Thriller Hunting Program

Chapter 3: A Beauty Boss

Translated by: Milky

Wu Shijiu felt she was wrong, really wrong. she shouldn't have judged people by their appearance in the first place, nor to mention treating Ling Chengmu as if she’s a gentle and delicate little white flower.

From her mindset to her skills, this blind lady was definitely a villainous boss material, using her blind cane as a weapon, easily cutting off the zombie’s head wherever she went. 

When Wu Shijiu got permission from Ling Chengmu, she also tried to weigh her blind cane in her own hands.

…Fuck, who has such a heavy blind cane?! Is this a cane that conquers dragons? Or is it the vajra skull crushing cane?

“Young lady, you’re born with supernatural powers.”

“Don’t call me young lady,” Ling Chengmu said, “I’m not young anymore, I’m already 26.”

Wu Shijiu thought, although she’s just 20, 26 isn’t very old either.

Yet she could understand, since she’s a black-listed criminal, she’s mature and vicissitudes psychologically.  

“It’s fine, Sis Cheng.” She changed her way of calling her immediately: “Look at Bro Chang, he’s still in good shape even if he’s 35 now.”

Chang Su wouldn’t haggle over such small matters with a little girl, on one hand it was because he’s not articulate, on the other hand it was because they’re teammates now, as a big brother, he had to maintain his tolerance.

He had always been the most responsible person in the Violent Streets System.

“W-Where should we…g-go, d-don't we have to…l-look…at the map?”

Ling Chengmu tapped her metal dial, and a green alert box popped up, originally this alert box could only be seen by the player themselves, but it could be shared with the teammates after they’ve bounded.

“Come on, tell me the surrounding orientations.”

Wu Shijiu carefully identified and reported in detail, “There is a five-star hotel 3.8 kilometers to the west, and a large supermarket 4.3 kilometers to the east. These two are in completely opposite directions, and are the two closest landmark buildings at the moment.”

“A-A f-five-star…hotel.” Chang Su muttered, “I-It's not like we…we c-can sleep…n-now.”

“Then we'll go to the supermarket.” Ling Chengmu concluded without hesitation, “It just so happens that I'm hungry and need to replenish my sugar level.”

Very good, Big Boss loves to eat sweets.

Wu Shijiu made a silent note in her heart, understanding the preferences of her teammates was important and will help enhance their relationships in the future.

…

It was only a short 4 kilometers distance from their position to the hypermarket, if it were in normal worlds, they might just reach there after a half an hour night run with their earphones on.

But it was different here, this was the most terrifying survival system ever, tournament zone No.056 [Zombie Invasion].

Every step they take might lead to being bitten right through if there was no inattentiveness.

And so this road seemed extraordinarily long.

Wu Shijiu used to be in the Love System, she was full of irritable blood yet there was nowhere to vent, all she could do was to be stifled as a cannon fodder, her best to ruin the main lead’s relationship, to complete the task given so she could continue transmigrating to another word, it was an endless and hopeless cycle.

At that time she always thought, just when can she be under some exciting system that is themed of fighting and killing?

Who knew now her wish came true just within a blink of an eye, though it was a rather weird way of it.

Though she’s experienced in being cannon fodder, she was still good at fighting, just like those bitches that fight and bully others on the streets. 

Without a useful weapon in hand, all she could do was pick up a brick, and use Chang Su as a walking human shield. She’d slap the zombies with her brick if they  pounced, and she was actually quite good, she could succeed seven or eight times out of ten.

Chang Su had always regarded the protection of vulnerable little girls as his responsibility, even if he was unarmed, his casserole-like fist was enough, not only he could firmly protect Wu Shijiu who stood behind him, but also able to break the necks of zombies with his bare hands.

If possible, he didn't even mind protecting Ling Chengmu too.

Yet unfortunately, Ling Chengmu minded.

