Apocalypse King: Recruiting S-Tier Beauties With My Ruler System-Chapter 217: Convincing the Iron Lady!

Everything became tense when the strange woman and her group appeared. Thanks to Jiang Roulan, things were dealt with quickly. However, I wondered about Roulan’s feelings regarding the group and me. To hear them in this manner felt a little too cheap.

Jiang Roulan didn’t care about my fragile ego but spoke clearly.

"He’s the man I love."

"W-What!?" Lin Fen and the entire group suddenly coughed; some were drinking water only to spit it out, and they looked at me with shocked expressions. "You’re joking, right, Roulan? Have you forgotten about what your mother suffered?!"

Roulan just scoffed, her beautiful brown eyes locked onto me, before she winked... it was the most charming and adorable she’d been since we met. "So what? In a world that’s full of monsters don’t you think ability superceeds bloodline and that crap?"

Lin Fen’s face twisted, although she didn’t say anything negative, her pace increased while she glared back at me again.

I wanted to take more time, but knowing that these people were related to Roulan and her family, things were serious.

This was my chance to make Jiang Roulan someone I could trust with my life and future. Right now, her loyalty could always split between me and my family, but if I became family or took care of those she held dear,

The survivors seemed to be from the place we wanted to visit.

Before we could solve everything, the Tang Wei and Li Ya group appeared with several other members, who might have been from Lin Fen’s group, now surrounding Lin Fen herself.

"What the hell?! Shoot them!" Lin Fen screamed, but Roulan quickly jumped forward.

"No, stop! These are the people I am with!"

With a simple move, Roulan used her wrist to disarm Lin Fen, who tried to resist but failed. She lacked speed, strength, and skill, shocking both women. "I managed to disarm Teacher!?"

’Teacher?’

Lin Fen’s anger lasted a few seconds before she sighed.

"How did you improve so much, young miss?"

The two looked at each other with quite strange expressions. Roulan looked back at me and then flashed a cheeky smile. "He taught me, everything I have now is thanks to him... and nobody else in the world could do the same."

Roulan spoke without hesitation, leaving everyone to look back at me.

I just scratched my head, "Don’t look at me..." But as I thought more about it... the words weren’t wrong. Because she asked me, I bought her many basic skills that she struggled to learn, grappling, and other martial arts skills, like knife and advanced gun training.

With the help of the System, the cost was almost negligible, but the benefits were immense.

Jiang Roulan just laughed and skipped back to me.

"So, let’s head back, but we’re not rushing. Teacher, please bless my relationship."

Mu Qinglan’s eyes looked cold when she saw Roulan fawning over me. She saw her arms squeeze over my arm as she hugged me tightly. Yifei didn’t show much dislike, but she would probably find me later to complain.

Li Ya grinned while looking at Tang Wei. "Is it always this fun around your leader? Haha... how many women has he eaten? How about you?"

Thud!

Without a beat, Tang Wei hit Li Ya with her shotgun, leaving the redhead to wince from the impact. "Oh my, I think I’ve got a bruise... let’s treat it later with Wei-Wei?"

"Stop causing trouble, there’s no benefit."

"That’s where you’re wrong, Xiao Wei! I know you have a thing for him, look at you... blushing." Tang Wei looked away while covering her face, and the only way she could shut Li Ya’s mouth was to walk away while loading slugs into her shotgun.

"I’ll shoot you, go away." Tang Wei mumbled as she walked past me.

This kind of exchange happened almost daily, and since they were always together, I could only sigh... ’So that’s what they bickered about normally...’

***

By the time we reached our temporary base, it was early afternoon, and with everyone back in one piece, it was clear the group’s level had increased.

I didn’t bother to care about the team following us; we hid all the System and special items the instant we doubted the surroundings, and thanks to Jiang Roulan and the others, we now relied more on natural items.

The only things I bought using ZKP were high-quality MREs, bullets and grenades for moments of danger.

