Level 1 Little Zombie Doomsday Growth Diary - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

The surroundings fell silent, everyone holding their breath.

Although the base had two gates, the Inner Gate was the most critical. Opening the Outer Gate meant allowing mutated plants to enter and exit the base freely.

Yet they also knew that without the mutated plants’ assistance, the base couldn’t be defended.

Moreover, they had witnessed the Giant Nut’s power firsthand. If these mutated plants wanted to force their way into the base, no defense would hold.

Seeing Nan Tingjin standing unharmed among the mutated plants finally eased their anxiety somewhat.

But the figure beside him…

Silver hair and crimson eyes—the hallmarks of zombification. Yet beyond these traits, Qian Hui appeared remarkably human.

Was this the same youth Nan Tingjin had personally brought back to the base before?

Back then, his eyes had been covered with a cloth strip, and his hair color had been unusually striking…

Looking at the mutated plants, large and small, clustered around Qian Hui, it seemed they were protecting him rather than Nan Tingjin.

Nut stood behind Qian Hui, while Carrot had removed its helmet and perched on Qian Hui’s shoulder.

A Cabbage and a Big Pea stood guard at Qian Hui’s sides, their auras radiating formidable power—all special-grade.

Yuan Ji quickly realized that Qian Hui must have been disguised when he first entered the base.

He had even exchanged a few words with Qian Hui back then…

A human who could command mutated plants and possessed zombification characteristics?

His worldview shattered, Yuan Ji took a deep breath and personally opened the gate.

As soon as the Inner Gate swung open, Big Pea sprang into action.

It rolled forward with a “glug-glug” sound, stopping in the middle of the road to raise its head and survey its surroundings.

Cabbage, Durian, and several other plants followed closely behind. Corn and Potato swaggered in, their eyes darting around to take in the scene.

Big Cherry trailed Potato, and Mango followed Big Cherry.

As Mango passed Yuan Ji, sensing the human’s strength, it kicked him hard.

Yuan Ji didn’t flinch, calling out, “Leader…”

Seeing that he wouldn’t retaliate, Mango curled its lip and hurried away.

Yuan Ji’s tone was complex, yet he feigned casualness as he asked, “Should we arrange accommodations for our guests?”

Nan Tingjin turned to Qian Hui, who quickly replied, “No need… they’ll stay with me.”

Sensing Yuan Ji’s carefully concealed tension and unease, Qian Hui quietly added, “They’re very well-behaved and won’t harm anyone without reason.”

Yuan Ji’s real-time communication channel remained open, and this exchange was broadcast to the rear, where many heard it.

Very… well-behaved?

The crowd stared at the Big Pea and Cabbage, their eyes gleaming menacingly as they brandished carrots tipped with sharp thorns.

The Nut had shrunk considerably, but the Giant Carnivorous Flower still loomed, its razor-sharp teeth glinting coldly in the moonlight.

Not to mention the Plant Squad, each member wearing an exquisitely crafted helmet, their ferocity and combat prowess unmatched.

Yuan Ji smiled. “Understood.”

“Let’s go inside first,” Nan Tingjin said. “Prepare a vehicle.”

Clutching the Sunflower tightly, Qian Hui followed Nan Tingjin through the Inner Gate.

The remaining plants followed suit, with the Carnivorous Flower and Nut bringing up the rear. The Nut bounced heavily with each step, its massive body shaking the ground and unsettling the onlookers’ hearts.

The Carnivorous Flower’s thick flower stalk slid past, its pitch-black eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

A modified car pulled up, and Yuan Ji asked the occupants to disembark before taking the driver’s seat himself.

Qian Hui and Nan Tingjin sat in the back. The base was vast, and the plants, unfamiliar with the terrain, had boarded the vehicle to prevent them from wandering off.

Smaller plants squeezed into Qian Hui’s lap or crammed themselves beside Nan Tingjin.

Those that couldn’t fit in the back had to take the front seat or climb onto the roof.

Yuan Ji remained calm at the wheel. Suddenly, a large red Cherry leaped through the open window beside him.

It glanced around before Mango, Cactus, and Four-Leaf Clover followed closely behind.

The plants crowded onto the passenger seat, and the shrunken Carnivorous Flower and Nut arrived as well.

Nut skillfully jumped into Qian Hui’s lap, while Carnivorous Flower stared at the passenger seat. The other plants quickly shifted to make room.

Carnivorous Flower slowly slid into the space. Yuan Ji gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to regulate his breathing.

Mango, squeezed to the side, hopped onto the dashboard and settled into a crouch.

Curious, it reached out to touch everything. Yuan Ji hesitated, wanting to warn it but holding back.

Just then, a Little Bamboo Shoot leaped inside.

