8 I Will Be Your Leader

After leaving the Gene Store, Yang Xiao pondered where to stay for the next few days. The academy's safest spot was the playground where the store stood. But alone, he was vulnerable.

No matter how mighty, people had to sleep. Once asleep, his food would get stolen. He might get robbed before even dozing off, or he would get killed in his sleep.

Just outside the store, Yang Xiao sensed two figures tailing him, ratcheting his wariness.

His senses had grown acute, hearing, sight, and taste all sharper than before. He reckoned this was the odd currents' effect. He even felt himself mutating.

The mountain was uninhabitable now. With ants mutating, other bugs and animals surely were too. Sleeping there was seeking death.

Yang Xiao considered finding a team here to join, using their strength to survive the next few days. He wondered what he would become when his genes mutated.

Judging by his exponential strength gain and enhanced senses, his combat ability should be formidable.

Both thrilled and anxious about his future changes, Yang Xiao resolved to take it step by step.

Glancing around, he spotted a large makeshift tent 30 meters from the store, ringed by people. He headed over.

Huang Wen's female team stood before Xiao Zhe's tent. Though Qin Yu had promised them little, it was still food.

Hunger conquered dignity. Faced with survival, how many would sacrifice life for pride?

Huang Wen mainly hoped Xiao Zhe would spare food for old times' sake. That morning at the pond, the monster had terrified them. As girls, they truly couldn't think of other options. Food that could be found in the rubble was scarce and picked over countless times. Further searching was futile.

"Xiao Zhe, you have so much food. Please give us some. We haven't eaten for a day and night," Huang Wen pleaded.

Xiao Zhe coldly replied, "Huang Wen, we're classmates. I shouldn't abandon you, but this food isn't just mine. There are over 150 people here. It looks like a lot, but the average per person it's not. Also, I don't have the right to share what everyone worked hard to find!"

Xiao Zhe complained. If not for Qin Yu's presence, he'd have told Huang Wen to scram long ago.

Huang Wen looked plain, but she'd always topped their class, constantly outshining Xiao Zhe academically. She was quite arrogant, so Xiao Zhe had a lifelong disdain for her.

Seeing her now humbly begging fostered smugness in Xiao Zhe. But with Qin Yu there, he couldn't openly mock her, only feign reluctance.

Huang Wen bit her lip. "Xiao Zhe, we indeed had misunderstandings. I apologize. Please, for the thirty starving girls behind me, we were schoolmates. Be charitable and help us!"

For her sisters, Huang Wen swallowed her pride.

Secretly delighted but unable to show it, Xiao Zhe signaled his vice-captain Hao Lei beside him.

Hao Lei sneered. "Enough! Go somewhere else. The landlord's out of surplus grain too. Giving you ours, we'd starve ourselves!"

Livid, Huang Wen cried, "You, you'll face retribution!"

"Haha, by then you'll have starved to death and won't see it!"

...

Among the crowd, Yang Xiao saw Xiao Zhe's conduct and was repulsed. He'd been considering relying on Xiao Zhe, but seeing their character, he'd have to reconsider.

Glancing at Huang Wen's group, an idea crossed his mind.

To avoid Xiao Zhe's notice, he promptly slipped away, blending into the distant night.

Huang Wen gritted her teeth, knowing no amount of begging would sway Xiao Zhe. Blinking back tears, she told Chen Fei and the others, "Sisters, so what if we die? They'll only outlive us by days. Let's go."

Huang Wen led the helpless girls away.

Returning to their makeshift camp, Huang Wen and her more than thirty girls sat mutely around the dying fire, despondent. They knew without food and water, they wouldn't last days. By tomorrow, they'd be too weak to walk.

"Do you need food?"

A low voice came from the darkness.

Startled, they saw a figure emerge from the blackness into their tent. It was Yang Xiao.

Before their fading fire, he held a steel rod in his right hand, and in his left hand, a bottle of mineral water and a pack of soda crackers. Despite the dim light, the sight gave them a thrill of hope.

But Huang Wen grew wary. "What are your terms?" she asked sharply.

In their eyes, Yang Xiao had ill intentions.

With a smile, Yang Xiao said, "My conditions are simple."

"What conditions? Speak plainly."

Eyeing his water and crackers thirstily, Huang Wen and the others would agree to anything so long as he didn't mean to humiliate them.

"The conditions are simple. I'll be your leader."