Chapter 216: The Phoenix Man Who Soared Before the Apocalypse (21)

At this moment, the massive warehouse was empty except for Young Master Huo.

Shen Xiuyan glanced over but hadn’t said anything yet when Young Master Huo suddenly dropped to his knees in a dramatic slide and clung tightly to Shen Xiuyan’s leg.

Terror filled his eyes. “Please, don’t kill me.”

Shen Xiuyan sighed helplessly. “Why would I kill you, Young Master Huo?”

He patted his head and let out another sigh. Why did this guy seem a little… slow?

Young Master Huo sniffled in fear. “Don’t, don’t call me Young Master Huo. You can call me Little Huo. Or even Huazai, that works too.”

His full name was Huo Tianhua, and right now, he was the picture of humility.

Shen Xiuyan: “…”

He almost wanted to applaud him. That quick thinking and adaptability—no wonder he’d managed to start a company on his own before the Apocalypse.

Seeing Shen Xiuyan stay silent, Young Master Huo cautiously looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears. “It’s the end of the world. My home’s not in B City. If I leave, where can I even go? I’m not leaving. Just don’t kill me.”

Shen Xiuyan rubbed his forehead. “I already said, why would I kill you for no reason?”

“But the way you looked at them just now, and your tone—it totally sounded like you were going to!”

“They’re them. You’re you. How is that the same?” Shen Xiuyan chuckled. “Aren’t we friends?”

Young Master Huo’s eyes lit up. “Right, right, we’re friends! Where are you headed next? Can I come with you?”

Well then, this guy was shameless and knew how to cling to someone powerful.

Maybe it was the bond from that oil transaction, but Shen Xiuyan didn’t find him annoying. He nodded. “Sure. Come with me for now. You can leave anytime along the way. It’s better than staying here. I’m heading to S City to find my in-laws.”

Young Master Huo’s eyes lit up at that. He exclaimed, “S City? That’s where my home is!”

Shen Xiuyan blinked. What a coincidence.

He sighed. “Perfect, then let’s go together. I’ll drop you off at home on the way.”

“Thank you, thank you! You’re my big bro now.”

Shen Xiuyan had to admit, this guy really was quick on his feet.

He gestured with his chin. “Grab your supplies and head out first.”

“G-Go- Go out for what?” Young Master Huo stammered, too scared to move. What if he ran into zombies out there?

“If you want to come with me, do as I say. It’s safe outside right now. Take your supplies and head to the big tree on the left by the exit. My car’s parked there. Mingyue is inside.”

“Okay.” Since Shen Xiuyan had said so, Young Master Huo mustered his courage, picked up his packed supplies, and headed out.

Shen Xiuyan stared in disbelief at the scene before him. His expression was like that of an old man on the subway watching someone play with a smartphone for the first time.

He couldn’t help but shout, “Wait a minute!”

“W-What is it?”

Young Master Huo turned back excitedly. Was he going to let him wait and go together?

Shen Xiuyan asked, “Why are you so strong?”

Most people could only carry a backpack and a few bags. But this guy? He’d somehow dragged out ten boxes, stacked them up, and was about to carry them all at once. The pile was so tall he couldn’t even see the road ahead and had to crane his neck to the side to find his way.

Young Master Huo looked a little disappointed. So he wasn’t going to wait for him after all.

He tilted his head, equally confused. “I don’t know either. I used to have normal strength, but after staying here a few days, I suddenly noticed I got a lot stronger.”

Shen Xiuyan was speechless. “You’ve awakened a strength-type Supernatural Ability.”

With a Supernatural Ability like that, what was he so afraid of? He could punch a zombie out with one hit.

“Huh? This is a Supernatural Ability?” Young Master Huo looked miserable. “It’s not even that useful. Not like yours—you can just throw a lightning ball from a distance…”

His tone was full of disdain for his own ability.

Shen Xiuyan shook his head helplessly. What a dumb mutt.

Awakening a Supernatural Ability was something countless people dreamed of. And strength-type? That was easily top three among combat abilities. This guy really didn’t know how lucky he was.

He waved him off, exasperated. “Alright, go.”

Now he wasn’t the least bit worried about this dumb mutt running into danger outside.

If something did happen to him, he’d totally deserve it.

“Got it!” Young Master Huo trotted off happily.

After he left, Shen Xiuyan looked around the warehouse and gave a bitter chuckle.

Time to get moving.

Dragging his tired body, Shen Xiuyan walked out of the supermarket. Along the way, he ran into two zombies that had popped up from who-knows-where. He casually dealt with them, dug out their Core Crystals, and cleaned them. Looking up at the sky, he had to admit—these crystals were actually kind of pretty.

Even from a distance, Shen Xiuyan could see Young Master Huo circling the car nonstop.

At that moment, Young Master Huo was so anxious he was practically scratching his ears and cheeks. He was one step away from dropping to his knees.

“Sis, you’re like my real sister! I swear Shen Shao told me to come here. Can’t we talk about this after you let me in the car?”

The person inside was cold and unyielding. “No.”

“Boohoo, we’ve at least met before! Can you really just watch me get eaten by zombies?”

Su Mingyue threatened, “I already checked. There aren’t any zombies around here. But if you keep yelling, that might change.”

Young Master Huo clamped his hands over his mouth, looking pitiful and helpless as he stared at Su Mingyue.

But Su Mingyue didn’t soften in the slightest. She said he couldn’t get in the car, and that was final.

Young Master Huo looked even more aggrieved, on the verge of tears.

Boohoo, life was just too hard.

Why wouldn’t this ancestor believe that Shen Shao had sent him? What was he supposed to do now?

Thankfully, Shen Xiuyan arrived at that moment. The second Young Master Huo saw him, his eyes lit up like a puppy spotting its owner and he bolted over.

He complained, a little wronged, “Sister-in-law won’t let me in the car.”

Shen Xiuyan couldn’t help smacking him on the head. “She’s right not to. How do we know you don’t have some ulterior motive?”

“But you’re the one who told me to come here!” Young Master Huo looked utterly betrayed.

Shen Xiuyan shrugged. “I never promised you’d be allowed in the car.”

Young Master Huo was speechless.

As soon as Su Mingyue saw Shen Xiuyan return, she unlocked the car and jumped out.

“Are you okay? Was it dangerous in there?”

Shen Xiuyan shook his head. “No danger. Everything’s taken care of. I found some supplies.”

“Supplies?” Su Mingyue looked puzzled. But when she saw Shen Xiuyan glance at Young Master Huo, she instantly understood.

Oh, the supplies were just for show, to make it look like they were for Young Master Huo.

Young Master Huo wasn’t clueless either. When he saw Shen Xiuyan only take out a single backpack’s worth of goods, he said, still a little dazed, “Just this little bit? You made me go out first for this? Would’ve been better if we left together. I came out first and sister-in-law completely ignored me.”

— Translator’s Notes —

• Huazai: A diminutive and informal suffix ‘-zai’ added to a name or nickname, often used in Cantonese and southern Chinese dialects to express familiarity or affection, similar to ‘little’ or ‘-boy’ in English.

• old man on the subway: Refers to a popular internet meme in China depicting an elderly person’s bewildered reaction to modern technology, used here to emphasize Shen Xiuyan’s disbelief.

• like a puppy spotting its owner: A common Chinese metaphor describing someone’s eager, loyal, and somewhat dependent behavior, emphasizing Young Master Huo’s relief and attachment to Shen Xiuyan.