C7 Winter Soldier

Oh no! I forgot to name the mobilized soldier! How am I going to explain this to Wai Yun? Tell him he's just a mobilized soldier, summoned without a name? That's just absurd! Yet, Han Feng couldn't shake off the nagging doubt. Even though the soldier was conjured by the system, what if he actually had a name?

Turning to face the soldier, Han Feng inquired with a hint of confusion, "Who are you…?"

"Mobilized Soldier 0001, commander," the soldier responded.

"What did he say? Dong… Dong what?" Wai Yun, puzzled, questioned Han Feng. Perhaps it was the soldier's feeble tone or the muffled sound from behind the gas mask that made it difficult for Wai Yun to catch the soldier's words.

"He said his name is Winter Soldier!" Han Feng, recalling Wai Yun's confusion over 'Dong,' quickly associated it with the comrade of Captain America from the Avengers—Winter Soldier.

Like his cinematic counterpart, the mobilized soldier was battle-ready, a fitting match for the name Winter Soldier.

"Dong? Named Winter Soldier… What an odd name. And his gun… What about it?"

Zombies still wandered aimlessly on the streets, but their numbers were now so few they barely registered as a threat. With the tension easing, Wai Yun slipped into an inquisitive mode.

"It's a secret, can't disclose that," Han Feng decided after pondering for a moment. Realizing any explanation would fall short, he chose to leave it a mystery.

"Okay then… where to next?" Wai Yun didn't linger on the origins of the soldier.

Indeed, where to? Back to my rental? With my most valuable possession, my phone, on me, going home was out of the question. Han Feng didn't immediately respond to Wai Yun's query, lost in thought.

That's it, I'll go find Liu Rui! Han Feng's mind flashed to Liu Rui's mischievous grin.

"I'm off to find my brother. How about you?" Han Feng replied, then turned the question back to Wai Yun.

"I'm heading to the Polytechnic University to look for my brother," Wai Yun said, pausing briefly before adding, "Do you… want to join me?"

Wai Yun was acutely aware that surviving as a girl in this tumultuous world was no easy feat.

Yet, if she could keep the company of these two men, particularly the Winter Soldier with his imposing stature and the firepower he wielded, they would be her greatest source of support in this apocalyptic landscape.

Han Feng, however, had no idea where the university Wai Yun mentioned was located. He knew his path led to the upscale villa district in search of Liu Rui, making it impossible for him to accompany Wai Yun.

"No, I've got other matters to attend to, so we'll have to part ways here," Han Feng decided after some thought. He was all too aware of the struggle for survival in this post-apocalyptic world. Until he gained strength, any display of sympathy could pose a grave threat to his safety.

"Good luck, and stay alive! If destiny allows, we'll meet again," Han Feng said, turning to remove a grenade from his belt.

"May this keep you safe for now. Remember, always stay vigilant!" he said, placing the grenade in the glove compartment beside Wai Yun.

Deep down, Han Feng wanted to urge Wai Yun not to go. In a world overrun by zombies, schools and hospitals—any place crowded—were the most perilous. But seeing the resolve in Wai Yun's eyes and the hope in her voice, he held back his words.

"Thank you, Boss Han. And... take care of yourself too," Wai Yun started, her voice trailing off. She knew that Han Feng and the Winter Soldier had no obligation to join her in this dangerous journey. Their company would be ideal, but she couldn't demand it.

"Just drop me off at the park entrance up ahead; it's time for me to head out," Han Feng said, spotting an area nearly devoid of zombies where he could safely exit the vehicle.

"Sure, I won't be able to take you any further. Stay safe," Wai Yun replied as she pulled over and unlocked the doors. She then grabbed a hair tie and swiftly pulled her hair into a ponytail. The activity brought a subtle flush to her pale neck and caused her clothes to wrinkle slightly, but it only added to her charm. The weary look she had from her previously untended hair now gave way to a spirited contrast.

