Doomsday Grocery Store – CH49

Chapter 49

Unlike the guards at the previous checkpoint who seemed more lax, the squad of soldiers they encountered this time was clearly well-trained.

The squad consisted of six individuals, and their distinct hair and eye colors hinted at their special abilities. They moved swiftly and with serious expressions, as if dealing with an urgent matter.

Old Li quickly motioned for the two children to step aside.

Tang Yu’an instinctively lowered his head to avoid drawing attention.

As the squad passed them, the leader suddenly halted and blocked Old Li, asking, “Did you just come down the mountain?”

“Yes, sir,” Old Li responded quickly.

“Did you see any suspicious signs along the way?” the leader asked.

“Suspicious signs…” Old Li frowned, then shook his head. “Nothing unusual that I noticed, though it did seem quieter than usual on the trail today.”

He glanced at the leader, asking, “Are you looking for someone or something in particular?”

The squad leader replied, “A mutated creature has recently appeared on the mountain. Several people have already been attacked, so if you value your lives, you’d better stay alert.”

Seeing that the squad was ready to move on, Tang Yu’an hesitated, then gathered his courage and asked, “Excuse me, could you tell us what the mutated creature looks like?”

The leader frowned slightly.

The boy standing beside the old man kept his head down, and from his voice, he seemed young. After asking, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small red fruit, offering it to the squad leader.

“It’s pretty sweet—good for quenching your thirst,” Zhou Qi said beside him.

The squad leader looked at Zhou Qi. Noticing his honest expression and unthreatening appearance, he eventually accepted the fruit and took a bite.

The taste was indeed very sweet, and he couldn’t help but nod in approval. “Not bad,” he said, satisfied, then glanced at the shy child inching closer to the old man.

Out of appreciation for the fruit, the squad leader answered his question. “It’s a mutated snake, fire-type, fairly large, and skilled at camouflage.”

He explained that the snake had first been sighted a few days ago and had reappeared that morning on the western slope but quickly disappeared again.

He didn’t have more information, as surveillance was nonexistent after the disaster; their intel was solely based on survivor reports. The squad hadn’t encountered the snake directly yet.

“Thank you, sir,” Zhou Qi said politely, imitating Old Li’s respectful tone.

Tang Yu’an also whispered a quick thank you.

The leader nodded and, without troubling them further, continued along a different trail, still munching on the fruit.

Once they were out of earshot, Old Li let out a sigh of relief.

He didn’t reprimand the two boys for their bravery in asking questions; after all, the guards, supported by the mountain’s managers, rarely harassed residents outside of collecting tolls and protection fees. Plus, they had gained valuable information about the mutated snake.

“A fire-type mutated snake…” Old Li muttered, frowning. He turned to the two boys, saying, “Come on, let’s get to the town as soon as possible. We won’t have to worry about mutant creatures once we’re inside.”

“Understood.”

As they continued up the mountain, Tang Yu’an opened his map, noting their progress. A faint line marked their route up the trail, surrounded by areas still covered in fog, awaiting discovery.

To his surprise, another path had begun to emerge—a branching line that was slowly clearing through the fog. At the forefront of this path was a silver dot, followed by five green ones.

That silver dot had to be the squad leader!

And, as he glanced at his system notifications, he saw, [You have completed a loss-making transaction with a new customer, experience points +3.]

It seemed that the sweet fruit trade for information had been considered a loss-making deal, yet, watching the map’s new reveal, Tang Yu’an didn’t feel it was a loss at all. He felt fortunate for having made the right choice.

The patrol squad was bound to cover most of the mountain, and any dangerous creatures in that unlocked area would appear on his map.

With a bit of luck, he might even detect that mutated snake’s location in advance!

Tang Yu’an quickly marked the silver dot as “Squad Leader” and labeled the five green dots as “Patrol Guards” to differentiate them from the checkpoint guards.

As he focused on the map, he missed a stone underfoot and tripped, nearly tumbling down the slope. Both Zhou Qi and Old Li reacted in time, grabbing him.

“Pay attention and don’t get distracted!” Old Li scolded.

Tang Yu’an nodded in apology, realizing how steep the trail was and how a fall could easily send him tumbling down the mountain. Thankfully, he’d been caught in time.

“Let’s go,” Old Li said, his tone softening, as he continued up the path with his staff.

Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi followed closely, alert to their surroundings. About an hour later, they reached a second checkpoint.

