What?! I Became the Zombie Beauty in the Villain’s Arms – CH202-204

Chapter 202| Chapter 203| Chapter 204

Chapter 202: The Bad Guy’s Guarantee

Pei Xiqing didn’t actually manage to run away. The moment the man stepped out of the bathroom, she was subjected to a thorough, relentless torment. Now, lying on the bed, she couldn’t help but point an accusing, trembling finger at him.

Duan Xiaolin caught her hand, brought it to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss against her knuckles. “Hmm? Were you just scolding me?”

Pei Xiqing clutched the duvet tightly against her chest, her body completely exhausted and trembling. “You’ve gone way too far…”

“You have to pay the price for scolding me, you know.”

“You—”

The man let out a low chuckle, his broad, bare chest pressing down over her. His perfectly sculpted muscles were slightly tense, creating a stark contrast against Pei Xiqing’s delicate, soft skin. “Be good, and I’ll be gentle.”

“Really?”

The very next second, Pei Xiqing couldn’t help but gasp, “You absolute bastard…”

Duan Xiaolin teased softly, “I’ll let you know in advance next time.”

“…”

Pei Xiqing didn’t get a single wink of sleep that night. To be more precise, neither of them did.

He had been entirely occupied with their intimacy over the past few days. Every time he came back to bed, she was already fast asleep, which had left him feeling thoroughly suffocated. Now that she was awake, he wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip by.

She genuinely couldn’t understand where this man got so much energy. He had to wake up at six o’clock every morning to prepare Xiaobai’s food, head out to the fields to harvest vegetables at seven, cook breakfast for her at eight, and spend the vast majority of the day performing heavy farm work… Where did he store it all?

Pei Xiqing felt the bed shift as the man got up in the morning, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an acknowledgment. She simply turned her back to him and drifted back to sleep. She slept straight through until after three in the afternoon before she finally rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up.

Xiaobai had already been lying by the bedside waiting for a long time. The moment he heard her stir, he immediately got up and began wagging his tail excitedly. Pei Xiqing patted the massive pup’s head, slipped into her slippers, and padded into the bathroom to wash up.

While she was brushing her teeth, Duan Xiaolin walked in. She immediately turned her head away, completely ignoring his presence.

Nine times out of ten, a man’s promises were nothing but lies—especially the ones whispered while lying in bed.

He was dressed in a simple, clean shirt and wore his wire-rimmed glasses. Whenever he looked at people like this, he always carried an aura of absolute ruthlessness, looking entirely devoid of worldly desires.

“I’ll go heat up your food,” he said smoothly.

“Hmph.”

A trace of amusement flashed through his otherwise cold eyes. He reached out to gently smooth her messy bedhair and murmured, “I won’t do it again next time.”

“Exactly how many ‘next times’ does Chief Judge Duan have left?”

Duan Xiaolin was thoroughly amused. “Next time for sure.”

“You are such a scoundrel! Who else would make such a ridiculous fuss in bed?”

“Let me take a look at you,” he requested casually.

Only then did Pei Xiqing notice the small tube of medicinal ointment gripped in his hand. Her face flushed a violent crimson, and she instantly rejected him. “No! I’ve already checked it myself.”

“And?”

“What do you think?” she huffed. He was just too much.

Without giving her a choice, Duan Xiaolin easily lifted her up, setting her back down onto the edge of the marble sink. The moment she finished rinsing her mouth, his large palm slid downward, firmly clasping her slender ankle. The man’s hand was massive, effortlessly wrapping around her joints, and the thick calluses on his palm sent a sudden wave of goosebumps tracing up her skin.

His hand began to steadily glide upward. Just as he was about to lift the hem of her nightgown, Pei Xiqing frantically slammed on the brakes. “Don’t look!”

“I’ll just look. I won’t do anything else.” He gently turned her face toward him, planting a deep kiss on the corner of her flushed lips, his tall, powerful frame pressing her back against the mirror. “I promise.”

Pei Xiqing struggled weakly, but her movements were effortlessly restrained. Her hands were merely for show against his strength; she could do absolutely nothing to budge him.

He had personally helped her bathe in the early hours of the morning, and she was currently wearing a whisper-thin nightgown made of incredibly soft, smooth silk. He had bought it for her. She honestly had no idea where he had managed to source such luxuries in this tiny, isolated village.

