198: Chapter 198 The Path to Strength that Illuminates the Darkness

Chapter 198: The Path of Growing Stronger That Illuminates the Darkness

In the dead of a cold winter night, absolute silence reigned.

The residents of the entire Tubular Building seemed to have crawled under their covers, fast asleep.

There was no illumination in the hallway, nor a shred of noise to break the silence.

Suddenly, the subtle sound of airflow fluctuations rang out.

A ghostly figure suddenly drifted across the narrow, dark corridor and silently stopped in front of a residential apartment.

Then it bent down, reached out, lifted the floor mat in front of the door, and took out a key from beneath it.

The moment it was inserted into the keyhole, the click seemed exceptionally abrupt.

After gently opening the front door, the interior was pitch black.

Borrowing the faint moonlight filtering through the curtains, the silhouettes of the furniture could be dimly seen.

The hands of the wall clock gleamed faintly in the dimness, the hour hand having quietly pointed to one o'clock.

The second hand ticked away, its faint sound infinitely magnified in the early morning night, making the house appear even more serene.

It looked identical to before he left, with no changes whatsoever.

Fang Cheng's eyes were calm; without turning on the lights, he simply closed the door quietly.

Then he squatted down, untied his shoelaces, took off his sneakers stained with a bit of mud, and placed them neatly to the side.

Inadvertently, his gaze swept across a pair of beige fleece-lined short boots on the shoe rack.

That was the pair of shoes Zhou Xiumei wore today.

Fang Cheng's heart stirred slightly, and his gaze immediately swept past the living room, casting towards the bedroom with its half-closed door.

A faint, yellowish light squeezed out from the crack of the door, stubbornly shining in the darkness.

It was like a silent summons, telling him that someone at home was quietly waiting for him.

Seeing this tiny bit of brightness, the tightly tense muscles all over Fang Cheng's body instantly relaxed a bit.

He thus untied his backpack, tossed it on the sofa, and slowed his pace as he walked toward the bedroom.

Pushing open the door, what came into view was a graceful figure in a white down jacket slumped over the desk.

Zhou Xiumei had her head pillowed on her slender arms, a few strands of ink-like hair gently draping beside her cheeks, alongside an unfinished book scattered nearby.

She seemed to have guessed Fang Cheng's intention of placing a pillow on the chair.

After coming over, Zhou Xiumei did not leave after turning off the lights; instead, she chose to stay in the bedroom, personally taking Fang Cheng's place sitting there and taking on the cover duty.

Only, after reading for a while, she was truly too sleepy and couldn't help nodding off.

Then, lying there quietly like that, she slowly closed her eyes before she knew it.

At this moment, illuminated by the warm yellow desk lamp, her face appeared exceptionally gentle and serene, rousing one's pity and making it hard to bear disturbing her.

Her eyelashes were long and curled, casting faint shadows beneath her eyelids, seemingly shrouded in a trace of worry.

A fine layer of goosebumps rose on her exposed palms, and her sleeping body trembled slightly and unconsciously.

There was no heating in the bedroom, and the temperature plummeted in the middle of the night, cold as an ice cellar.

Zhou Xiumei's body was frail to begin with; even sleeping in this cold room wearing a down jacket, she had evidently caught a bit of a chill.

Walking on tiptoe, Fang Cheng quickly approached her.

Then he bent down, gently slipping one hand under her neck and wrapping the other around the bend of her knees, carefully picking her up.

Zhou Xiumei seemed to sense it in her sleep, letting out a soft moan and snuggling closer into his arms.

Her tender pink lips parted slightly, exhaling a puff of warm heat imbued with a trace of fresh, sweet fragrance.

It was as if she had finally found a warm solace in this long, cold night.

Fang Cheng's soft heart could not help being touched.

He then carried her to the bed, gently laid her down, and pulled the quilt over her to tuck her in carefully.

Every movement was done as lightly and steadily as possible, fearing he might wake her up with a careless move.

Until the corners of the quilt were tucked in tightly without leaving any drafts.

Looking at the girl still fast asleep, a trace of a smile appeared on Fang Cheng's face, and he reached out to turn off the desk lamp.

Then he turned and walked out of his bedroom, gently closing the door.

After a simple wash, he walked into his mother's room and lay down on the other bed.

In the darkness, Fang Cheng's eyes were wide open, without falling asleep.

Calming his mind at this moment, he carefully recalled tonight's outing to ensure there were no omissions or mistakes.

If there were any hidden dangers still existing.

Perhaps it was the mask worn when fighting the Ghouls, once again exposed in plain sight.

The Special Investigation Team specialists guarding the surveillance of Jiuchang Street originally harbored the purpose of finding the "mysterious man wearing a white mask".

After experiencing this matter, would they generate some associations?

Fang Cheng pondered for a moment, then secretly shook his head, rejecting this conjecture.

He had already taken measures to conceal his whereabouts in advance.

Moreover, just as he entered the door, he observed through the Scavengers Eye and found no traces of outsiders sneaking into the house.

