Chapter 102: Corrupted Hearts (Part One)

Although she was usually strict with them, it was all for their own good. Deep down, she still cared about these team members. Thanks to her consistent insistence on their training, she wasn’t overly worried about their safety at this moment. After all, they were not ordinary people. Even in the face of such a disaster, they should be able to remain calm and respond effectively. Moreover, they were all armed. Even if none of the twenty-plus members had awakened powers, their teamwork alone would ensure their survival. Since she had personally trained this team, Su Meiqin trusted them well.

After winding through a crooked alley and bypassing several buildings, Su Meiqin finally stopped in front of a two-story small house. Though it looked like a typical civilian residence, it was actually a designated communication point for their team. Approaching the door, she could already hear laughter and chatter inside, which lifted her spirits—it seemed the team members were safe.

She quickly tidied her attire and pushed the door open. The old sandalwood door creaked loudly, instantly silencing the voices inside. Near the entrance, several male team members were lounging casually. Su Meiqin hurriedly composed herself and strode in. Usually, she was decisive and cold in front of the team—not because she wanted to be, but because this image earned their respect and obedience. Despite the apocalypse, their team would not dissolve, so she needed to maintain this image.

Yet upon entering, she immediately sensed something was off. The atmosphere was unnervingly quiet. About seven or eight male members sat scattered around. Seeing Su Meiqin appear suddenly, their expressions shifted—but none stood up to salute as usual. Instead, they all turned their gaze toward the man seated on the central sofa.

On the sofa sat a strikingly handsome man, gently swirling a glass of red wine. This was Lu Xin, slightly higher in rank than the others—Su Meiqin’s deputy. He was momentarily stunned by Su Meiqin’s sudden entrance, then instinctively glanced above her head. Noticing she bore no sign of awakening powers, Lu Xin exhaled deeply, a pleased smile creeping across his face.

Lu Xin had awakened shortly after the apocalypse began, ranking third in awakening time within Golden City, only behind Kong Zhe and Tuan Tuan—a remarkable gift. His initial silver treasure chest had granted him a powerful offensive skill, greatly enhancing his combat abilities. Though others had since awakened, none could match his strength. This quickly established his authority within the team. Members affectionately called him "Brother Xin," and many who were once indifferent began seeking his favor. This planted ambitious thoughts in his mind.

He no longer wished to remain just a deputy. After learning more about the apocalypse’s nature, his ambitions swelled rapidly. What truly cemented his resolve was a discovery: everyone in their forty-one-person team had awakening potential!

At the time, others didn’t understand what magic was, but as an early awakener, he recognized its significance immediately. What did this mean? Lu Xin realized a golden opportunity awaited him—a monumental chance! Though most were still ordinary people, they all had the innate potential to awaken sooner or later. These were no ordinary individuals; before the apocalypse, they were professionally trained special forces. Once awakened, they would be far stronger than typical awakener units, in both combat skill and mental resilience.

If he could seize control of this team, how far could he rise? Given the current situation, he foresaw large groups forming in the future. His was already a top-tier team—far superior to hastily assembled groups. Roles were clearly divided, members coordinated seamlessly, and discipline was impeccable. It was a model of peak teamwork.

Moreover, he possessed the strength and standing to achieve this. Aside from Su Meiqin, he was effectively second-in-command. But Su Meiqin’s overwhelming authority left him little room to issue orders. However, since she had been absent recently, most had assumed she’d perished outside. Though skilled, she was only one person, and survival in this apocalypse alone was unlikely.

With Lu Xin now the strongest among them, it was natural for members to lean toward his leadership. After days of persuasion, he had basically taken control of the team. Still, some resisted, especially the women. They were valuable fighters he couldn’t afford to alienate, so he resorted to slightly coercive measures.

Thanks to his efforts, the team was essentially under his command. However, Su Meiqin’s presence remained a threat, causing him unease these past days. When she suddenly appeared, he nearly jumped off the sofa in fright. But then he noticed she wasn’t awakened and showed no magical energy. This brought him great relief. As long as she wasn’t an awakener, no matter how strong her personal combat skills, she was no match for them. The leader of a team had to be its strongest member; though Su Meiqin once commanded respect, as a mere human she could no longer hold sway. This meant he could securely control the team.

With this thought, Lu Xin’s fears vanished. He didn’t stand to salute; instead, he lounged back, legs crossed, smiling at Su Meiqin. “Meiqin, you’re back. I was starting to worry about you. We were just talking about going out to look for you.”

Hearing this familiar address, Su Meiqin frowned. Her members always called her “Instructor”—her authority was so firmly established no one dared use her name. Upon entering, she noticed several awakened members already present, with Lu Xin in the center having reached level four, equal to her own rank.

She had initially felt happy; with so many awakened team members, their future strength was assured. Yet the eerie atmosphere dampened her spirits. None of the members stood or saluted her, which was highly unusual.

This surprised her greatly. Could the apocalypse really cause such drastic changes in such a short time? Or was there something else? Observing their reactions, a bad premonition grew within her. She quickly noticed the most glaring anomaly: not a single female member was present.

Her team numbered over forty, roughly half women and half men, yet in this room there were only males. “Where is everyone else? What about the others?” she asked.

The men exchanged awkward glances, then lowered their heads in silence—no one answered. Su Meiqin’s frown deepened. “What, do you think my orders don’t count anymore just because this is the apocalypse?”

She sneered, disappointed by their behavior. Clenching her fists, she thought that normally, faced with this disobedience, she would have dealt with them immediately. But now she held back.

Walking over to the nearest male member by the door, she coldly demanded, “Cheng Yi, you explain.”

Startled by being singled out, Cheng Yi instinctively began to stand at attention. Halfway up, he noticed Lu Xin glaring at him sharply. Fearful, Cheng Yi quickly sat back down.

Though Cheng Yi feared Su Meiqin, she was not an awakener. In this new world, old hierarchies were being reshuffled; why obey her? More importantly, what they did last night involved everyone here. If Su Meiqin found out, it would not end well. They were all in this together now. Resolving to ignore her, Cheng Yi refused to cooperate.

Su Meiqin’s lips twitched in fury at his blatant shift in attitude. Cracking her knuckles until they popped, she realized these men truly no longer intended to acknowledge her authority. Just a few days away, and they had become so unruly!

Fine. Today, she would teach them a lesson, see if they dared repeat this insolence again.