Things were heading in a positive direction.
This was how Lam Pham had arranged things for Little Than. With its physique, it definitely couldn't stay in the shelter, as there wasn't enough open space. Therefore, it could only be placed in a spacious, open area in Hoang City.
Previously, Lao Than didn't want to live in the shelter, wanting to stay by his son's side. However, after Lam Pham's persuasion, he finally agreed to live inside the Sunshine Shelter.
This was mainly because he was quite old and had difficulty getting around. If something were to happen, it would be extremely inconvenient with no one by his side.
"From now on, you just stay here nicely, alright? Your father is living inside the shelter, okay?"
Lam Pham stroked Little Than's tentacles, his voice exceptionally gentle. He hadn't known Little Than for long, but he believed that as long as he was patient, he could definitely enter the depths of its heart and touch its softest side.
As long as he persisted, their relationship would only get better and better.
"Aooo..."
Little Than let out a very faint cry, as if it was a little afraid of Lam Pham. Although it hadn't been beaten, it had witnessed with its own eyes how Lam Pham hunted zombies.
Such methods were truly terrifying.
Co Hang, Vuong Khai, Lao Chung, Chuc Thanh, and the others stood there, watching the situation unfold.
"Hoang City has become much safer," Chuc Thanh stared intently at Little Than, seeing a lot of information, though some details were hidden, evidently because his ability was not yet at a high enough stage.
"What do you mean?" Co Hang asked.
"Little Than is not simple. From the information I'm seeing, Little Than is at a very high stage among zombies. Brother Lam bringing it back and placing it in Hoang City means that if anyone with a death wish comes looking for trouble, Little Than's mere presence will be enough to scare them silly." Chuc Thanh felt that his ability was actually quite good. He hadn't felt much about it before, but now he realized it was really quite impressive.
Little Than's tentacles were incredibly useful. It could extend its tentacles to other places, and the eyeballs growing on them could see everything in the surroundings.
Chuc Thanh saw it very clearly; it possessed various abilities, making it truly extraordinary.
Co Hang smiled and said, "It is our Hoang City's guardian zombie."
"Yes, that's exactly what I mean," Chuc Thanh nodded.
Co Hang naturally hoped for Hoang City to become safer and safer. Before, even when Lam Pham wasn't around, there were still Lao Chung, Dam Thanh, and the others, each one a super-strong Awakened.
And now, with Little Than's presence, he really couldn't think of anyone who could possibly bring danger to Hoang City.
Vuong Khai looked up, "Holy crap, it's so majestic and imposing. Anyone who sees it would be completely stunned. I'm already captivated by its physique. I have to say, my Brother Lam is a real beast, to be able to negotiate with a zombie like this. If it were me, I would have definitely peed my pants."
These words of 'majestic and imposing' coming from Vuong Khai sounded more or less insincere. If Little Than hadn't joined their Hoang City's Sunshine Shelter, he would have definitely exclaimed in horror...
So disgusting, so ferocious, so terrifying.
But now Little Than was one of their own. Towards his own people, Vuong Khai was extremely friendly, never stingy with any words of praise he could throw out.
Lao Chung said, "This really gives a great sense of security. With my current strength, if I were to fight Little Than, I would probably be the one to die."
Chuc Thanh said, "Be bold and remove the word 'probably'. There's no need to doubt it."
Lao Chung said, "What if I teamed up with Dam Thanh and the others?"
Chuc Thanh looked at Lao Chung and still nodded very seriously, "You guys could discuss who should stay behind to buy time, to secure an escape for the others."
Lao Chung: ...?
Co Hang and the others said nothing more.
Little Than's appearance was truly terrifying. If Little Than had come to the Sunshine Shelter alone, it would have absolutely scared everyone witless. Its physique, its appearance, everything about it challenged the limits of human psychology.
But now, it was Lam Pham who had brought Little Than back, and the people of the Sunshine Shelter calmly accepted it.
This was enough to prove just how high Lam Pham's status was in everyone's hearts.
And how much they trusted Lam Pham.
There would be absolutely no doubt.
At this moment.
Lam Pham said to Lao Than, "Alright, let's let him get used to the environment here by himself. We should head back first. We can have someone check on your physical condition. Only when you are well, can Little Than be well."
That made a lot of sense.
Lao Than nodded, patting his son's tentacle as he left, telling him to be good and obedient, then left with Lam Pham and the others.
Left alone in the open ground, Little Than let out a few soft cries. Its restless tentacles moved gently, then slowly began to spread out towards the surroundings.
