Chapter Thirty-Two: You Belong to Me

Time slipped by slowly as Qin Yu and her companions waited… After about three hours, it was finally their turn.

On a table rested a large ledger, and behind it stood a middle-aged man, whose eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp light. Clearly, he was no ordinary figure.

After handing over their supplies, Qin Yu and her group were about to enter the base when the middle-aged man called out, “You need to register over there as well.” He gestured toward a small house not far away. “After registration, you’ll be under observation for twenty-four hours.”

Qin Yu understood; this was probably to prevent anyone who had been scratched by zombies from sneaking inside. She walked toward the small house and, upon entering, saw several people filling out forms.

The people inside, noticing new arrivals, shouted, “Newcomers, come over here and fill out the form!” Though Qin Yu was displeased by his attitude, she knew that in this post-apocalyptic world, the powerless would never be treated kindly.

She could teach him a lesson, but the base harbored formidable forces, and as a newcomer, caution was the wisest course.

She walked over and picked up the form, which asked for basic information. One section inquired about supernatural abilities. Qin Yu marked “yes” and wrote “Level One Water Ability.”

After filling it out, she left without so much as a glance at the man. He stared at the name on her form for a long while, feeling it was familiar but unable to recall why. Soon more newcomers arrived, and he let it go.

If he had thought a little harder, he might have remembered that “Qin Yu” was the name posted by the authorities half a month ago as a reward for supplies. The notice lasted only a day before it was mysteriously withdrawn, but the commotion it caused was significant.

Unfortunately, he didn’t pursue the memory, indirectly delaying the meeting between Qin Yu and Qing Li for a long time.

Meanwhile, once Qin Yu and the others finished their forms, they entered the observation room one by one.

Inside, Zhang Kuang looked at Qin Yu, who sat quietly with her eyes closed. He sighed and said, “Miss Qin, thanks to your protection, our squad arrived safely in S City. We belong to the nation, so once this observation period ends, we’ll likely have to part ways…”

Qin Yu opened her eyes and smiled lightly. “Brother Zhang, there’s no need to be so formal. We’ve looked after each other along the way; it’s not a matter of shelter or not. Since you intend to leave, I won’t stop you. But the base is full of all sorts. If one day…”

Zhang Kuang looked at Qin Yu’s ever-calm smile and quickly interrupted, “That day will never come. Even if it does, I promise our squad will never be your enemy!”

Qin Yu nodded, closed her eyes again, and said nothing more. From the start, she had no intention of recruiting Zhang Kuang’s group; the military’s indoctrination ran too deep. All she wanted was a promise. Since Zhang Kuang had given it, she let the matter rest.

Beside her, Zhao Meng noticed the exchange between Qin Yu and Zhang Kuang. Her eyes sparkled. Turning to Wang Bing, who seemed lost in thought, she asked, “You! What are your plans after we leave?”

Wang Bing was startled by the sudden question, his face showing a mix of surprise and delight. Though Zhao Meng’s words sounded blunt, he could sense the concern in her tone. Was she afraid they’d leave, too? What should he do? He was moved!

Zhao Meng saw Wang Bing lost in his own thoughts and hit him with a verbal jab. “Speak up!”

Wang Bing returned to himself, cleared his throat, and said, “Ahem… We brothers are all retired soldiers. We’ve benefited much from Boss Qin’s protection. If Boss Qin doesn’t mind, we’re willing to give everything for her, follow her to the death!”

The others chimed in, “Right! As long as Boss Qin accepts us, we’ll follow her!”

Zhao Meng grinned, rubbing her chin in a roguish manner. “Good! No wonder you’re my pupils—well done!”

“Pupils”… What a fine word.

Qin Yu heard their pledge and her smile deepened. Though she was confident Wang Bing and his men wouldn’t leave, hearing it said aloud brought true peace of mind.

Xia Cheng watched the scene and scurried over to Zhao Meng. “Meng Meng, Meng Meng, what about me? Don’t you want to ask me, too?”

Zhao Meng pulled Xia Cheng over, draping an arm around his neck with a wicked grin. “You? This life, you belong to me! Don’t even think about leaving, hmm?”

Xia Cheng stared at the queenly Zhao Meng, stunned. No one had ever claimed him so boldly, so magnificently. No one had ever made him feel so needed, so loved.

And this little Meng, so brazen and domineering, bound him with her words, declaring him hers. Such a Meng Meng—he truly could not leave her.

“Well… Then I’ll go along with you~” Xia Cheng feigned shyness as he replied.

Zhao Meng looked at “shy” Xia Cheng and said solemnly, “Good!”

Xia Cheng’s smile grew even brighter.

Among everyone present, only Qin Yu noticed Zhao Meng’s foot trembling unconsciously, a sign of her own embarrassment.

Watching Zhao Meng, Qin Yu couldn’t help but smile.

Ah, how wonderful, little Meng—you’ve found your own happiness…

The mood in the observation room was exceptionally harmonious, but inside the space of Qin Yu’s dagger, things were rather strange.

There, two little infants sat facing each other, their expressions unusually serious. If one ignored the boy gnawing his hand and drooling, and the girl swinging her feet to wipe away his drool, it could almost be mistaken for a conference.

“Little Flower, you said you sensed something earlier? Is the master in danger?” The boy’s soft voice rang out, imbued with a rare seriousness that made one want to laugh.

“Little Black, I don’t know~ It just felt suddenly dangerous for a moment, like something was coming out…” the girl answered, a little dejected. She was weak now, unable to defeat the bad boy before her, and her innate sense of danger barely worked at a fraction of its former strength. She whimpered, wondering when her master would find the thing she desired…

The boy immediately stood up and mocked her. “Loser! Little Flower, you’re such a loser~ Not only am I more handsome than you, you can’t even sense danger. Hmph~”

The girl grew agitated. “You’re the loser! Your whole family’s the loser! Hmph~ You’re not as pretty or cute as me!”

“I’m cuter than you!” the boy shouted.

“I’m the cutest!”

“You’re not cute—I’m cute!”

“I’m the cute one!”

……

If Qin Yu were here, she would say, “You’re both cute, okay? I’m not cute, so stop arguing…”

Of course, Qin Yu had no idea that scenes like this occurred daily in the vast space within her dagger.