Chapter 78: The Enigma

Lu Qingyan naturally noticed the hostile look in Qin Sheng’s eyes; his dangerously narrow gaze narrowed slightly, but his attention never wavered from her. It seemed as if the two were locked in a silent contest, measuring each other up. Jiang Miaomiao and Ah Zhi couldn’t quite understand the source of this animosity—after all, the two had only met a handful of times. Perhaps they hadn’t even formally introduced themselves yet.

Jiang Miaomiao shook her head at Ah Zhi, signaling for her to stay away from the pair who seemed to be engaged in a covert rivalry.

Qin Sheng’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed, equally puzzled by why she felt such wariness and danger at her very first encounter with Lu Qingyan. It was as if each sensed the threat of a kindred spirit.

“Lu Qingyan? Stop glaring at Qin Sheng—this is only your first time meeting her,” Ah Zhi said, genuinely baffled by Lu Qingyan’s tendency to greet people with a sour expression, especially her own friend. Such blatant hostility was intolerable.

Lu Qingyan heard Ah Zhi’s words, closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them again, the sharp, dangerous look aimed at Jiang Miaomiao and Qin Sheng had softened.

“That’s more like it.” Ah Zhi smiled, instinctively reaching to pat Lu Qingyan’s shoulder, but he sidestepped her touch. Ah Zhi didn’t look as awkward as before; clearly, this wasn’t the first time Lu Qingyan had refused her. She didn’t really want any closer connection with this wooden man anyway; it was just her boisterous personality that made her so uninhibited. Next time, she promised herself, she wouldn’t try to touch him.

Ah Zhi made a silent resolution deep within.

Qin Sheng’s gaze never left Lu Qingyan. Seeing his demeanor no longer so severe and dangerous, she curved her lips and took the initiative, “We meet again, Mr. Lu.”

Lu Qingyan adjusted the gold-rimmed glasses on his face, his eyes settling on Qin Sheng once more, seemingly surprised that she would greet him first.

“Since you’re Song Qing’an’s friend, I won’t neglect my manners.” Qin Sheng chuckled lightly, then turned to pour Lu Qingyan a glass of water.

Ah Zhi sent Jiang Miaomiao a bewildered look—what was going on? The two had seemed ready to come to blows just moments ago, and now Qin Sheng was offering water?

Jiang Miaomiao shrugged helplessly, indicating she was just as mystified by Qin Sheng’s actions. From what Qin Sheng had said earlier, it must have something to do with Song Qing’an.

Qin Sheng approached Lu Qingyan, holding out the glass, “Careful, it’s hot.”

Lu Qingyan looked at the bright smile on the girl’s face, then at the glass in her hand, frowning lightly as he reached out to take it.

At the instant their hands touched the glass, Lu Qingyan understood her true intention.

Qin Sheng raised her eyebrow and glanced at the other hand gripping the opposite side of the glass.

In the next moment, the glass bore the weight of a thousand pressures.

Lu Qingyan’s eyes met Qin Sheng’s lips, which seemed to smile but in truth radiated danger.

Their contest spread from the glass between them.

Two pale hands, so similar yet distinct, engaged in a silent struggle. If one looked closely, they would see a red and a dark purple glow emanating from either side of the glass.

The two glows tangled and clashed, each unwilling to yield.

Lu Qingyan’s brow grew ever darker, finally understanding Qin Sheng’s purpose—she was probing his abilities.

Qin Sheng glanced at the dark purple light on Lu Qingyan’s side of the glass, her suspicions confirmed.

“Take your time, Mr. Lu—I won’t keep you company,” Qin Sheng said, releasing her hand and letting the faint red glow dissipate.

Lu Qingyan said nothing, but a hint of delight flickered in his eyes before quickly vanishing.

Qin Sheng strode out the door, disappearing from sight.

Jiang Miaomiao, seeing Qin Sheng leave, felt her own awkwardness intensify and hurriedly spoke, “It’s getting late; I’ll see what there is to eat.”

She slipped away faster than a rabbit, leaving Ah Zhi no time to call her back.

Now only Ah Zhi and Lu Qingyan, still drinking his water, remained in the room.

Ah Zhi felt a bit embarrassed—after all, it was this man before her who had orchestrated her capture and return to the safe zone. By rights, they should be adversaries. How could they sit together so calmly?

It was utterly unreasonable.

