Chapter 498: Mutant Flower's Crystal Core
Chapter 498: Mutant Flower's Crystal Core
Back at the compound, it’s already late at night. The survivors, sensing that the danger to the Star District has passed, rush out their doors with uncontained joy.
In the midst of it all, only An Ran remains calm. Everyone else is ready to sing, dance, and celebrate by slaughtering chickens and goats.
Outside is a ruckus. An Ran parks her car, carefully carries Doll out, puts Little Mint to bed, and returns to her room.
After settling Doll, she straightens her clothes, turns around, opens the bedroom door, and is just about to wash up—when someone lifts her by the waist, cups her hips, and pins her to the wall.
In the dim light, he grins down at her. His white teeth stand out starkly in the moonlight. A green glow shimmers along his features like flowing water.
An Ran tilts her head, trying to find the source of the light.
Then everything goes dark. His face lowers, brushing hers as he kisses her.
An Ran smiles, dodging slightly and whispering, "Stop that! Everyone outside is celebrating because of you. Why are you here fooling around with me instead of joining them?"
“None of them are as attractive as you. Why did you leave? Why didn’t you wait for me?” Zhan Lian bites her cheek, a note of complaint in his voice.
An Ran turns her head and finally spots the green glow. It comes from a large crystal core sitting on the table—about the size of a thermos, arm-length and thick.
She gasps. "Is that the crystal core from the carnivorous flower? It’s huge!"
Zhan Lian laughs softly against her forehead. "Mine’s even bigger."
Realizing what he means, An Ran shoots him an angry glare, pushes him aside, and goes straight for the green crystal core.
The glow bathes the room in emerald light.
She reaches out and touches it. The core is alive, vibrant—as if planting it would bring everything around it to life.
Zhan Lian wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her back into his embrace. His chin rests on her shoulder, voice low and content. “It’s yours.”
“You can’t just say that—it wasn’t only you who fought for it.”
An Ran tilts her head, reaching down to clasp Zhan Lian’s hands wrapped around her waist. His body carries a faint scent of blood, but it isn’t strong—he must have already bathed.
“I said it’s yours. Even if others had it, they wouldn’t be able to do anything with it. It’d be a waste.”
No one has ever seen such a massive wood-type crystal core. No one knows how to use it. Absorb it? Who would dare? Too much energy might make someone explode.
Based on experience, all the wood-type crystal cores should go to An Ran. Only she can grow a massive mutant forest from them.
She smiles and places her hand on the core, sending a bit of energy into it—but gets no response.
"I probably can’t bring it to life yet. It’s a higher level than me. I can’t plant it."
"Then keep it. Wait until you can." Behind her, Zhan Lian gently presses down on her shoulder and leans in. "There’s no one around, An Ran. While Doll’s asleep..."