From now on, I am your real elder sister.

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"Xiao Nuo, I’ve finished washing up. It really does feel much better after a bath..."

Xiaoxiao, wearing only his pants and using his shirt to dry his dripping hair, mumbled as he walked over. But when he saw Qin Sheng embracing Xiao Nuo, his shirt slipped from his hands and fell to the ground with a thud, and his words trailed off unfinished.

Qin Sheng held Xiao Nuo tightly, as if afraid that her long-lost little brother might vanish in the very next moment.

"You two?!" Xiaoxiao snapped out of his daze, hesitant to interrupt the "siblings" locked in their embrace.

Realizing it was the youth who’d just been bathing at the river, Qin Sheng reluctantly loosened her grip on Xiao Nuo.

Xiao Nuo was startled for a moment, only then realizing how much he’d savored the warmth of Qin Sheng’s embrace. He couldn’t quite describe his feelings—only that it was warm and pleasant.

It was a warmth he had never known before.

"Xiaoxiao, you’re done washing?" Xiao Nuo didn’t seem to notice Xiaoxiao’s surprise and didn’t explain why he’d been hugging Qin Sheng.

Qin Sheng wiped away the tears from her cheeks, forced a smile, and looked at Xiaoxiao. "Hello, I’m Qin Sheng."

Of course, Xiaoxiao knew of Qin Sheng, but until now, he’d never interacted with her—let alone observed her up close. He hadn’t expected her to be so strikingly beautiful. Flustered, he quickly picked his now-dirty shirt off the ground and tried to put it on.

"If the shirt’s dirty, don’t bother with it. When we’re back at camp, I’ll find you another one," Qin Sheng said, her tone gentle, unwilling to see this boy—her brother’s age—wearing unclean clothes. If he hadn’t dropped his shirt seeing her hugging Xiao Nuo, it wouldn’t have gotten so dusty.

Xiaoxiao froze for a second, then nodded and used the shirt to cover himself.

"Hello, I’m Xiaoxiao," he said.

Qin Sheng nodded with a smile, accepting the introduction.

"Big sister, Xiaoxiao is really amazing—I couldn’t beat him at all," Xiao Nuo said. After spending time with Qin Sheng, he found he liked calling her ‘big sister’. She was older than him, but it was different—if only she were really his own sister.

He was just savoring this fleeting moment of being Qin Sheng’s little brother.

Qin Sheng raised her eyebrows, intrigued. "Oh? Why don’t you and I have a match, so I can see just how strong you are?" she teased, looking at Xiaoxiao with a playful glint.

Xiaoxiao shook his head so fast it looked like a rattle. "No, no, I’d never beat you…"

Qin Sheng only wanted to ease his nerves and learn more about these two new children in the camp, but her joke seemed to make Xiaoxiao even more anxious.

She chuckled softly and explained, "Don’t worry, I was only kidding."

Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. He’d seen for himself that day—this girl, with only a Tang sword, had faced down an entire zombie horde alone!

How could he possibly dare challenge her? That would be a death wish.

Thank goodness it was just a joke.

"Wait, so Xiao Nuo’s real sister is Qin Sheng? No wonder you two look alike…" Xiaoxiao muttered to himself, not noticing the flicker of disappointment in Xiao Nuo’s eyes.

Or the regret in Qin Sheng’s.

Xiao Nuo did look like Qin Nuo, but Qin Sheng knew Xiao Nuo was not Qin Nuo.

"If you’re willing to acknowledge me as your big sister, then from now on, I’ll be your real sister," Qin Sheng said, noticing the sadness in the young boy beside her. She reached out and gently patted his head.

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"Really?" Xiao Nuo’s eyes sparkled at her words. His earlier sorrow vanished in an instant. With just that one sentence, Qin Sheng had given him hope and something beautiful to look forward to.

Qin Sheng’s gaze was soft and gentle as she nodded.

From the moment she first saw Xiao Nuo, she’d liked him—regardless of his resemblance to Qin Nuo.

"From now on, Xiao Nuo is someone who has a sister!" he cried out excitedly, leaping into the air. His eyes curved into charming crescents as he gripped Qin Sheng’s hand, brimming with gratitude and affection.

"You’re an orphan from the welfare home—an unwanted child!"

"How pitiful, this child…"

Those words still echoed in his memory. He’d never taken them to heart before, but now, today, he had a sister. He was no longer alone. He wanted to go back and tell all those who pitied him, loud and proud—he, Xiao Nuo, has a sister!

Qin Sheng gently wiped the tears welling in the corners of his eyes.

Xiaoxiao watched, utterly bewildered, but seeing Xiao Nuo finally gain a family member moved him deeply. He pretended to wipe his own eyes, and couldn’t resist teasing, "So Xiao Nuo won’t recognize me as his brother anymore?"

