Chapter Nineteen: Camping in the Wild

Through her conversation with Captain Xiao, Lin Qingqing learned about the classification of ability users, the types and functions of ability serums, and the origin of crystal cores.

Seeing Lin Qingqing’s curious expression, Xiao Pengfei was generous enough to take out a few crystal cores so she could examine them closely. At first, Lin Qingqing felt a bit squeamish; after all, these things grew inside the brains of zombies. If this had been before today, even knowing that they served as currency in the post-apocalyptic world, she would not have had the courage to dig them out of a zombie’s skull.

However, she had finished her mental conditioning that morning, choosing to view zombies as a separate, hostile species. With that mindset, smashing a skull to extract a core didn't seem so unacceptable after all. Thinking this, she calmed down, took the five crystal cores from Xiao Pengfei’s hand, and inspected them carefully.

The cores were the size of a fingernail, flat and hexagonal. They were hard, and their composition was impossible to determine. There were five colors—dark red, ink green, deep blue, earthy yellow, and dark brown—corresponding to the five basic elements: fire, wood, water, metal, and earth. Naturally, there were also mutant attributes, and Lin Qingqing’s ice power belonged to this category.

Xiao Pengfei did not have any ice-type cores on him. According to him, mutant attribute cores like ice, lightning, and wind were rare, just like the ability users who possessed them. Even rarer were light and dark attributes, which were significantly scarcer than the others.

Hearing about the variety of attributes for the first time, Lin Qingqing asked curiously, "Are there any mutant ability users at the Rongcheng Base?"

"Of course. There’s someone who is also an ice-type, and they’re already Tier 2. Very powerful!"

If Captain Xiao called someone powerful, they were undoubtedly formidable. By his account, Lin Qingqing was also Tier 2, but compared to his golden spikes, her ice blades were far inferior. She thought of her meditation technique. Xiao Pengfei and his team relied on ability serums to level up, and Zhou Mang likely consumed crystal cores. Yet, she had reached Tier 2 without even knowing what a crystal core was until today.

"This must be the effect of the meditation practice!"

It seemed there was more than one way to improve one's abilities, but Lin Qingqing was almost certain that her meditation technique allowed her to level up faster than anyone else. Among the ability users she knew, everyone had awakened their powers before her—even Shi Kai, who initially had no powers, had awakened before she did. Yet, he was still Tier 1, while she had already reached Tier 2.

"Who would have thought that a meditation chant consisting of only a dozen phrases would become my greatest asset after the apocalypse!"

Lin Qingqing carefully hid her excitement. For a fleeting moment, she had a strong impulse to share the chant with Captain Xiao, but she didn’t dare. What if Xiao leaked the information? What if she were controlled, or worse, dragged away for research? She dared not take that risk.

"Captain Xiao, thank you for telling me all of this," Lin Qingqing said sincerely.

"It’s nothing. I’m just telling you things you ought to know in advance. Once you reach the base, you’d find these things out just by asking around."

Xiao Pengfei thought more highly of Lin Qingqing than he did of Shi Kai. She was a mutant ice-type user, talented and intelligent, and most importantly, neither arrogant nor impatient. Given time, if she survived, she would surely become a powerful ability user. By teaching her these things and providing protection along the way, he was essentially building rapport.

Lin Qingqing truly valued Xiao Pengfei's kindness. There weren't many people left as upright as the Captain. Survival was difficult, and maintaining one's moral standards—let alone a balanced heart—was no easy feat. Encountering him when she knew nothing was truly her stroke of luck.

During their conversation, the convoy had left Jincheng. While crossing Rongcheng would have been the fastest route to their destination, the city had clearly become the most impassable zone in the apocalypse. Because Jincheng lay in the opposite direction of the Rongcheng Base, it had taken until now for this vanguard reconnaissance team led by Xiao Pengfei to be dispatched.

With so many people behind him, Xiao Pengfei did not dare to be careless. For safety, he decided to bypass Rongcheng through the nearby Qing County. The detour meant they had to spend the night in the wilderness. As usual, the Captain sent Xiao Lu, a speed-type ability user, ahead to scout. Xiao Lu was clever and a good shot, making him the perfect scout.

Lin Qingqing didn't know how they communicated, but Xiao Lu hadn't returned by sunset. When the Captain brought the convoy to a rural farmhouse on the outskirts, Xiao Lu was waiting at the entrance. Although curious, Lin Qingqing suppressed the urge to ask.

She stepped out of the vehicle with the Captain and followed at a respectful distance. When he assigned the task of clearing the farmhouse to his team, she volunteered to join them. The residents of the Furong residential area were curious why a young woman was following this group of soldiers, and why she seemed to have such a good relationship with the Captain. While everyone gossiped about their relationship, Zhou Mang looked on with gritted teeth.

"That bitch has found herself a backer!"

He had been excited to see Lin Qingqing again, but he hadn't expected her to climb into Xiao Pengfei's car and remain inseparable from the soldiers, leaving him no opportunity along the way. With the Rongcheng Base so close, Zhou Mang knew tonight might be his last chance.

But what he could think of, Lin Qingqing could also foresee, which was exactly why she stayed close to the Captain and his men. She was currently following Xiao Lu and the others into the farmhouse to clear out the zombies.

The farmhouse was built at the foot of a small hill and divided into front and back courtyards. The front yard was smaller, featuring a flower bed, a three-story dining building, and parking areas on both sides. Lin Qingqing followed two team members into the three-story building. Aside from the lobby, the space was filled with private dining rooms, where they would likely spend the night.

Her weapon remained the long-handled meat cleaver. Though it looked crude, it was unexpectedly effective; a single strike with its sharp edge could sever half a zombie's neck. The other two team members saw she could protect herself and stopped worrying about her.

After killing one zombie, Lin Qingqing paused to observe how the others fought. The soldiers were highly skilled, their methods clean and efficient, combining abilities with cold weapons. For instance, the metal-type users—aside from Xiao Pengfei, there were two others—only Tier 1, but by coating their weapons in metal energy, they became sharp enough to cut through zombies like vegetables.

The remaining three included a fire-type user, a heavily muscled man who was clearly a strength-type enhancer, and someone who stood out. Instead of a military knife, he used a retro-style Tang straight sword. His movements were light, and every strike carried a traditional, elegant rhythm, unlike modern combat styles.

"That’s Brother Lin. He studied swordplay before joining the military, said to be ancestral. Isn't he cool?" a young soldier said, noticing Lin Qingqing staring at Lin Fei. He chuckled to himself, thinking that being handsome was a definite advantage—just a face was enough to attract attention.

"Does he have abilities, too?" Lin Qingqing asked curiously.

"Abilities? I can't say for sure. You can ask him yourself. Oh, by the way, Brother Lin is 26 and single!"

The young soldier’s tone was playful and carried a strange implication.

"Hmm?"

Had the soldier misunderstood something? She was genuinely interested in his powers, though she had to admit, he was quite good-looking, and he did look cool in a fight.