C15 Chapter 15

God knows how much she yearned to drink the blood and feast on the flesh of the people surrounding her when all eyes were on her. Thankfully, she now possessed fifty percent of the rationality needed to combat her zombie instincts. Otherwise, she might have succumbed entirely to the zombie mindset and seen them as nothing but gourmet treats.

Jiang Ruan cleared her throat with a soft cough, masking the craving that gnawed at her from within. She chose a small room, and Zeng Qiang instructed others not to disturb her.

It wasn't until the door was securely shut that Jiang Ruan acknowledged her hunger. She had been preoccupied with slaying zombies, so she rummaged through her backpack and retrieved over a dozen cans of food. No one should fault her for eating alone—if she didn't satiate her hunger soon, she might have resorted to cannibalism.

Only after devouring the canned meats did she let out a contented belch. She then pulled the crystal nucleus from the pocket of her tracksuit and used her water-based abilities to cleanse it.

Clutching them in her hand, a scorching sensation emanated from her palm. Her body underwent a transformation, radiating a potent white light in the dark room.

A powerful force surged within her, and soon she could sense her bones shifting. Jiang Ruan bit down on her teeth, stifling any sound, as she endured the excruciating sensation of being torn apart.

Once the feeling subsided, the crystal nucleus in her hand had disintegrated into powder.

She felt her body grow more nimble, and her hearing sharpened to the point where she could clearly discern the distant roars of zombies. It was clear her abilities had been enhanced.

She scattered the powdered nucleus around the room, leaving no trace. Yet, a layer of black grime emerged on her skin. She found a cloth and a basin of water in the room and used them to cleanse herself.

Unable to bathe, her body felt slick with grease, especially her hair. She realized she would need to seize the opportunity to discuss the crystal nucleus with the others, or she wouldn't be able to fully unleash her powers.

Knock, knock, knock... A series of taps at the door interrupted her thoughts, followed by Faang Yu's voice, "Miss Jiang, dinner is ready."

Jiang Ruan sprang to her feet and opened the door, but Faang Yu had already left. He had assisted a few women in bringing up the meal and arranging the chopsticks.

Zeng Qiang strode up with his muscular frame, a bag of rice in one hand and a mix of sweet potatoes and potatoes in the other. "Damn, I'm lucky! This countryside is truly a treasure trove. Check out what I've found."

Jiang Ruan felt a twinge of disappointment at the sight. No meat? She was craving meat!

Once everyone was seated, Zeng Qiang took charge of serving the food. Du Jianghong and Quan Sisi eyed their bowls of thin porridge and then glanced enviously at Jiang Ruan's thicker serving. They exchanged a look, a silent conspiracy brewing between them.

Jiang Ruan, unfazed, quickly downed her bowl of porridge. Having already eaten her fill earlier, she wasn't interested in competing for more. After finishing, she stepped away from the table but remained seated on a stool nearby.

"Some people just sit there after eating, acting all high and mighty," Du Jianghong complained bitterly while clearing the dishes, as if she had been deeply wronged.

Jiang Ruan turned to look at her, her gaze hollow yet piercing, as if icy tendrils were about to freeze the young woman solid. The chill in the air made everyone involuntarily shudder.

She spoke up, "I'm willing to wash the dishes, but I expect that from now on, everyone in the group, regardless of gender, should take a turn."

Jiang Ruan's statement left all the men in shock. What was she implying? They were expected to wash dishes? Their hands were meant for slaying zombies, not for household chores.