PSW - Chapter 96
Chapter 96
On the third day of camping in Fengxi, the third great rain finally arrived.
This downpour still caused an ability user's entire body to sting, but whether it was because she had grown accustomed to it or because her ability had strengthened, Yu Yinan felt that the pain from this round of rain wasn't as intense as during the second great rain.
She was only a little uncomfortable at first; after a few minutes, she was able to successfully release her ability in the rain.
"The rain doesn't seem too heavy." Rain soaked Yu Yinan's entire body. The flame in her hand burned fiercely; even as countless raindrops fell, the flame flickered but never completely went out.
"Mm, perhaps it will rain for a longer time." A prolonged, torrential downpour after the high-temperature period was very fitting for the apocalypse. She wondered… would it cause a flash flood? "We'll stay in Fengxi for a few days so you can practice your ability more. If the rain continues, we won't wait for it to stop. We'll go straight to Pujie." After all, there really wasn't any fun to be had in Fengxi, not even any sights worth visiting.
The artificial lake in the park had almost half evaporated after the high-temperature period. Even though the water wasn't clear, you could almost see the bottom.
"Okay." Yu Yinan agreed at once. Rainwater dripped down her face but couldn't hide her joyful smile. When she looked at Zheng Yi, her eyes always seemed to hold a galaxy of stars. She raised her hands, cupping the flame in her palms, and unleashed her power, making the flame burn even hotter. "Look."
"Mm, Jiejie is doing very well~" Zheng Yi didn't hold back her praise. Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "You're improving so quickly."
"When we get to that mountain forest in Pujie, Jiejie will have to show off her skills."
"I-I'm still far from good enough, but I'll keep working hard." Being praised like this always made Yu Yinan a little shy and embarrassed. The moment she was distracted, the flame went out. This made her look slightly annoyed, and her ears turned red even faster.
Recognition, encouragement, praise, compliments… all the things she had craved in her childhood but could never get, she now received in abundance from Zheng Yi. Although she still couldn't calmly accept Zheng Yi's praise and would feel awkward, occasionally feeling that she wasn't nearly that good, but… Yu Yinan would feel happy from the bottom of her heart.
"Jiejie needs to be a little more confident," Zheng Yi said softly. She reached out and pinched Yu Yinan's cheek, wiping away the rain, but more rain poured down on their heads. She fed Yu Yinan a Stamina Recovery Pill and said softly, "Keep practicing."
Zheng Yi strolled through the rain, feeling the stinging pain as the water touched her skin. She spread her arms as if enjoying it slightly and let out a sigh.
So this was the third great rain?
It was nothing special.
Zheng Yi had originally thought it would bring about a more profound change.
Pujie, Humanity's Light Shelter.
"We have to go to Aochuan Dam again. If this great rain lasts too long… it'll be bad if it causes a flood." Chu Yi ran her hands through her hair in frustration. They had just barely survived the high-temperature period, so why did this third great rain have to come so quickly? The rain hurt like hell when it hit ability users. Many of them couldn't even concentrate in the rain, let alone use eighty percent of their power; a very small number couldn't even use their abilities at all. "Should I post a mission, or should I just contact those few captains and see if they're willing to make the trip?"
"How about I go with you?" The woman across from Chu Yi was holding a very old-fashioned enamel mug, blowing on the steaming contents and taking small sips. Her features were elegant, and she said this with a faint smile.
"…Why would a healer like you go with me?" Chu Yi looked unnatural for a moment before quickly hiding it. She turned her head to the side and grumbled as if complaining, "The high-temperature period caused such a long delay. The school was just recently finished. It's one thing that the research side has made no progress, but don't you have things to do at the library and the school?" But now, with this rain… most ordinary people wanted to take a gamble. After surviving the high-temperature period, their way of thinking had changed significantly.
Perhaps the apocalypse was just an alternative form of evolution and elimination.
"Grandma Xu went to be a teacher at the school," Yun Lingjian said, still sipping her hot water. "I don't have much to do lately. Zhou Xiyue will handle these things."
"…Have Zhou Xiyue and her brother not made up yet?"
"It's a difference in philosophy, not a matter of making up or not." Yun Lingjian lowered her gaze slightly. "Resources are limited, and everyone's abilities are limited. There will always be conflict between preserving the few and choosing the many."
"But her brother did back down during the high-temperature period, didn't he?" Chu Yi sighed, although part of the reason for his concession was related to opening the floodgates. This apocalypse was so damn hard. "I hope this great rain doesn't last too long."
"Indeed." Yun Lingjian held her enamel mug and sighed as well. "After all, the new year is almost here."
"Haiyue, you still haven't told me why you chose the codename Chu Yi."
"A new beginning, a renewal of all things." Zhao Haiyue stretched, adjusted her glasses, stood up from the table, and walked toward the door. "It's just a random codename I picked."
"The umbrella is by the door."
"No need. I have a mission anyway, so I need to get used to it beforehand." Chu Yi waved her hand, turned the doorknob, and was about to leave.
"Do you still want the scallion pancakes?"
"…Yes." Chu Yi pushed the door open and left. The door closed gently behind her without making much noise.
