Cultivation Partner Reborn in the Apocalypse

After speaking, he seemed to soften, reminiscing, "He was the first person I saved, the first to treat me so well. I grew up in a single-parent home, with only my mother, no father. When the apocalypse began, my mother turned into a zombie. I couldn't bring myself to kill her, but I also didn't want to die by her hands, so I left her behind."

I thought I would never feel the warmth of family again, but after meeting Old Chen, he gave me the sense of a father's love.

Yes, I did use Old Chen for the potions he made for me, but wasn't it because whenever your esper teams came around, you always dealt us a harsh blow? With your habit of plucking every feather, if we didn't devise ways to counter you, how many of us would still be alive? Everyone is just looking at things from their own perspective of interest; no one should mock the other.

I thought I would never feel the warmth of family again, but after meeting Old Chen, he gave me the sense of a father's love.

Yes, I did use Old Chen for the potions he made for me, but wasn't it because whenever your esper teams came around, you always dealt us a harsh blow? With your habit of plucking every feather, if we didn't devise ways to counter you, how many of us would still be alive? Everyone is just looking at things from their own perspective of interest; no one should mock the other.

I'm willing to negotiate with you, but it's only to put forward a few demands. I know you want my spatial ability to transport more supplies.

I also know you're a high-level esper I can't handle. If I don't agree to your terms, I might meet a terrible end.

In truth, we shouldn't have any bargaining chips, but I believe you're not completely heartless. My conditions will offer you some benefits as well."

Xu Nuo, somewhat annoyed by Zhu Xiao's long-winded speech, didn't care about the conditions he was about to propose. For him, nothing was more important than the bet he had just made with Park Su.

So, he interrupted Zhu Xiao to confirm once more, "So, you're willing to talk because of Old Chen, not because of your power base? Because you see him as your father and don't want to leave him worried without explanation, right?"

After being interrupted, Zhu Xiao was dazed; he was just building up to his conditions, hoping to persuade Xu Nuo to take his people away from here, but Xu Nuo had circled back to the same topic.

He couldn't understand why Xu Nuo was so fixated on this issue, but since he asked again, Zhu Xiao nodded once more, "Yes, that's the main reason.

And the conditions I'm about to mention will make it very clear that I'm not agreeing to join you just because I've lost my village's influence!"

He thought this would at least provoke some reaction, make them curious about his conditions, but the expressions of the two before him were entirely different.

Captain Xu Nuo, who had been stern-faced since meeting him, now wore a broad, happy smile, though his gaze wasn't on Zhu Xiao but on the rather appetizing-looking deputy leader beside him.

The deputy leader, on the other hand, was looking at him with a face full of resignation, clearly not in a good mood, and somehow, Zhu Xiao felt this displeasure was connected to him.

He truly didn't understand how his words could have provoked them, so he just sat there waiting for their response, pulling his neck in slightly, aware of his precarious situation.

Meanwhile, Xu Nuo was energetically communicating with Park Su through psychic means about their bet. After getting Park Su's reluctant confirmation, Xu Nuo returned his attention to the matter at hand with a much better mood, his gaze towards Zhu Xiao softening a bit.

Zhu Xiao felt more and more that he couldn't fathom these two, so when their eyes turned back to him, he quickly stated his demands, not wanting to elaborate further.

"As long as you agree to take those villagers who don't want to stay in the village, along with Old Chen's research team, away from here to the nearest base, then I'll join you."

This condition indeed took Xu Nuo by surprise. He narrowed his eyes, "Didn't you say that once they go to the base, ordinary people would lose their dignity? Why are you now pushing them into the tiger's den?"

Zhu Xiao, unfazed by Xu Nuo using his own words against him, retorted, "Better to live on ignobly than die nobly; perhaps they might survive until the end of the apocalypse?"

Xu Nuo didn't mind Zhu Xiao's self-contradiction; what he cared about was the outcome. He wasn't particularly interested in Zhu Xiao's ulterior motives. Since he had Zhu Xiao in his grasp, he wasn't worried about any schemes. Moreover, in the face of absolute power, all strategies were insignificant.

His intent now was to negotiate down Zhu Xiao's terms to maximize his own benefits. He gave a cold smile, "You think quite highly of your own value, don't you?

