Chapter 37: Plans

Lu Min: Okay, you find a place to hide. I’ll go look for you as soon as he leaves.

Tu You helped Sang Chu find a place where someone used to live. They pried open the door. Inside, it was a complete mess.

When Lu Min and Sang Jingwen arrived at the place, Yu couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears. “Auntie, tell me, is it my dad? Was it my dad who hurt my brother?!”

Sang Jingwen looked at the sobbing child, her voice as cold as ever: “Why do you think that?”

Yu looked at his unconscious, bloodless brother, squatted on the ground hugging his knees, and choked out, “I found scraps from my brother’s clothes in the backyard. I found that villa because of those scraps!”

Sang Jingwen said, “Didn’t your dad say that wine was a gift from the landlord?”

“I didn’t think much of it last night, but this morning, when you wouldn’t wake up, I went to the backyard and found the scraps. After that, I noticed you weren’t around, and I just knew—Dad must have done it.”

Lu Min was very curious about this: “But that’s your dad. Why would you suspect him?”

“I didn’t want to, but yesterday he wanted me to go to the shelter for vagrants. I don’t know why. But after my brother got hurt, he never mentioned it again. Even my second uncle didn’t go. It’s not normal, not normal at all. My brother and I have been wanting to leave New City to find my eldest brother for a long time. I’ve been stockpiling supplies, but I didn’t dare let Dad find out, because he’d definitely bring my second uncle’s whole family along. But my brother and I don’t want that. We just want to escape that family, just want to find our eldest brother. When my eldest brother came back, he was so happy. I originally wanted to tell Dad everything I’d been hiding, because now I have abilities, and they’re spiritual abilities, so my safety should be guaranteed. But I never expected Dad would bring back that wine, and no matter how little I drank, I got drunk.”

Lu Min frowned slightly and said, “If that’s the case, you and your brother aren’t safe.”

Sang Jingwen glanced at him and said, “Yu, don’t let your father know you’ve been here. Go home and wait for me. As soon as your brother has recovered, I’ll come find you, and then we’ll leave together.”

“Really?”

Seeing his eager, hopeful eyes, Sang Chu said, “Go home and talk it over with your brother first. Your father is scary right now.”

Yu nodded, looking lost, and walked home.

Sang Jingwen stood at the door watching him leave, and said softly, “Min, you must follow him, okay?”

“Mm. I also need to look for my parents. Don’t worry about me. If necessary, I’ll use my ability to hide. You hide yourself well too, best to change locations. This place might not be safe.”

Trust was a heavy thing right now. They didn’t really trust Yu, but because he was Yip’s little brother, they gave him a chance.

Lu Min followed him out, not using her ability to hide.

Sang Jingwen carried Yip on her back and headed to the second hideout Tu You had found.

“Little sister, what do you think about New City?”

“It’d be best if we could leave quietly. I’m too weak to put up a fight. If Brother Yip and his brother come with us, I might have to stay behind to cover your escape.”

Sang Jingwen said, “Are you going to use the vehicle?”

“Mm. Before, Mu Xue, Lu Min, and I found a jade stone. Inside there’s a fierce little flood dragon. The bunny suggested I try to subdue it after awakening my ability, but it might not work. So we may have to split up—you go back directly, I’ll try my way.”

Sang Jingwen said, “I understand. When the time comes, I’ll cover for you. Be careful.”

Sang Chu nodded. The little bunny squatted on her shoulder, sighing, “There are so many experts here. You really need to get stronger.”

Sang Jingwen and Sang Chu both fell silent for a moment.

“Brother, I have a manual for spiritual power cultivation here. Even if you don’t have an ability, you can still practice. While we have time, try to learn it. I’ll prepare an injection for Brother Yip.”

No one knows how many spiritual ability users there are in New City. Only those with a certain level of power can see the vehicle. The situation is very unfavorable.

That’s why Sang Chu didn’t dare to openly use the vehicle. If an ability user noticed, she’d be captured immediately.

Sang Jingwen took the spiritual cultivation manual and nodded, then went to study it.

Sang Chu used her healing ability on Yip and saw a system prompt: [Unknown substance detected. Analyze?]

Sang Chu nodded. The system kept spinning, and she remembered that the system was from a mutated world, and there were many things in this world it didn’t recognize.

All she knew was that this substance was harmful to the body, but as for the specifics, the system couldn’t analyze it.

Bunny: [Isn’t it just that kind of ability-sealing stuff?]

[Probably. The doctor can’t see you, right?]

The bunny nodded. Before, Mu Xue had accidentally seen him in the underground cave, only because she had a high enough authority. Normally, he wouldn’t show himself, except to the ticket holders—no one else could see him.

Sang Chu: [This is the vehicle for my brother and Lu Min. Take it. Before you leave the city, go check out that colony base. Try to get the antidote. Also, take some of the poison for yourself, just in case.]

The bunny stuffed the vehicle into his belly like a pouch, grinning: [Little Sang Chu, he’s raised so many ability users, don’t you want to take them?]

Sang Chu lowered her head, clenched her fists, and after a struggle, let out a sigh: [...Fine.]

Bunny: [Don’t be in a rush to refuse. I know you don’t like those ability-user crystal cores, but this is the best way to store power. If people die, take their crystal cores, and you’ll be able to catch your breath. What if he’s already killed five or six?]

Sang Chu looked at him helplessly: [I didn’t say I wouldn’t. I’m just thinking, if I take all his crystal cores, he’ll probably catch more people to use. So, I want to come up with a better plan.]

Bunny: [What do you mean?]

Sang Chu: [First, try to find out how many ability users are at that base. Then, take all the antidote. As for the poison that disables abilities, try to put it in their food or water. Then, leave a bit earlier—leave the city before Lu Min does, turn the vehicle into an off-road mode and wait for him in the wild. When he arrives, you can come back and meet up.]"