Apocalypse Escape: Day One of Survival

It was the first time Li Xiang had been praised so directly by Xie Ning, so she couldn’t help but feel a little carried away.

’Who knew that Xie Ning’s sharp tongue could also utter such sweet, coaxing words...’

’Her impression was that Xie Ning spent most of her time chasing her and her brother around, looking for a fight.’

Seeing her looking so earnest and sincere now, Li Xiang felt unaccountably flattered.

’Was she sure Xie Ning wasn’t just messing with her?’

”What are you staring at me for?” Xie Ning shouted to Li Xiang over the gale. ”Just say it, can you do it or not?”

”I can!” The word slipped out before she could think. Li Xiang hadn’t even fully processed it before she agreed.

Xie Ning patted her on the shoulder. ”Don’t worry, I’ll make a slipknot in this chain later. If you’re worried about being blown away, you can hook yourself onto the chain to move.”

”We’re counting on you, Li Xiang.” Xie Ning gave her two heavy pats, and Li Xiang nearly stumbled to the ground.

Li Dawei had no idea that his little troublemaker of a sister had just sealed the Fierce Tiger Squad’s fate for the next several days.

The Fierce Tiger Squad had inexplicably become the ”chosen ones,” shouldering a great responsibility for the base. Along with the base’s first team of Superpower Users, they were left behind to patrol the city wall.

Xie Ning covered her mouth and nose with her scarf, and, hand in hand with Gu Chen, she staggered down the sandy, dust-choked stairs.

After they returned to the main control room, Gu Chen quickly found someone to make a broadcast.

Xie Ning found a random stool, sat down, and pulled out a bottle of Energy Water, which she drank in small sips.

A pair of black leather shoes appeared before her.

Xie Ning clutched the small bottle and looked up to see a young woman with short hair.

There were bandages on her brow and chin. She was a spirited-looking young woman in a military-green uniform, though she looked rather ragged at the moment.

”Everyone outside says you’re a Sixth Rank Gold Element. Do Sixth Ranks even exist? How about we spar? If you can beat me, I’ll admit you’re...”

BANG!

The loud crash drew the attention of both Gu Chen and Lu Wei, who were on the other side of the room arranging for the broadcast.

When they saw Feng JiaMin lying flat on her back in front of a monitor by the control console, both men were speechless.

”Captain, I’ve temporarily assigned Team One to guard the city wall, but the sandstorm is too intense. I’m afraid they won’t last long. We need to set up rotations...” Feng Lijian’s voice suddenly caught in his throat as he rushed forward.

”Jia Min!” he cried in alarm, reaching out to help his sister up. He shot a glance at the technicians cowering off to the side before his gaze snapped fiercely to Xie Ning.

”Captain Xie, don’t you think that was going too far?”

Xie Ning blinked and held up her hands innocently. ”Check the surveillance footage. She asked me to.”

’All I did was give her a little tap. She can’t even handle that?’

’When an annoying fly is buzzing in your ear, you swat it. You don’t save it for later.’

Feng Lijian gave Feng JiaMin a surprised look, then quickly helped his sister up. ”Jia Min, are you okay?”

Feng JiaMin clutched the area below her chest with one hand, grimacing in pain.

’How could I possibly be okay?’

’That punch had cut through the air and slammed into her. For a second, Feng JiaMin thought she was going to die.’

’It hurt so damn much!’

’The blow left her with no strength to retaliate.’

’Of course, that was only because she’d been caught completely off guard.’

’That Xie Ning woman was too despicable, attacking without a single word of warning.’

’Damn her, damn her, damn her!’

”Brother!” Feng JiaMin gasped, the effort making her short of breath. Her face turned red as she broke into a fit of coughing.

”Jia Min,” Feng Lijian said anxiously. Supporting his sister, he turned and yelled at a bystander, ”Go get a Healer! Hurry!”

”Jia Min, are you all right? Sit down first. Talk after you’ve sat down.”

Feng Lijian helped his sister into a nearby leather swivel chair, then turned to Xie Ning, fuming. ”Captain Xie, what’s the meaning of this? What do you mean my sister *asked* you to hit her? You can’t just bully people like this.”

The man was furious, but he still had a shred of reason.

Xie Ning hadn’t planned on dignifying him with a response, but seeing Gu Chen and Lu Wei approach, she spoke up. ”I already told you, check the surveillance footage. Your sister really did ask me to beat some sense into her!”

”The footage will prove I’m not lying.”

Gu Chen had reached Xie Ning’s side by then. He turned to Feng Lijian and frowned. ”Go get the footage.”

Feng Lijian’s eye twitched. He immediately felt a wave of pressure emanating from Gu Chen.

”No, that won’t be necessary.”

”But you didn’t believe me, did you?” Xie Ning rolled her eyes, then cocked her head to look at the silent, downcast Feng JiaMin. ”Miss Feng, is it? So, have I convinced you yet?”

Feng JiaMin gritted her teeth in anger, rubbing the sore spot below her ribs. ”Of course not! That was a sneak attack.”

”You attacked me without warning. How was I supposed to know...”

Feng Lijian gave Feng JiaMin a hard tug, so angry he felt dizzy. ”You really asked Captain Xie to beat you?!”

’Was this sister born just to piss him off?’

’How did he end up with a sister like this!’

Feng Lijian glanced at Gu Chen’s dark expression, and his heart sank. ”Captain Xie,” he said quickly, ”I apologize for blaming you without getting the facts straight.”

”I’m sorry. It was my fault for accusing you before I understood the situation.”

Feng JiaMin angrily shoved her brother. ”Brother, what are you talking about? She sneak-attacked me! I just didn’t have time to react. Why are you apologizing to her?”

’This brother of hers was so spineless. This wasn’t the first time he had apologized to someone from the Starfire Team.’

’Xie Ning and Song Kexin were truly the bane of their existence.’

A surge of irritation rose in Feng JiaMin’s heart. Rubbing her ribs, she slowly straightened up. ”Miss Xie, do you dare accept my formal challenge?”

Everyone in the main control room stared at this brave warrior as if she were some otherworldly being.

”Let’s go down to the training room and have a proper fight.”

”Only if you can beat me will I acknowledge you as Chen’s girlfriend. Otherwise, don’t even think about it.”

”Does Ningning need your acknowledgment? What relationship do we even have? Your brother and I are just colleagues. As for you? We have no relationship whatsoever. Do my affairs require your meddling? The fact that you think your acknowledgment matters... you have an awfully high opinion of yourself.”

Leaning against the main control console, Gu Chen narrowed his eyes and gave a sharp, cold smile. His words were utterly merciless, each one like a resounding slap across Feng JiaMin’s face.

The control room fell silent. Even Feng JiaMin was stunned, unable to believe such scathing words could come from Gu Chen.

’Chen was always so good with sweet talk, always so polite. Among the old ladies in the residential compound, he was famous for being a smooth operator who could charm anyone...’

’At least, as far as Feng JiaMin had ever seen, Chen had never truly been harsh with anyone.’

’Especially toward the ”brothers and sisters” who grew up with him in the compound; he had always looked out for them. She had never seen him be so cold and mocking to anyone.’

’But now... this was the second time!’

’The first time was at his front door, when he refused to let them in, his cold words breaking their hearts.’

’This was the second time, and it was even worse than before. Hearing him say such humiliating things... Feng JiaMin couldn’t bear it.’