It was just a trip to Aochuan. Chu Yi thought about it and decided not to bring too many people. Zhu Lanyuan and Lian Langxi—calling on these two captains would be enough. She wouldn't need their teammates; they could just stay in the shelter. As for whether these two would be willing to go out with her in the heavy rain…
Persuading Zhu Lanyuan would be easy. She was a very loyal person. Back then, Chu Yi had helped settle those women, running around to get everything done, and her relationship with Zhu Lanyuan had been very good ever since. Now, going to Aochuan was also for the sake of the shelter, so she probably wouldn't refuse. As for Lian Langxi…
Although that one had quite the spoiled princess attitude, if you wanted her help, you just needed to say a few nice things, act a little troubled, and mention that many ability users didn't dare to go on a mission in the heavy rain. There was an eighty percent chance she would volunteer.
"Aochuan? The dam, huh. It is indeed a potential hazard. Let's go together then. Do you need me to bring a few more people?"
"Isn't it just a trip to Aochuan? A little rain is nothing. I have nothing to do anyway, so I'll reluctantly accompany you."
And the reactions of these two were indeed just as Chu Yi had expected.
Aochuan wasn't too far from Pujie, and since Chu Yi had already been there once, they didn't encounter many delays on the way. They set out before dawn, with Chu Yi and Zhu Lanyuan taking turns driving without stopping, and arrived within Aochuan's borders by dusk.
"Young Miss, you're really taking it easy." Zhu Lanyuan stopped the car and stretched her sore body. The drenching rain invigorated her. Inside the car, Chu Yi was comparing maps, trying to see which road they had taken to the reservoir last time.
"I'm willing to drive, but would you be willing to be a passenger? I don't know the way." Lian Langxi leaned lazily against the back seat, rolling down the window to look at the rain-soaked Zhu Lanyuan outside. She sat up straight and cupped her hand to catch some water. The stinging pain did a lot to dispel her sleepiness. "If there's a huge flood, and it's all this kind of rainwater, soaking in it would hurt all over… Tsk, I really can't imagine it."
"Yeah." Zhu Lanyuan stretched in the rain, loosening her whole body. For some reason, her thoughts drifted to that night, to the woman whose body had been wreathed in blood.
Saint.
Zhu Lanyuan glanced at Zhao Haiyue, who was sitting in the passenger seat, seriously studying the map. Chu Yi clearly didn't know that Saint's true identity, or rather… Chu Yi didn't know Zheng Yi's true identity.
Among the survivors that day, she was probably the only one who, having gone downstairs first, had heard the repeated phrase "Zheng Yi is the Saint." At first, she didn't know what these words meant, even thinking that "Zheng Yi" was a homophone for "justice (zhèngyì)," and was confused about the connection. It was only later, while spending time with Chu Yi, that she heard her mention the two sisters in the car during that mission, Yu Yinan and Zheng Yi.
They had left Humanity's Light Shelter.
It was also then that Zhu Lanyuan learned that the younger sister Zheng Yi, whom Chu Yi described as "naive," "innocent," "kind," and "too well-protected by her older sister," had the codename "Saint."
But Zhu Lanyuan hadn't been able to meet Zheng Yi, nor could she truly ascertain the identity of the woman from that day. But her intuition told her… the two of them should be one and the same.
The Saint…
She didn't share this speculation with anyone. Leaving aside whether it was true or not, just based on the image that person maintained in front of Chu Yi… she probably didn't want to be exposed either. It was just that she really wanted to meet that person again.
"Still not awake? You're covered in rainwater. When Chu Yi drives later, isn't she going to get stung by the rain too?"
"…" Zhu Lanyuan gave Lian Langxi a speechless look. She opened the car door, got in, and took the dry towel Chu Yi handed her to wipe herself down simply. This reminded her of something else.
Yu Yinan, and that Yu Yaozu who had offended Lian Langxi.
Although Yu Yaozu had left the base, Lian Langxi had been unable to find him. It was unknown whether Yu Yaozu was dead or had truly escaped. But after Zhu Lanyuan learned that Zheng Yi was with Yu Yinan, and that Yu Yinan was Yu Yaozu's older sister… and after learning about that family's attitude toward Yu Yinan, she had an inexplicable feeling that Yu Yaozu was probably already dead.
Not killed by some zombie, mutated beast, or the high temperatures, but killed at the hands of Zheng Yi.
If Zheng Yi really was the person from that day… Yu Yaozu probably wouldn't even have any ashes left.
"Go this way. Take this road, and we'll get there soon. Then we can head back." Chu Yi pointed out the route on the map to Zhu Lanyuan, then asked Lian Langxi to pass her the bag from the back seat. "Let's eat something first. Do you guys want to try some scallion pancakes?"
"Yun Lingjian's cooking. They're delicious."
"I brought rations," Zhu Lanyuan said, asking Lian Langxi to pass her backpack over as well. She took out compressed biscuits and water. "Why is it that every time you go on a mission, this is what Yun Lingjian prepares for you? She still has flour?" Zhu Lanyuan even suspected that the patch of scallions in the planting area was something Yun Lingjian had insisted on planting herself.
"Yun Lingjian contributes so much, so it's normal for her to exchange for a few bags of all-purpose flour, isn't it? Besides, she only knows how to make big scallion pancakes," Lian Langxi said, reaching her hand toward Chu Yi. "Give me one."
"They're scallion pancakes," Chu Yi glanced at her and slapped her palm. "Who says Yun Lingjian doesn't know how to make anything else?"
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