Chapter 136: 136, Xu Xianchu is here!

The driver had intended to rebuke Ren Xiaospu, to bid him keep his distance, yet when their gazes met, he faltered on the spot.

"Oh, thank you," Ren Xiaospu nodded, his eyes drifting toward the affluent district. Within this barrier, the divide between the destitute and the opulent was starkly evident.

When Ren Xiaospu uttered his thanks, the tram driver blinked in bewilderment, as though he had long regarded them as a raging flood, yet never imagined such courtesy from Ren Xiaospu.

Before he could gather his wits, Ren Xiaospu pressed on, "When does this tram return?"

The driver hesitated, "Perhaps you should take the next one—it arrives in twenty minutes."

Ren Xiaospu fixed his gaze upon the driver, "Your choice is unwise."

"…Please, passengers, hold fast."

…

On the return journey, Ren Xiaospu alighted near their shop, for he had glimpsed a goldsmith’s!

After confirming no pursuers trailed him, he entered with feigned nonchalance, only to find a wanted poster plastered inside.

Ren Xiaospu’s breath caught—this was none other than Xu Xiance! The photograph showed him in pristine private military attire, a work snapshot from his days in the barrier.

"Master, who is this?" Ren Xiaospu inquired.

"No idea. The Order Bureau just posted it today," the goldsmith replied. "They said to report immediately if seen, with a reward. Other places haven’t posted it—why here? Because the Qing consortium was robbed of gold. The Order Bureau is now scrutinizing all unverified gold sources. Any without the consortium’s mark or oxidized must be reported."

"Why here, then?" Ren Xiaospu’s pulse quickened.

"They say it’s because of the stolen gold. As for details, I know nothing. You… do you have business here?"

"No, no…" Ren Xiaospu fled at once.

In that moment, Ren Xiaospu was consumed by melancholy. He realized the Qing consortium might have noticed the gold still on him.

Though he had set down the gold wrapped in his coat, any audit of the goldsmith’s missing stock would reveal discrepancies—and a glaring shortage.

For the gold had gathered dust; its absence would leave unmistakable traces.

Ren Xiaospu abandoned hope. He knew the Qing consortium’s presence here meant they had uncovered something, seeking him at the source of the sale.

No—it was Xu Xiance they sought.

At that very instant, Xu Xiance had just arrived at the outskirts of the 111 barrier’s settlement, having wandered for days, starving, until he reached this place.

Along the way, Xu Xiance had ridden shadows whenever his strength permitted. Though swift, the jolting left him near-vomiting.

Worse still, without Ren Xiaospu, the wasteland offered no sustenance—only wild vegetables, which had wracked his bowels for a day.

Yet as a transcendent, his constitution was ironclad; even toxic greens could not fell him.

Now, Xu Xiance longed for human civilization’s fare—he had begun to see stones as steamed buns!

But as he reached the settlement’s crossroads, several gazes fixed upon him.

Xu Xiance approached a hut, calling out, "Hello, do you have food? I can pay."

He eyed the darkened steamed buns within, swallowing hard…

The man emerged, eyeing Xu Xiance, "You’re not from our settlement—your face is unfamiliar."

"Cough, just passing through," Xu Xiance lied, thinking his sun-darkened visage would shield him.

Yet the refugee suddenly cried out, "Xu Xiance! He’s here—everyone, come quickly!"

Xu Xiance: "???"

On the road to the 111 barrier, Xu Xiance had wavered. It was the Qing consortium’s headquarters, yet he deemed a brief stop harmless.

Now, he knew his error!

The consortium must have issued a warrant—otherwise, these refugees would not swarm like this.

Yet he had done nothing! In Jing Shan, he had never even entered the quarantine zone. Why such fervor to hunt him?

Still, Xu Xiance worried for Ren Xiaospu and Yang Xiaojin. If capturing him—a man never in the zone—required such effort, what of their pursuit?

Without hesitation, Xu Xiance summoned his shadow, kicking aside the refugees. He dashed into the hut, snatching the darkened buns and fleeing!

This place was no refuge. He must seek lands beyond the Qing consortium’s grasp—perhaps the 109 barrier, ruled by the Li consortium!

A vast convoy rumbled in the distance. Xu Xiance clung to his shadow’s back, fleeing into the wasteland as the refugees gave chase.

The refugees halted, awestruck—witnessing a transcendent for the first time!

The convoy slowed as it entered the settlement. Qing Ziran, grimy and haggard, cursed his fate. Without the consortium’s escort beyond Jing Shan, he wondered when he’d return to the 111 barrier.

Seeing the chaos, Qing Ziran frowned, "Xu Man, ask them what’s amiss."

They were too distant to discern the cause.

Xu Man rolled down the window, addressing a refugee, "What happened?"

A deferential refugee approached, "We’ve found Xu Xiance."

Qing Ziran sat upright, "Xu Xiance? Where?"

The refugee pointed, "He fled into the wasteland…"

"…Send men to seize him. The Special Operations Sequence—they know the wasteland better than he does."

"Boss," Xu Man hesitated, "you’ll be placed under house arrest soon."

"…Which direction?" Qing Ziran asked.

Xu Man considered, "Boss, that’s toward the 109 barrier."

"Contact Luo Lan," Qing Ziran gritted out, "If Xu Xiance appears near 109, he must be captured!"