The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

September transitioned into October, and just after the National Day holiday, the weather turned drastically cold.

Lou Ling pulled her scarf higher, partially covering her face to shield it from the biting wind. She watched the ability users queuing for inspection at the base gate. They, too, were bundled in winter clothes, hunching their shoulders, shivering, or shoving their hands in their pockets to keep warm.

The northwest, with its higher elevation, experienced temperature drops earlier than the eastern regions. The weather was fickle; yesterday felt like summer, while today, it was freezing. This kind of icy weather was unbearable even for ability users, let alone ordinary people. Therefore, after the temperature plummeted, ordinary people rarely ventured outside the base.

After queuing for a while, it was finally their turn. They stood on the scanning device at the base entrance. After being cleared of the zombie virus, they handed over some food, re-registered their residence permits, and entered the base.

Shortly after entering, they encountered a rather impatient Lin Bao Bao.

Lin Bao Bao, clutching Tan Mo's hand, spoke to a strange man with a haughty expression. Tan Mo stood quietly, his tall frame appearing dependable, but the confused and innocent look on his face undermined that reliable image. The man who stopped Lin Bao Bao was a bespectacled man with a scholarly appearance. Before the apocalypse, he would have given the impression of an office elite, but the calculating glint in his eyes marred that favorable impression.

"Bao Bao, Tan Mo!" Lou Ling called out.

All three looked towards her. The two who were talking abruptly stopped. Tan Mo's eyes lit up, while Lin Bao Bao looked delighted. She waved at them, then said to the bespectacled man with a strained expression, "Mr. Yu, we appreciate your kindness, but we have our own plans and haven't decided which ability user team to join."

Mr. Yu glanced at Lou Ling and Lou Dian. He naturally recognized Lou Dian, who, within days of arriving at the Northwest Base, had, with absolute strength, defeated those ability users who defied the base leader, Lou Tang. This served as a profound lesson and deterrent. Despite his refined, handsome, and aristocratic appearance, his combat prowess was terrifying. Consequently, whenever powerful individuals in the base saw him, they would steer clear. Even when developing their own forces, if they exceeded the base's regulations, no one dared to challenge the base leader anymore.

Mr. Yu's eyes flickered. He smiled and said, "So it's Mr. Lou. Do you know each other?"

Lou Dian responded indifferently, clearly not paying him any attention.

Unable to contend with him, Mr. Yu swallowed his pride. Seeing Lin Bao Bao's impatient expression, he sighed and excused himself.

After Mr. Yu left, Lin Bao Bao happily linked arms with Lou Ling. Freed from Lin Bao Bao's grip, Tan Mo excitedly ran to Lou Dian, stretched out his hand, and said, "Brother Lou, meat!"

Lou Dian's face darkened. He glanced at the two girls walking away arm in arm and reluctantly took a pack of beef jerky from his space and tossed it to the meat-seeking Tan Mo. Then, with long strides, he caught up to the two girls and, with a ruthlessly possessive gesture, separated their linked arms and firmly grasped Lou Ling's hand.

Bribed by the meat, Tan Mo, at Lou Dian's signal, pulled Lin Bao Bao away.

"What was that about?" Lou Ling asked, not even looking at the man holding her hand as if preventing her from straying. She had given up on his behavior; the best course of action was to ignore him and let him be.

"Just another recruitment attempt!" Lin Bao Bao said dismissively.

Such attempts had become frequent. After arriving at the Northwest Base, Lin Bao Bao, Tan Mo, Chen Kaiwei, and Yi Zheng often went on missions together. Their high mission completion rate made them stand out among the ability users. Of course, their strength was also undeniable. Tan Mo and Yi Zheng were incredibly powerful. Lin Bao Bao had masterful control over her abilities and was also skilled in martial arts. Chen Kaiwei, the ice ability user, was comparatively weaker, but thanks to Lou Dian's guidance, he was still more formidable than other ability users of the same rank.

Powerful ability users were always sought after. Since there were only four of them, they didn't appear to be a formal team, so many powerful ability user teams wanted to invite them to join. These recruiters usually targeted Lin Bao Bao, who seemed the most approachable. This had become so common that Lin Bao Bao was thoroughly annoyed.

Tan Mo was a simpleton who only listened to Lin Bao Bao and Lou Dian. He wasn't very bright, making him impossible to persuade. Chen Kaiwei was a man of few words, dedicated to following Lou Dian, and unwilling to split up. Yi Zheng, the straightforward girl, would only talk incoherently, leaving the other party exhausted after a conversation. Therefore, Lin Bao Bao, who seemed the most normal, became the target of these recruiters.

Lou Ling and Lou Dian often traveled to places teeming with zombies, areas too dangerous for even ability users. This limited their interaction with others, so Lou Ling hadn't experienced these recruitment attempts. Hearing Lin Bao Bao's annoyed complaints, she couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Did you just get back? Where have you been all this time?" Lin Bao Bao asked, her expression softening as she looked at Lou Ling, the coldness she displayed towards Mr. Yu completely gone.

