Chapter 36: Who! Ordered you to do this?
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Inside the shipping container, silence descended once more. Only faint breathing and the occasional groan broke the stillness, bearing witness to the endless suffering and waiting.
…………
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Jiang Yunjie sat in his room as though upon a bed of needles, pacing to the doorway from time to time, his eyes fixed on the direction of the base entrance. Yet outside the gates, all remained deathly still, without the slightest sign of movement.
“Wait, wait, wait! Am I supposed to wait until the end of time?” he growled impatiently before turning back into the room.
He snatched up a glass of liquor from the table, tipped back his head, and drained it in one swallow. The fiery alcohol only fanned the flames of his irritation.
Afterward, Jiang Yunjie strode to the liquor cabinet beside him. When he opened the door, he found only a few scattered empty bottles inside. His brows drew tightly together. With a violent sweep of his hand, he slammed the cabinet shut with a bang, then strode out of the room.
He wandered aimlessly through the base. Along the way, several survivors living there happened to encounter him and hurriedly bowed in greeting.
“Good day, Third Young Master!”
Jiang Yunjie merely nodded absently and continued straight toward the shipping container where the deserters were being held.
When his men opened the container door and Jiang Yunjie stepped into the dark, damp space, the sight before him made his eyes widen in shock.
The prisoners inside had been beaten until their flesh was mangled. They lay sprawled across the floor, barely clinging to life, while the air reeked of blood.
“Who ordered you to beat them?” Jiang Yunjie asked, his brows furrowed, his voice low and dangerous.
The mercenaries nearby were stunned by the sudden question. Trembling, one of them stammered, “It was... it was your order, sir.”
Jiang Yunjie flew into a rage. He swung the back of his hand across the man’s face and shouted, “Nonsense! When did I ever order you to torture them?”
Several mercenaries exchanged bewildered, frightened glances.
Just then, from among the people at the very back who had been whipped until they were covered in wounds, came the faint voice of a woman.
“Stop pretending! A cat mourning a mouse—what fake compassion.”
The speaker was Mu Wanqing. Though imprisoned, her eyes still shone with unyielding light. For a woman to endure this long was no ordinary feat.
Jiang Yunjie knew that although his methods were ruthless, he was not so cruel as this. Given his own style, he would simply have ordered them all killed. He took no pleasure in tormenting people.
At that moment, he was furious beyond words. Someone had clearly been abusing his name to wield power here and frame him for it.
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“Who was it? Who ordered you?”
Jiang Yunjie glared furiously at the mercenary beside him, his voice like ice piercing the heart.
The mercenary trembled in terror and answered haltingly, “It was... Steward Luo.”
“Old Chen’s man? Him again?” Jiang Yunjie murmured under his breath, a chill flashing through his eyes.
He immediately turned and strode out through the container door. Before leaving, he issued a cold command.
“Stop the flogging!”
With that, he disappeared outside in long strides, leaving behind the gloomy space and a group of stunned mercenaries.
“Chen Jing, get out here!”
Jiang Yunjie strode to the command room and shouted in a voice like a thunderclap, making the surrounding air seem to tremble.
When Steward Chen Jing heard the faint anger in the young master’s voice, he hurried out of the room, bowed, and saluted with utmost respect.
“What do you mean by this? Your man falsely passed off my orders? Who gave him the nerve?” Jiang Yunjie glared at Steward Chen Jing, his eyes blazing.
Chen Jing understood at once why Jiang Yunjie had come. He replied respectfully, “Third Young Master, please calm down. It was this old servant’s decision.”
Upon hearing this, a cold smile curled across Jiang Yunjie’s lips.
“Old Chen, you’ve issued quite a few orders behind my back, haven’t you? Do you still regard me as your young master?” His words brimmed with anger, as though they might freeze heaven and earth alike.
Steward Chen Jing, however, remained unmoved and as composed as ever. He slowly said, “This old servant belongs to the Third Young Master. Naturally, I must help shoulder your burdens. I only wished to relieve you of a few trivial matters.”
He lifted his head and looked at Jiang Yunjie, determination flickering in his eyes.
“I believe that without punishment, these people will never submit. We must prevent them from clinging to any false hope. We have no more chances to make mistakes.”
After hearing the steward’s explanation, Jiang Yunjie felt that there was some truth in it. Even so, he remained displeased that his orders had been impersonated.
He was about to reprimand Chen Jing when the steward spoke first in a solemn voice.
“Master is currently with the Second Young Master. I happened to encounter him several days ago when I delivered the serum, and I reported the entire matter to him. He fully approves of your actions this time.”
“Really?”
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Jiang Yunjie’s expression changed abruptly. His anger was instantly replaced by excitement, and he pressed the question eagerly.
Steward Chen Jing nodded, his tone firm.
“Master said he is waiting for good news from you.”
Only then did a trace of joy appear on Jiang Yunjie’s face. After pondering for a moment, he said, “But, Uncle Chen, it has already been three days without any movement. Shouldn’t we go back and take a look?”
His tone had gradually shifted from interrogation to inquiry, clearly indicating that he now placed some trust in Steward Chen Jing’s words.
Chen Jing, however, wore an inscrutable expression and gently shook his head.
“Third Young Master, there is no need to hurry. When a person decides to face death, they need time to think. We need only wait patiently for good news.”
Jiang Yunjie nodded thoughtfully. Though he only half understood, an inexplicable calm settled over his heart. He gave Steward Chen Jing a deep look, then turned and walked away with firm steps, as though he had already glimpsed the dawn of victory.
——————
I rode the zombie tiger Big Yellow and stood majestically outside Anqing City.
Behind me, all the zombie animals, birds, and beasts within the city seemed to have received a silent summons. They gathered one after another until a vast, dark mass stretched across the land. The sight was utterly breathtaking—more magnificent by far than an army of thousands.
Gathering my thoughts, I closed my eyes and focused, adjusting my breathing. Slowly, I exhaled a breath of stale air, as though expelling the distracting thoughts from my heart along with it.
Then I opened my eyes. My gaze was sharp as a blade, fixed unwaveringly upon the scene ahead, filled with resolve and determination.
“Are you ready, Big Yellow?” I asked, gently patting him as though speaking to an old friend.
The zombie tiger beneath me seemed to understand. It immediately let out a deafening roar. The birds and beasts behind us followed with their own cries, one after another, rising and falling like warriors on a battlefield preparing to march into battle—spirits high, strength gathered, ready to strike.
“Move out!”
I shouted like a general issuing the order to advance.
At my words, Big Yellow immediately leaped...
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