Chapter 204: Raising a Little Zombie 22

“Dad, if one day I wanted to do something that could harm the world, would you kill me with your own hands?”

Yunyun sat there, chewing on a Crystal Core, and somehow brought up this topic.

Xie Hui paused in his actions, instinctively turned to look at Yunyun, a faint smile in his eyes, and answered seriously:

“If you’re not joking with me…”

“I wouldn’t.”

Not getting the answer he wanted, Yunyun picked up a stuffed toy from the sofa, resting his chin on its head, and sighed helplessly. As expected, his dad was still the same as before.

After answering, Xie Hui went back to his tasks. When he took a break, he glanced at Xie Yun, who was sitting there eating a Crystal Core. Although he had grown up, in Xie Hui’s heart, he would always be his child, and that would never change.

However, seeing Xie Yun, who even while eating a Crystal Core, would absentmindedly stroke Fu Gui’er with his thumb, Xie Hui found his earlier assertion that he had grown up somewhat amusing. Even Xiao Li’s son, who had just visited, behaved better than Yunyun when eating.

Xie Hui hadn’t lied to him; he truly wouldn’t kill this child with his own hands, no matter what happened. As a father, he would only stop Xie Yun before he did such things. But he believed Xie Yun wasn’t the type to do such things. This child was exceptional, his excellence in every aspect even exceeded Xie Hui’s expectations.

Originally, Xie Hui thought he was about to retire, but not long after, Uncle Li, the former Base Leader of the Survivor Base, personally came to invite him to teach at the academy. The old education system no longer suited the present; they needed familiarity with abilities more than knowledge from books.

Xie Hui didn’t hesitate long before agreeing. While he was still alive, he wanted to do more, to leave more connections for Xie Yun, making his future life easier.

Previously, with Xie Yun’s permission, Professor Yu conducted a full body examination on him. The result was that Xie Yun would have a very long lifespan. During that evolutionary mutation, Xie Yun was transformed inside and out. He lost his heartbeat, had no body temperature, and his muscles wouldn’t wear out or age.

After learning this, Xie Hui thought for a long time. Although their lifespans were extended after the Apocalypse, they still had an end. But Xie Yun was different. According to Professor Yu’s conservative estimate, Xie Yun would live a very long life, but Xie Hui speculated that Yunyun might achieve the legendary immortality. His body was more like a flawless machine, yet he had emotions and self-awareness. Without external interference, his life wouldn’t end.

Xie Hui didn’t tell Yunyun about this, keeping it to himself. He agreed to be a guest lecturer at the academy, teaching children who couldn’t master abilities.

At the academy, Xie Hui made many new friends. Even Xie Yun, who preferred staying home, eventually became one of the teachers. Many cultures disappeared during the Apocalypse, and in the post-disaster reconstruction, technology developed rapidly. With Professor Yu’s Zombie Vaccine, they became the world’s most powerful nation.

Even in her old age, lying on a hospital bed with a ventilator, Professor Yu still thought of the Zombie she once met. When Xie Hui visited her, Yunyun came along. To most who experienced the Apocalypse, Professor Yu was of immense significance. She was the scientist who openly ended the Apocalypse, but she knew Xie Hui’s contributions were indispensable. Without him, she might have continued wasting her life on a hopeless research project.

Professor Yu, at that moment, was unusually spirited. Her assistant guessed it was a final burst of energy, turning away to hide her tears. She beckoned Xie Hui over, and when he approached, Professor Yu grasped his hand and said with great effort:

“My assistant… let her record this.”

The female assistant, who had just turned away, sniffed and picked up the camera upon hearing Professor Yu’s words.

“Thank you, Mr. Xie, for providing me with the correct direction during the Apocalypse.”

After speaking, Professor Yu gestured for Xie Yun to come over. Remembering this kind old lady from his memory, Xie Yun walked to the bedside and was also held by her hand.

“After I pass, I hope no one treats Xie Yun as a test subject because of his identity. He is our fellow human, not a monster.”

After saying this, she explained in detail the experiments she was conducting, and all the data and unfinished work were clearly accounted for. After finishing, Professor Yu finally closed her eyes in peace.

In the ward, the sound of crying gradually rose. Professor Yu’s body was very healthy, and she passed without much pain, naturally reaching the end of her life and leaving this world peacefully.

