I'd like to thank our new Patreon Diamond member, "melonpan," for recommending this novel for translation. I've read up to chapter 50, and it's a truly engaging read. It boasts a 4.4 rating on NovelUpdates. So you know it's going to be good.
Thank you again, Melonpan, for the sponsorship
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Fu Shiwu appeared somewhat dazed, staring blankly at the three people before him. He hadn't said anything wrong, so why this reaction?
However, Wen Zhaoming sneered, "You guys want our three water buckets?"
"Yeah!" the younger one straightforwardly replied.
"Not only that, but your rice, flour, and oil—hand them all over!" Ding Ge greedily demanded.
Although the plant-based abilities of those with wood affinity allowed for quick harvesting of vegetables within a few days, they were only vegetables. The lack of cooking oil made their meals taste bland, surviving on various bland dishes of boiled vegetables.
The amount of rice and cooking oil Tang Xuhai brought back wasn't much, barely enough for occasional consumption among the three of them, just enough to add a bit of flavor.
However, even that was too much to endure!
It wasn't poverty they were worried about but inequality. Many conflicts arose in the world due to this reason, even in this post-apocalyptic era.
These three thugs had all undergone some sort of mutation, appearing more muscular, stronger, and significantly bolder.
Although some morally corrupt ability users who had attempted to establish dominance were promptly dealt with, it only kept these thugs quiet for a while before they resumed using threatening means to rob from the fringes.
Fu Shiwu, with a deadpan expression, looked at the three individuals. His voice remained steady as he asked, "Are you robbing us?"
To this, Ding Ge laughed instead. He casually remarked, "How is this robbery? It's just you generously sharing things with others, isn't it?"
He turned to the bystanders, threateningly asking with a smirk, "Who saw a robbery here?"
The people around immediately shrank back, covertly shielding themselves.
Those who had awakened their abilities were relocated elsewhere by the military, provided with supplies to defend the entire storage center. Those left here were individuals without any abilities. Even if some had undergone mutation and gained strength, they were afraid of attracting unwelcome trouble and thus didn't dare to stand out.
Even though Fu Shiwu might have poor social skills, he knew well enough that their behavior was unequivocally robbery.
His face became even sterner, angry.
Wen Zhaoming coolly inquired, "And if we refuse?"
Ding Ge paused, as if finding something amusing. He grinned and taunted, "Just you, as skinny as a pole, and another one who's basically a waste. How, still thinking of resistance?"
The younger one strode over, heading toward Wen Zhaoming. "Let's give you both a memorable lesson and teach you to know your place!"
The younger one completely ignored Wen Zhaoming blocking the door and kicked towards his legs!
A glint of determination flashed in Wen Zhaoming's eyes. Unable to bear the sympathetic gazes and, naturally, the disdainful looks from others, the younger one's action carried heavy insults. It made Wen Zhaoming furious on the spot.
"Boom!" Suddenly, a large fireball appeared. Unable to stop, the younger one's leg ended up in the fire, while Wen Zhaoming controlled his wheelchair to retreat half a meter.
Fu Shiwu quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding being hit by the wheelchair.
The fire instantly burned a large hole in the younger one's trousers. He screamed in shock, and everyone else was stunned by this turn of events.
"A fire-type ability user!" Someone in the crowd reacted quickly, shouting.
The second younger one hurriedly approached, trying to pull the first one away, but the fire on his leg was still burning.
Ding Ge seemed displeased. He grabbed a nearby family's water bottle and poured it all over.
But with so little water, how could it extinguish the fireball of an ability user? Sensing the danger, the second younger one quickly begged Wen Zhaoming for mercy.
"Esteemed ability user! We three were ignorant and offended you. Please spare him, and we'll never do it again!"
"Ahh!" The first younger one cried miserably, frantically trying to put out the fire with his hands. He begged, "I'm sorry! Big brother, save me!"
