Awakened for Nothing?

The white light came and went quickly.

After briefly illuminating the camp, it receded like water.

Many people were startled by the white light.

Some had already fallen asleep, only to be frightened awake.

They crawled out of their tents to see what was happening.

They were afraid that a strange entity was attacking and they wouldn't have time to escape.

Chen Fan also noticed the white light that had suddenly appeared in the camp.

When he saw that it came from Zhao Xin and her brother's van, he had a guess as to what had happened.

He paid it no further attention.

Some people gathered around the van, wanting to find out exactly what was going on.

The door opened, and Zhao Xin and Zhao Xing got out.

Zhao Xing looked perfectly fine now, full of energy.

He carried a great spear that looked as though it had been cast from white jade.

A coiled white jade dragon wound around the upper half of its shaft.

When the survivors who had gathered learned that the commotion had been caused by Zhao Xing awakening a supernatural ability, their reactions varied.

Some were envious, some were jealous, some offered flattery and fawning praise, and others offered congratulations with a hint of sarcasm.

Zhao Xing paid them little mind. After sending them all away, he took his sister to Chen Fan's RV.

"Captain, are you there? It's Zhao Xing."

Chen Fan opened the RV door and glanced at the siblings.

He asked with a smile, "Awakened?"

"Yes," Zhao Xing hurriedly replied. "I still have to thank you for helping me this afternoon, Captain."

Chen Fan nodded. "Come up and talk."

He invited them into the RV, and they sat down at the dining table.

Chen Fan asked Rongrong to bring over some sunflower seeds and snacks, and brew a pot of tea.

Now that Zhao Xing had awakened a supernatural ability, he was worth taking seriously.

Even when Chen Fan had helped him that afternoon, he had wanted to establish a friendly connection.

Zhao Xin sat there, quietly taking in the interior of the RV.

The room was neat and bright, the tea set exquisite, and a faint fragrance lingered in the air.

As for her and her brother, she didn't know how long it had been since either of them had bathed after the apocalypse.

Their hair was messy, their clothes were dirty, and they were disheveled, with a sour stench coming off them.

Zhao Xin lowered her head, feeling a little ashamed of herself. She even edged her butt outward, only daring to sit on a small part of the chair.

Before the apocalypse, she too had been a pretty, well-groomed girl. Guys would approach her when she went shopping, and she usually had at least two or three pursuing her at once.

But now...

Just sitting in front of Chen Fan, she didn't even dare raise her head. She was embarrassed to touch anything in his RV, afraid of getting it dirty.

Chen Fan didn't show any disgust, though. Not long ago, he had been just as filthy, so he had no reason to look down on them.

He had Rongrong pour tea for the two of them, then picked up his own cup and took a sip first.

He then gestured to them.

"Have some tea."

Zhao Xing was a little ill at ease too. He smiled to ease his nerves.

"No need. My sister and I just came to thank you. Oh, right, this is a small token of our gratitude. Please accept it."

As he spoke, Zhao Xing picked up a sports backpack with a large bag stuffed full of food inside.

It was almost all the food the two of them had, leaving them with only two days' worth.

Chen Fan nodded and pointed a finger, putting the bag of food into his Storage Bag.

He wasn't short of that bit of food now, but since it was a token of their gratitude, he couldn't very well turn them away and hurt their feelings.

Zhao Xing and Zhao Xin were both shocked when the backpack in his hand vanished into thin air.

It took a while for them to calm down.

They exchanged a look, both feeling that Chen Fan was unfathomable.

Thinking again of the supernatural ability he had just awakened, Zhao Xing couldn't help giving a bitter smile inwardly.

Chen Fan looked at Zhao Xing. "Well? Have you gotten familiar with your supernatural ability?"

Zhao Xing pondered for a moment. "I've basically figured it out. My supernatural ability, [Flash Spear], gave me a supernatural great spear."

As he spoke, he pointed to the long white jade spear standing beside him.

Chen Fan asked casually, "Does it have any special abilities? Or did you just get a relatively sharp spear?"

Zhao Xing gave a bitter smile. "When I activate it, the spear can unleash a dazzling flash of light. When the flash erupts, my spear speed increases. I haven't tested exactly how fast it can get.

"It's a pretty ordinary supernatural ability. I hope you won't laugh at me."

The reason for Zhao Xing's bitter smile was simple.

Before awakening his supernatural ability, he had made himself a spear fitted with a strobe light.

Having practiced a little of the Six Harmonies Great Spear technique before, he was someone ordinary survivors wouldn't dare provoke.

Yet now that he had awakened a supernatural ability, it was another spear with a similar flash.

He couldn't help feeling that he had awakened this supernatural ability for nothing...

Chen Fan shook his head at that. "There are no ordinary supernatural abilities, only ordinary people. Try it out in more ways when you get back. Perhaps your ability has something special about it that you haven't discovered.

"Even setting everything else aside, awakening a supernatural ability improves a supernatural's physical abilities. That alone is enough to greatly increase your chances of surviving the apocalypse.

"For example, there's a supernatural I know whose ability has no combat power at all. He can just go hungry and has great endurance. He's still kept up with our convoy all this time, never falling behind.

"Compared with his ability, yours is at least a combat ability, isn't it?"

After hearing him out, Zhao Xing's expression grew much more serious.

"You're right. I was too greedy. I'll work hard to train myself when I get back. No matter what my supernatural ability is like, I can't go wrong by making myself stronger."

Chen Fan nodded. "Good, you understand what I mean."

Then he changed the subject. "Now that you're a supernatural, I'd like to formally invite you to join the group of supernaturals in the convoy.

"You probably already know that all the survivors here are part of an alliance made up of three convoys.

"You can choose to join my Mortal Convoy, or either of the other two convoys in the alliance.

"The Dawn Alliance's purpose is for humans to help one another. Whichever of our three convoys you choose, it's all the same."

With that, Chen Fan picked up his teacup and took a sip, while glancing at Zhao Xing.

Zhao Xing hurriedly said, "Of course I want to follow you, Captain. I've belonged to the Mortal Convoy from the very beginning."

Only then did Chen Fan put down his teacup, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

"I have high hopes for you, Zhao Xing. You have a resilience that ordinary people lack in the apocalypse. Oh, right, find a chance to replace that van of yours. You're a supernatural now, so get yourself a more impressive vehicle."

Zhao Xing was taken aback. He nodded and said, "Understood."

"All right, it's already night. Go get some rest. I'll introduce you to the other supernaturals in the alliance during the day."

Zhao Xing rose to his feet with Zhao Xin.

"Captain, we'll be going, then."

As the two left, Chen Fan let out a breath.

Dropping his act, he slumped against the sofa without any regard for appearances.

"Acting like an expert sure is tiring... But it's worth it to have another supernatural in the convoy. That gives our Mortal Convoy five supernaturals. Just one fewer than Brother Shu's Fairness Convoy... We'll have to keep working hard and try to overtake the Fairness Convoy soon...

"As for Han Tai's Red Yellow Green Convoy, they're small fry. They're not qualified to compete with our Mortal Convoy..."

After he had lain there for a while, the roar of vehicles came from outside.

Chen Fan perked up and sat up.

The convoy that was supposed to appear tonight had arrived!

Chen Fan stepped out of the RV and looked toward the road.

Dazzling searchlights pierced the darkness.

Five enormous vehicles led the way, approaching their stretch of woodland.

At the head of the convoy were five heavy trucks.