Chapter 33: Both Very Timely

After Ye Fengwan left, Ruan Ming sat on the recliner, her thoughts a turbulent mess.

In this era where Espers ran rampant, Esper Ability ranks were like identity plates, from E to S, delineating each person’s status and worth upon this wasteland.

E-Rank was the lowest, but still better than ordinary people—at least it warded off common human illnesses and extended one’s lifespan.

D-Rank was next, enough to carve out a place in the world of Espers.

C-Rank was considered the dividing line between ordinary and High-Rank Espers, qualifying one for mercenary employment at the base.

When Ruan Ming first awakened her Strength Ability, she had met this condition. But she hadn’t gone; instead, she’d chosen to inherit Ruan Feng’s territory.

As for B-Rank within the base, that already placed one above the common crowd, let alone A-Rank.

S-Rank—that was the pinnacle, the ultimate realm, an existence to be aspired to but rarely attained.

Currently, Base One had only one S-Rank Esper: the Base Chief, Qu Wanshan, with the highest-level Speed Ability.

Below that were five A-Rank Espers of different types. Ye Jianggui was one of them—a Brain Domain Evolution Esper within the Psychic Enhancement category.

The Psychic type included Mental Evolution and Brain Domain Evolution, both rare and powerful.

Mental Evolution involved the use of psychic force—such as telepathy, psychokinesis, illusion creation—allowing one to mentally control others. The higher the rank, the more terrifying the ability.

Brain Domain Evolution, in contrast, mainly manifested as enhanced intelligence, including hyper-cognitive abilities, cerebral augmentation, and advanced intellect.

Compared to other abilities, Psychic Abilities were exceedingly rare. Currently, only Central City possessed an elderly S-Rank Mental Evolution Esper.

As for an S-Rank Brain Domain Evolution Esper, none had yet been discovered.

Even for Brain Domain A-Rank, only Ye Jianggui of Base One existed.

Rumor had it that both Ye sisters possessed Brain Domain Abilities, but their ranks were at two extremes—one A-Rank, one E-Rank. Such a contrast had made Ye Fengwan a topic of after-dinner chatter across all social strata. People called her useless, claiming she’d only made it this far through Ye Jianggui’s protection.

Yet, the letter Ye Fengwan had spoken just now—it was unmistakably S.

How could Ruan Ming not be astonished?

If reported, she would rival that S-Rank Mental Evolution Esper of Central City, becoming a new legend across the wasteland.

Ruan Ming believed that Ye Fengwan wouldn’t stoop to deceiving her with such things.

But why had she kept this secret, willingly playing the role of the so-called useless person in everyone’s eyes?

Ruan Ming was very puzzled, yet unwilling to probe into this secret. Because it was Ye Fengwan’s choice. And presumably, Ye Jianggui was also aware.

But even if she was an S-Rank Brain Domain Evolution—so what? She was still Ye Fengwan.

Her thoughts drifted back to the moment that hand had clasped hers, and Ruan Ming found herself falling back onto the recliner once more. She touched her chest—there still seemed to linger a faint, tingling numbness.

She couldn’t help but feel flustered and annoyed: annoyed at that person’s misleading gestures, and embarrassed by her own reactions.

She recalled what Qu Ning had said during the day—that Ye Fengwan would return to the Safe Zone in two months. An involuntary sense of loss rose within her.

She turned on her side, resting her head on her arm, her thoughts a tangled mess.

Only when Ah Yuan sent a message saying he’d be going to the Safe Zone tomorrow for a shipment run did she finally pick herself up, go upstairs, and rest.

The next morning.

Her alarm went off at five o’clock. After rising, she put on her army-green protective suit and, under the cover of dense fog, headed up the mountain.

Now that she knew the neighboring Territory 31 Lord, Liao Chun, was likely an informant Qu Ning had planted in New Land, Ruan Ming no longer dared to be as careless as before. This was especially true regarding the secret on Back Mountain, where she now moved with utmost caution.

Over the past several days of drinking pollution-free water, plus the honey water, she could clearly sense her physical condition improving. She practically flew as she ascended the mountain, and going back down was like a swift wind sweeping past. By the time she returned to the base of the mountain, it wasn’t even six o’clock yet.

She was delighted by her body’s transformations, but also couldn’t help worrying about the Esper Ability test in two months.

Aside from the rank upgrade itself, she also possessed the rare trait of Dual Abilities. She worried that once her situation was discovered, she might well be tied down and taken to Lab 2 for experimentation.

