The kitchen buzzed quietly with the rhythmic chop of knives and the soft clatter of pots. Qingran stayed near the doorway, letting Bai Shiyue and the others take charge of the cooking.
She rubbed the sweat from her brow, muscles aching from days of relentless work. Yet, beneath that fatigue, was a fierce determination which burned bright.
Outside, the faint hum of the newly powered drills rose, steady and promising.
Fang Mokin’s craftsmanship had turned the chaos of construction into progress, and that progress was the fragile hope they all clung to.
She stepped into the kitchen, the scent of curry wrapping around her like a warm shield against the cold uncertainty of the future.
"Keep the fire steady.." she said softly to Bai Shiyue. "Once we finish, let’s gather everyone and review the next phase. Ti’s running out, and there’s no room for mistakes."
Bai Shiyue nodded, glancing up with tired but resolute eyes.
Rina moved silently through the room, her usual quiet presence a stark contrast to the buzz of conversation and activity.
Qingran caught her gaze and gave a small, encouraging nod.
The dimly lit back room slled of sweat and stale smoke. A group of n circled around a battered table, voices low but filled with venom.
One of the older n spat on the floor, eyes cold. "This whole damn place is falling apart, and it’s all because of her. Qingran thinks she’s so kind of savior, but she’s nothing but a weak little bitch."
Another slamd his fist. "I don’t know how she got this far. She’s got no backbone, no grit. Can’t lead us through shit like this."
A younger man sneered, "Funny how she parades around like she’s the boss. But deep down? She’s just a woman playing at being a man."
The room fell silent for a beat before a sharp voice cut through.
One woman spat on the floor. "She thinks she’s saving everyone. But she’s weak, and she’s just a woman. n like us should be running things, not her."
A gruff laugh erupted from the circle. One of the n jabbed a finger at her chest. "You really think you’re one of us? Don’t make laugh. You’re just a woman who talks too big. You’ll always be a second-class bitch to us, no matter how much you bark."
Another chid in, "Exactly. You might walk with us, but don’t forget, you ain’t one of us. You’re just a cunt trying to act tough."
Another man nodded, his tone cold. "No matter how much you agree, you’ll never be trusted to lead. This isn’t your world."
The woman’s jaw tightened. She glanced around, knowing her words had stirred the n’s contempt, but she held her ground.
"Disgusting bitch." One of them muttered as he got back to business.
"When the flood hits, we’ll take that new building she’s trying to finish, the dam and all the resources. Leave her and loyal fuckers to rot in this hotel."
A third man chuckled darkly, "She’s a tyrant, controlling food, power, even water. But she’s clueless about real strength. It’s ti n who actually know what they’re doing take charge."
One younger man leaned in, voice low and venomous, "And don’t forget the others who bought into her lies like that little cook, Rina, and the traitor Zhang Yi. They’re just pawns. We’ll use them and then throw them away."
A grizzled man spat onto the floor, eyes burning. "n like us will rise from this flood. She’ll drown with the rest of her weak followers."
The group nodded in grim agreent, plotting the timing of the flood to strike, knowing it would weaken Qingran’s hold.
"A woman thinking of ruling.." he laughed mockingly, turning to the woman "Won are only loyal to dicks, all she needs is a good fuck...isn’t that right Mora??"
The woman—Mora—gritted her teeth, her knuckles whitening as they curled into fists at her side. She didn’t flinch, didn’t look away, but her jaw worked like she was chewing glass.
"Don’t lump in with her," she snapped, voice laced with bitter venom. "I don’t play at being so motherly saint. I know how to survive. Unlike her."
The n jeered.
One of them barked out a laugh, eyes gleaming with cruel amusent. "Yeah? Then shut up and do what you’re told, Mora. No one here wants to hear a bitch yapping when the n are talking strategy."
Another leaned in close, his breath foul with cheap liquor and spite. "Don’t get ideas. Just ’cause you hate her doesn’t an we’ll ever let you sit at the table. You’re a tool. A useful one, but a tool all the sa."
Mora’s lips curled in a snarl, but she said nothing more. She’d stepped in their piss-stained circle and they’d pissed on her too.
"I have an idea guys....why don’t we prove won are only loyal to dicks? I think Mora need a good fuck to know who’s in charge here."
Mora didn’t back away. Instead, she reached inside her worn jacket and pulled a knife, long, scarred, and stained from old use. Her eyes glittered in the dim light like an animal cornered but unafraid.
"Try it," she said, voice low and flat. "I’ll gut every one of you before you lay a hand on . Then I’ll carve my own throat open and make sure when Qingran finds the ss, she knows exactly who did what."
A few of the n shifted uneasily. One of them reached toward his belt, but Mora took a step forward, the tip of her blade catching what little light there was.
"You think I’m scared of dying?" she laughed, harsh and cracked. "No, boys. I’m scared of living under you pathetic sacks of muscle and spit. You talk big, but all I see are limp threats hiding behind each other in a rotting room."
"Careful," one of them growled, trying to save face. "You keep mouthing off and you’ll find out just how replaceable you are."
"Oh, I know I’m replaceable," Mora hissed. "I’m a tool, rember? But unlike you dicks-for-brains, I know how to stay useful. Loyal to dicks?" She smirked, cocking her head. "Sure, I like a good fuck. Who doesn’t? But yours? It too small, too slly, and far too ugly. Can’t imagine being entangled with anything that reeks of piss and failure."
One of the younger n made a move, but the grizzled one threw out an arm to stop him, eyes locked on Mora’s knife.
She wasn’t bluffing. And they all knew it.
"So dont you dare think about touching, you have no idea what I’m fucking capable of. Misogynist fuckers, who only think through their dicks. Acting so superior when no woman would want you ever if you begged"
"..."
Was that really necessary?!
"If you idiots want to blow this place up from the inside, go ahead. But know this, if I even think you’re planning to pull a move on , I’ll whisper in Qingran’s ear before you can blink. And you’ll all be ash by morning."
The room fell silent again, but this ti it was heavy with tension not dominance.
They were sure, More wouldn’t hesitate to take them out if they moved.
Mora sheathed her knife slowly and stepped back toward the door, her sneer still sharp.
"You don’t have to like . But you sure as hell better respect what I’m willing to do."
And with that, she turned and walked out, leaving the circle of cowards in a silence thick with their own impotence.
The room still burned with tension, but the n’s anger twisted into sothing darker, cold, vicious, and cruel.
One spat on the floor, sneering slightly, "That cunt thinks she’s untouchable just cause she pulled a knife. Fuck that. We’re gonna tear that bitch apart, piece by piece."
Another cracked his neck and grinned with his teeth bared. "Knife or no knife, she’s just a lowly woman. We’ll fuck her till she’s begging for rcy, then dump her like trash. She’s nothing but a cunt with a big mouth."
"Loyal to dicks?" a younger man laughed, voice dripping with mockery. "More like loyal to her own pussy when it’s getting smashed by real n. That knife won’t save her when we’re done."
A harsh, guttural laugh burst from the oldest man. "She’s so fucking weak she doesn’t even know it yet. We’ll break that bitch. Drag her down to the dirt where she belongs."
The had finally co to an agreent with words only n like themselves could understand.
Outside the door, Mora knew she had to create her own path, not with those n and not with Qingran as well.
"What are you doing here?"
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