Chapter 39 GO Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Ashes Rekindled

Jian Qing recorded the team’s zombie-hunting results from last night, tallying up their kills for future bounty claims. Then she lifted her head and said flatly,

“Alright, you’re dismissed. Go eat breakfast and get some rest. I’ve just received word—Lieutenant Colonel Butcher’s zombie-clearing operation is complete. We may be pulling out this afternoon and returning to the Azurebird Base. Use your time wisely.”

“Yes, Instructor!”

Chen Ning responded in unison with Bai Yuhao and the others, then turned and immediately tried to leave. 

After all, just moments ago, he had been unable to stop his wandering thoughts about Jian Qing, gazing at her profile with ambiguous eyes—only to be caught when she suddenly looked up. 

Though Jian Qing was undeniably beautiful, her temper was fierce. Last time, just for glancing at her collar, she had kicked him hard enough to break a rib. Chen Ning had no intention of repeating that experience; it was better to make a quick escape.

Unfortunately, just as he turned around, Jian Qing’s voice sounded again.

“Chen Ning, stay. I have a few words for you.”

Bai Yuhao, Su Luo, and the others all glanced at Chen Ning simultaneously. For some reason, they couldn’t shake the feeling that the relationship between Chen Ning and Jian Qing wasn’t as simple as that of an instructor and a trainee. After all, Jian Qing seemed to be paying an unusual amount of attention to Chen Ning.

They couldn’t help but wonder: Could it be that Chen Ning’s joking confession to Jian Qing at the base tavern—”I like you”—had actually stirred something between them?

With these various speculations swirling in their minds, the group left the office first, leaving behind only an uneasy Chen Ning—and Jian Qing, who sat behind her desk with a faint, teasing smirk curling her lips.

Chen Ning was a person of relatively upright character. If he had nothing to hide, he would appear composed and steady in front of Instructor Jian Qing, even carrying a hint of arrogance. 

But if he had something to hide, he would seem like a completely different person—exactly as he did now.

Jian Qing had asked Chen Ning to stay behind, yet she sat at her desk, head bowed as she tallied the number of personnel who had gone out on the mission the previous night and those who had returned to camp. She paid no attention to Chen Ning, leaving him standing idly by.

Chen Ning felt extremely awkward. He knew it was because Jian Qing was being petty, deliberately ignoring him to make him uncomfortable.

He had no choice but to brace himself, cleared his throat, and asked, “Instructor Jian Qing, I was wondering if there’s any task you’d like me to handle, since you asked me to stay behind?”

Jian Qing looked up, her expression hovering between a smile and something else as she watched the flustered Chen Ning. 

She thought to herself, Weren’t you bold enough to leer at me just now? How come you’ve turned so timid all of a sudden?

She stretched lazily and said in a leisurely tone, “Chen Ning, it seems you haven’t learned your lesson from last time. Your courage has really grown, hasn’t it?”

While Jian Qing was stretching, Chen Ning had already lowered his head. The female instructor had an exceptional figure, especially when she stretched—her uniform tightened, and her impressive curves seemed ready to burst through the fabric at any moment. He thought it best to avoid improper sights to keep trouble at bay.

At that moment, the Crimson Tyrant’s voice suddenly echoed inside Chen Ning’s mind.

“Chen Ning, you like this female officer, don’t you? No wonder when I cast that illusion to tempt you in the forest, the vision you saw was of her… Well, this beauty is quite striking, naturally alluring, but unfortunately, her personality seems a bit hard to handle…”

Chen Ning’s patience snapped. He barked furiously, “Shut up!”

Jian Qing, startled by the sudden outburst, flushed crimson. She slammed her hand on the desk and stood up, eyes blazing.

“What did you just say?”

Chen Ning froze. He had shouted at the Crimson Tyrant in his mind—but the words had slipped out aloud! And from her reaction, she clearly thought he was yelling at her!

He wanted to cry. “Instructor, don’t be angry, I actually—”

He stopped himself just in time. There were only two of them in the office. If he said he hadn’t been talking to her, then who had he been talking to? That would only make things worse—and risk exposing his biggest secret: the existence of the Crimson Tyrant sealed within his mind.

