Chapter 19 The Apocalypse 18
When Luo Mingchuan woke up the next morning, he had already left. There were a few steamed buns and mantou in the kitchen steamer, and a carton of yogurt was warming in the hot water underneath.
He only arrived at the base yesterday, and I have no idea where he got these things from.
After leisurely finishing her breakfast and sitting for a while, Lu Xuejin took her pass and prepared to go out for lunch and explore this unfamiliar base as noon approached.
"Hiss..." The snow-white hognose snake slid out of the pet carrier, and as if it knew its owner was about to leave, it nimbly slipped into Lu Xuejin's sleeve and quietly coiled around his arm.
The cold snake's body slid slowly, occasionally revealing the subtle air currents stirred up by its forked tongue. Lu Xuejin pressed the snake's head down through her clothes, saying "Behave yourself" in a measured tone, before opening the door and going downstairs.
According to the simplified diagram in the "Check-in Handbook," this vast complex radiates outwards from a central tower in three concentric circles. The outermost circle, closest to the city wall, houses newcomers and those rejected by the complex's lifestyle; this is where the low-rent housing area is located. The central circle contains schools, hospitals, and other public facilities, and also boasts the complex's most bustling commercial street, offering numerous job opportunities. The innermost circle reportedly comprises high-end apartments and facilities not open to the public.
Judging from the well-planned layout, it doesn't look like a shelter hastily built after the apocalypse.
The canteens near the low-rent housing area are bustling with activity. Because the food is cheap and often discounted, not only nearby residents but also people from Central come here to eat in order to save money.
Lu Xuejin was dressed in a clean, soft knit sweater and light-colored jeans, seemingly no different from any other newcomer. However, his outstanding appearance and his warm and welcoming demeanor made him stand out in the crowd.
Faced with the unabashed stares of those around him, he wore a shy smile, as if embarrassed by the intense gazes of others, and lowered his head slightly, revealing a section of his jade-like neck.
After getting his free food, he found a seat in the corner.
As Dong Yao watched, he saw people gradually approaching and sitting down nearby, striking up conversations with him. These people were not malicious; on the contrary, they were enthusiastically telling Lu Xuejin many things to note about life in the base and the unspoken rules.
Lu Xuejin welcomed everyone who came, and within the time it took to eat one meal, she got to know nearly half of the people in the low-rent area, and even made acquaintances with a few people in Central.
"Baby, you're so adorable!" Dongyao said with immense pride. "No matter what kind of stranger they are, their first impression of you is never bad. And after just a little interaction with you, even the fiercest person will be won over!"
As it spoke, it extended its mechanical arm, put its hands on its hips, and grinned smugly: "This is my baby host. Do any other systems have one?"
This is a conclusion it reached through secret observations along the way, and it must be said that it is indeed astonishing.
This is definitely not normal.
There is nothing in the world that can please everyone, not even paper money, but Lu Xuejin has managed to do so.
Lu Xuejin hummed in agreement, and after a long pause, slowly said, "This might be my talent. Besides, I'm a good person, so it's normal for people to like me."
Dongyao didn't feel that he was just being perfunctory at all; on the contrary, he nodded approvingly at the metal ball.
[You're beautiful inside and out, it's no wonder everyone likes you!]
After dinner, Lu Xue took a leisurely stroll to digest her food. Before she knew it, she had entered the bustling Central district. The area was clean, well-equipped, and teeming with people—a dazzling spectacle unlike anything one would expect from a post-apocalyptic world.
Soothing background music drifted into my ears, and the rich aroma of coffee beans lingered in my nostrils.
Unlike the anxious looks of those on the outside, the people here were dressed smartly and had a calm look in their eyes, not at all like people trying to make a living among the zombie horde.
When Lu Xue asked for the reason, Dong Yao searched online and replied: "In the original novel, the higher-ups had long been aware of the virus's existence and made many efforts to combat it. Although they couldn't stop its spread, they at least established refuge bases around the world in advance to prevent a sharp decline in population."
[After you obtain the special medicine, baby, you sacrifice yourself to save the male protagonist during a zombie horde. The male protagonist's abilities evolve as a result, and through a series of struggles, he becomes the controller of the Sky Base. He later interacts with other bases and ultimately develops a universally applicable and economical special medicine, saving the world from the apocalypse.]
After listening, Lu Xuejin shook her head, "A cliché plot."
He looked around aimlessly, and out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an art supply store. His eyes lit up, and he stepped forward and pushed open the glass door.
With a tinkle, the square shop is filled with beautiful ornamental and religious paintings. The glass cabinets are spotless, and under the soft light, sketching pens, pencil sharpeners, paints, brushes, oil bottles, and other painting supplies are neatly arranged.
A tall young man stood with his back to him, looking up at the paintings on the wall.
The boss was nestled in a recliner, taking a nap with his eyes closed, his long, greasy hair casually tied up on top of his head with a shark clip.
"Take a look and choose what you want. Then come to my place to pay."
