CHAPTER 341: CHAPTER 321: LUO PING’S TEACHER

Lu Shou led everyone to the side of the Healing Village, where the two vehicles from the 923 Base parked next to Lu Xi’an’s RV.

Lu Shou wanted to lead everyone into the village for a visit.

For some unknown reason, he suddenly felt a competitive urge. He thought to himself, these people among themselves are so harmonious and good, but my Healing Village isn’t any worse.

Moreover, your close relations are because you are all Neo-Humans. Can you maintain the same with ordinary people?

I’m different!

I’m not the same as you!

With these thoughts in mind, he led Luo Ping and others into the village, introducing everyone from the village from beginning to end.

Then, when he finished showing them around and turned back, he suddenly realized that at some point, the villagers had mingled effortlessly with these visitors from afar.

Just now, while introducing them, his villagers were all so apprehensive and fearful, so how had they become so harmonious in such a short time?

Those guests invited by Mr. Lu and Mr. Yao from who knows where were sitting and talking with the villagers, doing things together.

— Yes, Lu Shou was sure he wasn’t mistaken; those people were actually helping the villagers of Healing Village with their work. Moreover, they were more skillful than the villagers, more proficient in all sorts of tasks. As Lu Shou watched closely, he realized these people were actually guiding his villagers.

What is happening?!

Lu Shou felt a strong sense of defeat, which faintly concealed an intense inferiority.

"These guys, can’t stay idle when they see work."

Luo Ping shook his head and sighed, saying, "But it’s a good thing too, Brother Lu. I noticed the people here aren’t very proficient with their work, so we can teach you.

"Also, your arrangements aren’t detailed, which wastes effort and energy, and the efficiency isn’t high. Let me help rearrange it for you later. How does that sound?

"Of course, if you don’t like us directing things, I won’t interfere."

Lu Shou blankly muttered, "Ah... oh... mm..."

He was muddled, not even knowing what he was saying.

Then he muddled through the day. By the end of the day, he was astonished to find that his village had transformed significantly. The entire village had been reorganized by Luo Ping, and the efficiency of their work more than doubled.

As a result, after finishing their work, people even had time to rest, during which they respectfully and warmly greeted Luo Ping and his group.

This atmosphere made Lu Shou feel like an outsider.

When it got dark, while sitting down to dinner, Lu Shou got up to a secluded spot to relieve himself, watching the joyful, lively atmosphere in the village, couldn’t help scratching his head, spitting, and murmuring to himself, "Damn, how are they so amazing?!"

He felt, in comparison to these people, he was nothing.

After relieving himself and returning, Luo Ping just missed him, standing up to relieve himself as well.

Lu Xi’an said, "Join me."

Luo Ping grinned, "Couldn’t ask for more, bro. Let’s see who can pee farther."

"Get lost, get lost!"

Lu Xi’an chuckled and cursed.

The two went out together, and Lu Shou turned his head to watch. He felt that these two were the most capable among the group.

Mr. Lu, of course, needed no further mention. He and his woman, Mr. Yao, fought ferociously as if their lives depended on it, making it seem like they, too, had consumed the Fungus Stone.

In most places, people like them would unquestionably be the leaders.

Just like Boss Liang and Xu.

But oddly enough, Lu Shou also met someone like Luo Ping, who always had a smile on his face, showing his crooked teeth, but he spoke and acted with such clarity, organizing everything in an orderly and efficient manner.

This person never lost his temper or showed any kind of power, yet a single casual word from him made people easily believe and follow him, feeling certain that listening to him wouldn’t go wrong.

Those who came with him, except for the young girl named Chai Xin, all called him Mr. Luo—just as the villagers now called Lu Shou Mr. Lu.

And those people treated him with great respect—including the young girl named Chai Xin, and even Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei.

It wasn’t strength they relied on, but something else...

Lu Shou suddenly felt a stir in his heart, recalling scene after scene from the past, and the way the first person he saved called him master, then the second, the third...

...

Lu Shou withdrew his gaze, looking at the joyful and harmonious atmosphere in front of him, silently.

...

After leaving the village, standing by a mountain gulley, the sound of rushing water could be heard.

Lu Xi’an and Luo Ping stood there side by side. Lu Xi’an sighed and said, "Luo Ping, you’re better than me."

Luo Ping turned his head and glanced, "What are you kidding, bro? You beat me by a mile."

