Chapter One Hundred and Thirty: Little Sweetheart?

Shen Shi frowned visibly when Qin Sheng mentioned that she had been in her tent the whole time. Could her sensory perception have dulled after such a long period of rest? She hadn’t even sensed whether or not Qin Sheng was in the tent.

Shen Shi pursed her lips, secretly resolving to train hard. It would be disastrous if her physical recovery was complete, but her actual combat prowess fell short of her previous standards.

Seeing Shen Shi frowning and pursing her lips with a guilty expression, Qin Sheng quickly changed the subject. "Is there something you need?"

Only then did Shen Shi remember why she had come to find Qin Sheng early in the morning.

"Tomorrow is the final day in the Zombie Forest. Things won't be calm from today onwards, so you must be careful," Shen Shi warned.

Qin Sheng nodded, her expression growing somber.

On this final day in the Zombie Forest, excluding those in their own camp, there were at least four others still inside. These four had not withdrawn from the competition. If they wanted to become the captain of the Seventh Guard, they would have to eliminate the others before tomorrow—or force them to retire from the competition.

Ultimately, it would come down to Qin Sheng facing off against the remaining survivors. It is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark; it was no wonder Shen Shi had come specifically to warn her.

Qin Sheng nodded. "I understand. I'm leaving the people at the camp in your care for now."

Shen Shi curled her lip and let out a playful, light chuckle. "I will fully cooperate with the captain’s orders."

Qin Sheng’s mouth quirked upward at the sound of the title "Captain." She was used to others calling her that—Yu Yong and Xiaoxiao had been doing it constantly, and no matter what she said, they refused to change it, so she had eventually let them be. Wang Qiang and Xiao Pang used it occasionally, but mostly addressed her by name. As for Shen Shi, she usually didn't even address her by name at all. Hearing her use the title today made Qin Sheng visibly pleased.

"Not bad. It sounds good. Use it more often," Qin Sheng praised with a nod.

Shen Shi smiled faintly, offered no reply, and departed after discussing a few more matters.

Once Shen Shi left, Qin Sheng returned to her tent. Yesterday, Yu Yong had mentioned that Xiao Nuo and Xiaoxiao needed to eat some meat to build up their strength. She had taken that to heart and rummaged through her inventory, pulling out quite a bit of dried fish and beef jerky. Though she had fresh supplies, she knew they wouldn't dare eat them if she brought them out, fearing they had been scavenged from the contaminated river. It was better to stick with dried goods for now and find a way to produce more later.

"Uncle Yu, come here for a moment." As soon as Qin Sheng stepped out of the tent, she saw Yu Yong nearby, busy boiling water. She couldn't help but recall yesterday's events; she had noticed Yu Yong’s awkwardness regarding Li Qing and had intentionally left early to give them space. It seemed Xiao Nuo had understood her intention.

"Captain, what did you need?" Yu Yong wiped his hands and hurried over to her, his face wearing its usual simple, honest smile. It seemed the incident from yesterday no longer affected him.

Qin Sheng smiled and pulled the dried fish and beef from behind her back, handing them to him.

"This is...? Captain, where did you get these?" Yu Yong took the items. In this apocalypse, having a steamed bun to fill one's stomach was considered a luxury. How did Qin Sheng have so much dried fish and beef? If others saw this, they would be green with envy. Thinking of this, Yu Yong quickly tucked the items closer to his chest. The camp was drafty and exposed; they couldn't afford another incident like yesterday's.

Qin Sheng chuckled softly. "Don't worry. With me here, no one will dare touch anything belonging to this camp." Her words were part promise, part reflection of her confidence and self-assurance.

Yu Yong smiled sheepishly upon hearing this.

"Xiao Nuo and Xiaoxiao are at an age where they need to grow; naturally, they should be eating well." Qin Sheng glanced at the two children, who were following Wang Qiang in their morning exercises, and her smile deepened. She felt more and more like she was raising children in this lifetime. With two minors now in her squad, she felt her responsibilities growing heavier. Her team seemed to be expanding steadily.

Qin Sheng looked up at the sky. Unlike the usual gloomy grey, today it seemed much brighter—much like their future, bright and glorious.

"By the way, Captain, where did you really get these?" Yu Yong hesitated, but decided to ask. If Qin Sheng were putting herself in danger just to provide nutrition for the children, that would be unacceptable.

Qin Sheng had already prepared her answer. "Remember the day I was taken away? I took these from that person. He had quite a stockpile, so I just swiped a couple of things." She invoked Song Qing’an’s name without batting an eyelash.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yong relaxed. As long as Qin Sheng wasn't in danger, the origin didn't matter. Once Song Qing’an was mentioned, Yu Yong couldn't resist a bit of gossip.

