60: Chapter 60 Reencounter with Liu Lingwei

After saying this, he shouldered his backpack and took hold of Shen Jiaojiao's cool, slender wrist.

The moment their palms touched, a wave of warmth spread out, and the two of them walked quickly downstairs.

The Residential Community was dead silent in the middle of the night, with only the streetlights flickering on from time to time.

The ground was still covered in the charred corpses of Mutated Beasts that hadn't been cleared away, and the air was filled with a faint, burnt smell.

Shen Jiaojiao gripped Chen Ye's hand tightly; the unease in her heart was dispelled by this warmth, leaving only complete trust.

She didn't know what was at Mei Mountain, nor did she know what they were about to face.

But as long as she followed the man before her, she felt that no danger was anything to fear.

The two walked quickly downstairs, where a small, pink new-energy electric car was parked quietly in the corner.

Shen Jiaojiao pressed the key, and the car lights flashed.

The two quickly got into the car and sped off toward the pitch-black outskirts.

The pink electric car sped steadily along the dead-silent road, its tires crushing gravel and making a faint, crisp sound.

Twenty minutes into the drive, the city outside the window had completely fallen into boundless darkness.

Only a few scattered rooms in the Residential Community buildings emitted a dim, yellowish light, like fireflies struggling to survive in the apocalypse.

The power plant had long been destroyed by Mutated Beasts, and the electricity maintained by photovoltaics during the day was completely exhausted by late night, turning the entire city into a silent, giant tomb.

Occasionally, shrill screams drifted from the pitch-black buildings, and the violent roars of Mutated Beasts in the distance pierced the night sky.

The roadside was filled with cars that had been crashed into and gnawed on by Mutated Beasts; their bodies were twisted and stained with blood. The intertwining of desolation and terror was suffocating.

Chen Ye repeatedly swiped across his phone screen, searching for a high-definition route to the Mei Mountain scenic area, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

The electronic map only showed a rough outline; the hidden trails to the theater halfway up the mountain and the complex surrounding terrain were not marked at all.

"Are you looking for a map of the Mei Mountain scenic area?" a soft, delicate voice rang out.

Shen Jiaojiao turned to look at him, her long eyelashes fluttering like dewy butterfly wings, her fair profile glowing with the luster of porcelain jade in the faint light of the phone.

Her long, slender legs, wrapped in black yoga pants, were gently pressed together, as graceful and beautiful as a lotus under the moonlight.

Chen Ye turned his head and nodded, "That's right, the map details are too blurry. Are you familiar with the road conditions around here?"

"I've been there many times." Shen Jiaojiao's eyes curved into crescents, carrying a hint of pride.

"I used to love hiking for fitness. Mei Mountain is the closest mountain to the city. I remember the main roads, the trails, and the hidden slopes clearly."

Chen Ye's lips curled into a teasing smile, "Don't you beauties all love going to the gym to check in, pose for photos, and post to Moments? Why are you doing the hard work of hiking instead?"

"Those are just girls who love to put on an act." Shen Jiaojiao huffed softly.

Her pearly-white fingertips lightly caressed the steering wheel, and her pretty little face was full of seriousness, "People who truly love fitness wouldn't hole up in a gym to put on a show. The wind in the mountains and fields is much more interesting than cold equipment."

"So, those who go to the gym aren't actually there for fitness?" Chen Ye chuckled.

"Of course not. Don't you men love watching those posed, flashy shows?" Shen Jiaojiao cast a sidelong glance at him, her eyes dancing with a hint of playfulness.

Chen Ye's gaze fell upon her graceful figure, outlined by her tight outfit, and he said straightforwardly and sincerely, "Right now, I only love looking at you."

Shen Jiaojiao lowered her long lashes to hide the shyness in her eyes and pretended to be annoyed, "Smooth talker. That line is ancient; it has no originality at all."

Chen Ye inwardly grumbled: As expected, a high-value goddess isn't so easy to flirt with; a few words aren't enough to touch her heart.

