Chapter Seventy-One: Tian Jian’s Conspiracy

After Qin Yu and her companions had finished packing up, they too left the base. Not even half a day after the three of them departed, their former quarters welcomed a group of unexpected visitors.

Tian Jian stood at the doorway, ignoring the crowd that had gathered around Qin Yu’s house. He called out loudly at the entrance, “Captain Qin, are you inside? I’ve come today to seek your advice on something. I wonder if you’d be willing to spare some time to enlighten me?”

His words were met only with silence. Of course, Tian Jian already knew the room was empty—he had set people to watch them and had only come after confirming they’d all gone. Despite knowing this, he went through the motions of calling out several more times, each time naturally receiving no reply.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd spoke up, “Captain Tian, Qin Yu and her people left the base ages ago. They seemed in quite a hurry and even left in several groups. Is there something important you need from them?”

Tian Jian turned and met the curious gazes of those around him. His face darkened, and with a look of grief, he said, “Everyone knows that Captain Qian of our Falcon Squad has died under mysterious circumstances. According to our investigation, the last person he met before his death was Captain Qin. Perhaps Captain Qin knows something about the truth.”

He pressed his lips together before continuing, “Though there were some minor conflicts between us and Captain Qian, we’ve been brothers for so long. We can’t just stand by and let his death remain unsolved. We want to find out the truth, to bring peace to his soul.”

Tian Jian looked up at the sky, forcing a bleak smile, as if catching a glimpse of Qian Ying’s spirit. The onlookers felt a surge of sympathy for him, though a few couldn’t help but smirk cynically.

“So, Captain Tian, who do you think is most likely to have killed Captain Qian?” another voice called out from the crowd.

Tian Jian lowered his head, facing the crowd. “Honestly, we can’t be sure. After all, we have no evidence. That’s why we wanted to ask Captain Qin if she knew anything. But who would have thought she’d leave the base in such a hurry…”

The crowd murmured, speculating among themselves.

“Come to think of it, Captain Qian seemed to like Qin Yu quite a bit. Is it possible that he got lonely and tried to bother her, and Qin Yu, annoyed by him, killed him?”

“I think that’s entirely possible. Did you ever notice the way Qian Ying looked at Qin Yu? It was as if he wanted to have her right then and there.”

“Then what about Feng Mei’er? Could Qin Yu have killed her too? Everyone knows Feng Mei’er loved Qian Ying, but Qian Ying had eyes only for Qin Yu. Driven mad by jealousy, Feng Mei’er might have tried to kill Qin Yu, only to be killed herself because Qin Yu was stronger.”

“So then Qian Ying hears that Feng Mei’er is dead, investigates, and finds out Qin Yu did it. He confronts her, wanting justice for Feng Mei’er, who went through thick and thin with him. Qin Yu admits to the killing, and Qian Ying, seizing the opportunity, tries to coerce her into joining him, threatening to make life unbearable for her people if she refuses. Qin Yu, unable to protect everyone, lures Qian Ying out and kills him!”

“Yes! That makes sense. After killing Qian Ying, Qin Yu tried to act as if nothing happened. But Captain Tian and the others aren’t fools—they noticed something was off. Fearing exposure, Qin Yu hurriedly fled the base!”

Piece by piece, the crowd pieced together the “truth.” Tian Jian listened, secretly delighted, though he put on a flustered face and said with feigned guilt, “Captain Qin isn’t that kind of person! She wouldn’t do that!”

This only convinced the crowd further. Isn’t there a saying that a defense is an admission of guilt? Tian Jian’s guilty tone only cemented their belief that Qin Yu was the killer.

“Don’t worry, Captain Tian! If we see Qin Yu and her people outside the base, we’ll help get to the bottom of this for you! We’ll make sure that murderer Qin Yu answers to you,” the same voice called out again, echoed by others.

With gratitude, Tian Jian replied, “Thank you all. My brothers and I only want the truth. I promise—anyone who brings Qin Yu to us will be handsomely rewarded by Falcon Squad: at least two hundred pounds of grain!”

At this, everyone’s eyes lit up. A reward—and grain, the most precious commodity in this apocalypse. Falcon Squad truly lived up to their reputation.

What were they waiting for? They should hurry and search—Qin Yu and her group couldn’t have gone far. With that, the crowd quickly took their leave of Tian Jian.

Watching them go, Tian Jian’s lips curled into a sinister smile. Captain Qin, I wonder who will win this time—you or me? I’m looking forward to it. But even if you can elude us, can you escape the masses? No matter how powerful you are, can you stand against a tide of people? This game, in the end, you have lost.

Lost in his triumphant fantasy, Tian Jian failed to realize that in this world, the things in greatest supply are accidents—and people who are so easily swayed.

Meanwhile, on Qin Yu’s side, after leaving the base, the three did not hurry to begin their next mission. Instead, they pressed on toward the small town of Kaiyuan, where Qin Yu had first undertaken a task.

Along the way, Zhao Meng watched the grim-faced Qin Yu. During a rest stop, she pulled Xia Cheng aside and whispered, “What’s wrong with Xiao Yu? She looks so serious.”

Xia Cheng glanced at Qin Yu, who walked with her head bowed, lost in thought. He said quietly to Zhao Meng, “Don’t worry so much. Boss Qin always has her reasons. We just need to do our part.”

Zhao Meng rolled her eyes at Xia Cheng, brushing away his wandering hand. “But I can’t help worrying. Xiao Yu has always been the one to smile.”

Xia Cheng put his arm around her. “Why don’t we ask her?”

Zhao Meng shook her head. “Better not. If Xiao Yu wanted to talk, she would have by now. In times like these, even if we asked, she wouldn’t tell us anything.”

Xia Cheng nodded in agreement. Zhao Meng looked at Qin Yu, her heart aching at the sight of her lowered head. This damned apocalypse—when will it end? She missed the Xiao Yu who always wore a warm smile, not the one whose every smile now seemed tinged with sorrow.