Chapter 15: A Flickering Candle in the Wind?

“Swish!”

As the lightsaber swept across the last zombie’s skull, Li Ye exhaled a long breath of relief.

In his previous life, relying solely on his own body to fight zombies, it was impossible to cut through them as effortlessly as he did now.

“Clap, clap, clap.”

A series of applause broke out behind Li Ye. Shen Zhihong stepped forward, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

“Little brother, your abilities truly open our eyes.”

“Five days from now, I believe the Dongming battlefront will see forces like yours emerge.”

Shen Zhihong smiled wryly. “Let’s hope so.”

“Believe me, this is the stage of all beings, and the stage for humanity.”

Without lingering further, Li Ye headed toward the city.

“Wait, little brother. Would you like the military district to provide you with some food or weapons?”

Shen Zhihong’s tone softened, abandoning the aloofness he had upon first meeting Li Ye, seizing every opportunity to show goodwill.

“No need. Shen, just focus on training the soldiers. I’ll return in five days.”

Li Ye didn’t stay; he left Shen Zhihong’s sight decisively.

The man with black-rimmed glasses silently pushed through the crowd and hurried after Li Ye’s departing figure.

“Has Old Yun finished organizing the troops moving north to Youdu?”

Shen Zhihong withdrew his gaze and asked the nearby guard.

“Reporting, Chief of Staff. The corps commander is already at the military district gate. If you don’t order it open soon, he might just force it open himself.”

The guard smiled awkwardly, clearly exasperated by the ‘corps commander’ he mentioned.

Shen Zhihong chuckled and returned to the entrance.

The terrified crowd, hearing the soldiers’ reassurances, mostly calmed down.

Just as Shen Zhihong ordered the gate opened, a gaunt old man suddenly charged out first.

“Shen Zhihong! How dare you lock me inside? Do you even respect me as the corps commander?!”

“All right, all right. Learn to cut your losses, will you? If everyone outside gets wiped out, at least you’ve got defenses to hold on for a bit.”

“What? You think those damn things out there are stronger than the soldiers I brought out? That’s why you’re so scared?”

Hearing the old man’s unreasonable shouting, Shen Zhihong didn’t bother to save face. He directly argued with the commander in front of the guards.

“I’m afraid you’ll die in front of the troops and kill morale!”

“Nonsense! Even if you die, I won’t!”

If Li Ye had seen this scene, he’d probably pull Shen Zhihong away immediately.

Because this unimposing, gaunt old man was Chen Xianyun—the corps commander of the Huaxia Asian Army’s Dongming battlefront.

In his past life, his awakened power was the pinnacle of ordinary-type Chosen—“Demonic Body.”

Even a servant-level fallen god like Xiangliu might not be able to decisively defeat this corps commander after the Red Mist phase.

This was one of the very few Chosen abilities that was immensely powerful without needing to ascend further.

“I heard you even handed over command? Shen Zhihong, you’re living backwards!”

“You don’t understand. Didn’t you just see that kid single-handedly take down hundreds of zombies?”

“Extraordinary power! Old Yun, if you had that power, wouldn’t you have lived longer?”

The last sentence Shen Zhihong muttered quietly to himself.

Few in the military district knew that their steadfast pillar, this unassuming gaunt old man, was actually on his last legs.

Cancer cells ravenously consumed his body, trying to devour him completely.

Even with Chen Xianyun’s lively facade, Shen Zhihong took it as his final flicker of life.

This old comrade from the revolution might truly have little time left…

…

Li Ye dashed toward the city, gradually regaining the survival instincts he had honed in the zombie tides of his past life after that exhilarating battle.

His “Candlelight Guide” ability had improved from ten meters to fifteen.

“Let me think… where would you hide?”

A twisted smile spread across his face, like an old cat trying to catch a mouse.

Unaware, a man in a suit was breathlessly watching Li Ye’s figure grow distant.

Only when the young man in the coat completely disappeared from sight did Jiang Hesong reluctantly stop.

“Ugh—”

As soon as he stopped, he began to retch uncontrollably.

There were differences even among the Chosen.

He had wanted to follow Li Ye, but now could only awkwardly return to the military district.

After all, if he couldn’t keep up with Li Ye’s speed, what valuable help could he possibly offer?

…

Time passed until evening.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Loud banging sounded at the finished goods warehouse. The old bald man who had been scared out of his wits yesterday was furiously pounding on the iron door.

Yu Chen desperately pulled him back, shouting:

“Are you crazy? You’re gonna die! You dare provoke the friend of a godly man? When he comes back, you’re finished!”

The old bald man said nothing, unmoved by Yu Chen’s pulling, still violently striking the door with increasing frenzy.

“Uncle, calm down! Being hungry for a while won’t hurt. When God Brother comes back, talk to him properly. He’ll understand.”

The young man called Xiao Qi also tried to grab the old man’s arm, but it felt like an ant trying to shake a tree—utterly powerless.

Was it really because they were too weak?

Bang!

The old bald man turned his palm into a fist and hammered the center of the iron door.

Even the door, reinforced by Li Ye, was dented deeply by his punch!

Inside, Lu Xuening and the others watched the door, their faces tense, and couldn’t help but close their eyes.

“Mom, do you think… there are really people outside?”

Aunt Lu tightly embraced Lu Xuening, trembling as she tried to comfort her.

“It’s okay. Xiao Ye will be back soon.”

“Don’t be afraid. If he comes in, I’ll take his head off too!”

Suo Hao forced a macho pose, but the slight trembling of his fingertips betrayed his nervousness.

Outside, Yu Chen couldn’t hold back the suddenly crazed old bald man any longer. He shouted at the crouching group behind them:

“Help! Something’s wrong! We’re all doomed if this goes on!”

A crowd a few meters away stirred but no one stepped forward to help.

After all, only Yu Chen had witnessed the ‘godly man’s’ previous actions; the others had no reverence for that cold-faced youth.

The iron gate was about to give way. Just before the old bald man could punch a hole through it, his fist suddenly froze.

Yu Chen sharply sensed the aura around him heating up, as if gaining substance.

Relieved by the familiar feeling, he quickly stepped back.

Xiao Qi followed suit.

Li Ye emerged from the red mist, his expression grim.

He glanced at the dented door and clenched his fist.

If he had been a few minutes later, the situation might have spiraled completely out of control.

The old bald man struggled to his feet as a gradually brightening sigil appeared on his right arm.

“The Chosen Mark?”

Li Ye looked at the dark sigil on the man’s arm and shook his head helplessly.

Is the so-called “Chosen” really what it’s cracked up to be?

“What a pity.”

Li Ye pushed Yu Chen closer to the old bald man.

“Godly brother, what do you want me to do?”

Yu Chen gave an awkward smile, nervously dodging the old man’s thrashing.

“I’m giving you an opportunity.”

No sooner had he spoken than the old bald man was lifted by a solidified beam of light, the scorching heat burning like raging flames on his skin.

The excruciating pain forced the mad old man to scream uncontrollably.

“Ah—cough, cough… ugh…”

Just as he opened his mouth, an invisible blaze filled his oral cavity, nearly suffocating him!

The blood flowing through the old man’s body was gradually boiling away!

A lightsaber suddenly appeared in Yu Chen’s stunned hand, accompanied by Li Ye’s furious roar in his ear.

“Kill him!”