Then, Let Them Offer Their Loyalty!

Chapter 60: Heard I Was Dead?

Chapter 60: Heard I Was Dead?

Qiu Tu's principle was always to ask when in doubt, never to stew on things. So, when he saw another neighbor running away upon seeing him, he quickly stepped forward and grabbed the man by the collar. "Uncle Chen, why are you running?"

Qiu Tu was a well-known figure in the old alley. Before the establishment of New Realm City, he led A Tai and Eagle to dominate the nearby streets. Although he wasn't particularly warm to the neighbors, he didn't bully them like other gangs. He even occasionally helped solve their problems.

After New Realm City was established, Qiu Tu leveraged his connection with Secretary Bai to secure an official position, becoming a high-ranking figure in the eyes of the neighbors. Despite his newfound status, he didn't act high and mighty. Instead, he helped his friends, like Eagle, find jobs and occasionally secured benefits for the neighborhood, earning their respect and goodwill.

Given his history, Qiu Tu had never experienced neighbors fleeing at the sight of him. What surprised him more was Uncle Chen's reaction when he was grabbed. Uncle Chen turned pale and started bowing repeatedly, muttering, "Qiu Tu, we’ve had no past grievances or recent grudges. When you were alive, I even helped watch your door. Sure, I stole two of your potatoes once, but I was starving. Please don’t take me away."

Qiu Tu: ??

Qiu Tu caught a crucial phrase: "when you were alive." He connected the dots and realized the neighbors thought he was dead. His brows furrowed as he slapped Uncle Chen twice to snap him out of his hysteria.

Uncle Chen, far from being scared, seemed overjoyed after the slaps. "Qiu Tu, you're alive? You scared me to death! I thought I saw a ghost!"

Qiu Tu:...

Ignoring Uncle Chen's nonsense, Qiu Tu patiently asked for an explanation and soon understood the situation. With a grim expression, he headed towards his home.

Downstairs at his building, he saw Shen Lingshuang kneeling on the ground, dressed in mourning clothes and holding a black-and-white photo of him. She looked small and pitiful, her big eyes red and swollen from crying. She was tossing yellow paper into a fire while clutching Qiu Tu's photo and weeping.

Qiu Tu, with a face full of dark lines, walked up to her and asked in a menacing tone, "I hear you've been telling people I'm dead?"

At the sound of his voice, Shen Lingshuang froze. Her eyes traveled from Qiu Tu's black boots upwards until she saw his handsome face. Her expression shifted from sorrow to disbelief. After a moment, she sprang up and clung to Qiu Tu, wailing, "Qiu Tu! Qiu Tu, you're alive! You're alive! Thank goodness!"

Initially intending to scold her for "cursing him to death," Qiu Tu softened when he saw her genuine distress. After a moment's hesitation, he gently supported her with his right hand while patting her back with his left, soothing her, "Alright, alright. Stop crying. Who told you I was dead?"

Shen Lingshuang, looking aggrieved, replied, "No one told me. I guessed it myself."

Qiu Tu: ??

Sniffling, Shen Lingshuang explained, "I woke up to find the house in disarray. The door was broken, the roof was damaged, and everything was a mess. I felt uneasy and feared the worst."

"I searched everywhere for you but couldn’t find any trace. I asked Miss Xin, and she said you were just busy. I didn’t believe her but clung to the hope that you were alright. I waited all night and morning, but you didn’t come back. I panicked."

"Then I went to find Eagle to ask about your situation. I asked many people and finally got a message to the Old Alley Security Office. Eagle came out and said you were fine. I asked him to call you to reassure me, but he said he didn’t have a communicator and that you were probably busy. He told me not to disturb you and to go home and wait."

"After so much disappointment and a night without you returning, I feared you really were gone and that Eagle and Miss Xin were lying to protect me."

Tears welled up again as she continued, "I've seen too many..." She hesitated, possibly recalling that discussing cataclysmic awakenings was sensitive, and vaguely continued, "seen too many accidents."

"I was so sad, so sad..." She broke down crying again, clinging to Qiu Tu.

Listening to her explanation, Qiu Tu was both amused and touched. He couldn’t blame her for overthinking. Awakening from a cataclysm was rare, and his sudden absence overnight and the next day without contact would indeed raise alarms. If he were in her shoes, he might have had similar thoughts.

Feeling a bit guilty for not checking in after his busy day, he softened. He continued comforting her, thinking back to when he saw her mourning downstairs, he had initially thought she was either playing around or cursing him. Given her background as a wealthy young lady, it wasn’t unusual for her to act out sometimes.

Qiu Tu didn't expect Shen Lingshuang's genuine concern for him. They had only known each other for a few days, yet she was this upset over his supposed death. Just as he was pondering this, a whistling sound came from upstairs.

