Chapter 25: Returning the Luck
The earth shook violently as black smoke belched from the crater.
Without hesitation, Chi Qian pulled out the makeshift skateboard she’d crafted earlier at the hot spring, snapping the pieces together as fast as she could before jumping on.
“No time, everyone—get on!” she shouted. (TN: Hum.. The logic here is a bit off, but..oh well.)
Chi Fengxiao reacted first, hopping on behind her, followed by Shen Jing and his son.
As the saying goes—one section after another, stronger and stronger.
They stacked themselves like a human train on the board.
Chi Qian gripped the front handle, stomped off the ground, and the wheels squealed before the board shot down the volcano’s slope with unstoppable momentum.
“Wooooohooo!” Chi Qian spread her arms wide, shouting into the wind, even adding sound effects: “Feels like flying!”
Chi Fengxiao yanked her collar from behind. “Stop flying! The volcano’s got diarrhea!”
Shen Jing shouted, “Qian Qian, steer toward the slope perpendicular to the lava flow!”
Chi Qian glanced back at the volcano. “Relax, this is just a Level-1 eruption. Lava flows slow—you can dodge it on foot.”
But Gu Hua’s group didn’t know that.
The shadow of death loomed over them.
[I thought she was just messing around with wood earlier, but she was actually making skateboard parts! How did she carve those wheels so smooth??]
[My heart can’t take this, it’s the first time I’ve witnessed a disaster this massive live!]
[Serves Gu Hua’s group right. Who told them to play around at the crater? Now they can’t even outrun it.]
[Does Chi Qian even have a conscience?? She’s just running for herself while there are lives behind her! Go save them!!]
[Bruh, is she their mom?? Why should she?]
The skateboard sped smoothly downhill—until “Clang!”
The momentum sent all four of them flying several meters forward.
Chi Qian had anticipated it; she flipped midair and landed steadily on her feet.
Phew, that was close. Almost face-planted.
The other three, however, collapsed into a tangled heap.
“…”
[Aaaaah that was so close! But wow, it looked so fun—I wanna try!]
[Try it and you’ll die. If the one in front loses balance, everyone behind gets launched straight to their graves.]
[Thrilling, yes. Deadly, also yes.]
Just as Chi Qian predicted, the eruption lasted no more than half an hour before settling down.
Chi Fengxiao waved the ash away. “Should’ve brought masks—this stuff is choking me to death.”
Chi Qian replied, “Level-1 eruptions release little lava. The suspended particles and soil impurities in the air don’t pose much harm to humans or the environment. Just keep your distance.”
Chi Fengxiao tapped her head. “What on earth do you keep in that little brain of yours? How are you this smart?”
Chi Qian grinned, showing four teeth. “I don’t keep things in my brain. I only keep you.”
Chi Fengxiao froze for two seconds, then realized—and pinched her cheeks, “You little brat! How dare you say your uncle is a ‘thing’!”
“I never said that. But if you insist on thinking that way, I can’t help it.”
“…”
Shen Jiashu immediately rushed over to stop Chi Fengxiao: “Stop! How can you be disrespectful to the Princess!”
Shen Jing cut in, holding back a laugh: “I just saw the safehouse marker. It’s to the south, maybe a few hundred meters away.”
As he spoke, Gu Hua’s group finally made it down.
Their faces were all covered in black soot, mixed with sweat, looking completely bedraggled.
Qin Yue noticed that Chi Qian and her group weren’t nearly as dirty. His eyes flickered: “You guys were just up there too, so how did you—”
As soon as he opened his mouth, ash and soot sprayed everywhere.
Chi Qian: “Pfft.”
Qin Yue’s face instantly turned darker than the ash smeared on it.
Gu Hua wiped her face and asked gently, “Qian Qian, Senior Qin was trying to ask how you managed to run so fast just now. We couldn’t catch up no matter what.”
“You mean to blame us for not waiting for you?” Chi Fengxiao’s expression chilled.
Even the mild-mannered Shen Jing frowned: “You were the ones who insisted on going up there. If something happened, that’s your own responsibility. What, you expect others to bail you out? We don’t owe you that.”
[Other than Gu Hua’s fans, no one’s gonna think Chi Qian’s group was wrong not to run back and save them, right? At death’s door, who cares what kind of cattle or horse you are]
[Helping is kindness, not helping is the rule. How are they this old and still don’t get it?]
[But since Chi Qian could even make a skateboard, couldn’t she have made an extra one just in case?]
[Are you sure your feet are wrapped up? Sounds like it’s your brain wrapped up. Begging with such self-righteousness]
Gu Hua’s system: [Smear mission failed. Host will now be punished. Returning one percent of Chi Qian’s luck.]
Gu Hua nearly ground her teeth to dust.
Chi Qian’s eyes lit up—biu!
Her luck!
So the things Gu Hua had taken could actually be spit back out!
Awesome!
All that irritation she’d felt toward the system instantly lifted. Having control in her own hands—that was the best.
Just then, Gu Hua suddenly cried out in pain. Her ankle was swollen.
Ling Qian crouched down beside her: “Hua Hua, get on, I’ll carry you.”
“But you’ve just been running all this time too, you must be exhausted…”
“If you don’t want me to carry you, I can hold you in my arms instead.”
Even through the thick layer of soot, a hint of red could be seen on Gu Hua’s face.
She sneaked a glance at Chi Qian, then climbed onto Ling Qian’s back.
How about that? Surely Chi Qian would be crushed with jealousy now, right?
But all she got in response was the back of Chi Qian’s head, along with: “It’s almost my nap time. Let’s find somewhere to eat first.”
Gu Hua: “…” Eat and sleep, sleep and eat all day long—don’t you have any ambition as a villainess at all?! No. She had to take that luck back!
After moving far enough from the volcano, the group found an open space to rest.
Their rations were already gone. They had to head into the forest to find food.
With so many people, they agreed on a temporary alliance.
Two groups set out: Chi Qian’s group searched for water and firewood, while Gu Hua’s went hunting for food. That way, time would be saved.
It was going smoothly—Until Chi Fengxiao stepped right into a swamp.
Shen Jing tried to pull him out, but the more he tugged, the faster Fengxiao sank. He immediately froze, not daring to move.
Chi Qian: “Uncle, didn’t I tell you your fortune said ‘Great Misfortune’ this time?” (TS: Great Misfortune in Chinese is “Da Xiong” which also sound like “Big pecs/big breasts)
Chi Fengxiao roared: “My pecs is already big enough, I don’t need it bigger! Pull me out already!”
“Uncle, I know you’re panicking, but calm down first,” Chi Qian said. “Relax your body, take deep breaths, stop struggling.”
Fengxiao followed her advice, and sure enough, the sinking slowed.
Chi Qian continued: “Now, lift your arms up, and try not to use strength from your lower body.”
“Then what?”
“Next, lean your body forward, like you’re lying flat on the swamp…”
As he leaned forward, trying to pull his arm free, he asked, “So this will get me out faster?”
Chi Qian calmly replied: “This way, when you choke, it’ll at least be more comfortable.”
