Level 1 Little Zombie Doomsday Growth Diary - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The gaze behind him felt as tangible as a physical presence. Sensing Nan Tingjin’s continued scrutiny, Qian Hui ignored him.

With the battle over, the plants instinctively gathered around Qian Hui, expecting him to wipe their faces clean.

This time, the zombie quantity was small, and with Nut’s help, they remained relatively clean. Only Nut, having rolled on the ground twice, was covered in dust.

Qian Hui carefully wiped Nut several times with a towel before cleaning the leaves of the other plants.

Chili Pepper squatted nearby, breaking the excavated crystal cores into small pieces, diligently dividing them evenly.

Just then, a belated Game Notification appeared before Qian Hui’s eyes.

[ The sixth Faction Conflict has concluded. Congratulations to our side for securing victory! Reward: 400 Prestige Points! ]

So many…

Qian Hui thought he must be mistaken and double-checked. It was indeed 400.

Each time he killed a zombie, a notification appeared showing his credits increasing. Yet, despite only eight zombies being defeated, he had received 400 Prestige Points. The previous victory had only awarded 500.

Could it be because these zombies were related to a Hidden Mission?

Or perhaps it was because the Human Faction was present…

Qian Hui couldn’t quite understand why, but any reward was a good thing.

However, after being here for so long, the “Host Strength” stat in the game’s main interface had only improved from “Weak” to “Relatively Strong,” while the “Faction Strength” remained “Weak,” still ranked third.

The number of mutated plants around him had grown, and their overall combat power had increased, but the Plant Squad’s efforts alone seemed insufficient to influence the overall situation.

After promising to rescue Mimosa’s friends, Qian Hui realized that even more mutated plants were in danger, and a persistent worry gnawed at his heart.

Plants were already outnumbered by zombies. Should they follow humanity’s example and gather in large numbers to establish bases?

But could mutated plants even have bases?

If so, what would they look like?

With fewer than 3,000 Prestige Points, the new Shop remained locked, leaving Qian Hui clueless about how to establish a base.

He unconsciously thought of Nan Tingjin again. As the leader of Black Ridge Mountain Base, Nan Tingjin undoubtedly possessed a wealth of knowledge.

Qian Hui pressed his lips together, resisting the urge to turn and look at him.

First, rescue the imprisoned plants… Asking now would be pointless without enough Prestige Points.

Before they knew it, noon had arrived. The Carnivorous Flower found a safe spot to rest and have lunch.

The plants lined up to receive their meals. Qian Hui had Little Cabbage deliver Nan Tingjin’s portion.

The journey was long. Based on scent tracking, Mimosa estimated it would take two days to reach their destination.

However, this estimate didn’t account for rest periods.

Even if they ate on the move, the Carnivorous Flower needed sleep. Being exposed alone, it had to maintain sufficient energy to respond to emergencies.

Adding in sleep and occasional breaks, the trip would likely take three days.

Carrot felt they couldn’t afford to delay. Once they arrived, they still needed to scout the area and refine their battle plan. The sooner they got there, the better.

So it proposed that while the Carnivorous Flower rested, everyone else could ride on Carrot Thorn’s back.

Carrot puffed out its chest and declared, “Woo!”

Its suggestion was met with silence from all the plants, including Qian Hui.

“Ride the carrot thorn… How would we fly? Like before, with everyone grabbing onto each other in a chain?”

The plants might be fine, but Qian Hui and Nan Tingjin were also part of the group.

Carrot remained confident, pointing at Little Cabbage.

Its carrot thorn had excellent weight-bearing capacity and precise directional control. With Soft Vine’s help, they could simply secure the Cabbage Shell to it.

The only slight inconvenience was the limited flight time of the carrot thorn. They would need to find suitable landing spots every so often to rest and then resume their journey.

Durian immediately raised its hand in agreement. The other plants exchanged glances and seemed to think it might work.

Qian Hui hesitated, still feeling uneasy.

Just then, Nut jumped forward.

It enlarged itself slightly, balanced Little Cabbage on its head, and hopped in a circle before stopping in front of Qian Hui.

Nut bounced in place and chirped, “Hmm!”

It was trying to say it could help too, by carrying the Cabbage Shell on its head.

However, Nut could only move by hopping, which was noisy and unstable.

Little Cabbage, who had nearly fallen several times earlier, clung tightly to Nut’s head, afraid to move.

In comparison, Carrot’s suggestion seemed much more reliable.

The other plants had limited abilities and no better ideas.

Qian Hui picked up Little Cabbage, then Nut, and praised them, “Xiao Guo, you’re so strong! You need to protect everyone.”

The two special-grade mutated plants took turns leading the way, dividing the task of ensuring safety. Part of the mission fell to Nut.

Qian Hui phrased it gently, asking Nut to simply stay close to the plants.

Nut pondered for a moment, its eyes gleaming slightly. “Mm-hmm!”

With that settled, they continued their relentless march. They were certain to reach their destination in two days.

