ATDIWR Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Driven Out of the Base, Awakening Abilities

In the orphanage, a small boy named Mazi was excitedly telling his companions, “It was really dangerous then, you don’t know, I fell down, and that human trafficker could reach my leg with just one stretch, I was scared to death.”

“Those human traffickers are really cruel. That pretty boy who often comes to our Base said that when they catch people, they turn them into human swine!” The children who were originally in the orphanage were not allowed to watch the live broadcast, so they didn’t know how cruel the human traffickers truly were.

The children Around around around Mazi shrieked in fear.

Mazi was very satisfied with the children’s reaction and continued, “I didn’t want to become human swine. Just then, Xiaomeigui, that saintly person, ran back to help me up.

You all know she’s the most fake, pretending like she’s the kindest person in the world.

Isn’t she kind? Then surely she’d be willing to die in my place. So I pushed her out, and those human traffickers all went after her. I took the opportunity to escape.”

Mazi was quite pleased with himself, “You should learn from me. I’m telling you, at crucial moments, no one is useful, you have to save yourselves.”

Among the children surrounding Mazi, some shook their heads in disapproval, while others seemed to agree with what Mazi said, nodding thoughtfully.

Mazi added, “I’m telling you, the one who got caught that day was Xiaomeigui. If it had been me, that Mental-type Ability user would not have saved me.”

A little boy immediately said, “I saw it early on. Ji An brother used to like Xiaomeigui and Xiaoshitou the most.”

The speaking little boy and Mazi were not companions of Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui. They were street children who were picked up by staff and sent to the orphanage after it was established.

“Do you really think so?” Ji An walked out from the shadows. He never expected to hear such words from the children today.

Mazi and the little boy who had just chimed in immediately turned pale with fright.

“I, I…” Mazi was just a small child after all. No matter how precocious he was, he was still just a child. At this moment, he was so scared that he was incoherent, not knowing what to say to salvage the situation.

Ji An didn’t need Mazi to explain anything. Since Mazi could say such words, no explanation was needed.

Ji An did not handle this matter privately. Instead, he gathered all the children in the orphanage together.

This matter was not trivial, not because Mazi spoke ill of Ji An, but because of Mazi’s own actions. Pushing his companion out to die at a life-threatening moment—if this were an adult, this single action would result in immediate execution at Jing Shi Base.

Actually, Ji An had seen Mazi push Xiaomeigui, but too many things happened afterward, and Ji An was busy and forgot about it.

He didn’t expect Mazi to not feel ashamed of his actions afterward, but instead brag about them.

If Ji An didn’t handle this seriously, he could almost foresee what kind of creatures he would raise by spending his effort, money, and even risking his life!

He didn’t expect these children to make great contributions to society in the future, but he hoped they wouldn’t become the dregs of this society.

Ji An very seriously explained the situation. Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui didn’t show any surprised or angry expressions. Ji An knew that Mazi had probably said these words more than once since coming back, and Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui had heard them long ago.

“I don’t know what kind of mindset you have to be so proud when recounting these things, but I just want to ask you, do you really think that way?” Ji An looked at Mazi expressionlessly.

Ji An had always been gentle and kind to the children, and this was the first time he was so strict. Although he wasn’t hysterical or shouting, or even hitting Mazi, it made the children in the orphanage feel scared to their bones.

“I’m sorry, Ji An brother.” Mazi unexpectedly plopped down and knelt before Ji An. He cried profusely, “I know I was wrong, Ji An brother, I shouldn’t have said that, I was just talking nonsense, please don’t be angry with me.”

“Get up, I said the children in the orphanage are not allowed to kneel to others at the drop of a hat,” Ji An said.

Mazi refused to get up, so Ji An forcefully pulled him up. As soon as Ji An let go, Mazi was about to kneel again, but Gu Jinsheng restrained him with his ability, so he honestly stood still.

Ji An said to Mazi, “It seems you didn’t take anything I said before to heart. I said our knees are our backbone, we kneel to heaven and earth, but never to people.”

None of the children in the yard dared to make a sound. The child who had agreed with Mazi earlier would have also knelt down if Ji An hadn’t forbidden Mazi from kneeling.

“The orphanage is a big family. We live here every day, this is our home. The people in this home are our brothers and sisters. Even if you don’t play together, you can just not play. Why would you push your companion to the enemy, and even knowing that enemy is very cruel?”

Ji An said, “This is a very despicable act. Do you know what happens if such an act occurs outside?

