Villain Boss Chapter 192
Translated by Digitalian (ko-fi)
Chapter 192: Leaving Xiling
Shen Muxin was dead.
The Shen family announced to the public that she committed suicide out of love because she couldn’t accept Jiang Yize's death.
Shen Yang thought that in a sense, it was indeed a suicide pact to protect what Jiang Yize left behind.
Thus, Shen Lang hated his daughter, whom he had indulged since childhood, calling her a traitor.
He didn't even attend his daughter's funeral.
Outsiders said the old man was too heartbroken to accept his daughter's death.
Only Shen Yang knew that what those people said wasn’t the truth.
As Shen Muxin's only daughter, Jiang Ran also didn’t attend the funeral because she was ill and unable to leave the hospital.
"Grandpa, I remember Aunt said something back then." Driven to desperation by the old man, the gentle woman uttered the fiercest accusation she had ever made. "She said you'd been blinded by delusion, and she begged you to stop and turn back before it was too late."
It was less of an accusation and more of a persuasion.
But Shen Muxin’s tearful pleas didn’t soften Shen Lang’s heart at all.
After confirming his daughter's death, the old man only angrily cursed "traitor" before turning and leaving the room.
Without the old man's permission, no one dared to enter the room.
Shen Yang crawled out of the closet, knelt in the blood, and wept silently.
"That time, it was me who closed my aunt's eyes." The young man's voice was indifferent, devoid of emotion. "And that was also when I promised my aunt I’d protect Ranran for her."
Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep his promise.
"I failed to protect my aunt, and I failed to protect Ranran—Grandpa, it was you who taught me the importance of power."
His tone was calm, but to Shen Lang, it sounded like a sharp accusation.
"Yang, you...” he choked out, "You have no obligation to protect Ranran..."
"No, I do, Grandpa." He composed himself, his nonchalant tone replaced by seriousness. "Ranran saved my life."
It was a life-saving grace. In folk tales, those who received this grace were expected to repay it by marrying the other party.
What a pity he couldn’t do that.
"Grandpa, it's time to stop."
He was already the head of the Shen family and the person in charge of Xiling base. Why was he still not content? What else was worth fighting for?
"Cough, cough!" Shen Lang coughed, finally catching his breath, and said bitterly, "Yang, you can go out now."
Shen Lang kept Shen Yang at arm's length with his cold indifference. Knowing there was no point in continuing the conversation, Shen Yang smiled indifferently, said good night, and got up to leave the room.
Without a second thought.
……
As night fell, the air grew cool. The moon was veiled in a light mist, and a gentle breeze stirred.
Carrying the octagonal lantern she’d made herself, Jiang Ran walked through the bustling market, bypassed the clutter piled up at the entrance, and headed back to the slum.
Qiao Yi was already waiting inside the entrance. Seeing her, he whistled, swaggered over to her, and raised his chin. "You came here at this hour. Aren't you afraid of being devoured alive by the wolves in the slum? "
Jiang Ran handed him the lantern and smiled. "I don’t think anyone here is a match for me. After all, even their leader has to call me big sister."
Qiao Yi, "..." If you didn't bring this up, we could still be friends.
He looked away, touched a tuft of hair on his forehead, and snorted. "What are you doing here so late?"
"I'm leaving Xiling base tomorrow."
Qiao Yi's expression changed. "Tomorrow?" He frowned. "Seriously, Jiang Ran, you're just going to run away like that because you were scared by Shen Lang?"
"Of course not." Jiang Ran retorted irritably, "Do you think I'm such a coward? Besides, Shen Lang failed to trick me!"
"He failed to trick you? Who was the person that 117 knocked unconscious?"
Jiang Ran rolled her eyes at him. "You have a point, so I'll reluctantly admit I was tricked."
Qiao Yi, "..." Whether you admitted it or not, the fact remained.
After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Ran got back to the main topic.
"I don't know when I'll be back this time. If you encounter any problems at the base, you can approach Gu Yunqing."
Knowing she cared about him, Qiao Yi awkwardly pouted, "I'm safe now that you're gone."
The trouble he'd been getting lately was all because of her.
"... Please don't speak the truth indiscriminately."
"Humph."
"Oh, by the way, if you have time, remember to go to Qiao Qiao's place for a meal—I was able to get out of trouble all because of her help last time, so consider it as repaying her favor."
Qiao Yi retorted, "Why should I have to repay your favor?"
"Don't you owe me a favor?"
Qiao Yi was rendered speechless. "..." He changed the subject. "Where are you planning to go?"
"I don't know," Jiang Ran answered honestly. "Actually, the main reason for leaving this time is to teach certain people a lesson. I don't think we’ll be away for long, because if it's too long, some people will forget about us."
Qiao Yi was relieved. "If you come back soon, I can treat you to a meal."
"At the cafeteria?" Jiang Ran said with disdain. "I'd rather cook for myself."
Qiao Yi was speechless again.
He shouldn't have talked so much, shouldn't have cared about her, and should’ve let her fend for herself. Humph.
"Oh, I have another favor to ask of you, it's about Shen Yao..."
……
On the third day after the incident at the north gate, following the roar that came from the conference room, everyone in the base learned something.
Professor Si left with the young lady of the Shen family!
"Professor Si really left the base? Will he come back? If he doesn't, what will we do during the next zombie outbreak?"
"He'll come back, won't he? Xiling base is where he grew up. Who’d want to leave their home?"
"I heard it's just an inspection trip, and they'll be back afterward."
"You got to be kidding! They were clearly forced to leave by the Shen family!"
"No way, wasn't Marshal Shen so angry that he vomited blood? Professor Si must’ve won, so why is he leaving?"
"Perhaps... they're afraid of retaliation from the Shen family?"
"Are you dumb? Professor Si has never been afraid of anyone. If he were afraid of the Shen family, would he have gotten into this mess with Marshal Shen?"
"Then you tell me the reason?"
"He must’ve gotten weary of it... Even if one isn’t afraid, being constantly ostracized and schemed against would tire anyone out."
"..."
While the base was buzzing with discussion, a modified off-road vehicle sped along the road, kicking up clouds of dust.
Jiang Ran gripped the steering wheel, floored the accelerator, and hummed a little tune excitedly as she watched the scenery rushing past.
"You should... " In the passenger seat, Si Xu leaned back and yawned, reminding the girl, "Slow down."
"Are you scared?"
Si Xu whispered, "I'm afraid you'll be tossed out of the car."
Jiang Ran, "..."
She got defiant and kept stepping on the accelerator.
"Si Xu, where are we going? Look at the map and tell me how to get there."
Si Xu didn't move. "Drive wherever you want, we'll go wherever it takes us."
After he said that, Jiang Ran dared not speed any further.
"What if I turn around and go back to Xiling base?"
"Let's treat it as a spring outing then."
"..."
He truly didn't care, so Jiang Ran could only figure out her destination on her own.
"What do you think of the Beichen base?" Jiang Ran pondered. "Beichen City is relatively close to Xiling, so it won't take too much time to travel back and forth—since we've finally come out, let's treat it as a vacation." They could also kill some zombies along the way.
"Sure." He followed her whim.
"Then look at the map and tell me how to get there."
"No need, I've been there before. I remember the way."
In the early days of the apocalypse, he concealed his identity and went to the Beichen base for an inspection.
"If I remember correctly, the Huo family is currently in charge of the Beichen base."
At the mention of the Huo family, Si Xu suddenly fell silent.
