Chapter 80: I’m So Well-Behaved, I Didn’t Even Get Angry

Chapter 80: I'm So Well-Behaved, I Didn't Even Get Angry

When Shen Juanjuan saw Chu Ya, his tense expression relaxed, and he hurriedly ran forward to hug his leg.

"Shen Miaomiao, where have you been? It's been so long without seeing you!" Upon finding Chu Ya, Shen Juanjuan's unease dissipated, but her grievance and anger resurfaced, making her tone harsher.

"I just had something come up, didn't have time to tell you. I'm sorry."

"Something, something, what kind of thing..." Shen Juanjuan mumbled, his gaze falling on Wang Chengcai standing nearby, making him even more unhappy: "Were you with him?"

Chu Ya turned his head to look at Wang Chengcai: "Yes."

Shen Juanjuan glared fiercely at Wang Chengcai, and Chu Ya whispered: "Didn't you say you don't hate him anymore?"

"He's not Lin Duozhi's brother now, he's Wang Zhusheng's brother. I hate him." Shen Juanjuan pursed his lips and turned away angrily toward the tent.

Chu Ya watched Shen Juanjuan's back as he was about to follow, but then heard Wang Chengcai call out behind him, "Brother Chu Ya."

He paused slightly, and Wang Chengcai approached, his voice urgent and incoherent: "Brother Chu Ya, I've thought about it. I really think you're amazing. I've never admired anyone, but I admire you, really, only you. I know you want revenge, and I do too. I'm about to become a sentinel, and I want to follow you. Whatever you say, I'll listen."

"Is that so? You want to follow me?" Chu Ya slowly turned around.

Wang Chengcai nodded eagerly: "Yes, I want to follow you."

Chu Ya's gaze fell on Wang Chengcai's face, his eyes dark and deep, revealing no emotion.

"But I don't want you." He said calmly.

Wang Chengcai was stunned: "Why?"

Chu Ya tilted his head, thinking for a moment: "You often bully the kids at the orphanage."

Wang Chengcai's mouth opened and closed, and after a while, he stammered: "I just, just scared them, or, or took their things, pushed them—"

Before he could finish, he felt a blur of movement, and then someone grabbed him from behind, spinning him around until he was pressed against the riverbank, his vision filled with flowing water.

Chu Ya's voice sounded above him: "You lost your family, and so did I. We share the same fate, so I understand your pain. But we also share another identity. You are a brother, and so am I. You don't allow others to bully your brother, and neither do I."

"Brother Chu Ya—"

"I'm a sentinel, and you haven't broken through yet. If I drowned you in the river, you wouldn't be able to struggle, but I won't do that. Bullying those weaker than you isn't a skill. My brother is much younger than you, so you shouldn't bully him. I've been considering your feelings, so I haven't mentioned this before. But since you said you want to follow me, I need to make it clear: I don't want someone like you."

Wang Chengcai breathed heavily against the water, and after a moment, he sobbed: "I was wrong, I really was wrong, Brother Chu Ya, I won't do it again, I was wrong, I was wrong..."

Wang Chengcai didn't struggle, allowing Chu Ya to hold him by the back, crying and repeatedly apologizing.

After a while, Chu Ya lifted him up and tossed him onto the grass beside him, then turned and walked toward the tent.

"Brother Chu Ya!" Wang Chengcai got up from the grass, his voice hoarse: "Brother Chu Ya, was it you at the garbage dump last time?"

"Yes," Chu Ya replied without hesitation.

Wang Chengcai shouted loudly: "I'm sorry."

"You bullied my brother, not me. Apologizing to me doesn't mean much." Chu Ya said calmly.

Chu Ya returned to the tent and saw Shen Juanjuan playing with Black Wolf at the entrance. His anger came and went quickly, and upon seeing Chu Ya, he immediately ran over, hugging his waist and complaining playfully: "Miaow, Big Dog scratched my nose with his tail, made me sneeze..."

"Roar!" Black Wolf looked displeased, turning to show Chu Ya his tail: "Roar... Roar..."

How did I scratch him with my tail? He scratched my tail himself.

