"I admit I killed someone, but that was because they were trying to kill me. I was just defending myself! In this lifetime, I would never kill a person over a thing, over a prop!"
"One word: contempt is the passport of the contemptible, and nobility is the epitaph of the noble. Say whatever you want; I just want to live well."
"What is there to argue about? Aren't you curious about who the Crow is?"
"Are there any other Crows in this region?"
Cheng Shuili propped her chin on her hand, lost in thought. Should she really do this herself?
It was the apocalypse, after all, so this sort of thing seemed quite normal. Besides, killing Ai Lin was definitely punishing evil and promoting good!
This was absolutely a great deed!
Cheng Shuili's gaze hardened. She would take this contract!
The regional channel was still asking which Crow it was.
"@Crow, is it you?"
【Crow】: The honorable magistrate must see clearly! I am truly innocent!
"@Mr. Crow? You?"
【Mr. Crow】: It's not me, brother. I don't even know anyone named Wawan.
"What are you all doing? A deathbed request! To ask for help with revenge so willingly, besides a big shot, what other possibility is there?"
"Your analysis is very thorough. So, do you dare to tag that person? Or do you need me to repeat that terrifying combat record again?"
"I don't know what you are all afraid of. Crow the big shot is still quite kind, right? I'll dare to ask: @Angry Crow Takes Flight, did the big shot give the item to you?"
The regional channel was quiet for a few seconds before someone spoke again.
"No reply. I'll bet a dime he's busy killing someone."
"Do you even need to bet? I knew that even without using my brain!"
They had guessed correctly.
Cheng Shuili used the designated player duel card given by Xinxue, input the ID, and confirmed the use.
The card turned into points of light and vanished between Cheng Shuili's fingers. There was no sensation of movement at all, only the sudden appearance of another vehicle on the highway.
Cheng Shuili did not get out of the car but silently opened the window. In the vehicle opposite, a person was biting down on a bandage to dress their own wound.
Cheng Shuili's finger rested on the rifle trigger; the cold metallic touch made her feel slightly more clear-headed.
The wind outside the car window whistled, carrying dust and sand. It ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead, and heat surged in through the open window, making it difficult to breathe.
In the worn-out off-road vehicle opposite, Ai Lin was biting one end of a bandage, using her other hand to dress her left arm.
Blood had already soaked through half of her sleeve, spreading a dark red stain across the gray fabric.
"How pathetic."
Cheng Shuili whispered to herself, resting the rifle on the edge of the car window, the sight steadily aimed at Ai Lin's brow.
Ai Lin seemed to notice something; her bandaging motion suddenly stopped.
She slowly looked up, her gaze crossing the distance of less than ten meters between the two cars, meeting Cheng Shuili's eyes directly.
At that moment, Cheng Shuili's finger trembled slightly. The expression in those eyes was too calm, as if she had already anticipated this moment.
"You're the Crow?" Ai Lin let go of the bandage in her mouth, a strange, relieved smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Cheng Shuili did not answer, only pressing her index finger lightly against the trigger.
Logically, there was no need for small talk, but this woman was not afraid at all. There was not a trace of guilt in her expression for killing to seize treasure, as if everything she had done was exactly as it should be.
It was simply too eerie.
"Did he give you the driver card?"
Ai Lin asked, and to her surprise, she took the initiative to open the car door and step out.
She was not tall, wearing her hair in a short bob. The wound on her left arm was still oozing blood, dripping onto the dry asphalt road.
This person was completely different from the ferocious image she had imagined. Aside from the wound on her arm, there was a fresh scratch on her cheek, and her right leg had a slight limp as she walked, clearly having just gone through a fierce battle.
This person knew about the driver card?
That was very strange. If it had been a spur-of-the-moment decision to kill and loot, she shouldn't have known that what Wawan had was a driver card.
Cheng Shuili was silent for a moment, then suddenly put away the rifle and frowned. "I'll give you a chance to explain."
Ai Lin was clearly surprised. She paused before saying, "That Wawan and I had a personal grudge; I didn't kill him for the card. Besides, that card was originally mine."
Following that, Ai Lin told Cheng Shuili a complex and clichéd love triangle.
