Chapter 144: The Road to Happy Town

The road leading to Happy Town was surprisingly smooth.

Generally only places with frequent communication with the outside world had roads convenient enough for vehicles. Although increased traffic puts pressure on the roads, more people also means more maintenance. The constant use compacts the road surface making it solid. In contrast roads in isolated areas often crack and buckle from years of environmental erosion becoming nearly impassable.

In just over a day Lu Xin and Gecko arrived at a spot merely ten kilometers from Happy Town.

Seeing that it was getting late and they had been traveling all day they decided not to push on, opting to rest instead.

Lu Xin watched Gecko settle down by the campfire. He immediately began preparations, too busy even to glance at the magazines he’d brought along. He meticulously checked his guns and bullets, disassembling and reassembling the parts repeatedly. Sensing Gecko’s considerable stress Lu Xin smiled and said, “You don’t need to be afraid. I’ll go in alone when the time comes.”

“Go in alone?”

Gecko paused looking momentarily stunned towards Happy Town.

Lu Xin nodded. “That’s right. You just need to wait for me outside. Once I’m done I’ll send a signal.”

“Well…”

Gecko’s expression was clearly hesitant but after a moment it gradually turned serious. He chuckled softly, “Brother you saw right through my cowardice huh? Honestly I *am* pretty cowardly. Before Mom’s ability manifested I was just a street punk, the kind who got beaten up daily. Don’t let this cool handsome act fool you it’s all just a front…”

Lu Xin nodded. “I could tell.”

Gecko shot him a reproachful look. “Your bluntness completely derailed my emotional buildup…”

Lu Xin quickly offered an apologetic smile. “My bad. Please continue.”

Gecko cleared his throat with a dry cough. “But now that we’re Ability Users we gotta have some guts. We came out here to do a job together how can I not pull my weight? Don’t worry. No matter what kind of monsters are in there this time I’ll go in with you. Besides I brought plenty of special bullets. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Hearing this Lu Xin felt genuinely touched.

Then he looked at Gecko. “You’re really not scared?”

Gecko froze then said blankly, “You derailed my emotions again…”

“Sorry.”

Lu Xin could only shake his head with a smile. “Really it’s fine. Just stand guard outside. If I run into trouble inside I’ll fire a signal flare to let you know. As for this town… you really shouldn’t go in. It’s too dangerous…”

“Haha…”

Gecko laughed heartily. “Haven’t I been warning you how dangerous it is the whole way here? But I still came didn’t I?”

Lu Xin slowly shook his head turning to look southwest.

Qinggang City lay in that direction.

Lu Xin could almost picture it: in a rundown apartment building in Qinggang’s Second Satellite City Father was sitting at the table drinking. He was gulping down harsh Lao Bai Gan one mouthful after another having lost track of how long he’d been at it. He seemed exceptionally silent a silence Lu Xin had never witnessed before. Yet this silence hinted at a gathering storm of power. His crimson eyes were filled with anticipation.

He had promised him a chance to come out.

“The danger I mentioned isn’t Happy Town.”

He spoke slowly, “It’s me.”

“What…”

Gecko looked up at Lu Xin startled.

The campfire burned quietly punctuated by the occasional pop of insects trapped within the wood bursting in the flames.

“If Happy Town is dangerous then I might become dangerous too.”

Seeing Gecko’s bewildered expression Lu Xin explained with a smile, “Everyone has their quirks right? I have mine too. I tried to figure myself out once but later found it’s quite difficult…”

As he said this he glanced towards the car.

Mom was sitting in the back seat while Sister crouched on the roof gazing up at the red moon overhead.

Lu Xin sighed. “So I think rather than figuring out what’s wrong with me it’s better to figure out what needs to be done.”

“Those people caused trouble in Qinggang City so I think they need to be brought back.”

“But that’s my decision. I can’t drag you into it.”

“Otherwise if something really happened to you I’d feel pretty guilty…”

“……”

Gecko paused for a moment before managing a forced laugh. “Haha what are you talking about? If you didn’t want my help why bring me along?”

Lu Xin stated plainly, “To drive…”

“……”

Gecko was suddenly at a loss for words.

His expression turned strange a mixture of surprise and perhaps being moved.

After thinking seriously for a while he nodded. “Alright I’ll listen to you. But before you go in you have to listen to me first.”

“I don’t know what secrets you have but Pollution Sources and various abilities generally fall into predictable patterns.”

“Right now you need to eat well drink well and get plenty of rest.”

“Once you’re inside it’s best not to eat or drink anything. If we weren’t short on equipment I’d even suggest you wear a protective suit. Because anything you eat or drink could potentially expose you to Mental Pollution. So once you enter you must be cautious about everything… It’s best to take care of any… uh bodily needs out here first!”

“……”

Lu Xin listened to Gecko’s instructions nodding slightly.

He did exactly as Gecko advised eating a full meal and then sleeping soundly.

Originally they had planned to split the night watch but Gecko took the entire shift to ensure Lu Xin rested well. When Lu Xin woke the next morning he could still see Gecko sitting alertly on the car roof keeping watch.

…Although he was holding a serious-looking magazine his vigilant attitude was undeniable.

…

…

After waking up they made breakfast over the fire a mix of canned beef and instant noodles.

As before they ate their fill took care of necessities then extinguished the fire packed up their things and got into the car.

“I’ve prepared all the necessary supplies: gun special bullets acute antidote serum signal flare etcetera.”

Gecko said while driving, “I’ll wait outside. If anything happens fire the signal flare immediately.”

Lu Xin agreed taking his backpack and checking its contents himself.

Soon the car reached the edge of an abandoned section of the road. Ahead the main road became increasingly difficult to traverse but beside it a small path branched off winding its way into the distance.

The sky was overcast reducing visibility. Rolling hills stretched into the distance and the small path disappeared into the gray misty depths its end unseen.

“Okay I’m heading over now. You be careful out here too.”

Lu Xin grabbed his backpack got out of the car said goodbye to Gecko and started down the small path.

“Man he’s got guts…”

Gecko couldn’t help but sigh watching Lu Xin walk off so casually as if he were just going for a stroll.

As his eyes scanned the area he suddenly let out a soft “Huh?”

He instinctively rubbed his eyes and looked again at Lu Xin who was now about a hundred meters away.

Faintly unsure if his eyes were playing tricks on him he thought he saw two shadows one tall one short trailing beside Lu Xin.

“No way…?”

The more Gecko thought about it the more alarmed he became. He subconsciously glanced back at the empty car interior.

After a long moment he cautiously muttered, “Uncle… they’ve already gone ahead. Aren’t you going?”