Apocalyptic Flood: Sexy Beauty Neighbor's Midnight Plea for Food Chapter 1117 - 462: Refusing to Be a Burden

Yangshan, near the Floating Bridge Port.

Ding Yan watched the yacht disappear into the distance, her expression clouded with a subtle sense of melancholy. Zhao Kai approached her, speaking in a low tone, "Sister Ding, it is time to turn back now that Brother Liang has departed."

Turning her gaze toward him, Ding Yan caught him off guard with a sudden question: "Have you managed to evolve your Genetic Species yet?"

Zhao Kai nodded in confirmation, "I have. Brother Liang stayed to supervise my session. I successfully solidified my Genetic Species earlier this morning."

Holding his gaze intently, she challenged him: "Spar with me."

Zhao Kai looked bewildered, "What?"

"I said, fight me! I want to gauge the true extent of your strength after awakening your Genetic Species."

"I cannot do that, it is impossible!"

He shook his head fervently and began to retreat, distancing himself from her.

To the others at Meidu Garden, Ding Yan had always remained a distant and cold figure. Her sharp exterior was clearly a defense mechanism designed to hide any sign of vulnerability. Zhao Kai, however, remembered the truth. Back when he lost an arm before even realizing his own powers, he expected to be cast aside by Liang Yuan’s team. Instead, Liang Yuan kept him on, assigning him to guard the corridor. Though she never spoke of it, Sister Ding would secretly leave her door ajar whenever he was on watch, offering him subtle signs of care. At the time, with only one arm and no powers, he would not have stood a chance against an intruder; he never forgot that kindness.

How could he ever raise a weapon against her?

Ding Yan wrinkled her brow, her temper rising, "Why are you stalling? Start the fight!"

"Please, Sister Ding, I..."

"If you do not strike first, I will!"

With a sudden movement, two glowing empowerment orbs ignited at her feet. With a sharp crackle of energy, she launched forward at lightning speed. Zhao Kai panicked and sidestepped just in time to avoid her fist. The impact of her punch in mid-air created a miniature air cannon, sending a violent shockwave rippling through the space.

"Sister Ding, what has come over you?" Zhao Kai cried out in frustration.

"Fight! Show me the same ferocity you used to take down Mao Xiaoqiang!" she shouted back.

Even as she pressed the assault, Zhao Kai refused to retaliate. She danced through the air using an explosive technique, triggered by the special patterns glowing under her feet, moving with the force of a cannonball. Zhao Kai realized he had no choice but to activate his own power. Instantly, an intense chill radiated from his core, encasing him in his Zero-Degree Armor. Even then, he stood his ground without striking back. Ding Yan’s attacks landed repeatedly on his armor, yet to no avail. Instead, the freezing aura covering his body began to leach into her, numbing her limbs and coating her joints in frost. Despite her empowerment, the cold became unbearable, soon covering her body in a thick layer of ice. Zhao Kai remained stoic, stating, "Sister Ding, you see? My breakthrough has granted me a Defense Gene Map. You cannot break through my Zero-Degree Armor, not even if I remain perfectly still."

Ding Yan halted, eyeing his armor closely before a sudden laugh escaped her lips.

"Good. Now you are finally worthy of Liang Yuan’s faith in you."

Zhao Kai blinked, confused: "Sister Ding, you..."

Looking out across the flooded landscape, she murmured, "I am well aware that, before he left, he entrusted the protection of Yangshan to you."

Zhao Kai had no retort, his silence heavy. She continued, "We are the ones who are weak, idling among common power-users for far too long. He is the one forced to shoulder every burden. That is not how a team should function, is it?"

Zhao Kai felt a glimmer of understanding as he looked at her, "Sister Ding, Brother Liang never held that against us."

She faced him solemnly, "Even if he does not blame us, we cannot continue to accept it. As a woman, I understand the desperation of the weak. I refuse to be a burden. I will not be standing on the sidelines, waiting for death or praying for someone else to rescue me when a stronger threat arrives. I will not be in that position ever again!"

"Sister Ding, what are you planning to do?"

"I am leaving Yangshan."

