Chapter 74 The Road of Exile 16

“I only know that Little Pear’s mother was taken away by a group of people. One of them had a face covered in beard and a scar across his cheek.” Shi Xianyu paused as she spoke, thinking for a moment before continuing, “It’s been so long, he might have shaved, but the scar should still be there. Can you help me find this man?”

Ye Liuyun nodded in agreement. “A scarred face, most likely someone from the hunting squad. Members who go out hunting mutant beasts often have scars. I’ll ask around when I get back. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

A glimmer of hope lit up in Shi Xianyu’s heart. Something that once seemed so far-fetched suddenly felt within reach.

“That’s wonderful,” she said with a smile. “So, when are we heading to the Oasis?”

“As soon as the vehicle’s fixed, we’ll leave,” Ye Liuyun replied, consulting with her two teammates. “We’re out of ammunition. If we run into another large mutant beast, it’ll be too dangerous. Best to make it back before nightfall.”

The big bearded man threw an arm around Radish’s shoulders. “Come on, let’s check the car!”

Radish was hauled toward the off-road vehicle, craning his neck to call out to Shi Xianyu, “I’m really good at fixing cars! The best in all the teams! When we get back to the Oasis, I’ll help you fix yours!”

Shi Xianyu smiled at him. “Alright, thank you.”

Seeing her smile, Radish’s heart fluttered, and he became all the more enthusiastic. “I’ll replace your window glass and add another layer of armor outside. It’ll be heavier, but way safer! All our team’s vehicles are modified by me!”

The bearded man gave him a look of disdain and tugged him away. “When it’s for the team, you’re always dragging your feet, but now you’re all fired up.”

Radish waved vigorously at Shi Xianyu. “You’ll need new tires, too! Can’t run on sand for long without trouble! I’ll give your engine a full check—”

“You done yet, kid?” the bearded man snapped, hoisting him up and tucking him under his arm as he strode off.

Shi Xianyu watched the two disappear into the distance, unable to suppress her laughter.

Ye Liuyun found it amusing too, though she was worried Shi Xianyu might be annoyed, so she explained, “Radish only joined the team a year ago, not very steady yet, but he’s timid—he won’t go too far.”

“So he joined the squad at sixteen?” Shi Xianyu was surprised. In her eyes, that was still the age of a middle schooler, yet he was already out hunting mutant beasts with the team.

Ye Liuyun smiled faintly. “Men who can’t have children start working early. Resources are limited in the Oasis, so there’s no room to keep anyone who can’t contribute. But Radish works hard—he can fix any vehicle you give him. Otherwise, with that skinny frame, he wouldn’t have made it onto the team.”

Shi Xianyu nodded slowly. “I see...”

So, it wasn’t only women who were infertile—men were affected too.

In that case, every child born in this world was extraordinarily precious. No wonder the Oasis poured everything it had into raising children.

...

Once Radish finished repairing the car, the group set off immediately.

The giant flower lizard had fallen asleep where it was, and when it woke, it returned to the thorn python’s nest to feast on the remaining snakes, leaving them alone and saving Shi Xianyu a lot of trouble.

She drove behind Ye Liuyun’s group toward the Oasis. Along the way, the scenery gradually changed. Perhaps because they were getting closer to water, sparse plants began to appear on the desolate roadside—spiky grass-like herbs, and succulent, cactus-like shrubs, dotting the blue sky and yellow sand with color.

After driving for a while, Shi Xianyu saw a city in the distance.

It looked much like the cities from her own world, except for the high walls encircling it. Through breaks in the wall, she could glimpse buildings of varying heights and shapes inside.

She guessed the walls were for keeping out mutant beasts. After all, humans weren’t the only ones in need of fresh water. Without the walls, the city would surely be under constant threat.

There were two security checkpoints at the entrance.

At the first, Ye Liuyun simply swiped a card and passed through. The second was manned, and Shi Xianyu and Lu Pear had to get out for a brief registration.

People here seemed especially fond of children. When Lu Pear stepped out of the RV, the guard instantly became much more enthusiastic, his gaze softening as though he were looking at the hope of humanity’s future.

Shi Xianyu felt conflicted—on one hand, relieved by the Oasis residents’ friendliness, on the other, somewhat uneasy about the atmosphere. But when she saw Lu Pear’s happy smile, she could only silently reassure herself: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do...”

After passing the checkpoints, a straight road led them into the Oasis’s residential area.

Though the city looked similar to those in her own world from the outside, inside, the differences were clear.

There were almost no cars on the road, and the rare ones she saw were heavily armored vehicles from the hunting squads. Unless they were going out to hunt, people here hardly ever needed vehicles.

And there were no children in sight—not a single infant, child, or adolescent to be seen.

Ye Liuyun explained that all the children lived in a place called “the Park” at the very center of the Oasis.

But it was already late, and the park staff had finished work for the day. If they wanted to apply for a place there, they would have to wait until tomorrow.

Shi Xianyu wasn’t sure whether they should enter the Park, but her longing to find Lu Pear’s mother was growing ever more urgent.

That night, she politely declined Ye Liuyun’s invitation, parked the RV in her yard, and slept inside it with Lu Pear as usual.

Lu Pear wrote in her sketchbook: “Will my mother be here?”

“I don’t know either,” Shi Xianyu replied with a gentle smile. “But let’s try to find her. If we can’t, we’ll head to the next Oasis. Still, I think there’s a good chance. I’ve heard Longyan Oasis is the largest around here—lots of people, lots of news.”

Lu Pear wrote carefully: “Do you think my mother has forgotten me?”

Shi Xianyu chuckled and shook her head. “No, how could anyone forget their own child? Impossible.”

Lu Pear considered this, then wrote: “Will my mother like me?”

“Of course. Haven’t you noticed how everyone likes you? You’re adorable and well-behaved. Anyone who meets you can’t help but like you.”

Shi Xianyu decided to steer the conversation away before the child could dwell on such thoughts.

“Little Pear, what’s your dream?” she asked. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Lu Pear gave her a sweet smile and quickly wrote her answer: “I want to be a good mother.”

“That’s not really a dream,” Shi Xianyu said with a helpless smile.

Lu Pear’s face clouded with confusion. Tilting her head in thought, she wrote: “Why isn’t it a dream?”

“Because...” Shi Xianyu found herself at a loss. Why, indeed?

If Lu Pear wanted to be a mother, what right did she have to dissuade her?

But she’s still so young. Does she really know what it means to be a mother? Does she understand what that entails?

Shi Xianyu sighed inwardly, feeling that tonight, sleep would not come easily.