Lu Xi’an glanced at Luo Ping, saying, "I’m not comparing this with you, if I did, you’d be under my thumb for life."

Luo Ping: "..."

The sound of flowing water stopped.

Lu Xi’an said, "I’m saying that with these things, you think more than I do and arrange them better. Actually, many things are laid out in front of me, and I should make sense of them.

"But I didn’t think of them—or maybe I was deliberately avoiding thinking about them. I suppose I just don’t want to face these issues directly.

"But you thought about them, and you acted right away, and you did such a good job.

"And then today, you led everyone and organized this village so neatly in just half a day, which is something I couldn’t do either."

Luo Ping’s hands trembled a couple of times, he put on his pants, and said, "Big brother, please don’t say that, what you can do, I can’t do either. Look at all the things you’ve brought us while traveling south?

"And our base can expand now, it’s all thanks to your discoveries, big brother."

Lu Xi’an said, "I’m relying on luck, you’re relying on skill."

"..."

Luo Ping was silent for a moment, and then said, "Big brother, wait until you can’t knock me out with one punch before you say that."

Lu Xi’an laughed, "I’m afraid I can’t do that, my fists are still quite powerful now."

The two of them had finished their tasks, but they weren’t in a hurry to go back. They stood where they were, gazing at the distant bright moon, at the dents on the ground, talking.

"Powerful, being powerful is good..."

Luo Ping said, "Big brother, you know me. I’ve always felt this world is too messed up, I want to change this messed-up world and not become a mess like it. I’ve been working hard for that.

"The reason this world is so messed up is because too many messed up people have too much power, and this power is driving everyone in this world to become even more messed up.

"I feel lucky now that such strong power is in the hands of good people like you, like me, like us.

"I want to tear this messed-up world to shreds, but how do we rip it apart without power, right?"

Lu Xi’an laughed and said, "That’s quite articulate, what have you been reading lately?"

Luo Ping smiled and said, "Haven’t been reading leisure books lately, been learning from books. But I’ve watched a few movies, the stuff you brought, big brother, is really nice. I didn’t know before that there was so much to it!

"Now I want to find a wife."

This guy can turn any conversation to matters of romance.

Lu Xi’an felt a bit speechless and said, "Then go find one."

Luo Ping said, "I’ll wait, there’s no suitable one now. One day, I’ll find someone as beautiful as the big sister."

Lu Xi’an said, "You’re overthinking it."

Luo Ping laughed, "True. Who could be as beautiful as big sister in this world?"

Lu Xi’an said, "Alright, let’s not digress. I have another question for you."

Luo Ping said, "Go ahead, big brother."

Lu Xi’an asked, "Earlier when we were on the radio phone, you mentioned a teacher named Luo Zheng, right?"

Luo Ping said, "Yes."

Lu Xi’an said, "I wanted to ask you about it then, who is your teacher, what’s his background? But we got cut off before I could ask."

Luo Ping scratched his head, a nostalgic look in his eyes, and said, "Well... to be honest, I don’t know either.

"At that time, I was just a kid, wandering around alone... As for how I ended up wandering, truth be told, I can’t remember, I was too young then.

"Then one day, my teacher found me. He took me in, gave me the name Luo Ping. He said his name was Luo Zheng, and such a strong name was of no use in this world, so he gave me the name ’Ping’ for peace, which was nice.

"He taught me how to find food, and whenever he had time, he would write and draw with sticks on the ground, teaching me to read.

"As he taught me to read, he also taught me many life principles, telling me that people should learn things, live like human beings, and not be like those who are beyond help.

"He said others were beyond help, but he would always lend a hand to those in need and would quietly leave when they tried to harm us.

"I felt he was extraordinary and very lonely. He was lonelier than any of us."

"Really?"

Lu Xi’an asked again, "What happened later? Where did he go?"

"I don’t know."

Luo Ping shook his head and said, "Later he traveled with me, accidentally found the base. He settled me there, taught me how to live alone, how to drive, how to refuel.

"After arranging everything, he left quietly. He didn’t say a word when he left, I don’t even know when he left.

"One night just passed, the weather suddenly turned cold, snow piled up, I hunted for him inside and outside the mountains until I almost got buried under the snow, but I still couldn’t find him.

"When the weather warmed up and the snow melted, and he hadn’t returned, I realized then, that he was truly gone."

Lu Xi’an turned his head, only to see that Luo Ping was already in tears without him noticing.