Chapter Eighteen: Little Xingxing by the Shores of Daming Lake

“Why should I take you with me? Don’t think I’ve forgotten that just now, you were the one who pushed me.” Qin Sheng glanced around, making sure there were no zombies nearby, then crossed her arms and looked at Li Wei, who was still trying to curry favor, with a half-smile.

That question left Li Wei at a loss. After all, it was undeniably true that he had pushed Qin Sheng earlier, and there was no changing that.

His gaze began to dart nervously, until suddenly he seemed to remember something and pointed at the ruins of his convenience store, now nothing more than rubble.

“My convenience store—weren’t you the one who blew it up? In that case, you owe me,” Li Wei retorted, the sycophancy he’d shown just moments before instantly replaced by unreasonable indignation.

Xia Tian couldn’t bear to watch any longer. That convenience store being destroyed had saved Li Wei’s life, and yet here he was, shamelessly claiming Qin Sheng owed him for it.

“You! The store blew up and saved your life! How can you have the nerve to say she owes you?” Xia Tian had clearly broken with Li Wei and now spoke her mind without hesitation.

Li Wei glared at Xia Tian, wanting to warn this impudent girl, but when he met Qin Sheng’s eyes—dark and bottomless as a frozen lake—he couldn’t utter a word.

“If you don’t take me with you, none of you are getting out that door today. If I have to die, I’ll take you down with me!” Unable to find a better reason, Li Wei clenched his jaw and glared menacingly at Qin Sheng and Xia Tian, blocking their way.

Qin Sheng showed not a trace of fear. Calm and composed, she stepped closer, radiating such a sense of oppression that even the shameless Li Wei felt uneasy and considered backing away.

But he knew that backing down would be admitting defeat, so he forced himself to meet her gaze, those eyes now utterly devoid of emotion.

“I don’t mind killing you right here,” Qin Sheng replied with a cold sneer, resembling a Rakshasa or a king from the underworld.

Li Wei was so shaken his legs trembled. He had seen, through a crevice while hiding, how deftly Qin Sheng had decapitated a zombie just moments ago. The memory sent a chill down his spine.

“This is a law-abiding society—you’ll go to prison if you kill me,” he stammered, his earlier arrogance utterly dispelled by fear.

Qin Sheng leaned forward and spoke quietly, “This is the apocalypse.”

Li Wei no longer dared to act tough. Bowing repeatedly, he apologized to Qin Sheng, sobbing and sniveling, utterly cowed.

At the side, Xia Tian couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Li Wei saw this, but didn’t dare complain, swallowing his humiliation.

“I’ll take you, but I choose where we go.” Qin Sheng tapped Li Wei’s bowed head lightly with the sheath of her blade, then strode off.

Xia Tian said nothing and quickly followed in Qin Sheng’s footsteps.

Li Wei ground his teeth and spat in Qin Sheng’s direction as she walked ahead. If he didn’t need her, how could this girl act so high and mighty?

Walking ahead, Qin Sheng arched her brow, a sly smile flickering in her eyes.

Xia Tian was shrewd enough to know when to speak and when to remain silent, trailing behind Qin Sheng like a little shadow.

Qin Sheng had scouted this route countless times and knew at a glance whether there would be zombies. She had no patience to argue with people like Li Wei any further, so she picked the fastest and safest path.

Not a single zombie appeared along the way.

Having sobbed and begged Qin Sheng to take him earlier, Li Wei now noticed the complete absence of zombies along their route and became convinced that this girl was nothing but a paper tiger—aside from threatening people with that Tang blade, she was all talk. Wasn’t this the safe road she’d claimed was so dangerous?

“Qin Sheng, are you trying to scare me? There’s not even a zombie hair along this road, but you said it was dangerous. I even gave up my convenience store to follow you!” Now that they were almost at their destination, Li Wei’s insolence returned.

Qin Sheng ignored him and kept walking.

After a few more boasts, Li Wei finally quieted down.

In less than five minutes, the three of them arrived at the canteen entrance.

“All the survivors on campus are here. Once you’re checked, you can stay,” Qin Sheng said, arms still crossed, briefly introducing the situation.

As soon as she finished speaking, Li Wei, clutching a bag of food he’d snagged from his ruined store, walked into the canteen with a broad grin.

Only Xia Tian remained, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Qin Sheng pressed her lips together and explained, “I don’t like it here. I live elsewhere. If you don’t like it either, you can come with me.”

Xia Tian looked up at Qin Sheng, then smiled and shook her head. “You’ve helped me enough. I think this place is fine. I’ll stay.”

