The First Order

For the time being, the group was unable to set off because they were waiting for the replacement officer from the stronghold’s private army.

A spontaneous decision like replacing an officer, even if it was just a low-ranking one, was enough to show what kind of influence Luo Xinyu had in the stronghold. It was just that Ren Xiaosu had also noticed the girl with the cap surreptitiously nodding at Luo Xinyu.

Just who was this cap-wearing girl?

Ren Xiaosu suddenly said, “We’re going to be a team, but I still don’t know what your names are.”

A band member sneered, “We’re no teammates with a refugee. You’re only a guide, so don’t act like you’re close with us.”

Ren Xiaosu scrutinized this band member as he was seriously considering whether there would be a suitable place to kill him along the way.

There was a clear contrast between the refugees in town and the residents of the stronghold. Compared to the fair and refined people in the stronghold, the dirtiness and barbaric behavior of the townspeople were quite evident. But there was an even more essential difference between the two.

Their attitude towards life.

How did Ren Xiaosu survive all this while? And how did these people live their life in comfort in the stronghold? The environment would greatly influence the development of a person: their thinking, their character, etc.

At this moment, an officer came out of the stronghold and headed straight to the clinic. When he appeared in front of everyone, he spoke, “I’m Second Lieutenant Xu Xianchu of the Field Service Division.”

It was not until this moment that everyone started introducing themselves. However, Ren Xiaosu did not bother remembering any of their names as he continued staring at the band member who’d mocked him.

He heard the band member introducing himself as, “I’m Ms. Luo Xinyu’s agent. My name is Liu Bu.”

Ren Xiaosu took note of Liu Bu’s name and jotted it into his memory.

Suddenly, the cap-wearing girl said, “I’m Yang Xiaojin ¹ .”

Ren Xiaosu was taken aback. So this girl was named Yang Xiaojin. For some reason, Ren Xiaosu felt that this name sounded very pleasant.

Importantly, the town’s refugees and the people from the stronghold also had another difference, their names.

Look at the names of the people from the stronghold. Xu Xianchu, Liu Bu, Luo Xinyu, Wang Congyang, Yang Xiaojin, etc.

And then look at the names of the refugees in town. Wang Fugui, Wang Dalong, Li Facai, Li Youqian, etc.

The names of the townspeople sounded way too crude ¹ !

But with this, Ren Xiaosu got an understanding of what the duties of those in the team were. As Luo Xinyu’s agent, Liu Bu was the person who was in charge of the band’s overall affairs. Things like the distribution of daily necessities and other administrative matters were all in his care.

Five off-road vehicles and a pickup truck were dispatched this time, and the trunks were filled with all of their daily essentials.

Meanwhile, Xu Xianchu was responsible for the management of the convoy and ensuring the safety of the group.

Ren Xiaosu had thought that Yang Xiaojin would have some responsibilities as well. However, after listening to all of the introductions, he realized that she was apparently detached from the team, with no responsibilities to oversee.

According to Luo Xinyu’s introduction to Xu Xianchu, Yang Xiaojin was a friend of hers, and she was only following them to Stronghold 112 for an excursion.

At that moment, Ren Xiaosu was tempted to say, “Like hell I’d believe that!”

After the introductions finished up, everyone boarded their assigned vehicles. There were a total of 20 people going on this expedition, including Ren Xiaosu.

But when Ren Xiaosu was about to get into the vehicle, Liu Bu suddenly said, “Don’t sit in the vehicle since you’re so dirty. Go sit in the bed of the pickup.”

Ren Xiaosu did not argue with him. After all, was it necessary to take it up with someone who was essentially dead?

Ren Xiaosu sat in the cargo bed of the pickup and listened to the loud droning of the vehicle’s engine as the town slowly disappeared from his view.

At the moment of departure, Ren Xiaosu still had some unwillingness in his heart. No matter how dirty and crappy this town was, he still called the place home all these years.

Just as Ren Xiaosu was getting a little emotional, he heard cheering erupt. “Ren Xiaosu is leaving at last!”

“We’re free now!”

“Hahaha, our days of suffering are finally over!”

Ren Xiaosu turned around speechlessly and looked. He was surprised to see Li Youqian and Wang Dalong leading a group of students from the school in celebration as they high fived each other.

The other townspeople did not feel much. While Ren Xiaosu was the only doctor in town, it wouldn’t really make a difference in their lives even after he left.

But it was different for the students. They knew that their lives would definitely get better after today!

In this moment, they forgot the fear of being dominated by Ren Xiaosu.

A middle-aged man dashed out of the crowd. It was Li Youqian’s father, Li Facai.

Li Facai dragged his strapping daughter back home. “Do you not want to live anymore?”

Li Youqian wondered, “What are you afraid of, Dad? Ren Xiaosu is already gone!”

Li Facai griped, “But he’ll be back!”

“What if he doesn’t make it back?” Li Youqian argued, “Don’t they all say it’s very dangerous in the wilderness?”

“What do you know?” Li Facai’s grip tightened even further as he squeezed her hand. “Even if all of the others perish, he would still make it back alive! And don’t you be wishing death unto other people in the future, ya hear?”

By saying that Ren Xiaosu might not make it back, Li Youqian was implying that he would die in the wilderness.

In reality, the townspeople were numb to such life and death events. It was quite normal for them to experience death in their daily lives.

But if such a menacing seed of thought were planted in a child, no one would know what sort of fruit it would bear in the future.

Luo Xinyu and the others who were in the off-road vehicles also heard the cheering. They rolled down their windows and looked back to see what was going on. Although they did not know what hatred those people had for Ren Xiaosu, they knew that they were celebrating his departure from town.

Liu Bu was sitting in the front passenger seat and muttered, “How unpopular does he have to be for them to celebrate his departure….”

In the backseats, Luo Xinyu laughed and said, “When we get back, we should make a proper inquiry into this guy. I want to know exactly what he’s done in this town.”

“Why would you want to find out more about him, Xinyu?” Liu Bu scorned. “He’s just a punk kid from the hamlet. If we weren’t looking for a guide, would he have any chance of interacting with people like us? This is a blessing that he earned through his previous life, but he doesn’t cherish it.”

Only Yang Xiaojin remained silent as she sat in the vehicle. She seemed to be thinking about something.

…

At the school gate, Xiaoyu was holding onto the bars of the fence as she looked at the end of the road leading out of town. She watched Ren Xiaosu and those vehicles turn into tiny black dots in the distance.

She turned around and went into the backyard of the school to wet a towel with some water. Then she walked into the school and wiped Yan Liuyuan’s forehead with it. He had become unconscious after coming down with a sudden fever.

Mr. Zhang went to Old Wang’s grocery store to buy some anti-fever medication while Xiaoyu stayed by Yan Liuyuan’s side to take care of him.

At this moment, Yan Liuyuan was groaning, and it seemed like he was having a bad dream. Xiaoyu gently put her hand on Yan Liuyuan’s forehead and whispered, “Don’t worry, Liuyuan, he’ll definitely make it back.”