Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Severed Hand – The Door to Apocalypse Rebirth – Full Novel Website

Chapter 101: Severed Hand

The special ability attacks didn’t harm Xiang Xu, but they did affect the surrounding tent area. Some tents were even hit directly by fireballs and burned down, leaving only a few charred metal frames. The people who lived in those tents had already fled far away, standing at a distance to observe the situation, not daring to demand compensation for their destroyed tents.

The commotion caused by over ten simultaneous special ability attacks woke up most of the people who were still sleeping in their tents. The base had strict rules against killing within its boundaries, but judging by the noise, it was clear that more than just killing was happening.

Even in the apocalypse, humans couldn’t resist the urge to watch a spectacle. In no time, a crowd had gathered, craning their necks to see what was going on.

Gu Ning’s golden hair was a very noticeable feature. There weren’t many special ability teams in the base, so they quickly recognized Gu Ning and her group. However, the other team was unfamiliar.

Gao Yue, carrying a medical kit, quickly ran over to check Xiang Yi’s injuries before immediately turning to examine Method and Xiang Xu. Xiang Yi had scrapes on his chin from hitting the ground, and his mouth was full of blood. His jaw also seemed dislocated, but it looked worse than it actually was. As for Method, his entire back had been grazed by a fireball, leaving a large hole in his clothes and charred flesh on his back. It looked gruesome. After confirming that neither of them was in life-threatening danger, Gao Yue let out a slight sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Third Brother and the others had already confronted the opposing team.

The two groups faced each other, tension thick in the air, ready for a fight.

At that moment, the leader of the opposing team suddenly stared at Gu Ning, who was checking Method’s injuries, with a look of shock and confusion. He exclaimed, “Gu Ning?”

Gu Ning, who was focused on Method’s injuries, was startled. She looked up at the man, her eyes also flashing with surprise. “Zhang Ji,” she said, the name slipping out before she could stop herself. Her brows furrowed immediately, and she stood up, glaring at him. “I think you owe me an explanation.”

Both sides had called out each other’s names, clearly indicating that the man from the opposing team was someone Gu Ning knew from the past. Third Brother and the others were also surprised, and Zhang Xiaobai directly asked, “Gu Ning? You know him?”

The members of the opposing team also looked puzzled.

Gu Ning nodded. Not only did she know him, but they were quite close. Zhang Ji was Lu Jiazhi’s good friend. They had been classmates from high school to university, even sharing a bunk bed in college. Because of her relationship with Lu Jiazhi, Gu Ning had naturally become close to Zhang Ji as well. In fact, their relationship was quite good. When she cooked for Lu Jiazhi, she often made an extra portion for Zhang Ji. Zhang Ji would also frequently treat Gu Ning to meals. After graduation, he had even helped her find a job. He was very skilled at managing relationships and was a capable and competent person.

It seemed that even in the apocalypse, capable people wouldn’t fare too badly. Gu Ning silently thought to herself as she looked at the team of special ability users he had brought with him.

Zhang Ji smiled at Gu Ning and said, “Gu Ning, I really didn’t expect to meet you here!” His eyes scanned the crowd before he asked, “Where’s Jiazhi? Is he with you?”

Cheng Ming and Method both frowned unconsciously, their gazes instinctively turning hostile as they looked at Zhang Ji.

Third Brother and Jia Daozhang exchanged glances, both feeling that today’s encounter was too coincidental. Gu Ning actually knew that man, and judging by his reaction, they seemed quite close. So, what about the suffering Xiang Yi and Method had endured? Were they just going to let it go? They all turned to Gu Ning, waiting for her next move.

“Lu Jiazhi isn’t here,” Gu Ning said. “But you need to explain what happened here.” After saying this, her eyes turned to Zhou Jian, who was hiding and avoiding her gaze. She also noticed Zhou Yan, who bore some resemblance to Zhou Jian. Gu Ning’s mind worked quickly, and she already had a rough idea of what was going on.

Zhang Ji still wore a smile as he said, “Zhou Yan finally found her younger brother, only to see him being chased and beaten. In the heat of the moment, she…”

Gu Ning glanced at the mess on the ground and gave a half-smile. “It seems she’s a multi-system special ability user?”

Zhou Yan sneered, “You’re asking me for an explanation? I should be asking you for one! Why did you send people to kill my brother?!”

