Chapter 12 Necklace
The alley was dark and damp, and the piles of garbage emitted a nauseating stench even more complex than the stench of rotting zombies. Ruan Ning held her breath, her eyes sharp, scanning every corner where danger might be lurking.
Crack.
A slight cracking sound came from the side and behind, not like accidentally stepping on something, but more like something breaking.
Ruan Ning tensed up instantly, turned around sharply, and the cleaver was already held horizontally in front of him!
Deep in the alley, a dark figure slowly rose from behind a pile of discarded cardboard boxes. It wasn't the stiff, unsteady gait of a zombie, but rather carried an aura of scrutiny, of a living person.
It was a man, tall and imposing, almost blocking half the alleyway. He wore a combat uniform stained with dirt but still vaguely recognizable as originally camouflage, and his face was painted with streaks of black ash, obscuring his features. Only his eyes shone brightly in the dim light, like those of a lurking wild beast.
He had no obvious weapons, but just standing there, he exuded an extremely dangerous aura, more dangerous than any zombie Ruan Ning had killed that afternoon!
Ruan Ning's heart sank.
We encountered a living person, and one who was definitely not a kind one.
She gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, the water-based energy that had just begun to recover within her quietly circulating, poised to strike. She didn't speak, but simply returned the other person's gaze with the same cold and wary look.
The man looked her up and down, his gaze lingering for a moment on her blood-stained machete and her slightly tired but still upright figure. Finally, it landed on her neckline, which was slightly open due to the violent movements she had just made—there, hanging was an extremely thin silver chain with a small teardrop-shaped jade pendant, another heirloom left by her mother, which she always wore close to her body.
The man's eyes seemed to flicker slightly, but it was too quick to catch.
He spoke, his voice low and hoarse, dry from not having drunk water for a long time, yet possessing an undeniable power:
"Where did that necklace come from?"
Ruan Ning's pupils contracted slightly. She hadn't expected the other person to ask that. The necklace was unremarkable, practically worthless in the apocalypse, far less attractive than the backpack on her back.
"None of your business." Ruan Ning's voice was equally cold, carrying a guarded distance. She subtly adjusted her stance, ensuring she could launch an attack or retreat at any moment.
The man took a step forward, and the sense of oppression increased sharply. "Answer me."
Ruan Ning stopped wasting words. She knew that in this environment, words were meaningless; only strength could determine the direction of the conversation. She stomped her foot, advancing instead of retreating, her cleaver flashing as it slashed straight at her opponent's face!
This strike was swift and ruthless, showing no mercy whatsoever!
However, the man reacted faster than anyone could have imagined! He didn't even dodge; he simply raised his right hand casually, his five fingers like hooks, and met the descending blade with unparalleled precision!
Clang!
A crisp metallic clang rang out!
Ruan Ning felt a tremendous force rebound from the hilt of the knife, her hand went numb, and the cleaver was actually parried by the other party with his bare hands! Not only that, the man flipped his wrist, his five fingers like iron clamps, and tried to grab her wrist!
Ruan Ning was terrified; this person's strength and speed far surpassed that of ordinary people! Without hesitation, she pointed her left hand like a sword, and the water-based energy she had been preparing exploded instantly!
laugh--
A condensed, almost tangible, pale blue water arrow, carrying a chilling aura, shot straight at the opponent's face!
At such close range, it's almost a guaranteed hit!
The man was clearly surprised that Ruan Ning possessed supernatural abilities, a genuine look of astonishment flashing in his eyes. But he reacted with lightning speed, jerking his head to the side!
The water jet grazed his temples, taking away a few strands of hair, and struck the wall behind him, leaving a shallow dent. The water droplets quickly froze into ice!
Ruan Ning was startled: Ice? When did her water arrows become chilling?
Taking advantage of the moment when the other party dodged, Ruan Ning pulled her wrist away from the other party's control, turned around without hesitation, increased her speed to the maximum, and ran wildly towards the other end of the alley!
The man did not give chase immediately. He touched his cheek, which was slightly cold and stinging from the water jets, and watched Ruan Ning's figure quickly disappear into the dim alleyway. He then looked down at his slightly reddened hands, which still retained a trace of coldness. For the first time, a look of seriousness and an indescribable curiosity appeared in his sharp eyes.
"Water element...mutation?" He muttered to himself, then shook his head, his gaze returning to the direction where Ruan Ning had disappeared, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "And that necklace..."
He remained silent for a moment, but ultimately did not choose to pursue. His figure slowly retreated and disappeared back into the shadows of the alley, as if he had never been there.
On the other side, Ruan Ning ran frantically until she was sure the other party wasn't chasing her, then leaned against a broken wall, panting heavily. Her heart was pounding, not only from physical exhaustion, but also from the intense sense of crisis brought on by the brief confrontation.
That man is too strong! He parried a sharp blade with his bare hands, his reaction speed was astonishing, he's definitely not an ordinary survivor! Who is he? The military? Or a superhuman like her, or even stronger?
And then he asked about the necklace... Did he know his mother?
Countless questions swirled in Ruan Ning's mind, making her feel uneasy. In the apocalypse, unknown and powerful beings often meant greater variables and dangers.
She dared not linger any longer, suppressing her turbulent thoughts, and cautiously made her way towards the main road.
She had to leave this place as soon as possible. The man, and the mysteries he brought, were now considered people she needed to be extremely wary of.
She's not strong enough yet.
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