Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen: Qin Sheng Is the Most Suitable Person

In just a fleeting instant, before Wang Qiang could finish his words, his throat was seized by Qin Sheng.

Wang Qiang’s brow furrowed in pain as he struggled to breathe, his gaze fixed on Qin Sheng. Yet, something perplexed him. The person gripping his neck both resembled and didn’t resemble Qin Sheng.

No, it really was Qin Sheng. But her expression and gaze were utterly unlike her own.

Qin Sheng seemed possessed, her eyes devoid of emotion—one blink away from snapping a life as if it meant nothing.

“Qin Sheng!” Shen Shi, looking up, saw Qin Sheng throttling Wang Qiang. His breath came in ragged gasps, the veins bulging in his neck, his face turning a ghastly shade.

But clearly, Qin Sheng had no intention of letting go. On the contrary, she seemed to relish the process.

Step by step, she tormented him toward death. Qin Sheng was visibly more exhilarated than she had been when fighting off the horde of zombies alone. By contrast, Wang Qiang was suffering terribly.

Seeing that Wang Qiang was on the verge of suffocation, Shen Shi leapt swiftly from the tree, intending to rush over. Unexpectedly, some unseen force flung him back.

Stunned, Shen Shi realized that as soon as he approached Qin Sheng, he’d been repelled by an invisible barrier surrounding her!

What on earth was happening?

For a moment, Shen Shi was at a loss for explanation. All he could do was try to awaken the Qin Sheng who seemed no longer herself.

“Qin Sheng, let go! Wang Qiang can’t hold on any longer!”

“Qin Sheng!”

“Qin Sheng…”

Qin Sheng, who had been torturing Wang Qiang with feverish excitement, suddenly heard Shen Shi calling her name again and again. The crimson gleam in her eyes seemed to fade, her mind splitting, her soul tearing away from her body.

A sharp headache forced her to release Wang Qiang, and the two collapsed to the ground.

Wang Qiang gulped in fresh air, desperate to fill his lungs, terrified it would be snatched away again.

Qin Sheng clutched her head in agony, the fading red in her eyes surging anew.

A low hiss escaped her lips. She felt as if she no longer belonged to herself—on the brink of death, her heart gripped so tightly she feared it would burst.

She moaned in pain, drenched in cold sweat.

With Wang Qiang safe, Shen Shi’s heart finally eased, but when he turned to Qin Sheng, he was gripped by anguish.

The girl who had just single-handedly faced down an army of zombies now lay curled on the ground, writhing in misery, her head splitting, breath coming in short, frantic bursts, her body trembling as if she would convulse at any moment.

Ignoring his own lingering pain, Shen Shi rushed toward her, but someone beat him to it.

He saw a flash of white in Qin Sheng’s eyes as Song Qing’an approached. Shen Shi’s steps slowed, then stopped altogether.

Song Qing’an glanced down at the suffering girl, his heart hammered as if struck. He bent swiftly and gathered Qin Sheng into his arms as if she were a precious treasure.

She sensed someone lifting her and instinctively tried to resist.

“I’m here. There’s nothing to fear.”

The boy’s cool, clear voice was laced with tenderness and care. He soothed her as one might comfort a frightened child, softening his tone to calm her trembling heart.

At the sound of his familiar voice, Qin Sheng ceased her struggle and clung tightly to Song Qing’an, sweat beading on her brow.

“Song Qing’an…”

He lowered his gaze, his fox-like eyes overflowing with gentleness and affection.

“It hurts…”

Her pitiful voice from the shelter of his arms made his heart tremble.

“Don’t be afraid. It won’t hurt for much longer.”

He cradled her and softly comforted her, his words a balm. Soothed by his presence, Qin Sheng’s pain eased somewhat. Soon exhaustion overtook her, and she fainted in his embrace.

It was better this way—unconscious, she would suffer less.

Holding her with one arm, Song Qing’an wiped the sweat from her forehead with the other. Listening to her slow, even breathing, he finally felt the weight lift from his heart.

“Xun Feng…”

At his call, Xun Feng, who had been nearby all along, appeared instantly.

“I leave things here to you,” Song Qing’an said coolly, then strode away with Qin Sheng.

