Chapter 168: Correction, No More Worrying

Zombies are hard to kill!

That was the only thought Bian Changxi had after a whole day of running around.

These days, most zombies were at stage three or four—far more advanced than humans. Humans could only make up for the gap with organization, initiative, intelligence, and tools. But if a person fell into a horde of stage three or four zombies, there was really nothing they could do. Especially since these zombies were cunning—if they realized they couldn’t handle an enemy, they’d immediately howl for backup. Fighting one meant fighting a whole nest. It was exhausting.

Bian Changxi only dared to tangle with these monsters alone because she had her spatial ability, long-reaching vines, and heightened senses. Even so, she didn’t gain much—she’d barely killed any zombies.

At this moment, zombies blocked the street in both directions. There weren’t too many, but enough to seal off the road. Bian Changxi was drenched in sweat and covered in grime, but her spirits were still high. Seeing the situation, she didn’t hesitate. She placed her hand on a large tree beside her, and in the next instant, its branches grew wildly, lashing at the zombies like something out of a fantasy drama. The roots thickened and twisted beneath the pavement, breaking through the concrete and trapping the zombies’ legs.

*Crack.* A third-stage green core shattered in her hand. Bian Changxi gave a wry smile—her control ability had improved, but she still needed physical contact to use it effectively. Purely mental control was still problematic. Even with contact, the energy cost was enormous. She’d burned through almost all her green cores on this trip, and the number of new cores she’d collected didn’t even come close to making up for it.

Seeing the core shatter, she didn’t linger. While the zombies were tangled up by the tree, she slipped away like the wind, ran a good distance, pulled out her motorcycle, and sped off toward the base.

She’d been out long enough—the sun was already setting.

She hadn’t gotten the white jade she was after, but she’d gotten a full sense of the zombies’ strength at this stage and had a chance to practice her control-type wood ability. All in all, it was a worthwhile trip.

Her mood was completely different from when she’d left. She’d burned off most of her energy, her body felt lighter, her mind clearer, and her willpower seemed to have leveled up in a single day. That was the best gift a harsh environment could give.

She now understood what she needed to do.

This time, she’d come out from North Avenue. The checkpoint on the way back was strict—fully armed soldiers stepped forward, baton in hand, to stop her motorcycle. “Name, affiliation, do you have a mission permit?”

“Bian Changxi, Jiangcheng. Not on a mission—here’s my ID card.”

The soldier was surprised, looked her over, and scanned her card. When he saw the info on the screen, he was shocked. “You really are Bian Changxi! You actually went out? The base has been going crazy looking for you.”

He’d just come off shift from the base, so he had the latest updates.

“Oh? What do they want with me?”

“Your Jiangcheng Captain Gu—well, he’s Major General Gu now—there’s a celebration banquet tonight, right? There’s a project where each city’s elites compete, and without you, Jiangcheng’s wood ability team doesn’t stand a chance. People are saying Jiangcheng’s medical team is doomed.”

The young soldier was friendly and gossipy, quickly explaining the situation.

Bian Changxi pondered—this hadn’t been mentioned before. Did they set it up after she left?

“When does this event start?”

“Who knows? It’s just a part of the celebration banquet, so it’ll start whenever they want.” The soldier added helpfully, “If you hurry back now, you should make it in time.”

It was just after four. Since the banquet was in the evening, it probably wouldn’t start until five or six, and there’d be a bunch of speeches first.

She could make it.

Bian Changxi thanked him and reached for the toll, but the soldier stopped her. “No need, no need. You’re Major General Gu’s favorite—you’ve got special privileges.”

She paused, smiled politely, and continued on her way, picking up speed.

The checkpoint at the base gate was tougher. She’d snuck out without passing the spatial scanner, so getting back in wouldn’t be easy. But since she dared to come back, she was ready for the possibility that her “space” ability might be discovered. Just as she was about to enter, a black military vehicle pulled up from inside the base. A sharp-looking officer in uniform stepped out, immediately spotting her in the crowd. His usually gentle eyes flashed with rare coldness and displeasure, but it was gone in an instant. He walked over, his aide showed credentials, and after a brief exchange, the guards lifted the barrier and let Bian Changxi in.

No spatial scan required.

The officer said, “You’re back?” He glanced at her disheveled state. “Go clean up first. You’ll need to attend later.”

This officer was Qiu Feng, a full colonel, tall and handsome, with a refined, aristocratic air. If she hadn’t caught that fleeting impatience in his eyes, Bian Changxi might have thought he was genuinely welcoming.

