Apocalypse Chapter 25: Going Home

Chapter 25: Going Home

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

After the injection, Chu Qiang’s symptoms improved significantly. Wang Chunlan said that it might be because Chu Qiang was an enhancement-type esper, his self-healing speed was dozens of times stronger than an ordinary person’s.

With two doses of medicine, the bruising on Chu Qiang’s body visibly receded at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye. Although he was still swollen all over, it was much better than before. Seeing this situation, Chu Qiang’s uncle’s eyes reddened once again.

Perhaps because Jiang Xiaoheng’s gaze was too eager, Chu Qiang’s mother slowly opened her eyes. Jiang Xiaoheng smiled happily, “Grandma!” 

Lele Duo really worked; as soon as it was placed next to Grandma’s head, she woke up in no time. Chu Qiang’s mother gradually cleared her confused eyes. When she saw Jiang Xiaoheng’s face clearly, she suddenly sat up and hugged the child tightly, “Baby! Baby, why are you here? Is Grandma dreaming?”

Jiang Xiaoheng, with his tender arms, embraced Chu Qiang’s mother’s neck, leaning his head to kiss her cheek, “Grandma, Daddy and I will take you home.”

Chu Qiang’s mother turned her head and, when she saw Jiang Rong’s face clearly, tears streamed down her face, “Xiao Rong, thank you, thank you!” 

Chu Qiang was right. If there was anyone willing to travel a long distance to save them, it would be Jiang Rong. If not for him, their whole family would have perished here.

The environment in the house was harsh, and Chu Qiang needed to be moved to a better place to recover faster. Jiang Rong suggested, “Uncle Chu, it’s not suitable to stay here for long. Let’s go back home.”

Uncle Chu wiped his tears and nodded, “Okay, let’s go home.” 

He no longer wanted to stay in this ghostly place. When Uncle Chu mentioned going home, Wang Chunlan’s daughter, Lei Lei, also woke up. The little girl got up calmly and walked to her mother’s side. Wang Chunlan took out a comb and tied her daughter’s messy hair into a neat ponytail. The mother and daughter stepped back a few steps and huddled in the corner. The daughter’s eyes were full of confusion, while Wang Chunlan’s eyes showed uncontrollable confusion and anxiety.

Chu Qiang’s family was rescued, which made them happy. But what would happen to them, mother and daughter, afterward? They had lost their car by following Chu Qiang before, and now they had fallen out with their original convoy. With no supplies and no means of transportation, how far could they go?

Wang Chunlan gently stroked her daughter’s hair, her fair face filled with confusion.

Leaving was easy; Jiang Rong could just carry Chu Qiang and Aunt Chu back to the car, and they could return. But before they set off, there were some things to deal with.

Uncle Chu walked up to Wang Chunlan and her daughter after wiping away his tears, hesitating before speaking, “Doctor Wang, we’re going back to our home now.”

Wang Chunlan nodded slowly, a smile squeezing out on her face, “Congratulations.” She and her daughter were homeless; after the Great Crisis, only she and her daughter survived. After Chu Qiang’s family left, they could only rely on each other.

However, Uncle Chu’s next words widened Wang Chunlan’s eyes. He earnestly asked, “What I mean is, would you and your daughter like to go with us?”

After spending time together, Uncle Chu already understood the character of Wang mother and daughter. When the others in the convoy abandoned them and even turned against them, only they stood up to defend themselves. Now that the world was so difficult, those who survived should unite and work together to survive.

Trembling, Chu Qiang’s mother stood up and hugged Jiang Xiaoheng. Her heart’s pressure suddenly eased, and the days of depression dissipated, “Yes, Chunlan, if you don’t mind, stay with us with Lei Lei. Our house is big enough, and there are enough rooms!”

The confusion in Wang Chunlan’s eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by immense joy and gratitude. Her eyes turned red, “Okay, thank you, Uncle Chu, Aunt Chu.” 

After saying this, she kissed her daughter’s forehead, “Lei Lei, we’re going home.”

After packing up a few things, Jiang Rong carried Chu Qiang towards the gate. Chu Qiang, who was swollen, looked tall and big, but Jiang Rong felt that he was much lighter than before.

After days of anxiety and not being able to eat enough, Chu Qiang had lost a lot of weight. Jiang Rong decided that after returning home, he would go to the cold storage and get some meat to help Chu Qiang recover.

Just as they walked out of the gate, Jiang Rong heard the sound of a car alarm. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw someone standing next to his SUV, with the brambles that were originally wrapped around the car scattered all over the ground.

Before Jiang Rong could speak, Uncle Chu shouted angrily, “Bobcat! What are you doing?!”

Bobcat used to be Chu Qiang’s drinking buddy, and after the Great Crisis broke out, he awakened his metal-type ability. He followed Chu Qiang out of C City, and Chu Qiang took care of him all the way. But when Chu Qiang got into trouble, he was the first to betray him.

Hearing Uncle Chu’s shout, Bobcat didn’t even turn his head. “That Chu guy is quite something, actually got someone to save him. But I have to say, this equipment is not bad. With this car and the forklift behind it, we can make it to the N City base easily.”

