Chapter 126: Shen Shi Awakes

Though she was afraid, in the end, Song Qing'an opened the bag herself.

She trusted that Qin Sheng had always handled things openly and aboveboard, so the idea of her stuffing a bomb in the bag was simply impossible. Moreover, Qin Sheng certainly didn’t possess a bomb.

As she had expected, there was nothing dangerous at all in the bag—no explosives, not even anything that could hurt someone. It was filled with all sorts of food that Qin Sheng had packed, most of which happened to be rice balls and sandwiches, Song Qing'an’s favorites.

Qin Sheng could never fathom why Song Qing'an was so fond of rice balls; it forced her to make a quick trip back to the tent and retrieve some rice balls and sandwiches from her own supplies.

“Master, it’s all food,” Xun Feng said, watching Song Qing'an pick out a rice ball, settle herself cross-legged, and eat leisurely. He stepped forward to check if Qin Sheng had included anything else for Song Qing'an.

By the time Xun Feng finished his inspection, Song Qing'an had just about finished the rice ball in her hand.

She wiped her hands, nodded, then rose and zipped the backpack, intending to carry it upstairs.

Lu Shenchen happened to come out from the inner room at that moment. Seeing Song Qing'an with a large backpack, he stopped her without a second thought.

She must be trying to hide something delicious for herself.

“What are you hiding? Let me have a look.” Lu Shenchen’s voice was thick and muffled from his cold.

Song Qing'an had no intention of opening the backpack. She maneuvered around Lu Shenchen, smiling as she replied, “It’s nothing, just a bag.”

Lu Shenchen sniffed, his expression full of disbelief, and blocked her path again.

“Did Qin Sheng give you something good to eat?”

“No,” Song Qing'an denied flatly.

The more Song Qing'an denied it, the more convinced Lu Shenchen became that it had to be from Qin Sheng.

“I don’t believe you. If it’s really from Qin Sheng, then give me that blue-and-white porcelain vase in your room,” he said deliberately, wiping his nose and eyeing Song Qing'an with interest.

If only he knew—the blue-and-white porcelain vase in Song Qing'an’s room was an antique of considerable value, brought back from the Wind Listening Pavilion in another world. It was practically priceless.

He’d coveted that vase for a long time, but when Song Qing'an first brought it back, she hadn’t even let him touch it.

Xun Feng looked over at his master as if waiting for her decision. He had a feeling she would choose the seemingly worthless contents of the bag over the ancient porcelain without a second thought.

Song Qing'an pressed her lips together, but a smile soon returned to her face. “You can move out right now.”

Just as Xun Feng had predicted.

Song Qing'an didn’t hesitate for a moment.

“Alright!” Lu Shenchen had been waiting for this. He called out to Xun Feng, “Come give me a hand!”

Xun Feng glanced at his master, then shook his head in resignation and followed Lu Shenchen upstairs.

Song Qing'an didn’t care in the least about the porcelain or jade bottles in that room. She headed straight for the refrigerator with her bag of food.

After arranging the rice balls and sandwiches neatly inside, she nodded in satisfaction.

Suddenly remembering something, she snapped her fingers after closing the fridge door.

When she opened it again, the entire row of rice balls and sandwiches she had just placed inside had vanished.

Only then did Song Qing'an leave, completely content.

A few minutes later, Lu Shenchen—who had just taken Song Qing'an’s blue-and-white porcelain—stood before the refrigerator. He bent down to open it, but found nothing inside. The next moment, he activated his ability and quickly discovered where Song Qing'an had hidden the food.

“And she still claims it wasn’t from Qin Sheng, so stubborn...”

Zombie Forest, on the cusp of night.

Ever since Qin Sheng had single-handedly taken on an entire horde of zombies, none had dared approach the camp. The few stragglers who did were cut down by Qin Sheng’s tangdao. Even signaling for backup was useless—zombies seemed to avoid her camp as if it were cursed.

This had given the group a rare sense of peace and a place to rest.

In two days, their time in Zombie Forest would be over.

These last two days had less to do with fighting zombies and more with deciding, among themselves, who would be chosen as captain.

Wang Qiang and the others were certain Qin Sheng would become captain. They were unconcerned, treating their days in the forest more like a vacation—no zombies troubled them, and they weren’t competing for leadership. Their safety was assured simply by following Qin Sheng.

“Tomorrow I’ll check the area for wild rabbits or something,” Yu Yong said. “We adults can manage on compressed biscuits, but Xiaoxiao and Xiao Nuo are still growing; we can’t let them go without meat.”

