Picking Up My Ex-Wife in the Apocalypse - Chapter 8

Luo Fenghe watched the space tearing around Si Qi with genuine surprise. There wasn’t a trace of fear in his eyes; instead, they were filled with calculation and a burning curiosity.

To put it plainly, since he had dared to follow Si Qi to this desolate, godforsaken place, he had the confidence to kill her if necessary. To him, she was just an anonymous rookie.

“Friend, I don’t believe I’ve done anything to offend you. Is there really a need for blades?” Luo Fenghe laughed disarmingly, his dimples flashing with a look of pure, approachable warmth. “Twenty thousand points is certainly a tempting bounty, but you have to be alive to spend them, right?”

Si Qi’s muscles were coiled tight. She remained silent, still clad in the tattered rags she’d worn out of the base. Usually, Awakened regardless of their rank, had enough resources to at least buy a tactical windbreaker for field missions.

Si Qi didn’t look like an elite, yet the energy fluctuations coming from her were significant. This fascinated Luo Fenghe. A newly awakened rookie shouldn’t be this strong, but a seasoned veteran wouldn’t allow themselves to look so pathetic.

Seeing that she had real power but lacked the backing of a base, he considered recruiting her. The Great Purge was a thorn hanging over everyone’s head; the more strength they gathered, the better their chances of survival.

“Relax, friend. I bear you no ill will. You might not realize Si Ruxu’s true strength. She’s a dual-attribute Lightning and Healing user, and rumors say she actually has a third. Her base issued that bounty in a panic because they desperately need a concrete lead on her.”

Luo Fenghe paused, observing Si Qi’s cold expression before continuing.

“Ordinary people can’t bring Si Ruxu back. Besides, in this climate, points are just numbers to people with real talent. Tell you what, I’ll give you thirty thousand points if you come back with me. I’ll put everything into training you.” He wore his trademark smile, appearing entirely sincere.

“If you don’t lack points, what are you doing out here in the wild?” Si Qi didn’t retract her power. She waited for his answer; his logic was sound, which made his presence here even more suspicious.

Since he wanted to recruit her, Luo Fenghe decided to be transparent. “I don’t know why Si Ruxu fell out with her base, but if I can recruit her into mine, it would be the steal of the century.”

A gambler, Si Qi concluded silently. He was just here to try his luck without knowing the full story.

If she hadn’t found Si Ruxu, following him back would have been her best path. But Si Ruxu was still waiting for her in the plant-woven house. From Luo Fenghe’s reaction, it was clear that no one knew Si Ruxu was injured.

Si Ruxu had helped her significantly. Si Qi felt she owed it to her to settle the debt before leaving. She retracted her ability, and the blood-red patterns faded, leaving only a tiny speck in the corner of her eye that looked like a stray drop of fresh blood.

“I already have a base. Sorry.” Si Qi raised her hand, revealing a transparent holographic watch—the mark of a subordinate in a high-level squad.

“Oh?” Luo Fenghe looked at her with interest. He’d never seen a high-level squad member who looked so destitute. “Well, survival is about cooperation. Since you’re taken, I won’t force it. But if you ever want to jump ship, look me up.”

Luo Fenghe’s smile lingered until Si Qi turned and walked away. Only then did it fade into a cold, clinical gaze.

A mutation I haven’t seen before… such a good seedling, wasted in a squad that can’t even buy her a decent coat. If the Purge truly shattered the human order, he’d have to steal her for himself.

*****

Si Qi had already marked Luo Fenghe as “Dangerous” in her mind. Once certain no one was following, she circled back toward the base to observe.

She was so hungry she considered gnawing on tree bark before remembering the biscuits Si Ruxu had given her. She took a massive bite, chewing for ages, nearly choking on the dry crumbs. Still, they were filling and far better than the rock-hard mantou she was used to.

