Chapter Three: Signs of the Apocalypse

In her previous life, Qin Sheng had honed her skills time and again on the razor’s edge between life and death in the apocalypse. Now, without the crucible of real combat, all she could do was practice relentlessly, striving to regain the mastery she once possessed. She was acutely aware of her deficiencies. While stockpiling supplies in the beginning, she made inquiries about shops that dealt in swords and knives. As she expected, most of the blades available were mere collector’s items, of little use to her. What she needed were weapons that had tasted blood—those forbidden from open sale.

Yet, a few days ago, she heard whispers of a shop unlike any other. Rumor had it that the owner operated on both sides of the law, and might procure items not found on the public market. Regardless of whether the tales were true, Qin Sheng, having confirmed the location, set out at once.

The shop was not in the city center but tucked away in a quiet alley of a county town near the capital. Sparse foot traffic made it easy for Qin Sheng to find with a little asking around.

“Fate Emporium—let all be determined by fate.”

This saying caught Qin Sheng’s eye as soon as she entered. The shop’s layout was much the same as other sword and blade emporiums she’d seen. Nevertheless, she decided to give it a try.

“Buy if you want, if not, don’t waste my time.” The languid, teasing voice of a young man drifted from behind the counter. Qin Sheng looked over, but with the counter’s height, she could only see a tuft of soft, white, fluffy hair.

She hesitated, then asked politely, “Excuse me, sir—”

Before she could finish, the person behind the counter stood up abruptly. She found herself staring into the eyes of a handsome youth with a wolf-tail of white hair. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. “I’m sorry…”

The boy wore a modernized Daoist robe, his delicate, almond-shaped eyes narrowing in assessment as he fixed his gaze on Qin Sheng. Before long, his lips lifted in a teasing smirk, as if he’d found his answer.

Realizing her earlier slip, Qin Sheng pressed her lips together and dipped her head in apology.

“Do I really look so old to you? A dashing young man like me, mistaken for an old-timer,” he teased.

Qin Sheng was silent.

“What brings a young lady like you to a place like this? Interested in swords and knives?” Song Qing’an asked, running a hand through his white wolf-tail hair and frowning slightly.

Qin Sheng shook her head gently. “Not interested, exactly. I just have need of one.”

“If that’s the case, I do have a few special items,” Song Qing’an replied, his curiosity piqued. Sure enough, the girl’s eyes lit up noticeably.

Just as Qin Sheng was about to speak, Song Qing’an raised an eyebrow and continued, “I’m not interested in money. But that jade bracelet you’re wearing—it’s quite nice. How about a trade?”

She glanced at the plain white jade bracelet on her wrist, now just an ordinary trinket, and without hesitation, removed it and handed it over.

“Indeed, it’s a fine piece.” Accepting the bracelet, Song Qing’an disappeared into the back room. When he returned, his hands were full of items that all looked valuable.

“One good weapon is all you need,” he advised.

Qin Sheng nodded, finally selecting a Tang sword of perfect length. As she was leaving, Song Qing’an tossed her a dagger as well, saying it seemed fated for her. Qin Sheng accepted without protest.

Watching her figure recede into the distance, Song Qing’an leaned against the counter, lips curved in amusement. “Not even a thank you.”

“Song Qing’an! Where’s that peerless Tang sword I’ve been searching for over ten years?!” A man’s furious roar echoed from the back room soon after.

Song Qing’an scratched his ear, replying with evident disdain, “Sold it.”

Lu Shenchen was so angry his hair nearly stood on end. He glared at Song Qing’an. “That’s how you mind the shop for me?”

“You won’t lose out.” Song Qing’an tossed the jade bracelet to him.

Lu Shenchen examined it carefully, muttering, “Isn’t this just an ordinary jade bracelet?”

“There’s an energy fluctuation on it.” Song Qing’an’s demeanor had lost its earlier nonchalance, replaced by rare seriousness.

“You mean…”

“Seems that girl isn’t as simple as she looks.”

After acquiring the Tang sword, Qin Sheng intensified her training even further. With only twenty days left until the apocalypse, she had to become one with her blade. Apart from her relentless practice within her space, she spent her days stockpiling supplies in the warehouse.

Two weeks before the apocalypse, Qin Sheng received her admission notice from Capital University.

After only a few minutes’ thought, she began preparing for the start of term. Her spatial ability was only a tool—not a permanent sanctuary. There were still many things she needed to figure out.

When the semester began at Capital University, Qin Sheng settled her accounts with the factories and paid the warehouse rent. Entering the school, she faced the knowledge that the apocalypse would arrive within a week.

“Hello there! I’m Jiang Miaomiao. We’ll be roommates from now on!” As soon as Qin Sheng entered the dormitory, a sweet-looking girl with glasses bounced over to greet her.

Qin Sheng was surprised. In her previous life, she hadn’t lived in the dorms, and it was unexpected to find this girl as her roommate.

“Hello, I’m Qin Sheng.” She greeted her politely, watching as the girl’s cheerful smile overlapped with the memory of her calmly striding into a horde of zombies in her past life. A faint ache tugged at Qin Sheng’s heart.