Yet, thinking of how Ye Fengwan had said she had a way to handle it, she felt slightly more at ease.

Ever since deciding to send water to Ye Jianggui, Ye Fengwan had already instructed someone to deliver dozens of water bags in various sizes. Ruan Ming didn’t need to worry about containers.

Fearing it might draw suspicion, she sent only a single ten-liter bag this time, about twenty pounds.

Ah Yuan went to the Safe Zone once every three days, carrying twenty pounds of water each time. For drinking alone, that should be sufficient.

Once Ah Yuan had left, she sent Ye Fengwan a message: It’s on its way.

Ye Fengwan didn’t reply until eight o’clock. Ruan Ming figured that was around the time she got out of bed.

The first reply was a kissing sticker emoticon, followed by a second message: “You’ve worked hard. I’ll repay you.”

Ruan Ming didn’t respond and, as usual, headed out to the fields with Little Calico to work.

The matter of fishing for crocodiles was still at an impasse. Besides, now wasn’t the time for action anyway—as long as Qu Ning hadn’t left, nothing could be done.

Weeding, catching bugs—sometimes these tasks could even be somewhat interesting.

But by noon, this sense of minor enjoyment was thoroughly shattered by an unexpected visitor.

Yet another car arrived at the courtyard gate.

For several consecutive days, vehicles had been coming and going. Ruan Ming was highly unaccustomed to it.

Rong Xiaomi from the Patrol Team stood at the courtyard gate calling her.

Hearing that Second Young Master Qu had arrived, Ruan Ming had no choice but to return home from the fields.

By the time she got back, she saw, beside a luxury car parked at the courtyard gate, a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six years. He was sturdily built, with a buzz cut, and bore some resemblance to Qu Ning. A scar stretched from his left eye to the middle of his ear, making him seem rather ill-tempered.

After the Men in Black incident, Qu Wu had felt more and more that something was off. He had his suspicions but wasn’t certain, so he’d hurriedly followed them to New Land as well.

He sized up the woman before him from head to toe—wearing a reflective mask and a full protective suit—and even began to doubt her identity as a C-Rank Strength Esper.

After all, he himself was a B-Rank Strength Esper.

He couldn’t believe that a woman of such slight build could have held off over a dozen men in black.

Rong Xiaomi hastily said to Ruan Ming: “Little Ruan, this is Second Young Master Qu. Take off your mask—it’s impolite like this.”

Ruan Ming slowly removed her mask. “What business do you have with me?”

Qu Wu’s expression, originally impatient, instantly turned intrigued upon seeing Ruan Ming’s face. Hands in his pockets, he sauntered over and said: “I heard you saved Ye Fengwan. The Management Center is hosting a banquet of thanks. I came to pick you up.”

Ruan Ming said flatly: “Saving her was just coincidence, and also self-defense. Miss Ye is fortunate; there’s no need to thank me. As for the banquet, I won’t be going.”

Qu Wu hadn’t expected the other party to be such an unyielding ice-cold beauty. Narrowing his eyes, he said: “Dean Qu invites you to dinner, and you refuse? Are you disrespecting me or disrespecting my older brother? Or are you disrespecting the Chief of Base One?”

Ruan Ming detested this kind of escalation. Annoyed, she said: “I’m not disrespecting anyone. I just want to farm my land.”

Qu Wu raised an eyebrow. “Do you realize this land you’re farming, your entire territory—it’s all property of Base One. It’s all managed by our Qu Family?”

Hearing this, Ruan Ming felt deeply uncomfortable. She turned her head to look at him. “Are you saying that if I don’t go to this dinner, the Qu Family will take back my territory?”

Qu Wu: “You could say that.”

Beneath the wide sleeves of her protective suit, Ruan Ming clenched her fists tightly.

Qu Wu, seeing the beauty’s stubborn yet sorrowfully angry expression, felt a surge of satisfaction. He laughed: “So, are you going or not?”

Ruan Ming was just about to refuse again when a car horn blared. A large off-road vehicle quickly entered the territory and came to a stop right in front of the two of them.

Before the car had even fully stopped, the driver’s voice rang out: “Qu Wu! Base One was built together by all the survivors back then. The Territory Plan was proposed by the previous Base Chief, Senior Shangguan, and officially implemented when Chief Qu took office. New Land Territory Lords are the pioneers expanding the Safe Zone. For you to intimidate a Territory Lord like this—you’re utterly shameless!”

