Chapter 175: Wu Zheng

Qin Yu ultimately chose not to enter the space. Scarcely had Feng Fei departed, and even before Qin Yu could catch her breath, a representative from City S informed her that the higher-ups requested an audience with them.

Qin Yu had no choice but to temporarily set aside her current matters and follow the city official to meet the leadership. Upon arrival, she discovered that Zhao Juan and the others were already waiting. Glancing around, Qin Yu noticed that Hu Ke and Feng Fei were present as well. She lowered her gaze, concealing any emotion in her eyes.

Wu Zheng, the leader of the City S base, greeted them and gestured for everyone to be seated. Qin Yu chose a seat next to Zhao Juan. Zhao Juan tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "So this is the leader of City S? He doesn't look imposing at all."

Qin Yu nodded slightly, observing Wu Zheng, who wore a constant, amiable smile. Narrowing her eyes, she remained silent. The man appeared easy to get along with, but to have climbed to such a position, he could hardly be as simple as he seemed on the surface.

Seeing that Qin Yu did not speak, Zhao Juan pressed her lips together and quieted down as well.

Noticing that everyone had arrived and observing their seating arrangements, a sharp gleam flashed through Wu Zheng's eyes—so quickly that it might have been mistaken for an illusion. He rubbed his chin, settled heavily into his chair, and then spoke with a smile, "Since everyone here is an elite from City C, do you perhaps have any good solutions for dealing with the zombie horde surrounding our base?"

Wu Zheng carefully scrutinized everyone's expressions, but found nothing useful to exploit. Undeterred, he awaited their replies.

Guilty conscience kept Hu Ke and Feng Fei from speaking first. As for Yu Yang, Li Jiao, and the others, for reasons unknown, they also remained silent, keeping their heads slightly bowed as if waiting for someone else to take the lead.

Faced with this situation, Qin Yu felt a touch of helplessness. To be honest, she had no good ideas. If those zombies were actively attacking, it would be simple—everyone knew they would have to fight to the death without needing to be told. But currently, the zombies merely lingered there, refraining from biting anyone and instead surrounding City S, making it impossible to guess what they were plotting.

Qin Yu knew that the entity controlling this horde must be a high-level zombie with its own consciousness. Since the exact tier could not be determined, they certainly could not act rashly.

As Qin Yu remained silent, Zhao Juan, seeing her companion quiet, unusually held her tongue as well. She knew Xiao Yu must have her own thoughts, and it was best for her not to speak carelessly lest she bungle things.

The others were similarly looking to Qin Yu for direction, casting subtle, lingering glances in her direction—a phenomenon that did not escape Wu Zheng, whose eyes flashed with shrewd calculation.

Seeing no one answer, the smile in his eyes deepened. He spoke once more, "This must be Qin Yu, am I right? Do you happen to have any good ideas?" Wu Zheng's gaze fixed on Qin Yu, brimming with anticipation.

Hearing herself directly addressed, Qin Yu could only raise her head with a resigned expression and say, "To be honest, I can't think of any good solutions. But I do believe we shouldn't act rashly. After all, any creature capable of suppressing the bloodthirsty instincts of so many zombies must be extraordinary."

Wu Zheng nodded and said, "Indeed, that was our thought as well, which is why we didn't launch a preemptive strike, choosing instead to await your arrival."

Hearing this, Qin Yu asked in confusion, "You knew we were coming?"

Wu Zheng laughed heartily and replied, "Actually, when we requested reinforcements from City C, we didn't really expect actual reinforcements to come, given how perilous this apocalypse truly is. Your arrival lets us know that the country hasn't abandoned us after all. Haha!"

Qin Yu found these words indescribably awkward. If the state had not abandoned them, how could they possibly have dispatched such a handful of people? Turning her gaze toward Hu Ke, she caught him stealing a glance at her, panic flickering in his eyes.

It seemed the mission Hu Ke had spoken of was indeed to annihilate the zombie horde, and the reason they hadn't been informed in advance was out of fear that they wouldn't come. Ha! What a clever scheme they had played!

"Sigh, I know that although our City S is considered a base, it ultimately lacks the advancement and capability of the City C base. The ability users in our base are very few; the entire base only has one person who has reached the high tier of the third rank, while the rest are stuck at the first or second ranks. Ordinary people make up eighty percent of the base. I suppose City C looks down upon us," Wu Zheng said, affecting a helpless tone.

Unable to fathom his intentions, Qin Yu simply looked at Wu Zheng without a word.

Seeing that no one took up his thread, Wu Zheng smiled wryly and finally said, "Since everyone has traveled far from City C, you must be exhausted. The matter of the zombie horde is not urgent for now; I see they aren't making any moves. You should all return and rest up. Perhaps, before long, a fierce battle will be upon us."

With that, Wu Zheng stood up and had someone escort everyone away. Qin Yu departed, her mind filled with doubts and conjectures.

Inside the room, once everyone had left, Wu Zheng sat alone with his head slightly bowed. His fingernails suddenly grew very long, tinged with a grayish-blue hue, while a clicking sound periodically escaped his lips. Roughly ten minutes later, Wu Zheng raised his head, uncleaned fluid still at the corners of his mouth. His eyes gleamed with a greenish light, and a malicious smile curved his lips. "'Qin Yu,'" he repeated that name over and over again, his voice laden with a lingering, nostalgic attachment that filled the entire room.

Meanwhile, after leaving Wu Zheng and exchanging a few words with Zhao Juan, Qin Yu returned to her own room.

No sooner had she stepped inside than she felt something was amiss. She scanned the perimeter but found no abnormalities; yet, a lingering intuitive unease prevented her from rashly entering her space.

She walked over to the table and traced a long-faded mark left there long ago, lowering her head as she lost herself in thought.

After a long while, she suddenly spoke up: "Come out."

Immediately afterward, a figure emerged from an unknown corner and leaped directly in front of Qin Yu. In a deep voice, he demanded, "How did you find me?"

Qin Yu looked up at him. He was dressed just as they had first met: clad entirely in black, wearing an oversized hat that obscured his face and a loose, wide robe that hid his physique. This was the very person who had taken Tao away!

"Why are you here?" Qin Yu asked instead of answering his question.

Seeing that Qin Yu had not replied and instead questioned him in return, the figure in the black robe frowned in displeasure. Yet, keeping his own objective in mind, he chose not to leave. However, that did not mean he intended to answer Qin Yu's question either.

Noting that the black-robed man remained silent, Qin Yu paid him no further heed and calmly seated herself.

Seeing this, the black-robed man sat down as well. He watched Qin Yu toy with a teacup, his expression dark.

Qin Yu had no intention of concerning herself with such things. When it came to patience, she had plenty to spare.