Death Resistance

[Task requires Charm: 10, Host's Charm: 10, Qualified.]

[Ding! Task triggered: Travel to the settlement 'Ark']

[Task reward: Random attribute points *2, Points *3000]

Ning Yu heard the system's prompt as soon as she extended the invitation.

It seemed that after awakening, the task rewards had become more generous.

Since she was planning to go there anyway, this task was basically free points.

"I'm Ji Mengyao!"

The punk girl with blonde hair wearing a black baseball cap extended her hand to Ning Yu and Shen Yiyue, introducing herself.

Ning Yu, being closer, quickly grabbed her hand first:

"I'm Ning Yu, and this is Shen Yiyue, Shen Qianqian's sister."

[Your friendship level: Normal]

[Detected target's Origin: Static]

[Detected target's copyable Origin ability: Death Resistance]

[Unable to copy due to low friendship level.]

Through physical contact, Ning Yu successfully detected Ji Mengyao's origin and ability.

She was indeed an awakened one.

Ning Yu had witnessed Ji Mengyao's battle with the Greedy One from afar, even before engaging.

Despite having her head pierced, she recovered completely shortly after, leaving only bloodstains.

Her expression never changed throughout, as if she couldn't feel pain.

Even when injured by mutant zombies, she showed no signs of turning.

Only an awakened one could explain all of this.

Death Resistance - it seemed to be an ability that allowed quick recovery from death.

This greatly intrigued Ning Yu.

But if it truly granted immunity to death, wouldn't that be too overpowered?

Her mind quickly worked through a possibility:

If someone didn't kill her but simply trapped her, this ability wouldn't activate.

Raw power was still most important - mere immortality might even be a drawback in certain situations.

Ji Mengyao had no idea that Ning Yu could gather so much information just from a handshake, or that she was already thinking of ways to counter her.

Ning Yu maintained a pleasant smile while shaking hands.

Ji Mengyao curiously observed this beautiful silver-haired little girl, whose delicate face resembled a porcelain doll.

Most importantly, unlike other children, she showed no fear or panic, and had even engaged in verbal sparring earlier.

She glanced at the gun-carrying Shen Yiyue and internally confirmed:

These two must definitely be awakened ones - she needed to find a way to recruit them into the settlement's exploration team.

Meanwhile, Ning Yu was calculating:

How to raise this blonde tsundere's friendship level to 'Friendly' so she could copy her [Death Resistance].

Such a great ability - hand it over!

Shen Yiyue watched these two plotting individuals, sensing the calculation in both their eyes.

The group quickly got moving, with Shen Yiyue and Ji Mengyao leading the way.

Wu Di, the man in the suit, carried a massive box on his back that looked like a coffin, walking behind to protect the children.

Ning Yu stayed near the suited man, mixing in with the other children.

She observed the expressionless Wu Di.

Despite carrying such a large box, he showed no signs of strain, not even breathing heavily, maintaining his poker face.

Ning Yu suspected he was also an awakened one, probably with super strength.

Since she hadn't seen him fight earlier, she couldn't be certain.

Along the way, Ning Yu didn't engage in combat, but Shen Yiyue killed many zombies, with the points conveniently going to Ning Yu.

Although her ability to see mutant zombies' weaknesses had been exposed, it could be attributed to awakened abilities, so she still didn't want to reveal her true capabilities.

After traveling through alleys for a while, they left the casino district.

On a moderately wide desolate road, they found a fully armed pickup truck, with all surrounding zombies already eliminated.

The front was equipped with sharp railings, clearly designed for ramming zombies.

The vehicle showed signs of extensive battle experience, covered in various marks: dried blood, mud, blade marks, and black explosion residue.

The pickup's cargo area could transport both people and goods, making it particularly useful in the apocalypse.

Wu Di quickly climbed onto the pickup's back, setting down his coffin-like box.

"Thud"

The impact seemed strong enough to make the pickup fall apart.

Then, he opened the cargo area's tail gate and reached down to help the children up one by one.

Ji Mengyao had already taken out the keys and sat in the driver's seat.

The suited man stayed in the back, showing no intention of taking the passenger seat.

Shen Yiyue wanted to stay in the back to catch up with her sister about recent events.

Ning Yu warned Shen Yiyue not to say anything unnecessary, then climbed into the passenger seat herself.

Ji Mengyao glanced at the silver-haired little girl who had climbed in but said nothing, turning the key to start the vehicle.

"Rumble"

The pickup started like a coughing old man, its entire body slightly vibrating with the engine.

Ji Mengyao pulled out a blueberry menthol ladies' cigarette from her pocket and prepared to light it.

How many had she smoked already?

So she was a chain-smoking girl?

Ning Yu glanced at her but remained silent.

However, Ji Mengyao made a move, hesitating as if reluctant to part with it.

She pulled out another cigarette from her pocket and offered it to Ning Yu:

"Want to try? Big sister's cigarettes are quite potent."

Seeing Ning Yu's young age, she had already started referring to herself as 'big sister,' trying to tempt Ning Yu down the path of smoking.

Given Ning Yu's current body, smoking wasn't really appropriate, so she waved her hand in refusal:

"Thanks, but no."

Ji Mengyao impatiently waved the cigarette, which was her treasure:

"It's a ladies' cigarette, what are you afraid of? Think you're too young to smoke?"

Ning Yu casually offered a weak excuse:

"Smoking is bad for your health."

Ji Mengyao pouted without saying anything, not understanding why someone would be so particular during the apocalypse.

She withdrew her offering hand and returned it to the steering wheel.

Suddenly, as if realizing something, she took the cigarette from her mouth, seemingly preparing to extinguish it.

However, Ning Yu stopped her:

"It's fine, go ahead and smoke. The gasoline smell in this car is really unbearable."

She understood that Ji Mengyao was worried about secondhand smoke affecting her and was about to give up her small pleasure.

Ji Mengyao looked at Ning Yu in surprise, noting the amber eyes under her silver hair showed no emotional fluctuation.

Not standing on ceremony with Ning Yu, she lit up again, taking a deep drag as the cigarette tip glowed brightly.

She showed an expression of pure contentment as she exhaled the intoxicating smoke.

Having a smoke after sawing through zombies - truly living like an immortal.

The faint blueberry menthol scent masked the unpleasant gasoline smell in the cabin, making it much better than before.

She released the clutch, stepped on the gas, and the pickup started moving.

Ning Yu watched through the window, her snow-white delicate hair floating in the hot wind coming through the window.

She seemed to remember something and asked:

"What were those two bottles you gave us earlier?"