TDU Chapter 412
Chapter 412 The Defeated
Lin Qin furrowed her brows, silently pondering this question.
Indeed, only {participants} had ever been capable of rebirth; {indigenous inhabitants} and the {Earthly Branches} could not. Then why had Xu Liunian, who had once turned from an {indigenous inhabitant} back into a {participant}, been able to revive?
Had she truly become immortal?
Tian Tian, unable to make sense of what the two were discussing, quietly drifted aside. She picked up a can of food, straining it open with effort.
It was a can of fish, seemingly well preserved. She lifted it to her nose—no trace of spoilage.
Carrying the can, she slowly approached the female shop assistant and placed it on the counter before her.
Qiaoyun turned her head, swallowed hard, and asked, “Is this all you’ll be buying…?”
“Yes.” Tian Tian nodded. “Just this one. Ring it up.”
Qiaoyun froze for a long moment, then reached for the scanner—but it was broken beyond repair.
“Thi–This won’t scan…” Qiaoyun said with some disappointment. “Perhaps you should pick another.”
“Then consider it stolen.”
“What…?”
“I said, I stole it.” Tian Tian spoke softly. “No big deal if the code doesn’t scan. You can report it afterward.”
“Huh…?” The female shop assistant froze. “Y–You… stole it?”
“Mhm.” Tian Tian nodded. “This is something I stole. But now, I’m giving it to you.”
“Giving it… to me?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. If the police come, they’ll only arrest me. I won’t drag you into it.” Tian Tian smiled. “I steal things just for fun. I don’t even like eating them. But wasting food isn’t good either, so I can only give it to you.”
Qiaoyun was clearly frightened by Tian Tian’s words. “You–You’ll really be arrested for this.”
“It’s fine.” Tian Tian shook her head. “I’m a regular at the police station anyway. Getting caught doesn’t matter—just a bit of lecturing and they let me out. Here, take it and eat.”
Qiaoyun slowly stretched out her hand and picked up the canned food.
Fish and broth filled the can completely, the glimmering oil on top smelling irresistibly rich.
“C–Can I really eat this?” Qiaoyun asked in disbelief.
“Of course.” Tian Tian nodded. “I stole it, not you. What are you afraid of?”
Seeing this, Yun Yao let out a deep sigh. It seemed that the canned food Chu Tianqiu had sent over before hadn’t been eaten by this female shop attendant at all, but had instead been stolen again and again by others who visited.
Unfortunately, the enforcers of this place would never bother with such trifles. For this woman who had already lost her reason, she could only swallow her losses again and again.
Under everyone’s gaze, Qiaoyun reached out her dirty hand, picked up a piece of boneless fish, stared at it for a long while, then tremblingly placed it into her mouth.
In just three seconds, she burst into tears, crying bitterly.
Her expression was one of complete defeat.
No matter how many years ago this woman had once been so awe-inspiring, leading countless {participants} to fight against {Celestial Dragon}, today she was bested by a single can of expired fish.
Those present felt a pang of sorrow at the sight.
What {indigenous inhabitants}… what {Earthly Branches}… She was just an ordinary person. All she wanted was something to eat, yet she had been starving for so many years.
The moment a second small piece of fish touched her lips, Qiaoyun immediately began to gag violently. Long-term malnutrition had caused her organs to start failing; clearly, a single can of food could not make up for years of deprivation.
But no one could stop her. This young lady named Qiaoyun simply kept eating and vomiting, vomiting and eating. She desperately wanted to swallow the food, but her body refused.
How strong must one’s body be just to survive?
“Thank you! Thank you…” Qiaoyun cried while stomach acid continued to escape her mouth. “I’m very grateful…”
Lin Qin’s expression darkened with a trace of sorrow. She turned to the shelves and opened every single can of food.
“All of these can be considered my thefts,” Lin Qin began. “Now they’re stored here with you. Remember, you can only eat one can per day; otherwise, we will have no choice but to turn you over to the police.”
Qiaoyun nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her emaciated face.
“Thank you… thank you so much…” She sobbed softly, and soon began to gag repeatedly once again.
Everyone felt their action was no more than pouring a bucket of water onto a building ready to be swallowed by flames. Could such a small amount ever stop the fire?
Yun Yao watched the scene for a long while before finally speaking. “Let’s split up into two groups…”
“What?” Lin Qin asked.
“I didn’t want to involve myself with {Passage to Heaven} anymore, but it seems Xu Liunian and Chu Tianqiu still have more secrets…” She turned to Lin Qin and Lawyer Zhang. “The three of us can’t go back. Could you help go back and gather information?”
Zhang Chenze looked at Lin Qin’s injured right leg, pondered for a moment, and then declared, “You all should go. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“On your own?”
“Mm…” Zhang Chenze nodded in acknowledgement. “As I said before, I won’t make any judgments rashly without a full understanding of a matter. But now, after three or four days, I’ve gained some insight into this place. So from here on, leave everything to me.”
“But Chu Tianqiu is very cunning…” Yun Yao said. “Even if he has no intention of killing you, you won’t be able to extract any information. It would be better to have Lin Qin with you… she has retained memories spanning many years.”
“That’s unnecessary.” Zhang Chenze shook her head. “As long as the other side can be reasoned with, I will not lose.”
“What…?” Lin Qin felt that Zhang Chenze’s presence was different from the first time she had met her. Thinking carefully about the questions she had asked and the actions she had taken over these past days, could it be that she had truly been collecting intelligence as thoroughly as possible?
“Lin Qin’s leg injury is severe. You two should take her to have her leg set first,” Zhang Chenze said with a smile. “Just make sure nothing happens to you. I like you all, I like all the strong and kind young ladies in this world. Leave the rest to me.”
Everyone felt that Zhang Chenze in front of them seemed like a gentle, reliable older sister.
“Then… you must be careful.” Yun Yao said. “{Celestial}-grade Earthly Branches have been moving about recently. This is something that has never happened before. In all the years I’ve been here, I’ve never seen a {Celestial}, and at one point I even thought {Celestials} didn’t exist here…”
“Noted.” Zhang Chenze nodded. “Draw me a map, and I’ll come find you afterward.”
Yun Yao found a scrap of paper in the convenience store and, in a few strokes, drew the route from here to Terrestrial-Snake’s game venue. She then gave a few more instructions before leaving with the others.
Zhang Chenze glanced at Qiaoyun, who was eating seriously before her, and her expression darkened with sorrow.
She reminded Zhang Chenze of her former self, yet she had come too late and could offer no help.
Chu Tianqiu appeared gentle and refined, yet could he, like Butcher Ma, be holding this young woman captive here?
Zhang Chenze’s expression gradually grew cold. She then stepped out of the convenience store and set off in the direction of {Passage to Heaven}.
TL Note: Rant goes here ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)