Though called a checkpoint, it was more of a rest stop for the patrol guards and travelers to the town.

“Back in the day, few dared venture alone on Jufeng Mountain. Most people only traveled in groups for safety.”

Old Li shared more about Jufeng Town’s history as they walked.

“Later, under the leadership of the previous manager, they began clearing out the mountain little by little until we had today’s safe route, with rest points along the way.”

Compared to the first checkpoint, the atmosphere at this rest stop was noticeably more relaxed.

The structures here were low, wooden houses built along the slope of the mountain, with around a few dozen of them scattered across the area.

“The dirt road, trampled down by countless feet, wound through the wooden houses, bustling with hurried passersby. The rest stop, small as it was, hummed with activity and liveliness.

Tang Yu’an estimated that, judging by the green dots on his map, there were around a hundred or two hundred people gathered here, making it a small village in itself.

“Nowadays, quite a few people are moving out of Jufeng Town, choosing instead to settle at various rest points along the mountain path or around the Jufeng Mountain area,” Old Li continued. “Settling in one of these outposts still requires paying protection fees, but since there are no guards to maintain order, most of the fees are merely symbolic. It’s a lot more affordable than living in town, though the security isn’t as high.”

Old Li stopped suddenly, looking toward a corner. Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi followed his gaze and, to their shock, witnessed a robbery taking place right after entering the area.

The victims were none other than the mother and son they had met on the mountain.

“Well, well, looks like you had quite a haul today!” sneered a scruffy man with a beard and tattered clothes, as he moved toward the mother and son, grabbing for her basket.

Naturally, they resisted.

The man clicked his tongue in annoyance, saying, “You haven’t paid this month’s protection fee. Let go before I make you!”

“Bah! You, Chen Liu, were kicked out of the guard squad long ago. Who are you to collect protection fees?” The woman, a feisty one, clung to her hard-earned goods with fierce resolve. Her young son, equally angry, did his best to help her.

The man’s face contorted in rage. “Say that again, you wench! Go on, try it!”

“Chen Liu, let go of me!” she shouted, no longer wanting to provoke him further but unwilling to surrender the food she and her son had painstakingly gathered.

Her retreat, however, only emboldened him.

Instead of striking her, Chen Liu turned and kicked her young son, who was barely six or seven, and too small to withstand the force. The child crumpled to the ground, clutching his stomach, unable to get up.

Seeing this, the mother’s eyes filled with fury.

“Chen Liu, I’ll fight you!” she screamed, letting go of her basket and lunging at him, her fingers clawing at his face.

Caught off guard, Chen Liu stumbled back, wincing in pain as she scratched him. Enraged, he cursed, “You crazy woman, you want to die?”

He slapped her hard, sending her sprawling to the ground.

“Stop hitting my mom!” the boy cried, struggling to his feet and charging at Chen Liu like a feral wolf cub. The boy bit down hard on Chen Liu’s hand.

“Argh! You little brat! Let go! I said let go!” The man cursed, trying to shake the boy off, but the child held on tenaciously.

Finally, after a few furious kicks, he threw the boy off, scattering the mushrooms from their basket onto the ground.

Furious, Chen Liu stomped on the boy a few more times before bending down to pick up the fallen mushrooms.

Throughout this brutal scene, no one around them made a move to intervene. Those who witnessed it either stayed silent or distanced themselves, some watching from afar, others looking on with familiarity, as though this were a routine sight.

Even though Chen Liu was no longer with the guards, he still held a certain power here, enough that no one dared challenge him.

The boy lay motionless on the ground after the second assault, not getting up.

“Xiao Bao… Xiao Bao…” The mother, her face ringing from the slap, crawled over to her son, clutching him in despair as she sobbed.

Watching this, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi felt a surge of anger.

They had wanted to step in the moment the boy was kicked, but Old Li firmly restrained them.

“That man, Chen Liu, is a local thug around here. Didn’t you notice that no one dares to get involved? His friends are watching too. If we intervene, we might not leave this outpost in one piece!”

Old Li kept his voice low, pulling the boys away forcefully. “These kinds of things happen all the time. Even if you help now, can you help every time?”

Old Li wasn’t a cold-hearted man, but he knew that helping others required ensuring his own safety first. Risking their lives to help others was not kindness—it was foolishness.

Especially in a place like the wastelands, where helping others doesn’t always bring gratitude and may even lead to betrayal.

