Rain splattered against the cracked pavement as Qin followed Zhao Yue and Feng Lan through the maze of darkened streets. The city had grown eerily quiet, with only the occasional flicker of neon signs breaking the oppressive gloom. The air between them was tense, though not for the reasons Qin expected.
"So, Feng Lan," Qin began, his voice cutting through the silence, "what's this 'tower' you mentioned earlier? Is it some kind of headquarters?"
Feng Lan glanced back at him, her amber eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Headquarters? That's putting it mildly. It's the safest place in Jiang City—for those who belong."
"And if you don't belong?" Qin asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
"You don't survive long enough to ask that question," she replied smoothly, her smile sharp enough to cut.
"Enough talk," Zhao interrupted, her tone curt. "We need to focus. We're not out of danger yet."
Feng Lan rolled her eyes but said nothing, letting the conversation drop. Qin, however, wasn't ready to let it go.
"What about the System?" he pressed. "Why me? Why now? Does this happen to everyone, or am I just special?"
Zhao Yue sighed, her steps faltering for a moment. "No, it doesn't happen to everyone. Systems are... rare. They pick people who have potential—or people they think they can use."
"Use for what?" Qin's voice rose slightly, frustration bubbling to the surface. "To fight monsters? To die in some alleyway? What's the endgame here?"
"The endgame is survival," Zhao snapped, spinning to face him. Her dark eyes burned with intensity. "Yours. Mine. Everyone's. The world's falling apart, Qin. The barriers between realms are crumbling, and if we don't fight back, there won't be a Jiang City left to save."
"Romantic, isn't it?" Feng Lan interjected, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Nothing like a good apocalypse to bring people together."
"Shut up, Lan," Zhao growled, but Qin caught the faintest flicker of a smile on her lips.
He couldn't help but smirk. "So, you're saying I'm some kind of chosen one? Like a hero in those old cultivation stories?"
"You're no hero," Zhao said flatly. "You're just a guy who got lucky—or unlucky, depending on how you see it."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," Qin muttered.
As they turned a corner, a gust of wind blew past, carrying the faint scent of jasmine. Qin glanced around, frowning. "Do you smell that?"
Feng Lan chuckled softly. "You're perceptive. It's not the wind—it's me."
He blinked, caught off guard. "You wear perfume during a monster apocalypse?"
"Call it a personal touch," Feng Lan said with a playful shrug. She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Some of us like to leave an impression."
Qin felt his face heat up, and he quickly looked away. Zhao Yue let out a frustrated groan.
"Lan, stop playing around. We don't have time for this."
"Oh, come on," Feng Lan teased. "He's cute when he's flustered."
"I'm not flustered," Qin protested, though his reddening cheeks betrayed him.
"Enough!" Zhao snapped, stepping between them. She jabbed a finger at Qin. "Focus. You've got a lot to learn if you want to survive, and distractions will get you killed."
Feng Lan arched an eyebrow. "Interesting how protective you're getting, Zhao Yue. Don't tell me you're growing attached?"
"I'm not," Zhao said sharply, though her gaze flickered toward Qin for the briefest moment. "Let's keep moving."
They continued in tense silence until they reached a derelict apartment building. The interior was dark and musty, the faint hum of electricity the only sign of life. Feng Lan led them to a small, candlelit room on the top floor, where the air was warm and thick with the scent of incense.
"Cozy," Qin muttered, eyeing the worn couch and low wooden table.
"It's temporary," Feng Lan said, unbuttoning her jacket and tossing it onto a chair. She stretched lazily, her movements languid and feline. "But it's private. And privacy is a luxury these days."
Zhao Yue, ever the pragmatist, ignored her and began checking the locks on the windows and doors. "We'll rest here for a few hours, then head to the tower. Stay alert—this isn't over."
Qin sank onto the couch, exhaustion catching up with him. "What about the System? Can I trust it?"
"That depends," Feng Lan said, sitting beside him. Her proximity was unsettling, her presence magnetic. "The System will push you to grow stronger. But its goals might not align with yours."
"That's not comforting," Qin said, leaning back.
"It wasn't meant to be," she replied, her voice soft. "But strength has its perks, doesn't it? You've already felt the power it gave you."
Her hand brushed against his arm, a subtle but deliberate gesture. Qin tensed, his heartbeat quickening. Zhao Yue cleared her throat loudly, breaking the moment.
"Lan, stop messing around," Zhao said, her tone icy. "He's not ready for your games."
"Oh, relax," Feng Lan said with a wicked smile. "I'm just getting to know our new friend."
Qin stood abruptly, putting some distance between himself and the two women. "I think I'll, uh, take a look around."
As he stepped out into the hallway, he could hear Zhao and Feng bickering behind him. The tension between them was palpable, and Qin couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up caught between two such dangerous, enigmatic women.
But as he leaned against the wall, staring out at the rain-soaked city through a cracked window, his thoughts drifted. The System, the monsters, the looming threat of annihilation—it was overwhelming. Yet amid the chaos, there was a strange sense of excitement, a thrill he couldn't deny.
This was just the beginning, and he had no idea where it would lead.