"Captain, is that handsome guy your little lover?" Yu Yong, a rough, unrefined man who had never been in a relationship, asked directly.

The question caught Qin Sheng off guard. Where did he even get the term "little lover"? She was left speechless, half-amused and half-annoyed. She shook her head quickly. "No, no, we’re just friends. Uncle Yu, why are you so gossipy?"

Yu Yong scratched his head, laughing heartily. "I just thought he seemed like a good guy and a good match for you, so I just assumed you were a couple."

Qin Sheng felt her cheeks heat up uncontrollably, and her speech became rushed. "No, no. He is just a friend. Don't overthink it, Uncle Yu."

Yu Yong didn't notice her slightly unnatural smile and, after a few more words, went off to prepare breakfast.

"Xiaoxiao, it’s only been a few minutes and you're already giving up?" Wang Qiang patted Xiaoxiao, who was swaying unsteadily while holding a horse stance.

Xiaoxiao was exhausted. He had no idea what had gotten into Wang Qiang today; they hadn't even had breakfast before being dragged out for morning drills.

"You youngsters don't have the stamina. Look at Xiao Nuo—he doesn't even have a bead of sweat on his forehead."

Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and shot Wang Qiang a helpless look. "Brother, you dragged us out for morning drills without even letting us eat breakfast. And Xiao Nuo is even younger than me, why aren't you saying anything to him...?"

Finally, Xiaoxiao collapsed onto the ground, unable to hold the stance any longer. Wang Qiang’s smile deepened. Xiao Nuo, also struggling, finally gave up as well.

"I consulted with Qin Sheng yesterday. From now on, we will have morning, noon, and evening drills. I need to train you properly, starting with your current lack of endurance." Wang Qiang stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the panting Xiaoxiao.

Hearing that there would be three training sessions a day, Xiaoxiao flopped onto his back, his face a mask of despair. "Three sessions a day?! Are you trying to kill us...?"

Although Xiaoxiao had learned Taekwondo and Sanda before the apocalypse, it had only been once a day, which he could accept. Three times a day was simply inhumane.

Wang Qiang shook his head helplessly. "Do you think we’re joining the Guard to live in luxury? Once you're in, there will be plenty more to deal with."

"Fine, I admit I thought joining the Guard meant good food and not having to share a room with so many people. I didn't really think about the other stuff..." Xiaoxiao said, lying on the ground, voice weak.

He wasn't wrong. Most people participating in the tournament were holding on for the better life promised by the Guard. But the comfort of the Guard was directly proportional to its dangers. If they didn't improve themselves, another attack by a zombie horde like the last one would surely be a disaster.

Qin Sheng had decided early on: instead of everyone training on their own, they would undergo three sessions a day with weekly assessments. Growing together would also allow them to learn techniques from one another. Since it had to happen sooner or later, Wang Qiang had suggested starting today with Xiaoxiao and Xiao Nuo as a trial. It immediately highlighted who lacked stamina and who needed extra focus.

Wang Qiang’s expression grew serious. "The comfort of the Guard is known, but the dangers and difficulties are far greater. You can only minimize the risk by improving yourselves."

Xiaoxiao stayed silent, seemingly pondering Wang Qiang's words.

"Brother Xiaoxiao, we have to train hard so we can protect Sister later!" Xiao Nuo, thinking of the opportunity to improve, grew excited. He couldn't wait to become stronger and more capable, just like his sister!

Xiao Nuo had been full of enthusiasm, which explained why he hadn't let out a single groan despite holding the stance for so long without breakfast.

Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and sat up abruptly. "I want to work hard to become stronger. I want to wipe out all the zombies!" Inspired by Xiao Nuo, Xiaoxiao’s motivation was clearly rekindled.

"That’s more like it. Rest for another minute, then continue the training." Wang Qiang stood tall, his face impassive and serious. He truly looked the part of an instructor.

Qin Sheng had been watching from a distance. Seeing Wang Qiang standing straight with his hands behind his back, she felt a spark of an idea. Wang Qiang had been a fitness trainer before the apocalypse, with experience in Sanda and boxing, and he had even taught students. It would be better to entrust all training to him upon their return. This way, even those without martial arts foundations, like Jiang Miaomiao, Chu Xingyu, and Lin Xing, could receive professional, scientific guidance while minimizing the risk of injury.

As Qin Sheng was contemplating how to proceed, Xiao Nuo spotted her.

"Sister!"

Qin Sheng snapped out of her thoughts and smiled at Xiao Nuo. Seeing Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang look over, she walked toward them.

"Captain!" Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up when he saw her. This was his captain, the one who had taken on an entire horde of zombies by herself! It was something to be incredibly proud of!

"Captain," Wang Qiang also greeted her.

Qin Sheng laughed, waving a hand. "Let's put that aside for now. The tournament isn't over yet. How are the morning drills going?"