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Seeing that everyone was silent, Hou Ying clapped his hands and encouraged everyone, âWell, it is completely meaningless for us to pursue this now. Anyway, if the people in the Yellow River Base had been prepared, it would be a good thing. Maybe they have studied the treatment of zombie virus or zombie virus antibodies? Itâs no better than being ignorant of a disaster. The most important thing for us right now is to improve our own strength and live well in this apocalypse.â\n
âYes, donât even think about it. Letâs order some crystal nuclei harvested today. Especially you Brother Hou, come and try these semi-artificial crystal nuclei. How does the energy compare with normal crystal nuclei?â\n
Jiang Tao changed the topic.\n
Su Fenghe, a power ability user, consciously got up and took the crystal cores that hadnât been classified and stored after being carried to the second floor of the heavy truck.\n
These days, the crystal nuclei they harvested are stored in the space on the second floor where they rest, and the amount is not small. The semi-artificially cultivated crystal nuclei were the first batch, and they were raised in the heads of zombies for half a month. Several people surrounded the iron box. Although Qiao Daye is also very curious, he still dutifully jumped off the second floor to defend outside, to prevent the crystal nucleus energy from attracting high-level zombies.\n</ins>\n\nTo be on the safe side, they stored the semi-artificially cultivated zombie crystal nuclei and the natural zombie crystal nuclei separately. Gongsun Jing and Jiang Tao organized them, while the others stared at Hou Ying, who had absorbed the cultivated second-level crystal nucleus.\n
After absorbing a second-level crystal, Hou Ying said, âMaybe we are too anxious to harvest. Although the energy storage in this secondary crystal nucleus is the same as that in the natural zombie crystal nucleus, it doesnât feel so mellow. How to say⊠It just feels that the density is not so big, like the same bowl of porridge, one bowl is very thick, the other bowl is very thin. Can you understand what I mean?â\n
Although they didnât quite understand Hou Yingâs feelings, several people recognized that there was a certain gap between semi-artificial level 2 crystal nucleus and natural crystal nucleus.\n
Hou Ying took Li Xuanyuanâs hand. After the latter absorbed it, he felt more clearly than Hou Ying, âThe energy of this level 2 crystal nucleus is equivalent to one-third of the natural level 2 crystal nucleus.â He said to Hou Ying, âTry absorbing others.â\n
After absorbing ten second-level crystal nuclei in one breath, Hou Ying said, âXuanyuan, I think I understand what you mean. You mean, zombies also have class status on the same level? These zombies do have different levels of energy storage, which I have felt before. Now it seems that the zombiesâ ability to level up can also be divided into low, medium, and high levels, but we didnât have much contact with it before and didnât have high levels, so we didnât feel the difference clearly in the battle.â\n
Li Xuanyuan nodded, agreeing with his statement.\n
Ji Yao said, âThen, donât we want to keep these zombies for a longer time so that we can take them after they have completed their level progress?â\n
Hou Ying said, âYou can also say that. But we donât have so much time now, so we can only hasten to ripen. In other words, nourishing the essence is not enough.â\n
Everyone understood one after another. Liu Zhan spoke, âYes, if we raise ten level 2 zombies, and then use them to raise a level 2 mid-level or high-level zombie, although the number of zombiesâ crystal nuclei is reduced, the level of the zombie crystal nucleus will definitely be improved accordingly. The things in this world are not expensive, I think this method is feasible.â\n
Everyone discussed this, and after reaching an agreement, they made corresponding adjustments to the plan for the second zombie crystal nucleus test field.\n</ins>\n\nAfter the decision was made, they realized that the time for dinner had passed. Hou Ying hurried to make dinner. In a hurry, he cooked instant noodles, and everyone shared a pot of it. Even Wang Hehe, who has always had a delicate appetite, had eaten it. Contrary to the food shortage in the last days, the physical strength of the ability users was too great and the appetite greatly increased. If Hou Ying and the others hadnât accumulated a lot of supplies, they would not be able to withstand this consumption.\n
After eating the noodles, several people drank the soup comfortably while talking about Meng Hanghaiâs ability.\n
Jiang Tao said, âXiaohaiâs ability appeared too early so he doesnât know what it is. Weâd better find an opportunity for him to use his ability more, to see his strength, and to see if there are zombies with similar ability.â\n
Hou Ying nodded and said, âI have tried all kinds of abilities we have but he canât absorb them. This kid seems to be an extremely rare special ability like Xiaohe, without the supplement of crystal nuclei, he can only improve his abilities through actual combat.â\n
Regarding this, they all have the same idea.\n
After eating, Jiang Tao stayed in the middle of the night, and a few people packed up and went to the second floor to rest.\n
Li Xuanyuan was bored on top of the heavy truck again. This place was re-isolated with special materials for armored vehicles. Li Xuanyuan moved his precious computer here and had to go to rest until late at night every day, so heâs excluded from the night duty these days.\n
He doesnât know if itâs because of Meng Hanghaiâs past, Hou Ying couldnât sleep. Listening to the clanging sound from the front of the car, and when everyone else in the room was almost asleep, he went down to the second floor lightly and climbed to the isolated room on the top of the car.\n
