Published: February 6, 2025
Young Master Yun crouched on the ground, pinching a cigarette between his fingers stained with blood. He lit it but didn't take a drag, allowing it to burn away, the faint smoke blurring everything in front of him.
Footsteps approached from behind, but Young Master Yun remained still, bringing the cigarette to his lips for a puff, followed by a light cough.
This feeling was somewhat unfamiliar; he used to smoke at least two packs a day, but ever since his mother passed away, he had quit. He always felt that his mother’s lung cancer was partly his fault.
But today, he found himself smoking again, simply because he had come to understand some things.
"Looking for me?" Ye Zhongming sat down beside Young Master Yun, inhaling the lingering smell of blood in the air. "You’re not afraid I’ll default on my debt, are you?"
Young Master Yun gave a bitter smile. "Not at all. Besides, if you really wanted to default, would it matter if I came looking for you?"
Today, Young Master Yun had truly witnessed Ye Zhongming's strength. This man, along with his subordinates, could actually take down a grade 4 zombie—grade 4!
Young Master Yun and his Starved Tiger Knights would barely escape when faced with a tier 3 zombie, let alone a grade 4 zombie!
Yet, Ye Zhongming did it. As fellow evolvers, Young Master Yun understood just how great the gap was between them.
"Though I’m not exactly a good person, I do keep my word," Ye Zhongming said in a calm tone, then turned his head to ask, "Perhaps you want a raise?"
The Starved Tiger Knights and Shasha Team had suffered significant losses. Ten bottles of One-Star Evolution Elixir couldn’t possibly compensate for their losses. Even if Young Master Yun hadn’t come, Ye Zhongming had planned to make reparations. The two teams had fought valiantly today without retreating, which had already gained Ye Zhongming's goodwill. It was only natural to give them more potions.
To his surprise, Young Master Yun shook his head.
"Boss Ye, can I join you?"
Hmm? Ye Zhongming was taken aback.
Although the Starved Tiger had the fewest members among the various forces on Cloud Summit Mountain, every one of them was an evolver. The cement factory was not exactly a prime location, but it could serve as a base in the early stages.
Moreover, it was evident from Young Master Yun’s demeanor that he was the typical wealthy second generation who lived a luxurious life and indulged in frivolities during peacetime, which sculpted his haughty attitude.
Such people were usually proud and unwilling to submit to others. Furthermore, in the apocalypse, the benefits that a leader of a force could enjoy were numerous, including the rights to resources and the power to live and kill at will. Given Young Master Yun's previous habits of issuing commands, Ye Zhongming couldn’t imagine that he would be willing to be a subordinate.
"I know you don’t believe me. Before today, I wouldn’t have believed it myself. I would have rather died than listen to someone and be a subordinate," Young Master Yun said, crushing the cigarette butt into the ground. "Until today."
"Today, I saw a scene like none I’ve ever experienced, felt a mindset I’ve never encountered. For the first time, I fought recklessly, willing to risk my life to protect my brothers, and for the first time, I saw someone take the hit for me, sacrificing themselves against the zombies."
Young Master Yun was somewhat emotional, his eyes reddening. If he hadn’t held back, he might have cried.
"In the past, I relied on my family’s power and privilege, doing a lot of trashy things without feeling any shame. Even after the apocalypse began and I witnessed things far worse than I had done, I thought my past actions were just fine. But today, as I fought the zombies, past scenes flooded my mind, and I suddenly felt..."
After spinning around in place for a while, Young Master Yun continued, "Disgust for my past self and a sense of despair."
He scratched his head and said, "I know my words may not convey my feelings clearly, and you might not understand, but I just want to say that seeing you and your subordinates fight against the zombies today ignited a strong yearning in me. I want to fight alongside you, even if it means dying in battle; I would find it glorious. Unlike before, living aimlessly, without goals, being pathetic, like a parasite. Previously, I relied on my father, and now I want to live for myself."