Chapter 7

"Uh? It's actually a place like this, what's going on... It's become like this all of a sudden... Let's get out of here quickly."

Looking at the strand of black hair floating at the corner of his eye, Zheng Chen's slightly squinted eyes closed completely, temporarily saved.

...

Suddenly opening his eyes, Zheng Chen quickly jumped to one side but was pressed down by a hand, "No need for such a big reaction, you're recovering quite well."

The black-haired girl gave a heavy pat on Zheng Chen's shoulder, causing a sharp pain that made his tense body relax.

"If it hurts, just say it."

"..." Zheng Chen glanced at the black-haired girl he had seen not long ago, focusing on himself. His shirt was gone, and his body was now wrapped in bandages.

"Even if you're recovering well, don't move around recklessly. Your left hand was almost crippled. You guys are really bold, a bunch of ordinary people daring to explore those ruins."

Flipping the meat roasting over the fire, the black-haired girl said.

"Ruins?"

Seeing Zheng Chen's interest in the matter, the black-haired girl paused before continuing, "Yes, ruins. Those places are hard to find. I didn't even notice them, but you guys had good luck."

"Why didn't you go in?" Zheng Chen asked.

The black-haired girl shook her head, "I have my own things to do, no time to waste there."

Zheng Chen's gaze towards the black-haired girl became more cautious.

"Uh, you really are suspicious. At the time, I was chasing someone, I didn't have time to pay attention to you guys."

"Person?"

Zheng Chen thought of the collapsed stone pillar.

"Actually, it's not really a person, and it's not much related to you." The black-haired girl waved her hand, folding her legs and sitting down, tossing the map to Zheng Chen, "Here, it's yours."

Zheng Chen didn't even look at it, throwing the now useless map into the fire. He looked up at the sky; the earthquake was over, but the sky was still under a heavy cloud.

Apart from the sound of the fire, everything was quiet, with no trace of any insects.

The silence was a bit scary. Zheng Chen thought the girl in front of him was even more terrifying, someone who could exist in such an environment without any pressure...

"Ah ha~ If you're hungry, eat something yourself. I'll rest for a while."

Then she actually lay down without any caution!?

This...?

Zheng Chen shook his head, grabbed the roasted meat from the makeshift grill, and slowly took a bite. It was rabbit meat.

After quickly finishing the roasted meat, Zheng Chen took a sip of water from a container beside him and turned his gaze to the black-haired girl. Her attire...

Zheng Chen thought for a moment, remembering finding something similar in a certain ruin before. School uniform?

What a strange place.

Shaking his head, he withdrew his gaze and observed the surroundings. The black-haired girl slightly opened her eyes and glanced at Zheng Chen, subtly moving the weapon beside her.

!!?

Zheng Chen, who was observing the surroundings, suddenly looked behind him. A large creature seemed to have flashed by just now.

"Really sharp." The black-haired girl turned over, muttering to herself as she faced away from Zheng Chen. She was just like a trained ordinary person, yet she had such a reaction and could even notice the chaotic lotus.

"Didn't you sleep all night?" The next day, the sky's dark clouds had dispersed. When the first ray of sunlight appeared, the black-haired girl woke up.

Zheng Chen didn't say much, standing up with some difficulty, planning to leave.

"Where do you plan to go?"

The black-haired girl raised an eyebrow, staring at Zheng Chen.

"Leave."

"Given the situation, are you tired of living? I'm going back too. It's no problem to take you along." The black-haired girl waved her hand carelessly, "I've been out for quite some time now."

"Not chasing anyone anymore?"

"The other party has decided not to show up, I can't chase them... What's that look for?"

Noticing the change in Zheng Chen's eyes, the black-haired girl said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

Zheng Chen shook his head.

"Tch... Let's go. If they attack, I can't guarantee your safety." The black-haired girl turned and walked in front of Zheng Chen, saying in a threatening tone.

"You're really boring."

They walked for two days. During this time, the black-haired girl got to know Zheng Chen a bit. They had barely exchanged more than ten words in these two days. Glancing at Zheng Chen, she continued, "I remember there's a village nearby. You can go there on your own."

"Okay, take care."

Zheng Chen nodded, walking in the direction the black-haired girl pointed. The black-haired girl tugged at the corner of her mouth, "You haven't introduced yourself, have you?"

"Will we meet again?" Stopping, Zheng Chen stared at her purple eyes and asked in return.

