Ch 175: The Farmer Ger in the Apocalypse

“Go check up top, this rock garden has stairs.”

“Who would hide up there? If they get cornered, there’s nowhere to run…”

The one speaking grumbled but still started climbing up. Song Kaiji’s body tensed—after just a brief hesitation, he chose not to waste his last bit of energy on teleportation. Gritting his teeth, he steadied himself against the wall and took slow, deliberate steps into the cave.

The barrier that had always blocked him—the solid rock wall—was gone. It had truly disappeared.

Within a few steps, he entered the cave.

Shen Qing’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Miao Chunlei was utterly stunned.

Someone had suddenly appeared behind her—who wouldn’t be scared to death?!

The next second, Shen Qing lunged into Song Kaiji’s arms.

“H-How is this happening? Why did it suddenly…” Shen Qing stammered, completely at a loss for words. He glanced back at the cave entrance, then at Song Kaiji beside him, still unable to believe this was real. Song Kaiji, on the other hand, had his suspicions, but he didn’t dare to be complacent.

There was no time to even take a proper look at his daughter. He immediately pulled a grenade and a machine gun from his storage space and urged Shen Qing to take Miao Chunlei and the child down to the tree. Meanwhile, he stayed behind, eyes locked on the entrance.

The cave’s narrow entrance made it easy to defend—if anyone tried to force their way in, he could take them down one by one.

Although he had some guesses about what had happened, Song Kaiji wasn’t completely sure. Had the cave suddenly “opened up,” or had it only opened for him?

Fortunately, after a while, a few of the pursuers passed by the entrance without even glancing inside. They continued climbing the rock formation.

Not long after, they came back down the way they came. “Told you, no one in their right mind would hide up here. What a waste of time.”

They had not even once looked in the direction of the cave.

The cave was still closed off to everyone—except Shen Qing. And now, seemingly, to him as well. They must have triggered some kind of mechanism, but what exactly had done it? Song Kaiji didn’t have time to think it through. The moment the tension left his body, the dizziness from blood loss overwhelmed him, and he collapsed.

“Song ge!”

Shen Qing had just settled Miao Chunlei and the baby under the banyan tree, instructing her to flee if she heard anything unusual. Not feeling safe about leaving Song Kaiji behind, he climbed back up, only to witness him falling.

Half of Song Kaiji’s body was soaked in blood. Shen Qing hurriedly pulled alcohol, bandages, and Yunnan Baiyao from his storage space, quickly dressing his wounds. Then, gritting his teeth, he scooped out half a bowl of water from the nearly depleted spirit spring and forced it down Song Kaiji’s throat.

Holding him close, Shen Qing hesitated.

He didn’t know where the new base was. Even if he carried Song Kaiji to look for Qi Zhan and the others, he had no idea how long it would take to find them. With pursuers still lurking outside, the danger was everywhere.

After checking Song Kaiji’s wounds again and confirming that, while not fatal, the blood loss was extreme, Shen Qing made his decision. He clenched his teeth, hoisted Song Kaiji onto his back, and began the descent.

---

“Qing Ge’er’s man has come to the village!”

The news spread like wildfire.

Regardless of whether they were on good terms with Shen Qing or not, everyone was shocked. But as rumors always did, the story twisted as it passed from person to person.

“Qing Ge’er’s man was out on a trading route when he got attacked by bandits. He barely made it back, hanging onto life just to see Qing Ge’er one last time!”

“My god, that’s true love!”

“No, no, you’ve got it wrong! Qing Ge’er was with a monk… That monk renounced his vows to be with him! But the abbot wouldn’t allow it, so they beat him nearly to death, and he dragged himself here with his last breath to find Qing Ge’er!”

Miao Hexiang smacked Lian Rong twice with the sole of her shoe. “Was it you who spread the rumor that Qing Ge’er’s man was a monk?!”

