PSW - Chapter 86
Chapter 86
"As long as I live and am in charge of this base…" Feng Shuxian's expression was earnest and resolute. She met Zheng Yi's clear, dark eyes and said, "From the first to the third of every month, we will hold prayers to the Saint."
"I will make sure everyone remembers Zheng Yi and Yu Yinan, who came to help the base during the high-temperature period. I will make sure they remember the Saint who brought us blessed rain."
"As for that passage you came up with before…" Feng Shuxian lowered her gaze, her fingertips brushing over the Saint's mark. "I will use metal to erect a monument, forming it word by word, and place it at the base's main gate for everyone to see and remember."
This woman…
[Oh my god, she's actually willing to go this far?!] Zero One was shocked. [Has she seen through you? But there's no character-break warning!]
To curry favor with Zheng Yi to such an extent… was it because she saw the immense potential in the "Saint's" abilities? Was this a complete and total investment in Zheng Yi?
"These three communication opportunities…" Feng Shuxian looked at Zheng Yi. "If Zhongshan is in trouble in the future, I will use one to ask for your help. If you can make it… I hope you'll be able to help us."
Whether it was a future high-temperature period, an even more terrifying natural disaster, or an attack by mutated beasts… for Zheng Yi to be able to give out a mark like this, the upper limit of her abilities was likely far beyond what they had seen. Befriending her was absolutely beneficial.
"Feng Jiejie, don't worry, I'll do my best!" Zheng Yi's smile was radiant. She nodded with equal earnestness, her sincerity absolute.
"Then I won't disturb you any longer." Feng Shuxian smiled, a weight lifted from her mind, and her whole body relaxed. "Just let me know before you leave. I'll bring the other leaders to see you off."
"Alright, we'll let you know before we depart."
The moment Feng Shuxian was gone, Yu Yinan listened carefully until her footsteps faded away, then quickly shut the door and stood before Zheng Yi. "I want your contract, too."
[…Damn.] Zero One simply sent a "6," never having expected Yu Yinan to be thinking about this the second the other woman left.
"This is for communication," Zheng Yi said. "You're always by my side, so you don't need it."
"My devotion to you is at level ten, and I still can't have your mark?" Yu Yinan grew more and more aggrieved. Of course, she knew she might not have a chance to use it, but Zheng Yi had given one to Feng Shuxian! She lowered her head, and before Zheng Yi could say anything else, she quickly composed herself. "Sorry, I was being selfish."
A contract like this must be very precious, and perhaps it even drained Zheng Yi to create one. In any case, she was always with Zheng Yi, so it was normal that she wouldn't need it.
She shouldn't make any demands of Zheng Yi. She was… getting ahead of herself. Yu Yinan clenched her fists. It was because Zheng Yi was… so visibly indulgent with her that Yu Yinan sometimes couldn't help but want more.
Possessiveness, a desire for exclusivity? It was human nature, or perhaps just her own greed.
[Ah, but it's only three hundred Saint Points per mark, so it's not that precious…] Zero One's attitude shifted in a flash, completely forgetting that before they came to this base, Zheng Yi's total balance was less than three hundred. From Zero One's perspective, it felt a little more sympathy for Yu Yinan. This feeling was especially strong whenever Yu Yinan sensibly backed down and apologized.
"Three hundred faith points." Zheng Yi tilted her head to look at Yu Yinan, unmoved by her momentary vulnerability, nor offended or angered by her request. She simply stated the price of the "mark" calmly. "You only contribute thirty each month."
Yu Yinan froze for a moment, then looked at Zheng Yi. "So… ten months? In ten months, I can have your mark?" Yu Yinan was overjoyed, partly for the mark she would get in ten months, and partly because… did this mean she could stay by Zheng Yi's side for the next ten months with peace of mind?
Zheng Yi… had already tacitly agreed to let her keep following.
The surprise in Yu Yinan's eyes was plain to see; she never hid her emotions in front of Zheng Yi. She didn't need to put on an act or maintain a certain persona, nor did she need to build layers of emotional walls. When facing Zheng Yi, she was at her softest and most genuine.
"Zheng Yi…" Yu Yinan's eyes were like pools of dark lacquer. She smiled, utterly content, even though Zheng Yi hadn't promised anything yet. She stared at Zheng Yi, her gaze as fiery as a flame, yet it didn't burn. It was incredibly bright, filled to the brim with affection.
"When are we leaving?" Yu Yinan didn't press the topic, only asking softly.
"In two days," Zheng Yi said. "The day after tomorrow. After the second rainfall ends, we'll leave at dusk."
Spending the night outside? Yu Yinan thought, but didn't ask any more questions. As long as she could be with Zheng Yi, she didn't much care about such things. After leaving Zhongshan, they were finally going to Chuanyang. With the high-temperature period over, the temperature should remain at a comfortable level for a while—the perfect time for sightseeing by the sea and swimming.
"I… I'm not a very good swimmer." In fact, it would be more accurate to say she was bad at it. Probably at the level where she could swim a few laps with a floatie?
"Well, isn't this a great opportunity to learn?" Zheng Yi tilted her head, seemingly not understanding why Yu Yinan had suddenly said that. She smiled sweetly and called out, "Jiejie."
