C21 He Changed His Mind

"This is..."

Chen Yu was momentarily baffled, yet he quickly surmised that this woman had an extraordinary connection with the man possessing psychic abilities.

Most likely, she was his wife!

As expected, Liu Xingzhong's sorrowful words cleared up Chen Yu's confusion.

"This is my sister, Liu Yan. Li Zhenhua is my brother-in-law. She just gave me this watch yesterday as an anniversary gift..."

"Sigh... Who could have imagined we'd find ourselves in such times..."

Chen Yu observed a moment of silence. If Li Zhenhua survived, his future with such a psychic gift would be boundless.

But in the apocalypse, no one could accurately foresee what tomorrow might bring.

Even Chen Yu, having returned to the onset of the apocalypse, understood that his increasing interference with reality would significantly alter the course of history, rendering much of his knowledge obsolete.

He, too, would no longer be able to predict the future accurately.

In plain terms, while Chen Yu appeared to have a considerable edge, the future's volatility would only intensify, and the challenges he faced would grow accordingly.

Chen Yu cast aside the whirlwind of thoughts in his head and turned to Liu Yan with words of consolation, "Your husband is a true man. Without him... I wouldn't have managed to defeat the mutated wolf pack."

"I made a promise to him to rescue you, and I've kept that promise!"

"Don't worry. Once I've got everything set up at my camp, I'll bring all of you over. It's much safer there than here in the mall."

"Furthermore, I'll ensure you all become Evolvers."

Chen Yu's final remark was aimed at Liu Xingzhong, the subtext clear as day—he hoped Liu Xingzhong would join him.

In the apocalypse, Chen Yu recognized Liu Xingzhong as an invaluable asset essential for building a successful camp.

Chen Yu was acutely aware of his own strengths and limitations.

Taking on the role of the camp's spiritual beacon and de facto leader was trivial for someone with his formidable abilities. But when it came to using his intellect to develop the camp, that was a different story.

Whether it was the pre-apocalypse Chen Yu or the one seasoned by five years of post-apocalyptic life, neither was cut out for that particular challenge.

This self-awareness was something Chen Yu held in clear regard.

In the early days of the apocalypse, leadership was heavy-handed. As long as there was stability, the majority of people had no issue. But as the camp settled, and people began to rebuild their apocalyptic values, this brute-force approach to management sowed seeds of trouble for the camp's future growth.

Five years into the apocalypse, bases with government backing already had a significant construction advantage. Base cities and survival camps established by the strong, either single-handedly or through team efforts, experienced numerous internal uprisings, with losses too significant to ignore.

Having returned to the onset of doomsday, Chen Yu was extra cautious. With a talent like Liu Xingzhong before him, Chen Yu felt it would be a disservice to himself not to recruit him.

Liu Xingzhong was quick-witted, catching the subtext immediately. "Boss Yu, rest assured. With just a word from you, I'm all ears!" he declared with grave sincerity.

In the apocalypse, there were no roundabout ways. You were either capable or not. It was rare for anyone to remain unmoved when offered an alliance by a powerful figure. Strength signified safety, and safety meant survival in the apocalypse—a priority that overshadowed all other needs.

Snap! Chen Yu and Liu Xingzhong's hands clasped firmly together. But in an instant, their expressions turned to shock.

Liu Yan had collapsed—overcome with grief at the news of her husband, Li Zhenhua's departure, and weakened by her pregnancy, she could no longer hold on.

Thankfully, Chen Yu quickly sensed something was amiss and swiftly placed a crystal nucleus into Liu Yan's mouth. This stabilized her vital signs and safeguarded the unborn child. It was undeniable—the gene energy within the crystal nucleus proved more effective than any medicine in such a dire moment.

This was precisely why the crystal nucleus was not only essential for Evolvers but also a tightly controlled strategic resource among the bases and camps throughout the apocalypse.

After ensuring Liu Yan was comfortable, Liu Xingzhong enlisted additional help to care for her. Together, they conducted a thorough sweep of the mall, neutralizing any potential hazards before returning to the fourth floor. From their vantage point, they could see the first-floor lobby teeming with zombies once more and began strategizing their next move.

The mall was now besieged by a horde of over ten thousand zombies, drawing in every ordinary mutated zombie from the surrounding area. Peering through the mall's windows, the nearby streets were eerily deserted, the silence and emptiness chilling.

"This is unsustainable!" Chen Yu muttered, his gaze fixed on the swarming mass of zombies below, his brow furrowed in concern.

Chen Yu was acutely aware that in two days, the original virus would mutate again, triggering a second transformation in the zombies below. These catabolic zombies would not only develop tougher skin and sharper fangs but also regain and enhance their instinctual behaviors and leaping abilities. The mall's broken staircases would stand no chance against such high-jumping adversaries.

The only option was to evacuate the mall's survivors without alerting the zombie horde to their departure. If the zombies were to track them down and find their community's base, it would spell disaster.

Chen Yu had the confidence to fight his way through Rorerin, but that didn't equate to defending the base and safeguarding the majority of survivors against an overwhelming zombie tide. A solitary existence held no appeal for Chen Yu; survival was meaningless without others.

Yet, the notion of moving so many survivors from the mall without detection was a near-impossible feat.

At that moment, Chen Yu was grateful that amidst the vast gathering of zombies, not one had evolved into an awakened mutated zombie. It was too much to hope for a horde of blind zombies.

Unable to withdraw in silence, a direct confrontation was the only remaining course of action. Facing the daunting number of zombies, Chen Yu's expression was one of resolve.

Finally, he made a bold decision: to take on the horde head-on. If successful, not only would he eliminate one of the most significant threats to the camp, but the bounty of crystal nuclei would also significantly bolster his power.

"We need more Evolvers," Chen Yu thought urgently, the weight of the situation pressing on him.

Chen Yu quickly formulated a plan. Casting a sidelong glance at Liu Xingzhong, who was by his side, he resolved to pull out all the stops.

Given the current predicament, relying on elite troops was out of the question.

Instead, he would leverage sheer numbers to carve out an advantage—Evolvers!

Chen Yu made the call to use the vast cache of crystal nuclei he had recently acquired to induce a widespread evolution among the survivors in the mall.

Quality might be lacking, but quantity could compensate for the shortfall in strength.

This was merely the dawn of the apocalypse, the disparities had not yet widened into insurmountable chasms. Determined to save the lives of nearly a thousand survivors, Chen Yu believed it was all worth the effort.