Chapter 36: Left Embrace, Right Embrace

The two beauties: on the left was Si Lian, tall and slender, with cold, delicate features and snow-white skin. Her jade-like hands were long and graceful. Dressed in a black gown, she looked like a fairy who had wandered into darkness, waiting to be rescued.

On the right was Zhong Lan, bright-eyed with perfect teeth, full bosom and hips, eyes full of allure, dressed in red. Even a pre-apocalypse sexy diva wouldn’t surpass her charm.

The four men were Zhang Yi, Wang Er, Li San, and Song Si. Before the apocalypse, they had been Ma Yuqiang’s bodyguards. Orphans or people who had benefited from Ma Yuqiang’s kindness, all were utterly loyal to him.

As for the two beauties, naturally they were Ma Yuqiang’s mistresses—number three and four. Why three and four? Because Ma Yuqiang was already forty-two, married, with a daughter only three years younger than Zhong Lan.

Su Ning listened, confused. The apocalypse game had never truly forced anyone into despair. Two such stunning young women, with bright futures, willingly submitting to such an unattractive fat man—how could she understand?

“Little girl, you don’t need to look at me like that. Being with me, I never feel wronged.”

It was Zhong Lan speaking, her tone imbued with coquettish charm. Yet her words were calm, her radiant face smiling.

“I didn’t mean that,” Su Ning said, her voice growing quieter. Because… that was exactly what she meant!

“It’s okay. You and them—”

“Of course not.”

Before Ma Yuqiang could finish, Su Ning quickly interrupted. Right now, she couldn’t even accept the sight of someone else being embraced, much less sharing a husband with another woman, not in this life, not in the next.

“You little girl, I didn’t say anything wrong,” Ma Yuqiang murmured, slightly startled by her reaction, sighing softly to himself.

Since it was a private matter, Su Ning didn’t press. She turned toward the nearby herd, having purchased premium feed and saddles from the store.

But standing before the horses, Su Ning wasn’t sure what to do next.
Study MMORPGs, and you just beat them up a bit, feed them, and the horse obeys?
Or watch dramas, forcibly mount them, let the stallion gallop until it submits?
Or follow a fantasy novel, where the protagonist has innate talent and the bloodline commands the beasts to obey?

None seemed reliable. Su Ning could only lure the horses with feed. Sure enough, soon a strong white-and-red spotted horse approached her. She fed it while observing the others.

Ma Yuqiang’s team’s method was simple: four bodyguards, one by one, forcibly mounting and beating the horse into submission with pure strength. Brutal.

Turning to her own companions—right, Huoyang too—Su Ning was the only one slowly trying to win over the horse with five silver coins worth of premium feed, sold in bundles.

“Horse, horse, why don’t you come with me? Look at them and look at me. I’m gentle, rich, and if you follow me, you won’t always get the best feed, but you’ll never lack anything compared to other horses.”

Su Ning didn’t know if she was talking to the horse or comforting herself.

In a flash, Wang Er and Li San’s horses disappeared.

Zhong Lan and Si Lian began selecting horses as well, apparently letting Wang Er and Li San help tame them, then paying for them themselves.

“Horse, look at your poor friends. If you come with me, I won’t hit you, won’t let you feel wronged. You’ll be my cutest little treasure! I don’t know if you’re male or female, but when you’re ready to breed, I’ll find you the best mate in the ranch, offer five bags of feed as a gift. You’ll never lose face—we’ll be the most generous owners in the pasture!”

“Beep. The short-legged horse recognizes you as its master. You can check its attributes.”

“Beep. Congratulations, player. Mount system activated.”

“Check attributes.”

Seeing the prompt, Su Ning marveled: indeed, there’s no horse that can’t be tamed, just not fed enough.

Short-legged horse

• Gender: Male
• Load: 90kg
• Speed: Fast
• Status: Growing

System evaluation: Excellent short-legged horse, nearly perfect when grown. Tame it quickly!

“Agree to be master.”

The little horse was perfect. Su Ning happily patted its head.

“Be good, I’ll put on your saddle.”

She set down the bag, placed the saddle, and attached the reins. A truly obedient horse.

While the horse ate, Su Ning checked her mount system:

Mount System

• Mount 1: Short-legged horse
  • Feature: Land mount, both riding and carrying, durable
  • Affinity: 80/100
• Mount 2: (empty)
• Mount 3: (empty)
• Mount 4: (empty)
• Mount 5: (empty)

Five empty slots meant flying, swimming, running, endurance, speed—all still to collect. A long journey lay ahead.

Once Su Ning finished, Ma Yuqiang’s group finished organizing their horses and bid farewell. Su Ning couldn’t help feeling sympathy for the fairy-like Si Lian and Zhong Lan.

Watching them leave, Zhong Lan’s eyes sparkled, smile radiant, clearly satisfied with her horse. Si Lian, though less openly smiling, had a faint curve on her lips, like ice melting under summer sun.

As the group faded into the distance, Su Ning reunited with Huoyang and Duoduo with her horse. Before she could speak, Huoyang said:

“I heard a bit about Si Lian back in the newbie village.”

“Brother Yang, tell us!”

Su Ning rubbed her hands in anticipation, and Duoduo’s eyes glimmered with gossip.

“Si Lian’s profession seems pure support, low attack. She initially teamed with her boyfriend. Later, he wanted to give her to an expert for some equipment. She must have realized something and ran. Somehow, she ended up with Ma Yuqiang. That expert even came after Ma Yuqiang, but Ma Yuqiang defeated him. People said he got a beautiful woman for free, some said beauty matched with beast, likely she repaid a life-saving favor.”

After Huoyang’s story, Su Ning felt sorry for Si Lian. If only she’d met someone better, she wouldn’t have ended up like this. A reminder: when choosing a partner, don’t pick from garbage. Cheap isn’t always good, no matter how nice the packaging. Not everyone can recycle trash.

“Poor beautiful girl.”

“What about Zhong Lan?” Duoduo asked.

“I don’t know. When I left the newbie village, I hadn’t heard of her.”

Huoyang shrugged helplessly.

For a moment, the three exchanged silent looks.