"Unlikely." The black-haired girl was slightly taken aback, shrugged, and thought for a moment, "You seem to have nothing to do. Want to find something to do?"

During these two days, she had gained some understanding of Zheng Chen's abilities. Apart from his physical condition, his various abilities were quite excellent, and he had a good level of inspiration. However, he also showed a strange sense of confusion.

"I have something to confirm." Zheng Chen refused. His confusion was about this strange place, and he wanted to figure out what was going on and how to leave.

After all, this place was too strange. Not understanding the situation here would make Zheng Chen feel uneasy.

"That's a pity. Goodbye."

The black-haired girl waved to Zheng Chen and walked down another path.

A village that looked very new to Zheng Chen. Unlike the gathering places he had seen in the wasteland, this place was peaceful and stable, without the chaos of the wasteland. For a moment, he thought staying here might not be bad... at least it wouldn't be too tiring.

But... the woman didn't leave him any clothes when she left! He would never choose women's clothing, so he came here with a body wrapped in bandages, which made him look a bit unusual.

Frowning, Zheng Chen found a clothing store in the village and walked in. The black-haired girl had left him some money when she left, not much, but it should last for a while if he saved it.

"Buy clothes."

The store owner was slightly taken aback when she saw a young man wrapped in bandages walk in. Noticing the bloodstains on the bandages, she said with concern, "Young man, why don't you go to the clinic next door first?"

Zheng Chen shook his head, "No need, I don't have enough money."

In the wasteland, seeing a doctor was a luxury. Zheng Chen didn't want to see doctors.

"Uh." The store owner couldn't help but be taken aback again, blinking her eyes. How could someone afford clothes but not medical treatment? What was he thinking? "Old Ping! Come here!!"

The store owner called out to the door, and a typical kind old man with a white beard walked in, rubbing his eyes, "What's up? Are you sick?"

"I'm fine, look at this young man."

The old man with the white beard opened his eyes slightly and looked at Zheng Chen, muttering, "He's not from the village."

Zheng Chen nodded. Ping gently stroked his beard, "Come to me if you need treatment."

Ping walked to the door and, seeing that Zheng Chen didn't follow, looked curiously at the store owner, "What's going on?"

The store owner folded her arms and smiled lightly, "He thinks it's too expensive. Old Ping, did you do something behind the scenes?"

Ping immediately flared up, "I need my reputation! It might have something to do with this young man's experiences."

"Your injuries have recovered a lot, it won't cost much."

Seeing that Zheng Chen still didn't move, Ping shook his head and added, but Zheng Chen still didn't move...

"Cough, I'll make an exception and treat you for free."

"Okay."

Zheng Chen followed Ping out with a calm face.

"...Young people these days."

Ping skillfully removed the bandages from Zheng Chen's body, looking at the dense scars and nodding slightly, "You have a good body."

After leaving Ping's clinic, Zheng Chen's bandages were replaced with new ones. Compared to the tight wrapping by the black-haired girl, Ping's bandages were much simpler.

But he still had no clothes.

"Are you better? Please wait a moment." Seeing Zheng Chen return, the store owner smiled kindly and skillfully sewed the fabric in her hands.

After finishing the clothes, the store owner looked at Zheng Chen, who was waiting quietly, and smiled again, "Try them on. This kind of clothing should suit young people like you."

"..." Zheng Chen looked at the clothes the store owner handed him. The clothes here were quite colorful, as if multiple cultures were blended together.

When he arrived at the village, Zheng Chen noticed that the people here didn't wear the same style of clothing.

At first glance, it felt a bit out of place, but it was normal here.

For example, the set of clothes in his hand, Zheng Chen had seen in literature before. In the wasteland era, there were similar clothes: jeans... T-shirts.

Compared to the obviously classical dress of the store owner, they were from completely different styles.

"What? Don't you like them?"

"Very good."

Zheng Chen honestly said, apart from the characteristics of the clothes, he knew they were tailored for him without trying them on, "How much?"

The store owner smiled and shook her head, "We can talk about money later. Why don't you try them on first?"

It seemed that her attitude towards medical treatment earlier had made the store owner misunderstand something.

Zheng Chen moved his lips slightly, and just as he was about to speak, the bright room suddenly turned dark again.

The sky outside once again resembled the state from two days ago, this time even more severe, as if it were about to be completely torn apart. Zheng Chen looked around in confusion, feeling something unknown affecting him during the change in the sky.