Apocalypse King: Recruiting S-Tier Beauties With My Ruler System
Chapter 95: Becoming The One They Need

Chapter 95: Becoming The One They Need

March 17th, 20xx— 11:12 PM

Longwan University — North Block, Ruined Lecture Theatre → Footbridge to East Gym.

—

[Rank Increased — Raid Leader --> Outpost Commander [7/60]

[Safe Zone increased — 48,000 sq ft (6 Floors)]

[All stats +0.2]

I didn’t smile. But I felt it.

The warmth spread outward from my chest — a low, settling hum as if something deep inside finally acknowledged the damage I’d taken and decided to reward me for surviving it.

I didn’t touch the talent point yet.

Not now.

The air in the auditorium felt thick, too warm from all the bodies, but strangely still. No growling. No pounding fists. The silence left behind in the aftermath of screaming was heavier than any roar. Everyone stood in it.

Deng Hua checked the pistol again. Clicked it open. Ejected the mag. Looked it over like he was trying to decide if it had betrayed him. He didn’t ask for help this time. Just reloaded slower. Methodical. Tired, but alive.

I glanced at him once.

He didn’t flinch this time.

Zhou Xue had taken a position near the west corridor. Her blade rested across her thighs, head tilted back against the wall, her eyes half-lidded but still focused. Her breathing had slowed too much for comfort, but she hadn’t let the blade drop.

Chen Xun sat now, rather than crouched. He’d slid down the wall sometime during the last few minutes and hadn’t made an effort to rise since. He blinked when I looked at him. I left him alone.

Shen Yifei stayed near the barricade.

She hadn’t spoken again after Mu Qinglan’s line. I saw her knuckles tightening around the spear’s grip every few seconds, then relaxing. A rhythm. An outlet.

She watched me. Then looked at Mu Qinglan. Then looked away.

The tension didn’t need words.

Mu Qinglan hadn’t moved either. She stood just inside the arc of light from the ruined ceiling lamps, half-shadowed, one leg crossed slightly over the other, the bat tucked behind her arm now like an extension of her body.

She didn’t speak. Didn’t watch me this time.

Instead, she looked toward Shen Yifei’s back. Not curious. Not hostile. Just thoughtful, like she was calculating something that hadn’t mattered a few minutes ago.

Liang Qiu finished resetting the barricade. She stepped back once to check alignment — then leaned into the corner with her pipe across her lap. Her forearm was bleeding. She hadn’t told anyone.

I walked over to Liang Mei.

She was upright now, slowly stretching her arms, the sleeves of her sweater pushed back just enough to show how pale her skin really was. Her knees were shaking — not visibly, but I saw it in the way she gripped the edge of a broken bench to balance herself.

"You shouldn’t stand yet," I said quietly.

"I should," she replied. "Even if I fall."

It wasn’t pride. Just the quiet weight of someone who had already decided they weren’t allowed to be the weakest person in the room anymore.

I handed her back one of the spare mags.

"You won’t need this," I said, "but you’ll want to feel like you might."

Liang Mei accepted it without hesitation.

Her hands were still trembling when she checked the chamber on the Type-9k.

"Single shot?"

I nodded. "Anything more will throw you."

She gave a faint smile.

"I won’t pretend to be useful. But I’ll pretend to pretend."

That got a single breath out of me. Almost a laugh. Almost.

Footsteps echoed faintly beyond the east wall.

Three.

No voices.

Too far to be our people.

Too quiet to be a horde.

Everyone tensed again.

Zhou Xue straightened. Deng Hua raised his pistol. Chen Xun reached instinctively for his weapon and immediately winced.

Mu Qinglan didn’t lift her bat.

She just stared toward the wall and narrowed her eyes.

"Decision time," Shen Yifei said softly.

I haven’t answered yet.

We couldn’t stay here.

But moving meant entering the unknown with people barely able to walk, with Shen Yifei’s temper flaring, and Mu Qinglan drifting colder than before.

I stared at the wall.

The footsteps paused.

Then moved again — faster now, less careful.

I exhaled and spoke without looking back.

"We move in two minutes."

Silence behind me.

But no one argued.

———

When we left...

There were a few choices. I just let the kids guide us as I didn’t know this place, and finally, we reached the exit of the labs.

The door groaned on its hinges as I pushed it open.

