WMSR – QT Chapter 111

 

WMSR – QT Chapter 111

By

siofra

Chapter 111: The Senior of the Apocalypse

Upon realizing that the slender man he had rescued was none other than the world's protagonist shou—and concurrently the absolute powerhouse wielding the supreme water-system ability—Bai Yichen found the revelation surreal, yet life went on.

The silver lining was that, armed with the knowledge of Lin Jiawen's true identity and staggering combat capacity, Bai Yichen's anxieties regarding earning system points in this world evaporated completely. As long as Lin Jiawen remained willing to shield him, he reckoned he could comfortably survive in this realm for a very, very long time.

To Bai Yichen's profound relief, Lin Jiawen demonstrated an enthusiastic willingness to shelter him. Not a single trace of arrogance surfaced despite his newfound supernatural status contrasted with Bai Yichen's non-powered civilian standing; he never once displayed an attitude of turning his back on him.

If anything, his treatment of Bai Yichen grew exceptionally, almost overwhelmingly tender—to the extent that Bai Yichen occasionally experienced a faint sense of unsteadiness and disorientation due to contributing virtually nothing to their dynamic.

While Bai Yichen diligently adjusted to transitioning from a provider into a protected dependant, miles away in a neighboring city, an entirely different scene unfolded inside a dilapidated industrial warehouse.

A campfire crackled against the concrete floor, casting dancing shadows over a group of exhausted survivors bustling through their evening routines. Some tended to boiling water and rations, others repaired damaged weapons, while a few inventoried scavenged supplies to determine what might prove useful.

The communal meal finally finished cooking, releasing a rich, savory aroma that caused many busy hands to pause and swallow hard. A stunning young woman with her hair casually pinned back—her striking beauty undimmed by the grime of survival—ladled out the first portion. She carried it directly toward a lone figure sitting in an isolated corner of the room. No one raised an objection; instead, the survivors willingly waited for her return before forming a queue to distribute the remaining food.

Though the pot contained a generous volume, dividing it among so many mouths left each person with a meager share. The meal itself was profoundly modest—merely a watery broth spiced with a single can of meat chunks. Yet every survivor consumed their portion with deep appreciation and visible relish. Months of relentless escape had taught them the unyielding value of sustenance, especially when it came in the form of a hot, freshly cooked meal.

The woman who distributed the porridge received her own share, which happened to equal the heavy portions allotted to the physically robust men. Yet the instant her bowl was handed to her, she headed straight back toward the isolated corner without a second thought.

Rather than crowding too close, she knelt down with graceful posture a short distance away from the cold, aloof figure, sipping her porridge slowly and elegantly in small, measured bites.

Though no words were exchanged, the intent behind her gesture of goodwill was glaringly transparent. The surrounding survivors sharing the room treated the display with casual familiarity; deep down, they had long since defaulted to the mutual understanding that the most breathtaking woman in their refugee group belonged to Xiao Yi.

Yet just because the majority of survivors shared this consensus did not mean dissent was entirely absent. Stationed in a shadowy corner, a small cluster of men watched the woman's actions and instinctively tightened their grips around their wooden bowls. What choice did they possess, however? Though they knew full well that Qi Yuanyuan was originally the girlfriend of their missing sworn brother, Ling Mengchen, where was their brother now? In this brutal apocalypse, they couldn't even guarantee whether Ling Mengchen drew breath.

Even if Ling Mengchen miraculously survived and materialized before them at that very moment, they suspected he would be powerless to alter the reality unfolding before his eyes. With the collapse of civilization, the magnetic pull of Xiao Yi's overwhelming combat strength was a force no one could deny. Since the dawn of the outbreak, they had submitted unconditionally to Xiao Yi's leadership; and when Xiao Yi unexpectedly lapsed into a deep coma weeks prior before waking up to awaken a terrifying lightning-system ability, it had infused every survivor with unwavering hope. The entire contingent of refugees owed their continued existence to Xiao Yi, serving as their literal guardian deity. Without him, barely a third of their current headcount would remain alive.

Ultimately, while certain scenes rankled their conscience, these men lacked the moral standing to critique Xiao Yi. Throughout their grueling journey, Xiao Yi had pulled their lives back from the brink of death more times than they could count. Moreover, they sensed that Xiao Yi afforded their specific clique preferential treatment—though whether that leniency stemmed from an underlying connection to Qi Yuanyuan remained an open question.

Trapped between a profound debt of gratitude and a missing, presumed-dead brother, the men ultimately slumped their shoulders in defeat, realizing they lacked the spine to press the issue.

So be it. Since even Ling Mengchen's presence wouldn't overturn the status quo, tormenting themselves served zero purpose. If watching the display stirred frustration, turning a blind eye was the wisest remedy. Besides, Qi Yuanyuan was merely Ling Mengchen's girlfriend without formal marital bonds; in an era where romantic breakups unfolded as casually as daily routines, lingering over old attachments was a waste of emotional energy.

With that internal rationalization, the men hastily finished their meals and dispersed outside. The remaining survivors in the room misread the cue, glancing between the departing men and the striking pair in the corner with knowing, knowing grins before clearing out as well. Within minutes, the warehouse interior emptied completely, leaving only Xiao Yi and Qi Yuanyuan isolated together in the corner.

Qi Yuanyuan naturally registered the tactical retreat of the survivors. Far from displaying surprise, she felt a quiet sense of satisfaction at their situational awareness—though their primary motivation undoubtedly centered on currying favor with Xiao Yi.

Prompted by this reflection, she lifted her gaze toward the unyielding, stern-faced man seated beside her. She parted her lips with the intent to speak, but confronting that perpetually glacial expression, she swallowed her words and opted for silence. She understood that while Xiao Yi tolerated her maintaining a closer proximity than the other refugees, he harbored an intense intolerance for meaningless chatter.

Securing favor required adapting to the target's preferences, which meant avoiding needless annoyance. Consequently, Qi Yuanyuan settled into quiet stillness. To break the awkward silence of sitting idly side by side, she reached into her pocket and retrieved her sole remaining sentimental tether from the old world—her dead, unpowered smartphone.

A cellular phone drained of all electrical current was undeniably dead weight. At the dawn of the apocalypse, many individuals clung desperately to their devices before discarding them out of necessity; months into the new reality, carrying a useless phone was a profound rarity. Yet Qi Yuanyuan stubbornly retained hers—perhaps sustained by the relative ease of her journey under Xiao Yi's protection, or perhaps fueled by a persistent, romanticized yearning for the eventual restoration of civilized society.

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