Stirring Things Up in the Wasteland 1

Chapter 1: The End

Xifeng City.

It was once one of the most prosperous international metropolises on this vast continent.

However, seven years into the apocalypse, Xifeng Base, ranked 18th in the nation, had long since been established against the mountains here.

The once-thriving cities and towns had fallen into ruin under the relentless onslaught of natural disasters and the invasion of mutated beasts and plants.

Skyscraper ruins and sandstorms had replaced the picturesque lakes, mountains, and beautiful cityscape of memory, which had now turned into a desolate wasteland of ravines.

The sky was gloomy, as if a black cloth had been draped over the entire firmament, allowing not a sliver of light to pass through.

The wind howled like a mournful cry and beasts roared. Eerie shadows layered one upon another, making the dark, heavy sky seem exceptionally bleak and grim.

But at this moment, atop the ruins of this abandoned city, beneath the drifting, dark, and gloomy clouds, there was a strange and rare scene: a bloody mist and a throng of shadowy figures.

“Song Xun, you’re at death’s door. Let’s see where you can run now!”

“Song Xun, obediently hand over the White Light Stone. Get on your knees and beg your masters, and maybe we’ll consider leaving you a complete corpse.”

“Song Xun, just surrender…”

“Hahahahaha!”

A cacophony of taunts and curses closed in from all directions. There, in the center of the encirclement of several dozen people, was Song Xun. She was clad in tattered black clothes, with patches sewn even onto the parts that were still intact. Her shoulder-length hair, streaked with white, was plastered to her face, matted with blood and utterly disheveled.

Covered in blood and riddled with wounds, she was on one knee, gasping for breath and on the verge of death. Even so, her spine remained ramrod straight.

And her eyes were still cold.

Leaning on a long, fractured blade, Song Xun’s cold gaze swept over the dozens of people surrounding her before finally locking onto the tall man in the lead.

Chen Fang, a Level 6 Fire-type Ability User.

He was one of only three Level 6 Ability Users in Xifeng Base. Another one of them was Song Xun herself.

She was a Level 6 Thunder-type Ability User.

As for the last one, it was Qi Heng, a Level 6 Ice-type Ability User who belonged to the military faction of Xifeng Base.

The ground at her feet was littered with countless severed limbs, dripping with blood. Yet, despite it all, Song Xun straightened her back and slowly rose to her feet.

“Song Xun, why bother struggling? Just hand over the White Light Stone, kowtow and admit your mistake, and call me ‘Grandpa’ a hundred times. Who knows, I might even let you live…”

The dozens of people around them erupted in laughter, their gazes ecstatic and arrogant. But Song Xun ignored them all. She stared intently at Chen Fang, at the fierce, brutal certainty in his eyes, which also held the playful glee of a cat toying with a mouse.

After a long moment, she finally spoke, her voice hoarse, her words trembling and laced with hatred.

“Where is Su Qingyu?”

“Chen Fang, where is Su Qingyu? Tell her to come out…”

After a brief silence, Chen Fang burst out laughing. “Song Xun, are you still that stupid?”

He turned his head slightly in a mocking gesture. “Qingyu, come out and see. Your Alpha is calling for you.”

“What are you saying, Big Brother Chen Fang? Qingyu’s only Alpha is you. Qingyu only likes you~”

Despite her cool and distant features, the smile on the female Omega’s face was sweet. She was very beautiful; even her patched-up clothes could not hide her lovely appearance.

Hearing Chen Fang’s voice, Su Qingyu emerged from behind the crowd. She stood beside Chen Fang, affectionately taking his thick arm and leaning against him like a delicate bird.

She didn’t spare Song Xun a single glance.

Chen Fang roared with laughter, clearly pleased with her answer.

The male Alpha wrapped an arm around Su Qingyu’s waist and turned to give Song Xun a triumphant and provocative smile.

But Song Xun didn’t care. She simply stared at Su Qingyu with cold, unfamiliar eyes, while a torrent of hatred and pain surged through her as images flashed through her mind.

“Big Sis, run!”

“Little Xun, you have to live…”

“Woof!”

