The Post-Apocalyptic Rival Who Crashed My Wedding with a Baby - Chapter 28

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of rapping on the door, neither too heavy nor too light, pulled Lin Yunxia from her shallow slumber. She blinked her eyes open dizzily, but in the next heartbeat, she was wide awake.

Staring at the ceiling and feeling the rhythmic breathing beside her, she rubbed her temples in frustration. When had her sleeping posture become so atrocious? Not only had she migrated from the bed to the floor, but she was also intimately huddled against Duan Muyu, her head resting comfortably on the other woman’s arm like a pair of newlyweds.

The bold comparison sent a sudden flush of heat to her face, and her heart began to hammer frantically. She stole a quick glance at Duan Muyu’s refined features and, as if scorched by a stray spark, hurriedly scrambled away with light, silent footsteps.

Once she was gone, Duan Muyu—who had appeared to be in a deep sleep—quietly opened her eyes, a faint smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

Opening the front door, Lin Yunxia blinked in surprise. “Granny Huang? Why are you here so early?” She felt a bit bashful, remembering the cottage technically belonged to the old woman.

Granny Huang was dressed in vibrant red, her clothes embroidered with several imposing octopuses. Beside her, a scrubbed-clean Xiao Mi stood with a reserved expression, wearing an oversized blue octopus hat. The hat was leather, but two large, round eyes had been knitted onto it with yarn, giving the girl a whimsical, innocent look.

Xiao Mi gazed at her obediently, but the memory of the previous night sent a chill through Yunxia’s spine. She couldn’t help but look at the girl with a trace of wariness.

Granny Huang held up a vegetable basket. “I came to bring you some food.” Tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers… she had even thoughtfully included ginger, green onions, and garlic. Seeing the basket overflowing with fresh ingredients, Yunxia quickly took it. “Thank you so much, Granny.”

Taking a breath, Yunxia decided to test the waters. She looked at the girl and asked, “Xiao Mi, did you go anywhere last night?”

Despite the bright morning sun, Yunxia felt a phantom coldness radiating from the girl. Xiao Mi remained stoic, giving her a slow, wooden shake of the head.

Granny Huang chimed in from the side. “Xia, why do you ask? Xiao Mi slept right beside me all night.”

Yunxia let out a forced laugh, making up an excuse. “I must have seen someone with a similar silhouette, then.”

“It’s a village full of kids,” Granny Huang agreed with a nod. “It’s only natural to mix them up.”

Realizing she wouldn’t get a straight answer, Yunxia shifted her focus to the vegetables. “These look so crisp and fresh.”

Granny Huang laughed heartily. “Of course! They went from the garden to your hand in less than ten minutes. We Lingshui folk love growing our own greens. They aren’t worth much, really.”

“But I thought the soil was too polluted to grow anything after the apocalypse,” Miao Jialing remarked, her voice drifting out from the doorway as she woke up.

“That’s true for the outside world,” Granny Huang replied solemnly, her face glowing with pride. “But here, we have the Sea God’s protection.”

The Sea God’s protection… Miao Jialing arched an eyebrow. It was the perfect catch-all excuse.

Granny Huang then offered an enthusiastic invitation. “The Sea God Festival is tomorrow, so the market will be bustling today. Why don’t you all go and have a look at the festivities?”

Lin Yunxia caught a sharp glint in her own eyes as she prepared to answer, but Jiang Weiqing’s voice rang out from behind her. “Let’s go, Yunxia. We’re bored sitting around here anyway,” Weiqing said decisively.

An Songyu and Chen Huawei echoed her immediately, eager for a change of pace. Given they were in a strange place, the rest of the group quickly gathered to agree.

Duan Muyu looked at Shen Qingyu, who was standing on the stairs. “Are you and the baby coming?” Though they framed it as a casual stroll, everyone knew they were heading out to scout for clues and potential dangers.

Jiang Weiqing rubbed her chin with a grin. “Shen Qingyu, the baby isn’t even fully awake yet. Maybe you should sit this one out.” Her tone was one of clear discouragement, which Shen Qingyu understood perfectly.

However, Shen Qingyu simply blinked. “The baby says she wants to go.” The toddler let out two “ya-yas” as if on cue.

