Chapter 18 – Xiao Xue

Volume 3: Rising Winds and Clouds

"Time's up."

As soon as Kuangliu finished speaking, Fang Bai's expression changed drastically!

Ignoring the defenseless Kuangliu standing right in front of him, Fang Bai spun around and sprinted into the distance!

At that moment, flashes of fire erupted in the sky!

"Tsk, tsk. I actually feel a bit bad using this kind of method against you!"

"But, as you said, the winner takes all! The methods don't matter, only the outcome!"

Kuangliu didn't care if Fang Bai heard him. He spoke as if to himself, then activated another Skill!

Invincible (SS-Rank, Active Skill): After activation, the user will not take any damage for 10 seconds!

"Go ahead and do it. I've got your back!"

Three seconds later.

An overwhelming barrage of missiles rained down on the small battlefield like a torrential downpour. In less than five seconds, the entire area was plowed over dozens of times, both lengthwise and crosswise!

Gunsmoke filled the air as the earth trembled!

Survivors far away in the CD Settlement watched the cataclysmic scene in the distance. Feeling the tremors beneath their feet, they couldn't help but shudder.

The power of thermal weapons at this stage was nothing short of lethal!

Once the dust settled, Kuangliu calmly retrieved a Gas Mask from his Spatial Ring and put it on. Only then did he walk toward the direction where Fang Bai had fled.

…

The ground, ravaged by the missile strike, was riddled with craters and potholes. Fortunately, with Kuangliu's strength, he didn't mind such trivial obstacles.

Strolling as if taking a walk, Kuangliu traveled for about a minute before finally coming to a halt.

On the ground, a patch of blood bloomed like a flower.

Kuangliu slowly crouched down and picked up a severed arm lying on the ground.

Studying the amount of blood on the ground and the wound on the arm, Kuangliu fell into deep thought for a moment, his mind unreadable.

After a long while, Kuangliu took out a silver-white Walkie-Talkie from his Spatial Ring and spoke slowly.

"Mission failed. Fang Bai is not dead."

"Also, send people over to incorporate the survivors of the CD Settlement. I will be taking Professor Bai directly back to Yanjing."

After saying this, Kuangliu took one last look at his surroundings, turned around, and walked back toward the CD Settlement.

…

Early the next morning, Wen Yu was woken up by noises from next door.

Judging by the conversation, it was nothing more than a gentle, domestic wife telling her husband to be careful as he prepared to head out.

Ordinary, yet heartwarming.

Wen Yu lay in bed and gave a massive stretch before climbing out of bed.

Washing his face, brushing his teeth, eating breakfast, and wiping down Xing's body along the way.

This was his morning routine.

Unfortunately, today was destined to be different from the usual.

…

By the time a large group of people led by Wang Zhigang arrived at the Residential Area, Wen Yu was already fully dressed and sitting quietly in his room.

A moment later, Wang Zhigang knocked on Wen Yu's door.

With a click, the door opened. Wang Zhigang looked at Wen Yu, nodded with a smile, and then stepped aside to reveal the person behind him.

A neat military uniform, ear-length short hair, and a face that would score at least an 80 out of 100. She looked heroic and spirited, and was undeniably beautiful-that was Wen Yu's first impression.

She had a great figure, and more importantly, she was very clean. One look was enough to tell that she hadn't lacked water in the Apocalypse, nor had she lacked various toiletries and cosmetics.

One had to understand that the meaning of a "beauty" before the Apocalypse was different from a "beauty" after the Apocalypse!

Before the Apocalypse, the criteria for a beauty were numerous and complex. But after the Apocalypse, as long as a woman was young, washed clean, wore nice clothes, and ideally had a bit of makeup on, she was enough to be called a beauty in the eyes of survivors!

A beauty before the Apocalypse was someone everyone tried to get close to. But a beauty after the Apocalypse was someone everyone kept a respectful distance from! Because beauty meant that she either had a powerful backer or was strong enough herself!

And this woman clearly had both!

This much could be inferred from the Little Soul Beast perched on her shoulder!

"Military Super Soldier No. 1?"

Wen Yu raised an eyebrow at the woman.

No. 1 gave Wen Yu a radiant smile.

"Yes, I am No. 1, and also Sequence 19. You can call me Xiao Xue."

…

Once Wang Zhigang brought Xiao Xue to Wen Yu, his mission was essentially complete.

After bidding Wen Yu farewell, Wang Zhigang turned and left Wen Yu's room, preparing to return to Central City.

