Chapter 417: The Devourer
After the battle, Zhang Yi instructed Zhou Ke’er to focus on treating Liang Yue while the rest of the group rested in the living room to recover.
The warm, cozy atmosphere of the Shelter was a stark contrast to the horrors they had just endured. Following such a grueling conflict, the soft sofas and freshly brewed coffee in the luxurious villa felt like paradise to the exhausted team.
Before long, a commotion stirred outside. Xing Tian had returned to claim the food Zhang Yi had promised.
Despite Zhang Yi’s team being drained of energy and abilities, Xing Tian’s Qingfu Base lacked the firepower to breach the Shelter. Confidently, Zhang Yi led his group outside and handed over the agreed supplies.
Xing Tian’s expression was one of barely contained glee, and Zhang Yi could tell he had made a significant profit from the day’s events.
“Tianhai City is yours now, Xing Tian. Congratulations on becoming the most powerful force around!” Zhang Yi said with a smile.
Xing Tian laughed heartily. “Not at all! You’ve made your mark today. No one will dare mess with you now!”
“I never thought you had such strength, Zhang Yi. Truly impressive.”
“The West Hill Base territory is yours now,” Xing Tian continued. “With Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base severely weakened, they’ll never regain their former glory.”
He grinned and added, “Of course, we’re old classmates. I don’t want any conflicts between us!”
Zhang Yi chuckled. “Peaceful coexistence would indeed be the best outcome.”
As Xing Tian prepared to leave, he suddenly paused and turned back to Zhang Yi.
“One more thing,” Xing Tian said, his tone more serious.
“Oh?” Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, curious.
Xing Tian’s expression grew cautious. “You’ve been clever, working with Bai Xue Jiao. But I must warn you—keep an eye on those people. In times like these, cults with their persuasive rhetoric can grow alarmingly fast.”
“Now that they’re unrestrained, who knows how far they’ll expand?”
Zhang Yi nodded, his thoughts drifting to the fervent, fearless Bai Xue Jiao cultists who had charged into battle. The sheer number of people unafraid of death was unsettling, even with the Shelter’s defenses.
“Thanks for the advice,” Zhang Yi replied.
With that, Xing Tian mounted his mutant hound and led his Qingfu Base troops away, leaving the blood-soaked battlefield behind.
Zhang Yi gazed at the carnage outside the Shelter, deep in thought. Corpses were strewn everywhere, and the once-pristine snow was stained red with blood. The ice wall they had painstakingly built and armed with heavy weapons was now mostly destroyed.
The brutal reality of war was undeniable.
“We’ll clean it up later,” Zhang Yi sighed, shaking his head at the overwhelming sight. For now, there were more pressing matters to address.
Returning to the Shelter, Zhang Yi made an announcement to the team. “The war is over!”
Hearing him say it aloud brought a collective sigh of relief.
Lu Keran exchanged a jubilant glance with Yang Xinxin, while Yang Siyah, exhausted from crafting energy food for the team, leaned back with a tired smile. Zhang Yi didn’t let her cook further. Instead, he pulled fresh food and high-quality wines from his Spatial Storage, filling an entire table with a feast.
The combination of victory and survival ignited everyone’s appetite. Even those who rarely drank were now gulping down wine with abandon.
Zhang Yi grabbed two beef burgers and a hot coffee and headed to the medical room.
Zhou Ke’er had just finished Liang Yue’s surgery. The deep gash on Liang Yue’s neck had been shocking, even for Zhou Ke’er. She couldn’t believe Liang Yue had fought so fiercely and for so long in such a condition.
Zhang Yi, however, understood. Liang Yue had fought on sheer willpower, driven by her need for vengeance. Once the battle ended, her strength had given out entirely.
Handing food to Zhou Ke’er, Zhang Yi asked, “How is she?”
Taking a sip of coffee, Zhou Ke’er replied, “The wound was deep, but I’ve stitched it up. She’s a Strength Enhancement Superhuman, so her recovery will be much faster than normal. She’ll be fine.”
She glanced at Zhang Yi, a hint of playful jealousy in her tone. “Superhumans really have it easy, don’t they?”
Zhang Yi chuckled, recognizing her unspoken wish for the Ice Soul artifact in his possession. But his lingering wariness of Bai Xue Jiao kept him cautious.
“Your medical skills are far more valuable,” he said, pulling her into a hug. “We could do without a Superhuman, but not without a doctor. Don’t underestimate your importance!”
Her smile brightened at his praise. “Do you think we’ll finally have peace after this?” she asked.
“For a while, yes,” Zhang Yi replied thoughtfully. “But how long that lasts, who can say?”
Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base would need time to recover. For now, their focus would shift to rebuilding rather than seeking revenge.
But Tianhai City’s other powers were more concerning. Qingfu Base had emerged unscathed, profiting handsomely from playing both sides. Bai Xue Jiao had suffered heavy casualties, but their ability to recruit and convert followers could allow them to rebuild rapidly.
For now, Zhang Yi’s smaller team wouldn’t be seen as a major threat. Their minimal resource needs made them less of a target.
As Zhou Ke’er rested her head on Zhang Yi’s shoulder, she suddenly stood and began massaging him. “You fought a battle while I just performed a small surgery. Let me take care of you,” she said.
Zhang Yi leaned back and let her work, drifting into a drowsy haze until Liang Yue stirred in the nearby bed. Strength Enhancement Superhumans truly recovered at remarkable speeds.
Seeing Zhou Ke’er massaging Zhang Yi, Liang Yue sighed. “You two could at least pick a better time. I’m still injured here, you know.”
Embarrassed, Zhou Ke’er stopped and tapped Zhang Yi’s back. “She’s awake!”
Zhang Yi sat up and approached Liang Yue.
“I need to tell you something,” Liang Yue said, her expression serious.
Zhou Ke’er excused herself, leaving the two alone.
“I killed a Superhuman during the fight,” Liang Yue began. “And I absorbed his power.”
“I thought you should know, since we’re teammates. This might be important.”
Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow.
“So, you have the ability to absorb powers,” he mused.
Not every Superhuman had this ability, as Zhang Yi had confirmed through his own team. While he, Hua Hua, and Ling Feng possessed the ability, Uncle You and Fatty Xu did not.
It seemed linked to potential. Zhang Yi’s team members who had this power—himself, Hua Hua, Ling Feng—were notably stronger. Liang Yue having it, too, was a promising sign of her future growth.
“Congratulations,” Zhang Yi said with a smile. “This is good news. We’ve fought together; we’re like family now. The stronger you are, the better it is for all of us.”
Clapping his thigh, Zhang Yi added, “You avenged your students. Has it helped you find peace?”
Liang Yue stared at the ceiling, her eyes closing slowly. She didn’t answer.
Zhang Yi smiled knowingly.
Silence was the best response. Though she might never fully move past her grief, time would eventually dull its edge.
Life, after all, was about moving forward.