, he managed to secure their inclusion on the rescue list.

In a way, if not for Liu Xingzhong five years ago, Chen Yu might have never escaped Rorerin, let alone have the chance to meet her and embark on the path of the mighty.

"Yeah!" Liu Xingzhong responded instinctively, though somewhat bewildered.

He couldn't fathom why hearing his name would prompt such a drastic change in Boss Yu's demeanor. Had he inadvertently assisted the young man during his years as a detective? Liu Xingzhong prided himself on his memory, but despite scouring his mind, he couldn't recall anyone resembling Chen Yu.

Regardless of the reason, Liu Xingzhong sensed this was a positive development. Boss Yu's shift in attitude suggested there was still a chance to defuse the situation.

"Boss Yu, what's got you so riled up? Just tell me!" Liu Xingzhong pressed, his mind racing. "Whatever the issue is in the business world, I'll handle it for you!" He was adept at navigating these waters, willing to humble himself as long as it didn't cross any lines.

Regaining his composure, Chen Yu cracked a slight smile. "Mr. Liu, no need for formalities. From now on, just call me Little Yu."

"Here's the thing—just a moment ago, there was a bag here containing some crystal nuclei. I need to know who took it!" Chen Yu's emphasis on 'crystal nucleus' underscored the bag's significance to Liu Xingzhong.

Following Chen Yu's gaze, Liu Xingzhong spotted a faint stain in the corner—evidence that something had indeed been there. But now, only the drying residue remained.

"Boss Yu, give me a moment to inquire. We'll have answers shortly," Liu Xingzhong assured him, acutely aware of the gravity Chen Yu placed on the missing item. If he failed to resolve this...

Liu Xingzhong knew the stakes were life or death. No—whether or not the mystery was solved, death seemed inevitable. Of that, he was certain. Despite Chen Yu's seemingly amicable front, Liu Xingzhong knew that whoever had tampered with Chen Yu's belongings was likely facing a fatal outcome.

Liu Xingzhong hurried back to the anxiously waiting crowd and began questioning them.

Under Chen Yu's watchful eye, most people just shook their heads, clearly puzzled.

As Chen Yu's irritation was starting to rise, he caught sight of a woman with delicate features descending the stairs. She approached Liu Xingzhong and subtly pointed in a certain direction.

Sensing something important, Chen Yu's gaze followed the direction the woman indicated.

A securely locked security door caught his attention. From a distance, he could make out the sign for the changing room on the door.

The area in front of the sealed door was in complete disarray.

Numerous bodies, mauled by zombies, were strewn about. It was evident that many had tried to seek refuge in the changing room during the attack but were ultimately overwhelmed by the undead.

One detail stood out—a distinct, regular pattern of drag marks in front of the door.

The blood on the ground traced a clear, fan-shaped pattern.

The arc of the bloodstain was wide enough for a person to slip through the gap into the changing room. Judging by the pattern, the door had been opened only after the zombies had been eliminated.

In an instant, Chen Yu vanished and reappeared at the entrance to the changing room.

Bang!

With a powerful kick, the door burst inward in a shower of splinters.

Screams echoed from within.

Chen Yu peered inside with a dark expression. Five men were writhing in agony, their bodies pierced with wooden splinters.

A blood-soaked bag lay quietly in the corner, crystal nuclei scattered around it.

Observing the men's unnaturally rosy complexions and the strange fluctuations of energy within them, Chen Yu was certain they had ingested the crystal nuclei.

"Son of a bitch!"

Chu Chenhao and Liu Qiqi joined Chen Yu, taking a quick look inside before anger flared in their eyes.

"Drag them out!" Chen Yu commanded icily.

Without another word, he strode away.

The five men were hauled before Chen Yu like lifeless carcasses.

The neatly repacked bag of crystal nuclei was handed over to Chen Yu by Chu Chenhao.

Chen Yu didn't accept the bag. Instead, he turned sharply, his cold gaze falling on the five uneasy men, their complexions even redder with anxiety. He demanded, "How many did you swallow?"

"Eight... there were eight," blurted out the most timid-looking one among the quintet, confessing without hesitation.

As he spoke, he hastily gestured towards the man next to him, whose face was clouded with darkness and eyes glinted with malice. "Boss Yu, it was him! He's the one who took it and made me eat it. He said he'd kill me if I didn't... I had no choice, I had to do it..."