Chapter 25—To kill or not to kill

by Bocchan13

In an instant, Song Yu took the time that the man was stunned to cut down the tree, angling it in a way that separated them from each other. Song Yu would not show any of his ability, instead reaching for his lethal dagger.

“Leave.” He didn’t care if it was a human or zombie. Anyone encroaching on his mountain was better off dead. He would give them a chance, but if they were looking for a hero, they came to the wrong place.

“D-do you remember me? We met a few weeks ago in the prairie? You helped my friend.”

Song did recall him fighting with his strength ability and lessened his killing intent but still held the dagger in front of him, its blade pointing to Yu Ci.

“If you don’t leave in 1 minute…I will kill you.” Yu Ci’s wariness went into overdrive as he felt a shiver overcome him. As a strength ability user, he wasn’t necessarily afraid of others because of his level and ability to strengthen not only his body but objects. But strong only relinquished to the strong. And he felt that despite his pretty face and lithe figure, this person was potentially as deadly as his boss.

“I don’t mean any harm. I just need directions out of the forest. I have a walkie talkie with me; my friends will find me soon.”

Hearing that the group had split up made Song Yu frown. Any number of them could find his hideout, and if he killed him they were sure to look for him. Death didn’t make problems go away.

Song Yu debated whether to help him. But if he was reunited with his friends…would they find his hideout? He couldn’t trust Lan Zhou at this point. Even if he liked him, his safe haven was at stake.

Many rash decisions raced in his mind. Kill him or not? Let him go and let them just wander into his home? No chance. The more he thought, the longer he was silent, allowing Yu Ci to get a full view of the person. Yu Ci’s heart beat quickened as he helplessly glimpsed at this warrior forest fairy.

“I’ll escort you out. You should not be here.”

Song Yu’s thought was, have him reunite with his friends and watch as they left the area. That would keep his paradise a secret give him peace of mind that they were really gone if he saw it with his own eyes.

Yu Ci’s ears perked up as he grinned.

“Really?” Song Yu nodded as he sheathed his dagger. Acting as if there was a backpack next to the trees, Song Yu took out his hunting gear from his space. A large black cloak covered his European riding suit, and placed the face mask on, covering his beauty. In no time, the black cosplayer was back.

Song Yu kept a wide berth from Yu Ci and walked towards Derpy and Squinty.

“Go back and take care of the other kids, daddy will be back soon.”

Squinty was still in feral defense mode, but hearing Song Yu he glared dangerously at Yu Ci before running full speed. Song Yu saw as Squinty went into the wrong direction so Yu Ci wouldn’t know the direction and had to applaud that his spiritual beast was very smart.

Song Yu got on Derpy and trotted in the general direction out of the forest. Yu Ci seeing Song Yu leave, he followed. They kept a 3 meter distance, but Song Yu could still see that Yu Ci wasn’t in good condition. This would slow them down significantly. Derpy would definitely not let him ride him, and he wasn’t inclined to help him either. After an hour, Song Yu called for a small break, allowing Yu Ci to rest.

The resting area was next to a small stream. The waters had been polluted for a while, so they didn’t take any chance drinking it. Song Yu’s ‘backpack’ had clean water, while Yu Ci’s backpack had a Ziploc bag filled with water, most likely melted ice from the ice ability user. There was only a serving glass of water in the bag, so Yu Ci had no choice but to drink small sips, his parched lips chapping.

“So…you live around here?”

Song Yu wanted to slap his forehead. This dude…what the fuck is wrong with him? Who asks these kinds of questions?

Song Yu continued to be silent as he took off his mask, taking a swig of his purified water. He didn’t notice Yu Ci’s deep gaze at him, nor the blush creeping on his cheeks. After a 10 minute rest, they continued to ride/walk in the location Yu Ci said was on the walkie talkie.

Song Yu might have thought it was a trap, but if it was, then Yu Ci was a brilliant A Star actor. He babbled here and there, looking around the lush forest like a child at a museum. He was curious and thoughtless as he wanted to touch every single thing.

How did this big guy endure these 2 years without dying or getting seriously injured? They kept this one sided conversation until night fell. Song Yu silently built a fire while Yu Ci went to relieve himself. Seeing him go, Song Yu took this time to take out several types of food from his space and put it into his backpack and small blanket. The backpack was under his cloak, so even if it grew a bit, Yu Ci wouldn’t have noticed the difference in bulge.

The small fire illuminated the small clearing, letting Song Yu see the map where Yu Ci had crossed as the meeting point. He was so off course, it was sad. He trailed the path with his finger and knew the area pretty well. At the pace they were going, they weren’t going to make it until nightfall tomorrow.

Sighing, Song Yu rested a bit. A snap of a twig made Song Yu open his eyes and reach for the dagger, his vigilance fierce. Yu Ci had come back and was trying to sit next to him. Much too close for comfort. Seeing Song Yu reach for his dagger, Yu Ci raised his hands in the air, trying to calm the situation.

“You’re next to my backpack.” Song Yu turned to the side and sure enough, the backpack was innocently sitting next to a rock. Song Yu reached for the backpack and threw it at Yu Ci.

Catching it easily, Yu Ci showed a slight sad face, but otherwise kept the three meter distance, sitting on the other side of the fire. Yu Ci took out the last bits of beef jerky that he had chewed and spit out yesterday. It wouldn’t fill him, but it would satisfy the hungry demon in his belly. Yu Ci watched as Song Yu took out a small pot from his backpack, cilantro, green onion, a wrinkled radish…and miso powder. Song Yu ignored the hungry eyes staring at his food as he mixed the vegetables in the small broth, and gently poured the miso packet when it was boiling, letting the fragrance travel to Yu Ci. Drool pooled as Yu Ci watched this magical site as miso soup was made. Song Yu took a sip, letting the liquid warm his body.

Thinking it needed something else; Song Yu took out a small container that had leftover rice. Opening the container and seeing rice, Yu Ci’s eyes widened even more as the urge to bow down to this master for a single grain overtook him.

“M-master, would you like to trade me for food? I have some good stuff we can exchange.” Song Yu slowly turned to Yu Ci, eyeing his clothes that was dirt streaked and smelly, then at the ragtag backpack. He liked being called master, so he nodded his head.

Like a puppy, Yu Ci tore open his backpack and took out some of his ‘valuables’. Playing cards, an old cellphone out of battery, a packet of cigarettes, and a cold brew can that would expire in a month. Yu Ci confidently looked at Song Yu with these things.

Song Yu didn’t want any of this crap. But this gave him a good excuse to give him some purified water. Their long walk tomorrow would be faster with him more energized. Song Yu pointed towards the cold brew and gave Yu Ci half of the miso soup and 1/3 of his rice.

Seeing Yu Ci happily eating his food made Song Yu conflicted, but he took the cold brew and put it in his back pack. Maybe after all of this he could put it somewhere, and maybe remind him that he had helped someone once upon a time.