Chapter 35: The Adorable Little Coal Ball-Apocalipse de Desastres Naturais: Estoquei Bilhões em Suprimentos e Venci Facilmente(Diversão de Peixes de Laranja e Toranja)

Ji Qingwan screamed as she was dragged into a tent by a group of men with lewd smiles. The four people hiding behind watched the scene unfold; Shang Xingbing looked pained but said nothing. He knew how much Li Wangcheng valued Fang Yun, and if anything had happened to her like what befell Ma Zhen, Ma Qibo and his entire camp would likely be wiped off the face of the earth. Judging by the conversation between the two women earlier, it was clear that the woman who had first suggested the scheme was the one now being dragged away. Somewhere along the way, things had gone wrong, turning into a farce. It was a case of lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own feet—a fitting end for someone who brought this upon herself.

Satisfied with the punishment inflicted on Ji Qingwan, Ma Zhen’s mood improved considerably. She soon left with her group, leaving Xiao Qing lying on the ground, her survival uncertain. Once they were far enough away, Fang Yun and the others rushed over to her. Up close, it was clear just how brutal Ma Zhen had been. Xiao Qing’s already thin, inadequate clothing had been shredded by a whip, revealing the skin beneath. There were rows of purple welts, some broken and bleeding—a truly horrifying sight.

"Xiao Qing? Xiao Qing!" Fang Yun lifted her carefully, calling her name in a low, anxious voice. Touching her small face, she felt an unusual heat; she couldn't tell if it was from the cold turning into a fever or a result of the beating. Regardless, she had to get her out of there to provide medical care. Just as she prepared to carry her away, perhaps sensing warmth, Xiao Qing stirred and opened her eyes.

"Big sister?" Xiao Qing murmured, thinking she was dreaming.

"Xiao Qing, you’re awake? Don't be afraid, I’m going to take you out of here." Hearing the faint voice, Fang Yun looked down into the girl's eyes, feeling a surge of relief.

"Really?" A spark of hope ignited in Xiao Qing’s eyes as she looked up at her.

"Really," Fang Yun nodded firmly. "I wouldn't lie to you. We’re leaving now. How about you come live with me from now on?"

"Okay!" Xiao Qing agreed happily, but then, as if remembering something, she began to struggle in a panic.

"What is it, Xiao Qing?" Fang Yun asked, confused by her sudden movement.

"Coalball, Coalball is still in the tent. Big sister, can we take Coalball with us?"

Fang Yun immediately remembered the little black cat Xiao Qing had been raising. In her previous life, the cat had been well-cared for until someone discovered it, stole it under the cover of darkness, and ate it. Xiao Qing had cried for a long time, unable to mention her "Coalball" without breaking into tears. Thinking back to when she and Xiao Qing had reached the cliff edge, it was that very black cat that had helped lure the guards away. She hadn't been able to save it in her past life, but she hadn't expected to encounter it so early this time.

"Don't worry, we'll take Coalball with us!" Fang Yun promised. After calming the girl, she handed her over to Shang Xingbing, instructing him to take her and leave first while she went to find the cat. The situation was chaotic; there was no guarantee the cat was still in the tent, and Ma Qibo could return at any moment. If they stayed together, they were unlikely to escape, so splitting up was the best option.

Shang Xingbing was clearly reluctant, as Li Wangcheng insisted on staying with Fang Yun regardless of her protests. It wasn't until Li Wangcheng gave him a direct order that he finally turned back, looking over his shoulder every few steps as he followed the old man along the path. Once they were out of sight, silence fell around the pair, save for the sounds of shouting and commotion drifting from a nearby tent. Fang Yun looked back and realized it was the tent where Ji Qingwan had been dragged. Her expression darkened at the thought of what the woman was enduring. She had experienced similar horrors more than once in her past life, and even after her rebirth, the nausea and humiliation remained etched in her memory.

"What's wrong?" Seeing her face, Li Wangcheng asked. She snapped out of her painful memories, looked at him in a trance, and shook her head, though her gaze drifted back to the tent. Seeing this, Li Wangcheng’s expression hardened. He squeezed her hand and said, "Wait here," before striding toward the tent. Without a moment's hesitation, he pulled back the curtain, drew his gun, and fired several clean, decisive shots into the darkness.

The gunfire startled the others in the camp. Fang Yun watched his back, her heart racing. After firing, he checked the tent to ensure there were no other survivors besides Ji Qingwan, then returned quickly to Fang Yun, grabbed her hand, and led her away at a run. She was familiar with the layout of Ma Qibo’s camp and hadn't forgotten the tent where she had found Xiao Qing. She took advantage of the chaos to navigate back to it.

She pushed aside the curtain and called out, "Coalball," in a low voice. She waited for a long time, but there was no response. Just as she was about to turn away, thinking the cat wasn't there and wondering how she would find it in such a chaotic camp, a pile of debris in the corner shifted. Fang Yun looked back and met a pair of amber eyes.

"Coalball!" she whispered with delight, squatting down and extending a hand. Sensing Xiao Qing’s scent on her, the cat tentatively stepped forward, sniffing the air. A gust of wind blew, and the kitten flinched, preparing to retreat. Fang Yun felt a pang of heartache. She quickly opened her jacket and said, "Coalball, come here. I’m taking you to Xiao Qing." Whether it was the name or the habit of hiding in clothes, the cat looked at her for a moment before trotting over. It hesitated at her chest, tested the air with a paw, and then, satisfied, crawled inside.

Fang Yun smiled at the sight. She stood up, carefully cradling the lump in her jacket, and asked Li Wangcheng to help her fasten it. He had already instinctively stepped forward to adjust her coat, ensuring both she and the cat would stay warm, before stepping back with a satisfied nod.

"Alright, we need to move. Ji Qingwan saw me; I’m not sure if she’ll tell Ma Qibo’s men I’m here." It was a certainty that she would. She would tell Ma Zhen in hopes of ending her own torture. Sure enough, when they tried to return the way they came, they found the path blocked. If they wanted to take the shortcut, they would have to pass the camp gate, which was now heavily guarded and patrolled by Ma Zhen’s men. Not even a stray hair would be able to slip past them.