Chapter 162: The Underlying Currents Never Cease
Page 1/3
When Joe Papaya heard Liu Bin say they would conduct a round of questioning on the way back, he hesitated for a moment. But in the end, he agreed. Because when he learned that Liu Bin’s entire team had been blown to bits, he couldn’t help but show a horrified expression. "If I’m blamed for being late with the support, who do I go to for justice?" Seeing the murderous anger in Liu Bin’s eyes, he had no choice but to compromise. "Anyway, if you have questions, ask them now. Once everyone’s delivered, it’s no longer my business." Joe Papaya comforted himself with these thoughts afterward.
Before Old Yu was shackled, he used the last of his inner aura to dissolve the frost on his shoulder. The tough guy was indeed tough—the older, the better! Yet the frostbite remained severe, the skin beneath his clothes turning purple-black, and his usually resolute face looked somewhat haggard.
Liu Bin’s tone was icy as he turned to Granny Wan Jun again and asked, “How exactly did my truck explode?”
“I don’t know!” she replied.
“Do you have other accomplices?”
“It was just him and me making the trade. The young folks in the village are all sick.”
“Then do you know what the convoy was transporting?”
“I really don’t know! I only know there were medicines I needed.”
“Why are you so sure?”
“We have a token.”
“And where is this token?”
Granny Wan Jun couldn’t answer; the other half of the note was in Abang’s hands. Since Abang and the other villagers weren’t among those captured, they likely escaped unharmed. This was the only thing Granny Wan Jun could be grateful for, and she wouldn’t be foolish enough to direct Liu Bin’s wrath toward her own village.
Liu Bin sneered and continued questioning, “Why would Baidi attack you?”
“I don’t know, but our two villages have always been at odds. He’s always wanted to absorb my village under his control, but we never gave in.”
Liu Bin coldly pressed again, “Why did that old man beside you approach us in the end?”
Old Yu weakly answered, “I wanted to join forces with you against the enemy.”
Liu Bin was stunned—after countless interrogations, he had never seen any sign of lying from their expressions. Could it be that he had misjudged?
Granny Wan Jun was also extremely weak at this moment, her voice pleading: “Please, really believe us. We were only buying medicine. Nothing else has anything to do with us.”
Page 2/3
“My villagers really need this batch of medicine!”
Liu Bin had already asked many questions, but none gave him the answers he wanted; he was growing impatient. According to Granny Wan Jun, the three escaped elemental awakeners and the armed wildlings were from a different village. She and Old Yu only appeared to trade medicine, ordered previously through the black market by their villagers.
As for why Baidi’s group would brutally attack the convoy, Granny Wan Jun claimed Baidi was part of a radical faction, harboring hatred toward the capital’s people.
Liu Bin did find the so-called trade items in the SUV’s trunk, but none of this eased his suspicion or resentment.
On one hand, he felt the wildlings were plotting something. On the other, thinking of his entire team perishing, he gritted his teeth and swore to avenge his brothers one day.
…
Inside the carriage where the little cutie was, scattered clothes had been neatly rehung, and shoe boxes restacked tidily. She lay in a warm quilt, her pale instep curling slightly.
She felt a bit cold.
She quickly pulled her exposed feet back under the covers, her large eyes staring fixedly at the ceiling, blinking as a single tear silently slipped down.
She couldn’t sleep…
Bao Juan, sleeping on a nearby bed, with a round freckled face and a peaceful expression, was sound asleep.
“Bao Juan? Bao Juan?” the little cutie whispered twice, but no one answered.
Since the little cutie saw her family vehicle explode into a fireball on surveillance footage that day, she had been gloomy and withdrawn, no longer lively as before.
“Bao Juan, are you asleep?”
A drowsy “Mm!” was the only response.
“All of Captain Liu’s teammates died, it’s all my fault! I feel so awful, Bao Juan!”
Startled, Bao Juan sat up, drool trickling from the corner of her mouth; she wiped it away only to see the little cutie turn over, facing away from her.
…
A convoy departed from the outer city patrol headquarters, roaring down the streets, kicking up clouds of dust as it passed through the city gates.
The sleepy old gatekeeper, wrapped in a heavily patched coat, mumbled, “Why such a big commotion again?”
After seeing the convoy off, he rubbed his cold hands on his old hunting rifle and shuffled back to his room.
This was Ye Chen’s first time riding in a vehicle, and his first entry into the wilderness by car.
Page 3/3
Though the ride was bumpy, his heart fluttered with excitement.
Stars dotted the sky like scattered gems; distant mountain peaks still reflected patches of snowlight.
The night wind was icy and biting, yet invigorating.
Inside the carriage, it was dark and dim.
Yet everyone’s faces were brightly illuminated by the white glow of their communicators.
The mission briefing was posted in the group chat.
Ye Chen, Chen Bingfeng, and Xu Fan sat side by side.
Chen Bingfeng repeated, “This mission is to escort a convoy from the black market back to the inner city.”
“That’s it? Just an escort? Why such a big operation?” Xu Fan shifted uncomfortably, regretting not bringing a cushion, and complained, “What’s so valuable we’re guarding, anyway? It’s the middle of the night, messing with my beauty sleep.” Then he rubbed his rough skin.
“It is strange. Usually, one team is enough. This time, they sent three. Why is Captain Lu taking this so seriously?” Chen Bingfeng was puzzled as well.
Watching the two bicker, Ye Chen interjected, “The black market? Why are we going to the black market?”
He knew about the black market’s existence; even Chen’s mother had mentioned it secretly before. The ammunition for Xu Mo Yu’s gun had been secretly acquired there as well.
Xu Fan suddenly brightened, eager to explain, “Heh heh, you don’t get it. The black market is a great place, very cost-effective.”
Ye Chen had a feeling Xu Fan was about to say something inappropriate.
Xu Fan savored the thought, slowly describing, “The ladies there are wild and cheap, every style you can think of, tsk tsk… that feeling! Last time I went…”
As expected, better not ask.
Smack!
A sharp slap.
“Shut up, we’re in the vehicle!” Chen Bingfeng turned to Ye Chen and explained, “Let me explain it to you. If you listen to him, you’ll end up useless!”