Volume One, Chapter 17: Gaining New Powers—Not a Single One Turns Out Good!

Zhang Xueqi watched nervously from the side. She was relieved she hadn’t resisted last time; otherwise, she would have had to endure such violent treatment. Yet, on the other hand, this dominant man gave her an unprecedented sense of security. In this apocalypse, waiting for official aid was unrealistic. Only by following someone as strong as Lin Feng could one hope to survive. If she followed that incompetent madman pounding on the door outside, she would likely meet a miserable end.

Wang Tao continued furiously hammering on the door, his fists numb from the relentless pounding. But the heavy security door remained immovable. His face turned dark with rage as he shouted hoarsely, “Lin Feng, give me back my wife!” Lin Feng casually lifted Li Bing as if she were a dead dog and tossed her into the living room. Approaching the door, he looked at the frantic man through the peephole screen and laughed, “Thanks to the generous landlord for handing over your wife to me—how noble of you!”

“Don’t talk nonsense!” Wang Tao nearly lost his mind, pacing anxiously like an ant on a hot pan. His voice cracked with desperation as he cried out, “You bastard, release my baby now, or I’ll call the police!” Lin Feng smirked, “Go ahead, I won’t stop you. You’ve raised the rent several times over the years; use your wife to pay it off.” Wang Tao immediately pulled out his phone to call the police, his fingers trembling as he dialed. But, as with the past few days, all official lines were busy. Enraged, he smashed his phone against the door, the screen shattering instantly. “Damn it!” he cursed through gritted teeth, pounding heavily on the door again.

Lin Feng paid no heed to Wang Tao’s threats. Since acquiring the “Dominion” ability, his hearing was far superior to ordinary people’s. At that moment, he keenly detected heavy footsteps and rapid breathing from downstairs. Unsurprisingly, the mutated husky had been drawn by the noise and was now racing up the stairs. Lin Feng had been startled by this massive dog when they first met—the blood-red eyes and razor-sharp fangs had left a deep impression. But things had changed; now, he no longer found the mutated husky particularly frightening.

Wang Tao had been pounding the door for quite a while but soon lost strength due to hunger. His limbs were numb and exhausted. He now leaned heavily against the doorframe, gasping for breath, barely able to curse. “You... you bastard, release my wife... or I swear I’ll kill you!” His voice was weak and broken.

Lin Feng stood calmly behind the door, relaxed. Not only had he unlocked supplies this time, but he had also obtained a supernatural fruit. Calling Li Bing his lucky star was no exaggeration—there was no way he would let her go. Such a woman deserved to be cherished.

“Fatso Wang, I don’t know if I’ll die, but you definitely will today. If you’ve got guts, come out and see if I’ll cut you down,” Lin Feng challenged. Wang Tao snarled back through clenched teeth, “You idiot!” Lin Feng’s reply was brief: “Moron!” Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the stairwell. The entire corridor vibrated slightly, as if a giant were ascending the stairs, accompanied by heavy panting like a powerful blower.

Hearing the sound, Wang Tao trembled in fear and spun around, his eyes wide with terror staring at the stairwell entrance. “What the hell is coming?” His first thought was some mutated beast. His legs shook uncontrollably, desperate to flee but trapped with nowhere to go. Just as he hesitated, a massive creature covered in black and white fur suddenly lunged forward. At first glance, it looked like a bear, but upon closer inspection, it was a three-meter-long husky. Muscles bulging all over its body, bloodshot eyes, and two sharp fangs stained with fresh meat.

Terrified, Wang Tao collapsed to the ground and stammered, “Good dog... please don’t come closer, I’ll give you meat.” The mutated husky lunged immediately, snapping off Wang Tao’s right hand with a vicious bite. A piercing scream filled the air as blood splattered across the pale tiled floor. Wang Tao struggled wildly, trying to shake the beast off. For once, he was fierce, grappling with the husky, but his words remained weak and pleading, “Don’t... don’t bite me, please go away, spare me...”

Zhang Xueqi, watching through the peephole screen, turned pale and weak at the sight of the dog and Wang Tao’s severed arm. “That dog is the same one from before...” she thought. Had Lin Feng not pulled her into the room that day, she would have been devoured by that beast.

Hearing Wang Tao’s agonized screams outside, Li Bing slowly lifted her head to peer at the peephole screen. Seeing the brutal fight between man and dog, her already pale face paled further with terror. Her long lashes trembled as a wave of dread washed over her. Such a huge dog was in this building? Thankfully, she had taken the elevator; if she had used the stairs, she might have already been eaten.

Wang Tao was now a pitiful sight—his clothes torn, his body covered in wounds and bloodstains. Lin Feng observed quietly, still uncertain whether he could defeat the mutated husky. He retrieved the crimson fruit that had fallen from Li Bing’s small bag, hesitating. Could one person acquire two supernatural abilities? With the “Dominion” power enhancing his body, it was worth a try.

Lin Feng bit into the fruit. Its juice was cool, sour, and sweet—surprisingly delicious. Soon, a refreshing sensation surged into his mind, like breathing deeply after sucking on a mint candy.

[Congratulations, host has obtained a new ability: Destiny (Level 1).
Destiny: By consuming stamina, the host can vaguely perceive the surroundings within 5 meters without seeing and can detect the vitality and emotions of living things.
System evaluation: All things have destiny; everything is under control.]

Curious, Lin Feng closed his eyes and found he could faintly see the surroundings. Zhang Xueqi clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, watching the peephole screen with terror. Her feelings were complex—friendliness, awe, fear, a hint of fondness, and hostility. Li Bing, bound and tear-streaked, also observed the scene outside, her emotions a mixture of fear and intense hostility.

Besides this, Lin Feng could “see” the scene in his own apartment next door, including the ongoing struggle between the man and dog at the door. What seemed lightning-fast to ordinary eyes appeared somewhat slow to him. “I can beat it!” Lin Feng felt confident. This wasn’t a whim but a rational judgment made through Destiny. He also sensed the dog’s vitality was strong, while Wang Tao’s life force flickered like a dying candle in the wind.

As for friendliness... Lin Feng sighed softly—there wasn’t a single good person here. Even Zhang Xueqi harbored some hostility, not to mention Li Bing and the man and dog outside.