Chapter 301: The Princess on the Tower
Chapter 301: The Princess on the Tower
On one side, Lei Jiang is instigating Tang Siluo to seek out Anran, while Tang Jianjun is instructing Zhang Boxun to approach her. Meanwhile, on the other side, Luo Feifan is driving Zhan Lian around the outskirts of Tiesi Village to inspect several defense points.
On the dark streets illuminated only by starlight, the car’s headlights cut through the night. Luo Feifan steers the wheel, occasionally glancing at Zhan Lian, who is slouched in the passenger seat, smoking. Casually, he says,
"There aren’t many people in the districts who are truly useful, and even fewer who are willing to follow orders. I mentioned your situation to Uncle Tang today. He said he’d send someone to help you manage District 4. It might be that kid, Zhang Boxun, but when the time comes, he still hopes you'll be willing to step up when needed."
"It doesn’t matter who he sends." Zhan Lian exhales a slow ring of smoke, indifferent. He adjusts the passenger seat into a reclined position, rolls down the window, props his feet up on the frame, and lies back lazily. "In a couple of days, I’ll be taking my wife to live in your District 1."
"Why move to my District 1?"
"There are more soldiers there, and eventually, more military families. The environment will be better than in District 4."
According to Tang Jianjun’s plan, while the four districts are still scattered and chaotic, they will eventually be divided by function: District 1 for soldiers and their families, District 2 for general survivors, District 3 for vulnerable groups—the orphans, widows, elderly, sick, disabled, and pregnant women—and District 4 for scattered, unaffiliated survivors.
District 1 is clearly the safest and most stable place for Anran and the child.
This world is too unstable. In wartime, he can't just strap Anran and the child to his belt and take them everywhere. He has to find them a secure place to stay.
Of course, Tang Jianjun’s immediate priority is organizing supply expeditions to gather food from the surrounding areas. And the ones most likely to lead those missions? Zhan Lian, Luo Feifan, and the recently favored Lei Jiang.
As they near their destination, Luo Feifan pulls up in front of a large iron gate—the entrance to where Anran is staying. He glances up at the elevated structure beside it and abruptly changes the subject.
"Ah Lian, I swear, you might be a little mentally unhinged. You’ve locked up your wife and kid like they’re inside a steel vault. What exactly are you trying to do? Is she supposed to be some kind of 'princess in the tower'?"
"You’ll understand when you have a wife and kid of your own."
This world is too dangerous. Who can say for sure what kind of abilities his wife has? There were flowers everywhere in her home, flowers even on the roof of the car he found her in. People at the gas station had called her a 'walking granary.' Clearly, his wife is a wood-type ability user. If he isn’t careful, the whole world will come trying to take her.
Zhan Lian turns his head slightly, gazing out of the passenger seat toward the high ground. The top of the deep red walls has a ring of stone guardrails, with a thick tree growing beside them. Its massive canopy stretches over the dormitory, and the bright full moon perches perfectly on its treetop. It really does look like something out of a fairy tale.
He remembers picking up a set of fairy tale books a few days ago while searching for supplies. They are still in the bulletproof car. Later, he can sit on Zhan Anxin’s little bed and read to her.
Hmm… just thinking about it makes him feel happy.
The night deepens little by little. Zhan Lian gets out of the car, gives a casual wave to Luo Feifan, and turns toward the heavy, seamless iron gate. As if sensing his presence, the metal door automatically cracks open just wide enough for him to step through.
Zhan Lian walks inside. Behind his broad, steady back, the iron gate shuts tight once again, sealing the world behind him.