Chapter 45: The Fool Who Abandoned His Wife and Child in the Apocalypse (Part 15)

Zhao Qinghe had fantasized about the scene of meeting Shen Ke, but the actual meeting still caught her too off guard.

At the head of the long table sat a beautiful woman staring at her with wide eyes. The upturned corners of her eyes were tinged red, carrying a hint of lust. Her exposed skin was covered in hickeys, with even a shallow bite mark right in the center of her neck.

Zhao Qinghe pursed her lips and averted her gaze from Shen Ke.

She never imagined Shen Ke would be tormented like this. If only she had taken Shen Ke away back then.

Wen Su appeared to be listening to the others speak, but her attention was entirely on Shen Ke. Naturally, she did not miss Shen Ke’s glance.

“Our base has many plant-type ability users, but their combat prowess is generally lacking.”

“Dawn Base is the complete opposite of our base. They have no shortage of powerful ability users.”

“So our base wants to cooperate with Dawn Base. We can provide food to Dawn Base, and in return, when Silver Mang Base requests aid, Dawn Base will send people over right away.”

Wen Su lightly tapped her index finger on the table, then reached out to pinch Shen Ke’s earlobe. “What do you think of this proposal?”

Shen Ke withdrew her gaze and swatted away Wen Su’s wandering hand. “I think it’s great.”

Wen Su smiled. “Then it’s settled, especially since Shen Ke agrees.”

The people from Silver Mang Base exchanged glances. One of them approached Wen Su and handed her a contract.

“Leader Wen, please use your own blood to press your handprint on it.”

“This contract has been processed by a Word Spirit Ability User using their supernatural ability to ensure neither party breaches it. The other handprint belongs to our Silver Mang Base leader.” In truth, he was quite nervous saying this. After all, Leader Wen had no way of verifying if it was truly their leader’s print. It would be perfectly normal if she refused to sign.

Wen Su took the contract. In an instant, blood flowed from her index finger. She pressed it onto the contract, her expression gentle throughout, without a trace of displeasure.

She handed it back to the man from Silver Mang Base with a faint smile. “There. Gentlemen, if you’d like to head back now, I’ll have A-rank ability users escort you.”

“Of course, you’re welcome to stay a few more days if you wish.”

“If there’s nothing else, everyone is free to go.”

The Silver Mang Base delegation was somewhat stunned. Was Leader Wen always this accommodating?

Someone spoke up. “Leader Wen, we’d like to stay a few more days.”

Wen Su nodded. “Of course. I’ll arrange accommodations for you, but you’ll need to source your own food.”

“Thank you, Leader Wen.”

Satisfied, the Silver Mang Base group did not linger and filed out of the conference room one by one.

Everyone except Zhao Qinghe.

Wen Su arched a brow. “Is there something else, miss?”

Zhao Qinghe rose to her feet. Her gaze swept over Shen Ke, her expression grave. “Leader Wen, is the woman beside you your lover?”

Wen Su smiled. “Miss Zhao, that sounds like my private business.”

Her words drew an odd look from Shen Ke, who reached out and clutched Wen Su’s clothing.

Wen Su’s smile deepened. “That said, I’m happy to answer.”

“Shen Ke is my lover, of course. No one in the world loves her more than I do.”

Zhao Qinghe knew she should stay rational, but she couldn’t help herself. She lowered her eyes, her voice laced with anger.

“If she’s truly your lover, you shouldn’t let her display those marks in front of everyone.”

“Your behavior shows no respect for Shen Ke. You treat her like a pet.”

Shen Ke’s heart jolted. She inwardly cursed Zhao Qinghe as this brainless stupid bastard. How dare she speak like that on someone else’s turf?

Shen Ke turned to look at Wen Su and found her gaze fixed not on Zhao Qinghe, but on herself. Those pitch-black pupils reflected a tiny image of her, viscous and chillingly cold.

“It seems Miss Zhao is quite concerned about my relationship with my wife.”

