69 The Captive Heart

“Chi Chi, are you hungry?”
“Chi Chi, are you feeling unwell?”
“Chi Chi, your sister misses you so much.”

Mo Yu gazed at the child before her, repeating her concern over and over again, yet nothing could truly express the depth of her longing for her younger brother.

Shaking his head, again and again.

“Chi Chi isn’t hungry, isn’t uncomfortable. Chi Chi misses Sister.” He gripped one of Mo Yu’s fingers tightly in his small hand. Mo Yu had once asked him why he did this. He replied, “Because this place is strange. I’m afraid you’ll get lost again.” In his mind, his sister would only wander off by herself, never abandon him.

Mo Yu’s eyes quietly grew moist, but she forced back her tears, then embraced Chi Chi tightly once more, unwilling to let go.

She had once sworn to protect Chi Chi from all worries in this life. Now, she realized she must also help him grow strong, to become a true man.

A few deep coughs suddenly echoed from the other corner of the room, shattering the intense emotion between Mo Yu and Mo Chi.

“Are you alright?” Mo Yu, holding Mo Chi in her left arm, leading Li Jun with her right, and with Qing Xuan following behind, approached the man. They looked like a family of four.

“Cough, cough... I’m fine.” The man covered his mouth with his right hand, swallowing hard to ease himself. Mo Yu released her right hand, and Li Jun bent down to check the man’s health, letting a stream of white light flow from his arm into the man’s body. After about five minutes, another stream of slightly murky energy emerged from the man, dissolving into the air. Li Jun nodded at Mo Yu and went to check on the children sleeping nearby, slightly older than himself.

“Thank you!” The man straightened up against the wall.

“No problem.” Mo Yu leaned back, intending to rest against the wall, but unexpectedly found herself against a warm chest. Mo Chi wrapped his arms around Mo Yu’s neck, blinking his large eyes at Qing Xuan. Tilting his head, he whispered something softly into Mo Yu’s ear. Qing Xuan sensed her body tense, then saw her nod. He wondered if Mo Chi was bullying his sister and was about to teach him a “lesson,” but then Mo Chi turned to look at him, startling him. He realized Mo Yu loved Mo Chi so much—if he acted rashly, would he anger her? So he looked at Mo Chi, waiting.

“Brother-in-law!” Mo Chi called out cheerfully.

“Good boy,” Qing Xuan greeted him with a smile.

‘Damn, is it settled just like that?’ Mo Yu roared inwardly.

“Cough, cough... So what about you?” Mo Yu ignored the two beside her and looked at the three children sleeping nearby before turning to the man, clearly hesitating about whether to bring them along.

The man seemed to sense her predicament. “Take them with you.” His tone was pleading, but not for himself—for these unrelated strangers. “Please, you don’t have to take me, but please, take the children!”

Mo Yu buried her head on Mo Chi’s shoulder. “Fine, there are too many children for me to care for alone. You can follow, but don’t expect any of us to look after you.”

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“Of course! No problem!” The man’s eyes suddenly brightened with gratitude, making Mo Yu feel a bit embarrassed. Compared to this stranger’s actions, even though she agreed to take them in, she felt she was lacking.

Heaven had given her a chance to start over, she should be grateful and repay this world, not lose her humanity for selfish reasons.

The group rested in the house for a day, discussing their next steps and escape plans. In conversation, Mo Yu discovered the good-natured man, Li Yi, was extremely familiar with the area, and learned he was a speed-type mutant—no wonder he could defeat that monster.

“Cough... We need to find some supplies,” the man said, blushing.

Mo Yu was still adjusting to the sudden change of topic. “Why do we need supplies?” She hummed a lullaby to let Chi Chi sleep in her arms, asking softly. Her voice was gentle and tender, so unlike her usual strong and capable self, more like a gentle wife, gazing at him with innocent eyes, making him even more embarrassed.

Li Yi lowered his head, then raised it again, wanting to take another look at Mo Yu, but caught a glimpse of Qing Xuan behind her, radiating a murderous aura, quickly stopping his wandering thoughts. After all, she had a better man—why would she consider another? Moreover, she was his savior; he should be grateful, not harbor shameful intentions.

