Chapter 135 – Despair in the Apocalypse

Chapter 135 – Despair in the Apocalypse

“Wait here below. I’ll go up and check,” Cheng Yang said immediately. He couldn’t let Niu Bing and the others go up since he wasn’t sure what was happening above.

Without waiting for their objections, Cheng Yang gripped an iron sword and leaped upwards with tremendous force, reaching over four meters high. He thrust the sword into the stone wall, suspending himself mid-air.

After stabilizing his position, Cheng Yang swung forward and propelled himself towards the massive boulder overhead. The distance posed no significant challenge for him. Grabbing the edge of the boulder, he effortlessly pulled himself up.

Upon reaching the top, Cheng Yang was hit by a foul stench. Despite his extensive experience, the odor was still overwhelming. He surveyed the scene and frowned. On the roughly ten-square-meter platform, there were three people.

One was already dead, her body decomposing. The stench emanated from her decaying flesh. From what remained of her head, Cheng Yang could tell she was an elderly woman in her sixties.

Beside her lay a middle-aged man in his thirties. The putrid fluids from the old woman’s corpse had seeped beneath him. His dull eyes stared blankly at the sky, and only the occasional rise and fall of his chest indicated he was still alive.

The third person was a bit further away, leaning against the stone wall. She was a young girl, around eleven or twelve years old. The cries for help had come from her.

Cheng Yang approached the girl, helping her up. He retrieved a large pot of porridge from his storage ring, poured a bowl, and brought it to her lips.

The girl, pale and malnourished, hesitated before speaking weakly, “Save… save my dad.” She pointed feebly towards the man on the ground.

Cheng Yang spoke softly, “Your father has given up on living. Only you can convince him to hold on. Drink this porridge first. You need strength.”

The girl looked at Cheng Yang, then took the bowl with trembling hands and quickly drank it.

After a while, her strength returned slightly, and she struggled to crawl towards her father. Cheng Yang sighed, picked her up, and carried her to her father’s side.

“Dad… Dad…” the girl called out weakly but urgently, “Get up! Don’t leave Lingling alone! Wuwu…”

The man’s eyelids flickered at her voice. Slowly, he turned his head to look at his daughter. His eyes then fell on Cheng Yang, and a glimmer of hope appeared.

“Lingling… Dad… Dad can’t go on… I’m going to see… your grandma…” he said haltingly.

“No… I don’t believe it…” The girl shook her head frantically, refusing to accept his words.

Tears rolled down the man’s dry cheeks. He sighed deeply and said to Cheng Yang, “Sir… please… take care of Lingling… In my next life…”

Cheng Yang cut him off, “Your daughter is your responsibility. If you want to escape through death, you have no right to ask anything of me.”

The man’s eyes regained some life. He sighed, “This world… can we still survive?”

“If you’re willing, you can survive,” Cheng Yang replied firmly.

The man looked at Cheng Yang, as if trying to discern the truth in his words, and finally nodded.

Cheng Yang produced another bowl of porridge and fed it to the man. Seeing her father eat, the girl smiled through her tears, knowing he would live.

“Old Niu, Xi Yue, wait a bit longer. Everything’s fine up here,” Cheng Yang called down to reassure his companions.

As the man recovered, Cheng Yang learned more from the girl and the man’s occasional additions. The family had been farmers running a small shop. During the apocalyptic earthquake, the ground had shifted dramatically, thrusting them onto this high platform.

They had witnessed neighbors being devoured by demonic beasts, which had terrified them into staying put. Their supplies had lasted a week, but despair had set in. The grandmother had sacrificed herself to save food for her son and granddaughter.

Cheng Yang now knew their names: the father was Chu Qiang, and the daughter was Chu Yiling. He pondered how to help them. Taking them to Yicheng would slow him down and expose them to danger. Returning them to Luofeng Village would also be time-consuming.

After some thought, Cheng Yang said, “Chu Qiang, stay here with your daughter. I’ll leave some food. We’ll come back for you tonight.”

Chu Qiang’s face fell, but he remained silent. The girl, however, clung to Cheng Yang, pleading, “Uncle, please don’t leave Lingling here.”

Cheng Yang sighed, “It’s not that I don’t want to take you, but the journey is too dangerous. You’re safer here.”

Chu Qiang said, “Thank you, sir. I have some strength…”

Cheng Yang shook his head, “The world has changed. Your strength won’t help.” He conjured an ice ball at the tip of his staff and launched it at the stone wall, blasting a large hole.

The father and daughter stared in awe. Cheng Yang left some food on the platform and leaped down. By the time they recovered, Cheng Yang and his companions were already far away.

“Dad, will that uncle come back to save us?” the girl asked anxiously.

Chu Qiang nodded firmly, “He will. He’s a hero. He won’t abandon you.”

The girl’s eyes sparkled, “He was so amazing with that ice ball. Dad, do you think he can help me find Mom when he comes back?”

“Mom has gone to a faraway place. We’ll see her again,” Chu Qiang said, tears welling up but hidden from his daughter.

The girl, though young, understood the gravity of their situation. “Okay, Lingling will wait for Mom to come back.”

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