Chapter 29: Beyond the Definition of Humanity

Should I try to latch onto a powerful player?

As Liang Yi pondered this, she opened the homepage of the user "I Am the Strongest Gamer." She soon discovered that his online profile didn't quite match his apparent strength. He hadn't posted a single thing regarding trade orders; instead, he had uploaded several photos of game environments, lamenting how beautiful the scenery was.

*Gurgle—*
*Gurgle—*

Just as Liang Yi was agonizing over her decision, the water in her electric pot finally began to boil. She added the spicy chicken noodles, and once they were cooked, she drained the water. She poured in the whisked egg, let it steam for a moment, and tossed in some washed greens. A fragrant bowl of noodles was ready.

After finishing her meal, Liang Yi’s hesitation vanished.

[Player 2010 has sent a friend request: "Big Boss, I see how strong you are and your combat skills must be excellent. Could we add each other as friends so you can offer me some guidance?"]

Although the game assistant had previously claimed that it had forwarded her request to the headquarters to include tutorials on martial arts and fitness in the supply crates, nothing had been implemented yet. Liang Yi decided it was better to rely on herself. Looking at the recent combat record of "I Am the Strongest Gamer," it was clear he was formidable. Seeking him out was the right move.

After eating an apple, Liang Yi secured the solar panel to continue charging the battery. Feeling full and satisfied, she grew drowsy. She leaned against her tricycle and drifted into a deep sleep.

"Big Brother, look! There's a woman over there!"
"Where?"
"Damn, she's gorgeous! We're in luck today—we actually stumbled upon two top-tier beauties."

Liang Yi was still dazed in her sleep when she suddenly heard voices nearby.

[Player Liang Yi, wake up immediately!]
[Three men are approaching, and they harbor malicious intent. If you don't wake up now, you will be harmed.]

Hearing the game assistant's warning, Liang Yi's mind cleared instantly.

"Little sister, sleeping out in the open is so uncomfortable. Why not come sleep in our Hummer? It’s spacious, and you’ll have company."

Liang Yi braced herself against the tricycle and was about to stand up when she heard the man’s voice from across the way. Not only was the content of his speech offensive, but his tone was enough to make her want to punch him.

"Sweetheart, stick with us, and you’ll never go hungry or tired. You just have to lie back and relax, heh heh!"

Liang Yi stood up and pulled the "Lethal Dagger" from her backpack. She stared intently at the three men, remaining silent.

"Sweetheart, the way you’re staring at me... I’m getting excited."

The three men had parked their vehicles about thirty meters away. From her vantage point, Liang Yi could only see two vehicles—a Hummer and a van—but no third vehicle. She guessed the third person might have been using a stationary bike or a bicycle, as those could easily be stowed inside the other vehicles.

As she pondered this, she noticed a shadow moving inside the van behind them. Her heart tightened. Could there be others hiding in the van? She couldn't even handle these three, let alone two more.

Just as she was wondering, the tallest and burliest man of the group, who was bald, strode toward her. When he reached her, he reached out without hesitation to grab her chin.

Liang Yi cursed under her breath, dodged the grab with a quick sidestep, and moved away. The bald man clearly hadn't expected her to evade him. His expression darkened, turning from fierce to truly sinister.

The other two men quickly swarmed in, forming a semi-circle that pinned Liang Yi against her tricycle. She was trapped with nowhere left to go.

"Sweetheart, I advise you not to be ungrateful. Just submit to our boss, or else your delicate skin is going to suffer."
"Heh heh, Boss, look at that! This lady washed up early just for you!"
"It's a shame we didn't get here sooner; we could have watched a bathing beauty."
"Hey, sweetheart, why don't you go back and take another bath for us to watch?"
"Sss, she smells so good!"

Liang Yi had remained silent because she was gripping the lethal dagger, debating whether she should actually use it to kill them. After all, killing a dog and killing a person were very different things.

But when one of the men, who looked like a scrawny monkey, leaned in to sniff her neck, Liang Yi snapped. She lashed out with a kick. Unfortunately, having only exercised for two days, her strength was negligible. The man didn't even feel it; he actually thought she was flirting with him.

"Spicy! I like it."

"Boss, be gentle later. If she bites her tongue and kills herself like the last one, it won't be any fun."
"Boss, you enjoy her first. After you're done, can I have a turn with the one in the van?"

Liang Yi had been hesitant, but hearing those words, she realized she wasn't about to kill human beings, but beasts.

"Get lost!"
"Otherwise, don't blame me for what happens next."

Liang Yi looked up, her gaze icy. They had already driven one woman to suicide and were holding another captive in their van; they were no longer human. But her threat lacked impact; in their eyes, she was just an arrogant little kitten.

"Come on, little sister, show me what you've got!"

The bald man reached out to touch her again. Liang Yi didn't hesitate; she swung the hand she had been hiding behind her back, striking at him. The three men had seen that she only held a small fruit knife, so they hadn't taken it seriously and didn't even bother to dodge. This allowed Liang Yi to successfully land a strike, leaving a deep gash on the bald man's arm.

"Sweetheart, with a knife like that, you might as well have just slapped me..."

Before the man could finish his sentence, he watched as the bald man in the center collapsed to the ground.

"Boss? Boss!"

The two men didn't know what had happened, thinking the bald man was just joking around.

"Boss, you're really going all out to impress this girl."
"Your reputation is going to be ruined after this."

The two men laughed as they crouched down, each grabbing an arm to lift him up. They immediately realized something was wrong—the bald man’s arm had already gone rigid. Panic set in.

"Boss?"

The heavier of the two reached out and placed his fingers under the bald man's nose.