New Novel
Chapter 1: An Apocalyptic Start, Binding the Golden Finger

Chapter 1: Chapter 1: An Apocalyptic Start, Binding the Golden Finger

"Xu Qingsui, since you were sensible enough to obediently hand over the Jade Pendant, I can let you stay at the base as a menial worker. That way, you won’t have to go to Zone 56 and marry that new fiancé of yours who’s about to go berserk at any moment."

"But from now on, you’ll have to serve Meng Meng well. If you keep bullying her like you used to, I definitely won’t go easy on you!"

Xu Qingsui opened her eyes to see a man and a woman standing before her, their gazes cold.

The woman looked pitiful and delicate, but her eyes held a trace of mockery. "Sister, I know you’re bitter, but what can you do? You’re just a D level guide."

"Brother Ling’an and I are both B-level. Only by pairing up can we maximize each other’s potential. If you stay at the base, we won’t treat you unfairly."

Xu Qingsui’s brow furrowed.

’I clearly remember self-destructing my Crystal Core to stop the zombies from breaking into the lab. So where is this?’

The moment the question surfaced in her mind, a flood of unfamiliar memories poured in.

It turned out she hadn’t died after self-destructing. Instead, she had transmigrated into an Apocalypse Contaminated World.

There were no zombies in this world, but the human world was completely contaminated. Mutants were everywhere, and humanity had diverged into guides and Sentinels.

Sentinels possessed powerful physiques, but their spiritual power was extremely unstable, making them susceptible to contamination, corrosion, and ultimately, going berserk. Guides, as it happened, were able to rescue berserk Sentinels.

Therefore, humanity formed alliances, with powerful guides and Sentinels pairing together to resist the contamination from Mutants.

The original owner of this body had been the heiress of the wealthy Xu Family. But on the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, she was tested and found to be nothing more than the lowest-grade D level guide. It was then that they discovered she had been switched at birth.

Her childhood sweetheart and fiancé, Shen Ling’an, had abandoned her without a second thought to be with the real heiress, and even stole the Jade Pendant her maternal grandmother had left for her!

Snapping back to the present, Xu Qingsui rubbed her wrist. "Hand over my Jade Pendant. I don’t need you to take me in."

The pair had expected her to be weeping with gratitude. Seeing her attitude, they were both stunned.

Shen Ling’an’s expression turned ugly. "Trying to go back on your word? Xu Qingsui, don’t push it! Watch out, or I won’t be so polite!"

Xu Qingsui looked him up and down for a moment, then twisted her body and threw a punch straight at his face!

This body’s physical strength was indeed no match for Shen Ling’an’s, but she had a wealth of combat experience. With a single move, she knocked him to the ground and snatched back her Jade Pendant.

"Useless trash. You thought you could get rough with me?"

Xu Qingsui clutched the Jade Pendant, her tone frigid. "Trash belongs with trash. You’re the one who isn’t good enough for me, understand?"

Shen Ling’an’s chest heaved with rage. "You’re courting death!"

Just as he was about to get up and attack, Xu Qingsui sneered, "Don’t forget, I am now the fiancée of the heir to the Imperial City Lu Family."

"Even if I’m not the true heiress of the Xu Family, the engagement has already fallen to me. If I were to get ’accidentally’ injured, I’m afraid your precious Meng Meng would be the one marrying that soon-to-be-berserk Mr. Lu."

She knew from the original owner’s memories that the Xu Family had arranged the marriage with the Lu Family’s heir in exchange for more anti-contamination agents. Her fiancé-to-be had already gone berserk and torn several guides to pieces. Shen Ling’an would never let Xu Ruming marry him.

As expected, Shen Ling’an froze and clenched his jaw.

"Fine! Since you don’t know what’s good for you, then get the hell out of the base! I’d like to see if you even have what it takes to make it to Zone 56 alive!"

Xu Qingsui paid him no mind, simply turning and walking away with the Jade Pendant in hand.

