Chapter Eighty-Three: The Lair (Christmas Second Update)

Chapter Eighty-Three

“Send a few more people in to check the situation!” Ling Feng said, seeing that the explorers had yet to return.

But who should be sent in?

Suspecting that those inside might have met with misfortune, most were reluctant to venture further into the cave. As everyone hesitated, uncertain and passing the responsibility from one to another, a sudden rush of footsteps sounded from within. The three who had entered emerged one after another.

“Why didn’t you come in? Didn’t you hear our signal?” one of them shouted at the group as soon as he saw them.

“Signal? What signal? We were just wondering why you hadn’t returned, and were about to go in and collect your remains!” someone replied, annoyed, especially those who were on good terms with the trio.

“Bah, you jinx! I plan to live a long life!” retorted the baby-faced man, spitting several times in protest.

“You? You aren’t even grown yet and dare call yourself a ‘man’? Whose father do you think you are?” someone laughed, ruffling his hair.

“You’re the one who hasn’t grown up! I’m thirty this year! And stop touching my head, or I’ll get angry!” the baby-faced man shouted, exasperated.

His protests only brought more laughter. No one believed him. Only Mei looked at him with sympathy—those whose appearance never matured truly had it rough.

“Was there no danger inside?” Ling Feng asked once the laughter subsided.

“None! There’s nothing inside. But the cave is deep—about fifty meters in, there’s a chamber at least three hundred square meters wide, and several tunnels branch off from it. The tunnels are about a meter and a half in diameter. We checked them; it’s a labyrinth in there with many forks, but we found no traces of animal activity,” a lean man answered.

Everyone turned to Ling Feng, waiting for his decision.

“Let’s all go in and take a look,” Ling Feng said after some thought.

Although he wasn’t comfortable with the intricate tunnels deeper in, he had to see them for himself.

With his order, everyone began entering the cave. It was dry inside, and thanks to a bend in the passage, the cold wind couldn’t blow straight in, making it much warmer than outside.

Once they were sure it was safe, many couldn’t wait to light fires and dry their shoes. After the long trek, most people’s footwear was soaked through. It hadn’t mattered while they were walking, but once they stopped, a biting chill spread from their feet, nearly numbing them. With fire-wielders among them, the damp branches they’d collected lit easily enough.

People gathered around the fires in small groups, warming themselves or preparing dinner. Qiangzi, already starving, eagerly asked Mo Chen for the giant lizard carcass as soon as the fire was going.

Mo Chen returned the body without hesitation, though he’d already kept the lizard’s crystal core in his own storage.

The giant lizard was quickly devoured by those who hadn’t tasted meat in ages. Of course, not everyone was interested in its flesh; Ling Feng, holding a torch, was busy examining the tunnels and ordered his men to use instruments for various tests. Mo Chen and his close companions had better food options and turned up their noses at the lizard meat. Many of the women in the group also avoided it, nibbling on rations while the men tore into the meal.

“Mei, aren’t you going to eat?” An Ziyou asked in surprise, seeing that Mei—usually the first to seek food—was leaning dazedly against the wall.

“I’m not really…” The word “hungry” hadn’t left her mouth when she shot to her feet, eyes sharp and wary as she stared at the tunnels. “Something’s wrong! Everyone be alert!”

Something’s wrong?

Everyone was stunned for a moment. The quick-witted among them immediately dropped what they were holding, grabbed their weapons, and stood ready. Ling Feng and the others swiftly retreated from the entrance to the tunnels. But someone was a step too slow. A scream tore through the air as a soldier was seized by a powerful force and dragged rapidly into the tunnel, vanishing from sight, leaving behind only a trail of blood at the entrance.

“Hurry! We must have stumbled into a nest of mutant giant lizards!” Mei cried, urging everyone to flee as she led Mo Chen and the others in a dash for the exit.

Some people still fumbled to gather their belongings, but soon, one after another, they were snatched away. The rest, seeing this, abandoned all their possessions and raced desperately for the exit, terrified they wouldn’t make it out if they hesitated even a moment.

No one cared about other dangers lurking in the night—the only fear was that the creatures might catch up. They plunged through the snow, legs flailing. Most had removed the branches they’d strapped to their feet for walking, a decision they now regretted, but there was no time to fix them. They tumbled and crawled through snow up to their knees.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to fight back, but they couldn’t even see the enemy. Where were they supposed to shoot? Only Mei occasionally fired an arrow back; only those lizards she struck revealed themselves. Yet, even though her every arrow claimed a lizard’s life, people were still being dragged away.

