The Chef Rules the Last Days
Chapter 268 - 266: Stubbornness

Chapter 268: Chapter 266: Stubbornness

Su Mo and her group entered the stairwell, but Ling Ye was just a child who couldn’t handle more than a few floors before Lu Chen impatiently scooped him under his arm and hurried downward.

The spiraling staircase echoed with multiple footsteps.

Su Mo looked up at the stairs above, noticing many people following their lead, stumbling downwards in the dark, some with the light of flashlights moving between floors.

With each floor they descended, more people would open the security doors to join them.

Li Qian’s spiritual power spread out, reaching the ground.

Dozens of red dots flooded into his mind. He pushed up his slipping glasses, his usually calm voice tinged with urgency, "There are a number of infected on the fifth floor."

Upon hearing this, Su Mo drew her Tang Blade, quickening her steps, "Activate the shield."

Almost in unison, pale orange protective shields unfolded around the five of them.

They were the first to arrive at the floor Li Qian mentioned, where infected were present.

The safety door here had already been broken open, its handle smeared with a large amount of blood.

Su Mo’s exceptional vision immediately spotted the infected wandering below, and the countless white bugs climbing the steps.

At that moment, Rong Bai was leading his group out from the fifth floor, nearly colliding with Su Mo. Recognizing her, he shouted out, "Sister-in-law!"

Su Mo looked up at him and said promptly, "Follow us, call the Fire Power Users to take the front."

They had shields and weren’t afraid, but Rong Bai’s group was different.

Upon seeing Rong Bai, Lu Chen gave a glance that relayed his intention, and Rong Bai immediately instructed his people to follow behind them and act accordingly.

Cold ice emanated from all around Lu Chen, a surge of ice spreading from his feet, freezing the walls and ceiling along the ground.

Su Mo hacked through the zombie wandering below with her blade, causing a mass of bugs to burst out, all of which sprayed onto her protective shield.

Without the luxury of studying this miraculous scene, Rong Bai quickly called for the Fire Ability Users in his team to provide support while he turned his body into metal, creating a golden shield in his hands for defense.

The Fire Ability Users formed a wall of fire that stretched down the hallway, incinerating all the bugs within the flames.

In this coordinated manner, they safely exited the apartment building, only to find the outside in complete chaos.

There were people possessed by bugs and superpower users fleeing in panic.

"What on earth is happening!" Rong Bai shouted.

Lu Chen pulled out the military vehicle, his stern face turning to Rong Bai, "Escape."

That single word seemed to seal the fate of the base.

"You’re not leaving?" Rong Bai grew anxious, quickly stepping in front of him.

"I will catch up, you leave first," Lu Chen said as he patted Rong Bai’s shoulder, his expression grim.

Rong Bai felt a pang of resolve as he looked back at the people following him, before saying, "Brother, make it out soon."

Lu Chen nodded slightly, and the five of them got into the car, driving at top speed toward the Inner Ring.

Watching the vehicle speed away, Rong Bai unleashed his full power and led his men charging out.

The continuous sound of gunfire erupted at the entrance of the Inner Ring.

This was the base’s last line of defense, and the soldiers were still holding their ground.

Recognizing the familiar military vehicle, they immediately let it pass.

The car made its way to the Jiang Residence.

Coming here once again, everything was different.

Su Mo got out of the car, turned her head to Zhao Changsheng and the other two, and said, "You guys wait here in the car for a while."

Then she stood by Lu Chen’s side, and the two of them entered shoulder to shoulder.

Inside, the sound of Jiang Hai’s angry shouting and smashing things could be heard, "What do you mean the Lu Family won’t help! Lu Youwei, that sorry excuse of a man, actually ran away!"

Hu Ding was hit in the head by an ashtray, and with a wooden expression on his face, he didn’t utter a word.

Jiang Yulian, sitting in the living room and holding a child, looked terrified. Seeing Lu Chen returning, she immediately stood up, excitedly saying, "Chenchen! You’ve come back!"

Her words successfully interrupted Jiang Hai’s rage. He turned his head, his chest heaving violently, but he couldn’t speech a word.

Su Mo really wanted to ask him if he regretted his actions, but there was no point in asking that now. She stood next to Lu Chen, silent.

Jiang Hai’s face seemed to have aged ten years overnight. He found a chair and sat down, his voice hoarse from shouting, "Why have you come?"

"Retreat," Lu Chen said coldly, sitting down opposite him, advising him.

Jiang Hai remained quiet for a long time without speaking, but Lu Chen wasn’t in a hurry and just watched him with a pair of cold, expressionless eyes.

"Did I do something wrong?" Jiang Hai asked, hanging his head.

Lu Chen’s jaw line was taut, and he didn’t answer. Su Mo, however, couldn’t help but speak for him, "It’s not wrong to want humanity to evolve, but you shouldn’t have used it as a bargaining chip to compete with the Lu Family for power."

"Rushing for quick success will only lead to wasted efforts," Su Mo said, placing a hand on Lu Chen’s shoulder, gently soothing his cold emotions.

Jiang Hai looked up, his face that had aged overnight now marked with several fine lines.

When he got angry again, lines spread around his eyes, deepening, "What does a girl like you understand? If I didn’t do this, how could I secure a foothold in the base, lead my soldiers, and survive here? I won’t retreat. I can save B City!"

At that moment, Jiang Hai appeared to be a stubborn old man. Jiang Yulian was thoroughly disappointed with him. She slammed her hand onto his shoulder, "What about our children? What are you thinking?"

"What am I thinking?" Jiang Hai sprang up, pointing outside the window, his words intense, "There, my soldiers are resisting to the death. How can I retreat? With such a large base, how can I just leave?"

Su Mo really wanted to give Jiang Hai four words, stubborn beyond reason.

"Commander Jiang! The laboratory has fallen! The primeval entities have escaped due to the power outage!"

A soldier ran in from outside, his tone filled with immense despair.

The atmosphere around Lu Chen instantly turned icy, he got up, and turned his gaze to Jiang Yulian, "Are you coming with me, Aunt Jiang?"

There was not a single trace of fluctuation in his eyes, he had truly become cold-hearted towards the Jiang Residence.

Jiang Yulian almost didn’t hesitate to stand by Lu Chen’s side, her eyes filled with sorrow as she lovingly caressed the child in her arms and then looked sadly at Jiang Hai, "We still have our child."

Jiang Hai finally took notice of the young child wrapped in swaddling clothes. It was a late-life child, his life’s treasure, and he couldn’t let the child come to harm on his account.

His lips moved, his voice hoarse, "You all go. I’m responsible for all of this. I will stay."

Another soldier came in to report, "Report, disturbances have broken out around the Outer Ring!"

They no longer had much time. Su Mo looked up at Lu Chen, tugging at his sleeve.

The man turned his head back, his large hand taking hers, "Let’s go."

Jiang Yulian was already crying uncontrollably, "What’s the point of this? Do you want your child to be fatherless upon birth?"

Jiang Hai said nothing, his face hidden in shadows.

He had to bear the consequences of everything.

Jiang Yulian, heartbroken, took one last look at Jiang Hai, then left holding the child.