Lian Rong clutched her backside and ran around the house. “No! I just said it when I visited Qing Ge’er’s house that day. His hair was so short, it looked just like a monk’s hair growing back… The monks from Miaoqian Village have been too lazy to shave their heads lately, so they’ve got a fuzzy layer just like that. I only mentioned it inside the house, I never told anyone else. But a bunch of people in the village saw Qing Ge’er’s man—why am I not allowed to think the same thing?”

Because he really did look like that!

Miao Hexiang put down the shoe sole. “You better keep your mouth shut for now. It wasn’t easy for Qing Ge’er to get a man, and he even looks so fair and proper. Don’t go spouting nonsense—say something nice and give him a good reputation!”

Truth be told, Miao Hexiang had her own doubts about Shen Qing’s child and marriage. But regardless of her suspicions, Qing Ge’er was practically like her own child. She had to protect him no matter what—even if it meant turning black into white.

Lian Rong rubbed her sore backside and muttered, “What’s wrong with a monk? Monks are rich! Look at the monks from Miaoqian Village—every time we set up a stall, we have to pay them. They do nothing all day but rake in money. If Qing Ge’er’s man is that kind of monk, Qing Ge’er would be living the good life…”

“You’re still talking?!” Miao Hexiang glared. Lian Ou quickly nudged Lian Rong. “Go play outside, stop annoying Mother.”

Lian Rong stuck out her tongue. With her older brother covering for her, she bolted out the door.

---

Meanwhile, those who disliked Shen Qing in the village were whispering behind his back.

“I don’t believe that’s really his man. He probably just found someone on the brink of death, claimed him as his man to shut us up. Once that person dies, he can say he’s a grieving widow and keep playing around outside. What a clever scheme.”

The one speaking was Wang Liuzi’s wife. Her husband had followed Zhao Youwei to Shen Qing’s house that day and never returned. She hadn’t even gotten to see him. No matter how many times she went to beg at Shen Qing’s door, he never gave her a kind word. Now she held a grudge. Even though she knew Zhao Youwei’s accusations didn’t quite hold up, she still insisted on framing Shen Qing.

Others in similar situations agreed with her, but some were doubtful.

“But Shen Qing spent a fortune saving that man—ginseng, bird’s nest, throwing money around like nothing. The doctor even made trips back to the city two or three times for more medicine and supplements. That doesn’t seem like someone waiting for him to die.”

It was just a coincidence, but not long after Shen Qing gave birth, Zhao Yu was also nearing her due date. Now that Miao Hexiang’s family had some money, she valued Zhao Yu’s pregnancy immensely. She was hoping for a son so their second branch wouldn’t be entirely overshadowed by the main family. She even hired a city doctor, just like Shen Qing did, to stay at their home and monitor Zhao Yu’s condition.

The old doctor had been scared out of his wits the last time, but Shen Qing had paid him so much money that his nerves were soothed. When the Lian family came to hire him, he hesitated but eventually agreed.

Before Zhao Yu even went into labor, Shen Qing borrowed the doctor first.

By then, almost everyone in the village had seen Shen Qing carrying Song Kaiji down the mountain. The rumors spread like wildfire, and the more curious villagers found excuses to pass by Shen Qing’s house dozens of times a day.

Fortunately, Song Kaiji hadn’t suffered any fatal injuries. The old doctor stopped the bleeding, redressed the wound, and sniffed the removed bandages in amazement. “Where did this medicine come from? I’ve never seen anything like it, but it seems even better than my own hemostatic powder!”

Shen Qing was too anxious to chat. “It’s medicine from his homeland. When he recovers, I’ll have him prepare some for you.”

The old doctor was tactful enough to drop the subject and focused on tending to Song Kaiji. Meanwhile, Shen Qing placed Quan Jie beside him.

Oddly enough, the moment Song Kaiji entered the cave, Quan Jie stopped crying.

Perhaps this was what they called a father-daughter bond.

Shen Qing held Song Kaiji’s hand against his cheek. “Song ge, you have to get better soon. You haven’t even held our Quan Jie yet.”

---

Late at night, Song Kaiji woke up in pain.

