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墨書 Inktalez
"Long time no see, Wei Na."
The moment that voice echoed, my blood ran cold.
A blurred figure slowly emerged from the darkness, moonlight filtering through the cracks of the ruins and illuminating her face. That face I knew all too well.
"Xie Yutong?!"
I could hardly believe my eyes. How could this woman be here?
Xie Yutong wore a cold, elegant smile, her red lips slightly curled up, but her eyes were as icy as two daggers.
"It seems you've been doing well and found a new companion."
Her gaze swept over Xiao Yu and Zhong Dali beside me, finally landing on the blue potion in my hand.
"What a coincidence, I'm looking for that too."
"Wow! Who is this? Your ex-girlfriend?" Zhong Dali leaned in with a curious expression, completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere.
I didn't have time to respond when a sudden explosion erupted from the ruins behind us, shaking the ground beneath our feet. It was followed by a barrage of gunfire and chaotic shouts.
"The Steel Fortress people are searching!" Xiao Yu warned, "We need to get out of here fast."
Xie Yutong flashed a knowing smile. "Follow me; I know a safe route."
I hesitated for a second. "Why should I trust you?"
She shrugged. "If you don't trust me, you can choose to wait here and die."
"Wow! I think she's right!" Zhong Dali exclaimed as he grabbed my arm. "Let's go, Wei Na! I don't want to die yet!"
With no better choice, I had to follow Xie Yutong's lead.
We ran through the darkness, reaching the end of an abandoned parking lot that led to a narrow dark passage. Xie Yutong expertly guided us through several deserted basements, finally arriving at a half-collapsed subway station.
"This is the subway ruins of the old town, leading to the east side of the city," Xie Yutong explained. "The Steel Fortress people won't chase us here."
"How did you end up here?" I asked, eyeing her warily. "And how do you know me?"
Xie Yutong looked at me with a half-smile. "Stop pretending, Wei Na. You think I don't know about the 'Green Tea Alliance' from back in the day?"
Her words struck me like a thunderbolt, leaving me frozen. The Green Tea Alliance? That name hadn't crossed my mind in ages.
"Wait, what is this Green Tea Alliance? It sounds like a girls' organization," Zhong Dali scratched his head, looking confused.
Xiao Yu shot a cold glance at Xie Yutong, her hand subtly moving toward the dagger at her waist. "Who exactly are you?"
Xie Yutong didn't answer; her gaze remained fixed on me. "Let's go. There's a safe place ahead where we can rest. As for everything else..." She smiled meaningfully. "We'll talk about it when we get there."
We continued along the abandoned subway tunnel, the eerie silence around us broken only by the sound of our footsteps echoing through the passage.
"You shouldn't have messed with the Rogue Gang," Xie Yutong suddenly said. "They have the Steel Fortress backing them."
"I knew it!" I immediately replied. "Those blue potions are Steel Fortress technology; the Rogue Gang couldn't possibly have them."
"Wow! Wei Na, you're really smart!" Zhong Dali patted my shoulder, nearly knocking me over.
At the end of the tunnel, an iron door appeared. Xie Yutong pulled a magnetic card from her clothing and swiped it to unlock the door.
Inside was a modified subway station control room. Although it was simple, it was well-equipped, suggesting that someone frequently used it.
"Is this your base?" Xiaoyu asked, glancing around cautiously.
"Just a temporary hideout," Xie Yutong replied casually as she opened a storage cabinet and took out a few bottles of water and some snacks. "Eat something if you're hungry."
I took the water bottle, carefully observing Xie Yutong. She had changed a lot; she was no longer the gentle girl I remembered. Instead, there was a coldness and mystery about her.
"You still haven't answered my question," I said, locking my gaze onto hers. "Why were you there?"
Xie Yutong tossed her long hair back, a glint of cunning in her eyes. "Because I was tracking the Rogue Gang. They've been transporting a batch of secret supplies lately."
"Is it these blue vials?" I pulled out the vial from my pocket.
"Not just those," Xie Yutong's expression sharpened. "They're transporting something much more dangerous—a variant sample of the 'Soul-Eater' virus."
