Chapter 77 - 75: Repaying a Kindness

The hurricane-force winds from the helicopters felt like they would flip them over.

Jiang Linhai sat down in the co-pilot’s seat and said worriedly to Jiang Si, "There are still three helicopters hovering in midair. I don’t think they’re planning to let us go!"

Most of them were military helicopters, and Jiang Linhai could even see someone standing on the outside of one, holding a heavy weapon.

Jiang Si frowned. "Let’s see what they do first. If they insist on stopping us, we’ll play along for now and find another chance to escape later."

Jiang Linhai glanced back at Dabai and asked, "What about Dabai? It’s so huge, anyone can tell it’s a mutated animal. Won’t they take it away for research?"

In her past life at the base, Jiang Si had seen countless Mutants and mutated animals get dragged away to be dissected for experiments.

At Jiang Linhai’s words, a jolt of alarm shot through Jiang Si. She reached out, placed her hand on Dabai’s tail, and said, "I won’t let them take it."

The helicopters landed one after another. A moment later, a large group of men in tactical gear, all holding weapons, disembarked.

Their tall frames and well-trained movements exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.

Zhuang Feiyue, however, felt a sense of familiarity and excitedly said to her family, "Mom, Dad, it’s the military! They’re from the military! Are we saved?!"

Zhuang Chenshen frowned, signaling for her to get a grip. "It’s the end of the world. The military’s chain of command collapsed long ago. These people are the most dangerous ones now. Robbing us of our supplies or forcing us into hard labor are the best-case scenarios."

The miserable fate of women who became prisoners after international wars... Zhuang Feiyue shuddered, praying that wouldn’t happen to her.

They huddled in the helicopter, trembling, until a tall man appeared in Zhuang Chenshen’s line of sight.

Zhuang Chenshen’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Kuang Jiaying! It’s Kuang Jiaying!"

Zhuang Feiyue’s eyes widened. She looked closer and saw that it really was the man she was supposed to have a blind date with.

"That kid is a stand-up guy. His parents and I have been friends since we were kids. We’re saved! We’re safe!"

As Zhuang Chenshen spoke, tears streamed down his face, overjoyed that their uncertain fate had found a moment of stability.

The Zhuangs hurried out of the helicopter and called Kuang Jiaying’s name.

Suddenly, he heard someone call his name.

Kuang Jiaying looked up and saw the Zhuangs looking disheveled and covered in stings, staring at him with teary eyes.

Kuang Jiaying was stunned for a moment before he recognized them. "Uncle Zhuang?"

Seeing that he was recognized, and that Kuang Jiaying was still willing to call him ’Uncle,’ Zhuang Chenshen’s anxious heart finally settled. He walked over, grabbed his hand, and said, "Jia Ying! Thank goodness it’s you! We were scared to death." He then quickly asked, "What about your parents? Are they with you?"

Kuang Jiaying shook his head. "They’ve been settled in at the Northern Base. For now, they’re safe."

The Northern Base!

Excitement appeared on all the Zhuangs’ faces. They desperately wanted a safe place to stay.

Zhuang Chenshen hurriedly asked, "Can we go to the Northern Base, then?"

Kuang Jiaying nodded. "I led this team out to search for supplies and rescue survivors."

Zhuang Chenshen breathed a sigh of relief and quickly pushed Zhuang Feiyue in front of him, urging, "Hurry and say hello to Brother Jia Ying!"

Kuang Jiaying’s gaze, however, fell on a woman getting out of another helicopter.

Zhuang Feiyue blushed and called out, "Brother Jia Ying," but received no response. She followed his stunned gaze and saw the sharp and cool Jiang Si walking toward Kuang Jiaying.

Kuang Jiaying actually knew her. He called out to her warmly, "Miss Jiang, I didn’t expect to run into you here."

Zhuang Feiyue lowered her gaze, her fists clenching tight. An indescribable feeling of humiliation welled up inside her.

Jiang Si was in no mood for pleasantries. "Commander Kuang. Hope you’ve been well. Can you let our helicopter take off now?"

Kuang Jiaying asked in surprise, "Where are you going?"

Jiang Si replied with flawless composure, "North."

Kuang Jiaying assumed Jiang Si knew the location of the Northern Base and extended an invitation. "Miss Jiang, you can return to the Northern Base with us. I’ll make sure you get the grain I promised you last time."

Jiang Si shook her head. "That won’t be necessary."

Hearing this, Zhuang Feiyue felt an even sourer feeling in her heart.

Her family had to actively suck up to Kuang Jiaying just to get into the Northern Base, yet when he invited Jiang Si, she acted like she couldn’t care less and wanted to go on her own.

’What is she being so difficult for at a time like this?’

Kuang Jiaying was also a bit surprised that Jiang Si would even turn down the remaining nine hundred pounds of grain. He quickly assumed it was because she didn’t trust him anymore. Just as he was about to try and persuade her, a terrified shout suddenly rang out, "There’s a tiger! A huge tiger!"

Kuang Jiaying instantly drew his sidearm and pointed it at the massive creature barely visible inside the helicopter.

Jiang Si’s face instantly darkened. She returned to the front of the helicopter and spread her arms wide. "It’s my tiger. It won’t hurt anyone!"

Everyone was extremely wary of a mutated tiger. Besides, they had just rescued a large number of people and were short on food.

A tiger that big could yield at least several hundred pounds of meat.

They hadn’t had meat in a long time. Every gaze directed at the helicopter was filled with ravenous hunger.

A mutated tiger that actually listened to Jiang Si... Kuang Jiaying narrowed his eyes, studying her carefully. "How can you prove it won’t hurt anyone?"

Jiang Si looked at him, the corner of her mouth twitching into a sarcastic smile. "The fact that it hasn’t already jumped out and taken a bite out of you isn’t proof enough?"

Kuang Jiaying’s eyes lit up. He quickly asked, "How did you tame it?"

If there was a way to tame the mutated animals of the apocalypse, it would be an incredible, report-worthy discovery.

Jiang Si lied without missing a beat. "I risked my life to save it from the jaws of a giant python. It’s grateful, so it listens to me. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be going."

Kuang Jiaying could also see that Jiang Si no longer wanted to go to the Northern Base. He blocked her path and tried to persuade her, "A mutated animal that can understand human speech is of significant observational value for humanity’s survival in the apocalypse."

"Miss Jiang, it’s enormous. You won’t be able to provide it with enough food. For your safety, and for its own, please reconsider coming back to the Northern Base with us. I promise, I won’t let anyone harm it."

Jiang Si grew angry as Kuang Jiaying spoke. She glared at him coldly. "It belongs in the wild. Even if it’s the apocalypse, it doesn’t exist for the sake of humanity’s survival. Get out of the way!"

Kuang Jiaying’s expression faltered. "I admit I’m being selfish when it comes to the tiger. But for the sake of humanity, I’m not wrong. I’m just trying to find a way for us to coexist with mutated creatures."

"You can find your way, but don’t you dare get any ideas about it, Commander Kuang. Otherwise, you’ll regret it!"

She could already feel Dabai’s restless agitation building.