Just now, less than two hours ago, in the midst of a tide of thousands of mutated beasts.

Ru Hai had died.

Chang Wan had died.

Song Ye had died too.

All to save her. All to save her, who had been so blind.

Song Xun suddenly began to laugh, her thin, broken chest trembling violently. A mouthful of blood sprayed from her lips, the crimson mist spreading before her eyes, tinting her view of the woman she was staring at in a hazy, bloody red.

“SU QINGYU!!!”

“Why did you betray me?”

“WHY DID YOU PLOT AGAINST ME?!”

The emotions she had suppressed erupted violently. Song Xun’s eyes shot up, filled with savagery, rage, disappointment, and loathing.

No wonder Su Qingyu had accepted this mission.

No wonder their movements had been repeatedly obstructed.

No wonder the tide of mutated beasts had relentlessly pursued them.

No wonder the news that she possessed the White Light Stone had been leaked.

No wonder they had been targeted and ambushed.

No wonder… no wonder everyone had died—

Song Xun had pondered this question for a long time. The moment Su Qingyu suddenly vanished from her side, she had finally understood everything.

Why?

Why did it have to be her?!

The two had been classmates since their second year of middle school and all through high school. They weren’t close at first, as Song Xun’s personality was rather cold; aside from a few close friends, she never gave anyone the time of day.

But the turning point came in her third year of high school. Song Xun had differentiated into an Alpha upon reaching adulthood, but because it happened later than expected and without any warning, her pheromones had erupted too violently. Naturally, she lost control.

It was Su Qingyu who happened to be passing by and saved her with her own innocence.

Song Xun was a responsible person. Even though she had no real feelings for Su Qingyu, the two officially began dating after that.

This continued until three years later, when she was twenty-two and in her third year of university.

Song Xun still clearly remembered that day. The torrential rain began and fell without cease, as if a hole had been torn in the sky, lasting for over a month.

There was no water or electricity, no food, no signal, and naturally, no internet.

It was Song Xun who sensed something was wrong. She had been the first to risk her life to go out and find Su Qingyu, bringing her back and protecting her, caring for her, and giving her the best of everything, never hiding anything from her.

And in the end? This was the fate she received.

Song Xun could not accept it. How could she ever accept it!

“Why?”

“Su Qingyu, tell me why?!”

She let out a low, savage cry. As if fueled by her anger, the lightning that coiled around her body suddenly burst forth, flashing furiously with a crackling roar.

Wisps of white light swirled around the lightning. It wasn’t dazzling in the dark world, but as it shimmered with the lightning, it seemed to paint a pure rainbow in the air.

It could, in an instant, bloom with fervent warmth.

Everyone saw this, their gazes filled with shock and fervor. Chen Fang’s was the most intense of all, his eyes filled with a deep greed, as if he couldn’t wait to possess it.

The White Light Stone.

That was the White Light Stone!

It was a stone that had inexplicably fallen from the sky on the ninth day of the Eternal Night two years ago. It was just a stone, but its radiant, pure light seemed to pierce through the darkness in that single moment.

Everyone had seen it.

No one knew when, but a rumor began to spread.

Hidden within the White Light Stone was the secret of Earth’s apocalypse.

Whoever obtained it could unravel the mystery of the apocalypse and become the master of this new world.

Song Xun saw the white light, but she didn’t believe that a mere egg-sized white stone could solve the apocalypse’s secrets.

Let alone becoming the master of the world. Could it be any more ridiculous?

She hadn’t taken it seriously herself, but in the years that followed, through struggle, slaughter, and theft, the stone had somehow ended up in her possession after changing hands many times.

She had studied it for a long time but couldn’t figure out anything about it. It seemed that apart from enhancing one’s physical constitution, the stone had no other remarkable properties.

But Song Xun never imagined that while she didn’t care, others did.

All because of this one stone, because of one ethereal rumor, she had been brought to this state.

Looking at Chen Fang’s greed and fervor, Song Xun’s eyes filled with derision.

Derision not just for Chen Fang, but for herself as well…

“Song Xun, hand over the White Light Stone, now!”

