With Song Yongfeng, the “outsider,” gone, the atmosphere between the two relaxed considerably.

Though their last meeting was a brief encounter when the original Cheng Ye had just emerged from the inner city’s high walls, barely exchanging greetings, Cheng Ye inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity with Luo Xiaoxue.

If he had to describe it, she was like a female version of Big B?

Unpretentious, straightforward in speech, action, and dealings with others, exuding a generous demeanor.

After a few polite exchanges, Cheng Ye swiftly changed the topic.

“Sister Luo, when did Big B leave?”

“Not long after your call. The inner city folks are different from us in the buffer zone—always acting like infected are chasing them.”

“I don’t know much about the hydroelectric station. Is Big B—”

“No need to worry about him,” Luo Xiaoxue interrupted, pulling a palm-sized booklet from her bag. “That route to the station, he and your dad walked it at least a hundred times. He could do it blindfolded. As for infected…”

She continued, “The hydroelectric station is Happiness City’s most critical asset, guarded by two 500-man security teams. Safety isn’t an issue. To put it bluntly, an infected tide that could breach our buffer zone’s defenses would struggle to even get close to the station. He just has to stay there for a while and can’t come back yet.”

“But you, with the constant rain lately, water-loving infected will show up more frequently. This booklet is my compilation of ways to handle common water-loving infected. It might not be as comprehensive as what your Big B could put together, but you can cross-reference it with your inspector training for mutual validation.”

“Thank you, Sister Luo! This is too much trouble for you!”

Cheng Ye quickly took the booklet, expressing his gratitude repeatedly.

In terms of combat prowess, Liu Bi was undoubtedly superior, but when it came to organizing information, Luo Xiaoxue was clearly being modest.

During a break after training, Liu Bi had mentioned something in passing.

Eight years ago, the checkpoint’s authority wasn’t as extensive. Back then, the buffer zone was co-managed by the checkpoint and the Security Bureau.

The former handled sentinel duties, while the latter dealt with infected and regional safety.

Luo Xiaoxue was a Security Bureau instructor at the time, training newcomers daily and rushing to the front lines to face infected during outbreaks.

After several buffer zone reforms, the Security Bureau was dissolved by Happiness City’s leadership, its powers and personnel merged into the checkpoint.

Luo Xiaoxue, pregnant at the time, chose to leave and became a “full-time housewife.”

Years had passed since then.

Flipping through the booklet, Cheng Ye couldn’t help but sigh. “Sister Luo, you haven’t lost your touch! If I master this, can I call myself your student?”

“Hey, you little smooth-talker!”

Luo Xiaoxue was momentarily stunned, then rolled her eyes, her smile growing warmer.

Liu Bi had been talking about Cheng Ye a lot recently, and she’d formed a simple impression of him.

Smart, diligent, hardworking, and highly talented—a young version of Cheng Long, no less.

But meeting him today, she realized the real Cheng Ye was nothing like the one Liu Bi described!

That earlier comment? Cheng Long, the honest guy, could never have come up with something so slick, even if he tried for a lifetime.

“It’s not smooth-talking; it’s the truth.”

Cheng Ye winked. “But… are there really this many water-loving infected roaming Shi Province?”

A quick skim showed the booklet listed over sixty different infection sources.

Each had unique abilities, and dealing with them together was far more complex than simple addition.

“A ton!”

Luo Xiaoxue nodded firmly. “Shi Province has a well-developed water system, naturally attracting all sorts of water-loving infected. With the rain front shifting south, who knows if they’ll migrate with it? These are just the ones documented around Happiness City in the last decade, not even the full list.”

“Memorize these, and you won’t panic during a standard infected ambush. As for those that retain some sentience after infection… I heard from Liu Bi you dealt with a Deathwhisper Tentacle infected just the other day?”

“Yeah, he likely drowned and was possessed by a Deathwhisper Tentacle, clinging to an obsession to reach Happiness City.”

