Chapter 48 – Taking a bath together

Nourished day and night by the blood jade, Tang Qing finally awakened his ability.

After approaching Ziyi, her injured arm quickly recovered. So, he must have awakened healing ability.

Feeling a bit smug, who hasn’t dreamt of becoming a big shot in the world of ability? Maybe next, he could evolve from a delicate fairy to a prehistoric giant, with claws bigger than Ryan’s head. Hehe, no one would dare mess with him anymore, no one would dare call him a delicate little fairy. He could even pet lions, pet mammoths, pet polar bears, pet all the furry animals.

Dreaming happily, Tang Qing (♡´▽`)…

On the contrary, Gu Mijing held Tang Qing with a serious face, carefully examining him, repeatedly confirming that he was fine, his voice cold and stern:

“Little Tang-gao¹tbh idk what to use here… sweet sugar cake? The Tang in his name means sugar but if I use the word Tang cake, it would sound strange, don’t use your ability casually in the future, understand?”

Although Tang Qing didn’t understand, seeing the man’s serious and guarded expression, he obediently nodded.

Gu Mijing held the cat in his arms, whispering to him seriously, “You seem to have healing ability related to wood. This kind of ability is rare. Even in our base with so many ability users, there are only two or three healers. Healing ability users are the most susceptible to exploitation by those with ill intentions.”

Healing abilities are only possible in the wood element, and there are very few. First level healers can treat normal wounds, while second level healers can save those on the brink of death, and third level ability users can heal bones and revive the dead.

In the apocalypse, no one can guarantee they’ll never get injured, so whenever a healer appears, all bases vie to recruit them.

Gu Mijing just hoped that his little Tang-gao could awaken the ability to protect himself, but he never expected Tang Tang to awaken the rarest healing ability.

His little Tang-gao, not yet transformed into a human, was still just a cat. Gu Mijing dared not imagine the threats and dangers that might arise if Tang Tang with healing ability were discovered.

Initially, Gu Mijing had awakened as a level one healer in the wood element, quickly evolving to level three. His parents were doctors, and his original intention was to help more people, which led him to join the research center. Unfortunately, he was imprisoned by the zealous researchers, who went against national orders to conduct unauthorized experiments.

Researching how long it takes for healing ability users to recover from injuries, whether limbs can regenerate, if blood has healing properties… until he suddenly evolved to level four, transforming into a dark ability user, and then led a revolt, burning down the research facility.

He turned the dark hell that had destroyed countless idealistic ability users into ashes.

Recalling those years at the research center, the repetitive experiments and the ruthless competition among major bases for healers, the man with silver hair squinted his dark eyes, exuding an even colder and more chilling aura, as if darkness was about to overflow.

Now that he was powerful enough, he wouldn’t allow even a scratch on his little Tang-gao.

The group finally entered the Dark Forest after a day of fierce battles, exhausted and gathered around an open space to rest by the fire.

Qi Jingsheng’s fire ability finally came in handy. After training, he could control the intensity of the fire and began roasting the leopard for everyone. Shen Miao used her water ability to clean the ingredients thoroughly. Before long, the fragrant roasted leopard was ready.

Due to the spices added, the leopard meat smelled delicious, but since the leopard had no fat, the meat was tough. Everyone had to eat by tearing it apart with their hands, eating messily and without any decorum.

The only one eating gracefully was Ryan, making loud chewing noises as he devoured the bones and flesh together, his fluffy face full of joy.

Of course, Tang Qing was an exception. Gu Mijing brought out high-quality imported cat food, delicious in taste and soft in texture. Tang Qing enjoyed his meal with freshly squeezed leopard milk, feeling content.

“Sir, we found a small lake to the north, with no traces of mutated animals around.”

Gu Mijing nodded at the report, carrying the cat to the lakeside. After three days of long travel, everyone had an indescribable smell. Although Gu Mijing inexplicably had a cold fragrance (because he is a main character), the white cat in his arms had already gathered a lot of dust.

Feeling dirty, Tang Qing hadn’t dared to lick his fur these past few days.

This lake used to be a small stream, but after the apocalypse, it had turned into a small lake due to ground fissures, with hot steam bubbling up from the bottom. Gu Mijing tested the water temperature, finding it just right, and placed the cat on the shore.

He seemed a bit uneasy, his hand resting on the cat’s white dress as he explained, “Little Tang-gao, since Ziyi’s hand hasn’t healed yet, I’ll help you bathe today. Don’t be afraid.”

The cat nodded softly. He wasn’t an ordinary cat and wasn’t afraid of water at all; there was no need to make such a big deal out of a bath.