Ah Zhi couldn’t accept her own lack of grudge. She stood up and said to Lu Qingyan, “When you finish your water, you can leave. Make sure to put the cup back where you found it.”

Lu Qingyan nodded, saying nothing more.

Seeing he had nothing else to say, Ah Zhi was about to leave when Lu Qingyan called out, “Wait.”

Ah Zhi frowned, looking back at him with a hint of impatience, “What is it?”

Lu Qingyan set the cup on the table and looked at her, “If you don’t want to stay in the safe zone, I can let you go.”

Ah Zhi hadn’t expected such words from Lu Qingyan, finding it somewhat amusing. “That won’t be necessary; I don’t have any desire to run off at the moment.”

Lu Qingyan fell silent, nodded, and after returning the cup, left the eastern district.

On the rooftop.

No one had come to clear away the aftermath. Zhang Meng and Zhao Tiantian, who had died up there, still lay in their places.

The sun’s harsh exposure during the day had dried their blood, and the bodies were starting to rot, accompanied by a few unknown wriggling maggots.

Qin Sheng, apparently accustomed to such sights, showed no sign of emotion. She deftly donned a medical mask and gloves from her spatial storage, along with some tools for dissection.

It was simple—Qin Sheng wanted to know why Zhang Meng had mutated into such a creature.

Part psychic, part zombie—what exactly was it? Qin Sheng could only try dissecting it to seek new clues.

Though trained as a Chinese physician, Qin Sheng had studied anatomy from a young age; she rarely practiced it, but what she learned was now second nature.

She sliced open Zhang Meng’s mutated body with ease. Strangely, what flowed from the wound was not bright red blood, but black.

Qin Sheng examined the viscous, nauseating black liquid in her palm, her brow creasing further.

The dissection revealed nothing. Zhang Meng’s mutation was not caused by external factors—not some injected substance.

Then what was it?

It was more like a curse had been placed.

But that seemed impossible.

The mystery only deepened, and Qin Sheng’s experience could not explain the cause.

After pondering, Qin Sheng took an empty syringe from her spatial storage, drew a vial of the black liquid, and sealed it away with every precaution.

She couldn’t explain the secret yet, but she was sure the liquid wasn’t infectious or harmful—it was blood, just of a different color.

Once finished with Zhang Meng, Qin Sheng moved to Zhao Tiantian.

She looked at Zhao Tiantian’s stiff body and the fatal wound on her neck, unsure how to express her feelings. Perhaps regret—or futility.

She was no deity, unable to control others’ fates. All she could do was grant the departed a proper resting place.

Without hesitation, Qin Sheng placed a hand on Zhao Tiantian’s forehead.

In the next instant, Zhao Tiantian vanished. Qin Sheng then returned to Zhang Meng, and with the same method, stored both bodies in her spatial storage.

Moments later, Qin Sheng leaped from the rooftop, landing safely via the balcony below.

She followed the same route as last time, crossed over the wall, and outside the safe zone’s woods found a peaceful place for Zhang Meng and Zhao Tiantian.

Upon returning to the safe zone, Qin Sheng noticed the new conditions, qualifications, and competition format for the selection of the guard squad.

It was exactly as Ah Zhi had described, but with an additional rule and challenge.

“The Zombie Law.”

Qin Sheng frowned as Ah Zhi explained.

“The Zombie Law means that the three members selected for the guard squad will be thrown into the forest outside the safe zone for three days. No food, no weapons. Whoever survives three days in the Zombie Forest becomes this squad’s leader,” Ah Zhi said, relying on her top-notch ability to gather information.

Qin Sheng’s expression remained unchanged, but Jiang Miaomiao and Chu Xingyu looked troubled.

“No food or weapons—won’t people die?” Jiang Miaomiao shook her head as soon as she heard the forest was called the Zombie Forest.

“Don’t worry—the three chosen are the best of the safe zone. If it’s too much, they can choose to withdraw,” Ah Zhi explained.

“Three people? How many contestants are there, then?” Chu Xingyu asked, curious.

Ah Zhi thought for a moment. “At least five hundred. There are lots of young survivors this time. Groups of a hundred will fight in elimination rounds until only three remain—it shouldn’t take long.”

“So, what’s your plan, Xingyu?” Jiang Miaomiao asked, knowing Chu Xingyu would compete but unsure of his goal.

Chu Xingyu smiled, “At the very least, I want to beat that Li Chengbin kid.”