Chapter 6: The First Signs of Chaos

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The rat, whose real name was Zhao Xiaoqian, grew up scraping by in the Zhao Family Village on the outskirts of a small town. Restless by nature, he started running with the street crowd at just fifteen, and managed to make a modest name for himself.

On Valentine’s Day, the girl he secretly watched—or rather, secretly loved—had just returned to town from school. Saving up two months’ worth of money, he bought a necklace, planning to confess his feelings.

But then the mutant outbreak struck. Before the rat could voice his heart, he hurriedly dragged the girl to hide in a supermarket.

That night, they were attacked by Lin Li and several escaped convicts. Dozens of survivors, hiding in the supermarket, were rounded up and imprisoned by Lin Li’s gang.

The women fell directly into their hands, and the girl the rat liked, because she resisted, was stabbed to death by Lin Li himself and thrown out to feed the mutants.

The rat was full of hatred but dared not confront Lin Li head-on. His scrawny frame was no match for the brawny Lin Li, so he stuck close, pretending to ingratiate himself, biding his time for revenge.

But Lin Li and his men were cautious; even food had to be tasted by the rat first before they touched it, leaving the rat no chance to strike.

Until Wang Ji arrived. The rat saw the gear Wang Ji carried and sensed a slim opportunity, but then realized Wang Ji had walked into the lion’s den alone—his survival uncertain—and sighed quietly to himself.

At that moment, he saw Lin Li throw his arm around Wang Ji’s shoulder, his own body faintly trembling. The rat quickly stepped up to mediate.

“Brother Li… Brother Li, please, why not have a seat? And this young man, give me ten minutes, I promise I’ll whip up something good for you both!”

Wang Ji glanced at the rat but said nothing.

Lin Li’s sullen face suddenly lit up.

“Hahaha, no hurry, brother. Rat, go get us something to eat. And Huzi, fetch two crates of water and food over here.”

Lin Li slapped Wang Ji’s shoulder, feeling the power hidden beneath Wang Ji’s upright frame, then turned to sit on the sofa opposite.

Wang Ji’s expression eased slightly and he sat back down. The burly men circling him retreated to the corners, but Wang Ji could feel their eyes glued to him.

“Thank you, Brother Li, but what I want to say is—even though the world’s changed, it might return to normal soon. I’ll just take a little from the supermarket and pay you back later; it doesn’t matter.”

“But you’re different, Brother Li. I suspect you and your friends aren’t ordinary people. Aren’t you afraid you’ll be caught someday for claiming so much property?”

Wang Ji smiled, probing.

“Hahaha, brother, you’ve got it wrong. The world’s changed, but not like that…”

Lin Li paused, as if weighing his words.

“To be honest, we just got out. The timing was perfect. You seem like a capable guy—why not join me, Lin Li, and carve out a new world?”

Wang Ji shook his head at once. He had no intention of joining such bandits.

“Thanks for the offer, Brother Li, but I’m used to being on my own.”

As if expecting the refusal, Lin Li showed no anger—on the contrary, he became even more enthusiastic, chatting about all manner of trivialities.

A few minutes later, Huzi returned with a crate of water and a crate of instant noodles, setting them before Wang Ji.

Wang Ji stood to gather the supplies.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from inside.

“Rat, let go of me! I’m going to fight that scum to the end!”

“Brother Zhao, don’t—”

“Let go! My poor wife… ah! I can’t live on, I’ll take him with me!”

The cries mingled with the clatter of falling objects; clearly, something was happening inside. Wang Ji looked toward Lin Li.

Lin Li, in that moment, was like a different man—a cold, chilling aura radiating from him, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.

Wang Ji tensed, his earlier composure vanishing.

“This man is no ordinary thug—he’s seen blood before!”

“Huzi!”

At his shout, Zhao Dahai burst from within, brandishing a kitchen knife and charging at Lin Li with a twisted expression.

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Huzi darted in front of Lin Li and launched a kick straight into Zhao Dahai’s stomach.

Zhao Dahai staggered back several steps, crashing into the wall. The knife slipped from his hand as he doubled over, groaning.

Huzi drew a dagger from his belt and strode over, sneering.

“No!”

Two voices cried out in unison.

One was Wang Ji, who, upon seeing Huzi about to deal out brutal punishment to an innocent man, decided then and there what kind of people Lin Li and his gang were.

The other was the rat, who dashed to Zhao Dahai’s side, pleading, “Brother Li, Brother Li, Zhao Dahai didn’t know any better, let him go!”

Lin Li ignored the rat, turning instead to Wang Ji.

“This is our business, brother. I advise you not to meddle.”

“Huzi, anyone who offends me has to pay. Disable both his arms!” Lin Li waved his hand, determined to reclaim his dignity.

Wang Ji instantly raised his handgun and trained it on Huzi, his presence as sharp as a blade, rooting Huzi to the spot.

“Don’t think I’m afraid of you, punk. Get him!”

