Women in the City

Chen Chong felt there was a deeper meaning to Xie Wushuang's words, but he chose to ignore it.

He still had no idea where this mysterious girl came from or what her true strength was. Saying too much would only lead to mistakes, so Chen Chong simply didn't take the bait.

"Put it away. This is payment for your assistance. Sorry for taking up your time."

Xie Wushuang placed her hands on her knees, keeping them pressed tightly together. She sat in a ladylike manner and nodded slightly toward Chen Chong.

Actually, there was also the Battle Angel Serum. Although it was a one-time combat stimulant, it had helped him break through his bottleneck, and its effects were no less impressive than the Earth Dragon Meat.

Chen Chong thought to himself.

The effect that serum unleashed was comparable to his Second Form, and it had no obvious side effects; it must have been incredibly expensive.

Then there was the A-1; he didn't even know what it was worth 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 quite a bargain.

"Have you ever used a gun?"

Xie Wushuang asked.

Chen Chong shook his head.

"I'll teach you."

Xie Wushuang leaned in closer, her braided hair swinging right into Chen Chong's lap.

A faint fragrance drifted into Chen Chong's nose, one that even the intense battle and the stench of Earth Dragon blood couldn't mask.

She took the pistol and showed Chen Chong the sights, safety, and trigger, then demonstrated how to reload, disassemble, and maintain it:

"Did you see that clearly?"

She was leaning in a bit too close, but fortunately, Chen Chong was more interested in the firearm.

Although she only demonstrated it once, Chen Chong nodded.

Xie Wushuang glanced at him and handed the pistol back.

Chen Chong held the Bluebird Model 900 and examined it.

The silver gun body was incredibly sleek, polished to just the right angles, and the brown grip featured anti-slip textures shaped like flying birds—lifelike and highly artistic.

To Chen Chong, the pistol felt a bit small, but it wasn't awkward to hold; it was clearly a lady's handgun.

A compact frame that could fit right in a pocket yet unleash immense power, and the barrel even came with a built-in silencer.

A concealed and beautiful lethal weapon.

"Since everything is finished, let's head back to the city together. Where do you live?"

Xie Wushuang asked.

Chen Chong thought for a moment and said:

"Lichuan."

"That's on the way. Just drop me off at Lichuan."

Xie Wushuang nodded:

"Is your compass broken? I'll direct the way. We still need to be careful of Earth Dragons on the way out."

She took out a handheld computer and occasionally corrected the direction with Chen Chong.

There were no obstacles on the Wasteland, and the off-road vehicle performed well on the terrain; as long as he controlled the speed to avoid flipping, it was fine.

Xie Wushuang chatted with Chen Chong from time to time, asking how he fell into the trap and what he experienced there.

Chen Chong replied casually, but remained tight-lipped about his family and certain experiences.

Being the subject of interest for such a beautiful young girl would indeed make most men feel a bit floaty.

Of course, Chen Chong wasn't completely immune to Xie Wushuang's stunning appearance, but he still remembered that she was an expert affiliated with a major corporation's Security Department who could single-handedly slay a hundred-meter Earth Dragon.

He thought twice about asking which company she belonged to, but since she hadn't mentioned any confidentiality protocols, it was better not to remind her.

This was for the best; the two of them shouldn't have any further entanglements, and they should just act as if they had never met.

The scam companies in the Wasteland were dangerous enough; Chen Chong didn't want to get involved with any missions from the mega-corporations in Central City.

The girl seemed to sense Chen Chong's detachment, so she gradually stopped talking except to give directions, and the car fell into a silence.

This strange sense of awkwardness made Chen Chong raise an eyebrow, but he didn't pay it much mind; he only felt that he was getting closer to home, and his emotions began to surge.

His uncle and aunt must be worried sick... would his cousin be worried about him? With no one to look after Dongzi or play with him, was he still acting like a slacker?

Going from a frail youth to a fighter with a cultivation realm, his safe return would surely give them a huge surprise.

Chen Chong gradually became distracted and didn't notice they were approaching a slope.

It looked a bit familiar... Chen Chong's eyes narrowed as he suddenly realized this was the place where the skirmish had occurred earlier.

"Why are we passing through here?"

Chen Chong said in a deep voice.

Receiving no answer, he turned his head.

Xie Wushuang was looking at him with a faint, inscrutable smile.

This was the first time he had seen an expression on the young girl's face, yet his heart sank to the bottom of a well.

Just as he was about to turn the steering wheel, a slender hand reached over from the side and rested on his shoulder.

Chen Chong felt his entire body lock up instantly; he couldn't even manage to lift his foot off the accelerator.

Xie Wushuang leaned over from the side, her other hand steadying the steering wheel to correct the off-road vehicle's course.

Her entire upper body was practically pressed against Chen Chong's chest, her head tilted onto his shoulder as she breathed out like an orchid:

"Hey, going back like this would be far too boring."

"What do you want?!"

"Nothing much, just giving you a ride. Who told you to dare abandon me just now? And you even took the opportunity to touch... touch my thigh, you pervert."

"Though, if I say you're timid, you dared to touch me; if I say you're bold, you actually only touched my leg after all that."

Xie Wushuang's red lips curled upward.

Chen Chong gritted his teeth:

"That was... didn't you say it was fine?"

"How could that be!"

The young girl rolled her eyes at him:

"Women are very vengeful. I borrowed your car, and I've already paid the price; you abandoned me and ignored me, so I'll abandon you once too. That way, we'll be even."

Her tone shifted slightly:

"It's fortunate you didn't kick me out of the car, otherwise I wouldn't play with you anymore. But, even just thinking about it is heartbreaking. Don't let it happen again."

Chen Chong felt a chill emanating from Xie Wushuang's lips, yet he only glared at her:

"You were faking being unconscious?"

"You could say that."

The combat suit on the young girl's body suddenly flickered; the holes and stains that had appeared to be there vanished, revealing them to be nothing more than an optical effect.

Her aura instantly shifted from withered to vibrant, and she no longer possessed the temperament of a quiet lady. Her faint smile appeared bewitching, and even her vermilion lips seemed more flushed, like flames under the setting sun.

She blinked her eyes:

"In the future, don't easily believe the words of city girls, country hunk."

Xie Wushuang blew a breath into Chen Chong's ear, then gave a light push, shoving Chen Chong out of the vehicle before sliding into the driver's seat herself.

The off-road vehicle let out a wild roar, performed a drifting U-turn, and sped off across the uneven black earth at full throttle, looking far faster and more stable than when Chen Chong had been in control.

Chen Chong tumbled onto the ground, dizzy and disoriented, his mouth filled with the metallic tang of dirt.

He spat a few times and staggered to his feet, only to see the back of the off-road vehicle disappearing into the distance.

Chen Chong's expression was grim, but deep inside, he felt a profound sense of powerlessness.

He understood that from the moment he encountered Xie Wushuang, the outcome had already been set.

Everything was merely a little game for this city miss on a whim; it had nothing to do with whether he believed her or was willing to go along with it.

The gap in strength between them was too vast, too disparate; Chen Chong didn't even know what level she was at.

Gritting his teeth, Chen Chong was just about to leave quickly when he heard a familiar voice with a strange tone:

"Chen Chong?"