Chapter 15 Braving the Black Market
"Damn it! What a lousy place! Why does the transaction have to be done in such a filthy spot?"
She cursed inwardly; the smell was pure torture for her sense of smell.
Although I understand that this environment is good for hiding—who would want to go to such a smelly place for no reason?
But the cost is too high.
However, as soon as this thought arose, a deeper and more terrifying fragment of memory suddenly surged up from the depths of his mind—'the apocalypse'.
The smells that permeated the ruins and corpses: the stench of a rotting, bloated corpse bursting open after days of decay; the sour stench of moldy, spoiled food scraps fermenting in murky mud; and the filthy, fishy stench that surged up from a completely clogged sewer.
Every breath felt like swallowing rotting entrails; the thick, foul stench, reeking of death, was enough to break even the strongest nerves.
"No... I can't think about it... Ugh..."
Xu Zhili shook her head violently, trying to dispel the nightmarish memory, but her physical reaction was more honest. She couldn't help but lean against the wall and dry heave a few times, her stomach cramping painfully.
"Damn it, this lousy body!"
She punched the wall in frustration.
Forty years of survival in the apocalypse gave her psychic abilities that allowed her to see into people's hearts and foresee danger, but not a body of steel.
This sixteen-year-old girl from the south was so delicate that she couldn't even withstand this "appetizer".
Physical training must be put on the agenda as soon as possible!
Just as she was trying to suppress her nausea and adapt to the terrible environment, a suppressed, heart-wrenching cough suddenly came from a blurry shadow in the corner!
"Cough! Cough cough cough—!"
The sound was abrupt and hoarse, like a broken bellows being pulled, and it was especially eerie in the deathly darkness!
Xu Zhili's hair stood on end instantly!
The fighting instincts honed in the apocalypse overwhelmed everything!
Almost reflexively, she swiftly turned to the side, simultaneously pushing off with her feet to create distance!
However--
*Smack!*
The sole of the shoe had an extremely uncomfortable, warm, and sticky feel to it!
An even stronger, more primal stench instantly filled the air!
She looked down and, in the dim light of the slaughterhouse in the distance, was shocked to find that her brand-new cloth shoes had precisely stepped into a puddle of fresh, still steaming dog poop!
"ah--!!!"
A surge of anger shot up to my head!
What calm!
What do you mean by "low-key"!
In an instant, it was forgotten!
She turned her head sharply, her eyes flashing with cold light, locking onto the source of the coughing sound—a tall, dark figure huddled in the corner!
In a flash! Xu Zhili moved!
She was like an enraged cheetah, her movements so fast that she was just a blur!
His left hand gripped the opponent's wrist as if it were about to raise to block, while his right knee slammed into the opponent's lower back with tremendous force! At the same time, he pressed down with all his might!
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, the burly figure was pressed firmly onto the cold, dirty ground without any resistance.
His face was buried directly in the filth mixed with blood and mud!
Xu Zhili's right fist whistled through the air as she slammed it down towards the back of the opponent's head without hesitation!
If that punch lands, he'll be crippled or killed!
"Awooo—!!!"
The person beneath him let out a pig-like scream, his voice filled with unbelievable terror and excruciating pain.
"Holy crap! Where did this crazy woman come from! Let go! Let go now! Ouch! It hurts like hell! Get out if you're not going to make a deal! Why are you hitting me, grandma! Ouch! Stop hitting me! Someone's going to die!"
The fist stopped abruptly less than an inch from the opponent's scalp!
Xu Zhili froze.
The anger was instantly extinguished by a bucket of ice water, leaving only embarrassment and frustration.
Damn! There's a mistake!
It wasn't an ambush; it was just an unlucky "colleague" coughing in a corner.
"I...I'm sorry!"
She released her grip abruptly as if burned, quickly jumped back two steps, her face instantly filled with deep apology and fear, her voice softening eight octaves.
"Big brother! I'm so sorry! It's a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding! I... I was startled by your cough, I thought... I thought someone was going to rob me! I'm easily frightened, please be magnanimous and don't hold it against a little girl like me!"
She rubbed her hands together, keeping a very low profile, her eyes looking both innocent and flustered.
The burly man struggled to his feet, spitting out mud and blood from his mouth, wincing in pain.
He was over 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, but at this moment he looked a bit disheveled.
He rubbed his aching lower back and his wrists, which were throbbing from being pinched, and stared wide-eyed at the seemingly frail but ruthless girl in front of him, trembling with anger.
"Misunderstanding?! Bah! You call that cowardice? I almost died from your blow. You nearly pierced my kidney and almost broke my wrist. You little wench, you're so ruthless! The most poisonous heart is a woman's."
The ancients were right! No way! This isn't over. You have to give me an explanation. Pay up! Medical expenses! Compensation for emotional distress! Not a penny less, and I'm not letting you off the hook!
He stood with his hands on his hips, spitting as he tried to regain his composure through ferocity.
Xu Zhili sneered inwardly, but her face showed even more fear and unease, on the verge of tears: "Big brother...big brother, calm down! It was my fault! I...I'll make it up! I'll make it up, okay?"
She bit her lower lip, as if she had made a great decision, and slowly took out a watch from her inner pocket, which was actually her mental space.
An Omega De Ville watch with an extremely simple and classic design, yet exuding understated luxury.
The dial shimmered with a warm luster in the dim light.
With a pained and reluctant expression, she handed over the watch with great difficulty: "Brother... how about this... is it alright? Consider it a way to calm your nerves and apologize... I'm so sorry..."
Her voice was trembling with emotion, and her acting was superb.
The burly man's eyes widened instantly.
His greed was almost palpable. He snatched the watch and examined it like a rare treasure, turning it over and over in his hand, weighing it in his hand.
As he carefully examined the dial and movement in the dim light from afar, the anger on his face dissipated at a visible speed, replaced by ecstasy and a hint of disbelief.
"Hmph! Well... at least you have some sense, you little wench!"
He tried to remain calm, but the excitement in his voice was unmistakable. "Next time, watch your eyes! If you mistake someone for someone else and start a fight again, even the King of Heaven himself can't save you! You hear me?" He clutched the watch tightly in his hand, as if afraid it would fly away.
"Yes, yes, yes! Big brother is right! I'll remember it! I'll definitely learn from it!"
Xu Zhili nodded vigorously, looking extremely apprehensive and grateful.
The burly man turned around, cursing, and was about to make a quick getaway with this "windfall."
Just as he turned his back and took his first step...
A slender hand, yet possessing terrifying power, gripped his collar with precision and ruthlessness, like an iron clamp!
The force was so great that it almost choked him unconscious!
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