71: Chapter 71 The Departures, marked as those who have abandoned asylum

Upon hearing this, Wang Ya paused in her steps, then retreated into the shadows beside the door.

Her fingertips were still clutching her bath towel, and although a flash of disappointment crossed her eyes, she did not speak.

In Tiangong No. 1, Lin Yuan's matters always came first.

Lin Yuan looked at Tang Qiqi.

"Speak."

Tang Qiqi bit her sleeve, her voice trembling.

"She hasn't been right since she came back from the rooftop."

"At first, she wouldn't speak, then her breathing became heavier and heavier, her body was burning hot, and she wouldn't look at anyone."

"I thought she was stressed, so I wanted to keep her company and talk..."

Tang Qiqi paused, her face flushing red then turning pale.

"She dragged me back to the room and said she wanted to fight."

Lin Yuan's eyes darkened.

Tang Qiqi was so anxious that tears started falling.

"It wasn't the usual kind of training."

"Her strength was terrifying; I couldn't break free at all."

"Acting spoiled, admitting defeat, crying—none of it worked."

"She was burning hot, and it was like she couldn't understand human speech anymore."

Tang Qiqi looked up, her voice hoarse.

"Lin Yuan, is she going to die?"

This was the first time Tang Qiqi had called him by his real name since they met.

No "Great Demon King."

No acting spoiled.

Only fear remained.

Lin Yuan turned and walked out.

"Elevated body temperature, explosive strength, residual consciousness."

"She hasn't come into contact with zombies."

"It's not an infection."

"Then it can only be a genetic runaway before an awakening."

Tang Qiqi trotted to keep up, her bare feet stepping on the carpet, her gait chaotic and unsteady.

"Can she be saved?"

Lin Yuan did not answer.

Wang Ya stood at the doorway, watching Lin Yuan's back, her fingers clutching her bath towel.

Tonight's reward was gone.

But she didn't have a single complaint.

If something happened to Qin Yumo, Tiangong No. 1 would lose a blade.

The door to Tang Qiqi and Qin Yumo's bedroom had already cracked.

Su Xiaonuan, Su Muxue, and Lin Motong were all standing at the doorway.

Su Xiaonuan instinctively blocked Lin Motong with her body, and none of them dared to rush in.

The sound of a heavy object hitting the wall came from inside.

Bang. Bang. Each impact was heavy.

It was as if some trapped beast had been locked in the room.

Tang Qiqi stood behind Lin Yuan, her face turning even paler.

"She was like this just a moment ago..."

Lin Yuan didn't knock. He pushed the door open directly.

The room was in a mess. The yoga mat was torn in two. The bedsheets were on the floor. The dumbbell bar in the corner was broken.

Qin Yumo stood barefoot in the shadows. Her red hair was disheveled, her shoulders heaved, and there was a beastly glint in her eyes.

The moment she saw Lin Yuan, her body suddenly lowered. The next second, she charged over.

Her speed was significantly faster than before.

Tang Qiqi instinctively retreated.

Lin Yuan stood his ground and raised his hand to catch her punch. Bang! Fist and palm collided. The curtains shook from the impact.

Lin Yuan's wrist vibrated. Qin Yumo's strength had already crossed the boundary of an ordinary person.

But she had no anchor. Her body was evolving, and her rationality was suppressed by instinct.

After closing the distance, Qin Yumo lunged directly at Lin Yuan's neck and shoulders. This wasn't training. It was a trapped beast looking for an exit.

Lin Yuan raised his hand and clamped onto the back of her neck. Qin Yumo was still struggling, a sound squeezing out of her throat. "I... I can't control it..."

Tang Qiqi stood at the doorway, watching Qin Yumo throw herself onto Lin Yuan, tears falling. She wanted to rush in.

Lin Yuan turned his head to look at her. "Get out."

Tang Qiqi's feet were nailed to the spot. Lin Yuan's voice grew colder. "Close the door."

Tang Qiqi's lips trembled. She didn't want to leave, but she didn't dare to disobey.

The door closed bit by bit. At the very last glance, she saw Lin Yuan pressing down on Qin Yumo's back, forcing that out-of-control, red-haired beast back down.

The door slammed shut.

Lin Yuan lowered his head, his voice landing by Qin Yumo's ear. "If you can't control it, then don't. Remember. Who is holding you down."

Qin Yumo's body stiffened. The beastly nature in her eyes surged.

[Ding! Target Qin Yumo (Charm 85), emotional fluctuation has reached its extreme!]

[Favorability critical hit +16%!]

[Current Favorability: 39%!]

Outside the door, the other women had already left. Only Tang Qiqi crouched against the wall.

She hugged her knees, biting her sleeve tightly. "It's good that she's okay. It's good that Sister Yumo is okay..." She repeated. Her voice grew lower and lower.

But for the first time, a thought emerged in her heart. She was too weak. So weak that even being jealous felt like a joke.

...

Just before dawn, the commotion in the bedroom finally ceased. The S-rank Superpower [Wild Resonance] was truly terrifying.

Qin Yumo lay in Lin Yuan's arms, her bangs soaked with sweat, her breathing gradually steadying. She looked up at Lin Yuan.

"Lin Yuan. Qiqi, she..."

Lin Yuan did not offer comfort; he looked down at her. "You owe me a victory. Don't let me down in that match against Grandmaster Ling Suzhen."

