The End of the World Base Master (12): 

Zhou Qinghao’s three subordinates staggered out of the Gu family villa, dizzy and dazed, and returned to their own place.

Once they got back, one of them looked at the others. “That wasn’t a dream, was it?”

The other two exchanged glances and replied firmly, “No!”

“So Gu Juntian is really that powerful?”

“Yes!”

The three fell silent for a long while, then started talking again. “No wonder Gu Chengming, even at his age, is still advancing so fast in cultivation.”

“He’s hidden his son way too well!”

“Gu Juntian never went out before, but maybe he wasn’t in the safe zone at all… With abilities that strong, he must have been going out to kill zombies.”

The more they thought about it, the more convinced they were. In their eyes, Gu Juntian’s image grew taller and greater.

Gu Juntian didn’t know they thought that way, but he really did plan to go out and kill zombies.

“Qinghao, in the next few days, you should stay home pretending to be sick while absorbing the level-six crystal core. My dad will recover his strength at home. I’ll take your three men with me to kill zombies.”

Zhou Qinghao frowned slightly. Outside was dangerous—he wasn’t at ease letting Gu Juntian go alone.

Wait—Gu Juntian was stronger than him. Was there really a need to worry?

He wanted to go with Gu Juntian, but someone needed to remain at the base. With news of his injury spreading, others might come probing. In that situation, it was better for him to stay.

He finally accepted Gu Juntian’s proposal.

The news that Zhou Qinghao had been injured by a level-six zombie quickly spread throughout the base.

People weren’t surprised.

A level-six ability user was indeed stronger than a level-six zombie, but Zhou Qinghao had spent the whole day clearing zombies around the base and used up much of his strength.

And then, at night, he went out alone!

He was just one person, while a level-six zombie could summon more zombies nearby. It was very likely he’d been surrounded.

The fact that he managed to kill a level-six zombie and still come back alive was already impressive.

Shao Huirui asked, “Why didn’t Zhou Qinghao just die out there?”

Only his trusted men were with him, and they all chimed in, “Exactly. Gu Chengming is already crippled—if Zhou Qinghao were gone too, this base would be ours.”

“I wonder how badly he’s injured.”

“Rumor says it’s not serious, but I think it must be. If he were only lightly wounded, there’s no way he wouldn’t show up today.”

…

Shao Huirui mused, “Send people to investigate Zhou Qinghao’s condition.”

Zhou Qinghao was a man of strong responsibility.

The safe zone had just survived a zombie tide and undergone a change in leadership. With his personality, even if wounded, he would force himself to appear and reassure the people.

But now, he hadn’t shown himself.

Could it be his injuries were very serious?

Shao Huirui and his men moved in secret. They didn’t uncover direct news of Zhou Qinghao’s grave injuries, but bits and pieces suggested his condition was not good.

For example, his three closest subordinates forced smiles but looked more haggard by the day.

Zhou Qinghao’s men: “…” They weren’t forcing smiles—they were genuinely happy.

Though, yes, they did look a bit worn out.

They followed Gu Juntian killing zombies at night and handled base affairs during the day—it was impossible not to be exhausted.

They really envied Gu Juntian. He had no administrative work and could nap during the day.

As for them, they were so tired that they could fall asleep in the car while heading out to kill zombies.

“Wake up, there are a lot of zombies outside.” From the driver’s seat, Gu Juntian called to the three, who were half-asleep.

They scrambled out to fight, yawning. “So tired.”

“Just hang in there. Don’t worry, I’ve been monitoring your physical condition—you won’t suddenly drop dead,” Gu Juntian said.

The three: “…” That was way too cold-blooded!

But truthfully, they had cut back their sleep on purpose.

They weren’t good at acting, so they chose to sleep less, making their exhaustion look natural.

Also, they genuinely treasured the chance to work with Gu Juntian.

The zombies under his control were very easy to kill, and afterward, he even gave them purified level-four crystal cores as rewards.

Their strength had advanced rapidly, and before long, they’d probably reach level five!

Just thinking about becoming level-five ability users filled them with excitement.

They went out around ten at night and didn’t return to the base until the early morning.

“The high-level zombies we encounter are getting fewer and fewer,” one sighed.

“Tomorrow, we’ll have to go farther,” another said.

Gu Juntian spoke, “Tomorrow we’ll ride motorcycles and go farther.”

The roads in the apocalypse were complicated, many blocked by abandoned cars—motorcycles were more convenient than cars for reaching distant places.

“Alright,” the three agreed.

