C24 Tools

Dawn was breaking.

The carnage was winding down.

Through the thinning fog, Qin Feng approached and stood behind Wang Gang. With a playful edge to his voice, he remarked, "Had you awakened your talent sooner, we might have teamed up to take on most of those monsters."

"Could we really have managed that?" Wang Gang asked, puzzled.

"We're no match for those monsters in a direct confrontation. But if we find the right strategy, we can reach our goal. Besides, there's a good chance you'll grow to be an even more exceptional superpowered person than me."

Qin Feng made no attempt to conceal his admiration for Wang Gang. He walked up, gave Wang Gang a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and asked, "Now do you see why I brought you here?"

Wang Gang seemed to grasp the idea, yet much still eluded him. He nodded, then shook his head, admitting, "Qin Feng, there are things I still don't get."

"Stop worrying about it. You'll understand it all eventually," Qin Feng cut in. He gazed at Wang Gang's back and let out a soft sigh.

To Wang Gang, Qin Feng was just a lifelong pal, someone he'd lived alongside for over two decades.

But to Qin Feng, Wang Gang had been a companion for over thirty years.

Their past life together had given Qin Feng a deep insight into Wang Gang's potential. Qin Feng knew Wang Gang better than Wang Gang knew himself.

After a brief pause, Qin Feng hoisted the unconscious Zhong Yanan onto his shoulders and headed for their second hideout.

The sky was on the verge of lightening. The night still draped over the land, but Qin Feng was no longer hesitant to confront the monsters.

Wang Gang's awakening had bolstered Qin Feng's confidence significantly.

With Wang Gang at his side, the Devil Eye Ratmen outside were hardly a threat.

Once he had tended to Zhong Yanan's wounds, Qin Feng settled her to one side to wait for the fog to clear.

Wang Gang was resting, too. His recent fight had been fierce, but facing these monsters for the first time had left him with numerous wounds.

After a quiet moment, Wang Gang cast a compassionate look at the unconscious Zhong Yanan and voiced his concern, "Her injuries are severe. Is she close to death?"

Wang Gang spoke with a tinge of guilt. If only he had conquered his fear sooner, Zhong Yanan might not have sustained such severe injuries.

"No, she's going to make it," Qin Feng assured, shaking his head.

"Why?"

Wang Gang was perplexed. He turned to inspect Zhong Yanan's wounds and remarked, "She's got over twenty cuts. Any normal person would've been long gone with injuries like these."

"Maybe a normal person, but not her."

Qin Feng continued to shake his head, pointing to the worst of Zhong Yanan's wounds on her back. "See for yourself. The bleeding has stopped, and many of the cuts are already scarring over."

"It does seem that way," Wang Gang said, astonished. "How is this possible?"

"It's evolution. It doesn't just boost our strength; our physical condition and life force also greatly improve with the enhancement from Source Qi."

Qin Feng inhaled deeply before adding, "Ordinarily, even if Zhong Yanan survived such wounds, she'd need months to recover. But I guarantee she'll be awake by dawn, and all these scars will vanish soon after."

For the majority, the apocalypse was an unequivocal catastrophe.

Yet, for the gifted few suited to the apocalyptic environment, it signified the dawn of new opportunities.

Qin Feng was certain that Zhong Yanan wouldn't just survive; she would thrive. Upon awakening, she was bound to undergo significant changes.

And so, Qin Feng and Wang Gang kept silent vigil by Zhong Yanan's side. Roughly an hour later, she stirred to life.

Opening her eyes, Zhong Yanan asked feebly, "Am I dead?"

"You're alive," Qin Feng replied with a smile. "Wang Gang saved you."

She weakly turned her gaze to Wang Gang. Her last memory was of battling the monster before blacking out. It took her several minutes to regain her composure. Then, taking a deliberate breath, she asked Qin Feng icily, "I thought you left. Why did you come back for me?"

Qin Feng offered a wry smile. "The Abnormal Spot is teeming with peril. Unless we can swiftly break free from the clutches of this thick fog quickly, danger will find us no matter where we turn. Besides, I never intended for you to die—you still possess something of value to me."

Zhong Yanan's smile was tinged with helplessness. "I see. To you, I'm nothing more than a tool to be exploited. You got close to me, made promises, all for the sake of gaining access to this place, didn't you?"

Qin Feng didn't refute her words. He nodded, then shook his head, explaining, "That's part of it. But your worth extends beyond that."

Zhong Yanan scoffed, "What worth could I possibly have?"

With a steady gaze, Qin Feng gestured toward Wang Gang and elaborated, "Take him, for instance. Had he not witnessed you in jeopardy, he wouldn't have found the courage to act. Your value as a tool is perfectly exemplified in just that."

Zhong Yanan fell silent, weakened not just by her physical state but also by the cold shock of Qin Feng's callousness.

Qin Feng had intentionally allowed her to be besieged by the monsters, all to provoke Wang Gang into a display of bravery!

After a lengthy pause, she mustered a bitter smile and asked, "In your heart, are we all just tools to be utilized?"

Qin Feng gave a faint nod. "To some extent, yes. Our world is on the brink of an unprecedented crisis. To survive and turn the tide, I must leverage every resource at my disposal. I saved you because you're useful to me alive. I killed Lu Shaojie because he had it coming. Every action I take is driven by my goals."

Zhong Yanan's anger flared. Between coughs, she spat out her curse, "You're a monster! I hope you burn in hell! You're destined for damnation!"

Unruffled, Qin Feng responded, "In two months, Blue Star itself will become hell. You, me, everyone will be trapped in purgatory. If you wish to live, you'll have no choice but to be of use to me."

"What makes you think I'll let you control me any longer?" she demanded.

With a look of loathing, Zhong Yanan fixed her gaze on Qin Feng. Her lips were bitten to the point of bleeding as she declared, "I'd rather take my own life now than be your pawn!"

"You don't have a choice," Qin Feng replied, his voice perpetually even-tempered, yet his brutality sent shivers down Zhong Yanan's spine.

"Even though your stepmother, Aunt Wang, has passed away, you still have an influential uncle, a cousin who's studying abroad, and a two-year-old niece. If you die now, their lives will soon be at risk. You must survive and serve as my instrument, if only for their sake," Qin Feng stated.

"You're insane! What are you planning to do to them?" Zhong Yanan exclaimed, staring him down.

"I have no plans for them," Qin Feng responded with a nonchalant shrug. "But they'll be in grave danger in the impending apocalypse. If you work with me, I can assure their safety to the greatest extent possible. If not, their demise is certain—and it might be more horrific than you can imagine."

After a brief pause, a chilling smile crept across Qin Feng's face. "That's all I have to say. Now, give me your answer. Are you willing to remain my tool?"