As long as the other party couldn't find evidence that he had secretly left Jiuchang Street, the timelines on both sides wouldn't match up.

Naturally, they wouldn't connect the tough guy fighting Ghouls dozens of kilometers away with the bookworm staying at home studying late into the night.

Thinking of this, Fang Cheng's gaze flickered slightly, and he immediately summoned the status panel to view the experience growth prompt information previously ignored.

[ Boxing XP + 30 ]

[ Sanda XP + 10 ]

[ Muay Thai XP + 10 ]

[ Jiu-Jitsu XP + 30 ]

[ Tai Chi XP + 20 ]

[ Qigong XP + 15 ]

[ Push-up XP + 10 ]

[ Leg Raise XP + 5 ]

[ Handstand Push-up XP + 5 ]

A simple stealth burglary and an encounter yielded several times more experience than usual practice.

It was not in vain for all his deliberate scheming.

Actual combat truly was the most effective means to improve skill proficiency.

Recalling the chaotic scene of demons dancing wildly that occurred at the Rehabilitation Center, Fang Cheng actually felt quite lingering fear in his heart.

If those Ghouls had ultimately broken through the defense line, escaped the ward area, and completely gone out of control.

Fang Cheng could only run to the inpatient department and forcibly evacuate his mother and grandfather.

Fortunately, the military support unit's reaction speed was extremely fast, and their disposal measures were very effective, timely suppressing the escalation of the situation.

However, no matter what.

Renan Hospital was close to the unfathomable West Mountain; as long as it continued to serve as a treatment point for receiving infected people, similar things might happen in the future, and after all, it wouldn't be too safe.

Fang Cheng made a decision in his heart.

Mom's job at the hospital was no longer suitable to continue doing.

Once Grandpa successfully left the hospital, he would urge her to handle the resignation procedures as soon as possible and stay away from that place of right and wrong.

One thought after another drifted through his mind, and Fang Cheng's eyes remained wide open without any sleepiness.

His pupils flickered slightly in the darkness, resembling two dim yet unyielding flames.

Those emaciated yet blue-faced and fanged Ghouls, like demons crawling out of the abyss of Hell, continuously surfaced before his eyes, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws.

The cruel scene of eating the flesh and blood of living people lingered, and the pungent smell of blood seemed to still linger in his nasal cavity at this moment, making him almost retch.

The events he encountered tonight were no less shocking to Fang Cheng than his previous bloody battle with the test subjects or the Jiao-ren population he saw on Yongan Island.

The familiar city and bustling crowds of the past seemed to be shrouded in an even thicker layer of fog, with bizarre and eccentric figures flickering within it.

Fang Cheng couldn't help pondering in his heart: in certain unknown corners, just how many unimaginable monsters and freaks were still hidden?

Were they baring fangs and brandishing claws like Ghouls, or did they possess more covert means?

His past steadfast life cognition was like a castle on the beach, continuously washed away and rebuilt by the waves with each bizarre experience.

Until now, what he saw was perhaps merely the tip of the iceberg.

Outside the window, the city's neon signs flickered incessantly.

Those lights pierced through layers of darkness, leaking only a few wisps of eerie colored light through the gaps of the curtains, dyeing the bedroom in a hazy atmosphere.

Light and shadow twisted and swayed on the floor and walls, faintly outlining bizarre and inexplicable contours.

Resembling pairs of crimson eyes, they silently patrolled in the darkness, peeping at this chaotic metropolis covered beneath a gorgeous appearance.

Fang Cheng couldn't help casting his gaze over, locking eyes with those eyes.

Just as Professor Wu Dewang said back then.

Once one has witnessed this bloody and cruel world, it is hard to continue living an ordinary life with a clear conscience like an ordinary person.

To avoid danger from befalling oneself and eliminate any hidden dangers, only one's own fists were the truth to solve all problems.

Check every single error, release, and internal content!

And right now, his own strength was far from strong enough.

Neither could he compare to the Ghoul leader who claims to be "Jiang Chen", nor could he contend with violent institutions like the military.

The room was swallowed mostly by darkness, cold and silent.

Yet Fang Cheng's eyes were like two raging orange flames, appearing even more eerie than the darkness.

At the same time, the lamp flame in his mind seemed to become even brighter and more blazing.

"I still need to keep growing stronger, strong enough to dispel the fog of the entire world, face any monsters and demons directly, and illuminate the path ahead for myself!"

Fang Cheng thought silently, clenching his fists.

An impulsive desire welled up spontaneously, making him eager to get up and exercise, tempering his physical body.

Although he witnessed Jiang Chen being attacked by a missile and turning to ashes with his bones dissolved, Fang Cheng always had an indescribable, strange feeling.

Because from this Ghoul leader, he faintly smelled a certain familiar aura.

It was very similar to the evil ghost that possessed He Yao's body earlier.

If so, I'm afraid this matter was far from over, and huge hidden dangers still existed.

Full of doubts, Fang Cheng really wanted to enter the mental space again and chat with that "Smiling Demon".

Only, hindered by the police surveillance outside, he couldn't anticipate whether the Special Investigation Team had psychic ability users who could sense changes in his mental state.