“I’ll be off now—my boyfriend’s waiting downstairs,” Jiang Miaomiao said with a shy smile, cheeks tinged pink, before hopping away.

“Jiang Miaomiao…” Qin Sheng watched her go, words dying on her lips. She’d felt an urge to warn the girl, but who would believe that their idyllic university would become a living hell in just a few days?

Suddenly, the dorm door was flung open with force. Qin Sheng frowned in annoyance but, recognizing the newcomer, said nothing and bent to continue arranging her things.

“What’s all this junk?” Yu Ziyue sneered upon seeing Qin Sheng’s suitcase full of snacks. Someone as outstanding as herself couldn’t possibly have a roommate who only knew how to eat and not care for her figure.

Qin Sheng closed her suitcase and walked past her, barely glancing at Yu Ziyue before returning to her task, missing the jealousy flickering across the other’s face.

“You eat so much—don’t you care about your figure at all?” Yu Ziyue snorted, tossing her hair and swaying as she strutted to her own space.

Qin Sheng couldn’t be bothered to care what Yu Ziyue said, calmly continuing her preparations. Yu Ziyue felt as if she’d thrown a punch into cotton and stomped to her spot in frustration.

“Big sister, I finally found you.”

The familiar voice made Qin Sheng’s back stiffen instantly. Her eyes grew cold as she looked toward the doorway.

There stood a face she would never forget—a pitiful countenance that had, in her last life, personally delivered both her and her brother Qinnuo into the jaws of hell.

Her dearest sister—Qin Mengchun.

Qin Mengchun sniffled softly, lowering her head and reaching out to grasp Qin Sheng’s arm. But Qin Sheng shifted away just in time, forcing Mengchun to let her hand fall helplessly.

“Sis, I haven’t been able to find you these days. Where have you been?”

“At the old house.” Qin Sheng’s face was expressionless, her eyes growing colder.

“But I heard you sold the old house…” Inside, Qin Mengchun sneered. She hadn’t expected the usually pliable Qin Sheng to sell the villa on her own. Their mother had said it was worth at least twenty million—no way would she let that money stay in Qin Sheng’s hands.

Qin Sheng could easily guess her thoughts and replied calmly, “Grandpa gave me the house years ago. Whether I sold it or not is my business.”

“But you’re just a kid. It’s not safe to have so much money. It would be better to let an adult keep it safe for you…” This only confirmed for Qin Mengchun that Qin Sheng had the full twenty million. She racked her brains for a way to coax it out of her, but wasn’t worried—Qin Sheng was so indulgent, she would surely hand over the money obediently.

Qin Sheng smirked internally, replying with mockery, “Don’t trouble yourself. I donated it all.”

“What?!” Qin Mengchun’s voice rose several notches, all pretense of pitifulness forgotten. Realizing her slip, she grew flustered.

Qin Sheng smiled. She hadn’t expected Mengchun to lose her composure so quickly. Tired of the charade, she dismissed her, “I’d like to rest. Please see yourself out.”

With that, she lay down and closed her eyes. Qin Mengchun was left awkwardly standing in place before shooting Qin Sheng a venomous glare and leaving.

Of course, Qin Sheng noticed. With a faint, self-mocking smile, she got up and left the dorm.

It was inconvenient to retrieve supplies from her space at the moment, so she needed to stock up in the dorm as well. As she stepped out of the building, the welcoming cheers from the sports institute’s orientation floated over.

“Senior Lin Xing’s muscles are amazing!”

“His muscle definition is perfect!”

Qin Sheng overheard the chatter with some skepticism and glanced toward the commotion.

Her gaze accidentally locked with the man at the center of the crowd.

An ability user?

Qin Sheng frowned. She remembered his face from her previous life and was certain he would awaken abilities in the future.

Perhaps this path wasn’t as lonely as she’d imagined.

After she left, the crowd gradually dispersed. Lin Xing, the burly, dark-skinned athlete everyone had admired, was still joking and laughing with his friends.

On the first day of military training, a sudden torrential rain descended, and the temperature plummeted. Training was called off for the day, and while everyone cheered, only Qin Sheng understood what it meant.

Unseasonable weather was the first omen of the apocalypse.

She declined Jiang Miaomiao’s invitation to play games, choosing instead to sleep—knowing that soon, even sleep would be a luxury.

The next day, military training was suspended again. The temperature soared to fifty degrees, making it impossible for anyone to remain outdoors for more than ten minutes, let alone endure training.

“This weather is so weird. Yesterday it was pouring, and today it’s scorching!” Jiang Miaomiao muttered from her bed that evening.

Yu Ziyue, carefully applying her makeup, scoffed, “You should be grateful we can relax in the air-conditioned dorm instead of training.”

“I’m just saying…” Jiang Miaomiao grumbled softly.

“It’s coming soon…”

Qin Sheng thought she heard Huo Ran, the girl in the opposite bed, murmuring something, but the words were too soft to make out.