Volume One Mutation Chapter Eight Crisis of the Giant Rats

Early the next morning, Zhang Han was the first to wake up. She opened the door and immediately saw Liu Cong lying on the sofa.

Bathed in sunlight, Liu Cong’s skin gleamed with a translucent whiteness. Despite his long hair, his face was strikingly masculine, reminding Zhang Han of Lucifer from the comic “Stealing Stars in September.”

“How can there be such a handsome man?” she wondered dreamily. Liu Cong had spent the night cultivating, and as soon as Zhang Han woke, he noticed her gaze fixed upon him. Remembering his appearance after the transformation by the Black-and-White Divine Sword, Liu Cong could only feel helpless.

Yesterday evening, the lighting hadn’t revealed much, but now, in daylight, he saw Zhang Han’s small face was dusty, though still delicate, and her clothes looked as if they hadn’t been washed in ages.

Seeing Liu Cong’s appraising look, Zhang Han knew exactly how she must appear. Her cheeks flushed as she explained, “We haven’t been able to wash for a long time. We don’t dare use the water from the pipes. All this time, we’ve only been drinking the unsold beverages, and what little purified water we have left is only used when we’re extremely thirsty.”

Liu Cong nodded in understanding. He asked, “How much food do you have left?”

Zhang Han thought Liu Cong was hungry, so she quickly went to the storage room and brought back a few small loaves of bread and half a bottle of mineral water, handing them to him. “We don’t have enough food to last more than a few days. We’re planning to wait two more days for rescue, and if none comes, we’ll go out to gather supplies ourselves.”

Liu Cong didn’t take the bread. He accepted the bottle of water and drank a few gulps. It was strange: although his body hadn’t needed food or drink for a year, he felt no hunger at all.

Once the water entered his stomach, it was as if every cell in his body cheered. Feeling refreshed, Liu Cong exhaled deeply. Seeing him drink the water, Zhang Han’s face reddened yet again.

“Why are you blushing?”

“It’s nothing, just drink it.” Zhang Han replied shyly. She wasn’t about to tell Liu Cong it was water she had already drunk.

“When the other two wake up, I’ll take you all out to gather some supplies,” Liu Cong suggested, dropping the matter.

“But it’s dangerous outside. We don’t have any weapons. We should wait until noon—it’s safer then. The monsters fear the heat and usually hide at midday.”

“If they’re afraid of heat, then there’s nothing to worry about.” Liu Cong said, then demonstrated his black fire.

Zhang Han stared, dumbfounded at the black flames enveloping Liu Cong’s hand. Such a scene, usually reserved for movies, left her mind momentarily blank.

“You, you, you…” Guo Fei, still holding the door open, was equally stunned, watching the black fire dance like a sprite in Liu Cong’s palm, unable to form words.

Liu Cong shaped the fire into a sphere and tossed it out the window. A thunderous explosion followed, the force palpable even from afar.

This was a new use for the black fire that Liu Cong had devised last night. With seemingly endless energy within him, long-range attacks were the best form of combat. Close quarters were simply too risky, and Liu Cong had no desire to gamble his life.

...

On a shabby street, four figures walked along.

A male voice called out, “Just two more turns and we’ll reach the supermarket. Boss Liu, are you really going to cut your hair? Come on, you look great! It’d be a shame to cut it!”

“Guo Fei! Can you be quiet? It’s not your hair being cut, why so much fuss?” a girl retorted impatiently.

“So what if I talk a lot? I’m just trying to lighten the mood. Besides, it’s been ages since we dared to speak loudly. Aren’t you suffocating?”

“Oh? Now you dare to speak loudly?” another girl teased.

“Heh, that’s because Boss Liu is here, right, boss?”

Liu Cong ignored Guo Fei’s flattery and carefully observed their surroundings. He had to stay vigilant. He himself was unconcerned, but now he was responsible for three ordinary people, and couldn’t afford to be careless.

After rounding the final corner, they finally saw a large supermarket. Along the way, they’d passed smaller shops, but supplies had long since been looted. Liu Cong guessed that though large supermarkets had more goods, their higher traffic meant fewer people would risk looting during chaos, and even if they did, they couldn’t carry much.

The road in front of the supermarket was completely blocked by abandoned vehicles—cars, trucks, electric scooters all mixed together in a chaotic tangle, evoking images of the pandemonium that had occurred.

At the entrance, even chatty Guo Fei fell silent. In this ruined city, the most populated areas were now the most dangerous. The supermarket was next to a large residential complex, and in front was a small commercial street. Such densely populated areas might still harbor flesh-eating monsters that hadn’t left.

Liu Cong led the way into the supermarket. Inside, it was just as chaotic. The floors were stained with blood not yet fully dried, and the shelves, once neatly ordered with food, were now more than half empty, with trampled snack bags scattered about.

“Many supplies have already been taken in the chaos. Stick close to me, don’t wander. Also, only take food that hasn’t expired,” Liu Cong reminded them.

