Chapter 25: Rumors Can Kill

Sang Chu: ""So, if I want to build a base, I need to have a team too, right?""

Sang Jingwen fell silent for a moment. ""Not necessarily, Sang Sang. You're really good at getting weapons, and even an ability user base can be taken down in an instant. But to be safe, I think I should find C.""

Sang Chu: ""Brother, ability users are useless!""

Lin Muxue and Lu Minli both looked at her in surprise. ""Sang Sang, how do you know they're useless?""

""When I came back last time, I tried to attack Wu Feng with my ability, but he just blocked it directly. It couldn't do any damage.""

Lin Muxue: ""But Wu Feng isn't an ordinary ability user. I used normal weapons to beat him to a pulp and he still survived.""

Lu Minli: ""I think, to be safe, it's better to find a third ability user privately.""

Tu You (the rabbit): [Ah Chu, I think maybe you can make a deal with that flood dragon!]

Tu You, who had been quietly in the background, suddenly spoke up, making Sang Chu pause. [What do you mean?]

[Look, you took all its things, so it can't do anything now. But if you give it something back and let it guard the city?]

Sang Chu: [That flood dragon is fierce, but why would it agree? What if it betrays us when the time comes?]

[Dummy, don't forget, you have spiritual cultivation. If you reach its level, controlling it will be key. Nothing else matters.]

[Just think about it.]

...

""Why did you betray me?""

Yi Ping and a medium-built man stood back to back, surrounded by a group.

""Brother Yi, everyone knows you're powerful, but I put some ability-suppressing herbs in your water, so you can't resist.""

Yi Ping: ""Why did you betray me!""

The seemingly honest man laughed loudly. ""Don't you know, Brother Yi? There's a rumor that drinking an ability user's blood can awaken powers. Brother Yi, just be good and don't resist. Let us have some of your blood. Maybe everyone can awaken abilities and get stronger. Isn't that great?""

Yi Ping, fighting the discomfort in his body, raised his hand and ignited a blazing fire. ""Nonsense, that's just a lie! And you believe it?""

The man standing behind him, who had always acted like his buddy, whispered, ""Exactly, what an idiot!""

""Ah Ni isn't lying. The boss said it himself. Brother Yi, you don't want to stop everyone from awakening, do you?""

Yi Ping: ""Heh, if that's true, why doesn't your boss give you his blood? Why come after me?""

""The boss won't give it, but he's already bled and awakened his ability. Otherwise, how could he have left us behind? The boss said the stronger the ability, the higher the chance of awakening. Brother Yi, please, just cooperate.""

Seeing the greed in their eyes, Yi Ping struggled to stay conscious, planning to fight his way out.

Ah Ni shouted, ""Don't let him get away! Hold him down!""

The man behind him shoved Yi Ping forward, holding a Tang sword to his chest.

Yi Ping couldn't bring himself to hurt his own people. He staggered back to Ah Ni and said, ""If I'm going to die, let's die together. I'm not a coward!""

He tried to summon flames, but the poison had already spread, and the fire in his hands grew weaker and weaker.

Out of his sight, Ah Ni exchanged a look with Shi Yang.

Ah Ni shouted, ""Go, Brother Yi, let's break out together!""

Yi Ping: ""Alright.""

He thought he could catch Ah Ni off guard by acting first, but just as his powers faded from the poison, Ah Ni stabbed him in the chest.

Yi Ping's body went rigid. He looked down at his bleeding chest, blood trickling from his lips. ""You... why...""

Shi Yang laughed. ""Of course it was a setup. Even if you lost your powers, we still have to guard against you.""

Ah Ni, grinning, pulled out the sword, his hands covered in blood, unable to hide his excitement.

""Brother Yi, with all your skills, how could I forget your kindness?""

""Bah!""

Yi Ping spat blood at Ah Ni, then staggered forward. Ah Ni tried to pull out the sword, but—

Unexpectedly, Yi Ping rolled backward, the blade piercing through his own body and into Ah Ni's.

With a grunt, Yi Ping yanked out the sword, watching Ah Ni fall to the ground. He raised the blade again, his eyes cold.

""If you want to die, let's all die together.""

Everyone was shocked by Shi Yang's death. They hadn't expected that even without his powers, Yi Ping could still fight back.

""Don't be afraid! He doesn't have his powers anymore. Let's get him together!""

...

Meanwhile,

On the road, Sang Chu and her group were standing around, watching as Sang Chu fiddled with a device, trying to operate it.

The result—

Awkward silence.

Sang Jingwen stepped forward. ""Little sis, how about I try?""

Sang Chu looked at her failed attempt, a bit embarrassed. ""I thought this thing was smart too...""

It looked so high-tech, who knew you had to switch it to off-road mode to change its shape? Only with the right command could it transform.

Lin Muxue couldn't help but laugh, leaning on the car. ""Oh my, if only you'd let Brother Wen do it earlier! Even my skills are better than yours!""

Grandma glanced at the embarrassed Sang Chu and patted Lin Muxue's waist. ""Xue, don't tease her.""

Lin Muxue pouted. ""But it really is funny...""

Lu Minli didn't say anything, but after Sang Chu finished, she walked up and said, ""Ah Chu, I want to discuss something with you.""

""Go ahead.""

""I was thinking, maybe we should split up. Since we've decided to build a base in Haishi, we shouldn't all go to the same place. It's too risky.""

She didn't say it outright, but she felt that even though the modified vehicle was convenient in the apocalypse and not easily noticed, it wasn't really suitable for the elderly.

Sang Chu had thought of this too. ""Brother, Xue, what do you think?""

Sang Jingwen was busy planning the layout, but replied, ""I'm fine with anything. But I want to go with Sang Sang.""

Lin Muxue glanced at her grandma, then at Sang Chu. ""I'll stay with Grandma. I don't want to keep running around—it's exhausting. Besides, Grandma and I are familiar with Haishi. Even though it's changed a lot, it's still mostly the same.""

There was another reason—she was tired of following along. The constant noise was getting on her nerves.

""Then Minli and Muxue will stay. Brother, you come with me to save Yi Ping."""