130. No More Worries
"Damn Frost-Plated bastards, ungrateful!"
"Screw you, dumbass white ghost, having your Omega Energy taken and still counting their money."
The fight in the carriage was escalating, about to turn into an armed brawl when the carriage door suddenly burst open.
"Help!"
Disheveled and covered in blood, Gina cried as she fell to the ground, immediately attracting everyone's attention with her pitiful appearance.
"Hodro went crazy! He's not human, he wants to kill me!"
"It's Gina, one of our outsiders." Someone was about to help her up when suddenly, a bolt-action rifle was aimed into the carriage and fired at Gina.
Bang!
This shot ended the arguments. All the passengers looked in shock and fear toward the door.
The bullet didn't hit Gina, instead leaving a clear hole in the back of the carriage.
"Don't go near her!"
Hodro, with blood streaming down his forehead and a fierce expression, said in a deep voice:
"That's not Gina, it's a monster!"
Holding the rifle, he was about to reload when an outsider angrily picked up a stool and struck his shoulder. Hodro cried out and fell to his knees, dropping the rifle.
"Ah—!"
"Screw you, Frost-Plated bastard! Go back home and bully your own women if you dare!"
"Restrain him!"
"He must have tried to assault the girl and got angry when she rejected him—disgusting Frost-Plated bastard."
The outsiders began to accuse and curse Hodro, but he remained undeterred, his eyes red as he shouted:
"Don't mind me! Restrain it! It's not Gina; it killed Li Mu and Gina, then took Gina's form!"
But his words only drew disdain from both Frost-Plated and outsiders.
"What's this kid joking about? Our Omega Energy was taken by Li Aozi."
"Haha, typical Frost-Plated scum, even after experiencing the Abyss Humanitarian Relief, still such low quality."
Gina cried, trembling with fear. People instinctively sympathize with the weak, especially women.
"Lock him up! Wait for Ms. Celia to judge him!" someone suggested.
"Right, I don't want to travel with a murderer and a thug."
"No! I'm not a murderer! I didn't kill anyone! It killed Gina!"
Dragged up, Hodro stared hatefully at Gina, shouting hoarsely:
"You monster, you ate Gina—I'll kill you! I'll cut you open, rip out your guts, slice you to pieces!"
His hands and feet were tied with ropes and he was shoved into a luggage compartment. Two people beat him up, one keeping a rifle pointed at him, forcing him to squat in the corner with his head down.
"Don't try to escape." The man said, "We won't let you hurt Gina again."
"Hurt Gina?"
Hodro's eyes almost spewed fire, and he said with shame and anger:
"I like Gina, I could never hurt her, but I won't tolerate a monster that killed Gina and took her form."
"Shut up!"
The man impatiently closed the compartment, silencing Hodro.
This small episode suddenly calmed the original fight. People fell into silence and awkwardness, but no one wanted to admit they were wrong.
People checked Gina's injuries, and fortunately, she was unharmed.
"Hey, there's blood on your neck too." The girl checking Gina noticed blood on her neck and reached out to open her collar to check.
"No!"
Gina screamed, curling up with a fearful look. The girl had to withdraw her hand, not wanting to further agitate Gina, and handed her a towel. To let Gina rest, they cleared a bunk compartment, set up hot water bottles and blankets, and once Gina lay down, the girl was about to leave.
"Wait..."
Gina pleaded softly:
"Don't leave me alone, I'm scared..."
Seeing Gina's tearful eyes, the girl softened and stayed in the room, closing the bunk door.
Click!
The Youth continued forward, with driver Zhou Liefeng staring ahead. In the outside world, driving any vehicle required full concentration at all times. Any mistake could lead to a breakdown or, worse, death.
"Have some hot water!"
A female voice came from behind. Zhou Liefeng glanced sideways and saw Qiu Ran, a Frost-Plated woman, holding a cup of water. He took the cup but didn't drink, placing it aside and continuing to drive.
Qiu Ran didn't mind. She looked at the dark road ahead and couldn't help but sigh:
"I wonder when we'll be able to go back..."
"Six more hours to the Bridgeol Station. We'll stop and rest there, do some minor repairs."
"I see, thank you for your hard work."
Qiu Ran smiled and turned to leave.
After she left, Zhou Liefeng opened the side window and poured out the water.
Qiu Ran returned to Li Aozi's bedside and sat down. Sensing someone approaching, Li Aozi's eyelids twitched in his sleep. But recognizing the familiar presence, he calmed down again.
"You never rest, do you, Li Aozi? So young yet already like an old man..."
Saying this, she felt a sudden pang of sadness.
"Speaking of which, Li Aozi, I just called my family."
Qiu Ran rested her chin in her hand, smiling:
"Although I haven't been around lately, they're doing well. Qiu Yun has gone to university, and my brothers are healthy... Everyone's fine. They care about me and complained, 'Where have you been for three years?' 'We all miss you,' 'Come back soon.' Haha, they didn't blame me at all."
Qiu Ran chuckled foolishly:
"I told them I'd been tricked into doing illegal work, but now it's fine, the police rescued us. I even got superpowers by accident, now I'm extraordinary—everyone's safe. When I return, we'll have a big meal together, and I'll make barbecue. Li Aozi, you have to come too."
She heard the noises and arguments from the back carriages. It seemed reasonable at first, but seeing Li Aozi's aged face, covered in scars and wrinkles, made their doubts and debates seem laughable.
Nomi called her a silly big sister. Qiu Ran didn't take it as an insult. She knew she wasn't smart but believed she had clear distinctions between love and hate.
When someone sacrifices their life, youth, and great effort for a group of unrelated people, no one has the right to point fingers at Li Aozi. That's a fact.
Qiu Ran couldn't help but softly complain:
"Your battle is over. Now just rest well and sleep peacefully."
Li Aozi's lips moved, muttering almost deliriously:
"Nomi... Omega Energy..."
"Hey, what about Nomi's Omega Energy?"
Hearing this, Qiu Ran leaned closer to carefully observe Li Aozi and soon noticed something unusual.
Li Aozi's facial skin seemed unclear, covered with a layer of yellowish-white grime. On closer inspection, it was a raised keratin layer.
She gently peeled off the thick dead skin on Li Aozi's face, revealing a much tighter, rejuvenated skin underneath. The age spots and wrinkles had significantly reduced.
"Is this... Nomi's Omega Energy helping you?!"