âYouâre still busy. Iâve been watching you do this all day, and when I asked what youâre doing, you donât answer.â\n
Hou Ying curiously leaned over to see what Li Xuanyuan had assembled. Li Xuanyuan raised his arm, knowing the other partyâs ulterior motive, he blocked Hou Ying who was too close, in order to avoid the other sideâs advances, and said, âIf I tell you that you wonât understand it, what would you say?â\n</ins>\n\nThe corner of Hou Yingâs lips twitched, âI canât understand what you use your finished product for, can I? I know youâre too lazy to explain.â\n
Li Xuanyuan gave him a âyou know itâ look. In Hou Yingâs more and more sad expression, he chuckled and said, âIn fact, itâs nothing. Itâs just a homemade satellite signal receiver and transmitter. Try to see if thereâs any way to get in touch with the outside world.â\n
Hou Ying was surprised, âThis is difficult, you can even do this, so awesome!â\n
âI wonât be moved even if you praise me.â Li Xuanyuan snorted and squinted his eyes when he saw his pretend flattering expression.\n
Hou Ying touched his nose, but he didnât feel embarrassed when he was seen through. He was a little disappointed and stepped away, sighing, âI know you are an expert in this area. Xuanyuan, I often wonder what you canât do. Cough, itâs convenient to ask, how old are you this year and how long have you been learning these?â\n
â27.â Li Xuanyuan didnât think it was a matter of privacy. Seeing that Hou Ying was really curious, he told him casually, âSince I joined the army at the age of 15, I have been learning these from my predecessors for more than ten years.â \n
Twenty-seven, Hou Ying said it silently, and muttered, âTurned out to be only two years older than meâŠâ\n
âKnowing that I am older than you, show respect in the future, and donât mess with me all day long.â Speaking of this, Li Xuanyuan simply put down the parts being assembled and turned to Hou Ying seriously, âHou Ying, I solemnly tell you that I am not gay. Although I donât hate you, I donât want to be involved in a relationship with you. We are teammates and companions, we can only have this kind of relationship. Do you understand what I mean?â\n
Hou Yingâs expression has changed. What he originally wanted to say is that he has the right to pursue him and it wonât cause him any real trouble, but he canât say it under Li Xuanyuanâs sincere eyes. He said with a bitter smile, âThey said you were⊠harassed beforeâŠâ\n
âIt has nothing to do with this.â \n
Li Xuanyuan didnât say much, but his attitude of resistance was very obvious.\n
Hou Ying lowered his gaze, before raising them after a while and said, âSo, I really have no chance?â\n
Li Xuanyuan saw him smile reluctantly as if he had been greatly hit, and turned his face away, âYou just think that I suit your taste. As long as your mentality is reversed, we can be friends and brothers like you and Ji Yao.â\n
âHow can you and Ji Yao be the sameâŠâ Hou Ying said but stopped talking again, and then said to Li Xuanyuan, âWell, I admit that I like your face better than others before. This kind of affection is still very superficial. Donât worry, give me some time and Iâll adjust myself.â \n
In silence, he apologized to Li Xuanyuan, âXuanyuan, Iâm sorry for the trouble I caused you before.â\n</ins>\n\nLi Xuanyuan was a little uncomfortable by his solemn manner, waved his hand, and said, âItâs okay, just donât do this in the future.â\n
Hou Ying looked relieved to see him. Raising the corner of his mouth, he pretended to naturally pat his shoulder and let him do a good job, said heâll go back to sleep first, and heâll go to the second test field to feed the zombies tomorrow.\n
When he got back to the lounge and lay in bed, the smile on his face fell. He sighed softly. Before Hou Ying adjusted his mood, he heard his little nephew on his right side ask in a low voice, âUncle, whatâs the matter? Are you in a bad mood?â \n
Hou Ying was taken aback and turned to look at him, âWhy arenât you asleep, did I woke you up?â\n
âNo, I havenât slept yet.â\n
Hou Ying looked at him in a daze and laughed softly, âDo you still want your uncle to tell you bedtime stories?â\n
Wang Hehe glared at him and hummed, âI just feel sorry for Xiaohai, and I feel a little uncomfortable.â\n
Hou Ying patted his head and comforted him, âEverything will be fine. Do you remember when my sister and brother-in-law just passed away, you cried for a long time. At that time, I was thinking, what should I do? What should I do if you are so sad all your life? But donât you grow up well now? Xiaohai is still better and stronger than you at the time. He just needs a little time to adapt and he will get better soon.â\n
Wang Hehe nodded, and raised his hand awkwardly to imitate him, and patted his head, âDonât be sad, uncle. Go to sleep. Everything will be fine.â\n
Hou Ying was startled then smiled softly.\n</ins>\n\nYes, the relationship between him and Li Xuanyuan is much lighter than that between him and Ji Yao. They have no confession, no communication, and no intimacy. Wouldnât it be easier to let go?\n
But why does he feel so reluctant?\n\n
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Translatorâs Note:\n
Thatâs a cliffhanger, but unfortunately, I donât have any more chapters to supplement that. And guess what, my laziness and procrastination reared its ugly heads this time when Iâm already on my vacation. My three chapters a day streak is down to a chapter (if not only half-way done). I have to work on that.\n
Anyway, for offline reading, you can also read this story, and the rest of the stories, on Wattpad, same name. Although, thereâs only a few chapters there yet, but no worries, Iâll update the rest soon.\n\n\n\n\n<hr class="wp-block-separator">