Chapter 152: People Have Always Been Insatiable When It Comes to Power

Shen Shi swung the Tang sword toward Chen Er. Chen Er tried to block, but his own blade had already shattered; he could only shield himself with his arm, and the moment the Tang sword descended, his arm was reduced to a bloody mess.

"Ah!" Chen Er let out a sharp cry, his forehead glistening with cold sweat from the pain. Yet, compared to all this, he found it even harder to accept that Shen Shi’s angina had suddenly vanished. Why on earth was that? Chen Er could not fathom how Shen Shi had recovered in the blink of an eye. This was a question that piqued Shen Shi’s curiosity as well, but his current situation was hardly the time to ponder it; his only focus should be on how to secure victory in this match.

"Shen Shi? Are you cheating?!" Having no concept of supernatural abilities, Chen Er instinctively dismissed Shen Shi’s actions as cheating.

Shen Shi frowned slightly and countered, "What cheating?"

"Why did your angina suddenly stop? You must be cheating!" Chen Er perhaps realized that clinging to the accusation of cheating was the only way to save his life.

Shen Shi curled his lips in disdain and replied, "Or perhaps, my angina was just an act?"

Hearing this, Chen Er was instantly stunned, collapsing to the ground, at a loss for words.

"Didn't you want me dead?"

Sensing Shen Shi’s oppressive presence, Chen Er instinctively shook his head in fear. "It was Guo Jun. It was Guo Jun who wanted you dead."

Shen Shi let out a scornful scoff. "I am naturally aware that Guo Jun wanted me dead."

Chen Er had begun to tremble, seemingly realizing he had no chance of victory and accepting his fate. This was the Life-and-Death Arena; the loser was destined to die, and now, the defeated party was clearly him. As a soldier, the word "defeat" was not in his vocabulary, yet he was unwilling to beg for mercy even in death. That was his final line of defense.

"The rules of the Life-and-Death Arena are decided by the winner, and I have no interest in your life." Shen Shi withdrew his Tang sword, left those words behind, and walked off the stage toward Qin Sheng.

Chen Er looked on in disbelief; he had never imagined that Shen Shi would spare him. "Shen Shi, you let me go today, but you won't have another chance to kill me," Chen Er shouted at Shen Shi’s retreating back after regaining his composure.

Shen Shi paused, looked back, and said calmly, "I have never been interested in your life, but if you attempt to harm our Seventh Team again, I will surely take it."

Shen Shi’s expression was icy; if Chen Er dared to hurt Qin Sheng and the others, he would not hesitate to cut him down right then and there. Chen Er remained silent, the words Shen Shi spoke echoing in his mind. The captain he had always believed to be fair and selfless was actually the murderer of Shen Shi’s parents! Chen Er found it hard to believe; everything that had happened today was beyond his comprehension.

As Chen Er sat slumped on the ground, Shen Shi reached Qin Sheng. "Thank you for the Tang sword, here it is back." A rare smile graced Shen Shi’s face as he lifted his hand to return the blade to Qin Sheng.

"Well done." Qin Sheng smiled, patted Shen Shi on the shoulder, and took the sword back.

Shen Shi was injured and his face remained pale, but it was clear that his energy had largely returned, and he no longer appeared as weak as before. Qin Sheng thought of his angina and pursed her lips. "Is your heart pain alright?"

Shen Shi shook his head. "It’s fine now, don't worry."

Qin Sheng nodded, but before she could respond, Song Qing'an appeared by her side.

"Don't be narcissistic; no one is pained or worried about you." Song Qing'an stared at Shen Shi. The thought of him laughing and talking with Qin Sheng just moments ago made him wish he had interfered while Shen Shi’s ability was triggering. If he could still smile like that, it meant he hadn't suffered enough.

Song Qing'an stepped to Qin Sheng’s side, pushing Shen Shi away. Seeing Song Qing'an blocking the space between him and Qin Sheng, Shen Shi’s face darkened instantly, his expression filled with helplessness.

"Alright, enough bickering, let’s head back to the team." Seeing Song Qing'an acting like a child to keep her and Shen Shi apart, Qin Sheng spoke to them both with a sigh.

"Fine." Shen Shi’s stamina had mostly recovered, so he nodded and began to walk away. Qin Sheng tucked the Tang sword away and followed, taking care to notice the few instigators who were now cowering like quail. This matter could not be left as it was, though she had no way to throw them into the Zombie Forest just yet—but they would certainly have to pay a price.

The Life-and-Death Arena held no more interest; within minutes, most of the crowd had dispersed. Song Qing'an sat slowly in the chair Qin Sheng had just vacated, waiting until everyone had left. He squinted his eyes, only opening them when the last person had gone. His gaze, devoid of emotion, rested on the stage where Shen Shi and Chen Er had fought.

