Deep within the narrow path stood several houses even more desolate than the little dark room where the Fu Family stayed. The cursing came from one of them.
Pang Fu dragged her net bag as she ran across the soft, overgrown grass, making little noise. Baba breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Inside the house, a young man in his twenties with long hair was brandishing a whip, lashing it across the body of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
The middle-aged man’s skin was torn and bleeding from the whipping. His whole body trembled, yet he gritted his teeth, refusing to utter a single word.
The look he gave the long-haired youth was even tinged with contempt.
Infuriated, the long-haired youth actually started hopping up and down as he whipped, cursing foully all the while. His appearance wasn’t exactly ferocious, but it was so ridiculous that it made Pang Fu giggle.
“Giggle, giggle…”
Clang… Somehow, a canned fruit rolled out, landing on the bluestone slab with a crisp sound in the night.
Baba was so scared his System nearly vanished.
[Run, run away.]
The little dumpling tilted her head foolishly and didn’t move.
“Who’s there?”
Dark night, howling wind, a child’s laughter, the clanging sound of something falling, accompanied by a cold gust—the long-haired youth clenched his buttocks tight.
Gripping the leather whip, he trembled as he walked outside. In just those few seconds, his back was soaked with sweat, enough to wring out water.
“Who is it? Speak up. Don’t you dare play ghosts with me.” That trembling voice—even a deaf person could tell he was scared.
Right by the door, Pang Fu looked up at him with her chubby face, her expression blank. “It’s Baby.”
“Ah… ghost!” The long-haired youth didn’t see anyone, only heard the voice. Terrified, he bolted outside in a frantic leap.
One step down, he stepped on the can, splat, and fell flat on his face.
His head hit the stone steps, and he passed out cold.
Baba… It could work like this?
Pang Fu???
“He dead?”
[Little Master, don’t mind him. Let’s hurry back.]
Pang Fu nodded emphatically, picked up her can, and was about to leave.
“Save me.” Inside the house, the middle-aged man spoke.
Pang Fu turned back and peeked inside from the doorway.
An oil lamp was lit inside the house, so the light was decent enough.
Baba urged Pang Fu to leave, but Pang Fu pretended not to hear.
“Who are you? Does it hurt?”
Zhou Hai glanced at the little toddler, then lowered his gaze to her net bag. Well, well, it looked very familiar.
“Little one, you took my things. Shouldn’t you help me out then?”
Pang Fu’s eyes were clear as she shook her chubby head. “No, it’s Baby’s.”
Zhou Hai chuckled lightly, which tugged at his wounds, making him suck in a sharp breath of pain.
This little thing had quite the thick skin.
“What’s your name? Who are your Father and Mother?”
[Little Master, don’t tell him. He might be a bad person.]
“What’s your name? Who are your Father and Mother?”
Baba breathed a sigh of relief. Good, this habit of his little master parroting back questions didn’t need to change.
Zhou Hai raised an eyebrow, no longer expecting to reason with a little chubby kid.
“Little friend, come over here and help Uncle untie the rope. Uncle will treat you to something delicious, okay?”
[Little Master, don’t go. If you untie him, he’ll hit you.]
Pang Fu widened her eyes. “Can’t hit Baby. Baby will cry.”
Zhou Hai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. You’d cry, and you think you’re in the right.
“I won’t hit you. Uncle never hits children.”
[That’s what liars say.]
“That’s what liars say.”
Zhou Hai snorted. This little thing was quite cautious.
“Then what will make you agree to help Uncle untie the rope?”
[Don’t help, Little Master. Let’s go.]
“Help.”
Baba…
Zhou Hai smiled even more kindly. “What a good Baby. Then come over quickly.”
That appearance was simply the epitome of a big bad wolf.
Baba frantically tried to stop her, but it was no use—Pang Fu had already stepped inside.
[No, little master, it’s dangerous.]
Pang Fu completely ignored Baba’s screams, waddling her chubby little body over to Zhou Hai. She tilted her plump head up to look at him, and then… nothing happened.