Tang Yu’an clenched his fists tightly.

He understood Old Li’s logic and knew that, in a place as crowded and unpredictable as this, exposing themselves could bring trouble.

But… he had the ability to help…

Just as Tang Yu’an wavered, Zhou Qi, who had been silent all this time, pulled a slingshot from his storage and handed it to him.

Tang Yu’an blinked, looking up at him. “Brother Qi…”

Zhou Qi patted his head gently and then turned to Old Li. “We don’t have to step forward ourselves. But can’t we teach him a lesson from the shadows? You must know how to do that without getting caught, right?”

Old Li, a seasoned hunter, knew how to stay unseen. After all, he’d noticed the hidden Black Pearl from a distance and had planned an ambush on the giant lizard in Wild City. While that plan hadn’t succeeded, the thugs here weren’t as formidable. Surely, he had some tricks up his sleeve?

Old Li frowned deeply at Zhou Qi, clearly disapproving.

“Grandpa Li,” Zhou Qi began, his voice calm. “I know you want to keep us out of trouble, and we appreciate that. But…”

“‘The best defense is a good offense,’ Zhou Qi said in a low voice. ‘We need practice.’

Avoiding conflict forever wouldn’t help them grow; after last night’s attack, Zhou Qi knew just how little experience he had with combat, especially with other humans. He wanted to shore up this weak spot, and real-life practice seemed like the most effective way.

Hearing Zhou Qi’s explanation, Old Li’s expression softened thoughtfully. Yes, kids who are overly protected can never grow to stand strong and resilient. He looked at Zhou Qi, typically calm and composed, then at Tang Yu’an, who was watching him expectantly. Finally, he sighed, listening to the mother’s despairing cries.

‘Fine. Follow me.’

Once they decided to intervene, they had to act quickly.

Though this outpost was full of people, it was on a mountain, not a plain, so finding a hidden spot wasn’t too difficult. Old Li found a great vantage point on a cliff, overlooking Chen Liu and the mother and son in the corner. They were also hidden by bushes—a perfect spot for a shot.

‘So, what lesson do you want to give him? Using a slingshot?’ Old Li frowned, feeling it might be too childish.

Killing Chen Liu outright wasn’t an option; they’d be the first suspects, as strangers. But what lesson could help the mother and son without jeopardizing their safety?

Old Li thought carefully.

But Tang Yu’an, without hesitation, positioned himself behind Old Li and Zhou Qi, aimed his slingshot, and targeted Chen Liu, who was still picking mushrooms.

A Happy Marble…fire!

Old Li noticed his actions and, though he still didn’t fully agree, didn’t stop him. He shook his head internally, feeling that with such a light force, even if it hit, it wouldn’t hurt much. Worse, they might just aggravate Chen Liu without doing any real good.

Sure enough, the marble gently tapped Chen Liu on the head and bounced off, rebounding off a rock and landing on the ground.

Chen Liu clutched his head, looking up in anger. But instead of what Old Li had feared, something else entirely happened, taking an unexpected turn.

Chen Liu’s furious expression…suddenly twisted into a wide grin.

The sight was so eerie and abrupt that even Old Li, who had seen plenty, felt a chill. Had they been caught?

Why was he laughing instead of getting angry?

Then, Chen Liu’s grin grew wider and wider, until he broke into loud laughter.

“Ha-ha—ha-ha-ha—!”

What had been a contained chuckle soon turned into uncontrollable, wild laughter that baffled Old Li completely.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha—ha-ha-ha—!”

In the quiet outpost, his sudden burst of laughter startled birds on the rooftops, sending them scattering.

The people around, who were already starting to disperse, froze in confusion.

They stared at Chen Liu, the man who had been bullying a widow and her child, watching as he sat on the ground collecting mushrooms, only to start clutching his stomach and laughing uncontrollably.

There hadn’t been much attention on the corner before, but his laughter drew everyone’s gaze.

It was only a handful of mushrooms; why was he so thrilled? Some might have thought he’d struck gold.

Or was he just deranged?

Even the woman, who had been cradling her son and crying, was so shocked she stopped and stared at the laughing man in disbelief.

“Ha-ha-ha—ha-ha-ha—!”

Chen Liu laughed, clutching his stomach and pounding the ground, laughing so hard he cried.

What on earth was so funny?

