Chapter 89: A Shared Path and a New Mission

Following King Feng’s markings on the map, I was utterly astonished to discover that the mysterious woman Shen Qing was pursuing had actually headed towards the botanical garden. This revelation left me quite shocked.

Initially, I had merely intended to find out where this palace-dressed woman was going. Yet, to my surprise, she was traveling the same route as me!

It seemed I might very well encounter this enigmatic woman in palace attire once I reached the botanical garden.

****

“Brother, I’ve told you everything I know. Please, I beg you, let us go.”

“Very well. I can let them go…”

“Really? That’s won—”

“However, you now have two choices. One is to leave with me, and the other is to die here.”

Before King Feng could finish his excited exclamation, I cut him off directly.

A benevolent smile adorned my face as I watched King Feng, momentarily speechless. The smile at the corners of my lips grew even brighter.

I had calmly considered this proposition for a while before finally making my decision.

Bringing King Feng along would not only allow him to collect crystal cores in my sister’s stead, but it would also alleviate the slight awkwardness of being the only man in our group.

Moreover, if these scattered fugitives sought revenge, it would prove quite troublesome. It was far better to recruit their leader here and now, letting him handle the aftermath.

Most importantly, King Feng’s heart wasn’t entirely corrupted. His willingness to stand up for his subordinates showed he was, at the very least, barely decent.

“I choose to leave with you.”

“Good. Go settle things outside first. Once you’re done, come find me before five o’clock.”

“Understood! My name is Feng Qie. May I ask what your name is, Boss?”

“I am Bai Han.”

Presented with my two options, King Feng, looking utterly chagrined, promptly chose the first. I nodded to him, gave my instructions, and then sent him off to deal with the fleeing group.

With this unexpected situation resolved, I turned and walked back into the supermarket.

Thoughts of Shen Qing and the palace-dressed woman weighed heavily on my mind, causing my expression to grow serious. My brows remained tightly furrowed even after I entered the supermarket.

“Brother, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. You listened to me and stayed put inside, didn’t you?”

“Mm-hm, I just went to protect Wang Ming and the others.”

“Well done… Alright, there’s no need to worry anymore. The people outside have been driven away. Now, hurry up and get some sleep! We have to travel tomorrow.”

My previously serious expression softened, an unconscious smile gracing my lips as my sister rushed towards me.

As I spoke with her, I saw her proud, almost petulant, expression, clearly expecting praise. I could only raise my hand to pat her head, then nodded to Wang Ming and the others, signaling that the danger had passed.

Only then, as my words settled, did the faces of the women huddled in the corner finally relax completely.

Following this, their bodies slumped weakly to the ground, and they began to sob softly.

Seeing this, I shook my head helplessly.

In the apocalypse, such weakness would surely lead to an inability to survive in this bloody and brutal world.

“Brother, come to sleep! You’ll be driving tomorrow, so you absolutely must get enough rest.”

“Yes, alright.”

As I watched Wang Ming and the other women, my sister suddenly spoke up from beside me. Without another word, she reached out and pulled me back to my original spot.

She then sat down beside me, unfolding a blanket and spreading it over us both.

Beneath the blanket, her hand found and tightly gripped mine.

After a brief moment of surprise, a faint smile touched my lips. I paid no mind to her holding my hand, instead looking up through the shattered glass door at the world outside.

The night stretched long, and the stars shone brightly.

****

Mindful of the need for an early start, my biological clock roused me right on time. When I awoke, I glanced down at the watch on my wrist; it was precisely four-thirty.

Since awakening my abilities, three to four hours of sleep each day were enough to ensure I wouldn’t feel drowsy throughout the day.

We had originally planned to set off at five, leaving me with half an hour to spare. I turned my head to look at my sister, still sound asleep leaning against me. Her tiny, slightly flushed face, eyes closed, was utterly adorable.

However, I had no time to admire her sleeping face now.

Activating my spatial ability, I froze the surrounding space. Then, I carefully moved my sister off me and gently laid her on the ground.

Afterward, I stood up and walked out of the supermarket.

It was only four-thirty, but the sky outside had already begun to lighten, a faint hint of black still lingering. Coupled with the cool breeze, it felt instantly refreshing.

Since I had slept enough, and was bored anyway, I decided to revisit my combat techniques.

If I were to constantly rely on my abilities and neglect my martial skills, a critical error could very well occur at any moment.

In the apocalypse, any mishap was synonymous with death.

Drawing a long blade from my spatial dimension, I began to wield it in a dazzling display. Each intricate angle offered a new enlightenment.

With my abilities upgraded, I now felt exceptionally clear-headed. What had once seemed obscure and difficult to grasp, I could now pinpoint with clarity.

This filled me with immense joy, knowing I had taken another step closer to becoming a true powerhouse.

There was no end to becoming stronger, and I knew I had to constantly improve. Only then could I protect those I cherished in this bloody and brutal apocalypse.

Originally, I had simply wanted to grow stronger to survive the apocalypse. But after I prevented my sister from running away, my goal subtly shifted.

It changed to surviving the apocalypse with my sister and our family.

However, my initial thoughts were still too simple. Both before and after my precognitive ability emerged, while I harbored some suspicion that my sister might be the Faceless Butcher, her awakened ability was healing, not dissection, so it remained merely a suspicion.

But once my precognitive ability was truly awakened, I finally confirmed that my sister was indeed the Faceless Butcher, the one who would unleash a bloody storm upon the apocalypse.

This left me deeply worried about my sister’s future.

Nevertheless, since my sister showed no changes at present, I could only bury my worries deep within my heart, silently vowing to protect her!

No matter what she became, I would protect her from anyone who dared to bully her.

Previously, when we met Wang Ming and the others, my sister and I had planned to go to City B. That goal suddenly gained a small side quest: to go to the botanical garden to explore for rare treasures and a mysterious group.

Now, however, an additional random quest had appeared.

While heading to the botanical garden, I also needed to search for the mysterious palace-dressed woman.