Dong Yao noticed that Lu Xuejin's eyes suddenly lit up, and her casual smile deepened. Like a bored cat suddenly discovering its beloved object, its whiskers twitched.
Back when he was still living in an old, dilapidated apartment, he often went out to take pictures. Dongyao has recorded dozens of scene compositions for him so far.
Lu Xuejin seems to really enjoy painting.
Dongyao finally discovered one of its host's hobbies.
Lu Xuejin had no interest in the finished paintings; all her attention was focused on the art supplies in the display case, her eyes lingering on each one.
Unfortunately, I don't have any points on my card, so I can only look at it and admire it from afar.
In contrast to him, another guest was focused solely on admiring the paintings on the wall.
Sunlight streamed in through the glass windows, and dust motes danced lightly in the beams of light; time seemed to slow down here.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lu Xuejin finally raised his head. He prepared to leave, turning to brush past another guest, when suddenly someone pushed open the door, grabbed his wrist, and exclaimed with delight, "It's you!"
Lu Xuejin recognized the other person; it was the one who had been lost in thought downstairs yesterday. He had an elegant appearance, and judging from his clothes and clean nails, he clearly had some connections in the base. But he said, "Sorry, I don't remember seeing you before."
Suddenly restrained, he struggled to free his wrists, but to no avail. The man's strength was astonishing; his hand was like an iron clamp, impossible to budge.
A cold glint flashed in Lu Xuejin's eyes, her brows furrowed slightly, and she pleaded weakly, "Please let me go."
He seemed troubled, but because of his timid and cowardly nature, he dared not confront people directly.
The man stared at him intently, then, remembering his purpose, quickly said in a gentle voice, "I saw you yesterday, you might have forgotten, but that's okay! I... I wanted to invite you... You're living in a public housing unit now, right? I have some properties in Central, how about you come work for me?"
This was the first time he had ever spoken to someone in such a humble manner, and he felt extremely uncomfortable. He stammered and spoke haltingly, making himself feel embarrassed.
He thought he could at least soften her attitude, but no matter what he said, Lu Xuejin just lowered her eyes and whispered for him to let go, her disgust evident in her voice.
During the tug-of-war, Lu Xuejin stumbled and accidentally bumped into the person behind her—just an ordinary passerby, whom the man glanced at briefly before looking away.
“I can provide you with an apartment and high-quality vegetables—would you like to try awakening your superpowers? I have some crystal cores here…”
"Let go!" Lu Xuejin's tone became increasingly stern.
The man immediately became agitated, and in the ensuing scuffle, the owner of the recliner shouted, "Don't cause trouble in the store!"
The man grabbed Lu Xuejin's hand, trying to pull him out.
"What are you doing? What are you doing!" The short, stout young man suddenly appeared, grabbed the man by the collar, flipped him over, and threw him out of the art supply store. "My friend Liu Gao, do you think you can bully him?"
They were members of the hunting party.
"They're from the hunting party!"
The man clearly knew the reputation of the hunting party, especially the shepherd's subordinate team. He got up and looked at Lu Xuejin with great resentment, then left in a sorry state under Liu Gao's angry glare.
“These people are something else…” Liu Gao clapped his hands and turned around, his gaze sweeping over Lu Xuejin’s back. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. “Little Lu, if you ever encounter someone like this again, never go outside with him. Our base values business and has strict controls over the shops, but there’s not much of a control outside.”
“Going out with him is like throwing a dumpling to a dog—you’re never going back.” Liu Gao shrugged, his chubby face creased like a steamed bun when he smiled. “You’re good-looking, so you’re easily targeted by people with ulterior motives. You need to be careful in the future. There are plenty of men here who lust after pretty girls, or those who prey on women…”
According to him, the Sky Base was not as idyllic as imagined, and countless people were forced into prostitution, either willingly or involuntarily. People like Lu Xuejin were easily targeted by powerful and influential individuals.
She was already being harassed on her second day at the base, and she didn't dare think about what would happen in the future. Liu Gao was really worried sick. He didn't dare to directly ask Lu Xuejin to come to the team, so he could only try to introduce her to a job.
However, Lu Xuejin politely declined.
It seems that the captain's mischief at their first meeting left a psychological scar, as he preferred to start over at the base rather than accept their help.
What a terrible thing to do!
Liu Gao rubbed his hands together, his eyes darting around, and suddenly he thought of a brilliant idea to give the captain more leverage.
"Actually, the best thing is to find someone to register your marriage with. Don't be fooled by the chaos outside; we try to maintain the previous order within the base. The base values newborns, and the relationship between parents and children is not as protected as that between spouses. Moreover, there are many benefits after marriage." Liu Gao said as he escorted Lu Xuejin back to her low-rent apartment.
On the other side, Luo Mingchuan sat on a pile of zombies, with someone next to him covered in blood and on the verge of death.
"Help, help me..."