The room fell silent at this revelation.
"Wow! Isn't that terrifying?" Zhong Dali broke the silence, his voice much quieter than usual.
"How do you know all this?" Xiaoyu squinted at Xie Yutong, clearly skeptical of her words.
Xie Yutong didn't answer directly but turned to me. "Weina, do you remember the mission of the Green Tea Alliance?"
"Of course," I replied with a wry smile. "To protect the world from the threat of the 'Soul-Eater' virus."
"What? You two know each other?" Xiao Yu looked at us in surprise.
"Yes, we used to... be colleagues," I chose my words carefully, "before the end of the world."
Xie Yutong suddenly stepped closer to me, her faint fragrance momentarily distracting me. "Wei Na, I need your help. The Green Tea Alliance is no longer what you remember; now the alliance..." She paused, "has been infiltrated by Qin Baye."
"Qin Baye? The dictator of Steel Fortress?" My eyes widened.
"Wow! That sounds impressive!" Zhong Dali interjected.
I turned to Zhong Dali and Xiao Yu. "Qin Baye is the ruler of Steel Fortress. It's said that he possesses the most advanced virus research technology. His ambitions go beyond just ruling a region; he wants to..."
"Remake the entire human world," Xie Yutong finished my sentence. "He aims to use the Soul Devouring virus to create a batch of super soldiers who will obey his commands."
"What does that have to do with us?" Xiao Yu asked coldly. "We just want to survive."
Xie Yutong looked at me meaningfully. "Because Wei Na has something that Qin Baye desires."
"Me?" I was confused.
"Your immunity, Wei Na," Xie Yutong said slowly and deliberately. "You can devour zombies and gain their abilities, which is the research sample Qin Baye has always dreamed of."
I gasped in shock. How did she know about my ability? This secret was known only to Zhong Dali and Xiao Yu; no one else should have known.
"How do you know...?"
"Because I've been keeping an eye on you," Xie Yutong said with a mysterious smile.
The room fell into silence once more.
Zhong Dali couldn't hold back any longer, "Wow! This is so cool! I didn't know you guys..."
"Shut up!" Both Xiaoyu and I shouted at Zhong Dali simultaneously.
Zhong Dali lowered his head in grievance, mumbling, "I was just asking."
At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted outside, sounding like someone was searching for something.
"Someone's coming!" Xiaoyu stood up alertly.
Xie Yutong quickly turned off the lights in the room. "It might be remnants of the gang; they know this place."
In the darkness, I heard Xie Yutong whisper, "Follow me, through the emergency exit."
We followed Xie Yutong through a narrow passage and emerged on the other side of the subway station.
Suddenly, a group of armed men appeared at the end of the passage, their flashlights shining directly into our eyes.
"Don't move! Raise your hands!" the leader shouted.
"Damn it!" Xie Yutong cursed, "We're surrounded!"
"Wow! We're done for now!" Zhong Dali exaggeratedly raised both hands.
I quickly grabbed Xiaoyu and Zhong Dali. "Run back!"
Just as we turned around, Xie Yutong suddenly pushed me, saying, "Split up! They’re after you!"
I stumbled a few steps, not having time to think, and grabbed Zhong Dali and Xiaoyu to run in the opposite direction. Gunfire erupted behind us, bullets whizzing past.
"Where's Xie Yutong?" Zhong Dali asked as we ran.
"I don't know!" I gritted my teeth. "Staying alive is the priority!"
We sprinted through the darkness, turning several corners as the gunfire faded into the distance.
"Did we lose them?" Xiaoyu panted.
"Should be," I leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. "But we need to keep moving; it’s not safe here."
Suddenly, Zhong Dali clutched his stomach and collapsed to the ground. "Wow! I... it hurts so much!"
"What’s wrong?" I hurriedly crouched down to check on him.
"I got grazed by a bullet," Xiaoyu calmly pointed out. "But it doesn’t look serious."
"Wow! So this is what getting shot feels like! It hurts!" Zhong Dali wailed, his voice rising involuntarily.
