I’ve Got this Cannon Fodder’s Back

151: 150 151: 150 Lu Zhiguang was a staff intern of the System.

His entire family worked for the System.

Gu Yuan had long known about this, even knowing that Lu Deng had a wealthy uncle who could buy an entertainment company with a swipe of his hands, but the stern general before him clearly wasn’t the same calm, gentle middle-aged man he had pictured.

… Perhaps there were two uncles.

Meeting the stern gaze of a general in the midst of a midlife crisis and remembering that the other was his lover’s elder made Gu Yuan’s heartbeat quickened.

Slowly, he released his grip on the collar of the general’s impeccably ironed uniform.

He even smoothed it out carefully.

The general maintained his stern gaze, his cool eyes radiating authority as he glared at Gu Yuan.

“Uncle!” Lu Deng called him, sounding slightly worried as he hugged his uncle’s arm.

The general ignored his nephew’s concern, intent on teaching his nephew’s audacious boyfriend a lesson.

He straightened up to make another move, but then he met Lu Deng’s gaze and froze, his expression softening almost immediately.

Lu Deng: q^q The general: … The serious general was helpless against this look.

The general’s expression softened completely as his nephew looked at him with eyes like pleading emoji.

He released Gu Yuan, crouching down to comfort him.

“Xiao Deng, be good.

I won’t hit him.

I just wanted to meet him… Word was that you found someone you liked, so we all wanted to see if it was really him.” His voice was gentle and warm, as if he hadn’t just been a fierce, unyielding general ready to strike.

Lu Deng was easily comforted.

Seeing his uncle’s softened stance, he relaxed, a bright smile of relief lighting up his face.

Happily, he threw himself into his uncle’s arms and started explaining things about Gu Yuan to him.

The general’s formerly stern face softened with a smile as he waved away the soldiers.

Holding Lu Deng on his lap, he quietly asked his nephew about his recent experiences.

The NPC soldiers performed their duty by standing around the area, creating a safe zone.

Gu Yuan seized the moment while the two chatted, quickly roasting another chicken for the unexpected arrival of this family member.

After traveling through so many worlds, Gu Yuan’s cooking skills were quite refined.

He cooked the chicken until golden and crisp, wrapping it in leaves and holding it in his hands, the aroma filling the air.

The general seemed more at ease and satisfied with the chicken.

He returned Lu Deng to Gu Yuan before straightening his military cap and approaching him with majesty.

“This is Uncle Daina.

He taught me combat and martial arts, and he’s way better than me.” Lu Deng was still delighted to see his uncle and pulled the general forward to introduce him to Gu Yuan, his eyes curving into thin crescent moons.

“Uncle said the whole family already knows about you and they’re all planning to meet you…” … They’re probably planning to come and beat him up.

Given how the general hadn’t held back at first, Gu Yuan had a vague sense of foreboding, but he didn’t dare say it out loud.

Instead, he followed Lu Zhiguang’s lead and respectfully greeted, “Uncle.” He has good character and decent skills.

He knows how to care for his nephew and has respectable cooking skills.

It seems my nephew hasn’t been deceived.

The general, who had come specifically to check his character out, slightly softened his expression and nodded at Gu Yuan, then ruffled Lu Deng’s hair.

“Get in the vehicle.

I’ll drive you two out.” Unexpectedly, there’s still this method to escape the lab.

Gu Yuan was still stunned when Lu Deng took his hand and cheerfully followed the general out of the forest.

An armored military vehicle awaited outside.

Being close to his family, Lu Deng relaxed completely.

Though he refrained from excessive affection before his usually strict uncle, he couldn’t help but stay close to Gu Yuan, whispering quietly to him.

“Uncle Daina is the only single one left in the family, so he’s under a lot of pressure and has to appear stern, but he’s actually very kind.” “Uncle used to be quite handsome, probably just stressed lately.” Lu Deng whispered, explaining softly to Gu Yuan about his uncle’s receding hairline.