In fact, while she had been organizing their belongings a few days ago, she had spotted a familiar container tucked away inside the cabinet of the study next door. Back when they were still at Base Three, she remembered him mentioning that it was the specific chest retrieved from Franlun’s water dungeon. The items inside were lighter and more delicate than the heavy iron torture instruments, but they were infinitely more terrifying. She had already experienced one of those specialized restraints back at Base Three.

Pei Xiqing swallowed hard, her voice trembling slightly. “Are you plotting something awful again?”

Her question was coded and indirect. An ordinary person wouldn’t have the slightest clue what she was referring to, but the man understood her instantly.

“Are you referring to the collection in the living room, or the ones in the study?”

“You…” Pei Xiqing knew right then that he harbored nothing but wicked intentions.

The moment she recalled that specific equipment sitting in the study, her eyelids began to twitch wildly. Her arms could practically still feel the phantom, suffocating chill of being tightly bound and entangled.

“Hmm?”

“You always bully me,” Pei Xiqing said, taking a deep breath as she forced a stubborn edge into her tone. “You better be careful, or I’ll throw every single one of those things away. Either that, or I’ll use them on you instead, and let you suffer the consequences.”

Duan Xiaolin narrowed his eyes. Through the cold lenses of his glasses, she couldn’t detect a single shred of remorse or fear—only an increasingly intense, dark excitement dancing in his gaze.

“Ah,” the man answered, his voice incredibly hoarse.

Pei Xiqing’s heart began to hammer wildly against her ribs, her eyelids fluttering in panic. She knew better than anyone that he was absolutely not the kind of man who could ever be bullied or controlled by others. Only when it came to their romance would he willingly indulge her wild whims a little.

Desperate to create some space, Pei Xiqing raised her leg, pressing her bare foot flat against the man’s solid chest, trying to push him away.

“Bad guy,” she muttered deliberately.

Duan Xiaolin stared intently down at the slender, pale leg resting against his shirt. Pei Xiqing’s skin had always been remarkably fine, but it had previously been battered by the brutal outdoor elements and marred by a necrotic infection before they arrived. It had taken him an entire month of meticulous care to finally restore her body to its pristine state. He remembered every single wound and infected spot that had ever touched her flesh.

During this month of isolation, every scratch had been smoothed out, and the zombie spots had long since vanished. All that remained was a soft, breathtakingly flawless form. His gaze was like an open flame; wherever his eyes drifted, her skin burned in response.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Pei Xiqing instinctively tried to shrink back. But before she could move, his fingers clamped firmly around her wrist.

Pulses raced and heartbeats intertwined.

Duan Xiaolin could clearly feel that she possessed barely any physical strength right now, her body trembling slightly just to maintain her defensive posture. Pei Xiqing had an innate, effortless ability to unravel his control—whether she realized it or not.

As he held her delicate wrist, feeling the sheer tenderness and fragility of her arm, that simple contact alone made her shiver. Deep within his mind, a dark, churning desire began to swell, urging him to build a private water dungeon right here in the valley just to systematically break her down. Constructing a cell tailored specifically for her would undoubtedly yield exquisite results.

Terrified by the sudden, predatory darkness in his eyes, Pei Xiqing hurriedly surrendered, her voice frantic. “I… I still feel a bit sore. Let’s apply the medicine… let’s just apply the medicine…”

Chapter 203: Who Is Your Wife

Pei Xiqing sat on the porch steps facing the sunset, occasionally nibbling on a snack while Xiaobai rested beside her.

Not far away, a man stood in the dirt with his sleeves rolled up, methodically turning the soil with a hoe. Unlike the other laborers in the valley, he didn’t work with bare arms or covered in sweat. Every single one of his movements appeared fluid and elegant, yet each strike of the blade carried the terrifying, precise power of a seasoned martial artist.

Farming didn’t seem to tire him at all; instead, it looked like a form of quiet self-cultivation. During the month she had spent here, she had felt this absolute, unbothered calmness from him from beginning to end.

Pei Xiqing patted Xiaobai’s large head. “Are you hungry?”

The massive pup immediately snatched a thick bone from her hand, turning on his heel to bolt into the fields to cause a scene. She let out a helpless smile.

Propping her chin in her hands, she kept her eyes fixed on Duan Xiaolin. After a while, a rustle of movement caught her attention from behind. Hearing someone call her name, she turned her head slightly.