Qin Yumo propped herself up. Her red hair hung over her shoulders, and there was fire in her eyes once again.

"Then I'll owe you one more."

[Ding! Target Qin Yumo (Charm 85), favorability +2%! Current Favorability: 41%!]

...

Ten in the morning. The outer circle of Cloud Top Palace exploded into chaos. The official supply trucks did not come. In the plaza, over two hundred survivors were crowded together.

Amidst intermittent signals, a few mobile phones rang first. Immediately after, the surrounding remaining emergency broadcasts began to repeat the same notification.

[The outer defense line of Jiangcheng has fallen. The authorities have temporarily retreated to the South Suburb Military District. Citizens are requested to take survival supplies and proceed to the nearest settlement point on their own.]

Once the news broke, the plaza became as chaotic as a vegetable market.

"The military district has guns and artillery; it's definitely safer than here!"

"Didn't you see the zombies last night? Going down the mountain is suicide!"

"Are you staying here to be a dog for Lin Yuan?"

"Being a dog is better than being a corpse!"

Fat Dragon stood in front of the crowd, carrying a fire axe. "What are you arguing about! Whoever keeps yapping, I'll crack their head open first!"

Some people shrank their necks, but more people looked toward Tiangong No. 1.

The broadcast sounded. Su Xiaonuan's voice came through. It wasn't loud, but it was steady.

"Those who want to leave can leave. Tiangong No. 1 will not stop you."

The plaza quieted down a bit.

Su Xiaonuan held a tablet, standing in front of the first-floor control console. She wasn't tall, and her face was pale; she still looked like that soft little secretary. But no one dared to underestimate any word she said now.

"But after you leave, you will not be accepted back."

This sentence was colder than a threat.

Fat Dragon glanced at the camera. He cursed inwardly. This Secretary Su, damn it, she's becoming more and more like the boss.

Su Xiaonuan continued. "There are currently two hundred and seventeen survivors in the outer circle of Cloud Top. Lu Yan's team has seven people. Fat Dragon's team has ten people. The laborers, wounded, and suspected infected in the outer circle were registered last night."

"Those who leave will have their names marked as having forsaken protection."

A man wearing glasses couldn't help but shout. "By what right do you decide we can't come back later? I have a house here!"

Fat Dragon kicked the bespectacled man over. "By the fact that you begged Boss Lin to save your lives yesterday. By the fact that you want to use Boss Lin as a backup plan today."

No one dared to speak again.

In the end, over thirty people still chose to leave. They carried suitcases, pots and pans, and compressed biscuits, with kitchen knives and golf clubs in their hands.

When someone passed by the camera, they even spat on the ground. "How many days can a crappy residential complex last? The military district is the orthodox choice. When we reach the South Suburbs and eat hot meals, don't you regret it!"

On the screen, Fat Dragon wanted to curse; he didn't want to open the gate for these ungrateful wretches. Su Xiaonuan stopped him via the intercom.

The gate, which had just been reinforced yesterday, opened slowly. The group walked down the mountain road. Some walked halfway, then turned back to look at Tiangong No. 1. But the gate had already closed again.

The fog was heavy. It quickly swallowed their figures.

...

At the same time. On the outskirts of Xiangshan Villa. Shadow lay at the high point of an unfinished building, with a directional lens locked onto Shen Qingyue's villa.

It was just dawn. A military helicopter swept in at low altitude. The propellers kicked up trash and rotting leaves. Ten fully armed special operations soldiers rappelled down. Their movements were fast. Their marksmanship was steady. A few zombies nearby had just lunged out when they were shot in the head.

Shadow pressed his headset. "Official armed forces have appeared at Xiangshan Villa. The specifications are very high."

The villa door opened. Shen Qingyue had changed into clean clothes and walked out with He Manman. Her face regained that haughty expression. It was as if the woman who had gone crazy and smashed things had never existed.

The special operations captain stepped forward. "Miss Shen, Team Leader Ling's orders are to escort you to the South Suburb Military District immediately."

Shen Qingyue looked toward the helicopter. "Go to Cloud Top Palace first."

The captain frowned. "Our mission is to evacuate you, not to accompany you on a detour."

Shen Qingyue raised her eyes. "There is something I must obtain at Cloud Top Palace."

The captain's expression darkened. Shen Qingyue added, "My mother is Grandmaster Ling Suzhen. You can contact her now to confirm."

The captain stared at her for two seconds, then finally raised his hand. He didn't want to cause extra trouble; Team Leader Ling was currently dealing with more troublesome matters. "Board."

He Manman followed behind, her face pale. "Qingyue, are we really going to find Lin Yuan?"

Shen Qingyue boarded the helicopter and fastened her seatbelt. She looked toward the direction of Cloud Top Palace, the corners of her mouth curling up.

In her memories of her past life, Lin Yuan was just a C-rank waste until he died. And he only awakened during the first Red Moon.

"In this life, I won't be dragged down by him again."

"If it weren't for Lin Yuan wasting resources on some useless people, I would have become the most powerful queen of the apocalypse long ago. Those powerful Espers should all submit to me. As for those who waste food... they aren't needed!"

The helicopter lifted off. On the unfinished building, Shadow watched the flight path in the lens and pressed his headset. "Shen Qingyue is bringing official armed forces and is heading to Cloud Top Palace. Expected to arrive in twenty minutes."