The blind cane in the hands of Ling Chengmu swirled and danced as if it were hot wheels. She could identify one’s position through the sound they made skillfully. Her cane swayed towards left and right simultaneously, the fierce moves helped to clear a bloody road - it was really hard to imagine that she’s blind if one doesn’t know the truth.

How would one that built a house, grew vegetables and lived alone safely in the harsh environment of the Jungle System need protection?

A sharp blade popped out from the top of the blind cane and stabbed into the skull of the zombie in front of her swiftly, she backhanded it out as she kicked away the zombie corpse, then slowly wiped off the blood on the tip of the blade with the hem of her jacket.

“Mr. Chang,” she asked casually: “Are we not there yet?”

“W-We’re here.” Chang Su took a step forward. He grabbed onto her shoulders and turned her body to the right, “I-It’s…right here.”

“Okay then.”

She answered, then tapped on the ground with her blind cane, slowly walking up the staircase.

As if she became that weak and fragile blind girl again.

Wu Shijiu sighed: “Say, how could she be so skillful in her acting? As if she really needs that blind cane to help her in walking.”

“W-Who…k-knows.”

The door of the supermarket was locked from the inside by the players who arrived first.

This place was not completely overrun by zombies compared to other places, so many more people gathered one after another, all wanting to go in for temporary refuge and replenish their supplies in the meantime.

However, the players inside chose to protect themselves and were unwilling to open the door no matter what.

Wu Shijiu yelled: “It’s just the first tournament zone, seriously?! We could live longer by helping each other out, the hard days would only arrive in the near future!”

But no one listened to her, and the people inside whispered through a door, obviously with a fluke attitude of not caring.

The surrounding players tried to break in, but they had no useful weapons to use as the game had just begun, while the bricks couldn’t break through the tempered glass door.

Ling Chengmu stood quietly by the side at first, then slowly she lost her patience and frowned: “Have we broke through the door?”

A player in front of her, who was one of bad temper, turned to glare at her: “Can’t you see?!”

“Sorry then, but I can’t see.”

“...A blinded person should have consciousness, it’s good enough that you can live, stop nagging around if you ain’t helping out.”

Chang Su immediately stood out, “Man, s-stop…t-talking.”

The more he talked, the higher the possibility he’ll end up like that red-haired guy, dead before the zombies even came.

Just as his words ended, Ling Chengmu held the staff - no, the blind cane in her hands up high and started looking for a suitable angle.

She gestured with both hands and asked Wu Shijiu calmly: “The door is here, right?”

Wu Shijiu nodded: “Yes, it’s five meters in front of you, but someone is blocking the way.”

“Okay.”

With that one word, Ling Chengmu moved.

The next second, the blind cane had been thrown up high, the moment she turned her palm to hit the bottom of the blind cane, the internal mechanism started and the blind cane stretched half a meter longer, which was even beyond her height.

She turned around in place, toeing the ground and leaping up, swinging the cane with both hands with force which then accurately smashed in the upper left corner of the supermarket door. She then changed directions as she landed on the ground to smash the lower right corner.

Tempered glasses were strong in the center but fragile at the corners, not to mention the force of her thunderbolt was no ordinary force.

Thread-like cracks appeared on the glass, she pushed her cane into the center of the door, shattering the entire door on the spot.

The players inside panicked while the players outside cheered.

The male player who just spoke muttered in disbelief, “God, blind people nowadays are so powerful?”

Ling Chengmu, who had sharp hearing abilities, heard it clearly.

The blind cane made a slight tilt and landed by his neck impartially, she twisted her hands, popping out the blade in her cane, the cold blade almost cut his carotid artery.

She made a curl by her lips: “Sir, do be polite to the disabled in the future, or you won’t even know how you died.”

The male player froze for a long time, touching the blood marks cut out on the side of his neck, he was scared out of a cold sweat.

…

As the main door of the supermarket was destroyed, they couldn’t use it as a refuge anymore, all they could do now was grab some supplies before the zombie army attacked them.

Wu Shijiu found a backpack out of nowhere and started filling it as she swept through the shelves, bread, potato chips, peanuts and melon seeds, chocolate, cola, beer and mineral water…

“Little Failure.”

