Chapter 95: Roaming the Great Mountains

Sang Chu and An Tao circled around the Great Mountains. Aside from the lush mutant plants everywhere, there didn’t seem to be anything unusual.

An Tao could sense that her own mutant ability could be used to probe the surroundings, but she didn’t detect anything. If there had been something, she wouldn’t have been so calm.

As they were about to return to the base, An Tao couldn’t help but sigh, “I didn’t expect the base to be this big. Even when we were deep in the mountains, we didn’t find anything.”

An Hao had been following behind her like a silent background character. He explained, “There are three mountains outside and three in the valley center, making six big mountains in total. Boss Sang chose this spot well. If no one led the way, you’d never find it.”

An Tao nodded. “It’s well hidden. And the defense setup in the valley is quite meticulous. Even though the whole valley is used, you can’t see anything from the outside. Especially under the blood moon, with all these mutant plants covering everything, it’s a great location. Boss Sang made a good choice.”

Sang Chu smiled, “You flatter me, Elder An.”

An Tao replied, “Don’t be modest. I believe that in time, your Peach Blossom Base will become an indispensable force in the apocalypse. It’s just that for now, I’m afraid you’ll have to endure some hardship.”

Sang Chu knew what she meant. If your skills aren’t as good as others, you have to submit. “It’s mutual benefit. I just hope Elder An can keep your promise. I’ll do my best, but when I’m out, I hope you’ll take good care of my family. Otherwise, with only one of me, it’s easy to be threatened.”

An Tao nodded solemnly. “Of course. I like working with straightforward people like you. Don’t worry, as long as you behave, your family will be safe.”

“Of course, cooperation goes both ways. Elder An, you’re powerful, but being too strong isn’t always a good thing. You know as well as I do that venturing out comes at a great cost. The demon peach has already been used. Right now, the only people who can leave the base are you, me, An Hao, and those three wood-type ability users. My brother can’t eat the fruit, so if I go out, we’ll need someone else to collect crystal cores. If you trust those three new wood-type users, they can go out with us to collect cores.”

An Tao stared intently at Sang Chu. “Boss Sang, are you joking?”

“Of course not. In the Peach Blossom Grove, it might look like there are lots of peaches, but most are just illusions. Before the real demon peach ripens, I only have this one. I originally thought it didn’t matter if my brother didn’t go out, so I only gave the fruit to those who needed to leave and plant the demon peach. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this.”

An Tao looked at An Hao, who nodded, confirming that Sang Chu only had one fruit. An Tao’s expression was hard to read as she looked Sang Chu up and down, as if trying to determine if she was lying.

Sang Chu grew even more nervous, hoping they couldn’t detect the existence of the jade pendant’s space.

An Tao finally said, “Alright then, An Hao, you go. But the task is dangerous, so there must be compensation. Boss Sang, what do you think?”

“Of course. As I said, as long as Elder An agrees.”

An Tao didn’t hesitate at all. She nodded and told An Hao, “Ah Hao, go get the fruit, then head out to collect crystal cores. Get as many as you can before Boss Sang leaves.”

Sang Chu hadn’t expected them to be in such a hurry, but the sooner this was settled, the sooner she could improve her standing, which was a good thing.

As for the demon peach’s mark on her brother, as long as An Tao let him leave the base, the moment he touched the demon peach, he’d fall unconscious and enter the Peach Blossom illusion. In a way, that was a good thing.

She just couldn’t say that out loud. It was much better for him to stay safely in the base than to suffer in an illusion!

Watching An Hao’s departing figure, An Tao said, “Boss Sang, why don’t you walk with me a bit longer?”

“Sure, I’m happy to.”

...

After An Hao entered the base, Sang Jingwen was waiting for him. He looked at An Hao and said, “Back then, when I found you, you were barely alive in the basement of the Wufeng base.”

He lowered his head in silence. Sang Jingwen continued, “I’ve always wondered—since you’re the one behind Wufeng, why did you end up as a blood bag?”

An Hao said nothing, just walked toward the parking area.

Sang Jingwen said, “When I first learned about you, I felt something was off. I can’t say exactly what, but nothing about you added up. All the information I could find was vague. You didn’t know Sang Sang, and you didn’t know me. Plus, you’re a level seven ability user. I started to wonder if you were someone special, or maybe, you’re not even An Hao?”

