Chapter 158: Teacher, Can I Call You Dad?
"Here we are, just up ahead."
Meng Ci took a look; this place was quite close to where they had cut down the trees earlier.
The number of people on the road gradually decreased.
Meng Ci frowned. What dangers could Yun Jingcen and the others encounter in this desolate area?
Could it be that they were targeted by some fierce beasts?
"Teacher Duan!"
The road ahead was blocked by trees and rocks, so Shen Que had no choice but to stop the car.
Ruan Qing got out of the car and hurriedly walked ahead.
When he crossed a small hill, he must have seen something, for he let out a scream and quickened his pace.
Seeing this, Meng Ci and Shen Que also sped up.
"I'll teach you to be stubborn, to be stubborn. Bring out the food."
"Teacher Yun, if you serve us well today, maybe we'll let you go."
"Oh, isn't this the coward who fears death? How did you come back again?"
"Good that you came! Since you're here, you might as well die with us."
"Ah!"
When Meng Ci and Shen Que arrived, they saw a dozen or so teenagers wielding sticks beating Yun Jingcen and the others.
The closest to Meng Ci and Shen Que was Duan Yan.
Ruan Qing lay on top of Duan Yan, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Block? Let's see how long you can block!"
Meng Ci saw a man holding an iron rod, about to strike again.
Ruan Qing was already weak, and another blow could be fatal.
Without hesitation, Meng Ci reached behind him, pulled out a long knife from his spatial pocket, and threw it at the man.
"Ah!"
The knife cut into the man's arm and fell to the ground.
The man clutched his bleeding wrist, glaring fiercely at Meng Ci and Shen Que.
"Who are you? Don't meddle in things that don't concern you."
The two men around him also held wooden sticks, eyeing Meng Ci and Shen Que warily.
Meng Ci and Shen Que approached, their presence intimidating.
The three men, overwhelmed by their aura, retreated, like spent arrows.
Meng Ci picked up the knife from the ground, and Shen Que picked up the iron rod the man had dropped.
"Come over, let's deal with these two first."
"Alright."
Soon, the rest of the group gathered.
Despite the dozen or so attackers surrounding them, Meng Ci and Shen Que showed no fear.
Soon, cries of pain filled the air.
Of course, all these sounds came from the enemy.
Duan Yan, lying on the ground, saw Ruan Qing sprawled on top of him, flailing and afraid to touch him.
"Ruan Qing, Ruan Qing, are you okay?"
"Why are you so foolish?"
Ruan Qing shook his head lightly, "I'm fine."
But with blood streaming from his mouth as he spoke, it was hard to believe him.
Cheng Yu and Fang Shurui were also badly injured. The people beating them now turned their attention to Meng Ci and Shen Que, wielding iron rods.
Yun Jingcen and Mao Xinyu struggled to get up, their clothes torn and barely covering them.
Fang Shurui managed to stand up, took off his short-sleeved shirt, and covered Yun Jingcen, who was closest to him and most exposed.
Cheng Yu took off his own shirt, threw it to Fang Shurui, picked up a stone from the ground, and, though unsteady, walked determinedly toward Meng Ci and the others.
Though he was deeply worried about Duan Yan, he knew that failing to deal with these people would only put Duan Yan in greater danger.
Bang!
The stone hit the nearest man, and soon blood began to flow from the back of his neck.
"You..." The man turned around, but before he could utter an accusation, he felt a darkness fall over his eyes and collapsed to the ground.
Cheng Yu snatched the baseball bat from the man's hand and swung it at the back of another nearby man.
Fang Shurui draped Cheng Yu's short-sleeved shirt over Mao Xinyu, then came over to check on Duan Yan and Ruan Qing.
Duan Yan was already injured; even though Ruan Qing, who was lying on top of him, was slender and frail, Duan Yan couldn't help him up.
Moreover, not knowing Ruan Qing's condition, he didn't dare to.
"Teacher." Ruan Qing turned his head, staring at Duan Yan with a weak voice.
"Ruan Qing, don't talk, conserve your strength!" Duan Yan reached out a hand to touch Ruan Qing's head.
Thinking back, there were three men who somehow knew that he and Cheng Yu were a couple.
They cursed him as a disgusting homosexual, yet demanded that Duan Yan take off his clothes so they could abuse him.
Naturally, Duan Yan refused and grabbed a handful of ash from the ground, throwing it in their faces.
This action enraged the two men, one of whom raised his club and swung it forcefully at Duan Yan.
But unexpectedly, Ruan Qing ran over and, without hesitation, threw himself onto Duan Yan, taking the blow for him.
"Teacher." This time, Ruan Qing did not listen to Duan Yan, a faint smile on his face as he stared unblinkingly at Duan Yan.
"Teacher, can I call you Dad?"
Hearing this, Duan Yan's mind froze for a moment.
Ruan Qing had just turned eighteen a few days ago, and Duan Yan himself was only twenty-six. Was it appropriate to be called Dad?
"Dad!" Ruan Qing didn't give Duan Yan a chance to refuse, calling out the word.
After the apocalypse, Ruan Qing's parents died one after another, and it was several teachers, including Yun Jingcen, who gave him care and attention.
Among them, Teacher Duan was the person Ruan Qing relied on the most.
After all, he was Ruan Qing's physics teacher before the apocalypse.
Although Teacher Duan usually had a cold expression and always made him study various subjects, Ruan Qing knew he cared deeply about him.
Whenever he went out to find supplies, he would always bring back snacks or toys for Ruan Qing.
Like the marbles, building blocks, and puzzles, and sometimes when he saw nice clothes, he would bring them back too.
Though he always had a cold face and would toss them to Ruan Qing dryly,
Ruan Qing knew that Duan Yan was outwardly cold but inwardly warm.
And Duan Yan's reticent manner was exactly like his deceased father.
Since Ruan Qing could remember, every day when his father came home from work, he would always pull out some toys from his briefcase and silently hand them to him.
Sometimes, when Ruan Qing didn't know how to play with the toys, he would pester his taciturn father, who would always stiffen and explain in a dry tone.
As Ruan Qing grew older, his father would bring back delicious snacks.
After losing his parents, Ruan Qing was rescued by several teachers, including Duan Yan. He couldn't bear to see Duan Yan die in front of him.
So, without hesitation, Ruan Qing rushed to protect Duan Yan.
"Dad!"
Ruan Qing extended a hand, trying to touch Duan Yan.
For some reason, at that moment, Ruan Qing felt Duan Yan's face transform into the image of his deceased father.
When his hand was touched by Duan Yan, Ruan Qing's eyes cleared, recognizing Teacher Duan.
Ruan Qing opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but his eyelids grew heavier and heavier, slowly closing.
"Ruan Qing, Ruan Qing!"
"Don't sleep!"
Duan Yan didn't dare to shake Ruan Qing violently, only shouting his name.
At this moment, Fang Shurui also came over and gently lifted Ruan Qing off Duan Yan.