“Kill?” Gu Ning looked at her seriously. “I only told Xiang Yi to break his hand.”

Zhang Ji looked at the cold smile on Gu Ning’s face, and his own smile slowly faded, replaced by a look of surprise.

Gu Ning continued, “Why don’t you ask Zhou Jian why I wanted to break his hand?”

Zhou Jian, hiding behind Zhou Yan, stammered and refused to speak.

Gu Ning coldly stared at Zhou Yan and said, “Zhang Xiaobai. Tell this lady our side of the story.”

Zhang Xiaobai, upon receiving the order, immediately stepped forward and coldly recounted the events. He concluded by saying, “Why don’t you ask your dear brother if anything I said is false? Isn’t he just a heartless ingrate?”

Zhou Yan glared at him, then looked down at Zhou Jian, who remained silent. Zhou Yan immediately realized that everything Zhang Xiaobai had said was true. Even Zhang Ji couldn’t maintain his composure anymore.

Zhou Yan said, “I’ll repay you double the supplies he owes you.”

Gu Ning shook her head. “Sorry. You probably don’t know this, but we’re not lacking in supplies.”

“Plus a crystal core,” Zhou Yan added through gritted teeth. “An evolvable crystal core.”

Gu Ning shook her head again. “Do we look like we’re lacking crystal cores to you?”

Zhou Yan, now furious, snapped, “Then what do you want?”

Gu Ning smiled. “To break his hand.”

Zhou Yan clenched her teeth. “Don’t push us too far.”

“Guo Qiang is also seriously injured,” the psychic system special ability user said. Guo Qiang, the speed special ability user, had already been carried to a vehicle.

Gu Ning replied, “Xiang Xu is also unconscious. Your teammate bullied someone weaker but couldn’t back it up with skill. Isn’t that just asking for it?”

Zhang Ji gave a signal, and a young man pulled Zhou Yan back.

Zhang Ji said, “Gu Ning, we have such a good relationship. Can’t you give me some face? Besides, he’s just a kid. Can you really bring yourself to do it?”

Gu Ning looked at him with utmost seriousness and said, “We came here to kill.”

Zhang Ji was left speechless. He looked at the group behind Gu Ning, feeling a chill in his heart.

Zhang Ji’s gaze turned cold as he looked at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan looked at him in disbelief, while Zhou Jian clung to her tightly, crying out in fear, “Sister! Save me!”

Zhou Yan looked at Gu Ning and said through gritted teeth, “Name your conditions! As long as it doesn’t harm him, I’ll agree to anything I can do.”

Gu Ning said, “I said I would break his hand, and that’s what I’ll do.”

“What if I refuse?” Zhou Yan asked.

“You don’t have a choice,” Gu Ning said with a grin, but her eyes turned sharp. “Cheng Ming! Do it!”

Cheng Ming was already prepared. Almost as soon as Gu Ning called his name, a sharp sound cut through the air! Zhang Ji’s eyebrows twitched, but he didn’t intervene. Then came Zhou Jian’s scream and Zhou Yan’s cry of shock—a bloody hand fell to the ground.

Zhou Jian clutched his bleeding stump, his face pale with fear. He kept screaming until he suddenly passed out. The others hurriedly brought out medical supplies to stop the bleeding, while Zhou Yan, pale-faced, stepped back, her eyes fixed on Gu Ning as if she wanted to kill her on the spot.

Zhang Ji stared at Gu Ning for a while, his expression complex, as if he was both感慨 and叹息. “Gu Ning, you’ve changed so much. I almost don’t recognize you anymore. I wonder if Jiazhi would recognize you now.”

“I have nothing to do with Lu Jiazhi anymore,” Gu Ning said with a smile. “Both sides have injured people who need treatment. Let’s not waste any more time. Goodbye.”

With that, she turned and left.

A battle between two powerful special ability teams had started with a severed hand and ended with a severed hand. What was supposed to be a life-and-death duel had dissolved into nothing.

Zhang Ji’s gaze shifted from the severed hand on the ground to Gu Ning, who was walking away with her group. He felt a sense of unfamiliarity. This Gu Ning was so different from the girl in his memories who always clung to Lu Jiazhi with a smile.