She scouted the base from a distance. The zombie tide had clearly wreaked havoc; the gates and the surrounding ground were in shambles. Earth and Metal elementals were busy with repairs. Only one high-level Awakened stood guard at the top.

She quietly shadowed a passing squad.

“Why did the base hand out so many crystals suddenly? Are we rich?” one man asked, patting a bulging supply bag.

“No idea. Word is something big is coming,” a more stoic man replied.

“What could be bigger than Si Ruxu vanishing? The base is useless, the bounty’s been out for ages, and they’ve found nothing.”

“Shut it. That’s Si Ruxu. Who could actually take her down?”

Si Qi watched them vanish into the distance. Do ordinary Awakened not know about the Purge? Only Si Ruxu had told her. Even Luo Fenghe only alluded to “changes.” Were the bases conspiring, or just trying to prevent a mass panic?

Steeling herself, she found a water source and swiftly butchered a mutated sheep she’d caught. Using her Space ability for short-range blinks, her blood-red silhouette flickered through the shadows like a ghost until she reached the plant house.

She used a space blade to carve off two legs and a rack of ribs, tossing the rest to the mutated plant. The plant wrapped its vines around the carcass greedily. When Si Qi entered the house with the meat and firewood, she found Si Ruxu staring blankly at a pile of fruit.

Si Qi paused. It was the first time she’d seen such a “grateful” mutated plant. It didn’t just take the meat; it offered its own fruit in return.

“I’m back.”

Si Ruxu looked up. Si Qi stood against the light, her tall, lean frame casting a long shadow. She had a small, blood-streaked scratch on her face from the trek, but she looked steady as she held the mutton.

For a moment, Si Ruxu found it hard to reconcile this woman with the one from years ago.

The old Si Qi was soft—too soft. Even when her parents took their failures out on her, she’d just smile and say things would get better. She’d feed strays while her own stomach was empty. She’d been weak and powerless, and even after she gained independence, she couldn’t bring herself to cut ties. Even after the brutal breakup, she hadn’t said a harsh word; she had simply packed her things and vanished.

Si Qi had changed, but she was still soft-hearted. That’s why she’d saved Si Ruxu, shared her meager food, and stayed even after knowing she’d been used.

*****

Si Qi set to work. She built a fire, roasting the legs and chopping the ribs for soup. As the fat began to sizzle and the aroma filled the small space, Si Qi crouched before Si Ruxu.

“Can I have some seasoning?”

Si Ruxu thinned her lips. Si Qi could easily use her ability to reach into the space and take them. “Why don’t you just take it yourself? You can enter my space, can’t you?”

“It’s rude,” Si Qi said simply.

She took the salt, chili powder, cumin, and oil brush that materialized on the floor. These were likely remnants from the early days of the apocalypse. Based on how pristine they were, it was clear Si Ruxu didn’t cook.

Si Qi glazed the meat with berry juice and spices, flipping it until the smell was irresistible. She added garlic, green onions, and more berry juice to the rib soup, simmering it until the broth turned a rich, milky white.

Having lived on biscuits and cans for days, Si Ruxu eventually shuffled over to crouch beside Si Qi. Si Qi glanced at her, at the woman who wouldn’t say a word but couldn’t take her eyes off the pot, and let out a small, genuine smile.

Si Ruxu is actually quite cute when she isn’t busy using people.

“Almost ready. Get the bowls out.”

They ate in silence. Si Qi carved the meat and served the soup.

“Thank you,” Si Ruxu murmured. The cooking was excellent. Even after they split, Si Ruxu had often missed Si Qi’s food. She’d sometimes regretted making the breakup so final perhaps they could have stayed “friends” just for the meals.

A vine reached out cautiously, and Si Qi shared a piece of meat with it. The plant seemed to glow a bit brighter after the snack.

Si Ruxu didn’t have a large appetite, so the bulk of the mutton went to Si Qi and the plant. Afterward, the plant helpfully cleared the floor and tucked its vines away, returning the room to a peaceful silence.

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