“Boss Chen, why waste time talking? Just chop her up!”

“Right, let’s all attack together.”

“If we keep dawdling, what if she recovers her powers…”

The faces of the surrounding dozens of people changed, and even Chen Fang’s expression turned grim. No one dared to underestimate Song Xun, even in her heavily wounded state.

Dozens of people took a step forward in unison, raising their hands or clenching their fists. In an instant, all kinds of abilities began to gather.

But…

“You want to kill me? With a bunch of trash like you?”

Song Xun suddenly looked up, the killing intent in her eyes wild and naked. She burst into laughter, and with a strength from an unknown source, she gripped her broken blade and surged forward with the roiling thunder.

Bang! Bang!

Crackle!

Under the formidable power of a Level 6 Ability User, whether it was pillars of water, serpents of fire, or blades of metal, every ability and weapon that came at her was instantly sliced apart.

Everyone was aghast and retreated subconsciously.

Gazing at the seemingly possessed Song Xun, they were so terrified that they fell silent in an instant.

To think that even when gravely injured and on the brink of death, a Level 6 Ability User could still possess such power!

For a moment, no one dared to advance, and Song Xun did not press the attack.

Bathed in blood, she stood hunched over, her ragged, sharp breaths cutting through the air as she stared coldly at the people who had stopped in their tracks, frozen by fear.

Her gaze was icy and mocking.

Looking at this version of Song Xun, even Chen Fang, who was also a Level 6 Ability User, had a flicker of dread in his eyes.

“She’s just struggling in her death throes, what’s there to be afraid of?”

“How many more attacks like that can she even manage?”

Chen Fang sneered. “All of you, attack! Whoever kills Song Xun and gets the White Light Stone, I’ll reward them with a Level 7 crystal core.”

The moment his words fell, a look of joy and greed flashed in everyone’s eyes.

“The boss is right! Let’s all go together.”

“She’s already heavily injured. If we all attack, we can kill her and then get the White Light Stone.”

“Right, kill Song Xun first!”

“…”

As if their rallying cries could mask their unease and fear, the dozens of people exchanged glances and charged forward once more.

“Song Xun, go to hell!!!”

But Song Xun did not oblige. She had already descended into madness.

At her command, the crackling thunder and lightning formed a net that seemed to cover the sky, descending with an oppressive force like divine punishment.

Screams rang out. The three men at the front couldn’t even defend themselves. Blood spurted from their bodies, but before it could even splatter, their entire bodies were turned to charcoal.

Strong?!

She was still strong!

One by one, they were turned into charred husks by the surging thunder and exploded.

“Song Xun, die!!”

Watching his men get slaughtered one after another, Chen Fang roared in fury. Raging flames erupted and blazed across his body with a “whoosh.”

He charged forward, and in an instant, thunder and fire clashed, creating a stalemate of booming explosions.

Seeing that Chen Fang couldn’t kill Song Xun right away, Su Qingyu bit her lip, an undisguised viciousness appearing in her eyes.

No matter what, Song Xun had to die!

The Omega’s slender body began to move away from the scene, but her voice carried clearly into the fray.

This was her ability, a “Sound Ability” that wasn’t particularly useful.

“Song Xun, Ru Hai is dead too, isn’t he?”

“Tsk, tsk! A pity I didn’t get to eat him. That stupid dog’s meat was said to be quite fragrant.”

“Chang Wan is dead too, right? Tsk! It’s not bad for him to be reunited with that fool Chang Fei in hell.”

“Sigh! I actually didn’t want to kill him, but I had no choice. He found out, and he was too loyal, refusing to surrender no matter what. So he had to be killed.”

“He was truly loyal to you, Song Xun. A pity he was also too stupid. Stupid people tend to die early.”

“But that’s fine too. The apocalypse is too bitter. Death is a release. He should be thanking me.”

Su Qingyu’s voice carried a tinge of cold hatred. “Oh right, since we’re at it, I might as well tell you one more thing so you can be an informed ghost on your way to the underworld.”

“Song Xun, ten years ago, you didn’t really think it was me who saved you, did you?”

