Chapter 57 It's my honor to make you like me.

One second the sky is blue with white clouds and clear skies, the next it's dark clouds and torrential rain.

Large raindrops pounded on the car roof, making a dull, relentless pattering sound.

Rainwater washed over the road, winding into small rivers. Tires rolled over, splashing up large puddles of water. The windshield wipers spun wildly, spraying washer fluid to clean the windshield, but just as they wiped away the water, rainwater instantly covered it again.

The world was shrouded in darkness, and the torrential rain blocked our view like a curtain. The roads were slippery from the rain, and the cars moved slowly.

It was cold outside but hot inside the car, and the inner windows quickly fogged up, limiting visibility.

Fang Zhiyi fumbled around on the dashboard, trying to turn on the air conditioning to blow cold air onto the windshield to prevent fogging. After trying for a while, he realized that the car didn't have an onboard air conditioning system. He could only resort to the most primitive method: wiping the fog off the windshield with a cloth.

However, this method is slow and the results are not obvious. The rag absorbs water, making the glass dirtier after wiping, with watermarks layering on top of each other, which is visually disorienting.

It was raining outside and foggy inside; even with the high beams on, I still couldn't see anything clearly.

It was pitch black, and the sound of rain drowned out everything.

The best option now is to find a place to park and wait for the rain to pass.

However, the first rule on the road is that stopping on the road for more than 5 minutes will cause danger. So, we had no choice but to grit our teeth and keep driving forward in the pouring rain.

The car maintained a speed of 20 mph.

The windshield wipers spun rapidly as Chu Zhao stared intently ahead.

Fortunately, they were the only car on the road at the moment. Otherwise, with poor visibility and unreliable brakes in the rain, the probability of an accident would have been very high if there were other vehicles on the road.

While driving, there was a sudden "bang" from the front of the car, and the chassis of the car shook. I don't know what it hit.

Fortunately, the car wasn't going fast and came to a stop quickly.

Fang Zhiyi: "I'll go down and take a look."

Chu Zhao shook his head: "The rain is too heavy. Let me see if I can go around it."

As he spoke, he turned the steering wheel and reversed a short distance, then drove to the side. When he passed the spot where the car had crashed, the front of the car vibrated violently and made a scraping sound.

[Car]

[Health Points: 10/15]

I got hit and lost a third of my health.

Fang Zhiyi quickly stopped him: "Don't open it yet, we won't be able to get through."

Chu Zhao released his grip, allowing the car to remain stationary for the time being.

Fang Zhiyi unbuckled his seatbelt: "Let's see what it is first."

Chu Zhao said, "I'll go down and take a look."

Fang Zhiyi shook her head: "It's okay, I have a raincoat."

[A Fresh Food Supermarket Lv.3 (Bound)]

Today's pickup count: 5/8

Fang Zhiyi took a raincoat from the supermarket, put it on, pulled up the hood, and covered herself up completely.

As soon as he opened the car door, the wind whipped up rain and rushed in, instantly soaking half of the door and seats. Fang Zhiyi pulled his raincoat tighter and ran into the rain.

The water on the road was deep, reaching above ankle level. The murky rainwater, mixed with gravel, mud, and garbage, flowed freely.

[Damp]

I spent less than a minute in the rain before the negative effects started to appear. The rain was cold and damp, and even though I was wearing a raincoat, water droplets still seeped into my neck, bringing a chill and causing my stamina to drop little by little.

Fang Zhiyi carefully crossed the water and went around to the front of the car to check the situation.

The high beams pierced through the continuous rain, blocking a large patch of mud and rocks in front of the car. A crack had appeared in the ground beside the car, probably because the heavy rain had washed a small embankment from the grassland onto the road.

Turning around, I saw that the hood of the car was covered in yellow mud, and part of the bumper had been pulled down, covered in scratches from rubbing against stones. The rain washed away the mud, and a large patch of paint was missing from the hood.