In fact, of everyone in the villa, only Qiu Feng still had reservations about her.

She got in the car. “Sorry for the trouble.”

Qiu Feng replied smoothly, “No trouble, but A-Xu was worried. You went out before we even knew if you’d fully recovered—he nearly couldn’t sit still at the event.” He added meaningfully, “Only you would dare. If A-Pei goes out, he has to file a report. He’s jealous of you.”

In other words, Gu Xu only indulged Bian Changxi like this—he wouldn’t even allow his own brother to come and go as he pleased.

On the battlefield, this was a serious breach of military discipline—acting alone, disregarding orders. Such behavior was absolutely unacceptable.

Bian Changxi wasn’t a soldier, but she should at least have the sense to report and discuss her actions. Last time, when she went to Hongri, she’d caught everyone off guard.

Actually, she had mentioned the night before that she was going out, but she hadn’t discussed it with anyone—she just announced her decision and went upstairs. Gu Xu hadn’t even been present.

Bian Changxi’s expression didn’t change. She looked out the window and nodded in agreement. “I really have been too self-willed. I won’t do it again. I’ll do as everyone else does, and won’t make him worry about me anymore.”

Qiu Feng suddenly felt something was different about her.

The celebration banquet was held at a public restaurant near the base’s administrative building. The weekly elite gatherings were usually on the top floor, but this time it was on the second floor, which was more spacious and had a stage for competitions.

When Qiu Feng brought Bian Changxi in, she was surprised to see the competition had already started. On stage was Shadow and another man. Shadow moved with incredible speed, flicking out thin white blades that vanished just as they touched his opponent. The opponent, a metal-type, carried a huge golden shield but was completely bewildered, unable to block anything.

As Shadow darted around, some device on him released a steady stream of mist, growing thicker and thicker until the audience couldn’t see the stage at all. Then came a muffled grunt and the sound of a body hitting the floor. When the mist cleared, the metal-type was down and Shadow stood alone, cold and proud.

*Applause thundered.* Someone shouted, “So that’s how you use mist abilities!”

“I thought it was just for humidifying the air.”

“What were those white blades?”

“Hey, look!”

Everyone saw that the metal-type’s clothes were shredded into strips.

Those blades that vanished must have been incredibly sharp and precise.

Bian Changxi frowned. “Shadow’s body is fully healed?”

She’d been unconscious for two days and was out of the loop, but by her estimate, Shadow should have needed at least another week to recover, even with her daily treatments.

Qiu Feng watched as Shadow stepped off the stage. “Our approach for this competition is quality over quantity, uniqueness over strength. Each ability type sends a representative with unique skills. For mist, it’s only Shadow.”

Everyone else was still stuck using their abilities as humidifiers.

So Shadow must be forcing himself.

They quickened their pace. The stage was brightly lit, but the seating area was dim. Their arrival drew plenty of attention, especially since Bian Changxi noticed her seat was right next to Gu Xu.

Gu Xu was also in uniform. Unlike last time in the new district, this time his broad shoulders bore a real epaulet with one star and one tassel, gleaming even in the dim light.

Gu Xu looked up at her, his gaze clear and gentle, his voice low and powerful. “You’re back. Are you feeling better?”

Bian Changxi narrowed her eyes slightly, lowered her head to avoid his gaze, and sat down. “I’m fine now. Sorry to have worried you.”

Gu Xu paused, wanting to say more, but Shadow had come down. Gu Xu’s group sat at the same table—Shadow on Qiu Feng’s right, then Gu Xu, then Bian Changxi, then Qiu Yun and Wu Dalang. Gu Xu asked Shadow quietly, “How are you?”

“I’m okay.”

“No, you’re not,” Bian Changxi said. A thin vine snaked under the table and wrapped around Shadow’s wrist. Sensing his poor condition, she sent energy his way, her face darkening. “Don’t push yourself. Let me help.”

She told Gu Xu, “He can hold on for now, but he’ll need at least two weeks of bed rest when we get back.”

Wu Dalang laughed, “I’d love to lie in bed for a month—Shadow, you really put on a show.”

Earth-type abilities were common, and since Wu Dalang didn’t have any special skills, Gu Xu hadn’t let him compete, sending someone else instead. Wu Dalang was itching for action.

*PS:*

Thanks to anna0626 for the safety charm!

Thanks to aquazl for the pink ticket!

There’s another chapter tonight—three updates today~~