C29 Meeting with Urendir

Cai Huadao was a name that Jiang Feng, an avid student of apocalyptic strategies, remembered well. A Lieutenant in the Vertbay Army, Cai commanded a formidable force of 200,000 biochemical soldiers. Skilled in warfare, he was also known for his weakness for the pleasures of the flesh, taking great pride in his treasured harem.

In a cunning feint, Onaolin's Army Lieutenant Jiang Hua led 50,000 troops in a mock assault on Vertbay City, drawing Cai Huadao and his 200,000-strong army out. Cai Huadao swiftly routed Jiang Hua's forces and took him prisoner. Yet, upon his return to Vertbay City, Cai discovered that a small contingent led by Jiang Hua's strategist had seized control. They had taken over a hundred of Cai's wives and several hundred children hostage, using them to buy time for reinforcements. Faced with the safety of his family, Cai Huadao chose to surrender without a fight, and his vast army was absorbed by Onaolin.

This defeat infuriated the King of Vertbay, who lamented the soft-heartedness of his lieutenant. Despite the loss, Cai Huadao's notoriety grew, earning him unexpected admiration from some quarters.

Moved to tears by Jiang Feng's offer of assistance, Cai Huadao expressed his heartfelt gratitude. "Thank you. With you here, I'm confident this refugee camp will endure."

Jiang Feng spoke with a commanding presence, "Our sights are set higher than just maintaining a refugee camp. We aim to rid Chaudon of all zombies and restore unity to the land."

Feeling the weight of Jiang Feng's authoritative words, Cai Huadao respectfully bowed his head, avoiding direct eye contact.

"Alright, I need to head to the mobile gate at the police station. Follow me; it's time everyone recognized who I am," Jiang Feng declared, signaling his intention to rendezvous with Urendir.

"Understood," Cai Huadao replied.

As Jiang Feng strode confidently toward the gate, onlookers were taken aback to see their leader, Cai Huadao, trailing behind him like any other subordinate.

Reaching the gate, Jiang Feng scanned his surroundings and then surveyed the rooftops.

"How odd, didn't they follow?" he mused, perplexed.

"Who are you referring to?" inquired Cai Huadao.

"I'll head up and check it out in a bit."

With those words, Jiang Feng crouched and leaped into the air.

Soaring like a rocket, Jiang Feng ascended and landed atop a fifteen-story building.

His feat left Cai Huadao and all the guards at the police station entrance dumbfounded. One guard's eyes bulged, mouth agape, fixated on the building's peak, his submachine gun clattering to the ground.

All eyes were riveted on Jiang Feng.

Yet, as Jiang Feng leaped from building to building, he couldn't find Urendir and Jiang Wei.

"It can't be, they must have followed us," Jiang Feng muttered, baffled.

Gathering his strength, Jiang Feng flipped backward off the police station roof.

His landing sent tremors through the ground, fissuring the pavement and scattering pebbles.

Approaching Cai Huadao, Jiang Feng gave his face a few sharp pats, snapping him out of his stupor.

"Hey, quickly check with your men. Have they seen a woman and a little girl?"

Cai Huadao wasted no time summoning the guards for questioning.

"Boss, two refugees arrived not long ago—a woman and a little girl. They said they got separated from the husband."

"So it was just the woman and child?"

"Yes, they've been escorted to the dormitory area."

"Good heavens, Jiang Feng, follow me to the dormitory area, now!"

Cai Huadao was sweating bullets, his fear palpable as he worried his men might have already harmed the woman. If so, he was done for.

Tears nearly spilling, Cai Huadao sprinted ahead.

The guards along the way were shocked at the sight. "Is that the boss? Why's he running like his life depends on it?"

Minutes later, Cai Huadao arrived at the dormitory area and immediately summoned Ding Mong, the dormitory manager.

"The woman, the one who came this morning with the child, are they okay?"

"The woman and child from this morning? Yes, they're fine! What's going on?" Ding Mong had never seen Cai Huadao so panicked.

Jiang Feng swiftly pushed Cai Huadao aside, his voice laced with urgency as he quizzed Ding Mong, "Where are they now? In which room?"

"There's no need to panic. They're safe. I'll lead you to them," Ding Mong reassured them.

He guided Jiang Feng and Cai Huadao to the room where Urendir was staying, unlocked the door, and they stepped inside.

Jiang Feng was taken aback to find Urendir and Jiang Wei there, and even more so to see them both deep in slumber.

"How could Urendir, an experienced police officer, be so easily subdued?" Jiang Feng wondered silently.

"You haven't harmed them, have you?" he asked, inspecting Urendir and Jiang Wei's clothing.

"Nothing was done to them. As you can see, their clothing is untouched," Ding Mong responded.

Relief washed over Cai Huadao as he mopped the sweat from his brow.