Ma Mengxiang was hurrying toward her, lugging a massive backpack and carrying two heavy baskets of vegetables. The moment she spotted Pei Xiqing sitting by the edge of the plot, she shouted, “Miss Pei! What are you doing just sitting here by the side of the road?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just getting some fresh air.”

“The elders say a massive storm is coming. We better get inside quickly.” Ma Mengxiang dropped her heavy load and plopped down onto the grass beside her.

“It’s fine, he’s almost done. I’m just waiting for Brother Duan to finish up his last row, and then we’ll head in.” Pei Xiqing glanced at the baggage. “What’s all this you’re carrying? Why did you bring so many things?”

“These are for you.” Ma Mengxiang caught her breath, wiping her brow carelessly. “It’s going to pour soon, and I was worried you guys wouldn’t have enough firewood. I chopped these fresh today. Make sure you store them somewhere dry so they don’t get damp. If the storm knocks out the village’s electricity and water grid, you’ll really suffer without a fire.”

Then, her expression shifted into pure confusion. “By the way, I stopped by to see you this morning, but nobody answered when I knocked. I came back again in the afternoon, and you still weren’t home. What have you two been up to all day? Did you hike up the mountain again?”

The main reason she was confused was that she had spent the entire morning coming down the mountain trails herself and hadn’t crossed paths with them once. For a moment, she had actually feared that Pei Xiqing had changed her mind and joined the rest of the villagers to chase after the wealth and glory of the survivor base.

Pei Xiqing froze, her mind completely blank. She had absolutely no recollection of anyone knocking on the door. After a few seconds of blinking in realization, a deep blush crept up her neck.

“…I’m so sorry.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it!” Ma Mengxiang waved her hand dismissively. “It’s no big deal. I was mostly just terrified that something terrible had happened to you inside.”

Recalling the absolute intensity of what had actually unfolded in the bathroom, Pei Xiqing’s throat suddenly felt incredibly dry, and her skin flushed hot. It was only when a cool breeze swept across the porch that she managed to steady her voice. “Next time you need help and I don’t answer, just go find Brother Duan directly. Sometimes… I’m such a heavy sleeper that I don’t hear a thing.”

“Oh, so that’s it! That makes sense.” Ma Mengxiang nodded nonchalantly. “I actually did see Brother Duan earlier, but I didn’t dare approach him. Next time, I’ll just tell him you sent me.”

“Alright.”

Having delivered the supplies, Ma Mengxiang dusted off her trousers and stood up to leave. Before she walked away, she didn’t forget to offer a parting warning. “A massive chunk of the village is fully packed and ready to leave for the base, but with this storm rolling in, who knows if their transports can even clear the valley.”

She kicked a loose stone at her feet, her tone turning thoughtful. “Plus, nobody has seen Liu Dongshu for days. I have no idea where he’s hiding himself. It’s honestly bizarre…” She shook her head. “Lately, everyone in this village has gone completely feral looking for those useless, broken rocks. It’s like they’ve all lost their minds.”

Pei Xiqing stood up, her interest piqued. “Hmm?”

“Haven’t you heard about the search?”

“I heard, but I thought you were interested in going to the base too?”

Ma Mengxiang scoffed. “What’s so special about a shiny broken stone? I’d rather spend my energy growing more vegetables.”

Pei Xiqing lowered her eyes, a genuine smile gracing her lips. Then she asked casually, “So, Liu Dongshu is officially missing?”

“Seems like it. No one has caught a single glimpse of him for days. But honestly, who cares? Even before he showed up, the villagers were restless, but the moment he arrived and started making promises, they completely lost whatever brains they had left.”

The moment Ma Mengxiang vanished down the path, Duan Xiaolin emerged from the field, carrying his tools. He surveyed the bundles on the grass and looked at her. “Shall we go inside?”

Pei Xiqing whistled for Xiaobai to get back to the house, turning to walk beside the man. Before they had even taken two steps, a silent shadow materialized right behind them. Shadow whispered a few brief words of report to the Chief Judge before effortlessly lifting both heavy baskets of firewood.

Pei Xiqing listened intently, then asked, “Where is Brother Qiu Chao?”

“He has already returned to headquarters,” Shadow replied politely.

“What a shame. I wanted him to stay for dinner.”

Shadow offered a rare, subtle smile. “There will be other opportunities, Miss Pei.” With that, he moved ahead of them, slipping into the house with the wood securely strapped to his back.

Left alone on the path, Duan Xiaolin smoothly reached out and clasped her hand. Before Pei Xiqing could even register the movement, he swept her off her feet, gathering her tightly into his arms.

