Wang Kang left.

Cheng Ye could tell that this little brother left behind by his predecessor had not been comforted by his words at all, but instead seemed even more frightened.

There were probably two reasons for this.

First, he himself was still just a trainee inspector, yet he boldly promised to take care of the other person. These words might have sounded completely unreliable to Wang Kang.

Second, when Wang Kang saw him take off his short-sleeved shirt, revealing the bruises, purple patches, and blood scabs all over his body, Wang Kang's face had turned deathly pale in shock, looking like he was about to cry the next second.

Yes, it really was that dramatic.

Wang Kang's father was named Wang Cheng, and according to Luo Xiaoxue's introduction, he was one of Cheng Long's loyal admirers.

Back then when they went on missions, Cheng Long had never planned to bring Wang Cheng along, but Wang Cheng had insisted on following.

Moreover, all these people who followed Cheng Long seemed to share a strange common trait: they cared very little about their descendants and bloodline. Not only did they not cultivate them, they couldn't even fulfill their basic responsibilities.

Wang Kang and his predecessor were quite similar, only seeing Wang Cheng once every three to five years after birth.

And every time they met, Wang Cheng would frantically indoctrinate him with theories about how extremely dangerous the outside world was, how going out meant certain death, and how staying peacefully in the inner city was the only way to survive.

Over time, hearing this constantly, Wang Kang's courage was worn down smaller and smaller, and he developed an instinctive fear of the outside world.

What was even more coincidental was that when his predecessor and Wang Kang got together, the two of them also loved to scare each other.

You would tell me how ferocious the infection sources outside the city were, and I would tell you how deadly the work at the inspection station was. Back and forth, it was all about "the outside is too dangerous."

Through all this back and forth, this led to the dark history of his predecessor nearly wetting himself from fear before leaving the outer city.

"There's no way around it. I can't exactly tell him that I can go transcendent for five minutes and crush everything."

"Besides, now my stats alone are already enough to crush ordinary first and second-stage inspectors."

Cheng Ye took off his clothes and simply walked into the hospital room's bathroom, enjoying a comfortable shower, scrubbing off all the dirt on his body that hadn't been cleaned properly.

No wonder Wang Kang had been frightened. In the tube building's water room, he had only hastily cleaned off the black blood that had seeped out after activating Wild Grass Physique.

There were still some places on his back that he couldn't reach, all covered with thick layers of blood scabs, sticking hard to his skin. They looked like gaping, hideous wounds, which was indeed quite frightening.

After showering, Cheng Ye looked down and saw that the drain was almost completely blocked by the blood scabs and dirt chunks he had scrubbed off.

He kept the shower running for quite a while longer, until he confirmed the drainage was smooth and not a trace remained, then finally turned off the water flow, grabbed a towel to dry his wet hair, and walked out of the bathroom.

"Refreshing!"

"If I ever get a chance to renovate the tube building, I absolutely must install a shower room!"

The experience of splashing yourself with water versus using a shower head for a satisfying wash was worlds apart.

Especially since the medical facility's water was temperature-controlled, the warm water flow enveloping his body made even his mood calm down.

The night outside gradually deepened. Light from the top floor of the medical facility shone through the glass, casting a soft glow on the floor.

Perhaps the stability of peaceful times made people forget just how exhausting the days of uncertainty could be.

Cheng Ye leaned against the headboard, listening to the faint evening breeze in the distance, feeling for the first time that these brief moments of peace in the wasteland were surprisingly pleasant and comfortable.

Especially when he turned on the bedside lamp, took out a book to read while leaning against the headboard, with sweet fruit placed on the nightstand that he would occasionally pick up and put in his mouth.

"I'm starting to understand the idealists' way of thinking. Only after truly enjoying something and knowing how hard it is to come by do you begin to protect and cherish it."

"Ordinary residents have lost their perception of these benefits in Happiness City, which is why they migrate to other shelter cities after infection tides end."

"If inspectors suffer from beginning to end and still have to fight infection sources in the most dangerous places, then why not do the same as these people and leave this shelter city for larger ones?"

One thought after another flashed through Cheng Ye's mind. He had to admit, he really bought into the idealists' approach.

Unless this shelter city had reached the point of imminent collapse, he probably wouldn't choose to leave like Cheng Wu and Cheng Long had for a single goal.

As for whether there would be any accidents in the process, that would be left for heaven to decide.

The night grew dim.

Cheng Ye reached out and turned off the bedside lamp, his breathing gradually becoming steady.

But strangely, the wild grass totem on his chest faintly appeared again, beginning to flicker with his breathing.

Those black and red patches actually showed faint totems on their surfaces as they flickered.