It wanted to familiarize itself with the new environment.
Every movement was cautious.
It was afraid of damaging the surrounding buildings.
...
"Van Van, did you know a huge zombie came to our shelter? Uncle Lam brought it back. I heard people say that it will be our Hoang City's protector from now on."
In the classroom, during break time, Phi Phi chatted with Van Van. She was extremely curious about the zombie Uncle Lam had brought back.
"Yes, I know. Should we go have a look?" Van Van's psychic powers were at a high level; she had sensed the zombie the moment Uncle Lam brought it back.
"I'm a little curious to see it," Phi Phi said.
Dinh Dinh said expectantly, "Big Sis Phi Phi, let's go take a look then, okay?"
Sitting next to Phi Phi, Dong Dong, who seemed to be staring intently at the desk, had actually pricked up his ears to eavesdrop long ago. As a zombie himself, he had naturally also sensed the scent of his own kind.
In Dong Dong's perception, that fellow zombie was exceptionally powerful.
Phi Phi said, "But, it's not dangerous, right?"
Dinh Dinh said, "Big Sis Phi Phi, you said Uncle Lam brought it back, so it's definitely not dangerous. Anything acknowledged by Uncle Lam must be a good baby."
Calling Little Than a 'good baby' was something only Dinh Dinh would do.
Phi Phi nodded, Dinh Dinh had a good point. "Then shall we go now?"
"Let's go."
"Let's move out."
Just as Phi Phi stood up, Dong Dong, who was beside her, tugged on the corner of her shirt.
"Dong Dong, if you want to go too, let's go together."
They left the classroom and ran outside. At this moment, the true utility of Van Van's ability was on full display, as they floated in the air, moving with great ease.
Not long after.
They reached their destination.
"Woah..."
Phi Phi's mouth hung open, her eyes nearly popping out. She had never seen such a big zombie. It was so, so big, and the first impression was an extremely strong sense of pressure.
This sense of pressure deeply impacted her little soul.
Dinh Dinh shuffled closer to Phi Phi, hiding behind her. "I'm scared."
"Don't be scared. Big Sis Phi Phi is here, what's there to be afraid of? Besides, didn't you call it a 'good baby' earlier?" When Phi Phi saw Little Than, her legs felt a little uncontrollable, but in front of Dinh Dinh, she acted very brave. As the big sister, how could she be scared by this?
Even if she was really scared, she couldn't show it.
She had to be strong, she had to let her little brothers and sisters know that Big Sis Phi Phi will forever be someone they can trust.
Dinh Dinh shrunk her head. Calling it a 'good baby' was before she had seen it.
Now that she had seen it, the 'good baby' title would have to wait a bit.
Dong Dong took small steps, walking towards Little Than.
With their arrival, Little Than had certainly noticed them. Its tentacles moved slowly, and the eyes growing on them shifted slightly, observing the children who had appeared before it.
Little Than was definitely different from other zombies.
It wouldn't attack humans on sight.
After being brought here, Little Than knew its living environment had changed. His dad had also told him to be very good here and not to harm anyone.
Little Than held his father's words deep in his heart.
He saw a little zombie walking towards him and was very puzzled, not knowing what this little guy wanted to do.
"Ooh ooh."
Dong Dong made the unique sound of a zombie towards Little Than. This kind of communication was very difficult to understand, at least for humans. Even if Lam Pham heard this, he would have to guess what "ooh ooh" meant.
Sometimes he might guess correctly.
Sometimes he might not, but that didn't matter. As long as he thought it meant something, then his guess was correct.
"Aooo..."
Little Than let out a roar.
"Ooh ooh."
"Aooo..."
"Ooh ooh."
"Aooo..."
Dong Dong and Little Than took turns making sounds, one after the other. No one knew what they were communicating about.
Phi Phi, Dinh Dinh, and Van Van all wore puzzled expressions.
"Big Sis Phi Phi, what are Dong Dong and it talking about?" Dinh Dinh asked curiously.
Phi Phi said, "Hmm, I think they're saying, 'Hello, my name is Dong Dong, welcome to the Sunshine Shelter...'"
She rattled on.
What Phi Phi said was just her guess, but her expression was so sincere, it gave off the feeling that... 'Everything I'm saying is true, I can understand the language of zombies.'
"Wow, that's amazing."
Dinh Dinh looked at Big Sis Phi Phi with a face full of admiration. In her heart, she felt that Big Sis Phi Phi was incredible, capable of anything, knew everything. She was so, so amazing.