"Yes, we've been traveling around, gathering supplies. Now that it's getting cold, we're back," Lou Ling said, gently exhaling a breath that turned into white mist and dissipated in the air.

Hearing this, Lin Bao Bao quickly understood what they had been doing. They must have been collecting supplies from cities dense with zombies but also rich in resources. Moreover, the supplies they gathered were not for themselves but for Lou Tang to build the base.

Perhaps such behavior seemed foolish to others. Even Lin Bao Bao felt that if she had a space, she might greedily hoard as many supplies as possible for herself, finding security in accumulating possessions, regardless of whether others had any resources. If someone were so selfless as to contribute to others, she might even mock them behind their backs. However, when Lou Ling was the one performing such acts, she felt it was perfectly normal and couldn't bring herself to ridicule her. Instead, she wanted to help her more.

She couldn't do what Lou Ling did, and when someone else had the ability and the will to do it, she had no right to criticize. Lin Bao Bao admired those who were selfless. Precisely because she couldn't do it herself, she admired them. Even if such behavior seemed foolish, they found it meaningful.

Now, with such a person beside her, venturing into dangerous places and working tirelessly, not for herself, Lin Bao Bao felt both compassion and joy. This was the Lou Ling she knew.

Thinking this, Lin Bao Bao ignored Lou Dian's sullen face and hugged Lou Ling, nuzzling her. Seeing Lou Ling reciprocate, they both couldn't help but smile at each other.

After their laughter subsided, Lin Bao Bao whispered, "Xiao Ling, Dian Xia, I've noticed that those ability users are getting restless again. Be careful." She glanced towards the ability users' hall and added, "I heard that the captain of the Flying Tiger Ability User Team recently acquired a batch of supplies, and many ability users are flocking to him. If he gains enough power, he might try to seize control of the base…"

Lou Ling's expression changed slightly but quickly returned to normal. Lin Bao Bao was skilled in social interactions and gathering information. She had already learned this news before any rumors had spread, even earlier than the military. Because of her relationship with Lou Ling and Lou Dian, Lin Bao Bao naturally shared this information with the Lou family first.

Lou Dian, however, remained calm. He smiled and said, "They tried something similar in May. I didn't think they'd still be at it." He stroked his chin and his eyes narrowed as his smile widened.

Although his smile appeared refined and elegant, Lou Ling felt a chill run down her spine. She silently offered a prayer for the Flying Tiger Ability User Team.

As they were chatting, Qiu Rong, dressed in military uniform, strode past with several soldiers. Seeing them, she stopped.

"Sister-in-law!"

"Sister Qiu!"

The four of them greeted her.

Outside of home, Qiu Rong projected the image of a sharp and capable woman. Seeing them, a smile appeared on her face. After exchanging a few pleasantries and informing Lou Dian and Lou Ling about dinner at the Lou residence that evening, she hurriedly left.

Lin Bao Bao looked thoughtfully in the direction Qiu Rong had departed and then exclaimed, "Oh, I heard that the mutated plants and animals on the mountain will attack the base as winter approaches. The base leaders are recruiting ability users and the military to go into the mountains to eliminate those mutated plants and animals, driving the mutated animals away from the base to prevent future threats."

Lin Bao Bao was right. After dinner at the Lou residence that evening, Lou Tang brought up the matter and asked if Lou Dian was available to help clear the mutated plants in the back mountains of the base.

Last winter, mutated plants and animals had suddenly attacked the base. Caught unprepared, the base, still under construction, suffered heavy losses and many survivors died. Now, with humans vastly outnumbered by zombies, every single person was a precious asset, a vital force for the future rebuilding of human civilization. Lou Tang was unwilling to see more lives lost to zombies, mutated plants, or animals.

"Of course, I'm available. Xiao Ling and I will go," Lou Dian said with a smile. "Uncle, don't worry. The mutated plants and animals don't pose a significant threat to the base."

Lou Tang, initially worried, felt relieved upon seeing Lou Dian's calm demeanor. He chuckled and then apologized, "You've just returned. You should rest for a few days before going out…"

Lou Ling said energetically, "It's fine. We're young and energetic. Leave this kind of task to the young people!"

"Exactly!" Lou Yan chimed in, "Dad, let me go with Big Brother and the others!"

"No!" Three voices resounded in unison.

Lou Shang patted the little girl who was sulking in the corner, about to speak, but then he saw Lou Dian's glance and faltered, rubbing his nose instead.

After Lou Dian and the others took their leave, Lou Shang, while seeing them out, muttered something to Lou Dian.

Author's Note:

Today's goals:

Lou Ling's goal: Awoo, eliminate the mutated plants!

Lou Dian's goal: Support my little sister in all her decisions!

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