Then the man earnestly removed Tang Qing’s white dress, his expression rather strange. Tang Qing didn’t know if this comparison was appropriate, but it felt like the man had never seen a cat without clothes before.

The pressure on Lord Xuan must be immense, looking after a child²Tang Tang is talking about himself all day long.

The man began to remove his own clothes, his porcelain-white hands on his collar, slightly bending over, skillfully undressing and placing his clothes on the shore, revealing his strong and beautiful body.

After long-term battles in the apocalypse, his muscles were well-toned and smooth, his chest broad and solid, his abs clearly defined like a sculpture, his legs proportionately long and powerful. Between his legs, laden with masculine hormones, exuded sensuality.

With silver hair falling on his shoulders, the man’s slender body slowly submerged into the water, appearing somewhat gentle in the moonlight.

Unconsciously, Tang Qing tilted his head, blinking in a daze as he watched.

The man smirked, playfully poking the cat’s pink nose with his finger, “What’s wrong, my little fairy, are you mesmerized?”

What? Who’s your little fairy?

Tang Qing turned his head, rolling his eyes impolitely.

The silver-haired man lifted the water and helped the cat wash its back carefully. The blue-eyed Ragdoll cat’s back was pure white, without a single strand of stray hair, pristine and white like moonlight.

“Just as white as a Tang-gao.” The man finished washing the cat’s delicate head, as well as its white belly and tail, saying, “Little Tang-gao, the rest is up to you.”

Tang Qing nodded and began licking himself clean in key areas.

The man turned to the side and casually wiped his body.

After the bath, Gu Mijing used his ability to dry them both, swiftly changing the cat into a new pink dress. Then, they rejoined the rest of the group.

Shen Miao looked at the clearly bathed duo, then smelled her own seemingly unpleasant odor.

The word “envy” had become tiresome for her.

The group set off again, after two days of trekking and breaking through encirclements of mutant boars and hyenas. Finally, they reached the center of the Devil’s Deep Forest, where a towering giant pine tree stood.

Its main trunk had a diameter of several hundred meters, with a dense network of roots spreading out, covering the entire forest. The flying and walking beasts of the forest and the vegetation were all readily available food for it.

Gu Mijing observed and determined that the blood jade was likely hidden in the center of the trunk.

Feeling the approach of a large group of ability users, the giant pine tree impatiently lifted a vast expanse of roots, causing the ground to tremble, knocking down people in swathes.

Lord Xuan quickly arranged for fire ability users to collaborate with wind ability users, sending a large sheet of fire towards the center of the trunk.

The giant pine tree became furious, two thick, dark brown branches descended from above, attacking several ability users, sending them flying and rendering them unconscious.

A dense mass of sharp green pine needles viciously flew towards them.

“Roar!” Ryan let out a lion’s roar, shaking off many pine needles.

However, due to the dense needles, everyone was still more or less pricked by them. One needle pierced Tang Qing’s back. His thick fur cushioned the impact, causing only a slight stinging sensation.

Enduring the intense pain from the wounds, everyone continued to fight, using various abilities to attack the giant pine tree. Gradually, they found their movements becoming slower and slower.

“The pine needles… have a hallucinogenic effect…” Tang Qing heard someone speaking as he drifted off into a deep slumber.

It was a long, long beautiful dream.

In the dream, there were his real-world parents, cradling him from when he was a baby, lovingly calling out, “Tang Tang, our good baby, you are mommy and daddy’s precious treasure.”

They watched him grow up, from a baby to a delicate and handsome young man.

Then there was a smiling, sunny big brother who returned from afar and hugged him tightly, saying, “Tang Tang, how can my little brother be so cute? From now on, Tang Tang will live with his brother.”

A handsome and cold-looking man held him and said, “Baby Tang Tang, my Baby Tang Tang, don’t leave me again.” He hugged him tightly, as if wanting to merge him into his flesh and blood.

This was a man very close to him. They had separated before, but nothing could keep them apart. They always came to each other, embracing tightly. They supported each other, argued occasionally, but always made up with smiles. They visited their parents on weekends, had meals with his brother, and even had a chubby little orange cat, spending a sweet and happy life together.

Finally, the man’s face gradually blurred, turning back into a tall man with dark, breath-taking eyes, who embraced him, his smile carrying a hint of tenderness, constantly petting him, grooming his fur, and helping him put on necklaces and clothes.

A low, anxious voice sounded in his ear.

“Tang Tang, wake up.”

“My little Tang-gao, wake up, little Tang-gao.”

• 1
  tbh idk what to use here… sweet sugar cake? The Tang in his name means sugar but if I use the word Tang cake, it would sound strange ↩︎
• 2
  Tang Tang is talking about himself ↩︎