One hundred and one.

Ye Yin’s heart felt as if it had been struck violently by something unseen.

“This is just a selfish request from my side. I know it’s sudden to say this now, so I don’t expect an immediate answer. Whatever your response may be, I will continue to dedicate myself to the complete eradication of the zombies as my lifelong mission and responsibility. It is not just my duty as a soldier, or my responsibility as a son and brother to my family, but also a promise to the one I hold dear,” Zhuo Chenglan said. “Even if you don’t ultimately choose me, it doesn’t matter. If I can eliminate what troubles you most and bring you happiness, I will have no regrets.”

Ye Yin lowered her head, unsure where to place her hands, her face burning fiercely.

“It’s cold here. Let’s head back together.”

“Mm…”

Two shallow sets of footprints appeared in the snow—one large, one small; one deep, one light. The distance between them, initially cautious and distant, gradually closed, becoming somewhat intimate, until the freshly fallen snow erased all traces.

Recently, Ding Chun had been overwhelmed with family matters. He was busy earnestly advising his sister while simultaneously explaining things to the Zhuo family, so much so that he completely forgot the task Ye Yin had entrusted to him. It wasn’t until “Miss Huangli” visited again that he broke out in a cold sweat and forced a smile, eagerly greeting her.

“Dear, I’ve wanted to invite you over for a while, but there’s been one major issue after another at the base recently. I just haven’t found the time. You don’t blame me, do you?”

“Forget about playing. Where’s the Wood-type crystal core?” Ye Yin asked.

“Well…” Ding Chun suddenly remembered something and confidently replied, “It’s coming soon. The delivery person ran into a bit of trouble, but I promise I’ll have it to you within three days.”

“Then I’ll come by in three days.”

“Really? Leaving so soon?” Ding Chun looked disappointed. “At least stay for a meal with me, will you?”

Ye Yin smiled. “Eating with you requires both courage and luck. I’d better be cautious.”

“Eh?”

“No worries. Keep it up,” Ye Yin said. “See you the day after tomorrow.”

Ding’s residence wasn’t far from the Commander's mansion. Ye Yin chose not to take the common “rickshaw” seen in Area AB of the First Base but instead strolled alone slowly along the street.

Since Zhuo Chenglan’s confession, something between them seemed to have completely reversed. Whether in private or in public, Zhuo Chenglan showed Ye Yin sincere and gentle concern, while Ye Yin found herself inexplicably nervous, often making harmless little mistakes because of overreactions, resembling a pure and clumsy heroine from a manga.

For example, just yesterday, she had been having afternoon tea in the Commander's garden with the Commander's wife when Zhuo Chenglan and his brother Zhuo Zelian came over to discuss something. Flustered, Ye Yin stood up abruptly and knocked over a snack stand. Luckily, Zhuo Zelian’s quick reflexes saved the stand, and Zhuo Chenglan steadied her, preventing tea from spilling onto the Commander's wife.

“Are you alright?” Zhuo Chenglan asked softly.

“Y-yes…”

“Hey, you can’t keep acting like this,” Zhuo Zelian teased with a sly grin. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a crush on my brother or me.”

Ye Yin rolled her eyes and retorted without restraint, “Just based on your first reaction to save the snack stand, even if I did like you, it’d be completely shattered. Clearly, you care more about the snacks than people.”

Zhuo Zelian looked hurt. “That’s because I didn’t have time to react before my brother swooped in and caught you. I couldn’t even try to steal you away. Next time you fall on purpose, I’ll make sure to lie down first and be your human cushion.”

The Commander's wife laughed, her eyes turning into slits as she lightly tapped Zhuo Zelian, “You’re an adult—why do you still talk like a child? Your brother didn’t catch her; you just like to make things up.”

Zhuo Zelian nimbly dodged, “Alright, alright, I was just joking. By the way, Mom, the old man just called us for something. Almost forgot.”

The Commander's wife nodded. “Okay then, Yin Yin, you and Chenglan relax for a bit. We’ll be back soon.”

“Take care, Auntie.”

Zhuo Zelian linked arms with the Commander's wife and strode away, casting a meaningful glance at Ye Yin and Zhuo Chenglan before leaving, making the atmosphere instantly charged with subtle tension.

Feeling she couldn’t stay like this forever, Ye Yin put on a bright expression and asked, “Is the departure on the fifth?”

Chenglan replied, “About three months later, when we meet up with the Fourth Base team.”

“Be careful,” Ye Yin hesitated, then added softly, “And don’t push yourself too hard…”

Indeed, Zhuo Chenglan’s primary motivation for exterminating zombies was her phrase, “Zombies must be wiped out,” but it wasn’t solely for her sake. Thus, Ye Yin had no position to persuade him otherwise, yet she couldn’t say nothing either. It was truly vexing.

Zhuo Chenglan smiled faintly and showed her the protective talisman she had given him earlier. “I will keep this safe. Will you give me a new one when I return?”

“Of course,” Ye Yin smiled lightly. “If you want more, that’s no problem.”

The afternoon sunlight was just right; the tea reflected shadows of leaves, and her eyes reflected his silhouette…

Wait, what’s been happening to me lately?

