Chapter Seventy-Three: No One Can Stand in My Way

Jiang Miaomiao and Chu Xingyu had not yet recovered from Zhang Meng’s threats when they saw Qin Sheng, gripping the Tang blade, suddenly sever Zhang Meng’s neck without warning. Still caught up in the rush of emotion, they failed to react at first—only to witness the Tang blade fall from Qin Sheng’s hand as she herself collapsed uncontrollably before them.

“Miao Sheng!” Jiang Miaomiao’s brow furrowed anxiously, but her body felt so limp that she couldn’t even stand. Let alone Chu Xingyu, who was already wounded.

Both exerted all their strength to crawl forward and catch Qin Sheng.

Yet someone moved faster than either of them.

A youth in white, whose arrival they hadn’t noticed, stepped forward steadily and caught the falling Qin Sheng.

His distinctive white hair and divine, handsome face were impossible to forget.

Chu Xingyu stared blankly at the newcomer, murmuring, “Song Qing’an…”

Jiang Miaomiao paid little attention to who had caught Qin Sheng; she only cared that Qin Sheng hadn’t fallen to the ground. Relieved, she finally realized that the person holding Qin Sheng was Song Qing’an, whom they hadn’t seen for ages.

In Jiang Miaomiao’s memory, their last meeting with Song Qing’an had been on the dormitory rooftop over a hotpot and barbecue. Since then, she had neither seen Song Qing’an nor heard Qin Sheng mention him.

Gradually, he faded from her thoughts.

“Song…” Jiang Miaomiao hesitated, unsure how to address him, nibbling her lip before asking worriedly, “How is Sheng Sheng?”

Song Qing’an had been observing the sleeping girl in his arms, uncertain whether his pride and joy stemmed from winning his gamble or simply seeing her survive.

“She’s fine, just temporarily unconscious,” Song Qing’an answered, then rose, cradling the unconscious Qin Sheng steadily in his arms.

“As long as she’s alright,” Jiang Miaomiao finally let out a breath, her heart settling.

Song Qing’an nodded and strode toward the rooftop exit.

“Brother Song! The outside is crawling with zombies right now—it might not be safe for us to leave,” Chu Xingyu instinctively tried to stop him upon seeing Song Qing’an heading down.

Song Qing’an paused but didn’t turn back. He merely curled his lips faintly. “No need to worry. No one can stop me.”

With that, Song Qing’an carried Qin Sheng off the rooftop.

Chu Xingyu looked at Jiang Miaomiao in confusion.

Jiang Miaomiao sighed and nodded at him, expressing her approval and trust in Song Qing’an.

After all, if Qin Sheng trusted him, they had no reason not to.

Chu Xingyu pursed his lips and let the matter drop.

“How are you here?” Aji raised her head curiously at the spectacle, looking toward Lu Qingyan, who had been watching for a while, his gold-rimmed glasses giving him an inscrutable air.

Lu Qingyan arched his brow, glancing at the source of the voice.

Upon seeing the familiar face, Lu Qingyan was unsurprised, his lips curling in amusement as he took in Aji’s dusty, grimy state—evidence of her escape attempt.

“What are you smiling at? I’m talking to you, you blockhead,” Aji, still puzzled by Lu Qingyan’s once-over and smile, instinctively felt he was mocking her disheveled appearance.

Lu Qingyan withdrew his gaze, the smile at his lips vanishing instantly. He replied coolly, “Nothing. I just didn’t expect to see you again under such circumstances.”

His words carried an ambiguous undertone, almost teasing.

To Aji, it was unmistakably mockery.

She remembered that the last time she’d tried to escape, she’d been caught, thanks to this guy.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t escape this time,” Aji retorted, a little exasperated.

Lu Qingyan merely nodded, “You’d better not.”

“Tch, acting so high and mighty,” Aji muttered, turning to follow Jiang Miaomiao and Chu Xingyu as they prepared to leave.

“You know Qingyan?” Chu Xingyu, who hadn’t missed Aji and Lu Qingyan’s exchange, asked.

Supporting Chu Xingyu, Aji recalled her first encounter with Lu Qingyan.

On her first day in the safe zone, Aji couldn’t stand the restrictions and was determined to go out and kill zombies.

A scheme formed in her mind; that night she followed a route she’d carefully planned and managed to slip outside the safe zone. But, unexpectedly, she ran into Lu Qingyan along the way.

“No way, you’re an escapee too?” Aji glanced nervously at the safe zone’s searchlights behind her, edging closer to Lu Qingyan as she asked.