"Keep it down!" I quickly covered his mouth. "Do you want those people to find us?"
Zhong Dali shook his head pitifully.
Xiaoyu took out some basic medical supplies from her bag and swiftly bandaged Zhong Dali. "It’s just a surface wound, but we need to find a safe place quickly."
"I think Xie Yutong already knows my secret," I said softly, "and I suspect she is involved in this ambush."
"Do you think she betrayed us?" Xiao Yu asked while bandaging her wounds.
"I'm not sure..." I shook my head. "But she knows too much."
"Wow! Women are truly terrifying!" Zhong Dali groaned in pain. "More frightening than zombies!"
Xiao Yu shot him a glare. "Is your wound okay? We need to keep moving."
"Yeah, yeah..." Zhong Dali struggled to stand up. "Let's go, Wei Na."
We continued cautiously through the dark tunnel, taking each step carefully.
"Wei Na," Xiao Yu suddenly whispered, "I don't trust Xie Yutong."
"Neither do I," I nodded. "But she knows too much about the Green Tea Alliance, which means she might have more information about the Soul Devouring Virus."
"So where do we go now?" Zhong Dali asked, rubbing his wound.
I thought for a moment. "Let's keep going forward; the tunnel should lead to the eastern district of the city. It's less populated there, and we can hide for a while."
After about half an hour of walking, the tunnel began to widen, and the air felt less oppressive.
"Look! There's light ahead!" Zhong Dali exclaimed, pointing into the distance.
We quickened our pace and finally reached the tunnel's exit. Outside lay an abandoned industrial area, with dilapidated factories appearing particularly desolate under the moonlight.
"Wow! We're finally out!" Zhong Dali gasped for fresh air. "I thought I was going to suffocate!"
"Don't celebrate too soon," Xiaoyu said, looking around. "This place doesn't seem safe at all."
"At least it's better than being underground." I stepped out of the tunnel, carefully observing our surroundings. "We need to find a place to rest; Zhong Dali needs to tend to his wounds."
"Over there!" Xiaoyu pointed to a nearby abandoned factory building. "It looks relatively intact."
We cautiously approached the factory and pushed open the rusted iron door.
Inside, the factory was cleaner than I had imagined, suggesting it had been used recently. There were even some makeshift furniture and supplies in the corner.
"Wow! This is like paradise!" Zhong Dali plopped down on an old sofa. "Much more comfortable than the basement!"
Xiaoyu warily checked every corner. "Someone has lived here, and they might have been here not long ago."
"We're just resting temporarily," I said, finding a window to observe the outside. "We'll leave at dawn."
Suddenly, Zhong Dali groaned in pain. "Oh no! My wound hurts so much!"
Xiaoyu crouched down to examine his injury. "It's inflamed; he needs antibiotics."
"Wait!" I pulled out a blue vial from my pocket. "Maybe this will help."
"Are you crazy?" Xiaoyu stopped me. "We don't even know what that is!"
"According to Xie Yutong, this is a suppressant for the Soul Devouring virus," I examined the vial closely. "It might help with the healing."
"Wow! Wait a minute!" Zhong Dali exclaimed in panic as he looked at the potion. "What if it turns me into a zombie?"
Just as we were arguing, the door of the factory suddenly swung open.
We all turned to see Xie Yutong standing in the doorway, her clothes splattered with blood.
"Xie Yutong?!" I exclaimed, standing up in surprise. "How did you find us?"
"Following has always been my strong suit," Xie Yutong replied as she stepped inside, a weary smile on her face. "The remnants of the Rogue Gang are more tenacious than I expected."
Xiao Yu stood protectively in front of me and Zhong Dali. "Are you one of them?"
Xie Yutong shook her head. "If I were, it wouldn't be me standing here but a squad of fully armed soldiers."
"Wow! Are you here to save us?" Zhong Dali asked excitedly.
Xie Yutong glanced at Zhong Dali's wounds and then pulled out a vial of blue potion that looked exactly like the one we had. "Use this," she handed it to me. "It can heal ordinary wounds and temporarily suppress the Soul Devouring virus."
