With that, Sheng An flung his hand away.
Lou Mingwei's hand was broken, and he lay on the ground in too much pain to get up.
Sheng An straightened and swept a cold gaze over everyone in Group A before finally looking at Qiu Yu. "Looks like you really will have to write a self-criticism this time, Group Leader Qiu. Two attacks. You'd better reflect on that."
Then she walked out, her retreating figure composed and carefree.
Jiang Yu shot them a fierce glare before following Sheng An with the others.
Their group left under Group A's furious stares.
On the ground, Lou Mingwei was helped up by the others. Drenched in sweat, his face pale and twisted, he said, "Group Leader Qiu... she actually broke my hand! She-"
Smack! Qiu Yu slapped him hard across the face.
Lou Mingwei froze.
Qiu Yu's gaze looked ready to devour him as she stared him down. "If you ever dare attack her again, I'll kill you!"
Terror filled Lou Mingwei's eyes.
All of them knew what Qiu Yu was capable of, and all of them feared her deeply...
-She was a Superpower Person who could strip people of their souls.
Outside the cafeteria.
Song Linwei frowned. "Group A is way too arrogant."
Hao Jingye said, "That's the kind of person Qiu Yu is, so naturally her subordinates are the same. Now do you understand why the higher-ups favor Sister Sheng?"
Song Linwei nodded slowly.
Jiang Yu looked at Sheng An, stars in her eyes. "But you were so cool just now, Sister Sheng!"
Li Xin nodded instinctively, then caught himself and snorted in displeasure. "Why didn't you let me fight them? They went way too far. I wanted to beat them up!"
Jiang Yu rolled her eyes. "Are you an idiot? How many of them are there, and how many of us?"
Group A already had at least five Superpower People alone.
On their side, they currently had only Li Xin, who was still a minor...
How could they possibly win?
Besides, Lou Mingwei had a lightning ability, which made him difficult to deal with.
Jiang Yu let out a long sigh.
Beside her, Sheng An also let out a long sigh.
Jiang Yu asked, "Are you worried too, Sister Sheng?"
Sheng An glanced at them and said wistfully, "No, I was wondering-why are all of Qiu Yu's subordinates so obedient, while you lot are so rebellious?"
Everyone: "..."
Come on!
Could you focus on what matters?!
Hao Jingye wasn't one to dwell on emotions. Ever the model worker, he had already taken out his tablet and was swiping and tapping away, his lips pressed tight. "I need to check Group A's current situation."
Sheng An tilted her chin. "Let's head over there."
The group walked over briskly.
This was the outdoor training ground, a vast, empty space with a flag standing in the middle. They sat on the steps beneath it.
Sheng An had someone bring over some cola.
She tossed each of them a can and said casually, "Normally, this would call for a drink, but alcohol in broad daylight gets in the way of work. We'll make do with some couch-potato happy juice."
Jiang Yu was surprised. "Sister Sheng, you even know people call cola couch-potato happy juice?"
Li Xin was equally surprised.
Sheng An pulled the tab, looking speechless. "Thank you very much. I'm twenty-five, not two hundred and fifty."
The two of them: "..."
They rubbed their noses awkwardly.
For some reason, when they were around Sheng An, they always forgot her age. Perhaps because she was so dependable, she always gave them the impression of someone serious and proper.
It was hard to associate her with internet slang.
Song Linwei smiled. Having just weathered that little "storm," he understood why Sheng An had brought them together. It wasn't merely to analyze Group A's situation, but more importantly, to strengthen the team's cohesion.
Drinking cola while discussing the most serious matters felt strangely incongruous.
Song Linwei smiled, shook his head, and took a sip of cola.
Ever the model worker, Hao Jingye had already gotten down to business:
"Group A currently has seven people in total. They originally had five: Qiu Yu, her assistant Gu Cheng, the reborn Wu Zhi, Fire-Type Esper Geng Leqian, and Water Esper Huang Weiyang.
"Lightning ability user Lou Mingwei and Earth-Type Superpower user Yang Chuan are the two Qiu Yu just brought back-the powerful recruits she values so highly. Lou Mingwei stands out more, but Yang Chuan shouldn't be underestimated either. Also, he's the reborn person who made that post."
