Chapter 37: Mutated Animals

The mutated cats were incredibly fast and unwilling to engage in a prolonged fight, quickly forcing the two into a defensive position.

"These beasts are quite cunning!"

Lin Qingqing let out a cold snort, and four ice blades materialized in the air. She kept her eyes locked on a mutated tabby cat preparing to lunge at her. The moment it leaped, she fired the four blades from different directions toward its abdomen, head, and neck, forcing the creature to twist mid-air to evade the lethal strikes.

Lin Qingqing had been waiting for exactly this moment. Gripping her ice blade with both hands, she swung forcefully in the direction the cat had turned, delivering a fatal blow. A shrill, harrowing cry pierced the air; the mutated tabby was unable to dodge, and its head and body were sliced in half. It tumbled backward, blood spraying across the ground.

This display effectively intimidated the remaining mutated cats, and Lin Qingqing and Lei Min seized the opportunity to dash forward more than ten meters.

Just as they were about to successfully escape the pack, a "leader cat"—significantly larger than the rest—appeared ahead, blocking their path. It was a long-haired cat with distinct markings. The fur around its neck stood high on end, and its glass-like eyes glowed with a faint, eerie green light.

It stared at the two women, moved forward to sniff the carcass of its companion, and then bared its fangs, letting out a sharp, piercing shriek at the pack.

Encouraged by their leader’s command, the previously intimidated cats went mad and swarmed the two women once more.

"You defend, I’ll attack," Lin Qingqing instructed quickly.

"Right!" Lei Min replied firmly, without a shred of doubt in Lin Qingqing’s judgment.

Although her ability lacked the raw lethality of Lin Qingqing’s ice blades, the paralyzing effect of her electricity proved unexpectedly effective against the mutated cats. Every cat struck by her electrified metal pipe momentarily lost the ability to move.

Back-to-back, the two fought off the cats attacking from all sides. A dozen or more beasts charged, only to be wounded and driven back, again and again. It was not until more than ten cats were dead and the rest were severely injured that the leader finally ordered a retreat.

Finally granted a moment to breathe, Lin Qingqing and Lei Min dared not let their guard down. Both had exhausted most of their energy and sustained several wounds, yet the mutated cats on the other side showed no intention of leaving.

The leader cat paced forward, stopping five meters away. It lowered its body, raised its fluffy tail, and stared at them with bloodthirsty eyes.

That gaze made both women’s spines tingle, causing their hair to stand on end. Lei Min gripped her slightly bent steel pipe, while Lin Qingqing, refusing to be distracted, put away her other blades, keeping only one in her hand.

Suddenly, a blur flashed across their field of vision. Lin Qingqing’s pupils constricted, and she stepped forward, shielding Lei Min. A dull "thud" rang out, followed by the screeching sound of claws scraping against ice. In the nick of time, Lin Qingqing had manifested ice armor over her body. However, the armor only shielded her vital areas, and her arm, unprotected in the haste, was raked by a claw, leaving a wound deep enough to reveal the bone.

The entire sequence happened in a flash. Lei Min had only seen a dark shadow before being pulled behind Lin Qingqing.

*Sister Lin is hurt?*

Her heart sank. She immediately lunged from behind Lin Qingqing. Just as the leader cat recoiled from colliding with the ice armor, Lei Min swung her pipe, crackling with intense voltage, toward the creature’s head.

This was the result of Lei Min pushing her ability to the limit; the intense current generated such heat that the steel pipe began to glow red. The leader cat, sensing the danger, abandoned its attack on Lin Qingqing, tapped its paws against the ice armor, and twisted its body to barely evade the strike.

Although the leader cat dodged the lethal blow, its fur was scorched by the electrical discharge as it grazed the pipe, and one of the claws on its right front paw was snapped off by the impact with the ice armor.

Now, the mutated leader sat on a rooftop, licking its bleeding paw while glaring at them with undiminished spite.

Lin Qingqing’s arm was bleeding, the blood flowing down the back of her hand onto the ice blade, where it froze into a streak of red ice.

"Be careful, this cat is highly intelligent," she whispered to Lei Min, her voice raspy.

"How are you?" Lei Min asked, full of concern.

"I'm fine." Lin Qingqing took the moment to form a thin mist of ice over the wound, stopping the bleeding. She then manifested new ice blades, ready to take the initiative.

The leader cat watched the two humans, its gaze like that of a predator assessing two very tough bones to chew. It hesitated for a long while, let out a few agitated meows, and finally decided to abandon the hunt. It turned and retreated, leading its disheartened, battered pack away.

Watching them disappear into the woods, the two women finally sighed in relief. They hurried into their vehicle, locked the doors and windows, and with Lei Min behind the wheel, quickly fled the area.

Back at the dormitory where they had stayed the previous night, Lei Min found the bandages in the car and wrapped Lin Qingqing’s injured arm, finishing with a neat bow.

"You’re quite skilled at bandaging," Lin Qingqing remarked, moving her arm and finding the tension just right.

"I took a Red Cross rescue training course," Lei Min replied, pursing her lips.

*So that’s it,* Lin Qingqing thought, nodding without further inquiry. They were just two people who had met by chance; there was no need to know too much.

"Let’s go. We need to leave this place now!"

Lin Qingqing drove with one hand, steering straight along the small path they had taken to enter the wetland park. She wasn't sure if the mutated cats would return for revenge, so it was best to leave immediately.

Lei Min watched Lin Qingqing’s injured arm, wanting to say something, but the words died on her lips. After several attempts, even Lin Qingqing noticed her hesitation.

"What do you want to say?"

"I..."

She had promised she wouldn't be a burden, yet Lin Qingqing had taken a hit for her and ended up injured. Seeing the wound, she couldn't bring herself to suggest they team up.

Seeing Lei Min’s conflicted expression, Lin Qingqing understood the girl’s hesitation. The girl was actually quite capable—she had great talent, good combat instincts, and they had worked well together. But Lin Qingqing still felt she didn't need a partner. She was used to being alone, and having someone else around felt unnatural to her.

Seeing Lei Min’s struggle, she decided to let the matter drop and did not press her further.