He opened his eyes to complete darkness. The slightest movement sent a wave of agony crashing through his body, making him feel like he might pass out again. His shoulder was both sore and numb, with a faint itching sensation.

Staring into the darkness, he was dazed for a moment. He was still alive. But where was he?

The moment he moved, Shen Qing, who had been sleeping at his bedside, woke up instantly. “Song ge, you’re awake? How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

Hearing Shen Qing’s voice, Song Kaiji’s heart settled immediately. He whined, “I feel awful everywhere. It hurts. Turn on the light, I need some painkillers, it’s killing me…”

Shen Qing responded right away but didn’t turn on the light. Instead, he lit the candles in the room. Afraid it wouldn’t be bright enough, he lit three at once, placing them in a candlestick, then also lit an oil lamp with a glass cover.

Watching Shen Qing’s movements, then looking at the ancient-style furnishings in the room, Song Kaiji finally remembered what had happened before he passed out.

It wasn’t a dream. He had actually come to Shen Qing’s world.

Turning his head, he saw a small bundle beside his pillow. Inside, a delicate, fair-skinned baby was sleeping soundly. As if sensing his gaze, the baby opened her eyes. She didn’t cry, just smacked her tiny lips and blew a bubble.

Song Kaiji suddenly forgot about the pain—without even taking the painkillers.

Looking at the baby beside him, he was both overjoyed and overwhelmed. “This… this is our child?”

By the flickering candlelight, Shen Qing’s cheeks flushed slightly. He nodded. “I gave her a nickname—Quan Jie. Her full name is waiting for you to decide.”

They hadn’t even had time for a proper reunion, as their first meeting was in the middle of a life-or-death escape. Now, Shen Qing finally told him about what had happened during the birth. “If that spirit spring water hadn’t rushed into my body that day, I don’t think Quan Jie or I would have survived. But the spring has nearly dried up now. Otherwise, your wounds wouldn’t be healing so slowly.”

That day in the cave, Shen Qing had drained the last bit of spirit spring water to save Song Kaiji. Thankfully, the spring hadn’t completely vanished—it still refilled little by little each day, just enough for a cup or two. With that and the ginseng, he had been nursing Song Kaiji back to health. “You’ve been unconscious for two days.”

Song Kaiji lightly touched his bandaged wound and winced. In the apocalypse, a healing ability user could have fixed this injury in seconds. But here, in this ancient world, it would heal at a much slower pace. He shook his head. “I’ve been gone for two days—Wenjie and Weiwei must be worried sick. Tomorrow, I’ll go back, get healed up, and come back soon.”

He looked at Shen Qing, then at the baby beside him. Before, he had known Shen Qing was pregnant, had known he was going to be a father. But knowing was different from actually seeing the baby in front of him. When he reached out and touched her tiny face, it finally felt real—he was a father.

Shen Qing wasn’t reassured. “I’ll go with you. I can ride a bicycle now. I’ll take you there. You’re still injured—you should save your energy.”

He regretted not learning how to drive. If he could, he’d take Song Kaiji himself.

Song Kaiji chuckled. “It’s fine, I can drive with one arm.” Then his expression turned serious. “You really shouldn’t go back there.”

Especially since he could now come here. Shen Qing no longer had to risk himself.

Shen Qing glanced at his palm. In the two days Song Kaiji had been unconscious, he had been thinking—why had Song Kaiji been unable to cross before, but could now? Recalling the events of that day, his eyes landed on the bloodstained rock.

The first time he had entered the cave, he had been chased by a wild boar. Its tusk had grazed his arm, and his blood had stained the rock. Only then had he been able to see the entrance.

So that was the trigger…

If that was the case, could Zhang Sujuan, Qu Weiwei, and the others do the same? Could they stop going back to that dangerous world altogether?

Back when Song Kaiji had just confessed to him, Shen Qing would never have told Qu Weiwei and the others about the cave—he didn’t even want to tell Song Kaiji. But after all this time, after surviving life and death together, Shen Qing at least trusted Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie enough to bring them here.