Phi Phi lifted her head, very pleased and proud. Look at the way little sister Dinh Dinh was looking at her, it was a look of worship. She loved seeing the worshipping gazes of her little brothers and sisters.
It gave her an immense sense of accomplishment.
To make her little brothers and sisters admire her even more, she had been working hard to learn.
Of course, she was truly not good at regular schoolwork.
No matter how many late nights she spent burning the midnight oil, burying her head in books, it was useless. When she saw the content in the textbooks, she felt her eyelids fighting a losing battle, ready to droop and surrender at any moment.
Don't be fooled by the many test papers Lam Pham bought for Phi Phi; they were actually useless. Those test papers had long been given away by Phi Phi as gifts to other children, with specific instructions for them to "study hard and become useful members of society in the future."
Seeing the determined expressions on her little brothers and sisters' faces after they accepted the test papers.
Phi Phi also felt very gratified, feeling that she had done another good deed.
Although she had no talent for academics, she knew that rebuilding after the apocalypse required a great deal of knowledge, so she was very serious about learning other things.
Like simple first aid.
Plant identification.
How to treat sick livestock.
How to purify dirty water.
How to pick a lock with a single wire when faced with a keyless door.
And so on...
In short, it was all essential knowledge for survival. Living in the city before, how would one know how vegetables were grown? So in her view, even though I don't like studying, I can learn other kinds of knowledge.
At this moment.
Dong Dong stopped his "ooh ooh-ing" and stood silently to the side, having finished his exchange with Little Than.
As for whether their exchange was the same as what Phi Phi had said, only they themselves knew.
Van Van also approached Little Than. Little Than retracted its tentacles slightly. It sensed a power from the little girl in front of it that could harm it.
It knew the little girl before it was a resident here.
It had to listen to its dad and not harm the people here.
So Little Than showed no reaction.
As Van Van's abilities improved to a certain stage, she discovered that she seemed to have other powers as well.
"Hello there."
She didn't speak, but communicated with her mind.
"You... hello."
Little Than was a bit unused to it. After all, no one had ever been able to communicate with it like this. Now that such a human had appeared, Little Than felt very happy inside.
"My name is Van Van. I've always lived in the Sunshine Shelter. What's your name?"
"Little... Little Than. My dad calls me Little Than."
Van Van was a little emotional. She was really communicating with it.
"Hello, can you talk?"
"I can, aren't we talking right now?"
"I mean the kind where you can make a sound."
"I can't."
"Alright. We came with Big Sis Phi Phi. Uncle Lam said you'll be a member of our Sunshine Shelter from now on, so we came specially to see you."
"Really? I'm so, so happy. No one has ever come to see me before. I've always been so lonely, so lonesome. With you all to accompany me in the future, I won't be lonely anymore."
"No problem. We have a lot of free time every day besides studying. We'll come and play with you whenever we have time, okay?"
"Okay, okay."
Little Than was very happy. With excitement, the frequency of its tentacles' movements quickened.
Phi Phi and Dinh Dinh watched nervously.
They didn't know what was happening.
After Van Van touched the tentacle, she hadn't said a word. What on earth was going on?
Then they saw those tough tentacles moving, which made Phi Phi's little heart tighten. She swallowed hard, her mood more tense and fearful than ever before.
"Van Van..."
Phi Phi couldn't help but call out.
Van Van, who was in a mental exchange with Little Than, pulled her hand back and turned to them with a brilliant smile, then told them what had just happened.
Good sisters must share.
Phi Phi and Dinh Dinh looked at Van Van in shock.
They didn't expect Van Van to be communicating with it, and the method of communication was by talking in the depths of their minds.
They now knew the zombie before them was called Little Than.
"Hello, I'm Phi Phi. I'm their big sister. It's nice to meet you. From now on, we are all members of the shelter, and you are our friend."
Phi Phi took the initiative to chat with Little Than.
Although she didn't have Van Van's ability, she felt that it should be able to understand what she was saying.
"Aooo..."
Little Than responded.
This made Phi Phi believe that it must have understood her; it was responding to her. Even though it was a zombie, Phi Phi knew that the world outside the apocalypse was very dangerous, and when some people went bad, they were hundreds of times more terrifying than zombies.
Beside them, Dinh Dinh was very envious. Both Big Sis Phi Phi and Van Van had communicated with Little Than.
But she was a little nervous, a little scared.
Then, under Big Sis Phi Phi's encouraging gaze, she bravely said hello to Little Than, even waving her little hand, looking a bit shy, yet forcing herself to appear very brave.
