Chapter 346: Proving Strength

The mysterious woman's sharply defined lips were pressed tightly together; she seemed aware her appearance would shock the other, yet showed no surprise, her eyes utterly calm.

"Can you even speak?"

Zhang Su closed his notebook and focused entirely on the conversation; after the collapse, she was the only person standing before him who made him feel threatened—and she was a woman, for fuck's sake!

The mysterious woman slowly shook her head, then extended her hand, signaling: give me the notebook back.

"Write down your situation clearly."

Zhang Su tossed it lightly.

The mysterious woman reached out with effortless grace, snatching the notebook midair, then scribbled swiftly—this time taking longer, filling several pages—before tossing it back.

The handwriting resembled a kindergartener's: strange, uneven strokes mixed with pinyin, conveying that her companion was badly injured, resting at a nearby safe spot, unable to move.

"Fuck, communicating with someone who can't talk is such a pain!"

Zhang Su grew impatient—then, the moment he finished speaking, she spoke.

She rattled off a stream of rapid speech, then gave Zhang Su and Wu Lue a crisp, decisive nod.

Whoosh—a cold wind swept through. Zhang Su and Wu Lue stared at each other, stunned.

"What the… how the hell did a Japanese girl just show up?"

Zhang Su's expression twisted with disbelief; he wasn't as obsessed with teachers as Wu Lue, but he'd watched enough anime to recognize the language. With her slow pace, he could tell it was Japanese—and he vaguely recalled the final word sounded like "please."

The others in the vehicle were equally stunned. Wang Xin's lips twitched: "Damn, we really got an Ishii Yoren…"

"Luezi, you love learning from teachers, right? Go talk to her."

Zhang Su shoved Wu Lue forward.

"Boss, don't joke around…"

Wu Lue waved his hands frantically, face strained: "My Japanese is basic—just a few phrases, useless here! Yeah, I've got a translation app on my phone—if she's not mute, we're fine!"

Wu Lue frantically pulled out three phones, grabbing one: "It does real-time translation—super convenient!"

"You get excited every time you see a Japanese girl, huh?" Zhang Su rolled his eyes, then turned to the Japanese woman: "I've got translation software. Drop your weapons and come talk."

Though she understood Mandarin, she needed a moment to process—especially since Zhang Su demanded she disarm. After hesitation, she complied, slowly pulling weapons from her body and laying them on the ground.

"Boss, she's got a gun!"

Wu Lue's heart clenched—the pile of junk beside her included a pistol.

"It's been months since the collapse. Surviving this long with a gun isn't surprising. The real question is: does she have a second?" Zhang Su stepped closer to the woman: "My friend suspects you're hiding more weapons. We need to search you."

"Dude, I don't wanna go…" Wu Lue panicked. He liked women, sure—but only teacher-types. This one looked terrifying.

The Japanese woman, as usual, processed the words, frowned, then pointed at Wu Lue's phone—clearly requesting language assistance.

"See what she says."

Zhang Su gestured for Wu Lue to place the phone before her.

Soon, the Japanese woman spoke into the phone.

Wu Lue took the phone and stared at the screen with Zhang Su, muttering: "I mean no harm to you or anyone in the vehicle? Boss, she saw Bo and the others!"

Zhang Su waved him silent, then said to the woman: "Understand the situation—you came to us for help. You must show sincerity. A search is necessary. Cooperate, or we walk away."

After listening, the Japanese woman took a deep breath, raised her arms, tilted her head up—clearly saying: search me.

"Go."

Zhang Su nodded toward Wu Lue.

Wu Lue pointed at himself: "Boss, you're serious?"

"You got the chance and you're useless?"

"Fine, fine, I'll go!"

Wu Lue handed the phone to Zhang Su with a grim face, trudged forward, and began patting down the Japanese woman—keeping his eyes strictly on the search areas, avoiding her piercing gaze, his mind utterly clean.

Despite complaints and fears, he did thorough work—searching front to back, top to bottom. Aside from a metal amulet, he found no sharp or offensive weapons.

