Chapter 48
Inside the tent, Grandpa Li was still unconscious, his breathing noticeably weaker than before.
Zhou Qi quickly gave him the antidote. After a moment, he called out to him again, and this time, the old man finally responded.
“Qi…” The old man opened his eyes and weakly murmured.
“It’s alright now. You should rest a bit.”
The fight had ended quickly, but Grandpa Li, already injured and further weakened by the drug, needed time to recover. Zhou Qi gave him some concentrated glucose solution for energy. Once Grandpa Li had fallen back asleep, he and Tang Yu’an left the tent.
“An An, can you analyze this powder?” Zhou Qi handed the glass bottle containing the drug to Tang Yu’an.
“Oh, sure!”
Tang Yu’an poured a little of the powder out and used a basic appraisal skill on it.
[Would you like to spend 1 point to identify this item?]
After confirming the deduction, the information popped up.
[Name: Sleeping Powder]
[Description: Induces immediate sleep upon inhalation. Only an antidote can wake the affected. Without the antidote, those exposed may die peacefully in their sleep over time.]
Zhou Qi checked the identification booklet, reviewing the newly added details. Despite already understanding the powder’s effects, his face remained grim.
“Brother Qi, was this what poisoned Grandpa Li and me?”
Tang Yu’an felt a wave of lingering fear. He’d been entirely unaware, completely oblivious to how close he had come to a dangerous fate while asleep.
Zhou Qi nodded, recounting everything that had just happened.
“Maybe the parasite absorbed the effects of the drug for me, so I wasn’t affected,” Zhou Qi explained. Unfortunately, the powder hadn’t hindered the parasite’s activity in the least; it remained as active as ever.
Hearing everything, Tang Yu’an quickly checked Zhou Qi’s employee stats and then, concerned, took Zhou Qi’s hands and examined him. “Brother Qi, you didn’t get hurt, did you?”
Zhou Qi shook his head. “Thanks to Black Pearl.”
His initial throw with the knife had missed, and without Black Pearl’s control guiding the knife back to finish off the tall man, Grandpa Li might have been in grave danger. If he’d been alone, he might have had no choice but to flee with An An under the cover of the invisibility umbrella, hoping for another chance. But An An would’ve been just as much at risk without the antidote… so thankfully, Black Pearl had been there.
Grateful, Zhou Qi decided to bring back some treats for Black Pearl as a reward.
Upon hearing this, Tang Yu’an immediately hugged Black Pearl, thanking and praising the creature. Black Pearl’s reaction was calm as if it had done nothing significant. However, its little tail gave a slight, satisfied twitch, hinting at a hidden contentment.
The drug didn’t seem to affect Black Pearl, and according to the appraisal, the sedative only worked on “humans.”
Then, Zhou Qi approached the shorter man once more.
After being knocked unconscious by Zhou Qi, his breathing had grown weaker, and it seemed he wouldn’t survive much longer. Zhou Qi bent down, gripped the knife Grandpa Li had plunged into the man’s chest, and pulled it out.
More blood gushed from the wound.
With this final blood loss, the man succumbed in his unconscious state. Zhou Qi clutched the bloodied knife tightly, fighting the nausea welling up from his stomach.
He reminded himself that this was the apocalypse. The law and morals of the old world had long disintegrated, and if he showed mercy now, he wouldn’t be able to protect himself, let alone An An.
“Brother Qi… are they dead?” An An’s voice broke the silence.
Zhou Qi turned to see him approaching with a pale face.
In truth, Zhou Qi’s own face was even paler than Tang Yu’an’s.
“Yes,” Zhou Qi replied with a nod.
Tang Yu’an’s eyes began to glisten with tears as he moved closer and wrapped his arms around Zhou Qi, burying his face in his chest, refusing to look at the bodies on the ground.
“Brother Qi, they were bad people.”
Tang Yu’an’s voice trembled as he closed his eyes, “If they hadn’t died, then we would have. So we didn’t do anything wrong.”
Clink.
The knife fell from Zhou Qi’s hand, producing a clear sound in the still night.
“An An…”
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll stay with you.”
His young voice, filled with a choked determination, miraculously eased Zhou Qi’s own anxiety.
Zhou Qi lifted his hand, wanting to return the hug, but as he looked at the blood on his hands, he lowered them again.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, voice low.
“Yes. We did nothing wrong.”
Tang Yu’an tightened his embrace, holding him even closer.
The two young men clung to each other under the night sky. This night, thick with the smell of blood, would forever etch itself deeply into their memories.