"Shen Miaomiao, Big Miaomiao, miaow miaow miaow." Shen Juanjuan buried his face in Chu Ya's waist, rolling his head around.

Chu Ya looked around, wanting to see where Rong Chen was, so he could ask him to come and see Shen Juanjuan now. Unfortunately, Rong Chen was far away and busy organizing the team, so he couldn't shout for him, feeling a bit disappointed.

Then they began to dismantle the tents, pack their backpacks, and once everything was ready, the group set off again, everyone moving forward.

The children entering the differentiation period were placed among the team members, and the managers repeatedly instructed them that if they felt restless, they should not argue or fight with other children, but kick the trees nearby, as long as they didn't kick the mutants.

Fortunately, the older students could control their emotions, and the middle school students were placed between the older students. Even if they became agitated, they couldn't fight the older students, who quickly subdued them, pinning their arms down, leaving them unable to move.

They were now not far from the edge of the forest. Although there were still mutants along the way, there were fewer than before. The scattered ones that approached were dealt with by Black Wolf and Chu Ya.

By noon, they finally emerged from the swamp that had become a forest. As the vegetation disappeared, a vast expanse of yellow sand appeared ahead, the flying sand grains turning the sky and earth a murky yellow.

"How can there be a desert here?" one of the managers squinted, his eyes almost closed from the wind.

"This area used to be part of the swamp, gradually turning into a desert," said Shi Yongzhi, another manager. "I once heard that the swamp here had turned into a desert, and I thought it was a lie when we were in the forest a few days ago, but now it seems to be true."

"That's not good. Walking in the forest for a few days is fine, with food and water. But this is a desert, how can we walk for several days?" another manager sighed.

"We can't walk for long," Chu Ya interjected.

He pointed to a crescent-shaped boulder at the edge of the forest: "The instructor mentioned a rock when describing this area. He said it was crescent-shaped, with a light blue surface, called the blue drop in the swamp. Actually, it contains a lot of molybdenum elements and is a huge molybdenum ore. It's located at the edge of this area, meaning we only need about a day and a half to cross the desert."

"But even if it takes only a day and a half to get out, water is still a problem," Rong Chen frowned.

Chu Ya shook his head: "No, from here, about halfway through, there will be a freshwater lake."

"A freshwater lake? Can a freshwater lake exist in the desert? It must have disappeared."

Chu Ya explained: "The geological structure of that area is very special, with a very dense surface and distinct layers of underground sandstone and mudstone. There is an underground river beneath the lake, storing a large amount of groundwater, which rises to the surface through the gaps in the rocks, keeping the lake from disappearing."

"Do you mean the lake is still there?"

"I think it should be."

"Just 'should be'... That's too risky," one of the managers hesitated.

Chu Ya said, "But setting out from the orphanage was already the most adventurous thing we could do."

Rong Chen gritted her teeth and said, "Let's bring more water. If we find that the lake has dried up, we can turn back immediately, right?"

"If we bring more water and don't see the lake, turning back is an option," the managers nodded.

"Then let's find more containers to carry water, and drag them with the cart."

"Can we really bring the cart? It might be hard to push in the desert."

"The sand here is quite firm, so the cart can be brought along. Besides, it will be pulling water, and with all of us—managers and senior students—even if we have to carry it, we will manage."

"Alright, let's prepare then."

Rong Chen led the managers to the open ground to boil water and cook, while Shen Juanjuan sat among the junior group, watching Chu Ya. Seeing him suddenly run over, she quickly stood up and pushed forward, "I'm here, I'm here. Don't worry, run slowly."

The students, seeing Chu Ya, also started to speak up, "Brother Chu Ya, why did we climb the mountain, go through the forest, and now cross the desert? What are we actually doing?"

"I want to go back to the orphanage; that desert looks so scary."

"I won't go anymore; I want to go back to the orphanage, I want the director."

The junior students, who were initially confused, joined in the commotion when they saw the older kids, shouting, "We don't want to go to the desert; we want to go back, back to the orphanage."

As Chu Ya ran closer, he was surrounded by the junior students, "Brother Chu Ya, we don't want to go to the desert; I want to go back."

