After the meeting, the convoy began its journey. It was only then that Chu Ling got a proper look at the vehicles they were traveling with. They were indeed high-tech.
Three of the vehicles were designated for transporting materials and were larger than average—reminiscent of the freight trucks of the old world. These carried the equipment for setting up a base and various research instruments.
Four of the vehicles were equipped with mounted machine gun turrets and reinforced with heavy defensive armor. Though these vehicles had reduced visibility due to their design, they were equipped with the latest radar guidance systems, which projected a 360-degree view of the surroundings onto internal screens. This eliminated blind spots entirely. The machine gun turrets were fully automated, capable of targeting threats without any human intervention.
These vehicles could be operated by a single person, a testament to technological progress. Chu Ling couldn't help but feel envious. She remembered reading that each of these models cost 5 million credits per vehicle. It was a nice thought, but the reality was harsh—she didn't even have a single credit to spare. Daydreams didn't pay bills.
The final vehicle in the convoy was designed with comfort in mind, resembling a luxury RV. It was where Gu Jingbo, Gu Xiyan, and Shi Tuoyi would be riding. If not for the fact that it was surrounded by the armored gun vehicles, Chu Ling would've thought Gu Jingbo was heading out on a sightseeing tour rather than an expedition.
Even though this vehicle didn't seem as heavily armored at first glance, it had hidden defensive capabilities. In its default state, it operated in 'observation mode', but in the event of danger, its defense systems could be activated, covering the vehicle in reinforced armor. Most monsters wouldn't stand a chance of breaching it.
In stark contrast, Chu Ling's beat-up off-road vehicle was practically falling apart. The air conditioning system had long since broken, forcing her to roll down the windows and rely on the desert breeze—if you could call the scorching hot wind breeze that is. Under the blazing sun, the desert heat was enough to roast someone alive. Her vehicle had been cobbled together from scrap parts that Ah Hu and the others had scavenged. High-tech vehicles were simply too expensive for people like them.
No wonder she often joked that the world's technology tree had been skewed. Whether by design or coincidence, the world's advancements over the years had focused on weapons and luxury goods rather than solving basic problems like food shortages. This divide only deepened the conflict between Upper City elites and Lower City survivors.
As Gu Jingbo walked to his vehicle, he deliberately passed by Chu Ling, letting out a disdainful snort to express his dissatisfaction. Chu Ling, however, didn't care in the slightest about his mood. Instead, her attention shifted when she noticed Gu Xiyan approaching.
Gu Xiyan saw Chu Ling standing by her car without moving and decided to greet her.
[Miss Chu, aren't we departing yet?] Gu Xiyan typed on her tablet.
Chu Ling glanced at the luxury RV that Gu Jingbo and Gu Xiyan were riding in and replied, "We're about to head out. Don't worry, just get on the car. I'll lead the way, and if anything happens, I'll protect you."
Gu Xiyan blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected Chu Ling to go out of her way to reassure her. It was oddly considerate—but also strange. Wasn't Chu Ling hired to protect Gu Jingbo? Yet the way she phrased it made it sound like she was only concerned about Gu Xiyan, which could easily lead to misunderstandings.
[Thank you, Miss Chu]
While she appreciated Chu Ling's apparent kindness, Gu Xiyan couldn't help but feel a hint of suspicion. After all, the two of them barely knew each other. Chu Ling's friendliness, while well-meaning, came off as a bit unusual. Her mind wandered back to something Gu Jingbo had said: Mercenaries will do anything for money. Was Chu Ling one of those people? Could this unexpected warmth be part of an ulterior motive?
Was Chu Ling trying to get close to her for some reason…?
Gu Xiyan's cautious personality wasn't something that had developed overnight. Growing up in the strict and sheltered environment of the Gu family, she had always been a well-mannered, obedient young lady who rarely left the house. But like any child, she had once been curious and playful, eager to explore the world outside the Gu family's estate.
In her first year living with the Gu family, that curiosity had led to disaster. She had trusted someone and been kidnapped. Her captors had demanded an enormous ransom, which the Gu family eventually paid, and Gu Xiyan was returned unharmed.