During the screening a few days earlier, they had identified two people: an accurate prophet and "Iron Man."
The latter was Li Xin, and the former was Yang Chuan.
Sheng An sank into thought.
Jiang Yu sucked in a breath, her voice rising. "They even have an Earth-Type Superpower user!"
Sheng An raised an eyebrow and glanced at Jiang Yu. "An Earth-Type Superpower user would complement you very well, if people could enter your space."
Jiang Yu awkwardly averted her gaze, her voice faint. "But they can't."
Sheng An neither agreed nor disagreed and looked away. "True enough. Besides, your ideal partner would have a Plant-Type Superpower."
Li Xin sat up straight, his expression very serious. "Hey, how can you all be so calm? Group A has so many powerful people already! Of the Metal-Wood-Water-Fire-Earth Elements, they've got three covered, plus a powerful Lightning-Type Ability and a unique Puppet ability!"
"Worrying won't help," Sheng An said calmly.
Li Xin was so frustrated with her that he gritted his teeth, feeling utterly miserable.
The person in charge wasn't worried, while he was beside himself with anxiety.
Song Linwei sighed. "Worrying really won't help. We should hurry up and search for Aberrants. There are already so many in the Capital City. If necessary, we can expand our search and look in other provinces like they do."
Seeing how worried they were,
Sheng An shook her head and chuckled. "Don't worry so much. Our group isn't doing that badly. Don't we still have members who haven't returned?"
Jiang Yu's eyes lit up, and her voice rose. "Right! We still have Li Wanyun!"
-She was a Spatial Ability User!
And a reborn Space Esper at that, starting out with five billion. She clearly had the standard heroine setup.
Li Xin asked, "Is she another 'chosen heroine'?"
He rubbed his chin and mused, "True, we might not have many members, but none of them seem ordinary..."
Sheng An tapped his forehead, looking speechless. "What's all this about chosen heroes and heroines? Doesn't Group A have reborn people and Superpower People too? Doesn't a Lightning-Type Ability sound badass?"
Li Xin: "..."
Fuck, it really did sound more like a protagonist's ability than his.
Sheng An said, "I wasn't just talking about Li Wanyun. There's also Team 0."
She gave Jiang Yu and Li Xin a meaningful look, then spread her hands helplessly. "If you underestimate Team 0 and suffer for it, don't say I didn't warn you."
Jiang Yu felt a little eager.
Li Xin, however, curled his lip. They were just ordinary people. What was so impressive about them?
How could they compare with chosen Superpower People like them?
Jiang Yu was still worried. "We're looking for people, but so is Group A. If they really end up stronger than us, what are we going to do? Sister Sheng, aren't you worried at all?"
"No." Sheng An drank her cola, her tone as calm as ever. "I don't think you're any worse than them. Your abilities go far beyond what you imagine. Besides, even if Group A really is strong, that's fine."
"She's provoking you!" Li Xin almost jumped up, blurting out urgently, "What if her group really is stronger than yours, and she kills you after the Apocalypse?"
"She won't," Sheng An said with absolute certainty.
Jiang Yu looked puzzled. "Why?"
Sheng An said, "She'll want to oust me, but she won't kill me. The same goes for you. Groups A and B are rivals, but we're also teammates. Qiu Yu and I come from the same background. We were both raised by the country, and we'll both put its interests ahead of our personal grudges."
"Really?" Jiang Yu wasn't entirely convinced.
Sheng An smiled without explaining.
There were things other people wouldn't understand, because they were convictions etched into the soul, the pillars that sustained them.
Li Xin was baffled. "What exactly are you thinking? The Apocalypse is almost here, and you're still this patriotic?"
What if the country no longer existed by then?
Sheng An suddenly tilted her head and smiled. "What's my name?"
"Sheng An."
"Which Sheng? Which An?"
"Sheng as in blooming, and An as in peace of mind?"
"Wrong. Sheng as in a golden age, and An as in a nation at peace, its people safe." Sheng An stood as she spoke, raising her hand and giving the can a gentle toss.
The can landed precisely in the trash bin. She stepped away with a soft laugh.
Her retreating figure was carefree and composed, yet her back was straight, her resolve unwavering.
-Sheng An.
-"Sheng An," for the sole wish that this golden age would endure, the nation at peace and its people safe.
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