Physical prowess, combat skills, and battle instincts were impossible to hide. Bai Yaoyao had already prepared an explanation and gotten everyone's stories straight.
Her late, somewhat unofficial Master had owned a mountain in Huaguo. Ahem, one he had acquired legitimately. She seemed to remember him saying something about it being part of his family's heritage?
Master had also said he had registered a martial arts school. Back then, everyone had laughed at him for bothering, but now it had actually come in handy.
The details didn't matter. It was the Apocalypse; nobody would carefully investigate any of that. Strength was what mattered most, after all.
So they could simply attribute everything to Master. They were all fellow disciples anyway, so it wasn't even a lie. They had merely taken on some side jobs to survive.
As Bai Yaoyao recorded, she kept up a running commentary. "Peiqi, use your legs! What do you think they're for?"
"Xiaomi, is charging all you know how to do? You're still not defending? Want to become a zombie?"
"Fat Brother, look at the flab on your belly! You've gained another two rolls! Hahaha!"
"Yaoyao, you're really asking for a beating!" Fat Brother turned his head to protest.
Before long, under everyone's combined assault, the "Little Green Man" zombie became a sparkling crystal core.
Once the other buildings had been cleared, Bai Yaoyao used her mental scan again. After confirming it was safe, she had the young soldiers start calling out, telling everyone to come downstairs.
Bai Yaoyao didn't want to wait, suspecting this would take a very long time, so she asked, "Hey, buddy, what should I call you?"
The young soldier's face flushed slightly. It's not that I'm shy. Captain Bai is just too beautiful and too cool. "I... my name is Wang Chengcheng. I'm our team's... leader."
"Team Leader Wang, here's what I'm thinking. I'll leave two teammates here to protect you, then take the others across the street to kill the zombies in that residential complex. By the time we're done, you should be finished here too. That'll be much more efficient. What do you think?"
Seeing how young and a little dazed he looked, Bai Yaoyao explained as clearly as she could.
"Ah... huh? You're going ahead?" Wang Chengcheng was a little bewildered. He was used to the other ability-user teams dragging their feet, so the Dark Night Squad's combat efficiency threw him off.
Aside from the Deep Night Squad, which consisted entirely of students, nearly every other team stalled whenever possible so they could negotiate with Captain Meng for more crystal cores.
"Yes. I'll leave our strongest attacker and our strongest defender here. You won't be in danger. We'll be right across the street," Bai Yaoyao explained patiently.
"All right, Captain Bai. You can make the call. Before we left, Captain Meng told us to follow your orders in everything," Wang Chengcheng said quickly, finally snapping out of his daze.
"All right."
With that, Bai Yaoyao took everyone to the villa complex across the street, leaving A-Dai and Stone behind.
A-Dai had caused trouble that morning, so even though he didn't want to stay, he didn't dare say a word. Stone went without saying; sometimes he barely spoke a single sentence all day.
There were only nine houses in the villa complex across the street, but plenty of greenery. Nobody rushed inside; they planned to clear out the zombies outdoors first.
The moment they entered the grounds, they saw a streak of white flash past.
"What was that? It just zipped right by!" Peiqi exclaimed.
"A mutant beast. Probably a white cat," Bai Yaoyao said, sounding a little uncertain.
"There! In the tree! Sis Yaoyao, it looks like the white cat we saw at the Convention Center." Sharp-eyed Xiaomi spotted it and pointed.
Bai Yaoyao's entire body was tense, her mental power tracking the white cat constantly. The cat kept watching her too, occasionally licking its paws, a hint of provocation in its eyes.
The white cat's energy fluctuations were powerful. It didn't seem to be level two, and they might not be able to kill it without injuries. Besides, their main task was rescue. There was no need to provoke a mutant beast that wasn't attacking them.
But the white cat's posture clearly said, Want to get in? Fight me first.
That stirred a little fighting spirit in Bai Yaoyao too. Seeing that Doggie had woken from his long nap in her space and successfully reached level three, she tossed him over to test the white cat's strength. Even if he couldn't gauge it, wearing it down a little would at least earn his keep.
After waking up, Doggie felt he had become the strongest beast in the world! His whole body brimmed with power, and he could eat at least ten big bones in one meal!
Before he could share the good news with his owner, that heartless woman threw him out. He had intended to protest loudly, but... but...
She... she's so beautiful. Blue eyes, snowy-white fur, just as handsome, elegant, and charming as I am. Oh, darling, you've noticed me... Thud!!
Distracted and still lost in the fantasy of meeting his dream lover, Doggie slammed straight into the ground! He left a crater, sending dust flying everywhere.
Bai Yaoyao was utterly stunned! I knew you were unreliable, but I didn't know you were this unreliable! You were clearly awake! You were clearly level three! So why did this happen?!
Even an ordinary little dog wouldn't have fallen that badly from this height!
The white cat was even more stunned. This was the second time she had seen this woman. The woman was very strong, probably too strong for her to beat, so she had left immediately last time.
But this time, she... couldn't retreat. Not even if it killed her!
Seeing the woman send a level-three mutant beast over, her heart sank. A beast and humans too? She was done for; she couldn't beat them. She would fight to the end! Even if she died, she would take a few of them with her!
Her claws were already out, she was poised to leap, and she was ready to die. But he! He had actually fallen! Is this fucking dog an idiot? Are we fighting or not?
Is this woman looking down on me? Did she send out an idiot to humiliate me?!
Doggie realized he had embarrassed himself too, so he simply buried his head in the dirt. Lord Dog has fainted. Lord Dog isn't awake yet. This is so embarrassing. Boohoo...
Bai Yaoyao couldn't describe how she felt. She was just... just so angry she had to laugh! Forget it, Dog Brother. I must have owed you in my past life.
"I'll test her strength first. Chenxuan, give me amplification as needed. The rest of you, hold off for now," Bai Yaoyao said, taking out a dagger.
"Be careful, Sis Yaoyao!"
"Don't push yourself, Yaoyao. We'll jump in if we need to!" Lulu said with a frown.
Bai Yaoyao nodded. Mental Piercing! Teleportation! She closed in!
The white cat was fast too, reaching Bai Yaoyao in the space of a breath. Realizing the woman was no slower than she was, she immediately retreated to put some distance between them.
The white cat felt her mental power being suppressed. Unable to focus fully on the fight, she grew anxious.
Just as she was about to attack again, she discovered that stupid dog had suddenly pounced on her and pinned her down. Damn you, you sneak-attacking dog!
She turned her head to strike, only to discover that the stupid dog was licking her noble fur! Aaaaaah! I'm going to die!
Before you continue