This continued for over two hours before gradually fading away.

Ding.

At 6:55 in the morning, just as the defense communicator alarm vibrated, Cheng Ye had already opened his eyes.

In the past, his mind would still be foggy for a while after waking up, but now his mental clarity was unprecedented.

"This feeling..."

Cheng Ye propped himself up against the headboard, moved his neck, and his joints made slight crisp sounds without any stiffness.

Looking down at his upper body, the bruises that had already faded yesterday had now turned to a light red color.

Clenching his fist, he could clearly feel that his strength seemed even greater than yesterday.

The power of Wild Grass Physique was obviously far beyond his initial expectations.

It brought more than just enhanced recovery. Beyond the crude amplification of physical stats, even sleep efficiency had been improved.

In fact, even the efficiency of absorbing energy seemed to have undergone a qualitative change.

Now he had truly become like a wild grass, able to continuously absorb and grow stronger when nourished with nutritional fluid.

"So powerful! The bonuses from Wild Grass Physique are too obvious!"

At this moment, Cheng Ye could only be glad that his choice was correct, while secretly noting in his heart.

In future searches, he must prioritize focusing on these types of physique enhancement.

The bonuses brought by physique were comprehensive, definitely not just simple literal additions.

He threw off the covers and got out of bed, walked to the window and opened a crack. The morning breeze carried a slight coolness as it flowed in, and the outline of the South Inspection Station gradually became clear in the dawn light in the distance.

Today was good weather, bright and sunny from early morning.

Many migrants had already set out. Thanks to his enhanced vision, looking far into the distance, there were many black dots moving outside the Happiness Defense Line.

Ding.

Just after seven o'clock, the defense communicator sent another notification.

Cheng Ye picked it up and looked, immediately feeling surprised and delighted.

[New Era Year 35, July 12, 07:00, regular salary deposited '1087' contribution points]

[Balance: 1095 points]

[Note: Infection tide sarcoma recovery reward]

[New Era Year 35, July 12, 07:00, regular salary deposited '500' contribution points]

[Balance: 1595 points]

[Note: Infection tide military merit reward (Extra reward: Happiness Third-Class Merit *1)]

"1500 points?"

"And a Happiness Third-Class Merit?!"

Cheng Ye's eyes widened, hardly believing it.

On the night of the infection tide, the total kills in B-7 district should have been around four thousand, but the ones he personally killed were at most around 100. The rest were all killed by the three hundred people at the mall and those at the hotel.

Moreover, when he was guarding Zhang Can's corpse, he didn't participate in the later pedestrian street battle at all.

Being able to get a quarter of the sarcomas was probably the idealists pulling strings behind the scenes again.

And with over a thousand sarcomas, naturally a Happiness Third-Class Merit would be awarded.

This was good stuff!

He could purchase any controlled items for sale in Happiness City, including what he wanted most...

Vehicles!

Batteries!

Power generation equipment!

"I just don't know how many items a third-class merit can buy. I imagine it shouldn't be less than three items?"

Cheng Ye couldn't help but smile.

Merit not only allowed you to buy things, but was also a symbol of honor, granting many privileges in the buffer zone.

Of course, it might not be of much use to him as an inspector, but who would complain about having too many of these things?

"Today is a good day!"

Cheng Ye cheerfully put down the defense communicator, humming an off-tune little song, and turned to go wash up.

But just after taking two steps, there was suddenly a "knock knock" sound at the door.

"Wei Zhou?"

"It's me, Brother Cheng."

"Little Kang?"

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, quickly opened the door, and standing at the entrance was indeed Wang Kang.

But compared to yesterday's energy, he now had dark circles under his eyes, looking extremely haggard, his face written with unconcealed fatigue, and his eyes held deep struggle, as if he hadn't slept all night.

"Did you not sleep last night?"

Wang Kang lowered his head, his voice barely audible, "I... I've been standing outside Brother Cheng's door waiting since twelve o'clock."

"Ah?"

Cheng Ye was completely stunned.

This kid had actually been standing at the door for a full seven hours?

"I've thought it through, Brother Cheng. You're not even afraid of the dangers at the inspection station, so I can't be afraid either!"

Wang Kang gritted his teeth, "I want to learn from you. I can't be like my dad, dying for no clear reason."

"Uh..."

Cheng Ye was momentarily dazed.

He hadn't comforted Wang Kang yesterday, thinking there would still be a few days to slowly guide him.

He didn't expect that after one night passed, no, yesterday was four hours, this kid had figured it out.

"You've really thought it through?"

