Chapter 77: The Scent of Gunpowder

"Xingyu, how are you feeling now?" Qin Sheng looked at Chu Xingyu and asked softly.

Chu Xingyu shifted his body. Aside from the lingering soreness, he could sense a mysterious force within him. Though it alleviated much of his pain, he was acutely aware that this force was not always present inside him—it felt more like something that had suddenly arrived.

Chu Xingyu hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the words to describe his condition in detail.

Jiang Miaomiao, still worried that Chu Xingyu might have some lingering health issues, grew anxious. "Are you still feeling unwell?" she asked nervously.

Chu Xingyu glanced at Jiang Miaomiao and shook his head gently.

"I feel like there's a power inside me, but I can't seem to channel it," Qin Sheng said, as if she had already anticipated everything, describing her own experience as comprehensively as possible.

"Yes, exactly!" Chu Xingyu nodded vigorously in agreement after hearing Qin Sheng's words. "Just as Shengjie said, there's a strength inside my body."

Jiang Miaomiao couldn't make sense of what they meant by this "power." In her understanding, it was impossible to gain some kind of strength simply by surviving a serious illness.

Could it be that Xingyu was one of those prodigies from TV dramas?

"Xingyu, are you going to be one of those male protagonists who, after a major illness, suddenly awaken supernatural powers like in those dramas?" Jiang Miaomiao stared at Chu Xingyu in shock, but quickly caught herself and muttered in a low voice, "But that usually happens in those wish-fulfillment stories."

She couldn't help but imagine the various strong-female-protagonist novels she had read before.

So, Chu Xingyu had actually picked up a script for a wish-fulfillment female lead?

Chu Xingyu had no idea what Jiang Miaomiao was entertaining herself with, and he couldn't possibly imagine just how far her imagination had wandered.

"Shengjie? Do you... as well?" After pondering Qin Sheng's earlier words, Chu Xingyu realized she might have experienced the same thing.

Qin Sheng couldn't help but recall what Song Qing'an had told her.

Her own situation was likely different from Chu Xingyu's. Perhaps Chu Xingyu had already gained the ability to control his powers, while she herself had no means of mastering hers at the moment.

Therefore, it was best not to tell them everything.

After a few seconds of thought, Qin Sheng shook her head gently, then looked at Chu Xingyu and said, "I've read about this in books before—exactly your situation. In the story, it's called a supernatural ability."

"A supernatural ability?"

"A supernatural ability?"

Chu Xingyu and Jiang Miaomiao repeated in unison, and then fell silent, their confusion evident.

Qin Sheng bit her lip. This was the best she could make up; she certainly couldn’t tell them that she'd been reborn. Claiming to have learned it from books would be more acceptable.

"But what exactly is a supernatural ability?" Chu Xingyu, perhaps realizing his situation was out of the ordinary, leaned in and asked in a low voice.

Jiang Miaomiao understood the seriousness of the matter, and both she and Chu Xingyu became more cautious than ever before.

Qin Sheng was very satisfied with their vigilance. At least, during their time at school, they would not have been this careful. In other words, they were making progress.

Qin Sheng lowered her voice and added, "There's not much detail in the books. Not everyone possesses a supernatural ability, so you have to be even more careful and discreet."

She knew that the development of such powers would eventually become common knowledge, but for now, as the first to awaken, their circumstances would shatter everyone’s understanding of the world. There was even a risk they could be dragged off as lab rats.

So caution was essential.

Jiang Miaomiao and Chu Xingyu made a gesture of silence and nodded seriously, committing Qin Sheng’s words to memory.

"So, I’m not like everyone else, but all I can do is sense the power—I know nothing else about it," Chu Xingyu said, fully aware that he could only perceive this powerful and mysterious force inside him.

Only sense it?

Qin Sheng couldn’t help but wonder. In her past life, she had adapted to using her power just minutes after first sensing it. Why was it that, in this life, both she and Chu Xingyu could only sense it but not yet use it?

"Only by becoming strong can you master this power."

Song Qing'an's words echoed in Qin Sheng’s mind, lingering for a long time.

Jiang Miaomiao, following Chu Xingyu's gaze, looked to Qin Sheng.

"Only by becoming strong can you master this power," Qin Sheng said slowly, her words striking deep into both Jiang Miaomiao's and Chu Xingyu's hearts.

Chu Xingyu placed a hand over his heart, looked at Qin Sheng again, and replied, "I think I know what I need to do, Shengjie."

Qin Sheng nodded, stood up, and left the room.

Jiang Miaomiao nodded at Chu Xingyu and followed after Qin Sheng.

Chu Xingyu lay back on the bed, digesting everything Qin Sheng had just told him.

"Become strong..." Chu Xingyu murmured to himself, pondering the words for a long, long time.

