Chapter 236
Since Zhou Qi had already recovered, Tang Yu’an didn’t hold back on using his light-based energy and continuously cast Healing Spell on Ai Lu—eight times in a row.
Adding in the three casts from the system, the total came to eleven times.
Although it was only a Level 1 Healing Spell with limited healing effects, the sheer number of casts resulted in a significant improvement.
Initially, since Ai Lu had lived in the poisonous mist for so long, his body should have been deeply poisoned, and detoxification would have been necessary before healing could take effect.
However, as the Healing Spell was cast repeatedly, foul-smelling pus began to seep out from the ruptured poison sores on his body.
This pus was even corrosive—when a drop accidentally splashed onto Tang Yu’an’s hand, he immediately felt a burning pain.
It was hard to imagine how Ai Lu had endured such toxic erosion for so long. Perhaps this was the very reason why he had managed to survive in the green mist.
Fortunately, after wiping off the pus and exposing the affected area to the Healing Spell’s light once more, Tang Yu’an’s own wound was quickly healed.
From then on, he didn’t dare be careless anymore and put on gloves and a mask before continuing.
As the number of Healing Spells cast on Ai Lu increased, the pus discharge gradually lessened.
Once they had completely cleaned away the remaining toxins, the poison sores began to heal and scab over under the spell’s radiant glow, turning into ordinary wounds.
When the final Healing Spell ended, Tang Yu’an finally let out a relieved sigh.
“One more treatment tomorrow should help the wounds heal even faster,” he said. “But until the scabs fall off naturally, don’t pick at them, or they’ll leave scars.”
Ai Lu’s face and body were now covered in red-black scabs, making him look a bit terrifying.
However, anyone could see that his condition had drastically improved. All that was needed now was patience.
But Ai Lu clearly didn’t understand Tang Yu’an’s warning.
Feeling an itch on his face, he instinctively reached up to scratch—only for Mo Yu to grab his hand just in time.
“Don’t scratch. The wounds haven’t fully healed yet.” Mo Yu held his hand firmly, his expression serious. “Until your wounds are completely healed, I’ll be watching you.”
He still remembered how Ai Lu had scraped off a scab and started bleeding when crawling out of the cave earlier.
Seeing Mo Yu’s stern look, Ai Lu blinked in confusion. He didn’t really understand why Mo Yu was upset, but he could sense that Mo Yu cared about him.
So, he decided to test something out.
He slowly raised his other hand and tried to scratch his cheek.
Since he moved so slowly, Mo Yu had no trouble catching his hand again.
“Why won’t you listen?”
Mo Yu furrowed his brows, his tone carrying a hint of sternness.
But instead of being afraid, Ai Lu’s eyes lit up.
He gripped Mo Yu’s hands in return, leaned closer without hesitation, and grinned—his eyes filled with pure joy.
For over a decade, he had endured the excruciating pain of his body being consumed by toxins. Now, it was just a little itch—completely bearable.
What he truly enjoyed wasn’t the relief from the pain—it was Mo Yu’s attention and care.
This kind of gentle concern was unfamiliar to him, yet it was so precious.
Seeing Ai Lu’s bright smile, Mo Yu’s stern expression quickly crumbled.
Eventually, his gaze softened.
He looked at Ai Lu’s hands, noticing that they were also covered in scabs.
But compared to him scratching his face or body, this was much better.
So, instead of letting go, Mo Yu tightened his grip, keeping Ai Lu from moving too much.
Watching their interaction, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
The bond between them was truly strong—it reminded him of…
Him and Brother Qi!
At that moment, Mo Yu turned to Tang Yu’an and said in a gentle voice, “Thank you for treating Ai Lu….”
The healing effects were remarkable. Although he wasn’t sure how valuable 20,000 points were, he didn’t regret spending them at all.
He paused briefly, then suddenly realized—
“Oh, by the way, I never asked your names.”
“You can just call me Xiao Tang,” Tang Yu’an replied with a smile.
“Xiao Zhou,” Zhou Qi added briefly.
Mo Yu returned Tang Yu’an’s smile, but when he looked at Zhou Qi, his expression became more cautious and respectful.
After introducing himself, he also told them Ai Lu’s name.
Zhou Qi didn’t really mind Mo Yu’s wary attitude.
He simply nodded, then turned to Tang Yu’an and carefully examined him, making sure he wasn’t exhausted from overusing his abilities.
Only then did he ask, “Are you hungry?”