The three nodded vigorously in silent understanding.

Liu Cong uprighted a fallen shopping cart and began scavenging the shelves. The others followed suit, mimicking his actions.

With no one else around, the supermarket felt somewhat empty. Only the sounds of their carts and food wrappers punctuated the silence, as the four moved with a tacit rhythm.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Li Jing let out a scream. At the end of the corridor, a giant rat stared at her with blood-red eyes. Anyone who turned around to find themselves under the gaze of a rat as big as a calf would be rattled.

Squeak!

The mutant rat opened its jaws, revealing two sharp incisors, and charged at Li Jing, covering more than ten meters in a single breath, leaping to bite her.

In that fleeting, perilous instant, Liu Cong struck, sending the airborne rat flying. The immense force carried it through three shelving units before it came to a stop.

The mutant rat twisted in mid-air, landing on all fours and panting heavily, fixing Liu Cong with a bloodthirsty, icy stare of pure malice.

Squeak! Squeak!

Instead of attacking again, the wounded rat shrieked loudly. Soon, rustling noises echoed from all corners of the supermarket.

“Go!” Liu Cong barked, snapping the three out of their stupor. He grabbed Li Jing and Zhang Han by the hand and ran for the exit, Guo Fei quickly following.

Before they could reach the door, waves of mutant giant rats surged in from all sides, encircling the four. Liu Cong noticed, at the rear of the horde, a white rat larger than the others.

A thousand crimson eyes fixed on them. Guo Fei and the others collapsed in terror. Even Liu Cong’s heart raced—he’d never faced anything so overwhelming.

Squeak!

With a command from the white rat, all the mutant rats screamed and lunged. Liu Cong stood his ground, right hand ablaze with black fire. With a thought, black flames erupted around them, forming a circle that enclosed the four, the searing heat distorting the air.

Squeak! Squeak!

Dozens of mutant rats that first touched the black fire were instantly consumed, their bodies writhing in agony, reduced to ashes in five seconds.

Squeak!

The white rat shrieked again, and all the mutant rats began to retreat, backing away from the black fire, their crimson eyes still locked onto Liu Cong. He saw no fear in their gaze.

The scene was deadlocked. Liu Cong needed to protect the three, so he dared not move. The rat king was in no hurry either, simply staring at them, as if waiting for the moment the black fire was extinguished to launch a fresh assault.

After some tense moments, the white rat gave another command. Many mutant rats began digging into the ground, their sharpened claws tearing at the earth with frightening speed. Liu Cong watched, exasperated—did they really think themselves just rats?

The situation was dire. If they tunneled beneath, he couldn’t guarantee the others’ safety. Fixing his gaze on the white rat, he resolved: Capture the king to subdue the horde.

The black fire on Liu Cong’s hand swirled into a vortex, gradually forming a black fireball. Once ready, he hurled it at the white rat.

Squeak! Squeak!

Sensing danger, the white rat turned and fled, directing several mutant rats to intercept the fireball.

Boom!

The fireball exploded in mid-air, its shockwave blasting the white rat away, while the rats that tried to block it—and those nearby—were instantly blown apart and incinerated. Curiously, the black fire seemed almost sentient, extinguishing itself once its targets were gone, leaving not even a scrap of paper singed.

Squeak!

The white rat staggered to its feet, its pristine fur now soaked in blood. It shot Liu Cong a look of pure hatred before calling to its horde and fleeing, the mutant rats retreating like a tide. They came quickly, and vanished just as fast, disappearing within seconds.

Once the rats were gone, Liu Cong collapsed to the ground. Two days ago, he’d been just an ordinary student. To have endured today’s ordeal was a testament to his strength of mind.

With the crisis over, there was no need to keep up the façade. After sitting dazed for a while, Liu Cong noticed Guo Fei and the others staring at him, their eyes filled with awe and admiration—so much so that even he felt a little embarrassed.

“Let’s keep going. Let’s also search for radios, flashlights, and the like. Those rats shouldn’t be coming back,” Liu Cong said, pretending not to notice their looks and calmly changing the subject.

...

By dusk, they had eaten their fill in the supermarket, then, carrying a trove of supplies, found a beautifully furnished apartment nearby to settle into. During this time, Liu Cong, effortlessly lifting supplies that Guo Fei could barely move, earned another round of praise, the two girls ignoring Guo Fei’s resentful glances.

With abundant supplies, there was no need to be frugal. The two girls, long unable to bear not bathing, poured a basin of mineral water and wiped themselves clean. Afterward, they changed into new clothes from the supermarket, feeling utterly refreshed.

Li Jing found a room to tidy up, while Zhang Han shooed Guo Fei from Liu Cong’s side and sent him to the bathroom to wash up. The living room was left with only Liu Cong and Zhang Han.

“Let me cut your hair,” Zhang Han said softly, her clean, delicate face already tinged with a blush.