Lin Li, out of his mind with rage, leapt up, drawing his own pistol on Wang Ji. Instantly, the other men, who had been watching Wang Ji closely, pulled out their own weapons.

“Damn it!” In a heartbeat, the situation exploded.

Wang Ji only had time to fire one shot, hitting Huzi in the right shoulder—the one holding the knife—before rolling behind a table to dodge the hail of bullets from Lin Li and another gunman.

Gunfire erupted in the hall, wood splintering everywhere.

The rat cowered on the floor, clutching his head, too frightened to move. A stray bullet suddenly struck Zhao Dahai in the chest.

Zhao Dahai shuddered, his cries cut off, barely clinging to life.

The rat screamed, scuttling under a nearby table, his face a mask of terror.

Two years in the streets, a few brawls, some protection rackets—but he was still just a kid, after all. It was a wonder he hadn’t wet himself.

On the other side, Wang Ji, prone on the ground, managed to shoot down one of the knife-wielding thugs before Lin Li lunged and tackled him. They rolled across the floor, locked in combat.

The remaining gunman, afraid to fire, closed in with Huzi to help Lin Li.

But without the threat of gunfire, Wang Ji felt less danger. With hand-to-hand skills rivaling the world’s top special forces, it took only moments for him to gain the upper hand. He grabbed his dagger with his right hand, landed a left punch to Lin Li’s ribs.

Lin Li turned pale at the blow, his strength faltering.

Seizing the chance, Wang Ji pressed in close, raining elbows on Lin Li as he drove him toward the gunman.

The gunman rushed to steady Lin Li.

Wang Ji caught the opening—his right-hand combat knife flashed, stabbing through Lin Li’s armpit and into the gunman’s chest.

The gunman’s body spasmed, his eyes wide with disbelief, toppling backward.

“Liu Shi!” Huzi’s eyes bulged in fury, rushing in with his blade.

But Wang Ji moved like a fish in water, his fighting skills amplified by his enhanced body. The two hardened criminals were no match for him.

“Cruel and ruthless—you’ll be a cripple from now on.”

Wang Ji’s combat knife sliced through Huzi’s tendons with three swift cuts, then turned and caught Lin Li’s wild assault, pinning him with a shoulder blow.

A sickening crack—Lin Li clutched his chest, staggering back, spitting blood. He was badly hurt.

Wang Ji shook his head and blocked Huzi’s attempted sneak attack.

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“Since you love hacking at people, let me help you.”

With that, Wang Ji slashed three times, severing the tendons in Huzi’s hands and feet.

“Aaah! If you’ve got the guts, just kill me!”

Huzi lay on the ground, shouting defiantly despite his fear.

“Still not convinced? Killing you would only dirty my hands.”

Wang Ji kicked Huzi in the head, knocking him out cold.

At last, the five burly men who moments before had been full of life now lay incapacitated.

Wang Ji took a deep breath, holstered his gun, and pulled up a chair to sit before Lin Li.

“Why so impulsive? Wouldn’t it be better to talk this through?”

Wang Ji wiped the blood from his knife as he spoke.

“Who… who are you?”

Lin Li, still in shock, couldn’t believe Wang Ji’s terrifying prowess.

They had worked out daily in prison, and their ruthlessness had cowed even the police in close combat. Yet this man…

“Who I am doesn’t matter. Tell me what you’ve been doing here. If I’m in a good mood, I might let you live.”

Lin Li suddenly burst out laughing, his face twisted with malice.

“So you’re still a rookie! Ha… cough… If you’ve got guts, kill me now. Otherwise, I, Lin Li, will get even!”

Wang Ji knelt down, eyes sharp as knives.

“Do you really think I won’t kill you?”

“Come on, do it!” Lin Li shouted.

Wang Ji, enraged, smashed the butt of his pistol into Lin Li’s head. Lin Li collapsed, blood seeping from his forehead, unconscious.

“Damn, what a pain!” Wang Ji muttered, surveying the room. Only the rat was still conscious; everyone else was down.

“Your name’s Rat? Tell me, what happened here? Are there more people inside?”

He approached the rat, who seemed traumatized—huddled under the table, eyes vacant, trembling and mumbling, “…I’m not afraid…I…Yu’er…I’m not afraid…”

Wang Ji sighed, stood up, and walked into the corridor.

According to his goggles, there were still people in the rooms ahead. He went to a door to open it and learn more.

Suddenly, a wave of danger surged through him. Before he could react, a searing pain shot through his back, slamming him into the door. He collapsed to the ground.

“Hahaha! I told you, if you’ve got guts, kill me!”

At the corridor’s end, Lin Li stood, wielding a recurve bow, his face twisted with rage.

“Alert: Host sustained a severe attack to the back—penetrating mid-level injury. Please administer treatment immediately,” the X System’s warning blared.

Wang Ji lay sprawled against the door, blood trickling from his lips, breath knocked out of him, barely able to move, clinging to the door for support.