However… “Wasn’t Feng Hao already dead? Why is the research institute suddenly going crazy again and trying to capture me?”

Song Kaiji was holding their child, wanting to kiss her but afraid to—his beard had grown out after two days of sleep, and he worried it might scratch his delicate little daughter. But hearing Shen Qing’s question, his expression turned cold.

It all started with how the apocalypse began.

The apocalypse had started with a torrential rain. After half a day of rainfall, every human being fell into a deep sleep. When they woke up, the apocalypse had begun—some people had turned into zombies, while others awakened abilities.

“That rain carried a massive amount of the zombie virus… No, not exactly a zombie virus—it was more like the precursor to the zombie virus. Now, the authorities have officially named it Virus X1.”

“The rain was filled with X1 Virus, which had two evolutionary paths. A beneficial mutation resulted in ability awakening, while a harmful mutation turned people into zombies. That rain turned every single person in the world into a carrier of X1 Virus.”

That was also why zombies in this world weren’t attracted by sound. The only thing they sought was X1 Virus. To them, humans carrying the virus emitted an incredibly enticing scent, guiding them to hunt down and consume the living sources of X1 Virus.

It wasn’t flesh they craved, but the virus within human flesh.

And that was why zombies never attacked Shen Qing. He had arrived in this world half a year after the apocalypse began. Since he never experienced the rainfall, he wasn’t a carrier of X1 Virus. To the zombies, Shen Qing was as insignificant as a rock or a wooden stick—why would they attack something that was essentially nothing to them?

This was what Lu Yanghui had discovered from the blood samples left behind by Feng Hao. At first, he couldn’t believe it. He even wondered if Shen Qing had somehow avoided the rain—perhaps by hiding in a basement or some other completely sheltered place. But he quickly dismissed that idea because he himself had been locked in a lab for days during the rainfall, never touching a single drop. Yet when he drew his own blood, it still contained X1 Virus. And zombies had never not attacked him.

The virus in the rain had entered people’s bodies through water vapor.

But Shen Qing was different.

Even more shockingly, Shen Qing was rumored to be a space ability user. Many people—including the military and government officials who had accompanied them to the hospital—had seen him take things out of thin air.

How could someone who wasn’t carrying X1 Virus awaken an ability?

Of course, Shen Qing could be some rare natural immunity case, but Lu Yanghui had a gut feeling—when the rain fell, Shen Qing wasn’t in this world.

And his so-called spatial ability probably wasn’t an ability at all. A system? Dimensional transfer? A plane trader? Could Shen Qing somehow lead them to another world?

The temptation was too great.

“He guessed that you’re not from this world. Or, at the very least, that during the rainfall, you happened to be in another dimension. If it’s the latter, it wouldn’t be a big deal. But if it’s the former, it proves that Chen Jiaxi was lying—that she was working with us all along.”

“They interrogated Chen Jiaxi, but she refused to admit anything. So, they started investigating my and Wenjie’s old roommates…” Song Kaiji pinched the bridge of his nose. It was just bad timing—when the special envoy from the capital arrived and connected Red City Base to the internet, they actually managed to track down Song Kaiji’s so-called former roommates and verify that Shen Qing had never been part of this world.

With no other options, Song Kaiji took the risk of breaking Chen Jiaxi, her husband, and her son out. Then, their entire squad went on the run.

“Right now, Chen Jiaxi and her family are hiding at our new base. I knew you’d come back to find me, so I didn’t dare leave—I stayed hidden in the refugee camp with Qu Weiwei and the others, waiting for you.” Chen Jiaxi had filled in some details after her escape, but since they didn’t fully trust her, they had put an inhibitor cuff on her. After that, she couldn’t see any more visions.

“That cuff is sturdy as hell. She’s still wearing it. No ability can break it—it’s turned her into an ordinary person.”

Shen Qing listened in a daze. He didn’t fully understand all the implications, but he did understand one thing—his secret was out. His origin from another world had been exposed. And now, they weren’t after his blood for experiments anymore—they wanted access to his entire world.