Tang Yu’an nodded eagerly.
“I’ll go make breakfast,” Zhou Qi said, then turned and walked toward the RV van.
As soon as he left, Tang Yu’an whispered to Mo Yu,
“You don’t have to be scared. My brother is actually a really good person.”
Seeing how nervous Mo Yu was around Zhou Qi, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but speak up for him.
Mo Yu forced a smile.
He didn’t want to be afraid, but every time he faced Zhou Qi, an instinctive fear would rise up in him.
If not for Ai Lu’s presence, he wasn’t sure if he could even keep his composure.
“I’ll try my best to overcome it,” he said.
When Zhou Qi returned, Mo Yu was shocked to see that the breakfast he prepared included portions for both Ai Lu and himself.
Surprised and flattered, he quickly said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Zhou Qi replied indifferently before sitting down to eat with Tang Yu’an.
Mo Yu stared at him for a moment, then remembered Tang Yu’an’s words.
He turned to Ai Lu and murmured, “We really did meet good people…”
Even though many of his memories were blurry, he still remembered the basic rules of survival.
They were living in an apocalyptic world full of danger.
So he never took the kindness of these two boys for granted.
“G-Good people…” Ai Lu repeated after him, then reached out for food.
Having never used tableware before, he tried to grab the food with his hands, only to have Mo Yu stop him immediately.
“Don’t move. I’ll feed you.”
Mo Yu gestured with his hands to make his point clearer. Once Ai Lu understood, he obediently withdrew his hands and stared at the food longingly.
“Here, open your mouth.”
Mo Yu demonstrated by making an “ah” shape with his mouth.
Ai Lu imitated him.
The next second, Mo Yu gently placed a bite of food into his mouth.
Ai Lu froze.
As he tasted the delicious food, he looked at Mo Yu’s gentle expression—
And suddenly, his eyes filled with tears again.
“Why are you crying again?”
Mo Yu panicked, quickly pulling out a handkerchief to dab at Ai Lu’s eyes.
He didn’t dare rub too hard, afraid that if he accidentally wiped off a scab, Ai Lu might start bleeding again.
On the other side, while eating his breakfast, Zhou Qi looked up and saw Tang Yu’an watching Mo Yu and Ai Lu with a silly smile on his face.
He couldn’t help but tilt his head, glancing at Mo Yu and Ai Lu.
Seeing Mo Yu feeding Ai Lu, Zhou Qi paused for a moment before withdrawing his gaze and looking back at Tang Yu’an.
When Tang Yu’an noticed his gaze and looked over with a puzzled expression, Zhou Qi casually asked, “What do you think their relationship is?”
“Mo Yu and Ai Lu?”
“Yeah.”
Tang Yu’an looked at them again, then smiled and said, “They’re good friends! Hmm… close friends?”
“Like us?”
“Yeah! Just like us!”
Hearing the boy’s firm answer, Zhou Qi’s eyes darkened slightly. He forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Tang Yu’an looked at him curiously.
“Brother Qi, what’s wrong?” he asked with concern.
“Maybe I’m just a little tired,” Zhou Qi shook his head. “I’ll be fine after some rest.”
“Oh, then hurry and eat!”
After breakfast, Zhou Qi went back to the RV to “rest,” while Tang Yu’an started surveying the area to evaluate whether it was suitable for building a branch store.
This location was close to the midpoint between Jufeng Mountain and the Desolate City, making it a strategic spot for a store in the future.
Once Jufeng Mountain and the Desolate City became more prosperous, opening a small shop at this intersection would definitely be good for business.
Of course, given the current low population, it might not be needed immediately.
However, it could serve as a new teleportation point, saving them from having to drive the RV here every time.
“You’re going to build a house here and open a grocery store?” Mo Yu looked at Tang Yu’an in disbelief.
“This is the task assigned to us by the higher-ups. As for the benefits…” Tang Yu’an chuckled. “Once you guys gain higher authority, you’ll understand.”
Mo Yu could only nod, and Ai Lu certainly had no objections.
Then, they watched as the young boy pulled out a bunch of supplies from thin air, including two construction robots and a large number of building materials.
After setting up the robots, they immediately began constructing the house.
Ai Lu was completely mesmerized, pointing at the robots while excitedly babbling to Mo Yu, his eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.
Mo Yu was also fascinated by the highly advanced technology.
Seeing their reactions, Tang Yu’an let them watch over the construction while he returned to the RV.
