Chapter 138 - Han Qingyu Runs Amok

Han Qingyu cautiously raised his head to peek at the half-buried aircraft ahead.

Less than two hundred meters to go.

Per the Coalition’s knowledge, these aircraft were only set to self-destruct when the Sharpies realized they could no longer fight, leaving behind a blast of debris and a metal core.

Han Qingyu wanted to try a different approach and flip the script on the Sharpies instead. If he could smash the craft, he could take the metal cores for himself. If not, he could just absorb them.

After all, there was still one more on site, and he already knew it was with Adupu.

The Sharpies were all facing and attacking the outer perimeter of their expanding circle, meaning their backs were toward both him and their aircraft. Taking advantage of this, Han Qingyu rapidly crawled the two-hundred-meter gap and dove straight behind the aircraft.

If this were a routine operation on the front lines of the Witnesses—without the crowd and the chaos—he would never have been able to get this opportunity.

This was Han Qingyu’s first time observing an intact aircraft up close.

Although he had been quite close to one back in District 1123, when he destroyed the device, that aircraft had already opened like a clamshell. He had also only touched the pyramid-shaped object inside it, nothing else.

The spindle-shaped aircraft before him was perfectly seamless. Landing struts aside, its surface was as smooth as an egg.

Han Qingyu carefully examined it from top to bottom, then from bottom to top. He even ran his hands over it. Still, he couldn’t find the slightest hint of a crack. Even the ejection port where the Sharpies emerged had retracted, as if it never existed at all.

Most importantly, he couldn’t sense the metal core at all.

Is it sealed off? Let’s just try absorbing it.

In the past, he had almost always absorbed the metal cores passively, even thoughtlessly. This time, Han Qingyu took the initiative to rest his hand on the aircraft and pull at any energy with all his might.

Nothing happened.

Fuck, so it really is sealed off! Does that mean I have to cut down the Sharpies first and wait for the ship to self-destruct?! Han Qingyu briefly mulled it over. I’m not giving up yet.

Drawing a dead iron straight blade from his shoulder, he stabbed at the surface of the aircraft.

He only managed a faint scratch.

Taking a breath, he tried again. This time, he mustered all his strength and even channeled his liquid source energy.

A small dent appeared.

Overcome with excitement, Han Qingyu struck more than a dozen times in quick succession.

A notch about two knuckles deep appeared.

It hadn’t pierced all the way through yet, but considering the thing was only slightly larger than a jeep and housed two Sharpies, he figured its wall couldn’t be that thick.

In any case, things looked promising. It probably wouldn’t take him long to break through.

Han Qingyu gripped his blade, preparing to unleash another round of fierce stabs when two roars filled the air.

Peeking around the aircraft, he saw two Sharpies had spun around with their pillar swords and were charging toward him and the aircraft. They resembled ferocious beasts racing back to defend their den.

“I...”

There was no way he could hold them off. He couldn’t even handle one, let alone two!

But he was about to break through—so close yet so far.[1] Han Qingyu’s heart ached with reluctance.

Run. The most important thing is staying alive.[2]

As he was about to turn away and run, he had an impulse to try to pick up the shuttle, perhaps because he couldn’t bear to leave it behind.

He actually managed to lift it.

He didn’t know how heavy it was, but with the liquid source energy and the maneuvering device working in tandem, he couldn’t help but feel it wasn’t very heavy at all. In fact, it was much lighter than he’d imagined.

Through sheer reflex alone, Han Qingyu unthinkingly gripped the landing struts of the craft with both hands and yanked the thing out of the ground in one swift motion.

It felt even lighter once it was no longer half-buried.

He instinctively slung it over his shoulder and sprinted away.

The two Sharpies froze for a moment.

Then, as they finally came to their senses, they gave chase, rapidly closing in.

Han Qingyu had actually inadvertently saved lives by doing this. Drawing away two Sharpies had considerably eased the chaos on site.

Many could finally take a moment to assess the situation. Some raised their heads or glanced around, puzzled.

Then they froze.

A pair of lower legs could be seen beneath the craft. They wore the pants and shoes of the Oriental Republic Army Group.

Is that a person?! It is! They seemed to have—wait, they straight up stole one of the Sharpies’ aircraft. Is this some kind of special tactic that the Oriental Republic Army Group uses?! This was an option?!