If Lam Pham knew that Little Than had been cornered by a group of children led by Phi Phi as soon as it arrived at the Sunshine Shelter, he would definitely exclaim that they were truly brave for their age. Even adults facing Little Than might not have such courage.
After all, Little Than was a zombie with a massive body and a ferocious appearance.
Perhaps only children wouldn't care too much about whether someone's appearance was ugly.
As long as you were truly full of love.
You would be accepted by them and become their acknowledged good friend.
...
"Chung Hong, what are you doing here?"
In a desolate wilderness, Thoi Tieu Phi was truly shocked, and also a bit confused, to see Chung Hong appear before him.
As far as he knew, Chung Hong had always been a lone wolf.
The world was so big, a chance encounter was impossible. What were the chances? The odds of winning the lottery were probably higher.
Chung Hong said with a calm expression, "Nguy Ung is dead. You knew that, right?"
"He's dead?"
Hearing this news, Thoi Tieu Phi was very shocked.
He knew Nguy Ung. The man was very close to the organization and had always been highly regarded by them. Now Nguy Ung was dead, which he found a bit hard to believe.
After all, Nguy Ung was also a Perfect Mutator, his strength was not to be underestimated. Even if he encountered a Creator, even if he couldn't win, escaping shouldn't have been a problem.
Moreover, he didn't think Nguy Ung would be foolish enough to see a Creator and not know to avoid it, thus challenging the Creator's authority.
"Yes, he's dead."
"How did he die?"
"I don't know, but he had a conflict with the nearby shelter before, then said he was going to find some hidden children, and then he never appeared again."
"The shelter doesn't have the ability to kill Nguy Ung. Clearly, his death was caused by some other existence."
Thoi Tieu Phi frowned. Many things were very strange.
He really didn't know how many terrifying beings existed in this apocalypse.
Chung Hong said, "That's right, the shelter doesn't have that kind of ability. But I think the headquarters must have learned of this news. But I'm wondering, since they know, why hasn't headquarters contacted us? Or does headquarters have some other purpose?"
Thoi Tieu Phi said, "What does any of this have to do with us? The ones with the headache are the people at headquarters. It's not like we killed Nguy Ung."
Chung Hong said, "That's true. We really don't need to worry ourselves over nothing. However, I recently heard that some of the students you brought back from the Vo Giao have become unusually brutal in their conduct after becoming Mutators. As their guide, I think you should manage them properly."
Hearing this.
Thoi Tieu Phi looked at Chung Hong in great surprise, "Strange. You, 'Poison Thorn Chung Hong,' never used to meddle in such things. Why are you so kind as to remind me now?"
He felt that Chung Hong's mentality seemed to have changed a bit.
If this were before, she would absolutely not have said such things.
Chung Hong said, "Although we are Mutators, and there is no turning back from this path, ever since I saw the footage of Hoang City's Lam Pham hunting a Creator, I think it's better for us to have some bottom line. They are so brutal, others can't control them, but if that guy runs into them, I don't think there will be any way for them to survive."
"At that time, even if you want to save them, I'm afraid you won't have the ability to do so."
Indeed.
When Chung Hong gave this reason, Thoi Tieu Phi's expression did indeed become much more solemn.
Those students were all brought out by him.
He naturally wanted to preserve the lives of those students. Letting them become Mutators was also so they would have the ability to protect themselves. But if it was really as Chung Hong said, and their dispositions had become brutal, if they really ran into Lam Pham in the future, they would truly have no chance of survival.
"I understand. Thanks."
Thoi Tieu Phi thanked her.
Without saying more.
He turned and left this place at high speed.
Chung Hong watched Thoi Tieu Phi's departing figure and stroked her chin. She wanted to find an opportunity through Thoi Tieu Phi. If she discovered the location of the headquarters, she would not hesitate to tell Lam Pham.
But Thoi Tieu Phi was harder to deal with than she had imagined.
Sticking close to him would surely make him sense that something was amiss.
Therefore, some things needed to be taken slowly and absolutely could not be rushed.
...
At the temporary shelter for the Vo Giao students.
Tuong Son's death still had a significant impact on the group of students. After all, they had once lived together. Who would have thought he would be gone just like that?
In a corner, Trieu Trung leaned against the wall, looking at his companions who were gradually becoming somewhat unfamiliar.
During this period.
He noticed that his companions' attitude towards him had gradually become somewhat indifferent, not as enthusiastic as it was at the Hong Nhat Vo Giao.
