Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

Chapter 215: Chapter 15: What is Good and Evil, What is Right and Wrong_1

”My name is Wen Yu.”

Upon hearing Ye Nan’s self-introduction, Wen Yu nodded. This was a matter of courtesy, nothing more. The scene became awkward for a moment. After a while, Ye Nan spoke.

”Well, I came to see if there’s anything you need, little brother. Feel free to let me know.”

Ye Nan hesitated for a moment. Perhaps he felt Wen Yu wasn’t a bad person, or maybe he sensed he couldn’t keep his wife and child hidden from him. He then added, ”My wife’s at home, and we took some bedding from your room...”

Seeing Ye Nan’s embarrassed expression, Wen Yu nodded and smiled. ”It’s no big deal. Don’t worry about it.”

Perhaps Wen Yu’s gentle attitude made Ye Nan lower his guard a bit, as Ye Nan continued, ”Well, why don’t I go and get you a cleaner set of bedding?”

Observing Ye Nan’s sincere gaze, Wen Yu took a moment before nodding. ”Thank you, Brother Ye.”

「...」

The clean bedding exuded a faint aroma of detergent, and Wen Yu finally met Ye Nan’s wife and child.

The child was not very old, under ten, and seemed very bright. As for Ye Nan’s wife... she had a good figure, but her face was disfigured. It wasn’t that she was inherently unattractive; her face was covered with hideous scars. Wen Yu realized these wounds had been inflicted by a blade. Judging from their appearance, this incident had happened after the apocalypse.

Ye Nan’s wife seemed a bit reserved. However, she heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Wen Yu didn’t show any disgust or revulsion toward her facial injuries. Perhaps her sigh was a bit loud. Ye Nan gently put his arm around his wife’s shoulder and tenderly kissed her scarred forehead.

Then, Ye Nan turned to Wen Yu, who had already finished arranging the bedding, and said with an embarrassed smile, ”Sorry for showing you this, Brother Wen Yu.”

Wen Yu simply shrugged it off with a smile, without asking further questions. Everyone has their own story, right?

「...」

Lying in bed, Wen Yu listened to Ye Nan’s snoring, which sounded as if it were right beside him. He also heard the roars of mutant beasts and the chirping of insects—still unaffected by mutation—from outside. Gradually, he drifted into sleep.

「The next morning.」

Wen Yu first went to find Cyclops. Among a large group of stray cats and dogs, Wen Yu spotted the arrogant Cyclops. After shedding his disguise, Cyclops had successfully infiltrated this small gang roaming the city, and it seemed he was being treated quite well!

Upon closer contact, Wen Yu connected with Cyclops’s mind. From their brief conversation, Wen Yu learned Cyclops wanted to continue playing here for a while. This meant Wen Yu would have to take Star to Central City by himself. If a battle broke out, Wen Yu could always pull Cyclops back using the Soul Realm, so he wasn’t concerned about where Cyclops might go off to frolic.

「In a conference room in Central City.」

Wang Zhigang used the spacious room to entertain Wen Yu. He briefly asked about news from the military headquarters.

Sun Xuewei still hadn’t been found. But there was no rush. As long as there was no confirmation of her death, the military department would certainly give Wen Yu an explanation.

”Oh, there’s one more thing,” Wang Zhigang said. ”The military’s number one super warrior will be arriving in Mudanjiang City tomorrow. Well, little brother, you see...”

Seeing Wang Zhigang rubbing his hands embarrassedly, Wen Yu nodded. ”When he arrives tomorrow, just direct him to where I live. By the way, do you have any news about Simba?”

Hearing Wen Yu’s question, Wang Zhigang nodded. ”Simba should be around East Mountain now. The last time a survivor came across Simba, he was already Peak Level 3. He is likely Level 4 now.”

There was a hint of worry in Wang Zhigang’s words. Wen Yu shook his head.

”Level 4 is not a big deal.” He continued, ”If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first. I’ll wait at my place tomorrow. I’ve already given you the address.”

After saying that, Wen Yu turned and walked towards the exit of Central City.

「...」

Thanks to Wen Yu’s formidable strength, he returned home in less than an hour.

