Chapter 240 - 228: Rejecting Dependence

The living branches of the Rose plant carried everyone inside the quarantine wall, dropping Flora Bloom and the others, whether dead or alive, onto two patches of lawn.

It then took root in Flora Bloom’s yard, bringing along three other Rose plants of its kind that it had bound.

After its roots burrowed deep into the ground, they gradually spread out, eventually linking up with the root systems of the other flowers and trees in the lawn.

Flora Bloom could feel that after the Rose vine’s roots connected with the original sentient plants deep underground, they continued to extend downward and outward, spreading much faster than the sentient plants’ roots had previously expanded.

The main trunk of the Rose took root in the yard of Flora Bloom’s villa. Its thick vines shrank back to a normal plant’s size and draped themselves over the villa’s exterior walls, making the yard look just like a flower wall covered in lush greenery.

Flora Bloom immediately summoned the bee swarms within the villa complex. The Rose vine had told her that to awaken those who had been knocked unconscious by its fragrance, they needed honey made from its own pollen.

Little Bee and several other queen bees led their workers to collect the Rose’s pollen in her yard. Some returned to their hives to produce honey, while others remained behind, building new hives in the large trees in the yard.

Although there weren’t many plants in her yard yet, Flora Bloom could clearly sense that the root systems of the plants that had acknowledged her as their master now intricately occupied all the space deep beneath her yard.

As a result, she could faintly feel a refreshing energy emanating from underground and lingering above her yard. It wasn’t much, but it was steadily accumulating. ’This is a good sign,’ she thought.

Lex Cross had been watching Flora Bloom silently command the Rose vine and the mutated bees ever since he returned to the quarantine gate, and his expression had not been pleasant. It grew even darker, turning completely black, when he noticed Isla Preston by Flora’s side.

"What happened to The Crown Prince?" Lex Cross asked, his face grim. A man nicknamed Lynx stood behind him as Lex glanced sideways at The Crown Prince lying on the grass.

"The fragrance of this mutated Rose vine has a coma-inducing effect. They were all knocked unconscious. Only honey brewed from its pollen can act as an antidote."

"It only works on humans?" Lex Cross asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No. It has an effect on any living being or zombie, as long as they have a sense of smell," Flora Bloom said, relaying the information the Rose vine had given her through their mental link.

"So, you’re saying its fragrance can work on zombie hordes?" Lex Cross gave Flora Bloom a profound look, and realization suddenly dawned on her.

"It can, but its fragrance has a limited range. It doesn’t just spread indefinitely."

Seeing Lex Cross’s handsome face looking so grim and expressionless, Flora Bloom suddenly hooked her arm through his.

"You’ve had that long face ever since I got back. Are you still angry with me?"

"..." Lex Cross tried to gently push Flora Bloom’s hand away, but he found she had his arm in such a tight grip he couldn’t break free.

"I decided to go by myself because I was confident I could get my dad back safely. Besides, I don’t want to have to rely on you for everything. Do you understand?"

"But couldn’t you have discussed it with me beforehand? Confident? If you were so confident, then what about her?" Lex Cross suddenly pointed to Isla Preston, who was trailing behind Flora Bloom.

"What does this have to do with her?" Flora Bloom asked, confused.

"What does it have to do with her? Flora, that’s a High-level zombie! Don’t you know that every High-level zombie possesses exceptionally strong spiritual power? If you’d been careless and she had controlled you, she could have taken over your body and mind! You wouldn’t be you anymore, do you understand?"

"I..." Flora Bloom’s expression soured as she nodded. ’He’s right. If the Golden Crow hadn’t awakened my consciousness at the critical moment, allowing me to pull that High-level zombie into my space in the nick of time, what would have happened to me?’

A wave of lingering fear washed over Flora Bloom at the thought.

"You never once stopped to think, did you? If you were controlled by that High-level zombie, what would happen to your mother who’s still in a coma? What about your father and your brother?"

Flora Bloom knew then that she had been too arrogant. If it hadn’t been for the Golden Crow, and if she hadn’t happened to have a cheat like her space, she really might have become a puppet controlled by the High-level zombie, Isla Preston. What was more terrifying was that Isla Preston had wanted to possess her body and merge with her.

Although she didn’t know how Isla would have done it, Flora Bloom knew that if she had succeeded, her family and friends would have all been indirectly killed because of her. And her Polly would have been devoured by the child in the zombie’s own womb.

Flora Bloom caressed her small baby bump, her head bowed, not daring to look at Lex Cross. "I’m sorry. I... I didn’t know a High-level zombie would appear. But I promise, I’ll be more careful from now on. I’ll never do something like this again."

"Right. For your family, your friends, and your child, you won’t do it again. But what about me? Did you ever think about me? Flora, given our relationship, am I, Lex Cross, really that unworthy of your trust and reliance?" The sight of Flora lowering her head to caress her stomach pierced him like a knife. ’This woman still doesn’t have a place for me in her heart! Her family, her child, her friends... every last one is more important than I am!’

Flora Bloom looked up, a bewildered expression on her face. "That’s not it! I didn’t mean that! Lex Cross, what’s gotten into you? I just don’t want to rely on you too much. You know that in this apocalypse, nothing is certain. I don’t want to get too dependent on you. If I do, I’m afraid I’ll get used to it."

SIGH! Lex Cross let out a breath, his hawk-like eyes filled with a complicated mix of emotions as he stared at Flora Bloom. "Flora, do you really want to avoid relying on me that much? You’re afraid of getting used to it? So, do you think we’re going to be separated someday? Or did you never plan on being with me in the first place?"

Flora Bloom was tongue-tied for a moment. "That’s not what I meant! Hey, I already admitted I was wrong. Do you really have to be like this?"

Lex Cross shot a glare at the small white tiger dozing nearby. It flinched under his gaze before leaping away to hide in the courtyard of Flora Bloom’s villa.

’This woman always had a way of infuriating him. He knew she had that Divine-level internal space, and that many dangers were nothing to her. But nothing in this world was ever absolute.’

’There were definitely powerful experts and creatures in this world capable of a one-hit kill or mental control. Why couldn’t she understand how much he wanted to protect her? He knew she wanted to grow stronger, but there were so many ways to do that. Why did she have to choose the most dangerous path?’

"Do you have any idea how worried I was about you?" After saying his piece, he turned and walked toward his own villa without giving Flora Bloom another look.

Watching Lex Cross’s retreating back, Flora Bloom opened her mouth to call out to him, then quickly shut it. ’Maybe I really was in the wrong. But perhaps it’s for the best if we both have some space to cool down right now.’

Just then, Little Bee suddenly informed her through their mental link that Seth Warren was at the quarantine wall, trying to force his way in.

When she got to the quarantine wall, she saw it wasn’t just Seth Warren. Tianna Bloom was there too. At that moment, Tianna Bloom and Seth Warren’s sister, Kirk Warren, were hiding behind a large tree outside the wall, peering in her direction.

Flora Bloom’s initial impression of Seth Warren had been that of a gloomy and arrogant man—a pre-apocalyptic rich kid who had grown conceited after awakening a Fire Element superpower.

However, after learning that he had saved Shauna Wallace, her opinion of him had changed for the better. So, the moment she found out it was him at the wall, she immediately ordered the bee swarm to cease their attack.