286: Chapter 286 I will prove myself!

It was already late at night by the time they returned to the base.

However, Lin Yuan did not let the women rest; instead, he immediately called an emergency meeting.

The signal sent by that Human-Faced Giant Crab before its death made him realize that the gravity of the situation far exceeded his expectations.

In the meeting room, the atmosphere was so heavy it felt like it could be wrung out like water.

Lin Yuan stood before the projection screen, unfolding the intelligence map obtained from The Authorities. With a light tap of his finger, satellite images began to cycle across the screen.

"The group of crabs we just encountered was merely an advance party."

His voice was calm, but every woman present could sense the underlying gravity.

On the images, the coastlines of coastal cities had become blurred, replaced by dense clusters of black dots—swarms of marine Mutated Beasts migrating inland.

"The true main force is still behind them."

Luo Qinghan held Xiao Qi in her arms, a flicker of worry passing through her beautiful eyes.

As a Reborn Person, she knew all too well what this sea beast crisis entailed.

In her previous life, this disaster had nearly destroyed the entire coastal region, with millions of people ending up in the bellies of the beasts.

"Boss, this seafood looks pretty plump. Why don't we go harvest some?"

An untimely voice broke the silence.

The women's gazes simultaneously shifted toward the source of the voice—Ji Wushuang.

The Fire-type Ability User was sitting with her legs crossed, an expression of eagerness on her face.

Her impossibly exquisite face was practically shouting the words 'I'm a great fighter'.

Chu Yanran shot her a cold glance. "Do you even understand the concept of an SS-rank Water-type Mutant Beast?"

"It's just a slightly bigger fish, isn't it? Just grill it and eat it!"

Ji Wushuang patted her chest as flames danced in her palm. "There's nothing my, Ji Wushuang's, fire can't cook through!"

"..."

The meeting room fell into an eerie silence.

Tang Shiyun pushed up her glasses, wearing an expression that said 'I don't know this person'.

Su Yuyan clutched her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

Lin Wanrou simply shook her head helplessly; this girl's train of thought was truly bizarre enough to be breathtaking.

"Ji Wushuang," Lin Yuan spoke up.

"What's up?!" Ji Wushuang replied casually.

"Water counters fire, you understand?"

"..."

Ji Wushuang's expression instantly froze.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words.

Damn it, I forgot about that.

"Ahem, well, I was just speaking casually..."

She sheepishly shrank her neck. "You continue, you continue."

Lin Yuan ignored her embarrassment and continued:

"From now on, everyone will undergo special training targeted at Water-type Mutated Beasts. Wood-type Ability Users will focus on cultivating Water-Absorbing Vines and Entangling Algae, while Lightning and Ice-type Ability Users will increase their training intensity."

"Yes!" the women responded in unison.

"As for Fire-type Ability Users..." Lin Yuan's gaze landed on Ji Wushuang.

Ji Wushuang immediately grew nervous, fearing Lin Yuan would say something that would make her lose face.

"Responsible for logistical support, evaporating excess moisture."

"..."

Ji Wushuang felt her heart bleeding.

A dignified S-rank Fire-type Ability User was actually being assigned to boil water?

What was the difference between this and making a master chef wash dishes?

But she didn't dare to object and could only nod aggrievedly.

After the meeting ended, the women dispersed to begin their intensive preparations.

Ji Wushuang, however, stood in place, feeling more and more unwilling the more she thought about it.

She was a peerless beauty with a system-rated appearance score of 98!

She was an S-rank Fire-type Ability User!

She was... she was...

Forget it, she couldn't think of anything else.

But she just wasn't satisfied!

"I want to prove myself!"

Ji Wushuang clenched her fists, a stubborn light flashing in her eyes.

She would show Lin Yuan that she, Ji Wushuang, was not just some ornamental vase only good for boiling water!

...

Three hours later.

"Help! Aaaaaah—!"

Ji Wushuang's miserable screams echoed through the abandoned port area.

She was soaking wet, hiding pathetically behind a giant boulder. Her Fire-type Superpower flickered in her palm, completely unable to be released steadily.

Before her was a Water-type Mutated Beast the size of a truck.

It was a mutated giant octopus, its eight tentacles lashing out at everything around it like steel whips.

Every swing brought forth blades of water that sliced through solid rock as if it were tofu.

"How the hell am I so unlucky!"

Ji Wushuang wanted to cry but had no tears.

She had originally just wanted to come out and scout the movements of the sea beasts while proving her value along the way.

As it turned out, she had just arrived at the port when she was targeted by this thing.

Even more critically, this thing was actually SS-rank!

SS-rank!

As an S-rank Fire-type Ability User, encountering an SS-rank Water-type Mutant Beast by the water—wasn't this just delivering herself on a silver platter?

"Fireball Technique!"

Ji Wushuang gritted her teeth and released a ball of flame, hurling it toward the octopus.

However, as soon as the flames touched the octopus's body, they were instantly extinguished by a layer of water film.

The octopus didn't even move a muscle.

"Holy crap..."