They scrambled through the snow half the night before their strength gave out and they finally stopped.

Catching their breath, they counted their numbers, and a heavy gloom settled over the group. Of more than a hundred people, only seventy-eight remained.

“Why couldn’t we see those lizards in the cave? They’re white, aren’t they? Can those things turn invisible?” someone asked, his voice trembling with exhaustion and fear.

“Not invisible—color-changing would be more accurate,” Ling Feng said, adjusting his glasses. Though bedraggled, he remained calm.

“When the giant lizards attacked, I noticed brief flashes of color matching the cave walls. But when they left the cave, they turned white again. If I’m not mistaken, they’re like chameleons, able to change their color to match their surroundings.”

“That’s not all,” Mei added after Ling Feng’s analysis. “They can also alter the energy signature on their skin, making them blend in even more. If not for some lingering biological markers, I wouldn’t have noticed them either.”

After hearing this, the group fell silent. Suddenly, someone couldn’t help but curse, “Damn it, now everything mutates—how are humans supposed to survive?”

Many felt the same. Zombies everywhere had already made life hard enough, and mutant animals were even deadlier. They’d once thought there weren’t many mutant animals, but the past two days had shattered that belief.

“What are you afraid of? Longsheng developed the serum that awakens abilities, didn’t they? If more people can awaken, what do we have to fear from zombies or mutants?” Yang Hao spat on the ground and spoke loudly, trying to lift everyone’s spirits.

“He’s right! Zombies can’t reproduce; one day, we’ll kill them all. Mutant animals may be strong, but they can’t outnumber us. Humanity won’t be wiped out by these things!” someone else stood to support him.

“Exactly! Mankind is far from finished. Our scientists are working on drugs to suppress the zombie virus and methods to deal with mutant animals. One day, these creatures will no longer threaten us. Keep up your spirits—one more day’s journey and we’ll reach the laboratory!” Ling Feng echoed, his firm tone steadying everyone’s nerves.

After a short rest, they set off again. Though exhausted, what was a little fatigue compared to survival? Who knew if those mutant lizards would come after them—they had to get away as soon as possible.

Mei trudged on with the group. Suddenly, her foot slipped and she pitched forward.

Ye Jingxuan, quick as ever, caught her and pulled her into his arms.

“Are you alright?” he asked, concern in his eyes. He’d noticed she was acting strangely all day—distracted, and now stumbling. What was going on?

“I’m fine, just a bit tired,” Mei replied, her face showing some strain.

“I’ll carry you,” Ye Jingxuan said, not brooking argument, and hoisted her onto his back.

“No need, Ah Ye, I’m fine!” Mei resisted, unwilling to let him bear her weight.

She was indeed drained, but not so much that she couldn’t walk. He’d been traveling all day too; he must be tired.

“Don’t struggle!” Ye Jingxuan said sternly, his large hands supporting her thighs, making sure she didn’t get down.

“Be good, don’t make a fuss. I’ll carry you a while, and then Mo Chen can take over. Just rest for now,” Mo Chen, a step behind, gently reassured her.

Seeing Ye Jingxuan wouldn’t let her down, Mei relented and lay quietly on his back.

“Ah Ye, if you get tired, put me down, okay?”

“I won’t,” he replied, shaking his head. She was so light—how could he get tired? Still, her condition worried him. Was it another side effect of her altered genes? He glanced at Mo Chen, the only one who knew the truth, but Mo Chen shook his head, equally puzzled by Mei’s increasing frailty. He wasn’t an expert—only a specialist could say for sure whether something was wrong with her.

Night was deep, and the group pressed on through the snow, guided by Ling Feng and the faint starlight. They walked through the night until dawn, unmolested by further attacks.

When it was clear the mutant lizards hadn’t pursued, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“Once we cross that ridge, we’ll reach the laboratory!” Ling Feng said, checking his map and pointing to a nearby peak.

Everyone felt a surge of hope.

At last, they were nearly there!

May there be no more dangers on the road ahead, they prayed silently.

But would things really go so smoothly?

They were only going to the lab to pick people up—what then? How would they return?

With this thought, the hope that had just kindled in their hearts grew heavy once more.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! Mwah!