Chapter 8 I'll be Your Boss

Yang Xiao walked out of the Genetic Store, pondering where to settle down in the coming days. The safest place in the academy now was the playground where the Genetic Store was located, yet it was dangerous for him to be alone.

No matter how tough he was, everyone needs sleep, and once asleep, the food in his backpack might be stolen. People might not even wait for him to fall asleep before robbing him, and it wouldn't be abnormal if he were killed while sleeping.

Just as Yang Xiao left the Genetic Store, he felt two people eyeing him from behind and slowly following him, making him even more vigilant.

His senses had become more acute now: hearing, sight, taste, everything was more sensitive than before. He suspected it might be due to the strange electrical currents, even feeling like he was undergoing a Mutation.

It was no longer safe to stay in the mountains, as the ants were mutating, just like other insects and animals; staying there was akin to seeking death.

Yang Xiao thought about it and decided to look for a team to join here, using the team's strength to help him survive the next few days. He even wondered what it would be like when he underwent his own Mutation.

Considering his sudden increase in strength and heightened senses, he believed he should possess considerable combat abilities.

Yang Xiao felt both excited and nervous about his upcoming Mutation.

Just take it one step at a time!

Yang Xiao glanced around and saw a large temporary camp set up 30 meters away from the Genetic Store with a group of people gathered around it, so he walked over.

Huang Wen's Dinosaur Girls team stood in front of Xiao Zhe's tent. Although Qin Yu agreed to share limited food with them, it was still food after all.

In the throes of hunger, people can hardly maintain dignity. In the face of survival, how many could sacrifice their lives for pride?

Huang Wen's main intention was to ask Xiao Zhe, as her classmate, to share a bit of food with them. Going to burn water at the pond that morning, she was frightened by the Monster in the pond. As a girl, she could not think of other solutions. Food was scarce in the ruins, and many places had been scoured multiple times, making it impossible to find more food.

"Xiao Zhe, we have so little food, please share some with us, we haven't eaten for a whole day and night."

Huang Wen pleaded.

Xiao Zhe coldly responded:

"Huang Wen, we are classmates, and normally I shouldn't ignore your distress. However, this food isn't solely mine to distribute. As you see, we have over 150 people here. Although plenty, it's not so much when shared among all. Plus, I do not have the right to give away the food everyone worked hard to gather."

Xiao Zhe lamented.

If Qin Yu hadn't been there, he would have told Huang Wen to leave long ago.

Huang Wen was average-looking but always the top student in their class, constantly outperforming Xiao Zhe, which made her arrogant in his eyes, and he had always disliked her.

Huang Wen now humbly begging Xiao Zhe was satisfying for him, but he couldn't belittle her in front of Qin Yu, so he simply complained miserably.

Biting her lip awkwardly, Huang Wen said:

"Xiao Zhe, we indeed had some misunderstandings before, and I apologize. Please, for the sake of over thirty hungry girls behind me, who were once your schoolmates, show some kindness and help us."

Huang Wen was sacrificing her ego for her sisters.

Although Xiao Zhe felt smug inside, he couldn't show it openly and just hinted with a look to a young man beside him, Hao Lei, the team's deputy leader.

Hao Lei sneered and said:

"Go wherever it's cool. We don't have surplus grain. If we give it to you, we might starve ourselves."

Huang Wen and her group felt dizzy with anger.

"You, you will get your retribution!"

"Ha ha, by the time I get my retribution, you'll have starved to death and won't see it."

...

While Yang Xiao stood beside the crowd, witnessing Xiao Zhe and others' behavior, he felt a click in his heart. Such people, he truly disdained to join. Initially thinking of approaching Xiao Zhe, he now reconsidered.

Yang Xiao glanced at Huang Wen and her group, a plan forming in his mind.

To avoid being seen by Xiao Zhe, he quickly turned and blended into the darkness of the night.

Biting her teeth, Huang Wen realized no amount of pleading would work with Xiao Zhe, and with tears, she said to Chen Fei and the others:

"Sisters, it's just death. So what? They are only going to live a few days longer than us. Let's go."

Huang Wen led the helpless group of girls away.

Huang Wen and the thirty girls returned to their temporary camp, sitting silently around the nearly extinguished campfire, all aware that without food and water, they wouldn't survive more than a few days and would be too weak to move by tomorrow.

"Do you need food?"

A low voice emanated from the darkness.

The women startled, seeing a man step out of the shadows and into their camp.

Yang Xiao stood in front of the dying fire, holding a steel pipe in his right hand, a bottle of mineral water, and a pack of soda crackers in his left. Even in the dim light, Huang Wen and the others could see clearly, feeling a wave of relief.

However, Huang Wen immediately became alert and asked in a low voice:

"What are your demands?"

To them, Yang Xiao who suddenly appeared must have had ulterior motives.

Yang Xiao smiled and said:

"My condition is simple."

"What is it? Tell us."

Huang Wen, Chen Fei, and the others looked at the water and crackers in Yang Xiao's hands, swallowing their saliva. As long as Yang Xiao wasn't here to humiliate them, they would agree to any condition.

"My condition is simple. I want to be your leader."