"The dragon’s evolution crystal core? You mean ..." Chen Chaoyang was taken aback, the joy in his heart extinguished by a bucket of cold water.
"Yes! That’s right, the dragon in Zhiyang Lake is no more. Please don’t tell me you don’t know anything about it. So many people, even if they failed, some would have come back, right? Why hasn’t a single one returned?"
The last dragon-slaying operation led by He Zhoulong was unsuccessful. A few days after Chen Huaijiang’s death, some people went to Zhiyang Lake to investigate, but found nothing. All that was left were a few severely damaged helicopters and a large pool of dried blood. After several days of investigation, they realized there was no sign of the pseudo-dragon anywhere in Zhiyang Lake.
Although there were a few soldiers’ corpses on the ground, many more seemed to have vanished into thin air. This led to suspicions from the other five major bases, suspecting that He Zhoulong might have been successful and escaped with the pseudo-dragon’s evolution crystal core after the Qinshan base incident.
Little did they know, during He Zhoulong’s struggle with the pseudo-dragon, potent zombies appeared. Some soldiers were eaten by the pseudo-dragon, others were killed by Tang Ye. The remaining corpses, carrying anti-life material, became zombies. The ones left were the corpses of soldiers who had no chance of evolving into new humans in their lifetime.
When Tang Ye returned, he instructed Ah Fu to bring back the intact Gejin-114, several relatively intact helicopter parts, and various weapons to the Shiwuguan base. All that was left on the island were scraps. There weren’t enough parts to assemble a complete helicopter.
As for the pseudo-dragon, when it was escaping with Tang Ye, the tracks they left behind were in the forest. How could the leaders of the five major bases dispatch a team for an on-site investigation? At most, they sent drones for a quick flyby. Even if they did see the tracks, they wouldn’t think much of them. There were plenty of grooves in the mud, who could tell which one was left by the pseudo-dragon?
So, everyone assumed that He Zhoulong had succeeded and even evolved to Level 4. Given He Zhoulong’s loyalty to Chen Huaijiang, no one dared to guarantee that He Zhoulong wouldn’t seek revenge.
A Level 4 new human might not be terrifying, but to capture one inside a base still required a huge price.
Especially Li Songhua. Ever since betraying Chen Huaijiang, he has been living in constant fear, fearing that a Level 4 new human would suddenly appear beside him and snap his neck.
A Level 4 new human can be captured or killed. Still, if they choose to target you, you won’t stand a chance against them. Killing you and withdrawing without a scratch would be easy for them.
"I don’t know, I genuinely don’t. If I knew, I would have told you. How could I possibly know?"
Chen Chaoyang was on the verge of a meltdown. They kept asking him the same question over and over, but he didn’t know the answer.
What did the pseudo-dragon’s disappearance have to do with him?
He couldn’t answer it!
Yu Jiancheng wasn’t surprised, he knew that Chen Chaoyang didn’t know. The reason he came was to see the normally haughty young master Chen in his current state and shatter the last hope in his heart!
"It doesn’t matter if you don’t know. I can let you out."
A glimmer of hope appeared in Chen Chaoyang’s eyes. The flame of hope that had just been extinguished now reignited.
"But I have to tell you some bad news."
"What bad news? As long as you let me out, I don’t care." Chen Chaoyang didn’t consider it much, as he was too eager to ask Yu Jiancheng. However, he did not notice the strange look in Yu Jiancheng’s eyes.
"Zhao Yi’e is dead." He said it very flatly, leaving Chen Chaoyang stunned.
"Zhao Yi’e is ... what?"
At first, when he heard the name Zhao Yi’e, Chen Chaoyang thought it was someone else irrelevant to him. Then it suddenly hit him. Zhao Yi’e was his mother, isn’t she? Was she... dead?
"How can that be? You lie!"
Furious, Chen Chaoyang slammed his fist against the iron bars. Yu Jiancheng’s face remained unchanged. Even though he was only a Level 1 new human, he was still far more superior than a prisoner like Chen Chaoyang
"Heh, she really is dead, believe it or not." Yu Jiancheng shrugged nonchalantly at Chen Chaoyang, his eyes constantly observing Chen’s expressions.
Chen Chaoyang’s face cycled quickly through disbelief, then despair, followed by fear, resentment, anger, and back to despair. Finally, his face set in disbelief.
"You’re lying. How can my mother be dead? Let me out!"
"What? Wasn’t it you who just declared yourself a dog?"
Yu Jiancheng snorted disdainfully. He never intended to let him out. Besides, even if he wanted to, he wasn’t in the position to make that call. He was merely here to savagely kick the man he used to look up to. Anyone would have such a feeling of revenge.
Seeing the expression on Yu Jiancheng’s face, Chen Chaoyang’s pitiful gaze instantly turned to one of hatred. The fear and unease finally shattered the last line of defense in his heart.
He refused to believe his mother was dead but also feared the possibility that she really had died.
If it wasn’t true, he would be fine. But if it was, he couldn’t handle it, he couldn’t deal with it. He didn’t know how to continue living once he confirmed her death.
"You said just now you’re content being a dog, now you regret it? Fine, I’m also regretting now. Listen well, Chen Chaoyang. You’d better behave and stay right where you are. You have no chance of getting out! Ha ha ha."
Yu Jiancheng burst into laughter. The look on his face was that of a petty man triumphant. If it wasn’t for the fact that he couldn’t beat Chen Chaoyang, he would have stepped on his head with his foot.
Enraged, Chen Chaoyang punched the iron bars hard. The iron bars clanged, the sound piercing to the ears. But these iron bars were specifically designed for holding new humans. Unless it’s a Level 4 new human, anyone below that trapped inside would be helpless.
"You can’t get out of here, give up. I’m leaving now. So, Young Master Chen, we’ll meet again."
With a smile on his face, Yu Jiancheng slowly turned around and walked away.
"Come back! Come back! Let me out..."
Watching him walk away, the murderous-looking Chen Chaoyang instantly softened, his voice begging again.
Yu Jiancheng got farther and farther away, and Chen Chaoyang felt colder and colder.
What could he do to get out of here?
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Yu Jiancheng. Due to the poor lighting in the underground prison, he couldn’t see the person’s face clearly.
"Who am I? You’re asking me who I am? How quickly you’ve forgotten me! I am the one you killed yourself! Hehe..."
The figure had a hoarse voice and walked towards Yu Jiancheng as he spoke. Once he saw the person’s face clearly, Yu Jiancheng’s face instantly turned to one of terror.
"You... how are you... aren’t you dead?"
Fear suddenly took hold of him, and Yu Jiancheng fell down on the ground in fright.