They arrived at Duran city after a three days trip. Ru Lan had the same black suit that he wore when he defended the city from the zombie army created by Ling Kai.

Nothing had changed after Ru Lan's disappearance, the guards still chatted while guarding the front gate, expedition cars were still going in and out of the city to collect valuable brain beads. Nothing changed, as if Ru Lan never existed in their memory.

The guards spotted a new car parked in front of the gate, they thought it might be new people wanting to settle in Duran City. They approached the vehicle and knocked on the car window.

The window rolled down, "Hey, if you—"

The guard who talked just now shut his mouth immediately. His face paled as if he had seen a ghost at noon. His body trembled and he stuttered, "P—President… GHOST! A GHOST!"

The guard ran to his post, while his friend was petrified upon seeing President Ru staring at him coldly. He never knew that there would be time where President Ru returned as a ghost, he was even more terrified when he saw the one in the driver seat.

The zombie king, Ling Kai drove the car, his amber eyes glared hostilely glared at him, "A—President… I—I am sorry."

Ru Lan felt that it was a bit funny to see his people looking at him as if he was already dead. He pulled the man's collar and then commanded him, "I want to see Bi He, take me to him now."

The news about President Ru returning as a ghost spread like wildfire in Duran City. Of course, they didn't believe that President Ru had become a ghost, but it was unbelievable that President Ru could return safely from Ling Kai's grasp, even went as far as bringing Ling Kai with him inside Duran City. They thought that President Ru had successfully defeated Ling Kai and made him his subordinate.

The citizens of Duran City had slowly forgotten about President Ru, because it was much more peaceful after President Bi took control and President Ru was taken away by Ling Kai. Perhaps due to Ling Kai's influence, the zombies around Duran City were exceptionally weak. So Duran City became the safest city in the region.

But when President Ru returned back unscathed, they started screaming his name again, "President Ru is the best! President Ru will protect us all!"

Ru Lan who was sitting inside the car. He was getting escorted to Duran Tower to meet President Bi.

Ru Lan smiled for his people, but for Ling Kai, these people were just a bunch of parasites who would soon latch on Ru Lan again, asking him to do expeditions for valuable brain beads, training new soldiers, protecting the city from attacks. Ru Lan did everything for his people.

But when Ru Lan was at his weakest, these people didn't hesitate to throw him under the bus. Ling Kai gritted his teeth, he smashed the dashboard lightly, but his strength caused significant damage to the dashboard.

Ru Lan glanced at Ling Kai and raised his brow, "What's wrong?"

"These people didn't hesitate to sacrifice you when you are unconscious. They don't love you, they just want you to work as their slave. They give you a high title, while in fact, you are their slave!"

Ling Kai was irritated, so he blurted out everything in his head. He shut his mouth after he just realized that he called Ru Lan a slave. He gulped and glanced at Ru Lan nervously, "I—I don't mean it like that…"

"No, it's alright," Ru Lan said, "Even if they don't appreciate my work, I'm still bound by duty to protect them. It's my job."

'Bound by duty…'

Ling Kai felt that Ru Lan was being ridiculous, what was the use to help those who didn't appreciate you at all. If it was him, he would just destroy this city to ashes. But that sentence hit him hard in his heart.

'Bound by duty…'

***

The car arrived at the Duran Tower lobby. President Bi was waiting for Ru Lan in the lobby. When he saw Ru Lan returning unscathed, with the same suit that he wore on their date, Bi He ran towards Ru Lan and hugged him tightly.

Tears streamed down from the corner of Bi He's eyes, "Ru Lan, you've finally returned…"

Bi He kissed Ru Lan's lips without hesitation in front of everyone. Ling Kai's amber eyes contracted, he raised his hand, he wanted to kill this bitch who dared to kiss Ru Lan after the scummy move that he did when Ru Lan was unconscious.

Ling Kai dashed towards Bi He, but Ru Lan stopped him, "Ling Kai, stop."

Ling Kai's step halted, he glared at Ru Lan who didn't react much after getting a kiss from Bi He, "Ru Lan, he sold you out when you are unconscious! He didn't even fight for you! Ru Lan, he is a—"

"Ling Kai, silence!" Ru Lan's command effectively shut his mouth. Ling Kai gritted his teeth, he didn't expect Ru Lan to stand by Bi He's side after what he did in the war.

Bi He wiped his tears with his handkerchief, "He is lying Ru Lan, I'm trying hard to protect you from his army of zombies. My body got wounded badly to protect you. You can ask the people, we are all trying hard to save you, but this monster is too strong!"

"Yes! Yes! President Ru, we are trying hard to save you!"

"Some of us got wounded too because this monster is too powerful!"

"We're sorry that we cannot save you, President!"

Ling Kai's chest rose up and down, his emotion was fluctuating because he almost unleashed his anger again. These filthy people dared to drag him to the mud, while trying to portray themselves as innocent.

Ru Lan, what happened to you when this monster took your body? Are you alright? I—I will heal you!" Bi He said. Ru Lan patted Bi He's back gently;

[Wow, this guy is so fake.]

[Pupa: Told you it will not be pretty.]

"I am alright. We should forget about what happened before, Ling Kai is now my people too," Ru Lan said.

"Your people?! But he is a monster!" Bi He yelled.

"You bit—"

"Ling Kai is not a monster. I can recover because of his care," everybody was shocked when President Ru said that Ling Kai cared for him, to add more surprise, President Ru continued with, "He is my people, if any of you dares to protest my decision, then I shall not be gentle."

Ling Kai felt that his body had been showered with fresh water after being burned in hell. Ru Lan protected him in front of everyone, he prioritized Ling Kai over Bi He and Duran City's citizens.

This warm feeling slowly engulfed him, Ling Kai finally experienced the feeling of being protected, and it felt amazing.

[Pupa: Ding! Fatemeter increases to 95%.]

[Pupa: Ding! Breakmeter increases to 60%.]