Ding Mong was genuinely taken aback by Cai Huadao's anxious demeanor. "Boss, what's gotten into you? Why are you so frightened?"

Catching his breath, Cai Huadao explained, "This is Jiang Feng, my ace in the hole. The woman and child over there are his wife and kid. Thank heavens you didn't touch them. We're truly fortunate."

"Well, then you owe me thanks. Someone was about to make a move on that woman, but I intervened," Ding Mong said.

"Listen, Ding Mong, you've earned yourself a commendation. I'll reward you with extra provisions. By the way, did you fit those two women with the small metal rings?"

"Yes, they're already wearing them."

Assured, Cai Huadao turned to Jiang Feng with relief, "Brother Jiang Feng, your wife and child are unharmed."

Jiang Feng, still visibly upset, responded, "I'm relieved they're okay. Now, I'd like some time alone with my family. As for the food search, I'll join you this afternoon. Come back for me in two hours."

"Sure, sure, no problem at all. I'll return later and leave you be for now," Ding Mong agreed.

Cai Huadao gave Ding Mong a pat on the shoulder, "Let's head out. And, are you stocked up on those small metal rings? Maybe I should give you a few more? I'm also going to upgrade your clearance. Take good care of this dormitory, especially certain key individuals."

"Understood."

Once Cai Huadao and Ding Mong had departed, Jiang Feng carefully closed and locked the door behind them.

He first tried to rouse Jiang Wei by shaking her vigorously and patting her face, even going so far as to pinch her philtrum. But Jiang Wei simply turned over and continued her slumber, drool still escaping from the corner of her mouth.

Unable to awaken Jiang Wei, Jiang Feng moved over to Urendir's bedside, intent on waking her. Yet, upon seeing Urendir in her deep sleep, he found himself unexpectedly drawn to her.

Urendir's current state was unlike her usual rest. Typically, she was on high alert, waking at the slightest noise. Now, she lay there like a lamb in a deep stupor, utterly still.

As Jiang Feng watched her, his heartbeat quickened, realizing he was entertaining a rather sinister thought. 'What if I just kissed her? It's not like a kiss could kill me. Besides, she's out cold—a perfect opportunity.'

Torn within, Jiang Feng's face inched closer to Urendir's. The warmth, the tension, the anticipation of a touch that was yet to come—it was intoxicating.

Jiang Feng had never felt such infatuation for a woman before, his face awash with rapture.

The moment was upon him; he was ready to plant the kiss.

But suddenly, just as their lips were a mere two millimeters apart, Jiang Feng stopped dead. It might have been his imagination, but he thought he saw Urendir's eyelids flutter.

What was more perplexing was that he could distinctly feel Urendir's breath quicken, the warm puffs of air brushing against his face.

'She's not asleep? Could it be that Urendir hasn't been sleeping at all?'

A cold sweat broke out on Jiang Feng's forehead as he held the awkward pose, too terrified to move.

'What now? Do I kiss her or not? Just a little closer and our lips will meet.'

If Urendir was indeed awake, did that mean she had accepted him? Was her feigned sleep a silent invitation for him to make a move?

But then, what if she reacted violently to the kiss?

The mere thought of Urendir's terrifying strength being unleashed on him sent shivers down Jiang Feng's spine.

At last, a piercing scream brought an end to Jiang Feng's prolonged inner turmoil.

"Daddy, what are you doing?"

Already on edge, Jiang Feng was startled, losing control of his body and collapsing onto Urendir, his lips unintentionally meeting hers.

Urendir's eyes went wide, clearly taken aback. In a swift move, she rolled over and with a deft back throw, sent Jiang Feng crashing to the ground.

The impact caused the floor to tremble, leaving a small fissure from which lime dust drifted down to the level below.

Below, refugees were in the midst of a meal when their food was dusted with the falling white powder.

"What's happening upstairs?"

"Honey, don't get mad."

"How can I not? I worked hard for that food."

"I'll grab a cloth and clean it up; it's still good to eat."

After the fall, Urendir hurried to Jiang Feng's side, helping him to his feet. "Jiang Feng, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to throw you. It was like a reflex."

Jiang Feng felt an odd sense of bliss from the throw, knowing Urendir had mercifully minimized her strength in the final moment. Otherwise, he'd have been hurled straight into the basement.

As he rose, little Jiang Wei barreled into his embrace. Had Jiang Feng not braced himself, he surely would've been knocked back several steps.

"Daddy, how could you kiss sister, how could you kiss sister? Bad daddy, bad daddy."

Urendir and Jiang Wei had always shared a close bond. Yet now, Urendir sensed that Jiang Wei was genuinely opposed to Jiang Feng's affection for her.

Urendir had previously done the unthinkable, boldly creating an opportunity for Jiang Feng to take their relationship to the next level.