Chapter 46: The Forsaken Vessel

“Ah… it seems your dear friend has already abandoned you,” Liu Qingye suddenly remarked. He had noticed Zhang Min sneaking over, but the woman only glanced once and then left without looking back.

It was clear that Yu Niaoniao had been forsaken.

A cold sweat broke out over Yu Niaoniao’s body as Li Luyan knelt before her. “Speak. What bargaining chip do you have to trade for your life?” His fingers had already seized her chin.

Seeing her remain silent, Li Luyan’s slender fingers clamped down firmly on her jaw.

With a crisp click, her chin was forcibly detached by Li Luyan.

Yu Yue, unable to bear it, tried to plead again, “Sister Yan…”

“Shut up!” Li Luyan snapped softly, admiring her handiwork—Yu Niaoniao, now without a chin.

“Bad girl, you must pay for your wrongdoings.”

Yu Niaoniao tried in vain to open and close her dislocated jaw, only managing to sputter some bloody saliva. Driven by the instinct to survive, she couldn’t help but look toward Yu Yue, with whom she had the closest bond among this group.

But Yu Yue was powerless. She had pleaded twice already; any more and Sister Yan might grow weary of her entreaties. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet Yu Niaoniao’s eyes.

Yu Niaoniao understood now—Yu Yue could no longer save her. But she was just an ordinary person at the onset of the apocalypse; what bargaining chips could she possibly have to trade with Li Luyan?

With trembling hands, Yu Niaoniao suddenly supported her dislocated chin and forced it upward with a harsh grinding sound of bones. She barely managed to close it.

Her face twisted as if bearing unbearable agony.

“Tell… my… pa… rents… that… Niaoniao… is… still alive,” she pleaded toward Yu Yue. Each word was squeezed out painfully through clenched teeth, but as soon as she finished, her chin dropped again with a click.

Yu Niaoniao’s face contorted as she pulled a photo from her inner pocket and handed it to Yu Yue.

Yu Yue glanced at the photo: a family portrait with Yu Niaoniao and a girl who resembled her in the center, flanked by her parents—a dignified, gentle woman and a kind, warm man.

Yu Yue nodded and reached out to help Yu Niaoniao up, but the next moment, blood spilled from Yu Niaoniao’s mouth.

“She’s biting her tongue to commit suicide,” Liu Qingye said indifferently. “Perfect, no need for us to do anything.”

“I already told you, don’t entertain foolish ideas. She doesn’t even have any chips to trade for her life.” He nonchalantly fiddled with his nails as if no one had just died before him, as if they were merely discussing what to eat tomorrow.

Yu Yue felt completely awake now.

Yu Yue never imagined Li Luyan could be so heartless. Niaoniao only wanted to live and hadn’t harmed her. Yet she was driven to death just like that.

She tucked Yu Niaoniao’s family photo back into her inner pocket and zipped it up.

Her eyes felt hot. She held out her palm, catching tears before they fell, then wiped them fiercely with her arm.

Elsewhere, Zhang Min returned to her spot and immediately strapped on her luggage.

Pei Siying noticed Zhang Min’s grim expression and asked, “What’s wrong? Did you see a ghost?”

“Worse than ghosts,” Zhang Min replied. After weighing her luggage a few times, she said, “We’d better leave now, in case that group comes back for revenge.”

Pei Siying twisted her mouth. “Did Niaoniao do something stupid?”

Zhang Min nodded without further words. They all knew—they were about to look for a new ‘vessel.’

Gao Zheng pushed himself up against the wall but accidentally tore his wound, letting out a soft grunt. “Minmin, can you help me up?”

“Get up yourself.” Zhang Min didn’t look back, tossing out the words as she strode ahead, Pei Siying following closely.

“So heartless…” Gao Zheng stared at Zhang Min’s slender figure. He propped himself up briskly—there was no sign of a patient in him; it was just an act for Zhang Min, who clearly wasn’t fooled.

Gao Zheng’s eyes darkened.

Zhang Min’s boots crushed a plastic bottle, shattering it loudly on the empty street.

Pei Siying immediately grabbed her backpack strap. “Are you looking for death? Don’t attract the monsters.”

“Better than staying there to die.” Zhang Min shrugged off her hand but softened her steps.

Pei Siying lowered her voice. “Did that foolish girl really steal the so-called Fate Crystal?”

“I saw Li Luyan detach her chin with my own eyes.” Zhang Min touched the dagger strapped to her waist. “Niaoniao deserved it, but Li Luyan is even scarier.”

[We need to find a new 'vessel'], Zhang Min mouthed to Pei Siying, unaware that Gao Zheng’s ears were sharp enough to catch it.

…

With Liu Qingye added to the group, the golden sports car became a golden van.

Lin Youwei puzzled, tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Why is the van golden, too?”

“Because it’s cool!” Normally, Yu Yue would say this, but today was different—the little rascal said it.

The group climbed into the golden van transformed by the little rascal, now carrying Liu Qingye, who clung to Li Luyan, and a taciturn Yu Yue.

Yu Yue felt the family photo of Yu Niaoniao burning in her inner pocket, silent all the way.

Lin Youwei noticed and played a song Yu Yue once loved. Usually, Yu Yue would sing along, and then the little rascal would abruptly change the track and mock her.

But today, Yu Yue was unusually quiet, and the little rascal didn’t cut the music.

“You’re thinking about that thief,” Liu Qingye suddenly whispered in Yu Yue’s ear, his breath tinged with mint gum. “She deserved it. Bad kids must be punished. Sister clearly already spared them.”

Yu Niaoniao only wanted to survive. With an extra lifeline, anyone would do such a thing.

In the apocalypse, what kind of sin was that?

“I’m not thinking about her,” Yu Yue lied. “I’m thinking about who will keep watch tonight.”

Liu Qingye snorted, “Suit yourself, but…” His voice turned sinister, “Lying children must swallow a thousand needles.”

“Liu Qingye.” Li Luyan’s eyes remained closed, but his voice was commanding without anger. “Shut up.”

Liu Qingye immediately receded to the back seat like a scolded pet, but his gaze never left Yu Yue.

Five kilometers away at a gas station, Gao Zheng grimaced in pain, clutching his wound. “Minmin, it hurts so much. Have Pei Siying drive later, and you can sit in the back and keep me company.”

Pei Siying rolled her eyes. Keep him company? Would that make him better? He was like a walking bandage.

Before Pei Siying could retort, Zhang Min spoke up. “Pei Siying has failed the driver’s test six times.”

That single sentence shut Gao Zheng up. After all, he didn’t want to entrust his life to a ‘road killer.’