Ding Ge was quite the opportunist. Prompted by the second younger one, he immediately complied. He patted the first younger one's head. "Begging me is useless! From now on, this person is your big brother. Hurry, kowtow to your big brother and beg for his mercy on your dog's life."
The first younger one, still burning and terrified, was somewhat disoriented. He hadn't realized the fire had been burning for so long and was still at his ankle.
He immediately knelt down, pleading to Wen Zhaoming, "Big brother, big brother! Spare me, and I'll serve you as if I were a beast of burden!"
"Such a little brother like you, I can't afford. " Wen Zhaoming sneered, waved his hand, and extinguished the fire on the first younger one's leg. Sternly, he said, "Get lost!"
Ding Ge instantly felt like he'd received a pardon, grabbed the first younger one, and with the second one's help, scurried away.
"Haha, serves you right!"
"How ridiculous!"
"Woof woof woof!" Even the dog joined in the commotion.
Fu Shiwu, noticing Wen Zhaoming's subdued mood, put his hand on his shoulder and asked with concern, "Zhaoming, are you okay?"
Wen Zhaoming forced a smile. "I'm fine."
After speaking, he controlled his electric wheelchair and retreated into a corner of the partition, avoiding the stares directed at him.
These gazes—filled with astonishment, admiration, and pity—made him feel awkward, like a knife slicing through him.
They were right. What use was he, a delinquent with abilities? He was still a disabled person incapable of doing anything.
"Shut up! Whoever dares to speak ill, I'll send them to the defense perimeter to expend their idle energy!" Fu Shiwu spoke sharply, his gaze piercing through the crowd.
His aura was too sharp, his eyes too oppressive, freezing everyone in place. For a moment, you could hear a pin drop.
With a cold expression, Fu Shiwu glanced from left to right. Anyone caught by his gaze immediately averted their eyes, unwilling to meet his gaze.
"I'll say it again, the defense perimeter isn't exclusive to ability users. Ordinary people assisting in transporting ammunition are also welcome. If you want to contribute, I don't mind pulling some strings for you! Then you'll have enough to eat and drink!"
The suffocating silence persisted for a while, and no one dared to make a sound.
With Fu Shiwu's departure, the oppressive atmosphere dissipated, and those present dared to wipe the sweat off their foreheads, still trembling from the experience.
Who was this person? He didn't seem formidable before, but now, he was utterly frightening!
They muttered to themselves, but dared not discuss further. These three seemed to have connections with the military and dealing with those terrifying anomalies was something they'd rather avoid.
Fu Shiwu approached Wen Zhaoming, who looked at him with a complicated expression.
"These people are just jealous, don't mind them." Fu Shiwu's coldness vanished, desperately trying
to find words to comfort Wen Zhaoming.
Wen Zhaoming smiled faintly. "You're right. If they truly want to eat their fill, they could easily transport ammunition. It's their own problem if they don't dare. "
Fu Shiwu blinked, feeling a bit puzzled. However, seeing Wen Zhaoming in better spirits, he smiled too.
In the evening, Tang Xuhai returned wearily. His face was ashen, and people hastily made way for him wherever he went.
Tang Xuhai didn't notice the residents near their compartment but sat down hastily, picking up a jug of water and gulping it down.
"What happened?" Fu Shiwu glanced at him, noticing his disheveled state, something unprecedented: "Something happened?"
"A piece of bad news," Tang Xuhai wiped his mouth, sighing.
Wen Zhaoming maneuvered his electric wheelchair to face him.
"The mutants are evolving," Tang Xuhai said in a low voice.
"What do you mean?" Fu Shiwu blinked in confusion.
Wen Zhaoming's face turned pale instantly. "Are you saying that the mutants are evolving in a way similar to humans?!"
If that were true, it would be a catastrophe for humanity!
"I encountered one in the clothing factory today," Tang Xuhai recalled, continuing, "Their speed, strength, agility, and reflexes surpassed ordinary mutants by a level. They even evolved a projectile suction ability. That suction tube from its mouth can pierce through skulls, as powerful as a bullet."
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