Fire Ability User

After learning that Jiang Zhaosu had not Awakened any Ability, Qi Xing looked very disappointed.

While searching for supplies afterward, Qi Xing kept muttering like an old man, "That shouldn't be possible. If there's a Crystal Core, there should be an Ability. If she didn't Awaken an Ability, then what Ability does that little Mutated Species have? How could it be..."

Jiang Zhaosu's ears were practically growing calluses from his nagging.

At first, Jiang Zhaosu had felt somewhat guilty about eating a Crystal Core without becoming stronger. She thought she really was rather useless.

However, that tiny bit of guilt vanished without a trace under Qi Xing's late-night rambling.

So what if she was useless?

It was not like she had only become useless yesterday.

Anyway, she had already turned into a zombie. If things did not work out, she would die.

What else could she do?

Of course, if she could survive, Jiang Zhaosu still did not want to die.

After learning that zombies could also face danger in the apocalypse, Jiang Zhaosu decisively gave up that flashy convertible sports car and picked out a low-key grayish-white Wuling Hongguang instead, determined to scrape by in this perilous apocalypse.

Qi Xing did not care about any of that.

Still, the van had far more storage space than the convertible, allowing him to load up more junk. Qi Xing was very satisfied with that.

After packing up, the human and the zombie set off again the next day.

Jiang Zhaosu actually had no idea where Qi Xing was taking her. Qi Xing had never told her before.

But after last night's encounter with the Mutated Species, Qi Xing's attitude toward her had inexplicably improved.

While driving, Qi Xing chatted with her and voluntarily mentioned that he had a younger sister.

When talking about family, Qi Xing, who had always been ruthless toward both humans and zombies, finally revealed a trace of softer humanity.

"My sister was only fourteen when she left me, about the same age as you are now. I wonder how she's doing."

Jiang Zhaosu: "???"

Who told this guy she was fourteen?

She was an adult, okay? She was just a little short. How did that make her only fourteen?

Qi Xing kept his eyes on the road and did not notice Jiang Zhaosu's strange expression. He continued, "We're in C District now. I've searched all the Survivor Bases here, but there was no sign of my sister."

"I heard there's an A District farther south. It has taken in more survivors, so I plan to look for her there."

Jiang Zhaosu was not particularly interested in what Qi Xing was saying.

She did not really care where they were going. She only worried about whether she would have lunch.

After becoming a zombie, eating had become a zombie's greatest need.

The meat Qi Xing had stored for her had already been finished last night.

After going all morning without food, Jiang Zhaosu could already feel her throat growing dry and acid churning in her stomach.

Qi Xing had not put a Bite Restrainer on her today. She feared that if she did not eat soon, she would be unable to suppress her instincts and attack Qi Xing.

She did not want to attack Qi Xing.

The only outcome of attacking Qi Xing was death.

She did not want to die.

"Awwooo..."

Jiang Zhaosu clutched her stomach with both hands and let out a weak howl.

"Fortune is hungry again?"

"Aw..."

Raising a little zombie was such a hassle. She ate more than a pig and was more exhausting than raising a younger sister.

Resigned, Qi Xing slowed down and looked around for anything alive nearby.

They were currently in the countryside, where the land was vast and people were scarce. Not to mention living creatures, even zombies were rare.

After driving for several dozen more minutes, Qi Xing suddenly spotted a truck by the roadside.

Two men stood beside the truck on the road, raising their arms high and waving at them.

Jiang Zhaosu and Qi Xing's eyes lit up at the same time.

Food and equipment had come right to them!

The battered van slowly pulled over to the right side of the road.

Conditions in the apocalypse were harsh, and most people chose to look out only for themselves.

When the two men saw that the van was actually willing to stop for them, they were overjoyed and immediately came over.

Little did they know that Jiang Zhaosu and Qi Xing inside the vehicle were just as excited.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Qi Xing coughed violently twice, composed his expression, and told Jiang Zhaosu, "Wipe your drool. Act decent!"

"Roar, roar, roar!"

Having already caught the scent of meat, Jiang Zhaosu hurriedly coughed twice as well, swallowing back both the drool in her mouth and the excited growls in her throat.

Their windows were covered with protective film, so no one outside could see in.

When he rolled down the window, Qi Xing, who had been completely unserious a second ago, instantly returned to the timid demeanor he had worn when they first met. He softly asked the two men outside, "Hello, is something the matter...?"

The contrast was so great that Jiang Zhaosu's jaw nearly dropped.

The two men who had stopped them were both in their thirties or forties, in the prime of life, broad and muscular. The sight of their strong muscles made Jiang Zhaosu swallow repeatedly.

When they saw that there was only a pretty, delicate-looking man and a little girl in the vehicle, the two men turned to exchange a glance.

The Crew Cut Man spoke first. "Little brother, my buddy and I got a flat tire. Could you give us a ride so we can go home and get a replacement?"

The Square Face added, "Our home is in the village just up ahead. If you're willing to help us, I've got bread at home that I can share with the two of you."

In the apocalypse, bread was already considered a rare delicacy.

Qi Xing's eyes widened, and he looked delighted. "Really? My sister and I haven't eaten in a long time."

"Gulp..."

Jiang Zhaosu, whose face was hidden beneath the hood Qi Xing had pulled over her head, timely made a hungry swallowing sound as well.

Seeing their eyes go wide at the mention of bread, the man laughed heartily. "Of course. I, Xu Long, always keep my word."

"It's on the way anyway. Big brothers, you're truly too generous."

Qi Xing smiled at the men. "Get in."

The two men climbed into the back of their vehicle.

However, Qi Xing had piled the cargo area full of all sorts of goods, leaving the two men squeezed in uncomfortably.

"Are you moving?" the Square Face asked, looking at the miscellaneous clutter in their vehicle. "You're carrying so much stuff even in the apocalypse."

"Yeah."

With one hand on the wheel, Qi Xing used the other to squeeze Jiang Zhaosu's hand as she kept looking back, signaling for her not to be so impatient. He answered casually.

"The city we used to live in has already fallen. There are zombies everywhere. My sister and I barely managed to escape, and we're looking for somewhere safer to live."

The Crew Cut Man said, "Our village is very safe. There are no zombies. You can move to our village."

"No zombies?" Qi Xing feigned surprise and exclaimed, "How is that possible? These days, not even bases are safe."

"Li Hu is an Ability User. He cleared out all the zombies in our village," the Square Face said.

The moment she heard there was an Ability User, Jiang Zhaosu, who had been gloomily drawing circles because Qi Xing had not attacked them right away, immediately shrank back and sat obediently in the passenger seat.

Qi Xing narrowed his Fox Eyes slightly and glanced at the Crew Cut Man through the rearview mirror. Playing along, he said, "Wow, this big brother is amazing!"

The Crew Cut Man looked smug. "It's nothing."

Qi Xing asked as if casually, "What Ability does Brother Li Hu have?"

Confident in the strength of the Ability and unafraid of anything, while also wanting to show off a little, the Crew Cut Man raised one finger. A wisp of flame suddenly sprang up from his fingertip as he demonstrated, "Fire."

Qi Xing: "..."

Jiang Zhaosu: "..."

We're done for.

Even someone like her, who knew nothing at all about Abilities, knew that fire was born from wood and harmed wood.