Chapter 141: Stranded

Qingyin schemed quietly to herself as she watched the others fall asleep, finally fixing her gaze on Huang Yin—the woman who had remained silent all along, barely noticeable. They were about the same age, both women, so surely they could find common ground to talk about.

Moreover, after observing for several days, Qingyin noticed that this woman seemed somewhat detached from that strange squad. Unlike the others, she didn’t appear familiar with them and often kept to herself, making her easy to approach.

Having made up her mind, Qingyin deliberately moved to lie down beside the woman surnamed Huang, bringing her two children along, and soon drifted off to sleep.

Early the next morning, everyone rose and packed their belongings before climbing onto the back of the centipede.

For a creature several dozen meters long and weighing tons, the weight of a dozen or so people was negligible. Once everyone was settled, the two squads resumed their northward journey.

Their next stop was Hebi, a medium-sized city that had once housed about a million people, though now its population was uncertain.

The journey was quite comfortable. Lying atop the centipede’s back, Liu Chang even closed his eyes to catch a nap—the centipede’s steady gait caused no jostling. Its slender, sharp legs treaded smoothly through the forest floor, and the overwhelming presence of this apex predator warded off many dangers, turning the trip into a peaceful and serene experience.

Only three children remained busy on the centipede’s head—the three clones—sitting upright and continuously sending interfering brainwave signals to guide the massive creature.

Nearby, Qingyin held her child, whispering something to Doctor Huang.

Liu Chang noticed their unusual behavior and perked up his ears. Hearing them murmuring typical female gossip, he lost interest and stopped eavesdropping.

Further back, at the centipede’s tail, sat Xiao Jing and Qingyin’s nephew—a teenage boy. A boy and girl whispered quietly there, making Liu Chang feel the atmosphere was strange. Although he wanted to listen in, the distance was too great, and Xiao Jing seemed to deliberately lower her voice, making it difficult for even him to catch their words.

“Worried about Xiao Jing falling in love again?” He Zhi Zhi called out as she stepped onto the centipede’s back and approached Liu Chang.

“A bit. I just feel a young girl shouldn’t start dating so early,” Liu Chang replied.

“What era do you think this is, still worrying about that?” He Zhi Zhi laughed. “I think you’ve got another motive. You care too much about her, but I’ve never seen you care whether I’m dating or not.”

“You’re almost forty; you don’t need me worrying about you,” Liu Chang raised his eyelids.

“Nonsense! I’m still young!” He Zhi Zhi’s face flushed bright red. She kicked Liu Chang sharply and shouted, “I just turned thirty! According to you men, that makes me a young married woman, right in my prime of allure. How dare you say I’m nearing forty—do you have any conscience?”

“Conscience? Come on. Over thirty means approaching forty. Did I get it wrong?” Liu Chang rolled over lazily.

“You…” He Zhi Zhi plopped down beside him. “I tell you so much, but you just don’t understand women.”

“I don’t. I’ve never even had a serious relationship,” Liu Chang stared up at the sky framed by branches. “You know what I regret most from my school days?”

“What?”

“Not having dated. I never regretted not studying hard, but I regret not experiencing a proper romance. Ah, youth, school, first love—how beautiful it all is!”

“Too bad I missed out. I heard even that cold-hearted guy, Teacher Li, has dated.”

“What? Li Qingshui, that cold-blooded fellow? He’s dated?” He Zhi Zhi’s face revealed a complex expression. “I always thought he had no desires!”

“He does. He had a girlfriend called Little Bean,” Liu Chang said, a stiff smile creeping across his face. “I remember visiting the institute two years ago; he showed me a photo and asked if she was pretty.”

“Haha, what a strange guy. But it was that one day, that one sentence, that made me realize he does have a normal side.”

“So, was she pretty?” He Zhi Zhi asked—men and women always focused on different things.

“How should I know? The photo was faded and decayed, barely a silhouette, no facial features left. She looked fair-skinned and seemed to smile a lot. Other than that, I couldn’t tell. Don’t even know if she’s still alive.”

“Oh, by the way, isn’t Teacher Li an out-of-town instructor?”

“Yes, from Shanxi, I think,” Liu Chang said. “As for his girlfriend, I don’t know where she was from. I hope she’s still alive.”

“I hope so,” He Zhi Zhi sighed.

“Yeah. Teacher Li… I wonder if he’s now in heaven, or still wandering through the world inside the willow tree’s consciousness,” Liu Chang sighed too.

After that sigh, he fell silent again.

Under the centipede’s lead, the group moved swiftly. It was fast, enduring, and could traverse any terrain. After traveling dozens or even hundreds of kilometers, Liu Chang noticed the surrounding forest gradually changing. The tree species began to mutate and diverge due to regional and temperature differences.

Moreover, more and more lingering birds appeared in the sky—mostly flocks of birds and flying insects driven southward by the willows from the north. Upon arrival, they no longer fled but invaded the local forest as aggressors.

Their bloodthirsty nature soon revealed itself.

These creatures had fled hundreds of kilometers—a massive escape that drained tremendous energy for any living being. They were starving, desperate for food.

Hundreds of millions of ravenous flying creatures entered the forest, inevitably bringing a bloody massacre to the original ecosystem. A single invasive species can disrupt ecological balance; ten thousand can unleash grand-scale chaos.

Further ahead, as they neared Hebi, the calm gave way to turmoil, and they finally entered the chaotic zone.

Caw! Caw!

Screeching birds circled overhead above Liu Chang. He held his pistol ready but didn’t fire—he didn’t want to waste bullets.

“There are too many of them. The willows drove creatures from two provinces here. It’s total chaos!” Liu Chang looked up at the sky thick with flying creatures more numerous than leaves. “Boss, Second, Third, do you three have any good ideas?”