263: Chapter 263 Distribution Map of Mutant Ore

Silence.

A deathly silence.

The originally howling wind and snow seemed to have been frightened into stopping by that single shot.

Qin Ziyan opened her mouth wide, staring blankly at the terrifying trench, her mind completely blank.

"Th-this... what kind of weapon is this?"

"Is it a planet-destroying cannon from a sci-fi movie?"

"Weren't we all supposed to be struggling to survive in the Apocalypse?"

"Why are you holding a script for future technology?!"

"The value of this shot... it probably wiped out those monsters' entire family trees, didn't it?"

"Click, click, click."

Crisp footsteps broke the deathly silence.

Qin Ziyan turned her head mechanically.

She saw several figures leaping gracefully from the ice wall, which was dozens of meters high.

Without any ropes, they landed elegantly, as if they had escaped gravity.

The leader was none other than the man who used to make her grit her teeth in hatred—Lin Yuan.

But his appearance today made Qin Ziyan feel a sense of strangeness and fear that stemmed from her very soul.

He was wearing a special black combat suit and was not fully armed like the others.

Yet the faint pressure radiating from him was a hundred times more terrifying than that group of monsters combined!

That feeling...

It was like being targeted by an ancient dragon.

And behind him followed four women.

Each one was breathtakingly beautiful, but what caught Qin Ziyan's eye more at this moment was the equipment they wore.

Streamlined exoskeleton armor wrapped around their graceful bodies, with faint blue energy halos flickering at the joints.

What they held in their hands were all plasma weapons.

Even the most fragile-looking long-haired girl (Murong Xueer) was carrying a heavy medical gun that was taller than she was.

Looking back at her own side.

Tattered camouflage uniforms, empty rifles, broken tactical daggers.

At this moment, Qin Ziyan broke down.

Completely broke down.

"Is this even the same Apocalypse?"

"Is this the difference between a pay-to-win player and a free-to-play player?"

"I'm sweating bullets here, buddy!"

Lin Yuan walked to a spot three meters away from Qin Ziyan and stopped.

He looked down at this once-arrogant female officer.

It had to be said that even in her disheveled state, this "warrior flower" of the military still possessed stunning charm.

Beneath her torn tactical vest, her toned skin, cultivated through years of training, was faintly visible, and her blood-stained face only added a touch of "battle-damaged" beauty.

Especially those stubborn yet fearful eyes, which made one want to bully her mercilessly.

Lin Yuan's gaze roamed over her body unscrupulously, as if he were sizing up a trophy about to be added to his collection.

"S-save... save us..."

Qin Ziyan felt her whole body heating up under that highly aggressive gaze, and she subconsciously squeezed her legs together.

She was all too familiar with that look.

It was the greed unique to a male seeing a desired prey.

If it were before, anyone who dared to look at her like that would have had their eyes gouged out by her long ago.

But now...

Looking at this man before her, as powerful as a god or demon, Qin Ziyan's heartbeat actually skipped a beat against her will.

"If it were him... it seems... it wouldn't be impossible, right?"

Deep down, she even felt a trace of inexplicable anticipation.

"You want me to save you?"

Lin Yuan curled his lips into a playful arc and took a step forward, closing the distance.

The intense aura of hormones rushing towards her caused Qin Ziyan's brain to almost crash.

"You know my rules."

Lin Yuan's voice was low and magnetic, carrying a hint of unquestionable dominance.

"The Shelter does not support idlers. If you want protection, you must pay the corresponding price."

His gaze landed pointedly on Qin Ziyan's full chest.

The meaning was already clear enough.

In this Apocalypse where order has collapsed, if a woman wants to survive, especially a beautiful woman, she often only needs to pay one thing.

Qin Ziyan's face instantly turned red to the roots of her ears.

She bit her lip, her fingers tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.

Just by nodding, she could survive.

She could even become this powerful man's... plaything.

For her now, perhaps this was the best destination.

But.

As a former captain of the Special Operations Team, the last bit of pride in her bones made her unwilling to just become a mere plaything.

She wanted to prove that besides her body, she had other value!