Finding no room on the passenger seat, it also chose the dashboard.

Little Bamboo Shoot sat beside Mango, gently taking the object from its hand and placing it back in its original spot. With a soft “woo,” it cautioned Mango to be more careful and avoid touching things indiscriminately.

Mango, for the moment, was being obedient, sitting still and quiet.

Yuan Ji couldn’t help but glance over, his eyes meeting Little Bamboo Shoot’s.

Little Bamboo Shoot gave him a polite nod before turning away, sitting upright with dignified composure.

Cabbage and Pea climbed onto the roof of the vehicle, followed by Carrot and Durian.

The rooftop offered the best view. Carrot surveyed the surroundings before tapping the roof with its carrot thorn, signaling the others to join them.

Nan Tingjin instructed, “Take us back to my residence.”

Yuan Ji carefully steered the vehicle around a corner and headed toward the base’s residential area.

Along the way, Cactus and Four-Leaf Clover pressed against the windows, peering out, while Little Mushroom peeked out from Qian Hui’s pocket.

Lights illuminated the base, and many of the plants were seeing a human settlement for the first time, their eyes wide with curiosity.

Though the plants generally disliked humans, this was Nan Tingjin’s base, and Nan Tingjin was Qian Hui’s human.

They didn’t understand what a “boyfriend” was, but since Nan Tingjin and Qian Hui were so close, they assumed it meant something similar.

In any case, the base was safe, and the plants had grown bolder. Cactus caught sight of the distant skyscrapers and let out a soft “woo” of wonder.

Yuan Ji deliberately slowed the car, continuing his conversation with Nan Tingjin.

“Those people are too devoted to Wen Jue,” he remarked. “They’d probably follow him to their deaths if he asked.”

Perhaps because Black Ridge Mountain Base had minimal need for medical supplies, its contact with Sky Base was limited to a few assigned personnel, and it didn’t require Wen Jue’s ability for any specific tasks. This made it difficult for them to understand the other bases’ unwavering support for Wen Jue.

When Sky Base’s branch was attacked and Wen Jue’s unethical ability research was exposed, he had somehow managed to suppress the scandal by threatening to withhold medical supplies.

“I bet he has more tricks up his sleeve,” Yuan Ji continued. “He may seem righteous, but he’s incredibly cunning.”

Yet he couldn’t figure it out. Wen Jue’s ability was precognition, wasn’t it? If he planned to seize Black Ridge Mountain Base, he would have prepared thoroughly.

And then there was the strange phenomenon that occurred during the outer team’s retreat…

As Yuan Ji pondered, Nan Tingjin suddenly asked, “Did you also experience any discomfort tonight?”

“A little,” Yuan Ji replied. “My ability suddenly stopped working for a few minutes before recovering.”

Yuan Ji had been near the base gate at the time. After a brief rest, he now felt almost completely normal.

Nan Tingjin’s gaze lingered on Yuan Ji’s face through the rearview mirror. “Keep a close eye on yourself lately.”

“I will,” Yuan Ji replied.

Qian Hui silently listened to their conversation, then couldn’t resist reaching out to tug on Nan Tingjin’s sleeve.

His expression worried, he whispered, “You too…”

Compared to Yuan Ji, Nan Tingjin needed to monitor his health even more closely.

Nan Tingjin didn’t reply, but he took Qian Hui’s hand in his.

Reading the room, Yuan Ji changed his tone. “Well, they won’t dare come back now, will they? They wouldn’t even know how they died.”

Regardless of Wen Jue’s true motives, the Black Ridge Mountain Base had suffered minimal losses.

Once the outsiders realized what had happened, they would undoubtedly question Wen Jue’s capabilities.

With Nan Tingjin’s return and the arrival of so many mutated plants at Black Ridge Mountain, a second siege within the near future was impossible.

Even in the worst-case scenario, the anomaly that appeared tonight would only affect human ability users, posing no threat to the mutated plants.

Nut, nestled in Qian Hui’s arms, opened its eyes, sensing the words sounded like a compliment.

It shifted slightly and let out a soft “hmm.”

Qian Hui stroked Nut and fed it another dose of medicine.

Upon arriving at the low building where Nan Tingjin resided, the modified car parked by the roadside.

The plants hopped out one by one. Carnivorous Flower quickly circled the perimeter, while Cabbage helped Qian Hui open the car door.

With cleanup operations still underway across the base, Nan Tingjin escorted Qian Hui upstairs, planning to leave with Yuan Ji and return later.

Nan Tingjin murmured, “Rest early. Don’t wait up for me.”

Qian Hui hugged him and nodded obediently. “Mm.”

Yuan Ji waited by the entrance downstairs when a Green Chili Pepper suddenly dashed over, clutching something in its hand.

