72: Chapter 72 The Thorn Queen Makes Her Appearance? Sorry, the script is in Lin Yuan's hands.

Shadow's motorcycle rode along the side road.

The main artery of Jiangcheng was completely blocked.

A bus lay horizontally in the middle of the road, its front crashed into the green belt.

The bus windows were packed with grey-white human faces, their palms slapping against the glass over and over.

The rolling shutter of a convenience store had been smashed open.

The shelves were half empty.

Two people lay on the ground, the blood beneath them already turning black.

Shadow did not slow down.

Static crackled in his earpiece.

"Over seventy percent of the urban area has fallen."

He lowered his voice.

"The rescue system has basically collapsed."

...

Villa No. 13.

After hearing the intelligence, Lu Yan's first reaction was to activate the air defense system.

That equipment Lin Yuan had him install wasn't just for show.

Interceptor drones were hidden in the concealed slots on the roof.

The suicide drones provided by Jiang Xiaowan had also been connected to the central control.

As long as he pressed confirm,

that helicopter wouldn't be able to enter the airspace above Cloud Top Palace.

Lu Yan connected to Su Xiaonuan.

"Secretary Su, Shen Qingyue is here."

"She brought ten special operations team members."

"And a helicopter."

In front of the living room's central console,

Su Xiaonuan was organizing the list of survivors in the outer perimeter.

Upon hearing the words "Shen Qingyue," "official armed forces," and "helicopter," her typing hands froze.

She had personally sent the anonymous message about the serum.

Shen Qingyue wasn't here to ask for help.

She was here to force a confrontation.

Su Xiaonuan didn't call for reinforcements.

She simply spoke up.

"Hide all heavy weapons."

"Keep guns at the ready."

"Do not fire without Mr. Lin's orders."

"Understood."

Su Xiaonuan picked up her tablet and hurried upstairs.

In the second-floor hallway,

Tang Qiqi was still sitting at the doorway.

Her pink bunny-ear pajamas were crumpled, her hair was messy, and her eyes were very red.

Hearing footsteps, she immediately looked up.

"Is the Great Demon King still inside?"

Su Xiaonuan didn't answer.

She knocked on the door twice.

After receiving Lin Yuan's consent,

she pushed it open.

Tang Qiqi hesitated for half a second before slipping inside as well.

The room was very dim.

Broken training gear and torn bedsheets were scattered on the floor.

Qin Yumo was leaning against Lin Yuan's side, her red hair spread across the pillow, her breathing steady.

Tang Qiqi froze.

She knew last night that this was to save someone.

But actually seeing this scene still stung her deeply.

[Ding! Target Tang Qiqi (Charm 86), Favorability -3%! Current Favorability: 4%!]

Tang Qiqi turned her face away and muttered softly.

"I knew it..."

"A character like the Great Demon King definitely has an improper way of saving people."

She felt sour, yet dared not make a scene.

Lin Yuan opened his eyes and glanced at her.

Tang Qiqi immediately shut her mouth.

Su Xiaonuan reported in a low voice.

"Mr. Lin, Shen Qingyue is coming with official armed forces."

"The helicopter is expected to arrive within eighteen minutes."

Lin Yuan took the tablet, his fingertips pausing on the flight path map for two seconds.

Then he stroked Qin Yumo's hair.

"Keep sleeping."

Qin Yumo opened her eyes.

"I can..."

"No need."

Lin Yuan got up.

Su Xiaonuan handed him his clothes.

Lin Yuan put on a black shirt.

"She isn't here for revenge."

"She is borrowing the official's eyes to see my cards."

Su Xiaonuan nodded.

"Should I have Sister Wang Ya and Captain Lu show themselves to intimidate them?"

"No."

Lin Yuan fastened his cufflinks.

"Wang Ya is a Mutant and cannot be seen by the authorities."

"Lu Yan's people should also stay hidden."

"Shen Qingyue wants to see my cards."

He smiled slightly.

"I'll show her a fake one."

Su Xiaonuan understood immediately.

Mr. Lin wanted to act.

And people like Shen Qingyue were the most susceptible to this type of thing.

...

Three minutes later.

Tiangong No. 1 entered disguise reception mode.

The roof machine gun ports retracted into their slots.

Heavy drones slid into the equipment bay.

The exterior infrared array lowered its power.

From the air, this place looked like just a reinforced mansion.

Wang Ya was arranged to go into the basement.

Lu Yan's squad entered the secret passages of Villa No. 13.

Qin Yumo stayed on the second floor.

Tang Qiqi was tossed into the living room by Su Xiaonuan.

"Don't run around."

Tang Qiqi hugged a pillow, puffing out her cheeks.

"I'm not a zombie."

Su Xiaonuan glanced at her.

"You're more troublesome than a zombie."

Tang Qiqi: "..."

Boom—

The sound of the helicopter rotors pressed down onto the roof.

Dust and the mist left over from the acid rain were stirred up.

The military helicopter descended.

Ten special operations team members fanned out with guns in hand.

Their movements were clean.