*
The night continued on.
By the campfire, Zhou Qi retrieved his knife, rinsing and carefully wiping it clean. Neither he nor Tang Yu’an returned to their tents; they stayed by the fire, instinctively taking on the role of nightwatch. Tang Yu’an felt a bit hungry, but knowing there were two bodies nearby, he lost any appetite he’d had.
Being at the foot of the mountain and near the town, other travelers passed by during the night. But seeing the two corpses on the ground, they kept a respectful distance and moved along quietly.
Even though only two slender, youthful boys sat by the fire, no one dared underestimate them anymore.
“You should go back and sleep in the tent; it’s too cold out here,” Zhou Qi said.
Even with his abilities, he could feel the midnight chill beside the fire, so Tang Yu’an must be freezing.
Tang Yu’an shook his head stubbornly. “I want to stay with you.”
Though they had the temperature-controlled invisibility umbrella, they were keeping watch to prevent any attackers or creatures from approaching, so they couldn’t hide under it.
Zhou Qi sighed, handed him a cup of hot milk, and wrapped him in a thick blanket. “Is that a bit warmer?” he asked softly.
Their body warmth intermingled, insulating them from the night’s chill. Tang Yu’an huddled in Zhou Qi’s arms, sipped his warm, sweetened milk, and finally felt the cold dissipate from his limbs.
“Yes! Much warmer.”
The warmth soon made him drowsy. Despite trying to stay awake, he ended up drifting to sleep, leaning against Zhou Qi’s chest.
But even this simple companionship was enough for Zhou Qi.
He adjusted his position to make Tang Yu’an more comfortable, then quietly summoned a metal spoon from his storage.
Black Pearl, who had been nestled in Tang Yu’an’s pocket, popped its head out to watch. Zhou Qi ignored it, focusing on the spoon, and recalling how Black Pearl had controlled the knife during their defense. Slowly, the spoon began to tremble and then float in midair.
Though not as fast as Black Pearl, it worked—he had managed to use his metal ability in a new way. Black Pearl looked at him in surprise but quickly hissed and fluffed up into a little ball when Zhou Qi glanced its way.
Under the firelight, Zhou Qi’s eyes had turned red again. He frowned, closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, his pupils were back to normal. The spoon fell back into his hand, and Black Pearl shrank back into Tang Yu’an’s pocket.
Zhou Qi continued testing his abilities. In the red-eyed state, his senses and powers were sharper. If he could control this, it might serve as a valuable asset in future battles.
Time passed as he practiced.
Finally, the first light broke over the horizon, and dawn began to paint the sky.
“Whoosh—”
Grandpa Li suddenly yanked the tent flap open, his face tense as he surveyed the campsite. Seeing Zhou Qi and Tang Yu’an by the fire, his expression eased.
Zhou Qi quickly put the spoon away and greeted him, “Grandpa Li, are you alright?”
Tang Yu’an, who had been stirring restlessly from nightmares, looked up, still half-asleep.
Grandpa Li examined them closely before saying, “Nothing serious.”
Though he felt a faint rib fracture, it was nothing a few days of rest wouldn’t heal. He walked over to inspect the two bodies, now stiff with a thin layer of frost, undoubtedly dead.
Then he looked at the two exhausted boys. “Thank you for keeping watch last night,” he said appreciatively.
Zhou Qi shook his head. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Last night had been a hard-earned lesson. In close combat, especially against human opponents, he lacked experience. Had he achieved the slow-motion focus he’d felt during his encounter with Granny Guo, his throw would have landed a lethal blow. He spent the night reviewing his actions, realizing he had much to learn from Grandpa Li’s speed and experience.
“Grandpa, if you’re alright, let’s leave now,” Tang Yu’an said, getting to his feet.
Though he’d mentally prepared himself, staying near two dead bodies left him uneasy and unable to eat. Grandpa Li nodded, understanding their feelings. He patted Zhou Qi on the shoulder, saying, “In the wasteland, things like this happen often. Don’t let it weigh on your mind.”
In Grandpa Li’s view, the only one who could have taken down the attackers after he was incapacitated was Zhou Qi. He couldn’t have guessed that the true hero behind it all was a small, fluffy kitten.
Zhou Qi nodded, then he and Tang Yu’an packed up, put out the fire, and prepared to move on.
As for the bodies…
Grandpa Li looted anything valuable from them and left them as they were, not bothering to waste energy burying them. “Even if we bury them, something will dig them up,” he said. “The town prohibits cannibalism, but outside, there are no such restrictions.”
