Chapter Fifty-One: Sinister Change and Rebirth?

Chu Yunxi couldn't help but feel her throat tighten.

"Chen Yi, can I have a small sip?" she asked shyly, her eyes flickering with a hint of excitement.

Without hesitation, Chen Yi handed her the bottle of Erguotou he was holding.

"Of course. Give it a try," he said, his gaze tinged with gentle indulgence.

Chu Yunxi didn't stand on ceremony; she tilted her head back and took a mouthful of the fiery liquor. Though she had never tasted alcohol before, the warmth it brought seemed to wrap her whole body in a comforting current, and for a moment, she felt much more at ease.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Before she could savor it, Chu Yunxi took another gulp and was suddenly choked, coughing repeatedly.

Chen Yi quickly patted her back, laughing, "You can't rush it."

"You—you should've warned me!" Chu Yunxi turned her head, her eyes reddened from the coughing, and gave Chen Yi a playful punch.

Hu Sanhan watched their intimacy, smiling with a touch of melancholy reminiscence.

His wife had died on the very first day the apocalypse broke out. Back then, he hadn't possessed the strength he had now, and faced with the sudden catastrophe, he was utterly powerless.

Sensing the shift in Hu Sanhan's mood, Chen Yi spoke softly, "Brother Hu, don’t be too sad."

"Maybe she’s watching from above," he added.

Hu Sanhan trembled slightly, moisture glinting in his eyes. Usually as tough as iron, he now seemed a bit fragile.

A hardened man left alone, having lost his beloved in the apocalypse—he could never truly let go.

"Thank you, Chen," Hu Sanhan said, his voice hoarse, before giving Chen Yi’s shoulder a firm pat.

"We’re all in this together. We’ll make it through," Chu Yunxi chimed in, smiling as she tried to lighten the mood.

At that moment, the sea breeze stirred memories within Chen Yi.

Suddenly, a small figure darted out from the shadows of the dusk-touched trees—it was Chen Yaxi.

Her pristine wings shimmered in the setting sun, making her look like a miniature angel.

"Brother!" she called out, running up with an innocent, radiant smile.

"Yaxi, why are you out playing?" Chen Yi asked gently, gathering her into his arms. "Didn’t I tell you to rest this afternoon?"

"I haven’t seen you all together for so long," Chen Yaxi replied, tilting her head curiously at the group.

"Here, Chen Yaxi, there’s still some wine—want to try it?" Hu Sanhan teased, making the little girl laugh.

"I don’t want that stuff! It smells awful," Chen Yaxi wrinkled her nose, drawing laughter from everyone and easing the tense atmosphere.

"Brother, Uncle, I sense a strange smell…" Chen Yaxi suddenly frowned, her eagle genes making her acutely sensitive to changes in the air day and night.

Chen Yi’s expression changed slightly. "What kind of smell? Can you describe it?"

"It’s like a fishy, foul odor. The seawater feels off," Chen Yaxi sniffed intently and replied in earnest.

Suddenly, Hu Sanhan, standing nearby, stared intently out at the distant sea.

His weathered face showed a hint of unease.

In a low, almost murmured tone, he said, "Something really does feel off."

His words abruptly darkened the atmosphere.

Lu Kai, who hadn’t paid much attention, now looked up, his brows furrowed.

"What’s going on?" he asked instinctively, a vague sense of foreboding rising within him.

The distant sea was churning, thunderclouds gathering overhead, as if something terrifying was brewing.

Lightning flickered through the clouds, painting the sea with a strange, seductive glow.

"It feels like something bad is about to emerge," Hu Sanhan said gravely, his gaze growing more intense.

Lu Kai’s heart clenched at his words.

He recalled fragmented memories, urging himself, "Did I… did I forget something important?"

"Did anyone notice?" Chen Yi’s voice rang out suddenly. "This weather is too unusual—the wind is fierce, and storms like this are rare."

His eyes narrowed, deep in thought.

"We should head back," Chu Yunxi suggested, her voice laced with anxiety. "The wind’s picking up, it could rain any moment. Everyone, let’s get inside."

Chen Yi nodded in agreement, deciding they should immediately return to the base.

"Everyone, fall back and stay safe," he said, pulling out his radio and issuing orders to each team, "Strong winds and heavy rain—return to base immediately and report in safe."

Soon, everyone retreated swiftly to their quarters.

The raging wind howled like ghosts.

Sure enough, a torrential rain began suddenly, each drop carrying an eerie chill.

"This rain looks strange," Chu Yunxi murmured, gazing out the window.

"Yes, it’s turned pale blue," Chen Yi said, his brows drawn tight. This anomaly was clearly an ominous sign.

Hu Sanhan stood at the window too, observing the scene outside with a complicated expression.

"Strange—just now it was thunder and lightning, but now there are red clouds," he muttered, his once lively eyes now full of caution.

"This feels familiar…"

"These clouds—they’re like the ones at the very start of the apocalypse," Lu Kai stroked his chin, confused as he looked at the crimson clouds outside, uneasy memories swirling in his mind. His voice trembled.

As the group stared blankly at the rain, Chen Yi suddenly sensed a disturbance.

He turned swiftly, looking up at the sky. Far off, a large dark mass drifted across the gloomy heavens.

"What is that?" he asked in a low voice, quickly gripping his double-bladed knife.

Chu Yunxi tightened her coat and moved closer to Chen Yi, worried. "We should prepare ourselves—this doesn’t look good."

"Everyone, stay alert!" Chen Yi commanded loudly, his gaze cold as he swept over the nearby team members.

At that moment, the rain slackened, the wind calmed, and the world grew so quiet they could hear each other’s heartbeats.

Just as everyone thought the ominous rain had passed, the sky suddenly ignited with a terrifying crimson cloud, chilling them to the bone.

"This… isn’t this just like that day?" Lu Kai’s voice nearly broke; he had never been so lost.

That red cloud was like the opening scene of the apocalypse, carrying a deadly omen.

Hu Sanhan gripped his knife tightly, muttering under his breath, "Damn it, is another mutation coming?"