Zhou Qi had already composed himself. When he saw Tang Yu’an enter, he asked, “What’s the plan next?”
Tang Yu’an took out his pet, the little red bird, from his inventory and began feeding it grains while saying, “Once we settle Ai Lu and Mo Yu, we should head to Linhai Town, right?”
Zhou Qi nodded. Then, Tang Yu’an asked, “Should we recruit Mo Yu as an employee?”
If they didn’t, how would he repay the 1.2 million points?
Zhou Qi thought for a moment but shook his head. “Let’s observe him for a while first. He can earn Peace Coins or trade supplies to repay the debt.”
After all, as a wood-type ability user, his strengths would be better utilized in agriculture rather than trade.
Tang Yu’an nodded. “That makes sense. He’ll probably get along well with Kang Kang!”
Zhou Qi made a sound of agreement, then asked, “Have you activated the Drift Bottle accelerator? Did Uncle Tang leave us any messages this time?”
“Oh no, I completely forgot because I was too worried about you!”
Zhou Qi was momentarily stunned.
Tang Yu’an, oblivious to his reaction, hurried upstairs to retrieve the Drift Bottle. Watching his back, Zhou Qi’s previously low spirits lifted.
A faint smile appeared on his lips. He carefully locked the windows and doors of the RV to prevent Mo Yu and Ai Lu from entering, then followed Tang Yu’an up to the Peace Grocery Store’s attic.
Just as expected, after activating the accelerator, a returning Drift Bottle appeared in the Dream Sea.
This time, the Drift Bottle from MR168845 contained not only a light-brain device but also a spirit storage bag.
Tang Yu’an took out both items.
Inside the storage bag, the supplies they had sent had already been taken out. In their place were several pieces of clothing, including sweaters, scarves, and two hats.
Judging by the stitching, the hats were much rougher in craftsmanship.
“Xin Xin made these for us!”
Tang Yu’an found a card tucked inside the hats. The card was filled with his younger sister Tang Yuxin’s childish handwriting, with many words crossed out and some annotated with pinyin.
The little girl complained that he had sent too many practice worksheets, but she still promised to study hard. At the end, she wrote about how much she missed him, making Tang Yu’an’s eyes turn misty.
Besides the clothing, there was also food inside the storage bag.
It was all handmade by their father—his signature dishes like glutinous rice balls, sweet glutinous rice cakes, dumplings, and rice balls.
In the video recording on the light-brain device, they saw that their father had originally planned to make sticky rice dumplings, but since he didn’t have fresh bamboo leaves, he could only make the filling and wrap it in plastic wrap instead.
“If it goes bad, don’t eat it,” Tang Sheng reminded them in the recording.
However, thanks to the accelerator, spoilage wasn’t an issue. Even the sweet glutinous rice cakes was still warm.
The soft, chewy glutinous rice was coated in white sugar, crushed peanuts, and toasted sesame. Though the sugar had melted a little, the taste remained as delicious as ever.
After so long, tasting the familiar flavors from their memories again—despite the sweetness—the two boys’ eyes turned red.
Tang Yu’an quickly stored the remaining food in his inventory, ensuring it wouldn’t spoil.
“Let’s collect some lotus leaves from the Haven’s pond and send them back,” Zhou Qi suggested.
“Good idea!”
Even though they had no bamboo leaves, they could still make lotus leaf rice, and their dad could wrap more for them as breakfast.
“When the lotus roots are harvested, we should send some back too,” Tang Yu’an added. “Fresh lotus seeds are delicious as well!”
The two discussed their plans before continuing to watch the recording.
Next, Tang Xueyun explained some knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth, along with her suggestions for setting up a maternity ward.
“These are just my personal experiences, and whether they’re correct depends on real-life situations. Childbirth is very dangerous, and postpartum care is also very important…”
Tang Xueyun spoke seriously while holding a notebook, clearly having thought carefully before giving her answers.
Sitting beside her, Tang Sheng occasionally chimed in with supplementary opinions.
In the end, Tang Xueyun placed the notebook into the spirit storage bag.
“We’ll find a way to go out and look for a bookstore to send you some books,” she said. “You should also take care of yourselves and not overwork.”
Hearing that they planned to go out searching for books, Tang Yu’an immediately became nervous.
The post-apocalyptic world was extremely dangerous—if they could avoid going out, it was best not to. What if they encountered a powerful mutant and got hurt?
