Chapter 158: The Great Magic—Mu Xue’s Rock

Wilderness

After the cold snap, Yip and Lu Minli set off from the mole nest, heading in the direction of the smaller one to wash up.

Sang Jingwen and Mu Xue stuck close to Lu Minli, and only after confirming that Sang Jingwen’s fan had no tail did they release their guard and let him go ahead.

Sang Jingwen took out the human card and said, “I’ve been carrying this on me all along. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. What do you think?”

He handed the human card to Lu Minli. At that moment, Sang Chu had already left the room and was speaking from the witch’s quarters.

“Ah Chu.”

Lu Minli quickly connected the call. In the five-person group chat, Sang Chu was lying on a chair, rubbing her brows as she said, [Brother, Minli, check if there are any rotten wood spirits nearby. If there are, it’ll be easier to blend in, then send the coordinates to Mi Z.]

Hearing Sang Chu’s slightly weary voice, Sang Jingwen couldn’t help but ask, [Sang Sang, what’s wrong?]

[I just went to the witch hospital, and now I finally understand why Xiaoxue and Na are so scared. We can’t let the matter of the human card be exposed. So, Brother, be careful with the card, and Minli, unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t use it lightly. Minli, plan an escape route. I’ll set out at dawn tomorrow. Just wait for me near the mole nest. After the cold snap, I’ll head out. We need to get into the flower field as quickly as possible.]

She felt like she’d overlooked something, and her heart was filled with unease—especially after visiting the witch’s quarters today, the feeling was even stronger.

They couldn’t stay here any longer. Still, at least she now knew what had happened today. Anything that could be hidden, she would hide!

Lu Minli: [I do have a route, but there’s a problem.]

Sang Chu: [What problem?]

Lu Minli: [The armpit scales can’t be used while on the move—those spirits can see them, and my attacks are completely ineffective. As for the whistle, I could use it once, but now my whistle won’t work anymore.]

Sang Chu exclaimed: [What? How did that happen? What about yours?]

Sang Jingwen: [I don’t dare use mine now. I already used it once before. If what Minli says is true, then it can only be used in emergencies. I have one use left. You, Mu Xue, and Yi probably only have one use each as well.]

Sang Chu clenched her fists helplessly and sighed: [So the whistle isn’t something we can use without limit. That means we can’t rely on it the whole way—we have to save it for emergencies.]

Yi: [Sis, does that mean I shouldn’t use the whistle tonight?]

Sang Chu: [No, if it really is limited in uses, then every time we use it is one less chance. If there are rotten wood spirits near the mole nest, blend in and wait for me. If not, don’t take any risks—safety first.]

[Okay, got it. I’ll come back to pick you up after the cold snap.]

Sang Chu: [No need, just wait for me there. The area near the mole nest isn’t safe—let’s talk more if anything comes up.]

She’d originally wanted to say more, but suddenly remembered their original intention. She quickly added: [By the way, if you can’t use the armpit scales in the wild, you can ask Na to pull off a scale and give it to you. The human scales can resist the cold.]

Mu Xue looked at Sang Chu’s hesitant expression on the screen. Sang Jingwen said, [Alright, I understand.]

Sang Chu: [That’s a last resort. Na’s body isn’t in great shape right now. If we can get into the flower field, we won’t need her scales. I’ll try to get supplies from the witch hospital. I just wanted to let you know, if it’s absolutely necessary, you can take her scales.]

Lu Minli and Mu Xue both turned a bit pale and quickly replied: [Okay, I understand. You take care. We’ll get ready first.]

[Alright.]

Sang Chu also noticed Mu Xue’s expression, but she couldn’t afford to think too much right now. Life in the wild was too unpredictable—no one knew what might happen. If the armpit scales were discovered and everyone was exposed, it would be a disaster.

Mu Xue looked at the calm faces of Lu Minli and Sang Jingwen, her lips trembling, but she couldn’t say anything. She knew Sang Chu was doing this for their own good, but thinking about how much Na trusted Sang Chu, yet Sang Chu was considering taking her scales in an emergency, made her feel uneasy.

Sang Jingwen, standing beside Mu Xue, gently asked, “Do you think Sang Sang is being a bit ruthless with Na?”

Mu Xue nodded weakly. “I know it’s the only way, but still…”

Lu Minli said, “Xiaoxue, think about it. If something happened to me or Sang Chu here, what would happen to Na?”

At that, Mu Xue immediately looked up at Lu Minli. Yi also looked at her helplessly. “Xiaoxue, have you forgotten the first time we met Na?”

“I—I know, it’s just… Na really trusts Sang Sang…”

Sang Jingwen said, “It’s precisely because she trusts her that when she followed us out here, she already guessed what Sang Sang might need her to do. But she never said anything. She doesn’t dare get close to men, yet she still gave me her card, because she believes Sang Sang won’t harm her. Whatever Sang Sang asks, she’ll do. Sang Sang has never betrayed her trust. She just cares more about making sure we survive out here.”

Mu Xue lowered her head, whispering, “I know.”

“Xiaoxue, Sang Sang is still the Sang Sang we know.”

Mu Xue’s eyes suddenly reddened, and she kept her head down, not daring to look up. Sang Jingwen could see her anxiety.

She was truly afraid—afraid that Sang Chu had become someone she didn’t recognize. She didn’t want to admit it, but ever since they came to this place, so much of what Sang Chu did felt unfamiliar.

But when she heard Sang Jingwen’s words, she realized that nothing had really changed.

Sang Chu was still the one who always stood in front of her, protecting her. It was just that, as time and circumstances changed, she had to change her way of protecting them. But Mu Xue was scared by this unfamiliar method.

It was just too much to take in.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t help it…”

Yi didn’t like to overthink things, but he wasn’t stupid. After all that had happened, he realized Sang Chu had her own troubles. But for him, this kind of protection actually made him feel safer—at least he knew Sang Chu really cared about his life, and was doing everything she could to keep him safe.

“Xiaoxue, if it weren’t for the apocalypse, if we weren’t in so much danger, Sang Sang wouldn’t have to do this. And you know how dangerous this place is, right?”

“In this place, Sang Chu used to travel alone. Even if we’re all here now, there’s nothing I can do to help. She’s always been the one protecting me. Look at Lu Minli’s body, the magic weapons and slaves in your own hands—how many of those weren’t given to us by her? So why are you upset? She’s still her—she just has to be more rational and cold-blooded to keep us alive.”"