Zhou Hu paused and took a step forward, releasing his Level 3 Late Stage aura without reservation. An almost physical pressure crushed down toward Su Wan.
His voice was low, filled with unquestionable certainty: “Hand it over, and I'll spare your life!”
“An ordinary man is innocent, but his treasure makes him guilty. You should understand this principle.”
“With your strength, even if you have such a treasure, you could never keep it!” Zhou Hu's gaze was gloomy.
Su Wan listened quietly, her face still showing no emotion.
But in her heart, killing intent was spreading like wildfire.
This man could not be allowed to live.
He had seen her collecting items and guessed she possessed a Space Treasure.
If she let him go, the news would spread throughout Panshi City.
When that happened, countless people would swarm toward the Terminal Station like sharks smelling blood.
Level 3, Level 4, and even higher-ranking beings would set their sights on her and her building.
Only the dead can keep secrets.
But the problem was—right now, she truly was no match for him.
A Level 3 Early Stage against a Level 3 Late Stage; there were two whole minor realms between them.
Moreover, she lacked combat experience, while her opponent was a veteran who had survived on the edge of life and death for thirty years.
In a direct confrontation, she had no chance of winning.
Su Wan's gaze shifted past Zhou Hu toward the grey ruins behind him.
Two hundred meters.
The Terminal Station building was only two hundred meters away.
As long as she returned to the building, she would be invincible.
Under the Rule Power, forget a Level 3 Late Stage—even Level 4 or Level 5 experts would have to kneel.
The question was how to get back.
Su Wan took a deep breath, suppressing her anxiety and killing intent.
If she couldn't win by force, she would have to use her wits.
A forced smile appeared on her face, and her voice carried a hint of weakness:
“Senior, you're right. I'm indeed no match for you.”
Zhou Hu narrowed his eyes. He didn't speak, but the pressure he exerted eased slightly.
Su Wan continued, “I was able to make those items vanish because of a special object...”
“But this item is bound to me. It requires a specific method to be removed.”
“Even if you kill me, you won't get it.”
Zhou Hu's expression shifted slightly.
He knew that Space Treasures weren't for everyone. They required ownership, establishing a mental connection with the user through some means before they could be used.
If that were true, then even if he killed the woman before him, he wouldn't obtain the treasure.
Seeing this, Su Wan felt slightly more at ease and continued:
“If you want this treasure, you'll have to come with me to a certain place.”
“Where?”
“The Terminal Station building.” Su Wan pointed at the grey structure behind Zhou Hu.
“That's my territory. Inside the building, I can hand the treasure over to you intact.”
Zhou Hu's gaze followed her finger.
The Terminal Station building stood on the edge of the ruins eight hundred meters away, grey and dusty, looking completely unremarkable.
But as he stared at the building, a flicker of caution crossed his eyes.
After a moment, he suddenly laughed.
There was a hint of mockery and disdain in his laughter.
“Little girl, do you take me for a three-year-old?”
Su Wan's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm. “What do you mean by that, Senior?”
Zhou Hu stared at her and spoke slowly:
“You want to lure me into that building and have the owner of the Terminal Station deal with me...”
“Heh, I've seen plenty of tricks like that!”
Su Wan's mind raced.
She looked at Zhou Hu and suddenly said, “You misunderstand, Senior. I am the owner of the Terminal Station.”
Zhou Hu froze for a second.
Then, he laughed.
He laughed loudly and unrestrainedly. “You?”
He looked Su Wan up and down, his disdain unconcealed.
Su Wan frowned slightly. “What, I can't be?”
Zhou Hu stopped laughing, his gaze sweeping over her with scrutiny and contempt.
“Little girl, that building survived artillery fire, sheltered hundreds during the Death Tide, and attracted a swarm of vagrants—”
“The person capable of running a place like that would have to be a slippery old hand who has survived this apocalypse for at least a decade or two.”
“They'd be ruthless, used to life and death, with more blood on their hands than you can imagine.”
He stared at Su Wan, enunciating every word:
“But you?”
“How old are you? Early twenties?”
“With your naive way of doing things and that clumsy acting where you can't even hide your emotions—you're the owner of the Terminal Station?”
Su Wan opened her mouth to speak.
Zhou Hu didn't give her the chance, continuing:
“I, Zhou Hu, have lived in this apocalypse for over thirty years, fighting my way from Level 1 to the Level 3 Late Stage. What kind of person haven't I seen?”
“You're far from being able to play mind games with me!”
Su Wan fell silent.
Zhou Hu looked at her, the contempt in his eyes deepening. “You aren't a vagrant, and you shouldn't be from the Inner City...”
“So, who exactly are you? What's your relationship with the owner of the Terminal Station?”
Su Wan lowered her head, a dejected expression appearing on her face.
She bit her lip, seemingly hesitating over whether to tell the truth.
Zhou Hu wasn't in a hurry; he just stared at her, waiting.
After a long while, Su Wan looked up, her voice tinged with helplessness:
“Fine, Senior has sharp eyes... I am indeed not the owner of the Terminal Station.”
Su Wan lowered her head again, her voice growing quieter. “I am... I'm her daughter.”
Zhou Hu's brow twitched.
Daughter?
He stared at Su Wan, his gaze lingering on her face for a few seconds as if judging the truth of her words.
Su Wan looked up, a hint of pleading in her eyes:
“Senior, everything I said is true.”
“Think about it—if I weren't her daughter, how could I possibly be carrying the Space Treasure you mentioned?”
Zhou Hu narrowed his eyes and fell silent for a few seconds.
That did make some sense.
A Space Treasure was something that couldn't be owned unless one belonged to the top tier of the powerful elite.
If the little girl before him really was the daughter of the Terminal Station's owner, then it would explain why she had such a treasure.
Even if she wasn't the daughter, she must be closely related to the owner.
But even so, Zhou Hu felt that following Su Wan into that building was highly unwise.
Having lived in this apocalypse for over thirty years, he had seen too much mutual deception and too many people lose their lives due to a momentary lapse in caution.
He never easily trusted anyone.
Looking at the Terminal Station building, Zhou Hu calculated rapidly in his mind.
He was thinking about how to obtain the Space Treasure while ensuring his own safety.
Su Wan knew what was going on in Zhou Hu's mind. She looked up, meeting his gaze directly:
“Senior, I know you must have concerns about entering a strange place so suddenly.”
“I have a way to prove my sincerity without putting you in a difficult position.”
Zhou Hu raised an eyebrow. “Let's hear it.”
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