A catastrophe had ended with the arrival of the Wang Consortium’s troops. The people who were still alive could only count themselves fortunate, while the dead would soon be forgotten.
The entire stronghold was filled with wilted creeper vines. The gray vines and withered leaves scattered all over the ground made Stronghold 61 look bleak and desolate, like the stronghold were a newly formed ruin.
Ren Xiaosu felt that it would take a lot of time just to clean up the dead vines. To the Wang Consortium, their most significant loss was actually not the facilities in the stronghold but the people.
In this day and age, the consortiums were well aware that there would only be productivity with manpower.
When the creeper vine attacked the stronghold, it did not really damage the facilities at all. Even the power supply was untouched and communications were not cut off. Although there was a slight malfunction in the power grid during the period due to a lack of maintenance, the backup power supply was immediately activated.
Under such circumstances, the stronghold did not seem to have suffered any major losses in terms of structural damage.
However, it was undeniable that several hundred thousand people in Stronghold 61 had died. The people who supported the light industries, service industries, and commerce of the stronghold were all gone now.
Without heavy industries, there would be no core competitiveness. Without light industries, life would become uncomfortable and business would also decline.
Ren Xiaosu quickly led Wang Fugui and the others out of the stronghold. He brought everyone back to his own house and laid down the unconscious Zhou Yingxue.
Wang Fugui looked at the little courtyard house and said, “Xiaosu, have you been living here all this time?”
Ren Xiaosu thought for a while before saying, “Well, not really. I’ve been to many places, such as Luoyang City, Stronghold 73, 74, 63, and 62…”
Wang Fugui thought to himself, ‘Why do these strongholds sound so familiar?’ He remembered he had read the bad news of these strongholds in the newspapers. For example, the cave-in at East Lake in Stronghold 73, the nuclear strike on Stronghold 74, and the battle between the Anjing House and the Pyro Company in Stronghold 63…
“Xiaosu, other than Luoyang City, those places that you mentioned all seem quite dangerous.” Wang Fugui asked with concern, “Nothing happened to you, right?”
Ren Xiaosu comforted, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. I can’t say the same for others though.”
Wang Fugui and Jiang Wu were speechless.
Although he sounded really relaxed, Wang Fugui somehow felt that Ren Xiaosu must have gone through a lot of danger. He asked, “Xiaosu, how did you survive back then? Can you tell us about it?”
With a chuckle, Ren Xiaosu said, “After that spear pierced me through the abdomen, I was saved by some big shots of the Wang Consortium who happened to pass by. They were the ones who went to the Northwest to discuss the opening of the trade routes. At that time, they told me the spear had coincidentally pierced my appendix… and my other organs were not seriously injured….”
“App-Appendix?” Wang Fugui and the others were all dumbfounded. How could it be such a coincidence?
Actually, Ren Xiaosu thought of something after the incident. Perhaps the spear had only pierced his appendix because of Yan Liuyuan’s wish? But if it were really because of him, what kind of backlash would Yan Liuyuan have suffered?
He looked at Wang Fugui. “By the way, where’s Liuyuan?”
Ren Xiaosu swept his gaze over everyone. But after looking at all of them, he did not see Yan Liuyuan and Xiaoyu. “Old Wang, where are Liuyuan and Big Sister Xiaoyu?”
Wang Fugui fell silent while Wang Yuchi and the others looked away. Ren Xiaosu asked again, “Old Wang, please answer me. Where are Liuyuan and Big Sister Xiaoyu?”
“It’s like this.” Jiang Wu explained, “When we got swept away by the flood, we were not together with Yan Liuyuan and Xiaoyu. I only had time to keep these people together with the plum branches I conjured. The currents were very rapid and we were washed away in the blink of an eye. We were unable to save the two of them….” Jiang Wu still felt a little bad about it.
Ren Xiaosu stayed silent for a while before saying, “Ms. Jiang, you’ve already done great. There’s no need to feel guilty.”
To be honest, Ren Xiaosu felt a little fortunate that so many people had managed to survive. He calmed himself down and said with a smile, “I believe that they must still be alive, but it’s just that we don’t know where they are right now. I’ve published something in Hope Media’s newspaper. If Liuyuan sees it, he’ll definitely rush to Stronghold 61.”
Wang Fugui hurriedly said with a smile, “Yes, that’s right! A kid like Liuyuan is very smart, so he definitely survived. At that time, I vaguely saw them on the shore, and it did not seem like they were threatened by the flood. However, I didn’t get a clear look, so I can’t be sure either.”
“What about Yang Xiaojin?” Ren Xiaosu asked, “I know she was definitely fine at the time because she was quite far away from the floodwaters. Did y’all see her again after that?”
Old Wang said awkwardly, “We haven’t seen her either. But since she’s fine, you’ll definitely get to meet her again someday.”
At this moment, Ren Xiaosu was still unaware that Yang Xiaojin had headed downstream of the river to look for him like crazy after he got speared. When she realized the chances of finding him were too slim, she hunted down the enemy next. That enemy was Han Yang, and he was Zong Consortium’s superhuman who pierced Ren Xiaosu’s abdomen with the spear.
She chased after Han Yang all the way to the foot of Mt. Guan, putting him through despair before sniping him dead.
“Oh yeah.” Ren Xiaosu changed the subject and asked, “How have y’all been doing during this period? Old Wang, it looked like you and that Wang officer are close?”
At this moment, someone knocked on the front door. Ren Xiaosu frowned. Who could be knocking on the door at this time?
When he opened the door, he was surprised to see that the Great Hoodwinker had come to visit.
The man rudely stepped into Ren Xiaosu’s house. When he saw Wang Fugui, he said happily, “You’re Wang Fugui, aren’t you? I just restored comms with Fortress 178 and found out you’re still alive. Congrats!”
Ren Xiaosu raised an eyebrow. “Great Hoodwinker, what’re you doing here?”
“I’m just here to have a look. Can’t I come by since I’m free?” The Great Hoodwinker sat down on a chair and made up his mind to impose himself here.
Ren Xiaosu had no choice but to introduce him to Wang Fugui. “This is an intelligence agent from Fortress 178. He was previously in charge of the intelligence gathering in the Zong Consortium’s territory. After the Zong Consortium was destroyed, he came to the Central Plains.”
“Xiaosu”—Wang Fugui suddenly thought of something when he heard this—”I heard from Zhang Xiaoman that you had participated in that war and personally avenged all of us? It must have been very dangerous, right?”
“It was not dangerous,” Ren Xiaosu said with a smile. Of course he would just mention the positives and not bring up the negatives at all. Since it was all in the past, he should not let Old Wang and the others worry about him. Simultaneously, Ren Xiaosu even shot a warning look at the Great Hoodwinker to stop him from babbling nonsense.
However, the Great Hoodwinker ignored him. He piped in, “You guys might not know this, but the war was tragic and earth-shattering! Ren Xiaosu won over the vast majority of our officers and soldiers of Fortress 178!”
Next door, Qin Sheng, who was eavesdropping on the conversation, had a glint in his eyes. These people had finally mentioned something that he wanted to hear. Previously, the relationship between Ren Xiaosu and Fortress 178 was a mystery that puzzled this young Rider. It sounded like it was finally time to confirm his suspicions.