He had wanted to look for meat for the children the past few days, but hadn’t gotten the chance.

“You’re overthinking it, Uncle Yu. The area’s already contaminated—the river water’s barely drinkable, and any wild rabbits are probably infected with the zombie virus,” Wang Qiang replied with a helpless shake of his head. If not for their allotted water rations, they’d have died of thirst by now.

“In that case, we can’t eat the rabbits...” Yu Yong shook his head in resignation.

Qin Sheng pressed her lips together, remembering she had vacuum-packed roast chicken and duck in her storage. Perhaps she would find an excuse to bring them out tomorrow, so Xiaoxiao and Xiao Nuo could have some nourishment.

Xiaoxiao, though thin, was muscular and looked fairly healthy.

Xiao Nuo, on the other hand, was nearly one meter seventy-five but so thin he was little more than skin and bones. Since she had accepted him as her younger brother, it was only right to improve his lot.

“Big sister, come here.” As Qin Sheng was deep in thought, Xiao Nuo tugged gently at her sleeve, signaling her to follow him.

Qin Sheng nodded and walked with him behind the tent.

“Big sister, this is for you.” Xiao Nuo pulled out a packet of beef jerky, looking as though he had been unwilling to eat it himself for a long time. He shyly handed it over to Qin Sheng.

She noticed the packaging was wrinkled, and the opening bore the marks of several failed attempts to tear it open.

“Big sister, it’s pepper-salted flavor. I know you’ll like it,” Xiao Nuo said, finally tearing open the packet he had hesitated over countless times.

Qin Sheng was touched. Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she knew refusing would hurt his feelings. Xiao Nuo was sensitive; he might dwell on it.

“Thank you, our Xiao Nuo.” Qin Sheng took the jerky and patted his head with her other hand.

Like a kitten being praised, Xiao Nuo’s face broke into a lazy smile.

“As long as big sister likes it.”

The pair sat side by side beneath a tree, sharing the beef jerky.

Qin Sheng broke off a piece to try. The flavor wasn’t particularly special, but to her, it was the best beef jerky she had ever tasted.

She noticed Xiao Nuo licking his lips, tempted. Smiling, she placed the remainder in his palm.

Xiao Nuo protested, “Big sister should eat; I don’t like it.”

Though he claimed not to, the smell was so enticing his stomach rumbled audibly.

Qin Sheng chuckled. “You’re still growing, Xiao Nuo. You need to eat more.”

He nodded, and finally finished the rest of the jerky, eating slowly and politely despite his hunger. Qin Sheng watched him the whole time—he looked just like a little hamster, carefully savoring each bite.

“Xiao Nuo, one day your big sister will make sure you’re healthy and well-fed,” Qin Sheng said, stroking his hair. Her words were both comfort and a promise.

Xiao Nuo nodded with a smile. “Alright, big sister. When I’m strong, I’ll protect you.”

Qin Sheng’s heart melted at his obedience. “Are you still hungry? I have some compressed biscuits.”

There was no way she could bring out anything else from her storage right now—compressed biscuits were all she had.

Xiao Nuo shook his head gently. “I’m full, big sister.”

“Qin Sheng! Shen Shi is awake!”

Wang Qiang’s call came from the camp. Qin Sheng told Xiao Nuo she was leaving and made her way to Shen Shi’s tent.

She heard coughing before she even entered—Shen Shi’s throat was dry and hoarse from sleeping so long.

Qin Sheng sighed and asked Wang Qiang to heat some water.

“You’re awake?” she asked, lifting the tent flap, her expression calm.

Shen Shi’s lips had regained a hint of color at last. She looked at Qin Sheng and nodded.

Qin Sheng found a good spot to sit and addressed her again, “Tomorrow, you can take something and leave.”

Shen Shi frowned, her voice rasping, “What do you mean?”

Qin Sheng met her gaze. “Become my true opponent.”

A match, to see who was truly the most suitable captain for the guard team.

From Shen Shi’s eyes, Qin Sheng thought she detected a trace of disdain. She frowned, puzzled. “What do you mean? Aren’t you going to compete with me?”

After all, the idea of a contest had come from Shen Shi herself.

Now what did she mean?

“I concede,” Shen Shi said quietly, her tone calm, even tinged with a faint smile. She looked at Qin Sheng as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.

Qin Sheng sensed some suppressed emotion within her.

“Your strength surpasses mine—I have no need to struggle pointlessly,” Shen Shi said, her voice gentle as jade.