Chapter 017 Bringing Them Back​​

“You’ve got it easy, able to rest whenever you want,” Xie Hengliang said, delivering goods to Qin Qing’s shop again and picking up the durians to be shipped out. “Not me. I have to make late deliveries. One phone call and I’m summoned.”

“It’s fine if mine are a bit late,” Qin Qing piled the packages into a corner and picked up a plate of durian from a nearby table. “Want some durian? Here.”

“Thanks,” Xie Hengliang took a small piece of durian, waved, and turned to leave. “Gotta go. Still have deliveries to make in a few villages today.”

“Take care.”

After seeing Xie Hengliang off, Qin Qing checked the time on her phone. It was exactly noon, so she hung the "Closed" sign outside.

Though she called it resting, most of the time she was actually at the Dimensional Supermarket. Today, she planned to go pick up Wang Wu and the others. More work awaited.

Arriving at the Dimensional Supermarket, she took the e-bike out of her space, rode forward, and soon saw people walking out. She stopped the e-bike. “Auntie Zhang, off to deliver lunch?”

The woman turned around, smiling as she spoke to Qin Qing. “Immortal Lord, I’m taking lunch to the people clearing the wasteland.”

“Hop on, I’ll give you a ride.” Qin Qing pointed to the back seat.

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly… the Immortal Lord’s chariot…” Auntie Zhang instinctively took a small step back.

“It’s fine. I’m heading out anyway. Sit,” Qin Qing tapped the back seat. When Auntie Zhang nodded and came over, she smiled. “Hold onto my clothes once you’re seated. We’re off.”

“Alright.” Auntie Zhang nodded, sat down, and carefully grasped Qin Qing’s clothes.

Qin Qing started the e-bike and rode towards the wasteland.

Sunset Forest had many trees, unsuitable for a three-wheeler. The e-bike was manageable, though it bumped occasionally over rocks. Compared to walking, the e-bike was faster and less tiring.

Auntie Zhang sat nervously, looking left and right. As trees whizzed past, her eyes filled with amazement.

She’d ridden in a carriage before, but it was nothing like this small vehicle that moved so incredibly fast.

“Where is the Immortal Lord going?” Auntie Zhang asked.

“Wang Wu and his group went to fetch people. I’m going to see if I can meet them, bring them back. Saves them some walking,” Qin Qing said calmly.

“The Immortal Lord is truly too kind.” Auntie Zhang tightly clutched the basket in her hand, glancing sideways at Qin Qing. She thought, if not for her being an Immortal Lord, she’d seem just like an ordinary young girl.

“Just nothing else to do,” Qin Qing said with a light laugh, spotting people in the distance who looked up at the sound. She gradually slowed down. “Auntie Zhang, we’re here.”

“Already?” Auntie Zhang asked, astonished. Looking ahead, her face instantly lit up with joy. “We really are! Thank you, Immortal Lord! Without your ride, I’d have walked much longer.”

“We were going the same way.” Qin Qing let Auntie Zhang off, greeted the people clearing the land, then rode the e-bike onward, leaving Sunset Forest.

...

“Sister Zhang, you actually rode in the Immortal Lord’s chariot?”

“I never imagined it. The Immortal Lord is so considerate. She saw me walking to deliver lunch and offered me a ride,” Auntie Zhang distributed the lunch food, her eyes smiling. “We’ve met the kindest Immortal Lord, in heaven and on earth.”

“Yes, the Immortal Lord is truly benevolent.”

“So envious of you.”

“Auntie Zhang, how did riding the Immortal Lord’s chariot feel?”

“Comfortable, of course! It’s the Immortal Lord’s chariot,” Auntie Zhang covered her mouth, laughing. “I’ve never ridden such a fine vehicle. None of you have had such good fortune.”

“Truly, Auntie Zhang’s luck is the best.”

“By the way, I heard Elder Lin say that a while back, the Immortal Lord gave Wang Wu and the others a ride. What was supposed to take half a day, they reached Westfield Town in just an hour and a half! Such a long distance—walking would’ve taken us days.”

“Really? Is that true?”

“Of course it’s true! The Immortal Lord said so herself. The Immortal Lord’s chariot must be like the legendary thousand-mile horse. Most importantly, it doesn’t even need horses!”

“Operas say even heaven uses horses. The Immortal Lord doesn’t need them, proving operas are just made up by ordinary people.”

“Definitely. Ordinary people have never seen real Immortals. I say it’s only right Immortals don’t need horses. The operas only say they do because they can’t imagine how else an Immortal’s chariot would move. What we’re seeing is the real Immortal.”

“Yes, yes! That’s exactly it!”

...

“Can Sunset Forest really be lived in? I heard all the plants there are poisonous. How will we survive?”

