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Chapter 214: Luci
Wheat, with tears in her eyes, held out a folded note. The little girl had spent the night with Luci, and due to the events that transpired, everyone had gone to bed late. She had slept deeply and hadn’t noticed anything unusual about the person beside her until she woke up this morning to find the bed cold and a folded piece of notebook paper resting on her pillow.
Jiang He unfolded the letter, revealing Luci's elegant handwriting. The content was brief, covering only half a page, and it was clear that she had written it with a calm demeanor.
"I'm sorry for my sudden departure. There's no need to rush to find me; everything I wanted to say is in this letter."
"Deciding to leave was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, so you all need not worry about me. Each of us will face our own endings, and I am no exception. It’s just unfortunate that I cannot walk the path ahead with all of you."
"I truly regret what happened this time, but unfortunately, my apologies cannot bring back innocent lives. Forgive my cowardly escape; perhaps one day I can apologize to them in person, even though it won’t change anything. Shaolian, Wang Lianzhang, I’m sorry."
"Jiang He, if I’m not mistaken, this letter is now in your hands. Good; the following words are for all of you."
"I have never regretted meeting you all, even though being with you has rarely brought a day of peace. I am grateful to have encountered such companions during these chaotic times and to have walked alongside you. Despite the many hardships we faced, I chose to leave the group early; I hope our unreliable leader won’t hold it against me."
"Since leaving the Gobi Desert, I’ve often felt as if I were living in another world. I don’t know what this feeling means; it just seems like I am unknowingly approaching some destination. In hindsight, that destination is not for all of us but belongs to me alone. I hope you all reach your destination safely and can start new lives there; you deserve it."
"I regret that I won’t be able to attend your wedding with Yao Yao. Here’s my blessing in advance: may you both enjoy peace and happiness in the days to come."
"Wheat, you've grown up. I believe you can do well even without Sister Qianqian by your side. Be strong, my little girl; your journey is still long, and your sister will always care for you."
"Dong Dong, thank you for our long conversation last night. I understand what you mean, but this time I must be willful—don’t be angry with me. Since leaving the Gobi Desert, I've rarely seen you smile. As a woman myself, I think I understand you; I just hope you can find your way out of confusion soon."
"Little Gold, take good care of your injuries. You are the most formidable swordsman I've ever met—bar none. When facing women, I hope you can wield your courage like a sword; Dong Dong is a good girl—I trust you understand what I mean."
"That's it then. There’s so much I want to say, but dawn is approaching, and I must leave. If you reunite with Brother Ming... well, I hope you both find peace."
"I've taken away the root of the problem; after all, it's all I have left."
"Goodbye, everyone. — Luci"
...
"I'll go find her; it hasn't been long since dawn, and she can't have gone far." Jiang He tossed the letter aside and stood up to head for the door.
"Jiang He," Song Yao and Zeng Yadong called out in unison.
"Hmm?"
"This was Qianqian's own choice; let's respect her decision." Zeng Yadong sighed and said, "She isn't someone who acts on impulse."
"Yeah, if she's leaving, then she won't want us to find her." Song Yao helped him sit down, folding the letter and tucking it into his pocket.
Jiang He sighed deeply, the sky outside appearing even gloomier.
The courtyard remained shrouded in gloom throughout the day; no one sang or danced anymore. Everyone busied themselves with their own affairs, and when they met, it was in silence. During this time, Wang Zhongyu visited once. Jiang He conveyed Luci's apologies, to which Wang Zhongyu could only respond with a long sigh. No one asked about the missing individuals anymore, as if they had never existed within the group. The Brothers in Arms kept their distance from Jiang He and his companions, avoiding each other as much as possible, speaking only when necessary, like strangers.
At noon, the team that had gone out searching for gasoline returned with a bountiful haul. After filling two vehicles to the brim, they still had plenty left over. In one of the guest rooms, Jiang He found several car keys and filled the remaining gasoline into the Raptor's tank. When they set off, Jiang He and his group drove at the back. The truck in front lowered its DIY curtain—out of sight, out of mind.
The convoy came singing but left in silence, leaving behind a desolate farmhouse courtyard that once again fell into deathly stillness.
dust as they sped down the empty highway. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the asphalt.
Luci stood on the rooftop, watching the convoy fade into the distance. A hint of sorrow flickered in her bright eyes, yet her lips curled into a faint smile, as if finding solace in their departure. In her arms, the Tabby Cat stretched lazily, licking its paw to wash its face.
The vehicles moved swiftly, kicking up a cloud of dust that vanished at the end of the road. Luci descended from the rooftop, cradling the large cat, and strolled back to the courtyard. A long banquet table made from several smaller tables still stood there, remnants of last night's feast scattered across its surface. The Tabby Cat leaped onto the table, sniffing around and picking at leftover food with delight. Luci chuckled softly, closing the courtyard gate behind her before making her way back to the house she shared with Wheat last night. The wooden door was ajar, and she could still catch a whiff of smoke lingering inside. Pushing the door open, she was taken aback by the sight of a heap of belongings strewn across the floor.
Approaching the bedside, Luci noticed a bucket of clean water pressing down on a folded piece of paper. Scribbled clumsily on it were the words "Luci's Start." Luci paused for a moment, stepping outside to glance around and confirm that Jiang He and the others had indeed left before returning to open the letter.
"I hope the one who opens this letter is you; otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain."
"We've left you some food and water; that's not the main point. The important part is that bucket of oil and what's under your pillow. This is all we could do for you. Take what we've left behind and reunite with Jiuquan and Ming the Great Hero. Don't rush to refuse. Afterward, follow the original plan but avoid Bohai Bay; head to the ancient city instead. Ming knows the way; let him guide you to town where there's a Fan Bar—that's our base of operations. Wait for us; we will reunite with you as soon as possible." — Jiang He.
At the bottom of the letter was an additional note: "Hey, if this letter isn't read by Luci, congratulations! You’ve won a prize; these things are yours to keep. Go wherever you like without needing to thank us." —Lei Feng.
Luci burst into laughter, clutching the letter tightly as she giggled uncontrollably until tears nearly spilled from her eyes. Wiping away her reddened eyes, she lifted her pillow to find a sleek black handgun resting beneath it along with a set of car keys. Picking up the gun, she discovered half a piece of paper tucked underneath it. Curiously lifting it up revealed another message.
"Sister Qianqian, you must come! —Wheat."
Luci sniffled slightly, lying back amidst the scattered items with an expression that was both amused and contemplative as she murmured to herself, "Let me think about it..."
&&&&&&&&
On the desolate highway, three cars raced past, raising clouds of dust as they sped away into the horizon.
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