Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 185: Chapter 185 - The March Toward the Fire

The air was tense in City A. The scent of gun oil, sweat, and desperation clung to the soldiers as they checked their gear one final time beneath the steel canopy of the underground base. Rifles were cleaned and reloaded, helmets strapped down, and bulletproof vests clamped shut like second skins. Every man here had seen death. Every man here was ready to meet it again.

”Everyone, make sure to bring enough bullets,” General Shin Kailun barked, his voice echoing off the walls like thunder. ”The situation in City S is unstable. We might have to fight our way through hell. Anyone who’s bitten is a liability. I don’t care if it’s your friend or your brother—deal with it. That’s the first and foremost rule. No hesitations. No exceptions. Kill quick. Stop the spread.”

He spoke like a man who had lost too many already—and refused to lose anyone else without a fight.

Among the gathered soldiers stood Shin Shinjun, his fists clenched at his sides as he stared at his father with a fire in his chest. ”Father, let me go. I’ll handle it. I can get Jai out. I’m faster than most of the men here, and I’ve already dealt with outbreaks in the base—”

”You calling your old man slow now?” Kailun cut him off, snorting. ”Just take care of things here. I’ll bring that rascal back and give him a firm beating on his buttocks myself.”

He chuckled, but the tension didn’t leave Shinjun’s shoulders.

”It’s not a joke, Dad,” he said quietly. ”We received news from higher authorities. The bombing’s scheduled in less than ten hours. We need to get Jai out now. If you miss the window—”

”I won’t,” Kailun said firmly, stepping closer, placing a heavy hand on his son’s shoulder. ”Listen, son... You have a job to do here. Make this place safe for him when he comes back. Do that much for me. For your boy. Let me handle this.”

There was a long silence between them. Shinjun’s jaw clenched, but he gave a tight nod. ”Bring him home.”

Kailun nodded once and turned on his heel, voice bellowing, ”All right! Mount up!”

The assembled fifty elite soldiers surged into motion, climbing into armored tactical vehicles and tanks fitted with reinforced plow attachments.

As the final tank pulled out of the Shin household, its rumble shaking dust loose from the rooftop tiles, Shin Kailun stepped down onto the pavement, tightening the strap of his bulletproof vest. He was about to climb into the tactical car when a sharp voice called out.

”General Shin! Wait!”

He turned just in time to see a figure hurrying through the gates—Lin Jinjui, her gray-streaked hair tied back messily, apron still clinging to her waist. She looked as though she had run straight from her kitchen, flour dusted across her sleeves and eyes red with worry.

In her hands was a large, cloth-covered bag that swayed heavily as she ran. She clutched it close to her chest like it was her last lifeline.

”Please...” she gasped out, coming to a halt in front of him. ”Please bring my son and daughter back, General Shin. Please... they’re all I have.”

Her voice cracked with desperation. She tried to compose herself but failed miserably as tears welled up again.

Kailun’s mouth tightened. ”Lin Jinjui...”

She shook her head quickly, pushing the bag into his arms with trembling hands. ”I know you can’t promise anything. I know... but please, take this. They’ll be hungry, and I— I don’t know what else I can do.”

He looked down at the warm, fabric-wrapped bag she’d handed him. The aroma escaped immediately, comforting and familiar, like a mother’s embrace:

Braised pork,Stir-fried bok choy, Salted duck eggs and sticky rice dumplings, carefully wrapped in banana leaves. A small box of sweet red bean buns.

And nestled at the bottom, a thermos of congee—still hot, with slices of ginger and dried scallops swimming inside.

”I cooked all of their favorites,” she whispered. ”Even the buns they used to fight over. Yunfeng always gave his last bite to Hana... even when he was hungry himself.”

Her voice broke.

”I should’ve kept a good eye on them. I should have kept them safe,” she cried, pressing a fist to her chest. ” But they’re always trying to protect everyone—like their father used to... and now—now they’re out there and I don’t even know if they’ve eaten.”

Kailun stepped forward then, placing a steady hand on her shoulder.

”Lin Jinjui,” he said gently, ”I raised a son too. I know..”

Her eyes lifted to his, filled with unbearable sorrow.

”I can’t promise you I’ll bring them back unhurt,” he said honestly. ”But I promise I’ll bring them back.”

She nodded wordlessly, covering her mouth to muffle the sob threatening to escape.

Kailun turned, walking briskly back to his tactical car. He climbed in, setting the food bag carefully in the seat beside him.

Gates closed behind them, Lin Jinjui remained standing there—watching, praying, whispering the names of her children into the wind.

Thick clouds of exhaust puffing into the night air as the convoy rolled out.

The roads toward City S were littered with rusted, abandoned cars and debris—remnants of lives left behind. But the tanks didn’t slow. The modified front plows crushed metal like paper, clearing paths with relentless force.

What should have taken seven hours was crushed into five.