“It’s true the deep forest plants are poisonous, but not the outer areas. Just days ago, we found a kind of fruit there—fragrant, delicious, extremely tasty,” Wang Wu explained. “We found a patch of wasteland on the outskirts. Once cleared, we can plant crops.”

“Is it this?” One person held up a sweet potato. “Fragrant, delicious, sweet and tasty—is this the fruit you found in Sunset Forest?”

“No, that’s a sweet potato. It’s… hard to explain…” Wang Wu trailed off, his ear suddenly twitching.

He glanced at Zhou Ding, seeking confirmation with his eyes.

Zhou Ding nodded.

Both had heard the familiar sound of a certain vehicle.

Just then, others started hearing it too, looking towards the source. “What’s that sound?”

“You hear it too?”

“You all hear it?”

At that moment, Wang Wu and Zhou Ding stepped forward simultaneously, kneeling on both knees as the slowing vehicle approached. “Immortal Lord.”

“I told you not to do that,” Qin Qing said quickly. “Get up. Everyone get on. I asked Elder Lin; timing should be about right. I came specifically to pick you up, save you two days of walking.”

The two stood up, still bowing deeply. “Thank you, Immortal Lord.”

They then led the group they’d brought back towards the three-wheeler’s cargo bed.

But there were too many people. The small three-wheeler couldn’t possibly fit them all.

Qin Qing got off the three-wheeler, directed Wang Wu and Zhou Ding to step back, stored the three-wheeler in her space, and pulled out a used truck instead.

She’d specifically hunted for this before returning to town. Truck and plates together cost only 30,000 yuan. She figured whether before or after the apocalypse, she might need it for scavenging runs. But since trucks needed fuel and refueling in town was inconvenient, she’d kept it in her space. She’d thought the three-wheeler would suffice this time, but it hadn’t.

“Immortal Lord, is this your new chariot?” Wang Wu asked quietly.

“Chariot? I suppose so,” Qin Qing glanced at the truck. Though old, it could pass as a vehicle. “Get in. But there are no seats in the back. You’ll have to sit on the floor.”

She opened the cargo door.

Items in the truck needed to be quickly transferred to her personal space, so it couldn’t be open. Opening the door, she saw the stunned expressions and hesitant disbelief on Wang Wu, Zhou Ding, and the large group behind them.

After all, she hadn’t explained her identity since appearing.

Qin Qing: “…Forget it. Explaining is too much trouble.”

“Mother, get up.”

“All of you, get in.”

Wang Wu and Zhou Ding reacted first, lifting the children into the truck, then helping the others climb into the cargo hold.

“This…” Wang Wu’s mother looked at her son with shock and doubt.

“It’s a long story. We’ll explain everything once we arrive,” Wang Wu said.

“Yes, hurry up. Don’t waste the Immortal Lord’s time,” Zhou Ding added, helping his own family members into the truck before climbing in last.

Persuaded by the two, everyone boarded the truck.

It was still a bit crowded, but better than the three-wheeler. At least everyone fit.

Qin Qing grabbed the rear door. Before closing it, she said, “The ride might be a bit fast later. Don’t worry, it’s safe. I drive steadily.”

She smiled and shut the door as they nodded uncertainly.

Cargo holds weren’t meant for passengers, but the situation was urgent. Just this once wouldn’t matter.

Returning to the driver’s seat, she stepped on the gas and drove off.

The truck’s speed was much faster than the three-wheeler’s. However, ancient roads were rough. She didn’t dare drive too fast, maintaining 60-70 km/h (approx. 37-43 mph), slowing down further on particularly bad patches.

Fortunately, the ancient world had few people and fewer vehicles. She encountered no oncoming traffic, only a handful of people on the way back, ensuring a smooth return to Sunset Forest.

After the cargo doors closed, the hold was pitch black. During the return trip, no one spoke, not even the children, until the doors opened again.

“We’re here. It’s tricky driving in further. You’ll need to walk the rest of the way,” Qin Qing stood outside the truck, smiling at everyone inside.

Her voice seemed to jolt them awake. They struggled to rise.

Wang Wu and Zhou Ding got out first. Compared to the others, they were more “seasoned.” Once out, they immediately helped the others down.

After everyone disembarked, Qin Qing confirmed nothing was left inside, locked the cargo door again, and stored the truck back in her personal space.

She checked her watch. The detour to pick them up meant she was long past the supermarket’s lunch break.

“I have things to attend to. Go on in yourselves. I’m off.”

She chose "Return to Shop" and instantly reappeared inside the Dimensional Supermarket, then rushed to open the store.

Business might be slow, but it still needed doing.

Qin Qing left in a hurry, missing the wobbly legs of those who’d gotten off the truck, and failing to see several people drop to their knees on the spot after she vanished.

“AN IMMORTAL!!!”