247: Chapter 247 I, Murong Xue'er, will never lose myself for any man!

Night fell, and the Shelter was brightly lit.

Tonight was a celebration banquet, where thirty thousand Female Survivors gathered in the square to celebrate this great victory.

Laughter and cheers were everywhere, along with praise for Lin Yuan.

"Master is too strong! He killed the Zombie King in an instant with just one finger!"

"He's more than just strong; he's practically a god!"

"With Master here, we have nothing to fear!"

The Female Survivors gathered in small groups, discussing today's battle.

Every face was brimming with a happy smile, and their eyes were filled with adoration for Lin Yuan.

At the main seat in the center of the square, Lin Yuan was surrounded by a group of goddesses.

Ye Qingxue was on his left, gently pouring wine for him.

Ye Qingyue was on his right, leaning coquettishly against his shoulder.

Tang Shiyun, Su Yuyan, Chu Yanran, Luo Qinghan...

Every single one was a world-class beauty, yet at this moment, they all revolved around one man.

The scene was like an emperor holding court, surrounded by the beauties of his harem.

In a corner of the crowd, Murong Xueer stood quietly, watching it all with a complex gaze.

She was still wearing that white gown today, her long silver hair fluttering gently in the night breeze.

On that exquisitely beautiful face, there was currently no expression.

But only she knew how much turmoil was churning within her heart.

Murong Xueer's gaze fell upon Lin Yuan.

She recalled the scenes from today's battle.

Lin Yuan imprisoning the SSS-rank Zombie King with a single finger.

Lin Yuan treading on the void, looking down upon the world.

Lin Yuan turning the Zombie King into nothingness with a flick of his finger.

That calm and composed posture, that aura of looking down on all living things...

Every scene was deeply etched into her mind.

"Too strong..."

A complex emotion welled up in Murong Xueer's heart.

She came from the Murong Family, a Hidden Cultivation Family, and had seen countless powerful experts since she was a child.

But an existence like Lin Yuan was something she was seeing for the first time.

That kind of strength had completely surpassed her understanding.

Forget about defeating him; she couldn't even stand firm in front of him.

"Was my initial judgment... wrong?"

A hint of hesitation rose in Murong Xueer's heart.

She had come to this Shelter originally with a sense of wariness.

Her family had sent her out to find the Man of Destiny in the Apocalypse, and Lin Yuan was the target she had locked onto.

But she wasn't sure if Lin Yuan was trustworthy.

After all, in this Apocalypse, human hearts were scarier than zombies.

So she had always kept her distance, observing coldly from the sidelines.

But now...

"He seems to be sincere toward those women."

Murong Xueer watched as Lin Yuan dotingly rubbed Ye Qingyue's hair, an inexplicable emotion rising in her heart.

That look in his eyes wasn't an act.

It was true affection, true care.

"If he treats all women this well..."

Murong Xueer's heart rate inexplicably accelerated a bit.

But quickly, she forced herself to calm down.

"No, I can't be deceived by appearances."

She cautioned herself in her heart:

"Which man in the Apocalypse isn't one way on the surface and another behind the scenes?"

"He's good to those women, perhaps only to utilize their Superpowers."

"Once they have no use left, they might just be abandoned."

Thinking this way, Murong Xueer's heart calmed down slightly.

But for some reason, a voice deep inside her was rebutting:

"Is that really the case?"

"If he's just using them, why would he risk danger to protect them?"

"In today's battle, he clearly could have resolved all the enemies by himself."

"But he let those women take the field, giving them the chance to train."

"This doesn't look like utilization; it looks more like... nurturing."

Murong Xueer's heart wavered once again.

"Damn it..."

She cursed under her breath, trying hard to suppress the stray thoughts in her mind.

"How could I have such thoughts about a man I've only just met?"

"Murong Xueer, wake up!"

Just as she was struggling internally, the atmosphere in the square became more and more enthusiastic.

The goddesses began to vie with each other to toast Lin Yuan, with all sorts of coquettish and cute behavior emerging one after another.

"I toast you!"

Su Yuyan walked forward with a wine glass, her stunning face carrying a hint of tipsiness.

"Thanks to you today, we were able to achieve such a great victory."

"It's the result of your own hard work."

Lin Yuan took the glass and drained it in one gulp:

"I was just watching from the side."

"Brother Lin Yuan is too humble!"

Ye Qingyue pouted dissatisfactorily:

"Clearly you are the most amazing! That Zombie King was killed by you in an instant with just one finger!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

The other goddesses chimed in one after another.

Lin Yuan smiled and shook his head, his gaze inadvertently sweeping through the crowd.

Then, he saw Murong Xueer in the corner.

The silver-haired woman was standing there quietly, out of place with the lively atmosphere around her.

She didn't participate in the celebration, nor did she come forward to toast.

She just watched it all coldly, like an outsider.

"Interesting."

A playful smile tugged at the corner of Lin Yuan's mouth.

