Chapter Ninety-Two: There Is No Right or Wrong

Chapter Ninety-Two: No Right or Wrong

"Got it." The woman sat up, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it now?"

"Six forty," the soldier replied.

"Mm, still early, no need to rush." After rubbing her eyes, the woman sat up in bed. "Honestly, the commander never lets anyone rest. I’m sleeping and he still lets people in. I grew up in the army, sure, but after all, I am a woman!"

"Yes, yes," the soldier hurriedly nodded, beads of cold sweat appearing on his face.

"Also, did you find the personal item of the mission target for me?" As she spoke, the woman stretched out her hand.

"Yes, we found it." The soldier produced a scrap of cloth and handed it to her. "Here it is."

"What’s this?" The woman picked up the rag and held it to her nose. Instantly, a powerful, piercing stench assaulted her senses, her olfactory nerves bombarded her brain with a thousandfold intensity, making her stomach churn and prompting a bout of dry heaving.

"It’s the target’s sock, apparently worn when he crossed the forest. Director Zhao from the research institute sent it over, saying the strong smell will help you remember the target’s scent better."

"Damn it, Zhao Zhuo!" She tore the sock in half, all traces of sleep banished by the stench. "Damn it, forget breakfast! Gather the team, let’s go find him!"

"Yes, ma’am!"

That morning, Liu Chang was patrolling with Liu Rui. The little girl, not yet sixteen, hadn’t been assigned any tasks by the community, so she simply trailed along with Liu Chang.

"Your sister sticks to you like glue," Liu Rui commented as they walked through the complex, patrolling. "I wish I had a sister like that!"

"Haha, want to take her for a few days?"

"No thanks, I can barely feed myself!" Liu Rui waved the suggestion off, quickly changing the subject. "By the way, when I headed out earlier, I overheard Old Zhao and the others saying that the black gang in our community was wiped out last night."

"Oh? Is that so?" Liu Chang nodded. "Who did it?"

"Who knows, probably some gang from another district. Consider it revenge for you!" Liu Rui said casually.

"But with that gang gone, we’ll need to be extra careful these next few days. They may have robbed people and never bothered growing beans, but their presence kept the small-time thugs in check. With them gone, those itinerant troublemakers from outside are bound to target our street..."

Before Liu Rui could finish, a piercing scream echoed from the community gate.

Liu Chang looked up and saw a disheveled girl rush inside. She was young, barely fourteen or fifteen, her clothes still bearing a childish look. As she dashed in, two young men followed close behind.

One looked refined, the other had a shifty air, both about Liu Chang’s age. They caught up with the girl, shoving her to the ground.

"Damn it!" Liu Chang spat on the ground and rushed forward.

"What’s going on?" Liu Rui chased after him. "Something happened out front?"

"Looks like two thugs trying to assault a minor!" Liu Chang was already between them, kicking one of the young men to the ground.

"What are you doing?" After knocking one down, Liu Chang stood his ground as Liu Rui and the little girl caught up.

"What do you care?" The shifty youth got up, glaring.

"I’m a security guard here. If you cause trouble in my community, why shouldn’t I intervene? Cut the nonsense and get lost. I can’t stand people doing this in front of me. I know I’m no saint, but this disgusts me. Get out."

"Why should we leave?" The refined youth shouted, face flushed. "She stole our food, why should we leave? Are you in league with her? If you want a fight, bring it on! These days, who’s afraid of who? Without food, you die. Beans are worth more than life!"

He drew a knife, brandishing it threateningly.

"She stole your food?" Liu Chang frowned at the girl.

"No, I didn’t steal anything," the girl shook her head, clutching her chest. "They’re lying. They want to assault me!"

"That’s a lie! You’re holding our beans—if you’re so brave, open your shirt and show them it’s you who’s lying!" The shifty youth pointed at her chest.

Following his gesture, Liu Chang saw a small glass jar.

"These are my own beans, mine!" The girl shook her head, clutching the beans tightly.

"Let’s go," Liu Rui tugged at Liu Chang. "Don’t get involved. As long as it’s not our community’s business, just drive them out. You’re not Judge Bao; you can’t always tell who’s right or wrong. This sort of thing happens every day—how many can you handle?"

"Uh..." Liu Chang looked at the jar pressed against her chest, then at the two angry boys. He realized that in this darkened world, nothing was as straightforward as he’d hoped. He rubbed his head, unable to discern the truth, sighed, and was about to turn away.

"Brother, save her, please. Her life force is weak; she looks on the verge of starvation!" As Liu Chang was about to leave, the little girl tugged his sleeve, unwilling to let go.

