Chapter 56: The Meeting, Alone!
After leaving her private farmland, Su Ning was about to head home when she was suddenly stopped by Zhang Xing.
He looked anxious as he said, “What a coincidence! I was just about to go find you, Su Ning. The shelter is about to announce something very important. All key personnel must attend—it’s something you absolutely can’t miss.”
Su Ning nodded to show she understood.
In her heart, she also knew that this was most likely the major event Jiang Nana had warned her about earlier.
Without hesitation, she replied, “I understand. I’ll be there on time.”
With that, Su Ning hurried to the designated plaza.
However, on the way there, she keenly noticed a change in the atmosphere around the shelter.
The once unbearably hot air seemed to have cooled down, and the temperature had clearly dropped.
Even though it was still extremely hot during the day, this subtle temperature change was noticeable to Su Ning and others.
“The weather actually feels a bit cooler!”
“Yeah!”
“Looks like the extreme heat is coming to an end. A new challenge is on its way.”
Su Ning couldn’t help but sigh. Recalling the news she had previously heard about the coming extreme cold, she shivered involuntarily.
Whether it was extreme heat or extreme cold, such severe weather was a huge trial and torment for humanity.
Su Ning didn’t know how long the upcoming cold would last, but the current drop in temperature at least made things a bit more bearable before the next disaster hit.
When she arrived at the plaza, she saw that many of the shelter’s key staff were already gathered.
Yan Wentao and his wife were there too.
They had clearly come after receiving the notice. Judging from the serious expressions on their faces, it seemed some news was already no secret.
There were also others who had come out of curiosity. These were people who had just returned from the dungeon world, looking refreshed and pleased—clearly they had obtained quite a few good items. Others, however, looked pale.
Someone grumbled, “Why were we called here so suddenly? I haven’t even had time to sort the supplies I brought back from the dungeon. I finally managed to find a huge bundle of water after so much hardship. Before the next dungeon opens, I’ll finally be able to drink as much as I want.”
Someone next to him chimed in, “Wow, bro, that’s amazing. Can you take me with you next time?”
The man quickly waved it off, “Let’s talk later—the administrator of Shelter Six is here.”
Liu Jianjun stepped up onto the stage.
Looking out at the crowd with a grave expression, he picked up the microphone and began to explain the reason for the gathering.
“You were called here right after exiting the dungeon for a very important announcement. During the seven days you spent inside the dungeon, a shocking event occurred in the real world: Shelter Nine was destroyed and overrun due to an uncontrollable force.”
The crowd erupted into chatter at the shocking news.
“How is that possible?”
“Yeah, Shelter Nine is a major shelter!”
“What exactly caused its fall?”
Voices in the crowd grew louder, filled with confusion and unease.
Su Ning, who already knew this information, remained calm. But just because she knew didn’t mean everyone else did.
Then, Liu Jianjun dropped another bombshell: animals could also enter the dungeon world—and just like humans, they could obtain gifted abilities!
The culprit behind the destruction of Shelter Nine was none other than a powerful gifted rat king.
This news was like a bomb going off, instantly sending the crowd into chaos.
People whispered anxiously, their faces full of shock and fear.
Liu Jianjun looked at the restless crowd and raised his voice to continue, “After a discussion, several shelters including ours have decided to organize a rescue mission to Shelter Nine—and to eliminate the rat king while we’re at it.
The reason you’ve been gathered here is to form the rescue team. Some individuals with special abilities have already been preselected by the shelter and are required to join.”
At these words, the atmosphere grew even more tense.
After all, no one knew whether such a dangerous rescue mission would even succeed.
But then Liu Jianjun threw out an enticing condition, “Of course, we’re not sending you in for free. Any residents who voluntarily join the rescue team will receive generous supplies as a reward.”
That condition was enough to tempt many.
Despite the risks, the material rewards were hard to resist.
Voices of hesitation began to rise among the crowd.
Soon after, Liu Jianjun concluded the meeting.
Su Ning had little interest in the discussions. Her mind had already wandered elsewhere.
She knew she needed to quickly return and prepare the items she would “openly” bring to handle whatever might come next.
Just as she turned to leave, a familiar voice called out from behind her, “Su Ning!”
Su Ning stopped and turned around to see Zhang Li staring at her with a serious expression.
She felt puzzled—not sure why Zhang Li had called out to her.
She was also surprised to see Zhang Li here.
Zhang Li’s emotions were complicated. Only now did she finally understand what it felt like to live alone, like Su Ning had for so long.
Zhang Li didn’t even know why she had called out—maybe envy, maybe jealousy, maybe a sense of shared pain?
In this last dungeon instance, her whole family hadn’t made it out safely like before. In the end, only Zhang Li returned. Her parents had died at the hands of other players in the [Corpse Hell] dungeon while trying to save her.
Zhang Li looked at Su Ning, wanting to say something, but no words came out. She was overwhelmed, desperately wanting comfort—but no familiar face was around, and no one she could confide in.
Until she saw Su Ning—the person she had always envied and resented.
But now that she had called out, she didn’t know what to say.
The pain and grief could only be borne alone. Only when the pain cuts deep can a person truly grow.
It was only after losing her parents that Zhang Li finally woke up—why had she always compared herself to Su Ning?
But that no longer mattered. From now on, she would also learn to live like Su Ning—strongly, independently.
As Zhang Li stared at her, Su Ning waved.
Zhang Li snapped out of her daze and took a deep breath.
“Will you join this rescue mission?”
Su Ning raised an eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”
Zhang Li shook her head. “I don’t know. My gut just tells me you will.”
Su Ning didn’t deny it—because she would indeed go.
Then Zhang Li said with determination, “I’ll join the rescue too.”
Su Ning didn’t quite understand but respected her decision.
As if sensing Su Ning’s thoughts, Zhang Li turned and walked away, but left one final sentence:
“From now on, I’ll be alone too. All the cold sarcasm I threw at you before—that was my fault. If you ever need help, you can come find me.”
Su Ning was momentarily stunned, watching Zhang Li’s lonely, sorrowful figure fade into the distance.
“Alone?”
(End of Chapter)