Jian Qing narrowed her eyes. “Actually what?”

“I… I just remembered how you kicked me last time,” Chen Ning stammered. “Cracked my rib, remember? I guess I got mad thinking about it, and I kinda—lost my temper for a second.”

Her tone turned colder. “So you lost your temper… and decided to shout at me?”

She pulled her chair aside and stepped around the desk, boots clicking sharply against the wooden floor. At 1.73 meters, she was nearly eye-level with Chen Ning’s 1.77—and right now, her presence completely overshadowed his.

Chen Ning felt utterly helpless. Inside, he was cursing the old monster in his head a thousand different ways.

Chen Ning stammered, trying to say something, but he had no idea how to respond. 

Just then, Jian Qing, wearing her military boots, lifted her foot and stomped hard on the instep of Chen Ning’s left foot. The pain made him grimace and grit his teeth.

Jian Qing gave a satisfied little huff and seemed to relax, her temper cooling.

Though his foot throbbed like fire, Chen Ning actually breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to her breaking another rib, this was practically merciful.

At the same time, he also noticed a trait of Jian Qing’s: if she was only slightly angry, her expression would appear fierce; but if she was truly enraged, she would reveal a captivating smile without a trace of emotion—just like when she had broken his rib.

Just then, the door burst open without a knock.

No one in the camp dared enter Jian Qing’s office uninvited—except one man of equal rank, Instructor Shi Yu.

He had come to discuss something urgent, but the moment he stepped inside, he froze.

There they were—Jian Qing and Chen Ning—standing far too close.

He was taken aback at first, then Shi Yu’s face darkened. A sour, burning anger rose in his chest. 

In his view, the two were of different genders and held positions of differing status as superior and subordinate. If there weren’t something shady going on between them, they wouldn’t be standing so close. 

Unconsciously, a wave of jealousy rose within him, along with a surge of resentment.

Jian Qing’s brows furrowed slightly, but her tone remained composed. “Alright, Chen Ning. If there’s nothing else, you may go rest.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

Chen Ning saluted quickly and headed for the door. As he passed Shi Yu, he didn’t even bother to salute—a small, silent rebellion.

Shi Yu thought bitterly to himself: Don’t think that just because you’re an elite squad soldier and not under my command, you can act arrogantly. You’d better hope you don’t end up in my hands or serve under me, or I’ll make you pay for your arrogance.

Once Chen Ning was gone, Jian Qing returned to her cool, professional tone.

“Major Shi Yu, you came in quite a hurry. What is it?”

Shi Yu recalled his purpose and said, “I just received word—Lieutenant Colonel Butcher will be passing through Stone Town in three hours. We’ve been ordered to regroup and return to Azurebird Base with the main force.”

Jian Qing nodded. “Understood. I’ll notify my elite squad.”

Shi Yu continued, “Some of my regular units went missing during last night’s sweep of the nearby area. They still haven’t returned. Are all your soldiers back?”

Jian Qing frowned slightly and checked her roster again. “Three are still unaccounted for—Xiao Zihao, Da Yan, and Niu Er. They should’ve been back by now.”

At the doorway, Chen Ning, who was just stepping out, overheard this exchange. His expression didn’t change, but he walked on quietly.

_______________________________________________________

Deep in the forest.

A mangled corpse stirred among the ruins—a Level 4 Predator zombie, slowly standing upright. Its face was riddled with festering wounds, but faint traces of its former identity remained.

Xiao Zihao.

Nearby, two mindless Level 1 walkers—Da Yan and Niu Er—caught the scent of kin and shuffled toward him, instinctively drawn to the stronger undead like beasts to their alpha.

However, Xiao Zihao, who had died with intense hatred, mutated into a Level 4 Predator, retaining some memories and intelligence.

Xiao Zihao looked at the two mindless corpses, then suddenly raised his right hand and—bang! bang!—swiped directly, severing the heads of the two zombies that had come to curry favor with him.

Xiao Zihao raised his claws, his eyes blazing with intense hatred, and let out a roar that resembled a human voice.

“CHEN NING—!!”