"Positive factors..." Song Qing'an whispered, then stood up and walked over. He had not expected the positive factors to manifest within Shen Shi. It was these positive factors—that white light—that had saved Shen Shi and triggered his ability. Song Qing'an raised his hand slightly; a faint mote of white light on the stage glowed once more, flew toward his palm, and settled there. As he closed his hand, the light vanished.

There was only one positive factor left, and his task would be complete. Song Qing'an stood on the stage, his gaze drifting toward the chair where Qin Sheng had been sitting. When the mission was complete, it would be time for him to leave. Perhaps he would never return. Would she remember him? Or would she simply assume he had disappeared because he went on another mission?

Song Qing'an’s heart was filled with complex emotions, which finally collapsed into a single sigh.

"Captain Qin, the District Chief invites you to the core base." As soon as Qin Sheng returned to the team, Xiao Li arrived.

"Very well, I will go with you immediately." Qin Sheng briefly delegated the care of the injured Shen Shi to others and headed for the core base with Xiao Li. "Is there something the District Chief needs?" she asked tentatively.

Xiao Li maintained his professional smile. "I don't know the Chief's business, but it shouldn't be anything bad."

Qin Sheng nodded.

"I heard Captain Qin visited the Second Team a few days ago?"

Qin Sheng knew her visit to the Second Team would reach the Chief’s ears, so she wasn't overly surprised. "Yes."

Xiao Li nodded with a faint smile. "The Chief has never liked the Guard Team causing trouble. Please keep that in mind for next time, Captain."

Qin Sheng frowned, a trace of resentment flickering in her eyes. This whole affair was started by the Second Team; why was Xiao Li warning her? Xiao Li’s meaning was the Chief’s meaning. Did this mean the Chief was already displeased with her visit to the Second Team?

Qin Sheng felt a sense of restriction and confinement settling over her, and she despised the feeling. Within minutes, they arrived at the core base.

"Chief, Captain Qin is here."

Hearing Xiao Li, the Chief looked up. His initially stern expression brightened into a hearty laugh upon seeing Qin Sheng. "Qin Sheng, come in, sit, sit."

"Greetings, District Chief." Qin Sheng bowed slightly. The Chief gestured for her to sit in a nearby chair, and she complied. "Did you need me for something, Chief?"

The Chief smiled and leaned back. "Nothing of great importance, really. I just had some spare time and wanted to chat with our new captain."

Qin Sheng smiled faintly. "Just give me your orders, Chief, and I will see them done."

"As expected of Captain Qin, you truly understand what I have in mind."

Qin Sheng remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"The Guard Team will be heading outside the Safe Zone to scavenge for supplies in a few days. I intend to entrust this important task to you."

Qin Sheng frowned slightly, but stood up and said, "I will fulfill the mission."

"No need to be so formal; I trust in your capabilities."

After accepting the mission, Qin Sheng chatted briefly with the Chief before taking her leave.

"Xiao Li, Qin Sheng is indeed a capable person," the Chief said with a slight sigh to his aide. Xiao Li recalled the Chief previously stating he didn't want women in positions of responsibility within the Safe Zone, and he struggled to understand the intent behind sending Qin Sheng on this supply run.

"You want to ask why I sent Qin Sheng?" Xiao Li smiled faintly. "I will treat the Chief’s decision with the same seriousness as Captain Qin."

The Chief shook his head and laughed. "It’s nothing, no harm in telling you. I don't doubt Qin Sheng’s ability, but once power grows, hearts tend to stray."

Xiao Li’s expression stiffened; he remained silent for a long time before replying, "Is the Chief worried that once Captain Qin gains power, she will no longer be able to maintain her original intent to protect the Safe Zone?"

The Chief did not reply for a long time, and seeing this, Xiao Li quietly withdrew. Outside, the stiffness on Xiao Li’s face was replaced by cold indifference. To put it bluntly, the Chief was simply worried that if Qin Sheng gained too much power, she would become the next Guo Jun. The Chief had ways to deal with Guo Jun, but Qin Sheng...

The conversation inside the room had reached Qin Sheng’s ears in its entirety. She had known all along that the Chief disliked women holding high positions in the Safe Zone and wouldn't be willing to grant her much power. She had been on guard from the start.

The Second Team had brazenly seized property belonging to the Seventh Team right within the core base, and the Chief had turned a blind eye under his own nose. Yet, when Qin Sheng went to retrieve what was theirs, the Chief had seen fit to lecture her.

Qin Sheng sneered. She had never believed in free lunches. She had secured the title of captain, but the actual authority remained elusive. She would need to plan her next moves carefully.