Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 348: Chapter 299 Hitch a Ride_1

The following day, in the morning, clouds shrouded the sky dome. Outside the gates of Jinling City, on the winding mountain road to Ziyin Mountain, lay the grand villa perched at the peak.

”Looks like it’s going to rain?” In the back seat of the car, the teenage girl stuck her head out, looking up at the sky dome through the glass. ”Eh, I think I see... The Yin’s family is even higher up. Don’t they find it troublesome? In the middle of nowhere, without even a supermarket, they’d have to drive an hour just to buy a pack of tissues, right?”

”The Yin’s family doesn’t need to go down the mountain to buy tissues themselves,” her brother said, amused by her comment. ”Xiao Jing, remember not to joke around when we get to the Yin’s family.”

”I’m just trying to make you relax a bit.” Cui Jing pouted. ”Second Brother, what if the woman you’re meeting for a blind date is a bad woman? I heard she has a notorious reputation in the Astronomical Society. Won’t you bring unrest to our family home?”

”That’s what the elders want; otherwise, she wouldn’t spare a glance at a blind man like me,” Cui Ning said with an indifferent smile. ”At worst, we’ll just go through the motions and then live our separate lives... Look, your third brother and his wife have a pretty good relationship, don’t they?”

”That’s an exception. Third Brother is so good-natured, but doesn’t he still get pushed around and end up moving out every now and then?” Cui Jing sighed. ”Uncle said I should get married in a few years, too.”

”You’re still young. What are you thinking about?” Cui Ning raised his hand and accurately rapped his little sister on the head. ”Don’t worry, I’ve already talked to Uncle. He’ll let you choose someone you really like. Just don’t go running off with the first man who comes along when you’re feeling smitten.”

”Second Brother is the best!” Cui Jing cheered, hugging his arm and shaking it vigorously until Cui Ning couldn’t take it anymore and pushed her away. Then she finally calmed down a bit.

Having grown up in a household with strict rules, once out, she was like a sparrow let loose, curious about everything. She pointed out the scenery outside the window all the way until she suddenly paused. ”Eh, there’s someone up ahead...”

On the mountain road ahead, beside the path, was a figure in gray, trudging upward with an empty mineral water bottle in hand, looking confused and helpless.

”Who is it?” Cui Ping, who couldn’t see, asked the driver.

”A young man, looks about eighteen or nineteen. He doesn’t have a car and is walking up on his own,” the driver glanced briefly. ”He must be a Sublimator. Probably going to the Yin’s family to celebrate the Old Master’s birthday, just like us, right?”

”Second Stage?” Cui Ping probed briefly, seemingly taken aback, but his brow soon smoothed. ”A pretty mild aura, and no hostility towards us.”

”He seems quite handsome... Wait, stop, stop the car!” Cui Jing, peering out of the car window, stared at the young man’s profile and called out to the driver in a rush.

”What is it?” Cui Ping was puzzled.

”Huai, Huai, Huai Shi! Second Brother! That’s Huai Shi!” Cui Jing turned, her face flushing with excitement and her speech jumbled. ”The Prince of Paradise! The super handsome one! I even borrowed money from you to buy his card!”

”...” Cui Ping’s face twitched slightly, a hint of resignation settling in.

”Uncle Liu, stop the car,” he said. ”Since we’ve bumped into him, we might as well give him a ride. Maybe we can even get an autograph for my little sister.”

Cui Jing cheered again.

And so, Huai Shi, who had been obliviously walking up the mountain road following his phone’s GPS, saw a car pull over to the side. An unfamiliar teenage girl was waving at him from the lowered window.

”Are you Mr. Huai Shi? If you’re heading to the Yin’s family, we can give you a lift.”

”Really? That’s so kind!” Huai Shi was taken aback, then overjoyed, hastening his steps to catch up. He saw the passenger door slowly open.

”Thank you, thank you so much.” He got into the car and thanked the driver and the two in the back seat. ”I didn’t realize the navigation showed the straight-line distance. I was trying to save money by not taking a cab, so I apologize for the trouble.”

”It’s alright, we should help each other out,” Cui Ping replied politely, but Cui Jing leaned over excitedly from the back, her cheeks flushed and her eyes fixed on him in a way that made Huai Shi a little afraid.

”Mr. Huai Shi, could I trouble you for an autograph?”

”Ah?” Huai Shi was startled. Then he saw the card and pen she handed him and understood. Smiling wryly, he nodded. ”Sure... but to be honest, please don’t have overly high expectations. I’m not really like I am on the livestreams.”

But Cui Jing’s eyes still sparkled with anticipation.

Huai Shi sighed, taking the pen and the card. ”May I ask your name?”

”Cui Jing, with the grass radical on top and a jade underneath.”

”Alright.” Huai Shi placed the card on his leg and, with the neatest handwriting he could muster, wrote: ”Thank you, Miss Cui Jing, for the ride — Huai Shi.”

Cui Jing couldn’t wait to take back the card, then erupted with a strange laugh, quickly took out her phone, and snapped several pictures of Huai Shi and her card, then hurriedly sent them off somewhere.

”Please don’t take it the wrong way,” Cui Ping coughed awkwardly. ”My little sister has been cooped up at home for too long and hasn’t been out much.”

”No worries. To be honest, it’s quite heartening to see I’m so popular,” Huai Shi replied with a shy smile and casually asked, ”Are you two also heading to the Yin’s family for the birthday celebration?”