Snapping out of her reverie, Ye Yin scratched her head.

Ding Chun had done everything possible to secure the Wood-type crystal core before the deadline, releasing a breath of relief. The next day, Ye Yin arrived as promised. Excitedly, he handed her a box containing the crystal core. “Seventh rank, especially beautiful.”

Ye Yin opened the box and gently took out the dazzling crystal core resting on velvet.

As Ding Chun had said, it was indeed stunning—large, smooth, and lustrous like imperial jade. After admiring it for a moment, Ye Yin nodded in satisfaction and tossed the Psychic-type crystal core to Ding Chun. He, too, couldn’t stop admiring it. Both were delighted.

As she was about to leave, Ding Chun urged her to stay, but Ye Yin politely declined, explaining she had to deliver something to Zhuo Chenglan today.

“Sorry, I really have important matters. Let’s meet again another time.”

“All right,” Ding Chun said reluctantly. “If you ever come across any rare crystal cores again, be sure to save one for me first.”

“No problem.”

After exiting the side gate of the Ding residence, Ye Yin glanced at the massive clock hanging on the central building and decided to take a shortcut to the base entrance. As she hurried through an alley, ready to transform back, an invisible chain bound her feet. Instantly, she lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground.

What’s going on?!

Ye Yin panicked and struggled desperately, but it was no use. The chain, like a living vine, spread over her entire body.

She soon realized the bindings weren’t physical but rather some manifestation of psychic or spiritual energy.

“Beautiful, are you Ding Chun’s new love?” A familiar voice whispered in Ye Yin’s ear, followed by a smooth, pale hand lifting her chin. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you. I just need to borrow you for a while.”

When Ye Yin saw the face before her, she was utterly shocked.

It was none other than the long-missing Supervisor He!

Supervisor He wore a gray coat, her hair elegantly styled, radiating calm and grace. Using that intangible power, she lifted Ye Yin, covered her mouth, and silently led her deeper into the alley.

The Wuzhu clan’s cultivation focused on forging and refining the body, with relatively weak mental awareness. Bound by this non-physical chain, Ye Yin was momentarily immobilized, allowing Supervisor He to half-support, half-drag her into a pitch-black underground room.

“You’re surprisingly calm,” Supervisor He said with a smile. “Those other girls were too noisy. I had to knock them unconscious and discard them.”

Ye Yin remained silent.

“Be good and don’t struggle,” Supervisor He said, searching Ye Yin’s body but finding nothing suspicious. She nodded. “Soon I’ll control your body a little. Cooperate with me and don’t make any rash moves. It’ll be good for you.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Ding Chun recently acquired a crystal core that’s made many jealous,” Supervisor He said. For some reason, she trusted this girl and confided, “I have a relative who’s gravely injured. The only one who can heal him is the one who possesses that crystal core, so I have to find a way to get it.”

Ye Yin’s heart trembled slightly. She blurted out, “Is it Bai Qing?”

Supervisor He’s expression changed, and suddenly, intense pressure overwhelmed Ye Yin, lifting her suspended midair in chains. “Who are you?”

“Please don’t be alarmed, senior. Bai Qing and I are good friends,” Ye Yin said, struggling for breath. “We met not long ago, so I know.”

“Nonsense. I know all his friends, but I’ve never seen anyone like you.”

“That’s because I disguised myself.” Ye Yin gradually returned to her original appearance, forcing a smile. “Although you haven’t seen me before, I really am…”

The chains slowly loosened. Supervisor He put Ye Yin down, her voice tinged with indescribable desolation. “So it’s you… Why did you go to Ding Chun?”

“That’s a long story. More importantly,” Ye Yin said, “how is Bai Qing now?”

Supervisor He hesitated, then said in a low voice, “He’s been imprisoned in the Reverse Magnet Prison for a long time, his body severely damaged. Only a healer of eighth rank or above can treat him. The Association’s healer is impossible, and the one outside won’t accept anything less than a crystal core.”

Ye Yin quickly said, “My sister is also an eighth-rank healer! She can treat Bai Qing.”

“Sister?” Supervisor He looked at Ye Yin in confusion, then suddenly remembered something. “You mean the little girl known as the genius healer?”

“Yes,” Ye Yin said. “Where is Bai Qing now?”

Supervisor He pondered for a moment. “I appreciate your kindness, but I will find another way. It’s best if you don’t interfere with his matters anymore.” With that, she turned and vanished.

Ye Yin stood in the darkness, stunned for a while, then let out a bitter laugh.

In the end, she managed to arrive in time for the farewell. Zhuo Chenglan said goodbye to family and friends one by one before finally coming to Ye Yin.

“Take good care of yourself,” Zhuo Chenglan said.

“You too.”

He and the soldiers slowly left the base amid heartfelt farewells, entering the boundless world of snow and wind. The people at the base clasped their hands in prayer, wishing for Zhuo Chenglan and the heroes to eliminate all the zombies outside and bring true peace and happiness. Ye Yin, moved by the atmosphere, silently prayed too.

The Commander's wife held Ye Yin’s hand, her eyes slightly moist. “We don’t know when we’ll see each other again…”

Ye Yin gently replied, “Don’t worry. He will definitely come back.”