by Tai Baiyang
When Zhang Mu returned to the warehouse, it was already lunchtime.
He knocked at the door. Yuan Rui excitedly opened it and pulled him into the room. She smiled at him, then complained, "Uncle, why didn't you tell me that you would go outside? I thought that you had abandoned me! If you didn't come back, I would've gone on the street to look for you!"
Yuan Rui's tone became mournful.
Zhang Mu immediately took out the Obsidian Beetle to draw her attention and apologized, "I didn't want to disturb your sleep, so I went out for a walk. I saw some people who were looking for food and I talked with them for a while. If I was going to leave, I would tell you!"
At this time, the Obsidian Beetle felt that its self-esteem took a blow.
As a monster, no, as an Obsidian Beetle and a first-ranked mutated animal, it was used as a toy by his owner to ingratiate a little girl!
It looked at Zhang Mu with bitterness, but Zhang Mu just ignored its complaint. Instead, he threatened it through the mental bond between them and bribed it, "Be good and I will give you a crystal!"
"No! Give me two crystals!"
Zhang Mu ground his teeth, "Deal!"
When did the little beetle become such a miser?! Zhang Mu cursed in his heart.
After getting Zhang Mu's promise, the Obsidian Beetle started to play. It slowly flew to Yuan Rui and danced in the air. Its wings flapped and its ass shook, which looked pretty comical. Yuan Rui smiled through her tears.
Zhang Mu let out a sigh of relief and thumbed up Little Black.
It was worth his two crystals!
Yuan Rui choked on her sobs and asked, "Uncle, you saw other people? Were there still a lot of monsters? Why did these people leave their houses? Was it because they were all as strong as you?"
Zhang Mu touched his nose and smiled, "How could there be anyone as strong as me? Perhaps it was because they were too hungry. They had to go to the street to look for food. I saw over a dozen of people, but only one man had powers just like me. However, he wasn't very strong. They were surrounded by zombies and only two people survived."
"Uncle, why didn't you save them?"
"I'm not a god. I can't save everyone!" Zhang Mu shrugged his shoulders. He was lying. He could save them, but he just didn't want to. However, he didn't want to let Yuan Rui know the truth.
"Oh," Yuan Rui said, then fell in silence. Zhang Mu knew that she was a kind girl, but he must let her know the brutal nature of the world. He told her the thing that had happened, of course, it didn't include his talk with Wang Liang.
"How could they do that! They dropped a stone on the man who has fallen into a well! Do they have any heart?"
"Humans are selfish. In order to stay alive, they can do anything. So, do you understand the importance of staying alert and keep your eyes open? Don't pity these people. They deserve their deaths."
"Yes, they were all bad people. Uncle, you are a good man. Aren't I very lucky?" Yuan Rui suddenly winked at Zhang Mu.
Zhang Mu coughed in embarrassment. He looked at Yuan Rui and said in a serious tone, "I will leave Luoyang City tomorrow. What is your plan? Do you want to leave with me or stay here? I will leave a sufficient amount of food and water for you. The place where I'm going is very dangerous. Don't risk your life."
Zhang Mu knew that after tomorrow, the debugging time would end. At that time, all the zombies’ physiques would return to normal. However, they would also be released from the rule of "Zombie can't hunt any human who is standing outside of its hunting range". Therefore, houses wouldn't be safe anymore. All the survivors would have to live more agonizingly.
Zhang Mu wasn't worried about them. However, it would become troublesome if this area was surrounded by them. He preferred to go to some remote place before this happened. Maybe he would have to battle some mutated animals on the road, but it was still a better choice.
As for the low-level zombies in the city... Zhang Mu would leave them to Wang Liang and the other evolvers. It was not a good choice anymore to keep hunting zombies in the city. He'd better reach the next era merchant's shop within a month.
Yuan Rui was surprised by his words. She froze for a while, then asked him in a confused tone, "Uncle, why do you want to leave? Isn't it very safe here?"
"I know, but... I want to find out that who caused the whole disaster. Don't you think that this catastrophe is very strange? There must be someone who is controlling it!"
Zhang Mu said in a solemn tone.
He hid a part of the truth, but it was indeed the most important reason why Zhang Mu did all this.
Now, he was waiting for Yuan Rui's answer.
