CH 6

Chapter 6 

Yes, it’s true. Qin Jiuzhen’s grandfather and great-grandfather actually underwent partial transformation into beasts last night. However, it might have been due to their poor health and old age, as well as the fact that they slept alone in separate rooms without encountering any prey.

So, it was quiet throughout the night. It was only in the morning when they went to wake them up that they discovered both of them had transformed into beasts and lost their sanity.

When Qin Jiuzhen’s parents opened the door, they charged towards them upon spotting them as prey. If it hadn’t been for Qin Jiuzhen’s parents being quick to dodge, they might have been bitten on the neck, and their lives would be uncertain now.

However, even so, Qin Jiuzhen’s father was viciously bitten on the arm, and a chunk of flesh was torn off. The wound on his arm still burned with intense pain.

And now, there was no way they could be taken to the hospital given the situation outside. They didn’t dare step out of the door. After all, everyone in the family had seen the news about the situation outside—they would have been walking into their own death if they had gone out.

Qin Jiuzhen said, “I’m fine, but my father… you know, he had a chunk of flesh bitten off his arm. It was excruciatingly painful, but we didn’t have any painkillers in the medicine kit at home.”

Xia Liansheng patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, maybe I can drive out and take a look…”

Qin Jiuzhen quickly hugged his waist. “No, it’s not possible. It’s too dangerous outside now. If you go out, you will definitely lose your life. Let’s call for an ambulance and see if someone can come over.”

Xia Liansheng pondered. The hospitals at this time… the people inside were probably struggling for their own survival. The phone lines might not even have been working. How could anyone have come for an emergency rescue?

Qin Jiuzhen let go of him and dialed the emergency number, but just as Xia Liansheng had expected, no one answered the call. He tried several times in a state of anxiety, but none of the calls connected. In the end, it became impossible to get through at all.

Xia Liansheng said, “Alright, stop trying. Even if we managed to get through them, I doubted anyone would have come. People who had partially transformed into beasts were everywhere, attacking anyone around them.”

“Even if an ambulance had come, we couldn’t have safely gotten into the car and gone to the hospital, don’t you think?”

Qin Jiuzhen dejectedly dropped the phone from his hand. “You’re right, Liansheng. I was being too presumptuous. What should we have done about Dad’s wound then?”

Xia Liansheng frowned. “There is nothing we can do then. We can only endure it.”

Qin Jiuzhen secretly glanced at him. “Liansheng, are you… are you worried about my brother?”

Xia Liansheng shifted his attention back to Qin Jiuzhen. “Why would you think that?”

Qin Jiuzhen remained silent, and Xia Liansheng let out a sigh. “Don’t overthink it. I just had a small motive.”

“I understand, Liansheng. You previously mentioned that you wanted to get close to him to prevent him from competing for the family inheritance. But it seems like my brother isn’t interested in the inheritance. And now, with all this happening…” Qin Jiuzhen trailed off.

Xia Liansheng interrupted. “Don’t dwell on it, Xiaozhen… You should know who the person I like is.”

Just then, someone descended from upstairs.

Yao Meimei appeared exhausted as she made her way down. Upon spotting them downstairs, she weakly beckoned with her hand. “Xiaozhen, do we have any food? Your grandmother and I are starving.”

From time to time, they could hear roars coming from the top floor. Qin Jiuzhen’s grandfather and great-grandfather were engaged in a fight, both partially transformed into beasts. It was not uncommon for partially transformed individuals to attack each other. This explained why they were relatively safe for the time being.

Naturally, they had barricaded the entrance with some objects.

Qin Jiuzhen hurriedly went to the kitchen to check. The housekeeper had left earlier due to personal matters, so there was no one available to cook for them. The only food they had was prepared by Xia Liansheng, although his culinary skills were limited to simple dishes.

Yao Meimei accepted the food from Qin Jiuzhen’s hands. “Your father is in excruciating pain. He can’t rest at all, and we have no idea when the situation outside will improve.”

Qin Jiuzhen tried to offer reassurance. “Don’t worry, Mom. The military will come to rescue us soon.”

Yao Meimei sighed. “Let’s hope so…”

Xia Liansheng suggested, “Auntie, would you like me to go upstairs? You should rest as well. You look exhausted…”

Yao Meimei pondered for a moment and didn’t refuse. She handed him the food. “Then go ahead. We’re fortunate to have you here, Liansheng. Xiaozhen is lucky to have met you. It’s a blessing.”

Yao Meimei appeared gentle and warm-hearted, but she also had her own calculations. Xia Liansheng had substantial wealth, and he was now the only one capable of protecting them in this situation. They had no idea how long the chaos outside would last, and without Xia Liansheng, their lives would undoubtedly become extremely difficult.

“He’s better than the so-called bad luck charm who never returned home. I’m sure our family’s misfortune is because of that brat. You should avoid him and have less contact with him in the future. It would be even better if he died out there this time so that we never have to see him again.”

Xia Liansheng didn’t continue the conversation and simply smiled. “Auntie, I’ll go upstairs to check on Uncle.”

Yao Meimei smiled and nodded in agreement. “Go ahead.”

After Xia Liansheng went upstairs, Yao Meimei approached Qin Jiuzhen and gently pulled him to sit on the couch. She whispered softly, “Xiaozhen, how are things progressing between you and Liansheng?”

Qin Jiuzhen blushed and looked embarrassed. “I… I’m not sure about Liansheng’s intentions. He has been treating me well, but he hasn’t proposed to me yet. I… I can’t say for certain. It still seems to be connected to my brother. I don’t know…”

Yao Meimei furrowed her brow. “What’s really going on? He should just leave and stop causing trouble for our family. He’s nothing but a jinx, a bad omen. As long as he’s around, our family can’t find peace!”

“Xiaozhen, you’re the fortunate one in our family, you know? Be a bit more proactive when you’re with Liansheng. He has plenty of wealth and no one to answer to in his family. If you marry him, you’ll have control over your own life, unlike me, who had to live according to your father’s parents.”

“Mum, I understand. Don’t worry, Liansheng still loves me.”

It was supposed to take a week for Qin Jiuzhen to fully adapt to the physique of a mutant beast. However, for some reason in this lifetime, it only took five days for Qin Jiuzhen to feel that he had reached the same level of adaptation as in his previous life. How could this be?

Qin Jiuzhen squinted his eyes as he stood on the rooftop, gazing at the distant city. In just five days, the water and electricity had been cut off in their area. Fortunately, the villa community was located in the outskirts, surrounded by two nearby mountains and a clear, wide river flowing through the middle. They might lack electricity, but they still had access to water.

“Could it be because in my previous life, I experienced a sudden transformation with Xia Liansheng at the movie theater, constantly fighting for survival without smoothly passing through the initial adaptation period? Is that why things turned out this way?”