Chapter 408: Finally Able to Breathe
Three hours later, Su Tao heard the loud roar of helicopter blades from afar.
Her spirits lifted as she called for a group of people to follow her and welcome the incoming aircraft. When she saw the half-conscious Hua Pi, a massive weight finally lifted off her chest.
Now that Hua Pi was in Taoyang, her fate had been rewritten. The predicted future would no longer come to pass—she wouldn’t collude with Siren, wouldn’t encounter Lei Xing, and wouldn’t go on to torment and slaughter other survivors.
Shen Wencheng, who had been in a state of utter despair, came running over barefoot when he heard the news. Upon seeing Hua Pi, he was overwhelmed with emotion as if he had just seen a long-lost family member.
Wiping his tears fiercely, he waved his hand and commanded, “Take her! To the lab!”
A group of officers and ability users from Dongyang escorted the weakened Hua Pi to the deepest section of the research facility. Countless drugs were injected into her body, and cold instruments pierced her flesh. Suspended in a containment tank filled with a liquid that restricted her movements, she couldn’t budge an inch.
She couldn’t understand—her hiding place had been carefully prepared long ago. It was remote and well-concealed, untouched by both humans and zombies. She had even laid additional traps just in case. Yet, the moment she arrived, a group of ability users ambushed her and attacked without hesitation.
Jiang Tong was like a madwoman, risking her life to kill Hua Pi and wounding her gravely. When combined with the assault from the others, Hua Pi stood no chance of retaliation. She was captured alive and locked into this disgusting containment tank.
Only now did she start to realize—she had become nothing more than a lab specimen, contributing to humanity’s cause!
How laughable. She had once warned Jiang Tong.
She tried to lift her arm and pound against the glass, but no matter how hard she struggled, her limbs wouldn’t move.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man by the control panel. His face lit with excitement as he held a massive syringe and slowly approached her.
As the liquid was injected into her, Hua Pi let out a piercing scream—a sound that seemed to tear through the dark night. In that moment, a ray of hope broke through the clouds, shining down on the earth, where a flower began to bloom.
That same night, under the moonlight, Su Tao stood by her bed, gazing out at the peaceful and quiet Taoyang. Her heart was still racing with emotion.
The capture of Hua Pi finally loosened the mental strain she had been under for days. But the drastic shift in tension left her wide awake.
Stretching her hand toward the moonlight spilling into the room, she turned to Shi Zijin, who floated nearby, and said:
“Finally, I can catch my breath. Starting today, you don’t need to come here every night to check in. All we need to do now is wait for good news from Shen Wencheng and his team.”
Shi Zijin nodded with a smile, though his thoughts drifted far away—it was time to seriously hone his cooking skills. While he couldn’t practice yet, he could at least keep up with the theory.
Su Tao stood there a little longer, her lips curving into a faint smile as she looked out over the serene Taoyang. Soon after, she fell into a peaceful, dreamless sleep.
The successful capture of Hua Pi reached Changjing, and even the President himself called to offer praise and recognition.
Su Tao humbly deflected the credit, acknowledging the contributions of her entire team. The President was pleased, promising that within three days, the first shipment of advanced weapons and research equipment would arrive in Taoyang.
Overjoyed, Su Tao immediately informed Shen Wencheng to prepare for the delivery. It was crucial to avoid any mishaps that could damage the fragile equipment during transport.
Despite his exhaustion, Shen Wencheng was energized by the news. “We’re already making progress on the preliminary key decryption,” he reported. “But we need more people. If the reinforcements from Changjing arrive on time, we’ll manage—but without them, our team will collapse under the workload.”
“Don’t worry,” Su Tao reassured him. “They’ll be here on time.”
She added, “We might also need to prepare agricultural planes—those that can spray liquid across large areas. If the research succeeds, we’ll need to use these planes to spread the zombie toxin worldwide. It’s harmless to humans but lethal to zombies.”
The thought of a potential cure ignited a fire within Su Tao. “I’ll make sure everything is ready. You just focus on the research—Taoyang has your back.”
Shen Wencheng, overwhelmed with emotion, grasped Su Tao’s hand. His voice trembled as he said, “Boss Su, with your support, I know we will succeed. I’ve dreamed of this day for so long… it finally feels within reach.”
Devoting one’s life to a singular cause is a rare feat, and Shen Wencheng was one of those rare individuals.
Understanding his dedication, Su Tao gave him a reassuring hug. In that moment, no words were needed.
Meanwhile, life in Taoyang carried on. Wu Zhen successfully cultivated new vegetable varieties. Grandma Cen was the first to rush to buy them, while Old Master Gu urged his caretaker to stock up “for the unfilial brats at home.”
Everywhere she went, tenants and workers greeted Su Tao warmly, their voices full of admiration and energy.
As she made her way to the newly expanded area, she sighed—although the immediate danger was gone, there was still work to be done.
In just one week, 3,000 new residents would arrive.
Thanks to the rapid construction mode, the 10,000-square-meter expansion was completed in under three days.
This new military zone was primarily for the independent regiment’s soldiers. Most of the buildings were dormitory-style, with four-person rooms.
Adjacent to the dorms stood a three-story cafeteria which could accommodate 3,000 diners at once. Beneath it was an underground parking garage.
To the east was the office complex for administrative staff and senior military officials.
The rest of the area housed outdoor training grounds, including shooting ranges, athletic fields, a combat simulation zone, and even a swimming pool.
Additionally, there was a large open-air stage for entertainment during off-duty hours.
Determined to show her commitment, Su Tao spared no expense, upgrading all the furniture to smart, multifunctional models. Soldiers’ beds now had adjustable height, built-in massage functions, and voice-controlled smart lighting.
Each dorm had washing machines, dryers, automated clothes racks, and voice-activated curtains. Every floor’s communal kitchen was equipped with state-of-the-art appliances.
Although the expenses were hefty, Su Tao barely flinched—her growing wealth softened the blow. With the financial management of Qian Rongrong, Taoyang’s resources had become abundant.
By the time the final inspections were complete, Taoyang’s military training zone stood fully prepared to welcome its new residents.
And on that very day, the first batch of advanced weapons from Changjing arrived.
Among the latest high-tech arsenal were three crystal-energy guns, causing even seasoned fighters like Xu Qi and Mist to gape in awe.
Grandma Yu, the stern-faced weapons master, cast a withering glance at the giddy group. “Bunch of country bumpkins,” she muttered.