You will be scorned by everyone, have fingers pointed at you, and people will ostracize and guard against you if they know you are such a person.

And if this behavior occurs during a Power User battle, it violates the laws and regulations of Jing Shi Base, and the Base will directly execute the person according to relevant regulations afterward.”

Execution?

The children understood this. What they feared most was death. Wasn’t the reason they struggled to survive while wandering precisely to stay alive?

Mazi finally knew fear. He cried and cried, “I didn’t understand any of this, I’m just a child.”

“No, you do understand, you understand better than anyone,” Ji An looked at Mazi coldly, “You said it yourself, you know what those human traffickers will do when they catch you, you said they would turn you into human swine, you didn’t want to be human swine, so you pushed Xiaomeigui out and let her take your place.”

Mazi then said, “But I’m just a child.”

“That’s not an excuse. Just because you’re a child, you can casually harm people, even take lives without paying for it, and continue to live happily? What about the people you harmed?

They didn’t do anything wrong, they lost their lives because of your selfishness, and you can just dismiss all the evil with one sentence, ‘I’m still a child,’ is that it?”

Mazi was not stupid. In fact, children who could survive by begging in The Apocalypse were not stupid. Otherwise, they would have died long ago due to various accidents.

Ji An said, “I can’t control what happens in other places, but this kind of behavior is not allowed in the orphanage. My punishment for you is to drive you out of the orphanage.”

Mazi’s eyes widened. He never dreamed things would turn out like this. But, but he was still just a child?

That phrase, which had always been invincible in the past, finally became so pale and powerless at this moment.

This punishment was quite severe for the children. The orphanage was paradise in their eyes, and being driven out meant having to live the precarious lives they had before, constantly facing the danger of death.

The children were terrified. The child who had agreed with Mazi was already paralyzed on the ground with fear.

Seeing that begging Ji An was useless, Mazi went to beg Xiaomeigui, “Xiaomeigui, Xiaomeigui, you are the kindest, can you tell Ji An brother you forgive me? As long as you don’t drive me away, I will work like an ox and a horse for you from now on!”

Xiaomeigui bit her lip tightly and turned her face away, not looking at Mazi.

Xiaomeigui would never forget how Mazi pushed her out with his own hands that day she went to save him. She was so scared then, thinking she would never see Xiaoshitou and them, and Ji An brother and Chief Commander Gu again.

Xiaomeigui still dreams of that fear at night. Xiaomeigui will never forgive Mazi, and she couldn’t say the words of forgiveness.

Ji An didn’t let Mazi continue to pester Xiaomeigui. Instead, he directly had someone open the door and chase Mazi out.

Ji An led all the children to stand at the door and watch how Mazi was driven out. Mazi refused to leave. Ji An walked out of the orphanage gate step by step, came to Mazi’s front, and looked down at Mazi from above.

“You said that if it had been you that day, I wouldn’t have saved you! But did you forget? The reason I was there that day was to save you all, and you were among that ‘you all’.

Also, the reason I lost my ability was because I transformed my Mental-type Ability into armor to protect you all, and you also had a piece of that armor at the time, you weren’t left out.”

After Ji An finished speaking, he didn’t look at Mazi’s expression and directly returned to the orphanage. The orphanage gate slowly closed. Mazi cried and begged at the door.

Ji An said to the children, “This is the consequence of betraying your companions. I hope Mazi is the first and the last.

I don’t expect you to be perfectly good, but when facing danger, I hope you can unite as one, face the outside world together, because we are a family!”

After Ji An finished speaking, he let the children leave on their own. The little boy who had agreed with Mazi seemed not to have expected to be let off so easily and ran away as if escaping.

Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui did not leave with the other children. Xiaomeigui held the little tiger in her arms. The little tiger nuzzled in Xiaomeigui’s arms, trying to lick the tears from her face.

Ji An rubbed Xiaomeigui’s head, “Sorry, too many things have happened to me these past few days, I forgot about this, and you’ve suffered so much grievance these days.”

Xiaomeigui shook her head and burst into tears. She hugged the little tiger and threw herself into Ji An’s embrace, crying loudly, “Ji An brother, thank you for saving me. I was really scared that day. I thought I was going to die and never see you again. But I didn’t want to die.”

“Don’t be afraid, it’s all in the past, it’s all over. Those human traffickers have all been killed, no one will harm you again.” Ji An comforted her.

