So, Lin Tingxue took a deep breath and said, "I'm a Wood Element ability user. After helping to kill that zombie husky, I felt my ability grow. I have a feeling it might have some healing properties, but I'm not sure."
"You look pretty badly injured. Would you be willing to let me try?" Lin Tingxue asked softly.
Qiao Chengming, hearing such a good offer, didn't immediately agree. Instead, he glanced at Shen Hegui for his opinion.
Shen Hegui's eyes lowered slightly, and Qiao Chengming understood immediately.
Qiao Chengming forced a weak smile. "Sorry for the trouble. What's your name?"
"I'm Lin Tingxue. The Lin family and the Shen family are friends," Lin Tingxue said, smiling genuinely.
She had helped him at his most desperate moment, so he would surely remember her kindness.
Shen Hegui moved aside to let Lin Tingxue treat Qiao Chengming.
When Jiang Yuntan came in with the medical kit, she saw Lin Tingxue's palm glowing with a green orb of light covering Qiao Chengming's wounds.
In no time, Qiao Chengming's wounds had healed.
Jiang Yuntan watched quietly and noticed that within the green light, there were specks of white. The novel had mentioned that Wood Element abilities could sometimes have healing properties, but not all Wood Element users had that capability.
For example, everyone might awaken a Wood Element ability, but the level of awakening varied.
So, those white specks in Lin Tingxue's green orbs must be healing energy, right? She had hidden it well.
Unexpectedly, she revealed it now.
Jiang Yuntan couldn't help wondering: Lin Tingxue had kept it hidden so well before; the only variable now was Qiao Chengming. What made him worth her revealing this?
She couldn't figure it out.
Meanwhile, Lin Tingxue had healed most of Qiao Chengming's injuries, leaving only a wound on his left arm, but she seemed to be running out of strength and collapsed.
Her voice sounded weak and apologetic. "Sorry, I can only heal this much for now. I've exhausted my ability."
"It's okay. I'm still very grateful. This is already a big improvement—at least I don't look like I'm about to die anymore," Qiao Chengming said with a smile. "Thank you very much, Miss Lin. If there's ever an opportunity, I'll repay you."
He felt that his external wounds were much better, but his internal injuries hadn't changed much. If Lin Tingxue's ability level increased in the future, it could become quite useful.
Shen Hegui turned and saw Jiang Yuntan standing behind him. He gestured for her to come over. "When did you come in? Why didn't you say anything?"
"This is the first time I've seen a healing ability. I wanted to watch a bit longer," Jiang Yuntan said honestly.
Lin Tingxue looked at her, expecting her to demand why she hadn't revealed her healing ability earlier. But after waiting a while, Jiang Yuntan said nothing.
Lin Tingxue had to take the initiative. "I only realized that my Wood Element ability could heal after fighting the zombie husky. I felt my ability had grown."
"Oh, I wasn't asking you. You didn't have to tell me," Jiang Yuntan said dismissively.
Lin Tingxue: ...
She forced a helpless smile and then asked cautiously, "I'm really out of strength. Yuntan, could you help me over to sit down?"
Jiang Yuntan looked at her strangely. "Seriously? Do you think we're that close? If I help you and you pretend to fall and blame me for pushing you, what then?"
Lin Tingxue: ...
She was seething inside but gritted her teeth and said, "No, I wouldn't. How could you think that? I know we've had conflicts, but you're the only woman here. I can't very well ask President Shen to help me up."
"If you can convince him, go ahead," Jiang Yuntan said coldly. "Anyway, I'm not going to serve you."
She turned and went out, calling, "Xia Chujing, your good sister needs you. Get in here."
Hearing that, Lin Tingxue swallowed the words she was about to say to ask Shen Hegui for help.
Just then, Xia Chujing and the others were coming inside. After all, though it was only May, the midday heat was still intense.
Xia Chujing, upon hearing Jiang Yuntan, went over to Lin Tingxue and helped her to a seat in the coffee shop.
Lin Tingxue was resigned. Although she knew she had missed an opportunity, at least she had earned Qiao Chengming's gratitude for saving his life, which was good enough.
Qiao Chengming was also helped by Shen Hegui to a small sofa. Shen Hegui then took out the medical kit to treat the wound on his left arm.
After dressing it, Shen Hegui gave him anti-inflammatory medicine. He noticed Jiang Yuntan had also taken some blood-tonifying pills, so he gave those to Qiao Chengming as well.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I think my internal injuries are quite serious," Qiao Chengming said in a moderate voice, loud enough for Lin Tingxue to hear.
From Jiang Yuntan's attitude toward Lin Tingxue earlier, he could tell they didn't get along. So, he had already made a mental note.
"Rest a while and eat something," Shen Hegui said, handing him a rice ball and a can of meat. "This is all we have for now."
"In the apocalypse, this is already a luxury," Qiao Chengming didn't stand on ceremony and began eating slowly.
Lin Tingxue heard his words and a flicker of unease crossed her face. She would have liked to heal his internal injuries, but she had no way to do so now.
Jiang Yuntan watched them for a while, then suddenly noticed the sky darkening. Wind picked up outside, swirling trash into the air.
Dark clouds gathered on the horizon, lightning flickering silently within them, as if a storm was about to engulf the city.
Shen Hegui glanced at the sky and felt his own ability stirring restlessly. He quickly told Xue Zhao and the others to drive the car to the coffee shop entrance.
They probably wouldn't be able to continue traveling today.
Soon, his suspicion was confirmed.
Within ten minutes, rain poured down heavily, thunder roared, and lightning lit up half the sky.
The group was forced to take shelter in the coffee shop. Even with the doors and windows tightly shut, the storm outside seemed ready to blow them apart. Moisture filled the entire room.
The coffee shop had a second floor. Jiang Yuntan went up to check and saw the harbor just one street behind the shop.
Most importantly, stacks of shipping containers were piled up there. She wondered what was inside. Through the rain, she spotted a few scattered zombies on the street.
So many containers of similar size.
She wanted them.
Suddenly, Jiang Yuntan remembered the Invisibility Talisman she had seen in the Showcase.