Chapter 112: 112, Wild vegetables (Sixth update)

The next morning at dawn, Ren Xiaosu rose early, his vigor seemingly boundless since becoming a transcendent being, his body a relentless furnace of restless energy.

He had slept only four hours the night before, yet upon waking felt utterly revitalized.

Wang Yihang distributed the food he had brought, and now everyone shared what they had, no one hoarding.

As thousands of refugees trudged by with empty bellies, those near Ren Xiaosu’s group watched them eat, swallowing hard.

But they could only stare, too afraid to approach Ren Xiaosu for sustenance.

None were fools; they knew no one would share food now, and better to stay silent than invite scorn.

Wang Yihang had scavenged much, but the refugees had brought little, and the six hundred or so displaced souls trailing him were too many to feed.

In the end, only Wang Yihang and his most trusted followers ate, while the rest remained hungry.

“We must press on,” Wang Yihang said gravely: “Those who haven’t eaten need not rush—I believe we’ll find food ahead. From today, I’ll eat wild greens and bark with you all!”

The unfed refugees grumbled inwardly—yes, you’ve already eaten your fill before speaking of sharing wild fare.

Yet they dared not voice their anger.

Indeed, the refugee collective was far from united, as Ren Xiaosu had said—a mob, nothing more.

Wang Yihang led his followers forward, and their movement stirred the thousands behind them into motion.

Ren Xiaosu puzzled over this; had he been robbed, he’d never follow Wang Yihang’s lot. But these refugees were different—after being plundered, they still trailed the mob.

“Come,” Ren Xiaosu told Xiao Yumei and the others: “Barrier 109 is still far. We can’t afford to slacken.”

“Mmm,” Xiao Yumei nodded; most townspeople were sturdier than the barrier folk, having weathered hardships long ago.

At that moment, the students behind Ren Xiaosu stirred. When their female teacher rose, she cried out in pain and collapsed again. Ren Xiaosu glanced back to see some girls attempting to help her, only for the teacher to slowly rise, smiling: “I’m fine, children. Don’t mind me—we must not fall behind.”

A student whispered, “Teacher Jiang, I’m starving.”

They’d gone a day and night without food, and the arduous flight made hunger inevitable; some students already swayed with dizziness.

The woman, Jiang Wu, struggled. She comforted them: “Perhaps we’ll find food ahead. The people of Barrier 109 might rescue us. If not, I’ll gather wild greens for you.”

“Teacher, what do wild greens look like?” a girl asked curiously.

Ren Xiaosu glanced at her, noting the golden bangle on her wrist—yesterday, had they not been near him, the refugees would’ve stripped it away.

These children had grown up in a world shielded by the wealthy, unaware of the hardships beyond the barrier, let alone the nature of wild greens.

Jiang Wu was stumped too; she’d heard others mention foraging but had never learned to identify plants within the barrier.

Yet she was no fool—she subtly gestured toward Ren Xiaosu’s group, then whispered to the students: “See those ahead? They’re clearly capable. Whatever they gather, we’ll mimic.”

Only then did Ren Xiaosu realize this Jiang Wu had already deemed him the mightiest among the refugees.

“Shall we ask him for help?” a student ventured.

Jiang Wu shook her head: “With Barrier 109 gone, understand this—not everyone owes us aid. We must save ourselves.”

When they set off again, Xiao Yumei, Wang Yihang, and Yan Liuyuan seemed more spirited. Xiao Yumei glanced back at Jiang Wu’s group, then murmured to Ren Xiaosu: “There are many pretty girls among those barrier students, all your age. How about it—any catch your eye? At a time like this, a meal in hand draws followers.”

Ren Xiaosu chuckled wryly: “Forget it, Xiao Yumei. Reaching Barrier 109 is our priority.”

“Fine, fine,” Xiao Yumei grinned: “But if you change your mind, I’m here. I’ll help raise your children someday.”

Suddenly, Ren Xiaosu spotted a roadside plant and brightened, uprooting it whole.

Jiang Wu, witnessing this, quickly hissed to the students: “Go—find the same plant he holds!”

The students, desperate with hunger, rushed to the roadside.

“That plant,” Ren Xiaosu warned Wang Yihang, “mustn’t be eaten. I tried it two years back and was ill for days.”

Jiang Wu and the students fell silent, promptly discarding their finds.

Only then did Ren Xiaosu notice their mimicry. After a pause, he added: “The small clump by your feet is *Jincao*, or ‘pillow grass.’ It’s edible. Raw, it’s bitter from alkaloids, but compared to survival, what’s bitterness?”

Wang Yihang grumbled, “Why the lesson? My family’s always made *Jincao* dumplings—of course I know it’s food.”

Yet Ren Xiaosu’s words weren’t meant for him. Jiang Wu, having observed him closely, understood his intent.

It was meant for her.

Jiang Wu glanced at Ren Xiaosu, then turned to the students: “Gather the pillow grass.”

As she spoke, she looked back to find Ren Xiaosu already leading the way.

Yan Liuyuan, beside him, laughed: “Brother, you’ve taken a shine to that teacher? She’s quite the beauty.”

Ren Xiaosu shook his head: “I only hope a teacher like her lives long. That’s all.”

Jiang Wu, fleeing with so many students, must’ve endured much. In times like these, who cares for others’ fates?

Ren Xiaosu was selfish, yet he couldn’t help but admire her.