Qin Sheng nodded, respecting her choice.

“There are all sorts here—don’t trust easily.” She gave a few simple words of warning, then watched as Xia Tian entered the canteen.

Just as Qin Sheng turned to leave, Xia Tian called after her.

“I owe you my life today. I won’t forget it.” Xia Tian’s eyes began to well with tears as she watched that valiant figure disappear from sight.

“I will repay you,” she murmured resolutely to herself before stepping into the canteen.

Little did she know that a man at an upstairs window was watching their every move.

“Are you sure it was Qin Sheng?” Li Chengbin asked after hearing that Qin Sheng had brought two survivors and left without a backward glance.

The team member nodded. “Yes, she brought the convenience store manager and a temp worker.”

Li Chengbin frowned, not understanding Qin Sheng’s actions. She’d refused to join his rescue team, yet after saving people, she sent them here. What did it mean?

“Heard my sister was here?” Qin Mengchun, having learned that Qin Sheng had stopped by, hurried over.

Li Chengbin didn’t deny it.

“And she brought us two survivors?” Qin Mengchun was also puzzled, frowning. “Could she be getting revenge by sending us two infected?”

Li Chengbin shook his head and pulled her down to sit beside him. “They were checked—no injuries.”

Qin Mengchun snuggled up to him, feigning tears and grievance. “If it weren’t for me, maybe you could have teamed up with my sister and saved more people. I was so thoughtless, acting rashly on my own assumptions…”

She was already lovely, and now, looking so pitiful yet trying to seem sensible, Li Chengbin’s heart ached for her. He gave no thought to Qin Sheng.

“It’s all right, darling. Protecting you is more important than saving others,” he said, holding her tightly.

Qin Mengchun was delighted by his words and hugged him back. “Brother Chengbin, you’re so good to me. You remind me of how my sister used to treat me, but now…”

She didn’t finish, but Li Chengbin only wanted to hold the delicate girl in his arms even tighter, his voice more resolute than ever. “Mengchun, from now on, I, Li Chengbin, will protect you well. I won’t let you suffer—not even from your own sister.”

Having achieved her aim, Qin Mengchun pressed her face against his broad chest, her eyes full of satisfaction.

“All right, I trust you, Brother Chengbin~”

Li Chengbin let out a hearty laugh, his rough hands moving purposefully across the soft curves of Qin Mengchun’s body, making her squeal coquettishly.

“You’re terrible…”

By the time Qin Sheng returned to the dormitory building, she finally remembered her original purpose for going out. It was almost noon, and the three upstairs must be starving by now.

Hurriedly, she pulled out the rice balls, steamed buns, and Orleans drumsticks she’d stored away, then raced up the stairs.

As she expected, Jiang Miaomiao, Lin Xing, and Chu Xingyu, exhausted from morning training, were lying weakly on their beds or at the table, clearly having waited a long time.

The moment they heard the door, all three perked up, their eyes brimming with tears at the sight of the person they’d been longing for. Each one was quite the drama queen.

“Godmother, did you forget about your poor little Xing by Daming Lake?” Lin Xing even wiped at imaginary tears, putting on such a show that everyone got goosebumps.

“Ugh, I haven’t eaten yet—I can’t take it…” Jiang Miaomiao, now close with Lin Xing and Chu Xingyu, pretended to retch at Lin Xing’s words.

As soon as Qin Sheng returned, Lin Xing turned meek, pouting and pointing at Jiang Miaomiao to complain, “Godmother, look at her, she’s bullying me…”

Qin Sheng couldn’t help but laugh, her heart gradually warming at the cheerful bickering.

“Enough with the whining, Sister Sheng.” Chu Xingyu couldn’t stand to see the muscular Lin Xing act like a kitten, so he dragged him aside.

After the playful banter, Qin Sheng put the food on the table.

The trio was stunned by the feast.

Who else could enjoy Orleans drumsticks, steamed buns, and tuna rice balls in the apocalypse?

Noticing their odd expressions, Qin Sheng wondered if she’d brought too little. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”

They shook their heads in unison. “We love it!”

Each picked their favorite breakfast and began to wolf it down, and Qin Sheng couldn’t help but smile at their delight.

“Sister Sheng, did you get all this from the convenience store?” Chu Xingyu asked with a mouthful of steamed bun.

Qin Sheng took a bite of her rice ball and nodded calmly. She had indeed gone to the convenience store today; though the food wasn’t actually from there, it was enough for them to believe.

“You didn’t run into any zombies at the store?” Chu Xingyu continued.

Qin Sheng answered lightly, “I did—twenty or thirty of them.”

“What?!”