"What!" Zhao Kai stammered in shock. "No, you cannot! Brother Liang would never permit it!"

Ding Yan laughed, "He isn't here to stop me. I am hunting Physical Class Genetic Mutation Beasts. I must find a way to secure a Physical Class Genetic Species, evolve, and become a strong warrior—only then can I truly assist him."

"Sister Ding!" he pleaded, but she ignored his distress.

"My mind is made up. With your current strength, you can guard Yangshan perfectly well on your own. I am no longer needed here. I have to find my own path; I will not rely on him for everything." With that, she vanished into the downpour. Zhao Kai tried to pursue her, but she was far too fast, and within minutes, she was gone. He stood alone in the rain, filled with unease and feeling entirely powerless.

...

Thirty minutes later, at the Qinghua Paper Mill on Lingyun Slope, the internal circle had gathered—Li Qinghua, Zhou Qingming, Sister Wan, and the others. They were joined by Li Xiangyang, Zhang Rongrong, and the pair of Uncle Ge and Xia Ming. Zhang Rongrong glanced around, asking, "Who exactly are we waiting for?"

Li Qinghua remained silent, but Sister Wan smiled, "Someone of great importance."

"How important?" Zhang Rongrong pressed.

"You will see for yourself," replied Zhou Qingming.

Li Xiangyang broke in, "I do not care about status. I only have one inquiry: is this beast really of the Light Attribute Physical Class?"

"I personally witnessed it manifesting Light Attribute abilities," Zhou Qingming answered, "Though I cannot confirm if it is strictly Physical Class."

Uncle Ge adjusted his pipe, "Is light not an element? Should it not be considered Elemental Class?"

Li Xiangyang shook his head, "Light and darkness operate differently than the traditional Five Elements. My own Light Attribute powers are inextricably linked to my physical constitution."

Zhang Rongrong looked at the two newcomers, "We are chasing a Light Attribute beast, but you two are Elemental Class users. Why include yourselves in this hunt?"

Uncle Ge chuckled, "There is more to that location than just one monster."

Li Xiangyang looked to Li Qinghua, "Is such a legendary place truly real?"

"If you harbor doubts, you are free to stay behind," Li Qinghua retorted.

Xia Ming interjected, "Why not bring Mr. Liang along? His presence would make hunting genetic species monsters a simple matter, surely?"

Li Qinghua sighed, "I did consider inviting him, but Yangshan is currently dealing with critical issues that require his presence. With the quarantine in effect, this is the perfect window to investigate on our own."

As Xia Ming nodded, Li Qinghua suddenly looked toward the bamboo grove, a faint smile appearing on his face, "She is here."

A lithe figure darted out from the concealment of the bamboo. "Captain Ding, you are tardy," Li Qinghua remarked.

Ding Yan scanned the gathering, asking, "Did you really expect me to arrive?"

"Of course. We all understand that Yangshan cannot rely solely on Mr. Liang. If we remain stagnant, we only hinder his progress, do we not?"

Ding Yan offered no reply, only asking, "Are your intelligence reports on the spatial rift accurate?"

Li Qinghua nodded, "It is confirmed. Zhou has personally vetted the area. It is a genuine spatial fold. The extent of the fold remains a mystery until we actually cross the threshold, but the source promises that high-level genetic species mutant beasts are waiting within."

"Then let us depart," Ding Yan commanded.

Li Qinghua signaled the team, "The boat has been ready for some time. Let us move."

The circumstances were complex; while some boat shelters sought refuge at Yangshan, many feared falling in with the losing side as the floods rose. For the ambitious survivors like Li Qinghua, the promise of rare resources and a path to breakthrough was the only path forward. After discovering the spatial fold, they had kept it a secret while they waited for their own strength to increase, unwilling to rely on Liang Yuan until they could prove their own worth. Today was the culmination of that gamble.

...

Liang Yuan, however, was miles away, completely unaware of their clandestine hunt. As his speedboat cut through the turbulent waters, he was roughly forty kilometers out when his path was suddenly obstructed. The waves churned violently ahead as a massive, skeletal vessel emerged from the water, looming directly in his way.