"So, is she going to become another woman you bed?" Shen Yifei whispered in my ear as she came close. Sometimes her speed and ability to hide herself made me feel like she was an assassin.

"No... she’s not my type, I prefer women like you and Li Ya."

The answer was fast enough to catch the cheeky blonde off guard, leaving a slight red flush on her face. Yifei looked at my honest expression and then scoffed while rolling her eyes, "You should work on your lines, but if you meant it..."

"If I meant it?" I nudge her with my arm, smiling.

She looked at me for a moment, her eyes wet... then she stepped closer, grabbed my shirt, pulled me in, and kissed me. I was shocked, but she let go before I could enjoy it. Her soft, slightly moist lips parted from mine, and she looked at me with a heated stare.

"Then I might just reward you. Hmph!"

That was my Fei-Fei; she didn’t like feeling jealous or like she lost to one of the women in the camp, and after scoffing at Jiang Roulan, who spoke with Lin Fen. The blonde bombshell walked away.

However, before she could escape, a hand gripped her by the neck and dragged her into another room.

Mu Qinglan wouldn’t let that sway... haha.

"So, you’re finally going to come back?" Lin Fen asked while sitting with Jiang Roulan at a table, a small meal prepared for both.

Roulan seemed nervous, her eyes lowered.

She fiddled with the hem of her blouse and flicked her gaze towards me several times.

"I..." Roulan stuttered before shaking her head. "Yes, but I don’t want to leave my people here." Her voice sounded unsure, like a child’s, as if afraid she’d say something that would upset Lin Fen.

Lin Fen tapped her fingers on the metal tabletop, eyes steady, calculating. She glanced once at Roulan, then at me, lips pressing into a thin line.

The silence lingered as the pair gazed at each other.

"I understand now, you don’t want to return immediately," she finally said, her voice low but sharp.

"Lin Fen..." Roulan started, but the older woman raised her hand, not unkindly, but firmly.

"I’m not blaming you. I’ve been beside you since you were a baby, and there is nothing for me to force you to leave him right now." Her gaze landed on me again, and there was no hatred this time—just cold curiosity. "He’s not quite what I expected. But I can see your growth and cannot deny it."

"Not a threat either," I replied calmly, keeping my posture relaxed, not letting her bait me.

"Roulan chose to stay. She fights, trains, for everyone here, not just me."

Lin Fen tilted her head. "But you benefit, don’t you?"

I met her eyes. "I do. I won’t lie. But she benefits too. And we both knew the deal—this world doesn’t wait for perfect choices. Just good ones."

That seemed to hit something. Her lips twitched slightly, and she folded her arms.

"Young and reckless..."

"You can call it that. But I don’t ask others to follow me. They choose to." I stepped forward, slow and firm. "You don’t have to like me. You don’t even need to trust me. But if you wish for Roulan’s happiness, don’t doubt me."

Her brow lifted.

"I’m not your enemy, Lin Fen. But I will not stand still if you or her family try to force Roulan to do something she wants."

"Even if she wants to remain with her family?"

Her question was swift and bit at my resolve, but I shook my head. "Even if she chooses that."

The air between us felt heavier.

Roulan reached over and placed her hand over Lin Fen’s. freewebnøvel.coɱ

"He’s right. I’m not a little girl anymore. I love my father and respect what you did for my mother. But this... this is my life now. My choice."

Lin Fen’s shoulders finally dropped, and for the first time, she looked... tired.

"You’ve grown up," she said, voice soft.

"Yeah. And it sucks," Roulan grinned, pulling her bowl closer.

Lin Fen looked back at me one last time. "If you hurt her, I’ll kill you."

"Fair." I shrugged. "Just get in line."

She huffed, then chuckled under her breath. "Gods help me." Lin Fan wasn’t against Roulan’s wishes; she seemed to care. I felt relieved by her reaction and noticed Roulan looking at me from across the table, smiling so openly, it was almost unfair.

For now, the storm had passed.

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