Underground Passage

After leaving the residential complex, taking a taxi was impossible because of the heavy snow, so Su Wuming directly wrapped his arm around Lin Pangpang.

"Fuck, this again? I can walk by myse—"

Before Lin Pangpang could finish, Su Wuming carried him into the air, flying several hundred meters in a single leap.

At this rate, they would reach the orphanage soon enough, since the shortest distance between two points was a straight line.

The only downside was the uncertainty of where they would land each time.

Fortunately, Su Wuming was durable. Every landing, he used [Rubber Balloon] with his body to cushion the impact.

Lin Pangpang's poor little heart was put through the wringer again and again.

By the time they reached the orphanage, Lin Pangpang's face was covered in frost. Even his snot had frozen solid, hanging from his nostrils.

"Uh... if I said I thought food-type Spirit Martialists could use spiritual power to ward off the cold, would you believe me?"

"I... I... I'm telling you... I'm telling you... I'd just finished making chicken legs for the animals before I left, and I had no spiritual power left at all. Would you fucking believe that?!" Lin Pangpang shot back, shivering violently through chattering teeth.

"...My bad..." Su Wuming apologetically pulled out his phone and recorded a video of him, ready to post it online. The traffic was guaranteed.

The instant Lin Pangpang saw that, he nearly exploded. If he could have beaten Su Wuming, he truly would not have minded beating the guy until he could no longer take care of himself.

Just then, the orphanage gate opened, temporarily defusing the awkwardness.

The director had heard the commotion and come outside to take a look.

"Pangpang, Wuming, you two finally made it. Oh my, Pangpang, what happened to you? How did you get frozen like this?" The director was sixty-five this year and looked like a kind, grandmotherly old lady.

She hurried over with concern written all over her face, making as if to take off her padded coat and give it to Lin Pangpang.

"I... I'm fine! Grandma, let's get inside and talk."

Lin Pangpang hurriedly stopped her, supporting her as he led her indoors.

Su Wuming saw it all clearly. The old director treated Pangpang like her own child. Her concern was not an act; it all came naturally.

Otherwise, Lin Pangpang would not have scrimped and saved every month just to send money here.

The original owner's memories showed that he, too, had cared deeply about this grandmotherly director.

Now that he had truly met her, Su Wuming felt as though he were seeing family. He found her especially warm and familiar as well.

After following them inside and closing the door, they headed straight to the director's office.

She first poured Lin Pangpang a cup of hot water, then asked whether they had eaten. If not, she would make them something right away. She fussed over them for quite a while.

After the two patiently answered every question, they finally got down to business.

The director led them directly to the child's room.

The child was named Tu Tu. He was seven years old and as tall as other children his age, with no signs of malnutrition. It was clear the director sincerely cared for every child.

Because of an inborn personality issue, he disliked crowded places, so the director had arranged a room just for him. After living together for a long time, his temperament had improved somewhat.

When Tu Tu saw Lin Pangpang, he showed no displeasure. Instead, his eyes visibly lit up. He walked over on his own, hugged Lin Pangpang's leg, and hung from it as he asked expectantly,

"Brother Pangpang, did you come to play with me? Can you not leave in such a hurry this time?"

"Haha, of course we came to play with Tu Tu." Hearing that, Su Wuming's eyes involuntarily shifted to Tu Tu's ears.

Looks like not everyone named Tu Tu had big ears...

"Come on, Tu Tu. Tell your brother where you heard the sound of rats digging tunnels."

Afraid of scaring the child, Lin Pangpang deliberately described it as rats burrowing.

Unexpectedly, Tu Tu corrected him with a serious face. "Brother Pangpang, don't lie to me. I know those weren't rats. They were huge monsters. Even the ground shook when they walked."

Hearing that, Lin Pangpang instinctively turned to look at the director.

The old woman sighed as well. "Tu Tu seems to have been born with sharper senses than ordinary people. Last night, I only heard an extremely faint sound myself."

"Wow, Tu Tu wasn't even scared. You're so brave."

"Of course! You said I was a real man. And with Brother Pangpang here, no monster can do anything, because Brother Pangpang said he's a Spirit Martialist who can kill a little monster with one punch."

"Hehe~ Your Brother Pangpang would be the one getting taken out by a little monster's punch. Tu Tu, when it comes to fighting monsters, you need your Brother Wuming."

"You're lying! You're not even as sturdy as Brother Pangpang. You're the one who'd get taken out in one punch."

Uh... Tu Tu, he's just fat...

Su Wuming did not argue further. He had only wanted to make a joke, but he had not expected Lin Pangpang to hold such a high position in Tu Tu's heart. He decided not to be the bad guy.

Besides, Lin Pangpang secretly gave him a look and pointed at his own chest. Su Wuming immediately understood.

Next, under Lin Pangpang's guidance, Tu Tu retraced the route where he had heard the sound, and the four of them arrived in the courtyard.

It had been too late at the time. After hearing it here, Tu Tu had not dared to follow it any farther.

"You two go inside and have the other children cover their ears."

Su Wuming spoke to the director and Lin Pangpang. He was going to smash through the ground here and confirm what was below.

Soon, Lin Pangpang and the director woke all the children and instructed them to cover their ears.

Then, a group of children of all ages leaned over the windowsills, covering their ears as they looked down. Lin Pangpang helped Tu Tu cover his ears, holding him by the windowsill as they watched.

Su Wuming did not waste words. He immediately activated [Rubber Battle Axe], raising his leg fiercely and stretching it toward the sky.

"Wow~ Big Brother's leg is so long."

"Is this the legendary pair of long legs?"

"..."

With a boom, Su Wuming's Supreme Giant Foot, empowered by Armament Haki, came slicing down toward the ground.

Because the area beneath was hollow, the immense power of [Rubber Battle Axe] smashed through the ground in a single strike. A large section collapsed, revealing the passageway below.

"Tu Tu, wasn't your brother amazing?" Su Wuming did not immediately jump down to investigate. Instead, he turned and asked the dumbfounded Tu Tu.

"Tch~~ You still had to use your foot. My Brother Pangpang could smash it open with one finger, right, Brother Pangpang?" It was obvious that Lin Pangpang truly held a lofty place in Tu Tu's heart.

But that question left Lin Pangpang somewhat unable to save face.

Back when he had been trying to help Tu Tu open up, Lin Pangpang had bragged quite a bit. He had told him that once he grew up, he could become a Spirit Martialist like him and specialize in fighting monsters.

Thinking about it now, Lin Pangpang really wanted to slap his past self.

But the words had already been put in his mouth. Knowing that Tu Tu was protecting his big brother's impressive image, Lin Pangpang could only force himself to put on an unconcerned expression. He nodded and said,

"Mm, Tu Tu's right. Basic stuff. No need to spam 6s."