Chapter 113: Discovery

Even at their pace, moving roughly 100 catties of rice in these few days would require working day and night, non-stop.

Chen Mu and Tang Jing had previously estimated that Qingbei's total population was about 200, while this group transporting grain numbered roughly 40.

In other words, they could work in shifts without stopping.

In other words, the people of Qingbei would return soon.

However, by the time Chen Mu realized the problem, it was too late; they had just reached the doorway and blocked their way back.

Quite obvious.

At their earlier speed, they couldn't have already made a round trip to the playground; that means there are at least two groups taking turns transporting.

"What should we do?" He Ying asked, her expression grave.

"Hide."

Chen Mu pointed to the corner where miscellaneous items were stacked.

Fortunately, this room was like a palace to the people present; if they weren't conducting a carpet‑search, they likely wouldn't be found.

This pile of junk looked like emptied rice bags, casually crumpled in the corner.

Chen Mu and He Ying sprinted over and darted inside.

The sounds outside grew closer.

Soon.

A group dragged in the same metal trays as before, slipping through the gap under the door.

Then, with clanking noises, they came up to the rice pile.

The two leaders walked ahead with their hands behind their backs, then began directing everyone to load the rice into the metal trays.

Because they were fairly far away, Chen Mu couldn't hear what they were saying, so he whispered to He Ying: "Let's move closer to hear what they're saying."

"Is that necessary?"

"This is a rare chance to learn about Qingbei's situation; be careful, but it should be fine."

"All right."

He Ying is generally conservative, but when she really needs to take a risk she isn't afraid—just like when she once followed Chen Mu trying to steal food, got caught, and still faced everything calmly.

The environment formed by five snakeskin bags was like a maze; Chen Mu and He Ying kept weaving through it, gradually approaching the group until they found a spot a few centimeters away and stopped.

Here they could barely hear the conversation.

But they could clearly see the others' actions.

They saw a group lift one end of the metal box, push it forward into the rice pile, while another group stood on top of the pile and kept scooping downwards.

In the end, like a shovel, they filled the box completely.

He Ying whispered: "They probably also have an ability user like Lu Shanshan; that big box is obviously too heavy for these people to lift."

Chen Mu nodded in agreement.

The two leaders had not been working at first, but after a while, one of them—a student in Ziwei High School uniform—ran up to the rice pile.

Then he squatted down.

Chen Mu couldn't make out his motion, but the next moment he saw grains of rice flying from his position, one after another, accurately landing in the metal box with a clinking sound.

This was clearly some kind of ability.

He Ying and Chen Mu exchanged a glance.

"Also controlling objects?"

"Quite like Song Yu."

"Qingbei truly hides tigers and dragons."

"..."

Because they were now close, the two of them had to huddle near each other and lower their voices.

Not long after, the loading finished.

The group then pushed and pulled the metal box out through the gap under the door.

Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief; after they left, he could take the opportunity to depart.

However, things did not go as he wished.

Everyone had left, yet the two leaders who had been in charge remained where they were.

He heard the student in uniform who had been controlling the rice grains say: "Senior, my ability has grown stronger."

The other frowned and said: "In future training, don't do this at such times; always remember you're a combat ability user—don't stoop to low‑level work, it's beneath your status."

The uniformed student exclaimed: "I used my ability to help everyone work—is that not allowed?"

"It's not forbidden, but it's better not to do this—not because I look down on anyone, but because the best way for this world to allocate things is for everyone to fulfill their role according to ability and enjoy corresponding rights."

"Ah, that's just survival of the fittest, isn't it?"

"Though harsh to hear, the meaning is actually much the same."

"But isn't Qingbei's slogan equality?" the uniformed male student said, clearly unable to accept it.

"This is equality—giving someone without ability the same treatment as you is actually unfair."

"Well… some people just awakened a bit later."

"Once they awaken and gain matching ability, their treatment will naturally improve."

"Well… okay."

The uniformed male student thought there was nothing wrong with that, yet he still felt conflicted.

The other continued: "You've always said you want to become the strongest ability user, haven't you?"

Upon hearing that, the uniformed male student's eyes lit up instantly; he put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly: "Exactly—I'm Yangbu'an, destined to become the strongest ability user."

"And what about Song Yu?" the other said with a teasing expression.

"Ah!" the uniformed male student hesitated a moment, then said: "Although Senior Song is currently my idol, from now on I will definitely surpass him!"

"Since that's the case, we should focus our sights even farther away, not get tangled up in these trivial matters."

"Hmm."

Speaking of this, the uniformed male student named Yangbu'an seemed to have no time left to worry about anything else.

Chen Mu saw the two chatting without end, and felt anxious as if on fire.

If they keep sending people to transport the rice endlessly, wouldn't we be trapped here to death? The worst part is, Wei Dalei seeing they don't return will surely come looking for the two of them, and then it'll be hard to explain.

However, the area by the door is flat and open; trying to sneak out unnoticed under these two people's noses is obviously impossible.

But if we forcefully break out, we're afraid these two might have some special ability.

Being able to bear the responsibility of escorting the convoy should indicate some capability.

Moreover, the boy named Yangbu'an is clearly a combat-type ability user, though Chen Mu still can't determine exactly what his ability is.

Just then, caught in a dilemma.

The senior male student suddenly shouted toward where Chen Mu was: "You two, after listening this long, it's time to come out, right?"

He Ying was greatly startled.

Chen Mu also frowned slightly, never expecting that the other party already knew they were hiding here, even their exact location and number.

Since we've been discovered, hiding further is pointless.

But before leaving, Chen Mu casually handed He Ying a plastic helmet.

This was something he made on the spot.

It looks similar to a motorcycle helmet, just simpler, covering the head while leaving the two eyes and nose exposed.

He Ying instantly understood his meaning.

He didn't want his appearance seen by others.

Is this meant to be playing a masked hero?

However, after putting on the helmet and walking out of the debris pile together with Chen Mu,

The guy named Yangbu'an, upon seeing the two, immediately started shouting:

"Huh, a bandit couple?"