During a brief rest after the meal, Carrot summoned Soft Vine and opened the Cabbage Shell to test it.

However, the Cabbage Shell, when bound for flight, couldn’t maintain its invisibility. It would be too conspicuous in broad daylight, so Carrot was assigned to night duty.

After burrowing into the Carnivorous Flower’s mouth to resume their journey, Carrot immediately went to sleep.

Mimosa enlarged its form and actively came to Qian Hui’s side.

Qian Hui fed it a few pills and patted its leaves. “You should rest too, right? Xiao Zi knows the way.”

In truth, Mimosa was the most exhausted of them all. To accurately determine direction and distance, it needed to maintain unwavering focus, lest it be distracted by ambient scents and misjudge their path.

Mimosa shook its leaves, signaling it was fine.

Two days without sleep or rest was nothing. Back when it was held by human ability users, it had once gone four days without sleep.

And though it was tired, it was also incredibly happy and full of anticipation.

Mimosa nuzzled Qian Hui’s hand again, curled its leaves around the pills, and swallowed them before returning outside.

Qian Hui couldn’t stop it, feeling a pang of sympathy.

He casually opened the Encyclopedia to check Mimosa’s status and noticed its Loyalty had already risen to 50%.

Rescuing its imprisoned friends had been Mimosa’s long-held desire. Even with the outcome uncertain, it placed unwavering trust in Qian Hui and the Plant Squad.

They continued their journey in the afternoon. The plants, growing increasingly bored inside the Carnivorous Flower’s mouth, occasionally bickered.

Corn recounted his experience using his energy-charged attack for the sixth time to Potato. Finally, Potato, unable to endure it any longer, punched Corn and ran off to play with Nut.

Nut blinked as Potato approached. Though Nut rarely spoke and seemed uninterested in other plants, it never prevented them from getting close.

Carrot was asleep, guarded by Durian. Nearby, Sunflower and Little Bamboo Shoot sat quietly.

Soft Vine, needing assistance at night, quietly coiled around Qian Hui’s wrist and fell asleep as well.

Little Succulent quickly befriended Little Cabbage and Apple. The trio gathered together, then pulled Money Tree into their group.

Money Tree created a miniature defense barrier, while Apple continuously puffed smoke inside as they played hide-and-seek.

Chili Pepper sat on the edge of a gap between the Carnivorous Flower’s teeth, occasionally peering outside.

When Carrot rested, Chili Pepper became the “substitute captain,” helping the Carnivorous Flower keep watch over their surroundings.

After dark, the Carnivorous Flower burrowed into a forest and found a lake.

That night, Little Cabbage produced its Cabbage Bowl, and Qian Hui bathed in the lake water.

After leaving the base and losing access to amenities like hair dryers, Chili Pepper resumed drying Qian Hui’s hair with chili pepper seeds, as usual.

Chili Pepper worked meticulously, even mimicking Nan Tingjin’s earlier gestures, frequently combing through his hair with its fingers.

Several days passed, and most of the hair dye gradually washed out, revealing his original hair color.

Qian Hui summoned Little Cabbage and instructed it to lead Nan Tingjin to the Cabbage Bowl.

Since Nan Tingjin wasn’t leaving, and he was staying with the group, they couldn’t treat him too poorly.

Little Cabbage nodded and scurried to the nearby tree.

It tugged at Nan Tingjin’s hem, pointed toward the lake, and let out two soft “woo woo” sounds.

The Carnivorous Flower had already refilled the Cabbage Bowl with water, and newly purchased clothes lay neatly folded on the grass nearby.

Nan Tingjin looked up, paused for a moment, then rose and walked over.

Once everyone and all the plants were settled inside the Cabbage Shell, Carrot, brimming with energy, pulled out a carrot thorn.

Soft Vine sprouted four sturdy tendrils, tightly binding the Cabbage Shell to the carrot thorn.

Mimosa pressed itself against Carrot’s forehead, gripped the carrot thorn firmly, and swung its arm forcefully. With a mighty heave, the carrot thorn lifted the Cabbage Shell into the air.

The Cabbage Shell suddenly shot into the air, swaying wildly for a moment before stabilizing.

Carrot stood atop it, adjusting the carrot thorn to steer.

It maintained a calm and relaxed expression, but the plants inside the Cabbage Shell were terrified, fearing they would fall out.

Though the initial turbulence quickly subsided, the night wind continued to make the Cabbage Shell tremble slightly. Even the slightest movement from the plants inside caused it to shake.

Potato, who was afraid of heights, huddled tightly against Qian Hui along with Little Cabbage and the others.

Carnivorous Flower slept in a corner, while Money Tree protected several others nearby.

Gradually, as they confirmed the Cabbage Shell was flying steadily, the plants began to relax.

Qian Hui did the same. He shifted his leg and accidentally brushed against Nan Tingjin.

Nan Tingjin had been brought along as well, making the space inside the Cabbage Shell even more cramped.

Qian Hui pretended not to notice him and closed his eyes, preparing to sleep sitting up.

