Too Many Reincarnators? I Bring the National Team to the Field - Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Qin Xuan repeated those same three words: “You are crying.”

Li Xin met his gaze blankly. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, the water cup in his hand crashed to the floor, shattering with a crisp sound.

No one cared about the broken glass. Li Xin bolted upright and turned to run.

Sheng An didn’t hesitate, dropping her chopsticks to follow him.

They had mostly finished eating anyway, and the others followed suit, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.

Only Old Man Qin and Qin Xuan were left behind.

Qin Xuan pursed his lips, looking distressed.

Old Man Qin didn’t say a word. He simply picked the boy up in a silent embrace and rubbed his head.

“What’s the use of knowing so much?” he murmured. “You can’t change anything…”

***

In a small room within the shelter.

By the time Li Xin rushed to his family’s side, Li Huai was already lying quietly on the floor, covered by a white sheet. Song Linlin sat beside him while Song Father and Song Mother wiped away tears.

Song Linwei looked as though he had just arrived; his cheeks were still flushed with heat as he leaned against the wall to steady himself.

Li Xin stared blankly. “Where’s my dad? What happened to him?”

Song Linlin looked up, her voice raspy and sluggish. “Your father is gone.”

Blood still stained her hands, and her expression was dazed and numb. However, her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked as if she had aged ten years in an instant.

Li Xin remained dazed. He subconsciously touched his face, and when he pulled his hand away, it was wet.

He looked at his hand, then at the prone figure of Li Huai, as if he hadn’t quite processed what was happening.

When Sheng An and the others arrived, they were met with the sight of Li Xin’s tear-streaked face.

He really was crying.

Sheng An’s throat felt dry, and she let out a silent sigh.

In truth, they had sensed this coming. From the first time Long Tianyu mentioned that Li Xin had been a lone wolf, they had been mentally prepared for this day.

Why did he have no family in his previous life?

Something must have happened.

Li Huai had become an Aberrant.

Looking at the knife on the floor and the blood on Song Linlin’s hands, it was clear that Qi Lingwu hadn’t been the one to handle it. Song Linlin had done it herself.

Footsteps approached, and Qi Lingwu walked over, standing silently behind Sheng An.

With his senses covering the Core Shelter, he naturally knew exactly what had transpired.

No one spoke; the room fell into an oppressive silence.

Li Xin murmured, “How could this happen?”

Song Linlin turned toward Sheng An and recounted exactly what had happened earlier.

Regarding the possibility of something happening to the Song family, it wasn’t just Sheng An’s group who were prepared-the Song family themselves were too.

As a family of intelligent people, they had thought things through clearly.

In the previous life, Li Xin had no family. If they hadn’t all died together in the natural disasters, then someone must have turned into an Aberrant.

While the former could be prevented, the latter could only be waited out.

They had previously speculated that if Song Father or Song Mother turned into Aberrants, the three young people-Li Huai, Song Linlin, and Song Linwei-would likely notice and be able to fight back. It shouldn’t have resulted in the entire family being killed.

That meant the most likely candidate was one of the three: Song Linlin, Li Huai, or Song Linwei.

When the meteorites landed yesterday, Song Linwei had collapsed while awakening his Supernatural Ability.

Song Linlin and Li Huai immediately had Song Father and Song Mother tie them up. They were bound tightly, the kind of restraint that was impossible to struggle out of.

But everything had seemed normal until today.

Song Linlin could still feel the hope she had felt then, praying for her family’s safety.

But things had gone against her wishes.

Song Linlin’s voice was unnervingly calm. “Team Leader Sheng, not everyone undergoes a visible process when turning into an Aberrant. At the very least, Li Huai’s process was very subtle-unnoticeable, even.”

Sheng An frowned deeply.

Hao Jingye asked quickly, “Then how did you realize something was wrong?”

Song Linlin replied, “He said the Meteor Shower was almost over and our family should be fine. He asked Mom and Dad to untie us so we could eat something.”

“Is there something wrong with that?” Li Wanyun asked softly, her eyes filled with confusion.

To her, those words sounded perfectly normal.

Song Linlin’s lips quirked-it might have been a smile, or perhaps a sob.