On what grounds do you think a peak second-tier esper like you deserves me to both enhance your abilities and expend effort to relocate your people from this town to S Base?

While space ability users are indeed rare, they are not irreplaceable, are they? But your life is singular; once lost, it's gone for good.

So, it's not me who should be courting you, but you who should be courting me. Don't you understand that?"

Zhu Xiao's face turned pale at these words. He had been focused on Xu Nuo wanting to recruit him, forgetting that if Xu Nuo didn't value his abilities, his life was at risk.

Xu Nuo's reminder made him anxious, but he steadied himself to remain calm. He knew if Xu Nuo brought this up, it meant he still saw some value in him. What he needed now was to increase his own worth in Xu Nuo's eyes.

However, he couldn't quite grasp what Xu Nuo saw in him. In terms of combat power, he was no match for Xu Nuo, and Xu Nuo didn't seem to lack followers with similar abilities in his team.

When it came to storage, he did have some skill, but as Xu Nuo pointed out, space ability users weren't unique to him alone.

Moreover, storing items might not be as useful as one thought, especially if he died and the stored items couldn't be retrieved afterward. In that case, wouldn't he just be a liability, requiring the team to protect him at all costs to avoid the waste of their efforts? They'd also have to guard against him turning traitor and running off with the supplies.

Thinking this way, Zhu Xiao felt he might not be very useful after all.

Could Xu Nuo be interested in his teleportation ability? But Xu Nuo's speed seemed no less than his own. After much thought, Zhu Xiao couldn't fathom what Xu Nuo wanted, so he spoke hesitantly, "With just me here, I can't think of anything else to offer in exchange. Why don't you just tell me what you want? If it's within my power, I won't be stingy."

Seeing Zhu Xiao's earnestness, Xu Nuo nodded and stated plainly, "Although you say you're willing to join us."

"But this promise is just something you can commit to with a flick of your lips, whereas my allowing you to join isn't about you temporarily joining this esper team but becoming part of the elite squad that Park Su and I plan to establish.

What I want is complete obedience to my commands, following my leadership without questioning, not blabbing about things you shouldn't see or hear, and absolutely no betrayal.

I'm not looking for someone who wants to join while keeping an escape route open, thinking about when to return. When I say join, I mean there's no turning back. Do you understand this?"

Zhu Xiao was not foolish; he understood the implication of Xu Nuo's words. It seemed Xu Nuo had grand plans, though what kind of team he intended to build was unknown to Zhu Xiao. However, it was clear he was one of the talents Xu Nuo valued.

Since Xu Nuo thought his abilities weren't particularly practical and doubted his character, what exactly did Xu Nuo see in him? With this in mind, Zhu Xiao voiced his question.

Xu Nuo didn't keep it from him, saying, "I can't tell you everything now, but I can share one point: Old Chen is currently your most crucial link.

With you around, no matter where he conducts his research, you'll be informed of the outcomes.

Secondly, rather than saying I value your skill, I value you as a person. Your ability to make these survivors blindly follow you is a skill in itself.

Perhaps one day, this skill could prove very useful. As for your ability, to be honest, it's not particularly impressive right now.

But once I help you break through, who knows what new discoveries we might find? However, I do not want to toil to elevate you, only for you to grow and then turn your back on what I've done for you, seeking your own path.

I'm very vindictive and detest betrayal. If that happens, I will do everything in my power to eliminate such a person."

As Xu Nuo finished speaking, Zhu Xiao could feel the killing intent in his voice, causing him to involuntarily flinch.

Noticing Zhu Xiao's reaction, Xu Nuo felt his warning had taken effect and thus softened his demeanor. Standing there with an air of nonchalance, he said lightly, "I've laid out the conditions; you should understand them well. Are you still willing to join us?"

Park Su, standing opposite, was somewhat bewildered by Xu Nuo's talk of forming a team with him; he hadn't heard about this plan before.

However, he knew not to undermine Xu Nuo at this moment and decided to question him about it after dealing with the current situation.

For now, he wanted to see how Zhu Xiao would decide, whether he could give up his freedom for the people he cared about, especially Old Chen, who he equated to a father, to follow Xu Nuo indefinitely.