The thing he had feared the most had finally happened.

A flicker of pain crossed Song Kaiji’s eyes. When this first happened, he had struggled with it. He had even made up his mind—if he saw Shen Qing again, he would tell him everything, then break up with him, destroy the cave entrance, and make sure Shen Qing could never come back. As long as Shen Qing, his family, and his child were safe, what did it matter if he never saw them again?

But fate had other plans.

Now, he was here.

He held Shen Qing close, resting his head on his shoulder. “I think… we could bring my mom here. And maybe Weiwei and Wenjie. I can’t vouch for everyone, but Weiwei jie, Wenjie, and Mother Tang would never do anything to harm this world.”

Qi Zhan, on the other hand… Song Kaiji wasn’t so sure. He sighed. “Or we could just leave them a huge supply of resources—enough to last a lifetime—and send them to Chi City or another base.”

With Shen Qing’s support, Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie had become top ability users in Red City Base. As long as they didn’t run into large-scale hunts like this, their survival wasn’t a problem.

Even though parting would be painful, at least it would be the most responsible choice.

Shen Qing lowered his gaze. “Let me think about it.”

This was a major decision—he needed time to consider it. Song Kaiji nodded, not realizing that what Shen Qing was actually thinking about wasn’t whether to bring Qu Weiwei and the others over.

The coup in Lantang Village had left Shen Qing furious. Why the hell did they always have to be on the run? Why did they have to be the ones constantly escaping?

Shen Qing raised his head. “We killed Feng Hao. Why can’t we kill Lu Yanghui too? Kill everyone trying to hunt me down and take Red City Base for ourselves?”

Song Kaiji: “…Huh?”

Song Kaiji: “…HUH??”

Song Kaiji: “…I know you’re mad, but maybe don’t be this mad.”

Shen Qing was tough—he had always known that. But this level of audacity? Taking over a government-run base with military forces stationed inside? Song Kaiji, who had grown up in peacetime, was utterly stunned.

But Shen Qing remembered something from his old school textbooks: Are kings and nobles born to rule?

If this were peacetime, he would never think this way. But this was the apocalypse. The world had already crumbled. Why did they still have to follow their rules? Why should they keep taking abuse from these so-called authorities?

Shen Qing thought—luckily, Chen Jiaxi had been rescued. She had once told him that if he ever faced a situation he didn’t know how to handle, he should ask her.

Now, he really wanted to ask—how do we take over Red City Base?

---

Meanwhile, Qu Weiwei and Tang Wenjie had agreed to meet Song Kaiji at their hideout. But after two days with no sign of him, they were getting anxious.

“Could Old Third be…” Tang Wenjie’s eyes were blank. “I shouldn’t have left him behind.”

Qi Zhan sat beside him, at a loss for words.

Qu Weiwei slammed the table. “Are we just going to sit here waiting? I’m going to check it out. Dead or alive, I need to know.”

Chen Jiaxi added, “They won’t kill them immediately—Shen Qing is still useful to them. They want him to lead them to another world. But it’s pointless. Shen Qing couldn’t even bring his own boyfriend across. Even if they catch him, it’s useless.”

Still, Qu Weiwei decided to go.

Disguised, she and Tang Wenjie blended into the refugee camp, gathering intel. They found out that half of the government’s pursuit team had been blown to bits by Song Kaiji’s grenade. A second squad had been sent after them, but they had returned empty-handed. Because of the heavy casualties, part of the city’s defense had been transferred to military control.

And notably—the military had not participated in the hunt.

Qu Weiwei let out a breath of relief. That meant they hadn’t been captured and were probably still alive. Over the past two days hiding in the refugee camp, she had watched team after team go out searching, but none had returned with news. It was frustrating, but it also meant that Song Kaiji and Shen Qing were likely in hiding somewhere and unable to return for now.

Just as they were about to leave after gathering intel, they unexpectedly ran into Shao Nan.

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