Chapter 64: Jing Qizhen: “Just as long as no one actually burns to death…”

Jing Qizhen stared up at the burning villa. He then scanned the surrounding garden and the distance to the neighboring villa, determining that it was enough to serve as a buffer zone.

They didn’t have to go to the villa next door to secure the water source to put out any sparks.

Jing Qizhen said, “Luckily, it’s a single-family villa. The distance with other villas is large enough to not worry about the fire spreading.”

Accustomed to living in various villas, Manman casually added, “There are exceptions, though. Some people take meticulous care of their gardens. If there are additional structures that the property management hasn’t removed yet, the fire might spread.”

Jing Qizhen nodded. “Fortunately, it’s winter here, so there’s little wind and the vegetation isn’t too dense.”

Lu Lingxi, being more detail-oriented, murmured, “It’s also fortunate this is a villa.”

If this had been in the Shennongjia erosion area, where vast forests surrounded them, he wouldn’t have dared to set a fire.

To be honest, back in the village, watching Xu Siya tinker with those boiling oil pans, aside from worrying about the dangers brought by the strange little girl, his mind was also preoccupied with the fear of an accidental spill sparking a forest fire.

Si Jiayang, standing quietly behind Manman, raised his head to carefully observe the fire on the villa, noting the color of the flames and the smoke.

Holding a Polaroid camera Lu Lingxi had brought, he took an accurate shot of the smoking, burning scene and analyzed, pointing at the smoke, “This white smoke looks like burning plastic. It’s likely toxic. Judging by the location, it’s from the first-floor hall, most probably the disposable party decorations they prepared. I suspect the materials are substandard and toxic. Hmm, this greenish flame here might be a brass flame reaction.”

Jing Qizhen replied casually, “Probably brass ornaments or a fireplace in the villa.”

“Could be!” Si Jiayang nodded.

As the fire intensified, he didn’t have time to analyze further.

The housemaid let out another terrified sob, her face buried in a towel, crying out in despair, “Oh God!

Caroline and the others standing across the street were forced to watch the raging fire while clutching their luggage and covering their noses with damp towels: “…”

Is this really the rescue team we paid a fortune for?

Why the hell are you so skilled at setting fires?!

Even the usually composed Professor Jones began to falter. Turning to Joyce, he asked incredulously, “Who are they exactly?”

Joyce, having already resigned himself, repeated his perfunctory response, “Ask my cousin, Wilcox! Don’t ask me. I was locked up with you. I don’t know anything!”

Professor Jones: “…”

The group of displaced foreigners exchanged baffled, frustrated looks but was too helpless to disperse. They could only stand in mutual annoyance, glaring at each other.

Meanwhile, Jing Qizhen’s team shifted their focus from the burning villa to Yun Shuanghua.

Initially, Jing Qizhen intended to have Yun Shuanghua join Joyce’s group. After all, whether Yun Shuanghua had snuck in or fallen there by accident, his gear appeared to consist only of the clothes on his back and a classic hard baguette…

However, Yun Shuanghua showed no intention of avoiding them. Standing calmly beside them, he seemed completely unaffected, as though the smoke and chaos didn’t exist.

Both Lu Lingxi and Gu Leshan, being professional soldiers, were detail-oriented. At first, they wanted to remind him to take precautions, but seeing Yun Shuanghua stand unaffected amidst the swirling smoke, breathing naturally with his eyes open, they were stunned.

That… was not a normal human reaction!

No matter how well-trained or physically exceptional someone was, exposure to smoke and harmful substances from a fire would still require protection, such as a gas mask. Without one, the fumes could damage the eyes and throat. If the gases were toxic, the consequences would be even more severe.

Exchanging a quick glance through their gas masks, Lu Lingxi and Gu Leshan fell silent.

Si Jiayang, hands lightly resting on Manman’s shoulders, also noticed and subtly pressed down ever so slightly.

Manman remained silent but gave a barely noticeable nod, signaling that she had noticed as well. She then leaned against Si Jiayang naturally.

Jing Qizhen stayed quiet for a moment before lifting his head to look at Yun Shuanghua.

Sensing his gaze, Yun Shuanghua turned to face him. His expression was still cold and he didn’t say a word, only giving Jing Qizhen a slightly puzzled look.

Jing Qizhen swallowed the words he was about to say and instead calmly reminded him, “That baguette isn’t edible anymore. Are there ingredients in the neighboring villa? I’ll bake a new one for you later.”

Yun Shuanghua furrowed his brows slightly, hesitating. “What ingredients are needed?”

“Hard to say… Maybe I’ll go check myself later,” Jing Qizhen replied.

Yun Shuanghua gave a small nod with his still stoic expression.

However, given his detached demeanor, Jing Qizhen couldn’t help but wonder: Did this guy accidentally develop facial paralysis while sneaking into the erosion area?

As the surrounding air grew increasingly hot, everyone, even with gas masks, could feel the heat waves washing over them.

Gu Leshan suggested, “Let’s move a bit further away, just outside the villa’s yard should do.”

Even though it was cold outside in winter, it wasn’t appropriate to use the burning villa as a bonfire.

Everyone quickly followed his advice and moved several meters away.

Manman, with her injured hand, had just stood up from her seat when Si Jiayang, acting as if she were entirely immobile, scooped her up in his arms and carried her away from the burning villa.

With a look of concern, he leaned close to her face and instructed, “Baby, when you hold my neck, be careful and use your arm. Don’t hurt your injured hand!”

