CHAPTER 271: CHAPTER 271: DON’T INSULT MY INTELLIGENCE

"I’ll take one person.." Qingran said, voice clear. "Someone fast. Someone who doesn’t ask questions if I say run."

Ruihuang stepped forward without hesitation. "Then it’s me."

-_-

Immediately, Yu Song frowned. "Hold on. Who decided that? If it’s someone who won’t ask question, then we all quality.."

"Yeah.." Meng Nian chimed in, folding his arms. "You’ve been getting awfully close to her lately. One of us should go instead."

Xu Tianming coughed into his fist to hide a grin. "It’s true. You two have been sticking together a lot lately."

Ruihuang looked smug. "That’s because I’m the most handsome one. Obviously I get picked."

Yu Song gave him a flat look. "This isn’t a date, idiot. And you don’t even have a system. Why would she choose you?"

Meng Nian nodded, arms crossed. "Exactly. We have systems. You don’t. If anything goes wrong..."

"I don’t need a system to survive," Ruihuang said, flashing a grin. "I’ve got instincts. You two have fancy stats. Qingran and I are the perfect duo, she knows that.."

Qingran said nothing for a moment.

Then, calmly, "He’s right."

Yu Song made a noise of protest. "Seriously?"

Ruihuang’s grin widened.

Qingran didn’t look at him as she spoke. "He doesn’t have a system, but he’s fast, adaptable, and more importantly, he’s the only one who doesn’t hesitate when things go sideways. Besides, he’s willing to die for me, you are all are still young, so let them take the fall..."

-_-

-_-

Ruihuang lips twitched "You didn’t have to twist it, but if it’s my life you want..." he stepped closer, making Qingran take a step back.

"Why are you running away? You scared?"

-_-

"Dont make me punch you.."

"Its okay sweetheart, I know you enjoy my company. Aren’t you happy I picked you up that day.."

-_-

-_-

-_-

"What did you do to her? Why did you pick her up..." Meng Nian asked as he readied his fists.

"Dont get so defensive. I was poisoned at the time. Ruihuang was the one who helped me out. Enough of the chitchat, I need to find his location first.

[ouu! Ouu! I can help with that!!! LET ME HELP WITH THAT!]

Meng Nian winced, Qiaoqiao was always so loud.

"Help with what?"

[YOU want to know where that Boran guy is, that Wei guy, he left a decay in his mind, and because of that I can track the source..]

"So you’re saying anything that’s rotting, as long as it has a source. You can find it."

[YES! EASY AS MAKING PIE]

"I should be able to pry his location out of Wei Sheng..but.."

"I can find it. But you’ll have to take me along.."

-_-

Ruihuang hissed lowly "And do you intend to find it?"

"Qiaoqiao can track anything that’s rotting as long as it has a source. And Wei Sheng came from somewhere. I can’t give you the location cause it’s in my mind.."

Qingran sighed, she’d go with whosoever was beneficial for the cause.

"So you’re choosing him?"

-_-

"Don’t be a baby.."

-_-

"Tch. When I get a system, it’s over for you all."

Qingran chuckled and shook her head "I don’t know why y’all do this.." she laughed.

"I’ll take you both then. I still need Ruihuang regardless.."

-_-

"Wow I’m jealous. I wish you’d need me regardless.." Xu Tianming muttered but Qingran only chuckled.

"You’re still young, let Ruihuang who is older...die first.."

-_-

Ruihuang clutched his chest dramatically. "Die first? At least give me a kiss goodbye before sending me off to the wolves."

Qingran snorted. "You’re not dying."

"You sure? Because this sounds like the part in the story where the hot, selfless guy sacrifices himself for the greater good."

Yu Song rubbed his temples. "You’re not hot, and you’re definitely not selfless."

Ruihuang raised a finger. "Correction—I’m both. Qingran just won’t admit it in front of you jealous bastards."

Qiaoqiao piped in again, chipper and bright in Meng Nian’s mind:

[This guy talks too much! Can I kick him just once? Just once?]

Meng Nian bit down a grin. "Qiaoqiao says you talk too much."

"I do talk too much," Ruihuang agreed smoothly. "It keeps the nerves away."

"Are you nervous?" Qingran asked.

He gave her a quick glance, and for a moment, he didn’t joke. "No. Just focused."

She nodded.

Meng Nian let out a slow breath. "Alright then. I’ll prep with Qiaoqiao. If the decay trail leads somewhere tangible, we’ll be the first to know."

[It will, it will! I’m never wrong about rot!] Qiaoqiao declared, pride bursting through every word.

"Please stop sounding excited about decay.." Meng Nian muttered.

Xu Tianming stretched his arms behind his head. "Guess we’ll hold the fort here and keep watch on our sleeping beauty."

Qingran nodded "We’ll be back as soon as we can, hopefully within a day or two.."

Boran was a lunatic, she knew he wouldn’t let her go that easily.

****************

Boran stood over Wei Sheng’s body, arms crossed, jaw tight.

The man was barely conscious. His chest rose in shallow jerks. His lips had gone bluish-gray.

The veins in his neck stood out beneath skin that was almost translucent now.

Severe blood loss, he didn’t even need to be a doctor to diagnose that.

Boran didn’t have to check his pulse to know it was weak.

"Moli, I told you tone the fuck down.." he said.

Moli sat cross-legged on the floor near the wall, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

She looked up at him, her eyes sharp and wild, like she wasn’t sure if she was in trouble or amused.

"I barely touched him..." she said.

"Don’t insult my intelligence."

She shrugged. "I was careful. You said not to kill him, right? He’s still breathing."

-_-

Boran walked closer, moving with an expression Moli had never seen before.

"Just because we fuck from time to time, doesn’t give you the right to walk over him. I’m not going to warn you again Moli. Don’t screw my plans.."

She smiled, just as crazy as the man before her.

"Why? So you can run back to Qingran? You’d do anything just to be by her side again. But she would never be with the man who stabbed her in the back.."