"Me too, I want to go back."

"I miss the director, I want the director."

"Sniff... I miss the director."

Chu Ya looked at the sobbing children and asked, "You don't want to go to the desert?"

"No."

"We don't want to go, we don't want to."

Chu Ya gently coaxed them, "You're on a trip. How can it be called a trip without going into the desert? Later, when someone asks where you went on your trip, and if you've been to the desert, how will you answer?"

A senior student said, "But we almost got killed by those mutant trees. Only eating fish feels like a trip."

"Actually, the trip these past few days has been okay, we got to eat fish, but there are no fish in the desert. Why should we go in?"

"Brother Chu Ya, since there are no fish in the desert, can we play here for two days and then go back to the orphanage?"

After this journey, Chu Ya had made all the students trust and rely on him. They naturally sought his opinion, as if as long as he agreed, everyone could return to the orphanage.

Hearing their repeated desire to return, but always mentioning fish, a realization flashed in Chu Ya's eyes. He cleared his throat and said, "Actually, you can eat fish in the desert too."

"Fish in the desert?"

"Yes, there's a freshwater lake in the desert. There must be fish in the lake, and they taste very fresh," Chu Ya said earnestly.

The noisy voices of the students indeed quieted down, but some still complained about not wanting to go further. Liu Zhen stood up and shouted, "Those who want to go back can do so themselves. Those who want to continue, follow Brother Chu Ya and the managers. Stop whining here."

Chu Ya took Shen Juanjuan's hand, "Let's go to the camp to rest and fill our water bottles. We'll set off soon." Then he said to the other junior students, "Come on, let's go fill the water with Brother Chu Ya."

The junior students, like a flock of chicks, immediately followed Chu Ya when they saw him walk away, and the middle-grade students also stood up from the ground.

The senior students slowly stood up, some whispering to each other.

"Is that Wang Chengcai? He's also going to the camp to fill his water bottle."

"Yeah, carrying his new little brother."

"Since Wang Chengcai is going, let's go too. Fill up the water first, so our bottles aren't empty when we enter the desert."

Liu Zhen, holding Liu Sijin, pushed through the crowd, "Move, move aside."

"Liu Zhen, are you going into the desert?"

Liu Zhen asked curiously, "What else would we do? Stay here to feed the monkeys?"

"We're all going, into the desert. The junior students aren't afraid, why should we be?"

"That's right, Brother Chu Ya said there are fish in the desert."

...

After lunch at the camp, large pots of water were boiled, filling the students' water bottles. The large plastic buckets brought from the orphanage were also filled to the brim.

Rong Chen patted the large plastic bucket and asked Chu Ya, "Is this enough?"

"It's enough. If the lake has disappeared, we can turn back here with plenty of water."

"Alright, let's set off."

With a whistle, the long line of people moved toward the desert. The managers pulled the carts at the front and back of the line, with the junior students in the middle. All the students held a long rope, carried their backpacks, and held a wooden stick in their hands, with their pant legs tucked into their socks.

"We look so funny, ha ha, so funny." Shen Juanjuan held Chu Ya's hand, laughing as she looked at her puffed-up sock cuffs, "What is this? Are these foot raincoats? No, they're foot sandcoats."

The sand was relatively firm, so the cart could move. Black Wolf carried the weakest junior students and walked at the front of the line.

"Chu Ya, Chu Ya." Rong Chen, out of breath, came to Chu Ya, holding a compass, "At our current speed, we should reach the lake around 7 PM, right?"

"Yes, roughly that time."

"Good." Rong Chen turned to look at the line, suddenly pausing, "Who are those two fighting? Lin Bai! Wu Xiaopang! How did they end up together? Weren't they separated? Quickly pull them apart, everyone is tired, and you still have the energy to fight..."

Shen Juanjuan turned his head to look and asked Chu Ya curiously, "Why do they always fight? Ouch—"

Shen Juanjuan stumbled, then was lifted up by Chu Ya, spinning half a circle in the air before he steadied himself.

Chu Ya held his hand and continued walking forward, "After becoming a Sentinel Guide, sometimes you might feel very uncomfortable, wanting to vent your anger. You usually feel this way too; they are just like you."

