Chapter 088: Apocalypse 3

Wang Qiang, who was talking with Xia Meimei, suddenly felt a chill climb up his spine and into his mind, making him shiver involuntarily.

“Hm? What’s the matter?” Le Yixian asked, munching on an apple.

He shook his head, about to speak when he saw his team leader striding toward them. He jumped up and called out, “Boss, look at my leg—it’s healed!”

He even hopped a few times to demonstrate.

Ke Yuandao looked a little surprised. Wang Qiang, beaming with satisfaction, said, “Meimei healed me. She awakened the legendary healing ability!”

Hearing the name Meimei, the man’s brows furrowed slightly. He glanced in surprise at Le Yixian, who was still sitting nearby, biting into her apple with a loud crunch and chewing vigorously.

Ke Yuandao stared at her for a long moment but said nothing, turning to leave.

Wang Qiang watched his departing figure in confusion, inwardly cursing. Come on, Boss, it’s a healing ability—why not recruit her into the team? That way, everyone wouldn’t have to worry so much.

If anyone got hurt, Xia Meimei could just wave her hand and they’d be fully restored.

Healing ability wasn’t like water-based powers. In this post-apocalyptic world, people awakened all kinds of abilities; water-based ones had some healing effect, but no one had ever heard of pure healing powers. Still, since she’d managed to heal Wang Qiang’s leg, it was no wonder he’d gone from being cold toward Xia Meimei before his patrol to hovering around her afterward.

“Meimei, do you want to join our team? We’re the strongest in the base, great benefits, and none of the messy drama you find elsewhere,” Wang Qiang and his group gathered around Xia Meimei, trying to recruit her.

“Why go with them? Wouldn’t you rather partner with me?” said a voice as the heroine, Li Qing, plopped down beside her, casting a disdainful look at Wang Qiang and his friends. “Their team’s full of stinky men, and the captain is dull and boring. Come with me, little sister.”

Le Yixian: “…”

“She’s the daughter of General Xia,” Ke Yuandao spoke up.

Everyone: “…”

Damn, they’d forgotten about that.

“Little sister, if things aren’t going well at home, you can come to me. You’re always welcome,” Li Qing said, patting Le Yixian’s cheek with regret.

The feel was so good that she switched from patting to pinching, sighing as she squeezed a few times. “Since the apocalypse, I haven’t touched a little sister’s soft, smooth face. So smooth—how do you take care of your skin?”

The love of beauty is human nature—even the apocalypse can’t stop it.

Le Yixian: “…”

“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because of my powers,” Le Yixian replied after recalling. The original owner’s memories were empty; she had no idea how she’d survived alone in that zombie-infested research institute.

“Tsk,” Li Qing sounded disappointed. She reached for Le Yixian’s face again: “Let me feel it some more.”

From a distance, Ke Yuandao glanced over at Li Qing’s words. He noticed several red marks had appeared on Le Yixian’s pale cheeks—likely from the pinching.

The group traveled by day and rested by night. After about three days, Le Yixian saw a tall city wall ahead.

The city gate towered above, outside which many people with sallow faces and thin bodies were lining up to enter.

Le Yixian’s convoy didn’t stop but drove straight to the gate. The gate’s defenders, all ability users, stepped forward to block them: “What’s your business? Didn’t see your team… Dao! Sister Qing!”

“Hey, Little Mao, you’ve gotten a lot tougher since we last saw you,” Wang Qiang called out from another car.

“Not at all, Dao, Sister Qing—this way, please.”

In this post-apocalyptic world, strength rules. Those with power enjoy greater rights and privileges.

The two vehicles cut the line without a second thought.

Everyone got out and entered a small room beside the gate for a body inspection.

Zombie infection comes from wounds and their saliva, so anyone entering the city must strip for a full-body check.

Li Qing, voluptuous in figure, glanced at Le Yixian beside her and whistled, “So pale—but a bit flat-chested.”

Le Yixian looked at her, then down at herself, and chose silence.

After passing inspection, Le Yixian was led away to register.

Apparently, someone had already informed the staff of her identity. They treated Le Yixian with great respect: “Miss Xia, your identification is ready.”

After the apocalypse, most basic equipment had been destroyed. Identity in the base was proven with a copper tag, specially processed by metal ability users, and simply inscribed with Xia Meimei’s name.

Le Yixian tucked the little tag into her pocket. When she finished all procedures and stepped outside, the others in her group were gone—only Ke Yuandao and Li Qing remained, waiting for her. Seeing her exit, Li Qing waved.

“We’ll take you to see General Xia,” Li Qing said as Le Yixian approached.

General Xia—level five ability user, owner of the base.

Thinking of this, Le Yixian glanced at the stone-faced Ke Yuandao, deciding not to rush into conversation. She would first observe and understand the situation. In the original story, the romance between the hero and heroine took years to develop, so she wasn’t in a hurry.

General Xia’s home was a three-story villa.

Upon learning his daughter had been rescued, General Xia ran back from his office, overwhelmed with emotion.

He had a square face, a nose sharp as a blade, and an aura of righteousness. Seeing his daughter standing unharmed at the doorstep, he moved forward with arms outstretched, eager to embrace her.

But Le Yixian dodged him. General Xia froze, his hands suspended awkwardly in midair.

“Dirty,” Le Yixian frowned.

General Xia hadn’t bathed in who knows how long. Even before he got close, she caught a sour whiff. She looked at his embarrassed face and asked, “How long has it been since you showered?”

General Xia scratched his head. “Half a month—no, maybe it’s been a month.”

Le Yixian quietly stepped back a few paces, deciding to keep her distance.

Ke Yuandao and Li Qing also shifted away subtly—no wonder it smelled so bad.

“You know, water is scarce in the base. We save it wherever we can,” General Xia explained. There was barely enough to drink, let alone bathe.

Le Yixian and the other two nodded, indicating they understood.

“Meimei, you must have suffered outside. Go rest—I’ll have Aunt Liu take you to your room,” General Xia said. The woman who had been waiting at the villa entrance walked up to Le Yixian. General Xia then turned to Ke Yuandao and Li Qing: “You two, come with me.”