Chapter 65: Otherwise, You Will Die

"I will try to love you," Xu Nuo said.

Her expression was earnest and sincere, making it easy for anyone to believe her. But Sheng Ming's reason reminded him that Xu Nuo would never truly love him—it was only a matter of "trying."

Yet, at this moment, Sheng Ming felt satisfied.

It was foolish and laughable. He, the illustrious young master of the Sheng family, was willing to make such a lopsided bargain.

[Heartthrob Value +1]

[Current target: Sheng Ming. Progress: 99%.]

Thus, an agreement was reached between the two, and its effect was immediate, leaving 007 utterly stunned. Could love truly be negotiated?

007: [Are you still going to Blue City?]

"Of course! Since I'm already here, I have to go." Xu Nuo was brimming with anticipation. "Let’s go, let’s go, hurry up."

007 felt as if its host was racing toward her own reincarnation.

The bullet screen burst into cheers: [A salute to our Empress Xu’s final battle!]

[Wuhu!]

Watching Xu Nuo’s light footsteps, Sheng Ming strode forward with his long legs to catch up. "Can you slow down a bit?"

"If I slow down, I’ll never match your pace," Xu Nuo replied.

At her words, Sheng Ming slowed his steps, but Xu Nuo didn’t notice this tiny detail, and soon the distance between them widened.

007 reminded its exuberant host, [Sheng Ming can barely keep up with you.]

"Really?" Xu Nuo turned back, waving at Sheng Ming behind her. "Young Master Sheng, hurry up, will you!"

.

Before them lay a ruined wasteland, shrouded in a deathly silence, as if even the sky above had darkened. Many years ago, this too had been a bustling city of humankind.

"In the apocalypse, no one dares set foot in Blue City," Sheng Ming said.

Xu Nuo’s interest only grew. "Well, I dare."

"And why is that?" Sheng Ming asked.

"Because of my unwavering courage," she declared boldly.

The live chat was ablaze: [Charge! Charge! Charge!]

[Kill! Kill! Kill!]

Gifts and weapons flooded the screen, obscuring the broadcast.

Sheng Ming smiled helplessly. "Alright, I’ll go with you and see what happens."

Xu Nuo changed into her last remaining battle suit and performed a dazzling flourish with her weapon. "Xiao Qi, record my heroic figure for me."

007, unable to restrain its occupational habit as a romance system, interjected: [Host, you’re wearing a gown, not a battle suit. I suggest you use it for a date with Sheng Ming—it’s more suitable than for a battlefield. You’re just one point away from full Heartthrob Value; this might increase your efficiency.]

"Who says the battlefield isn’t a place to win hearts?" Xu Nuo retorted. "Xiao Qi, have you heard of the suspension bridge effect?"

[Heard of it, but...]

"The more dangerous the situation, the easier it is to mistake one’s pounding heart for love for someone," Xu Nuo explained. "That last bit of Heartthrob Value will be no problem."

[Well, good luck, then.] 007 stared at the teeming mass of zombies, feeling more exhausted than ever.

Xu Nuo bent over gracefully, smiling radiantly. "Young Master Sheng, would you like to watch my performance?"

She was dressed in white, as bright and pristine as the moon, both pure and strikingly beautiful. Behind her, the restless, grotesque zombies seethed, yet in her shining eyes, it was as though only he existed.

"Yes," Sheng Ming replied unconsciously, stepping closer.

"Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you." Xu Nuo mischievously lifted his chin with her gunstock. "When I return, I’ll love you well."

Suddenly, the world turned dark. Xu Nuo was pulled tightly into an embrace, her face pressed into Sheng Ming’s broad chest. He bent down, kissed her on the forehead, and gritted out, "I could kill you right now."

Startled, Xu Nuo protested, "Young Master Sheng, are you crazy?"

"I’ve played all your games," Sheng Ming said, holding her fast. "Now tell me, what do you want to take from me?"

"What? Didn’t you already know?" Xu Nuo heard the system’s urgent warning. "Let go of me!"

"Answer me," Sheng Ming demanded, letting the zombies, who saw them as their next feast, draw closer. Though he already knew the answer, he still wanted to hear her say it aloud. "Xu Nuo, what do you really want?"

"You," she replied.

At that moment, Sheng Ming was like a beast with its jaws locked around its prey. Xu Nuo stopped struggling.

"I know. And what else?" Sheng Ming pressed.

"What else?" Xu Nuo didn’t understand his obsession. "I’ve said, my goal is you."

"Do you love me?" Sheng Ming asked.

Xu Nuo hesitated. "I..."

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through. Xu Nuo sensed a familiar presence in the air. She raised her head with difficulty and saw a familiar figure.

"Gu Xingze," Xu Nuo exclaimed, shocked to see him here. "How did you..."

Gu Xingze reached out his hand. "Xu Nuo, come to me."

Sheng Ming tightened his hold, his voice hoarse. "Xu Nuo, you promised me."

"Xu Nuo!!" Another furious voice thundered.