”Yes, and incidentally, for a blind date,” Cui Jing said, resignation in her voice as she pointed at her brother. ”For my brother.”

Huai Shi paused, then looked at him with sympathetic eyes. ”I have a feeling your blind date might be quite frightening... Be careful, my friend.”

”...” Cui Ping was at a loss for words.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before the mountain villa came into view. The place was brightly lit and festive. The parking lot was already full of cars, and a stream of vehicles and people were coming and going. Sublimators could be seen everywhere.

”What a huge house.” Huai Shi leaned forward, tilting his head to gaze at the enormous archway in the distance, and couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration. ”It’s much bigger than my home.” He looked like a complete country bumpkin.

Just as Cui Ping was about to say something, he heard Huai Shi’s voice, ”Okay, just drop me off here... I shouldn’t drag you into this, after all.”

”Hm?” Cui Jing looked up, puzzled. ”Aren’t you here to celebrate the birthday?”

Huai Shi pushed the car door open and smiled slightly at Cui Jing. ”No, I’m here to collect a debt.”

The car door closed.

He stood in place, waving as the vehicle slowly pulled away. Then, he pressed the hilt of the Sword of Virtue beside his trench coat, raised his head, and walked towards the main entrance.

Passing through the bustling traffic, he stood firm before the gate.

The butler waiting there bowed politely. ”Sir, please show your invitation to the birthday banquet.”

”Sorry, I don’t seem to have one of those.” Huai Shi shrugged, spreading his hands candidly.

The butler hesitated slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. After all, having worked at the Yin’s family for so many years, he wasn’t without experience. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, ”May I know your name, sir, so I can inform the hosts?”

”Huai Shi,” the young man replied.

The elderly butler quickly recalled the name. Then he looked up to ask, ”Are you Mr. Huai from the Astronomical Society?”

”No,” Huai Shi shook his head, calmly stating, ”I’m that Huai Shi from the Xinhai Huai Family.”

The butler’s expression changed subtly. Forgetting his composure, he turned and hurried inside.

Not long after, a figure hurried out from behind the gate. It was Yin Yan, whom Huai Shi hadn’t seen in a long time. Seeing Huai Shi, Yin Yan’s expression darkened. After glancing around, he grabbed Huai Shi’s clothes, pulled him aside, and asked in a low voice, ”You still dare to come here?”

Huai Shi looked at his agitated state and couldn’t help but want to laugh. ”Why do you seem more anxious than I am?”

Yin Yan glared at him irritably. ”You might have gotten in easily today, but leaving won’t be so simple. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. If I were you, I’d turn around and leave right now. Don’t cause trouble for yourself, Huai Shi!”

Huai Shi simply shrugged. ”What if I insist on looking for trouble?”

Yin Yan didn’t respond, just stared at him intently. After a long moment, he chuckled and nodded. ”Alright, I respect you for being a man. I’ll commemorate your death anniversary next year on this day.”

With that, he took a step back, gestured towards the gate, and signaled for him to proceed as he wished.

Huai Shi raised his hand, straightened the trench coat Yin Yan had disheveled, and gestured to the suits the other guests were wearing. ”Is it okay that I’m not in formal wear?”

”If you want to die, it wouldn’t matter even if you were naked.” With a final glance at Huai Shi, Yin Yan turned and walked through the gate.

Amid the curious and surprised gazes of all the guests, Huai Shi shook his head, looked up at the solemn gate, felt the sensation of Death Perception spreading through his spine, smiled slightly, and stepped inside.

Inside the hall, Yin Yan finally found Yin Ya, who was in charge. After Yin Yan whispered the situation to him, Yin Ya froze. He contemplated for a moment, then said in a deep voice, ”I’ll take him down the mountain later. We can’t let him disturb the Old Master’s birthday banquet.”

At this moment, the butler, who had returned sweating, wiped his forehead and reported in a low tone, ”The Master says that since he has come, we must make arrangements. We don’t want anyone saying the Yin’s family lacks manners...”

”...” Yin Ya remained silent for a moment, then turned and left.

Yin Yan stood there thinking for a while, then sneered as he saw some of his sisters walking in from the direction of the door. He was about to leave when one of the women stopped him.

”Don’t be in such a hurry to leave, Fourth Brother.” She asked, ”I heard that the man Third Sister fancies has also arrived. Do you know where he is?”

”Yin Xing, since you call me Fourth Brother, let me give you some advice: don’t go provoking him.” Yin Yan lowered his head and whispered in his sister’s ear, ”It would be a shame if you ended up in the mourning hall before the Old Master’s birthday celebration is even over, wouldn’t it?”

”Fourth Brother, are you joking?” Yin Xing sneered. ”If you want to suck up to Third Sister, go ahead. Why try to scare me?”

”I’ve given you my advice.” Yin Yan jutted his chin towards a side hall. ”He’s over there. You’d better keep your distance. If you anger him, not even your little lapdog will be able to protect you.”

The man standing behind Yin Xing tensed slightly, a flicker of discomfort on his face, but he remained silent.

”Don’t think you can steal her spotlight or outshine her.” Yin Yan gave his sister a final, pitying look and shook his head. ”You can’t compare to her.”

He turned and left, leaving Yin Xing standing in place, her expression gradually darkening.