Xiaomeigui sobbed, “But it caused Ji An brother to lose your Mental-type Ability. Ji An brother, you are so powerful, your ability could definitely do many, many things, things that are definitely more valuable than us orphans.”

Ji An shook his head, “Xiaomeigui, human lives are not to be compared like this. If you are really uneasy, then study hard, grow up diligently, become a person with a beautiful character, a person strong enough to help others.

Then go and help your brother help more people, pass on the love, then it was worth it for your brother to save you today, and it’s something he will never regret.”

“I will definitely do that,” Xiaomeigui said firmly with tears streaming down her face.

Ji An rubbed Xiaomeigui’s head and asked, “Ji An brother forgot, why didn’t you tell Mom Yuan? She didn’t know. If she knew, she definitely wouldn’t have sat idly by.”

A trace of confusion flashed in Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui’s eyes at the same time, and only then did Ji An realize that no matter how happy these two children, Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui, were living now, they still lacked a sense of security deep down.

Perhaps it was precisely because life in the orphanage was too happy that the two children became even more cautious, enduring and yielding, because they were afraid of losing this life.

Xiaoshitou lowered his eyes and said, “Ji An brother, it’s not that we don’t trust Mom Yuan, it’s just that we didn’t expect Mazi to be driven away before.

After all, this is our home, and it’s also Mazi’s home.”

Xiaomeigui also said, “We don’t want to trouble Mom Yuan. Mom Yuan is already busy with many things every day.”

These two children were always sensible enough to make one feel heartache.

Ji An held both Xiaomeigui and Xiaoshitou in his arms, one in each arm, “If you suffer grievances again, don’t hold it in. You can tell Mom Yuan or me. Without rules, there is no order. Just like Jing Shi Base, we all live in the Base, we are all members of this big family called the Base, but if someone makes a mistake, the Base will also punish them.”

Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui nodded.

“We understand, Ji An brother.”

Xiaomeigui glanced at Xiaoshitou. Xiaoshitou nodded at Xiaomeigui, and Xiaomeigui said to Ji An, “Ji An brother, can you come to a quiet place with me? I want to show you something.”

“Okay.” Ji An asked Xiaomeigui, “Can your Gu brother see it?”

“Yes.” Xiaoshitou said, “Brother Gu is also our lifesaver, there’s nothing he can’t know.”

Ji An and Gu Jinsheng followed Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui to a quiet place. Xiaomeigui raised her hand and said to Ji An brother, “Ji An brother, I’ll only show you.”

Then Ji An saw a very thin strand of energy, so faint it could be described as a wisp of smoke, floating out from Xiaomeigui’s palm.

That energy was in its most primitive form, somewhat like fine,Deep drawn-out willow catkins.

Gu Jinsheng’s expression changed slightly, because he recognized that what Xiaomeigui released was Mental-type Ability. But what made Gu Jinsheng nervous was not that Xiaomeigui had awakened her ability, but because of Ji An.

Ji An had now lost his Mental-type Ability and was an ordinary person, and ordinary people cannot see Mental-type Abilities. Gu Jinsheng didn’t want Ji An to be upset, and he knew that Ji An had always been strong and definitely didn’t want to be blind.

Gu Jinsheng explained to Ji An, “Xiaomeigui has awakened her Mental-type Ability.”

Ji An said, “I see it.”

When interrogating the human traffickers before, Ji An knew he could see other people’s Mental-type Abilities. It was just that there were too many people then, and Ji An didn’t want so many people to know, so he didn’t say anything.

Now that only Gu Jinsheng was here, Ji An didn’t want to hide it from him, so he said it.

A look of surprise flashed through Gu Jinsheng’s eyes. Considering Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui were present, Gu Jinsheng didn’t ask further.

Ji An said, “Xiaomeigui, you are amazing, you have awakened your ability.”

Xiaomeigui’s small face was lifted, and with Ji An’s praise, she showed a little bit of pride, “I knew it, I must have awakened my ability. Ji An brother, what ability did I awaken?”

“Mental-type Ability,” Ji An said.

Xiaomeigui smiled happily, “That’s great, it’s the same ability as Ji An brother. I had always imagined, if I ever awakened an ability, it would be great if it was the same ability as Ji An brother.

Now I have really awakened the same ability as Ji An brother.”

Xiaoshitou couldn’t wait and said, “Ji An brother, look at me, what ability have I awakened?”

After Xiaoshitou finished speaking, he also released a stream of ability from his palm, which turned out to be Mental-type Ability as well.