"…" Why was she suddenly talking to her like that? Yu Yinan felt strangely flustered, but Zheng Yi often teased her like this, so she quickly relaxed. Chuanyang… the seaside… Yu Yinan thought of the beachcombing videos from before the apocalypse and wondered if it was still possible. She had no idea if things like clams and moon snails still existed.
Ah, perhaps… they had mutated too?
Yu Yinan moved a small iron stool to a corner of the room and began her daily ability practice. Four large pillars of ice surrounded her, allowing her to push the temperature of her flames to its absolute limit.
When she was exhausted, Zheng Yi used a stream of water to give her a bath. By then, it was almost eleven o'clock. The air conditioning turned on, and another day passed.
Over the next two days, although the temperature was still quite high, activities in the base gradually resumed. The base's water supply was now stable. Feng Shuxian had been busy accumulating metal, planning to forge integrated cargo beds for the base's trucks. Then she could send ability users to the rivers to haul water back.
This water was obviously not safe to drink directly. They would do their best to disinfect and filter it, and preferably distill it once. The distilled water would be supplied to ability users, while the water created by water-type ability users would be prioritized for ordinary people.
After the afternoon rain, Zheng Yi and Yu Yinan would also stroll casually around the base. Although some ordinary people would drop to their knees in pious worship and hail the Saint upon seeing her, they never again encountered anyone like Li Hongyun who would attack on sight.
Some ability users did approach to greet them and offer words of praise, but with Yu Yinan right there, they didn't dare to be too forward. They couldn't even manage to shake Zheng Yi's hand.
In these last two days, there was no opportunity for Yu Yinan to put on a show.
On the day of their departure, after the rain ended, Zheng Yi casually swallowed a Stamina Recovery Pill and went straight to the office with Yu Yinan.
The moment they stepped inside, Base Leader Feng looked up. "Are you leaving?"
"Yes," Zheng Yi replied with a smile. "We've imposed for many days. The temperature is relatively normal now, and the base is no longer so short on water… It's time for us to leave."
"Alright. Are you sure you don't need a vehicle?" Feng Shuxian stood up and walked out from behind her desk. "Zhongshan borders Chuanyang, so it's not too far… but if you want to see the sea, it will take you a very long time on foot."
"Feng Jiejie, we have a car~" Zheng Yi said, blinking with a hint of playfulness. "Have you forgotten I'm a dual-ability user? I have a personal storage space, you know~ When we first arrived, we saw what happened in that alley. We didn't know the attitudes and character of the people here, so of course we didn't dare to reveal too much."
Feng Shuxian gave a helpless smile and waved her hand. The golden mark on the back of her hand flashed before Yu Yinan's eyes, but she felt nothing. "In that case, we'll just see you off. Wait a moment, I'll call the others."
"There's really no need to go to so much trouble. We might even come back here to stay for a few days after we return from Chuanyang."
Feng Shuxian just smiled faintly and still went out to gather the other leaders. Then, they all escorted Zheng Yi and Yu Yinan to the base's main gate.
Zheng Yi didn't try to hide it. She took out the modified vehicle directly. The sudden appearance of the vehicle stunned the leaders. Feng Shuxian also looked surprised as she examined the car's materials and custom structure.
"Well, Feng Jiejie, everyone, we'll be on our way now, okay?" Zheng Yi raised a hand and waved.
"We've troubled you for many days. We'll be leaving now. Goodbye, everyone." Yu Yinan also waved. After saying her goodbyes, she took the car keys, opened the driver's side door, and got in.
During their days at the base, Yu Yinan had already planned the route from Zhongshan to Chuanyang and then to the coast, memorizing it completely. She didn't need a map. After getting her bearings, she started the car and drove away.
Base Leader Feng and the other leaders watched them go. It wasn't until the car had completely vanished from sight that Wang Fengxiang couldn't help but murmur, "Truly… impossible to fathom their true depth."
"A god… the Saint. Is her ability really a god possessing her, bestowing blessings?"
Li Hongyun had been a fool, so arrogant as to attack directly… At the time, they had been relieved that Zheng Yi and her companion were unharmed, but also felt a lingering fear at Li Hongyun's swift and gruesome death. A mental-type ability user… Before the high-temperature period, Li Hongyun had hypnotized and influenced other ability users. Even if there was some backlash, it was only a slight stinging pain in his head, not nearly enough to make his eyes bleed. But this time…
It was instantaneous. The moment he used his ability, he died violently.
Zheng Yi… was it as she said? Was the Saint still possessing her at that moment, not having left yet? During the first rainfall, Feng Shuxian had seen it clearly: the instant the rain stopped, Zheng Yi had returned to her normal self.
Just how powerful was Zheng Yi's mental strength? Or was it that the god truly was still possessing her body, and Li Hongyun, a mere ability user, had coveted a deity and foolishly tried to control one… leading to his instant death?
Feng Shuxian looked at the three golden lines on the back of her hand, recalling the powerful aura Zheng Yi had exuded during the rainfall. She gently brushed her fingertips over the pattern. "There's no need to find the answers to these questions."
"They… are not simple." On the surface, it seemed like the older sister, Yu Yinan, was protecting Zheng Yi at all times, as if Zheng Yi's innocent and worldly-unaware nature was a result of Yu Yinan's sheltering. But in reality… for many things, Yu Yinan would ask for Zheng Yi's opinion. "Being on good terms with them is enough."
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