The relationship between them seemed to have dropped to a certain level.
Just then.
A bulky companion abruptly stood up and angrily kicked the sofa against the wall.
"What the hell are we doing waiting here? It's been so many days. I can't stand this kind of life for another moment."
Trieu Trung calmly looked at him.
This companion was named Tien Thuong. He didn't used to have this physique. Among the many students at the Vo Giao, his physical fitness was very poor, skinny and weak, like a bag of bones.
But ever since being injected with the serum, his physique had become more and more robust, his whole body covered in hard muscles. He was at least four or five times larger than before, looking like a small mountain.
And his condition was changing every day, as if the serum was still having a huge effect in his body, constantly strengthening his physical intensity.
"Tien Thuong, Senior Brother Thoi told us to stay here and adjust our mentality. What are you in a hurry for?" someone spoke up.
"Adjust what mentality? Isn't our current situation great? I feel great, anyway."
Tien Thuong did not agree with this statement.
He didn't even have the same kind of respect for Thoi Tieu Phi as before. In his heart, Thoi Tieu Phi was just someone who had been injected with the serum a little earlier than them. What was so great about that? If he were given enough time, he would definitely be stronger than Thoi Tieu Phi.
Trieu Trung, who was standing in the corner, slowly walked over. "Tien Thuong, you weren't like this before. Don't you feel that your personality is very irritable now?"
"Is it?" Tien Thuong spread his hands, a look of bewilderment on his face.
"Yes. Senior Brother Thoi told us that the serum has side effects, and we shouldn't let the sudden power affect our mentality. Why did we leave the Vo Giao? Why were we willing to follow Senior Brother Thoi out? It was to gain the strength to protect ourselves, and then fight back against this apocalypse." Trieu Trung really felt that many situations were very wrong.
He was really thinking, was it the power that changed their minds?
Or did the serum really have side effects that caused their mentality to undergo a dramatic change?
But if it was the serum's fault.
Then why hadn't he undergone such a change?
"Alright, alright, what's with all this nonsense." Tien Thuong waved his hand impatiently, "Trieu Trung, I've noticed you really like to lecture now. If you don't like it this way, you should have stayed at the Vo Giao back then."
Trieu Trung looked at Tien Thuong, really having a lot he wanted to say.
But Tien Thuong ignored him and walked outside, which made him, who originally had a lot more to say, swallow the rest of his words back into his stomach.
Trieu Trung sighed. First, it was Tuong Son, and now it's Tien Thuong.
Why did it have to become like this?
Can't they really maintain their original nature?
A companion came over and patted Trieu Trung on the shoulder, "Face reality. It's impossible for you to change anything. Senior Brother Thoi has already said everything you want to say, but do you think Tien Thuong would still be like this if it were useful?"
Trieu Trung: ...
That's right, even Senior Brother Thoi's words had little effect, so what use would his be?
Outside.
Tien Thuong left the building and walked to a large rock. With a bang, he directly smashed the two-meter-tall boulder in front of him into pieces.
"Damn it."
He clenched his fists in anger. Listening to people lecture him day after day was giving him a headache.
He was already lost in a sea of power.
His mind was filled with the pursuit of even greater strength.
"Impressive."
Just then, a voice came through.
"Who's there?"
Tien Thuong's voice was low and alert. The sudden voice made him very surprised. In the current apocalypse, there was still someone appearing here.
Could it be another companion, wanting to continue lecturing him?
He hated being lectured the most, wishing he could tear the other person's mouth apart so they would never speak again.
"The power you have was given by us. Who do you think I am?"
A man slowly walked out.
Tien Thuong's expression changed. When the other person said this, he already knew who he was. It was obviously someone from the Mutator organization.
"What do you want from me?"
He was very confused.
He didn't know what the people from headquarters wanted with him. After all, he had no connection with anyone from headquarters.
"I know you long for more power, long to surpass Thoi Tieu Phi."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Senior Brother Thoi is so powerful, how could I surpass him? Impossible."
Tien Thuong shook his head.
He wasn't an idiot. Who knew what this person's specific intentions were, flattering him like this right from the start, and saying he wanted to surpass Thoi Tieu Phi. Even if it was true, he couldn't admit it.
"Haha, don't pretend. I know you are an ambitious person. You are very dissatisfied that Thoi Tieu Phi is stronger than you. In fact, your potential is very strong, because you were an Awakened before, right?"
The man said with a smile.
Tien Thuong stared at the man. It was true that he was an Awakened, but his ability was very weak.
"What exactly do you want?"