Chapter 36:
Luo Xue didn’t tell Ling Ling everything about her experiences in the dream.
For one, the story was too bizarre and convoluted. For another, Ling Ling was too young to understand.
To avoid confusing the little girl, Luo Xue explained it in a way Ling Ling could comprehend.
Even so, Ling Ling was only half-comprehending, her attention completely focused on Luo Xue’s changed appearance.
She kept propping up her chin, staring intently at Luo Xue, even trying to reach out and touch her white hair.
However, Luo Xue, still traumatized from pulling out handfuls of hair in the dream, stopped Ling Ling’s restless hands, causing the little girl to pout.
After returning to the camp, although the extreme cold had passed, the remaining temperature was still unbearable for ordinary people, probably around ten to twenty degrees below zero.
Although it was nothing for Luo Xue, who had now reached the Innate Realm, little Ling Ling was just an ordinary child, with a weaker constitution.
In this situation, they couldn’t just go out as they pleased.
However, the food, water, and fuel in the camp were almost depleted after surviving the extreme cold.
Therefore, Luo Xue needed to leave the camp to replenish these resources.
There was a small forest not far from the camp, where some wild animals lived, and a narrow stream flowed through it.
Chopping wood, hunting animals, and collecting fresh water all relied on this forest.
Unfortunately, the forest was too small, and even exhaustive exploitation couldn’t support a complete Wastelander settlement.
The shrinking size of the forest was also related to some incidents that had occurred in the camp. In the end, all the adults left the camp to start anew, leaving behind only the children to fend for themselves.
…Yes, to fend for themselves.
Although the resources in the small forest were easier to obtain compared to other places in the endless wasteland, there were almost no adults left in the camp. The oldest child was only fifteen or sixteen years old.
Going out to gather resources was the most dangerous thing. Most of the other children in the camp had died doing so.
Originally, for the remaining Luo Xue and Ling Ling, this was also a life-threatening task.
But now… things were obviously different. Luo Xue possessed the strength of the Innate Realm, far stronger than most Wastelanders.
Luo Xue first tucked in the tired Ling Ling, then took a handy short sword and various tools and set off for the small forest.
The endless wasteland at night was actually quite beautiful, especially with the faint snow falling under the dazzling starry sky, like a scene from a poem or painting.
But beneath this beauty lurked deadly dangers.
Luo Xue exhaled a puff of white mist and hurried on her way.
Now, only Ling Ling was left in the entire camp. She had to finish things quickly and return, in case of any accidents.
The small forest wasn’t far. With Luo Xue’s current speed, it only took a few minutes to see the faint green amidst the desolate wasteland.
Her sharp hearing picked up the roars of wild beasts, and as Luo Xue approached, several auras pressed towards her.
Looking closely, she saw several gaunt wolves, their fierce eyes fixed on her.
However…
“They’re not even at the Post-Heaven Realm. A fit adult with a weapon could fight them alone.”
Luo Xue assessed their strength at a glance. If it had been before, she would probably be in a desperate situation.
Of course, if it had been before, Luo Xue wouldn’t have just barged into the forest like this; she would have planned carefully.
But now… she could just crush them.
“This is power. No wonder Daoist Ziyang looked down on me so much…”
Luo Xue sighed. Even in the final battle, the difference in strength between her and Daoist Ziyang was still greater than the difference between her and these wolves.
“No, no, I must be careful, I can’t get careless.”
Luo Xue slapped her cheeks, discarding the arrogance that had surfaced.
What if she ended up like Daoist Ziyang, capsizing in a gutter…
Even in the dream world, Luo Xue hadn’t dared to experience death lightly.
Because she had experienced it, she knew what kind of great terror awaited her near death.
Moreover, death was a very sad thing for those around you.
Like Ling Ling.
…And like Su Yiyao.
After composing herself, Luo Xue’s gaze turned sharp when she looked at the wolves again.
Perhaps it was because of the “Bright Eyes” stage, but when the wolves met Luo Xue’s gaze, their eager movements froze, and they even involuntarily retreated.
But how could Luo Xue let them go? They were her and Ling Ling’s food for the next few days.
Holding her breath, she struck.
Luo Xue didn’t spend much effort dealing with the scrawny wolves; it was processing the meat that took some time.
“Hmm… I’ll gather some wild vegetables and two large jars of water, then I can go back.”
After finishing with the wolves, Luo Xue wiped the blood from her face and continued deeper into the forest.
Whether it was the smell of slaughter or the aura Luo Xue was emitting, the small forest suddenly became quiet, with no more beastly roars.
Everything was completed without a hitch.
However, unbeknownst to her, a mechanical eye floated in the sky above the small forest, seemingly merging with the starry sky.
After Luo Xue left the forest, the mechanical eye slowly closed.
…
“Luo Xue, identity unknown, ten years old.”
“…”
“Ling Ling, daughter of Ling Xi, seven years old.”
“…”
Luo Xue had no idea that their detailed information was recorded in the database of a certain Suspended High Tower.
And now, this information had been retrieved and was being presented to a middle-aged man.
“…The entire camp, only these two remain?”
The man held a cigar between his fingers, tapping lightly on the table.
“Yes.”
His subordinate replied respectfully.
“The operation against Luo Xue failed?” The man raised an eyebrow.
The subordinate’s expression immediately turned terrified, and he quickly lowered his head, saying,
“For some reason, we were unable to burn her to death, and…”
At this point, the subordinate hesitated.
“Speak.”
The man’s voice instantly deepened, his expression revealing an unquestionable authority.
“Please look at this, sir.”
The subordinate handed over the latest information, and a holographic projection from a bird’s-eye view appeared in front of the man.
In the thick darkness of night, a young, white-haired girl skillfully and calmly killed a pack of wolves that even adults would struggle to fight, her movements fluid and agile.
“Hmm? Her hair turned white? And this strength…”
The man’s expression finally turned serious, and he straightened up slightly.
“It is estimated that she is a Level 3 ability user, and a strength-type one at that.”
The subordinate said in a deep voice, although even he found it hard to believe.
To go from a powerless little girl to a Level 3 martial artist overnight was a bit too fantastical.
Level 3 martial artists could easily make a living in any Suspended High Tower.
“Level 3? Interesting… Then let Night Owl handle it.”
The man smiled indifferently.
Hearing this, the subordinate was surprised and asked in a low voice,
“Sir, Night Owl is a Level 6 assassin… Isn’t this a bit of an overkill?”
“It doesn’t matter. He’s idle anyway. Remember, make it clean.”
The man leaned back in his chair and turned around.
“It must look like an accident, a very unfortunate accident.”
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