Walking slowly upstairs and hearing noise from Ye Nan’s apartment, Wen Yu hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.

”Who is it?” Ye Nan’s slightly weak voice came from inside.

”It’s me, Wen Yu. I heard some noises in your room and wondered if you were in any trouble.”

”Oh, nothing much, just the kid making a fuss.”

”Alright. If you need anything, just let me know.”

From their brief conversation, Wen Yu could tell that Ye Nan didn’t want him to interfere.

If others don’t want your involvement, why bother?

With Wen Yu’s impressive physique, nothing that happened in the room could escape his ears. Besides Ye Nan’s family, there were two more professionists inside.

Then, a harsh voice came from within. ”Wait, Ye Nan, open the door!”

”Bro, let it go. He just moved in yesterday...”

SLAP!

The sound of a slap rang out, followed by the sobbing of Ye Nan’s wife and child. The person who had just spoken continued, ”You do what I tell you to do! What’s with all the talk?”

”Bro, he really just moved in. He doesn’t know the rules here. How about I pay for him this time?”

SLAP!

”You’re already having a hell of a time paying the protection money for your own family of three, and you still have the nerve to meddle in other people’s business?”

Wen Yu, who had started to turn away, paused and knocked on Ye Nan’s door again.

”Brother Ye, are you sure you don’t need my help?”

”Brother Wen Yu, really, it’s not necessary. You should leave quickly.”

From behind the door, more voices emerged. After a while, the two professionists inside, who were collecting protection money, agreed to Ye Nan’s suggestion that he pay Wen Yu’s share.

As the door opened, Wen Yu, still standing in front of Ye Nan’s apartment, quietly observed the scene inside.

The bruise on the corner of Ye Nan’s eye had darkened. Other than that, nothing in the room was damaged, and it seemed Ye Nan’s wife and child hadn’t been harmed.

The two professionists sizing up Wen Yu shifted their gaze to the small Soul Beast floating on his shoulder, and their eyes widened. It was uncertain whether their surprise stemmed from his hidden profession or something else.

Perhaps because of Wen Yu’s somewhat gloomy expression, the two professionists didn’t say much and turned to head downstairs.

Wen Yu watched the two figures disappear down the hallway. He then looked back at Ye Nan, who was applying medication in the room, and slowly walked in.

”What happened?”

Ye Nan’s hand, which had been applying medicine, paused slightly. ”The largest group in this area came to collect protection money...” His voice was calm; it seemed incidents like this had been happening for a long time.

After a moment’s hesitation, Wen Yu looked at Ye Nan’s wife tidying up the room, and then at the child, whose eyes were still wet with tears, before finally asking, ”You’re sure you don’t need my help?”

Ye Nan glanced at Wen Yu’s calm eyes and slowly shook his head. ”No need.”

”I could take them all out!”

To me, this would be easy. I just need to let Cyclops trace their scent, and by tomorrow, Mudanjiang City would hear a rumor: a certain gang in the old city district was attacked by a powerful mutant beast and completely wiped out.

Ye Nan slowly put down the medicine in his hand, looked earnestly into Wen Yu’s eyes, and shook his head slowly but firmly. ”Really, there’s no need!”

”Can I ask why?”

That’s what puzzled me. If these people collecting protection money were gone, Ye Nan’s family should be able to live better!

Ye Nan sighed heavily. ”Their protection fees aren’t much. Really, not much compared to other places. These people are responsible for clearing the mutant beasts in this area, protecting us Scavengers from their attacks.”

Ye Nan hesitated for a moment, then continued, ”They aren’t really bad people. At least, they don’t bother us other than when they collect protection money, and they don’t forcibly take women for no reason.”

After saying this, perhaps feeling he’d misspoken, he couldn’t help but glance at his wife.

Seeing no reaction from his wife, Ye Nan added his final thought, ”Most importantly, without them, there will be others! They could be better, or they could be worse, right?”

”At least now, things are... pretty good.”

After hearing all this, Wen Yu hesitated for a long moment, then slowly nodded. ”I see.”

With that, Wen Yu turned to leave.

”Brother Wen Yu,” Ye Nan’s voice came from behind him. ”I beg you, don’t go looking for trouble with them. Do it for our sake.”