"Didn't use full strength? Heh." Tank's rough, calloused palms rasped against each other as he rubbed his hands. "Even if you did, it wouldn't matter. My explosive power has no equal right now. And arm wrestling isn't just about strength; it's about technique."
When both sides were ready, Snake Spirit stood by the table and called out, "Three, two, one, start!"
Everyone's attention locked on the match, their eyes fixed on the locked hands. They were all curious to see just how strong this little woman really was.
Jing Shu took a deep breath, the cool cabin air filling her lungs, and unleashed everything. She felt a primal force erupting inside her—a raw, surging energy that felt endless and unstoppable. Once it burst out, there was no pulling it back.
Tank's body tensed instantly. Thick veins bulged along his neck and forearms as he roared, his face reddening while he pushed with all his strength. But then, everyone saw his face twist. His veins throbbed violently against his skin. The fabric of his shirt groaned and ripped apart under the strain, and his roar turned into a jagged scream.
It took only one second. He resisted for that long; then his arm slammed down hard to the other side.
BANG!
Tank's massive wrist smashed into the solid wooden table like a hammer blow. The wood caved in with a deafening crack, splinters flying as it left a huge hole. His thick fist was buried deep in the ruined, splintered table.
Everyone stared, wide-eyed and silent. This wasn't just a win; it was a one-second KO!
Tank was drenched in a sudden layer of sweat. Veins still bulged across his forehead, and his face twisted in pain. Meanwhile, Jing Shu looked like she had just finished playing with a kid. Her breathing remained steady. She even gave an awkward smile. "Sorry, I couldn't hold back."
Monkey and Monk both swallowed hard, their throats tight. Even Ling Ling, who had been quietly snacking on a piece of dried fruit, gawked in disbelief. For the first time, everyone really took Jing Shu seriously.
Tank's hand was stuck in the ruined table at a horrible angle, the jagged wood gripping his skin. Sweat rolled down his forehead in heavy beads. "It's broken. My wrist is broken!"
Zhen Nantian examined it calmly, his fingers light on the swelling joint. "It's just a light fracture. Ten days of rest and you will be fine." Then he turned to Jing Shu. "Miss Mirror, maybe this is the perfect chance to test your medicine. Our preliminary rule is that one dose of your medicine costs 100 contribution points. Do you agree?"
She nodded. If Tank couldn't hold the front line, she would be in danger too. She pulled out one of the pills she had prepared, a small sphere made from diluted Spirit Spring mixed with traditional herbs. The scent was faint and earthy.
To look more professional, she had sorted them into categories: external wounds, internal use, hemostatic. Each pill was tiny, about the size of a fingernail. To keep them from sticking together, she had wrapped each one in colorful, crinkling candy paper.
She unwrapped a "candy," the foil snapping in the quiet cabin. She broke the pill into three pieces and rolled them into small pellets between her fingers. She crushed one onto Tank's wound, the herb paste cooling against his heated skin, then wrapped the rest back up and handed it to him. "Apply once a day. In three days you will be fine."
Yang Yang's eyes lit up as he watched. "Your secret medicine leveled up again? Last year you only had a little vial of water. I thought we would run dry before even reaching the U.S."
The others were skeptical, staring at the so-called "secret medicine" sitting in Tank's palm. Even Tank looked doubtful, his brow furrowed. Only when Zhen Nantian gave a nod did he finally mutter, "This better not be sugar wrapped up to trick us. Otherwise you aren't getting a single contribution point. Damn, what a shitty start; I'm already down a hundred points."
Still, whether they trusted her medicine or not, nobody doubted Jing Shu's strength anymore. She used the chance to suggest that Tank should wear the mech. But he shook his head, stating he would only wear it once he could beat her fair and square.
Jing Shu thought to herself. There was a comment she could make, but maybe she shouldn't.
Next, Monkey and Hao Yunlai introduced themselves. With that, all nine members had finally finished their introductions.
Yang Yang had everyone sit back around the big dining table. He spread the map out, the thick paper smoothing under his hands. "As the intelligence officer and task coordinator, I will be handing out missions from above and making strategic decisions. Let's go over the rules and our first target."
Jing Shu perked up, listening carefully. The plane's steady roar was the only other sound in the cabin.
"We're still using the contribution point system," Yang Yang said. "During mission time, all resources obtained must be turned in and converted to contribution points. Private matters must be done outside mission hours. Anything you acquire privately belongs to you. You can also use contribution points to cover the cost of shipping private goods back to China."
Jing Shu's eyes lit up. So mission loot had to be handed in, but private loot could be shipped back as long as one paid the points. That explained how Yang Yang managed to ship her RV back.
In other words, she could stash one batch in her Cube Space and ship another batch back legitimately. Her heart raced against her ribs. She could cash in big this time. Contribution points were gold. No wonder Yang Yang's eyes had sparkled the moment the U.S. mission came up.
Contribution points decided how much one could bring back to China.
Yang Yang continued, his finger tracing a line on the map. "I will keep track of everyone's points. They can be traded freely, even used as currency in our circle. This mission is a group effort, but food and ammo aren't provided. You will have to sort those out yourselves, either with points or trades. Contribution points can also be used to request emergency support from the state, but that cost is steep. Advance credit is available depending on rank. B-level can borrow 500, B+ can borrow 1000, A- can borrow 1500, and so on."
He paused, then added, "Last rule: life comes before the mission. If necessary, abandon the mission to save yourself or your teammates. We leave together, and we come back together."
Jing Shu thought back to last year when Yang Yang managed to get everyone home alive despite the danger. With her here now, and with everyone so strong, surely nobody would die this time.
She mentally spat. A few days later, she would regret ever thinking that. Every time she raised a flag, fate smacked her down.
Yang Yang tapped the map, his nail clicking against the surface. "Our first target is Sacramento. Because of the earthquake, waves of Mexicans have flooded in looking for food and supplies. Neighboring countries are eyeing it too. It's turned into a warzone; it's basically a no-man's land."
The date was the 28th.