Cool air swept over us — sharp and dry, like old concrete left too long without the sun.

The hallway was narrow and filled with broken wood and mess. The ceiling was low with half-lit panels buzzing overhead.

I stepped through first.

The others followed, slower and more concerned.

Zhou Xue limped quietly behind me, one hand resting on the wall for balance. Her blade was still red. Shen Yifei flanked her without a word, eyes locked forward. Deng Hua supported Chen Xun on one side; the younger boy’s weight dragged at him, but he didn’t complain.

Mu Qinglan came last.

She didn’t look tired — not the way the others did. But there was something tight in the way her shoulders moved. Something irritated her and wore her down.

She was pissed.

"This building’s a maze," she muttered. "If we’re going in circles, say so."

"We’re not," I said.

"Feels like it."

"We’ve got one more stairwell. Then the bridge."

She didn’t answer. Just let the bat rest against her shoulder with a heavier clunk than necessary.

"There’s a place we can stay," Zhou Xue said behind me. "Old gym. Second floor. My club room. The archery team used to leave spare mats and supplies there."

I glanced back. "Locked?"

"It locks from the inside. One entrance."

I nodded. "Good enough."

We moved.

The stairwell was dark — motion lights half-fried from age or fire. I led them down one flight, then through a twisted hall littered with overturned cabinets. Flies buzzed somewhere deeper in the dark.

Liang Mei stumbled once, caught herself.

I slowed.

"You okay?"

She nodded, but her lips were pale. "It’s like my chest’s being pulled inward."

"Hold onto Yifei."

"I can manage."

Shen Yifei hesitated — then looped one hand under Liang Mei’s elbow without being asked.

No one commented.

Mu Qinglan was watching, though. Her eyes narrowed. She didn’t offer help. Didn’t move.

I pushed open the next door.

Cool air again — this time colder. The footbridge stretched ahead, maybe fifteen meters long. No cover. Railings on either side, waist-high. The far door into the gym building was closed, but intact.

Zhou Xue stepped up beside me. "This bridge is how I used to cut across when I was late. Avoided all the crowds."

"Still clear?"

"It better be."

We crossed single file.

I took the point. Shen Yifei followed with Liang Mei. Zhou Xue in the centre. Deng Hua and Chen Xun behind her. Mu Qinglan took the rear.

Wind hit halfway through — sharp and sudden. Carried the scent of smoke and something rotting far off.

Behind me, I heard Mu Qinglan click her tongue.

"This pace is ridiculous."

"Then pass them," I said.

She didn’t. Just stayed where she was.

"No offense," she added, "but when you’ve got two kids hanging off each other and a corpse pretending to limp—"

"Shut it," Zhou Xue said. Her voice wasn’t loud. But it was final.

Mu Qinglan exhaled through her nose.

We made it to the gym side.

The door opened with a long creak. The hallway beyond was empty. Banners still hung from the ceiling — faded reds and yellows for some forgotten sports team.

We turned the corner.

Second stairwell. Two floors up. The steps groaned.

No infected.

Just silence.

Zhou Xue led us this time.

She reached the club door, pulled a key from under the frame, and shoved it into the lock. It clicked open. Heavy wood swung wide.

Inside smelled like dust and canvas.

Mats. Spare jackets. A few targets lined the far wall. It was dry. Tight. Clean.

"Welcome to the Archery Club," she said.

Shen Yifei slumped into a pile of old cushions. Liang Mei sat slowly, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Deng Hua helped Chen Xun onto a mat and then dropped beside him with a grunt.

Mu Qinglan stood in the doorway.

Still.

But watching me.

I could feel something off with her gaze... the way she huffed, and sighed. It wasn’t like her, but with the others here.

I couldn’t...

Finally, she walked past without a word and opened the side room, which caused Zhou Xue to react, but when she saw me follow, I just nodded, and she looked confused for a moment.

But turned away with her cheeks red after a moment.

Inside the small room... There were several safety mats... and cloth, which Qinglan probably yanked off the shelf, and piled them into a makeshift bed.

Mu Qinglan looked up at me, her eyes fiery with a blue glow, and her legs were open just wide enough to invite a careless mistake. Her eyes never left mine.

"Shut the door."

She blew the hair from her face with a huff.

I noticed the lock on the inside of the door... and flicked it up with a loud clack.

...This room wouldn’t stay quiet long.