Fortunately, it's not too serious.

Fang Zhiyi knocked on the car window: "The road is blocked. We need to move the stones first."

Chu Zhao: "I'll join too."

Fang Zhiyi nodded and took out another raincoat, handing it over.

Chu Zhao parked the car, turned off the engine, put on his raincoat, and got out.

There were many stones blocking the road, some large and heavy, others small and sharp. The two of them first worked together to lift the large stones, and then cleared the small stones from the road.

Small stones are sharp and can easily damage tires.

Fang Zhiyi bent down, picked up a stone, and threw it to the roadside. Rainwater streamed down his raincoat, blurring his vision. His fingers soaked in the water for a while, the pads turning white and peeling. He raised his hand to wipe the water from his cheeks and suddenly noticed that the mound of earth beside him had moved.

Chu Zhao's voice came through the rain: "What's wrong?"

Fang Zhiyi raised her index finger to her lips, then stopped and stared at the raised mound of earth.

It's not an illusion.

The mound of earth shifted again, and a scorpion emerged from it.

The scorpion raised its hooked tail and circled around, seemingly searching for something.

Through the rain, the scorpion's hooked tail shimmered with a ghostly blue light, almost larger than its body, swaying from side to side, clearly carrying deadly venom.

[Scorpion]

【Stamina 5/5】

Fang Zhiyi held her breath and slowly backed away. Just as she was about to create distance between herself and the scorpion, she suddenly stumbled and stepped on some gravel, splashing water everywhere.

The scorpion quickly turned its head, staring at Fang Zhiyi and making a rustling sound.

Fang Zhiyi's movements stopped.

The scorpion stopped, seemingly turning into a stone statue, motionless.

After a brief standoff between the man and the scorpion, the scorpion finally made the first move, its tail flashing out in a blur as it stabbed at the man.

Fang Zhiyi retreated repeatedly, trying to dodge, but the scorpion was too fast, appearing in front of him in the blink of an eye. His pupils dilated, reflecting the ghostly blue hooked tail.

Just then, a voice came from the side: "Get out of the way!"

A raincoat was suddenly draped over the scorpion, covering it completely.

The raincoat was sturdy, and the scorpion, trapped inside, writhed restlessly, unable to find a way out. Its hooked tail violently struck the raincoat, making a rustling sound.

Chu Zhao knelt on one knee in the mud and pressed down on the raincoat.

Fang Zhiyi made a quick decision, picked up a stone from the roadside and smashed it down with all his might.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

The scorpion scurried about below, finding nowhere to retreat, and was struck squarely. Its carapace shattered, its hooked tail broke off on the ground, and its dark blue blood stained the raincoat.

You killed the scorpion.

[Obtained 1 scorpion tail and 1 venom]

Chu Zhao was soaked to the bone. After confirming that the scorpion was dead, he had to pick up his raincoat from the ground.

Fang Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief and threw away the stone in her hand: "Don't want it."

Chu Zhao: "It's still usable."

Before I could even pick up my raincoat, the pile of dirt came crashing down, rain poured down, and one blue light after another lit up.

Swarm of venomous scorpions

This time, we've stirred up a scorpion's nest.

Looking at the densely packed tails, Fang Zhiyi felt a chill run down his spine and rushed towards the car: "Get in the car first!"

Chu Zhao didn't even bother with the raincoat, and they all turned and ran.

Fang Zhiyi got into the driver's seat and had just pulled the handbrake when he heard a rustling sound from below—the scorpion was crawling across the water and chasing after him. Without a word, he started the engine, put his right foot on the accelerator, and as soon as Chu Zhao got into the car, he slammed the accelerator down.

Whoosh!

The tires sped through the puddles, splashing water everywhere. The roar of the engine, the sound of raindrops hitting the ground, and the crunching of stones... all these sounds mingled together as the car surged up the small embankment in front of it, shuddered in mid-air, and landed heavily on the ground. Once it came to a stop, it shot off like an arrow, cutting through the gravel and leaving Scorpion Nest far behind.