Qu Wu looked at Ye Fengwan stepping out of the car and scoffed coldly: “What, did you awaken an Auditory Ability? Can you hear me talking from that far away?”

Ye Fengwan shook her wristband, then pointed at Rong Xiaomi’s wristband. “I called him a few minutes ago and never hung up. Given I’m not deaf, do you think I couldn’t hear?”

Qu Wu, secure in his arrogance, sneered. “So I said it! What of it? You disagree?”

Ye Fengwan retorted: “That’s right. I disagree!”

“What can you do about it?”

“Report exactly what you just said to Dean Qu, Chief Qu, and the survivors of the Safe Zone!”

By now, the Qu Family had nearly seized all political power in Base One. Barring any surprises, the next Base Chief would also emerge from the Qu Family—precisely why Qu Wanshan placed such immense importance on the matter of his successor.

But they still had a ways to go before turning Base One into their entirely private domain. Qu Wanshan certainly didn’t want to provoke bilateral conflicts at this juncture.

Qu Wu’s eyes fixed fiercely on her. Then, disdainfully, he said: “Besides tattling, what else can you do? That’s my father, my older brother. Do you think they’d side with you?”

Ye Fengwan’s expression was blank. “I also have my sister.”

Upon hearing this, Qu Wu’s face twisted. He had to force down the fury in his heart.

He glanced at Ruan Ming, then back at Ye Fengwan, his tone neither warm nor cold: “I just barely got here and you follow right behind. What, seeing this little chick is good-looking—jealous? Or have you finally come around and decided to come with me?”

Ye Fengwan looked at him with utter contempt. “I suggest you go home and look in a mirror more often.”

Qu Wu’s heart seethed with displeasure. Seeing her staring continuously at Ruan Ming, he cursed: “Ye Fengwan, you never told me you’re a damned homosexual!”

Ye Fengwan turned her head to look at him coldly. “Whether I’m a homosexual or not is none of your business. But without her, I’d be dead already—dead at the hands of those Men in Black you sent.”

Hearing this, Qu Wu instantly jumped to deny it: “I told you, it wasn’t my people!”

Ye Fengwan sneered. “You know very well whether it was or not!”

“I, Qu Wu, have never been a coward. If I did it, I wouldn’t swallow it! Let me tell you—I came today precisely to see who had the guts to impersonate my men!”

Ye Fengwan ignored him from then on. She turned to Ruan Ming and said: “Little Ruan, Dean Qu is hosting a thank-you dinner. Your Sister Yu is also going. Consider it gratitude for saving my life. Will you do us the honor?”

Ruan Ming, seeing her expression, knew refusing wasn’t an option. Without a word, she followed her into the car.

The car started and drove towards the Management Center.

Qu Wu cursed under his breath, got into his own car behind them, and followed.

Sitting in the car, Ruan Ming watched the ever-changing road ahead, then glanced sideways at Ye Fengwan, who was focused on driving.

Many times when she’d appeared, her timing had been perfect.

Including yesterday, facing Qu Ning.

Ye Fengwan sensed her gaze and, thinking she was worried, reassured her: “It’s just a meal. Given their current status, it’s hard to refuse.”

“Don’t worry. I’m here.”

Ruan Ming also wasn’t overly worried, but hearing Ye Fengwan’s reassurance further put her at ease.

She murmured a soft sound of agreement.

Not until the car stopped in the Management Center’s square did it come to a halt.

Ruan Ming was just about to pull the door latch to get out when the person beside her, her hand having just left the handbrake, suddenly reached over and caught her left hand.

“Don’t rush. Wait until Huang Yu arrives before getting out.”

Ruan Ming hummed in agreement and relaxed back into her seat.

Yet, Ye Fengwan’s hand never let go.

Ruan Ming’s eyelashes lowered slightly. She didn’t look at their clasped hands; she merely gently rotated her wrist.

Ye Fengwan thought she was about to pull away and, with a touch of regret, loosened her grip.

But she hadn’t expected that Ruan Ming wouldn’t withdraw her hand. She simply turned her wrist, palm facing upward.

Ye Fengwan turned her head to look at her.

She saw her looking sideways out the window, her face appearing perfectly nonchalant.

Her heart gave a tremendous thump. She pressed her palm back against Ruan Ming’s—palm to palm, sliding her fingers into the gaps between, clasping them together.