I had long heard that the Refugees on the Wasteland were cruel and cunning, resorting to any means necessary for survival, but this young man before me...
Forget it, he is my Savior; no matter what, I owe him a huge favor.
“It seems there’s no time,” Phoenix Looked towards Tang Fei, her expression sincere as she Said aloud, explaining, “I have lost sensation in more than half of my body right now.”
“Oh, this is the effect of the Snake Skin Leaves juice. It not only has anti-inflammatory and sterilizing effects, but it can also paralyze the nerves and help heal wounds.”
Phoenix Looked towards Tang Fei’s swollen Purple-red lips and nodded slightly, saying, “Thank you. I will repay you.”
“Why mention that? I wasn't thinking about that when I saved you,” Tang Fei waved his hand nonchalantly, Said aloud, “However, if your family has any spare Flying Cars or guns and ammunition or something...”
Tang Fei looked shy, as if the following words were difficult for him to utter.
“Understood.” Phoenix nodded and said, “When I return to New Star, I will have someone send you a Flying Car and three Pulse Guns.”
“Then I thank you very much.” Tang Fei enthusiastically extended his right hand to shake Phoenix’s small hand, saying with a chuckle, “I was just saying casually; it’s fine even without those things.”
“When I saved you, I only had one thought in my mind: this was a living soul, and I couldn't leave her in the wilderness to be eaten by wild beasts, or gnawed down to nothing by fire ants.”
“It would be even worse if she fell into the hands of those Predators; that would truly be a fate worse than death. I guarantee you would have preferred never escaping that great tomb.”
“Plus one ton of Living Supplies,” Phoenix Said aloud.
“Oh my, you are too kind.” Tang Fei couldn't stop smiling, Said aloud, “How are you feeling now? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? If you feel any pain, I can chew some more Snake Skin Leaves for you.”
“Everything else is fine, just weak and powerless.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. You’ll be fine after resting for a while,” Tang Fei comforted, saying, “Are you hungry? Thirsty? Your mouth looks a bit dry; I’ll go find some water for you to drink.”
“Okay, thank you,” Phoenix Said aloud.
Since you saw my mouth was dry, why didn't you give me some water to drink? My throat is about to catch fire, okay?
Of course, she wouldn't say such things that would disrupt the atmosphere of stability, unity, and friendship.
She was currently completely powerless, unable to even muster the strength to stand. Having fallen into the Refugee district of the Wasteland, she knew nothing about the young man before her—his identity, background, or what kind of things he had done.
Or perhaps what kind of things he might do.
No matter what, she could not provoke him at this moment, and she had to show as much gratitude and honesty as possible.
Hmm, the degree of gratitude couldn't be too great either, lest he guess her true identity.
That would just create another troublesome matter.
The immediate priority was to ensure her own safety, then quickly recover her strength, and contact New Star to have them quickly send someone to retrieve her.
As for the debts owed by those people, she would settle them back there, little by little.
A blood debt must be repaid with blood.
Soon, Tang Fei returned with a large bowl of water.
Of course, this had nothing to do with the Flying Car, Pulse Gun, or the ton of supplies.
Phoenix tried to sit up to drink the water but found her body completely unable to move.
Tang Fei noticed her predicament and said, “It’s fine, just lie still; I’ll feed you.”
As he spoke, he pulled a bronze spoon from his pocket.
Clearly, he had prepared it in advance.
Phoenix glanced at the surface of the spoon and managed to suppress the urge to ask him to clean and Disinfect it. There was an old saying on Blue Star: 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Since she was on this Wasteland, nothing was more important than staying alive.
Tang Fei had no idea what she was thinking. For young people living on the Wasteland, potable water was a luxury; sometimes they would lie directly on the ground and stick their mouths into rivers or tilt their heads back to catch the stream water flowing down from mountain ravines.
Tools were never the issue.
Not even the presence of tools was the issue.
Tang Fei used the spoon to scoop water and fed it to Phoenix, spoonful by spoonful. Her dry, peeling lips were nourished and began to look moist and glossy.
Strangely, her face was growing redder.
“Shy?” Tang Fei thought to himself.
“Understandable. Which woman could withstand looking at me that closely?”
“Are you alright?” Tang Fei Said aloud.
“I’m fine.” Phoenix swallowed another large mouthful of water, glancing timidly at Tang Fei, and said, “Could you slow down a bit? You’re feeding me too fast, and I’m choking.”
She tried her best not to provoke these ‘Drifters’ on the Ruins, even asking such a simple and reasonable request cautiously.
“…”
Tang Fei actually felt a surge of anger mixed with embarrassment. I get my heart racing just looking at your face, and you are worried about a trivial issue like choking while looking at mine?
“Your throat is too shallow.”
Tang Fei decided to shift the blame onto Phoenix, as shifting responsibility was one of the essential survival skills on the Ruins.
“You need to practice more. The more you drink, the faster you swallow, and your throat will become deeper and wider.”
“…”
Tang Fei’s words were harsh, but his movements became much gentler and slower. After finishing the bowl of water, he Looked towards Phoenix and asked, “Do you want anything to eat?”
Phoenix shook her head and said, “No need, I’m not hungry yet.”