Bewildered, the crowd gathered, and even Chen Liu’s friends looked baffled as they watched him laugh hysterically.

At first bewildered, the woman finally realized what was happening. Though she didn’t understand why, she tentatively reached out for the mushrooms. When Chen Liu didn’t react, still lost in his laughter, her eyes lit up.

Quickly, she grabbed her basket, swiftly collected the fallen mushrooms, and, holding her son, darted through the crowd and out of sight.

No one cared to stop her as they were all too distracted watching Chen Liu, even his friends who’d been nearby were too confused to act.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha—ha-ha-ha—!”

A man, annoyed by the noise, finally slapped Chen Liu on the back of his head, but he continued to laugh, rolling on the ground as if possessed.

Even after ten minutes, Chen Liu’s laughter showed no signs of stopping.

“Let’s go, Grandpa,” Tang Yu’an whispered.

At first, he’d thought about testing the Sadness Marble as well, but with so many onlookers, they had limited sightlines and increased risk of detection.

Besides…

He glanced back at the scene.

After the Happy Marble hit Chen Liu, it bounced off a nearby rock, then landed back on the ground, where he’d kept brushing against it as he rolled with laughter. He must have hit it several times in the process.

It seemed that each touch extended the effect.

Happy Marble…truly terrifying!

Well, he doubted Chen Liu would stop laughing any time soon.

Surely, the lesson would be memorable enough? Though…he hoped the man wouldn’t actually laugh himself to death.”

Thinking about this, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty.

The mutant boar had been so strong, yet even it could barely handle forty minutes of laughter. Chen Liu, just an ordinary person, might have an even harder time.

But on the other hand, he felt that Chen Liu fully deserved it.

Stealing things was one thing, but to beat people and kick a child like that—someone like him got what was coming!

Old Li looked on in stunned silence as they pulled him away.

Throughout their departure, Chen Liu’s eerie, hysterical laughter echoed continuously. More and more people gathered to watch, and some had even stepped up to hit him in frustration.

Whatever his final fate would be depended on his own luck.

Once they were far from the outpost and alone on the mountain path, Old Li finally looked at Tang Yu’an in disbelief, asking, “Just now…was that your doing?”

He could still hear that haunting laughter echoing in his ears.

A hundred meters later, the Happy Marble had returned to Tang Yu’an’s hand.

He carefully put it away. He had already come up with a response to Old Li’s question.

Tang Yu’an put his hands on his hips and proudly announced, “Grandpa, that’s my special technique!”

“Special technique?” Old Li frowned. “You don’t have powers, right?”

“Nope, I didn’t use any powers.”

Tang Yu’an nodded, then leaned in with a mysterious grin. “I tapped his laughing pressure point!”

At this, Tang Yu’an felt a bit nervous.

He thought Old Li, being a survivor from before the disaster in a world that spoke Mandarin and used Chinese characters, might know what a “laughing pressure point” was.

Old Li looked confused for a moment, then his eyes went wide.

“The laughing pressure point? You mean…”

He brought his index and middle fingers together, lightly poking Tang Yu’an’s arm. “You mean, like…acupressure?”

Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but smile, squinting his eyes.

Heh, Grandpa Li really knows about it! This would make him easier to convince in the future!

“Yeah, exactly.” Tang Yu’an nodded eagerly. “Grandpa Li, you know acupressure too?”

Old Li’s face was full of awe.

“Before the disaster, I read about it in martial arts novels,” he said, lost in nostalgia. Who hadn’t tried imitating martial arts shows as a kid?

“Turns out, it’s a real skill, and it’s even been passed down in the Fortress…”

Old Li didn’t doubt Tang Yu’an’s story. Part of it was the impression the boy gave off, so innocent and honest that he instinctively wanted to believe him.

Besides…

They’d already left the outpost, yet they could still faintly hear the guy laughing!

Would he really not laugh himself to death?

He’d watched the whole thing, and the kid had only shot him with a slingshot. If he hadn’t tapped some “laughing pressure point,” there was no way to explain it!

“So will he keep laughing like that?” Old Li asked, intrigued.

Tang Yu’an shook his head. “He’ll stop eventually.”

As for when…he wasn’t sure. After all, Chen Liu had bumped into the Happy Marble so many times that if each was an additional ten minutes…

From that moment on, the way Old Li looked at Tang Yu’an had changed.

It was as if…

The soft, innocent little bunny was actually a tiny demon lord in disguise.