Lu Qingyan, surprised to meet someone else trying to break out, was intrigued and answered, “Yes.”

Finding a like-minded companion, Aji’s worries vanished completely. She pulled a hard bun from her pocket, handing it to Lu Qingyan.

“This is something I’ve been reluctant to eat. You must be hungry after sneaking out—here, have some.”

Lu Qingyan glanced at the hard bun in Aji’s hand, lingering for a long moment before refusing, “I’m not hungry. You keep it.”

“Are you sure you don’t want it?” Aji was surprised at Lu Qingyan’s refusal, asking again in disbelief.

Seeing Lu Qingyan’s unwavering resolve, Aji took a big bite, unconcerned about how hard it was, and cheerfully told him, “If you’re not going to eat it, I’ll finish it myself. I’ve been starving for ages.”

Lu Qingyan nodded, saying no more.

Aji quickly devoured the bun, dusted herself off, and glanced at Lu Qingyan sitting rigidly on the ground. She walked over and slapped his shoulder.

Lu Qingyan raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at where Aji’s hand had landed, then at her.

“Since you’re an escapee too, follow me from now on—I’ll show you how to kill zombies,” Aji declared confidently, tilting her chin at Lu Qingyan.

Lu Qingyan stared at Jiang Miaomiao for a long moment before replying coolly, “Are you sure you can handle zombies?”

His question left Aji momentarily speechless.

“Just trust me… I’ll be fine…” Though Aji was uncertain, she wasn’t afraid to boast.

Lu Qingyan said nothing, nor did he accept her offer.

Aji understood she didn’t inspire much confidence. If she were in his shoes, she wouldn’t agree easily either, given how dangerous it was.

Aji settled beside Lu Qingyan, leaning against a log and saying, “Think it over—I’ve got time to wait…”

Recalling this, Aji unconsciously clenched her fist. Chu Xingyu and Jiang Miaomiao, seeing she stopped talking, asked curiously.

“What’s wrong?”

“What happened after that?”

Both looked at the gritting Aji in unison.

“Ouch, ouch,” Chu Xingyu winced, glancing at Aji’s grip on his arm. “Sis, don’t take it out on me—I’m an invalid.”

Aji realized she was still supporting Chu Xingyu and apologized, “Sorry, I got a bit carried away…” She rubbed his sore arm as she spoke.

“I’ll keep going. The result was, I fell asleep, and when I woke up the next day, I was surrounded by the safe zone’s guards. The culprit? Your Qingyan.”

Remembering the scene, Aji stuck out her tongue in exasperation.

Normally, the guards wouldn’t bother chasing escapees, but she was surrounded so tightly it was impossible to get away.

“Qingyan? He knows the guards?” Chu Xingyu asked in disbelief.

Aji shook her head, “How would I know?”

“How are you sure it was Lu Qingyan who called the guards on you?” Jiang Miaomiao asked.

Aji pursed her lips, “I’ll tell you why. When I was taken back, I saw Lu Qingyan talking to the captain of the guards. The captain was treating him with utmost respect. So, it’s almost certainly his doing.”

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been caught.

“What happened after you got back?” Jiang Miaomiao pressed.

“Afterwards, I found the wall still wasn’t fixed. When I planned my next escape, Lu Qingyan personally caught me,” Aji answered through clenched teeth.

From Aji’s expression, Jiang Miaomiao knew Lu Qingyan was in trouble. For someone as vengeful as Aji, the outcome for Lu Qingyan was uncertain.

“And after that, you know the rest—I met you and Qin Sheng,” Aji concluded as they returned to their original residence.

Strangely, their journey was smooth and safe; not a single zombie appeared.

Logically, that shouldn’t be possible. Were they just lucky?

Jiang Miaomiao shook her head, dismissing further speculation. Perhaps because Zhang Meng had been here earlier, the zombies had stayed far away, which worked in their favor.

Song Qing’an laid Qin Sheng gently on the bed, pulling the blanket up to cover her securely.

Watching the girl sleep soundly from exhaustion, Song Qing’an smiled softly, shook his head helplessly, and sat at the bedside.

“Grandpa…” Qin Sheng seemed trapped in a nightmare, her brow suddenly furrowing as she called out for her grandfather, her hands icy despite the warm covers.

Her forehead was slick with cold sweat, while her cheeks burned red as if boiled.

“Grandpa, don’t leave me… Sheng’er misses you…”

Song Qing’an watched Qin Sheng mutter endlessly and, at a loss, instinctively took her restless hand in his own.