Chapter 29
Although Dong Sheng knew he would survive, his mood remained uneasy. Wu Ping’s methods proved to be more horrifying than he had anticipated, and the scale of the killings was too heavy. With a mere command, Xu Feifei and the Cao Ke sisters efficiently dispatched many.
Dong Sheng was not a stranger to violence, yet he couldn’t shake off a lingering discomfort. His strength remained, but the urge to vomit was stifled.
Wu Ping inquired, “What are your plans for the future? If you wish to leave, the southern gate is open. Take these people and depart immediately. It can be considered a resolution to our shared destiny. If you prefer to stay, then stay.”
“In the future, I will heed the three of them. As for how they treat you, I can’t say,” Wu Ping continued. “Consider the pros and cons and make your judgment.”
Initially, Dong Sheng wanted to stay. Witnessing Wu Ping’s methods, he was drawn to follow him. However, fear now plagued him. He had been with the bald brother before, and the uncertainty of their future actions unsettled him. Ultimately, he chose: “Brother Wu, I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. Go on. Everyone has their ambitions. Stay safe.”
“Thank you, Brother Wu.” Dong Sheng departed, and others hesitated before leaving, too.
As Wu Ping watched them go, he sighed. He had offered a chance, but why couldn’t they grasp it?
“Make it quick and painless for whoever goes first,” Wu Ping declared. Xu Feifei volunteered, and Wu Ping nodded approvingly. She swiftly disappeared into the darkness, eliminating any potential leaks of information.
Returning to the teaching building, Wu Ping unpacked food, water, seeds, and weapons from his storage bag. “I’ll send more later. There are seeds; try planting them. If survival becomes difficult, we can discuss it.”
Cao Ke, visibly excited, nodded vigorously. “Good!”
Wu Ping assigned her the task of guarding the growing trees. “Your strength is too weak; someone could break in easily. I’ll stay with you for a while to bolster your defences. I don’t want a repeat of this situation. Do you understand?”
Cao Ke lowered her head. “I’m sorry… I didn’t manage it well.”
“Never again,” Wu Ping asserted. “Alright, distribute the food to the others.”
With that, Wu Ping left the area, disappearing from everyone’s sight. A group of survivors let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Sister, did you hear that? Brother Wu said he wants to strengthen us!”
“Will he take us on zombie hunts?”
“Hahaha, he’s so handsome!”
Compared to her sister’s quiet demeanour, Cao Ling seemed unusually excited. Seated at the conference table, her feet couldn’t stop shaking.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself; there’s a gap between us and him,” cautioned Cao Ke, quietly packing up the supplies Wu Ping had provided.
“What’s the big deal? People say women chase men’s gauze compartments. I like Brother Wu’s style. How oppressive!”
“You might end up dead!”
“If I die, I die. It doesn’t matter. If it weren’t for him, we would have died a long time ago. Would we even be alive today? Sister, aren’t you excited?”
Cao Ling fell into a thoughtful silence. Who wouldn’t be moved by a handsome, powerful man who had also saved their lives? However, she remained more rational than her younger sister.
“He doesn’t look at us that way. We’re not growing up to impress someone. We’re sisters, and sisters have their boundaries.”
Cao Ke blushed at her sister’s words. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s the end of the world, so what if sisters share something with a guy? And listen, although we have advantages, Xu Feifei is not bad either, so don’t rush things.”
Thinking of Xu Feifei, Cao Ling looked down at herself again, acknowledging the differences.
“We may lack appearance, but we all have unique characteristics and beauty. But the figure… together, we might be able to outshine Xu Feifei. One meter eight, long legs, F-cup, peach hips. I mean, come on, that’s just tears. Why can’t we grow up like that? We’ve got advantages everywhere.”
“She’s just standing there like a deer in headlights. Men like assertiveness.”
Cao Ling felt a bit disheartened, but then an idea struck her. “However, we can get a bigger bed that fits four people. I want to try that too!”
“Cao Ling!”
The sisters continued their banter, unaware of Wu Ping’s intense concentration nearby.
At the edge of the previously dug pit, Wu Ping sat cross-legged, deep in thought. The pain of splitting half of his soul was excruciating, evident from his bloodless face and sweat-drenched cheeks. Finally, he expelled a mouthful of blood, and a golden seed mixed with blood was produced.
Wiping the blood from his mouth, Wu Ping mused, “Normally, magical exercises manifest in colours like blood, black, and green. Why is this seed golden?”
Despite the peculiar colour, Wu Ping cared more about its utility. To condense this seed, he had split half of his soul and half of his essence and blood, causing his foundation to waver and his cultivation to decline. But it was a sacrifice he deemed necessary.
“I hope you don’t disappoint me,” Wu Ping muttered, acknowledging the risks he took for this newfound power.