27: children and dogs

Early the next morning, the two of them headed out.

Small teams of three to five people could be seen everywhere on the road.

There were ordinary people as well as Ability Users.

Lin Wan often thought that humanity's ability to adapt to their environment was truly strong.

In the Apocalypse, under the virus, some people couldn't endure it and lost their lives directly, while others adapted and survived the virus but failed to awaken an ability.

The remaining small portion underwent genetic evolution, giving birth to abilities.

However, since ancient times, it has always been natural selection and survival of the fittest; this truth was even more evident in the Apocalypse.

She was very lucky to have met Shen Mo Chi, who was willing to give his life for her, granting her this chance to start over. She would cherish it dearly.

Both of them were currently Level 4 Ability Users and needed about a hundred Level 4 Crystal Cores to upgrade to Level 5.

There were very few existing Level 3 Ability Users, let alone Level 4 ones like them.

But yesterday at the base, Lin Wan had truly experienced a sense of crisis.

When a Mental Ability becomes powerful enough, it can peer into a person's memories and thoughts; that was why Shi Li saw that she had a space yesterday.

He was only at Level 5, so she had easily detected it.

If someone reached the peak of Level 9, she feared she wouldn't even notice if her consciousness were being controlled!

Thinking of yesterday's abnormality and the words the leader had spoken.

"Do you also have a Mental Ability?"

Lin Wan's heart stirred, and she simply concentrated her mind to perceive.

"There are Level 2 mutant rats here!"

"Don't snatch ours!"

"Go to hell, this Crystal Core is mine!"

"Qiang-ge, you're so amazing!"

Voices from all directions flooded into her ears.

Lin Wan widened her eyes, looking at Shen Mo Chi beside her, who was using binoculars to check for mutant beasts.

"Mo Chi, I think I really have awakened a Mental Ability!"

Shen Mo Chi also had a look of pleasant surprise.

"Really? Wanwan, that's wonderful. That way, you'll be able to protect yourself better, and you won't have to fear meeting someone like Shi Li again."

"Wanwan, we need to be more diligent these next few days to get you leveled up as soon as possible."

Shen Mo Chi was also very fearful in hindsight yesterday. It was lucky they met Shi Li; if they had encountered someone with ill intentions who peered into Lin Wan's unique space...

He hardly dared to think about it. Now that Lin Wan also had a Mental Ability, there was nothing to fear.

"Mhm!"

She was only at Level 1 right now; even with her mind concentrated, she could only hear various movements and sounds not far away.

When she reached the highest level in the future, no one would be able to easily peer into her space! Not even Shi Li!

As Lin Wan walked, she excitedly tried to continue her perception.

"Mo Chi, ten kilometers ahead, there's a Level 4 Mutant Tiger!"

"Let's go..."

One was a Lightning-type and the other a Wind-type; their speed was very fast. In just a moment, they arrived at this dense forest.

The area was surrounded by mutant plants: large Man-eating Flowers with open maws, vines stained with blood, and mimosa plants as sharp as blades...

The mutant tiger was hidden behind this thick jungle.

"Ah! Doudou!"

Just as the two were about to act, they heard a young, panicked voice coming from behind.

Lin Wan and Shen Mo Chi exchanged a glance, both filled with doubt.

"How can there be a Child in such a dangerous place!"

Never mind that, they had to go in first.

Shen Mo Chi released a field of lightning orbs, and a large patch of mutant plants instantly withered.

Lin Wan wasn't idle either; her Wind Blades sliced the heads off the Man-eating Flowers directly.

Soon, they reached the very back.

They saw a tiger that had swollen to twice its normal size, baring its teeth as it stared at the Child and dog in front of it.

The Child looked thin and small; it was hard to tell if it was a boy or a girl.

Looking to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, the Child's face was covered in filth, making their features indistinguishable.

But those eyes were unforgettable.

Cold, emotionless, yet incredibly clean, as if they could see through everything in the world.

The dog beside her was very large, likely a mutant as well.

Its two front paws were already injured, and patches of its matted fur had fallen out.

Both the person and the dog were in a defensive stance. The dog's body was arched, and despite its injuries, it insisted on limping in front of the Child to protect him.

It was clear that the dog was very intelligent and loyal.

