Chapter 43: The First Signs of Ugliness in the Apocalypse

Qin Hao’s arrival instantly crushed the arrogance of those people, bolstering the morale of Li Lan and her companions. In the early days of the apocalypse, people still clung to their kindness; most had not experienced life-and-death situations, so many failed to recognize their true place in this new world. Only after the second wave of crisis would they truly feel fear and understand what it meant to cling desperately to survival.

Qin Hao spoke, “Line up. Time to eat.”

Everyone obediently queued up, and the food was distributed differently. Evolvers received serpent demon meat, those working internally ate fang demon meat with porridge, and the newcomers—those who had just arrived—were given only thin porridge, and the portions were meager.

“Just this much? How is that enough?” someone complained.

Li Lan sneered, “If you have nothing, let your children fetch food for you. Our Skydome Base doesn’t support idlers. Just this morning, a bunch of ingrates left—I don’t intend to nurture another batch. You’re leaving tomorrow anyway, so you can go hungry today!”

A man’s face twisted with anger, but he dared not vent it at Qin Hao or Li Lan. Instead, he turned on his daughter, cursing, “Useless girl, what good are you? That’s how you treat your father, not letting me eat well. Your brother is far more useful. If you want to stay, stay. I’ll take your brother and leave. And since your side has the power to make people evolvers, make me and your brother evolvers. Then I won’t need you anymore. Worthless thing.”

The girl being scolded was Sun Miao-miao, who had stood out in yesterday’s aptitude test. She possessed an essential power for the apocalypse—the ability to condense water.

She could extract moisture from the air—a talent of immense value. Li Lan had even granted her a daily quota of one hundred Star Energy Crystals, just to ensure she kept producing water resources.

Because of her gift, even though Skydome Base had only been established for two days, Sun Miao-miao’s status within the base was already exceptional.

Yet now, her father was berating her in front of three hundred people, humiliating her and leaving her nowhere to hide.

It had always been this way; she was nothing but a burden, while only her brother was valued.

All the anger accumulated over the years surged forth in that moment.

“Sun Yi, you bastard! You drank yourself into a rage and killed my mother, then less than half a year later, married a new wife who bore you a son. You had affairs, kept mistresses, and beat me at every turn. This year, I got into the Capital Finance University—a school so many dream of but can’t reach. What did you say? ‘Work through the summer, and if you can’t raise enough tuition, don’t go.’ How could your heart be so cruel? I once thought, no matter how awful you were, I’d still support you—at least you didn’t kill me. But now, even at this point, you want to leave? Fine, then go. Go now!”

“Damn it, I have every right to hit you. Your mother’s womb was useless and didn’t give me a son. You’re nothing but a loss—I wasted my money raising you. Hand over that diamond-like thing and I’ll leave. Don’t think I don’t know it’s valuable.”

“I’ll give it to you. Leave. From today on, we’re done. Even if you crawl to me begging, I won’t help you again.”

“Stop talking. Hand it over.”

Sun Yi grew increasingly vicious.

Sun Miao-miao took out a plastic bag and handed it over, tears streaming down her face, her heart frozen and numb.

Sun Yi and his son gazed greedily at the bag, their eyes flashing a hungry green.

“Exchange two Star Energy Body-Refining Techniques for me,” Sun Yi demanded.

Zi Hui, face cold, had no intention of profiting. “If you think the army is better, go to their heroes for a trade.”

But Qin Hao stepped forward.

“I can trade, but someone like you probably lacks integrity. I happen to have a tool here: both sides make a vow, and your souls will be bound—you can never break your promise, just like the old laws. If you refuse, I won’t sell you anything, and neither will any of our other heroes.”

“What vow? Explain first.”

Qin Hao said, “Just as you agreed: from today, you may not speak a single word to Sun Miao-miao, and she must vow to sever ties, never to aid or help you again.”

“That’s all? Fine.”

Sun Miao-miao heard this and wept anew.

Qin Hao produced a blue silk thread.

He repeated the terms, then infused the thread with Star Energy.

The thread immediately became semi-transparent, stretching and splitting: one strand attached to Sun Yi and his son, the other to Sun Miao-miao.

In that moment, Qin Hao’s voice echoed in their minds.

“Do you agree?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

All three replied.

Qin Hao activated the Star Energy Body-Refining Technique, strengthening Sun Yi and his son.

The two suddenly felt invincible, sure they could defeat any fang demon or serpent demon.

They thought returning for Sun Miao-miao had been worth it. If the chance arose, they could always demand more Star Energy Crystals from her.

With this in mind, Sun Yi wanted to berate Sun Miao-miao again, flaunting his dominance.

But as he opened his mouth and looked at her, he found himself unable to utter a word.

Sun Yi was instantly terrified, turning to Qin Hao in anger. “Are you tricking me?”

Yet this sentence came out smoothly.

“I can still talk?”

Qin Hao sneered, “Did you think my tool was fake? It’s a blue-grade item with a double safeguard. First, only a gene lock at level three—a level three evolver—can break the vow. Second, your strength must exceed mine, the witness. Frankly, I doubt you’ll ever be able to speak to Sun Miao-miao again.”

Meanwhile, Sun Miao-miao could still speak to Sun Yi.

Moreover, after the vow was made, something changed within her; she felt hardened, as if her bond with this man was truly severed. A strange sense of relief washed over her.

“Get lost. Don’t stay here any longer,” Sun Miao-miao said, her face full of disgust.

Sun Yi tried to curse her, but no words came—he was so furious he could barely contain himself.

“Escort them out. If they resist, beat them,” Qin Hao ordered.

“Yes, Mr. Qin.”

The other evolvers, already fed up with the pair, drove them out.

Li Xinlong watched them leave, grinding his teeth in anger.

“How can people like this exist? Qin Hao, you’re too gentle. If it were me, I’d break their legs and throw them out.”

But after saying this, he looked at Sun Miao-miao and quickly grinned apologetically. “I’m just venting, don’t take it seriously.”

“No, your idea is quite good. Pity I didn’t think of it earlier,” Sun Miao-miao replied, her tone cold.

“Actually, isn’t this more interesting? When you’re powerful, they won’t even have the right to speak to you. They might truly end up groveling at your feet.”

Qin Hao pictured the scene and found it quite amusing.