Ji Ruyi suppressed the wave of nausea rising in her chest as her sharp, radar-like gaze—trained through the relentless drills of the Exalted One—scanned the deeper alleys.
Damn it. She finally understood the true nature of District Three.
That wretched woman had essentially mocked her by insinuating she belonged in a place like this. You're District Three? Your entire family is District Three. Your ancestors for eight generations are District Three.
Muttering a few choice curses under her breath, Ji quickened her pace—not out of disdain for the women here, but out of a deep understanding of her own "accident-prone" tendencies. This hotspot for misfortune wasn't a place she could afford to linger.
By the time she reached District Five, she stopped a hurried passerby to ask about Wen Xinyu's whereabouts. The woman refused to divulge any information until Ji bribed her with a single stick of sausage.
The entirety of District Five consisted of neatly planned villas. Wen Xinyu's address was listed as number 17 in the third row. Ji stopped at the iron gate of the villa, glancing around to ensure no one was watching. Though it was pitch dark, she still took precautions. In the safety of her space, she changed into a pair of sleek black skinny pants paired with matching combat boots, a white tank top layered under a studded leather jacket, and a black baseball cap for added flair.
Looking in the mirror, she admired her reflection. The blend of femininity and androgynous edge was striking—an undeniable attention-grabber. The saying went that makeup could enhance beauty by seven points, but Ji was already a perfect ten.
She wanted Wen Xinyu to see this: You might have tried to destroy me, but look at me now, thriving and more dazzling than ever.
If not for the brawl she anticipated, Ji would have opted for a delicate chiffon dress and some light makeup, delivering a double blow of physical domination and psychological torment. Perhaps next time.
Emerging from her space with a baseball bat in hand, Ji pounded on the villa's iron gate, her boots clanging loudly against it. The noise echoed, not just inside Wen Xinyu's house but throughout the neighboring villas. Ji's sharp ears picked up the faint sounds of people stirring inside other homes.
"Who is it?" A displeased, unfamiliar voice called out, followed by the sound of shuffling footsteps.
When the door opened, Ji was met by a middle-aged woman holding a flashlight. "Does Wen Xinyu live here?" Ji asked, her tone sharp.
The woman rudely shone the flashlight up and down Ji's figure. "She does. What do you want?"
Upon confirmation, Ji wasted no time, pushing past the woman and striding into the house.
The dimly lit living room was illuminated by two candles. Around a makeshift table sat Wen Xinyu, Shi Liu, and two unfamiliar men. They were poring over a map, but all heads snapped up when Ji entered.
Before they could react, Ji closed the distance between herself and Wen Xinyu in a blur. The resounding thwack of her bat echoed as Wen Xinyu let out a piercing scream.
Ji didn't hold back. Years may have passed since her days as the tyrant of Fourteenth High, but her instincts hadn't dulled. She launched into the attack, adhering to the three key principles of a successful beatdown.
First, dominate with presence. Normally, overwhelming the target with sheer intimidation was key, but Ji knew better than to give Wen Xinyu—a lightning user—time to prepare. Instead, she skipped straight to the second principle: strike before they can react.
The third? Show no mercy.
Ji's strength had grown immensely. A single punch could shatter half a concrete slab. Although she had held back slightly, using only half her strength at first, the exhilaration of her assault made her strikes progressively harder. By the time she delivered the final blow, she had used nearly all her power. For a moment, she panicked, worried she might have gone too far and killed Wen Xinyu.
But Wen Xinyu's loud, agonized screams reassured her. Relieved but annoyed, Ji thought bitterly, Of course, the protagonist's plot armor protects her even from a fatal beating. Fantastic.
Estimating that the others in the room had recovered from their initial shock, Ji dropped the bat and yanked Wen Xinyu to her feet by the hair. Holding a gleaming knife to her neck, Ji used her as a human shield.
Shi Liu, an ice ability user according to the novel, froze in place. Ji smirked—having Wen Xinyu as a hostage meant Shi Liu wouldn't dare risk using her powers recklessly.
Wen Xinyu flinched and instinctively summoned lightning to her fingertips, but Ji's sharp warning froze her in place. "If you're eager for a mutual death, go ahead and strike."
Hearing Ji's voice, Wen Xinyu hesitated. The lightning dissipated as her face contorted with pain and fear.
"Ji Ruyi!" Shi Liu gasped, her voice laced with disbelief.
Ji, still gripping Wen Xinyu, pulled off her cap and casually tossed it aside, revealing her stunning face. "Surprised to see me alive? You shouldn't be. I've always been full of surprises."
"It's really you, Ji Ruyi!" Wen Xinyu's tone was drenched in feigned relief as she forced tears to stream down her face—tears that were more from pain than genuine emotion. "I'm so glad you're alive. I've felt so guilty about what happened. After that incident, Brother Gao and I went back to look for you, but the gas station was empty. I thought you were... gone. Seeing you now is such a relief."
Ji ignored her crocodile tears, her gaze flicking to the two men standing tensely behind Shi Liu. Though not as striking as Gao Rui, both were undeniably handsome. Judging by their protective stances, these must be Wen Xinyu's admirers. Ji's mind raced, matching them to the novel's descriptions. One must be Zhao Jianyuan, the other Liu Yunhao.
"I can vouch for her," Shi Liu said hastily. "Wen Xinyu really was distraught over what happened. She's cried to me so many times. Ji Ruyi, it was an accident. And look, you're fine now. Just let her go."
Ji smirked coldly at Shi Liu's naivety. Tightening her grip on Wen Xinyu, she pressed the blade harder against her neck, drawing a thin line of blood. Wen Xinyu let out another scream, her composure slipping further.
Shi Liu froze, her face pale with fear and frustration. One of the men, however, summoned a fireball, his expression dark and threatening. Ji countered by jerking Wen Xinyu forward, forcing the fireball to dissipate.
"What's going on here?" the taller man asked, his voice heavy with authority.
Ji ignored him and sneered at Shi Liu. "An accident, you say? I nearly died. How about this? You let a zombie bite you a hundred times, and if you survive, I'll forgive her. Fair trade, right?"
Shi Liu faltered, her lips moving soundlessly. Ji's words cut deep, leaving her scrambling for a response.
"Let's not be rash," Shi Liu tried again, her voice trembling. "You can't seriously be thinking of killing her. Don't forget—this is the base. Wen Xinyu is a level-three ability user. No matter how strong you are, you can't fight everyone here."
Ji smirked, unfazed. She hadn't planned to kill Wen Xinyu—yet. But she certainly wasn't about to let her off easily either.