This left only Xiao Xue, her group of subordinates, and Wen Yu.

Xiao Xue slowly stepped into the room, turning her head to scan the layout of Wen Yu's apartment.

After a long moment, a crisp and slightly sweet voice broke the silence.

"Why don't you live in the Central City? The environment there should be much better than here, right?"

Wen Yu looked at Xiao Xue's questioning eyes and spoke simply.

"This is my home."

"Oh…"

Xiao Xue deliberately elongated the sound while nodding. Then, she looked at Wen Yu strangely.

"You really are… well, how should I put it? A bit lazy!"

"Because the way you've decorated your home is honestly quite ugly."

Wen Yu was momentarily speechless.

This woman was certainly direct.

…

After a while, Xiao Xue finally finished inspecting the interior. She sat down directly across from Wen Yu, picked up the water cup in front of her, and drained the tea Wen Yu had prepared for his guest in one gulp!

Her beautiful large eyes scanned back and forth between Wen Yu, the Soul Beast on his shoulder, and Xing. Then, she asked directly.

"Is that your Soul Pet?"

Wen Yu glanced at Xing beside him and nodded.

"Why is he so small?"

"Size isn't important. Strength is what matters most."

Xiao Xue nodded.

"Can I hold him?"

"What?"

Wen Yu looked at Xiao Xue with uncertainty, his eyes filled with astonishment.

As a fellow Soul Master, Xiao Xue should have understood the status a Soul Pet held in one's heart. This request was incredibly abrupt.

"Fine, if I can't hold him, I can't hold him. Why look at me with such a fierce expression?"

Xiao Xue also realized her request was a bit over the line and muttered under her breath.

However, before thirty seconds had even passed, she asked again.

"You should have other Soul Pets, right? Can I see them?"

"Heh."

Wen Yu smiled and nodded, then asked solemnly.

"Do you want to die?"

At Wen Yu's words, the soldiers behind Xiao Xue drew their guns with lightning speed, all of them aiming squarely at Wen Yu.

Facing the hostility of these soldiers, Wen Yu didn't move an inch!

This was a display of both backbone and confidence!

Perhaps sensing the killing intent in Wen Yu's eyes, Xiao Xue remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

"Put the guns down. Also… I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, I'm just like this-carefree and I speak without thinking. I didn't mean anything by it!"

Sensing that Wen Yu was truly losing his patience, Xiao Xue dropped her previous attitude and lowered her head to offer soft words of apology.

"Let's go. The sooner we deal with Simba, the sooner you all can head back."

Wen Yu sighed and shook his head, suddenly getting the feeling that this mission was going to be a headache.

"Do you know where that lion is?"

"East Mountain."

"Where is East Mountain?"

Wen Yu shook his head helplessly.

"Over there."

Wen Yu pointed casually in the direction of East Mountain.

"It's so big, how are we supposed to find it? How about this: I'll have my people locate Simba first, and then we'll go together?"

Wen Yu frowned, about to refuse, when Xiao Xue spoke again.

"It wasn't easy for me to get out for once, so just think of it as a vacation. Please? Just consider it as me owing you a favor?"

"Sigh."

Wen Yu exhaled a heavy breath of foul air. After a long silence, he slowly nodded.

"Two rules. First, don't bother me for no reason."

"Okay."

Xiao Xue nodded immediately.

"Second, don't disturb the family living across the hall."

Xiao Xue nodded again.

"Also, you owe me a favor."

Xiao Xue's head bobbed up and down like a chicken pecking at grain.

"Then, you can leave now."

"Alright. I'll come notify you as soon as there's news."

Seeing Wen Yu nod, Xiao Xue finally walked out of his room.

Then, a series of clattering and banging sounds erupted from the floors above and below!

These guys were setting up their quarters in the units directly above and below Wen Yu's.

"Xiao Xue, huh? What a nuisance."

…

Once the people Xiao Xue brought had cleared out three rooms, the noise finally settled down.

Wen Yu knocked on the door across the hall and explained the situation to Ye Nan's wife, telling the mother and son they had nothing to fear.

Then, Wen Yu walked down the stairs, heading in the direction where he sensed One-Eye.

With the Military's strength and equipment, as long as Simba was still within the limits of Mudanjiang City, finding him wouldn't be difficult. According to Wen Yu's estimation, if there wasn't news today, there would certainly be some by tomorrow.