The man crawled towards Luo Mingchuan in a disheveled and labored manner, "I was wrong, I shouldn't have ambushed you... Please save me, I'll give you my crystal core and points..."
A gaping wound was ripped open in his abdomen, and a stench of blood rushed in. The wound wasn't large, but it was exceptionally gruesome, as if it had been ripped open by some sharp beast's claws, revealing mangled flesh and organs.
He was terrified at the thought of what had just happened, and his pupils trembled nervously.
This new recruit is simply... inhuman... he's a beast, a monster!
Driven by his will to survive, he cast aside his fear and pleaded desperately with Luo Mingchuan.
The man atop the pile of zombies paid no heed. He hung his head, motionless, as if lost in thought.
The dying man on the ground dared not provoke him further, fearing that this humanoid beast might rip out his intestines in a fit of rage. But the other team members had gone elsewhere to explore and wouldn't return before nightfall; no one could save him—this was something he had deliberately arranged, even going so far as to bribe the vice-captain with a large sum of money…
The hunting teams at the base, large and small, were a mixed bag, rife with corruption. His team was notorious for exploiting new recruits, and over time, no new blood joined. Just when they were struggling with this, this kid surnamed Luo came along. They had planned to let this newcomer live for a while to maintain a stable income of crystal cores, but suddenly someone came up to them, specifically demanding that this kid die in a mission.
Although he didn't know who Luo Mingchuan had offended, who would go against points? He immediately prepared everything, thinking that he would let this kid hunt some crystal cores first, and then kill him before returning to the base. Who knew he would kick a hornet's nest.
He paid too high a price to survive. He had finally managed to escape that miserable and humiliating life he had lived in the past. He had finally managed to... No, no! He had to live, he would live!
He won't die!!
However, no matter how much they begged for mercy or made promises, the people sitting on the pile of corpses did not react.
The hoarse pleas for mercy and shouts gradually subsided.
"..." At this moment, Luo Mingchuan, who had been silent, twitched his eyebrows, and his dark eyes lit up again, revealing a hint of unconscious irritation.
He grabbed a zombie at his feet and roughly pulled out the crystal core.
Throughout the entire ordeal, he ignored the dead, wide-eyed humans at his feet.
...
That night, a torrential downpour began, and Lu Xuejin paced back and forth in the living room.
He looked exceptionally excited now, compared to during the day.
The room was dark, with no lights on, except for his bloodshot eyes that shone like priceless jewels.
Dong Yao thought he was worried about Luo Mingchuan: "Baby, do you want me to check on the male lead's whereabouts?"
"Hmm? Why bring this up all of a sudden?" Lu Xuejin shook his head, smiled slightly, and stood by the window, feeling the atmosphere of the storm. "I just really like thunderstorms."
Thick bolts of lightning churned among the clouds, illuminating half the night sky; their gnarled forms resembled ancient dragons and serpents. Under the terrifying power of nature, everything was annihilated without a sound.
As the thunder and lightning gradually subsided in the latter half of the night, he finally closed the window. As he walked toward the bedroom, he suddenly turned and arrived at the apartment door.
The door suddenly opened, and Luo Mingchuan was standing outside.
He was soaking wet, as if he had just been pulled out of the water, and there was a puddle of water at his feet. It was unclear how long he had been standing at the door.
[...] Dong Yao really wanted to ask Lu Xuejin how she knew Luo Mingchuan was at the door.
Could it be a telepathic connection between the couple?
Lu Xuejin said softly, "Come in."
Luo Mingchuan raised his head, his chin splattered with blood, his eyes shining like cold stars.
"Too dirty." He had been standing at the door, troubled by a strange sense of unease, but also because he didn't want to dirty the apartment's floor tiles.
Lu Xuejin tossed him a towel and watched him shake the water droplets off his head like a dog, hastily dry his body, and finally take off his soaked shoes and walk in barefoot, looking like a drenched dog.
"Did you kill someone today?" Lu Xuejin leaned against the wall, watching him tilt his head back to drink water, and asked curiously.
Luo Mingchuan, holding his water glass, turned around upon hearing this, tilting his head slightly, and said nonchalantly, "It seems so."
After saying that, he took out a wet access card from his breast pocket. Knowing that Lu Xuejin disliked his dirty clothes, he simply handed it to the young man, saying, "There are more than 500 points in here. Take it and use it to buy whatever you want."
Lu Xuejin said innocently, "No, I was very well-behaved today. I only went out for a meal and came back obediently. This is money you worked hard to earn, how can you spend it carelessly?"
The man stared at him for a long time, expressionless.
The pass was eventually placed on the dining table. Luo Mingchuan slowly moved to the bathroom to wash up, leaving wet footprints with each step. The water that flowed down was mixed with a bit of red, which was quite eerie in the deep night.
"What's wrong with this guy now?" Dong Yao complained.
It felt that the conversation and atmosphere between the two were strange, but when it asked the host, the young man just smiled good-naturedly:
"Really? Mingchuan is probably just tired from work. We should be understanding."
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