The blistering warmth radiating from his palms sent a sudden jolt through her skin. The hard, unyielding muscles of his arms locked around her, giving her the distinct, dizzying illusion of being completely imprisoned.

He smiled down at her, his voice low. “Hold tight.”

Pei Xiqing instinctively wrapped her arms securely around his neck. “Why are you suddenly lifting me up out of nowhere?”

“Does a man truly need to ask permission just to hold his own wife?”

“Who says I’m your wife?” she countered, her cheeks burning. “We haven’t even gotten a marriage certificate yet.”

Duan Xiaolin tightened his embrace, pulling her flush against his chest. “We’re almost there.”

Before Pei Xiqing could fully unpack the underlying weight of his words, he had already carried her across the threshold and into the safety of the house.

It was now the fifth day since Liu Dongshu had first been intercepted.

The predicted torrential storm finally broke over the valley. The historically peaceful, idyllic village felt as though it were being violently ripped apart by endless streaks of lightning, and the rain poured down in relentless, vicious sheets.

Pei Xiqing unlatched the window, staring out at the chaotic deluge. She let out a soft sigh of relief. “Thank goodness you harvested the crops early, Brother Duan.” Otherwise, every ounce of their hard labor over the past month would have been utterly washed away.

She turned back toward the room. Duan Xiaolin was sitting comfortably on the sofa, casually flipping through a book. Xiaobai was curled up soundly on the rug at his feet; even when a massive crack of thunder rattled the windowpanes, the big pup merely rolled onto his side and continued to sleep like a log.

The man lightly patted the empty cushion beside him. “You’ve been staring out there for a while. Come sit with me.”

Pei Xiqing walked over, sinking onto the sofa. “The villagers haven’t tried to leave through this weather, right?”

“Not yet.”

“I wonder where Liu Dongshu actually went. He hasn’t shown his face in days.” She leaned back. “The locals have been overturning every rock in the valley looking for those crystal cores. They’ve practically turned the entire village upside down.”

She tilted her head, shifting her weight until she was sitting directly on his lap. Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she stared intently into his eyes. “You know exactly what happened to him, don’t you? That man vanished the exact same day he rolled into town.”

If he tried to deny it now, she wouldn’t believe a single word.

Duan Xiaolin calmly pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “His remains have already been transported back to headquarters. Qiu Chao took custody of him.”

“What?” Her eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Baby, if you hadn’t brought it up yourself, I wouldn’t have bothered wasting breath on such an insignificant character.” He looked at her with a lazy, half-smile. “Besides, considering how completely drained of energy you’ve been over the last few days, I didn’t want to trouble you with unnecessary details.”

“You did that entirely on purpose,” Pei Xiqing huffed, playfully swatting the book out of his hand. “You scoundrel, you’re keeping secrets from me again. Were you terrified I’d try to plead for his life, or that I’d turn soft-hearted?”

Duan Xiaolin gripped her waist, lifting her slightly until she was sitting securely on his thighs before he spoke. “I didn’t do it on purpose. There was no meaningful connection between you and that boy. The rest of the world might be easily manipulated by his grandiose words, but I know you are far too clever for that.”

Pei Xiqing pressed, her voice dropping. “How did he die?”

“I executed him.”

In reality, the boy’s genetic framework had completely collapsed under the sheer agony of having his crystal core forcibly extracted while alive. Delivering the biological specimen back to Qiu Chao’s research division was simply the logical next step.

Pei Xiqing’s mind immediately flashed back to the light blue crystal core he had casually tossed into the bathroom corner a few days prior. “I see.” She understood everything now.

Duan Xiaolin lowered his head, catching her lips in a deep, lingering kiss. After a long moment of yielding to him, she firmly pushed against his chest to create some space.

Pei Xiqing poked his chest with a serious expression. “Don’t ever do something like that behind my back again. Next time, you tell me first. And stop taking such reckless risks.”

Forcibly ripping a crystal core out of a living host was far too dangerous—it directly violated the natural progression of this world’s genetic mechanics. The energy crystals had already integrated with the ability users’ biological systems; forcing a extraction could easily trigger unpredictable, catastrophic anomalies.

She knew she had likely only ever seen the tip of the iceberg when it came to Duan Xiaolin’s brutal capabilities. As one of the formidable rulers of the apocalyptic base, the fact that he had consolidated his absolute authority without wielding a flashy, active superpower meant his methods had to be exceptionally terrifying. The black markets, the ghost markets… if she traced it all back, he had almost certainly been the silent architect pulling the strings behind the scenes.