For safety's sake, he temporarily let it go and planned to make other arrangements another day.

Fang Cheng tossed and turned his body, various plans flashing through his mind as he pondered.

As time quietly passed, the night grew thicker and more silent.

The warmth deep in his heart gradually soothed his tense nerves, and his body slowly relaxed.

Having been busy all night, Fang Cheng naturally felt a bit of fatigue.

Today, let's honestly get a sound sleep.

Accompanied by this thought emerging, his thoughts gradually drifted away, becoming soft.

In a short while, just like the neighbors in this building and the many ordinary people in this city, he peacefully sank into dreamland.

Winter morning, the city was still wrapped in a layer of quiet veil.

A few wisps of sunlight, like golden threads, silently squeezed in through the gaps of the curtains.

First they tentatively cast upon the desk, gradually expanding their territory, continuously dispelling the darkness and cold left over from last night.

That small patch of bed favored by the sunlight, as the temperature rose, the bedding also became warm and cozy.

As the light grew brighter, the person in the dream also moved their body slightly under this warm and gentle caress.

Her dark hair was draped somewhat disheveled, rubbing against her face with her soft breaths, making her skin appear even fairer.

Snow-white skin and red lips, eyebrows like spring mountains.

Even her sleeping face had a crisp, natural sense of beauty.

Only her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if experiencing something that made her uneasy and fearful in her dream, her brows and corners of lips tightly pressed.

"Brother Cheng..."

Zhou Xiumei had a line of saliva hanging from the corner of her mouth, wetting the pillow, when she suddenly let out a sleep-talk murmur and slowly woke up.

The moment her consciousness returned, her eyes sparkled with starlight, still lingering with the ignorance and blurriness of just waking up.

When she saw the quilt tightly covering her body, she vaguely recalled the events of last night.

She abruptly sat up, and her beautiful hair instantly scattered in disarray across her shoulders.

Then she whispered in annoyance: "How did I fall asleep..."

Last night, she worked very hard pretending to study by herself, forcing her increasingly heavy eyelids open and silently praying for Fang Cheng to return quickly.

Yet the more she read, the dizzier she became, and sleepiness surged like a tidal wave; her head nodded down bit by bit, and in the end, she still couldn't resist the fatigue and fell deeply asleep.

At this moment, she raised her hand to rub her sleep-filled eyes, looking at the bright and warm bedroom, and suddenly realized.

"Brother Cheng should be back!"

At this thought, she hurriedly got out of bed, dragging her shoes worn on the wrong feet, patter-pattering as she walked outside, her hurried footsteps almost tripping her.

The moment she opened the bedroom door, suddenly, she sniffed her nose, widened her eyes in surprise, and looked toward the kitchen following the aroma.

She saw the familiar back of a man standing in front of the stove, busy left and right.

The gas stove spewed dim blue flames, and the pressure cooker lid sizzled and bubbled.

The man held a kitchen knife, chopping away rapidly and neatly slicing a piece of beef shank.

Sunlight spilled onto him, outlining his tall and upright posture, and that serious look warmed one's heart involuntarily.

"You're awake, go wash up quickly, we can eat in a moment."

Hearing the commotion, Fang Cheng turned around and greeted with a smile.

Seeing her expression somewhat dazed, he then continued:

"To thank you for covering for me last night, today's breakfast is my treat, letting you taste my Culinary Arts level as well."

Looking at the lavish breakfast on the table, there were stir-fried noodles with meat and vegetables, soft-boiled eggs, and freshly squeezed juice.

Zhou Xiumei's nose instantly wrinkled slightly, her gaze as hazy as misty rain.

Suddenly remembering something, her face instantly blushed crimson, and she lowered her head and stammered:

"Brother Cheng, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have... caused you any trouble last night, right?"

"That didn't happen."

Fang Cheng answered casually while slicing the meat:

"You just slept like a little pig and couldn't be woken up. With no other choice, I had to let you lie down and rest on my bed, while I went to sleep in my mom's room."

"No way."

Hearing this, Zhou Xiumei instantly breathed a sigh of relief, unable to help refuting shyly.

Then recalling something, she hurriedly ran back to Fang Cheng's bedroom.

In a short while, she was seen coming out with the saliva-wetted pillow in both arms, running straight out of the house.

Fang Cheng looked at her in surprise:

"What are you doing? Breakfast will be ready soon."

Zhou Xiumei stood at the entryway changing her shoes, without looking back.

"I'm going home to wash up, and I'll be right back."

Bang.

The door was quickly closed, and Zhou Xiumei went out holding the pillow.

Fang Cheng shook his head speechlessly.

Turning back to wield the kitchen knife, he continued to busy himself.

After finishing a dish of tomato and scrambled eggs with tender beef that was fragrant, appetizing, and visually pleasing, he glanced at the panel appearing before him.

Perhaps due to the bonus for attentiveness, this time making just a few dishes for breakfast actually increased XP by 8 points.

[ Culinary Arts Lv1 (139/250) ]