Shen Hegui gave him a critical look. "Is it that simple to understand? I told you, they haven't rested enough, so there's no way we're leaving so early. If you think we're dragging you down, you can head off on your own."
"After all, we each manage our own team. I have to be responsible for my teammates. If they haven't rested well, they won't have the energy to handle danger on the road."
Lin Xuan: ... Just a few days ago, Shen Hegui was still happy to have everyone return to Jing City together. But now, he felt that Shen Hegui no longer cared. It was only out of consideration for their past acquaintance that Shen Hegui couldn't bring himself to suggest splitting up. Probably, after seeing his own team grow with more ability users, he looked down on them.
Lin Xuan suppressed his displeasure and asked, "Then when will they wake up? They can't sleep forever, can they?"
Shen Hegui spoke slowly, "I'm not exactly sure."
"Are you messing with me?" Lin Xuan couldn't help but ask.
Shen Hegui looked at him strangely. "Why would you think that? It's an uncertain matter; how am I supposed to answer you?"
Seeing Shen Hegui's unyielding attitude, Lin Xuan left in frustration.
When he returned, Lin Tingxue asked, "How did it go? What did Shen Hegui say?"
Lin Xuan said with a cold face, "Shen Hegui said that if we want to leave now, we can go ahead."
Lin Tingxue fell silent. Was their whole team really that unbreakable? Even though she had shown the possibility of bringing them more benefits, Shen Hegui and the others still acted as if they didn't care whether she was in the team or not.
Lin Tingxue looked at her angry brother and said tactfully, "But we really can't leave on our own. The road is too dangerous; the three of us might not be able to handle it." Most importantly, among the three of them, she was the only one with an ability. That meant she would have to protect the other two—too much pressure. Moreover, on this journey, Shen Hegui and his group seemed to have encountered opportunities to awaken abilities, so by the time they reached Jing City, each of them had an ability. Therefore, as soon as they arrived in Jing City, they stood out. Many people looked up to them as role models, and Shen Hegui's group naturally gained a lot of support.
Lin Xuan knew she was right, but he felt very uncomfortable. Since taking over the Lin Group, when had he ever been so constrained by others?
Xia Chujing stood quietly by the side, not daring to breathe loudly. These days, she had been doing all the chores in the team. Moreover, Lin Xuan's temper had been very fiery lately. As long as you said something he didn't like, his face would instantly darken. Lin Xuan couldn't vent his anger on his sister, so he took it out on her. So, no matter what, keeping silent was the safest. After all, even if she voiced her opinion, they wouldn't listen.
Just as the two were troubled, four other people in the service area walked over. Last night, when those people came in, they directly said they meant no harm and just wanted to stay the night. Then they gathered in a corner and didn't say much. But now, as they approached, Lin Xuan and Lin Tingxue realized they had seen them before. These were the people they had encountered at the supermarket last time—Ren Ze and his students.
Ren Ze looked at the siblings, then glanced in Shen Hegui's direction before turning back. "Where are you headed on this road? I wonder if we're going the same way?"
Lin Xuan casually replied, "We're going to Jing City."
Ren Ze said happily, "We're also going to Jing City. Would you be willing to let us join you? That way, we can look out for each other on the road." He had noticed last night that they were the same people who had been collecting supplies at the supermarket last time, but it was too late, so he didn't want to disturb them. He actually wanted to approach Shen Hegui more, but Shen Hegui already had many people, so they probably didn't need them. Most importantly, he was afraid Shen Hegui would think they were a burden and not accept them. Moreover, he had just heard from over there that Lin Xuan seemed to have a conflict with Shen Hegui. So, approaching Lin Xuan now was the best timing.
Lin Xuan glanced at Lin Tingxue, uncertain for a moment. After all, he was also fed up with Shen Hegui. If this man in front of him could listen to him, then it might be worth considering.
Lin Tingxue asked, "Have any of you awakened abilities?"
"Yes, I'm a fire-type ability user. Also, one of our male teammates has a strength mutation—he's very strong, able to lift hundreds of pounds." Ren Ze said honestly. As he spoke, he introduced the members of their team. The male student with the strength mutation was called Luo Yu, and he had an older sister named Luo Yi. Additionally, they had a female teammate named Liu Qingqing.
Lin Xuan thought for a moment and said, "When you say traveling together, do you mean you're willing to join our team? But in our team, I'm the leader."
Ren Ze was silent for a moment, then asked, "What abilities have you awakened?"
Lin Xuan didn't answer; he just glanced at Lin Tingxue.
Lin Tingxue spoke after some deliberation. "I'm a wood-element ability user, but my wood ability has a healing effect."
"Healing effect?" Ren Ze was puzzled.
"Yes." Lin Tingxue saw the wound on his arm and decided to demonstrate with her ability.
Ren Ze's eyes lit up immediately.
At this point, Lin Xuan spoke up. "If you want to travel with us, then the leader must be us. Besides, our Lin family has a prominent status in Jing City. If it weren't for the apocalypse—and the fact that we're on the road to Jing City with few people around—frankly, the Lin family's team wouldn't easily accept outsiders."
As he finished, a young girl from Ren Ze's team spoke up. "The Lin family? Is that the Lin family of the Lin Group in Jing City?" Liu Qingqing asked.
"That's right." A confidence that had long disappeared returned to Lin Xuan's expression.
Liu Qingqing said, "I know the Lin family. Our family has even undertaken projects for the Lin Group." As she spoke, she took another look at Lin Xuan and said, "Their CEO seems to look just like you."
Lin Xuan: ... That's because I am him.
Ren Ze's eyes showed deep thought. They had brought Liu Qingqing, who had no ability, because they knew she was the eldest daughter of the Liu family in Jing City, and her relatives seemed to have political connections. They themselves were originally from Jing City, but some came to Hai City University to study, and some to teach. Now that the apocalypse had come, they also wanted to go home and see. Since Liu Qingqing was there, they brought her along. Perhaps, after they safely arrived in Jing City, they could latch onto the Liu family. Moreover, Liu Qingqing had promised them that if she returned safely to Jing City, she would repay them.