But none of that mattered to her anymore. The only thing that mattered was that he could no longer operate with that reckless disregard for his own safety.

Duan Xiaolin captured her hand, squeezing her fingers gently. “Are you worried about me?”

“Duh.”

“I’ll handle everything with care,” he promised softly, his gaze intense. “Since I gave you my word, I will absolutely keep it.”

Pei Xiqing finally relaxed, snuggling tightly against his chest. “When are you going to let me see the host parasite?”

Duan Xiaolin turned his eyes toward the window. The heavy rain battered relentlessly against the thick glass, and the violent wind whipped through the distant trees. The dark, ominous clouds didn’t scatter under the downpour; instead, they massed together into a heavy, suffocating blanket over the peaks.

Yet, inside their home, the air was perfectly quiet, warm, and secure.

Pei Xiqing rested her head obediently over his heart. He ran a hand gently through her hair, his voice dropping into a low murmur. “We’ll wait until this little farce outside is fully resolved.”

Chapter 204: That’s Your Son

The rain poured relentlessly for an entire week.

During this time, the villagers completely abandoned their frantic hunt for the strange, glowing stones. They couldn’t even step outside their front doors, let alone worry about the missing Liu Dongshu. To make matters worse, several families living in the low-lying areas of the valley watched helplessly as their homes flooded, forcing them to evacuate in the dead of night to seek temporary shelter on higher ground.

Pei Xiqing’s homestead occupied the best vantage point in the entire village. With her yard completely safe from the rising waters, it was only natural that she took in several of the displaced locals. Because the community was tightly knit and always accustomed to helping one another, there was no awkwardness or hesitation. Pei Xiqing quickly arranged two empty rooms on the first floor to house the two families.

Since the guest quarters were on the ground floor and her bedroom with Duan Xiaolin was on the second, they maintained a comfortable distance and wouldn’t disturb one another as long as everyone kept their voices down.

Outside, the storm continued to rage fiercely. Pei Xiqing was propped up in bed reading a book when a frantic knock rattled her bedroom door.

Xiaobai bolted upright instantly, his ears perking as he stared at the entrance.

Pei Xiqing slid out of bed, threw on a warm cardigan, and hurried over to open the door. “Aunt Chen? What’s wrong? Has something happened?”

The woman standing on the threshold was dripping wet, desperately wiping rainwater from her face. She looked deeply embarrassed as she pleaded, “Miss Pei, is Mr. Duan inside? We desperately need his help. Please, show some mercy and ask him to step in for us!”

“Tell me what’s wrong first,” Pei Xiqing soothed. “He isn’t home right now, but let’s see if I can handle it.”

Aunt Chen clutched her sleeve, tears spilling over and mixing with the rain on her cheeks. “Our house has been completely washed away. Losing the structure isn’t the end of the world, but I just checked the barns down the ridge—our dozen chickens and two cows are right in the path of the flash flood! They’re about to drown! They are our entire livelihood, Miss Pei. If they die, my family will be left with absolutely nothing!”

Pei Xiqing frowned. “This…”

“Miss Pei, your husband is incredibly powerful and used to run things at a major base. He must have a way to rescue those animals…”

“There’s no need to trouble him over something like this,” Pei Xiqing interrupted gently. She turned back toward the room, casting a glance at the giant pup who was waiting expectantly. “Xiaobai, you’re up. Go help out.”

Xiaobai wagged his tail furiously, instantly bounding off the rug in high spirits.

Aunt Chen stared at him uncertainty. “Can… can a dog really handle this?”

“Don’t worry,” Pei Xiqing said, patting the older woman’s shoulder reassuringly. “He’s more efficient than a squad of men.”

With a low huff, Xiaobai bolted down the stairs. Pei Xiqing grabbed an umbrella and hurried after him. “Xiaobai! Slow down! Be careful out there!”

The downpour outside was brutal. The violent wind nearly ripped the umbrella straight out of her grip, and sheets of rain instantly soaked through her clothes. Before she could even take a dozen steps into the yard, a large hand reached out, smoothly taking the handle from her.

She looked up into a familiar face. “Brother Duan.”

“What’s happening?” the tall man asked, shifting the large black umbrella until it completely shielded her from the storm.