Looking in the rearview mirror, Fang Zhiyi saw a faint blue light flickering, which was quickly submerged by the rain.

We're safe for now.

He slowed down and realized that the car was a mess, with mud and rainwater mixed together, and even the seats were covered in water stains.

[Cold] [Damp]

Fang Zhiyi felt as if water had entered her ears, and she could almost hear the sound of water flowing inside.

I turned my head and patted my ear. My body was soaked, and my clothes were damp and cold, sticking to my skin and making me feel extremely uncomfortable.

He glanced at the person in the passenger seat.

He was already in pain, not to mention Chu Zhao, who was covered in soot, as if he had been pulled out of the water.

Fang Zhiyi stopped the car, took off his raincoat, and threw it on the floor of the back seat.

When I turned my head again, I saw that a task progress had been updated.

[Mission - Highway Cleanup Association]

Obstacles cleared (3/3)

[Exchangeable tripod warning sign]

Fang Zhiyi: "...Hmm?"

This is a mission from the Highway Cleanup Association, which requires them to clear wild animals that have wandered onto the highway within 24 hours in exchange for different rewards.

I killed a spotted hyena on the way to the Highway 1 campsite, and the mission progress has been stuck at 1/3. How did it suddenly become complete?

Does that mean scorpions count too?

He killed one with a stone, and then apparently ran over another one while driving... If he had known scorpions counted, he would have stayed a little longer.

It's too late to regret it now.

There was no turning back on the highway, and he didn't want to face those cold, terrifying crustaceans again.

Fang Zhiyi tapped the screen in front of him and decided to redeem the rewards for the first stage.

[Tripod Warning Sign]

[Essential for driving. In the event of an accident on the road, it can be placed behind the vehicle to warn following cars and prevent accidents.]

[Disposable items; can remain in place for up to 2 hours after use]

Fang Zhiyi unfolded the tripod warning sign, and a bright red triangle appeared in his hand.

He pulled over and chose to use it.

With such heavy rain and extremely low visibility, the car simply couldn't get on the road. Plus, being soaked and constantly draining my energy, it was best to stop and rest.

Looking back, a warning triangle appeared 10 meters behind the car. Its special material reflected light, making it very conspicuous even in the rain.

Fang Zhiyi released the steering wheel and reclined the seat, instantly increasing the space in front.

He took off his wet coat and laid it out on the back seat to dry. When he came to his senses, he saw that Chu Zhao was also taking off his clothes.

Chu Zhao had been outside for a few minutes without a raincoat, and he was soaked through, his clothes clinging tightly to his body, outlining his firm but not exaggerated muscles. Now, pulling at the hem of his clothes, he stretched and pulled them off, revealing smooth muscle lines, and... they were quite white.

The previous world Chu Zhao experienced was a high-temperature apocalypse with intense sunlight, which made him darker and thinner. However, the area under his clothes was never exposed to the sun, making his fair skin stand out even more in comparison.

The soft orange light from the roof illuminated Chu Zhao, revealing him completely. In summary, he was sturdy where needed, powerful where needed, and quite substantial where needed…

Fang Zhiyi was so engrossed in watching that she was caught off guard when she met Chu Zhao's gaze, and her eyes immediately wandered.

"This rain is so white, I mean...this rain is so heavy, it's really so heavy..."

Whether she was talking about the rain or something else, Fang Zhiyi knew perfectly well. As she spoke, she couldn't help but swallow, a sound that was quite noticeable in the quiet car.

Fang Zhiyi: "..."

That's so embarrassing.

He buried his face in the steering wheel, not daring to look at the other person's reaction.

I felt cold before, but now my cheeks are burning and my body is hot.

In the silence, he heard Chu Zhao chuckle softly: "Want to touch it?"

Fang Zhiyi suddenly raised her head: "Is...is it okay?"