“How could he ask to be untied before we were certain there was no risk? He… he loved this family more than he loved himself.”

Li Huai had come from an unhappy home and had almost never experienced familial warmth. After marrying Song Linlin, he had treated her parents as his own, and they had cherished him in return. This family was bound by true, deep affection.
Li Xin had always called Song Father and Song Mother “Grandpa” and “Grandma.”

Li Huai had been deeply attached to this family. Sometimes, he was even more filial than Song Linlin, and far more cautious and careful.

He would never bring any threat to his family.

Until he could be one hundred percent certain there was no problem, Li Huai would only let Song Father help feed him; he would never ask them to untie him.

It was the prudence of a clever man, but also the meticulous care of someone who cherished his loved ones.

When he spoke those words, Song Linlin, Song Father, and Song Mother all realized something was wrong and immediately tested him.

Sure enough, “he” was no longer Li Huai.

Hearing this, Li Xin burst into tears.

This boy had always been wild and cheerful. This was the first time he had ever truly wailed like a child.

Song Linlin looked down at her hands, which were covered in blood.

“I’ve avenged him.”

She hadn’t let anyone else do it. She had personally killed the Aberrant parasitizing her husband’s body to avenge him.

The husband she loved was dead, and she would make sure his death was answered for.

“Mom!” Li Xin cried, hugging her.

Song Linlin felt numb. She instinctively stroked Li Xin’s head and murmured, “It’s okay. Grandpa, Grandma, Mommy, and your uncle are still here. We won’t leave you alone.”

In her previous life, Li Huai must have also turned into an Aberrant.

But because the others hadn’t been prepared, Li Xin had been the only survivor.

Why hadn’t she and Li Huai told Li Xin the truth?

It was because they hadn’t wanted him to witness this cruel scene. This time, compared to the previous life, he still had people to stay by his side.

He wouldn’t be left all alone in this world.

Song Linwei took a deep breath. His eyes were moist, but he didn’t let the tears fall. His voice was hoarse as he spoke.

“The horror of an Aberrant isn’t its abilities or its bloodthirstiness. It’s the way it silently usurps a person’s thoughts and body.”

It harmed loved ones and destroyed trust.

This was far more terrifying than any disaster movie.

Hao Jingye and the others looked away, unable to bear the sight.

First there was Zhang Jialiang, and now Li Xin’s father. The Aberrants were using bloody tragedies to show them exactly how terrifying their existence was.

Since yesterday, this scarred world had been weeping incessantly.

In every corner of the world, tragedies were unfolding, accompanied by endless tears.

Sheng An walked over and crouched beside Li Xin. She patted his shoulder and said softly, “Cry. After you’re done crying, live well. Then, we will end the source of the Aberrants and put a stop to these tragedies.”

Li Xin looked up, his face drenched in tears. “Can we?”

Sheng An said with certainty, “We definitely can.”

“God” had restarted this game, giving them a new chance to play. This round was already completely different from the last. Li Huai was dead, Zhang Jialiang was dead, and many others had died.

But even more people were still alive.

This opening move was already much better than before.

They would keep going and never admit defeat.

Whatever failed to destroy them would only make them stronger.

Qi Lingwu said nothing, standing silently behind Sheng An as always.

Long Tianyu took a deep breath and spoke slowly, “I might not have a family, but I find the existence of these Aberrants disgusting. Sheng An, I’ll work with you all to solve the Aberrant problem once and for all.”

Li Wanyun added, “Same here. These invading monsters should be completely uprooted.”

In their previous lives, they had merely struggled against the Aberrants. In this life, with Sheng An leading them and the support of the country, it wasn’t impossible to find a solution.

And for that, they were willing to give it their all.

Without a word, Wu Buyu and the others nodded, their eyes filled with determination.

At this moment, everyone’s thoughts were perfectly aligned; their goals had completely merged.

Sheng An slowly stood up.

Just as she was about to speak, the ground suddenly vibrated. A violent earthquake erupted, no less intense than when the first Meteor Shower had arrived.

After a period of earth-shaking chaos, silence returned.

Sheng An steadied herself, frowning.

Hao Jingye looked at the communicator in his hand. His pupils shrank, and he jerked his head up.

“Sister Sheng, Shi City is gone.”