"By the way, which part of Mei Mountain are you going to?" Shen Jiaojiao put away her shyness and asked seriously.

"The theater halfway up the mountain." Chen Ye said in a deep voice. That was the landing point of the Level 1 ability crystal in his previous life, and it was the sole goal of this trip.

Shen Jiaojiao said indifferently, "I'm familiar with that road; I once watched a performance there."

The electric car continued to speed along, time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, forty minutes had passed.

Theoretically, they should have arrived in another ten minutes.

But Chen Ye's brows locked tighter and tighter.

Along the way, they hadn't encountered a single Mutated Beast!

By all rights, the road at night should have been scattered with Mutated Beasts and indigenous beasts.

Even with the best luck, it was impossible not to see a single Mutated Beast for tens of minutes.

This dead silence was permeated with an indescribable eeriness.

An ominous cloud hung heavily over his heart.

"We're almost at the foot of Mei Mountain." Shen Jiaojiao pointed ahead and reminded him softly.

Just then, a few hundred meters ahead, a patch of blinding car lights suddenly lit up!

Several military off-road vehicles and armored cars were stretched across the roadside, their searchlights piercing the night sky with white light, the security tight to the extreme.

Chen Ye's heart sank, and he had Shen Jiaojiao slowly press the brake, bringing the electric car to a steady slowdown.

The special operations team members on the military vehicles immediately went on high alert, and several fully armed soldiers rushed out with guns.

Dark gun barrels were pointed directly at the electric car; they were fully equipped with tactical vests, night vision goggles, and individual heavy weaponry.

The atmosphere instantly tightened like a drawn bowstring.

A leading soldier stepped forward, reached out, pressed down heavily, and shouted sternly, "Pull over! Submit to inspection!"

Shen Jiaojiao's delicate body tightened in fear, and her soft frame trembled slightly. Her pretty eyes were full of panic, and her high chest rose and fell with her breathing.

Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's hum, "Chen Ye... what should we do? Their guns are all pointed at us..."

"Don't panic." Chen Ye patted the back of her hand, his voice steady and soothing, "Forcing our way through will only mark us as hostile targets."

"They have individual heavy weaponry; if the electric car gets damaged, we'll be completely delayed. Let's cooperate with the inspection first."

He slowly pulled the electric car to the side, stopped, and got out of the car in an orderly manner.

Shen Jiaojiao followed close behind, her straight legs wrapped in black yoga pants moving lightly. Her figure was as graceful as a willow, and her pearly-white skin was even brighter under the car lights.

She stayed close to Chen Ye, timid yet infinitely dependent, every step exuding a tenderness that made people want to cherish her.

"In the middle of the night, where are you two going?" the leading soldier interrogated sternly, "If you go any further south, you'll be out of the city. If you run into a Mutated Beast, there won't even be a place to hide!"

Chen Ye casually made up an excuse, "Our home is in the countryside up ahead, and we're rushing back overnight."

"Oh? Mr. Chen Ye, since when do you have a house in the countryside?" A cold, delicate, and somewhat teasing voice rang out—familiar and sharp.

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, 'Not good,' as he turned his head to look in the direction of the voice.

Under the glare of the car lights, a tall and dashing figure stepped out slowly.

She was dressed in a military green uniform, her long hair neatly tied up, revealing a smooth, graceful neck. Her exquisite profile was well-defined, and her skin was as delicate as jade.

It was none other than Liu Lingwei!

Her posture was as upright as a pine tree, and the proud curves of her chest strained against her uniform.

Even the loose clothing couldn't hide her stunning beauty and dashing temperament; she was like a clanking rose blooming in the dark night, both beautiful and sharp.

"Why did it have to be her..." Chen Ye inwardly groaned; his ominous premonition had completely come true.

Liu Lingwei walked up close, the corners of her mouth curling into a playful arc, "What? Last night I invited you to join the Demon Hunting Squad, and you said you needed to consider it."

"Only a few hours have passed, and you're already following the troops here overnight. Are you too impatient to join the team?"