Noticing Tang Yu’an’s worry, Zhou Qi said, “Uncle Tang and Aunt Tang should know their limits. They’ve also awakened abilities, and besides…”
In about seven or eight days, the second message bottle was due to arrive.
Inside that bottle, they had packed a Crimson Sleep Pillow and Speed Feathers. With these two pieces of equipment, their safety during travels should be much more secure.
Tang Yu’an knew this, yet he still couldn’t help but worry.
“What if they go out before the bottle arrives?” he asked anxiously.
Zhou Qi patted his head, comforting him. “Did you forget what I told you before? Always think positively.”
Tang Yu’an paused and quickly changed his tone.
“Right, right! Mom and Dad will definitely be fine. They will stay safe and healthy, waiting for us to reunite!”
He repeated this affirmation in his heart several times, and gradually, his mood stabilized.
“Let’s take Mom’s notes to Grandpa Li,” he suggested.
Tang Yu’an copied the key points from the notebook onto a new sheet of paper and added the new insights mentioned in the video recording.
Then, they used the teleportation array to return to the Desolate City Haven.
As soon as they arrived downstairs at Room 501, they ran into A’Lian.
A few days ago, after accepting the Fire Spirit Bug, A’Lian had suffered from a fever for two or three days. Once her fever subsided completely, noticeable changes occurred in her body.
Not only had her physique strengthened and her appetite increased, but even the scars left by the fire poison on her neck had faded, leaving only faint red marks.
It was as if a fire lotus, having endured hardships, had finally been reborn and was beginning to bloom.
Of course, her ability was still weak. The spirit bug inside her body showed no signs of movement, and after her fever ended, the status indicator had shifted from “Parasitic” to “Symbiotic.”
The change had been slow and subtle—perhaps due to the unique physique of Wasteland survivors or because the spirit bug parasitizing Zhou Qi was particularly special.
For now, the Fire Spirit Bug could only remain inside A-Lian.
With debt hanging over her head, she worked even harder than before—though it might also have been due to her improved physical condition, which left her with more energy.
She had now taken charge of caring for fifty children and had even started developing some of the older ones into customers.
As for the babies who couldn’t even walk yet, they would have to wait before they could be part of any profitable transactions.
A’Lian greeted the two teenagers with a smile. Behind her were two agricultural specialists, Ye Lan and Tie Muhua. She started explaining their situation.
“They want to adopt children. I’ve completed the paperwork and was just about to take them to the nursery.”
Fifty children were indeed too many, so Old Li had brought up the topic during one of the nightly movie screenings, hoping that capable and willing residents would consider adoption.
Among the residents, the agricultural specialists were naturally the most capable.
Since they were close to Granny Guo, Ye Lan and Tie Muhua also had frequent contact with Kang Kang. Moreover, the diligent little Huo Qiu often helped them with their work.
Through these interactions, they had grown fond of children.
However, when it came to giving birth themselves, they were reluctant. Even though they were ability users with good physical conditions and a safer living environment, childbirth was still a dangerous ordeal.
Ultimately, the Desolate City Haven was still too new. Although everyone sincerely hoped it would thrive, Wasteland survivors rarely held optimism for the future.
So, they didn’t dare to have children of their own, fearing the risks. Adopting a child became an appealing alternative.
It allowed them to form a family, have loved ones, and deepen their connection with the Haven.
However, Old Li issued a strict warning.
Once they adopted a child, they had to take full responsibility. If they were found to be negligent or careless, the consequences would depend on the severity of the situation.
After careful consideration, one of the agricultural specialists backed out. However, Ye Lan and Tie Muhua remained resolute.
They passed the initial assessment and were now headed to the nursery. After adoption, they would need to learn childcare skills from the caretakers before they could officially take the children home.
After delivering the maternity guide to Grandpa Li, Tang Yu’an pulled Zhou Qi along to watch the adoption process unfold.
Ye Lan and Tie Muhua had noticeably different preferences when choosing their children.
Ye Lan preferred to adopt a baby just a few months old with no memories. She believed that although it would be more challenging, the child would truly see her as their mother.
Raising a child was like planting crops—you had to put in the labor and effort before you could reap the rewards.
Tie Muhua, on the other hand, wanted an older child who seemed bright and sensible.
Such children had already experienced the darkness and dangers of the Wasteland and understood the harsh realities of the world. They would cherish their hard-won stability even more.
Since the Haven only allowed adoption of children under the age of three, she chose a three-year-old girl.
The little girl was skinny, making her round, wide eyes seem even bigger.