Xiao Nuo shook his head quickly, "No, Xiaoxiao, you’re all my family. Sometimes, I even have the apocalypse to thank—otherwise, I wouldn’t have gained so many loved ones…"

And now, as he recalled everything, his heart was filled with warmth and gratitude.

"All right, let’s not dwell on it. We should head back," Qin Sheng said with a smile, reaching for Xiao Nuo’s hand as they started toward the camp.

Xiaoxiao hurriedly picked up his shirt and the half-bucket of water, quickly following after them.

In just a few minutes, their laughter and chatter brought them back to camp.

Uncle Yu had spent the entire night cleaning the camp until it was spotless. Even the water bottles and cups that Zhang Dong had tampered with were thoroughly washed. If Wind Patrol hadn’t already assured him there was no residue, Yu Yong would have washed them several more times.

"Why aren’t Xiaoxiao and Xiao Nuo back yet? Did something happen?" Yu Yong, growing anxious after waiting so long, was about to go look for them.

Wang Qiang chuckled, "Those two are clever. Maybe they just got distracted by something fun. Wait a little longer."

Yu Yong thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right, I’ll give it ten more minutes before heading to the river."

"Don’t worry, everything’s fine," Wang Qiang reassured him.

"Uncle Yu, we’re back!" Xiaoxiao called out as soon as they arrived, spotting Yu Yong still busy at work.

Hearing their voices, Yu Yong set down his things and turned to give them a lecture about staying out too long.

"Why are you back so late? Off playing again?" he began, but when he turned, he was surprised to see a familiar yet unfamiliar face. He hadn’t expected Qin Sheng to return with Xiao Nuo and Xiaoxiao.

Yu Yong instantly became nervous, wiping his wet hands on his clothes and hastening to Qin Sheng, where he cupped his fists in salute. "Captain, we’ve finally awaited your return."

Qin Sheng didn’t have much of an impression of Yu Yong, but his immediate address of "Captain" left her momentarily bewildered.

Xiao Nuo tugged at her hand, softly explaining, "Everyone who stayed in your camp believes you’ll become the captain of the guard."

The only ones left in the camp were Yu Yong, Xiaoxiao, and Xiao Nuo.

Qin Sheng raised her eyebrows and returned Yu Yong’s salute, replying politely, "I’m not the captain yet. There’s no need for such formality—I’m not worthy of it."

Her courteous reply only strengthened Yu Yong’s conviction that he’d made the right choice.

"No matter what, you’re the captain in our hearts," he declared.

Qin Sheng smiled and let the matter drop, then glanced around the well-ordered camp, realizing at a glance who was responsible.

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"You’ve worked hard. This camp isn’t easy to clean," she said, scanning the site. Yesterday, the place had been a mess, but now it was spotless—a sight that filled her with more than just happiness.

She was moved, too. She’d never thought strangers would trust her so much.

"As long as you’re pleased, Captain, our hard work wasn’t wasted," Yu Yong replied with a hearty laugh.

Soon enough, the two were chatting away. Qin Sheng showed no airs, even discussing topics that interested Yu Yong, and before long, their awkwardness had melted away.

"Now that you’re back, I should go find my master," Wind Patrol said, appearing at some point beside Qin Sheng, his expression as cool as ever.

Qin Sheng stood and gestured for Wind Patrol to speak with her elsewhere.

"When you return, help me deliver some things to Song Qing’an," she requested.

Wind Patrol nodded, and Qin Sheng dashed into her tent, emerging a few minutes later with a backpack.

"I’m counting on you. Take care on your way," she said, handing him the bag.

Wind Patrol accepted it and turned to leave, but Qin Sheng called him back.

"Wait."

"Is there anything else you want me to tell the master?"

Qin Sheng licked her dry lips, a hint of nervousness in her manner.

"Tell him thank you. And thank you, too."

Wind Patrol hesitated—perhaps surprised to be included in her gratitude.

"I heard the medicine for Shen Shi came from you. I’ll make sure to thank you for that as well," Qin Sheng added. She’d learned from her conversation with Yu Yong that it was Wind Patrol who’d provided Shen Shi’s medicine, and he’d been looking after her these past days. She knew she had to say thank you—not just for Shen Shi’s sake.

Wind Patrol remained impassive. "There’s no need to thank me. If you must, thank the master."

With that, he disappeared into the depths of the forest, vanishing from sight as soon as the camp was out of view, swallowed by the zombie-infested woods.

Qin Sheng watched him go, her heart full of emotion.

It seemed that in this life, she truly owed her gratitude to everyone she’d met at the Random Chance Shop.

But she believed Song Qing’an and the others would like what she’d sent in the backpack.

Random Chance Shop.

"You’re saying she specially asked you to give this to me?" Song Qing’an examined the backpack Wind Patrol had brought, half-suspecting Qin Sheng had hidden a time bomb inside.

When Wind Patrol nodded, Song Qing’an grew even more apprehensive about opening it.

"She couldn’t have really sent me a bomb, could she?"