Chapter 66 Beijing Ruins - Part 2: Tang Bufan is Blessed...

Tang Bufan is from Fujian and went to university in the south. Before he transmigrated, he had never been to northern China. He never expected that he would now have traveled half of China.

He remembered that Penglai was in Shandong, and Mount Tai was also in Shandong, both of which were located below Beijing.

He then nestled in his blankets and thought for a moment before asking Lu Yi, "Guo Wen is the head of the Eastern Federation of Orcs, right?"

Anderson, who was sitting on a camping chair against the wall, looked up at him strangely: "You're an Eastern human, and you don't know?"

Tang Bufan was startled and quickly lied: "I'm like someone with Alzheimer's now, I can't remember a lot of things."

Anderson squinted, looking at him meaningfully. Tang Bufan felt uneasy under his silver-gray gaze.

Anderson clicked his tongue impatiently and asked directly, "Madam, if you still want my help, you'd better tell me honestly what kind of experiments you're involved in that organization?"

"..." Tang Bufan found it difficult to answer, and while struggling with his question, he looked at Lu Yi for his opinion.

Lu Yi thought for a moment and nodded to Tang Bufan.

He hadn't told Tang Bufan that Anderson had long suspected and wanted to kill him, and that being honest would probably be better.

Tang Bufan then sighed slowly before speaking: "I am a time traveler. I come from 1200 years ago and am a human from the 21st century. I am involved in time travel experiments."

Anderson was stunned. After a long while, he smirked and said, "You're trying to fool me again. A time traveler? I'm the Terminator."

Tang Bufan stared intently at him with his dark eyes, and Anderson's smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

The orc, who had been lounging in his camping chair, straightened up slightly. He looked at Lu Yi, who also looked serious. Anderson couldn't help but touch his chin.

"Really?" he asked incredulously.

“Really.” Tang Bufan nodded, and to prove himself, he gestured to show his height, which he was always bothered by: “Do you think I’m particularly short? But in the 21st century, my height would be considered normal for a Chinese man. But after 1200 years of evolution, I’ve become short in the 33rd century. Everything in your post-apocalyptic world is huge, even the rats are as big as the cats we had back then.”

Tang Bufan guessed it might be due to excessive radiation exposure.

Anderson glanced at Tang Bufan's thin frame and finally believed it to some extent. In fact, apart from his height, Tang Bufan's scent was much cleaner than that of other humans. Anderson had noticed this before, but he thought he was just naturally good-smelling.

Now it seems that it was also because he grew up in an unpolluted environment a thousand years ago.

Anderson frowned, then looked at Lu Yi: "So... that organization has already mastered time travel technology?"

Lu nodded: "Yes, my teacher and I even guessed that the earthquake that caused the Asian Rift Valley five years ago was caused by the aftershocks of the experiment."

Anderson's expression grew even more serious upon hearing this. He looked at Lu Yi and asked, "So you still want to send him to that organization?"

Lu Yi was silent for a moment, then nodded again.

"Are you stupid?" Anderson couldn't help but blurt out, "That organization is so powerful, aren't you just going to your death?"

After he finished cursing, he glared at Tang Bufan and asked, "What do you want with that organization?"

"They killed my student," Tang Bufan said in a deep voice, "and ruined my life too. I'm not reconciled. I need an explanation, and while I'm at it..."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "See if I can get them to take me back."

"Send you back? You wish!" Anderson thought Tang Bufan had really lost his mind. "This kind of disaster-level experiment that could trigger a major earthquake can't be done casually. And have you thought about little Louis?"

Anderson pointed at Lu Yi and continued to berate Tang Bufan: "He's Hans's son! The future heir to the Western Federation's leadership! Have you thought about what would happen if he fell into enemy hands? You're so selfish!"

Tang Bufan paused for a moment before realizing this, and immediately fell silent.

“That’s why I suggested we go to Taicheng first and borrow troops from Guo Wen.” Lu Yi spoke up, speaking up for Tang Bufan: “Guo Wen is the head of the Eastern Federation. He must know about that organization and definitely wants to eliminate them. Let’s borrow his troops to go to Penglai Island and take a look.”

"You don't even look at their technology!" Anderson was even angrier, looking at him with disappointment. "Our orc technology is already inferior to that of humans. The only reason we can win is because humans can't obtain resources underground. Now they're not only on the surface, but they've also clearly started researching biological weapons specifically targeting us orcs! How can we possibly win?"

After saying that, Anderson pulled at his vest, revealing a large red welt on his neck: "Are you just going to rely on our bodies to brute force our way through? If I hadn't gone down first, you would have been the one who got hurt!"

Lu Yi fell silent after being scolded, while Anderson was still furious. He sat on the camping chair, breathing heavily, when suddenly he heard a voice:

"Dad, don't be angry..."

"Kids shouldn't talk," Anderson muttered to Anthony, leaning over as he glanced coldly at the two of them.

“And you won’t live much longer either,” Anderson continued, looking at Tang Bufan, who was sitting in bed as thin as a skeleton. “I admit you have a strong will, but if you can’t live, you can’t live. I wouldn’t be surprised if you died in your sleep tonight in your current condition.”