When Gu Juntian returned home quietly, Zhou Qinghao was already awake.

Though outsiders believed Zhou Qinghao was gravely wounded, in reality, he was rosy-cheeked and even a little plumper.

He had carried many old injuries and accumulated zombie toxins before, but Gu Juntian had healed them all during this time.

Gu Juntian had also provided him with many crystal cores. With nothing else to do, he absorbed their energy and grew much stronger.

“Qinghao, I’m exhausted after working all night,” Gu Juntian said as soon as he saw him.

Zhou Qinghao replied, “Eat something, then rest for a while.”

It was still early—Mother Gu hadn’t started breakfast yet, but he had saved some food from yesterday and frozen it with his ice ability.

Now, he could reheat it with Gu Chengming’s help so Gu Juntian could eat.

“I’m not hungry, I had a midnight snack,” Gu Juntian said. “I just want to sleep.”

“Then sleep quickly,” Zhou Qinghao urged.

“Come sleep with me,” Gu Juntian added.

Zhou Qinghao intended to keep him company for a nap, but Gu Juntian’s idea of “sleep” was completely different.

So much for being tired—did this look like exhaustion?

He was nearly overwhelmed!

By the time Zhou Qinghao went down for breakfast, it was already cold.

He felt a bit embarrassed, though Mother Gu didn’t mind at all.

After all, both Gu Juntian and Zhen Jiayun had always loved sleeping in before.

Life continued this way for several days.

Before the apocalypse, Zhou Qinghao had never lived idly like this, doing nothing. After the apocalypse, even less so. He wasn’t used to such an easy life.

But it was truly comfortable.

Zhou Qinghao lived comfortably, and so did the ordinary people in the base.

For some reason, the zombies outside the city were now only level one or two. Level-three or higher ones couldn’t even be found.

This made it much easier for the low-level ability-user guards. With their workload lighter, they had time to help ordinary civilians, improving life for everyone.

They all believed this was thanks to Zhou Qinghao.

The ordinary folk and low-level ability users prayed for his recovery.

But some, including Shao Huirui, were restless and plotting a big move.

They were convinced Zhou Qinghao was badly hurt!

Gu Chengming and Zhou Qinghao both struck down by fate—clearly, heaven itself wanted them to seize control of the base.

Still, they acted cautiously.

Shao Huirui had brought back powder from a large safe zone that could attract high-level zombies. His plan was to lure some to the base, keeping Zhou Qinghao’s men busy, then storm the Gu villa to kill Zhou Qinghao and Gu Chengming.

Alive, the two were trouble. Dead, they would no longer stand in the way.

Once they were gone and their subordinates lost to the high-level zombies, the base would be entirely theirs.

The more Shao Huirui thought about it, the more excited he became. When he returned home and saw Zhen Jiayun, he immediately dragged him to the bed.

Zhen Jiayun had been living with him recently, but life wasn’t good.

Shao Huirui gave him very few points, so every day he could only eat poor-quality food.

When he complained, Shao Huirui dismissed it.

Today, Zhen Jiayun even ran into Shao Huirui’s lover—he had another partner besides him!

Furious, Zhen Jiayun scratched and cursed him, calling him heartless.

Shao Huirui lost his temper and slapped him. “Zhen Jiayun, I feed you, and you still dare give me attitude? Who gave you the courage?”

Zhen Jiayun was stunned.

Shao Huirui continued coldly, “If you don’t want this, fine—get out.”

Since Gu Juntian had turned to Zhou Qinghao without a glance back, Zhen Jiayun seemed like nothing more than leftovers to Shao Huirui.

He was useless, contributed nothing, yet still needed feeding—no wonder Shao Huirui didn’t value him.

And now he dared throw a tantrum!

To Shao Huirui, Zhen Jiayun was ungrateful.

Without him, how could Zhen Jiayun live well at all?

That one slap, with his enhanced strength, loosened Zhen Jiayun’s teeth and filled his mouth with blood.

Zhen Jiayun just stared blankly at him.

“Such bad luck,” Shao Huirui muttered impatiently.

Gu Juntian knew nothing of Zhen Jiayun’s situation. He spent the entire day catching up on sleep.

When not sleeping, he helped Zhou Qinghao and Gu Chengming cultivate.

Gu Chengming was indeed formidable—he had fully recovered and returned to level five.

But climbing to level six wouldn’t be so easy.

“There are too few high-level zombies here. If only more would come,” Gu Chengming sighed.

At that very moment, Shao Huirui’s men were struggling to lure a horde of zombies in this direction.