"Really, Brother Cheng. You were clearly more scared than me before, but now you're so brave. I absolutely can't be worse than you!"

Wang Kang nodded earnestly and confidently.

Good heavens.

Your thinking is a bit dangerous there.

You're actually comparing yourself to Inspector Cheng?

Cheng Ye looked him up and down and couldn't help but laugh, stepping aside to let Wang Kang in.

But just as he was about to speak, a sinister voice suddenly came from outside the door, "Inspector Cheng, it's only been such a short time and you're already bringing in new people?"

Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow and turned to look.

He saw Garcia swaying as he walked over, his eyes scanning Wang Kang up and down as if examining some rare object.

"Oh? It's Inspector Wang Cheng's son."

He paused, as if thinking of something, suddenly grinned, "Looks like Station Chief Ding is planning to cultivate you?"

After saying this, he slapped his forehead again, "How strange. I remember Inspector Wang Cheng died on a mission together with your father Cheng Long, right?"

What a cunning person.

Yesterday when he wasn't sure whether the Western faction would recruit him, he still pretended to be harmless.

Now he'd probably received news that Ding Yishan was intentionally testing him and wouldn't join the Western camp, so he was showing his true colors?

"Brother Cheng, who is he?"

Wang Kang peeked out his head, met Garcia's piercing stare, and was immediately frightened into shrinking his neck.

This reaction made Garcia smile with satisfaction.

However, Cheng Ye's smile instantly disappeared, his eyes turned cold, and he coldly uttered a sentence:

"Just a sick dog."

"Sick dog?"

Wang Kang blinked his eyes, seemingly understanding yet not understanding as he repeated it once.

Garcia's face instantly flushed red, apparently not expecting him to have such a fierce temper. For a moment he was frozen in place, not knowing how to respond.

Fight?

Although both were patients, Cheng Ye was now tall and sturdy, and his injuries were obviously much lighter. Without being certain of the other's strength, fighting was obviously not a wise choice.

"Huh, is there really someone whose name is Sick Dog?"

Seeing Garcia standing there dazed with no reaction, Wang Kang curiously moved forward again, tilting his face up to look at him, "Sick Dog, what did you just say? What about my father?"

This call of "Sick Dog" was crisp and clear, especially distinct in the quiet corridor.

Garcia's face alternated between green and white, his fists clenched with creaking sounds, but he didn't dare to explode.

"Oh, Garcia, clench your fists for me to hear again."

Cheng Ye completely turned around, stepped forward, and looked down at him with indifferent eyes.

The killing intent that had been accumulating since he killed Zhang Can now burst out without reservation, actually frightening Garcia into retreating two steps, stumbling and nearly falling to the ground.

He didn't stop, stepped forward again, reached out and grabbed Garcia's collar, "Come on, now tell me, what did you just say?"

Tremendous force came through, Garcia's face changed again, but he managed to pull out a smile:

"Inspector Cheng, I'm sorry, it's my fault. I... I was being nasty. I apologize to you, and also to Inspector Wang's son."

These words came out fast and urgent, his posture extremely humble, as if he was truly frightened.

Cheng Ye stared at him for two seconds, his peripheral vision catching sight of staff members standing at the end of the corridor.

"Scram."

With a light push, Garcia stumbled back four or five steps and fell to the ground with a "thud."

But he didn't mind at all, even maintaining that smile, as if he had accidentally fallen.

This smiling tiger.

In just an instant, Cheng Ye's thoughts raced, understanding Garcia's reason for deliberately coming over to be nasty.

Was it to use this conflict to get back into the Western faction's view?

Or was it to force the Western faction's hand, letting them know he had already accepted Ding Yishan's test, thus giving up on recruiting him?

Probably both. Anyway, it wasn't just simple nastiness.

The door slammed shut with a bang, completely shutting out Garcia's disgusting face.

Cheng Ye took a deep breath, finally suppressing the violent rage surging in his heart.

Having killed people and fought fusion bodies, he was no longer the same person who had switched places with Garcia initially.

Just now for an instant, the thought of directly strangling Garcia to death had actually flashed through his mind. Fortunately, this impulse only appeared for a moment before immediately dissipating.

Solving problems with fists wasn't the right way in the current environment.

People like Liu Bi, that martial fanatic, could do it. First because Garcia had mocked first, and second because few people in the Western camp could beat him.

But now, Cheng Ye knew that if he made a move, the Western faction's third and fourth-stage inspectors would quickly come over to "maintain justice" just like they had with Liu Bi.

Without revealing his trump cards and relying only on raw strength, he was still far from being a match for those veteran inspectors.

Moreover, there were iron rules within the inspection station.

