Doomsday Spiritual Artifact Master

Chapter 16.2 – Rainy Night in Hua City (8)

◎My person, I’ll take care of it◎

Song Ke meticulously recalled her experiences since the apocalypse began. Aspects that previously puzzled her suddenly became clear, like dispelling clouds and fog. So, the middle-aged man she saw at the docks (Wind), Xu Xing (Ice), An Qiwen (Thunder), and even Jiang Rui (Fire) were all elemental awakeners of the mental abilities category. Zhang Qi’s strength, Wu Juemin’s teleportation were both attributes of physical enhancement. As for mystical abilities, the tracking pen of Wu Yarou and the sulfuric acid test tube of Yang Bo had just proven to be incredibly unpredictable.

“The strength of awakeners ranges from E to A, ascending step by step. E-level is the lowest, representing individuals with relatively acute sensory perception. A-level is the strongest, with superpower intensity reaching up to about 83% of the body’s maximum tolerance threshold. However…” Zhuang Qingyan said up to this point, he smiled ambiguously, “If one can surpass this threshold and unlock more potential during awakening, there might even be awakeners with an S-level beyond the upper limit.”

Zhuang Qingyan was almost certain that Song Ke’s superpower level was not low. Not only could she externalize her abilities, but her physical qualities also far exceeded those of ordinary physical enhancement awakeners. Not to mention the precise and fierce combat skills she displayed at Qingsong Biotech, which was why he had thought it over and ultimately decided to hug her thigh.

“You could easily defeat two C-level awakeners, which would suggest your level is probably above B and might even be A. However, superpower reactions have a strong variability. To get the most accurate data, we’d have to rely on authoritative testing equipment.”

Song Ke remembered something, “Testing? Is it that kind of, of black box with lots of, wires?”

“You’ve seen one?” Zhuang Qingyan was mildly surprised. “But what you’re referring to seems to be the most basic superpower detection device, an outdated product. Aside from assessing whether the subject has superpower fluctuations, it doesn’t serve any other purpose.”

“I’m actually curious, where did you see one?” Zhuang Qingyan stared at Song Ke with interest.

The most advanced R-type superpower detection devices of the Alliance were all stored in various Qinglan research institutions. Portable versions that were available on the market were mostly owned by the military. If Song Ke had undergone superpower testing, would those people have allowed her to leave so easily?

“I’ve seen it, but it, it was broken.” Song Ke felt irritated recalling the incident. She briefly recounted her evacuation from District 177, omitting the part where she rescued someone and the “objective fact” that the testing device exploded because of her.

“Ah… what a pity,” Zhuang Qingyan sighed after hearing her story.

“Pity, for what?”

“Hehe~ Don’t misunderstand, I’m pitying those people.”

Zhuang Qingyan looked out at the pouring rain outside the door, his gaze becoming distant.

Azure Phoenix? He hadn’t heard about them for a long time. As the once most glorious fighting force of the Alliance, they had fallen to the point of needing to recruit awakeners from civilians. Could that not be considered a pity?

With only one question left to ask, and with Song Ke having too many questions in mind, she was paralyzed by indecision. So, she temporarily put the matter aside, planning to ponder over it once she returned to the safe zone. With limited supplies of her own and now the added burden of another mouth to feed, she had to accompany Jiang Rui’s group in scavenging the canned food factory. In the process, they managed to collect a variety of strawberry, peach, and orange canned fruits.

During this time, Zhuang Qingyan remained silently seated in the wheelchair. Song Ke inexplicably felt that when he was quiet, he wasn’t as annoying as she had initially thought.

……

Half an hour early, the group returned to Hua City No.1 Middle School, waiting for Liu Zixuan to open the door.

As the appointed time arrived, the wall recessed, and the superpower door opened punctually.

Liu Zixuan appeared and couldn’t wait to ask, “Did you find the medicine? Zhou Anqi woke up, but the fever hasn’t gone down.”

“We found it,” Jiang Rui nodded.

Liu Zixuan breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s good. Her ability has awakened.”

Zhou Anqi’s awakening had been a foregone conclusion even before Jiang Rui and the others returned.

There was a subtle magnetic field sensitivity between awakeners. Earlier in the morning, Liu Zixuan sensed energy fluctuations in her. He immediately reported it to Xu Liren. However, she was mentally weak due to the high fever, making it difficult for her to speak. This continued until Jiang Rui’s group returned with life-saving medicine.

Xu Liren took the medicine box and after several checks, had Cao Yiyi feed it to Zhou Anqi to take.

“Anqi, how do you feel now?”

Zhou Anqi leaned weakly against Cao Yiyi. Hearing the question, she merely raised her eyelids. She was now the focus of everyone’s attention, with everyone looking at her expectantly. Only Jiang Rui’s gaze drifted elsewhere, not in the same direction as the others.

Suddenly feeling displeased, Zhou Anqi couldn’t care less about manners: “Not good. My throat hurts, my head hurts, my whole body hurts.”

Everyone exchanged glances. Xu Liren didn’t tolerate her tantrum and asked straightforwardly, “Do you know what ability you’ve awakened?”

“What kind of ability I’ve awakened is none of your d*mn business…” Zhou Anqi, in the midst of anger, was about to blurt out a rude retort. However, upon seeing who was asking, she forcibly swallowed her words, lowered her head, thought for a moment, and honestly replied, “I’ve always been afraid of getting hurt since I was little, worried that scars wouldn’t look good. When I just awakened, I could vaguely sense something related to wounds.”

