Women from the City

Chen Chong sensed that Xie Wushuang's words carried a deeper meaning, but he chose to ignore it.

He still had no idea where this mysterious girl had come from or how strong she was. The more he said, the more likely he was to make a mistake, so Chen Chong didn't take the bait.

"Put it away. This is payment for your help. Sorry for the trouble."

Xie Wushuang rested her hands on her knees, which she kept pressed tightly together. Sitting like a proper young lady, she gave Chen Chong a slight nod.

Come to think of it, there was also the Battle Angel Serum. It was a single-use combat drug, but it had helped him break through, and its effects were no worse than Earth Dragon Meat.

That was what Chen Chong thought.

The serum's effects had been practically on par with the Second Form, and it didn't seem to have any obvious side effects. It had to be expensive.

And then there was the A-1. He had no idea how much it went for on the market, and he couldn't even afford an E-1 right now.

Chen Chong suddenly felt that these past few hours had been a pretty good deal.

"Have you ever used a gun?"

Xie Wushuang asked.

Chen Chong shook his head.

"I'll teach you."

Xie Wushuang leaned closer, her braid swinging right into Chen Chong's arms.

A faint fragrance drifted into his nose. Not even the intense battle or the stench of Earth Dragon blood had managed to cover it up.

She took the pistol and showed Chen Chong the sights, safety, and trigger. Then she demonstrated how to reload, disassemble, and maintain it.

"Got all that?"

She was a little too close, but fortunately, Chen Chong was more interested in the gun.

Though she had only shown him once, Chen Chong nodded.

Xie Wushuang glanced at him and handed the pistol back.

Chen Chong held the Bluebird Model 900 up and examined it.

Its silver frame was exceptionally sleek, with perfectly polished edges. The brown grip had a lifelike bird-shaped texture that made it slip-resistant and gave it a distinct artistic quality.

The pistol was a little small for Chen Chong, but it felt comfortable in his hand. It was probably designed for women.

Though small enough to slip into a pocket, it could unleash tremendous power, and its barrel came with a built-in silencer.

A beautiful, concealable weapon.

"Now that everything's settled, let's head back to the city together. Where do you live?"

Xie Wushuang asked.

Chen Chong thought for a moment.

"Lichuan."

"That's on my way. Just drop me off in Lichuan."

Xie Wushuang nodded.

"Is your compass broken? I'll give you directions. We'll have to watch out for the Earth Dragon outside, too."

She took out her handheld computer and occasionally helped Chen Chong adjust their course.

There were few obstacles on the Wasteland, and the off-road vehicle handled the terrain well. They just had to keep their speed under control so they wouldn't flip.

Xie Wushuang chatted with Chen Chong now and then, asking how he had fallen into the trap and what he had experienced there.

Chen Chong gave casual answers, but said nothing about his family or certain parts of his past.

Having such a beautiful girl take an interest in him would have made most men feel flattered.

Of course, Chen Chong wasn't completely immune to Xie Wushuang's stunning looks. He just remembered that she worked for a major corporation's Security Department and was strong enough to slay a hundred-meter Earth Dragon on her own.

Twice, he had almost asked which corporation she worked for. But she had already stopped bringing up the confidentiality rules, and he'd better not remind her.

It was best this way. They shouldn't get any more entangled; they could just pretend they'd never met.

Even the Wasteland's scam companies were dangerous enough. Chen Chong didn't want anything to do with the assignments of some Central City megacorporation.

The girl seemed to notice how distant he was, so aside from giving directions, she gradually fell silent. The car grew quiet.

The awkwardness of it made Chen Chong raise an eyebrow, but he didn't dwell on it. He could feel himself drawing closer to home, and his emotions grew more unsettled by the moment.

His aunt and uncle must be worried sick... Would his cousin be worried about him? Dongzi had no one to keep an eye on him or play with him. Was he still slacking off?

He had gone from a frail boy to a fighter with a cultivation realm. Returning safely would be a huge surprise for them.

Chen Chong's mind began to wander, and he didn't notice they were approaching a slope.

This place looked familiar... Chen Chong narrowed his eyes, suddenly realizing it was where he'd had that earlier encounter.

"Are we going through here?"

Chen Chong asked in a low voice.

When he heard no answer, he turned his head.

Xie Wushuang was watching him with an almost-smile.

It was the first time he'd seen any expression on the girl's face, but his heart sank at once.

He was just about to turn the wheel when a slender hand reached over and rested on his shoulder.

Chen Chong suddenly found himself unable to move. He couldn't even take his foot off the accelerator.

Xie Wushuang leaned over from the side and took hold of the steering wheel with her other hand, correcting the vehicle's course.

Her upper body was practically lying against Chen Chong's chest. She rested her head on his shoulder, her breath sweet against his ear.

"Hey, going back like this would be no fun at all."

"What are you trying to do?!"

"Nothing. I'm just seeing you off. After all, you actually dared to leave me behind just now. And you even took the chance to touch... touch my thigh, you pervert.

"Still, you're a strange one. You're bold enough to touch me, but all you did was touch my leg."

Xie Wushuang's red lips curled into a smile.

Chen Chong gritted his teeth.

"That was... You said you didn't mind."

"How could I not?"

The girl rolled her eyes at him.

"Women hold grudges. I borrowed your car, and I already paid you for it. You abandoned me and ignored me, so I'm abandoning you once, too. Then we'll be even."

Her tone shifted slightly.

"Good thing you didn't kick me out of the car, or I wouldn't have played along. But even just thinking about it hurt my feelings. Don't do it again."

Chen Chong felt a chill in Xie Wushuang's voice, but he only glared at her.

"You faked being unconscious?"

"More or less."

Xie Wushuang's combat suit suddenly flickered. The apparent tears and stains vanished, revealing that they had been nothing but optical effects.

Her aura changed in an instant, from listless to spirited. She no longer seemed like a quiet, demure young lady. Her knowing smile was alluring, and even her lips looked more vibrant, like flames beneath the setting sun.

She blinked.

"Don't believe girls from the city so easily next time, handsome country boy."

Xie Wushuang breathed into Chen Chong's ear, then gave him a gentle push and shoved him right out of the car. She squeezed into the driver's seat herself.

The off-road vehicle roared to life. She swung it around in a drift, then sped off across the bumpy black earth, moving faster and more smoothly than it had under Chen Chong's control.

Chen Chong hit the ground hard and ended up dazed, with the earthy stench of dirt filling his mouth.

He spat several times and staggered to his feet, but all he saw was the off-road vehicle disappearing into the distance.

Chen Chong's face darkened, but deep down he felt utterly helpless.

He understood that from the moment he'd met Xie Wushuang, the outcome had already been decided.

It had all been a little game that the young lady from the city had played on a whim. It had nothing to do with whether he believed her or wanted to go along with it.

The difference between them was simply too great, too overwhelming. Chen Chong didn't even know what level she was at.

He gritted his teeth and was about to leave as quickly as he could when he heard a familiar voice, speaking in a strange tone.

"Chen Chong?"