He took out the snacks he had been given earlier and passed them to him one by one.

“This chocolate is really tasty.

It used to be my favorite brand, but I never found this brand again…” With post-apocalyptic resource shortages, most factories had ceased production, only maintaining essential supplies for survival and combat.

These snacks could only be found in the few supermarkets left undamaged by zombie waves, making them rare treats.

In truth, it was just ordinary chocolate with vegetable fat.

It was sweet, though a bit hard as it neared its expiration date, lacking any rich cocoa aroma or hazelnut and milk.

But for someone who had almost no bright memories in those days, a little sweetness like this was enough to sustain a lasting sense of contentment and happiness.

That’s why he always liked anything sweet.

Holding the piece of chocolate, Lu Deng took small, cherished bites, letting the simple sweetness spread on his tongue.

His eyes narrowed with satisfaction, and he broke off a piece to feed Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan smiled at him, earnestly eating the chocolate.

Without missing a beat, he placed a hand on Lu Zhiguang’s shoulder, massaging it gently to let warmth seep through his pale neck.

This was the first time Lu Zhiguang openly mentioned his past experiences in this world.

The dark memories of the research lab had been hidden, not to see the light ever, along with the fear and dread toward the doctor.

Everything was tucked away behind his gentle smile.

Only this tiny, cherished sweetness was brought out as a treasure, eager to be shared.

Gu Yuan didn’t say anything, but he felt a silent warmth inside.

After three days and four nights of running, both of them were exhausted.

As Gu Yuan massaged him, Lu Deng’s eyes slowly drooped, a yawn escaping as he drowsily snuggled into his embrace, wrapping his arms tightly around him.

A hint of murderous intent wafted from the front seat.

Gu Yuan, highly attuned to such an aura, instinctively tensed, meeting the general’s ambiguous, steely gaze with resolve.

The other soldiers were NPCs generated to fit the world, and without orders, they wouldn’t react to the silent confrontation between the two.

Each soldier sat still, their expressions blank.

In the midst of this quiet, shadowless standoff, shifting forest light poured through the window, casting dappled patterns across the sleeping boy’s brow.

The military vehicle continued its silent journey.

… The single general watched his nephew and his partner in the back with a cold glare.

Even as they arrived at their destination, he had yet to extract any useful relationship advice from their actions.

They arrived late at night.

Lu Deng slept peacefully, but Gu Yuan, tense under the general’s scrutiny, was beyond exhausted.

Seeing the vehicle come to a stop, he couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

As Lu Deng rubbed his eyes and noticed Gu Yuan’s fatigue, he sat up with concern.

Gu Yuan just smiled, lowering his voice to remind him, “We’ll need to mention the explosion and make sure Uncle evacuates quickly…” “Don’t worry, we’re only taking a short detour here.

We’ll use the explosion to exit the world safely.

There’s no danger.” The general’s voice rang out from the front.

His strong figure came closer, tossing a few backpacks into Gu Yuan’s arms.

“Here, these should be enough supplies for a few months.” The vehicle was packed with equipment and supplies, most of which he handed to Gu Yuan to carry, almost as much weight as Lu Zhiguang himself.

Gu Yuan fumbled to hold everything.

The general escorted them a bit further into the forest and then patted Lu Deng on the shoulder.

“Take all this.

Think of this as a vacation… relax and enjoy yourselves.

Don’t worry.

Anyone who gets a lot of lines has already been pre-booked by us…” Lu Deng nodded, but a sudden thought struck him.

He looked up to ask, but the general waved him off, quickly getting back into the armored vehicle.

The massive, fortified vehicle left a cloud of dust.

“Zhiguang?” After finally sorting out the supplies, Gu Yuan noticed Lu Zhiguang standing there in a daze.

He approached him gently.

“What’s wrong?

Will the next part be difficult?” “No, it’s not that.” Lu Deng shook his head, worry flickering in his eyes as he looked back toward the base.

Taking Gu Yuan’s hand, he led him further into the forest.