"Only this amulet could be dangerous," Wu Lue handed the item to Zhang Su.

Zhang Su examined it: the finely crafted amulet bore characters both familiar and strange—clearly blessings or prayers. What surprised him was the material—it looked like pure gold?

The texture, weight, and luster all screamed gold. If true, her background must've been substantial—though that meant nothing now.

Zhang Su tossed the amulet back. In this world, gold was useless—he needed something with real value.

"Tell me about your companion. Male or female? What nationality?"

The Japanese woman replied.

"Female. Your country's person."

"Our country?"

Wu Lue blinked at the translation: "Boss, someone from our country's hurt. Do we save them?"

Zhang Su had assumed she was Japanese—this answer surprised him. He didn't answer Wu Lue, but fixed his gaze on the woman: "Give me a reason to save your companion. Don't say 'fellow countryman'—I won't accept it."

The Japanese woman replied.

"You can make demands. I'll carry them out."

Zhang Su rubbed his chin. The offer held no appeal. He thought a moment: "You carried so many weapons, survived this long—you've killed zombies. How strong are you? And your companion?"

From the drone footage, he'd seen she was skilled—but how skilled? If her companion had even moderate ability, adding two fighters to the camp would help. The camp was flooded with laborers, critically short on combatants.

After hearing him, the Japanese woman's expressionless face broke into a faint smile—her sharp lips curled upward. She pointed to the weapons behind her and rattled off a string of words.

"If you want to know my strength, send someone to fight me. I won't hurt them—but if you lose, you treat my companion."

Zhang Su read the translation, smirked oddly: "Girl, you've got a misunderstanding. This isn't a duel. Even if you win, why should I treat your companion? Winning just proves you're strong. And you won't win."

The Japanese woman fell silent for over ten seconds—likely thinking of a counter.

"If I win, it proves my strength—and I can do more for you. You can order me to kill zombies, kill people—I'll do it."

"Ha. A killer?"

Zhang Su raised an eyebrow. Her tone suggested real ability, and her sharp features gave off an aura of power—but it was still just an impression. Reality needed proof.

"That's slightly more sincere. Fine. You… come on down." Zhang Su turned and waved at the vehicle. When the door opened, he said: "Bozi, test her skills. Don't hold back!"

Of everyone present, only Lu Yubo and Zhang Su could fight anyone without restraint. Zhang Su wouldn't fight himself.

"Don't hold back?" Lu Yubo grinned as he stepped down: "Alright, I'll go all out!"

He pulled out his grain sampling tool, his expression growing feverish.

He stepped before the Japanese woman: "How do we fight? Forget it—I don't understand you. Let's go to the middle of the road."

Lu Yubo was thrilled. Since the collapse, he'd only fought zombies. It had been ages since a real human duel with cold weapons—always just gunfire, hormones never fully kicked in before it ended. Boring!

The Japanese woman gestured for him to move to the center of the road, then backed slowly to where she'd dropped her weapons, picking up a thin steel rod.

"Boss, what's she planning?"

Wang Xin asked, unable to hold back.

Zhang Su crossed his arms: "She says her companion is injured and wants us to treat them."

"What? That's urgent—why waste time proving her strength?"

Wang Xin found it strange.

Wu Lue shrugged, face twisted: "That's how Japanese people are—always overcomplicating everything. Maybe her companion's injury isn't that bad…"

"Boss, I feel… I think… maybe…"

"What the hell are you trying to say?"

Zhang Su glanced at Chen Hanzhou, who was hesitating—unlike his usual self.

"I think this woman's dangerous. Maybe warn them not to go too hard."

Chen Hanzhou leaned close, whispering.

His relationship with Lu Yubo, because of Pei Lan, had always been awkward—neither good nor bad, just tense. So he spoke carefully about Lu Yubo.

"You noticed too?"

Zhang Su had sensed the woman's strong aura and sharp demeanor—possibly skilled. But when she picked up the thin steel rod, something shifted.

Before, she was an unsheathed sword. Now, she was a blade fully drawn.

(End of Chapter)