Their aim was steady.

Two of them immediately occupied the high ground on both sides of the roof, and although their gun barrels weren't pointed directly at anyone, they had completely sealed off Lin Yuan's retreat route.

The special operations captain scanned Tiangong No. 1.

Seeing the two people occupying the high ground give him a thumbs up, he shouted into the cabin.

"Clear!"

Shen Qingyue stepped out of the cabin wearing a long trench coat.

Her face carried a sense of superiority that she had regained.

He Manman cowered behind her, her white dress blown against her legs by the wind, her face deathly pale.

Lin Yuan appeared with only Su Xiaonuan.

Shen Qingyue's gaze paused when she saw Su Xiaonuan standing beside Lin Yuan.

She lifted her chin.

"Lin Yuan, stop pretending."

"Hand over the serum."

The roof went silent for a second.

The special operations captain looked at Lin Yuan.

Su Xiaonuan lowered her eyes, but her fingertips paused.

She knew Mr. Lin was about to start acting.

Lin Yuan's expression darkened slightly, as if his trump card had been exposed.

"How do you know about the serum?"

"This line about Xia Qingqiu—no one in this life should know about it!"

"You..."

Shen Qingyue laughed.

It was the kind of laugh that felt like she had finally drawn a trump card at the poker table.

She even took half a step forward.

But after laughing, a question surfaced in her mind.

Who sent the message?

Besides her and Lin Yuan, was there a third reborn person?

This thought only flashed for a moment before it was suppressed by her inflated sense of superiority.

She walked two steps closer.

"In the previous life, it was Lu Feng who deceived me."

"But that wasn't my fault."

Lin Yuan looked at her without speaking, as if he hadn't yet recovered from the shock of having the "serum secret exposed."

Shen Qingyue spoke more and more smoothly.

"This life is different."

"I have memories of my past life."

"I have my mother."

She paused.

The desire to show off was about to overflow from her eyes.

"I also have a system."

Su Xiaonuan's eyelids twitched.

A system?!

Lin Yuan rubbed the seam of his trousers.

The movement was very light.

Shen Qingyue didn't notice at all.

She thought Lin Yuan had been stunned.

This was normal.

Rebirth.

System.

Official armed forces.

An Ancient Martial Arts Grandmaster mother.

With all these cards stacked together, why couldn't she win?

"In the future, I will become the strongest woman in the apocalypse."

"I've even thought of my title."

She lifted her chin, enunciating every word.

"The Thorn Empress."

He Manman stood behind her, her expression stiff.

She wanted to warn Shen Qingyue not to say too much, but she didn't dare.

Since the night before last, Shen Qingyue had seemed like a different person.

Crazy.

Paranoid.

Shen Qingyue reached out her hand, as if granting charity.

"You have some ability."

"But your vision is too small."

"You are only fit to be my soldier."

Lin Yuan raised his head "with difficulty."

"What do you want me to do?"

Shen Qingyue's eyes lit up.

As expected.

Lin Yuan was still the same old Lin Yuan.

As long as she gave him a small step down, he would take it.

"This is a chance for a new life that I am bestowing upon you."

"Pledge your loyalty to me."

"Make the serum for me."

"I can overlook those sluts you've been keeping during this time."

Su Xiaonuan stood behind Lin Yuan, her expression even more respectful.

On her tablet, she had already created a new tag for Shen Qingyue.

[Narcissistic] [Brain-dead] [Overconfident] [Suspected System holder, prioritize investigation]

The special operations captain checked the time.

"Miss Shen, we must evacuate."

"Team Leader Ling's orders, we cannot delay."

Shen Qingyue's expression darkened.

The special operations captain spoke again.

"Miss Shen."

His tone was heavier.

Shen Qingyue took a deep breath.

Of course, she knew that Cloud Top Palace was the number one shelter in her previous life.

But in this life, the South Suburb Military District was her true starting point.

She turned to board the helicopter.

When she reached the cabin door, she suddenly stopped.

Then, she pushed He Manman, who also wanted to board, out.

He Manman stumbled two steps, nearly falling.

"Qingyue?"

Her voice trembled.

Shen Qingyue looked at Lin Yuan.

"Manman, you stay here for now."

"Help me watch Lin Yuan."

He Manman's face turned deathly pale.

"Qingyue, I..."

She reached out to grab the edge of the cabin door.

But Shen Qingyue had already looked away.

The cabin door closed.

Bang.

That dull thud was heavier than a slap.

He Manman froze in place.

Her hand remained in the outstretched position.

The helicopter began to lift off.

The wind pressure whipped up her dress and messed up her hair.

Shen Qingyue looked at Lin Yuan through the porthole.

That gaze was like looking at an old possession that would return to her hands sooner or later.

Lin Yuan stood on the roof, not stopping her.

The sound of the propellers faded into the distance.

Only He Manman was left standing on the roof in the wind.

She hugged her arms tightly, her voice trembling.

"Mr... Mr. Lin..."

Su Xiaonuan looked at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan smiled.

"It seems she has taken you as a deposit."