Chu Zhao shrugged: "Why not?"

Fang Zhiyi hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't resist the temptation. He tentatively extended a finger and approached Chu Zhao at an extremely slow speed, paying close attention to Chu Zhao's expression. He was ready to stop immediately if Chu Zhao rejected him.

But no.

Chu Zhao looked at him calmly, a gentle smile in his eyes, and leaned back in his seat with an air of nonchalance.

Fang Zhiyi got her wish and touched Chu Zhao's chest.

...very soft.

It's also very elastic. It must feel great to the touch when you bury it.

Fang Zhiyi felt that her face looked yellowish.

Why.

That's not good.

Chu Zhao: "Don't you like it?"

Fang Zhiyi blurted out, "I like it."

Chu Zhao nodded: "That's good. It's my honor to have you like it."

Fang Zhiyi became increasingly confused, her whole body burning hot. She opened the window to let in some fresh air. A gust of cold wind blew in, which at least brought her back to her senses. Touching her cheeks, she felt they weren't so hot anymore, and quickly went to the supermarket to see if they had any clothes.

The supermarket doesn't sell clothes, but luckily there was a set of employee uniforms in the staff break room, which he retrieved using a single pickup item.

"Put your clothes on first."

The employee uniforms were loose-fitting and dirt-resistant khaki, but on Chu Zhao they looked like some kind of haute couture.

Fang Zhiyi glanced at him and quickly looked away: "Are you still cold?"

Chu Zhao: "I'm feeling better."

The rain was still falling outside the car, and all four windows were covered by the rain, creating a sealed and safe space inside the car.

Fang Zhiyi glanced at the time: "We can stop for another hour and 45 minutes. Let's rest for a bit first."

We'll wait for the rain to pass before continuing our journey.

Fang Zhiyi lay down on the chair, wanting to rest, but when she closed her eyes, all she could think about were white and yellowish things, and she couldn't fall asleep no matter how much she tossed and turned.

Upon opening her eyes, Fang Zhiyi discovered that Chu Zhao was also awake. The two exchanged a glance, and Fang Zhiyi gave an awkward smile, making up a random excuse: "It's too cold, I can't sleep."

I was just making an excuse, but when I sat up, I realized I was really cold.

My hair was soaked by the rain, I felt a chill, and I was also affected by the negative effects of being damp and cold, so I couldn't help but sneeze.

[Stamina: 115/164]

Hunger level: 56/100

My strength and hunger levels continued to drop, and I felt dizzy and lightheaded. If this continued, I was afraid I would catch a cold and get a fever.

There is a lack of medical care and medicine on the highway, and it would be too dangerous if someone really got sick.

Fang Zhiyi leaned back in her seat and entered a fresh food supermarket.

The ceiling lights came on, the shelves were neatly arranged, and eyes wandered through the rows of goods. The car had limited space, no water or electricity, so they couldn't carry too many things, and they had been rained on and needed something warm to comfort them... Their gaze paused, stopping on the fast food shelves.

The next second, a box of self-heating porridge appeared in my hand.

No need for a pot or electricity; you can heat up the instant food simply by opening the package—perfect for the current situation.

Fang Zhiyi got up and wrapped the plastic film, poured all the porridge ingredients into it, collected some rainwater to cover the heating pack, and put the lid on. Soon, it made a gurgling sound and steamed out.

Lifting the lid reveals a mushroom and beef congee. The snow-white rice grains are stewed until they are soft and fluffy, while the beef and mushroom pieces swirl around, releasing a fragrant aroma.

Scoop up a spoonful of steaming hot porridge and put it in your mouth. You don't even need to chew; the porridge grains melt on your tongue, carrying the sweetness of grains, the freshness of beef and mushrooms, and the spiciness of ginger. Even though it's instant porridge, it tastes sweet and delicious in this desolate wilderness.

Fang Zhiyi, remembering that Chu Zhao was still beside him, quickly said, "I'll get another bowl..."