I hesitated before taking the potion. "Why are you helping us?"
Xie Yutong's expression was complicated. "Because I need you, Wei Na. To be precise, the Green Tea Alliance needs you."
"What do you mean?"
"Qin Baye has already taken control of most of the Green Tea Alliance's resources and personnel," Xie Yutong explained. "He is developing a new variant of the Soul Devouring virus with the aim of creating an undead army."
"And my abilities are exactly what he needs?" I narrowed my eyes.
"That's right," Xie Yutong nodded. "Your immune and devouring abilities are key to his research."
I fell silent for a moment, then handed the vial to Xiaoyu. "Give it to Zhong Dali."
Xiaoyu hesitated for a moment before taking the vial and carefully injecting Zhong Dali.
"Wow! It's so cold!" Zhong Dali shivered but quickly calmed down. "Huh? It doesn't hurt anymore?"
He looked in surprise at his wound, where the bleeding had stopped and the edges were starting to scab over.
"This is amazing!" Zhong Dali exclaimed joyfully. "I feel so much better!"
Xie Yutong looked at me, her eyes filled with a hint of pleading. "Weina, I need your help. Only you can stop Qin Baye's plan."
"Why me?" I countered. "You said the Green Tea Alliance has other members; why not ask them?"
"Because only you have a special immune ability," Xie Yutong stepped closer to me, her voice suddenly dropping to a whisper. "And... I believe in you."
Those words sent a jolt through me. Xie Yutong believes in me? In this apocalyptic world where everyone is on edge, trust is more precious than gold.
Xiaoyu coughed disapprovingly. "We still don't know if what she's saying is true."
"What evidence do you have?" I asked Xie Yutong.
Xie Yutong pulled out a tablet from her backpack and opened a video. In it, Qin Baye stood in a massive laboratory surrounded by rows of cultivation tanks filled with green liquid, within which floated humanoid figures.
"This is Qin Baye's plan," Xie Yutong explained. "He is creating Super Zombies and then using special control devices to command them."
The final scene of the video revealed a massive metal device connecting all the cultivation tanks, engraved with the emblem of the "Green Tea Alliance."
"What...?" I stared at the video in shock. "When was this filmed?"
"Three days ago." Xie Yutong turned off the tablet. "Qin Baye has already taken control of the core technology of the Green Tea Alliance. In a few days, the first batch of Super Zombies will be put into use."
"Wow! That's terrifying!" Zhong Dali exclaimed in fear. "What are we going to do?"
Xie Yutong looked at me, her gaze resolute. "Wei Na, we need to infiltrate the Iron Fortress and stop Qin Baye's plan."
"Infiltrate the Iron Fortress?" Xiaoyu's eyes widened. "That's like asking for death!"
"Not necessarily," Xie Yutong said calmly. "I have assistance from an insider, and..." She glanced at the blue potion in my hand. "With this, we can temporarily suppress the zombies' senses and blend in."
I fell into deep thought. Infiltrating the Iron Fortress was indeed dangerous, but if what Xie Yutong said was true, Qin Baye's plan would bring about an even greater disaster.
"Think it over," Xie Yutong said softly. "But time is running out."
I looked up at Xie Yutong and suddenly remembered a crucial question. "You still haven't told me how you found us?"
For a brief moment, Xie Yutong's expression stiffened, but she quickly regained her composure. "I told you, tracking is my specialty."
"No," I fixed my gaze on her eyes. "In that kind of chaos, you couldn't have found us unless..."
"Unless someone told her," Xiaoyu coldly completed my thought.
The atmosphere in the factory suddenly grew tense.
Xie Yutong revealed a bitter smile, "It seems you are still as sharp as ever, Wei Na."
"So there really is someone leaking information?" I pressed on, "Who is it?"
Just then, a sudden sound of synchronized footsteps and the noise of machinery came from outside the factory.
"The patrol team from the Iron Fortress!" Xie Yutong's expression changed drastically, "They've found us!"
"Wow! Are we going to fight again?" Zhong Dali struggled to stand up, clearly still not fully recovered.
