Chapter 155: Set Fire
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
As it sensed no threat from Xia Xin, the little bird cautiously alighted on her shoulder.
“Could you deliver a letter for me?” Xia Xin requested, exchanging in-system currency for paper and pen. She quickly jotted down a few lines and handed the paper to the bird, intended for Jing Mo.
“But I have no idea what this man you’re talking about looks like,” the bird piped up.
Xia Xin offered a rough description of Jing Mo. “That should suffice,” she said, lacking any other option—her phone was dead, and she certainly wasn’t carrying a photo of Jing MO around with her. She could only pin her hopes on this petite avian courier.
“You sure you’ll be alright alone? You’d best avoid that direction; there are lions there. Approach and they’ll tear you to shreds,” the bird warned.
‘Lions?’ A thought flickered across Xia Xin’s mind. ‘Finding Jing MO was far from guaranteed; I need a backup plan.’
“I understand. Thank you,” Xia Xin told the bird, who then flitted off, letter in tow. Left alone, Xia Xin pondered her next move. ‘Should I venture toward where the lions were?’
“Where the hell is she? She’s got legs like a sprinter!” Xu Ping’s voice pierced the air, laced with frustration.
“And you! What good are you if you let a woman get the better of you?” Xu Ping berated Xu An, his sister.
Time was slipping through their fingers, and still, they hadn’t found Xia Xin. Xu Ping was livid, and Xu An became increasingly aware that their plan might fall apart. But there was a glimmer of hope: word came that Jing MO was still searching.
‘We must find her before Jing MO does,’ Xu An thought.
Xu Ping and Xu An’s voices, like a distant roll of thunder, reached Xia Xin’s ears. Xia Xin thought, ‘Had they really found me so quickly?’ Her eyes darted around, seeking a hiding place.
“What’s that?” Xu An pointed to some flattened grass in the distance.
“What do you think it is? Grass,” Xu Ping retorted, irritated.
“That’s not what I mean. Look, the grass here is knee-high. Over there it’s flattened. Could it have been trampled by Xia Xin?” Xu An clarified.
The penny finally dropped for Xu Ping. “Let’s check it out.”
“Be careful. This tall grass could hide snakes,” Xu An warned cautiously.
“As if that woman isn’t scared, why should we be?” Xu Ping replied dismissively.
Xu An wanted to retort but didn’t know what to say.
Xia Xin’s heart rose into her throat as they drew nearer. How she wished for a snake, or a handful of them, to intervene. The footsteps grew louder, driving her to desperation. She scanned her surroundings for any helpful wildlife.
Then Xia Xin’s eyes landed on an anthill. She seized control of the ants and sent them toward Xu Ping and Xu An. Just as they were about to step closer, the swarm of ants blocked their path.
“Ants!” Xu Ping yelped.
“So what? Step on them,” Xu An said, rolling her eyes.
“No, look!” Xu Ping’s voice trembled as he pointed at the ground.
Xu An’s gaze followed, and her scalp tingled with unease.
“Did we kick an anthill or something? Let’s get out of here! Who knows if these ants are poisonous,” Xu Ping hastily suggested.
Ignoring the potential danger of poison, the sheer number of ants could leave them covered in painful bites.
“Let’s burn them!” Xu An said as she clenched her teeth.
‘We are so close. If we turn back now, we’ll lose the chance of getting her and she will seek revenge on us.’ Xu An thought.
At the thought of that, Xu An lit the dry grass at their feet with a lighter she grabbed from Xu Ping.
In the wind, the dry grass became kindling, and a wall of fire spread rapidly. An overwhelming heat began to fill the air; sweat trickled down Xia Xin’s forehead. The fire was intensifying!
‘Xu Ping and Xu An had lost their minds—they were setting the mountain on fire! This area was home to numerous protected species, some even residing in conservation zones. The damage would be devastating.. Were they not afraid of the repercussions?’