Brother Shang, Your Sequence Has to Be B-Rank, Right? Taking You as My Adoptive Father

"Holy shit, flying? Brother Tie, are you sure you're not kidding?"

"And killing over a hundred people in an hour? How's that possible?"

Zhou Ping exclaimed.

Liu Tie merely glanced at him without answering.

"Uh... don't tell me it's actually true?"

"..."

At that, Zhou Ping felt a little awkward, but mostly shocked.

Because that meant everything Liu Tie had said was true.

"Holy shit, there are actually freaks that powerful? You've got to be kidding. We're all Sequence Transcendents, aren't we?!

Brother Tie, why do I feel like the Sequence Transcendents you're talking about belong in a completely different genre from us?!"

Zhou Ping said.

But Liu Tie shook his head at that.

"It's fine. You'll get used to it. This world was never fair to begin with. Even a Sequence User with an A-rank Sequence like Captain Li could die in this hellhole from one careless mistake."

"But there's no point talking about that now. The Hope Convoy broke apart ages ago. I don't even know whether Captain Li is still alive."

With that, Liu Tie shook his head, no longer in the mood to continue.

"Huh? Then... Brother... Brother Tie, even an A-rank Sequence can't handle those weird entities?"

For some reason, Zhou Ping felt a little hopeless.

If even someone with an A-rank Sequence couldn't be sure of surviving another day in this Weird World, when would this apocalypse ever end?

Perhaps guessing what Zhou Ping was thinking, Liu Tie looked at him.

Then he spoke.

"Forget it. An A-rank Sequence might be powerful, but it's nowhere near enough to put an end to this damned Weird World.

If anyone could end this damned apocalypse, it'd probably have to be someone with that legendary S-rank Sequence."

"S-rank Sequence?"

Fan Shang lifted a large helping of noodles from the pot into a bowl, then set it in front of Little Black.

Little Black sniffed it, then began eating with little meows.

"Didn't you say there were only four ranks? There's an S-rank Sequence too?"

Fan Shang looked at Liu Tie in confusion.

Liu Tie waved a hand, then continued.

"There are only four ranks. This S-rank thing is just something I heard from Captain Li before. I don't actually know whether it exists. I was still an ordinary person who hadn't awakened back then, after all."

"But whether it exists or not, I choose to believe it does. You need a little hope to keep living in this hellish world, right?"

As he spoke, most of the noodles in the pot had been eaten, leaving a little broth.

Seeing that everyone was full, Liu Tie waved a few survivors over to take the pot away and wash it.

The remaining broth was their payment.

They chatted a little longer, and Zhou Ping completely forgot their earlier conversation.

Recalling how Fan Shang had dealt with the weird entity last night,

Zhou Ping couldn't help giving him a curious glance.

Then another.

"If you've got a question, ask."

Noticing the looks Zhou Ping kept sneaking at him, Fan Shang spoke.

Zhou Ping felt a little embarrassed.

"Haha, you caught me, Brother Shang?"

"It's nothing important, just..."

"Then don't bother."

Fan Shang glanced at Zhou Ping and made to stand. Zhou Ping hurriedly spoke up.

"Wait, wait! Brother Shang, don't! I'll talk. I'll tell you right now..."

After pulling Fan Shang back into his seat, Zhou Ping finally began voicing his curiosity.

"Um... well, Brother Shang, I was actually wondering about this yesterday. Of course, if you find it offensive, you don't have to answer."

"It's just... Brother Shang, do you really have the House Guard Sequence?"

"?"

"Yes."

Fan Shang answered.

Since he had already said so before, he naturally couldn't change his story now.

"Didn't you ask that yesterday? If you're asking again, I'm guessing that isn't your real question. What exactly do you want to know?"

Fan Shang gave Zhou Ping a searching look as he spoke.

"Uh..."

At Fan Shang's words, Zhou Ping suddenly grew bashful.

