"Qingyan, you—"
Before Zhu Jiu could finish his sentence, Ruan Qingyan grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room.
Inside, a cozy fire crackled in the specially-prepared fireplace, radiating warmth that drove away the biting cold outside.
Qingyan stood before him, wearing nothing but a silky nightgown that clung to her figure. Her freshly washed hair was still damp, and a faint blush colored her flawless, porcelain-like face.
The firelight danced on her gown, tracing every curve of her graceful form.
"I'll just go and take a—"
Before Zhu Jiu could even mention a bath, Qingyan had already tugged him onto the bed.
Gone was his usual battle-hardened demeanor; instead, Qingyan took the lead with surprising confidence.
Outside, the wind howled mercilessly, but within the room, a different kind of fire ignited, setting the tone for the night.
The creaking of the bed mingled with the howling wind, creating a symphony of warmth and passion.
The first light of dawn filtered through the frosted window.
Zhu Jiu stirred, opening his eyes slowly. A cascade of silky black hair filled his vision, carrying the faint fragrance he was all too familiar with.
He smiled, wrapping his arms around the warm, delicate body beside him. Gently, he kissed her forehead.
Careful not to wake Qingyan, he tucked the blanket snugly around her and quietly slipped out of bed, dressing quickly before stepping outside.
The school building was eerily quiet. Most of the group was still deep in slumber, exhausted from the previous day's work.
In the hallways, a few patrolling students greeted Zhu Jiu in hushed tones. He nodded in acknowledgment and stepped out into the frigid morning air.
What greeted him was a completely transformed landscape.
The city that had been bathed in sunlight just yesterday was now blanketed in thick, untouched snow. South City had become a snow-covered wonderland, albeit one tinged with danger.
Zhu Jiu knelt down and thrust his black iron sword into the snow, burying half the blade with ease.
Pulling it free, he shook his head. "Half a meter deep already. We'll need to clear this soon."
The snow was dense and would severely hamper mobility. A single misstep could leave someone trapped, unable to flee if danger struck.
However, the snow wasn't entirely bad news—it would slow down the infected just as much as it would humans.
Just then, a clear wolf howl pierced the air.
Zhu Jiu turned toward the source and saw the silver-furred wolf king bounding through the snow, its pack trailing close behind.
The snow barely seemed to affect the wolf king, which moved with a speed and grace that belied the harsh conditions. In mere moments, it was standing before Zhu Jiu, pressing its massive head against his hand affectionately.
The proud and fierce wolf king, feared by all who saw it, behaved like a docile pet in Zhu Jiu's presence.
Nearby, the patrolling students exchanged astonished glances.
"Zhu Jiu really is something else," one muttered. "Even that terrifying wolf king acts like a kitten around him."
The tales of the wolf pack's ferocity had already spread among the group. Everyone knew how deadly the wolf king could be. Its claws alone could cleave through a tree trunk thicker than a man's torso with a single swipe.
"You little rascal," Zhu Jiu said with a chuckle, rubbing the wolf king's head. Then, with a swift motion, he vaulted onto its back.
Turning to the patrol team, he gave a quick order. "Wake everyone at six sharp. Once you've had breakfast, start clearing the snow from the entrances. If we let it settle and harden, it'll be a nightmare to deal with later."
Without waiting for a reply, he gave the wolf king a light tap, and they sped off toward the school's back mountain.
The Hunt Begins
As they raced through the snow-covered city, Zhu Jiu's mind drifted to his plans.
The back mountain was teeming with evolved beasts. Yesterday, when he passed through, his mouth had practically watered at the thought of their meat.
The taste of those two evolution-enhanced rabbits was still fresh in his mind, and he couldn't wait to hunt for more.
The wolf king carried him effortlessly, cutting through the snow like it wasn't even there. Zhu Jiu sat on its back, lost in thought, until the faint buzz of the communicator in his pocket brought him back to the present.
"A message?" Zhu Jiu pulled out the device and noticed two unread notifications.
One was from last night, around the time he was rushing to Huachen District. The other had just arrived.
Both messages came from the same person and were almost identical.
The first read: "Tomorrow night, 8 PM. South City Asylum. Let's discuss in person. Regards, Su Yun."
The second, more recent message said: "Tonight, 8 PM. South City Asylum. Seeking a first-tier evolver to assist with a mission. Generous rewards. Details will be shared on-site. Regards, Su Yun."
Both messages were vague, lacking any specifics about the mission. Zhu Jiu noted that they were clearly group broadcasts.
"South City Asylum?" Zhu Jiu frowned.
Every South City native knew the place—it was the city's only mental hospital. Its reputation for eerie legends and ghost stories was almost as well-known as the city itself.
For someone to arrange a meeting there, especially during the early days of an apocalypse, seemed... off.
And the fact that the message came through the communicator—an advanced device not easily obtained—meant the sender was no ordinary person.
"They must be someone like Zhao Feng—a descendant of a powerful family," Zhu Jiu muttered.
Curious, he searched for more information on the asylum using the communicator's network.
Sure enough, there were posts discussing Su Yun's message:
"Did anyone else get Su Yun's invitation to the South City Asylum? They're promising big rewards!"
"I got it too. Su Yun, the Northern Su family's prodigy, coming all the way to South City? That's a rare sight."
"Not surprising. The Su family's massive. Sending someone to train in South City during the apocalypse makes sense. They'd dominate effortlessly."
"True. But what could Su Yun need help with? Why ask for allies?"
"Who cares? I'm going. If the Su family is involved, the rewards will be worth it. They wouldn't risk their reputation over peanuts."
"Exactly! I'm in too."
Closing the communicator, Zhu Jiu's brows furrowed in thought.
"Just a simple message from this Su Yun, and everyone's scrambling to join. The Su family must be terrifyingly influential."
He made up his mind quickly.
"This could be a golden opportunity to gather information and make connections. I'll go."
With his decision made, he slipped the communicator back into his pocket and focused on the path ahead.
Soon, the back mountain loomed into view.
The pristine snow was littered with tracks, evidence of the many evolved beasts roaming the area.
A grin spread across Zhu Jiu's face.
"I'll worry about the asylum later. For now, I have a hunt to enjoy."
With a tap of his foot, the wolf king bounded into the forest.
The hunt was on.