She did not want to make too many demands. Before they were familiar with each other and had established a basic foundation of trust, she would minimize the burden and negative impression she left on others as much as possible.
Living was the most important thing.
Of course, how wonderful it would be to have a steaming bowl of Snow Bull Noodles right now.
Thinking of Snow Bull Noodles, Phoenix involuntarily swallowed.
“What is your name?” Phoenix didn't want to think about Snow Bull Noodles, braised pork, spicy chicken feet, or dry-fried Sand Sea Ginseng, so she proactively started a conversation with Tang Fei.
“Tang Fei,” Tang Fei Said aloud. “Tang, as in the Tang Dynasty founder.”
“Then it must be the ‘Fei’ from ‘A gentleman is like a cut gem, polished and refined’?” Phoenix interjected.
Tang Fei gave her a meaningful glance and said, “No, the ‘Fei’ meaning bandit aura.”
“…”
Phoenix was slightly startled. Had this guy seen through her Weakness?
Impossible, right? He is so young and lives on this precarious Wasteland; how could he possess such deep insight?
“How could parents give their child such a strange name?” Phoenix’s expression remained calm, showing no change, and she Asked curiously, “I’m just wondering.”
“I heard it was because I was too good-looking when I was born. They were afraid I would be bullied when I grew up, so they gave me this name... They hoped I would act with a bandit aura in my speech and actions, so people would be afraid of me and no one would dare bully me.”
“Indeed.” Phoenix was stunned for a moment, then praised, “They are truly parents with foresight.”
“Yes,” Tang Fei nodded and said, “Unfortunately, they are both dead.”
“Dead?” Phoenix thought about the environment the young man survived in and offered comfort, “I am very sorry.”
“Did you do it?”
“Ah? No, I don’t even know them.” Phoenix quickly denied it.
Just kidding, she dared not take on such a serious accusation. If she did, this guy might just slaughter her like Prey.
There are no laws on the Wasteland, nor are there any concepts of kindness or virtue.
“Then what are you sorry for?” Tang Fei shrugged indifferently and Said aloud.
“I am merely expressing my regret.”
“Are all people from New Star as hypocritical as you?” Tang Fei stared at Phoenix and Asked, “For someone you’ve never met, you offer apologies and regrets. Do you always speak like that?”
“…”
Phoenix’s chest suddenly puffed up, indignant.
It took her great effort to suppress the anger in her heart, and she patiently explained to Tang Fei, saying, “Because you are my Savior, I felt very sad when I heard your parents are gone.”
She looked at Tang Fei with a sincere expression and Said aloud, “I know that in this environment, if you don't have parents by your side, you must have had a very difficult time.”
Tang Fei stared into Phoenix’s eyes for a long time, then nodded and said, “It really wasn't easy. So, stop lying to me.”
“How could I lie to you? You are my Savior, the person I will be grateful to my entire life.”
“Just now, you were trying to bind me to the banner of a ‘gentleman.’ Do you know? On the Ruins, a gentleman cannot survive.” Tang Fei smiled brightly, but his tone was incredibly serious.
“I understand.” For some reason, looking at his smile gave Phoenix a chilling feeling; he was much scarier when smiling than when not smiling. “I apologize, that was my mistake. I was just worried... worried you would harm me.”
“If I were a gentleman, adhering to gentlemanly etiquette, my situation should be safer, right?”
“How could that be?” Tang Fei waved his hand and Said aloud, “What benefit is there in harming you? None, right? Although people on the Wasteland have some strange quirks, I don't, and neither does my family.”
“Besides, I trust your character. You promised to gift me a Flying Car, Pulse Gun, and a ton of supplies... You will keep your word, right?”
“Yes.” Phoenix nodded firmly.
She understood the meaning behind Tang Fei’s words: there was no friendship between them, only a transaction.
Until a greater profit motivated him, she was absolutely safe, and there was no need to say inappropriate things or do thankless deeds like she had just done.
After all, no one wants to be manipulated.
Hmm, she needed to re-evaluate this young man’s intelligence.
And his level of danger.
（ps: Thanks to the Silver Moe from Piaodang Melbourne, who is also the beautiful operations officer who gave Old Liu a lot of help and support.
Thanks to the Silver Moe from Brother Yan Hui. Yan Hui’s dejection made me imagine him as a burly man with melancholy temperament, stubble, and hundreds of breakups, but when I met him, he was quite refined and handsome, which greatly impacted my status in the world of good looks.
Luckily, I held my ground.
Thanks to Quiet Handsome Man becoming our Moe Lord. I think a comment in the book review section about him was perfect: Quiet is fake, Handsome Man is fake, but the love for Old Liu is real.
Thanks to emonofu becoming our Moe Lord, an old friend who has always been here and never missed a beat.
Thanks to Ming Wei Meng Ying becoming our Moe Lord; I have watched this little girl grow up.
Thanks to Ting Feng Luo Ye, our Moe Lord. I chatted with her like a brother for a long Time, and only when I saw the word Simp in her social media feed did I realize she was also a girl.
Thanks to Sui Er Xiao becoming our Moe Lord; an old friend too. She’s great in every way except being a bit younger.
New book for new and old friends, thank you for your continued support.）