Manman: “…” My legs are fine!!!

Seeing Si Jiayang’s face so close to hers and meeting his slightly teary eyes, Manman blinked and decided not to argue. Instead, she quietly leaned against his chest and softly murmured, “Okay.”

Meanwhile, Jing Qizhen, exhausted and slightly unsteady, propped himself up on the table as he stood.

Yun Shuanghua, who was nearby, observed Jing Qizhen’s frailty and, without saying a word, mimicked Si Jiayang’s actions and lifted Jing Qizhen in a bridal carry.

Jing Qizhen was stunned. “Huh?”

Yun Shuanghua remained silent.

He even followed the same path Si Jiayang took, conveniently keeping Jing Qizhen and Manman close enough for them to continue their conversation.

Jing Qizhen: “…”

Manman: “0.0!”

Si Jiayang, still holding Manman, whistled. “Nice, bro! Great arm strength!”

Manman turned her head and punched him.

Si Jiayang chuckled, winking exaggeratedly in response to her playful punch.

Even Yan Hong, who had been watching the fire, turned and asked with exasperation, “Do you want us to praise you too?”

Si Jiayang shook his head quickly. “No, no, I know my limits. My Manman’s weight isn’t comparable to Little Jing’s, after all.”

Manman: “…”

Jing Qizhen: “…”

The Earth, who had been watching the scene unfold, asked Jing Qizhen with interest, “Are you feeling better now? Can you stand?”

Jing Qizhen: “…” Let me just die already!

Resigned, he tapped Yun Shuanghua’s arm lightly and said, “You can put me down now.”

Yun Shuanghua gave him a doubtful look as if to ask: Are you sure you can stand on your own?

Jing Qizhen took a deep breath. “…I’m fine, thanks.”

He was just exhausted. A bit of rest would have him back on his feet. In fact, his situation wasn’t as bad as Manman’s hand injury, which would take days to heal.

Yun Shuanghua looked at Si Jiayang and Manman nearby, felt the light weight of Jing Qizhen leaning on him, and concluded that Jing Qizhen was still pitifully fragile. He decisively ignored Jing Qizhen’s protests.

Jing Qizhen: “…” Is this all the agency I have left as a human? QAQ

“Little Jing, aren’t you usually pretty strong?” The Earth, puzzled, asked.

Jing Qizhen nodded. “Yes.”

The Earth: “Then how come you’re so drained from just being in the villa?”

Jing Qizhen: “It was… exhausting.”

Trying to stay alert earlier in the villa, while his mind was bombarded with the Earth’s incessant ‘rumbling broadcast,’ had drained Jing Qizhen far beyond his expectations.

It was only after Yun Shuanghua carried him out did he belatedly realized that staying awake in the villa consumed far too much energy than expected.

They only spent a few minutes inside the villa, yet he was reduced to such a sorry state, which was impossible to happen in normal circumstances. It cemented Jing Qizhen’s decision to burn the villa down.

The extreme fatigue came far too sudden and unexpected, offering them no chance to resist. Jing Qizhen couldn’t come up with other solutions to solve the problem, so he could only make a ruthless decision.

The fire in the villa showed no signs of dying down and Yun Shuanghua’s baguette was now a casualty of the smoke. Jing Qizhen shifted his focus and suggested, “Let’s go to the neighboring villa and set up some rooms for the night.”

He might find a chance to replace the baguette for Yun Shuanghua.

Lu Lingxi casually raised a hand to point at a hidden pinhole camera on his person and said, “I’ll stay here to keep an eye on the fire.”

The group quickly divided tasks.

Not only did they need to watch the burning villa, but they also had to observe the foreigners lest they came up with some troubles.

Those needing rest, like Jing Qizhen and Manman, went first, accompanied by Si Jiayang and Gu Leshan.

Yun Shuanghua, who showed no hostility despite his enigmatic nature, also joined them, since Jing Qizhen also wanted to give him his baguette.

Jing Qizhen quietly asked Si Jiayang, “Jiayang, are you good at baking bread?”

Though he made the promise, he still had to rely on Si Jiayang to make it.

The culinary expert confidently replied, “As long as there’s an oven and ingredients, there’s nothing I can’t handle!”

Manman affirmed with a nod. “Yep!”

“Glad to hear it.” Jing Qizhen quirked a brow.

The Earth teased, “You seem to have gotten used to being carried by Yun Shuanghua. You’re useless now anyway and he’s like a free, silent transportation service. If he doesn’t mind, why not just let him keep carrying you?”

“You’re the one who’s useless!” Jing Qizhen instinctively retorted.

Then, realizing his mistake, he corrected himself. “Wait, no. You are not useless. If you are, humanity is doomed.”

The Earth smugly replied, “Glad you understand!”

Gu Leshan approached with everyone’s luggage in hand. “Let’s go. Time to find a place to rest in the other villa.”

Just then, a figure suddenly emerged from the flaming villa, covered with a soaked blanket and coughing violently.

The foreigners’ group, stunned, exclaimed, “Angelina?!”

Wilcox was equally shocked and shouted in a thick Sichuan dialect, “What the heck is this? Someone was actually pretending to be dead?!”

“Just as long as no one actually burns to death…” Jing Qizhen raised an eyebrow calmly.

Wilcox immediately realized the issue and shouted at his younger cousin, “Joyce! Damn it! Did you guys even check the other bodies?”

Joyce, nearly on the verge of breaking down, replied, “Why are you asking me again?”