Tang Bufan's eyes reddened at what he said. He lowered his head, his thin hands clutching the sweater he was finishing up. Lu Yi felt sorry for him and couldn't help but lean closer to him.

“Teacher will live.” Lu Yi reached out and put his arm around Tang Bufan, also a little angry. He frowned and looked at Anderson: “I know that organization is dangerous, so I decided to go to Taicheng first to find Guo Wen to find out the situation, and also to buy an antidote for Teacher.”

Anderson couldn't help but sneer. Well, it seems that no matter how much he said, this guy still didn't listen.

A stupid idiot in love.

The atmosphere in the RV was heavy that night. Lu Yi had thought that Tang Bufan's confession would be understood by Anderson, but instead it enraged him.

Even though it's clear now that Tang Bufan isn't a member of that organization, Anderson is still angry that Tang Bufan is leading Lu Yi into danger, and Tang Bufan has also begun to think about this matter.

He wondered if his persistence was meaningful.

If he ultimately fails to return and brings Lu Yi into the enemy camp, wouldn't he have caused the death of another of his students?

Just like that rainy evening, if he hadn't offered to take Chen Fei home and pulled him close, perhaps he would have been the only one to fall into this hell.

Tang Bufan nestled in Lu Yi's arms under the covers, his eyes reddening in the darkness.

Perhaps... it's time for him to walk alone.

Tang Bufan slept for a very long time the next day, so long that Lu Yi reached out to check his heartbeat several times. Only after Tang Bufan woke up did Lu Yi breathe a sigh of relief.

Just then, Kai found an icy stream, and Tang Bufan suddenly had a whim to eat fish. Lu Yi immediately left the RV to catch some for him.

Once he was out of sight, Tang Bufan took the sweater he had knitted and walked up to Anderson.

Anderson sat on the camping chair and looked up at him. Tang Bufan gently placed the neatly folded sweater on his lap.

Anderson squinted, opened the sweater to take a look, and saw that it was a black V-neck sweater newly knitted from old yarn, and the size was just right, he could wear it.

"Here you go." Tang Bufan pried open the folding chair on the wall and slowly sat down.

"Come on," Anderson said sarcastically. "It was originally meant for little Louis, wasn't it? Now you're using it to curry favor with me?"

“I’ve already spoken to Lu Yi.” Tang Bufan looked at him calmly. “I have nothing else to give you in return, so I can only give you this. And then… I want you to do me a favor.”

Anderson raised an eyebrow, leaned back in his camping chair, and crossed his legs: "Go ahead and tell me."

"I plan to leave on my own after I get to Beijing," Tang Bufan said slowly. His lips were paler than usual, but they didn't seem as dark anymore.

Anderson stared at his beautifully shaped lips, but didn't think it was a good thing.

"You plan to go to that Penglai Island by yourself?" Anderson immediately understood Tang Bufan's idea.

"Yes, but there's definitely not enough gas, so I'll have to trouble you and Lu Yi to find some gasoline for me first." Tang Bufan had already come up with a plan last night: "Afterwards, I'll find an excuse to send Lu Yi away, and then I'll drive the RV myself."

“No chance. The speed of a high-level orc can catch up with this car.” Anderson poured cold water on Tang Bufan’s enthusiasm: “Little Louis will definitely chase after you.”

“So I need your help to keep him occupied.” Tang Bufan looked at him with a pale face: “In this kind of cold winter, the snow is heavy and the wind is strong. The snow can cover the tracks of the wheels, and the wind will disperse my scent. As long as you keep Lu Yi occupied for three or four days, he should not be able to find me.”

Anderson looked intently at Tang Bufan, knowing he was serious.

He thought for a moment, then pressed on, "Even if you manage to shake him off, what happens next? Penglai is an island, and you don't have a boat. How are you going to get there?"

“If your guess is correct, that organization really is on Penglai Island. With their technological capabilities, they should be able to find me,” Tang Bufan said. “They’ve been looking for me all along.”

“What if we’re wrong?” Anderson asked him. “The organization isn’t on that island. What will you do then?”

Tang Bufan thought about it in silence for a moment, then sighed softly: "Then I'll find another way to go to the East District Underground City by myself."

Anderson laughed, mockingly: "You can't do it. You've always depended on Lu Yi for survival. Without his care, you wouldn't even last a week."

Tang Bufan said calmly, "We'll have to try to find out."

Anderson's smile faded, and he looked at the stubborn man before him with a complex expression: "Do you really have to go back?"

"Yes." Tang Bufan's throat tightened slightly: "Because for the past five years, I have lived by this belief."

"Because of that child?"

"yes."

"But he is already dead."

“His family is still alive.” Tang Bufan clenched his fist: “You don’t understand. Some parents will spend decades looking for their missing children, while the grandmother who entrusted her child to me will live in pain in her old age and may be blamed by her own son. My alma mater will also be caught in the media storm. My teacher, who is now the principal, may be forced to resign because of me… The impact of a child going missing in school is too great.”

