Chapter 91: Even the Weak Want to Survive

Chapter 91: Even the Weak Desire to Live

The following morning, Chen Jian was shaken awake by Zeng Yi.

When he opened his eyes, the sunlight had already filtered in through the church windows.

The others stood ready, fully clad in their gear, while Li Shi and Xie Liu had collapsed onto the beds, sleeping so deeply it resembled a coma.

Chen Jian sat up, noticing the faint, dark hue of extreme exhaustion masking Zeng Yi’s face opposite him, and spoke quickly:

"We'll take over. Hurry up and get some rest."

Zeng Yi shook his head, replying:

"I’m afraid there's no time for rest."

"Someone has arrived from the Cathedral of Holy Blood."

"So soon?"

Chen Jian rose in astonishment, buckling on his armor as he pressed for answers:

"Who is it? Where did they come from?"

"From Hanshui City. A Primordial Bloodborne named Zhou Qin, who serves as Zhou Yan's deputy."

"The other one is a stranger, but judging by the insignia on his crimson robe, he is also a Primordial Bloodborne."

"These two possess formidable strength. In terms of combat capability, they could very well be more than twice as strong as I am."

"Whatever their business may be, if you are to engage with them, it is better that I remain at your side."

"To be safe, we could wake Li Shi and the others as well."

"...Never mind."

Chen Jian shook his head, considering it for a moment before saying:

"Just wake Xie Liu. Li Shi is still nursing his wounds; let him rest."

"It is only two Primordial Bloodbornes. No matter how powerful they are, they cannot stir up much of a storm."

"Come, let us go meet them."

"The hand that held the blade has already been severed by us. The hand extended this time should be holding flowers."

Even as he spoke, Chen Jian buckled the hinges of his exoskeleton.

The electric motors hummed to life, weapon racks deployed, and he strode out the door with Shen Yue and the others close behind, while Zeng Yi woke Xie Liu to follow.

Leaving the church under Huang Yu’s guidance, the party of seven made their way toward the outskirts of Huangshi City, while the garrison soldiers—who had clearly been awakened by Huang Yu long ago and were resting near various fortifications—joined them one by one, weapons in hand to guard the group.

No orders were necessary; their movements were entirely natural.

By the time Chen Jian stepped out of the residential sector, the garrison soldiers had already moved ahead of him of their own accord, effectively blocking every conceivable line of attack by enveloping them in a protective throng.

—

This was clearly not a scientifically sound protection strategy, yet Chen Jian knew it represented the utmost loyalty of these newly forged warriors.

A few minutes later, the party reached the lakeshore, which was entirely deserted.

But when Chen Jian cast his gaze into the distance, he spotted a white flag waving on the opposite side of the water.

Raising his binoculars, he indeed saw two Holy Bloodbornes clad in the distinctive crimson robes of the Cathedral of Holy Blood.

"Is that them?"

Chen Jian asked, turning to Zeng Yi.

Zeng Yi nodded and replied:

"Yes."

"I signaled them earlier—they wish to come onto the island."

"Their exact motive remains unclear, but the white flag they raise indicates they come to negotiate."

"Still, I advise caution... Despite my long tenure with the Cathedral of Holy Blood, I was merely on the periphery."

"What hidden, extraordinary means they might possess, I cannot say."

"If we are to interact, it would be best to restrain them first."

"Reasonable."

Chen Jian said thoughtfully:

"We must let them cross, yet we must ensure they possess no means to harm anyone... Have them strip naked and swim over."

"...Might that not be a bit too... damaging to their dignity?"

The corner of Zeng Yi’s mouth twitched with a suppressed smile, though in such a solemn setting, he could hardly laugh out loud.

He merely coughed once and said:

"If they refuse to suffer the humiliation and turn back, then we will have nothing left to discuss."

"Rest assured, they will not leave," Chen Jian said with absolute certainty:

"What right do the vanquished have to speak of dignity?"

"If they wish to live, they must answer to me!"

Half an hour later, a completely naked Zhou Qin and his fellow Primordial Bloodborne, Zhang Hui, swam to the shore, successfully setting foot upon this island of death that filled them with dread.

The tattered garments prepared for them on the ground made them feel profoundly insulted, yet when they looked up at the rifle barrels trained upon them, that lingering spark of pride and self-esteem vanished instantly.

No, it was not the guns or the cannons that terrified them.

It was not even the three steel warriors encased in strange iron armor, with weapons protruding from their backs like mechanical monsters.

Rather, it was the people standing before and behind them.

Those citizens of Huangshi City who were once weak, stooped, and regarded by them as mere ants.

Now, they had completely transformed.

They stood tall and straight, weapons gripped firmly in hand, their gazes devoid of any fear, bearing instead a certain monstrous, predatory ferocity.

Zhou Qin had no doubt that if he dared make any dangerous movement at this juncture, those people would absolutely use the weapons in their hands to tear him to pieces.

How had they become like this?

How long had these mimetic heretics... these so-called "Chosen Ones" even been here?

The plague had obviously spread...

What perplexed Zhou Qin was that if it were a contagion like the Blood Skull, which mutated people into bloodthirsty monsters, it might well be called a plague.

But if it were something like this, which turned cowards into warriors, could it still be considered a plague?

There was not a shred of chaos in the eyes of these people.

They knew precisely what they were doing; even though their eyes carried undisguised hatred, they conducted themselves with absolute calm under the influence of some powerful aura...

This was an utterly unsettling truth.

Yet the present Zhou Qin possessed no right whatsoever to investigate further.

He put on the clothes on the ground, covering his body, then turned toward the opposite few "Chosen Ones", speaking humbly:

"Chosen Ones, we have come for peace."

"The battle is over; we have paid the price for our foolish prejudice."

"Thousands of lives have already perished in meaningless strife; this is a painful lesson."

"Misunderstanding only exacerbates conflict; I think we should set aside misunderstanding and talk peacefully."

"We are willing to take responsibility for the mistakes we have made, even if we are now weak and insignificant."

"There are still thousands of residents in Han Shui City, completely shrouded in fear."

"Even if not for me, please show them mercy."

When Zhou Qin finished speaking, Chen Jian's face showed a hint of surprise.

He looked at them from afar, slightly mocking:

"I thought your attitude would be tougher."

"But now it seems you are quite eloquent."

Zhou Qin wore a bitter expression.

He didn't know how to answer this question.

"Being tough?"

He had indeed intended to be a bit tougher.

At least, he wouldn't have to suffer such humiliation and grovel to please the other side.

But before coming to the island, he detoured to Yuqingzhou.

He saw the remnants of that great explosion.

Thus he realized that his so-called toughness would only accelerate his death.

"If so, why bother pretending?"

He looked up at Chen Jian, over ten meters away, and said:

"I merely realized my own weakness."

"Please forgive our great mistake, for the weak also wish to survive."

(End of chapter)