Chapter 67: Cannibalism

Zhang Qingfang leaned in and asked, “Sisi, are we going to save them?”

Throughout the journey, everyone had followed the principle of not meddling in others’ affairs, but hearing the pitiful, muffled cries of those people tugged at their hearts.

Jiang Si pulled out her infrared binoculars and carefully examined the opposite villa.

It was too far to see clearly inside, and going over at night would make it easy to fall into an ambush. Even if they wanted to help, it would have to wait until daylight.

They couldn’t risk their own lives for the sake of others.

Jiang Si said, “We’ll check it out tomorrow. Everyone’s exhausted today—get some rest first.”

The fact that Jiang Si said she’d check tomorrow meant she had already decided to rescue them. Zhang Qingfang looked at her face, shadowed in the dim light, and suddenly regretted even asking—
If Jiang Si hadn’t planned on saving those people, she would’ve gone anyway, just for her sake.

If it went smoothly, fine.
But if anything went wrong, Zhang Qingfang would never forgive herself.

Jiang Wuwu, sensing her unease, softly reassured her:

“Sisi always has her reasons. If it gets dangerous, she can retreat into her space. Don’t worry too much.”

Zhang Qingfang felt a little comforted, and entered the women’s sleeping area of the RV with Shen Baoying.

When Niuniu saw them come in, she immediately sat up and looked at Zhang Qingfang with pleading eyes.

“Granny Jiang, can I sleep with you tonight?”

The women’s section of the RV had two bunk-style beds, slightly larger than singles, so Niuniu would have to share.

Zhang Qingfang stroked her little head, as if seeing a younger version of Jiang Si in her adorable face. She picked her up gently and said:

“Of course you can.”

“Thank you, Granny!”

There was no running water in the RV. The drinking water they carried was precious and reserved for consumption. Jiang Si, seeing the shimmering pool in the moonlight, found the building’s pipe system and filled the RV’s water tank.

She secretly replenished their daily drinking water from her space, ensuring it was always clean and safe.

---

Early the next morning, Shen Baoying made sandwiches for everyone in the RV.

After drinking a glass of lotus root starch powder, Jiang Si said to Qin Shen:

“I’m going to check the villa across the way. You stay and protect everyone.”

Qin Shen was even more skilled than she was—he could single-handedly take on an army. With him staying behind, Jiang Si felt secure.

But Qin Shen replied:

“I’ll go.”

It wasn’t right to throw every danger at Qin Shen.

They were a team now. Jiang Si shook her head:

“I’ll go.”

Lu Zhifeng also felt it was unfair for Jiang Si and Qin Shen to always take the lead. In unison with Jiang Linhai, he said:

“Let me go!”

Jiang Linhai believed he couldn’t always live under Jiang Si’s protection. He was her father, and it was his job to protect her—even if he wasn’t as strong, he had to show the courage and responsibility.

With everyone fighting to go, Jiang Si could only smile helplessly:

“Let me go today. After this, we’ll take turns. Deal?”

With her decision made, they had no choice but to agree.

From the villa’s window, Qin Shen stood guard with a gun, covering her as she swiftly entered the villa across the street.

The villa was cold and eerie, filled with debris and signs of destruction.

It was the same size and layout as the one they were staying in.

Following faint banging sounds, Jiang Si crept up floor by floor. As her foot stepped on broken glass on the third floor, the sharp crunch echoed ominously in the dark and eerie silence.

Suddenly, the sound from the room at the far end went completely quiet.

Jiang Si held her breath and approached slowly—
“Bang!”
She kicked open the door.

Inside, terrified groans filled the air.

What she saw made her blood run cold.

Dozens of emaciated, skeletal people, their eyes vacant yet filled with fear, were tied up—hands and feet bound, mouths gagged, locked inside cages. They were filthy, stinking, crouched among their own waste.

Clearly human, but treated like livestock waiting for slaughter.

And next to them—an even more horrifying sight:

A human head still hung on a chopping board, alongside a drained corpse strung up like a pig at slaughter.

Jiang Si felt bile rise in her throat. She was grateful it wasn’t Jiang Linhai who had come—this scene would’ve devastated him.

She stepped forward, and the captives instinctively huddled deeper into the corners of their cages.

She spotted a few small children hiding among them. Even in their dire state, the adults had still tried to shield the kids.

As Jiang Si approached, hopeless expressions filled their eyes. They didn’t resist—just waited for the next blow.

“Clang!”

One by one, she chopped the chains with her axe.
A gap opened in the cage—a way to freedom.
Yet not a single person dared to move.

Jiang Si reached out her hand:

“Come out. I won’t hurt you.”

The man closest to the gate hesitated for a long time before slowly crawling toward her.

Jiang Si gently removed the cloth from his mouth and cut the ropes on his wrists.

His hands were covered in deep, bloody marks from being bound so long. As the restraints fell away, he stared at his hands in disbelief.

He had thought he would die here.

Now, Jiang Si had saved him.

He covered his face, sobbing with joy, then suddenly fell to his knees, stammering thanks.

More people slowly came out. Jiang Si helped each one remove their bindings.

Some, upon gaining freedom, instinctively ran, desperate to escape the hell they’d been trapped in.

But after a few steps, their starved bodies gave out—they collapsed, begging Jiang Si for food.

Everyone looked to her with pleading eyes.

Jiang Si remembered spotting some hoarded food on the second floor earlier and led them there.

“Eat something,” she told them, “but leave this place as soon as you can.”

Just last night, a massive meteor fragment had landed several kilometers away. Their group’s movement was already too slow.

These people devoured the food, not even listening. Jiang Si didn’t care—she turned and left.

But as she walked away, a group suddenly rushed after her, clutching food in their hands, crying out:

“Take us with you! Please! Take us with you!”

Jiang Si clearly had skills—and a kind heart. They saw her as their savior.

But Jiang Si had no intention of dragging a crowd of burdens with her.

She’d seen it too many times: help someone once, and they expect more—until the favor turns into resentment.

She turned and coldly stared at them:

“I won’t take you. Don’t follow me. If you do, don’t blame me for being harsh.”

When she stepped outside, Qin Shen was already there, waiting with the RV.

Those who had tried to follow at a distance now panicked, chasing after her.

“Wait for us! Please wait!”

Qin Shen pulled the trigger, spraying bullets at their feet.

They ducked, covering their heads, eyes wide with fear as they watched Jiang Si open the door and climb aboard.

Inside, Shen Baoying handed her a warm towel to wipe her face, and only then asked:

“What did you find in there? Did you run into any trouble?”