I Can't Even Beat a Dog?

Mi Ling motioned for Mi Li to step back a little.

Mi Ling held out her palm. A tightly condensed ball of flame appeared in it, and she aimed it at the lock on the door like a flamethrower, melting through it.

Before long, she had burned a roughly circular hole thirty centimeters across in the door.

The metal parts of the lock began to melt, but before they could melt completely, the lock fell off.

Mi Ling opened the door with ease, then smashed the zombie's head with her iron rod.

All of Mi Li's original equipment had now been handed over to Mi Ling.

On the way home, Mi Ling had learned to conserve her power. Useful as her ability was, her mana bar was limited.

If she could kill a zombie by other means, she was better off not using her ability.

Mi Ling began rummaging through the cupboards and drawers, finding fifteen kilograms of rice and several cans of drinks in the refrigerator.

She then found a case of milk, a dozen or so eggs that hadn't gone bad, a bag of dried red dates, half a case of instant noodles, and a large jug of purified water that was still more than half full.

Every household had at least some supplies stored away. With nearly ten million residences in the Divine Capital, the supplies they held were no less than those in supermarkets and shopping malls.

Of course, searching residential complexes wasn't easy either. If Chen Luo hadn't cleared out most of the zombies, how could Mi Ling have entered the complex so easily?

Mi Ling smiled and generously tossed Mi Li a carton of milk.

Mi Li smiled wryly.

Mi Ling sneered inwardly. Even if I starve to death, I won't accept charity handed out with contempt.

Before leaving, Mi Ling extracted the crystal from between the zombie's eyebrows. Though she looked uncomfortable, that was already no small feat for a young woman at this point.

Searching just one home had yielded a sizable haul. Their home was right downstairs, so Mi Ling planned to take the supplies back first and show off to Chen Luo while she was at it.

You think I'll starve without you?

While Mi Ling was out with Mi Li, Chen Luo had been distracted, wondering whether he had gone a little too far at lunch.

It was fair not to let Mi Ling enjoy a feast when she refused to follow his lead, but he shouldn't have done it in a way that bordered on mockery, or even humiliation.

Would the future mighty goddess of war, the Flame Empress, really submit to him just for the temptation of good food?

If he had been gentler and kinder, using Mi Li as a bridge and keeping Mi Ling firmly hooked with delicious food, it would have been hard for her not to come around.

But he had resorted to cheap tricks that were practically mockery. Would Mi Ling still give him her loyalty?

If she could do that even after this, well, Mi Ling would be far too disappointing.

He had underestimated the Flame Empress, too.

Chen Luo sighed. Mi Ling, Mi Ling, that's what you get for kicking my ass in my previous life.

Don't I have my pride, too?

In his previous life, Chen Luo had been a loner, so naturally he was no match for Mi Ling and her numbers. With Mi Li and her friends backing her up, how could Chen Luo possibly have taken them all on alone?

At the time, Chen Luo had been level ten. He hadn't reached King Rank or mastered Dimensional Blade yet. Powerful though the Void Monarch was, he still couldn't handle being mobbed. Once discovered, all he could do was run.

"Chen Luo, I'm begging you. Stop stealing my vegetables. Do you think growing them is easy? How about I give you a head of cabbage and two potatoes every day?"

Unable to do anything about Chen Luo, Mi Ling had been on the verge of tears.

Chen Luo had chuckled. "Stealing? This is robbery. What's the point of taking handouts from you? Wouldn't that make me a beggar?"

Later, for some utterly baffling reason, Chen Luo had slipped up and been caught by Mi Ling.

With her resentment having built up for ages, Mi Ling had given Chen Luo a vicious kick in the ass.

If not for that, Chen Luo wouldn't have toyed with Mi Ling at lunch.

He couldn't let this drag on, either. He had humiliated Mi Ling at lunch, and with her temperament, she would never genuinely follow him unless he changed his approach.

He didn't have that much time to waste. Wouldn't it be better to win Mi Ling over sooner?

Just then, the door opened. Mi Ling and Mi Li had returned less than ten minutes after leaving.

Mi Ling flaunted the supplies in her hands.

Mi Ling announced loudly, "Tonight I'm having braised beef noodles with two eggs. It might not compare to certain people's feasts, but I'm satisfied."

Chen Luo scoffed. Anyone who didn't know better would think your braised beef noodles actually had beef in them.

I was planning on barbecue tonight. Fine, I'll have beef noodles too. Let me show you what real beef noodles look like.

Chen Luo stood up and said seriously, "Mi Ling, let's talk."

Mi Ling sneered. "Fine. Let's see what fancy excuses you can come up with."

Mi Ling put down her things and sat opposite Chen Luo. Mi Li followed close behind. Naturally, she wanted Mi Ling and Chen Luo to get along as soon as possible.

With a sincere expression, Chen Luo said, "First of all, I did go a little too far at lunch. I shouldn't have treated you that way, and I owe you an apology."

Mi Ling froze for a moment, then scoffed. "Don't tell me you're trying to trick me again. You'll offer me a feast tonight, then make a fool of me all over again? Is that supposed to be fun?"

Chen Luo waved a hand. "You're overthinking it. To be honest, until you sincerely acknowledge me as the leader of this team, I won't share my supplies with you."

"But I really shouldn't have acted that way at lunch."

Seeing that Chen Luo seemed reasonably sincere, Mi Ling's expression softened a little.

Do you think I didn't want that feast? I was practically drooling at the table, and then you told me none of it was for me unless I called you big brother?

For once, I finally let myself be tempted, only for you to leave me utterly defeated.

Chen Luo said, "A leader needs both strength and strategy. I'll prove to you that I completely outclass you in either one."

"First, strength. We'll fight in three days. If I lose, I'll do whatever you say from then on."

Mi Ling's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help standing. "Why wait three days? We can do it today. No, right now. Let's fight."

Mi Ling had been seething since lunch, with nowhere to vent her anger.

Chen Luo chuckled. "As you are now, forget fighting me. You couldn't even beat my Dharma King. It's just that right now, I can't control my strength well enough, and I'm afraid I'll accidentally injure you badly. In three days, I'll have the strength to overwhelm you completely."

Chen Luo had a feeling that in another two or three days, after using the Rat King's and the Devourer's crystals, he would be able to break through to level four. Not only would he be barely able to use Void Walk, but his physical capabilities would also take a major leap forward.

If he beat her now with physical strength alone, without using his ability, would Mi Ling really accept it?

But if he used his ability and only injured her lightly, she wouldn't admit defeat at all.

Seriously injure her? Heh, how could Chen Luo bear to do that? Even if Mi Li learned a healing skill, at this stage, she would still struggle to heal Mi Ling quickly.

Besides, if Mi Ling ended up with any scars, wouldn't I be the one losing out?

At Chen Luo's words, Mi Ling sprang to her feet, her face flushed red.

"Bullshit! You're saying I can't even beat a dog?"