Chapter 22: The Bullied Older Brother

Lu Minli and Sang Chu had previously researched many things about ability users, but when it came to spatial ability users, he could only shake his head and say he had no clue, so he didn’t have any particularly good suggestions either.

Mu Xue could only sigh helplessly and say, “If it’s really a strong spatial ability user with mental issues, then we’ll just have to endure it.”

She took a deep breath, trying to bear the sensation of her ears about to burst, and stood up with Sang Chu’s support.

Lin Muxue: “Let’s go.”

Sang Chu: “We can definitely do this.”

“Mm.”

She steadied herself with Sang Chu’s help, and they set off again.

The deeper they went into the residential area, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

Under the blood-red moon, the rows of tall, dilapidated apartment buildings, their exposed rebar and crumbling concrete, stood in stark contrast to the grand bridges nearby.

The mutated, terrifying plants looked even more sinister in the blood moonlight.

All the way, as they moved toward the residential buildings, they didn’t see a single living soul, which was very unusual.

Lu Minli said, “There’s no sign that this place has been cleared by ability users. Maybe it’s already been taken over by someone. Everyone, be careful.”

“Mm.”

…

“Sang Jingwen, do you want this or not? You’re not an ability user, just an old freeloader. As long as there’s food, you’re satisfied. What more do you want?”

“Monkey, the boss at the base said it doesn’t matter if you’re an ability user or not. As long as you help out, you can get food. But look at what you’re giving me! It’s all maggot-infested leftovers. Why do I get this stuff?”

“Hmph, things are different now. If you don’t have abilities, you can only eat this low-grade food. Food is getting scarcer and scarcer under the acid rain, and there’s hardly any living thing left. You think you can still eat like you used to, Sang—”

“Don’t be like that, Sang Jingwen. If you don’t want your egg, give it to me!”

“Fine, you want it? Take it, it’s all yours!”

“Monkey, you’re going too far!”

“So what if I am? If you’ve got what it takes, leave the base! The world outside is full of mutated plants. No one knows what will happen next. You’re just a powerless ordinary person. Whether you can even survive outside is another question. Don’t act so high and mighty!”

“Yeah, Sang Jingwen, why haven’t you been struck by lightning yet?”

“Exactly! An ordinary person daring to talk back to Monkey—what guts!”

Sang Jingwen clenched his fists, his pale face flushed with anger. “Monkey, you have no right to take what’s mine!”

Monkey was short and skinny, his skin dark, and he really did look like a monkey, just like his nickname.

Sang Jingwen gripped the knife in his hand, gritted his teeth, and lunged forward.

But unexpectedly, a vine suddenly shot out from behind, wrapped around his waist, and flung him aside.

Fan, holding the vine, smirked coldly as tiny thorns sprouted and stabbed into Sang Jingwen’s flesh.

“Sang Jingwen, maybe you were somebody before the apocalypse, but now, without abilities, you’re nothing but trash!”

Watching Sang Jingwen bite his lip, refusing to make a sound despite the pain, Fan lost interest and withdrew his vine, curling his lip in disdain. “Trash.”

Monkey, holding the food bag, looked at the maggoty contents inside and grinned as he walked over to Sang Jingwen, tossing the bag down at him from above.

“This is a big reward for you. Take it back and enjoy it with that old hag of yours, ha ha ha!”

Monkey laughed wildly. The people behind him, though disgusted by his behavior, didn’t dare say a word, afraid they’d be the next target.

Sang Jingwen’s waist and abdomen were covered in blood. He closed his eyes, then opened them to glare at the heartless crowd, gritting his teeth as he picked up the food bag and turned to leave.

Without abilities, he was nothing!

He could go without eating, but Grandma Lin couldn’t.

Sang Jingwen’s eyes were bloodshot as he staggered toward the underground residence.

He opened the heavy door and made his way home.

Room 109

*Cough, cough…*

Inside, an old woman was coughing weakly. As Sang Jingwen entered, Grandma Lin hurried over.

“Ah Wen, what happened to you? Let Grandma take a look!”

Grandma Lin anxiously tried to help him, but her hands were trembling with age.

“Grandma, I’m fine. I managed to get some food.”

Looking at the food bag in his hand, Grandma Lin patted his hand. “It’s my fault, I’m the one holding you back. If not for me, you wouldn’t have stayed here all this time.”

He had originally wanted to go to Beijing to find his younger sister, Sang Chu, but he’d met Lin Muxue’s grandmother along the way. An old woman like her couldn’t possibly survive the apocalypse alone.

Sang Jingwen couldn’t bring himself to leave her behind. At that time, there were too many people on the road, and food was scarce. Bringing an old woman along made things even harder.

Looking at the food in front of her, Grandma Lin sighed helplessly, then forced herself to open the packaging.

She smiled kindly and said, “This food is high in protein, so Grandma won’t be polite.”

Sang Jingwen: “Grandma, this stuff…”

Grandma Lin said gently, “As long as we can survive, that’s enough. I want to wait for Xiaoxue to come home.”

“Grandma.”

He didn’t know when the door had opened.

Muxue stood at the doorway, eyes brimming with tears. She rushed over and hugged Grandma Lin tightly. “Grandma!”

“Xiao, Xiaoxue? Xiaoxue!”

“My dear granddaughter, Grandma finally found you!”

Grandma Lin had thought she was dreaming, but when Lin Muxue hugged her, the warmth of her body told her that her granddaughter really had come home.

Sang Jingwen stared at the door in shock.

Sang Chu was thinner and tanner, with wounds on her body. Seeing this made Sang Jingwen’s heart ache. “Little sister.”

Sang Chu walked over to him and smiled. “Brother, I’m home!”

“Little sister.”

Sang Jingwen pulled her into a tight hug. He never expected that Sang Chu would actually make it back.

Lu Minli, seeing their reunion, quickly closed the door. He had followed Sang Jingwen all the way back, and thankfully he hadn’t been discovered, or he wouldn’t have been able to enter so easily.

“Ah Chu, take care of your brother first. I need to find a place to rest.”

He had seen Sang Jingwen on the road, but since there was an ability user following him, he didn’t know what would happen, so he could only wait until that person left before coming out.

Sang Chu: “Okay. Brother, sit down, I’ll treat your wounds.”

Sang Chu pulled him to a chair. Sang Jingwen, feeling guilty, looked at the scars on her body. “Little sister, I’m sorry I couldn’t come find you right away.”"