Shen Shi, who had watched the interaction in silence, finally called after him.

“Where are you taking Qin Sheng?”

Song Qing’an paused, didn’t so much as glance back, and replied coldly, “To save her.”

Shen Shi opened his mouth but said nothing more, watching Song Qing’an carry Qin Sheng away into the shadowy depths of the zombie forest.

After standing a while, his own weakness overwhelmed him and he collapsed.

“Shen Shi!”

Wang Qiang, now recovered, had been about to speak to Xun Feng when he saw Shen Shi fall. He and Fatty rushed over, but Xun Feng was already there.

Xun Feng knelt by Shen Shi, checked his breath, then retrieved a small medicine bottle from his bag. The bottle bore no label, but as soon as he opened it, a strong aroma of herbs filled the air.

Wang Qiang and Fatty exchanged uneasy glances, uncertain what to do.

Xun Feng placed a brown pill into Shen Shi’s mouth.

Though Xun Feng and Song Qing’an didn’t look like enemies, giving Shen Shi medicine so casually seemed risky. Xun Feng, with his bodyguard-like attire, hardly looked like someone versed in medicine. After all, he’d only checked Shen Shi’s breath to confirm he was alive.

“Um…” Wang Qiang scratched his head and finally, reluctantly, approached Xun Feng. “Excuse me, how is Shen Shi now?”

He felt it rude to ask outright what medicine Xun Feng had given Shen Shi.

Xun Feng and Song Qing’an were cut from the same cloth, both exuding a cold, distant air. Song Qing’an was somewhat better, at least only showing that side to strangers or certain people. Xun Feng was like a block of wood, his face permanently set in indifference.

This made both Wang Qiang and Fatty wary.

“It’s nothing. The pill is restorative, harmless.” Xun Feng, sensing Wang Qiang’s concern, answered his unspoken question.

Flustered at being seen through, Wang Qiang licked his dry lips and ventured, “When will Qin Sheng return?”

Xun Feng’s expression remained impassive as he shook his head slightly.

He had no idea where his master had taken Qin Sheng, nor when they would return. All he could do was wait as ordered.

Seeing that Xun Feng wasn’t one for conversation, Wang Qiang shrugged and withdrew.

With Qin Sheng gone and Shen Shi unconscious, only Wang Qiang and Fatty could try to stabilize their chaotic group.

The others—having just witnessed the deaths of Zhang Dong and Silly Hu, then Qin Sheng’s single-handed defeat of a zombie horde, her near-strangling of Wang Qiang, and her being whisked away by a stranger who left behind a frigid sentinel—were all in shock.

Wang Qiang and Fatty were no exception.

As Qin Sheng and Shen Shi’s closest friends, they felt it their duty to help Qin Sheng and maintain order.

The situation was clear: Qin Sheng was the ultimate victor, their de facto future captain.

A squad could have hundreds or thousands of members—but only one captain.

No matter the others’ flaws, they had survived according to the rules. Their wisest choice had been trusting Qin Sheng.

“Everyone calm down. You all saw how Qin Sheng fought the zombie horde alone. She’s just exhausted now. Let’s wait here for her return.” Wang Qiang was careful with his words, letting them believe Qin Sheng had simply been taken by friends to rest.

“Will she really come back?” Many were still anxious—after all, this was the zombie forest. If another horde appeared, none of them could do what Qin Sheng had done.

Wang Qiang bit his lip. He didn’t know, but he couldn’t let them see his uncertainty.

“Don’t worry. Qin Sheng will be back soon. Besides, that man saved Shen Shi—you can trust that we’re safe for now.” He used Xun Feng’s presence to reassure them.

With their nerves soothed, Wang Qiang’s gaze dimmed. He finally voiced what was on his mind.

“Does anyone still think Qin Sheng is unfit to be our squad captain?”

At his words, a hush fell over the camp.

“Qin Sheng is the strongest among us. You’ve all seen it. She’s brave, kind, and possesses a compassion we lack. Whatever you think, I truly believe she’s the right leader for us.”

He wasn’t sure why he said it—perhaps pity for the suffering Qin Sheng. She’d endured so much physical pain; he didn’t want her to face any more mental torment.

A heavy silence settled over the camp.