"Qin Sheng!" A Zhi had just stepped out of her room and saw Qin Sheng and Jiang Miaomiao walking out of Chu Xingyu's room together. She smiled and hurried up to them. "Is Chu Xingyu awake?"

"Yes, he's fine now," Jiang Miaomiao replied quickly.

"That's good, that's good." A Zhi smiled and nodded, then stepped a bit closer to Qin Sheng after glancing at her.

Qin Sheng raised an eyebrow, regarding A Zhi quietly as she approached.

"I just heard from that brat Lu Qingyan that all the zombies in the safe zone have been cleared out. It’s safe now," A Zhi whispered in Qin Sheng’s ear, glancing around furtively to make sure no one was listening.

Jiang Miaomiao, hearing perfectly well, tapped A Zhi’s forehead helplessly. "With your loud voice, you hardly need to whisper in Shengsheng's ear. I'm worried for her eardrums."

A Zhi rubbed her nose awkwardly, a bit unconvinced. She leaned in again and lowered her voice even more, "I overheard that the safe zone’s guard squad is about to start recruiting new members."

"What do you mean? Isn't the guard squad staffed enough?" Jiang Miaomiao frowned. How could a state-run safe zone need to recruit from a bunch of students like them?

Qin Sheng had already learned about this from Lu Qingyan, but she remained interested.

A Zhi continued, "Of course it’s not enough. After all, it’s dangerous work. The guard squad gets the best food and supplies, so some people are willing to risk it just for a better life."

Survival of the fittest—the law of the jungle. Qin Sheng understood this better than anyone.

In her past life, she had joined the guard squad just so Qin Mengchun could eat better, never hesitating, and nearly lost her life in the process.

Truly, she had been pathetically naïve.

A shadow fell over Qin Sheng’s eyes. In this life, her purpose was only for herself—not for anyone else.

She would join the guard squad, but this time, for her own sake!

"So how does the guard squad’s selection process work?" Jiang Miaomiao knew nothing about it and could only look curiously at A Zhi, the group’s know-it-all.

A Zhi shot Jiang Miaomiao a look of disdain, but explained patiently, "It’s a head-to-head fight, of course."

"Is it really that crude?" Jiang Miaomiao said, a bit embarrassed.

"This is the apocalypse, sis. The main test is whether you can take down a zombie. A comprehensive assessment will probably only come once things are stable," A Zhi explained further.

Qin Sheng nodded, agreeing with A Zhi. Right now, survival was all that mattered—not comfort.

Everyone knew that survival came first, then living well. It also meant that passing the guard squad selection would not be an easy feat.

"If it's head-to-head combat, then I'm out. But if it were an argument, I’d probably win," A Zhi shrugged helplessly.

The next second, A Zhi looked at Jiang Miaomiao and Qin Sheng with excitement and said quickly, "But even if I can’t, that doesn’t mean you two can’t!"

Qin Sheng and Jiang Miaomiao exchanged glances, then looked back at A Zhi.

"You two can go toe-to-toe with zombies like Zhang Meng. The others are nothing compared to you," A Zhi said enthusiastically.

Qin Sheng had already made up her mind, so she had no intention of refusing. As for Chu Xingyu and Jiang Miaomiao, she hadn’t had a chance to ask about their plans.

"Shengsheng, you’re going to participate, right?" Jiang Miaomiao could tell from her expression that Qin Sheng was set on joining, but still asked out of curiosity.

Qin Sheng nodded lightly. "Yes, I have to."

She didn’t know why Qin Sheng had to enter, but with her best friend taking part, how could she not?

"Then I’ll join too," Jiang Miaomiao said immediately.

Qin Sheng glanced at her, the corners of her mouth curving into a slight smile. She had always known that those she admired wouldn’t settle for mere safety—they wanted to carve out their own world.

They would forge a realm of their own in the apocalypse.

"I think Xingyu and Lin Xing will join as well," Jiang Miaomiao added.

Qin Sheng nodded. Given what she knew of Chu Xingyu and Lin Xing, there was no doubt they would participate.

"It’s been so long since we’ve seen Lin Xing. I wonder how he’s doing now?" Jiang Miaomiao sighed softly. Ever since he’d been taken away, no one knew where he was.

Qin Sheng’s brow furrowed slightly. She sensed someone’s approach and looked up instinctively, meeting a pair of proud, mysterious, and cold eyes.

"Lu Qingyan? Were you eavesdropping?" A Zhi turned to see Lu Qingyan watching them and immediately accused him of listening in, simply because she thought someone like him would have such unsavory intentions.

Lu Qingyan’s expression was indifferent. He completely ignored A Zhi’s gesticulations and gazed coldly at Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng was not to be outdone—their eyes met, sparks flying, the tension palpable in the air.