He was interrupted before he could finish speaking. Chu Zhao said, "No need to waste food. I'll just eat what you leave behind."

Fang Zhiyi hesitated and said, "That's not a good idea."

Chu Zhao: "I'm not particular." He took the remaining porridge naturally, as if he were savoring some kind of delicacy rather than eating leftovers.

It was indeed delicious.

In the survival world, resources are scarce, and people usually eat just to fill their stomachs. They will put anything into their mouths. Junk food that they would not even glance at in normal times has now become a delicacy.

The two shared a bowl of porridge, and as the heat rose, the negative effects of [dampness] and [coldness] disappeared.

Fang Zhiyi was a little sleepy, so she lay down on the chair, listened to the rain, and closed her eyes. She had only intended to take a short nap, but unexpectedly, she fell into a deep sleep.

When I closed my eyes and opened them again, an hour had passed.

Fang Zhiyi turned her head and saw Chu Zhao sitting upright, his eyes lowered in thought. She couldn't help but ask, "You're not asleep?"

Chu Zhao: "I'm afraid there's danger." So he stayed up and kept watch.

Fang Zhiyi rubbed her cheeks and sat up straight: "There's still more than half an hour left, you should take the time to get some sleep."

Chu Zhao did not refuse and lay down as well.

The weather on the highway can change in an instant, and dangers can arise one after another, so rest time is naturally precious and cannot be wasted.

Soon, the breathing beside him became long and rhythmic.

Fearing that he might disturb Chu Zhao's rest, Fang Zhiyi cautiously glanced around.

The sound of rain outside the window gradually subsided, becoming a soft, drizzling sound.

There were warning signs with tripods placed behind, and the warnings against lingering were no longer displayed. In such heavy rain, no wild animals would dare to appear on the road.

After staring at it for a while, Fang Zhiyi got a little bored and aimlessly tapped the windshield. He didn't know where he tapped, but a regional channel popped up.

[Area] [Road Survival] [144683/146000]

The number of players in this world has doubled, reaching a staggering 140,000.

Even if only a small number of people are chatting, the messages that appear are enough to flood the channel.

[Buying fur, unlimited supply, high price, interested parties please contact me.]

[Upgraded to Tier 1 vehicle, 4 seats, recruiting team members, please bring your own materials]

[A complete guide to all missions at Highway 1 campsite using 100 parts. Add me as a friend and message me privately if you're interested.]

[Do you have a walkthrough for this mission?]

[It's fake. If it were really that powerful, would it even need 100 parts? It's just a scam to get your parts.]

[Looking for a team, I want to join!]

[You damn liar, give me back my parts!!!]

What's the use of fur? I have a piece here.

[Speak up, I am useful]

[...]

Messages kept refreshing, with all sorts of content: some asking to team up, some asking to buy materials, and some even scamming people... It's like there's all sorts of birds in a big forest.

Fang Zhiyi scrolled through the list and found that quite a few players were posting team-up information.

After upgrading to a Tier 1 vehicle, the vehicle's passenger capacity increases from 2 to 4, allowing 2 more players to board.

The road is dangerous, and having more people take turns driving would indeed be more efficient, but... Fang Zhiyi doesn't plan to continue forming a team.

It's not about the quantity of people, but the quality.

If it attracts people with ill intentions, it would be a loss rather than a gain. He and Chu Zhao are doing quite well together.

The warning sign with the tripod was about to expire, so Fang Zhiyi turned off the channel.

The moment he left the channel, a new message popped up.

[Watch out, everyone! Players are stopping cars and stealing parts outside the Highway 1 campsite! My friend was eliminated because his car was wrecked! I saw it with my own eyes!!!]

Who is it?

[My God, they've already started killing each other on the very first day? That's moving way too fast, speed it up!]

[Uh...after all that rambling, let's post this player's license plate to warn others.]

The license plate is for a Class 1 sedan belonging to [fzy & Chu Zhao].