Chapter 40: Departure and Encounter with an Old Acquaintance

The earthquake lasted for a long time. Lin Buwan and her companions crouched on the ground, gripping each other's hands tightly.

A thunderous crash erupted in the distance—a massive explosion accompanied by flames shooting into the sky, illuminating half the heavens. After the explosion, the tremors ceased, but everyone was still left reeling, frozen in their original positions, unable to react.

It took quite some time before someone finally snapped out of it, raising their head to look around. The raging fire in the distance cast light over them all. When the first person saw the ruins—the buildings around them nearly all collapsed—they broke down and began to scream, their cries soon turning into wailing grief. It seemed they had loved ones who hadn’t managed to escape.

The sound jolted many others out of their stupor. They, too, looked around and took in the devastation, their own cries of anguish rising up. Lin Buwan’s face remained calm as she surveyed the destruction, then turned to check on Hua Xiao. Only after confirming she was unharmed did Lin breathe a sigh of relief.

Daodao and Black Bean, the two dogs, were enclosed safely in their midst, so they were unscathed as well. But perhaps it was their first time experiencing an earthquake of this magnitude—both dogs were terrified, whimpering as they pressed against their respective owners.

Lin Buwan stroked Daodao, exchanged a glance with Wei Qu, her eyes full of worry. An earthquake at a time like this was truly an ill omen. Not only had it driven everyone out into the open, but in such sweltering heat, with no rescue in sight, those trapped beneath the rubble had only one fate awaiting them. And most importantly, if the bodies of the dead were not properly dealt with, it would be all too easy for disease to spread. Lin Buwan dared not even imagine what might happen if the survivors fell ill with no medical care available.

“That was terrifying. We almost didn’t make it out,” came An Zicong’s voice at her ear. Hua Xiao, still shaken, clung to Lin Buwan, her face tense with lingering fear.

“We need to leave here as soon as possible,” Lin Buwan said as she squeezed Hua Xiao’s hand reassuringly, then turned to Wei Qu with a grave expression.

Wei Qu shared the same thought. He glanced around and replied in a low voice, “Let’s head for the stadium. It’s open and wide—less danger from aftershocks there.”

No one objected. The four of them stood up, pushing through the crowd to leave.

“Where are you going?” An Zicong, who had been nearby, sensed their movement and immediately called out.

Lin Buwan looked back at him, said nothing, and pulled Hua Xiao along, quickening her pace.

They had no intention of taking anyone else along, but if someone was clever enough to follow, she would not drive them away. For now, everyone was still in shock from the disaster, so staying together was not a problem. But once the panic faded, with no supplies and nowhere safe to rest, it was easy to imagine the chaos that would ensue among desperate people.

They struggled through the crowd, and just as they reached the edge, An Zicong and his companions caught up.

“Where are you going? Take us with you!” An Zicong called loudly, drawing the attention of those nearby.

Lin Buwan, growing impatient, was just about to respond when a sharp voice cut through the clamor.

“Lin Buwan!” At the sound of that familiar voice, Lin Buwan stopped in her tracks, her face instantly clouded.

She was about to hurry away when a hand suddenly grabbed her arm.

“Lin Buwan, why are you running? Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

Forced to stop, Lin Buwan turned her head to see the disheveled figure of You Yue, with the equally bedraggled and insolent Chen Yuebing following behind.

Her expression, already sour, turned cold as ice. Hua Xiao, seeing who it was, wore the same look.

“Auntie, what are you doing here?”

“It’s all because of that selfish girl, Lin Buwan. When the typhoon hit, she drove us out! There were no hotels with vacancies nearby, so we had to go all the way to a distant one, only to get trapped upstairs. We barely escaped being buried alive—thank goodness we ran fast enough,” You Yue recounted, a mixture of relief and resentment in her eyes as she glared at Lin Buwan.

“How could you be so selfish? How could you stand by and watch your own mother and brother die?”

“They’d only have themselves to blame,” Lin Buwan replied coldly.

Ignoring the way You Yue’s face darkened, she curled her lips with a mocking smile and added, “But the wicked live a thousand years—see, you’re still alive, aren’t you?”

“You! How can you say that? I’m your mother!” You Yue clutched her chest in outrage.

“I never said you weren’t my mother. But so what if you are? Even husbands and wives abandon each other in a disaster—what, is your precious son no use to you now?” Lin Buwan raised a brow at Chen Yuebing.

Her taunting look made Chen Yuebing bristle. His face twisted in anger as he strode forward and swung his fist at Lin Buwan.

Before he could reach her, Wei Qu intercepted him, catching his arm.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Wei Qu fixed him with a steely glare.

Meeting Wei Qu’s eyes, Chen Yuebing immediately wilted. He hunched his shoulders, but unwilling to lose face, forced himself to retort, “Who the hell are you? This is a family matter—none of your business!”

“Family matter? Sounds more like you’re about to commit domestic violence,” Hua Xiao, having regained her composure, unleashed her fury, lashing into him.

“You snot-nosed brat—think you can settle family matters with your fists? How dare you, you little punk? Who gave you the guts? You eaten a lion’s heart and a leopard’s gall, or what?”

Not content with just words, Hua Xiao took advantage of Wei Qu restraining Chen Yuebing and stepped up to slap him twice across the face, “smack, smack.” She’d wanted to hit him for a long time, and now, finally, her wish was fulfilled—her heart swelled with satisfaction.

“Yuebing! How dare you hit my son! I’ll fight you to the death!” You Yue wailed, rushing at Hua Xiao in a fit of maternal rage.

Seeing her charge, Lin Buwan stepped forward, blocking her path and catching her swinging arm midair.

“You dare lay a hand on my friend? Who do you think you are?” she said, flinging You Yue back.

Over the past weeks, Lin Buwan had been eating well and gathering supplies, gaining both strength and stamina. You Yue, by contrast, had been trapped in the hotel, short on food and water, and had just survived a brush with death—she was weak and drained.

Lin Buwan hadn’t even used much force, yet You Yue went sprawling to the ground, wailing in pain, unable to get up for some time.

“Lin Buwan, how can you raise your hand against your own mother? You’re utterly unfilial!” Even lying on the ground, You Yue didn’t stop complaining, her shrieks mixing accusation with agony.

“How much is filial piety worth? And why should I be filial to you? Do you even deserve it?” Lin Buwan sneered.

As long as she had no qualms about morality, she could never be coerced by it.

“Let’s go,” she said to Wei Qu, signaling him to ignore Chen Yuebing and hurry on.

Just as she was about to lead Hua Xiao away, another tremor suddenly shook the ground.