QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots

Chen Ran, Xiao Jinfeng, and the others were frozen for a moment.

"Sister?"

The word sounded strange, even jarring, in their ears.

Jiang Jiamian, perfectly composed, tilted his head toward Ling Zhuang. Ling Zhuang stood quietly at the side, calm and detached, as though he were content to let the scene unfold without interference.

So Jiang Jiamian straightened, his face earnest, and lied with breathtaking confidence. "Ah, yes. My dear sister. At the beginning of the apocalypse we got separated. What a coincidence, to meet her again now. Clearly, fate still binds us as brother and sister."

Jiang Qing's pale face stiffened, her lips curling into a bitter smile as she looked at the tall, upright figure before her. With just a few casual words, he had erased every fragile fantasy she once harbored about him.

Ling Zhuang, who rarely spoke, let his lips curl faintly, his expression carrying a trace of satisfaction. "Let's take a break. The vehicle needs gas, and people need food. If all goes smoothly, we should reach the A City base within half a day."

"Professor Ling is right." Someone agreed quickly.

Chen Ran shifted uneasily. Seeing Jiang Qing alive and well brought back the memory of his decision to abandon her, and shame burned in his chest. Xiao Jinfeng too felt awkward, his pride stung by the reminder of his own rashness.

Meanwhile, Zheng Shuqiu and Shen Hao looked utterly bewildered, clueless about what had happened.

"What professor? He doesn't even have any signs of awakening superpowers."

The group spread out, looking for a place to rest. Just then, someone stepped directly into Ling Zhuang's path. A wiry man with sharp, shifting eyes, his expression full of disdain.

"Who are you?"

Ling Zhuang stopped. His gaze flicked down to the man's grubby hand as it almost brushed his sleeve. He sidestepped neatly, voice cool and faintly disdainful. "Whether I've awakened powers or not, what business is it of yours?"

Jiang Jiamian silently dragged a hand down his face.

Here we go again. After Xue Fang's repeated provocations, now another fool had appeared to provide entertainment for Ling Zhuang.

He even kind of understood Ling Zhuang's amusement now. Life was already boring enough, might as well have a few idiots around to keep it interesting.

"What's it got to do with me?" The man pressed. He cast a quick glance at Xiao Jinfeng, then back at Ling Zhuang, his tone laced with challenge. "I'm just not convinced. Someone with no powers can tag along with the Gale Squad, but Captain Xiao turns his nose up at my earth-based powers?"

Before Ling Zhuang could respond, Xiao Jinfeng stepped in, his voice hard. "You're mistaken. Professor Ling isn't a member of the Gale Squad. He's the mission target."

Recognition flickered across Xiao Jinfeng's eyes. He remembered this man.

He had applied to join the Gale Squad once. On paper, his earth ability had looked promising, something the team lacked. But after investigation, his companions had exposed his past: selfish, treacherous, willing to sacrifice others to save himself. He had literally stabbed a teammate in the back to buy time to escape.

Such a man could never be trusted.

"Mission target?"

The man's eyes narrowed, calculating. "What mission target?"

"That's none of your business." Xiao Jinfeng cut him off coldly.

The man, Fang Geng, sneered, his gaze darting from Ling Zhuang's elegant face to Chen Ran standing nearby. "None of my business? I think I understand. He's your little plaything, isn't he? So delicate, so refined. And that boy next to you, Chen Ran, right? Surrounded by beauties, Captain Xiao. Must be nice."

Jiang Jiamian nearly choked. Good heavens. Did this idiot just say that out loud?

"You!" Xiao Jinfeng's hands shook with fury. Lightning sparked faintly at his fingertips, the urge to strike nearly overwhelming.

Ling Zhuang, however, lowered his head. His expression darkened, unreadable.

Fang Geng stiffened his spine, emboldened. "I advise you to calm down, Captain. My earth ability is rare. Do you even know who you're dealing with? I'm Fang Jing's nephew, yes, the leader of the A City base. He raised me like a son! If anything happens to me, your Gale Squad will never survive in A City."