"No, you’re still injured," Xiao Yu pressed down on Zhong Dali, "We need to find a way to escape."
I looked at Xie Yutong, my mind filled with doubts, "Did you lead them here?"
Xie Yutong shook her head, her eyes pleading, "Wei Na, this isn't the time for suspicion. We need to leave quickly!"
The footsteps outside grew closer. Through the window, I saw a squad of fully armed soldiers approaching the factory.
"Is there a back door?" I asked urgently.
"Yes," Xie Yutong pointed towards the back of the factory, "There’s a concealed exit through the warehouse area."
We didn't have time to think further; we quickly gathered our supplies and followed Xie Yutong towards the warehouse area.
Just as we entered the warehouse, the front door of the factory was violently kicked open, and a team of soldiers rushed in with their guns drawn.
"Hide!" We crouched behind a stack of shelves, holding our breath.
The soldiers were searching the factory, their footsteps growing closer.
"They're coming!" Xiao Yu whispered urgently.
"Wow! What should we do?" Zhong Dali nervously grabbed my arm.
Xie Yutong suddenly pulled a small device from her backpack. "This is a sonic decoy; it can distract them, but it only lasts for three minutes."
She pressed the button on the device and threw it toward a distant corner.
As it hit the ground, it emitted a strange sound that resembled someone moving.
"There's definitely someone there!" a soldier shouted. "That way!"
The soldiers immediately rushed toward the sound, giving us a chance to escape.
"Follow me!" Xie Yutong led us through the warehouse area to a concealed exit.
Just as we ran out of the factory, we heard curses behind us. "We've been tricked! They're here!"
"Run!" We took off, sprinting toward the nearest cover.
Bullets whizzed past us, striking the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.
"Watch out!" Xiao Yu suddenly pushed me aside as a bullet grazed my shoulder.
"Wow! This is too dangerous!" Zhong Dali shouted as we ran.
Xie Yutong suddenly stopped, turned around, and pulled out a handgun, firing at the pursuing soldiers.
"Go ahead!" she shouted while shooting. "I'll cover you!"
"No way!" I grabbed her arm. "We leave together!"
Xie Yutong glanced at me, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes, then nodded. "Alright."
We continued running forward and soon reached an abandoned container yard. The towering containers provided us with excellent cover.
"Stop," I said, panting. "We can lose them here."
We hid behind one of the containers, listening to the distant sounds of footsteps and shouting.
"It seems like they've gone far," Xiaoyu sighed in relief.
"Wow! That was thrilling!" Zhong Dali leaned against the container, excitedly exclaiming. "We made it out again!"
Xie Yutong leaned against the other side, her face pale and breathing rapid.
"What's wrong?" I asked with concern.
Xie Yutong forced a smile. "It's nothing, just..."
Suddenly, she clutched her abdomen, her hands stained with blood.
"You’re hurt!" I exclaimed in shock.
"It's alright," Xie Yutong forced a calm demeanor, "it's just a scratch."
"Wow! There's so much blood!" Zhong Dali exclaimed in horror as he looked at Xie Yutong's wound.
Xiao Yu quickly stepped forward to examine it. "The bullet penetrated her abdomen; it's serious."
Xie Yutong weakly grasped my hand. "Wei Na, promise me you'll stop Qin Baye's plan no matter what."
"Don't say such foolish things; you're going to be fine." I hurriedly pulled the remaining blue potion from my pocket. "This can save you!"
Xie Yutong shook her head. "No, that's the last one. You need to keep it..."
"Shut up!" I interrupted her. "Your life is more important!"
I carefully injected the potion into Xie Yutong's wound. She winced and closed her eyes in pain, but soon she calmed down.
"Thank you, Wei Na," Xie Yutong whispered. "You're still so kind."
I looked at her pale face and suddenly realized a terrifying truth—Xie Yutong's appearance and this series of events were no coincidence.
"Xie Yutong," I asked in a low voice, "who exactly are you? What is the Green Tea Alliance like now?"
Xie Yutong gazed at me, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "Wei Na, things are much more complicated than you think..."
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