4: Chapter 3: Bandit Energy!
4: Chapter 3: Bandit Energy!
I had heard about the ruthless and cunning refugees in the Wasteland who would do anything to survive, but this boy…
Anyway, he was her savior and no matter what, she owed him a huge favor.
“It seems it’s too late,” Phoenix looked at Tang Fei, sincerely explaining, “I can hardly feel most of my body…”
“Oh, that’s the effect of the Snake Skin Tree sap.
It not only has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties but also numbs the nerves and helps heal wounds…”
Phoenix looked at Tang Fei’s swollen, purplish-red lips, nodded slightly, and said, “Thank you.
I will repay you.”
“Why ntion this?
I didn’t think of all that when I saved you…” Tang Fei waved his hand carelessly and said, “But, if you have extra flying cars or arms and ammunition at ho…”
Tang Fei looked embarrassed; his subsequent words seed hard for him to articulate.
“Understood,” Phoenix nodded and said, “When I return to New Star, I’ll have soone send you a flying car and three electromagnetic pulse guns…”
“That would be most appreciated,” Tang Fei extended his right hand warmly, shaking Phoenix’s small hand, grinning, “I was just speaking offhand; I don’t really need those things…”
“When I saved you, I had only one thought in mind: this is a living soul, I can’t let her be left in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts or gnawed down to bones by the man-eating ants…”
“It would be even worse if you fell into the hands of the predators; that’s truly a living death…
I can assure you, you would have preferred not to escape from the Great Tomb…”
“Add a ton of living supplies,” Phoenix spoke up.
“Oh my, you are too polite,” Tang Fei, struggling to contain his smile, said, “How do you feel now?
Is there any discomfort?
If there’s pain anywhere, I can chew so more Snake Skin Tree leaves for you…”
“Other than feeling weak and feeble…”
“That’s fine, you’ll get better after so rest.” Tang Fei comforted, “Are you hungry?
Thirsty?
I see your mouth is a bit dry…
I’ll go get you so water.”
“Okay, thank you,” Phoenix said.
Since you saw my dry lips, why didn’t you give water to drink?
My throat is almost smoking…
Of course, she wouldn’t voice such thoughts that could disturb their harmonious and friendly atmosphere.
Right now, she was as weak as a chicken, barely able to stand up.
She had fallen into a refugee area in the Wasteland and knew nothing about this boy, not his background or past deeds…
Or what he might possibly do.
No matter what, she couldn’t afford to anger him at this ti and had to show as much gratitude and honesty as possible.
Well, she shouldn’t show too much gratitude either to keep him from guessing her real identity…
That would raise another troubleso issue.
The urgency now was to first ensure her safety, then quickly recover her strength, and establish contact with New Star, having them swiftly send soone to take her back…
She’d deal with the owed debts bit by bit once she returned.
Blood debts must be repaid with blood.
Soon, Tang Fei ca over carrying a large bowl of water.
Of course, this had nothing to do with flying cars, pulse guns, or a ton of supplies…
Phoenix wanted to sit up to drink, but found she couldn’t move her body at all.
Tang Fei saw her predicant and said, “No problem, you just lie down, and I’ll feed you…”
As he spoke, he had already taken a copper spoon from his pocket.
Clearly, he was well prepared.
Phoenix glanced at the surface of the spoon, held back the urge to insist on it being cleaned and disinfected.
There’s an old saying in Blue Star, ‘When in Ro, do as the Romans do.’ Since she was stranded in the Wasteland, nothing was more important than staying alive.
Tang Fei didn’t know what she was thinking.
For those living in the Wasteland, water safe to drink was already a luxury; sotis, they would lay down and stretch their mouths into a river or catch stream water falling from mountain crevices with their faces…
Utensils were never a concern.
Even the absence of utensils was not a problem.
Tang Fei scooped water with the spoon, feeding Phoenix one spoonful at a ti; her dry, peeling lips soaked in the nourishnt and started to look moist and lustrous.
Strangely, her cheeks flushed more and more.
“Feeling shy?” Tang Fei thought to himself.
“Understandable, having soone watch you this closely…
What woman could stand it?”
“Are you alright?” Tang Fei asked.
“I’m fine…” Phoenix swallowed another mouthful of water and glanced timidly at Tang Fei, “Can you slow down a bit…
you’re feeding too fast, and I’m choking…”
She was extra cautious, not wanting to provoke any trouble from these refugees of the Wasteland, even making such a simple and reasonable request was done carefully.
“….”
Tang Fei felt strangely annoyed.
My heart races when I look at your face; you worry about such trivial issues as choking when you look at mine?
“Your throat is too shallow.”
Tang Fei decided to shift the bla to Phoenix, as evading responsibility was also an essential survival skill in the Wasteland.
“You need more practice.
The more you drink, and the faster you swallow, the deeper and wider your throat will get.”
“…..”
Despite his harsh words, Tang Fei’s actions softened quite a bit as he finished feeding her the bowl of water and then looked at Phoenix, “Would you like to eat sothing?”
Phoenix shook her head, “No need, for now…
I’m not hungry yet.”