Feeling her grip, Liu Chang looked into her eyes, understanding she saw a reflection of her own plight in the girl and felt a surge of compassion. Helpless, he turned back to face the two boys. "You want the beans, right?"

"Yeah, we just want the beans. We’re starving, who’d want this scrawny kid?" the shifty youth shouted.

"Give them the beans," Liu Chang said to the girl. "Hand them over, and I’ll take you to get food."

She shook her head, clearly distrustful.

The boys, seeing the negotiation fail, lunged at her, snatching the jar of beans from her arms. Ignoring her cries, they strode away.

"Sigh, come on, let’s get you something to eat. Whether you trust me or not, you’ve got no choice now." Liu Chang pulled her up and turned to Liu Rui. "We’re going inside for a bit, you keep patrolling. It’s not right to leave you alone, you’ve always treated me well."

"Man, why are you getting involved?" Liu Rui shook his head in puzzlement.

"It’s not me, it’s my sister," Liu Chang replied, pulling the girl along with the little one into the mist.

Watching Liu Chang’s retreating figure, Liu Rui let out a huff. "He’s got too much time on his hands!"

...

Back in his room, Liu Chang took out his stash of rice grain worms, scooped a bowlful, shielding the rim with his hand to keep the insects from escaping, then turned to the kitchen and began boiling them over a gas cylinder.

A few minutes later, he brought out a bowl of something resembling rice and set it before the girl.

"Eat, it’s edible." He demonstrated by popping a few worms into his mouth, signaling it was safe.

Seeing this, the starving girl hesitated no longer, grabbing the bowl and devouring its contents. Soon, the bowl of glistening white worms was gone, and she looked at Liu Chang with gratitude.

"Now that you’re fed, you should leave. I don’t have the energy to care for you." Liu Chang issued his polite dismissal.

But the girl made no move to leave, sitting silently.

"Let her stay and play with me for a day?" the little girl began to plead. "All these days, I haven’t had anyone my age to keep me company. Let her stay for just one day!"

Xiao Jing looked at Liu Chang with beseeching eyes.

"Well... alright, but just one day. You know how precarious our situation is; we can’t risk dragging others down by letting her stay." Liu Chang thought for a moment and agreed, then headed for the door. "You two play here. I’m going back to patrolling—can’t leave Liu Rui alone, he’s always been good to me."

"Go on, brother!" the little girl waved. Then, tugging at the girl’s skirt, she began whispering excitedly.

Liu Chang glanced at them once, then left the room.

The rest of the morning was spent in monotonous patrols. He soon witnessed firsthand how chaotic the streets had become since the black gang’s fall—arson, murder, robbery, assault, and theft were tenfold more frequent than before, visible everywhere beyond the street. After a morning of watching the world unravel, Liu Chang grew numb again. Even when faced with injustice, he no longer had the energy to intervene.

He spent the entire morning nagged by a sense of moral guilt. Just as he finished his patrol and was heading back to his room, he noticed the once-chaotic neighborhood suddenly grow silent—the noisy crowds stopped shouting, the sounds of fighting abruptly ceased.

Then, on the quiet street, a rhythmic march echoed—steps he knew well. Having lived in the army for years, Liu Chang immediately recognized the sound of soldiers.

The footsteps grew nearer. Moments later, a squad of soldiers marched in through the community gate.

"Damn!" Seeing the soldiers, Liu Chang’s instincts flared—without hesitation, he turned and ran, slipping away into the mist before they could spot him, leaving Liu Rui behind. He raced at full speed toward his room—where his pistol, crossbow, and the little girl were.

Those three things were as precious to him as his life, and the first he thought of when danger struck.

His training had raised his life force to over six, and with precise calculation skills, he moved swiftly and lightly. In seconds, he covered over a hundred meters, darting into the apartment building.

He rushed to the third floor, flung open the door, grabbed the playing little girl, slung his crossbow and snatched up his pistol, then, holding her close, leapt out the window.

"Brother, what’s happening?"

"The army’s here to catch us!" Cradling the little girl, shielding her face from flying shards of glass, Liu Chang answered.

"Oh." She nodded, feeling the sudden jolt as he landed on the ground and quickly vanished down the street behind the building.

...

Meanwhile, at the main gate, the hook-nosed woman led her team toward Liu Chang’s building, watched by Liu Rui’s puzzled gaze. She followed the scent, entering the room with the shattered window.

"Hmm!" Inside, the hook-nosed woman took a deep breath, then turned and smiled at the lone girl. "I swear, I can smell that stinky sock in here again. Did you catch it too?"