There was a suffocating heatwave in the air, as the sun blazed brightly like in July or August even though it was only in April. The anomalous weather had been devastating to the vegetation, as all the plant life on the main road could be seen drooping over, with even some of the smaller younger gra.s.s already looking withered. It was as though they were all bent over, begging for mercy from the scorching sun.
Zhang Xiao Qiang drove the tractor on the main road, while decked in the camouflage military uniform.
His entire back was drenched in perspiration, and the hot air that blew in his face didn’t help at all, only serving to make it more unbearable. The clothes on him became drenched before drying, then getting drenched again, revealing patches of white salty spots.
Yang Ke’er sat behind in the trunk, breathing loud, the camouflage uniform taken off, wearing only a tube. Her upper body was slick with perspiration as well, while she had a handheld fan from goodness knows where. Her legs were propped up on a sack of rice, while there were plenty of rations and other items packed beside her, as well as some clothes and blankets.
This was the 3rd day of sun since the rain stopped, and it was the 2nd day since Zhang Xiao Qiang and Yang Ke’er set off. Before they left, Zhang Xiao Qiang had to drag Yang Ke’er to the tractor and pile up stones to seal the entrance to the cave. As long as there was no one who knew the terrain well that came, the cave would be practically invisible. The half-full pail of rainwater was also kept in the deepest recess of the cave.
As they left, Yang Ke’er was extremely unwilling, even though the cave was simple, and lighting was poor, it was extremely safe. They had moved everything themselves and gradually prepared the cave to be habitable.
“We will come back!” Zhang Xiao Qiang had promised her, while thinking to himself: “No computer, no internet, no big-breasted women, only a ghost would come back here.”
“It’s so hot! So hot! So hot!!! Argh so hot! So hot! So hot!!” Yang Ke’er continued to moan and groan behind, as though her whining could drive away the heat.
Due to the excessive dehydration through perspiration, Zhang Xiao Qiang was beginning to feel faint. The on-off dry and wet clothes with sweat spot were also extremely uncomfortable. Lastly, the loud complaining of Yang Ke’er behind was droning in his ears.
“Crunch.”
Zhang Xiao Qiang brought the tractor to a stop and shouted at Yang Ke’er: “Enough! Stop complaining, it’s getting on my nerves!”
“……”
Yang Ke’er immediately shut up, but her hands continued to work the hand-held fan faster, as though to work the indignation out.
Zhang Xiao Qiang pulled out an empty bottle beside him and handed it to her: “Help me fill it up, add some salt in it.”
As his throat was parched, it felt like fire just to speak, and his voice sounded extremely hoa.r.s.e and croaky.
“Uncle! Can we just find a place to rest? Don’t you find it hot as well? Please?”
Yang Ke’er seemed to not mind that she was just covered in a tube, as she tried to shake her hips to plead with Zhang Xiao Qiang. Her fair skin was currently baked slightly red in the heat, looking like an apple.
On the other hand, Zhang Xiao Qiang was oblivious to the surroundings, awaiting for the bottle to be handed to him, and he instantly drained it down.
“Uncle, please answer me! I’m getting fainter! Look at my skin and how boiled it is!”
She continued pleading with him.
“I’m driving and not complaining, you’re just sitting there but have so much to whine about!”
He was starting to look down on her, this la.s.s really did not know how to endure a little hards.h.i.+p. In the past, while finding work, he would ride the bicycle in the heat, cycling the entire day. When he didn’t have money to buy water, he would just find natural water sources by the road side!
“Hai! In any case, I’m your wife-to-be, can’t you just give in to me? Otherwise, I’ll just strip naked and lay on the top of the tractor, not wearing anything, we’ll see who suffers then!”
Yang Ke’er resorted to threatening, shaking her fist at Zhang Xiao Qiang, although the ‘wife-to-be’ was termed by herself.
“…….”
Her threat was really useful, as Zhang Xiao Qiang began to hesitate: “This la.s.s dares to even do such things, if it’s seen by others, she will really be taken advantage of.”
“Although her figure isn’t anything, but she’s pretty decent, now she’s still young and has plenty of time to mature. I’ve taken care of her for so long, if she really were to be hoodwinked by some other pretty boy, I’ll really cry next time.”
As he thought to himself, he seemed to have forgotten how he usually bullied her.
“Alright alright! I’m afraid of you! Let’s find a place to rest then!” He also felt the heat getting to his head, and was actually looking forward to a momentary break.
“Yay! Victory! The leader is a paper tiger!”
Yang Ke’er immediately forgot herself and hollered out that slogan from the cave, until she saw Zhang Xiao Qiang’s expression and immediately swallowed her saliva, shutting her mouth.
By the roadside, there was a huge green tree, with a trunk that not even 3 people could fit around. It provided a large shade and looked extremely appealing.
Zhang Xiao Qiang drove the tractor slowly, stopping beneath the tree. Before he even turned the engine off, the la.s.s had already grabbed her spear and leaped down the vehicle. The shade and air beneath the tree were immediately cooler, and Zhang Xiao Qiang heaved a sigh as he prepared to get off.
A long shadow suddenly pounced towards him.
He had just stood up, one foot in the driver’s seat, the other outside the vehicle on thin air. He hadn’t even had the time to react to the shadow when all he saw was a pair of red eyes. A mouth full of sharp white canines was opened wide, preparing to chomp at his throat. His mind turned blank, and his whole body froze, losing the ability to even shut his eyes.
“Pa” Yang Ke’er’s actions were quicker, as her right hand had already raised the Beast Horn Spear and thrust towards the shadow.
“Gu” Like a hammer on a watermelon, the thing’s head was immediately blasted apart from the strength of Yang Ke’er, causing its eyes, brain matter, blood and splintered bone parts to splatter.
Before that thing even fell to the ground, and Zhang Xiao Qiang had the chance to breathe, another shadow charged towards him.
Yang Ke’er used her rudimentary spear technique, sweeping across towards it, although there was no strength of her thrust.
The thing immediately leaped back to dodge the Beast Horn Spear, before using its hind legs to adjust its trajectory by bouncing off the Beast Horn Spear and charged towards Zhang Xiao Qiang again.
This time, he was ready, and his right leg pushed off the seat, shooting backward.
“Gu” “Pa” He got entangled with the thing as they fell on the floor, and the impact caused him to become short of breath.
That thing had immediately shot back up like a spring, lunging for his throat.
He was still lying on the ground, with no time to get up, and immediately used his left arm to block in front of his throat. The only thought in his mind was “Don’t let it bite my throat.”
He felt his left hand being pushed back, noting that the thing had bitten the sleeve, and he immediately swung with all his strength to slam it against the ground, before placing his whole body weight on his hand.
A pair of red eyes, white teeth, and a round head. This was the first time Zhang Xiao Qiang came up close to this thing, and a strong stench could be smelled from the thing’s body, causing his eyes to water.
With his body weight pressing on that thing, his right hand formed a fist and he began to pummel the head. After pummelling countless times, his skin had torn and fist was b.l.o.o.d.y until he could see the bone of the thing. Its flesh and blood were mangled to the point where it was unrecognizable.
After ascertaining there was no movement anymore, he released his breath, and laid on the ground, looking at the tree, panting for air.
