Chapter 7: The Dizzying Formation

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Second Sister-in-law Shi immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. There was no need for Shi Yuebai to explain further. Yet, hearing Shi Yuebai speak in such a manner still brought a measure of relief to Second Sister-in-law Shi’s heart. It proved that although all the men of the Shi family had perished, Shi Yuebai had grown up and was beginning to think things through.

Without hesitation, she continued along the established course of action, striking the man’s head again and again with the stick until she could no longer detect any breath from him.

“Yuebai, what do we do now?” Second Sister-in-law Shi’s hearing was exceptionally sharp. She knew that not far from the Shi family’s tent, Chen Lao’er and his group were still lurking. After killing Chen Lao’er, she was at a loss as to what to do next.

She held a natural trust in Shi Yuebai, though she couldn’t say where that trust originated. Shi Yuebai closed her eyes briefly. “Do nothing for now. Just wait.”

Having a blind woman wield a stick to kill was purely out of desperation. Chen Lao’er’s group, taking advantage of most of their team being out scavenging, would inevitably enter the Shi family’s tent. It was only a matter of time.

Anxious lines creased Second Sister-in-law Shi’s face. “That won’t do, Yuebai. We have to think of something.” Ideally, they needed to stall until nightfall, when the main group returned.

A trace of coldness appeared on Shi Yuebai’s face. “Second Sister-in-law, come here and pick up some small stones.” She continued, “Then arrange these stones according to my instructions.”

Second Sister-in-law Shi opened her mouth in disbelief. At a time like this, why arrange stones? Seeking help or finding more effective weapons would be far better.

Second Sister-in-law Shi hesitated, but Shi Yaoyao, a two-year-old child with limited intelligence, suddenly understood Shi Yuebai’s gestures. She picked up a stone about the size of a finger and said shyly, “Auntie, this one… will it do?”

“Yes, Yaoyao, very good,” Shi Yuebai praised, drawing a shy, innocent smile from the child. Yaoyao then dragged her weak, small legs to gather more stones of varying sizes.

Hearing her daughter move, Second Sister-in-law Shi steeled herself and began searching the ground, helping Yaoyao find small stones. Following Shi Yuebai’s directions, they placed the finger-sized stones at different points.

Though Second Sister-in-law Shi didn’t know what good this would do, a small stun formation was laid out. Shi Yuebai then began to channel energy from her body fat into the formation.

Second Sister-in-law Shi, sweating profusely, said, “Yuebai, I’ll find something for you all to eat.”

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“Are you hungry?” Shi Yuebai’s robust, plump fingers formed a hand seal, feeling the thick fat slowly converting.

Second Sister-in-law Shi’s face was full of concern. “I don’t really feel very hungry.”

“I’m worried about you and Yaoyao.” Counting the time, they had gone over 24 hours without food.

Normally, Shi Yuebai would have been restless by now, and Yaoyao would have screamed wildly. Because of these two, who could cause a ruckus regardless of time or place, the team kept them away from the main group, living under this stone pier’s rubble heap.

Shi Yuebai spread her hands, signaling she was still fine. Thinking of Second Sister-in-law Shi’s blindness, she said, “I don’t feel hungry, and Yaoyao hasn’t called out.”

“Don’t go outside now.”

Just as Second Sister-in-law Shi was about to speak, her ears twitched. She lowered her voice, “Chen Lao’er and his men are here.”

Her face went pale. Outside the tent, she could hear the footsteps of three men. They were muttering all sorts of lewd things, apparently discussing who would have the first turn once inside the tent.

Tears welled in Second Sister-in-law Shi’s hollow eyes. Choking on her words, she said, “I can’t bear to let anything happen to you and Yaoyao.”

Otherwise, she would have taken her own life long ago. Now, she only hoped Chen Lao’er and his men would spare her life so she could continue to cling to survival in this wasteland, like most other women without support.

Using her own body to exchange for a little food for Yaoyao and Shi Yuebai would suffice.

Shi Yuebai frowned, her gaze complex as she regarded Second Sister-in-law Shi. In all her years, no one had ever gone this far for her. And they weren’t even related by blood.

If Second Sister-in-law Shi sacrificed so much for her own daughter Yaoyao, Shi Yuebai could understand it. But why do this for her?

Her tone harsh, Shi Yuebai said, “You’re healthy and able-bodied. Just live for yourself. I haven’t treated you well before.”

“There’s no need to do this for me.”

Tears fell from Second Sister-in-law Shi’s eyes, her hollow gaze fixed in Shi Yuebai’s direction without focus.

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“But your Second Brother loved you the most…”

Not just Second Sister-in-law Shi; the entire Shi family cherished Shi Yuebai as if she were the moon in the sky.

Second Sister-in-law Shi truly loved Second Brother deeply. Now that both were dead, if anything happened to Shi Yuebai, Second Sister-in-law Shi wouldn’t know how to explain it to her husband on the other side.

Moreover, if she survived Chen Lao’er and his men’s hands, her future fate would likely be the same as most in this wasteland.

Whether for Shi Yuebai or not, her own fate would not change.

Shi Yuebai lowered her eyes and muttered bitterly, “Really… this is so foolish.”

She had never met a woman so foolish, which stirred an inexplicable ache in her heart, leaving her at a loss for words.

“Are you done arranging?” came Chen Lao’er’s impatient voice, followed by the fragile, filthy tent flap being lifted.

Chen Lao’er and two men behind him stepped into the stun formation on the ground.

Sensing danger, Yaoyao let out a piercing scream.

Chen Lao’er shook his head, feeling dizzy and confused as soon as he entered the tent.

The two men behind him shared the same sensation. One, in poorer physical condition, couldn’t even stand steadily, swaying unsteadily.

“I feel really unwell.”

Perhaps the tent was too close to the rubble heap. The confined, stuffy space made their heads ache.

One man even turned around and vomited, a foul stench filling the air.

Shi Yuebai frowned. “Second Sister-in-law, take the stick and hit them.”

“Hit them until they’re dead!”

Startled, Second Sister-in-law Shi immediately snapped to attention. Clutching the stick tightly, she swung it fiercely at Chen Lao’er and the other three men.

Though she was only one woman, and no matter how keen her hearing, she couldn’t have taken on three men at once.

But Chen Lao’er and the others were too dizzy and disoriented to defend themselves.

Before long, Chen Lao’er was struck on the head by Second Sister-in-law Shi and collapsed unconscious.

Looking down at the four men lying on the ground, Shi Yuebai instructed Second Sister-in-law Shi, “Search their bodies for any food, and dispose of the corpses.”