Chapter Thirty-Five: An Ordinary Person Without Powers?

"Let's take a gamble," Xu Nuo said.

007: [What do you mean, take a gamble?!]

Somehow, a detector had appeared in Xu Nuo's hand. She headed toward the direction marked as 'living person' on the device—a place engulfed in a massive explosion.

007: [Ahhh! Don't throw your life away, host!]

The speed of descent left the system with no time to say more. Following the host's point of view, he felt as though he was being swallowed by flames, choking smoke billowing all around, stepping straight into a deathtrap without the slightest hope of survival.

"Cough, cough..." Xu Nuo couldn't help but cough as she groped her way toward the area thick with fire.

007 hurried to intervene: [Host, please submit the mission now!]

"Doesn't it need to be reviewed before it takes effect? It's not instant," Xu Nuo remembered the original contract well.

007: [I have a way—just submit it!]

"I think I can hold on a bit longer," she replied.

007: [Is this really the time to be stubborn?!]

—

Bang, bang, bang—

A shadow suddenly pressed against the window, startling the silver-haired butler in his tailcoat.

"Why do zombies keep coming over?" The cleaning maid was unfazed by the sight.

The butler, older and less composed than the servants, hurriedly called for security to clear away the zombie outside the window. "Such an unsightly scene—can't let it offend the young master's eyes."

Bang, bang, bang! The zombie seemed to hear the conversation inside, pounding the glass with increasing urgency.

"Are zombies really this clever?" one of the maids wondered aloud.

Having knocked for ages, Xu Nuo finally couldn't help herself. "I'm not a zombie," she called out.

The maid jumped in fright. "Oh my god, the zombie can talk!"

"What zombie? There's a living person outside!" The butler, more experienced, was calmer than the younger maids.

Xu Nuo looked pitiful as she pleaded, "Could you help me out and let me in?"

Even if she was alive, a living person appearing here was highly suspicious and alarming, so the butler didn't immediately let her in.

"Report this to the young master," he instructed.

"I'm about done for," Xu Nuo muttered truthfully, not trying to garner sympathy. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out a hammer.

—

"There's a living person outside?" The man, impeccably dressed in fine fabrics, swirled his wine glass languidly, lips curling in a cold, mocking smile. "Who knows whether it's a person or a ghost?"

"But sir..." The butler was about to respond when a tremor shook the floor. The house began to sway.

A maid rushed in, distraught. "Something's wrong, butler! That woman is smashing the window!"

"What?" The butler hadn't expected the stranger to resort to breaking in. "Stop her!"

Crash—a moment too late.

A shower of debris and the woman's figure burst through the shattered glass.

Plop—several lumps of charcoal landed squarely in the crystal-clear wine.

Sheng Ming's grip tightened on his glass, veins bulging on his hand.

[Beep—]

[Target detected: Sheng Ming.]

"Pft, pft, pft..." Xu Nuo, finally inside, spat out shards from her mouth, got to her feet, and dusted off her charred clothing. She tried to tidy herself, but she was a mess from head to toe, her vision blurry, soot caked on her lashes.

She said to 007, "Another target has appeared. What a coincidence."

Glancing around, she saw only indistinct figures—mostly women. Only one man stood out, tall and slender in a suit. He must be the final target, Sheng Ming.

Xu Nuo strode toward him with a broad smile, extending a friendly hand. "Hello, sorry to intrude. You must be the renowned Mr. Sheng, yes? I've heard so much about you."

The old butler stared at the woman before him—so black with soot her features were unrecognizable, yet her teeth flashed white as she smiled and held out a dirty hand. He was momentarily stunned.

"Hmm?" Xu Nuo was puzzled and sought 007's help. "Why is he ignoring me?"

007 explained with difficulty: [Sheng Ming is the eldest son of the Sheng family, heir of the Sheng Guang family that leads the northern base...]

"Oh, a domineering CEO. No wonder he doesn't want to talk to me," Xu Nuo replied.

The butler probed cautiously, "Miss, may I ask, where have you come from?"

Why did he sound so old? Xu Nuo wondered silently. "Really? Even elderly men are included in your dating game?" she asked the system.

"Heh," Sheng Ming set down his rare wine with a scornful sneer. "Take her away and find out her origins."

"Yes, young master." The butler mentally lit a candle for this reckless woman—she had soiled his master's favorite wine and incurred his wrath. She was doomed.

"Wait." Xu Nuo rubbed her eyes and finally saw that the 'man' before her was actually an old man, while on a nearby lounge chair sat a handsome man with a hostile expression.

"Let's talk this through," Xu Nuo offered as several maids tried to seize her. She slipped through their grasp like an eel, dodging every attempt—no one could catch even the corner of her clothing.

"Enough!" Sheng Ming snapped, losing patience. He raised his hand, summoning a flash of lightning that sped toward Xu Nuo.

"Ah!" The maids scattered in terror.

Xu Nuo deftly dodged the lightning bolt. Sparks crackled beside her, her face even more obscured.

Sheng Ming demanded, "Who are you?"

His words radiated an oppressive aura. It was clear he was a powerful psychic, and in a foul mood.

"Just passing by," Xu Nuo replied honestly. "With everything outside in ruins, I noticed this place was safe, so I had no choice but to come in and save my life. After all, I'm just an ordinary person without any powers."

"Heh..." Sheng Ming looked her over, unconvinced. "Butler, test her."

No one present believed Xu Nuo's claim, not even the most naive maid. The cataclysm outside was not something a normal person could survive, and she had broken through a specially fortified window. This woman was anything but simple.

And she'd known their young master's identity from the start—perhaps she had designs on him...

"What test?" Xu Nuo stood obediently as they swept a special device over her.

But the results made the butler doubt his eyes. "Young master, it's showing... no psychic ability."

"Impossible." Sheng Ming stared hard at the mysterious woman. How could an ordinary person survive that inferno outside?