Chapter 132: Return to Qingliu City

""Sure, go ahead and take it.""

Sang Chu directly took out a tomato seedling, used her ability to accelerate its growth, then picked a ripe tomato and tossed it to Da Niao. ""Here, this should be convenient for you. Are you from a local family?""

Da Niao caught the tomato, her hand trembling slightly as she felt the weight and curve of the fruit. But it seemed no one noticed her odd reaction.

She looked a bit lost, as if she hadn't seen such a thing in a long time. After a moment, she stammered, ""I... I can't believe it. I just... I just walked out from that high tower, and then I got a crystal nucleus and washed it clean on the ground.""

Sang Chu said, ""So you're all from here?""

As she spoke, Sang Chu's gaze swept over the group, finally landing on Lu Song and Pei Yiwen. If they were also from the tower, that would be quite something.

It turned out not only Da Niao, but also Lu Song's father and brother-in-law had escaped from the tower.

Lu Song didn't know why Sang Chu kept looking at him. He just thought she was searching for other survivors, so he said, ""Yiwen and I are both from here. I came out to see if I could find anyone else.""

""Lin Da Niao and I both escaped from the tower!""

""I was captured and brought there...""

Listening to everyone, Sang Chu more or less understood. Most of those who escaped the tower were ability users who'd been captured, probably to be used as the next batch of test subjects.

However, the places they were taken from varied, and each had their own story.

Sang Chu said, ""Alright, I understand. I live in Qingliu City, so it's convenient to get to the city. For now, I'll give everyone some food. Tomorrow, I'll come at this time to bring more. These are my family members, so please look after them for me, okay?""

""You're not afraid we'll steal from you?""

Sang Chu looked at them with a hint of suspicion, but just smiled. ""Of course not.""

After the food was distributed, the little servant boy watched everyone eating fresh food, his stomach growling. He shuffled over timidly, ""I... I often take care of Pei Zhao. Can you give me some too?""

Hearing his voice, Sang Chu finally turned to look at him. ""Didn't you run away? I thought you didn't need food.""

""I... I do, but I can't do what you asked. But I can tell you the way, and you can find it yourself!""

Sang Chu replied, ""Alright.""

She tossed him a tomato. Lin Zhe caught it with a grin and took a big bite, the fresh juice running down his chin. He didn't care at all, just kept eating, getting his whole face and hands sticky.

Seeing how much he enjoyed it, Sang Chu couldn't help but smile and gave him another tomato accelerated by her ability. All her plants were mutated varieties from this post-apocalyptic world, and now, after being soaked in spring water, a single plant could bear a lot of fruit. The tomatoes were especially big and sweet.

Everyone got one, and it was almost enough to fill them up.

In the apocalypse, food was precious. Eating fruit was already a huge luxury, so everyone, though still not fully satisfied, carefully stored away the leftovers.

The little servant boy asked, ""What time will you come tomorrow?""

Sang Chu replied, ""Same time as today. These should be enough to last until then. Keep an eye on my family. If I don't see them tomorrow, I won't give you any more food.""

The boy quickly promised, ""Don't worry! As long as they're here, nothing will happen to them!""

But the unspoken meaning was clear: if they're not here, I'll eat their share!

Sang Chu wasn't afraid of his veiled threat. Even though time in this world passed differently, she could always spend some money for Qin Simian to help her return to her own world.

It would be a bit troublesome, but as far as she was concerned, anything that could be solved with money wasn't really a problem!

She looked at him, half-smiling, and then led Pei Zhao back to her base.

""Big sister, why don't you take my dad and grandpa with us?""

""It doesn't matter where you are, as long as you're safe. Don't you want to go back?""

Pei Zhao nodded. ""I do. Don't worry about me.""

""Okay.""

The road back wasn't long. As Sang Chu approached the main gate of Qingliu City, she noticed the mutated plants had grown even more lush and dense.

If things kept developing like this, and if the magical formation wasn't activated in time, the city would probably be overrun soon.

......

""Zhao Zhao!""

When Lu Linlin saw her daughter, she rushed over and hugged her tightly, scolding and crying at the same time. ""You little brat, where did you go?""

Pei Zhao patted her back with her small hands to comfort her. ""Brother Lin Zhe brought me back. Don't worry, I'm home now.""

""Home is best, home is best! You really scared me!""

Old Yan and Yan Hao had been waiting in the house. When Pei Zhao returned, Old Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. ""Next time, don't run off like that. You really scared us!""

""Okay, okay, Zhao Zhao knows. Grandpa.""

""Since you're back, come with me to the air-raid shelter, okay?""

Lu Linlin glanced at her brother, then said, ""We're going back too. You stay here, Xiao Lu. Take care of yourself.""

With that, she left with Pei Zhao and Old Yan.

Yan Hao didn't say anything, just quietly escorted them back to the shelter.

After everyone else had left, Lu Song closed the door. His brothers were there too. A group of them looked at Sang Chu and said, ""Why won't you let us go back?""

Sang Chu sat calmly in her chair and said, ""Didn't you notice? The mutated plants aren't just controlling Qingliu City. Their influence might be even bigger. I need some time. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you won't die.""

Lu Song said, ""My ability is almost at the level eight barrier. Once I reach level eight, I'll definitely die. I want to know about yours!""

""I'm tired now. I'll tell you tomorrow.""

Lu Song was annoyed. ""You—!""

Tang Lei pulled the agitated Lu Song back and said to Sang Chu, ""I'll stand guard outside. You get some rest.""

""Thank you.""

Tang Lei saw how unafraid and calm she was, and remembered how she had easily beaten that little servant boy before. That boy didn't dare guarantee he could win, but this woman, with her weapon, could subdue him in one move.

""Alright, I'll keep watch outside. You rest easy. Earlier, Brother Lu told me about your base. I don't need anyone to vouch for me. I want to join, but I don't know if that's allowed. I can guarantee I won't betray the base. If I do, you can kill me.""

""We'll talk about it after this is over. Think it over carefully. When we're ready to discuss, give me your answer. I can give you a chance to join, but only once. So think it through—my base isn't that easy to get into, or to leave.""

""Alright, then you rest. I'll head out now."""