“...Sis Cheng, just call me Fifty-nine.”

“Alright, Fifty-nine,” Ling Chengmu said, “could you tell me where the lollipops are located?”

So Big Boss actually has such a cute preference.

She pointed forward with a complicated expression, “Go around this shelf in front of you. It’s on the second layer from the bottom.”

Ling Chengmu’s steps were light and steady, she immediately went around to the other side of the shelf, fumbled and squatted down, trying to get two bags of lollipops from the second layer.

Yet instead of the candy she was expecting, she touched a hand.

It was slightly cool and seemed to be a man's hand.

Before she withdrew her hand, her wrist was clasped by that hand, she withdrew with force again and nearly fell over.

She reacted fast, her left hand was placed on the floor to stabilize her body while her right hand swung her blind cane over.

The two fought instantly, over a dozen moves, there was still no sign of stopping, and then…

The shelf fell and collided with the opposite wall with a loud bang.

Wu Shijiu and Chang Su, who thought something had happened, came in a hurry.

Wu Shijiu was shocked when she saw the person fighting with Ling Chengmu.

“Executive Officer Qin? Why haven't you left?”

In the hospital when everyone was busy fleeing for their lives, and later meeting Ling Chengmu, subconsciously she thought Qin Ce had returned to the Time and Space Administration, who knew that not only did he not return, but also blindly skulking in the tournament zone.

Qin Ce stood in place and was propping up the fallen shelf with one hand, his expression was cold, and probably flashed through a few moments of contempt when he heard her stupid question.

“Why? Should I report to you whether I left or not?”

“Ugh, no no. You’re free to come and leave.”

“So it’s Executive Officer Qin?” Ling Chengmu smiled, “You actually wanted to bring back a pack of lollipops as you wandered in the supermarket. Such immature and sweet actions seemed to not fit your cold hearted character. How shameless.”

“There’s nothing to be proud of being a criminal that loves sweets either.”

Qin Ce’s face was cold as he pushed the shelf back in place.

The atmosphere was awkward.

The current situation was that the group of black-clad people from the Time and Space Administration were gone, leaving only Qin Ce himself here.

But given the special nature of the Hunting Program, Ling Chengmu, as one of the players who has been officially bound, could not be taken out of the system until the games had ended, so he could not arrest her.

Then all of them could only stand there staring at each other, unable to take any other practical action.

Ling Chengmu carried two bags of lollipops and pondered.

Suddenly, she hooked her fingers at Wu Shijiu and lowered her voice to ask her a question when she came near: “Does this surnamed Qin guy look good?”

She was just curious.  

Wu Shijiu was startled: “Sis Cheng, do you want me to tell you the truth or not?”

“Your words are bullshit.”

“...Okay.” There’s no way Wu Shijiu could fight against this Big Boss, so she answered honestly: “Logically speaking, I’m on your side and I should criticize Executive Officer Qin saying he is an ugly pig head, but considering the suspicion of deception, I still have to follow my conscience. He looks extremely perfect - broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs and that nobly temperament, he’s like an iceberg ascetic handsome guy, ten out of ten - but unfortunately he is not my cup of tea, I like the cheerful and enthusiastic type of guy.”

Chang Su beside heard the whole thing and couldn’t help but to stammer: “S-She didn’t…didn’t ask you…a-about your type.”

“So what! I’m just giving my opinion! Young girls love handsome men, understand?”

“B-But t-two…two hours ago, y-you said you…d-don’t want to…date.”

“Theoretically speaking, men are scumbags, but you never know someday you might meet a fish that slipped through the next, what’s wrong for me to be prepared beforehand?”

Chang Su sighed: “Y-You’re right…I-I’m…wrong.”

He’s such a kind and tolerating big brother.

Hearing that, Ling Chengmu said meaningfully: “Really? So he’s a huge hottie? Then I should touch him and see.”

She wasn’t joking about “touching”, since she couldn’t see, all she could do was touch.