Therefore, One-Eye had to come back.

In Wen Yu's blind spot, a small, non-mutated bird watched Wen Yu walk away, then looked at the Military personnel busy in the building. It flapped its wings and flew straight into the distance."

…

By the time Wen Yu found One-Eye, the dog had already successfully claimed the position of Boss among the local stray cats and dogs.

Seeing One-Eye in his mini-state, standing atop the head of a Level 3 Mutant Dog and barking orders at his subordinates, Wen Yu didn't bother to spoil his fun.

He simply sent a message to One-Eye through their mental link.

He had to be back by evening.

Although One-Eye loved to play around, he never neglected serious business. He nodded toward Wen Yu, who was hidden in the distance, and then looked back at the large group of mutant cats and dogs below. A flash of reluctance crossed his eyes.

A peaceful and comfortable life was not just the hope of humanity, but the hope of Mutant Creatures as well!

Unfortunately, in the Apocalypse, true peace was hard to find!

…

The round trip took less than an hour, and Wen Yu had already returned to the Jindu Residential Area.

Downstairs, Wen Yu's eyelids twitched as he saw furniture and other items scattered across the street below.

That was the furniture from his own room.

This meant that in the short time he had been out, someone had gutted his home!

He looked up and saw Xiao Xue standing at his window, waving at him incessantly. Wen Yu immediately roared, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Hey, why are you being so mean? I'm helping you clean your room. I'm doing you a favor, okay? What a temper!"

After Xiao Xue finished speaking, she slammed the window shut. At the same time, a series of clattering and banging sounds reached Wen Yu's ears.

Most importantly, those sounds were coming from inside his room.

The coldness in Wen Yu's eyes grew deeper and deeper!

It was undeniable that after experiencing the Shimmer Blue Star Trial and the Battlefield Between Two World, Wen Yu's temper had improved significantly!

However, Wen Yu's fundamental nature had not changed!

Helping where he could was called compassion and conscience.

Fulfilling what he promised was called being trustworthy.

But making those who displeased him pay the price-that was called ruthlessness!

Ruthlessness and decisiveness were the core traits of Wen Yu's character at his very depths!

Lately, the days Wen Yu spent at home were what he called 'living'-a plain and peaceful life!

Wen Yu didn't want to act like an unapproachable lion in his everyday life, which was why he interacted the way he did with Ye Nan's family!

Because that was what it meant to live!

But there were always those who tried to provoke the sleeping lion!

"Heh, perhaps I've been acting too merciful lately," Wen Yu murmured in a voice no one else could hear.

Xiao Xue's actions might have been a provocation from the military, or perhaps her own personal test.

At this moment, it didn't matter!

Wen Yu ignored the constant noise coming from the room and slowly walked up the stairs.

Meanwhile, a storm was brewing in Wen Yu's heart; a beast was slowly opening its eyes!

…

Standing quietly in front of his door, Wen Yu relaxed his body slightly as Wild Song and Throb slowly appeared in his hands!

Knock, knock, knock…

The knocking sounded, and then the door slowly opened!

A figure suddenly lunged into Wen Yu's arms.

"Uncle Wen Yu, you're back!"

Wen Yu, however, was currently surveying his home in surprise.

The apartment itself wasn't large. Wen Yu's original purpose for coming back was just to have a simple place to stay; he expected to leave within a couple of days.

As a result, the various arrangements had been very cluttered!

But now, after the furniture Wen Yu had hauled back had been cleared out, the entire room had been rearranged by someone else.

In the bedroom, a set of brand-new bedding was spread across Wen Yu's bed. Beside the head of the bed sat a beige nightstand with a slightly worn desk lamp on top.

Of course, without electricity, the lamp was merely a decoration.

In the living room, several sofas were neatly arranged. The table Wen Yu had brought back had been tossed downstairs, replaced by a glass coffee table that was in near-perfect condition. On top of it sat several cups and a full tea set.

From the kitchen not far away came the sound of cooking, accompanied by the constant chatter of voices, indicating that more than one person was preparing the meal.

"Uncle, the Guns in your hands are so pretty!"

The words of Ye Nan's child snapped Wen Yu back to reality, a flash of complexity crossing his eyes.

After a long moment, Wen Yu sighed and slowly put away Throb and Wild Song.

The kitchen door was slowly pulled open, and the figures of Xiao Xue and Ye Nan's wife appeared before Wen Yu.

"You're back? Take off your shoes first!"