“I was just thinking… there aren’t many System employees…” Gu Yuan raised an eyebrow, nodding.

“True.

That protagonist have crossed paths countless times with us, so the staff options does seem small.” Lu Deng continued, pressing his lips together, “There’s only one employee dedicated to playing villains.” Gu Yuan opened a tent capsule, and the high-tech structure assembled itself quickly, securing it on the ground.

“One villain does seem little.

Are they planning to hire more?” Looking troubled, Lu Deng nodded and then shook his head.

“He’s my father’s friend and mainly plays the villain in various worlds.

His skills are so high that he often beats the others up, so the main System Grandpa locks him up when he’s not on assignment…” Apparently, the main System was like a grandparent.

The concept of capacity between systems has always been determined by memory.

In Gu Yuan’s mind, the main System was a vast, middle-aged entity, so he was surprised to hear Lu Deng refer to it as “Grandpa.” With respectful seriousness, Gu Yuan nodded as he secured the tent and laid out the sleeping bags.

“I don’t think this is the reason to lock him up… Should we try to visit him?

This time, I’ll make sure to clarify before striking and try to establish good relations…” Lu Deng tugged at his sleeve, finishing with the final clue.

“In the lab, when we… ambushed Dark Doctor, he didn’t vanish as data.” Gu Yuan: … Remembering the sight of Dark Doctor in the lab, Gu Yuan took a deep breath, gave Lu Deng a determined smile, and ruffled his hair.

… At dawn, Gu Yuan’s hairline had crept up by a millimeter.

On the fifth day, the explosion finally consumed the base, reducing it to ruins.

The dazzling flames painted the horizon red, burning everything dark and hidden into ashes.

Jolted awake by the explosion, Gu Yuan sat up only to find Lu Zhiguang missing.

A surge of worry hit him, and he rushed out of the tent.

He quickly spotted the familiar silhouette in the fiery glow lighting up the night.

Lu Zhiguang stood atop a rocky ridge, gazing at the base.

The fierce explosion reflected in his deep black eyes, calm and undisturbed.

With a heavy heart, Gu Yuan leaped up and gently wrapped his arms around him from behind.

The body in his arms wasn’t as cold as he expected, but it also lacked warmth.

As he embraced him, Lu Zhiguang leaned back against his chest.

“At that time… I was inside the base.” Lu Deng’s voice was soft as he relaxed into his arms.

“I thought I’d died, but I hadn’t.

When I woke up, I had the power to control plants and had broken free from the role of a tortured test subject.

The place that had imprisoned me was now just ruins I could walk away from.” He turned slightly, his gentle brows relaxing as a quiet glow flickered in his eyes.

“I thought…” That I could finally be like everyone else.

Lu Deng didn’t finish, simply smiling faintly, lowering his gaze, and opening his palm, where a tender green sprout poked up.

Gu Yuan held him tightly, pressing a light kiss to the budding plant.

He knew what had happened after that.

Not wanting him to dwell on it, Lu Deng let the seedling grow quickly in his hand, sprouting a golden flower that formed a soft, white puff of dandelion seeds, ready to drift on the breeze.

Lu Deng raised the dandelion to him, his eyes clear and gentle, free from any shadow.

Gu Yuan felt his mood uplifted, unable to help but smile as he blew the dandelion’s seeds into the air.

As the flames faded, rain poured down.

Scorched earth and ash were the perfect soil to grow the most beautiful flowers.

Before long, rumors spread across various bases about the two youths test subjects who had escaped as and returned as avengers from hell to raze the base.

Lu Deng had long grown accustomed to being hunted and was adept at fleeing, dragging Gu Yuan along as they fled and gathered resources to build a home for the two of them.

Infinity City was built on the ruins of the core base, surrounded by a bloodthirsty forest of terrifying plants.

Anyone who approached would flee in terror at the sight of the wild, bloodthirsty vines.

To outsiders, Infinity City was undoubtedly a fearsome fortress built by the two vengeful youths.

