After saying goodbye to Duan Qianyu, Chi Wan accompanied Li Xingye to the base headquarters.

The base headquarters was now located in the central-most high-rise, and the surrounding facilities were all operational again.

As they walked, Chi Wan saw not only small eateries but also shops for clothing, equipment, and weapons. If it weren’t for the towering wall of vines on the outer perimeter, it would be hard to believe that just a few months ago, this place had been a ruin completely overrun by zombies.

Everything seemed new and fascinating to Chi Wan, and she was completely unaware that she herself had become a sight for others to behold.

Soon, the entire base knew that their leader was wandering around with an unfamiliar woman.

Li Xingye lived on the top floor. From up there, you could see the stark contrast between the desolation in the distance and the bustling activity within the base. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Chi Wan asked curiously, "Brother Xingye, will you keep accepting new members into the base? What if more spies sneak in?"

Li Xingye pulled Chi Wan down to sit on the sofa. "It’s unavoidable. We can’t just ignore other survivors because of a few spies. But don’t worry. Once the base is fully established, I’ll find a way to deal with the root of the problem."

Hearing this, Chi Wan nervously gripped his hand. "Will it be dangerous?"

Li Xingye smiled and stroked her head. "I won’t be reckless. Besides, even if I don’t make a move, they probably can’t hold out for much longer anyway."

As soon as Duan Qianyu had moved over, she and Qiangzi had been tearing all over the city looking for usable equipment. Her initial goal was to expand the communication range as much as possible, which would make things more convenient for both the base’s defense and communication between teams out on missions.

Unexpectedly, not only did she restore the function of the signal towers throughout the entire Huazhong Region, but she also managed to rig up drones that could stably receive and transmit radio signals using a superpower.

Because they were powered by Crystal Cores, the drones had an unimaginably long operational time and could fly much farther.

So, when she intercepted radio signals from Dawn and Baiyi, even Duan Qianyu herself was a little speechless.

But thanks to that, they finally understood why Dawn was in such a hurry to snatch the Healing Ability User from Baiyi Base.

Just as they had analyzed, the process of upgrading a Spiritual Ability was indeed far more perilous for the Leader of Dawn Base than for an ordinary person.

They didn’t know where Dawn had heard it, but the rumor was that a Healing system of the Eighth Rank or higher could treat a person’s spiritual power.

Yet, looking across the entire country—or even the world—there had never been any report of an Eighth Rank Healing system. So naturally, Dawn Base had set its sights on the one from Baiyi Base, who was the closest to reaching the Eighth Rank.

But Baiyi was no pushover. To put it nicely, the Leader of Dawn had "separated" from Baiyi Base. To put it bluntly, it was defection and schism.

Besides, they knew enough about the things Dawn Base had done to never hand over the pillar of their entire base as a test subject. Anyone could imagine what those deranged experimenters would do upon discovering that a Seventh Rank Healing system couldn’t meet their needs.

After Li Xingye finished explaining, Chi Wan couldn’t help but sigh.

The apocalypse wasn’t a game of house, after all; risks were everywhere. Even though Li Xingye possessed what could be called the greatest combat power of the apocalypse, the thought of him facing unknown superpowers and experiments still left her worried.

Seeming to guess what was worrying her, Li Xingye knelt in front of Chi Wan, gently cupping her hands in his large ones. "Don’t worry, Wanwan. Xiao Liu’s superpower has already reached the Seventh Rank. We don’t know if it’s a natural ability for a Seventh Rank Healing system or if her superpower mutated, but not only can Xiao Liu perform group healing, she can even provide a degree of protection to one’s spiritual power during single-target healing."

This was something none of them had expected.

Although the effect didn’t last very long, for someone like Li Xingye, it was like having an extra layer of absolute security.

They also speculated that Baiyi Base’s Healing system might have the same skill, which would explain how Baiyi Base could still stand against Dawn on equal footing, despite Dawn having a powerhouse with a Spiritual Ability.

If the day ever came when he had to face the Leader of Dawn Base, with Xiao Liu there, Li Xingye would have nothing to worry about.

Chi Wan pulled Li Xingye down onto the sofa with her, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head in his chest. "What else can I do for you?" she murmured.

Amused, Li Xingye wrapped his hands around Chi Wan’s waist and, with a gentle pull, lifted her onto his lap.

Chi Wan let out a small cry, instinctively wrapping her arms around Li Xingye’s neck. "Wh-what are you doing?!"

Li Xingye chuckled softly, brushing his nose against hers. "Wanwan, your very existence is my greatest comfort."

He rested his head in the crook of Chi Wan’s shoulder, his voice slightly muffled. "After the apocalypse began, I didn’t really have any grand ambitions. My power might continue to grow, but the apocalypse itself would still go on.

"Everyone, myself included and all the people I’ve saved, we all knew that the day the food finally ran out would be the true doomsday. It felt like we were opening our eyes each day just to wait for a death that could come at any moment.

"You were the one who gave us new hope. You gave me a reason I had to live, no matter what. You allow me to use my abilities without reservation. Even if I can’t end all this, at least I can help more people live like human beings in this apocalypse."

At this, he suddenly chuckled. "But if we’re lucky enough, maybe we really can find a way to end the apocalypse. And when the apocalypse and the base no longer need me, Wanwan, all I’ll have left is you.

"Perhaps I used up what little luck I had on meeting you."

Chi Wan suddenly shifted, kneeling with her legs on either side of his on the sofa. She lifted his tousled head from her shoulder, looking down at him as she cradled his face to study it carefully.

Li Xingye obediently tilted his head back, his expression a mixture of reverence and faint anticipation as he gazed up at Chi Wan.

A flutter in her chest, Chi Wan leaned down and gently pecked the corner of Li Xingye’s lips.

Li Xingye’s eyes remained fixed on Chi Wan. His hand rested lightly on her back, stroking gently, but he didn’t press for more. His expression read, ’I’m yours for the taking.’

But when Chi Wan leaned in and kissed him again, his breathing finally grew ragged.

The hands that had been resting on her back moved; one pulled her tightly into his embrace while the other traced its way up to gently caress her neck, sending a shiver through her.

Ever since she’d seen him fight Liang Yushuang’s group, Chi Wan had known that a fierce beast lay hidden beneath his perpetually gentle exterior.

Yet she still couldn’t resist the urge to provoke it.

’I have such a wicked streak,’ she thought.

She wanted to see his tame, self-controlled facade crumble under her teasing. She wanted to see him shed it all and frankly reveal his truest desires.