The Chili Pepper stopped before Yuan Ji and held out an open Communicator. “Woo.”

Yuan Ji hesitated, then ventured, “You… want my communication frequency?”

The Chili Pepper nodded and repeated its “woo.”

Yuan Ji took the Communicator. “Alright…”

After exchanging communication frequencies, the Chili Pepper recorded Yuan Ji’s name and hurried back upstairs.

Staring at the newly added “Mutated Chili Pepper” in his Communicator, Yuan Ji felt a strange mix of emotions.

Soon after, a subordinate arrived with food and dry rations. Only then did Nan Tingjin and Yuan Ji leave together.

All the food was laid out in the downstairs hall. Qian Hui and the plants could eat their fill and then head upstairs; someone would come to clean up later, ensuring they wouldn’t be disturbed.

The hall was brightly lit and empty of outsiders. Several plants immediately hopped onto the table, picking through the dishes.

“Don’t make too much of a mess. Bring me a towel,” Qian Hui instructed, spoon-feeding soup to Little Mushroom while issuing reminders. Unable to manage them all, he let them be.

The plants were accustomed to freedom outdoors and had never tasted human food before.

The biscuits and dried meat Qian Hui usually fed them were simple but flavorful, providing ample energy.

Big Pea sampled every dish but walked away in disgust.

Potato ate a few meatballs while feeding Big Cherry landmines. It nodded absently as Corn described its new weapon, the Sprayer.

Four-Leaf Clover shook its head, cutting a vegetable pancake into smaller pieces and distributing them to the other plants.

Little Cabbage picked up chopsticks from the floor and mimicked Little Bamboo Shoot’s gestures, waving them around a few times. It then tried to snap the chopsticks in half, but after struggling for a long time without success, it quietly put them back on the table.

Once the plants had eaten their fill, Qian Hui wiped their leaves with a towel and led them upstairs.

It was getting late. Several plants, full and drowsy, had already crawled into the opened Cabbage Shells to sleep.

Little Mushroom was sleepy too, its eyes barely staying open as it clung tightly to Qian Hui’s finger, murmuring softly.

Sunflower, stationed by the Cabbage Shells, replenished the energy of the exhausted Plant Squad. Qian Hui patted Little Mushroom’s cap. “What’s wrong?”

He opened Little Mushroom’s Encyclopedia entry, but the skill slots remained grayed out.

Worried that the unfamiliar surroundings might be unsettling Little Mushroom, Qian Hui asked carefully.

Little Mushroom shook its head, indicating it was fine. After a moment of dazed silence, it pressed a kiss against Qian Hui’s cheek.

Carnivorous Flower, who had been waiting nearby, took Little Mushroom to sleep in the Cabbage Shell.

Qian Hui looked up and saw Nut standing alone by the window, quietly gazing outside.

He rose and approached, following Nut’s gaze.

In the distance, under the hazy night sky, the towering mountains formed a vast, shadowy silhouette.

That was the Restricted Zone of Black Ridge Mountain Base, the very place Nut had once spent so much time.

Qian Hui picked Nut up. “Do you want to go back and see it again?”

Nut hesitated, then nodded. “Mm.”

That place had been its first home.

Then disaster struck. So many zombies appeared at once, the plants in the mountains fled, and its former companions were nowhere to be found…

If Qian Hui hadn’t found Nut, it might have remained asleep there indefinitely, until it completely lost consciousness.

“Alright,” Qian Hui said, patting Nut’s head. “We’ll go tomorrow.”

Not just Nut, but the other plants could come too. The area was lush with vegetation, exactly the kind of place they would love…

Realizing this, Qian Hui suddenly had an idea.

The Restricted Zone at Black Ridge Mountain Base… It was an environment plants would thrive in, vast in size, and protected by perimeter walls.

In the previous forest, Qian Hui had tried using it as a base location, but the safety index had been low.

In comparison, the mountain forest before them seemed much more suitable.

Qian Hui felt a surge of excitement, though he kept it to himself, wanting to check the place out tomorrow first.

Besides, even though no one ever ventured into the Back Mountain, it still belonged to Black Ridge Mountain Base…

After pondering this quietly for a while, he took Nut back to the room to continue resting with the other plants.

Starfruit had caught a cold from the night wind and was sneezing repeatedly.

Little Apple rummaged through its backpack and pulled out a fresh towel to use as a blanket for Starfruit.

Big Cherry, who had been eating landmines all night, was still at it, popping them into its mouth one after another.

Mango sat nearby, diligently gnawing on the flatbread it had brought up from downstairs. When it was stuffed to the point of bursting, it ran over to Big Pea, challenging it to a fight.

Pea flopped down by the edge of the bed and beckoned with a wave.

Come on!

