Chapter Forty-Five: A Familiar Stranger

“Boss, were you just now… talking to yourself?” Tang Suan regarded Zheng Nanfang with suspicion, discreetly watching his expression. Seeing the sweat pouring down his brow, she hurried to wipe his face.

Zheng Nanfang let out a breath. Though he seemed weary, his eyes were alight with a certain brilliance. He smiled, “Don’t worry, I’m all right… We’re already out of the beehive’s influence at the domed fishery.”

Shaman was baffled, but Tang Suan and Shu Yangcong more or less understood the situation. They recalled the first night in Raw Meat Town, when Zheng Nanfang had displayed similar odd behavior. Back then, the girls thought he might have some sort of illness.

Yet, after coming to his senses, Zheng Nanfang insisted they make a run for it and mentioned the Hoarse Manor. Sure enough, before they could leave Raw Meat Town, Deep Blue Asylum and Hoarse Manor arrived one after another.

The situation was chaotic at the time, with all sorts of powers converging, the highway race, and the beehive’s influence. In all the confusion, Tang Suan and her companions never got around to asking Zheng Nanfang how he had foreseen what was coming.

Now, as the familiar scene unfolded once again, Tang Suan couldn’t help but worry. What had Zheng Nanfang seen this time?

It was as if he heard the unease in her heart. Zheng Nanfang smiled faintly, reached out to ruffle Tang Suan’s hair, and said, “Relax, everything’s going smoothly. My friend is waiting for us in the Orange Hall, and we’ll soon have new support for the rest of the race.”

“A friend?” Shu Yangcong asked curiously, craning her neck forward. “Another racer?”

“No,” Zheng Nanfang replied frankly, without the slightest hesitation. “She’s from the Upper City.”

The three women exchanged glances, speechless with shock. Their suspicion about Zheng Nanfang’s identity deepened yet again. A drifter from the wasteland, familiar with the beehive, even aware of the ring-road—and with a friend from the Upper City? Why would such a man risk everything to join this life-and-death highway race?

They didn’t know, and didn’t dare to ask. All they could do was quietly watch Zheng Nanfang, wondering how many more surprises he would bring.

…

As for Zheng Nanfang himself, his mind was far less tangled than the three women’s. To him, the restoration of his synesthesia was undeniably good news. For years, whatever he did, he’d grown used to having others nearby. Ever since his synesthesia had been blocked at the domed fishery, he’d been unable to access vital information or receive help, greatly hindering his progress.

But fortune never comes alone, nor does misfortune. After reestablishing contact with Jin Ling, she brought him two pieces of bad news without delay.

Meng Chang had been detained by the Beehive Research Institute, and Jin Ling herself had been implicated, drawing unwanted attention from the Institute despite being an outsider. With no other choice, Jin Ling had to abandon her safe and comfortable life in the Upper City and risk her life to seek him out in the wasteland.

Moreover, through Jin Ling, Meng Chang had relayed the origins of the beehive fissure, which gave Zheng Nanfang a sense that something was amiss.

The Beehive Research Institute had always been ruthless, never letting anyone slip through the cracks. If they had discovered a massive beehive fissure at the domed fishery, why would they remain indifferent?

Meng Chang suspected there were two factions within the Institute: one wanted to report the situation, while the other was secretly interfering.

But why?

…

The Orange Hall was close now. Zheng Nanfang was exhausted; synesthesia still took a heavy toll on his mind. Even a brief exchange with Jin Ling about recent events left him feeling drained.

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t taken his inhibitor lately, or maybe the beehive effect from the domed fishery hadn’t fully dissipated.

He switched seats with Tang Suan, deciding that for the last few dozen miles, so long as they arrived safely, it would suffice.

Shaman and Shu Yangcong became Tang Suan’s eyes and ears, keeping watch on the traffic all around, just in case anything happened on the final stretch to the Orange Hall.