After leaving the base, she considered where to go next.

’With my abilities, self-preservation shouldn’t be a problem here. But as for that marriage contract and bonding with a Sentinel... I’m not sure what to do.’

Just then, the Jade Pendant in her hand erupted with scorching heat.

Xu Qingsui instinctively looked down, but a vast expanse of fog suddenly appeared in her mind.

Immediately after, an octopus-like spirit body with countless tentacles, glowing with a golden light, appeared.

[Detecting suitable matches for the Host.]

[Congratulations, Host! You are a one-in-a-million Super Guide! Matching you with six SSS level sentinels. Contract formation in progress...]

Xu Qingsui: ?!

’One fiancé was enough to give me a massive headache, and now there are six?!’

Her brow twitched in alarm. "What the hell are you? Get out!"

[Host, I am your golden finger. Aren’t you happy to see me?]

The octopus waved its tentacles. [Host, you have already formed contracts with your matched partners! Now, go purify them! Completing their purification will earn you affection points, bountiful rewards, and attribute value bonuses~]

’This stupid piece of seafood is just making empty promises.’

’And yet, I can’t quite bring myself to refuse. After all, who doesn’t want to become stronger?’

’Besides, they’re SSS level sentinels. That sounds pretty good...’

As the thought crossed her mind, a Spiritual Map appeared in her head.

The first target was located in Zone 9, very close to the safe zone. Meanwhile, Zone 56, where her fiancé was, was in the far Northern Empire, and no point of light was flashing there.

After hesitating for only a moment, Xu Qingsui walked toward the safe zone’s exit, heading for the location of the glowing light.

Only after leaving the town did she realize the severity of the contamination.

Zone 9 had once been a small town. Now, a sheet metal sign at its entrance was stuck crookedly in the cracked pavement. A swarm of ants, each as large as her foot, was scattering in all directions, leaving a puddle of stinking red slime on the ground.

The ground had long since been corroded beyond recognition. Vines as thick as two of her thighs danced in the wind, covered in trumpet-shaped flowers of flesh. A fly with golden compound eyes stared at her menacingly, a rotting human arm dangling from its fist-sized mouth.

Xu Qingsui’s brow tightened. ’This world may not have zombies, but it’s not much better.’

She moved forward, warily scanning her surroundings, when she suddenly heard a piercing roar from nearby. At the same time, the point of light on her Spiritual Map turned deep red.

With no time to think, Xu Qingsui sprinted in the direction of the sound. She saw a rat as tall as a three-story building, frantically pouncing and biting. Its pupils were an eerie dark green, and it emanated a pungent stench of rot!

In front of the giant rat, a tall man was steadily aiming and firing a gun at it while dodging its attacks.

He had a broad back and an upright posture. His iron-gray eyes glinted with coldness, his black military uniform was covered in blood, and his thin lips were pressed into a tight line, making him look like an unsheathed sword.

As the bullets pierced its body, the giant rat grew even more frenzied. It viciously swiped its long, thin tail, knocking over a small building, and roared as it charged the man!

But the man showed no intention of retreating. Instead, he calmly reloaded his magazine, and with a flick of his lean, powerful wrist, shoved the muzzle of the gun directly into the giant rat’s mouth!

A deafening gunshot rang out. The giant rat’s body began to burn, and it shrieked as it turned to ash.

But the man also staggered and fell to the ground, clutching his head with both hands as a pained groan escaped his throat.

Xu Qingsui ran forward, her brow furrowed in concern. She knelt and reached out to touch his neck. "Are you—"

Before she could finish, the man’s tightly closed eyes snapped open. His long, slender hand clamped around her wrist, and he pinned her to the ground beneath him.

Before Xu Qingsui had a chance to fight back, he leaned down and bit her neck.

His scorching breath ghosted across her collarbone, sending a strange, tingling itch through her.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as his piercing gaze locked onto her face. "...Who are you?"