The Child's gaze was fierce as he confronted the tiger with a dagger.

Seeing them arrive, the Child shifted slightly, his whole body alert and tense.

Lin Wan was surprised to find that the tiger actually had wounds on its body.

This was a Level 4 mutant beast!

Is this kid that impressive?!

Seeing more people arrive, the mutant tiger let out a furious roar.

The Child said coldly:

"You're also here for the Crystal Core, right? This tiger is already injured by me. We can cooperate. When the time comes, we can exchange this Level 4 Crystal Core for a hundred Level 3 Crystal Cores and split them equally!"

Lin Wan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This kid had some guts, bargaining even at a time like this.

Still, what he said made some sense. This kid was quite interesting!

Lin Wan had a huge amount of Level 3 Crystal Cores in her space, all of which she had thrown in before because she couldn't use them.

"Alright, I can give you fifty Level 3 Crystal Cores right now. However, I want this tiger's Level 4 Crystal Core!"

The Child thought about it seriously.

She was already physically exhausted, and her ability was depleted; she wouldn't be able to recover for a while.

Doudou was injured too. Fifty Level 3 Crystal Cores was already a huge bargain for her!

With these, she could quickly reach Level 2!

Then she wouldn't have to let people bully her at will, and she could kill more low-level mutant animals to fill her stomach.

He and Doudou wouldn't have to go hungry every day!

"Fine, I agree! But I'm not the type to take advantage of others. I will help you until the tiger is dead!"

Lin Wan looked at this stubborn Child with wonder. Before she could say anything more, the tiger had already raised its sharp claws and pounced toward them.

"Kid, stay back. We'll give you the Crystal Cores after we kill the tiger!"

Shen Mo Chi took the lead, and lightning rained down on the mutant tiger like a deluge.

Lin Wan released a massive wind vortex.

Twenty minutes later, the scarred tiger's massive body collapsed to the ground, its breath gone.

Shen Mo Chi went over, cut open the tiger's head, and took out the Level 4 Crystal Core.

The Child's small face was tense, his eyes wide. These two were really too strong! They were the strongest he had ever seen!

She calculated the remaining time for her Invisibility Ability.

It could still be used for another ten minutes!

Lin Wan reached into her pocket, took out fifty Level 3 Crystal Cores from her space, and handed them to him.

"Here, kid."

He bit his lip, his eyes full of wariness:

"You're not going to kill me to keep me quiet, are you?"

Lin Wan found it funny but also felt a bit of heartache.

At ten or so, before the Apocalypse, he would have been a carefree elementary school student, but now, he had to fight tigers just to survive...

There were too many children like this in the Apocalypse.

Life and death happened every minute, so it was normal for him to have such a defensive mindset.

It was clear that the Child and the dog depended on each other; they were each other's family. Moreover, Lin Wan felt this Child was truly remarkable; he must have risked coming to catch this tiger just to level up as quickly as possible.

She couldn't help but feel a bit more fondness and admiration for this Child.

"Of course not. If we were going to, why would we wait until now?"

"It's dangerous here, go back quickly. In the future, don't overestimate your abilities like this. You only have one life; cherish it."

Lin Wan could clearly feel that he had an ability, but the level wasn't high—just about Level 1.

However, his skill was very special: the Invisibility Ability.

No wonder he could wound the tiger.

The Child reached out his small hands to cradle the Crystal Cores as if they were treasures. His eyes were sparkling; only now did he look a bit like a Child.

He had never seen so many Crystal Cores! And these were Level 3 Crystal Cores!

If a Level 2 Ability User had these, they could reach Level 3 directly!

He was at Level 1; now he could reach Level 2...

She had met an angel big sister today! She knew very well in her heart that if they hadn't come today, she would have surely died under that tiger's sharp claws!

"Thank you, Big Sister."

She carefully put them into the innermost pocket of her clothes.

Then, she reached out her small hands, covered in scars and calluses, and with great effort, picked up the injured dog that was almost as big as her.

When she was about to leave, she looked at the tiger over there reluctantly.

Lin Wan noticed her hesitant gaze.

"Do you want to eat its meat?"

The Child shook her head.

"No, no, Big Sister, I don't want it. I didn't mean that. It's yours now; I'm not greedy."