But while Gu Xiyan had been spared punishment, her grandfather had been furious. In her presence, he had beaten the servant responsible for her care to within an inch of their death and then dismissed them from the household.
Gu Xiyan had been too young and timid to explain herself at the time. All she could do was stand there, unable to speak or defend the servant who had taken care of her. She could only watch helplessly as the servant's resentful gaze burned into her mind. The guilt she felt in that moment stayed with her forever.
Her grandfather had been right, of course. It had all been her fault. If she hadn't wanted to go outside, none of it would've happened. She had caused trouble for everyone and even brought harm to an innocent servant.
From that day on, Gu Xiyan decided to be obedient—to be a good child who never caused trouble or questioned orders. If she simply did as she was told, everyone around her would be happy.
Never trust anyone. Never be a burden. Be a puppet, silent and compliant. That was her role.
* * * *
"Miss Gu, don't worry," Chu Ling said again, interrupting Gu Xiyan's thoughts. "I'll protect you."
[Thank you] Gu Xiyan replied again and climbed into the vehicle.
As Gu Xiyan left, Chu Ling frowned slightly. Something felt off. Gu Xiyan's demeanor seemed distant, almost as if she were intentionally keeping her at arm's length. Was Chu Ling being too friendly and scaring her off?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden movement in her vision. Turning sharply, her hand shot out instinctively, catching a flying water bottle mid-air.
It was Ah Hu. He had been calling out to her a few times, but she had been too lost in thought to notice. Frustrated, he had resorted to tossing the bottle at her.
"Boss! What are you thinking about?" Ah Hu's loud voice jolted Chu Ling from her thoughts.
"Nothing," Chu Ling replied absentmindedly, her gaze falling on the water bottle in her hand. This body… it was strange. Over the past six months, she had slowly begun to notice that something wasn't quite normal. The instincts ingrained in this body were far beyond that of an ordinary person. Was it due to years of intense training outdoors?
She didn't have an answer. All she knew was that her body seemed hyper-aware of environmental changes. Not just that—her strength and speed far exceeded the average person. Her senses—sight, hearing, smell, and even touch—were unusually sharp.
While this heightened sensitivity made survival easier in this unforgiving world, the downside was that her heightened sense of touch amplified her pain as well. And Chu Ling hated pain. If it was possible, she'd much prefer to avoid injuries altogether.
She tilted her head back and looked at the rising sun. In the distance, the sky seemed darker than directly overhead, as if heralding the approach of a tornado. Over the past six months, her body's uncanny sensitivity had saved her life more times than she could count. Without it, even with a guide, she doubted she could have survived this long.
"Let's get moving. A tornado's coming," she said decisively.
Ah Hu froze, looking up at the sky in confusion. To him, the sky looked the same as always. There was no sign of a tornado anywhere. "Huh? Where?" he muttered, scratching his head.
But if the boss said it was coming, it must be coming. Ah Hu quickly ran to the vehicles to get things ready.
Meanwhile, Qian Li had been watching Chu Ling the entire time, silently observing her every move. Of course, she had noticed that Chu Ling had been lost in thought earlier and had failed to hear Ah Hu calling her. Yet, despite this distraction, Chu Ling had instinctively caught the water bottle Ah Hu had thrown her, her body reacting faster than her mind.
Qian Li's thoughts drifted back to the times she had sparred with Chu Ling. It had started half a year ago when Chu Ling had approached her, asking to learn some self-defense techniques. At first, Qian Li had thought she was joking. After all, Chu Ling had survived the apocalypse alone, without any abilities or powers to speak of. Surely she must have some combat skills, right?
But during their first sparring session, Qian Li had been shocked. Chu Ling's attacks had no structure or discipline; it was clear she didn't know any formal combat techniques. She fought purely on instinct.
How could someone like that be an experienced mercenary? When Qian Li asked about it, Chu Ling had merely explained that she'd lost her memory during the great storm. The only thing she had left was her body's instinctive reactions.
