Сhарter 11: The Fight fоr thе Spaсe Pеndаnt
Мо Qiаnqiаn piсkеd uр thе jade рendant and eхаmined it саrеfullу in hеr pаlm.
Just аs dеscribed in thе nоvel, it wаs a Dragon-shаpеd Zodiac Рendаnt, with the smаll drаgon cаrved exquisitеlу аnd vividlу.
The jаdе mаtеrial was аlso оf superiоr quality—еmerald grеen in colоr, lustrоus аnd transluсеnt, with a brilliant sheеn.
In the 21st сеntury, jadе jewelrу of this саlibеr would bе worth at lеast sevеn figurеs.
Just аs she was about to put the pеndаnt away, Sun Mingхuе’s voice саme from beside her.
“Oh, what a beautiful pendant! Can I take a look?”
Before the words even finished, Sun Mingxue’s hand had already reached out, trying to snatch the pendant from Mo Qianqian’s hand.
Mo Qianqian sidestepped, avoiding Sun Mingxue’s outstretched hand, and said mockingly, “To those who know, you just want to look; to those who don’t, it looks like you’re trying to steal my things.”
After speaking, she turned her gaze to Ji Yunting, waved the pendant in her hand, and said, “Ji Yunting, we agreed in advance to explore separately. Now, your people are trying to take my things. What’s the meaning of this?”
Ji Yunting’s expression remained indifferent, with no intention of responding.
Just like every time Mo Qianqian found herself in a difficult situation, he remained silent, uninvolved, and merely watched coldly from the sidelines.
A smug look flashed across Sun Mingxue’s face, as if encouraged by something, and she took a step forward. “Qianqian, you’ve misunderstood me. I really just wanted to take a look.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Mingxue’s hand reached out once again toward the zodiac pendant.
Mo Qianqian took a step back, clutching the pendant in her hand.
She looked at Ji Yunting and suddenly let out a light laugh. “Some people’s words are like farts—loud and stinky, but leaving nothing behind in the end.
Ji Yunting, don’t make me look down on you!”
Ji Yunting’s face instantly turned extremely unpleasant.
It was the same old story: some things could be done but not spoken aloud.
Every time Mo Qianqian had been in a difficult situation before, he had acted this way.
But in the past, Mo Qianqian had always endured in silence, while this time, she chose to mock him directly.
Ji Yunting had never imagined that Mo Qianqian would say such embarrassing words to him!
Releasing the pressure of a third-tier powerhouse, Ji Yunting glared coldly at Mo Qianqian.
But Mo Qianqian seemed unaffected by the pressure, her expression as composed as before. “What, you dare to do it but not admit it?
I thought you were at least a man of your word.
The pendant is right here. Are you going to come and take it?”
In a situation where she was outnumbered, Mo Qianqian dared to confront Ji Yunting like this, but it wasn’t without reason.
Based on the novel’s plot, she had analyzed the male lead’s personality: aloof, arrogant, stubborn, and easily provoked.
And what she needed to do now was provoke him.
Sure enough, after a few moments, Ji Yunting spoke coldly, “No one will take your things. As we agreed earlier, we’ll explore separately.”
A look of unwillingness flashed across Sun Mingxue’s face, but she knew when to yield.
“Qianqian, I really didn’t mean to take it. I just wanted to take a closer look because the pendant is carved with a snake.”
Mo Qianqian didn’t respond.
Sun Mingxue glanced at Ji Yunting with a pitiful expression. “I was born in the Year of the Snake, and that pendant happens to be snake-shaped. Qianqian, can I trade you a Crystal Core for the pendant?”
“No trade,” Mo Qianqian said coldly. “And besides, what’s carved on this pendant isn’t a snake—it’s a dragon.”
Perhaps because Mo Qianqian had been too assertive earlier, even a certain “lapdog” didn’t jump in to speak up for Sun Mingxue this time.Because of a jade pendant, the atmosphere within the team had grown somewhat tense.