“It’s also Mental-type Ability,” Ji An said.

Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui hugged each other and jumped up and down. The little tiger seemed to feel their joy and followed suit, howling.

Gu Jinsheng and Ji An exchanged glances, but they found many questionable points.

For example, how did Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui awaken their abilities?

Up to now, the only way to awaken abilities was by being infected with the zombie virus.

And being infected with the zombie virus itself is a very dangerous thing. After being infected with the zombie virus, less than twenty percent of people survive, and among those who survive, less than ten percent awaken abilities.

But Xiaomeigui and Xiaoshitou have been living in Jing Shi Base all along. They haven’t been infected with the zombie virus at all, so how did they awaken abilities?

Ji An asked, “Xiaoshitou, Xiaomeigui, was there anything unusual about you before you awakened your abilities? For example, not wanting to eat, wanting to eat raw meat, or craving blood?”

Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui showed disgusted expressions, “I don’t like eating raw meat at all, and I don’t like drinking blood either, it’s so fishy, just thinking about it makes me feel sick.”

Xiaomeigui blushed as if she thought of something and said, “I, I was a little abnormal. My appetite seemed to increase. Before, one nutrient solution was enough to fill me up, but during the few days I had a fever, I was clearly uncomfortable and couldn’t eat anything, but I would still feel very, very hungry.

This caused Xiaoshitou to often secretly save his nutrient solution for me. Later, he was so hungry that his stomach rumbled, and Uncle Zhou heard it. Uncle Zhou gave us a lot more nutrient solution, and only then did we have enough to eat.”

When Xiaomeigui said this, she was very embarrassed, as if she felt she ate too much.

Xiaoshitou also said, “Me too, my appetite got really big, one nutrient solution wasn’t enough.”

Xiaomeigui was very surprised to hear this. Before, Xiaoshitou lied to her, saying he had a fever and a poor appetite and couldn’t eat, but it turned out he was also very hungry and saved his nutrient solution for her.

Xiaomeigui’s eyes turned red, “Xiaoshitou, why are you so silly!”

Xiaoshitou just smiled foolishly and innocently.

Ji An looked at the two children like this, and the bad mood he had felt because of Mazi was completely swept away. He comforted the two little ones, “This is nothing, it’s very normal. After you awaken your abilities, your body needs more energy, and ordinary nutrient solutions can no longer meet your daily energy needs, which is why your appetites have increased.

Afterward, I will talk to Mom Yuan and have your nutrient solutions switched to Tier 1 Power User nutrient solutions.”

“Mhm, mhm,” Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui nodded.

“However, you have to promise me. If others ask how you got your abilities, don’t say you got them just from a fever. You have to tell them you got them after being accidentally infected with the zombie virus.

As for others asking about the process of your zombie transformation, just say you were burning up so badly you couldn’t remember.” Ji An said.

Without exposure to the zombie virus, they could awaken abilities. Once this matter spread, Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui would become the targets of public criticism, everyone would want to awaken abilities without danger, and by then the two children might be torn apart by those with ulterior motives.

“Okay,” Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui obediently agreed, their eyes clearly confused.

The two children were sensible. Ji An knew they understood the importance of the matter. It was better to explain it clearly to the two children than to hide it, lest they couldn’t resist showing off someday.

Ji An thoroughly explained the seriousness of the matter to Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui.

Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui indeed understood, and their faces turned pale with fright.

Ji An said, “Don’t be afraid. The only people guarding you at the time were Yuan Mingan and Zhou Qin. I will talk to them about this. They will explain to the outside world that you showed signs of zombie transformation during those days of fever, and they concealed it for fear of scaring the children in the orphanage.”

Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui knew the importance of the matter, and they agreed to whatever Ji An said.

“Ji An, get out here!” Just as Ji An was speaking, he heard a string of curses approaching.

Although the voice was slurred, it sounded somewhat familiar.

Ji An walked out from the small path and into the front yard, where he saw a pig’s head.

To say it was a pig’s head was no exaggeration; that person’s face was swollen at least twice the normal size.

When that person saw Ji An, he charged over with a face full of anger, “Good for you, Ji An, you dare to show your face to me!”

That person was about to approach Ji An within five steps when he was stopped by Gu Jinsheng’s ability. The Blue-Eyed Winged Tiger also appeared out of nowhere. It stood in front of Ji An, its tiger eyes coldly staring at the approaching person, as if it would swallow him whole if he dared to lay a finger on Ji An.