Tang Bufan choked up and said, "I'm not just giving myself an answer, but also giving them one."

Anderson fell silent, looking down at the V-neck sweater draped over his lap, a lump forming in his throat.

“Little Louis shouldn’t have fallen for you,” Anderson said, getting up and placing the sweater on the folding table. “Give him the sweater. You can’t give him anything else, but at least this sweater can.”

Tang Bufan looked at him nervously: "Then you..."

“I’ll help you.” Anderson sat back down on the camping chair. Since Tang Bufan insisted on going back, it would be best for him and Lu Yi to separate in Beijing.

Tang Bufan was relieved. He picked up the sweater on the table and looked at it. Still feeling guilty towards Anderson, he said to him, "I still have enough yarn to knit one. I'll give you the other one."

Anderson didn't respond; he put the light screen glasses on his face.

Tang Bufan turned to look out the window again. Lu Yi was barefoot, catching fish in the stream with floating ice. Several fish had already been thrown onto the bank. Tang Bufan felt a pang of sadness looking at Lu Yi's slightly reddened feet, so he rolled down the car window.

"Enough! Come back!"

He didn't shout very loudly, after all, he was weak, but Lu Yi still heard him and turned his head to look over.

"It's rare to find fish like this, I'll catch a few more!"

Tang Bufan had no choice but to sit by the window and watch him. A cold wind blew in, carrying fine snow, making the wind chimes hanging by the window jingle.

Tang Bufan couldn't help but look up. All the useless things in the car had been thrown away, but this wind chime hanging by the window had been forgotten and left behind. The yellowed cardstock hanging from the rope was spinning in the air.

It was a blank wishing sheet.

Tang Bufan's heart stirred, and he reached out and took it down.

Lu Yi returned with a full load, stuffing more than a dozen fish into the refrigerator. Anderson couldn't help but mutter to him again, "We're almost out of gas, and you're still carrying loads for the RV?"

"How much do these dozen or so fish weigh?" Lu Yi thought that the fish meat was tender and fresh, and Tang Bufan would definitely be able to eat more of them.

Anderson walked over to the gasoline drum at the back of the carriage, looked at it, and said, "Pour the rest of the fuel into the tank, and put any left in bottles. Throw away this metal drum."

Lu Yi thought it was a good idea, so he went to refuel the RV. After refueling, there was indeed only one bottle left, so he poured it into a glass bottle.

"Judging from the situation, we have to go to Beijing to find supplies. We don't have enough oil, so we'll go to Taicheng." Lu Yi said, noticing several candles still on the kitchen shelf. He felt a little anxious, hoping that they wouldn't run out of supplies and have to use these candles.

Tang Bufan and Anderson exchanged a glance.

“I already guessed it. I had Kai calculate the route and head towards Beijing,” Anderson said. “Hurry up and go start a fire.”

Lu Yi looked at him, who was still wearing the light screen glasses, and complained, "You're not even helping me."

Anderson laughed in exasperation, took off his glasses, and threw them onto his bedding: "Fine, I'll go out and start a fire."

He then went outside.

Lu Yi was cutting fish on the counter when Tang Bufan walked over with the knitted sweater in his arms and told him, "Anderson won't accept this sweater. He knows I originally knitted it for you, so I can only knit the other one for him."

After he finished speaking, he handed the sweater to Lu Yi.

Lu Yi quickly wiped his hands with a rag, feeling very happy. He reached out and took the note, looking at the wishing slip with some confusion: "What is this?"

“You can write your wishes on the wishing slips on the wind chimes.” Tang Bufan smiled faintly, his dark eyes containing a hidden complexity: “I owe you too much, so… no matter what your wish is, I will try my best to help you fulfill it.”

Lu Yi reached out and picked up the yellowed card, wanting to say that his wish was to be with him forever.

But he knew that would only put Tang Bufan in a difficult position.

Lu Yi paused for a moment, carefully put away the wishing note, and said to Tang Bufan, "I'll write it down again when I think of something later."

Tang Bufan nodded. Actually, he gave this to Lu Yi in the hope that he could see Lu Yi's wishes through this piece of paper after he died... When people are at their wits' end, they really start to believe in these illusory things.

That evening, the three of them enjoyed a delicious fish soup. Tang Bufan ate a lot, as expected. He usually could only swallow a few pieces of fried meat with difficulty, but tonight he actually ate a large bowl of fresh and tender fish and drank the soup. This made Lu Yi very happy, and he couldn't help but go to the icy stream to catch more than a dozen fish and put them in the refrigerator.

When he returned, Tang Bufan was already asleep in bed, while Kaige closed the car door and started driving again in the night.

Winters in the north are dark, with overcast skies and increasingly heavy smog as they approach Beijing.

But the night was quiet, the terrain was flat, and Kai was connected to Anthony's network, so the ride was incredibly smooth. Occasionally, they would encounter one or two animals in the snowfield, but they would only look at the RV in the night fog and dare not approach it.

After driving smoothly across the plains all night, they somehow made it to the outskirts of Beijing in the early hours of the morning by following an abandoned national highway.