Level 1 Little Zombie Doomsday Growth Diary - Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Hearing this, Qian Hui grew even more confused, his expression puzzled. “Me?”

“Yes,” Nan Tingjin replied. “I was waiting for you.”

Over the past few days, his memories had been gradually returning.

These memories remained fragmented and distorted, sometimes making it impossible to discern the order of events.

Moreover, the recovered memories contained only Qian Hui, no one else.

But Nan Tingjin remembered his time in the forest with perfect clarity.

It wasn’t him who needed to sleep at regular intervals and awaken only every few days—it was Qian Hui. He couldn’t leave the forest and spent every day waiting.

From the moment Qian Hui first stumbled into the forest, he would reappear every six days. Nan Tingjin had once asked him why.

But at that time, Qian Hui’s mind was sluggish and somewhat dazed. One moment he would say he had to work, the next he would claim he had been here before but couldn’t enter the stone hut.

Before each of Qian Hui’s awakenings, medicinal herbs would sprout outside the forest hut, their decoctions replenishing vital energy and blood.

Then, one day, Nan Tingjin finally managed to leave the forest. He saw the entire Plant Little Courtyard enveloped in a translucent barrier, its contents shimmering like reflections in rippling water. Inside, Qian Hui and a group of mutated plants lay dormant.

That very night, the strange place collapsed, along with the forest that had confined him. Afterward, he found himself in this world.

This part of his memory was pieced together from fragmented images. Nan Tingjin had spent a long time piecing it together, but hadn’t had a chance to tell Qian Hui about it until now.

After hearing Nan Tingjin’s account, Qian Hui remained stunned for a long while.

He struggled to recall, then asked hesitantly, “Is… is it possible I’m misremembering?”

In the earliest days of his consciousness, Qian Hui had been clumsy and slow-witted. The details of some events had faded from his memory.

As for Nan Tingjin’s claim that he had slept with the plants during the day, Qian Hui had no recollection of that at all.

He had never slept during the day before, nor had the plants, because they had “work” to do during the day.

After “work” was done, he and the plants would pursue their own activities, such as playing games, sunbathing, or reading. They only slept after dark.

Qian Hui couldn’t understand. Just then, it was time for lights-out at the base, and all the cabbage lamps went out simultaneously.

The wooden cabin plunged into darkness, and Qian Hui panicked, immediately hiding in Nan Tingjin’s arms. “Xiao Jin…”

“Don’t be afraid,” Nan Tingjin said, holding Qian Hui tightly. “It’s all in the past now. There’s no need to dwell on it.”

Regardless of whose memory was faulty, they were both safe and sound now.

Qian Hui murmured a soft “Mm-hmm” as Nan Tingjin carried him to the bed.

After lying down, Qian Hui couldn’t fall asleep immediately, still pondering the matter.

Now that he thought about it, there were many illogical aspects to their “work” with the plants in the Little Courtyard back then.

Where had the invading zombies come from? And why did they have health bars floating above their heads? Compared to the real zombies of this world, they were like paper cutouts.

Qian Hui had never deeply questioned his own special nature—why he was different from those zombies, or why he could live in the Little Courtyard with the plants.

He drifted into a daze for a while, eventually falling asleep without realizing it.

Then, Qian Hui dreamed.

It had been a long time since his last dream, and this one was still about Nan Tingjin.

The dream’s timeline seemed to be set in the early days of the Doomsday, with flashes of chaos and violence.

Many areas had rapidly fallen, including Qian Hui’s location. He had nearly been bitten by a zombie, but Nan Tingjin had saved him.

In those early days, the zombies hadn’t yet evolved into higher-grade forms, and humans showed no signs of awakening abilities.

Yet even under such circumstances, Nan Tingjin had protected him every step of the way, guiding him to relatively safe places.

Qian Hui dreamed of hiding in an abandoned house. Nan Tingjin returned from scavenging with food—a few packs of biscuits and other dry rations, along with half a bottle of water.

Nan Tingjin gave all the food to Qian Hui, taking only a few sips of water himself.

As Qian Hui ate the biscuits, he fed Nan Tingjin a piece.

Nan Tingjin didn’t refuse, reaching out to wipe a smudge of dust from Qian Hui’s cheek.

Another time, Nan Tingjin brought back a somewhat peculiar Carrot, intending to eat it.

But the Carrot suddenly came to life, leaping up to attack them before attempting to escape, only to be recaptured.

Qian Hui’s soft heart prevailed; with their food supplies temporarily sufficient, they decided not to eat the Carrot.

It was around this time that Nan Tingjin’s body began to change, transforming him into what others called an “Ability User.”

The dream grew hazy. Qian Hui seemed to possess an ability as well, though he rarely used it. Nan Tingjin had warned him never to reveal it to strangers.

Later, as the zombie hordes swelled, the number of Ability Users and mutated plants also increased.

Eventually, the two were separated.

Qian Hui was sent to a newly established Doomsday base. Before parting, he clung to Nan Tingjin, pleading, “You have to come get me soon…”

The dream blurred further, perhaps because Nan Tingjin was no longer by his side. The chaotic images became incomprehensible, or perhaps Qian Hui simply refused to remember them.

When Nan Tingjin finally reappeared, it felt like an eternity had passed.

The two huddled together in a dark, shadowy corner, just like they used to.

Nan Tingjin carefully held Qian Hui in his arms. His clothes were stained with blood, but the wounds on his body were already healing.

Several small, familiar-looking mutated plants clustered in the corner.

Sensing his own emotions from the dream, Qian Hui felt a surge of happiness. He leaned in and kissed Nan Tingjin, then murmured slowly and drowsily, “I’m okay now…”

The dream abruptly ended. Qian Hui opened his eyes to find the sky outside the window just beginning to lighten.

