Chapter 419: If the Lips Are Gone, the Teeth Will Be Cold
Dang Weiran gazed at the lights outside, his face dark and expressionless.
Too indulgent, he thought. At this rate, Taoyang is doomed.
But that’s no longer his concern.
That night, he lay on a soft massage bed, but no matter how comfortable it was, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
He was really going back to Changjing in disgrace—and there was nothing he could do about it.
The next day, he expected the soldiers, after a night of indulgence, to be sluggish and undisciplined. He wanted to see them embarrass themselves. But to his surprise, despite their revelry, they resumed training without missing a beat. In fact, their efficiency improved visibly, and their spirits were higher than ever.
He couldn’t believe it. He observed them for three days straight. These soldiers ate like they had bottomless pits for stomachs—three bowls of white rice per person, plus endless servings of meat, vegetables, and eggs.
Only Taoyang could afford to feed them like this.
Without his rigid policy limiting meals, the soldiers treasured every bite. Driven by gratitude toward Taoyang, they pushed themselves during training as if their lives depended on it.
Far from slacking off, they became even more organized and disciplined. Their overall strength increased significantly.
And maybe it was the better food and rest—within half a month, five soldiers awakened supernatural abilities.
That was unheard of. In the past, with a team of three thousand, having one person awaken in a month was considered fortunate.
After some time observing this transformation, Dang Weiran started to waver.
Was my brutal, deprivation-based training wrong?
But he had built his career on this method, earning countless military honors.
He couldn’t accept it. He didn’t dare accept it.
The collapse of one’s core beliefs is the deadliest blow of all.
Su Tao, however, no longer concerned herself with Dang Weiran. She focused on her usual work—studying, gathering information, and keeping an eye on the movements of Siren and Shou’an Base.
To her, Siren was a ticking time bomb. As long as it existed, she could never truly relax.
Sure enough, her informants reported something suspicious: a recent surge of survivors entering Shou’an.
Frowning, Su Tao drummed her fingers on the table before calling Shen Wencheng to check the progress of his research.
When he answered, the background was chaotic—there were even sounds of arguing. Shen Wencheng’s tone was flat and irritated:
“Nothing serious. We’re 60% done. Give us two more months, and we’ll finish the job.”
Hearing that, Su Tao felt a little more at ease. Shen’s research on the serum and vaccine was her biggest trump card—she couldn’t afford any setbacks.
To ensure his safety, she assigned two elite superpowered soldiers from the Independent Corps to guard him around the clock.
It wasn’t paranoia—Dang Weiran’s behavior had left a bad taste in her mouth. She couldn’t fully trust the research team from Changjing either.
She also had Zhuang Wan contact Shou’an Base directly, hoping to warn them. After all, if Shou’an fell, the nearby Taoyang and Dongyang bases would be in danger.
The last time Shou’an’s military leaders neglected their duties, the city was overrun by zombies. That disaster attracted hordes of the undead to Dongyang, putting it in grave danger.
But to Su Tao’s dismay, Shou’an’s response was downright hostile—they hung up without even listening.
Zhuang Wan spat, “Still holding a grudge! Just because we refused to sell them supplies after they abandoned Wu Zhen. And don’t forget the clash we had with them at the Alliance Summit. But seriously—couldn’t they at least hear us out?”
Su Tao’s frown deepened. Something felt off—not just Shou’an’s attitude, but the fact that Siren’s presence there couldn’t be coincidental.
She instructed Zhuang Wan, “Send another message. Be blunt—tell them there’s a mutant zombie in their base. Urge them to restrict entry and thoroughly screen everyone. Also, deliver a vial of the detection serum.”
Zhuang Wan wasn’t thrilled. “Why bother? If they want to ignore us, let them suffer.”
“I get it,” Su Tao sighed. “But if—”
She hesitated, not wanting to voice her darkest fear:
If Siren used Shou’an as a breeding ground, feeding on human flesh to grow stronger, and took control of the base—Taoyang would have a nest of intelligent mutant zombies right next door.
How could they ever sleep soundly again?
But she didn’t say that aloud. Instead, she finished, “If Shou’an falls, we’re next. When the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold.”
Reluctantly, Zhuang Wan followed her orders.
But Shou’an’s leadership remained defiant. They ignored the email, refused to enforce any new regulations, and even returned the vial of detection serum—without allowing the courier to step inside the city.
Fuming, Zhuang Wan muttered, “Fine, let their lips rot off. We’ve got a protective shield—our teeth will be just fine.”
That night, Su Tao discussed the matter with Shi Zijin.
Shi Zijin pondered for a while before asking, “Are you absolutely sure Siren is in Shou’an?”
Su Tao froze.
Her predictive ability had shown Siren meeting with the Hua Pi there, plotting humanity’s destruction. But she had altered that future by capturing Hua Pi.
Would Siren still follow the original plan?
Her confidence wavered.
Reading her expression, Shi Zijin reasoned, “It’s understandable that Shou’an doesn’t believe you. Changjing recently reported Siren’s activities near the coast—why would they suddenly show up inland at Shou’an? Plus, all the bases are seeing an uptick in survivors—not just them.”
“In their eyes, you’re just stirring up trouble because of your past grudge.”
Su Tao admitted he had a point. But her gut told her something was seriously wrong.
“If Shou’an falls again—worse, if it becomes a zombie kingdom—we’re screwed,” she warned. “They’d hunt nearby for food, and that means my tenants and Dongyang’s citizens would be sitting ducks.”
She shook her head, baffled by Shou’an’s arrogance. How could they refuse a free serum that could save lives?
That night, Su Tao dreamed of Shou’an’s fall.
The city walls were drenched in blood—far worse than the last collapse. The core district, once controlled by the military, was now occupied by an unfamiliar, terrifying force.
When she woke up, a chill ran through her veins.
She had no choice—she had to go to Shou’an.
One: To use her ability on-site and get a clearer vision of Siren’s plans.
Two: To slap some sense into those idiots.
