Chapter 448: What Is It
Chapter 448: What Is It
An Ran lets out a snort. A mutated flower, huh? Do they even know what that means?
Back when those lilies hadn’t mutated, she survived a zombie horde with just a few of them. And now that they’ve mutated? That makes them even more dangerous.
Of course, she’s not entirely sure if the mutant flower in Xiangcheng is the same lily she once nurtured. Didn’t Axe say it looks like a lotus? Maybe it has nothing to do with her.
But then she hears Axe explaining:
“The commander has an earth-type ability-user named Lei Jiang. His combat power isn’t that high, but he can alter the soil’s composition. So as long as the surface flowers are cleared, those vines won’t suddenly shoot up from underground.”
“Lei Jiang?!” An Ran finally reacts. She asks again, “Wasn’t he in Tiesi Village?”
She remembers Zhan Lian telling her this. Back when she escaped from Tiesi Village, she was ambushed by two groups. She suspects Lei Jiang, but Zhan Lian insists that Lei Jiang wasn’t part of the team.
So when does Lei Jiang go from the rear to the front?
Axe glances at her in confusion and says, “No, he’s been with us the whole time. He escapes to Xiangcheng with the commander. But I hear most of his people are abandoned when they go searching for supplies in the county town.”
Apparently, because of some personal vendetta, all of Lei Jiang’s men are wiped out by Zhan Lian during that supply run. That’s something Zhou Xiang mentions—Lei Jiang himself never confirms it.
After returning from the county town, Lei Jiang takes Zhou Xiang and a few survivors and stays with Tang Siluo. When they later retreat, they naturally leave with Tang Jianjun.
At first, Tang Jianjun didn't pay Lei Jiang much attention. As an earth-type ability-user, all he seems good for is digging trenches and building walls. No one thinks he’s particularly useful—until the mutant flowers appear in Xiangcheng.
That’s when Lei Jiang’s value becomes clear.
His earth-related ability is much stronger than most. He can transform soft soil into cement, adjust pH levels to turn fertile soil into barren land, or compact sand into solid stone. All of this makes him indispensable.
Even though Tang Jianjun’s group is forced back into the residential community, with Lei Jiang’s help, they might still survive.
“Even if that’s the case,” An Ran says, spreading her hands, “you rush in like this—with Zhan Lian following behind—do you really think you can save Tang Jianjun and his people?” She tries to reason with Zhang Boxun and Axe in the speeding car.
This situation requires planning and analysis. Rushing in like this is just a temporary fix, not a real solution.
Zhang Boxun ignores her and keeps driving.
An Ran snaps. “If you won’t listen, then go ahead! Keep driving forward. The further you go, the more you die. And if I die, let’s see how you plan to save your precious Tang Siluo and your leader!”
As she speaks, she directs the fat thorn ball at her feet. It jumps suddenly toward Axe.
Startled, Axe shouts, “What is that?!”
He swats the thorn ball away—right into Zhang Boxun.
Zhang Boxun slams on the brakes.
Screeech! The sharp sound of tires tears through the air.