Time ticked by, and the plants around him gradually drifted off to sleep.

Qian Hui couldn’t sleep for long. He was jolted awake by a sudden lurch, likely because the carrot thorn had reached its limit. Carrot had stopped to land and prepare to switch to a fresh one.

Qian Hui yawned and rubbed his eyes.

Outside, Carrot must have replaced its worn-out thorns. The Cabbage Shell took flight again, jolting them once more.

Seizing the moment, Nan Tingjin opened his eyes and leaned closer to Qian Hui.

He touched Qian Hui’s palm and gently took his hand. “Can I hold you?”

Afraid of waking the other plants, Qian Hui didn’t push him away directly. He turned his head and said, “No.”

Despite his refusal, Nan Tingjin pulled him into his arms, cradling both Qian Hui and the sleeping plant in his lap with utmost tenderness.

Qian Hui shifted slightly, then gave up struggling.

In the dim light of the Cabbage Shell, he tilted his head back and caught the faint scent of lake water from Nan Tingjin’s collar.

“You… you thought I was lying to you, didn’t you?” Qian Hui murmured.

Nan Tingjin stroked his hair. “No.”

“But you also said,” Qian Hui continued, “that you don’t remember loving me anymore.”

Nan Tingjin repeated, “No.”

He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to Qian Hui’s cheek.

Unable to push him away at that moment, Qian Hui, still simmering with resentment, couldn’t resist biting Nan Tingjin’s chin hard.

After biting him, Qian Hui felt a pang of regret and asked anxiously, “Will I infect you?”

Strictly speaking, he was a zombie himself. Being bitten by a zombie might turn him into one too.

Nan Tingjin’s lips curved into a smile as he reached out to gently touch Qian Hui’s blunt canine teeth with the pad of his finger. He leaned in for another kiss. “No, you won’t.”

Relieved, Qian Hui said, though still a little displeased, “You’re not allowed to kiss me anymore.”

Nan Tingjin murmured, “Alright,” and pulled him into a warm embrace. “Sleep now.”

Qian Hui leaned against him, unconsciously nuzzling closer, and quietly closed his eyes.

As dawn broke, Carrot found a place to land and relieved Carnivorous Flower.

They continued their journey without incident, and flying with Carrot’s thorns allowed them to bypass detours, bringing them closer to their destination faster than Mimosa had predicted.

A day and a half later, around 3 PM.

Within Sky Base, three small squads quietly departed from different directions, taking circuitous routes to converge on the same target.

Wen Jue’s precognition had confirmed that Cabbage hadn’t left. The base dispatched covert search teams, and they indeed located it in the southeast sector.

It had been lingering there for quite some time, seemingly observing the base and seeking another opportunity to strike.

To capture this special-grade mutated plant alive, the base initially set up traps within its perimeter, hoping Cabbage would walk right into them.

However, perhaps sensing the danger, Cabbage only appeared once afterward.

It injured several members of the outer patrol squad before swiftly retreating, choosing not to breach the base again.

Fearing Cabbage might leave and move to a more distant location, making capture more difficult, the base’s teams consulted and decided to launch an offensive.

Under the warm afternoon sun, Cabbage stretched out its gauntlets, shed two leaves from its outer shell, and sprawled across a rock to bask in the sunlight.

It planned to wait until sunset, then go outside the base to beat up a few more people before finally leaving.

Having failed to rescue the plants within the base, Cabbage sighed silently.

There’s nothing more I can do. I tried my best. If I get another chance, I’ll come back and check on them…

Wait, what was that sound?

Cabbage instantly flipped upright, its outer shell leaves and gauntlets snapping back into their original positions. It scanned the surroundings warily.

It seemed to hear faint footsteps, and the scent carried by the wind had subtly changed.

Cabbage sensed danger and decided to move to a new hiding spot to observe the situation.

It leaped off the rock and had taken only a few steps when two massive fireballs hurtled toward it from the distance.

Cabbage nimbly dodged, and the fireballs crashed into the ruins behind it with a deafening boom.

Simultaneously, the clear sky suddenly darkened with storm clouds, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder.

After evading a third fireball, several wind blades slashed toward it from another direction.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, unleashing bolts of lightning in rapid succession.

Cabbage raised a stone slab with one hand to block the wind blades while sprinting to evade the relentless lightning strikes.

It quickly found nearby cover, finally catching its breath.

Damn… they’re human Ability Users.

They must have realized Cabbage excelled in close combat, deliberately surrounding it from a distance and relying solely on ranged attacks to wear it down.

Before long, over a dozen fireballs slammed into the ruins sheltering Cabbage, destroying its cover.

Forced to move, Cabbage scanned its surroundings, assessing which direction had the fewest opponents for a potential breakthrough.

In the brief time, the storm clouds had thickened, their heavy layers flickering ominously, on the verge of unleashing their full fury.

Suddenly, a massive barrage of orange “carrot rain” shot from the side, crashing straight into the storm clouds.