jdhmnovel Chapter 354 The fight begins
Chapter 354 The fight begins
"Captain, don't be so nervous, I was just joking." Zhang Yuanshan withdrew his hand, his tone returning to calm.
Xi Wuxu slowly loosened his grip, but his gaze remained wary as he stared at Zhang Yuanshan: "Old Zhang, you haven't been acting right lately. If there's anything wrong, you'd better tell me as soon as possible."
Zhang Yuanshan smiled slightly, turned and walked towards the door. He stopped before opening it, and said without turning his head, "Don't worry, Captain. I'm fine, but I feel... some things might happen very soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, he pushed open the door and disappeared into the night.
The next morning.
The atmosphere inside the shelter was exceptionally oppressive. Xi Wuxu gathered the members of the Fifth Squad to prepare for their routine patrol. His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Zhang Yuanshan.
"Today's patrol will be divided into two groups. Old Zhang, you'll be in my group, and Wang Tinghan and Wu An will be in the other group," Xi Wuxu said in a deep voice.
Zhang Yuanshan nodded, a faint smile still on his face: "Understood, Captain."
Wang Tinghan glanced at Xi Wuxu with some doubt, but didn't ask any further questions. He and Wu An exchanged a look and nodded silently.
After the groups were formed, Xi Wuxu led Zhang Yuanshan toward the outskirts of the shelter. Along the way, Xi Wuxu deliberately slowed his pace, his gaze frequently sweeping over Zhang Yuanshan beside him. His intuition told him that Zhang Yuanshan's unusual behavior was no accident.
"Old Zhang, have you run into some trouble lately?" Xi Wuxu asked tentatively.
Zhang Yuanshan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Captain, you're being too sensitive. I'm fine, I'm just a little tired lately."
"Is that so?" Xi Wuxu's tone carried a hint of doubt.
Zhang Yuanshan didn't speak again, but just kept walking with his head down. His steps were steady and his expression was calm, but his overly "perfect" performance made Xi Wuxu even more vigilant.
As the two walked into a dense forest, Xi Wuxu suddenly stopped. He turned to look at Zhang Yuanshan, his gaze sharp: "Old Zhang, I'm asking you one last time. Did you really not find anything unusual during last night's patrol?"
Zhang Yuanshan raised his head, his gaze calmly meeting Xi Wuxu's. A strange smile appeared on his lips: "Captain, why have you always suspected me?"
Xi Wuxu quietly gripped the short knife at his waist, his voice low and somber: "Because you're not like yourself anymore."
Zhang Yuanshan's smile gradually faded, and his gaze became cold and profound: "Captain, you are indeed a perceptive person. However, there are some things that you can't do by knowing too much about."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Yuanshan's body jolted violently, and a strange white light flashed in his eyes. His movements suddenly became extremely swift, his right hand grabbing towards Xi Wuxu's neck like lightning!
Xi Wuxu was prepared and quickly took a step back, drawing his short sword to block Zhang Yuanshan's attack. However, Zhang Yuanshan's strength was beyond his expectations—it was a power that no ordinary person could possess!
"Who exactly are you!" Xi Wuxu shouted in a low voice, his eyes full of vigilance.
Zhang Yuanshan's lips curled into a strange smile again, and his voice became low and hoarse: "Captain, you don't need to know."
The next second, his movements became even more swift, his hands striking Xi Wuxu like sharp claws. Xi Wuxu barely managed to parry, but his shock only grew—the Zhang Yuanshan before him was clearly no longer the teammate he knew!
"Old Zhang, wake up!" Xi Wuxu tried to rouse Zhang Yuanshan's consciousness while resisting.
However, Zhang Yuanshan's attack did not stop in the slightest. His eyes revealed a cold killing intent, as if he had completely lost his humanity.
Just as the two were locked in fierce combat, Wang Tinghan and Wu An, who were some distance away, heard the commotion and rushed over.
"Captain, what happened!" Wang Tinghan shouted.
"Don't come any closer!" Xi Wuxu shouted sharply, kicking Zhang Yuanshan away with all his might.
Zhang Yuanshan staggered backward, but quickly regained his balance. His gaze swept over Wang Tinghan and Wu An, who had rushed over, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "Two more little bugs."
"Old Zhang, what's wrong with you?!" Wang Tinghan was shocked.
Zhang Yuanshan did not answer, but slowly raised his hand. A strange white light surged from his palm, and a suffocating chill filled the air.
"Captain, he's not Lao Zhang anymore!" Wu An said in a low voice, his eyes full of vigilance.
Xi Wuxu gritted his teeth and whispered, "He's possessed by something... Be careful!"
Zhang Yuanshan's eyes were icy, and the smile on his lips grew increasingly sinister. He slowly raised his hand, and the white light in his palm gradually condensed into a twisted ball of energy, as if it contained destructive power.
The chill in the air grew stronger, and the leaves around them withered silently, as if their life force had been sucked away by some invisible force.
“You mortals…” Zhang Yuanshan spoke in a low voice, his voice hoarse and raspy, as if another being was speaking through his body, “always so ignorant, yet so stubborn.”
"Old Zhang!" Wang Tinghan couldn't help but call out, his grip on his weapon tightening. His eyes were filled with anger and confusion. "What are you talking about? What's wrong with you?!"
Zhang Yuanshan's gaze swept over Wang Tinghan, his smile growing increasingly sinister: "Wang Tinghan... do you think you know me? Too bad, he's gone."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Wang Tinghan roared and charged forward, his long sword pointing directly at Zhang Yuanshan's chest.
"Don't be impulsive!" Xi Wuxu shouted, but it was too late to stop him.
Zhang Yuanshan smiled coldly, and with a sudden wave of his right hand, the ball of white light sliced through the air like a sharp blade, instantly striking Wang Tinghan's longsword.
With a clang, Wang Tinghan's weapon was knocked away, and his body was thrown over by the huge impact, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Tinghan!" Wu An quickly stepped forward and helped Wang Tinghan up, his eyes fixed on Zhang Yuanshan. His hand was already gripping the short crossbow at his waist, ready to strike at any moment.
"Don't go near him!" Xi Wuxu shouted sharply, stepping between Zhang Yuanshan and the other team members. His gaze was like a knife, fixed on Zhang Yuanshan. "Old Zhang... or rather, what exactly are you, the thing attached to him?"
Zhang Yuanshan didn't answer. Instead, he slowly raised his head, and the eerie white light deep within his eyes shone even brighter. His voice became low and hollow: "You don't need to know who I am. You only need to know... your time is running out."
"Bullshit!" Wang Tinghan struggled to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with rage. "Old Zhang, I don't care what kind of monster you've become, I'm going to beat you awake today!"