Chapter Nineteen: Devil Vine

Chapter Nineteen

Starting the next day, Qu Wenjuan began following Lin Shaojie to the training grounds, joining the ability users in their exercises. At first, the others looked at her with disdain, mocking her when she couldn’t keep up with their pace. She couldn’t complete ten laps, so she ran three, then tried her hand at pull-ups. When her arms gave out, she switched to another activity. In the afternoons, when Mei practiced archery at the range, Qu Wenjuan watched and helped retrieve arrows.

After three days of this, she gained a measure of respect from many. Even Yang Hao, who had initially ignored her presence, now let her train without interference, turning a blind eye.

A few more days passed, and the base announced another mission.

This time, the cleanup operation was clearly far from simple. Most of the base’s ability users and mutants were mobilized, and even the majority of the military was dispatched. Rumor had it that a strange energy signature had been detected in a valley southeast of the base. The higher-ups were very interested, issuing a mission to the entire base: search the whole area, and if any unknown object was found, retrieve it at all costs.

Official missions, regardless of the reward, were mandatory for the military—orders that could not be refused. For those affiliated with the base, each participant would receive 500 contribution points, a firearm, and a box of ammunition. Freelance ability users and mutants would receive 400 points and a promise that, upon mission completion, rare resources like gasoline would be made available for exchange.

The first reward was reasonable, but the second caused a stir among the freelancers. With gasoline, cars could run again, allowing them to travel further afield to hunt zombies and scavenge resources, rather than watching the base sweep everything clean. They could even leave for a better, more relaxed settlement if they wished.

In short, the promise of gasoline stirred everyone’s enthusiasm.

The day before departure, the base posted the team assignments. There were two entrances to the target location, and all participants were divided into three groups. The first group, led by Yang Hao himself, was tasked with searching for the objective. Since the area was unknown, this group was the largest, prepared for unexpected dangers.

Groups two and three were assigned to clear the roads and guard the two entrances, ensuring a safe retreat for the first group. Group two was under Huang Shiqi’s direct command, while group three had one leader each from the base and the military.

“Ah Chen, I’ve been assigned to group two!” Mei’s brows were slightly furrowed, her mood less than cheerful.

“That’s good! Huang Shiqi’s in group two as well, so it should be the safest. Why do you look so unhappy?” Mo Chen was puzzled.

“But you’re in group one, and it looks dangerous. I’m a little worried!” Mei replied.

Searching for an unknown object in an unknown place—no matter how she looked at it, the mission seemed unreliable.

“What’s there to worry about? I’m a level-four ability user. Even if we run into something we can’t handle, I can always escape. Frankly, I’m more concerned about the Huang family causing trouble during this mission. Since you’re in group two, you can keep an eye on Huang Shiqi and watch for any moves from the Huang family,” Mo Chen said, unconcerned by Mei’s worries. In fact, the Huang family’s long silence made him uneasy.

“You’re right! I’ll watch out for them. Be careful yourself!” Mei finally gave up her idea of following them into the valley, realizing that guarding the retreat was just as important.

The next day, everyone assembled, fully armed. Due to the nature of the mission, guns and ammunition were distributed before departure.

Groups one and two headed in the same direction by vehicle, while group three took a separate route to the other entrance.

There were few zombies along the way, but the closer they got to the valley entrance, the denser the forest became. After the apocalypse, the trees had changed, appearing more menacing, though no danger had been discovered—yet.

After four hours, the two groups reached their destination. Everyone disembarked. Group one took a short rest before heading into the valley, while group two began fortifying the entrance and setting up rotations for the watch.

Nothing happened that afternoon. That night, the group sat around the campfire, gnawing on the dry bread issued by the base, chatting quietly in small clusters. Mei found the bread unpalatable, so she pretended to take a pack of soda crackers from her bag, nibbling on them absentmindedly.

As she ate, she noticed Huang Shiqi approaching with two white buns, which stood out starkly from the gray bread everyone else held.

“I was worried you wouldn’t get used to this food, and wanted to invite you to join me. But I see you have something even better!” Huang Shiqi said in mild surprise, sitting beside her.

“I found these in a small town last time and was saving them,” Mei replied offhandedly.