She didn’t want to make too many demands while they were still unfamiliar with each other and before a basic trust had been established; she would try to minimize the burden on others and any negative impressions.
Staying alive, there was nothing more important than surviving.
Of course, how wonderful it would have been to have a steaming bowl of Snow Beef Noodles.
Thinking of Snow Beef Noodles, Phoenix couldn’t help but swallow her saliva.
“What’s your na?” Phoenix didn’t want to think about Snow Beef Noodles with braised pork, spicy turkey claws, and dried sea cucumber, so she initiated a conversation with Tang Fei.
“Tang Fei.” Tang Fei spoke out.
“The ‘Tang’ of Tang dynasty ancestors…”
“That must be the ‘Fei’ as in an honorable thief, ticulously sculpting and polishing?” Phoenix picked up the conversation.
Tang Fei gave her a aningful glance and said, “No, the ‘Fei’ of bandit-like.”
“….”
Phoenix was slightly shocked internally; had this guy seen through her act?
Impossible, right?
He was so young and lived in this treacherous wasteland; how could he have such deep thoughts?
“How could parents give their child such a strange na?” Phoenix asked casually, trying to appear curious, careful not to show any anomaly.
“They said it was because I was too handso when I was born.
They worried I’d be bullied as I grew up, so they gave this na…
They hoped that I would act tough so others would fear and wouldn’t dare to bully .”
“Indeed…” Phoenix paused montarily, then said in praise, “What thoughtful and far-sighted parents.”
“Yes.” Tang Fei nodded, adding, “Unfortunately, they both died.”
“Died?” Phoenix, thinking of the boy’s harsh living conditions, offered her condolences, “I’m really sorry…”
“Did you do it?”
“Ah?
No, not , I didn’t even know them…” Phoenix quickly denied.
Just kidding, she wouldn’t dare take on such a huge bla.
Otherwise, this guy might just slaughter her as if she were prey.
In the wasteland, there were no laws, let alone any virtues.
“Then what do you have to be sorry about?” Tang Fei asked indifferently, shrugging his shoulders.
“I was just…
expressing my regret.”
“Do all people from New Star behave as hypocritically as you?” Tang Fei stared at Phoenix, asking, “Apologizing and showing regret for soone you’ve never even t…
Do you always talk like this?”
“….”
Phoenix’s chest swelled with anger.
It took her a great effort to suppress her anger, patiently explaining to Tang Fei, “Because you are my lifesaver, I am genuinely saddened to hear about the loss of your parents…”
She looked earnestly at Tang Fei and continued, “I know, in such an environnt, life must be incredibly hard without parents by your side…”
Tang Fei stared into Phoenix’s eyes for a while before nodding, “It is indeed not easy.
So, don’t lie to again.”
“Why would I lie to you?
You are my lifesaver, soone I’m grateful to for life…”
“Earlier you tried to label under the ‘noble’ sign.
You know, in the ruins above, a gentleman can’t survive.” Tang Fei smiled brightly, but his tone was utterly serious.
“I understand.” Phoenix found it eerie how much scarier his smile seed compared to his expressionless face.
“I’m sorry, it was my mistake…
I was just worried…
worried that you might harm .”
“If I acted as a gentleman, observing noble etiquette…
Would my situation be safer?”
“How could it be?” Tang Fei waved his hand dismissively.
“What benefit would harming you bring ?
None, right.
Though so people in the wasteland have their quirks, neither I nor my family have them…”
“Besides, I trust your character.
You promised to gift a Flying Car Pulse Gun and a ton of supplies…
You’ll keep your word, won’t you?”
“Yes,” Phoenix nodded firmly.
She finally understood the aning behind Tang Fei’s words; there was no relationship between them, only transactions.
Before any greater benefit tempted her, she was absolutely safe and thus there was no need to say inappropriate things or do thankless tasks.
After all, no one likes to be manipulated.
Yes, she needed to reassess this man’s intelligence.
And his danger level.
(P.S.: Thanks to lbourne’s Silver Cutie and the beautiful Operations Officer who had been a lot of help and support to Lao Liu.
Thanks to Brother Ash, Silver Cutie.
The na made think he was a brutish, lancholic hunk who had been heartbroken hundreds of tis, but eting him, he turned out quite gentle and handso, which greatly challenged my standing in the world of looks.
Fortunately, I held my ground.
Thanks to the quiet handso man for becoming our chief fan, a comnt in the book review area about him I felt was particularly apt: the quiet is fake, the handso is fake, but the love for Lao Liu is real.
Thanks to emonofu for being our long-ti supporter, an old friend who’s always been there, never absent.
Thanks to Ming for Dreams for being our chief fan, a young girl I’ve seen grow up.
Thanks to Listening to the Wind, Luo Ye, for becoming our chief fan.
I chatted with her as if she was a brother for a long ti until I suddenly saw a post in her social dia…
and only then did I realize she was also a girl.
Thanks to Sui Erxiao for being our chief fan, also an old friend for many years; youthful but everything else is great.
New book, new author, thanks to all friends, old and new, for your consistent support.)
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