One of the young men glanced at the onlookers in the distance and said angrily, “Zhang Ji. We just arrived at this base, and we’ve already been humiliated like this. How are we supposed to establish ourselves here?”

“Don’t provoke that group,” Zhang Ji said, watching the retreating figures with deep wariness. He might still care about his past friendship with Gu Ning, but that friendship wouldn’t make him tolerate her openly humiliating them. And Gu Ning clearly understood this, but she still did it—not out of impulsiveness, but because she had the confidence to back it up. As she had said at the beginning, they had come to kill.

By the time the base’s security team arrived, all that was left was the aftermath of the battle.

Inevitably, Zhang Ji and his team also moved into the dormitory building, right above Gu Ning’s floor.

“Our supplies are running low. At most, we can last until next month. Even with crystal cores, it’s hard to exchange for supplies,” the young woman with the psychic system special ability said, pausing slightly as if casually mentioning, “That Gu Ning is a space system user…” She was close to Zhou Yan, and her meaning was clear.

“I said not to provoke them,” Zhang Ji said coldly, looking at her. “Also, Gu Ning is still my friend.”

The atmosphere in the room turned chilly.

Zhang Ji said, “Don’t worry about the supplies. I have a plan.” He tapped his fingers on the chair, deep in thought.

Gu Ning didn’t expect Zhang Ji to come knocking so soon, and without any apparent resentment over what had happened earlier.

“I won’t beat around the bush,” Zhang Ji said directly. “You said you’re not lacking in supplies. To be honest, I am. So, I want to exchange crystal cores for your supplies. What do you think?”

Gu Ning was momentarily stunned. If there was one thing she wasn’t lacking, it was supplies. But she had never thought about trading supplies for crystal cores, nor had she expected someone to offer crystal cores for supplies. Upon reflection, it made sense. While crystal cores were useful, for special ability users who had already evolved, they were mainly used to replenish their abilities in emergencies. But without food, people would die. For her, supplies were the least valuable thing, while crystal cores required risking one’s life to obtain from zombies and could be lifesaving in critical moments.

Gu Ning’s mind raced, and she asked, “How do you want to exchange?”

Seeing an opportunity, Zhang Ji said, “I’ll give you a number first. If you think it’s unfair, we can negotiate.” He then added, “How about one replenishing crystal core for ten pounds of supplies?”

“Five pounds,” Gu Ning immediately countered.

Zhang Ji laughed bitterly. “You drive a hard bargain. Do you know how hard it is to kill evolved zombies now?”

Gu Ning blinked. “Friendship price.”

Zhang Ji sighed. “Fine. What do you have?”

Gu Ning asked, “What do you want?”

Zhang Ji tentatively said, “Bread, ham, biscuits, chocolate?”

Gu Ning replied, “I have all of that. Should I give you some of each?”

Zhang Ji chuckled. “You sound like the lady who ran the school store back in the day.” He paused, then added, “But at least there’s some life in you now.”

Gu Ning’s smile faltered for a moment before she smiled again. “So, how much do you want to exchange?”

Zhang Ji did some quick calculations and tentatively asked, “Ten?”

Gu Ning deliberately hesitated, not wanting to reveal too much, and said, “Wait a moment. The supplies aren’t just mine. I need to discuss it with the others.”

Zhang Ji nodded in understanding.

When Gu Ning returned to the living room and explained the situation, the others were surprised that such a trade was possible. Everyone started calculating in their heads, and they quickly decided it was a good deal. They had Shi Tou gather about fifty pounds of supplies from the room and pack them into a large sack, which they then brought to the door.

Gu Ning easily obtained ten crystal cores and was quite pleased.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ji was also feeling smug. Gu Ning and her team had no idea how scarce supplies were outside. The highest exchange rate was one replenishing crystal core for three pounds of supplies, and very few people were willing to trade supplies for crystal cores. Gu Ning’s team, unaware of the market rate, had been taken advantage of by Zhang Ji. That’s why he had offered ten crystal cores in one go, fearing that Gu Ning would figure out the exchange rate and he wouldn’t be able to get such a good deal again. When Zhang Ji brought the supplies back, his teammates were shocked.

In a way, it was a trade where both sides felt they had gained the upper hand.

Although Gu Ning had deliberately hesitated, her willingness to part with fifty pounds of supplies in one go made Zhang Ji start to wonder about her space storage.