Chapter Thirty-One: Another Awakened One

On the street south of the Red River, Shen Lie stood calmly facing off against two spider monsters, a massive iron hammer gripped in his hand.

“Die, monsters!”

Suddenly, Shen Lie raised his arm, swinging the hammer through the air toward the two creatures. In an instant, a golden phantom of a giant hammer appeared overhead, crackling with electric arcs as it crashed down upon them. The monsters had no time to dodge; they were flattened into pulp in the blink of an eye, the shockwave from the blow destroying several nearby buildings.

Shen Lie was thoroughly satisfied with his handiwork. He strode quickly to the crushed remains, prodding through the mangled flesh with the hammer’s handle until he uncovered a crystalline shard. His smile widened as he pocketed the prize.

After leaving the compound, Shen Lie had come alone to the town south of the Red River, scavenging supplies as he tested the full range of his newfound powers.

First and foremost was his tremendous increase in strength, especially after igniting that mysterious vortex within him. With its energy whirling, a casual punch from his bare fist could shatter bricks and break stones. His defenses had also become formidable, and his constitution, speed, and other abilities had all advanced dramatically.

Beyond that, the black spear, energized by the leaf-shaped mark, revealed astonishing power. The spider monsters’ hard shells shattered with a single thrust. Even the elite monsters, those with dark red markings on their backs, couldn’t withstand its force. This weapon had become his trump card.

The only regret was that the mysterious energy in the leaf-shaped mark was limited. Every use depleted it, and so far, only those white flowers could replenish it. Unlike the exotic power within his body, which could slowly recover on its own even without the Boiling Blood technique, the leaf’s energy had to be conserved for critical moments.

What excited Shen Lie most was the World-Ending Hammer technique. Its power was beyond imagination, and it allowed him to attack from a distance, compensating for his previous lack of ranged abilities. The skill drew upon his internal energy—though it consumed a lot, it was easy enough to replenish.

Shen Lie felt his strength had fundamentally transformed. If he met Xiao Gang again, there would be no need for a desperate struggle—a mere gesture would send his enemy to the afterlife.

With supplies almost fully gathered and dusk approaching, Shen Lie halted his advance. The spider monsters here were far more numerous; it was unwise to let his confidence swell unchecked. After one last sweep through a general store, he began a slow retreat.

Before nightfall, Shen Lie returned to the riverbank with a tricycle loaded with goods. He tossed the supplies across the river, then climbed into the small truck driven by Zhang Jing and returned to the Qi family supermarket.

While crossing the river, Shen Lie noticed something—the water seemed to be lightening in color, losing much of its former crimson hue. He had no idea what this change might signify, but a sense of danger stirred uneasily within him. Regardless, there was nothing he could do even if a change was coming. He simply made a mental note to check again the next day.

Li Cheng had already relocated everyone from the compound to the Qi family supermarket, leaving the compound abandoned—a matter that Shen Lie didn’t care about. His greater concern was collecting Phantom Mushrooms. Unfortunately, Li Cheng brought no good news that day; not a single mushroom had been secured.

“Brother Shen, while you were away, Sergeant Yang from the military came looking for you. But when he saw you weren’t here, he left without leaving a message.”

“The military? Oh, you mean those soldiers who were in town before the disaster, helping organize the evacuation?” Shen Lie was puzzled for a moment, then realization dawned.

“That’s right. Now they’re at the Red Sorghum Distillery on Back Alley. That’s where the largest group is gathered. They don’t have any Awakened among them, but they’re well-armed—plenty of guns, and even grenades and submachine guns. The local Awakened don’t dare provoke them lightly.” Li Cheng, who seemed to know a great deal about the town, relayed the details to Shen Lie.

Shen Lie nodded. The Awakened might possess superhuman powers, but they weren’t invincible. If enough ordinary people had firearms, especially submachine guns, a head-on clash could go either way.

Since the military group hadn’t stated their purpose, Shen Lie had no interest in seeking them out. He decided to rest well that night and scout the town’s surroundings the next day, hoping to find a way out. Even if he found nothing, he wanted to be prepared—should danger arise, he wouldn’t be caught off guard.

...

