Chapter 314: Never Go Easy on a Bratty Kid

Xie Ning seemed to be in a difficult position, an awkwardness she could barely suppress showing on her face.

Upon seeing this, Ma Xiaotian immediately gloated, "Wow, you’re not lying to us, are you? Don’t tell me you don’t even have a First-stage Superpower? You’re at the Initial Stage, HAHAHAHA!"

"I don’t think so, right?" The woman with sharp, slanted eyes sitting beside the woman with short, curly hair was still eyeing Xie Ning askance, her gaze filled with scrutiny.

"Back in the ruins of Zone 3, I saw Miss Huang sever an Iron Arrow with her Gold Ability. She did it quite cleanly."

At these words, everyone started to look skeptical. It seemed this Miss Huang was just desperately making excuses because she didn’t want to help them.

With this thought, the gazes from Martin and the others sharpened.

Xie Ning straightened her back like a startled bird, clasping her hands tightly. She hesitantly nodded. "W-well, let’s give it a try then. But you... you shouldn’t have high hopes for me. Because I’m really... not very proficient."

Martin immediately started smiling again, urging Xie Ning to eat. "Miss Huang, is the food not to your taste? If you don’t like these dishes, I can have them bring something else."

Xie Ning quickly nodded. "Do you have... instant noodles?"

Everyone at the table shot her a hostile glare.

’This Miss Huang is a real piece of work. They invite her to a meal, and she starts making requests? A truly clueless, spoiled little missy.’

’Does she even know what courtesy is?’

After dinner, Xie Ning was led to Ma Xiaotian’s room to stay with her for the time being.

Beichen’s brow furrowed, and he shot her a subtle glare.

Xie Ning stealthily gave him a look that said, ’Just be patient.’ Only then did Beichen reluctantly allow himself to be led away.

"Hey, is that your boyfriend?" Ma Xiaotian asked, her face full of curiosity as she stared at Beichen’s retreating back.

"Didn’t your father tell you? He’s my servant."

"Who are you kidding? A servant that handsome?"

"Do you think this is still before the apocalypse? That looks are everything?" Xie Ning placed her backpack on her bed. Ma Xiaotian immediately rushed to her side, reaching out to snatch the bag.

"Hey, do you have any more food?"

Xie Ning had been tolerating her all evening. Even back at the dinner table, she had been itching to smack this insolent brat.

There was no way Xie Ning would let her grab the backpack. With a swift backhand motion, she pinned the girl’s arm to the bed. "What do you think you’re doing?"

"AH!" Ma Xiaotian cried out in pain.

Xie Ning’s slap landed, stunning the brat.

"Does your father know how noisy you are?" Xie Ning pinched the girl’s flushed cheek, her eyes fixed on her with a chilling, unsmiling grin. "Keep making noise and I’ll cut out your tongue, you hear?"

Ma Xiaotian’s eyes flew wide open. It seemed that for the first time, she was truly seeing the girl before her for what she was: a terrifying Devil in human skin.

’So she was just faking it at dinner?’

"You dare hit me?" Ma Xiaotian shrieked, fury practically erupting from her eyes. "You bitch, how dare you hit me?"

"You’re only a few years older than me, yet you keep calling my dad ’Ma’ this and ’Ma’ that. Trying to cozy up to him, are you?"

"Don’t think you can seduce my dad with your pretty face and become my stepmom! You shameless bitch! I’ll get Old Hu and the others to finish you—rape you first, then kill you... Ah!"

Xie Ning landed two sharp backhand slaps on the brat’s face. With one hand, she seized her by the throat, forcing her mouth open as the girl stared back, eyes wide with terror.

Xie Ning snatched the woolen hat from the bedside and, without a word, began stuffing it violently into the girl’s mouth.

"Has anyone ever told you that your mouth stinks? Have you not brushed your teeth since the apocalypse began? Oh, let me guess... with a mouth that foul, you must have grown up without any parents to teach you manners, right?"

"Before the apocalypse, you were probably one of those delinquents at some third-rate school, the kind everyone looks at like trash, huh?"

"How pathetic. All those years you’ve been alive, and you’re still desperate for attention. I feel ashamed on behalf of your parents and teachers. How did they end up raising a piece of trash like you?"

"MPH! MMPH! MPH!" Ma Xiaotian stared at Xie Ning in terror, her mouth completely stuffed with the woolen hat, rendering her unable to speak.

The hat hadn’t been washed in ages—who knew if it had ever been spattered with zombie blood. A foul odor filled her mouth, so terrifying that Ma Xiaotian’s eyes rolled back in their sockets, and she nearly fainted.

Yet the most terrifying part wasn’t the smell. It was the Devil’s hand tightening its grip. That, combined with the hat blocking her throat, made it increasingly difficult to breathe. Her eyes kept rolling back in sheer terror.

A cold smile curled Xie Ning’s lips as she slowly loosened her grip. Her voice was eerie. "I’m letting you go now. But don’t you dare scream, okay? Because I might not be able to control my emotions."

Ma Xiaotian was filled with an indescribable terror and could only nod instinctively.

The moment Xie Ning let go completely, Ma Xiaotian gasped for air and burst into a violent coughing fit. Tears streamed down, soon covering her entire face.

Ma Xiaotian scrambled back more than ten steps, not stopping until she reached the door. Only then did she rip the foul-smelling hat from her mouth and fling it to the floor. "I-I won’t let you get away with this! I-I’m going to tell my dad right now!"

Xie Ning scoffed. "Your dad needs me right now. Plus, he’ll get plenty of benefits from my father for taking me back to the base. You think any sane person would turn that down?"

Ma Xiaotian looked ready to explode. She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Completely unflustered, Xie Ning took a sausage stick out of her bag and took a small bite.

’Instant noodles with a sausage stick. Now that’s a top-tier meal. Too bad I couldn’t pull it out of my bag earlier.’

Glancing at her temporary bed, Xie Ning pulled a worn-out blanket from her bag and spread it over the mattress. Completely untroubled, she climbed onto the bed, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.

’Ma Xiaotian won’t be coming back to humiliate herself again today.’

Xie Ning had made some arrangements around the bed. She would immediately sense if anyone came within a meter and a half of her.

She slept soundly. When she awoke, her wristband vibrated slightly.

A message from Gu Chen appeared: "Ningning, the hail has eased up a bit today. We’ll send a helicopter to get you! Just give me your coordinates."

With a blank expression, Xie Ning tapped her wristband and replied: "No need. I can get back to the base myself! You guys just wait. Soonest, three days. Latest, three months."

When Gu Chen received her reply, he almost fell to his knees.

’How can this girl be so absurd? The gap between her "soonest" and "latest" is nearly three months. That’s way too long...’

Gu Chen: "Ningning, your big bro misses you! Send me your coordinates, and I’ll come pick you up myself."

Xie Ning thought for a moment, then sent a sticker of a dog getting beaten up. "Be honest. Are you hitting on me?"

Gu Chen: "..."

Just as he was about to reply honestly, another message from Xie Ning arrived: "Can’t talk anymore! Something’s come up. Tell my mom and grandma not to worry, I’m doing fine."

At that same moment, Xie Ning hopped out of bed and began brushing her teeth with the last few mouthfuls of mineral water she had. Ma Xiaotian, who had just pushed the door open, shot her several vicious glares.

’Putting on the airs of a rich young lady when you’re not one. So high-maintenance. Brushing her teeth, even. How disgusting!’

"My dad says to come out for breakfast."