Inspectors could fight and brawl with each other, solving some problems with fists, but the premise was that absolutely no lives could be lost.

This was a dead rule.

If he dared to kill Garcia, even if Ding Yishan was willing to protect him to the death, the higher-ups of Happiness City weren't blind.

"Brother Cheng, that person just now..."

"Don't worry about it. This sick dog was previously beaten by... well, by an inspector from our Eastern faction. Now whenever he sees Eastern faction people he wants to bite twice. But you were quick-witted, didn't suffer any losses, and even knew how to disgust him back."

Cheng Ye managed a smile and sat down in the living room, pouring two glasses of water.

"Don't you know me? I'm not stupid. How could I let him provoke our relationship for nothing? My dad is my dad, I am me. My willingness to follow you is my own choice!"

Wang Kang grinned, then added with some worry, "But he seems to be a veteran inspector. Won't we get retaliation from him during duty after offending him like this?"

"He wouldn't dare..."

Cheng Ye said reflexively, then changed his words, "If he dares, I'll strangle him to death."

"Uh..."

Wang Kang paused, his eyes flickering, seemingly completely unable to match the Cheng Ye in front of him with the Cheng Ye in his memory.

"This is the outside, the survival rules of this wasteland. You have to use your fists to protect yourself. This isn't a world where we sing songs on the street and recite essays from the old era, and people will come to cheer and tip us!"

Cheng Ye paused and continued, "Your weakness and fear will only make people think you're easy to bully. And this applies not only to people, but to infection sources as well. You need to have courage to be able to shoot back!"

"Brother Cheng..." Wang Kang suddenly asked quietly, "Did you learn all this in just three months?"

"This wasn't learned, it was excavated."

At this moment, Liu Bi's previous teachings suddenly flashed through Cheng Ye's mind.

At that time, he completely couldn't understand the meaning of these words.

But now, these words had become his instinct, and he had to pass this sentence on to Wang Kang unchanged.

"Find your anger."

"Let anger control your body in battle, not... useless rationality!"

He arranged for medical staff to open the adjacent empty room and let Wang Kang sleep.

Cheng Ye returned to his room, thought for a while, and immediately understood Ding Yishan's deeper meaning in arranging Wang Kang.

Old fox.

It probably wasn't just testing his ability to bring in new people, but also sending a message to the Western faction.

I, the inspection station chief, Ding Yishan, have ideas about activating the Cheng family people again!

Unsurprisingly, the process of his conflict with Garcia was now probably already on the desks of Ding Yishan and Harlin, and even many others.

And unsurprisingly, after he showed his attitude of not leaning toward the Western faction, Ding Yishan would definitely use this as an excuse and start maneuvering.

The difference between the Eastern and Western factions was exactly this: one was subtle, slowly approaching and testing, the other was direct but unwilling to make any commitments.

But when it came time to detonate, this subtlety was far more explosive and decisive than the latter!

Time quietly passed twelve o'clock.

Wei Zhou had just hung up today's second set of IV fluids for him when hurried footsteps came from the corridor.

Dong, dong dong.

The door was knocked, and the visitor was none other than the old slacker Lee Matteo.

"Cheng Ye, Inspector Cheng, you're really too impressive!"

Lee Matteo was carrying a red box in his hand, containing who knows what. He set it on the table and said, "Station Chief Ding just held a meeting and said that after this infection tide passes, the inspection station will fully cultivate new people, especially outstanding ones like you. My god, you're really amazing, even able to take down advance fusion bodies!"

"You don't know how shocked all of us old-timers were when we saw the video at the meeting. This skill, this courage, it's no worse than your father Cheng Long back in the day. No, no, it's even better!"

These words were beautifully said, but made Cheng Ye's heart skip a beat.

Their eyes met, and Lee Matteo inconspicuously held up three fingers, pointing toward the door, obviously indicating someone was listening at the door.

"Inspector Lee is too kind."

He immediately raised his voice, his tone carrying just the right amount of humility, "I'm just a trainee inspector who got lucky. How could I be worthy of the inspection station's full cultivation?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Lee Matteo quickly stepped forward, leaned close to his ear and lowered his voice, speaking as fast as a machine gun: "Cheng Ye, you're in big trouble this time. If you can get through this hurdle, the banner of the younger generation will definitely be yours. All kinds of resources will stuff you till you burst, especially field work, you can go wherever you want."

"You'll even be qualified to participate in discussions about the inspection station's systems, how to inspect, how to quarantine. Your status won't compare to duty station chiefs, but your power won't be much different."

"But if you can't get through it, you understand, it'll be death without a burial place!"

[NEXT CHAPTER]