Ji Wushuang was in total despair.

She finally understood why Lin Yuan had told her to boil water.

It wasn't that he looked down on her; he was truly protecting her!

Water counters fire—that was the most basic common sense.

She had actually been foolish enough to run to the water's edge to throw her life away.

"I don't want to die..."

Ji Wushuang crouched behind the boulder, her eyes rimmed with red.

She hadn't been in a relationship yet, she hadn't eaten all the world's delicacies, she hadn't... she hadn't made Lin Yuan look at her with new eyes.

Right then, the octopus's tentacle suddenly lashed out!

Ji Wushuang closed her eyes, waiting for death to descend.

However, the expected pain did not arrive.

In its place was a sharp sound of something piercing the air.

"Squelch—"

Ji Wushuang opened her eyes and saw a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life.

A black light streaked across the sky, severing the octopus's tentacle at its base!

Purple-black blood gushed out as the octopus let out a pained roar.

"Who?!"

Ji Wushuang looked up in astonishment, and then she froze completely.

Lin Yuan.

It was Lin Yuan!

He stood there suspended in mid-air, surrounded by faint spatial fluctuations, looking like a god descended to earth.

Lin Yuan didn't speak; he simply clenched his hand lightly.

In the next second, the octopus's body suddenly twisted as if being squeezed by an invisible giant hand.

Boom!

The SS-rank Water-type Mutant Beast was compressed into a ball of flesh right before Ji Wushuang's eyes.

From the moment he acted to the end, it took less than three seconds.

Ji Wushuang's mouth hung open, completely speechless.

Was this Lin Yuan's true strength?

An SS-rank Mutated Beast was like... like...

Like an ant before him.

"How... how did you know I was here?" Ji Wushuang stammered.

Lin Yuan didn't answer, merely looking down at her from above.

In those deep eyes, there was no anger, no blame—only a faint sense of helplessness.

"Don't try to be a hero on your own next time."

A simple sentence, yet it made Ji Wushuang's heart tremble violently.

She lowered her head, looking at her pathetic state—soaking wet, hair in disarray, and face smeared with mud.

She was as embarrassed as could be.

She thought Lin Yuan would mock her, scold her, or even take the opportunity to take advantage of her.

After all, in her current state, her wet clothes were clinging to her body...

But Lin Yuan did nothing of the sort.

He simply took off his coat and gently draped it over her.

"Let's go. Back we go."

Ji Wushuang stared blankly at Lin Yuan's back, a complex surge of emotion rising in her heart.

This man...

He could clearly do anything to her.

In her current pathetic state, she had absolutely no ability to resist.

But he did nothing.

He simply saved her in silence and then escorted her back.

"Hey, why... why did you come to save me?" Ji Wushuang asked softly.

Lin Yuan didn't look back. "You are one of mine."

"..."

Ji Wushuang's face instantly flushed red.

What did he mean by 'you are mine'?

Why did those words sound so strange?

But her heart began to race uncontrollably.

On the way back to the base, the two remained silent.

Wrapped in Lin Yuan's coat and smelling his faint scent, Ji Wushuang's mind was a mess.

She secretly observed the man ahead of her.

His broad shoulders, his upright posture, and that reassuring aura...

"What am I thinking!"

Ji Wushuang shook her head vigorously, tossing the messy thoughts out of her brain.

She was just grateful he saved her, that was all!

It was definitely not love!

Definitely not!

...

Upon returning to the base, Ji Wushuang was immediately surrounded by the women.

"Wushuang! Are you okay?" Su Yuyan asked worriedly.

"How could you run out alone? It's too dangerous!" Tang Shiyun also looked frightened.

"I... I'm fine." Ji Wushuang kept her head down, not daring to look anyone in the eye.

She just wanted to find a hole to crawl into right now.

It was too humiliating.

What happened to proving herself?

She had nearly ended up getting herself killed.

"Alright, let her rest," Lin Yuan's voice rang out.

The women immediately made way.

Lin Yuan glanced at Ji Wushuang, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Ji Wushuang stood there, watching his back, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

This man...

What kind of person was he exactly?

For the first time, she wanted to get to know him seriously.

Not out of gratitude.

Just...

Just pure curiosity.

Yes, just curiosity.

Ji Wushuang told herself this.

But she didn't notice that her heartbeat was much faster than usual.

...

That night, Ji Wushuang lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Scenes from the day kept replaying in her mind.

Lin Yuan's figure descending from the sky.

His casual remark: "Don't try to be a hero on your own next time."

And the coat he had draped over her...

"Aaaaaah—!"

Ji Wushuang buried her face in her pillow and let out a muffled scream.

"What on earth am I thinking!"

She slapped her face hard, trying to calm herself down.

But that man's figure simply wouldn't go away.

"It's just gratitude..."

Ji Wushuang murmured to herself, her voice growing smaller and smaller.

"Just gratitude..."

"Just..."

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and she finally fell into a dream.

In her dream, she saw that figure descending from the sky again.

A smile unconsciously curled at the corner of her mouth.