Not a single soldier slept. Not a single one cracked a smile. Every one of them had someone to protect, someone to save—or someone to avenge.

In the lead vehicle, Kailun sat still, eyes narrowed as the horizon bled crimson with the last rays of a dying sun. A map of the infected zones was spread on his lap, fingers trailing the familiar streets of City S. Somewhere out there, his grandson was fighting to stay alive. And Kailun would fight the whole world if it meant getting him back.

’just wait jai.. be safe...’ he clutched the map tightly.

The tank rumbled beneath Kailun’s feet, its massive steel body grinding over cracked concrete and abandoned wreckage. They were close. He could smell the rot of the infected city bleeding into the air now—faint but rising. He lifted the walkie-talkie again, thumb hovering over the button with shaking restraint. Then he pressed it.

”This is General Shin Kailun. Do you read me? Anyone?”

Static.

He leaned forward in his seat, eyes locked on the dark outline of City S in the distance. Another push of the button. ”This is General Shin—”

A soft crackle interrupted him. Then a voice, a bit faint, but clear.

”Mister Shin?” the voice asked, respectfully. Tired. A bit breathless.

Kailun’s breath caught in his chest. He recognized it instantly.

”Yunfeng,” he said, trying to keep his voice level, ”How is Jai doing?”

There was a small pause. A muffled chuckle followed. ”He’s good....”

Kailun’s eyes fluttered shut for a second. Relief crashed into him like a wave. He’s okay. He’s alive.

Then Yunfeng’s voice sharpened. ”Where are you? You haven’t reached the city yet, right?”

Kailun straightened. ”We’re just outside. We’ll be there in minutes.”

A low curse filtered through the radio. ”Shit. Don’t come in. We’re halfway out already. Just wait at the border. We’ll meet you there.”

Kailun’s brow furrowed deeply. ”Don’t take unnecessary risks. You stay put. We’ll find you.”

But Yunfeng’s voice cut back in sharply, ”There’s nowhere safe in her! We have to move. Grandpa Shin, trust me—if you come in now, it’ll just slow us down. Wait for us. Please.”

And with that, the connection went dead.

Kailun stared at the silent radio in his hand, his jaw clenched. ”soldiers... quick ready your weapons! Let’s fight to live!”

The soldiers cheered and prepared their weapons.

Back in the city, Yunfeng shoved the radio into his bag, his face dark with worry. He turned to the others, voice rough. ”Shit. They’re already here. We have to move—now.”

Zei blinked, startled. ”So... we’re not waiting for my powers to renew?”

”Nope.” Yunfeng didn’t even look at him as he grabbed Muchen’s arm and started strapping down the last few layers of protection. ”so this is what we are going to do. We are going out in order okay. ill lead us. Shao and Lu Zhi stay at the back, jai Hana and Muchen stay in the middle.”

”what about me?” Zei pointed to himself.

”you stay with me.. and if you try to do anything fishy I’ll burn you down.” He warned without looking up at him.

Zei trotted behind them, pouting. ”You keep saying the same thing over and over. ’Don’t try anything funny,’ ’stay in the back,’ ’I’ll burn you’—do you have a script? Are you like a broken radio or something?”

He veered toward Jai, who was sitting against a crumbling wall, chewing anxiously on his bottom lip, fingers fidgeting with the frayed hem of his shirt.

Zei crouched beside him, curious. ”What’s wrong, cutie? You look like you’re about to cry. Nervous?”

Jai didn’t look at him. His eyes were trained on the ground, distant and shadowed. ”I just... I don’t want my family to risk themselves for me.”

Zei tilted his head. ”Huh?”

Jai swallowed thickly. ”I don’t want them to die because of me. I don’t want Grandpa to come into the city. Or my dad. Or anyone.”

His voice cracked at the last word. It was soft, almost childlike—the kind of vulnerability that was rare to see in someone who had survived this long in a crumbling world. His small fingers tightened around the strap of his bag like he was holding onto the only anchor he had.

Zei’s grin faded, replaced by a rare, quiet stillness. He sat down beside Jai properly, glancing at him through the corner of his eye.

”...You know,” he said gently, ”you must be really loved if they’re coming all this way for you.”

Jai didn’t answer.

”They’re not risking themselves because you’re a burden,” Zei said softly. ”They’re doing it because you’re their reason to stay alive.”

Silence stretched between them like a fragile thread. Then Zei reached into his pocket, unwrapped the chocolate bar he’d saved from earlier, and placed it in Jai’s hand.

”Eat it. You’ll need energy to run to your stupidly loving family.”

Jai looked down at it, then back at Zei, confused.

Zei smiled lazily. ”Also, I’m not risking my life to watch you cry the whole way. So stop it, you’re messing up your cute face.”

Jai blinked, then let out a soft laugh. Just a breath. But it was real.

From ahead, Yunfeng called out, ”Let’s go. Now.”

They all stood up. No more time to hesitate.