Chapter 163 - 130: I’ll Listen to You

Chapter 163: Chapter 130: I’ll Listen to You

Huai Yu felt a little sad. Everyone knew that to keep one’s Mutant Value from exceeding the limit, one couldn’t overuse or over-strengthen their abilities. Yet Lin Xuefeng had already reached the critical threshold at such a young age. Was he... still alive?

In the driver’s seat, however, Chen Xing was humming a tune as she drove, her mood exceptionally soaring.

"If there ever comes a day when all the young ones in the team settle down and start families, we’ll switch to a more secure job. For example, as an Earth Element, I could join the Bureau of Construction...

"But not right now. We’re all still young. We’ve spent the past few consecutive years living like this, so we won’t be able to settle into a peaceful life anytime soon."

Curious, Huai Yu asked, "Then if a Wood Element doesn’t want to fight, where would they go?"

Chen Xing thought for a moment. "Generally speaking, the Bureau of Agriculture, right? Wood Elements are divided into many different types. Do you know General Wu Yue? They say his Wood Element allows for instantaneous growth.

"When encountering mutated animals or plants, he can scatter vine seeds in advance to take root in the opponent’s flesh and roots—supposedly, it’s incredibly fast."

This ability sounded so cool, but why did it have to belong to Wu Yue? Huai Yu puffed out her cheeks and decisively changed the subject. "Sister Xingxing, you’re so amazing. Why are you with him?"

This "him" obviously referred to Chen He.

Chen Xing, however, couldn’t care less. "We grew up in the same neighborhood, so we know each other inside out.

"I listen to my mom very well. In her eyes, a man who we know everything about and who can’t beat me in a fight is a good man.

"So, when the catastrophe hit and we fled as refugees, we got together.

"It was fine at first. But ever since Flower City stabilized in March, he completely stopped hiding his terrible flaws. Tsk, men.

"Plus, back when he wasn’t so skinny and tan, he actually looked quite refined. I used to be an athlete, so I always liked that gentle and scholarly type."

Chen Xing didn’t hold back at all, rattling off a whole speech before glancing at Huai Yu. "When you start dating, it’s best to find someone like that, too. First, pick someone you like. Next, see if he’s obedient enough. Finally, gauge whether you can beat him in a fight... That way, you basically won’t suffer too many losses."

Huai Yu shook her head. "No, no, I wouldn’t like that. There’s no true love in it!" When Chen Xing couldn’t help but turn her head to look at her, she continued righteously, "I’d have to check his face and body first!"

Uncle Zaozi slowly sat up from the back seat and glared at Chen Xing. "Our Little Yu is still young. Don’t teach her nonsense!

"What kind of dating criteria are those? They aren’t normal at all."

He then turned to Huai Yu, squeezing out a smile on his colorful, bruised face. "Little Yu, finding a partner isn’t that simple. After you’ve checked out his face and body, see if he can fight. Then, coax him a little, and finally, take all his Contribution Points away.

"The moment a man has points, he starts having too many wandering thoughts.

"Look at Chen Xing. What’s the use of being able to beat him up? Isn’t he still a pain in the neck?

"This is just because she didn’t grasp the financial reins properly."

Huai Yu nodded thoughtfully. Finally, she looked at Uncle Zaozi again. "Uncle Zaozi, you’re older. I’ll listen to you."

Uncle Zaozi was speechless. Depressed, he lay back down.

However, he couldn’t lie down for long. The further they drove into the suburbs, the more severely fractured the road became. Even though Chen Xing constantly used her Superpower to pave the way ahead, the difference was still obvious.

Uncle Zaozi simply sat up again and looked out the car window, unable to suppress a lingering sense of dread. "Why are there still small hills and trees out here?"

Although the hills weren’t large and the trees grew sparsely, the fact that plants had mutated everywhere during the catastrophe made everyone feel a lingering fear whenever they saw anything green.

Chen Xing also couldn’t help but tense up. She glanced at Huai Yu again. "Do you really live in the Rose Corridor?"

Huai Yu didn’t share their stress. She immediately looked proud. "I didn’t have many Contribution Points back then, so there weren’t many places I could choose from. I’m living alone and was worried it wouldn’t be safe with too many people around, so I chose Rose Mansion.

"It’s pretty nice."

She thought about her life recently. Aside from that heavily sentenced criminal and the annoying Wu Yue, she really didn’t have to worry about safety in her daily routine.

"I also have a tiny, weak Wood Element. Even though I’m not good at fighting, my affinity is good. So the Rose Corridor is quite friendly to me. It doesn’t attack me."

It sounded somewhat unbelievable, but the car was arriving soon. After thinking for a long while, Chen Xing and Uncle Zaozi could only sigh. "Your mutation path is quite weird."

As they spoke, the car drove past the bus stop. A little further ahead lay the perimeter of Rose Mansion. A voice crackled through the walkie-talkie.

"Sister Xing, a bit further ahead is the Rose Corridor area. Where should we park?"

Chen Xing looked at Huai Yu.

Huai Yu replied blankly, "Just head toward the Rose Corridor... Go straight, turn right when you reach District Seven, and keep driving until you see a bamboo forest. The little cabin in front of the bamboo forest is my home!"

She pointed the way, and Chen Xing subconsciously turned the steering wheel. However, just as she stepped on the gas pedal, the car hadn’t gone far before it screeched to a sudden halt.

"Fuck!"

The two cars behind them also slammed on their brakes. Everyone poked their heads out of the driver’s windows. After a long while, they stuttered, "The bamboo forest you’re talking about... it couldn’t be that massive patch right next to the Rose Corridor, could it?"

Didn’t she say she lived in Rose Mansion? District One of Rose Mansion spanned six hundred acres of land. Why wouldn’t she live on the outskirts? Why did she insist on staying right next to the Rose Corridor?

She might as well have just said she lived in the Rose Corridor itself! Everyone stared at Huai Yu accusatorily.

Huai Yu also looked bewildered. "It’s not right next to it! The Rose doesn’t let things get too close. The bamboo forest is ten meters away from it!"

In an area filled with mutated plants, could ten meters even be considered a distance?

The battle-hardened group, long accustomed to the Wilderness, fell completely silent.

A moment later, Chen Xing sighed. "How about you get out first? We don’t dare drive any closer."

Over the few years since the catastrophe, everyone had become very sensible and obedient.

When told an area was off-limits, it meant it was truly off-limits. Why was the city willing to carve out six hundred acres for Rose Mansion in one go, handing it out to whoever wanted it? Wasn’t it because over the past few years, countless people had already lost their lives here?

Those who managed to survive until now were mostly self-aware and cherished their little lives. They would never attempt to provoke mutated plants out of momentary arrogance.

Thinking back to how vigilant Lin Xuefeng had been on that rainy night, Huai Yu obediently got out of the car.

Once outside, she simply hopped up and down on the spot, waving at the distant Rose Corridor.

"Rose! I’m back with the furniture! The cars are going to drive over in a bit!

"You’re not allowed to attack! If you do, my house will be gone!"

Only then did she turn back to Chen Xing. "You can drive in now!"

Chen Xing was speechless. She pointed at herself and said bitterly, "Look at me. Standing here in one piece, do I look like someone brave enough to provoke it?"