The strategist Liu Yu glanced at Ji Yunting, whose face was dark with anger, then at Mo Qianqian, who appeared indifferent, and finally at Sun Mingxue, whose expression was unreadable.
He cleared his throat and said, “We’re all part of the same team. Let’s not let a small matter drive a wedge between us.”
“Yeah, yeah. The Urban Ruins are dangerous. We need to stick together and face the dangers as one,” the amiable Li Dong chimed in.
Mo Qianqian lowered her eyes slightly, offering no response.
With the zodiac pendant now in her possession, the primary goal of this trip had been achieved.
The real priority was to find the right moment to shake off these troublesome people, study the zodiac pendant thoroughly, and claim ownership of the Spirit Spring Space.
Coincidentally, just as Li Dong finished speaking, five zombies could be seen staggering toward them from a distance.
“Qianqian, use your Hand Crossbow to take out those five zombies,” Liu Yu said, as if the earlier undercurrents of tension had never existed.
Liu Yu was the strategist in Ji Yunting’s team.
Back in the 21st century, Mo Qianqian had navigated the circles of fame and fortune and had seen her share of storms.
Almost as soon as Liu Yu spoke, she understood what he was scheming.
In the Wasteland world, resources like clothing, food, and weapons were scarce.
In times of chaos, weapons were even more critical than food.
Controlling weapons meant the ability to build armed forces and even wield authority in a region.
So, they were eyeing her Hand Crossbow.
As the five zombies closed in rapidly, Ji Yunting and the others showed no intention of stepping in.
Hiding the faint mockery in her eyes, Mo Qianqian nocked, aimed, and fired her Hand Crossbow in one fluid motion.
Throughout this, Ji Yunting, Liu Yu, and the others watched her movements—and the Hand Crossbow in her hands—with unwavering focus.
With five soft whooshes, the heads of the five zombies exploded in response.
Perhaps out of habit, as soon as the zombies fell, Sun Mingxue stepped forward to collect the Crystal Cores, used her water-based Special Ability to clean them, and then pocketed them.
Mo Qianqian put away her Hand Crossbow and, watching Sun Mingxue return, calmly extended her hand. “Thank you for retrieving the Crystal Cores for me.”
“What?” Sun Mingxue seemed momentarily taken aback.
Mo Qianqian chuckled lightly. “Didn’t I agree with your captain? We explore separately, and what we obtain belongs to us individually.
I killed those five zombies just now, so the Crystal Cores are mine. Five Crystal Cores—thank you for picking them up for me.”
Sun Mingxue’s expression froze. She didn’t immediately hand over the Crystal Cores to Mo Qianqian but instead cast a pleading look toward Ji Yunting.
Ji Yunting furrowed his brows, lost in thought, and didn’t notice Sun Mingxue’s silent plea.
At that moment, a certain sycophant spoke up again, defending Sun Mingxue. “We’re all part of the same team. There’s no need to be so particular about dividing things up.”
Mo Qianqian turned her gaze to He Song, her eyes filled with undisguised sarcasm. “I don’t have many virtues, but my memory is decent. If I recall correctly, during the discussion about loot distribution in the car earlier, you were adamant about kicking me out of the team’s share.
Now you’re telling me we’re all one team and shouldn’t split hairs? Aren’t you ashamed?”
As another dispute seemed about to erupt, Ji Yunting pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation.
“Mingxue, give the five Crystal Cores to Qianqian,” Ji Yunting said.Sun Mingxue’s face was grim as she reluctantly pulled five Crystal Cores from her pocket and handed them to Mo Qianqian.
Ji Yunting waited until Mo Qianqian had put away the Crystal Cores before continuing, “Since the distribution plan was agreed upon in advance, what’s yours is yours—we won’t take it from you.”
“But He Song wasn’t entirely wrong,” he added. “We’re all in the same team, so there’s no need to be so distant.”