Ming Yue led Ba Jiu and the others forward at a brisk pace, ignoring Jin Xi and Tian Shang's complaints. Seeing that Ming Yue paid them no mind, the two women fell silent.
After all, as long as they followed Ming Yue, there was nothing else for them to worry about. However, the feeling of heading in the wrong direction grew.
They had arrived at the entrance of the base. Any further and they would be outside. Was Ming Yue planning to go out for a stroll?
That didn't seem right either. They didn't have passes to enter or exit. Still, this time, the two women chose to remain quiet.
The area was bustling with people coming and going, far livelier than the villa where they lived.
They couldn't buy anything, but watching the lively scene was also good. In the apocalypse, such a sight was rare.
"Uncle, do you need a guide? My name is Little Monkey.
Are you looking to rent a place, exchange for supplies, buy food, or perhaps register and get various permits?
Or are you searching for relatives or friends? I can take you there in the fastest time possible, for just one low-level crystal.
My service is thorough, saving you a lot of time. Consider it!"
A boy in his teens, dressed in rags, looking malnourished.
He was trying to solicit business from those just entering the base, his voice clear and bright.
"Uncle, or perhaps some food would do. A packet of instant noodles, or a steamed bun, anything is fine.
Believe me, I know Cloud City Base very well and can definitely help you! If nothing else, a bottle of water would also work."
Despite being rejected, Little Monkey persisted, trying hard to sell himself.
The man he was bothering finally lost his patience, pushed him away, uttered a curse, and turned to leave.
Little Monkey was about 1.5 meters tall, but so skinny his bones were visible. The veins on his thin neck bulged, seemingly unable to support his head.
After being pushed down, his arm was scraped by the stones on the ground, and he didn't even have time to wipe it.
He shakily got up and ran to another group of people entering the city, starting his sales pitch again.
Still, no one paid him any attention. Seeing that there were no more people entering the city, he found a shady corner and sat down.
However, his eyes remained fixed on the city gate, licking his chapped lips, a look of expectation on his face.
"You're called Little Monkey? You know the base very well, don't you? You're injured and need treatment."
A pleasant voice sounded beside him. Little Monkey turned his head and saw a woman holding antiseptic and bandages, offering them to him.
"Beautiful sister, is this for me?"
He jumped up in surprise, unsure if it was from the sudden movement or hunger, and stumbled.
But he quickly regained his balance, quickly took the medicine and bandages, and put them in his pocket.
The one who gave Little Monkey the medicine was none other than Ming Yue. The person she was looking for was Little Monkey.
She had noticed the child when they entered the base yesterday. From his introduction, she could tell he was very familiar with Cloud City Base.
She didn't want to waste time exploring on her own, so she needed a guide and came to the city gate to find him.
She had been watching from the side and witnessed Little Monkey getting injured. Her sympathy was instantly stirred.
So, she took out medicine and bandages from her spatial storage, intending to have Little Monkey treat his wound first before discussing the guide matter.
"Why aren't you treating your wound? It could get infected,"
Seeing that Little Monkey had put the medicine and bandages in his pocket without treating his wound, Tian Shang asked curiously.
"Kind sisters, you've given me the items, so they're mine now. You don't want them back, do you?
My small injury is nothing, it will heal in a few days. This medicine and bandages are very expensive in the base.
If I sell them, I can get ten catties of rice, which is enough to eat for a long time."
Clutching his pocket, Little Monkey looked warily at the three women and one child in front of him.
He wondered if they had changed their minds and even felt the urge to run.
"He's really willing to trade his life for money!"
Tian Shang muttered softly, grabbing Little Monkey's arm. Little Monkey struggled fiercely, thinking Tian Shang wanted to snatch back the bandages and medicine.
However, he soon relaxed and stopped struggling, realizing that a green light was appearing on Tian Shang's fingertips.
The light swept over his wound, which immediately scabbed over and then fell off. The wound visibly healed.
He knew it was an ability. Now that it was the apocalypse, people would hire wood-element ability users to treat illnesses.
But it was very expensive. It was said that the consultation fee alone, not including the treatment cost, was one mid-level crystal.
Tian Shang used her ability to heal Little Monkey's wound because she feared that no matter how much medicine she gave him, this money-grubbing boy wouldn't use it and would instead trade it for crystals and food.
In the apocalypse, an infected wound could be very dangerous and even fatal.
"Three sisters, I'll return your medicine to you. Please, I beg you, save my sister! Please!"
Seeing his wound heal, Little Monkey suddenly knelt on the ground, took the medicine and bandages from his pocket.
He pushed them back into Ming Yue's hand and pleaded with them, his eyes filled with hope.
"Get up first, let's leave here first."
Little Monkey's commotion had attracted the attention of the surrounding people. Ming Yue pulled him up and walked towards the interior of the base.
"Sister, have you agreed? My home isn't in this direction. Let me go, I'll lead you."
Little Monkey, at such a young age, had developed a sharp eye from dealing with all sorts of people daily.
He immediately recognized Ming Yue as the leader and cunningly tried to lead them directly to his home.
"I haven't agreed to let her treat your sister. Now, tell me in detail what's going on.
Is your sister very ill? Where are your parents? Why are you soliciting business at the city gate?
Also, judging by your appearance, you haven't eaten for days. Shouldn't the base be distributing food daily?"
Finding a secluded spot, which was likely a park in the city center before the apocalypse but was now deserted and empty, Ming Yue put Little Monkey down and began to question him. Only by understanding the life at the very bottom of society could one truly understand Cloud City Base. Little Monkey was the best subject for this investigation.
"If I tell you, will you save my sister?"
Little Monkey's eyes were filled with caution and suspicion. He couldn't see through Ming Yue.
He had initially thought that since they could give him medicine for his wound and even heal him with an ability, these people must be kind-hearted.
But now, they had brought him here and were asking about his family.
They even asked about his parents, which made him wary. However, thinking of his sister at home, he decided to take a gamble.
"As long as you answer my questions, we will go and save your sister.
Not only that, but we will also hire you as a guide. How about one mid-level crystal per day?"
Seeing the suspicion in Little Monkey's eyes, Ming Yue increased her offer. The way to deal with a money-grubber was to offer a hefty sum.
Indeed, Little Monkey couldn't resist the temptation of a mid-level crystal.
He spent all day at the city gate and couldn't even earn a low-level crystal. He had never even seen a mid-level crystal before.
Moreover, Ming Yue had promised to save his sister. He would have agreed even without the crystal.
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything. As long as my sister can be saved, I'll answer whatever you ask.
With me as your guide, sisters, you can rest assured. I am very familiar with the base.
Whatever you want to do, I can find a way. I will definitely help you."
For his sister's illness and that one mid-level crystal, Little Monkey patted his chest and promised, licking his chapped lips.
Ming Yue pulled him down to sit and, as if by magic, produced a bottle of water and handed it to him, telling him to drink it first.
However, he took the water, put it back in his pocket without drinking, and began to answer Ming Yue's previous questions.
"I didn't expect Bu Ying's heart to be so dark!"
After listening to Little Monkey's account, Jin Xi cursed angrily. Ming Yue and Tian Shang also shook their heads repeatedly.