A strange rumbling sounded from Li Yi’s stomach, turning his ears red.

Mo Yu finally understood what Li Yi meant—he was hungry. If that’s the case, why not just say so? Instead, he acted like a shy maiden, speaking in roundabout ways, confusing everyone.

“Here! Take these!” Mo Yu freed a hand, pulled several plump tomatoes from her bag, and handed them to the man.

“Thank you!” Li Yi scrubbed his hands against his clothes before taking the tomatoes. He truly hadn’t expected Mo Yu to have food, let alone share it so generously. He still remembered her saying she wouldn’t care for them, except to travel together. Now he saw her sharp tongue hid a soft heart, genuinely kind. His feelings for Mo Yu grew even warmer, wishing he could hug her—though, seeing the man behind her ready to draw his weapon, he thought better of it!

For the sake of his own survival, Li Yi quickly distracted himself, lest Qing Xuan really did him in. He stood and stretched, feeling only a bit weak, but no other pain, and his abilities had even advanced a tier! With proper recovery, his fighting power would exceed what it was before his injury. He placed the tomatoes by each sleeping child. The children slept deeply, whether from exhaustion or fear, none awoke. Li Yi glanced at Li Jun, then at Mo Yu.

Mo Yu understood Li Yi’s intentions, but refused. Li Jun had just healed her brother and him, and was himself exhausted and weak—how could she let him neglect his own health? She felt she’d done enough for them. After all, the strong must save themselves; saints save others. She did not consider herself a saint.

Li Yi knew he was asking too much, remembering Li Jun was only a boy of six or seven—he felt ashamed.

Although their hunger was temporarily solved, Mo Yu’s group still had to travel. Their journey to the capital had taken almost two months, wandering back and forth on the same road. Even the lowest-level zombies could crawl across in two months.

Ye Zuo Nan had left, taking the promised plane with him. Now, they had to reach the capital, and nothing would delay them again. Mo Yu resolved.

“You know this place well?”

“Yes, I grew up here, which is why I was included in this mission.”

“Is there a way out?” Mo Yu lifted the curtain, gazing at the street full of wandering zombies.

“There is, but on foot, we can’t escape,” Li Yi said, discouraged.

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“You needn’t worry about the car, but you must plan the route to the capital,” Mo Yu let the curtain fall. “The shortest and safest route!”

“No problem!” Li Yi brightened at the mention of a car, his tone growing excited. “If we can get a vehicle, we can definitely escape!”

“Good. Set the route quickly, Qing Xuan and I will get the car.”

“Hey! Where are you going to find a car? It’s dangerous! Don’t take risks!” Li Yi watched Mo Yu drag Qing Xuan out without preparation, and shouted anxiously.

“If you want to die, keep yelling. Watch your own kids.” Mo Yu was eager to return to the capital, unconcerned with anything else. The car was safely stored in her space, after all.

“You…” Li Yi, frustrated and worried both by Mo Yu’s disregard for her own safety and the threat of zombie invasion, turned back inside.

“Big brother, will Sister come back?” the little girl asked Li Yi with anxious eyes.

“She’ll come back,” Li Yi bent down and patted her head. “She’ll come back.” It sounded like he was comforting the girl, but more like he was comforting himself.

“You must be good and listen. Sister will be back soon.”

“Mm, I’ll be very, very good!” The girl nodded at Li Yi, hugging her teddy bear tightly, her gaze fixed on the direction Mo Yu had gone, unable to pull herself back from worry.

That day, as her life slipped away, a figure pulled her from darkness into light. That person, in the nights of despair, would test her temperature with clean hands on her dirty forehead, feed her water, smile gently, and quietly leave the teddy bear by her side. Though she always appeared cold and claimed she wouldn’t care for them, she secretly cared for them at night, quietly warming her heart.

She didn’t understand her own feelings, but when she saw Mo Yu leave without returning, panic and fear overwhelmed her, and she couldn’t suppress her sadness.

How could she abandon them?

No, she would never abandon them!

“Right, Sister?”

Author’s note: Heading back to the capital, the story finally enters its later stage... So excited~