Jiang Jiamian: "..."

Jiang Jiamian's mouth twitched. Really? The apocalypse is raging, zombies everywhere, and this guy is still playing political princeling? Does he think the old rules apply?

Hadn't he heard the phrase: the strong are respected?

"Is that so?"

The voice was quiet, but it sliced through the air like a blade.

Ling Zhuang, who had seemed patient, even meek, suddenly lifted his head.

His eyes, normally gentle, his smile almost scholarly, had transformed. Cold and sharp, like a predator watching its prey. Through the icy lenses of his glasses, that piercing light cut directly into Fang Geng's face.

Fang Geng's sneer faltered. His body trembled as though nailed to the ground. His mouth went so dry that his tongue felt glued in place.

Ling Zhuang stepped closer, almost lazily, and patted his shoulder. "Young man, that's not the right way to behave. How about this: kneel down, apologize, and I'll pretend I never heard your words."

Xiao Jinfeng, Chen Ran, the others: "..."

What? Did he really think Fang Geng would just kneel? This arrogant bastard?

Thud.

A heavy sound echoed across the street. Fang Geng dropped to his knees, his head bowing so fast it smacked the stone ground.

"I was wrong! I was wrong! I really was wrong!"

Xiao Jinfeng, Chen Ran, the others: "..."

Jiang Jiamian's eyes narrowed. Fang Geng's gaze had gone glassy, his pupils unfocused. A cold realization swept over him.

Hypnosis.

So. That was it. Ling Zhuang, in addition to his ability to replicate powers, possessed a terrifying gift of hypnosis.

He was utterly baffled. How could a bug-level existence in such a tiny world end up 'killed off' by the plot? It made no sense.

"Admitting mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue." Ling Zhuang said softly, his gentle-professor smile returning as though nothing had happened. Fang Geng continued banging his head on the stone, blood smearing the ground. Without a backward glance, Ling Zhuang stepped past him.

The others stood stunned before finally hurrying after him. The small crowd that had been watching from a distance scattered in silence, unwilling to get involved.

Jiang Jiamian sneered inwardly. Fang Geng had been a pawn. Those people had egged him on, hoping his status as Fang Jing's nephew could stir trouble for the Gale Squad. Now, he was the one broken and bleeding on the ground, abandoned.

What a pathetic joke.

Zheng Shuqiu, walking at the rear, shivered as he glanced at Fang Geng's bloody forehead. He wasn't stupid. Ling Zhuang had done something, but what exactly, he couldn't grasp.

That mild-mannered professor, always seeming weaker, always in need of protection… wasn't weak at all.

He should be grateful he hadn't crossed him.

Yet guilt pricked him. Hadn't he secretly agreed with Xue Fang when the latter insulted Professor Ling? Hadn't he felt a sliver of satisfaction, thinking the man was nothing but a burden?

But now… after witnessing Fang Geng reduced to a kowtowing puppet with a single glance… fear coiled in his chest.

And then, he remembered. Ling Zhuang's casual suggestion, back when Xue Fang turned into a zombie: Bring him back to the lab.

At the time, they had thought it was an attempt to save him. But what if it hadn't been? What if it was never about saving Xue Fang, but about experimenting on him?

The realization drained the blood from Zheng Shuqiu's face.

Almost against his will, his gaze followed Ling Zhuang's back.

At that very moment, Ling Zhuang turned his head. His eyes met Zheng Shuqiu's precisely, and he smiled. Gentle, polite, elegant.

But in Zheng Shuqiu's mind, that smile translated into one word only: creepy.

He dropped his gaze instantly, heart pounding.

"Professor Ling." Xiao Jinfeng finally spoke, breaking the silence. His voice was tight, conflicted.

Ling Zhuang didn't turn. "Hmm?"

Xiao Jinfeng's fists clenched. He hesitated, then gritted his teeth. "Do you… have an ability? Just now, what did you do to him?"

The question hung in the air like a blade, every pair of eyes turning to Ling Zhuang, waiting.