As a metal-type esper, he didn’t regard wood-type espers highly. What could wood-type users do? Besides growing vegetables, what else? The person who came to rescue Chu Qiang could only summon a few thorny vines. Could those vines be as powerful as his dagger that could cut through iron like mud?

Wang Chunlan was so angry that her face turned red, and she sternly rebuked, “Bobcat, you should have a conscience. How much did Chu Qiang’s family help you before? You’re ungrateful, biting the hand that feeds you!”

Bobcat sneered, “Conscience? What’s the value of a conscience? I can barely survive, let alone care about your life and death?”

As he spoke, Bobcat turned around, his dagger forming a smooth arc in the air. He raised his chin in Jiang Rong’s direction, “Hey, give me the car keys, and I’ll spare your life.”

Jiang Rong was speechless.

Just as Bobcat was speaking, a wave of people appeared beside Jiang Rong’s group. These people were the ones who betrayed Chu Qiang and followed Bobcat. They surrounded Jiang Rong’s group with weapons in hand.

With one hand in his pocket and the other spinning the dagger formed by his ability, Bobcat said, “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and give it to me.”

A follower standing beside Jiang Rong nudged his side with a baseball bat, “Hurry up, or else watch out!”

Seeing Daddy being bullied, how could Jiang Xiaoheng endure it? He grabbed a bottle of soda from his backpack and fiercely smashed it towards the person threatening Jiang Rong, “You villain! How dare you bully my Daddy!”

Jiang Xiaoheng, lacking strength, watched as the soda bottle made an arc in the air and landed nowhere near the intended target.

The air grew eerily quiet as everyone stared at the fallen soda bottle. After a moment, someone shouted, “The kid has supplies on him! Make him hand it over!”

Realizing that these people were targeting Jiang Xiaoheng, Uncle Chu and Aunt Chu embraced each other, forming a protective barrier around the child. “Don’t hurt the child, let’s talk things out!”

Just as the sticks were about to fall on the two elders, the earth trembled. Dozens of thick green thorny vines burst from the ground, kicking up large clouds of yellow dust. With spikes covering their sturdy lengths, they ensnared the people holding weapons. As the vines tightened, the spikes pierced deep into their skin. Crimson blood oozed out, turning the once arrogant individuals into screaming messes.

The leader of the troublemakers, Bobcat, received special treatment. A thick vine wrapped around his ankle and hoisted him upside down. Before he could use his powers to cut the vine, it swung him against the ground twice with loud thuds.

The moment his body hit the ground, the sound of bones breaking echoed. After just two swings, he became a limp mess, his power knife flying out of his hand and disappearing upon hitting the ground.

In an instant, Jiang Rong gained the upper hand, and the tide of battle turned decisively.

The people around Jiang Rong looked bewildered, staring at the struggling individuals ensnared by the vines, unsure of what had just transpired. It took a while for Jiang Xiaoheng to come to his senses. Proudly peeking out from Uncle Chu and Aunt Chu’s embrace, he lifted his little face and declared, “My Daddy is the greatest!”

At that moment, a thin vine gently lifted the fallen soda bottle from the dust, hovering in front of Jiang Xiaoheng. Jiang Rong’s voice rang out, “Xiaoheng, don’t waste food.”

Jiang Xiaoheng happily reached out and took the drink from the vine. “Okay!”

Bobcat’s followers begged and pleaded, “Uncle Chu, we’re sorry. It’s all Bobcat’s fault, he made us do this!” 

“Sorry, we were forced! Please, let us go!”

Jiang Rong didn’t respond to them, simply lifting his head to gaze at Bobcat, who was slowly being hoisted up. Bobcat, unconscious, hung from a lamppost, securely suspended by the vine. After ensuring the vine was secure, Jiang Rong pressed the car key. “Let’s go.”

The white SUV slowly started, its orange forklift logo fading into the distance. Those left behind wailed, unsure if they would live to see the sun rise tomorrow. Jiang Rong’s actions not only deterred those with ill intentions but also excited the Chu family to the extreme.

Having gone through so much, Uncle Chu and the others were exhausted. Soon, they fell into a deep sleep to the soft tunes of the car’s music. Since the road had been cleared on their way here, the journey back home was exceptionally smooth. Jiang Rong focused on the road ahead, occasionally glancing at the exhausted figures huddled in the backseat.

Their car was only meant to carry five people, yet now the backseat was crowded with five. Luckily, his son and Leilei were small enough to fit. Thankfully, there were no traffic police after the Great Crisis; otherwise, even with the overload, he would be in trouble.

As the vehicle steadily moved along the highway, Jiang Rong suddenly heard a hoarse voice, “Xiao Jiang, thank you.”

Turning his head, Jiang Rong saw that Chu Qiang’s eyes were slightly open, tears streaming down his face. “If it weren’t for you, I might not be here. What would I do without you?”

Chu Qiang’s ability to speak indicated an improvement in his condition, putting Jiang Rong’s heart at ease. He handed Chu Qiang a few tissues. “Stop crying, we’re almost home. Everything will be okay once we get home.”

“Snnff—” The sound of Chu Qiang blowing his nose was long and loud.

The white SUV swerved on the mountain road, and Jiang Rong’s disdainful voice came, “Ugh, don’t throw the tissue away inside the car!”

 

 

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