The sight sent a shudder of revulsion through Liu Tie.

"Actually, well, I just wanted to ask..."

Zhou Ping spoke softly, edging a little closer to Fan Shang as he did.

Even Fan Shang's deadpan expression twitched at that, and he nearly threw a punch.

Fortunately, Fan Shang had enough self-control to suppress the urge. He merely shifted away a little to keep his distance.

He wanted to see what Zhou Ping was going to say.

But he would have been better off not listening. Once he did...

It nearly left Fan Shang dumbfounded.

"Brother Shang, judging by what you did yesterday, be honest with your buddy here. Your Sequence has to be... has to be B-rank, right?" Zhou Ping asked quietly.

"..."

"???"

"Brother Shang, don't bother denying it. Brother Tie and the others were busy watching out for weird entities, so they didn't get a good look, but I saw it crystal clear.

You weren't even winded after dealing with that weird entity. It was like a dad beating his son. Don't try to fool me. Your Sequence is definitely B-rank, right?!"

Zhou Ping said excitedly.

But in contrast to Zhou Ping's excitement, Fan Shang was rather speechless.

"So you spent all that time squirming around just to say that?"

For some reason, Fan Shang felt the urge to give this guy a good smack.

"Of course not."

Zhou Ping immediately denied it.

"I just wanted to make sure, then ask you something else, Brother Shang."

"What?"

"Brother Shang, do you need a lackey?"

"?"

"An adopted son works too, of course. Brother Shang, you might not know this, but I've thought you looked like my father for a while now. From the moment I met you, I felt this inexplicable closeness to you."

"??"

"So, Brother Shang! If you'll have me, I'd gladly take you as my adoptive father! As long as you keep your son safe from now on, I'll follow your every command!"

"???"

With that, Zhou Ping moved to drop to his knees.

Fan Shang was utterly dumbfounded.

Oh, so this was what you were building up to?!

Even as that thought crossed his mind, Fan Shang instinctively raised his foot and kicked.

Zhou Ping promptly fell flat on his face.

"Fuck, that was close."

Wiping nonexistent cold sweat from his face, Fan Shang felt that even fighting weird entities had never made him this nervous.

Meanwhile, Liu Tie's face had gone completely dark after watching the scene.

"Ow, Brother Tie! Brother Tie, give me a hand."

Zhou Ping shot him a pleading look, but he immediately looked away, afraid someone might realize he knew this sorry bastard.

Left with no choice, Zhou Ping wriggled his way up off the ground.

But as soon as he stood and looked at Fan Shang,

For some reason, Zhou Ping felt as though his legs had a mind of their own. They weakened, ready to kneel again.

Fortunately, he was stopped in time.

"Enough!"

Fan Shang said, his face dark.

How could he not understand what Zhou Ping was after? He just wanted protection.

There was nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all.

Wanting to survive was human instinct. No one could fault him for it.

But as always, Fan Shang had never considered himself a good person.

His abilities were limited. He could only look after his own little patch of ground.

This was the apocalypse. Everyone could rely only on themselves.

So never mind begging him or calling him an adoptive father-even calling him "Mom" wouldn't earn a second glance from Fan Shang.

But there were exceptions to everything.

"All right, Zhou Ping. Cut the act and wipe that expression off your face. Let's skip the empty gestures. If you want to bet on me and have me protect you, fine."

"But forget all that lackey and adoptive-father stuff. We've both spent long enough in this apocalypse to know those things are just words."

"Let's talk about something concrete. If you want me to protect you, it's only fair to pay me, right? I don't want anything else, just that porridge of yours. As long as you can supply me with Rune Meat Porridge."

"I'll do my best to protect you within my capabilities. Of course, if we run into danger even I can't handle, I'll be the first to run. What do you say?"

Fan Shang looked at Zhou Ping.

Zhou Ping said nothing.

He simply looked back, then...

Nodded solemnly.

"Deal!"