“Exactly. Those are the ones to watch out for! Regular infected hide and ambush, but as long as you’re cautious, know their abilities, and have the checkpoint’s support, they’re unlikely to get you.

“But sentient infected are different. They disguise themselves, deceive your judgment, and some can even bypass detectors. You need intricate verbal traps to spot their flaws.”

“Perfect timing. Let me share some classic examples—ones your Big B and I encountered firsthand.”

To ensure Cheng Ye didn’t underestimate the threat, Luo Xiaoxue explained in meticulous detail, her insights far surpassing the superficial training from the inspector program.

These weren’t textbook platitudes but hard-earned lessons from direct encounters with infected.

With his survival on the line, Cheng Ye listened intently, interjecting with questions.

Despite it being their first real conversation, their exchange flowed seamlessly.

Ding-dong.

It wasn’t until 8:30 p.m., when the bank staff pushed open the door to close up, that they realized they were still sitting outside, engrossed in conversation.

“Let’s go. Your Big B’s not home tonight, so there’s a spare bed. We’ll continue at home!”

One taught, one listened.

One asked, one answered.

The questions were sharp, the answers thorough.

Luo Xiaoxue slapped the bench’s armrest, no longer seeing Cheng Ye as just a promising junior but as an unpolished gem!

Having been an instructor for nearly six years, she’d seen plenty of geniuses, but none compared to Cheng Ye.

His ability to draw connections and grasp concepts quickly was something she’d only read about in books describing Old Era humans.

Back then, humans didn’t worry about survival or pursue martial prowess; their brains were highly active, learning and adapting at speeds multiple times that of wasteland humans.

“Uh, is that okay?”

Cheng Ye scratched his head. “I’ve got a day off tomorrow before reporting to duty. How about we—”

“No how abouts! Right now, tonight!”

No wonder these two got along—Liu Bi and Luo Xiaoxue’s personalities were perfectly in sync.

Seeing no way out, Cheng Ye followed her onto a bus headed for the suburbs.

“Come by whenever you have time. You’re on your own now, right?”

“Yeah.”

Wait, why did this feel increasingly off?

It was like déjà vu with a grad school advisor!

Cheng Ye recalled how, after getting into grad school, his advisor had said something similar, making him naively think he’d receive true mentorship, maybe even a shot at a Ph.D.

But he soon learned the advisor said that to everyone, dragging them all to “volunteer” for public service work, earning them mockery as “slaves” from peers.

“What’re you thinking about?”

“Oh, just that I should definitely come learn from Teacher Luo more often.”

“Tch, tch, tch.”

Luo Xiaoxue clicked her tongue. This knack for spouting nonsense without thinking—neither Liu Bi nor Cheng Long had it, nor did most inspectors she’d met, but Cheng Ye had mastered it naturally.

“I used to think you became a trainee inspector in two months because of the favors your dad left behind.”

“I haven’t needed or used those favors yet.”

“Fair point.”

The bus rattled along, and by the later stops, only the two remained.

The Fertilizer Plant Workers’ Compound was indeed remote. No matter how spacious, Cheng Ye wouldn’t choose to live there.

Otherwise, getting to the central checkpoint would mean a half-hour bus ride at minimum, not to mention trips to the library or the south gate on the buffer zone’s far side—basically modern rush-hour commuting all over again.

Entering the compound, Liu Bi’s home was on the fifth floor of Building Four.

Before Luo Xiaoxue could pull out her key, the security door swung open, revealing a small head with a ponytail.

“Mom, why’re you so—”

The words cut off as the girl saw Cheng Ye behind Luo Xiaoxue. She ducked back, leaving just a pair of bright, curious eyes peeking through the door crack.

That mischievous spark made Cheng Ye’s lips curve into a fond smile.

“Yiyi, this is your Brother Cheng Ye, Uncle Cheng’s son, the one your dad’s always talking about.”

“Cheng… Cheng Ye gege?”

Her slightly childish voice felt out of place in the wasteland’s grim tone but softened the tension Cheng Ye had been carrying.

Indeed, the hope of new life was the greatest weapon against fear.