The air fell into sudden silence.
Ji Chaoxi blinked. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, looking a little confused.
She hadn’t remembered it.
She only remembered “say something nice to make him happy.”
She tried hard to recall that long string of words.
“I’m sorry… I belong to you—no, you belong to me, you’re my master, I will never betray you, I… I’m sorry…”
Her tongue felt tangled. She didn’t really understand what love or liking meant, but somewhere deep inside, she felt an instinctive resistance.
Ye Jiming let out a laugh of disbelief.
“So this is what you came up with? How hard must that have been for you.”
Ji Chaoxi replied sincerely, “I’m sorry.”
On the way back, none of them had any intention of resting. They rushed straight back to the Safe Zone.
Once they reached the base, Ji Chaoxi finally got down from Ye Jiming’s arms.
Zhen Zhong said, “Sis Xi, we’ll go submit the mission first. We’ll bring your reward over later.”
Ji Chaoxi stopped them as they turned to leave.
“Wait. I’ll go with you to the mission hall. I’ll see if there are any suitable tasks too.”
Zhen Zhong glanced almost imperceptibly at the man behind her, then grinned.
“You’ve been working for two days. Sis Xi should go home and rest, eat something good, then come to the mission hall later. It won’t be too late.”
Quan Xiaoyi also added, “Yeah, Sis Xi, go home first. I’ll be at the mission hall these days. If I see a good mission, I’ll come find you.”
Ji Chaoxi couldn’t resist their persuasion.
“Alright. Xiaoyi, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Sis Xi. See you.”
Quan Xiaoyi waved, and the moment she turned away, her smile vanished—replaced by deep fear.
The two walked home one after the other.
Having sorted out some thoughts, Ji Chaoxi felt strangely relaxed. She even had the mood to look around at the surroundings.
Under the gray sky stood rows of empty houses. In the corners grew plants of strange colors—anything except green. Some were tall, almost like small trees.
After the world was eroded by foreign matter, all plants had become bizarre colors. Looking at them for too long gave people an inexplicable sense of oppression.
But now, with her changed mood, Ji Chaoxi actually found them somewhat beautiful.
She casually broke off a branch with deep purple flowers and brought it close to her nose.
The smell was a bit strange.
She idly channeled a bit of her ability. Instantly, the scent transformed into a faint, pleasant fragrance.
She picked a few more and held them in her hand, planning to find a vase at home.
Ye Jiming watched her light, almost cheerful steps, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.
He disliked her good mood.
It made it seem like everything he had done to her was meaningless.
His steps moved forward slightly—then stopped.
A group of people came out from the base gate, clearly heading out on a mission.
Ji Chaoxi’s good mood vanished the moment she saw them.
This group belonged to a squad led by Wei Long, a Tier 4 fire-type ability user closely connected to higher-ups in the base. He was arrogant, domineering, and difficult to offend.
He had repeatedly harassed Ji Chaoxi.
If not for her rare mutated Wood Ability User status and reputation in the base, things would have been far worse.
Sure enough, before they even approached, Wei Long called out loudly with a lewd grin.
“What a coincidence. I was just thinking about you this morning, little beauty Chaoxi, and here you are. We really are fated. Why don’t you come hunt with me? Name your price.”
Behind him stood three men and one woman, all looking unfriendly.
The woman, Wei Long’s cousin Yang Yuanyuan, looked at Ji Chaoxi with jealousy. Then her gaze shifted to Ye Jiming.
His striking face, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and tall figure made her eyes light up.
She walked straight toward him, reaching out to touch his chest.
Ye Jiming stepped back, keeping distance between them.
Yang Yuanyuan curled her red lips into a seductive smile.
“Little brother, Ji Chaoxi only hits you and treats you badly. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll treat you well… at night too.”
Ji Chaoxi tried to move forward, but Wei Long blocked her path.
“Today there are no other ability users around. Five against two. Ji Chaoxi, do you really think you can escape my grasp?”
Her heart sank slightly.
Five Tier 4 ability users.
If she risked injury, she might escape—but what about Ye Jiming?
Her gaze shifted to him.
He was already looking at her.
There was no emotion in his eyes. Like a dead, still lake.
She couldn’t read anything.
A thought suddenly formed in her mind.
If she risked her life to save him, maybe dying would free her from suffering. If she survived, she could consider it repaying her debt.
Either way, she wouldn’t lose.
Deciding quickly, she stopped wasting words.
She released her ability instantly.
Vines burst from the ground, catching Wei Long off guard and launching her toward Ye Jiming.
The explosion of energy immediately alerted Yang Yuanyuan. She frowned and shot ice arrows toward Ji Chaoxi.
Thick vines blocked them—but were frozen instantly.
Ji Chaoxi jumped down mid-air, landing lightly, while thinner vines surged forward to attack Yang Yuanyuan. Under their cover, she reached Ye Jiming.
“Go. I’ll hold them off. Find Zhen Zhong—he can protect you for now.”
Before she finished, Yang Yuanyuan shouted, “Brother! Why aren’t you acting yet? If other ability users come, Ji Chaoxi might escape again. Are you willing to let that happen?”
“Everyone, attack her!” Wei Long ordered.
Fireballs erupted, burning vines instantly. The rest of the team joined in.
Five-on-one.
No holding back.
A swift kill.
Ji Chaoxi’s pressure skyrocketed. Her energy drained rapidly while she still had to protect someone behind her.
She gritted her teeth and fought recklessly, even taking injuries.
She managed to sever Yang Yuanyuan’s arm.
Yang Yuanyuan screamed in pain, her face twisting with rage.
“Ji Chaoxi! I’ll kill you!”
Ji Chaoxi ignored the ice arrow piercing her abdomen. Her face was deathly pale, but her lips curved into a wild smile.
“Come on. If you can’t kill me, you’re nothing but a barking mad dog—always my defeated hand.”
She was provoking them.
Ye Jiming watched her from behind.
Her slightly messy black hair. Her pale neck. Her thin back.
And the blood staining her side.
That injury was from protecting him.
Tch. A pathetic show.
It would heal by morning anyway.
A trick of a mutated Wood Ability User.
Then his eyes suddenly turned cold.
Yang Yuanyuan, fully enraged, unleashed a storm of ice arrows like rain toward Ji Chaoxi.
And at that moment, Ji Chaoxi turned back.
She looked at Ye Jiming.
Her back completely exposed to the storm of death behind her.
Her beautiful eyes held a calm, almost relieved smile—as if she had already accepted death.
She used her last bit of energy.
“Go.”