"His skill is Self-Detonation! Get away!"
However.
Lin Ji didn’t even blink.
"Shoot."
He uttered a single word calmly.
Twang!
Gu Yihan, who had been ready and waiting, released her fingers.
The Storm Hunter Bow emitted a crisp, dragon-like hum.
The Ice Arrow transformed into a streak of light, wrapped in the howling wind, instantly crossing several dozen meters of distance.
Thud!
Just as the man was about to charge in front of Lin Ji’s boat.
The Ice Arrow precisely pierced his throat!
Terrifying cold erupted instantly, freezing most of his swelling body.
But the Self-Detonation process was already irreversible.
Boom!
A loud explosion.
The man’s body exploded in mid-air.
However, because most of it was frozen, the power of the explosion was greatly weakened.
Even so.
The shockwave from the explosion sent another man nearby flying.
That unlucky fellow didn’t even have time to scream before being caught in his companion’s Self-Detonation, blown to pieces on the spot.
Flesh and blood flew everywhere, staining the surrounding seawater red.
Two dilapidated rafts were shattered into fragments in the explosion.
Lin Ji stood on the sailboat, watching the rain of blood, his expression indifferent.
As if what had just died weren’t two people, but two ants.
He slowly turned his head, looking toward the large sailboat that had already stopped not far away.
His gaze swept over the three stunned beauties one by one.
Finally settling on the girl in work clothes holding the mechanical crossbow.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Ladies, the trouble is resolved."
"Next, shouldn’t we talk about... the matter of payment?"
This scene happened too fast, too suddenly.
The three women on the opposite sailboat now stood frozen in place as if under a paralysis spell.
What shocked them wasn’t the death of those two men.
But the methods of Lin Ji’s side!
One arrow!
Just one arrow!
Not only did it accurately hit a fast-moving target, it even carried a Freezing Effect, directly suppressing the opponent’s Self-Detonation skill!
Such decisiveness, such ruthlessness, and that level of coordinated tacit understanding.
It didn’t seem like a survivor team just thrown together at all, more like a well-trained special forces squad!
"That bow... and that Ice Arrow..."
Tang Ling, the girl in work clothes wearing thick-rimmed glasses, stared intently at the Storm Hunter Bow in Gu Yihan’s hand, a flicker of fervor and wariness in her eyes.
As an Awakened with a Mechanical Talent, she could tell at a glance that bow was extraordinary.
Definitely a weapon of Red Quality or above!
And that woman shooting the arrows...
Tang Ling’s gaze shifted upward, landing on Gu Yihan’s stunningly beautiful face.
"Is that... Gu Yihan?"
She paused, then exclaimed in surprise.
Who at Haicheng University didn’t know this young lady of the Gu family?
Then looking at the cool, aloof beauty beside Gu Yihan who was crafting Ice Arrows.
"Su Qingyue?"
Good heavens!
The two most aloof flowers of Haicheng University were both on that boat?
And by the looks of it... they both seemed to take orders from that man standing in the middle?
This was even more shocking than the killing scene just now!
"Huh? It really is them!"
The elegant and gentle beauty teacher, Shen Manyun, now clearly saw the faces of Gu Yihan and Su Qingyue.
She pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of her nose, her previously wary eyes instantly lighting up with delight.
"Great! We finally ran into fellow students from the university!"
As a music theory elective teacher at Haicheng University, she was naturally familiar with these two prominent figures.
Even the man standing between them looked somewhat familiar to her.
"That young man... seems to be from our university too?"
Shen Manyun was a bit excited.
In this vast expanse of the sea, encountering acquaintances was the greatest stroke of luck.
She instinctively wanted to steer the sailboat closer.
"Manyun, don’t move!"
Tang Ling grabbed her arm, her expression grave.
"Don’t get too close!"
"Even though they’re classmates, you never truly know someone’s heart."
"You saw it just now—that man killed without batting an eye."
"And... the state of those two campus belles is very off."
Tang Ling pointed at Gu Yihan and Su Qingyue.
"Look at their attitude toward that man—it’s completely submissive, even... somewhat ingratiating?"
"That’s definitely not normal."
"This group is very strong, especially that woman with the bow. If it comes to a long-range shootout, my crossbow won’t be able to suppress her."
Hearing Tang Ling’s analysis, Shen Manyun calmed down.
Right.
This was survival in the apocalypse, not a campus social gathering.
Strength was everything.
Behind them, the twin-tailed lolita in the gothic-style dress, Bai Taotao, seemed utterly uninterested in all of this.
She remained leaning against the gunwale, staring blankly at the sea.
Her eyes were empty yet pure, as if something there was captivating her.
She couldn’t even be bothered to glance at the two who had just died or the people on the opposite boat.
Lin Ji naturally heard Tang Ling’s words.
He smiled.
This girl in workwear was quite vigilant.
But that was fine—it saved him the trouble of explaining.
"Ladies, no need to be so tense."
Lin Ji spread his hands, indicating he had no intention of attacking.
"We’re all from Haicheng University—we’re bound to cross paths."
"Let me introduce myself—I’m Lin Ji."
"As for these two..."
He pointed to Gu Yihan and Su Qingyue beside him.
"I don’t think I need to introduce them, do I? The two star students of our university."
"And you three, I believe I haven’t mistaken you either."
Lin Ji’s gaze swept boldly over the three women.
His look wasn’t lecherous, but it carried an appraising quality, as if evaluating the worth of goods.
Especially when he stared at their impressive figures, he showed no restraint at all.
Shen Manyun had the most voluptuous figure, exuding the unique charm of a mature woman. Paired with her tight professional attire, she was like a perfectly ripe peach.
Particularly that pair of assets tightly restrained by her shirt buttons, trembling slightly with each breath, made one worry the buttons might pop off at any moment.
Though Tang Ling wore loose work pants, the curves outlined by her tight tank top beneath the overalls were still full of allure.
It was the toned physique honed from years of mechanical work, without an ounce of excess fat.
As for the lolita with her back turned to everyone, Bai Taotao...
Though petite, the twin tails and white stockings were practically paradise for an otaku.
[Ding!]
[Eye of Insight activated!]
As Lin Ji gazed at them, information instantly appeared above the three girls’ heads.
[Name: Shen Manyun]
[Talent: Hemostasis (E-grade)]
[Potential Evaluation: SSS-grade (Goddess of Life)]
[Current State: Surprised, expectant, slightly wary.]
...
[Name: Tang Ling]
[Talent: Assembly (E-grade)]
[Potential Evaluation: SSS-grade (Mechanical Deity)]
[Current State: Highly alert, calculating crossbow firing angles.]
...
[Name: Bai Taotao]
[Talent: Affinity (E-grade)]
[Potential Evaluation: SSS-grade (Mother of All Spirits)]
[Current State: Zoning out, hungry.]
Just as expected!
All E-grade talents!
All with SSS-grade potential!
The light in Lin Ji’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.