His matter-of-fact words sent a shiver through the two boys. The thought of people literally eating others was something they had never considered.
“If we hadn’t won last night,” Grandpa Li continued, “we would likely have been their next meal.”
Seeing the pale faces of the two boys, Old Li didn’t stop; instead, he shared even harsher truths.
“So set aside any kindness or pity you feel. Out here in the wasteland, unlike in the fortress, being soft-hearted will only drag you into the depths.”
Meeting Old Li’s stern gaze, Tang Yu’an gulped, instinctively hiding behind Zhou Qi.
“I… I understand…” he whispered weakly.
Old Li stared at him for a moment, seemingly satisfied they got the message, and then withdrew his gaze.
“Let’s go. Time to move.”
He started to pick up his backpack, only for Zhou Qi, who had already cast the Lightness spell on himself, to silently take it over.
“Grandpa, are you able to walk?” Tang Yu’an asked, his eyes full of concern.
Seeing this caring expression, Old Li felt a contradiction: part of him thought his earlier warnings had been in vain, but the warmth in his heart kept him from scolding them.
“If we take it slow, I should be fine. The path uphill is less dangerous from here on.”
Old Li picked up a sturdy branch to use as a walking stick and led the boys up the mountain.
The town of Jufeng was built atop the mountain, so during the day, patrol guards would roam the outskirts, keeping watch. Between the patrols and hunting expeditions, the mutant creatures in Jufeng Mountain were either driven out or hunted, making this route relatively safe compared to others. Out here, it was people they needed to watch out for.
“The path is steep, so be careful not to slip into any ravines.”
Unlike paved, pre-disaster mountain roads with cement steps, reaching Jufeng required actual climbing. Some of the steeper trails were especially treacherous.
“Why build the town so high up if the road is so hard to travel?” Tang Yu’an asked.
“For safety.”
Old Li explained as they chatted and snacked on whole-wheat buns while winding their way up the rough trail. Tang Yu’an had cast Lightness on himself as well, so he wasn’t overly tired and even had energy to look around at the scenery.
Trees were sparse on Jufeng Mountain; in this extreme climate, where the temperature differences between day and night were huge, plants that survived were rare and specialized to the conditions—mostly low-growing bushes and ferns.
The plants kept the air a bit cooler than the wastelands below, so even as the sun rose, the temperature stayed bearable. The only nuisance was the number of bugs.
Swarming around water or decaying carcasses, insects left Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi shuddering, but with Lin Zhen’s insect repellent, they could cover their exposed skin with a cool, protective layer, and the bugs dared not come near.
Around eight or nine in the morning, they crossed a small hill and spotted a guard post with sentries.
“Is the town just ahead?” Tang Yu’an asked excitedly.
They’d planned to reach the town by evening, so if they were close now, they were far ahead of schedule.
Old Li shook his head. “That’s just an outpost.”
“Or a toll gate,” he added. “When we leave Jufeng Mountain, we’ll have to pay a toll.”
“Do we need to pay anything to get in?” Tang Yu’an asked.
“No need,” Old Li replied. “Only when we enter the main town, but I heard from Tie Jin that they might be canceling the entrance toll.”
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi were a bit taken aback by this toll gate system, which was different from what they had imagined.
“Stay close behind me, keep your hats down, and don’t look around,” Old Li instructed as he led them toward the guard post.
This checkpoint had two metal gates, likely made from mutant metal, with sharp spikes at the top and sides, their edges gleaming in the sunlight, emphasizing their sharpness.
One of the smaller gates was open, guarded by two soldiers who were busy inspecting people leaving the mountain, the ones from whom they could collect tolls. Going after people entering could lead to punishment.
Old Li led the boys through, and the guards only glanced at them before resuming their inspection of others.
Once they were far enough away, Tang Yu’an whispered, “Grandpa, what do they usually charge for the toll? Is there a standard?”
Old Li shook his head. “If they recognize you, it’s less; if you’re a stranger, it’s more. It all depends on the guard’s mood, but usually, they’ll want to take something.”
“Doesn’t sound very fair…”
If that was the case, people without the means to leave Jufeng Town would likely stay around the mountain, too fearful to travel further.
Keeping most resources coming in and fewer going out was likely what the gate system was designed to achieve.
“Are there other ways out?” Zhou Qi asked.
After all, it was a mountain range. Was it possible for anyone to completely blockade an entire mountain? Even pre-disaster, that would have been difficult.
“There are, but they’re dangerous,” Old Li replied. “This is the safest route.”