Chapter 27: Determine the Goal
"Ok, I will go with you. My power can heal you. I won't be a burden."
Different from Zhang Mu's expectation, Yuan Rui gave him a positive answer after thinking for a while. He thought that the little girl would be afraid of the zombies and wouldn't dare to leave the safe warehouse, but she actually agreed to leave with him.
He asked in curiosity, "Why? Aren't you afraid of the zombies?"
Yuan Rui still smiled. After a while, she teased Little Black in her hands and answered Zhang Mu in a nonchalant tone, "Uncle, I know you are strong and you will protect me. I'm not afraid. Haha."
Listening to Yuan Rui's words, Zhang Mu’s heart was relieved. He smiled at Yuan Rui, "Ok, let's go. Maybe I will need you to save my life someday."
Yuan Rui looked at Zhang Mu with a smile and answered, "Yes, I'm strong. I can help you!"
I want to see her pure smile, a smile all the people had before the cataclysm started.
Zhang Mu shook his head and stopped to think about it. A beauty needed to be protected by power. No gardeners, no beautiful flowers. But now, the thing Zhang Mu lacked most was power.
He wanted to set out as soon as possible.
Zhang Mu asked Yuan Rui, "Where do you want to go?"
Yuan Rui gazed at Zhang Mu in surprise, "I thought that you had already decided on the destination! If you haven't, then you must hurry. You said that we should leave tomorrow."
Zhang Mu nodded. In fact, he had had an idea when he was in the era merchant's shop because he knew the era merchant in Xian City would buy his Luoyang Peony Bud at the highest price. With his maximum speed, he could reach Xian within two days and two nights. Of course, that was if he encounters the best circumstances. Considering that he may encounter mutated animals or zombies on the way, six days was going to be more than enough.
Therefore, for the rest of the month, Zhang Mu had planned to visit other cities. If so, he could finish his quest far beyond the requirements.
However, now, there was a variable in his plan: Yuan Rui. He could run all day without resting, but Yuan Rui couldn't. She was just a healing-type evolver, and her physique wasn't any better than an ordinary person’s. She would delay his travel speed and the trip would take around 20 days. In this case, he would only have ten days of free time left during this period of time. Now, he was thinking that where he should go within the ten days.
Sigh, since the time wasn't sufficient for him to visit other cities, he could only go hunt zombies and mutated animals. Zombies had crystals in their necks and similarly, mutated animals had beast-cores in their bodies. According to his memory, a beast-core could be exchanged for five crystals, because beast-cores contained two times more energy than crystals. It was more effective for evolvers.
Zhang Mu also remembered that some era merchants were fond of beast-cores. If he was lucky enough to meet one of these era merchants, he would earn a lot from selling the beast-cores to them. In his past life, he accumulated his wealth like this.
Normally, mutated animals lived in the suburbs or mountains. Of course, he could also find them in cities, however, most of the mutated animals in the cities were low-level monsters just like the mutated rat swarm he saw before. It would just be a waste of his time and energy if he went to kill them, and it was also very dangerous.
A plan was gradua
lly forming in Zhang Mu's heart. He was still adjusting his route while counting the dangers he may meet in his heart.
No, not this way. I remember someone had said that there was a second-ranked mutated wolfhound and its pack of mutated dogs there. If I encounter them, I won’t be able to defeat them.
Change the route!
I remember that there was a large wave of zombies on this street. Not a good choice.
Change the route!
Zhang Mu cudgelled his brains for ideas and finally, he remembered something.
"Right! This way!" Zhang Mu shouted excitedly.
"Uncle, you scared me!" Yuan Rui complained and patted her chest.
Zhang Mu's eyes brightened up. He shouted, "Let's go to the Longmen Grottoes!"
"The Longmen Grottoes? Aren't you a native? Haven't you gone there before? There aren't many beautiful scenes. I don't suggest you visiting there." Yuan Rui looked at Zhang Mu in confusion.
"No, we're not visiting there. There is a big surprise waiting for us! You will know it after we reach there."
Zhang Mu smiled but refused to tell Yuan Rui more details. Yuan Rui felt annoyed. She left Zhang Mu alone and played with Little Black.
