C10 Su Kouye

Having a strong start made everything else fall into place more easily. Jiang Feng had shed his fear of the "walking dead," relentlessly slaying zombies to grow stronger. Urendir, on the other hand, was a force to be reckoned with—she could take on a mutated dog without even using a gun, a notable feat considering their speed surpassed that of the zombies.

Jiang Feng watched Urendir's agile form handle the mutated dog as if she were merely playing with a pet. He was filled with envy and loudly implored her to teach him her fighting techniques.

"Once you've honed your reflexes with a pistol, I'll teach you how to fight," Urendir said before executing a 360-degree spin in midair, leveraging centrifugal force to launch a powerful kick that sent the mutated dog flying through a window and out of the building.

Jiang Feng's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Great, once I've improved my reaction time, you can teach me that kicking skill."

"We'll see if you have the talent for it," Urendir said with a light laugh.

No sooner had she spoken than Urendir charged at Jiang Feng. Her right fist barreled towards him, prompting him to shut his eyes in fright.

A "Pa Ji!" sound echoed from behind, followed by the sensation of liquid splattering. Jiang Feng cautiously opened his eyes to the startling sight of Urendir's face inches from his own, her expression less than pleased.

"Are you blind? Didn't you notice the zombie right behind you?"

It dawned on Jiang Feng that while he had been caught up in jealousy, a zombie had been eyeing him from behind, seizing the moment he let his guard down to go for his neck.

Had Urendir not acted swiftly, punching the zombie out of existence, Jiang Feng would be at a loss for where to weep over becoming a half-necked bio-creature.

In that instant, with their faces so close, Jiang Feng could detect the subtle scent of Urendir's presence, stirring an unnameable flutter in his heart.

The moment was undeniably warm, yet Jiang Feng's emotions were in turmoil. He was relieved to have met Urendir, but he also recognized a growing infatuation with her—whether it was her dependable strength or her distinct allure, he couldn't quite pinpoint.

On the flip side, Jiang Feng's intended, who was also Jiang Wei's mother, wasn't Urendir. When the right moment came, he was meant to seek out Cui Wei. Fundamentally, Jiang Feng should have never developed any fondness for Urendir.

"Stop wrestling with the things you can't make sense of. Besides, Urendir doesn't harbor any feelings for me," Jiang Feng would remind himself over and over.

Quickly regaining his composure, Jiang Feng resumed his quest to "slay monsters and gain experience."

After a full day's effort, Jiang Feng had dispatched over a hundred zombies. Urendir, having provided cover for Jiang Feng the whole time, managed to take down about a dozen zombies, a mutated dog, and two mutated cats. Though Urendir's kill count was lower, the zombies and mutated creatures she eliminated were notably more formidable and swift.

Jiang Wei, still acclimating to the gore, had not killed any zombies.

In total, Jiang Feng expended over 300 bullets to take down the horde of zombies. Yet, the outcome was gratifying; starting from the 150th bullet, he could swiftly execute headshots, nearing perfect accuracy.

By six in the evening, Jiang Feng had ascended to the 10th floor of the Heyday building.

There, on the 10th floor, he detected an odd noise emanating from a suite—not at all reminiscent of a zombie's groan.

"Jiang Feng, it's nearly nightfall. We should head back," Urendir suggested, a note of anxiety in her voice.

"No, Urendir, there's something peculiar about this sound. It could be a significant quarry. Taking it down could bolster our combat prowess. From here on out, act as you see fit; don't hold back for my sake. This suite is no ordinary place. Give it everything you've got."

With caution, the trio edged closer to the suite, its security door already in shambles. Inside, the living room was littered with numerous zombie corpses, which appeared to have been slashed repeatedly by a bladed weapon.

"The noise is coming from the bathroom," whispered Urendir.

"It's cornered. Probably a mutated dog or the like."

Urendir signaled to Jiang Feng to aim his gun at the bathroom. She positioned herself beside the door, gingerly grasped the doorknob, and flung it open with lightning speed.

As the door swung wide, Jiang Feng was struck with astonishment—there was actually a person crouched inside. Had he not mastered his reflexes at the last instant, the bullet would have been long gone.

This individual was odd, emitting sounds that only wild creatures could produce.

"Who are you?" inquired Jiang Feng.

"Don't kill me, please! I'm human, I swear!" The man inside frantically waved his hands and shook his head, his voice tinged with panic.

"Quiet down, will you? You'll draw the zombies," Urendir commanded, pressing the gun to the man's temple.

The man instantly raised his hands in surrender, falling silent though his breaths came in uncontrollable, nervous gasps.

Pointing to the zombie corpses in the living room, Jiang Feng queried, "Did you take down all these zombies?"

"Yes, yes, it was self-defense," the man stammered.

"Calm down. What's your name?"

"Su Kouye."

"What? Mouthwash?" Jiang Feng exclaimed, taken aback.

"No, not mouthwash. It's Su Kouye – 'Su' as in awaken, 'Kou' as in bandit, 'Ye' as in night," Su Kouye clarified.

"Enough out of you. No one asked for an explanation," Urendir snapped, jabbing the gun harder against his head to silence him. She then turned to Jiang Feng, "Mouthwash?"

