Chapter 69 The Su Family
In the dim light, the door opened with a click.
"You are not from Quzhou City." Li Wei's voice was hoarse but firm.
He Zhuo raised an eyebrow: "Big sister, how did you know?"
"Last night's commotion..." Li Wei's fingertips unconsciously traced her daughter's hair, "was it because of you?"
Lu Xici crossed her arms: "Since you've figured it out, why don't we speak frankly?"
"Quzhou city center..." Li Wei suddenly coughed violently, and Jiu Jiu quickly patted her back gently: "There aren't any young people like you anymore, let alone those with such outstanding temperament!"
He Zhuo dragged over a creaky wooden chair and sat down: "Big sister, what do you mean by that?"
Thinking of the food and medicine the others had given her, Li Wei softened her tone slightly: "Considering the food and medicine you gave me, I advise you to leave as soon as possible!"
Lu Nange took out several bags of compressed biscuits from her backpack and placed them on the table: "Hello, may I ask about the Su family?"
Li Wei's hand paused in her daughter's hair, and she glanced at Lu Beiye.
After a long pause, she finally spoke: "Just call me Sister Wei."
She raised her slightly cloudy eyes: "Quzhou City now... is the Su family's hunting ground. We survivors outside are nothing more than... bargaining chips in Su Zeli's hands."
Chi Yanzhou frowned slightly: "Sister Wei, what does 'bargaining chips' mean?"
Li Wei's gaze swept over the group of handsome young men, but their eyes remained completely unmoved as they looked at the hideous scars on her face.
She forced a smile, a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"When the apocalypse first broke out, the Su family used the banner of 'building a human defense line'," her nails dug deep into her palms, "to lure the military, superhumans, and young adults all into the Su family's headquarters."
"After they used their lives to clear out all the zombies in Quzhou..." She suddenly coughed violently, as if she were coughing up her lungs.
"The food and drinks at the victory celebration were laced with toxins. Only regular antidote injections could keep them alive."
Her bloodshot eyes stared intently at the ground: "Those who resisted died that very night at the victory celebration."
Only the elderly, women, and children remaining in Quzhou City, and those with relatives who are superhumans or young people working for the Su family, can survive in Quzhou City.
The rest of the people either turned into zombies or were consumed by the black smoke in the incinerator.
We family members were scattered and raised like livestock, and we didn't even dare to ask who our neighbors were.
The Su family will select the person in charge for each region.
The person in charge will assign which people to go out and collect supplies every day.
All the food collected must be handed over to the Su family in fixed quantities every week.
If a single grain of rice or a bottle of water is missing, that area will become so quiet you can't even hear a dog barking.
Gu Qi scoffed: "Even in the apocalypse, the Su family is still resorting to feudal separatism?"
Li Wei slowly raised her eyes, her voice as soft as if she were reading an obituary: "In Quzhou, the Su family is everything. If they nod, you can breathe; if they frown, you won't even leave behind your remains."
Wen Qing's gaze fell on the crisscrossing scars on her face: "Your face is theirs?"
Li Wei covered Jiu Jiu's ears: "I drew it myself, it's scary, isn't it?"
"Everywhere in Quzhou, there are women with faces covered in scratches like mine."
She pulled her daughter closer to her chest: "Only in this way can I avoid being taken to the Su family and stay here to keep my Jiu Jiu company."
Li Wei looked at them and said, "I've said everything that should and shouldn't be said. You should leave as soon as possible!"
In two days, the Su family will begin inspecting each area!
Lu Nange and the others nodded slightly.
"Thank you, Sister Wei." Lu Nange's voice was very soft. "We'll leave tonight."
Li Wei picked up the food Lu Nange had given her from the table and shook it: "It's just an equal exchange."
She glanced at Lu Beiye: "Keep an eye on this child, don't let him out of your sight!"
After saying that, Li Wei led Jiu Jiu back to the room, albeit unsteadily.
Lu Nange and the others returned to their temporary lodgings.
He Zhuo clenched his fists: "Does the Su family think they're local tyrants?"
Lu Xici glanced at him: "In a world governed by the law of the jungle, the strong prey on the weak."
Gu Wan rubbed her throbbing temples and said softly, "Sister Wei and Jiu Jiu look so pitiful. Nan Nan, everyone, do you think we should leave some food for them when we leave, just like we left supplies for Brother Da and the others?"
Lu Nange gave a soft "hmm," then turned her gaze to Chi Yi in the corner, her brows furrowing slightly: "Keep some small, durable items, otherwise if the Su family finds them during their patrol, it might actually harm them."
As soon as they went out, Chi Yi did not follow.
That's not like him.
Chi Yanzhou noticed something was wrong and walked a few steps to Chi Yi.
She knelt down, reached out and placed her hand on his forehead, her palm touching a burning hot surface: "You have a fever."
Wen Qing approached, his fingertips glowing with supernatural light.
He paused for a moment on Chi Yi's forehead, his expression slightly serious: "It's not just a normal fever... it seems like a precursor to the awakening of superpowers."
Gu Wan suddenly swayed, leaning against the wall for support, her voice weak: "I think... I also have a bit of a fever."
Wen Qing quickly turned to her, using her supernatural abilities to probe again.
After a moment, he nodded: "Just like when Nan Nan and Xiao He awakened before."
Lu Nange took out two folding beds from her system backpack and let Gu Wan and Chi Yi lie down on them.
Ji Xian leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, his gaze shifting back and forth between the two men.
Now only he remains unawakened.
He gave a self-deprecating twitch, thinking to himself: What a bunch of geniuses, but he's always the one who falls behind.
Lu Nange tucked Gu Wan's blanket in and turned to the others, saying, "I'll go tell Sister Wei. If Wanwan and Brother Chi don't wake up tonight, we'll have to postpone our departure until tomorrow night."
Wen Qing immediately followed: "I'll go with you."
Lu Beiye followed Lu Nange's legs like a little tail.
As soon as they stepped out the door, Wen Qing lowered her voice and said, "Nan Nan, what do you think about me? Should I... show this to Jiu Jiu's mother?"
Lu Nange paused slightly: "Sister Wenqing, I respect your decision. But it's best to talk about it when we're about to leave."
"I understand." Wen Qing pursed her lips. "I know it's too risky, but seeing Jiu Jiu... that child needs her mother to survive. But what if we're exposed..."
Lu Nange gently patted her shoulder: "It shouldn't be...!"
Since awakening her psychic abilities, Lu Nange has been able to vaguely sense the emotional fluctuations of those she comes into contact with—which is why she has always been wary of Ji Xian.
Lu Nange's knocking startled the people inside.
Jiu Jiu looked up at them with her little face as she opened the door.
Inside the room, Li Wei leaned against the headboard, her thin fingers gripping the corner of the blanket tightly: "What's wrong?"
Lu Nange handed a bag of malt biscuits to Jiu Jiu: "Sister Wei, we might have to stay another night."
Li Wei gestured for her daughter to take the biscuit, her voice hoarse: "If anyone finds out, I'll say you coerced us!"
Lu Nange nodded slightly: "Thank you."
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