Strange Child

Lilian Mo went to walk closer to the group of four people.

There were one man, two women, and the silhouette of a child wearing a hood made it hard to see their face.

The group was arguing.

"I told you, let's just go check it out! They have crystal cores!" The man shouted at one of the women while the child was holding onto his pants. The hand of the child was small and frail. It was not hard to guess that this child was malnourished.

In the apocalypse, children like this were pretty common. They were young and not most of them developed abilities. Rarely were children allowed to participate in missions. Instead, they would be forced to work in hard labor at bases just so they could eat but some bases regarded them as treasures since they were the future of humanity and were kept tightly inside well-protected areas.

The man named Min Mingye was the leader among the three and he was also a wood ability user. A child had run off to them when they went to stop the car to take a break.

The child wore a hood and had begged them for help.

"Big brother... please come help my friends. They gave this to me and told me to give it to you. If you're willing to help them, we'll give you the remaining twenty in our stash..." The child said in a frail voice that had a hint of pleading as he handed the crystal core to Min Mingye. This kind of pitiful tone and sight made people feel pity and it evoke their sense of righteousness especially for Min Mingye who immediately felt pity towards the child.

However, not everyone felt the same.

Xia Meimei still possesses some sense of self-preservation and felt that there was something off about the child.

"Min Mingye, don't be greedy. Even if it's crystal cores, we can't risk ourselves like that! Who knows if this kid is telling the truth!" Xia Meimei pointed out as she clenched her fists. She was also a wind ability user that had recently upgraded to level one.

Even if she was at level one already, that didn't give her the right to boast or feel arrogant. She still remained vigilant and cautious. Especially when there were a lot of human groups who were only out there to trick them.

"It's just a kid. Xia Meimei, why are you being selfish? If we don't help this child, then who will? We'll also get crystal cores when we go save this kid's friends! It's a win-win situation!" Min Mingye argued back.

Xia Chenxue looked between the two people helplessly, not knowing who she needed to pacify first. The other was her sister and the other was her friend and team leader.

"P... Please don't fight!"

"Min Mingye, I know how valuable crystal cores are but this case is suspicious! We don't know if this child is lying and if we're walking into a trap! Min Mingye, I won't allow you to risk our group just for your own self-righteousness and selfishness!" Xia Meimei glared fiercely.

Min Mingye felt angered by this stare and raised his voice even louder.

"You're only thinking about yourself! What about this child and his friends? Just for your own safety, you're willing to ignore someone else in need? Xia Meimei, look at the kind of person you've become! You can't even spare a helping hand for an innocent child!"

''What innocent child? For all we know, he's lying! Kid, you tell us! Where are your friends? How many are they? What's the situation? Are they injured? Bitten? Or dying? Say something!"

"Xia Meimei!" Min Mingye shouted as he hid the child behind him, shielding the child from Xia Meimei's aggressive approach.

"Don't you have any pity? He's just a child! There's no need to scare him! Why do you have to shout so loudly? We can reasonably talk about this."

Xia Meimei scoffed. "Talk? I don't think there's any need to talk. Min Mingye, you've already decided, haven't you? That you're going to help this strange child because you're tempted to get those crystal cores for yourself! There's not even any guarantee that there are crystal cores if we go save this kid's friends!"

"Guarantee? What guarantee? Children don't tell lies! Look at him, it's only been three months since the apocalypse but your heart has turned black and can't differentiate between right and wrong! I am telling you, Xia Meimei, I'm going to help this child, not because of the benefits but I genuinely feel pity for him! Not like you! Only thinking about yourself!" Min Mingye pointed his finger in an accusing tone.

"It's a pity that Ah Xue has such a cold sister like you! If it's Ah Xue, she'll definitely understand! Right, Ah Xue?"

Min Mingye turned to Xia Chenxue with an expectant smile. Xia Chenxue sweated nervously. She didn't think that Min Mingye would have the nerve to pit her against her own sister!

Xia Meimei was exasperated when she heard Min Mingye's words.

"I'm Xia Meimei so of course, I'm not like Ah Xue! She's a kind and sensible person, I know that! But just because she's kind, doesn't mean you are allowed to take advantage of that kindness! Ah Xue can't say no to other people asking for help but I'm different! I, Xia Meimei will not vow down to anyone! If you want to help that child, then go by yourself! I'm taking Ah Xue with me!" Xia Meimei declared as she grabbed he sister's hand.

"Let's go. Let's not waste time on this!"

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