What shocked Qian Li more was Chu Ling's ability to learn. She picked up techniques frighteningly fast. While Qian Li's combat style relied heavily on her superpower, she taught Chu Ling some basic hand-to-hand combat skills, which Chu Ling mastered in no time. Now, if Qian Li didn't use her powers, she doubted she could beat Chu Ling in a fight.
It was Chu Ling's natural instincts that were most terrifying. Her reaction time and reflexes were on par with the military's A-rank combatants—something Qian Li had never seen in someone without abilities. She had even investigated Chu Ling's background at Chu Ling's own request, as Chu Ling wanted to learn more about her past.
The findings had been underwhelming. Chu Ling's official records described her as a C-level genetic individual, a failed mutation, and a relatively unknown mercenary. It didn't make sense. How could someone so ordinary survive the storm unscathed while others perished?
Qian Li had considered the possibility that Chu Ling's body had undergone some sort of mutation after the storm. However, no one had ever heard of someone mutating after the age of 20, and Chu Ling was already 26. The only other explanation was that Chu Ling had somehow honed her body to its current state through relentless training, creating muscle memory that surpassed the limits of ordinary humans.
But if that were true, why had no one heard of her before the storm? And why hadn't anyone recognized her since she'd formed a new mercenary team after her memory loss? Had the storm wiped out everyone who had known her?
Then there was the person Chu Ling had asked Qian Li to investigate: Liang Liang. It was strange. For someone who claimed to have lost her memory, Chu Ling still remembered this person's name. Anyone else might have been suspicious, but Qian Li had never questioned Chu Ling's motives. She wasn't the type to pry; she was an executor, not a questioner.
The information on Liang Liang was sparse. All Qian Li had found was that she was currently a mercenary in one of the Outer City camps. She had recently been making a name for herself and might be planning to claim a share of the resources in the Yellow Sand Ruins.
* * * *
Once they were on the road, Chu Ling was behind the wheel with Qian Li in the passenger seat. As they drove, Qian Li brought up Liang Liang. "Boss, the person you asked me to investigate has been making waves at another camp recently. She hasn't made any moves yet, but it seems like she's interested in the Yellow Sand Ruins as well."
Chu Ling's hand paused as she buckled her seatbelt. Her expression darkened slightly. "Liang Liang?"
"Yeah," Qian Li confirmed.
Chu Ling's mind spun. Based on the timeline, it made sense. Liang Liang—the protagonist of the novel—should be getting help from her system around this time. The Yellow Sand Ruins would mark the start of her rise. In the original storyline, Liang Liang had used the resources from the ruins as her first major success, building her base from there. It was also at the Yellow Sand Ruins where she had saved Gu Xiyan, earning her loyalty.
The ruins were supposed to be the beginning of everything. In the original timeline, this would have happened six months later, but Chu Ling's interference had shifted the timeline forward. Even so, Liang Liang's system likely wasn't fully operational yet. It was best to avoid a confrontation for now.
Liang Liang's system worked similarly to hers, requiring currency to unlock functions. However, Liang Liang's system specialized in high-tech weapons and equipment, while hers… was focused on instant noodles.
Unless her system could evolve her noodles into some sort of Iron Noodle Knight, there was no way she could win against Liang Liang in a direct fight.
The sound of a car horn snapped Chu Ling out of her thoughts. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw the convoy behind her, including the luxury RV where she knew Gu Xiyan was seated.
Gu Xiyan would eventually fall for Liang Liang and help her rise to power, becoming one of the strongest figures in the wasteland. But in the end, Liang Liang would strip her of everything, forcing her to choose between two humiliating options: stay and share Liang Liang with others, or leave and walk away with nothing.
Chu Ling hadn't read far enough to see the novel's conclusion, but she already despised it. No matter how it ended, neither path was a fate Gu Xiyan deserved.
Gu Xiyan was like a rose atop a high wall—beautiful, untouchable. Even if she bloomed alone, she shouldn't be trampled by anyone.
If I must be the thorns beneath her, I'll gladly do so. I'll protect her beauty, shield her from those who wish to pluck her, and hold the line until someone worthy comes along.
But Liang Liang… she doesn't deserve to touch even a single petal. Not now, not ever.