An Hao suddenly looked up at him, voice low: “Knowing too much isn’t good. It’s better to behave. Only those with value survive.”

With that, he ignored Sang Jingwen and walked straight into the parking area. Yi Ping followed, muttering, “What’s up with him? Did he find something?”

Sang Jingwen smiled and patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, my sister isn’t stupid. If she decided to keep someone, she must have a backup plan. Relax. All we need to do is behave, just like An Hao said.”

“Huh?” Yi Ping stared at Sang Jingwen, confused. Why did all the smart people here think so differently? Instead of trying to escape, they were thinking about how to behave?

He couldn’t help but reach out and touch Sang Jingwen’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever. Why are you talking nonsense? Shouldn’t we be thinking about escaping?”

Sang Jingwen helplessly pulled his hand down. “What’s the rush? This is my base. I worked hard to build it. As long as we behave, we can live comfortably. Isn’t that good? Come on, let’s go help Tang Li with the barbecue, and maybe get some watermelon. Ruyan has grown a lot of fruit lately, and with more people in the base, everyone can eat.”

Letting himself be dragged along, Yi Ping didn’t know what to say. “Fine, I don’t understand what’s going on with you and your sister, but it’s your base, so you’re the boss!”

“Alright, stop overthinking. With your brain, you’re better off eating more and talking less.”

Yi Ping squinted and followed him toward the plantation.

Meanwhile, the conversation between him and An Hao had been relayed to Lu Mingli. Sang Chu, following An Tao, thought that although using light powers was risky, Lu Mingli wasn’t around.

She remembered An Hao’s warning—Lu Mingli could also leave the base."

"Here is a fluent, natural English translation of your provided Chinese text:

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**Chapter 96: Cleansing Regret**

When Lu Min saw the synchronized voice message in the room, he was stunned for quite a while.

Mu Xue looked at him and asked, “Lu Min, what’s wrong?”

“That person is trying to remind me that as long as I behave myself, nothing will happen. As long as I have value to Ah Chu, he’ll keep me safe.”

“Then… then isn’t Sang Sang in danger?”

Lu Min shook his head. “No. As long as An Tao can get what he wants from her, she’ll be fine. Otherwise, even if she dies or escapes, it won’t do anyone any good. In the apocalypse, he doesn’t want to die. Besides, his abilities are stronger than mine, but he hides them and pretends to be an ordinary person. I’m afraid both he and that An Hao have secrets. As long as Ah Chu doesn’t make any rash moves, I’ll just live my life as usual. Don’t worry.”

“Alright then, I’ll go see if Grandma needs anything. By the way, what do you want to eat? My grandma can cook something delicious for you.”

“I’m fine with anything. Uncle Gao and Aunt Gao are busy in the kitchen, so Grandma should just rest.”

Mu Xue smiled. “Grandma can’t sit still anyway. Alright, you get some rest. I’m heading out.”

After she finished speaking, she ran out. Only then did Lu Min’s expression darken, looking very serious.

*Knock, knock, knock—*

Someone knocked on the door. Lu Min asked quietly, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Xia Ru. Is it convenient for me to come in?”

“Come in.”

Xia Ru pushed the door open and came in, closing it behind him. He lowered his voice and asked, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. You can sit down if you want.”

Xia Ru gestured, asking if it was convenient to talk. Lu Min nodded. “It’s fine. What do you want to say?”

“You really did get rid of Huan Qiu, didn’t you? But now An Hao and his group are back. Does that threaten your life?”

Lu Min knew this person was sharp, but he hadn’t expected him to be this perceptive. “Just do what you’re supposed to do and don’t meddle, and nothing will happen. Since you’ve come to the base, I’ll do my best to protect you. But if you bring trouble on yourself, don’t blame me.”

Xia Ru hadn’t expected things to be this bad—just out of the tiger’s den and into the wolf’s lair.

“I want to know, is there any way to awaken abilities, other than drinking the blood of an ability user?”

Lu Min looked at Xia Ru. “You’ve tried?”