“You’re saying Shen Lie killed Xiao Gang with a single blow?” In a storefront called Dacheng Grain Shop, two men of unusual appearance were deep in conversation: Ma Zhanlin and Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan was a farmer by birth. Before the disaster struck, he had joined his fellow villagers in town, answering the military’s call to assemble for evacuation to Liaoning province. He had been just another face in the crowd until, by chance, he awakened his powers. Though his body became half-monstrous, his status changed dramatically overnight.

With his awakening, the relatives and friends who once looked down on him now flocked to his side. Together with his village folk, they quickly formed a local faction. Yet Wang Qingshan was timid by nature, avoiding conflict and unable to make decisions in a crisis.

Because of his weak temperament, Wang Qingshan’s supplies were running dangerously low. Tempted by Xiao Gang’s persuasion, he’d tried to collaborate with him to find a way for Shen Lie to cross the Red River safely. But he’d kicked a steel wall instead—Xiao Gang’s head was smashed to pieces by Shen Lie with a single gesture. Wang Qingshan had only survived by fleeing at top speed.

Since returning, Wang Qingshan had been a bundle of nerves, terrified that Shen Lie would come seeking revenge, especially after hearing Shen Lie had occupied Xiao Gang’s stronghold and slaughtered his family and followers. In his panic, he rushed to Ma Zhanlin for advice.

“That’s right, Boss Ma. Shen Lie is no pushover. If he could kill Xiao Gang today, he could kill us tomorrow. If we don’t band together, sooner or later he’ll come for us. I say we go to King Du and form a united front. Even if Shen Lie is formidable, he won’t be able to stir up much trouble if we’re allied.” Though Wang Qingshan was soft by nature, he wasn’t stupid. He understood the logic of forming alliances. If he could bring Ma Zhanlin to his side, Shen Lie would have to think twice before seeking revenge.

“A united front? Heh. Wang Qingshan, didn’t you already form a united front with Xiao Gang? How did that end? And why come to me instead of going straight to King Du? Shen Lie may be strong, but he’s a newly awakened one—he can’t be stronger than King Du, surely. If King Du agreed to help, what would there be to fear?” Ma Zhanlin eyed the anxious Wang Qingshan with a faint, mocking smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

“Boss Ma, you know what King Du is like—proud as anything! I don’t even know him, so who’s to say he’d even listen? But everyone says you’re well acquainted with him. Wouldn’t it be better if we went together?”

“Heh, acquainted? Who told you that? I barely know the man. Besides, I have no quarrel with Shen Lie, so let’s not talk about alliances. If I were you, I’d show some sincerity and go apologize in person. You never actually attacked Shen Lie, so he probably won’t make things too hard for you.” A flicker of contempt crossed Ma Zhanlin’s eyes as he curtly rejected Wang Qingshan’s proposal.

Wang Qingshan, his hopes dashed, left the Dacheng Grain Shop in disappointment. He feared Shen Lie, but he also didn’t dare offend Ma Zhanlin. Even he felt his own position as an Awakened was pitiful, but when it came down to it, he simply lacked the courage to act.

“Dear, what did Boss Ma say?” When Wang Qingshan reached the street corner, a pale-faced middle-aged woman hurried up to him.

“That damned Ma Zhanlin refused. He’s no better than he seems, just a cowardly fraud,” Wang Qingshan grumbled, glancing at his wife with a scowl.

“Oh no, what are we going to do? Do you think—will that Shen Lie come after us for revenge? I told you not to get so close to Xiao Gang. What do we do now? Maybe we should run…” The woman wrung her hands, lowering her voice in fear.

“Run? Where to? We don’t even know what it’s like out there. Besides, that passageway is only half explored. Maybe I could make it through with my speed, but taking you and Lingling…”

“What are you saying? You’re not thinking of abandoning us, are you? You can’t do that!” The woman’s voice rose in panic.

“Stop shouting! Even if I left you, I couldn’t abandon our daughter. She’s an Awakened now—how could I leave her behind? And besides, we aren’t the only ones who know about the passageway. Yang Weiguo and King Du are working on it, too!”

“Let’s think of something else. Maybe Shen Lie will just forget about me.” Wang Qingshan’s expression darkened, betraying his inner turmoil.

“If only our daughter’s powers were like that Du woman’s—what’s the use of awakening if she can’t fight? And how come Lingling’s body didn’t change after awakening? Maybe the weaker the power, the less the body changes?”

“Enough! How many times have I told you not to talk about our daughter’s awakening…”