Jiang Weiqing felt a brief pang of disappointment, but she quickly realized that leaving Shen Qingyu and the baby alone in this eerie village was far more dangerous than keeping them close. “Fair enough,” she agreed.

The group set out with Granny Huang and Xiao Mi leading the way. “The Sea God Festival is our biggest annual event,” Granny Huang explained as they walked. “The Village Chief organizes it, and everyone must attend.”

“What do you use for sacrifices?” Jiang Weiqing asked curiously. Historically, livestock like pigs or sheep were common offerings for a good harvest, but she hadn’t seen any farm animals in the village—only seafood.

Granny Huang smiled mysteriously. “The Sea God is merciful. Our faith is enough for him.”

Faith… The word felt hollow and ethereal to Jiang Weiqing, far less substantial than a goat or a pig. Knowing she wouldn’t get a better answer, she dropped the subject.

The festive atmosphere in the streets was undeniable, even thicker than a holiday before the apocalypse. Stalls lined the road selling prayer lanterns, octopus-themed incense sachets, and handkerchiefs embroidered with blessings like:

[“Come quickly, Sea God’s feast.”]

[“Waves rise beneath the sky; the Sea God saves me with my faith.”]

Groups of children in new clothes sang catchy, innocent rhymes about the god. With everyone wearing the cute octopus hats, the crowd looked like a sea of little cephalopods.

“Those hats are actually pretty cute,” Lin Yunxia noted.

Duan Muyu’s eyes flickered. She pulled out two Level 3 crystals and handed them to a vendor. “I’ll take an octopus hat.”

The vendor stared at the crystals in confusion. “Sorry, we don’t take these.”

“These are Level 3 crystals!” Chen Huawei interjected, baffled. “One of these is worth a hundred hats!”

The vendor looked embarrassed and pulled out a small, yellow-brown seashell. “This is our currency. I’ve never heard of these ‘crystals’.”

“But these come from zombies—” Chen Huawei started, but stopped abruptly. Granny Huang had said there were no zombies here. If there were no zombies, there were no crystals.

As the argument grew loud enough to draw stares, Granny Huang pushed through the crowd. “Xiao Lin, ignore them. They’re outsiders; they don’t know the local ways.” She pulled two matching shells from her sleeve. “Sell the hat to me.”

The vendor’s mood improved instantly. “Outsiders, eh? My mistake.” He insisted on giving the hat to the baby for free as a gesture of goodwill. Other vendors followed suit, thrusting small gifts into the group’s hands until they were forced to accept.

“The villagers are so hospitable,” An Songyu muttered.

Jiang Weiqing remained calm, but she didn’t share his optimism. She knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Shen Qingyu leaned in close, her warm breath brushing against Weiqing’s ear. “Be careful. These people aren’t normal.”

Ever since the group’s “outsider” status was revealed, the villagers’ wariness had vanished, replaced by a gaze that was far too intense. It wasn’t the look of a host welcoming a guest; it was the look of a hunter watching a trapped animal.

As they left the market, the towering octopus statue loomed over them again. The crowd of worshippers was even larger now, the incense smoke so thick it blurred the air.

“The Sea God is always effective,” Granny Huang urged again. “Go bow and pray. Your wishes will surely come true.”

Jiang Weiqing smiled and declined. “Thanks, Granny, but we don’t believe in that stuff.”

The words had barely left her mouth when An Songyu and Chen Huawei hit the ground with a loud thud. They knelt before the statue with looks of profound devotion.

“It seems some of you believe,” Granny Huang chuckled. Jiang Weiqing’s face darkened.

Miao Jialing, furious, kicked the two men. “What are you doing? Are you trying to embarrass the Captain?”

The two men snapped out of it, looking at each other with identical confusion. “That’s weird… why did I kneel?” An Songyu muttered. Chen Huawei rubbed his nose. “I don’t know. I just saw the statue and a voice in my head told me to get down.”

“Is it a hallucination?” Miao Jialing whispered, her eyes narrowing at the statue. Between the morning’s seafood binge and the sudden kneeling, it was clear they were being affected.

Before Jiang Weiqing could intervene, a deep male voice called out to Granny Huang. A middle-aged man with a stern, honest face and deep furrows on his brow ran toward them, gasping for breath. A cigarette was tucked behind his ear.