Nan Tingjin was right beside him, his familiar warmth and scent filling the air. Still half-asleep, Qian Hui yawned. In that drowsy moment, most of the latter half of the dream slipped from his memory.

He drifted back to sleep for a while. When he woke again, he excitedly tugged at Nan Tingjin’s arm. “Xiao Jin, I dreamed about you again!”

They had just gotten out of bed. Qian Hui had finished washing up, and Nan Tingjin was buttoning his coat for him.

At these words, Nan Tingjin hesitated for a moment.

The last time Qian Hui dreamed about him, he had woken up saying Nan Tingjin wasn’t his boyfriend… He wondered what this dream had been about.

Before Nan Tingjin could ask, Qian Hui volunteered, “Did you… ever give me a ring?”

The ring was the kind children played with, made of plastic with a colorful little flower on top.

Nan Tingjin had brought it back while scavenging for supplies. He’d initially intended to throw it away, but Qian Hui liked it, so he kept it.

In the Doomsday, where every day was lived in constant fear, wearing something colorful could lift one’s spirits.

Qian Hui’s eyes shone with anticipation as he repeated his question, “Was it?”

Nan Tingjin replied, “Yes, I gave you one.”

As if they’d exchanged a secret code, Qian Hui’s joy deepened. He nestled into Nan Tingjin’s arms, nuzzling against him. “It’s a shame it’s gone now…”

Nan Tingjin straightened Qian Hui’s collar. “I’ll look for another one.”

It was getting late. Sweet Pepper and Little Mushroom called from outside, urging Qian Hui to wake up and eat breakfast.

The wooden cabin’s entrance was blocked by trees. Nan Tingjin was inside, and most plants didn’t dare provoke him, so they refrained from squeezing through the windows.

When the pair emerged from the cabin, they received another piece of good news.

Mimosa had been safely returned. Yuan Ji’s mission had been successful; he had captured Wen Jue alive and was now holding him under strict guard in the prison.

Hearing Wen Jue’s name slightly dampened Qian Hui’s morning cheer.

He ate his breakfast distractedly, hesitating and agonizing for a long time before finally deciding to meet the human.

Before leaving, Nan Tingjin advised him, “If you don’t want to see him, just kill him.”

Wen Jue had long suffered from the Lost State, leaving him in poor health. Neither base needed his ability, making him useless to keep alive.

Qian Hui shook his head. “I can’t. I… I have a mission.”

“What mission?” Nan Tingjin asked.

“I don’t know,” Qian Hui explained, unable to articulate it clearly. “It’s a Hidden Mission. Finding him will earn me a reward.”

Nan Tingjin took Qian Hui’s hand, no longer trying to dissuade him. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Yuan Ji arrived in a car to pick them up. Upon learning that Wen Jue was imprisoned at the Black Ridge Mountain Base, Carrot and Carnivorous Flower insisted on joining them.

Timothy led a group of flowering plants, also volunteering to come along. In case the human caused any trouble, the plants could protect Qian Hui.

When Little Mushroom saw everyone was going, it wanted to join too.

Afraid it might be frightened, Qian Hui gently explained, “This man is a bad guy. He’s captured many plants…”

Little Mushroom nodded earnestly. “Mm-hmm.”

It knew, and it should remember that human. But it wouldn’t be scared.

Yuan Ji added, “Wen Jue’s ability isn’t offensive. The prison is very secure.”

After much hesitation, Qian Hui finally relented to Little Mushroom’s persistent pleading and agreed.

In the end, over a dozen plants accompanied them, along with Nan Tingjin, escorting Qian Hui in a grand procession to the prison at Black Ridge Mountain Base.

Wen Jue was confined in the innermost cell. Yuan Ji led the way, explaining, “When we arrived, only two of his subordinates remained by his side. He had essentially given up resisting.”

Yuan Ji had brought a large force, and guided by Mimosa, they cautiously entered the base. Even after Wen Jue’s subordinates drank ability-enhancing potions, they were no match for the attackers.

The remaining members of River-Sea Base had long since fled, including their Leader. Other bases were assisting in the search.

As for Wen Jue, he seemed to have only recently emerged from the Lost State. Exhausted and gaunt, he lacked the strength to resist.

Even if they spared his life, he likely wouldn’t survive much longer.

As Qian Hui listened, he felt increasingly relieved as they approached their destination.

Upon reaching the innermost cell, the Ability Users guarding the corridor stepped aside, revealing a figure trapped behind layers of electric nets.

Wen Jue was bound to a chair, his body restrained by various ropes and restraints.

His eyes were tightly shut, and his breathing was barely perceptible. Hearing the approaching footsteps, he let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Do you really think I’d try to escape in this state?”

Wen Jue slowly opened his eyes and saw Nan Tingjin standing outside the cell, accompanied by Qian Hui and the plants.

The plants glared at him with hostility, especially the Carnivorous Flower, which seemed eager to tear him apart.

Timothy, the cat-tail grass, cautiously scrutinized Wen Jue, twitching its nose as it sniffed the air.

Wen Jue ignored the plants, his gaze fixed on Qian Hui. His expression shifted slightly. “You…”

Silver hair and crimson eyes… these were unmistakable signs of zombification.

Wen Jue had met Qian Hui once before, but at the time, his hair had been dyed, and the distance had prevented him from seeing the exact color of his eyes.

Qian Hui had always been well-protected. After the establishment of the base, many matters were handled by the Black Ridge Mountain Base.

Even Wen Jue had been unaware of Qian Hui’s true condition, assuming that the one who commanded the mutated plants was a human Ability User.

At that moment, a Game Notification popped up before Qian Hui’s eyes.

[ Hidden Mission Completed! Obtained current Plot Point: “The Mystery of Time.” ]