Chapter 501: A Warning

Chapter 501: A Warning

Zhang Yi smiled at Bian Junwu. “Have you seen any creatures stronger than the Zombie Kings?”

Bian Junwu frowned. He didn’t understand what Zhang Yi was getting at.

“If you have something to say, just say it directly.”

Zhang Yi’s gaze darkened.

At this point, he needed to keep the investigation team in Tianhai City.

As long as they stayed, the Followers of the Snow God would be under pressure.

If Zhang Yi’s suspicions were correct—that Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian were the true masterminds—then as long as the investigation team remained, they wouldn’t dare act too boldly.

“I suspect that there’s someone controlling the corpse tide from behind the scenes.”

“The Zombie Kings we killed were just puppets.”

“Or worse… there’s an even more terrifying possibility.”

Zhang Yi clenched his jaw and said, “What if the entire corpse tide was just an act—to trick you?”

“They made it look easy to resolve so they could get you to leave and mislead the Jiangnan District.”

Bian Junwu stopped walking, turning around to look at Zhang Yi coldly.

Even through his dark sunglasses, Zhang Yi could feel the sharpness of his gaze.

But he pressed on. “This battle seemed like a hard-fought victory. But in my eyes, it went way too smoothly.”

“The corpse tide’s movements were almost too coordinated, as if they were deliberately working with us instead of against us. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”

Bian Junwu was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. “What proof do you have? I need evidence.”

Zhang Yi took a deep breath, thought for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.

“I don’t have hard evidence yet… but the inconsistencies are real.”

Bian Junwu’s lips curved—not in mockery, but in something closer to approval.

“You’re cautious. That’s a good trait. Being too careful might make life exhausting, but it certainly keeps you alive.”

“But you don’t have to worry too much. No matter what happens in Tianhai City, to the Jiangnan District, this is just a minor disturbance.”

He extended his long, bony hand, palm facing upward.

“No matter how big the problem gets, if we decide to suppress it, we will suppress it.”

Zhang Yi chuckled and didn’t press further.

After all, this was just a theory—he had no solid proof.

He never expected to convince Bian Junwu on the spot.

But if he could plant even a seed of doubt in his mind, then someone as sharp as Bian Junwu would eventually notice if something was truly wrong.

“I get it. If I discover anything, I’ll let you know immediately.”

“You won’t just ignore it, will you?” Zhang Yi said, half-jokingly.

But he wasn’t joking at all.

If his suspicions were correct, then what they were dealing with wasn’t just a corpse tide—it was an enemy far more terrifying.

Bian Junwu adjusted his sunglasses and replied, “Any threat serious enough to endanger a Jiangnan District-controlled area will be dealt with.”

“Of course, if you’re still worried, you might as well come with us. There’s no safer place than Blizzard City.”

Zhang Yi smiled. “We’ll see.”

After saying his goodbyes, Zhang Yi and his team boarded their vehicle and left the Followers of the Snow God’s base, heading back to the Shelter.

As the car rumbled away from the battlefield littered with corpses, Zhang Yi glanced at the base through the rearview mirror, his emotions mixed.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small white cloth covered in tiny handwritten notes.

“Hm? What’s that?”

Zhou Ke’er leaned over curiously.

Zhang Yi calmly tucked it away, smirking. “Nothing. Just an old pair of underwear I changed out of.”

Zhou Ke’er’s expression twisted in disgust.

“You actually had time to change underwear?”

They had been stuck in the Followers of the Snow God’s camp for ten days, with no chance to even bathe.

Zhang Yi’s answer sounded suspicious as hell.

But since he didn’t explain further, she didn’t press the issue.

A few hours later, they arrived back at the Shelter.

Along the way, they spotted scattered zombies, wandering aimlessly without direction.

Without a Zombie King to control them, they were like lost souls, drifting across the frozen wasteland.

Some had already frozen stiff, likely dead for good.

Even the most resilient viruses couldn’t survive long in minus sixty-degree temperatures.

With no food source, their extinction was inevitable.

Back at the Shelter, everything was just as they had left it—nothing had changed.

As soon as they stepped inside, they were met with a rush of excited voices.

“Brother, you’re okay?! I was so worried about you!”

Yang Xinxin threw herself at Zhang Yi.

Lu Keran looked guilty. “Big brother… You were risking your life outside, and we were just hiding here, doing nothing to help… I feel awful.”

Zhang Yi chuckled, ruffling both girls’ heads.

“There was never any real danger. See? We’re all fine.”

“Everyone has their role to play. There’s no need to blame yourselves.”

Yang Siyah, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen with Zhou Haimei, carrying trays of food.

They had prepared a feast to welcome them home.

Zhang Yi smiled at her. “Did anything unusual happen while we were gone?”

Yang Siyah shook her head. “It was eerily quiet. Nothing happened at all.”

Zhang Yi nodded. That was reassuring.

The whole group gathered around a large round table, sharing a hearty meal.

As they recounted the horrors of the corpse tide, the lingering fear in their voices was unmistakable.

“No one even knows how many people are still alive in Tianhai City…” Lu Keran said softly.

“Maybe we’re the only ones left.”

Her expression was a mix of sadness and unease.

Even if the other survivors weren’t necessarily friendly, the thought of an entire city being empty was unsettling.

Isolation had a way of eating at the soul.

But before the atmosphere could grow too heavy, someone raised a glass.

“Cheers!”

Laughter and clinking glasses filled the room.

For now, at least, they were safe.

Zhang Yi hadn’t forgotten to check in with Yang Siyah about the Superhuman Energy Dishes.

Stockpiling resources was a priority.

He would rather overprepare and let food sit untouched in Spatial Storage than risk running out at a critical moment.

Yang Siyah smiled. “I’ve been making them every day! You were fighting on the front lines, but I couldn’t just sit around doing nothing.”

“Oh, and I stored everything in the fridge.”

Zhang Yi paused. “It’s been over ten days. Have the dishes lost their effect?”

Yang Siyah nodded.

“I’ve been monitoring them. After seven days, their potency starts to drop. By ten days, they lose all their effects.”

Zhang Yi mentally noted this important detail.

This was a limitation of her ability.

But someday, knowing this could be a game-changer.

For now, everyone focused on celebrating their return.

With food, laughter, and drinks, half a day passed in joy and relief.

Author's Note