Qiu Tu looked up to see A Tai, Eagle, and A Kun peeking from the corridor window, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Qiu Tu sighed at the sight of his mischievous friends.

Possibly exhausted from crying, Shen Lingshuang soon fell asleep in Qiu Tu's arms like a koala. The girl, being only fifteen or sixteen and quite petite, felt almost weightless to Qiu Tu, especially with his strengthened body post-cataclysm. Not wanting to disturb her, he kicked the fire basin and his black-and-white photo aside and carried her upstairs.

Upstairs, his friends awaited with teasing grins. Qiu Tu glared at them before carrying Shen Lingshuang into his room, gently placing her on his bed. True to Eagle's meticulous nature, the broken door had been replaced with a new iron one.

After closing the door, Qiu Tu joined his friends in the hallway. Eagle handed him a cigarette, saying softly, “She’s a good girl. This afternoon, she mourned you as your wife, wearing mourning clothes and burning paper.”

Lighting his cigarette, Qiu Tu paused, then said lightly, “Don’t overthink it. She probably feels responsible, thinking if something happened to me, it was her fault. Plus, she's sensitive due to past traumas.”

From behind, A Tai, the big guy, chimed in, “What kind of reason is that? Brother Tu, I bet my unknown father’s life that the girl definitely likes you.”

Qiu Tu remained silent, continuing to smoke.

Eagle glanced at Qiu Tu with a smile. Even A Tai could see the obvious truth, so it was clear Qiu Tu was just being stubborn. However, respecting their leader, Eagle shifted the conversation, “A Tai, how’s your work at the Special Operations Division?”

A Tai beamed, flexing his thick arms, “Great! I’m the best in the training team. No one can match me! I’ll get promoted soon and help Brother Tu even more.”

Qiu Tu eyed A Tai skeptically. Sharing a glance with Eagle and A Kun, they all understood but didn't challenge A Tai. Knowing A Tai’s pride, they humored him, “Of course, our A Tai is unbeatable.”

“Yeah, no way those trainees can match you.”

“You’re doing great, A Tai.”

Pleased with their praise, A Tai grinned widely.

After discussing A Tai’s situation, Qiu Tu turned to Eagle and A Kun, “How about you two? Passed the screening for the Political Division?”

Eagle nodded, and A Kun added, “Yes, Brother Tu. Both our written and oral exams went well. We report to the Political Division tomorrow. Not sure about our specific assignments yet.”

Finishing his cigarette, Qiu Tu nodded, “Tonight, I’ll meet with the Security Division. They promised to place two of us in the military. Tomorrow, we’ll gather and decide who fits where.”

Excited, the three men nodded. Growing up together in chaotic times, they understood that individual strength was limited. Only by banding together could they ensure survival and prosperity. This principle was deeply ingrained in them.

“Let’s make something great happen together!” Qiu Tu extended his hand.

A Tai, Eagle, and A Kun stacked their hands on his, shouting, “Make something great happen!”

The golden sunset bathed the four in a glow, symbolizing the golden era they were about to create together.

[Eagle Loyalty: +1, Current Loyalty: 91]

[A Tai Loyalty: +1, Current Loyalty: 96]

[A Kun Loyalty: +2, Current Loyalty: 87]

Shen Lingshuang, exhausted from worry and lack of sleep, slept until around 9 PM. Upon waking, her first action was to search for Qiu Tu.

At this moment, Qiu Tu had already sent A Tai, Eagle, and A Kun on their way, having swapped back the guns and communicators to eliminate any potential hazards from the previous night. He was sitting by the bed, quietly contemplating his next steps.

Hearing Shen Lingshuang stirring, Qiu Tu came back to reality. He glanced at her and softly asked, "Awake? Hungry?"

Seeing Qiu Tu beside her, Shen Lingshuang visibly relaxed. She reverted to her typical young mistress demeanor, lying back on the bed with a pout, "I'm not hungry."

Qiu Tu chuckled at her attitude and didn’t argue with her. He went to the living room and brought back the food he had prepared. Though the food was cold, no one in these chaotic times cared much about such details.

Despite her stubborn words, Shen Lingshuang wasn’t foolish. Seeing Qiu Tu bringing food, she grinned and said, "You're begging me to eat this." She then sat up, picked up the chopsticks, and began eating heartily.

Watching her eat with such gusto, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's, Qiu Tu couldn't help but smile. He fetched her a cup of water midway through and gently reminded her to eat slowly.

Once she was nearly full and her pace had slowed, Qiu Tu spoke slowly, "Lingshuang, when I first asked you to concoct the ‘Cataclysmic Potion’, we had a verbal agreement."

Author's Note