People had a choice: either pay a toll to leave safely or risk taking a less secure path without it. Most knew which option was wiser.
They continued walking, their conversation shifting to the terrain. This area was relatively flat, with a few two-story stilt houses scattered around the checkpoint. Judging by the green dots on the map, quite a few people lived here.
Since arriving in this world, they hadn’t seen so many people together.
“This is where the checkpoint guards live.”
“We could stay here for the night if we wanted, but it’s expensive,” Old Li said, pointing to the stilt houses. “Not many dare to cause trouble here, so it’s a safe place to sleep.”
Had they stayed here last night, they wouldn’t have had to fend off those attackers.
Tang Yu’an nodded, but didn’t reply. Now that they knew the route, he and Zhou Qi could travel to the town on their own in the future, using the invisibility umbrella to avoid night attacks.
Along with guards wearing badges, there were a dozen or so travelers loitering near the checkpoint, as well as three people at the gate preparing to leave the mountain.
Some people stood or sat alone, while others paired up, all maintaining a cautious distance from one another.
As Old Li, Tang Yu’an, and Zhou Qi entered the checkpoint, these people watched them with scrutinizing gazes, as if sizing up prey. After experiencing the attack the previous night, Tang Yu’an felt a deep distrust toward these people and quickly kept pace with Old Li.
He also noticed a couple of women with grass baskets and sickles stepping out of one of the stilted houses and following them up the mountain trail.
“They’re the checkpoint cooks; they handle meals for the guards and are probably heading up to gather wild vegetables,” Old Li explained quietly.
This wasn’t a bad job, considering the harsh environment of the wasteland.
Tang Yu’an checked the map and saw that everyone was clustered in one large area, with the green dots tightly grouped together. He decided it would be helpful to mark this spot as “Checkpoint” to keep track of anyone they encountered here.
Soon, they passed through the checkpoint area and continued up a steep, narrow mountain path.
As they got closer to the town, more travelers appeared along the trail. Some, like them, had come from outside the mountain, carrying goods to trade in town, while others were descending from the mountain. In addition to the sturdy men they’d seen before, they now saw women and children as well—though men still outnumbered them.
Many traveled in small groups, armed with tools and baskets for gathering wild greens, fruits, and insects along the mountain paths. Tang Yu’an even saw one woman’s basket filled with wriggling bugs.
When they passed, the woman shot him a fierce, protective glare, hugging her basket close as though shielding a treasure, clearly on guard against theft.
Tang Yu’an paid no mind to her hostility; he knew survival was tough out here in the wasteland.
Those bugs were likely her food source. In a world like this, bugs were a solid source of protein. Tang Yu’an wasn’t eager to eat them, but he realized it was a luxury to have options. If he were ever starving with no other choice, he would certainly eat whatever was available.
Tang Yu’an adjusted his hat, careful not to reveal himself to earn points or experience.
Zhou Qi, however, had no such restrictions.
With his tall build, Zhou Qi was an imposing figure; the smaller, weaker people gave him a wide berth, steering clear of trouble.
While taking a break along the way, they encountered a mother and son. The mother looked weathered, her age hard to determine from her disheveled appearance, though her build suggested she was older. The boy by her side seemed about six or seven years old. They had gathered a fair amount of mushrooms and seemed pleased with their haul.
However, when they came face-to-face on the path, the woman’s expression changed. She quickly grabbed the boy’s hand, ready to leave.
“Wait!” Zhou Qi called out.
Tang Yu’an had checked the map—there were only five people on this part of the path, so the setting was safe for a transaction.
But as soon as Zhou Qi spoke, the woman did not stop; instead, she clutched the boy tightly and hurried away faster than before. In a blink, they had disappeared from sight.
Zhou Qi sighed in frustration, realizing his first attempt at a transaction on this trip had been an unexpected failure.
Old Li chuckled at him.
“Rushing up like that would make anyone want to run. What did you want with her?” he asked, shaking his head.
Zhou Qi pursed his lips. “I was hoping to trade for some mushrooms for lunch.”
Hearing this, Old Li thought back to last night’s dinner, smacking his lips at the memory. “No need to rush. We’ll probably see someone else soon.”
One of the reasons Jufeng Town was situated on the mountain was because of the abundant food resources in the area. Residents often stayed in town or nearby rest points at night and then ventured out during the day to hunt or gather supplies in the mountains, so they were likely to run into more people like that mother and son along the way.
However, despite keeping an eye out, they didn’t encounter any more mushroom foragers on their path. Instead, they were approached and stopped by guards.