“Pray tell, what does that have to do with you?”

Wen Su relaxed into her seat, her elegant features curved in amusement. Softly, she added, “Or perhaps it’s my wife you’re after.”

Her words unleashed a crushing wave of pressure on Zhao Qinghe, pinning her in place. She couldn’t budge.

Shock filled her as her face drained of color.

Shen Ke reacted at once, wrapping her arms around Wen Su and murmuring softly in her ear. “Hey, she’s my old captain. She helped me out a lot. It’s normal for her to worry.”

“Wait here. I’ll talk to her.”

Wen Su turned and nipped at Shen Ke’s lip. “Mm. Go on.” With Shen Ke acting so spoiled, how could she refuse? Still, she burned with jealousy that it was over someone else.

Shen Ke breathed an inward sigh of relief. She hurried to Zhao Qinghe, shot her a glare, and said coldly, “Stupid bastard, come with me.”

Zhao Qinghe pressed her lips together and followed Shen Ke out the door.

Shen Ke shut the door behind them and unleashed a barrage of scolding. “Are you an idiot? This is their turf. One wrong word and you’re dead. Wen Su isn’t as gentle as you think.”

Zhao Qinghe clenched her fists, regret etched on her face. “Shen Ke, I just couldn’t stand seeing her treat you so frivolously.”

Shen Ke rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Frivolous or not, you rejected me and ran off. What right do you have to meddle now?” After joining L Squad, she’d set her sights on Zhao Qinghe right away.

Zhao Qinghe was kind, powerful, and attractive, so Shen Ke had pursued her for a time. Simple reason: she wanted someone reliable to gather supplies for her.

Things had nearly worked out until someone blabbed about her marriage.

Zhao Qinghe had left Crimson Base soon after.

But she’d been good to Shen Ke back then. Keeping her alive couldn’t hurt.

Unaware of Shen Ke’s calculations, Zhao Qinghe felt her words cut deep, her heart throbbing with pain. She stammered, “Sorry, I just—”

“Just what? If you can’t spit it out, drop it.” Shen Ke cut her off. “Besides, you can’t help me anyway.”

Zhao Qinghe’s face paled further, as if she might collapse. She stared at Shen Ke’s cheek and rasped, “Shen Ke, I’m sorry.”

“If you’ll come with me, I’ll take you back to base and treat you well.”

“I hold a high position in Silver Mang Base.”

Shen Ke brushed off the offer. It wasn’t about willingness—it was about escaping in the first place.

But the last part made her eyes gleam. She crooked a finger, motioning Zhao Qinghe to lean in.

Zhao Qinghe bent down obediently. Shen Ke whispered in her ear, “I’ll let you in on a secret. Wen Su knows how to end the apocalypse.”

Zhao Qinghe’s eyes flew wide. “This—”

Shen Ke smacked her arm hard to hush her. “She created this apocalypse.”

“If you really want to help me, figure out a way to rally every ability user from the regional bases and capture Wen Su.”

The revelation stunned Zhao Qinghe speechless, unsure how to react.

Shen Ke stepped back and gazed into the distance. “If you don’t believe me, forget I said anything. And don’t come looking for me again.” The bit about ending the apocalypse was a lie, but Wen Su had studied that meteorite for ages. She had to have discovered something.

Zhao Qinghe remained frozen, unresponsive. Shen Ke frowned and tsked. “What a fool.”

Without another glance, she flung open the door and strode back inside.

If Zhao Qinghe was a dead end, there was still Qu Xi. Where had she gone, anyway?

Shen Ke mused silently.

Once Shen Ke was gone, Zhao Qinghe stood frozen for a long while before snapping out of it. Could she trust this?

Shen Ke had always struck her as unreliable. But in the apocalypse, even a shred of hope could drive anyone insane.

Back in the conference room, Shen Ke approached Wen Su.

Wen Su lifted her gaze languidly. “All done?”

Shen Ke nodded, her expression sour. “Mm. Let’s head back.”

