Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies-Chapter 1169: Houtu’s Past

Chapter 1169: Houtu's Past

As Yang Xinxin narrated, the veil over [Houtu] was gradually lifted.

Houtu, originally named Guan Longyue, is 19 years old this year, the same age as Yang Xinxin.

Her background was not particularly distinguished. Her mother was just an ordinary middle school teacher, while her father was a third-rate scientist dedicated to researching human science.

Before Guan Longyue was born, her father, Guan Yuan, had no fame to speak of. On the contrary, he was met with contempt and neglect from academic circles due to his persistent research into the so-called [Human Potential Development] project.

It wasn't until after Guan Longyue was born and grew to six years old that Guan Yuan suddenly announced to the outside world that his daughter possessed superpowers.

At that time, the people of Huaxu Kingdom had long since moved past the qigong craze of the previous century and viewed so-called paranormal abilities of the human body with disdain.

Thus, everyone regarded the Guan family as frauds.

However, Guan Yuan refused to give up. He chose to exhaust all his family's wealth, taking his daughter to Shengjing, where he extensively promoted his so-called paranormal abilities theory.

Yang Xinxin spoke slowly, "Back then in Shengjing, although most mainstream media outlets were dismissive and solely focused on exposing their scam..."

"A small minority still firmly believed that transcendent abilities existed. Among them was a powerful figure who conducted testing experiments on Guan Longyue."

"And the final result actually discovered that Guan Longyue truly possessed extraordinary abilities!"

"This ability manifested here," she pointed at her own head with her index finger, "Her brain development was different from ordinary people. It's said she could perceive wavelengths that normal people could not."

"So, through telekinesis, she could achieve some incredible feats."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi took a deep breath, "Is it related to her current superhuman ability?"

Yang Xinxin nodded, "Correct, it's a type of curse technique."

She said calmly, "Even back then, she possessed the ability to curse others and inflict misfortune."

Zhang Yi's breathing grew heavier again.

"No wonder, no wonder she can kill from a thousand miles away."

After learning about Houtu's ability, the fear Zhang Yi felt towards her in his heart did not vanish, though it eased slightly.

Yang Xinxin continued, "Naturally, a person like that would be treated by powerful figures as a tool to deal with their enemies."

"Unfortunately, her curse ability was not lethal enough, not even capable of inflicting sufficiently dangerous harm."

"When her ability was first discovered, it was probably only at the level of making someone trip while walking or ensuring they wouldn't win a prize in a tea draw."

"That powerful figure held great hopes for her and sent her to Zhongting Elementary School, a specialized institution for researching children with extraordinary characteristics."

"That's where I met her."

Zhang Yi nodded, "I understand. Although her ability was weak initially, through cultivation, it grew stronger and stronger. And after the Apocalypse, her ability underwent a complete explosion. Right?"

Yang Xinxin tilted her head to look at Zhang Yi, a wicked smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

"It wasn't that smooth, brother!"

She sat on the sofa, elegantly taking a sip of the coffee she held.

"Although research into extraordinary characteristics has always existed, the level of scientific technology was far from that advanced."

"Despite undergoing prolonged experiments, Guan Longyue's ability didn't show significant progress."

"After about three years, that powerful figure became completely disappointed in Guan Longyue and abandoned support for her research."

She rolled her eyes upward, pondered briefly, then said,

"For her parents, who had pinned all their future hopes on her, this was an unacceptable blow."

"Her father fell into immense despair and seemed to develop mental issues. And because they had staked their entire livelihood on Guan Longyue, the family lost their source of income."

"Guan Yuan couldn't focus on supporting the family, instead throwing himself into an even more frenzied search for new financial backers."

"However, after being abandoned by that powerful figure, even fewer people were willing to hold hope for Guan Longyue."

"Later, I heard that Guan Yuan, while drunk, fell from the Shengjing high-speed rail station and died on the spot. Her mother, suffering a mental breakdown, chose to commit suicide."

"After that, I had no news about Guan Longyue. She probably entered an orphanage, or perhaps was adopted by someone."

Zhang Yi said calmly, "That's truly tragic."

He looked at Yang Xinxin, "Were you close to her back then?"

Yang Xinxin shook her head, a slightly sarcastic smile on her lips instead.

"Brother, if there was someone like that around you, would you stay very close to her?"

Zhang Yi thought about it and couldn't help but nod, "Right. If there was someone around with a curse ability, I think anyone would stay far away from them."

Yang Xinxin said, "I wasn't close to her back then, and we didn't have much interaction either."

Zhang Yi frowned, asking puzzledly, "If that's the case, then why does she want to see you?"

Yang Xinxin smiled slightly.

"Because back then, I was a prominent figure in the school."

"Compared to other abilities, intellectual superiority is very easy to detect."

She pointed at her own head, the smile not one of boastfulness but of confidence.

As a genius with exceptional intelligence, she was indeed more easily accepted by people because this advantage was very easy to demonstrate.

"So, in my view, her purpose in seeking me out is very simple, it's for revenge."

"Revenge?"

"Revenge for her past."

Yang Xinxin stated succinctly.

Zhang Yi immediately understood.

There was no personal enmity or grudge between Guan Longyue and Yang Xinxin.

But if a person was once very downcast, then after achieving great success, they would certainly want to show those who once looked down on them their current glory.

Whether Yang Xinxin looked down on Guan Longyue or not wasn't important.

Guan Longyue needed to display her current power, to prove to that prodigy she could only look up to back then that she was no longer the same person.

Zhang Yi took a deep breath, "Will there be danger?"

Yang Xinxin smiled at Zhang Yi, "With you here, brother, there won't be any danger."

"Although the Shengjing Region holds the title of the Huaxu Kingdom's strongest region, it wouldn't dare to sever ties with other regions."

"Moreover, right now, they need you."

"Guan Longyue has no reason to harm me, the cost of doing so would be too great."

Zhang Yi sighed, "It's just that after hearing your story, I feel this girl's psychology must be different from ordinary people. If she turns out to be a crazy individual, I wouldn't dare let you go see her."

Yang Xinxin said, "However, meeting her is quite necessary. You've always been wary of that person, haven't you, brother?"

Author's Note