Their presence began to evoke fear, prompting some to launch desperate attacks, though none could break the deep bond between them.

Each time, the two managed to escape unscathed.

As their fear deepened, the other bases grew increasingly desperate to contain the threat posed by these two experimental escapees.

After three years, even though the two had never directly harmed anyone, their very existence had become intolerable to the other bases.

“Outside raids have been intensifying.

We should stay in the city as much as possible.” Setting down their supplies, Gu Yuan removed his half-burned clothes, smiling as he wiped a smudge of ash from Lu Zhiguang’s nose and kissed him.

“In a few days, we can pass our exams.

I’ll make you something better than instant noodles after we come out…” Lu Deng couldn’t help smiling as he took the supplies and poured him some water.

“We still have to be careful.

They’ll definitely try to raid Infinity City.” Since the limit was three years, it wouldn’t be that easy.

Over the years, any severe danger had been resolved with one or two uncles unexpectedly showing up, following their “wink if you see an uncle” code.

Gu Yuan hadn’t made any more missteps since then.

The final test would likely involve a coordinated assault by all the bases.

Gu Yuan nodded, drinking a sip of water as he walked to the window.

Outside, the clean streets were lush with vibrant greenery, sunlight filtering through the leaves onto the soft grass—a rare sight of vitality in the apocalypse.

A one-legged boy was play-fighting with a kitten missing a paw, while a one-armed young man helped an elderly hunchback carry food.

A girl covering half her face with her hair smiled brightly with one eye, sharing candy with a group of ragged children.

Infinity City was a place for “rejects.” In the apocalypse, anyone deemed useless was abandoned, left to fend for themselves in the zombie- and mutant-infested wasteland.

It was on the ruins of the core base that the “son of hell” had created Infinity City to shelter these outcasts.

Only by relying on this place could they survive.

In truth, Lu Deng had never given much thought to its purpose or had a lofty motive for founding it.

He just liked seeing scenes like this.

It made him feel, for a moment, as if he wasn’t truly alone.

Now, he was never alone.

Lu Deng stood by the window for a while, smiling as he took Gu Yuan’s hand.

“Come on, let’s…” He paused, suddenly shivering as he stopped in his tracks.

Sensing his tension, Gu Yuan squeezed his hand, looking at him questioningly.

Lu Deng nodded, gripping his hand as they leaped from the window and raced toward the bloodthirsty forest.

The raid had arrived right on schedule.

Following General Daina’s parting advice that anyone with lines was likely an uncle, Gu Yuan, still tense, reminded Lu Zhiguang as they dashed toward the scene of the attack.

“Zhiguang, if I look at you for a signal, wink once if it’s an uncle and twice if they outrank him so I can hold back…” “I got it.” Facing a potential flood of family members, Lu Deng was also nervous, nodding with pursed lips as he clung to Gu Yuan’s arm.

“Be careful too…” “Don’t worry, I still owe you a proper meal.” Gu Yuan laughed, vaulting forward, pressing a kiss to him midair.

Seeing his lover’s ears quickly flush, he chuckled before spotting the large black-clad coalition and took a deep breath as they descended.

At least ten elite squads from various bases had assembled, with powerful energy crackling in the air, making the bloodthirsty forest shudder.

Gu Yuan calmly scanned the group, his eyes settling on the leader, glancing discreetly at Lu Zhiguang.

Lu Zhiguang gave a single wink.

…Lucky.

He’d picked correctly on the first try.

Gu Yuan committed the man’s appearance to memory and looked at the next one, turning to Lu Zhiguang.

Lu Zhiguang winked again.

…Very lucky.

Gu Yuan exhaled, subconsciously scanning the remaining dozen figures.

With his peripheral vision, he saw Lu Zhiguang and was suddenly stunned.

The dark-haired youth had a pale from the lack of sunlight explosion for a long time.

He pursed his lips and stood still, staring at him intently, blinking his eyes dutifully dozen times.