Xu An’s gaze was icy as she looked at the fair-skinned man with a smile. She had heard every word of their conversation.
She knew that in this place, only strength commanded respect. If she appeared weak and easily bullied on the first day, there would be no hope for the subsequent competitions.
From the outset, she would be at a significant disadvantage in terms of aura.
The man chuckled dismissively, offering an apologetic smile before turning towards another training area.
“Don’t mind him. That’s just how things are here. As long as you act tough, they generally won’t dare to say or do anything. Here, there’s only a distinction between the strong and the weak, not between men and women.”
As the voice faded, Xu An looked towards its source and found a girl with fiery red hair.
Her face, against the backdrop of her hair, appeared even more charming, exuding a blend of sexiness and a hint of feistiness.
She looked at Xu An with a bright smile, extending her hands. “Hello there, pretty sister. My name is Zhou Haimei, but you can call me Sister Mei.”
Xu An thought that the name suited the woman before her perfectly. Zhou Haimei’s confidence and mature charm were striking, and Xu An felt an inexplicable liking towards her.
“Hello, I’m Xu An.”
“A new face? Just arrived?” Zhou Haimei asked after a moment’s thought. She grasped Xu An’s hands with a friendly demeanor, acting as if they were old acquaintances. “If you ever need anything, come find me. Hahaha, it’s rare to see a pretty sister here. Usually, it’s just a bunch of smelly men, which is so annoying.”
This was the first time Xu An had encountered someone so warmly overwhelming. She stood there, unsure of what to say, and could only nod repeatedly.
“You’ve also signed up for the Expeditionary Army,” Zhou Haimei stated, not as a question but as a certainty.
Xu An nodded. The next moment, Zhou Haimei casually slung an arm around Xu An’s neck. “So have I! Perhaps we’ll even meet in the competition.”
Xu An wasn’t surprised that Zhou Haimei had signed up for the Expeditionary Army competition.
From the way Zhou Haimei’s arm rested on her, Xu An could tell that she was definitely a trained fighter. Her slender arm was covered with a thin layer of muscle, giving an impression of contained power that was not at all casual.
Xu An dared not underestimate her.
“How’s your training going? Have you found a coach?”
“I have, but they won’t be here until tomorrow,” Xu An replied truthfully.
“Then let’s spar, little An. Have you learned any systematic fighting styles?”
Xu An was tempted by Zhou Haimei’s suggestion. She had always trained alone and wanted a regular sparring partner, which would not only help her improve but also allow her to quickly gauge an opponent’s strength.
“I’ve learned some combat, free combat, and a bit of traditional martial arts when I was younger.”
Zhou Haimei’s face lit up upon hearing this. She had met girls with good potential before, but most of them had to teach themselves and train out of necessity after the apocalypse descended.
Such individuals might trigger immense energy reserves in times of danger, but their limitations would be immediately apparent in a fight, revealing all their shortcomings in Zhou Haimei’s eyes.
The Expeditionary Army competition did not permit the taking of lives. Without the desperate ferocity of a fight for survival, many self-taught fighters would frequently falter.
Zhou Haimei knew her opponents’ capabilities after just one exchange. Before Xu An arrived, she had always sparred with men.
Those men, seeing that Zhou Haimei was a woman, either went easy on her or tried to take advantage of her. After she taught a few of them a lesson, the group finally behaved themselves.
Now, hearing that Xu An had a martial arts background, Zhou Haimei’s face beamed. If Xu An’s skill level could match hers, she wouldn’t have to look for anyone else to train with.
“Want to have a match with me? We could form a regular training team from now on.”
This was exactly what Xu An had in mind, and she readily agreed.
With their agreement reached, Zhou Haimei removed a black hair tie from her wrist and tied her waist-length red hair into a high ponytail.
Only then did Xu An notice that Zhou Haimei was wearing a black backless top. Without her hair covering it, her fair back came into view, her seductive waistline subtly revealed.
She was momentarily dazed. Well, she could now understand why men liked looking at beautiful women.
Zhou Haimei led Xu An to the edge of the ring and climbed onto it first, whispering to Xu An, “After this match, others will see your strength and won’t bother you or gossip behind your back.”
Xu An knew Zhou Haimei was subtly helping her and felt a warmth in her heart.
She followed Zhou Haimei’s steps onto the stage.
After a few rounds, Xu An looked at the sexy and fiery woman before her, her gaze becoming more serious.
Although she hadn’t underestimated Zhou Haimei before and even thought she was quite capable, she hadn’t expected her to be this formidable, putting her at a disadvantage for a moment.
“Zhou Haimei is stronger than me.” The moment this thought crossed Xu An’s mind, it ignited her fighting spirit.
After three rounds, Zhou Haimei was also pleasantly surprised, realizing that Xu An’s abilities were not at all inferior to hers. She then laughed charmingly, “What do you say, little sister? You’re not losing out by having me train with you, are you?”
Xu An was still a bit unaccustomed to the term "little sister," but having Zhou Haimei as her sparring partner was indeed a win for her.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she spoke with a determined gaze, “Again!”
“Then be careful!” Before Zhou Haimei’s words had even finished, her fist, carrying a gust of wind, shot towards Xu An’s face.
Xu An’s lips curved into a smile of successful scheming. She ducked down, attacking Zhou Haimei’s lower body with a sweeping kick. Zhou Haimei, seeing this, also smiled.
“Alright, you sneak attacked me!”
“There’s no deception in war.” After a few exchanges, Xu An had also discovered Zhou Haimei’s weakness: an unstable lower body.
She expected Zhou Haimei to be tripped by her attack but was surprised when the latter flashed a sly smile and, using the force of Xu An’s punch, retreated.
The next second, with her supple waist, she flipped backward in the air without any support. Zhou Haimei landed with her hands on the ground, quickly got up, and in Xu An’s momentary daze, charged forward. Forming a claw with one hand, she locked onto Xu An’s slender neck.
Zhou Haimei’s face was filled with the triumphant grin of a kitten. “You lost, little sister~”
Xu An: “…” She felt a strange sense of being teased.
“You’re very strong,” Xu An praised sincerely.
Competitions were different from killing for survival outside the lighthouse; they were about skill and technique.
Xu An had a foundation from her previous life and had honed her skills for ten years in the apocalypse. Every move she made was sharp and swift, without any wasted motions.