Just as Lin Yuan was about to speak clearly.

"I have intelligence!"

Qin Ziyan suddenly raised her head and shouted before Lin Yuan could speak.

Because of nervousness, her voice even sounded a bit off-key.

"I have the military's top-secret Mutant Ore Distribution Map! And... and data about that monster!"

"Oh?"

The words "Come to my room tonight" that were about to spill from Lin Yuan's lips were forcibly choked back.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, the lust in his eyes fading, replaced by a hint of surprise and delight.

"Mutant Ore Distribution Map?"

This actually piqued Lin Yuan's interest.

You have to know, although his system possessed infinite supplies, this was the first time he had heard of Mutant Ore.

And this kind of Mutant Ore, born from absorbing strange energy in the environment of the Apocalypse, might just have terrifying uses.

Its value was indeed much greater than just sleeping with someone.

"You are quite clever."

Lin Yuan looked at Qin Ziyan with a faint smile, as if he had seen through her little scheme.

"Knowing how to hold out for a better price."

Qin Ziyan lowered her head, not daring to look into Lin Yuan's eyes, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

"Did she just... refuse an opportunity to reach the top in one step?"

"If she hadn't spoken just now, would she already be in his arms?"

A feeling that was hard to define—whether it was relief or disappointment—spread in her heart.

"Deal."

Lin Yuan spat out these two words indifferently.

Immediately, his gaze, which had been sharp as a knife, softened a bit, and the terrifying pressure on his body receded like a tide.

He reached out and, amidst Qin Ziyan's astonishment, gently wiped a smear of blood from her cheek.

The movement was as natural as that of an old friend who had known each other for many years.

"Bringing trouble to my doorstep, I'll let it slide this time."

Lin Yuan's voice was no longer cold; instead, it carried a hint of banter that only existed between acquaintances.

"But this Mutant Ore Distribution Map, consider it your dowry... oh no, a welcome gift."

Hearing the word "dowry," Qin Ziyan's originally pale face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple.

She subconsciously wanted to retort, but the words turned into a mosquito-like hum.

"Wh-who wants to marry you, you miser..."

Although she said that, her heart, which had been hanging, finally settled back into her chest at this moment.

He was still that same Lin Yuan.

"Alright."

Lin Yuan glanced at her still-bleeding wound and then scanned the few remaining team members behind her.

After confirming that they were all female, his previously furrowed brows finally relaxed.

"Consider yourselves lucky."

"You know, my Shelter not only doesn't support idlers, but it also has an iron rule—absolutely no men allowed."

"Since your Fire Phoenix team is all female soldiers, I'll make an exception and let you in to rest."

He casually threw out a bottle of [Intermediate Recovery Potion].

"Drink it. Take your sisters and go in."

"Although you can't eat or drink for free, for the sake of being old classmates, a full meal is no problem."

After saying this, Lin Yuan turned and walked towards the Shelter, waving his hand with his back to her.

"Take them to the guest area; don't let this 'women's army' freeze."

"Yes, Master!"

The women behind him responded in unison, their tones filled with a hint of teasing amusement.

Qin Ziyan gripped the bottle of potion, which was still warm, and looking at that tall, straight back, her eyes became moist again.

Unlike the previous despair, this time it was touched, and more so, a deep attachment.

"This guy..."

Qin Ziyan sniffled, and a long-lost smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

Even if he had become an overlord in the Apocalypse, even if he had so many excellent women around him, he still remembered to leave her with some dignity.

"Captain, are we... are we saved?"

The deputy captain asked tremblingly, her eyes full of the joy of surviving a disaster.

"Yes."

Qin Ziyan nodded vigorously, her gaze tightly following Lin Yuan's back, a trace of determination flashing in her eyes that only she knew.

Being saved this time meant she owed him. But she, Qin Ziyan, never liked owing favors.

Since he was still willing to treat her as a friend, she had to work hard to keep up with his pace.

Not just for survival. But also... so that one day, she would be qualified to truly stand by his side, rather than like now, only able to look up at his back.

"Let's go."

Qin Ziyan took a deep breath and straightened her back.