Jiang Feng led Urendir aside and murmured in her ear, "The guide says there's a place called Villains' Valley on the border of South City and the Southern Barbaric. Su Kouye is one of the notorious four villains there. The valley is a lawless land with treacherous terrain, easily defended and difficult to assault. Su Kouye can shapeshift into a wolf dog, spewing white acidic foam from his mouth, akin to mouthwash. Hence, the nickname based on his name."

"Then let's end him now," Urendir declared, aiming her gun at Su Kouye, finger poised on the trigger.

"Ah, no, please! Isn't that a police uniform you're wearing? Why would you kill me instead of helping? We have no bad blood; I'm begging you, think this through..." Su Kouye pleaded, hands raised high.

"Hold on, Urendir," Jiang Feng interjected, "To survive, even the most benevolent may turn. And remember, 'the four great villains' might just be a moniker from Villains' Valley; it doesn't necessarily mean he's evil. I've read in the warrior's guide that his future combat abilities are formidable. I recall a note about possibly recruiting him for our cause. He could be invaluable to us. Plus, we have the chance to guide him onto the right path starting now."

Urendir responded in a hushed tone, "Isn't this a bit too risky? We might end up raising a tiger that turns on us."

"This guy has incredible potential. With the right guidance, he could be immensely valuable."

"I still disagree."

"Look, Urendir, let's bring him in for now. Once we're back, we'll delve into his profile in the strategy guide. Since Villains' Valley is on the border of Onaolin, I often interact with the villains there in the future. The guide provides an in-depth description of the four great villains. If it advises against using him, then we'll find an excuse to dismiss him or you can take him out yourself. I won't stand in your way then."

Unable to sway Jiang Feng, Urendir reluctantly conceded, agreeing to review the strategy guide thoroughly before making a final decision.

Once they had agreed, Jiang Feng approached Su Kouye, crouching beside him to get a preliminary grasp of his condition.

"Su Kouye, what's your story? Can you turn into a wolf dog?"

"A wolf dog? An animal? No, I can't. However, my nails can become exceptionally sharp, just like my teeth, and my sense of smell is incredibly keen. But transforming into an animal is beyond my abilities."

Jiang Feng noted to himself that, as he suspected, Su Kouye could only assume a humanoid beast form and had not achieved a complete transformation.

"Tell me, how did this happen to you?"

"When the crisis hit, I was too scared to leave my house. I holed up in my room with my pet wolf dog, but it suddenly went berserk and bit me viciously. After I killed it with a kitchen knife, my head started throbbing painfully. That's when I noticed my teeth and nails had sharpened. The worst part is, I can't help but emit low growls like a wild beast. Sometimes it's so loud that it attracts zombies. I've managed to fend them off, but not without sustaining quite a few injuries," Su Kouye recounted.

Jiang Feng was astounded. The odds of merging with an animal's genes after being bitten by a mutated one were a mere one in ten thousand. Su Kouye was extraordinarily fortunate; not only had he transformed into a bioengineered being, but he had also acquired the paranormal abilities of a wolf dog.

Jiang Feng took Urendir's hand, gently urging her to lower her weapon. Despite her reluctance, Urendir complied. There were times she couldn't quite grasp why she so often yielded to Jiang Feng's wishes.

Relief washed over Su Kouye as the gun was set aside. "Thank you, truly, for sparing me. You both seem incredibly skilled. Could I join you? I promise I'd be useful."

"Are you prepared to follow my lead without question? If so, you'll not only survive, but you'll grow stronger as well."

"Absolutely, without a doubt."

And with that, Jiang Feng welcomed Su Kouye into his home.

The sight of the abundant food spread before him brought a grin to Su Kouye's face, so wide he could barely contain it. "Big brother, I'll listen to everything you say. With you, I'll never go hungry."

"No need for 'big brother'; 'Jiang Feng' will do. You look to be older than me, anyway."

Jiang Feng handed Su Kouye some anti-inflammatory solution and bandages to tend to his wounds, receiving a stream of grateful thanks in return.

He then retrieved dozens of candles from a previously prepared stash and set them alight, while Urendir drew every curtain in the suite, ensuring not a sliver of light escaped. The candles bathed the living room in a warm glow.

Upon noticing Jiang Feng slicing onions and beef, Su Kouye eagerly offered his assistance. "Jiang Feng, I was trained as a chef. Let me help."

"Sure, you take charge of the beef and onion dish today. We'll see whose culinary skills shine brighter."

"I'm telling you, I'm a pro." Su Kouye fired up the stove, expertly handled the ladle, and poured oil into the pan.

Once Jiang Feng finished prepping the beef, Su Kouye, with a flourish, swept it into the pan.

Watching Su Kouye's adept movements, Jiang Feng couldn't help but silently acknowledge his expertise.

Indeed, Su Kouye's cooking was exceptional. His three dishes for the day left Jiang Wei delighted and content.

"Jiang Wei, who's the better chef? Dad or uncle?"

After a brief pause, Jiang Wei's laughter filled the room. "Both are delicious, just delicious."

"Urendir, what's your take? Whose cooking do you prefer?" Jiang Feng asked, turning to Urendir.

"Su Kouye's dishes have that sophisticated flair you'd find in a high-end restaurant, and they're definitely tasty. But personally, I have a soft spot for the flavors of home cooking," Urendir responded.

"Su Kouye, it must be destiny. I bet there's no one else in this world with a kitchen that's equipped enough for you to truly showcase your culinary talents."

"As long as you all enjoy it, I'm happy to cook for you every day from now on," Su Kouye said with a smile.