NOVPUB
Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Ability Ability
The night fell quickly, and Han Yi had Bai Kairui drive for about two hours before finally choosing a suitable place for camping.
As they parked, the cars behind them also stopped one by one.
After getting out of the cars, everyone found that the camping site was right next to a small river, and they could not help but cheer and jump for joy.
—Flowing river water is a good thing, not only clean but also capable of washing away dirt and odors from the body.
In the rear compartment, Han Yi opened a small opening to the Ring Space and took out some food and water. He paused for a moment and then took out several bottles of medicine.
Han Jiaojiao didn’t see the names on the medicine bottles but she didn’t need to look to know they must be for Aunt Duan.
But who would bring this kind of medicine on a mission? Even if someone did, wouldn’t it just be hemostatic drugs for external injuries or antiseptics?... Brother, aren’t you afraid of exposing the space?
Why is she thinking about these things? In this situation, to her brother, of course, Aunt Duan’s health is more important.
...She’s not really eighteen anymore, she’s already twenty-two, why does she still act like a child who doesn’t understand anything...
Han Jiaojiao silently criticized herself, trying hard to appear calm.
Yan Xiao, Xiao Jian, and Bai Kairui opened the rear compartment of the car, took out stuff, and started to set up tents and make a fire. Han Yi, holding Han Jiaojiao’s hand, got out of the car and walked towards the research team’s tent.
Qin Nanyi happened to emerge from her tent, and her eyes lit up with joy at the sight of Han Yi.
"Ayi."
It sounded so nice. She had always called him "brother, brother," but she had never called out her brother’s name like that... Han Jiaojiao thought silently to herself.
Han Yi handed the medicine he was holding to Qin Nanyi. "Is Aunt Duan feeling any better?"
Qin Nanyi took the medicine, her eyes rimming with tears, "She’s not in danger anymore, but her legs are in severe pain, it might be rheumatism flaring up... Ayi, it’s a good thing you’re here, otherwise, I really don’t know what I would have done..."
Han Jiaojiao hung her head quietly, thinking to herself: If her body has so many ailments, then she shouldn’t be running around everywhere... See, how vicious and mean-spirited I am, to resent someone whom I haven’t even met before, why have I become like this...
As she thought about it, a self-mocking smile briefly appeared on her face, faint and fleeting.
"Xiaoyi, is it Ayi who’s come?" An evidently hoarse female voice came from inside the tent.
On hearing this, Han Yi headed towards the tent but felt his right hand suddenly empty; turning around, he saw that Han Jiaojiao had let go of his hand.
Han Jiaojiao’s gaze was somewhat elusive. She looked at Han Yi, then at the inside of the tent, her expression looking both constrained and awkward.
"...Brother, I won’t go in," Han Jiaojiao forced a smile and said, "I’ll go back to our tent."
Han Yi looked at Han Jiaojiao, a flash of puzzlement crossing his dark eyes.
Han Jiaojiao stood stiffly, wearing an ugly smile on her face.
Qin Nanyi approached, speaking gently, "Jiaojiao, my mother is very easy to get along with; you don’t need to worry."
Just hearing her voice made Han Jiaojiao involuntarily frown, forcefully suppressing the resentment from erupting.
Seeing that she still did not move, Qin Nanyi reached out to take her arm, but Han Jiaojiao jerked back like a hedgehog!
—"Don’t touch me!"
She seemed to become a different person in an instant! Her eyes, when she looked at Qin Nanyi, were filled with disgust and hatred! Yet in the next moment, all emotion vanished from her face as if it had never been, leaving behind an expression of apathy...
Han Jiaojiao smoothed out the stray hair by her ear, her tone as flat as a line without any modulation, "I’m a bit hungry, I’ll go back and have something to eat."
Having said that, she didn’t care what the people behind her thought and walked away.
Qin Nanyi stood there stunned, and after a long time, slowly came to her senses. She looked at Han Yi worriedly and said, "Ayi, Jiaojiao seems a bit off... Don’t blame me for overthinking, but my mom and I have seen many patients like this at Yunan Base."
"Patients?" Han Yi’s brows furrowed.
Qin Nanyi nodded and said softly, "Most of them are teenagers, and there are also people in their twenties. Because of their weaker psychological resilience, after experiencing all sorts of encounters and stimuli in the apocalyptic world... psychological trauma builds up layer by layer, and without guidance and relief, emotions become easily uncontrollable..."
As Qin Nanyi spoke, she carefully looked up at Han Yi.
Han Yi was staring at her intently, as if listening very attentively. Qin Nanyi immediately felt her heartbeat become erratic and quickly looked down to hide her shyness, saying softly, "Psychological diseases are mostly overlooked, but when the symptoms become severe, they are very difficult to treat... My mother knows some experts in this area; you might want to ask her..."
The two of them talked and walked into the tent one after the other...
Han Jiaojiao slowly walked to the riverbank. The bonfire on the shore was reflected in the river, and the surrounding area was misty, glowing with a warm light.
She turned to look at the tent over there. The light cast the silhouettes of a man and a woman on the tent. Their shadows were sometimes clear, sometimes blurry, and they were standing very close to each other, occasionally touching. Even though she knew it was just the angle of the projection, just watching those overlapping shadows made her bloodthirsty hatred surge from within!... What should she do...
Han Jiaojiao picked up a stone and, as if to vent, threw it into the river, a ’plop’ sounded in the darkness.
"Ariel."
Han Jiaojiao turned around and saw Hong Yun looking at her with a beaming smile.
Han Jiaojiao smiled faintly, "Sister Hong, you can just call me Jiaojiao."
"Why are you here alone?" Hong Yun walked over.
"...It’s a bit hot; I came here to cool off by the river," Han Jiaojiao replied casually.
Hong Yun stepped onto a few large stones on the riverbank, squatted down, and scooped up some water. Her movements were willful and carefree.
"It is quite cool here," she said easily, turning her head to look at Han Jiaojiao and asking, "Want to try your Ability?"
"Huh?"
"This is a good spot with plenty of water." Hong Yun stretched out a hand, "Come."
Han Jiaojiao, looking confused, placed her hand on top of hers, and Hong Yun gently pulled her onto the stone.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Hong Yun, she realized that Hong Yun was indeed very tall, probably around 176 cm. A silver hoop earring nestled in her earlobes, hidden among her ear-length short hair, shining bright in the night.
Han Jiaojiao was still dazed when Hong Yun took her wrist and placed it in the river. Her voice, now different from her usual haughtiness, became low and husky,
"The so-called Water Ability is ultimately just a type of control Ability. Since it’s about control, there are endless possibilities. Making water molecules coalesce is just one of them... Try to use your hands to attract the water in the river..."
Han Jiaojiao did as she was told, somewhat bewildered.
Hong Yun suddenly said, "That won’t do, put both hands in."
Hong Yun leaned back slightly, stretching her other hand around Han Jiaojiao from behind, holding both Han Jiaojiao’s arms, their faces almost touching. Han Jiaojiao could clearly feel Hong Yun’s warm breath on her skin.
"Relax a bit and imagine that your hands have melted into part of the river... Feel them slowly..."
Han Jiaojiao followed Hong Yun’s rhythm, breathing calmly, sensing the movement of the water molecules in the river...
Gradually, she felt as though she was truly perceiving something. The sensation was incredibly subtle; she could feel them, lively and variable, like sprites in the water, minute yet ubiquitous...
