After stowing the four diaries, Jiang Jianxin found a backpack and filled it with instant food and clothes.
Lin Xin’an didn’t really have anything to bring.
He could only rub his hands together, smooth out his stylish hair, and lean his handsome face closer to her with an expectant look:
“That food…”
Jiang Jianxin glanced at him:
“We’ll eat from my backpack for now.
Later, we’ll find a supermarket to resupply.”
Lin Xin’an chuckled, finally satisfied.
He disdainfully picked up his sopping wet, white lab coat and put it on.
“I still need to find a new lab coat.”
Jiang Jianxin didn’t understand his fixation on the white lab coat.
Lin Xin’an noticed her questioning look and explained:
“This is the symbol of our Madhouse faction.
There are many superpower users with No Influence right now, so you can’t really tell them apart.
But in a few days, once the newly awakened superpower users have been recruited by the major factions, you’ll see the difference.
Being part of a powerful and feared faction has its perks.”
“Is your Madhouse considered a top-tier faction in the Superpower World?”
Jiang Jianxin asked curiously.
“Of course.
The two top-tier factions of the Bright Camp in the Superpower World are the [TV Station] and the [Madhouse].
You just saw the surveillance capabilities and operational power of the former.”
“The only ones capable of rivaling them…
are us.”
Lin Xin’an watched Jiang Jianxin as he spoke, his tone tempting.
“Join the Madhouse, and you won’t have to worry about the TV Station tracking you anymore.”
Jiang Jianxin said, completely unimpressed:
“And then get controlled by the Madhouse and become one of your enforcers, right?”
‘A faction that can go toe-to-toe with surveillance freaks like the TV Station can’t possibly be all sunshine and roses.’
‘She was now incredibly glad she hadn’t rashly jumped on the Madhouse’s crooked bandwagon.’
‘Factions that keep their cards close to their chest like that are often the craziest.’
Lin Xin’an didn’t bother trying to defend his faction.
He just clicked his tongue with a TSK and dropped the subject.
The rain outside was still coming down, showing no signs of stopping.
Jiang Jianxin glanced out and suggested:
“Let’s find a car.”
Lin Xin’an nodded, giving Jiang Jianxin an expectant look.
“My hand’s useless.
I can’t drive.”
Jiang Jianxin was speechless.
“I can drive.
I’ll take the wheel, you ride shotgun.”
Lin Xin’an let out a cheer.
The two of them headed down the stairwell.
Lin Xin’an carried the backpack for Jiang Jianxin, while she cradled her sword in one arm and scrolled through her phone with her free hand.
The complex’s resident group chat had 99+ notifications, mostly pleas for rescue and requests for food and water.
Having seen the gruesome sight of people transforming into Pollution Species after getting caught in the rain, many residents were staying home, too afraid to venture out.
They survived on whatever food they had stockpiled.
Jiang Jianxin’s entrance into the complex via Sword Control moments ago had caused quite a stir in the resident group chat.
“[Video] Did you all see that?
I just saw two people flying over on a sword from my window!”
“Oh my god, is that an Immortal?
Did she just fly right past the Cannibal Willows at the entrance?”
“I’ve seen on the forums that lots of people are awakening superpowers.
Those two must have as well, right?
So jealous.”
“Someone save me!
The complex is full of monsters, there are Cannibal Willows at the gate, and my food is about to run out!”
“Why do other people get to awaken superpowers?
It’s not fair!
Why can’t something good like that happen to me?”
…
Jiang Jianxin and Lin Xin’an made it downstairs.
She picked a random car on the street, jimmied the lock, and opened the door.
Just as she settled into the driver’s seat, before she could even close the door, she heard someone shout from a floor above:
“Immortal, can you take me with you?”
Jiang Jianxin glanced up.
The face of a young man peered out from the window of a fifth-floor apartment in the adjacent building.
His voice was laced with nervousness, but his face was full of hope.
After a moment’s thought, Jiang Jianxin gave him an OK sign and posted a message in the resident group chat:
“Anyone who wants to leave the complex, gather below Building 9 within the next ten minutes.
It’s still raining.
Getting caught in it gives you a chance to become a superpower user, but most people will turn into Pollution Species.”
“This is your only chance to get out of the complex.
The choice is yours.
I’m only waiting ten minutes.”
Lin Xin’an glanced over.
“You really think anyone’s going to come down after you told them that?”
‘If you spell out the consequences of getting rained on, most people will be too scared of turning into a Pollution Species to come down.’
“How many more days will this rain last?”
Instead of answering, Jiang Jianxin asked a question of her own.
“Three days.”
Lin Xin’an said.
Jiang Jianxin smiled.
“In that case, the new social hierarchy will be set in stone in three days.
It’s up to them whether they seize this opportunity or not.”
Lin Xin’an kept time for her while Jiang Jianxin sat in the driver’s seat, resting with her eyes closed.
After devouring nine cups of instant noodles, she felt her strength surge.
The Tang Guang Sword seemed to share her excitement, wriggling in her arms.
“Ten minutes are up.”
Lin Xin’an prompted from his seat.
Jiang Jianxin glanced toward the base of Building 9.
About thirteen people stood there, most holding umbrellas.
A little girl in a thin yellow jacket, holding no umbrella, stood out conspicuously from the crowd.
She scanned the group but didn’t see the young man who had called down to her.
Jiang Jianxin got out of the car and looked at the little girl without an umbrella.
She was soaked by the rain.
Her short hair was plastered to her cheeks, her face was pale, and her lips were bloodless.
Lin Xin’an had also noticed the girl who stood apart from the rest.
His curiosity was clearly piqued.
Seeing Jiang Jianxin standing there like a wooden plank, he sauntered over himself and asked the little girl:
“Everyone else has an umbrella.
Why don’t you, little one?
Aren’t you afraid of getting caught in the rain?”
The little girl in the yellow jacket shook her head, her eyes vacant.
“My mom and dad were eaten by monsters.
I’m the only one left.”
She looked up at the sky.
It was shrouded in dark clouds, with no sun or clear sky in sight.
“If I become a superpower user, I’ll kill all the Pollution Species.
If I don’t, that’s fine too.
I’ll wait for Mom and Dad to come get me, just like they used to.”
Lin Xin’an was struck speechless for a moment.
Then he patted the little girl’s head and said, without batting an eye:
“Was I pretty cool standing on that sword earlier?”
The little girl had seen the video in the resident group chat.
Though she felt the man’s stance on the sword looked a little forced, she still whispered:
“It was cool.”
Lin Xin’an continued with a grin:
“Well then, if you become a superpower user, you should come find me at the [Madhouse], okay?
There are lots of people like me there.
We kill Pollution Species and protect world Peace every day.”
The little girl in the yellow jacket nodded.
Jiang Jianxin shot Lin Xin’an a contemptuous look and said:
“You’re a pretty natural liar.”
Lin Xin’an felt no shame whatsoever, retorting:
“I’m finding her a good home.
The Madhouse has always taken the cultivation of young superpower users very seriously.”
Jiang Jianxin didn’t press the issue, simply asking:
“Will she really awaken as a superpower user?”
Lin Xin’an said in a low voice:
“I never waste my breath.”