“Wounds…” Xu Liren’s eyes lit up. He called over the guy who had gone out with Zhang Qi last time. Although he had managed to escape the starship explosion, his arm and leg were still bruised and had not been properly treated. They had even begun to fester.

Zhou Anqi stared at the ghastly wound, looking at it with disgust for quite a few minutes. Eventually, with Xu Liren’s encouragement, she placed her hands over the wound through the gauze. About ten minutes later, sweat started forming on her forehead, and she slowly withdrew her hands. The guy eagerly removed the gauze, only to find that the wound had completely healed. His skin was as good as new, not a scar left! He excitedly hopped in place, no different from any regular person in his movements.

Witnessing this miracle with their own eyes, the atmosphere in the safe zone ignited like a spark, bursting into an uproar.

“It’s a healing-type ability!”

“Really? Are you not joking?”

“This is amazing! We won’t have to worry about injuries anymore!”

“Come on, do you think Miss Zhou would be kind enough to heal you?”

“Uh… that’s true. Got excited for nothing.”

Xu Liren smiled gently and kindly advised Zhou Anqi to take her medicine on time, rest well, and then stood up to attend to other matters. Just as he did so, Jiang Rui walked over to him and whispered, “Mr. Xu, Song Ke brought someone back.”

“Oh? Who is it?” The delight on Xu Liren’s face hadn’t faded yet, and he nodded unconcernedly. “I’ll go take a look.”

When the others swarmed around Zhou Anqi, only Song Ke stood there like a wooden pole, rooted to her spot.

Of course, Zhuang Qingyan, who fancied himself as the “disabled person,” also remained still, calmly watching the crowded scene.

“Your classmate seems to have awakened. Don’t you want to join the excitement?”

“No, no need.”

“Oh? You don’t want to see the excitement? Have you had a conflict with someone?”

…Is this person telepathic? How does he seem to know everything!

Song Ke was speechless, poking at the wheelchair’s wheel with the tip of her foot, making the wheelchair spin chaotically.

Zhuang Qingyan in the wheelchair was affected by the chaos, and his perspective spun around, forced to face multiple directions. However, he didn’t seem annoyed at all. He maintained his smile and continued teasing her, “Really? Did I hit the nail on the head? You really have a grudge with someone?”

This only made Song Ke angrier, causing her to spin the wheels even faster.

While the two were playfully bickering, Xu Liren and Jiang Rui stopped in front of them.

“Song Ke, I heard you brought back a stranger.”

Song Ke’s actions came to a halt, and the faintly expressive look on her face vanished instantly. In the awkward silence, she suddenly recalled Jiang Rui’s mention of the “distribution according to work” system. She forced herself to speak stiffly, “You don’t need to give, give him supplies, I will take care of it.”

Xu Liren’s expression turned sour as he scolded her in a low voice, “What do you think this place is?!”

The girl in front of him lowered her gaze, presenting a rebellious appearance. It was like this before, and it’s still the same now. Xu Liren had taught for many years, and while Song Ke wasn’t the most unruly student he had seen, she was certainly the most stubborn. She would never learn to be submissive.

Suppressing his impatience, his tone grew even more stern. “The safe zone is the result of everyone’s hard work. Back then, we were willing to take you in because of the fate between teachers and students, not so you could act capriciously. You saved someone on a whim today, who knows if you’ll pick up a cat or a dog tomorrow. If this continues, teacher won’t be able to manage it.”

Song Ke’s mind went blank, and she automatically started her “turtle reciting scriptures technique,” allowing her thoughts to wander freely. Xu Liren’s words entered her left ear and swiftly slipped out of her right, coming and going lightly, leaving no trace behind.

Unluckily for her, her act of pretending to be “dead” didn’t escape the notice of another.

“Hehe~” A magnetic chuckle resonated, interrupting Xu Liren’s words. Zhuang Qingyan, likened to a “cat or dog,” seemed to have a better sense of self-awareness than Song Ke. Recognizing his own rudeness, he quickly apologized, “Sorry, couldn’t help it. You can continue, please continue.”

Xu Liren’s glasses glinted, a cold glint passing through his eyes.

In the safe zone, nobody could challenge his authority.

He composed himself, looked down at the wheelchair, and saw the languidly seated man. His handsome face seemed to be emitting a glow. His features were exquisite, a perfect work as if crafted by Nuwa herself.

Caught off guard, their gazes locked.

Zhuang Qingyan arched an eyebrow, his smile unchanged. But Xu Liren, as if struck by lightning, paled in disbelief! He appeared complex, even a touch frightened, staring at Zhuang Qingyan.

Innocently and perplexedly, Zhuang Qingyan said, “Um, Mr. Xu? Are you okay?”

Xu Liren gazed at him for a long time, not detecting anything unusual. He let out a suppressed breath, “I’m fine.”

He then turned to look at Song Ke, his expression cold. “Song Ke, you brought this person here, and we have no obligation to take care of him. You are responsible for him yourself.”

“Furthermore, this is the last time.”

Jiang Rui quickly left a message “I’ll find you later” and followed Xu Liren as they left.

Once they were far away, Song Ke asked in confusion, “What’s wrong with him?” He was having a normal conversation and then suddenly collapsed. It’s pretty unsettling.

“Maybe… he had a sudden illness?”

Zhuang Qingyan looked at Xu Liren’s departing figure and smiled.

**TN

Hugging someone’s thigh – attaching yourself to someone powerful

Nuwa – the mother of humankind, the goddess of nature, order, fertility, and marriage.