Wen Su rose and drew Shen Ke into her arms, resting her chin on Shen Ke’s shoulder. “Shen Ke, is she your old lover?”

“Did you sleep with her?”

Shen Ke’s lashes fluttered. She sneered, “How much do you love cuckolding yourself?” She wasn’t in the habit of jumping everyone.

Wen Su tightened her hold on Shen Ke’s waist. “I’m just jealous. You talked to her too long.”

Silence fell at once.

Gazing at the bright room, Shen Ke said coolly, “So, are you going to kill Zhao Qinghe?”

Wen Su kissed her ear. “No.” No one like that could steal Shen Ke from her.

Shen Ke found Wen Su overly clingy—always sticking close, kissing, cuddling. Thirty-something and behaving like it was her first romance.

She hated anyone leaving her sight.

Shen Ke patted Wen Su’s back. “Wen Su, when will you make me leader of Dawn Base?”

“I won’t run.”

Wen Su nuzzled her soft cheek. “If you want it, I can put you in charge tomorrow.”

She released Shen Ke, then cupped her face. Seeing her stunned look, Wen Su’s features softened into a tender smile. “Shen Ke, love me. I’ll treat you better than anyone else.”

Shen Ke felt the sincerity in Wen Su’s touch, words, and gaze.

All these days, Wen Su had been gentle with her—even in bed. The motions were tender; only the relentlessness left her drained.

Her food and drink were the finest, rivaling pre-apocalypse luxuries.

Wen Su claimed it was revenge, but Shen Ke knew better. True vengeance wasn’t like this. Wen Su might love her for real, but what of it?

She refused a subordinate role. As Zhao Qinghe had said, Wen Su’s love lacked respect. They weren’t equal.

She wanted the upper hand.

Power was the key to getting what she desired.

Shen Ke smiled, her lips curving to reveal two sharp little tiger teeth—cat-like, brimming with a youthful innocence that belied her age.

Wen Su’s breath caught. She’d never seen Shen Ke smile like that. Her fingers traced the curve of those lips before she leaned in to peck the corner. “I never lie.”

Shen Ke’s eyes crinkled, sparkling with mischief. Bright and alluring, her smile bewitched. “Wen Su, once I’m base leader, I’ll think about it.”

Wen Su etched that smile deep into her memory. Did this mean Shen Ke liked her, even a little? Showing a side no one else had seen.

Emotion surged within her; her lashes quivered. She pressed her forehead to Shen Ke’s, their breaths mingling. “Good.” No escape now.

Rain began to fall from the sky at some point.

The downpour blurred the world and washed the blood from the muddy ground—including the grime coating Qu Xi’s body.

Anyone watching would have seen her mangled, bite-riddled arm regenerating flesh bit by bit.

It covered the exposed bone until her skin gleamed smooth and new.

Rain slipped through Qu Xi’s parted lips into her mouth.

Abruptly, Qu Xi’s eyes fluttered open. Scarlet pupils gleamed eerie and bloodthirsty amid the curtain of rain.

She raised an arm. Stiff joints creaked with a spine-chilling crackle.

Qu Xi pressed her abdomen. The skin felt cold and flawless—no trace of injury.

She had woken up.

The realization made her want to laugh. How could it not?

Qu Xi covered her face. No heartbeat. No pulse. No flow of blood.

She had awakened in a dead body.

“Roar!” A guttural bellow echoed nearby.

Qu Xi rose slowly and eyed the zombies shambling toward her.

She made no use of her supernatural ability, letting them draw near and brush past her.

Qu Xi chuckled lowly. “Dead, but alive enough.” She extended a hand. Purple lightning danced at her fingertips—faint, yet pulsing with formidable power.

Her supernatural ability was far more powerful than before, and the place where it was stored seemed like an endless abyss.

She should thank Wen Zhao. Without Wen Zhao, she never could have gained this power so quickly.

So what if her body had died? She had consciousness, emotions, and could move. She was no different from a living person—she just lacked a heartbeat.