In truth, they were worrying unnecessarily. Given the Viper’s current appearance, the other racers were desperate to steer clear—no one would dare stir up trouble.

…

Escaping the gut-worm’s maw, Zheng Nanfang remembered, for once, his responsibilities as a boss. Since they needed something to trade at the Orange Hall, and the Viper team was utterly penniless, what could they offer?

The two wild sisters from AC Cobra had already done them a huge favor by helping right their car. Zheng Nanfang couldn’t bring himself to ask for more; even if he tried, they surely wouldn’t help, and he had too much pride to beg.

After some thought, Zheng Nanfang set his sights on the gut-worm. This creature was rare on the wasteland, mostly because it was so ferocious. Those lucky enough to encounter it rarely survived, and if they did, they certainly never wanted to cross paths with it again.

Few would dare face it head-on as Zheng Nanfang had. After such a brush with death, it was unthinkable to leave empty-handed.

The gut-worm had been half-dissected and was well and truly dead. Zheng Nanfang wasn’t sure whether it was more beast or monster, but whatever it was, its sheer size made it a rarity. Perhaps the ever-hungry Orange Hall would be interested.

So, he enlisted the three women to play the role of butchers, coiling up the massive seven- or eight-meter carcass and, suppressing their disgust, tying it to the roof of their car. Thus, they paraded through town with their grisly prize.

…

The gut-worm was so massive that Zheng Nanfang wanted to carve it up, but Tang Suan stopped him, reasoning that rarity brings value. Chopped up, it would be nothing but hunks of meat; kept whole, it might fetch a better price.

So when the other racers finally escaped the sand and, just as they caught their breath, spotted that monstrous thing in the rearview mirror, the ensuing panic needed no further explanation.

…

Redbird, lacking any sense of loyalty, had bolted ahead and reached the Orange Hall nearly an hour before the Viper team.

Hu Bi, too, was flat broke, and couldn’t bear to trade away Xin Wen. Listless and bored, he waited at the entrance, planning to regroup with Zheng Nanfang before making any decisions.

The compressed rations were dry and hard to swallow. After a few bites, Hu Bi gave the rest to Xin Wen.

Xin Wen looked as lifeless as ever. Though she never missed an opportunity to threaten Hu Bi with death, she never refused the food and water he offered, showing a keen sense of survival.

Perhaps she’d realized how thick-skinned Hu Bi was and had long since lost the will to argue. She’d adopted the attitude of a fish on the chopping block—do as you please. Touch if you want, take if you must; she wouldn’t put on a pleasant face. If she was comfortable, she’d grunt; if not, she’d turn away and play dead. Suit yourself.

One of Hu Bi’s great pleasures was banter, but since Xin Wen had given up resisting, he soon lost interest and left her alone.

…

While waiting in the car with the window rolled down, a delicious aroma drifted in. Hu Bi wrinkled his nose, following the scent to its source.

…

A short-haired woman sat atop a black SUV, one well-matched to Hu Bi’s own car, devouring half a roast chicken with gusto.

Hu Bi’s mouth watered uncontrollably. He eyed her succulent roast chicken, then glanced down at his own dry rations. His anger flared—he was both hungry and emboldened. He shoved open the car door.

“You really plan to snatch food from someone’s mouth right outside the Orange Hall?” Xin Wen’s voice was cool and mocking. “If you’re really going to do it, kill me first. I don’t want anyone to think I’m teammates with such an idiot.”

Hu Bi sheepishly halted, sat back in the car with a grimace, and grumbled, “You can’t blame me. That chicken is just too beautiful.”

Xin Wen sneered, “What about all the stuff you looted from our car?”

Hu Bi glanced at the pile of messy food in the back seat and replied helplessly, “It’s all compressed rations and dried meat. I’ve eaten so much I’m nearly constipated.”

“Idiot, I didn’t tell you to eat it. Besides robbing, do you have any concept of trading?”

“…”