Day 5 was the first day the rain stopped.
The sky stayed grey, but the ground started to dry in patches. The base smelled less like wet cloth and more like old smoke.
That morning, Zhao Qingshan posted a new rule on a container wall in big marker.
NO ONE APPROACHES THE FENCE ALONE.
NO ONE LEAVES THEIR LANE WITHOUT PERMISSION.
BITES AND SCRATCHES REPORT TO MED IMMEDIATELY.
People argued about it, then followed it anyway. They were tired of learning lessons the hard way.
Luo Yan cooked congee again. He was starting to hate congee, but people ate it. That mattered more than taste.
Chen Yao came by just before noon, like she promised. She took two cups of congee and walked straight back to med without sitting down.
"Still alive?" Qin Yi asked her.
Chen Yao looked at him. "Annoyingly," she said.
Lu Ziming laughed too loud. "She's awesome."
He Li came back from a morning scout and spoke low to Lan Huan. "There's an awakened being held near the supply containers," he said. "They think he's infected."
Lan Huan's eyes sharpened. "Why?"
He Li's voice stayed flat. "Because plants grew around his hands while he was asleep."
Luo Yan's stomach tightened.
Wood.
And if it was near supplies, it might be someone they tried to use.
Lan Huan stood. "Where."
He Li led. Luo Yan followed, careful to keep his face neutral. He didn't want to look too interested.
They reached a smaller lane near stacked crates and fuel drums. Two soldiers stood guard outside a container with the door half shut.
One soldier said, "General Lan, sir. He's inside."
Lan Huan didn't waste time. "Open."
The soldier hesitated. "He might—"
"Open," Lan Huan repeated.
The door swung.
Inside, a man sat on the floor with his wrists tied with wire. He looked about Luo Yan's age. His hair was messy. His face was dirty. But his eyes were clear.
Green shoots had pushed up through cracks in the container floor near his knees. Thin and weak, like they were afraid.
He looked up when the door opened.
His gaze went to Lan Huan first. Then He Li. Then Luo Yan.
He swallowed. "I'm not infected," he said fast. "I swear."
Lan Huan's voice was calm. "Name."
The man hesitated. Then said, "Mu Yan."
Luo Yan's heart kicked.
This was him.
Mu Yan's voice was rough. "They tied me up because plants grew," he said. "Like I chose it."
He Li's eyes narrowed. "What else can you do?"
Mu Yan stared at his own hands like he hated them. "Water," he admitted. "And wood."
Lan Huan's eyes sharpened. "Dual."
Mu Yan nodded, embarrassed. "I didn't know until yesterday," he said. "I just… touched a cup and it filled. Then my fingers started bleeding because I panicked."
Luo Yan swallowed. That sounded right. New powers. Fear. Pain.
Lan Huan looked at the soldiers. "Why did you tie him," he asked.
One soldier shrugged. "We don't know what he is," he said. "And we can't risk infection inside supplies."
Lan Huan's voice went colder. "You're risking it by keeping him here," he said.
The soldier's face went stiff. "Sir?"
Lan Huan didn't answer him. He stepped inside and crouched in front of Mu Yan.
Mu Yan flinched like he expected a hit.
Lan Huan didn't hit him.
He said, "Can you make clean water?"
Mu Yan blinked. "Maybe," he said. "I can make water, but I don't know if it's clean."
Lan Huan nodded once. "Can you grow plants fast enough to bind a wound?"
Mu Yan's eyes widened. "I… I think so," he said. "I tried on a cut. It stopped bleeding faster."
Lan Huan stood. "Untie him," he ordered.
The soldiers hesitated.
He Li's eyes went hard. "Now," he said.
They untied Mu Yan.
Mu Yan rubbed his wrists, breathing hard. He looked like he might run.
Lan Huan said, "Don't run."
Mu Yan froze.
Lan Huan's voice stayed even. "Come with me," he said. "You'll work. You'll eat. You'll sleep somewhere dry. If you try to hurt people, I stop you."
Mu Yan swallowed. "Why," he asked, voice small.
Lan Huan answered, simple. "Because you're useful and you're being wasted."
Mu Yan's mouth tightened. "So I'm a tool."
Lan Huan didn't lie. "Yes," he said. "But you're a tool with a choice. You can be used by anyone, or you can choose who holds you."
Mu Yan stared at him. Then he looked at Luo Yan.
Luo Yan kept his face calm. "We have hot food," Luo Yan said, quiet.
Mu Yan blinked. "What?"
Luo Yan added, "We don't let people tie teammates up in supply containers."
Mu Yan swallowed hard.
Then he nodded once. "Okay," he said. "I'll come."
They walked him back.
On the way, Mu Yan kept looking over his shoulder like he expected someone to grab him again.
When they reached the container, Lu Ziming jumped up. "New guy!"
Qin Yi looked up from the tarp and squinted. "He looks like he cries easy."
Mu Yan stiffened.
Mu Yan's eyes were tired but sharp. "I don't," he said.
Qin Yi smiled faintly. "Good. Crying makes my head hurt."
Mu Yan didn't know what to do with that, so he just stood there.
He Chenyu tossed him a bottle of water. "Drink," he said.
Mu Yan caught it, startled. "Thanks," he muttered.
Chen Yao walked in right then, empty cups in hand, back from med.
She saw Mu Yan and stopped.
Her eyes narrowed. "Who's that?"
Lan Huan said, "Mu Yan. Water and wood."
Chen Yao stared at Mu Yan's hands. Then she looked at Luo Yan. "So you found your plant guy," she said.
Mu Yan blinked. "Plant guy?"
Chen Yao walked over, grabbed his wrist, and checked the skin like she was checking a patient. Mu Yan flinched, then forced himself to hold still.
"You're dual," she said. "You're wasting water by panicking. Stop."
Mu Yan stared at her. "Who are you?"
Chen Yao answered, "Someone keeping people alive."
Mu Yan swallowed.
Qin Yi whispered to Lu Ziming, "That's flirting where she's from."
Lu Ziming whispered back, "I'm scared of her."
Qin Yi nodded. "Same."
Luo Yan's system chimed in his head. Private.
Ding.
DAY 5 MISSION COMPLETE: FIND A BUILDER (ALTERNATE)
Result: Recruited Mu Yan (support growth)
Reward: Core Sense (short range) unlocked
Reward: Storage Capacity +5%
Luo Yan kept his face neutral, but inside he felt a small lift.
More tools. More chances.
Lan Huan looked at the group. "Tonight we train," he said.
Bai Ling wasn't here yet. Feng Yue wasn't here yet. Mu Yin wasn't here yet. Gu Jinghe wasn't here yet. Nie Mingjue wasn't here yet.
But the unit was growing.
And for the first time, it felt like they might survive long enough to become a team.
Outside, a horn sounded from the gate.
A long, warning blast.
Then another.
He Li's head snapped up. "Gate trouble," he said.
Lan Huan's eyes went hard. "Move."