Unlike other children who were shy around adults, she showed no fear. The lively sparkle in her eyes revealed her intelligence and maturity beyond her years.
Tie Muhua gave her a pair of bells as a welcome gift and named her Tie Lingdang.
Meanwhile, Ye Lan picked a baby boy.
Because he had just absorbed the Wood Spirit Bug, Zhou Qi could sense that the wood-element spiritual energy surrounding the infant was denser than that of the others.
This child most likely possessed wood-based abilities—and had awakened them naturally.
Seeing the fondness in Ye Lan’s eyes for the child, Zhou Qi chose to remain silent.
From a purely utilitarian perspective, keeping a child with a natural wood-element talent within the Haven and raising them there would be the most beneficial decision.
Kang Kang had already proven just how much wealth a growing wood-element ability user could generate.
However, this would not be beneficial to the child’s personal development.
Having a family and growing up surrounded by love was crucial for a child. Zhou Qi understood this deeply.
So, he had no desire to take away that child’s chance at love.
“An’an, let’s go.”
“Oh, oh! Okay!”
After watching the adoption process, Tang Yu’an followed Zhou Qi as they left. On the way back, he couldn’t help but speak up.
“Brother Qi, there are still a lot of kids left on Jufeng Mountain…”
The fifty children they had now were just ones Hong Li had casually gathered, and most of them were quite young.
There were definitely more who had been overlooked—especially those between the ages of 8 and 15, like Shi Tou and Xiao Cao. That age group had the largest numbers.
“We should recruit another batch.”
Zhou Qi thought for a moment and then said, “Now that we have Grandpa Chen and the five new agricultural specialists, the Haven’s food production will definitely increase in the future. We can absolutely accommodate more residents.”
The newly recruited children could be sent to the brick factory for simpler tasks, while the more experienced residents could be assigned to the cement and steel factories.
They needed to build roads and bridges, and construction materials were essential for that.
“We can suggest to Sister Hong Li that she set up a few brick kilns on Jufeng Mountain to recruit workers. The bricks produced can be sold to Desolate City Haven.”
That way, the people of Jufeng Town could earn wages from working at the brick kilns and use their wages to buy food.
If these workers no longer had to go into the mountains to scavenge for food, the competition for resources among the others would also decrease. Over time, their living conditions should gradually improve.
“I know what this is called!” Tang Yu’an exclaimed. “This is ‘work-for-relief’!”
Zhou Qi chuckled and nodded. “So, should we go to Jufeng Town now?”
“No need, we can just send a private message on the forum,” Tang Yu’an grinned. “As for recruiting, we can let Sister Hong Li handle that.”
As the administrator, Hong Li was in a much better position to handle this than they were.
Besides, with experience under her belt, she could manage things more efficiently. The barracks where the previously rescued children had stayed were still vacant, so the new recruits could live there.
Zhou Qi thought for a moment and then nodded. “That works.”
So, Tang Yu’an pinged Hong Li on the message board and then entered her private chat thread to discuss the brick kiln plan.
[Chilong]: How much do you need? Will you take everything we produce?
[Eastern Sweet Tang]: Yes, as long as the quality meets the standard, Desolate City Haven will take everything.
[Chilong]: Alright, I’ll arrange it.
Once everything was settled, Tang Yu’an let out a relieved sigh, feeling a surge of excitement—like he had just accomplished something big.
“Our territory seems to be expanding more and more!” he couldn’t help but exclaim.
“It’ll be even bigger in the future,” Zhou Qi replied. “Linhai Town and Lan Hu Town will both be included.”
As for the more distant Flame Dragon Fortress, that was still uncertain.
Just then, a new message popped up on the public message board—it was from Lan Yunqing.
[Red As Fire]: Sweet Tang, are you free soon? The fruit is almost ready for harvest.
Tang Yu’an froze for a moment, suddenly remembering that he had promised to take Kang Kang to Lan Hu Town again.
[Eastern Sweet Tang]: Oh, right!
[Eastern Sweet Tang]: We’ll go in the next couple of days!
Receiving the confirmation, Lan Yunqing—who had been struggling to keep up with the demands of the Mother Tree—finally breathed a sigh of relief.
[Red As Fire]: Great, thank you! ^^
Then, without delay, he shared the good news with the Lan Hu Town Mother Tree.
The result…
The Star-chain Vines near the central lake, which had been growing sluggishly, suddenly burst into a fresh wave of wild, rapid growth!