"But I'm very well-behaved, I can control my temper," Shen Juanjuan said while swinging his feet, "I wouldn't lose my temper like them."

Chu Ya looked down at him, "Did sand get into your shoes?"

"Yes, there's sand in them." Shen Juanjuan frowned.

"If it's not much, you don't need to worry about it. This is the desert; if you pour it out, more will get in right away. I'll help you when there's more."

But Shen Juanjuan refused to comply, standing still and kicking his feet repeatedly. Gradually, his breathing became rapid, and his face turned red.

Seeing his state, Chu Ya prepared to help him pour out the sand from his shoes, but before he could squat down, Shen Juanjuan had already swiftly taken off his shoes and thrown them away forcefully, "I won't wear you anymore, bad things."

Chu Ya lowered his gaze to Shen Juanjuan, "You just said you're very well-behaved and can control your temper."

"I am well-behaved, I didn't fight anyone, I hit the shoes," Shen Juanjuan said angrily.

Chu Ya didn't say anything more, only picked up the two shoes, pulled Shen Juanjuan into his arms, and helped him put them back on.

Shen Juanjuan leaned on his shoulder, looking at the dusky desert behind them, still muttering curses against the shoes. After putting the shoes on for him, Chu Ya didn't push him away but gently patted his back.

Shen Juanjuan gradually stopped speaking, his rapid breathing slowing down. Chu Ya tilted his head and softly asked, "Do you feel better now?"

"What?" Shen Juanjuan twirled a few strands of hair hanging over his shoulder with his fingers.

"Do you still want to vent your anger?"

Shen Juanjuan huffed adorably through his nose, "I'm so well-behaved, I'm not angry at all."

"Alright, let's go then."

Shen Juanjuan wriggled his body.

"Do you want to be carried?"

Shen Juanjuan didn't answer, so Chu Ya picked him up and followed the group forward. The other students were using sticks, one hand holding onto a rope. Seeing this, they curiously asked, "Shen Juanjuan, can't you walk? Did your feet blister? My feet blistered yesterday, but they haven't today..."

"I can walk," Shen Juanjuan replied.

"Then why do you want to be carried? Lin Duozhi is being carried by his brother because he lost his fingers. The manager doesn't want him to sweat and irritate his skin. What's wrong with you?" the children asked.

Shen Juanjuan didn't answer, resting his head on Chu Ya's shoulder and turning his face away to avoid others' gazes.

A moment later, he silently slid to the ground. Chu Ya asked, "Don't want me to carry you anymore?"

Shen Juanjuan whispered, "No."

Chu Ya set him down. He held Chu Ya's hand with one hand and used a stick with the other, walking forward with the other students.

The entire view was filled with yellow sand. Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow, lifting fine grains of sand that stung their faces. Chu Ya put a cotton cap on Shen Juanjuan, but he found it too hot and took it off. Then, he took a T-shirt from his backpack and wrapped Shen Juanjuan's face, leaving only his eyes exposed.

The other students observed Chu Ya's actions and followed suit, taking out clothes to cover their faces.

From time to time, Chu Ya would go to the front of the line to discuss the route with Rong Chen, and Shen Juanjuan would crane his neck to watch.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Hongliang asked from behind.

"I'm looking at my brother."

"Hey, look behind us, those two middle-class students are fighting again," Tang Yuanyuan pushed them from behind.

The children turned their heads to look, seeing only a cloud of dust and a few legs rolling in the sand in the middle and rear of the line.

"Who won?"

"I don't know."

The children stretched their necks longer and longer, eventually letting go of the rope and stepping away from the line to stand on a small sand dune to the left to watch.

"That person fought this morning too."

"He pinned the other one down."

Shen Juanjuan kicked and gestured with his feet, "He should do this, this, this—"

Suddenly, a muffled thud came from under Shen Juanjuan's feet, and a cloud of sand erupted, causing the surrounding fine sand to rustle.

When the wind blew away the sand, the small sand dune and the children standing on it had vanished, leaving only a slightly sunken sand pit.