While fleeing for their lives earlier, Han Feng hadn't paid much attention to Wai Yun. But now... Han Feng found himself staring, completely dumbfounded.

"I... I've got to go. Take care. Winter Soldier, we're leaving," Han Feng managed to snap out of it and addressed Wai Yun and Winter Soldier.

Wai Yun didn't get a chance to respond before Han Feng shut the car door, with Winter Soldier quickly following suit.

As the car pulled away, Han Feng resisted the urge to look back. He feared the sting of regret, yet deep down, he fervently hoped Wai Yun would make it out alive.

Ultimately, Han Feng's sense of powerlessness stemmed from his own weakness. With enough gold coins, he was certain he could safeguard everything dear to him amidst the chaos.

Gold coins... Sigh. No use dwelling on it, better check the Red Alert System. Shaking his head, Han Feng redirected his focus to the system within his mind.

"Holy smokes! 25 gold coins!" Han Feng exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. It was a good thing there were no zombies nearby, or he'd have jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

Why so many? That's like a quarter of a conscript! But...

Han Feng had made a point of checking his gold coin tally when Winter Soldier took down the first zombie. It was just one gold coin, meaning the system awarded him a single coin for each zombie Winter Soldier killed.

Yet, the sight of 25 gold coins baffled him. Han Feng was certain Winter Soldier hadn't slain that many zombies. Between hand-to-hand and gunfire, the count was barely in the teens. Could it be... it was his own doing!

It hit Han Feng that he too had personally taken down a zombie. Could it be that his own kill was worth ten times that of Winter Soldier's?

Fantastic! Suddenly, the zombies that once terrified Han Feng seemed to glitter with golden opportunity.

Without realizing it, Han Feng had wandered several hundred meters, lost in thought.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!" A sudden rapping on the window jolted Han Feng. A zombie had found its way into the car beside him, unnoticed while his attention was fixed on the Red Alert System.

"Winter Soldier, take it out!" Han Feng stepped back and commanded Winter Soldier.

"Yes!" The Winter Soldier declared before stepping forward and yanking the car door open, causing the zombie to tumble out, no longer supported by the door.

With a swift motion, the Winter Soldier delivered a fierce kick to the zombie's head. A sharp "crack" echoed as the creature's neck snapped under the force. It flailed briefly before falling still.

It appeared to be the car's former owner. Bitten and having sought refuge in the vehicle, the person had turned into a zombie. But lacking any intelligence, the zombie remained trapped inside.

Han Feng noticed the keys still in the ignition. "Winter Soldier, get in," he said.

In a world overrun by zombies, the relative safety of being inside a car trumped walking in the open.

Once seated, Han Feng's thoughts returned to the gold coins. Twenty-six gold coins... Wasn't the money accumulating too slowly?

At this rate, when would he be able to build the radar? When would he be able to summon the Navy SEALs? When would he have access to planes and tanks? Han Feng couldn't help but feel a profound sense of frustration.

Turning to the Winter Soldier, Han Feng inquired, "How are you holding up?"

"I've regained full strength," the Winter Soldier responded.

Encouraged by this, Han Feng said, "Good. If we come across any solitary zombies, you'll take them down. By the way, do you know how to drive?"

"No," came the muffled reply from behind the gas mask, leaving Han Feng slightly disheartened.

Faced with the vehicle's controls, Han Feng's resolve hardened.

There was no other option but to take matters into his own hands. Though he had never driven before, he had observed others. Mimicking the actions he remembered, Han Feng managed to get the car moving. Thankfully, it was an automatic, which made the task somewhat easier.

The car crept along, and whenever Han Feng spotted a lone zombie, he would send the Winter Soldier out to handle it.

As luck would have it, they encountered a zombie clutching a fire axe—evidence that it had put up a fight at the outset. Devoid of intelligence, the zombie couldn't wield the weapon, merely gripping it in a final, lifeless pose.