With such a large mutated tiger glaring fiercely nearby, and Gu Jinsheng beside him, the approaching person dared not act rashly, but he still shouted, “Ji An, you must give me an explanation today!”

Ji An still didn’t know who the person in front of him was. He asked in confusion, “You are?”

The person became even more furious, he almost roared, “I am Zhao Zhen.”

Ji An couldn’t help but blurt out, “Weren’t you fine during the commendation ceremony? How did you end up like this in the blink of an eye?”

“It’s all because of you!” Zhao Zhen roared, “I just couldn’t stand your hypocritical and pretentious appearance, so you found someone to intercept me on the way and beat me into this state. You are too much.”

Ji An’s face turned cold, “Zhao Zhen, you need evidence when you speak. Without evidence, it’s defamation. I will call the patrol team over.”

“Ji An, how dare you, you did this to me and still dare to be so arrogant…”

Before Zhao Zhen could finish speaking, Gu Jinsheng had already released an ability, bound him, and gagged his mouth.

“Hand him over to the patrol team.”

“No, no, no.” Han Yaokun and others who had been chasing after the person finally caught up.

Han Yaokun said, “It’s all a misunderstanding, he got beaten because of himself, he deserves it.”

Ji An looked at Zhou Fanxiu, who had arrived with him. Zhou Fanxiu said, “Well, earlier Zhao Zhen badmouthed you at the commendation ceremony, and several people from the command center heard it.

You know, many people in the command center admire you now, they see you as a hero.

Zhao Zhen publicly disrespected you at the commendation ceremony, and many people felt uncomfortable. So, after the commendation ceremony ended, they blocked Han Yaokun’s car and beat him up.

However, those people were very measured in their actions; besides Zhao Zhen, they didn’t touch anyone else.”

Ji An’s mouth twitched, “Then he should find the people who beat him up, why is he looking for me?”

The problem was they couldn’t find those people!

Those people were clearly premeditated, they covered their license plates, and they wore the Base’s protective suits, which were sealed tight, zombies couldn’t even scratch them. How would Zhao Zhen know who they were?

However, Zhao Zhen did have suspects in mind. In fact, the car model and so on could match, but the problem was Zhao Zhen had no evidence, and those people just wouldn’t admit it. They were completely brazen!

If it were any other matter, a researcher being attacked inside the Base would definitely be thoroughly investigated. Let alone wearing protective suits, even if they turned into mice and burrowed into mouse holes, they would be dug out.

But the current problem was that everyone in the Base knew why Zhao Zhen got beaten. There were many people who admired Ji An in the Base, and no one was willing to take charge, they all shirked responsibility, saying they couldn’t find anything.

Zhao Zhen’s anger had nowhere to vent, so he could only find Ji An.

Ji An spread his hands, “I didn’t instruct anyone. Believe it or not, if you don’t, you can find the patrol team, don’t bother me.”

Han Yaokun said, “It’s all his own doing, he deserves it! We won’t pursue this matter. Please, Chief Commander Gu, release the person. I’ll take him away now.”

Gu Jinsheng released Zhao Zhen, and Han Yaokun took the person away.

As soon as Zhao Zhen left, Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui clapped their hands and laughed.

“He deserves it, for always going against Ji An brother.”

The Blue-Eyed Winged Tiger came over and nuzzled Ji An with its head, asking Ji An for a reward for protecting him just now.

Ji An gave the large tiger another basin of water. The large tiger seemed to have drunk its fill this time and didn’t drink it immediately, instead hiding the water away.

Ji An and Gu Jinsheng had nothing else to do. They had been busy all day and their heads still hurt, so they left. When they left, they told Yuan Mingan about Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui’s situation and instructed her on what to say before leaving.

On the way, they also called Zhou Qin, the other person involved, and gave him instructions.

Back home, Ji An was still thinking about Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui suddenly awakening their abilities.

“I’ve already sent people to check what Xiaoshitou and Xiaomeigui have been in contact with recently. Their activity traces are simple, we should have news tonight.” In fact, Gu Jinsheng already had some suspicions, likely related to the water Ji An gave him.

This matter concerned the space necklace and was somewhat sensitive, so Gu Jinsheng didn’t mention it.

But Gu Jinsheng knew that with Ji An’s intelligence, he must have also noticed something.

Ji An had indeed thought of it. He had given Xiaomeigui and Xiaoshitou spiritual spring water to drink before. He wondered if the two children’s awakening was related to the spiritual spring water.