Chapter 25: Conducting an Experiment

Jiang Yao joined Zhao Xiaoting and the others to prepare dinner. During this time, she saw someone enter and whisper something to Chi Xing.

She vaguely caught the name "Duan Yiren" and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Brother Chi, it seems there's internal strife over at Duan Yiren's side."

Chi Xing didn't seem surprised, curling his lips in a mocking smirk. "I told her before, but she just wouldn't listen."

The man with dyed yellow hair flickered his gaze. "The opportunity is too good to miss. Should we take advantage of this..."

"What’s the rush?" Chi Xing glanced at him lazily, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his knee. "I reckon it’ll all be over in a day or two. Just wait and see."

"Hehe, whatever you say, Brother Chi!"

...

As Jiang Yao turned her head to chat with Ji Yuanyuan, the yellow-haired man approached, his leering gaze lingering on Ji Yuanyuan.

Ji Yuanyuan was facing away and didn't notice, but Jiang Yao narrowed her eyes. "Keep looking, and I'll gouge your eyes out."

Ji Yuanyuan finally realized what was happening and glared at him fiercely. "What are you looking at?"

Startled by Jiang Yao’s calm ruthlessness, the man retorted instinctively, "Who was looking at you?"

He had originally intended to give them a hard time, but recalling how Jiang Yao hadn't even blinked while killing zombies earlier that day, he suspected she was a dangerous person not to be trifled with. Fearing to act too brazenly while Chi Xing was nearby, he just grumbled a few curses and walked away under a pretext.

Xiang Yu came over, frowning. "Are you okay, Yuanyuan?"

Ji Yuanyuan shook her head, looking disgusted. She lowered her voice and said, "That guy acts like a common thug; it’s truly repulsive! Chi Xing is barely passable, but the group of people under him—it’s just hard to describe..."

Jiang Yao spoke calmly. "That’s the nature of this environment. It’s survival of the fittest; even if he wanted to manage them, he lacks the power to do so."

There was no denying that the physiological conditions of women placed them at a natural disadvantage, and in such harsh circumstances, the worst of human nature was only amplified. The conditions here were considered decent; one dared not even imagine what it was like outside.

"We should find an opportunity to leave."

When Jiang Yao said this, both Ji Yuanyuan and Xiang Yu agreed wholeheartedly. While staying with this group provided some security, the drawbacks were far too great.

...

After finishing the meal, while taking a break to use the restroom, Jiang Yao called Zhao Xiaoting out to ask her about the general situation.

"Do you want to leave?"

Zhao Xiaoting’s eyes widened. "Of course I do! You have no idea how stifling these past few days have been! I haven't even officially entered society yet, and I’ve already had a preview of what it feels like to be a pack animal!"

She had become so experienced at sucking up to Chi Xing that she felt if she were in ancient times, she would have at least been a Head Eunuch!

Jiang Yao couldn't help but chuckle, her tone teasing. "I thought you were enjoying yourself too much to leave!"

"How could I!" Zhao Xiaoting hugged her arm and swayed it back and forth. "You have to take me with you wherever you go. I’m the group mascot of G115!"

"Alright, enough with the nonsense." Jiang Yao pushed her head away with a look of feigned disgust. "Tell me, when is their defense relatively loose?"

She had observed during the day that there were guards at every exit of the stairs. Since Chi Xing had gathered these people together, he had naturally anticipated that they might want to escape, so the surveillance was extremely strict. As a newcomer who hadn't yet figured out the ins and outs of the place, Zhao Xiaoting should know better than anyone.

Zhao Xiaoting frowned and pondered for a moment. "Probably around two or three in the morning. The people on night watch are exhausted by then, and even if they doze off, Chi Xing won't hold it against them."

Jiang Yao nodded thoughtfully; this was about what she had expected.

She suddenly smiled at Zhao Xiaoting, her eyes curving. The latter felt a chill run down her spine, having an ominous premonition. "You—what is that look for?"

"Nothing, I just want to try an experiment with you." Jiang Yao grabbed her hand, trying to look as amiable as possible.

She wanted to test the functionality of her spatial teleportation. If it worked, she wouldn't have to go through so much trouble trying to escape from under Chi Xing's nose.

Spatial Teleportation: Can move targets to another space within the same timeline, with a range of 500 meters. Usage limit: twice per day.

Just then, Ji Yuanyuan arrived. Seeing them holding hands, she lowered her voice and asked excitedly, "What are you two doing? Playing a game? I want to join!"

Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow. "Sure."

The three of them held hands in a circle, and Jiang Yao silently activated the teleportation.

A second later, Ji Yuanyuan stared in shock at the empty restroom, her hands still hanging foolishly in mid-air. "Wait, what just happened?"

Two living, breathing people had vanished right under her nose?!

Ji Yuanyuan panicked, but then she calmed down, realizing this must be the ability Jiang Yao had inherited from the zombies. She figured Jiang Yao would probably be back soon.

Well... she should be back, right?

...

At the same time, Jiang Yao and a bewildered Zhao Xiaoting appeared several hundred meters away from the teaching building.

Zhao Xiaoting stared blankly at the sky, her mind suffering a massive shock. She said in a daze, "Big Sis, where did you bring me? Is this even Earth anymore?"

Jiang Yao didn't see Ji Yuanyuan and her heart sank.

So, she could only take one person at a time?

But that day, when facing the zombies, she was able to teleport so many of them at once. Why was there a limit when it came to people? Why the species discrimination!

Jiang Yao frowned; it seemed this method wouldn't work.

She had to accompany the person being teleported, and with only two uses per day, one round trip would waste both opportunities.

The howl of a zombie drifted over, and she added internally:

And the landing spot was uncontrollable.

If they were unlucky and landed in the middle of a zombie horde, it would be like delivering themselves on a silver platter.

A second later, the two of them returned to the restroom.

Ji Yuanyuan stood with her arms crossed, staring at them resentfully. "Going out for a stroll and you don't take me?"

Zhao Xiaoting came back to her senses, her tone excited. "Was that teleportation? It was, right? That’s so badass, sis!"

Jiang Yao glanced at her. "Do you want to say it even louder?"

Zhao Xiaoting realized her mistake and sheepishly covered her mouth. "I’ve just never seen the world before, okay?"

Jiang Yao explained her intentions to the two of them. Upon learning that they couldn't use spatial teleportation to escape, both were somewhat disappointed, but they soon cast it aside.

"It doesn't matter. There are four of us. Three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang, so surely four of us can find a way out!" Zhao Xiaoting said with a giggle to lighten the mood.

Jiang Yao agreed. "Let's go back first; we've been out for too long."

...

The three returned to the classroom one after another.

At the corner of the hallway, the yellow-haired man held a cigarette between his fingers, puffing out smoke unhurriedly. He watched their backs, his eyes narrowing in thought.

That Zhao Xiaoting—why had she been getting so close to those girls lately?