Meanwhile, inside the base’s prison, Shan Jun and several others knelt on the ground, all bearing injuries, with Shan Jun’s being the most severe. His right wrist was completely broken, held together by only a sliver of flesh, and blood soaked through a large patch of his clothing.

“Leader,” Shan Jun said, his voice trembling as he bowed his head, “I know I was wrong.”

Even when Yuan Ji had imprisoned him, he hadn’t felt any fear, knowing the base was likely in danger and Yuan Ji wouldn’t easily dispose of anyone. He had assumed the base wouldn’t survive until the next night, certain it would be overrun.

But then Nan Tingjin returned.

Yuan Ji had also revealed to Nan Tingjin Shan Jun’s secret communications with Sky Base.

The pain and terror made him tremble uncontrollably as he desperately begged for his life.

A shadow fell across the ground before him as Nan Tingjin approached.

With a slight gesture, Nan Tingjin forced Shan Jun to his feet, suspending him almost entirely in the air.

“About Wen Jue,” Nan Tingjin said, his expression icy, “what else do you know?”

At the same moment, a patrol squad passed by outside.

The squad leader suddenly stopped, pulling out a detection device.

The device’s needle twitched slightly, indicating the presence of zombies or mutated plants nearby.

But… just tonight, the gates of Black Ridge Mountain Base swung open, welcoming “guests”: a group of mutated plants and a silver-haired youth with crimson eyes.

A companion leaned closer to glance at the device. “Why are you still carrying that thing? Turn it off.”

Ordinary zombies couldn’t infiltrate the base undetected. Now, their greatest threat came from their own kind.

The Ability User holding the detection device hesitated for a moment before putting it away.

After the squad departed, a shadow flickered past the perimeter fence.

Sweet Pepper, still masked, ducked behind another barrier, cautiously surveying its surroundings.

Its concealment ability had just worn off. Thankfully, it had reacted quickly.

Back in the Plant Little Courtyard, Sweet Pepper’s ability had always been unique—it was an Assassin.

For it, infiltrating human bases was child’s play.

But why was this place so vast? Where had Carrot and Nut gone?

Sweet Pepper seethed with frustration, letting out a cold snort.

Once it found Carrot and Nut, it would first capture that Mutated Chili Pepper and see what it was really made of.

It glanced around, hesitated, then chose a direction and darted away.

Nan Tingjin didn’t return all night. The next morning, Qian Hui woke to a noise.

He groggily sat up and pushed open the Cabbage Shell door.

Nan Tingjin stood before him, damp and smelling like he’d just showered.

Qian Hui tilted his head back and reached out. “Why are you only getting back now…?”

Without Nan Tingjin around, Qian Hui had slept in the Cabbage Shell. The plants that couldn’t fit inside slept in the Cabbage Bowl, on the bed, or even on the floor.

Nan Tingjin didn’t answer. He bent down and scooped Qian Hui out of the Cabbage Shell.

Qian Hui wrapped his arms around Nan Tingjin’s neck and nuzzled against him, mumbling, “I wanted to…”

He trailed off, realizing Nan Tingjin had just returned and probably needed rest.

Nan Tingjin kissed the tip of Qian Hui’s ear, pressing, “You wanted to what?”

Remembering the Restricted Area Back Mountain, Qian Hui obediently replied, “I want to go to the Back Mountain, where Xiao Guo used to be.”

“Alright,” Nan Tingjin agreed, turning toward the bed with Qian Hui in his arms. “I’ll take you.”

It was barely dawn, still early.

“Let’s sleep a little longer,” Nan Tingjin said. “We’ll go after we wake up.”

Chili Pepper and Cabbage were sprawled out asleep, while Potato lay in the center of the bed, opening and closing its eyes before rolling over to the edge.

Nan Tingjin paused, ultimately deciding not to move the plants. He lay down beside Qian Hui.

When Qian Hui woke again after breakfast, he confirmed that Nan Tingjin had no urgent matters and was free to accompany him to Back Mountain.

The path to Back Mountain was straightforward, following the perimeter toward the forested area. Nan Tingjin opted against using a vehicle, instead having the Carnivorous Flower transport everyone.

Within fifteen minutes, the Giant Carnivorous Flower arrived at the entrance to the Restricted Zone.

Nan Tingjin helped Qian Hui down from the flower’s head and opened the Restricted Zone gate.

The plants eagerly rushed inside, their curious eyes darting around.

The area was truly vast. Nut’s former location was merely one of two mountain peaks, with sparse forests and expansive grasslands stretching along the perimeter.

Anxious and nervous, Qian Hui opened the Game Interface and attempted to confirm the base location.

[ Please wait… ]

[ Base location approved! ]

[ All conditions met. Establish base immediately? ]