This woman had been different from the very beginning.

When other women saw him, it was either adoration, admiration, or fear.

But Murong Xueer was different.

In her eyes, there was a complex set of emotions.

Wary, scrutinizing, questioning... and a very deeply hidden hint of curiosity.

"This woman is observing me."

Lin Yuan understood in his heart.

He didn't know Murong Xueer's true identity, but he could feel that this woman was not simple.

She hadn't come to the Shelter purely to seek protection.

She had her own purpose.

But Lin Yuan didn't care.

No matter what her purpose was, in the face of absolute strength, all schemes and intrigues were a joke.

"Let her observe."

Lin Yuan said softly, the smile on his face becoming more brilliant:

"The longer she observes, the deeper she'll fall."

"In the end, she'll find that she can no longer leave this place."

In the square, the celebration banquet continued.

The goddesses took turns toasting Lin Yuan, and various ambiguous scenes occurred one after another.

Lin Wanrou and Lin Ruoxue, mother and daughter, came forward together, subtly expressing their gratitude to Lin Yuan.

Tang Shiyun played a piece called 'High Mountains and Flowing Water' on the zither; the music was melodious and refreshing.

Chu Yanran sat quietly to the side, occasionally looking at Lin Yuan with those mysterious eyes.

Luo Qinghan still had that cold and aloof appearance, but the occasional flash of tenderness in her eyes betrayed her thoughts.

Every goddess was using her own way to express her admiration for Lin Yuan.

And Murong Xueer still stood in the corner, watching coldly.

"How can they be like this?"

An inexplicable emotion rose in Murong Xueer's heart.

"Every single one here is a powerhouse with their own area of expertise, and every one of them is top-tier in beauty. Yet at this moment, they're actually revolving around a man like little girls?"

"This is just too spineless, isn't it?"

She curled her lip in disdain, but a voice deep in her heart asked:

"What if it were you?"

"If Lin Yuan were this good to you too, would you be like them?"

"No!"

Murong Xueer loudly denied it in her heart.

"I, Murong Xueer, will never lose myself for any man!"

But her heart rate had unknowingly accelerated.

Just then, a voice came from behind her:

"Sister Xueer, why are you standing here all by yourself?"

Murong Xueer turned her head and saw Ye Qingxue walking over with a smile.

"Qingxue."

Murong Xueer nodded, her face returning to a calm expression.

"The celebration banquet is so lively, why don't you go join in?"

Ye Qingxue asked, her eyes carrying a bit of concern.

"I'm not quite used to these kinds of occasions."

Murong Xueer said indifferently:

"There are too many people, it's a bit noisy."

"Is that so?"

Ye Qingxue seemed to see through something, as a meaningful smile tugged at the corners of her mouth:

"I thought you were observing Lin Yuan."

Murong Xueer's heart skipped a beat, but the expression on her face didn't change at all.

"Observing him? Why would I observe him?"

"It's nothing."

Ye Qingxue smiled and didn't continue to press:

"Just a reminder, Lin Yuan is much more complex than you imagine."

"But one thing is for sure—he is sincere toward us."

"Sincere?"

Murong Xueer raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, sincere."

A flash of tenderness appeared in Ye Qingxue's eyes:

"He may have many secrets, but his kindness to us is real."

"This, I can guarantee with my life."

After saying that, Ye Qingxue turned and left, leaving Murong Xueer standing alone.

"Sincere, huh..."

Murong Xueer murmured to herself, her gaze falling on Lin Yuan once again.

At this moment, Lin Yuan was laughing and talking with Ye Qingyue, his handsome face wearing a doting smile.

That kind of smile indeed didn't look like an act.

"Maybe... I should observe for a while longer."

Murong Xueer made a decision in her heart.

"I can't jump to conclusions easily, nor can I trust easily."

"Wait until I see his true colors, then it won't be too late to make a decision."

Thinking this way, her heart calmed down slightly.

But what she didn't know was that while she was observing Lin Yuan, Lin Yuan was also observing her.

And, a meaningful smile was tugging at the corner of Lin Yuan's mouth.

Lin Yuan said softly, a playful light flashing in his eyes.

The night grew deeper, and the celebration banquet reached its conclusion.

The Female Survivors dispersed one after another, leaving only the core goddesses still accompanying Lin Yuan.

And Murong Xueer also quietly left the square and returned to her room.

Lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Lin Yuan's figure kept appearing in her mind—

His dominance as he trod on the void.

His composure as he imprisoned the Zombie King with one finger.

His doting care for the goddesses.

And that meaningful smile when he looked at her...

"Damn it!"

Murong Xueer sat up abruptly and shook her head vigorously.

"What on earth am I thinking?!"

"Isn't he just a man? What's there to think about?!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

But that man's figure was like it was carved into her mind, refusing to go away no matter what.

"Murong Xueer, wake up!"

She shouted in her heart.

But the only response she got was her increasingly rapid heartbeat.