“Granny Huang! Are these outsiders the powerful Espers you mentioned?”

“They are, Village Chief Li,” she replied. “What’s wrong? The festival hasn’t started yet.”

Li grabbed a cup of water, gulped it down, and cried, “I have to hurry! Three children from the orphanage were too naughty—they ran off to Sea God Island. It’s a death sentence!”

Granny Huang turned pale, and Xiao Mi’s eyes filled with terror.

“The festival hasn’t started yet,” Hutong noted. “Can’t you just go get them back?”

Granny Huang shook her head frantically. “No! Sea God Island is where the god rests. Villagers are forbidden to step foot there, or a curse will fall upon the entire village!” She grabbed Jiang Weiqing’s hand with her skeletal fingers, tears streaming down her face. “Please, masters! Go to the island and find them! If they aren’t out by dark, they’re dead for sure!”

The surrounding villagers began to plead as well. “Please help us!” “Those poor kids!” “You’re Espers; you can outrun the god if you see him!”

Granny Huang even moved to drop to her knees. Jiang Weiqing caught her, preventing the elderly woman from bowing to someone younger. “Granny, please, get up.”

Miao Jialing let out an annoyed huff. “Talk about moral kidnapping,” she whispered. Shen Qingyu nudged her, signaling her to be quiet.

It was clearly a trap. The timing was too perfect—the walk, the Village Chief’s arrival, the public pleading. If they refused, the villagers would likely turn on them. Jiang Weiqing looked at Granny Huang, trying to see her true motive, but the old woman kept her head bowed.

Suddenly, a smug, arrogant voice rang out behind them.

“If the Longyu Squad is too cowardly to take the job, the Longhai Squad will do it!”

Jiang Weiqing turned in shock. “Lin Wenguang? What are you doing here?” She tried to warn him. “Some jobs are better left alone, Lin.”

Lin Wenguang’s teammate nudged him. “Captain, this sounds dangerous. Maybe we shouldn’t…”

“Don’t be a coward!” Lin Wenguang snapped. He caught Jiang Weiqing’s mocking look and his competitive streak flared. “It’s a simple search-and-rescue. How hard can it be?” He turned back to her. “We’re taking the job. If you’re scared, get lost. I have no idea why my sister ever liked someone as spineless as you.”

He turned to Granny Huang with a charming smile. “Don’t worry, Granny. Finding those three orphans is on us.”

Granny Huang looked at Lin Wenguang’s team with visible skepticism. Jiang Weiqing suddenly laughed and slapped Lin Wenguang on the shoulder. “Granny, let him do it! He’s far stronger than me. Back at Dragon City, he’s basically second-in-command to the gods.”

Lin Wenguang couldn’t tell if she was praising him or mocking him, but he took the bait.

Village Chief Li was overjoyed. “The missing kids are Xiao Ming, Xiao Li, and Xiao Mei. Two boys, one girl, all around twelve. Time is short, so please head to the island immediately!”

“Now?” Lin Wenguang faltered. “I haven’t even rested yet.” His team had entered Lingshui Village by accident, hoping to regroup and wait for Lin Qitong and Xu Banmeng.

Jiang Weiqing grinned. “Oh? Are you backing out already? I thought you weren’t ‘spineless’ like me.”

Lin Wenguang’s face turned red. “No way! We’re going right now!”

Li pointed to a small fishing boat. “We have a boat ready. You can leave now.”

His teammate grabbed his arm. “Captain, Lin Qitong isn’t here yet! We shouldn’t split up.”

Lin Wenguang, the ultimate sister-con, regained his senses at his sister’s name. “We’ll leave in a bit,” he told the Chief. He could wait for Xu Banmeng, but he had to wait for Qitong. A zombie tide had separated them earlier.

Jiang Weiqing pouted in mock disappointment. “And here I thought I’d finally managed to trick you into leaving.”

Lin Wenguang glared at her. “I won’t fall for your games.”

“Suit yourself,” she shrugged.

“Captain, should we leave now?” An Songyu asked.

Before Jiang Weiqing could answer, a voice rang out near her ear.

“Weiqing… I finally found you.” Lin Qitong said, her voice full of longing.

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