Zhou Hai…
“Good baby, help uncle untie the rope, okay?”
Pang Fu nodded: “Help.”
Seeing her not move, Zhou Hai couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration. If you’re going to help, then move!
Baba burst out laughing. Its little master didn’t know how to untie a rope. Oh my, the System was dying of laughter.
Zhou Hai probably understood too. Fine, she was still a baby nursing on milk. He wasn’t angry.
“Good baby, come here. Look where my hand is pointing, come on…”
Pang Fu was a curious baby. When told to look, she looked, stretching her short, chubby neck as far as it would go.
“See the rope on uncle’s hand? Can you help uncle take it off?”
Pang Fu obediently reached out to take it, her movements so light they were barely heavier than a tickle: “Can’t take it off.”
Zhou Hai… What was he even expecting?
“Good baby, there’s a small knife on the table next to you. Can you put it in uncle’s hand?”
“Okay.”
Baba, who had just been watching the commotion, suddenly panicked. [No, no, little master, it’s dangerous.]
Pang Fu had already placed the knife in Zhou Hai’s hand: “Knife dangerous.”
Zhou Hai curled his lips. The little one even knew how to care about others: “It’s not dangerous. Just stand farther away.”
Pang Fu toddled back to the doorway.
[Little master, run! It’ll be too late if you don’t.]
“Too late now.”
[Stop repeating what I say! Running is what matters.]
“What matters.”
Baba…
Zhou Hai used the knife to saw at the rope, listening to the Chubby Baby’s babbling. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes held a fierce glint.
The blade was quite sharp. It only took two minutes to cut through.
Baba watched him rub his wrists and stand up, its data going numb. [It’s over, it’s over, little master. We’re dead this time.]
“Dead this time.” The milky little voice even sounded a bit cheerful.
Baba…
Zhou Hai took a deep breath. Three days. He had been secretly captured and locked up here for three days.
That bastard Li Chaoying, playing hide in plain sight with him, locking him up in his own territory. Even if people outside noticed he was missing and searched the entire world, they’d never find him here.
Since he dared to lock him up here, he clearly had no intention of letting him leave alive. Fine, just fine.
He would make him pay back this debt with interest.
This little chubby thief was his lifesaver.
“Good baby, where’s your home? Should uncle take you home?”
[No, little master, don’t let him follow you. He mustn’t find out who you are. Let’s run!]
Hearing the word “run,” the Chubby Kid turned around and started toddling away on her short little legs, pattering along.
Baba…
Zhou Hai…
Zhou Hai strolled leisurely behind Pang Fu. Passing by Little Long Hair, he smirked and stomped hard on his head. A large pool of blood gushed from the wound on Little Long Hair’s forehead, and only then did Zhou Hai withdraw his foot, satisfied.
Just a small bit of interest.
He caught up to the Chubby Kid ahead, watching her drag a large net bag, clattering and banging all the way.
Fortunately, those bastards had been interrogating him these past few nights and had mostly dispersed the people. Otherwise, with the little thing’s flashy display, she would’ve been caught ten times over already.
Baba felt utterly exhausted. Little master, you’re running in vain. I told you not to help earlier.
It’s over.
In front of the cave entrance, Pang Fu skillfully crawled inside.
Zhou Hai raised an eyebrow, manually withdrawing a chubby baby.
Pang Fu???
Zhou Hai smiled and held the chubby baby in his arms. It was his first time holding a child, and he hadn’t realized how soft a baby could be.
Though the little one looked grimy, there was still a faint milky scent.
“Uncle will take you through the door.”
Pang Fu pointed at the small dark room: “Father, Mother, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, Brother, Sister…”
Baba’s mouth twitched uncontrollably—everyone was accounted for.
Zhou Hai chuckled softly. Despite his severe injuries, with not a patch of unblemished skin left and blood covering his body, he showed no sign of weakness. He moved with ease, his back straight as a rod—a truly tough man.