Shen Yixiu, Wen Jifei, Yin Caixin, and He Tangtang all leaped to their feet.

Unlike the others, this scene did not bewilder them in the slightest. Rather, they were worried, frantic, and furious.

“Little Qing! Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Wen Jifei shouted from behind, his voice brimming with anger and worry.

There was no way Han Qingyu was about to run over to Wen Jifei and the others when two Sharpies were chasing him, though.

The figures of the man and the Sharpies receded into the distance.

“Drop it, Little Qing! You fucking idiot, just drop it!” Wen Jifei bellowed. “Are you crazy?!”

But Han Qingyu was too far away to hear him.

“Little Qing!” the other three cried out in alarm, maneuvering devices humming as they gave chase at top speed.

Only Wen Jifei hesitated before resolutely turning around and sprinting in the opposite direction, toward the outskirts of the battlefield.

I’m such a fucking loser, Little Qing. I can’t even catch up. Even if I could, I’d only end up distracting you because you’d have to look out for me. I might end up getting you hurt instead.

If I stay here... But so many people have already seen me. What if the Wipers or the Arabs catch me and use me to threaten you?

I don’t want to burden you, Little Qing.

You fucking idiot. There has to be something wrong with your brain. How do you even think of doing something like this?!

Just don’t get hurt. Please don’t get hurt, Little Qing.

Rust Girl, I’m counting on you.

Wen Jifei’s mind raced as he ran, mentally cursing Han Qingyu all the while. Still, he dared not look back, focusing solely on running as fast as he could. Every time he tripped, he would simply leverage the momentum into a forward roll before scrambling back to his feet.

He fell over and over, but he got back up just as quickly each time. Even after he left the combat zone, he continued his frantic sprint toward the edge of the trial grounds.

When he joined the team, he had only done so to make up the numbers. He had already promised himself that he would only help with supplies and maintenance, determined not to be a burden. So, when this crisis struck, and there was no safe place for him to hide, he ?acted with a clarity, calm, and speed that far surpassed the others on site.

As he’d anticipated, some ill-intentioned individuals were indeed preparing to target the stragglers in Han Qingyu’s team. However, by the time the idea came to mind, Wen Jifei had already vanished from sight.

***

Am I really that fast?

Han Qingyu honestly hadn’t been trying to show off or prove his strength. In fact, he’d regretted picking up the aircraft almost as soon as he did it. Even he was taken aback by his own audacity.

The only reason he kept running was that he couldn’t help but test the waters. If he took a few steps and realized he couldn’t outrun the two Sharpies, he could always just throw the aircraft off a cliff and leave them to search for it. That alone would count as saving his comrades, after all.

As he ran, however, he had peered over his shoulder and was stunned to realize that his speed was actually on par with the two Sharpies—slightly faster, even. This was thanks to the combined effects of the liquid source energy and the maneuvering device.

I can give it another try! Han Qingyu tilted the craft slightly to the left, kept a tight grip on the landing strut with his left hand, and drew his blade with his right.

He then stabbed at the same spot.

Unfortunately, this position made it difficult to strike with much power, so it had little effect, and he found himself slowing down without realizing it.

Feeling the Sharpies closing in, Han Qingyu had no choice but to sheathe his blade and focus on running. Once he put some distance between them, he took another quick stab.

He ran aimlessly.

Originally, he had intended to run toward a less crowded area and make the best of this situation, but the trial grounds were teeming with people in disarray. He could stumble across them anywhere.

The best he could do was make sure he didn’t head toward Plague Chicken and the others. All that was left after that was to go where his feet took him and try to avoid anyone he encountered.

There wasn’t actually much need for the latter, though. Two Sharpies were chasing him. Those who saw instinctively kept their distance, hoping Han Qingyu wouldn’t charge toward them with the Sharpies in tow.

Nobody could fathom why Han Qingyu was even doing such a thing.

As he ran, he suddenly spotted the Arab group, and with them, his beloved Prince Adupu.

1. The original proverb is 差之毫厘，失之千里 (chā zhī háo lí, shī zhī qiān lǐ), which means “an error of a single hair can cause one to miss the target by a thousand miles.” ☜

2. The original proverb 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 (liú dé qīng shān zài, bù pà méi chái shāo) literally translates to “as long as the green mountains remain, there’s no need to worry about firewood.” Basically, as long as you preserve your foundation or stay alive, you will always have future opportunities for growth or success. ☜