Lin Qisheng, wreathed in flames, fought his way through the zombie horde, eyes blood-red. "You’re eloping with Sheng?"

"No." Xu Nuo hadn’t expected Gu Xingze and Lin Qisheng to appear in quick succession. Weren’t their stories supposed to be over?

With the stubbornness of youth, Lin Qisheng cried, "You said you’d never love anyone. You can’t be with him."

"I didn’t say that..." Xu Nuo protested helplessly.

Sheng Ming’s oppressive gaze bore down. "Didn’t say what?"

"...Nothing," Xu Nuo replied.

"Whatever he can give you, I can too." Lin Qisheng’s palm blazed with fire. "Xu Nuo, come to me."

A piercing alarm blared in her mind, chaos roared around her, but through it all she could clearly hear 007’s shout above the din.

[Host! Save yourself first, don’t get tangled up with your targets! The zombies are coming! And it’s not just an ordinary horde!]

Then Xu Nuo was scooped up by the waist. Her vision cleared, and what she saw resembled hell on earth—zombies as far as the eye could see, their cracked skin oozing foul blood and rotting flesh, their masses writhing and struggling, blanketing the entire city.

No previous military operation could compare to the scale of this horde.

[Detected: 26 water-type level-six mutant zombies...]

[Detected: 30 earth-type level-eight mutant zombies...]

...

Only by experiencing it firsthand could one understand why no one dared enter here. No words or stories could capture the terror and awe; under the oppression of such overwhelming numbers and strength, they felt like lambs awaiting slaughter.

Lin Qisheng and the others quickly noticed the zombies’ strange abilities.

"Unbelievable—zombies have powers too?"

Apart from Xu Nuo, Lin Qisheng, who had previously held the upper hand, was now being battered by several fire-powered zombies, sustaining injuries all over.

Gu Xingze fared little better, as wind-powered zombies targeted him relentlessly.

And Sheng Ming, burdened with Xu Nuo, struggled even more; the lightning zombies were especially wild and brutal.

In less than thirty seconds, the situation became dire. Xu Nuo urgently said to Sheng Ming, "Let go of me!"

"Don’t be ridiculous." Sheng Ming resolutely pulled her back into his arms.

"You’re the one being ridiculous!" Xu Nuo was about to explode with frustration. This was supposed to be her grand battlefield, yet Sheng Ming treated her like a lamb to be shielded, giving her no chance to shine.

Blood flowed before Xu Nuo’s eyes. Sheng Ming was already covered in wounds, yet he uttered not a word, stubbornly shielding her from the slightest harm.

"Sheng Ming, let go of me."

"Don’t you hear what I’m saying?"

"This means nothing to me."

"Let go, or you’ll die!"

A piercing hand drove through Sheng Ming’s broad chest.

At once, Xu Nuo felt his body stiffen; unbalanced, he toppled toward the zombie horde, taking her with him.

"Sheng Ming!!"

"Don’t be afraid." Sheng Ming propped himself up with one hand, curling his body around Xu Nuo to protect her.

Xu Nuo forced herself to stay calm. Sheng Ming was badly injured—she didn’t dare struggle. "Let go—I can get us out. Otherwise, we’ll both die."

"Get me out?" Sheng Ming seemed to think he’d misheard. "Why would you want to save me? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?"

"What are you talking about? What result did I want?"

Lightning flashed as Sheng Ming used the last of his strength to turn several zombies to ash.

"Isn’t it my life you want?"

Thunder roared in her ears. Xu Nuo stared, stunned. "You think I want your life?"

"Xu Nuo!!" Lin Qisheng had cut a bloody path through the zombies and finally reached her side. "Go! Now!"

"Why?" Xu Nuo was still reeling from Sheng Ming’s words, staring blankly at the gaping wound over his heart.

Sheng Ming asked hoarsely, "Isn’t that it?"

"No!" Xu Nuo shouted, "When did I ever want your life!"

As his blood drained away and consciousness faded, Sheng Ming was not surprised by her answer.

The situation was desperate. Lin Qisheng had no time for their emotions; he grabbed Xu Nuo. "Go! Meet up with Gu Xingze—he’s wind-powered. Only he can get you out!"

Xu Nuo instinctively asked, "What about Sheng Ming?"

Lin Qisheng glanced at Sheng Ming’s fatal wound and lowered his voice. "He’s beyond saving."

Xu Nuo broke free and rushed back to Sheng Ming’s side, crying, "Don’t you dare die!"

Lin Qisheng tried to reason with her. "Xu Nuo, calm down—he really can’t make it."

Xu Nuo shouted at Sheng Ming, "I’m not leaving! You can’t die!"

007 dabbed at its virtual eyes with a tiny handkerchief. [Boohoo, Sheng Ming protects her with his life, and the host would follow him to the end... It’s so moving.]

Xu Nuo wailed to the system, "I’m still short one Heartthrob Value point! What will I do if he dies?"

007’s data tears stopped midstream. [Is that what you’re worried about?]