Chapter 66: A Burdened Power and a Rare Awakening

Having received answers to all his questions from Duan Yulan, Qiao Xia nodded contentedly. He decided that from now on, any future queries would go straight to her.

She truly was a walking encyclopedia!

However, Qiao Xia felt incredibly vexed by the fact that ghoul rats favored the flesh and blood of ability users.

After finally awakening an ability, he was saddled with a healing ability that had perverse activation conditions. Not only could it offer little help in their current predicament, but it had also become a liability.

He felt like a piece of seared meat, now exuding a rich aroma, tempting passersby to take a bite.

And surprisingly, the analogy was quite apt.

Imagining the ghoul rat’s sharp claws effortlessly tearing him to shreds, Qiao Xia knew he couldn’t possibly win a fight against it now.

Instead, he would be the one torn apart.

So, for the time being, he could only cling tightly to Duan Yulan’s side. Qiao Xia, recalling his fearless demeanor just two days prior, now realized how naive he had been.

He hadn’t understood the dangerous, escalating situation, which was no longer something ordinary people could withstand.

“There’s no need to worry. Ghoul rats are only slightly stronger than zombies; I can handle them.”

Duan Yulan clearly sensed Qiao Xia’s apprehension. She took his hand directly, and with her other hand, she patted it reassuringly, hoping to distract him from his worries.

As long as she was there, none of these issues mattered.

Qiao Xia was indeed comforted by Duan Yulan’s caring gesture, but as he felt the almost palpable gazes from around them, he quickly pulled his hand back.

Though Duan Yulan’s small hand was soft and delicate, and felt wonderful to the touch, there were still many onlookers.

Being stared at so intently made Qiao Xia feel a little shy.

“What the hell, who is this guy? He’s actually in *that* kind of relationship with Duan Yulan!”

“Oh my god, Duan Yulan just killed someone; it nearly scared me to death.”

“Wuwuwu, my perfect goddess, how did she become like this… but honestly, it’s pretty exciting.”

“These damned scumbags, they all deserve to die! I’m going to kill them!”

The sudden appearance of Qiao Xia and Ye Qiu had interrupted the spread of fear from the initial killings, allowing the surrounding students to regain some composure. Some bolder students now clutched their chests, relieved that Duan Yulan hadn’t struck them down as well.

Witnessing Duan Yulan mercilessly decapitate Liu Liming had truly terrified them, almost to the point of wetting themselves!

Yet, no matter how curious they were about the relationship between Duan Yulan and Qiao Xia, the current situation didn’t permit them to speak freely.

So, after shifting their gazes, everyone turned to look at the teachers huddled together.

Reflecting on the past two days, many female students’ eyes burned with hatred, while the male students also harbored deep resentment.

Before, they hadn’t even dared to eat an extra bite, fearing they would end up like others: bound hand and foot like livestock awaiting slaughter, then thrown out to be devoured by the red-eyed maniacs.

Despite the considerable number of male students present, with the teachers wielding weapons, they couldn’t even resist. They could only endure in silence, seeking temporary safety.

During this time, it wasn’t that no teachers spoke up for them, but those who did were all thrown out of the cafeteria.

Even if they hadn’t died yet, they had become one of the red-eyed maniacs.

They had believed this situation would continue indefinitely, but then Duan Yulan suddenly appeared. She swiftly decapitated Liu Liming, who had been lording over the students, forcefully tearing a corner of their dark reality and ending the teachers’ reign.

Even with weapons in hand, the teachers stood no chance against the power of Duan Yulan’s long blade.

After all, it was a sharpened weapon.

As for the vice principal’s stun gun, it had been kicked away by her the moment he tried to attack, knocking him unconscious. He hadn’t woken up since.

Perhaps emboldened by Duan Yulan’s continued presence, the formerly submissive students now surged towards those unworthy teachers. Grabbing whatever they could use as weapons, they began to strike the teachers’ heads.

The teachers were immediately left with bleeding wounds.

Terrified by Duan Yulan, the teachers dared not resist even as the students brutally beat them. Their scrambling, head-clutching retreat presented a stark contrast to their earlier arrogant displays.

As the scene descended into chaos, Qiao Xia merely watched with a cold eye, not intervening much.

Despite Duan Yulan’s comfort, his experience of being torn apart by ghoul rats in the premonition still left him deeply worried about the giant black rat outside the cafeteria.

Perhaps it was his lack of matching strength that prevented him from remaining as calm as Duan Yulan.

As these thoughts swirled, Qiao Xia suddenly, for reasons unknown, yearned for power.

Power that could overcome all dangers, power that could bring him a profound sense of security.

So he wouldn’t be in this current state…

“Hiss…”

As Qiao Xia pondered how to enhance his strength beyond his frustrating healing ability, Ye Qiu, who had been quietly activating his own ability nearby, suddenly gasped.

Then, with a face full of pleasant surprise, he opened his eyes. Looking at Qiao Xia, his voice was exceptionally excited.

“Qiao Xia, is the image that appeared in my mind my ability?”

Duan Yulan’s cold demeanor likely made people hesitant to approach her, whereas Qiao Xia appeared more approachable. Thus, even though Duan Yulan had given Ye Qiu the core, he instinctively turned to Qiao Xia for answers.

However, Ye Qiu would never forget the kindness of receiving the core!

If the image in his mind was indeed his ability, then in this chaotic situation, he could protect himself and a group of students!

Nothing like what happened before would occur again, allowing the scoundrels in the cafeteria to continue harming students.

“Yes, that’s right. What ability did you awaken?”

Upon hearing that Ye Qiu had successfully awakened an ability, Qiao Xia asked with some curiosity, wondering what ability Ye Qiu had gained.

Anything but his own frustrating healing ability would be excellent… A deeply resentful Qiao Xia felt an endless stream of complaints about his healing ability, enough to rant for three days and three nights without stopping.

“It seems to be a time-based ability. I can make anyone or anything stop moving for ten seconds.”

“Ah? It’s a rare attribute ability!”

However, upon hearing Ye Qiu’s words, Qiao Xia admitted he was consumed by envy and jealousy.