Chapter Fifty-Seven: Enjoying Delicious Food

Xia Cheng soon arrived at their temporary residence, followed closely by Chen Mo and the others. Chen Mo looked at Zhao Meng with concern and asked, “Xia Cheng, how is she? Is she all right?”

Xia Cheng’s face was dark and hoarse as he replied, “I don’t know. My ability has no effect on her… Damn it!”

Everyone fell silent, their eyes filled with worry as they gazed at Zhao Meng, whose eyes were tightly shut and brows knitted in pain. They still didn’t know what had happened; all they saw was Xia Cheng dashing away with Zhao Meng in his arms, and they had no choice but to follow. Now, seeing her like this, there was little reason for optimism.

Meanwhile, Zhao Meng felt indescribably miserable, as though her head might explode. Her mind was suddenly flooded with countless images—

At one moment, she saw a woman injecting something into the bodies of a group of people with a needle; then, a little girl wielding a bloodied dagger fighting a massive black bear; next, a beguiling woman smiled softly at a crowd of men, who immediately turned on each other in a frenzy of violence… Scene after scene assaulted her consciousness.

She wanted to scream, but found she couldn’t. What was even more terrifying was that, as she watched these horrors, an inexplicable pleasure welled up within her. Her body seemed to crave more—more blood, more death!

These were things she should have loathed, yet she felt an unnatural elation. She tried to escape, but found herself unable to move.

All she could do was passively endure these scenes of unknown origin. Zhao Meng didn’t know how much time had passed before the images gradually faded, only to be replaced by the figure of a gentle woman, who spoke softly to her…

Zhao Meng strained to hear her words, but ultimately it was in vain.

Tears streamed down Zhao Meng’s face as she looked at the gentle woman, who slowly faded from view.

Her world seemed to return to stillness. Except for the sound of her own falling tears, the vast void was utterly silent.

She wanted to give up and let the darkness swallow her, but the thought of Qin Yu, her other friends, and that special someone made her tell herself she must not give in. She mustn’t!

But it was so exhausting—so very exhausting…

Time passed in a blur until suddenly, Zhao Meng felt a warm light, as if it were purifying her very soul.

Her consciousness began to blur, and she sensed many things leaving her mind—the bloody, hideous memories seemed to be draining away.

Yet she didn’t want that gentle woman to disappear. In her presence, Zhao Meng felt an intense sense of security—something she’d only ever felt with Qin Yu.

She fought desperately, not wanting the gentle woman to vanish from her mind. No… Don’t… Don’t disappear!

With that belief, Zhao Meng’s consciousness faded and finally vanished.

What was happening outside during all this?

Chen Mo and the others watched as Zhao Meng’s expression shifted from terror to a faint smile, then to tears, and wondered what kind of dream she could be experiencing to show such a range of emotions.

But Xia Cheng, seeing this, grew even more worried. He was certain that Zhao Meng was reliving memories that had once been sealed away. How cruel must those memories be, to make his fearless little Meng show such terror—such helplessness, as though the sky itself had fallen?

While everyone fretted for Zhao Meng, Qin Yu finally arrived—belatedly. She hadn’t known where Xia Cheng and the others were staying and had to ask around before finding them. Thankfully, their reputation preceded them, or who knows how long she would have searched.

Cradling Little Red, Qin Yu knocked on the door. Chen Mo answered, his face puzzled. Qin Yu looked at the somewhat expressionless man before her and said, “Hello, I’m Qin Yu. I came to check on Xiao Meng.”

Hearing her name, Chen Mo gave her a once-over, his gaze lingering on the strange-colored cat in her arms, as if wondering why its fur was so unusual. Still, he stepped aside and let her in.

Qin Yu met Chen Mo’s scrutiny without the slightest timidity; in fact, she was a bit curious as to why he let her in so easily.

What Qin Yu didn’t know was that Chen Mo had heard her name from Zhao Meng countless times. Especially after they’d gone through life-and-death together, Zhao Meng could mention Qin Yu’s name a hundred times a day. There was no way he wouldn’t remember.

Qin Yu entered the room and, seeing Zhao Meng still weeping, hurried to the bedside and asked Xia Cheng, “What’s going on?”

Xia Cheng shook his head, gently wiping away Zhao Meng’s tears, and said nothing.

Instead, Chen Mo replied, “Zhao Meng has remained unconscious and has been crying nonstop since just now.”

Qin Yu frowned. “Your ability doesn’t work?”

Xia Cheng nodded, gazing at Zhao Meng with tenderness as her tears fell onto his hand.

Just as Qin Yu was about to say something more, a soft, childish voice piped up in the room: “Huh? Big sister? Where is this? Mmm… I smell food~”

Qin Yu looked at Little Green, who was coiled around Little Red’s neck, and said, “We’re at S Base. Are you hungry? I’ll get you something to eat soon.”

Little Green chirped happily, “Okay, okay~” Though it didn’t understand why big sister wouldn’t let it eat right now—everyone knows food won’t taste as good if you wait! But… since big sister said so, it would reluctantly hold off for a little while.

Qin Yu looked at Zhao Meng, still weeping, her own face clouded as she fell into thought.

No one else in the room knew what to say, and silence reigned.

After about ten minutes, Little Green could wait no longer—the deliciousness was about to spoil! It hopped off Little Red’s neck, shook itself, and floated onto Zhao Meng’s head, bouncing up and down.

Xia Cheng frowned at the little sprig on Zhao Meng’s head, ready to remove it.

But suddenly a green light flared, and everyone saw streams of light—somewhere between green and black—emerging from Zhao Meng’s head. The green light devoured the tangled dark strands.

After a while, the green glow faded. Zhao Meng stopped crying, her face now as peaceful as a sleeping infant.

Little Green let out a satisfied burp. “Mmm… I’m so full~ Big sister, I’m going to take a nap now~ Hee hee~” With that, it curled back around Little Red’s neck and fell silent.

Everyone stared in astonishment at the scene.

After a long moment, Xia Cheng finally spoke. “Boss Qin, you truly are Heaven’s favorite. Where did you find such a treasure?”

Seeing that Zhao Meng was safe, Qin Yu’s mood lightened, and she grinned, “Picked it up.”

Picked up! Where? We want one too! The thought echoed silently among them.

Qin Yu paid them no mind. Instead, she walked over to Xia Cheng and said, “I think we need to talk…”