Chapter Forty-Four: The Search

More than twenty minutes passed before the roasted meat was finally ready. Number Four paused his actions but didn’t announce that the food was done. He swiftly pulled several large pieces of meat from the fire, only then shouting that it was cooked and everyone could help themselves.

In truth, as soon as Number Four began grabbing the meat, everyone except Long Yu had already reached out to snatch their share, their movements only marginally slower than Number Four’s. By the time Long Yu realized what was happening, there were only a few tiny pieces of meat left for him.

Number Four’s voice came, tinged with smugness, “By the way, Long Yu, I forgot to mention, this is how food is distributed in our team: whoever’s fastest gets the most. You were too slow, so those are yours.”

The others burst out in laughter at Long Yu’s bewildered expression.

A silent curse echoed in Long Yu’s mind. So this was how things worked here—he certainly learned something new today.

“Next time, you’ll see!” Long Yu thought indignantly, reluctantly picking up his meager scraps of meat.

Just then, the leopard at his side appeared at the perfect moment, nudging its head against Long Yu, sending persistent thoughts of hunger into his mind.

“Sigh, even with this little meat, I still have to feed you.” Resigned, Long Yu handed over two small pieces to the leopard, who devoured them in a couple of bites and immediately began pestering him for more, only to be shooed away.

“That’s it, there’s nothing left. Don’t ask me again. There’s raw meat over there—go eat that! Why is a leopard craving cooked food anyway?”

After sending off the clingy leopard, Long Yu hurriedly ate the remaining pieces before anyone else could take them. Number Four had truly done a fine job with the roasting—the meat was fragrant but not greasy, leaving Long Yu savoring every bite.

After the hearty meal, it was already past nine. With nothing else to do, the group sat around the fire in idle conversation.

The silvery moonlight pierced through the clouds, casting a luminous veil across the land and enveloping their backs in a gentle sheen. Not far off, birds played noisily among the tree branches, their forms several times larger than before the Cataclysm. Their beaks were long and sharp, leaving small holes wherever they pecked at the wood.

“Long Yu, what did you do before the Cataclysm?” someone asked.

Their conversation drifted aimlessly.

“What did I do? I worked as a tour guide for a travel agency, barely scraping by. Oddly enough, I should thank this era! If not for these times, I’d still be a tour guide in the company, probably never even able to find a wife.”

Through their chatter, Long Yu learned more about his companions. Number Two had been a chef in the capital, his whole family squeezed into a tiny house, with an eight-year-old son. After the Cataclysm, his parents died, leaving only his wife and son. He spoke constantly of his boy, and when his abilities emerged, he joined the army.

Number Three had been a soldier. After the disaster, his family went missing. He had tried reaching out to his hometown but found no trace of them—most likely, they hadn’t survived.

Number Four had once been a thief, but after the Cataclysm, he joined the military. He was loyal enough, though rather chaotic in his personal life. Zhao Yihan had once disliked this about him, but after some mutual compromise, they each took a step back. Since then, Number Four no longer flaunted his past exploits in her presence.

As for Zhao Yihan, hers was a family with a military tradition, though by her generation, they had mostly left the armed forces. She herself had a good job and a wealthy, comfortable home—but after the Cataclysm, everything changed.

“It’s the Cataclysm that leveled the playing field! People like you, with money, ended up starting at the same place as us,” Long Yu thought, a trace of envy coloring his thoughts toward Zhao Yihan.

Every era brings beneficiaries, and Long Yu was fortunate to be among those favored by this chaotic time. Once an insignificant figure, he had become one of the elite—what right did he have not to feel grateful for this era?

Number Two’s selfless devotion to his family, Number Three’s upright, justice-driven nature, and Number Four’s unrestrained, free-spirited way of living all left a deep impression on Long Yu.

After their conversation, the group retired to their tents, and the night passed uneventfully.

By morning, everyone was already up, even Zhao Yihan, likely due to military habits that left no room for sleeping in. Number Four had already started making breakfast, boiling a pot of meat stew from last night’s leftovers and some rations. Out here in the wild, conditions were harsh, but since even Zhao Yihan could endure it, Long Yu had no complaints.

After a quick breakfast, the group set off again in search of the Dreamcat. Days passed in a blur as, under Number Four’s guidance, they traversed most of the mountain range, yet not a trace of their quarry could be found.

“Captain, are you sure your information is reliable?” The fruitless days left Long Yu doubting the accuracy of their intelligence. How long could they go on searching without direction? He was beginning to feel like giving up.

“The information is definitely correct. Let’s keep looking—we’ll find it,” Zhao Yihan replied, brimming with confidence, though Long Yu had no idea where her certainty came from.

“Let me tell you something about the Captain’s past,” Number Two sidled up to Long Yu and began recounting stories. “She used to have a boyfriend, you know?”

“Her boyfriend must have been a lucky man! The Captain’s so beautiful. So, what happened?” Long Yu asked.

“They broke up, of course,” Number Two replied.

“How did that happen?” Long Yu wondered.

“She thought he didn’t love her anymore,” said Number Two.

“I really don’t know what you young people are thinking,” Number Two said with a touch of gravity, then continued, “The Captain is a good person, very capable, but she really knows how to stir things up with her boyfriend. She made him deliver flowers every day, buy gifts for every holiday, and she’d get upset every other day. We all saw it in the camp. The guy was decent, always busy with gifts, but he never got angry.”

“In times like these, when so many are barely getting enough to eat, why are there still people acting like this?” Number Two mused aloud, as if questioning both himself and Long Yu.

Long Yu pondered the question. Some things can’t be judged as right or wrong. Everyone has their own outlook on life and values. We can’t judge them; all we can do is keep our distance from those whose values differ from ours.

Who doesn’t want someone to treat them exclusively well? Who doesn’t wish for someone to love only them?

“How would I know? I’ve never even been in a relationship, not since I was born. Even if you ask me, I can’t answer,” Long Yu said.

“You’re this strong and still a…” Number Two looked at him in surprise.

“I didn’t deserve love before, and now, it’s not possible,” Long Yu replied, a note of helplessness in his voice.