Even though the officials announced this fact, countless people refused to believe it, even cursing the officials for spreading false information, demanding severe punishment. Developing the Zombie Vaccine was Professor Yu’s most glorious achievement during her lifetime, and her other scattered experiments also benefited countless people.

In life, she was honored countless times; in death, her body was draped with the national flag.

At the funeral, Xie Hui met He Fang, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. Despite the years apart, there was little unfamiliarity. Half a month after Professor Yu’s funeral, He Fang, busy with work, organized a gathering before going abroad, reuniting the old Guardian Team members.

Some continued to serve in the military, guarding the nation. Some, having aged, became teachers at the academy. Young ones like He Fang shone in their respective fields.

Those they knew back then were now living very well. Having walked through the darkest times, every day now was better than before. While others at the gathering drank and chatted about the past, Xie Yun sat on a single sofa, munching on his Crystal Core, occasionally casting a resentful glance at his dad.

“Dad, don’t just drink. Have some peanuts.”

Xie Yun pushed a plate of peanuts in front of them, inviting the other uncles as well.

Drinking is indeed harmful to the body, but Xie Yun didn’t stop his father this time. In fact, after they finished their drinks, he even took the initiative to refill their glasses.

Ever since the post-disaster reconstruction began, they hadn’t gathered together like this in such a long time.

Reminiscing about the past and discussing the present, drinking and eating meat, this rare sense of ease and comfort was something Xie Yun didn’t want to spoil for them.

Xie Hui, usually a rational and calm person, also drank a bit too much today. Fortunately, his behavior remained decent, and he didn’t act out in a drunken stupor.

The gathering place wasn’t far from home, so Yunyun supported his father as they walked back.

“Yunyun, you see, all your uncles have grown old.”

“Yeah.”

Xie Yun had noticed during the gathering that over the years, everyone had indeed aged quite a bit, including his father, whose features now bore the marks of time.

“Dad’s getting old too. What will you do if I’m gone one day and you’re left all alone…”

Normally, Xie Hui would never say something like this; he found it too sentimental. But under the influence of alcohol, emotions were magnified many times over, and words that once felt difficult to speak now came out with genuine emotion.

“Dad, why are you thinking about this at your age?”

Xie Yun, feeling a bit down himself, still tried hard to lighten the mood, though his voice carried a slight nasal tone.

“Oh, how old are you to be sniffling like this?”

“Oh wait, I should say, how big is my little Zombie…”

The familiar nickname brought Xie Yun’s emotions to a tipping point. Holding back the sting in his nose, he corrected him:

“Dad, you said before we shouldn’t talk about that.”

“Yes, you’re right. That was my mistake.”

After returning home, Xie Yun helped his father to bed. Standing by the bedside, he stared at the white hair at his father’s temples, then turned to the balcony, leaning there to gaze up at the twinkling stars.

Zombies don’t need rest, and countless nights with nothing else to do, Xie Yun would watch the stars.

Xie Hui took great care of his health, just to spend more time with his child.

Though others never mentioned it openly, there was always a bit of apprehension towards Yunyun because of his identity. Aside from attending the academy, Yunyun spent most of his time at home without any close friends.

He couldn’t leave early and deprive him of someone to confide in.

After that brief reunion, everyone went their separate ways again. Professor Yu’s assistant, after his death, began to take charge and continued the experiments Professor Yu hadn’t completed.

Those who emerged from the Apocalypse together shared a deeper bond than outsiders could understand.

When Base Leader Uncle Li passed away naturally, he left a will behind.

He didn’t want anyone to entertain the idea of using Xie Yun as a test subject after his death.

They owed their current lives to Xie Yun’s contributions, and under no circumstances should they repay kindness with betrayal.

Later, Xie Hui rose to the position of vice principal at the academy. He taught countless students, and most who wielded special abilities bore his influence, a testament to his widespread impact.

Xie Yun didn’t understand why his father worked so hard at his age, but he respected all his father’s decisions and took extra care of him daily.

Time passed, long enough that despite Xie Hui’s diligent self-care, his body reached its final days.

He lay in a rocking chair, watching his child make tea not far away, and softly called out:

“Yunyun…”