Xia Ru nodded. “My brother gave me his blood, but I still couldn’t awaken. So I want to know if you have any other way. I don’t want to just sit around and wait for death.”

This was actually his second reason for coming—he wanted to awaken an ability!

Lu Min thought for a moment and said, “Sorry, I have no way.”

Hearing this, Xia Ru’s pupils contracted slightly. He knew this person wasn’t telling the whole truth and wanted to press further, but in the end, he swallowed his words.

What Lu Min said was that he had no way, not that there was no way at all. There was a loophole in his words.

After thinking it through, Xia Ru nodded slightly. “In that case, I won’t disturb your rest. Don’t worry, my family and I aren’t troublemakers. As long as the base can keep us safe, we’ll do whatever we’re supposed to do.”

“Mm.”

Watching Xia Ru’s departing figure, Lu Min let out a sigh. Interacting with smart people was always risky. No matter if he was a spy for another base or just someone hedging his bets, his presence would only make the base stronger.

As long as he wanted to awaken an ability, he wouldn’t leave. And Lu Min would have another layer of protection.

Even if he wanted to betray them, it didn’t matter. Compared to ordinary people, someone who could become an ability user like Sang Chu was more valuable.

No matter which side he ended up on, for now, it was all benefit and no harm.

As for awakening abilities—didn’t he already say it? He had no way. If Xia Ru overthought it, that was his own business.

Now, he could only hope that Sang Chu could handle An Lao.

Lu Min took a deep breath. He now suspected that both he and Yi Ping had been hypnotized by An Lao’s abilities.

He didn’t even know what a psychic ability user could do, but one thing was certain—they could manipulate people’s minds.

Just like how Xiu Ying could control people’s actions.

A psychic ability user, huh!

Thinking of this, he realized that even Xiu Ying’s special ability hadn’t left such a deep impression on him.

……

At the table.

A large group of people sat around the table. Although the dishes were plentiful, everyone ate in silence.

When An Hao returned, he happened to catch everyone eating. “Wow, you brought back so much food!”

An Tan looked at the scattered food on the table and suggested, “Boss Sang, why don’t we go check it out now?”

“Sure. Brother, Grandma, you go ahead and eat. Don’t wait for me.”

With that, she grabbed a slice of watermelon and left the table. An Tan didn’t say anything about her leaving, just waved at An Hao and followed her out.

In the room,

Sang Chu sat on a chair, watching the space fan in her hand. “Have you figured it out?”

An Hao said, “So far, there’s nothing unusual.”

An Tan said, “You’ve been out for a while now.”

Sang Chu nodded. She wasn’t short on money, but she needed to be careful. Besides, she couldn’t let anyone know she wasn’t short on money.

“I need to operate something. Hand me the food.”

Pretending to be lost in thought, Sang Chu knew he didn’t understand the specifics of the world, so she feigned absent-mindedness for a while. In reality, her spiritual energy entered the jade pendant’s space.

When Tu You, who was napping inside, sensed Sang Chu’s arrival, he asked, “Why are you here?”

Sang Chu’s spiritual form looked at him. “I need five-colored earth to create a clone for myself.”

Tu You nodded. “That’s possible, but isn’t there a downside to using an earth clone?”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as I can split off a clone, it’s at least a way to save my life. I’ll cut off a part of my spiritual form and leave it here. Then buy me a ticket—I want to take over the mission on the train!”

Tu You looked at her in surprise. “Your current power is too low. If you take over, you’ll die for sure. Do you think you can take shortcuts like you did in the demon world?”

Sang Chu said, “I have no choice. These people are too strong. I need to level up quickly so I can help my brother survive the apocalypse. Only by surviving the apocalypse do I have a chance to grow. Right now, An Tao is still watching me, and I can’t afford to slip up.”

Tu You looked at her seriously. “You have to understand, the missions on the train are all extremely difficult. The one in the demon world was a special case that let you take a shortcut.”

“That’s why I want to use the five-colored earth to create a clone. As long as the clone survives, I won’t die. Don’t worry, I value my life. I won’t act recklessly. Go get me a ticket.”

Tu You, after burying the piece of her spiritual clone under the five-colored earth, replied listlessly, “Alright, wait here. I’ll go get you a ticket.”

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