She turned to leave, annoyed with herself for being greedy; what if they wanted the Crystal Cores back...

Lin Wan called out to her,

"Kid, we don't want this. If you want it, you can have it. We only need this Level 4 Crystal Core."

After Lin Wan finished speaking, she left with Shen Mo Chi.

As for whether he could take such a large tiger back, that was no longer within her scope of concern.

Giving her fifty Crystal Cores just now was already her heart softening.

There were far too many children like this, even more pitiful than her; she couldn't take care of them all.

Level 3 Crystal Cores were in high demand now; a large number of Level 1, 2, and 3 Ability Users were waiting for them.

However, Lin Wan was already at Level 4, so she only needed Level 4 or higher ones to reach Level 5.

They continued to roam around the outskirts of this jungle.

They also harvested quite a few Level 2 zombies and Level 3 mutant beasts. These were now just a matter of convenience for them.

The space could hold them anyway, in case they might be useful later.

At noon, the two found a hidden spot, entered the space to eat and rest for a while before coming back out.

Walking toward the north, they heard a commotion.

"Where did a kid like you get so many Crystal Cores? You must have stolen them!"

"I didn't! A big sister gave them to me!"

"I see you're not honest at all. These are Level 3 Crystal Cores! Who would be crazy enough to give them to you for nothing! Just as well, we're confiscating them!"

"You!... Give the Crystal Cores back to me!"

"And this dog of yours, it's a mutant too, right? It's injured like this, what use is it!"

Both Lin Wan and Shen Mo Chi's faces darkened.

It was the Child's voice!

A group of Ability Users was actually bullying a small Child!

Since they had met again, Lin Wan couldn't just ignore it!

In the blink of an eye, they reached that clearing.

They saw five or six Ability Users setting up a fire to roast meat.

Beside them lay the tiger that Lin Wan and the others had killed earlier.

It was missing its four legs.

The Child was injured and tied to a tree, those large, clear eyes filled with tears. The dog was already unconscious.

"Do you people have no shame?"

Lin Wan directly sent a small Wind Blade over to cut the Child's ropes and placed her and the dog on the clearing behind.

"One woman and five men bullying a Child? And stealing her things? Heh, I've really seen it all now."

Song Yao was looking at the handful of Crystal Cores Li Qiang had snatched from the Child, excited and thrilled.

She was currently at Level 2; as long as she absorbed all of these,

She could reach Level 3 directly! She wouldn't have to go and collect another hundred Level 2 Crystal Cores!

When that time came, who would dare look down on her! In the Apocalypse, those with high-level abilities were the elite!

While she was daydreaming, a familiar cold and mocking voice drifted over.

Immediately after, a figure flashed past and untied the Child.

When Song Yao saw Shen Mo Chi, she knew that figure was indeed Lin Wan!

Seeing her, jealousy and resentment flashed in her eyes.

It truly was a small world for enemies!

Her eyes darted around, and a hundred schemes came to mind.

"Please don't talk nonsense if you don't know the specifics! This Child stole a large number of Crystal Cores from somewhere. These are Level 3 Crystal Cores; imagine how much effort it takes to get them. It's not easy to find a Level 3 mutant beast nowadays! The owner who lost these must be so anxious."

"When a Child makes a mistake, they must be disciplined, otherwise what will happen? We're doing this for his own good."

She looked weak and delicate, her brow furrowed, putting on an air of righteous indignation.

"Yeah, you stinking woman, who do you think you are to meddle in our business! Just because you have some looks?"

"Hahahaha..."

Li Qiang hadn't reacted when they arrived and released the person, and then this woman started calling them shameless!

She was so beautiful, how could her mouth be so poisonous!

Yao-yao was the one who truly understood the bigger picture!

But setting everything else aside, this woman was damn good-looking!

"Come, let me see how this little face of yours grew to be so fine."

Because they had Song Yao, a Healer, they had always been extremely arrogant; after all, even minor injuries could be treated.

Now seeing Lin Wan, they instantly became overconfident again.

Just as he reached out his hand to touch Lin Wan's face.

"Crack..."

Li Qiang felt a burst of intense pain throughout his body as a powerful electric current directly paralyzed his heart.

It made him twitch all over in agony.

The next second, he fell straight to the ground and kicked the bucket.