"Maybe... maybe you could come to our living quarters first? There are more people there, we can form a team to go together."
"What's your major?" Han Ning asked.
"We're all landscape architecture students..."
"Landscape architecture... not very useful."
Han Ning was about to refuse, but remembering he needed someone knowledgeable in agriculture, he nodded.
"Lead the way."
He summoned vines that wrapped around the trio's waists.
As light shimmered, the Rejuvenation's Spiritual Power flowed through the vines, healing their external injuries.
This was a little trick he'd developed.
...
Through further questioning, Han Ning learned that A Jun and the others had been attacked by Fishmen while searching for food outside.
Most survivors encountered in the wild were attacked for this same reason.
Who would risk venturing out if they weren't desperate for food?
To Han Ning's surprise... A Jun was actually an Awakened, with speed-based abilities, though newly awakened and still weak.
Guided by A Jun, Han Ning led the shaken trio through the flooded areas to a relatively intact dormitory building in the southern district of the agricultural university.
The first floor was submerged, but everything above the third floor remained above water, with windows boarded up or barricaded, showing tight security.
"Who goes there?! Halt!"
Han Ning's distinctive appearance immediately drew intense scrutiny from the dorm's survivors.
Guards inside called out to stop him.
Several wary gazes peered through gaps in the barricades.
Ignoring the warnings, Han Ning said to A Jun:
"Go, bring out whoever's in charge here, or anyone who can speak for the group."
A Jun didn't dare delay, quickly nodding before struggling up the stairs with Lin Wei, who'd just caught her breath, supporting their unconscious companion.
Soon, sounds of running and shouting echoed through the dormitory.
Before long, with A Jun's recommendation, Han Ning entered the building and ascended to the third floor.
When he arrived, the corridor was packed—easily over a hundred people at first glance.
Most were young students, their mental states relatively stable.
Some older men and women, likely teachers or staff, were mixed in.
There were also individuals with noticeably sharper demeanors—probably other Awakened.
Han Ning's appearance instantly silenced the previously noisy hallway.
All eyes turned to him.
He had now shed his gills, returning to normal human appearance.
Scanning the crowd, Han Ning spoke before the survivors could:
"Who's your strongest Awakened here? Or who's currently in charge? Step forward."
As his words faded,
the crowd's gaze unanimously shifted to a man at the forefront.
He appeared to be in his early thirties, not particularly tall, with strong facial features.
Facing their collective attention, the man tacitly acknowledged his position.
"I'm Zou Yu."
"Currently coordinating affairs here. And you are?" Zou Yu examined Han Ning with skeptical eyes.
. A Passing Awakened
"Han Ning, a passing Awakened."
Han Ning introduced himself briefly before continuing,
"Leader Zou, I'd like to recruit someone among you who specializes in agricultural cultivation—particularly in crop breeding, soil fertilization, and pest control."
"A teacher would be best. I need them to manage a planting area for me."
"In exchange, I can provide some food within my means or fulfill one request."
Zou Yu and the surrounding students and teachers were baffled by Han Ning's presumptuous demeanor.
Imagine a complete stranger, whose background and strength were unknown, suddenly appearing before you and demanding to recruit one of your companions.
Most people would find it absurd.
"Recruit an expert?" Zou Yu frowned, clearly skeptical.
"At a time like this, you expect us to trust a sudden, unknown outsider?"
"Empty promises mean nothing. Why should we believe you have the capability, or that you'll keep your word after taking someone away?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"The people here have survived by supporting each other. You can't just waltz in and take someone."
"You don't trust me, perhaps because you're unfamiliar with the extent of my abilities."
Han Ning understood their skepticism.
Though his approach might come off as arrogant or pretentious, he believed it was the most efficient method.
He smiled.
"Seems like I'll need to provide some proof."
He had already observed discreetly.
Fishman monsters still roamed the outskirts of the dormitory area, meaning this group's supernatural abilities couldn't be too advanced.
As his words fell, the air around Han Ning twisted slightly. Without warning, dark green Vines shot out from the void in front of him, at his sides, and even behind him.
They swayed slowly, shimmering with an emerald glow, coiling around Han Ning like serpents, exuding an inexplicable pressure.
"Please step back into the dormitory rooms on either side. Clear a ten-meter path in the middle."
No one dared hesitate.
Under the intimidating presence of the Vines, the crowd retreated like a tide into the dormitory doors on both sides, leaving a ten-meter-long passage in the center.
Zou Yu's expression darkened, but he remained standing. He understood Han Ning's target was him.
"Whether you're willing or not, I'll give you three seconds to prepare. After that, I'll attack indiscriminately."
"Three." Han Ning began the countdown.
The Vines around him swayed faster, pressing an invisible weight onto Zou Yu.
"You bastard…"
Facing the calm man before him, Zou Yu felt an inexplicable pressure.
The Energy within him seemed to surge faster in response to the Vines Han Ning had unleashed.
"Whoosh!"
A pale blue flame ignited in midair, rapidly spreading to form a blazing wall of fire before him.
The flames flickered, radiating scorching heat—his Awakened ability.
"Two." Han Ning didn't pause.
The pale blue fire wall had just solidified, its wavering light casting shadows over Zou Yu's stern face.
"One."
The moment the word left his lips, the dozen motionless dark green Vines suddenly lashed out.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
They transformed into streaks of emerald lightning, tearing through the air at speeds beyond visual perception.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
The pale blue fire wall didn't even hold for half a second before being forcibly pierced with over a dozen holes.
The flames swayed violently, emitting a "hissing" lament as they were forcibly extinguished by an invisible force.
"This... so fast!"
Zou Yu's pupils contracted, his eyes reflecting the afterimages of dark green streaks.
The gravity on his face instantly transformed into shock.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
Whoosh~
A gentle breeze blew past.
Ruffling his slightly long hair.
In the blink of an eye, the tips of over a dozen dark green Vines had somehow silently come to a stop less than ten centimeters from his body.
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