She felt nothing as she only got hold onto a hand just now.

Then before Chang Su and Wu Shijiu could stop her, she extended her hand out and reached his uniform, placing her hand right on Qin Ce’s pectoral muscles.

“My, you do have a good body.”

Qin Ce frowned, his expression cold as ice with a murderous look, he pushed her hand away forefully in an instant.

With his force, if it were to be placed on the body of any ordinary people, they would be estimated to be pushed hard and fall over, but Ling Chengmu still stood in place without moving - only - she slightly tilted her head and sunglasses fell off accidentally. 

With a “snap” sound, her sunglasses fell into pieces.

When she lifted her chin, her whole face was exposed in everyone’s gaze.

Wu Shijiu covered her mouth in awe, and even Chang Su gave a heartfelt “Wow”.

“M-Miss Ling, y-you’re…you’re the b-best looking…f-female player I-...I’ve ever s-seen…i-in the system.”

He never lied, this was no polite compliment.

Previously looking at the lower half of Ling Chengmu's face, they could already sense how exquisite and charming she’d look, but now see her whole face, it was even more delicate and beautiful, it was beyond perfect.

She had a pair of long, narrow, seductive fox eyes, the end of her eyes slightly grew upwards, the mole at the corner of her eyes was like a star, every part was perfect.

Unfortunately, she was blind, so her dark eyes were lifeless, like a layer of hazy fog covering it up, otherwise with these eyes, a glance and a smile would definitely reach the extent that could charm others.

Qin Ce slightly lowered his eyes to gaze at her for a long time, then without another sound, he turned his gaze away.

His cold voice sounded: “You better not go too far.”

“Now who’s going too far?” Ling Chengmu closed her eyes, her tone unhappy: “You smashed my sunglasses, not only you didn’t apologize, but also had no intention of compensating me for my loss. Now you’re acting like a big boss? Didn’t the Time and Space Administration teach you any manners?”

“Sis, they don't teach that there.” Wu Shijiu walked towards her and tried to comfort her, “Don’t be mad, it’s just a pair of sunglasses, right? We’ll get you a new one then.”

“My eyes hurt badly when I see light, I'm not used to it without sunglasses.” After saying that, Ling Chengmu pulled off Qin Ce’s decorative tie from his uniform very quickly, “Before you compensate me a new pair of sunglasses, this tie will be mine.”

She tied the tie in front of her eyes and made a bow behind her head. There was even a part left in the air, which made her look like a blind warrior.

That was undoubtedly a provocation to Qin Ce, he could not stand it and  immediately took out handcuffs that were tied by his waist, the handcuffs swung over with a “snap” sound, obviously he was going to cuff her.

Ling Chengmu wasn’t easy to pick on either, not only she dodged away, but also dashing over to snatch it. They just stopped fighting not long ago and now they’re beginning their second fight.

The zombies had not yet been cleared, but the big bosses were now infighting.

Wu Shijiu smacked Chang Su with her elbow: “Bro Chang, you’re not afraid of being hit, why don’t you try to stop them?”

Chang Su questioned: “W-Why a-aren’t I…afraid of…being hit? I-I…I’ll feel the…pain too.”

“For the sake of unity and peace! See how busy they are in the fight?! We’ll be the unfortunate ones if the zombies come! l”

Chang Su thought her words were true, so he scratched his head and took a firm step forward, intending to persuade them to stop the fight with his body.

He carefully weighed his words before speaking them out.

“G…Guys, c-calm down…a-and talk…d-don’t be mad.”

Click. 

As an answer, the crisp sound of the metal clasping together sounded.

At the same time, both Ling Chengmu and Qing Ce put their movements on hold.

They lowered their heads.

One thing about the things of Time And Space Administration was they were of high quality, but just why did they even handcuffed themselves without noticing?

And it was Ling Chengmu’s left hand handcuffed together with Qing Ce’s right hand.

They both went silent.

Hah, now that’s a coincidence.