“Aunt Chen’s livestock is caught in the flash flood down the ridge. I sent Xiaobai to herd them back, but I told him to keep his wits about him.”

Duan Xiaolin wrapped his free arm around her shoulders, guiding her back toward the porch. “That works out perfectly.”

Pei Xiqing blinked. “What do you mean?”

“It’s an excellent opportunity to observe his operational capacity as a host parasite.”

They waited by the threshold for about seven or eight minutes. Through the dense curtain of gray rain, a mud-caked, black shape suddenly emerged, sprinting wildly up the path. Close on its heels was a frantic, tightly packed herd of cattle and sheep.

As the shape drew closer, Pei Xiqing finally saw the situation clearly. Xiaobai was leading the charge, completely caked in thick mud, proudly carrying a terrified, soaking-wet chicken clamped gently between his jaws.

Duan Xiaolin ushered her inside, letting out a mild chuckle. “It seems he possesses some practical utility after all.”

Pei Xiqing shot him a look. “That’s your son you’re talking about.” How could a father speak so coldly of his own child?

“Mhm. Which is precisely why he requires more rigorous conditioning,” he replied smoothly. “Perhaps he will be capable of defending you in my stead in the future.”

“Defending himself is more like it,” she murmured. After all, she was entirely immune to the zombie virus anyway.

The man merely offered a cryptic smile and dropped the subject.

The cattle, sheep, and poultry Xiaobai had successfully herded back were securely corralled in the large, open clearing just beyond their backyard. The massive cliffs rising directly behind the house provided an excellent natural barrier against the wind and rain.

Pei Xiqing stood out on the covered patio with a high-pressure hose, systematically blasting the thick layers of mud off Xiaobai’s fur. She had barely finished rinsing his flank when the giant dog suddenly went rigid and began to violently shake his entire body, spraying muddy water all over her clean cardigan.

Furious, she lunged forward and firmly pinched his ear. “If you shake your fur one more time, I’m calling your dad out here to finish your bath!”

The threat worked instantly. Knowing that Duan Xiaolin wouldn’t tolerate a single hint of rebellion, Xiaobai immediately flattened his ears, tucked his tail, and lay flat on the patio, allowing her to rinse him thoroughly. It took her over an hour of scrubbing to finally restore his coat to its original color.

By the time she finished, Duan Xiaolin had already served a steaming lunch.

Pei Xiqing led a clean, fluffy Xiaobai back inside. The moment the displaced villagers sitting in the living room spotted her, they rose to express their gratitude. “We owe you everything, Miss Pei. Thank goodness you were here.”

“Please, don’t mention it. It was no trouble.”

An older man sighed heavily, staring out at the flooded valley. “Alas, more than half of our village is completely ruined. I wonder where that kid Liu Dongshu has vanished to. He promised he’d escort all of us back to his base, but now there’s not a single trace of him.”

Standing on the bottom step, Pei Xiqing looked at the elders and offered a solemn, direct warning. “Uncles, Aunts, if I were you, I would stop waiting for him. His motives for coming to this valley were never pure. He didn’t detour here out of the goodness of his heart to rescue you; he was simply exploiting your labor to harvest resources. If you truly desire a peaceful, stable life, your best option is to stay clear of the major survivor bases and stay out of anything involving ability users.”

The villagers exchanged uneasy, conflicted glances. For a long moment, the room fell dead silent.

Life inside a fortified military base was simply too alluring to pass up. Even though this hidden valley had enjoyed a fragile peace over the last few years, the threat of the apocalypse still loomed heavily over their heads like an executioner’s sword. Now that a golden ticket to permanent safety had been handed to them, they desperately didn’t want to let it go.

Pei Xiqing stated bluntly, “The fact that he hasn’t shown his face means he is either dead or he abandoned the mission and fled days ago. His mercenary squad is still lingering in the village, which leaves only one realistic conclusion—he is dead. You are wasting your breath waiting for a ghost.”

“Dead? How is that even possible?”

“Exactly, the boy awakened powerful wind abilities. How could he drop dead so easily…?”

“If he’s gone, who’s going to clear our entry into the base? It’s impossible.”

Aunt Chen stepped forward, frantically grabbing Pei Xiqing’s hands. Her eyes were wide with a mix of desperation and hope as she begged, “Miss Pei, you and your husband both came from the base circuit. Now that Liu Dongshu is out of the picture, can you please take his place? Please, guide us to the base! I beg of you!”

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