“Let me tell you the truth. The person who saved you back then was Ji Tang. That Auntie Ji you’ve been looking for.”

“I was just passing by at the time. It was your Auntie Ji who personally handed you over to me. At first, I just wanted to mess with you for fun. I mean, you were so cold and aloof in school, no one could get close to you or flirt with you. I just wanted to see what you would do when you found out.”

And as it turned out, Song Xun felt guilty, she took responsibility, and she protected her with everything she had.

Su Qingyu had to admit that later on, she truly did fall in love with Song Xun.

That’s why she never told the truth in the end.

She didn’t dare.

Because Su Qingyu knew very well that Song Xun had feelings for her, but it wasn’t love.

Song Xun didn’t love her.

“Oh, and there’s one more thing I forgot to tell you. Do you remember those two children from five years ago?”

Five years ago.

A man named Ji Chao had come to her door with two children, claiming they were hers. Unfortunately, Song Xun, Shi Tou, and Song Ye were out on a mission at the time. She only heard about it from Chang Fei a few days after she returned.

Just that one time.

They were taken away by Su Qingyu and never appeared again. The incident didn’t leave a deep impression on Song Xun; she just thought it was absurd. After all, many people came to her door hoping to join her team, using all sorts of bizarre reasons.

But this was the first time someone had claimed to be the father of her children.

So Song Xun did have an impression of it. As soon as Su Qingyu mentioned it, she quickly recalled the event.

Thinking back now, could it have been true?!

A look of uncontrollable distraction appeared in Song Xun’s crazed eyes. Her body, which was already running on fumes, could no longer hold on as her spirit broke.

Chen Fang grabbed the hand holding her blade and twisted with immense force. Even though he wasn’t a Strength-type Ability User, the physical power of a Level 6 User was enough to tear her entire right arm off at the shoulder.

Rip!

Blood gushed forth, and as her body fell to the ground, it quickly pooled beneath her.

But Song Xun seemed completely oblivious to the pain. She gritted her teeth so hard they scraped, and a tear slid down her cheek.

As if remembering the gentle woman from her hazy memories, she could no longer stop herself from sobbing.

Su Qingyu’s voice continued, “Song Xun, it’s true they died by my hand, but it was your stupidity that killed them, that killed Ji Tang…”

“SU QINGYU—!”

“AAAAHHHHH—!”

Song Xun let out a shrill, furious roar.

From a tear in her tattered clothes, a fist-sized white stone fell out. It still emitted a gentle, warm glow, even as the person who now clutched it tightly in her hand had already gone mad.

And was about to die.

Even her voice became muffled and indistinct.

“You want the White Light Stone…”

“Then come and take it. Chen Fang, come on…”

She was drenched in blood, her wounds revealing bone. Her right arm was torn off, her life force was fading, and her breath was dissipating.

Only then did Chen Fang dare to approach and try to take the White Light Stone from Song Xun’s clenched fist.

His eyes were still filled with greed, a greed mixed with relief and glee.

“Zhang Lin, Zhang Jin, are you dead? If not, get your asses over here and chop this woman’s corpse up to feed the wolves, damn it…”

He cursed under his breath as he bent down, only to meet Song Xun’s wide-open, glazed-over eyes. His sharp voice stopped abruptly.

Song Xun… wasn’t dead yet?!

Chen Fang subconsciously tried to back away, but it was too late.

Song Xun’s cloudy, unfocused eyes held no trace of emotion.

“All of you… die…”

Those three simple words were spoken in a low, slurred, and stiff tone. Finally, a speck of lightning cut through the darkness.

What followed was the violent power of a Level 6 Ability User’s self-detonation.

BOOM!

No one escaped. Song Xun wouldn’t have let anyone leave alive.

With a boom that shook the earth, a pillar of lightning rose into the sky, turning the entire dark expanse into a deadly domain of thunder.

Before anyone could even react, before they could flee or even scream, they were reduced to ashes by the terrifying lightning.

And so was Song Xun.

But in the haze, a faint, ethereal white light seemed to flash by. It enveloped something, before it too faded into nothingness.

Leaving no trace behind.