Wawan was actually a cheating gigolo who was constantly plotting to kill Ai Lin, while Ai Lin was a love-struck fool who thought of giving Wawan every good item she found, only for Wawan to take them to please another woman.
Cheng Shuili: "..."
This sort of thing was indeed a bit complex for her, a lifelong solo player.
"Evidence."
Cheng Shuili frowned and interrupted the rambling Ai Lin.
Ai Lin was clearly stunned for a moment, before finally giving up in despair. "I can show you the chat history between me and Wawan. Also, these injuries on my body—I served in the military for eight years. If he hadn't faked a plea for mercy to ambush me, I never would have been hurt."
Cheng Shuili propped her chin on her hand to think for a while, then said silently, "Perform a set of military boxing exercises."
Ai Lin: "..."
She was about to faint from the heat.
Really.
"Can I do it back in the car?"
"Also, your safety awareness is really poor. You put your gun away the moment you realized I wasn't the murderous demon you imagined. What if I was faking it and trying to ambush you?"
Cheng Shuili: "..."
Was she actually lecturing her?
She was wearing a cloak; if Ai Lin had suddenly opened fire to ambush her, at such a close distance, the bullet would have ricocheted, and the one to die would definitely be the person who fired.
Cheng Shuili's poor safety awareness was actually Cheng Shuili having nothing to fear.
Ai Lin obediently returned to her vehicle to perform a set of military boxing exercises, and showed Cheng Shuili the chat history between her and Wawan, along with the evidence that she had discovered Wawan was planning to kill her.
Cheng Shuili nodded; she was already planning to go back.
If this kind of person died, so be it.
Revenge? When would the cycle of vengeance ever end? A person should be more broad-minded.
The highway merge could not be ended voluntarily.
Cheng Shuili sat in her shopping cart watching the regional channel, while Ai Lin in the other car struck up a conversation intermittently.
"Actually, when I saw you just now, I really thought that dying like this wouldn't be so bad."
Cheng Shuili said nothing.
"Everyone I know is already dead. In this godforsaken place, you can't eat well or sleep well. Sigh, death is a release, I suppose."
Cheng Shuili still said nothing.
"Speaking of which, the air conditioner in my car was actually customized by you. I haven't thanked you properly yet."
Cheng Shuili nodded coldly.
Why did this person talk so much? Still, her combat skills were quite good.
Cheng Shuili narrowed her eyes and suddenly made an outrageous demand: "Hand over all the supplies and cards on you as compensation for the person you killed."
Ai Lin's movements froze.
She slowly looked up at Cheng Shuili, her eyes turning sharp. "Huh? Why should I?"
"Just because you killed someone." Cheng Shuili's finger rested on the trigger again. "Either hand them over, or I'll take revenge for Wawan right now."
The heat waves on the highway distorted the air, and the atmosphere between the two became instantly tense.
Ai Lin suddenly laughed. "Alright." She turned to return to her car and began moving things out. "Food, water, medicine... it's all here. There are a few cards in my pocket, too. Want to come get them yourself?"
Cheng Shuili did not move. "Throw them over."
Ai Lin shrugged and tossed the bag of cards onto the road between the two vehicles.
Cheng Shuili finally got out of the car, but her gun remained aimed at Ai Lin.
The moment Cheng Shuili bent down to pick up the cards, Ai Lin suddenly erupted!
She lunged forward in a single stride, her military boot kicking fiercely toward Cheng Shuili's wrist.
The rifle went flying away with a thud.
"You really..."
Before Cheng Shuili could finish her sentence, Ai Lin's fist arrived with a whistle, only to be caught in Cheng Shuili's firm grasp!
Ai Lin pulled hard, but she couldn't pull her hand free.
Cheng Shuili took a soft breath. It was true she didn't know any boxing and hadn't been in many fights, but she was strong!
One strength breaks all techniques!
"Didn't you say you didn't want to live anymore? What's the matter with giving me your supplies?"
Ai Lin frowned. "I'm not dead yet. But don't worry, I don't want to kill you either; I just wanted to punch you a couple of times to vent my frustration. But... you look so thin, how are you so strong?"
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