Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 1858: Chapter 1858: Lost in the Wilderness (15)

Almost simultaneously, the snake lunged, but Chuzheng was quicker, stomping down on its head with one swift motion.

Damn creature, not afraid of breaking its teeth, yet still tries to bite me!

Xin Zhu, who was just about to rush forward: ”...”

This... this is a bit too fierce.

-

The place Xin Zhu showed Chuzheng around was quite a distance from the village, and they hadn’t encountered anyone.

”How much do you know about that village?” Chuzheng casually brought up on their way back, as if making small talk.

”The village?”

Xin Zhu glanced in the direction of the village, ”You mean that village?”

”Yeah.”

Was there another village around here aside from that one?

Xin Zhu pondered for a moment and said, ”Have you heard of the Xia Yi Clan?”

”No.”

”Legend has it that around 400 BC, there was a clan called the Xia Yi Clan. People of this clan possessed special abilities and were known as descendants of gods...”

This clan, though very capable, always avoided meddling in worldly affairs.

Even when wars raged outside, the Xia Yi Clan people hid in their own utopia, living their days in peace.

This clan only appears in some unofficial histories, and even then, only in fragmented tales.

And that village seems to have some connection to the Xia Yi Clan.

As to where this information came from, Xin Zhu couldn’t recall, or maybe it wasn’t a matter of remembering—perhaps he simply didn’t know.

”Does the Xia Yi Clan really exist?”

Xin Zhu shook his head, ”Don’t know, I only remember this much, the rest I can’t recall.” Xin Zhu lied, this wasn’t from his memory; he saw it in a notebook.

As for that notebook...

Xin Zhu hadn’t planned on telling Chuzheng yet. Although he felt she harbored no ill will towards him, he still needed to be cautious.

Chuzheng: ”...”

All right then, a poor amnesiac.

”What abilities did the Xia Yi Clan have?”

Xin Zhu shrugged innocently, ”I don’t know.”

There are scant records of the Xia Yi Clan, making it hard to prove their existence, let alone their abilities.

Chuzheng pondered for a moment and continued guessing, ”Could the changes in you be related to the Xia Yi Clan?”

”...Maybe.” Xin Zhu wanted to avoid this topic and didn’t want to elaborate, ”Let’s head back; it looks like it’s going to rain soon.”

Xin Zhu was spot on. As soon as they reached the cave, big raindrops began to fall.

It’s the kind of rain that starts suddenly and heavily.jpg

”What are these plants for?” Chuzheng asked as she went in, pointing at the plants Xin Zhu had brought back in the morning.

”To ward off snakes,” Xin Zhu said, ”It’s very effective. As long as they’re here, snakes won’t come in.”

When Xin Zhu first moved in, he was frequently harassed by snakes; just thinking about it was terrifying.

Sleeping late at night, suddenly feeling a cold touch on his neck.

Or waking up early to find a snake lying across the ground.

Or lifting something only to have a snake flick its tongue at you.

Later he discovered that this plant could repel snakes, so he began bringing some back every so often.

”One, two, three...” Xin Zhu stood near the big white mouse, counting several times over, ”Why hasn’t it returned yet...”

Chuzheng: ”...”

Chuzheng swallowed hard, feigning calmness, she asked, ”Missing one?”

”Yeah.”

”Does it know how to come back on its own?”

”Yeah, it usually doesn’t stay away for more than two days.” Xin Zhu looked worriedly at the rain outside, ”It’s nearly three days now; I’ll have to look for it once the rain stops.”

Chuzheng turned her back, pressing her hand to her forehead.

She had locked that big white mouse in a stone room...

Oh no, oh no.

That’s Good Person Card’s beloved pet!

I’ll sneak it back tonight.

Hope it’s still alive and hasn’t died on me, or I’m in big trouble.

”Chu... Chuzheng.”

Chuzheng almost blurted out, I didn’t take your mouse, but she turned her head calmly, ”What’s up?”

”Look over there,” Xin Zhu pointed outside.

Chuzheng took a glance, noticing the signal flare’s light still bright in the rain, but it was slowly diminishing.

A red signal flare... A distress call? Is someone in danger?

Xin Zhu quickly spoke, ”There are wolves over there, your companions...”

Catching Chuzheng’s eyes, his voice softened, ”They can’t be in danger, can they?”

”You were injured before, remember? They even shot at you, and you’re worried about them encountering danger?”

”I appeared suddenly...”

Xin Zhu didn’t hold a grudge against those who shot at him.

Because, quite frankly, it was his fault to begin with.

Had he not appeared suddenly, they wouldn’t have attacked.

Chuzheng: ”...”

Your kindness makes me look downright evil!

Little boy, you shouldn’t be like this!

Weren’t we supposed to be bullies together?

[Miss!] King’s Account called out in warning.

Chuzheng immediately corrected herself: Weren’t we supposed to be good people together?!

[...] It truly believes she’s possessed. Unacceptable, it needs the neighboring miss to calm its nerves.

”Even if they’re in danger, it’s none of my business,” Chuzheng said coolly, ”I’m not on their side.”

Xin Zhu: ”...”

But they obviously came together.

Did they have a fight?

Thinking about how she’s been here for so long, with no one looking for her, Xin Zhu suddenly felt a bit sorry for her.

She must have quarreled with her companions and been bullied, hence unwilling to return and unwilling to admit they were her companions.

Unaware of Xin Zhu’s imaginings, Chuzheng had already turned and gone back inside.

”There are wolves on the mountain; encountering them is very dangerous,” Xin Zhu still spoke from behind, not knowing if he was talking to Chuzheng or muttering to himself, ”Especially in the rain, if you run into a pack, then it’s surely over.”

”With this kind of heavy rain...”

”Could they really run into wolves?”

Xin Zhu paced around the cave entrance, occasionally mumbling to himself.

If someone didn’t know it was because he’d been living alone here for too long, they’d probably think he was crazy.

A good-looking lunatic.

Once the rain stopped, Xin Zhu immediately headed outside.

”Where are you going?”

”I’m going to have a look...” Xin Zhu replied, ”And search for Xiao Qi.”

And who is Xiao Qi!!

Chuzheng couldn’t stop Xin Zhu, who soon walked a distance. In the mountain forest after rain, a layer of mist formed, shrouding his thin figure and blurring his outline.

Damn it!

Chuzheng frustratedly chased after him.

Hearing her, Xin Zhu stopped to wait.

”You... coming along?”

”Those folks have weapons. If I don’t go with you, what if you die?”

”Huh?”

Xin Zhu understood the first part.

But what’s the meaning of the latter? Weren’t they just introduced to each other?

”Let’s go.” Chuzheng didn’t bother to explain.

”...Okay.”

Xin Zhu walked quickly; he was familiar with this place, knowing where to step with his eyes closed.

But Chuzheng wasn’t familiar!

After the rain, the path was slippery. Chuzheng’s footing wasn’t steady, and as her body wobbled, Xin Zhu turned to grab her wrist, ”Careful.”

Chuzheng maintained a stiff expression, ”I’m fine.” A little slip, no biggie, no panic.

Hesitantly, Xin Zhu suggested, ”I... I should hold your hand. The path here isn’t easy to walk on.”

”No...” Chuzheng’s eyes shifted, ”Alright!”

”My apologies.” Xin Zhu felt a bit embarrassed.