Seeing her distracted expression, Huang Shiqi asked with concern, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, just worried about Ah Chen. I wonder how they’re doing now,” Mei said, lowering her head in frustration.

“You and Mo Chen seem very close?” Huang Shiqi probed.

“Yes, we’re companions!” Mei recalled a phrase Mo Chen had used before and added, “He’s also my childhood friend.”

Huang Shiqi’s eyes flickered, but he quickly composed himself. “Don’t worry. There are plenty of experts in group one. They won’t be in too much danger. Mo Chen will definitely come back safe.”

Mei said nothing, only gazing anxiously toward the valley entrance.

Night watch was arranged in shifts, and the night passed without alarm. But at dawn, as the sky just began to lighten, something happened.

Where there had only been stones at the entrance the previous night, a mass of dark green plants had appeared, covering everything.

What was going on? Mei had heard nothing during the night, even after several mental sweeps; she hadn’t detected a thing. Where had these plants come from?

The group gathered at the entrance, discussing what to do, all looking to Huang Shiqi for direction.

“Let the speed-type mutants approach and take a look. If the plants aren’t aggressive, leave them for now,” Huang Shiqi ordered after a moment’s thought.

Two speed-type mutants edged toward the plants.

Mei instinctively felt something was wrong, though she couldn’t say what. Her intuition screamed that the plants were not to be approached.

Sure enough, when the two mutants were five meters from the plants, the vegetation suddenly moved, so quickly that the mutants had no time to escape—they were instantly enveloped.

The plants writhed around the two figures in total silence; not even a scream escaped the trapped ability users. Everyone stared at the two plant-covered mounds. Ten minutes later, the plants slowly retreated to the rocks, and where the two mutants had stood, nothing remained—no trace at all, as if they had vanished into thin air.

Fear swept the team. All eyes turned to Huang Shiqi, desperate for guidance.

When the plants attacked, Mei’s pupils contracted sharply, and she finally understood why she’d detected nothing the night before.

A layer of dark energy covered the plants’ surface, capable of devouring everything. As they moved, this dark energy absorbed all sound, making them invisible even to psychic scans, since any mental probes were likewise consumed.

In her original world’s demon realm grew similar plants called Devil’s Vines. Normally, their branches and leaves remained at the roots, only emerging silently when they sensed living energy.

If these plants were like Devil’s Vines, it explained how they could appear overnight. With so many people generating life energy, they couldn’t help but notice.

But Devil’s Vines could only thrive where dark energy was abundant. How could such a thing exist here? Unless...

Mei lowered her head, deep in thought. Should she venture into the valley herself?

But what about this side? She glanced at Huang Shiqi, only to see a glint of triumph in his eyes.

What was he so pleased about?

Her heart tightened, and she listened carefully to his conversation with the others.

“We have to find a way to deal with these plants! Our comrades are still inside, and we can’t abandon them!” Huang Shiqi declared righteously to those who wanted to leave.

“What should we do?” many asked helplessly.

“The two ability users were attacked at five meters. That means further than five meters is safe. Mei, try hitting them with an arrow!” Huang Shiqi instructed.

Without a word, Mei drew an arrow, infused it with light energy, and fired. As the arrow struck the plants, the white glow vanished instantly, leaving only the shaft stuck among the vines.

“Let’s have a few more ability users try with their powers!” Huang Shiqi ordered again.

After some hesitation, a fire-ability user launched a fireball from twenty meters away, but it disappeared the moment it touched the plants—no effect at all.

What now? Their attacks didn’t provoke the plants, which was good, but being ineffective was equally troubling.

“If abilities don’t work, try guns. If guns fail, try explosives. One way or another, we must get rid of these plants!” Huang Shiqi continued with righteous platitudes.

With no immediate danger, others began experimenting from a distance, but nothing worked.

Mei watched them fuss without saying a word. Devil’s Vines could absorb all kinds of energy; the only thing they feared was the burning of holy light, and nothing else. Only when they ceased to sense living energy would they slowly withdraw.

So all Mei needed to do was wait for them to tire and retreat.

But as night fell, after everyone had exhausted every method and could think of nothing more, Huang Shiqi still refused to order a retreat. Only then did Mei realize what he was really after.