Zhang Mu knew what the "thing" he just remembered was. He remembered what a mess it caused in his past life.
If he could find it in advance... it would become one of his strongest weapons!
Chapter 28: Across the Highway
After a wonderful sleep, Zhang Mu woke up feeling energetic.
However, when he saw the scene on the bed, he suddenly felt intense indignation. Little Black had actually abandoned him and slept on Yuan Rui's bed. It curled up in Yuan Rui's arms and unconsciously clutching its paws at the air. Maybe it was dreaming that it was eating crystals.
Zhang Mu wanted to slap it awake, but he worried it would wake up Yuan Rui, so he only stared at the Obsidian Beetle mercilessly and did nothing else.
Weren't they partners? Shouldn't partners share their joys and sorrows together? Why can the Obsidian Beetle sleep in a girl's arms while he had to sleep on the ground? Zhang Mu felt jealousy. He decided he would reduce its foods in the future as a punishment.
It seemed that the Obsidian Beetle felt the ill will. It turned around on the bed. Zhang Mu thought that it had woken up, but it actually turned around and fell asleep again!
It fell asleep again!
Zhang Mu had sentenced the Obsidian Beetle to death in his heart. He silently wiped his Tang sword, then started to pack his backpack.
After a while, Yuan Rui woke up. She sat up, rubbed her eyes and said, "Oh, uncle, you are awake!"
She didn't know that Little Black was sleeping in her arms. As she sat up, Little Black fell to the ground. Zhang Mu couldn't help but laugh out.
"Little Black! Why are you here?" Yuan Rui looked at the Obsidian Beetle in surprise. It fell backwards with its four paws in the air, looking pretty comical.
Zhang Mu picked it up and threw it at the wall. He laughed, "Don't mind it, it had it coming!"
Yuan Rui guessed the reason. She covered her mouth and giggled.
At this time, the Obsidian Beetle flew to them. It knew that it was wrong and looked at Zhang Mu flatteringly.
"Hum, you deserve it. I fed you so many crystals and this is how you repaid me? Today's food will be reduced by half!"
Zhang Mu said and waved his hands.
Little Black was scared by Zhang Mu's words. The food will be reduced by half... no! It flew back and forth in front of Zhang Mu, but Zhang Mu pretended that it didn't exist.
Humph. Do you know now? When your master is sleeping on the ground, you can't sleep on the bed!
Yuan Rui smiled looked at Zhang Mu's childish behavior. She persuaded him, "Uncle, don't blame Little Black. Look, it knows that it was wrong!"
After hearing Yuan Rui's words, Little Black immediately nodded its head in the air.
"Ok, ok, I'll forgive you. Let's go."
Zhang Mu was just teasing it. After seeing that it had admitted its mistakes, he forgave Little Black.
"We should be quick. We can eat our breakfast on the way."
Yuan Rui looked around the room and felt a bit of reluctance. After all, this was her home, and there were a lot of things she didn't want to give up. However, she also knew that the world had changed. If she carried too many things, it would become a burden. Finally, she only put a pocket watch into her bag.
Zhang Mu looked at her with relief. The girl finally realized the right thing she should do in the crisis-ridden world. In fact, he wouldn't have said anything if she did take along a lot of things. After all, it was Little Black who would carry their luggage.
They left the warehouse. Zhang Mu squinted his eyes and looked at the rising sun, then said to himself, "Are you ready?"
Of course, no one responded him. He shook his head and said decisively, "Let's go!"
The Obsidian Beetle immediately flew on the street. With a circle of airwave, it transformed into a big beetle that was as tall as a man.
"Ah!" Yuan Rui hadn’t seen Little Black's big form before. She was scared and took a few steps backward.
"Don't be afraid. It looks ugly, but it is still Little Black. You can ride on its back." Zhang Mu consoled Yuan Rui.
"I'm afraid..." Yuan Rui answered fearfully. Indeed, the Obsidian Beetle's bulky form looked very ferocious. He couldn't blame her.
At this time, Little Black turned back and forced a smiled on its ugly face. Yuan Rui was suddenly amused. She realized that it was still the little beetle who had played cute in her arms just now. She walked to it and tentatively touched its head. Little Black didn't resist her and closed its eyes to enjoy her touch. Yuan Rui laughed out and patted its head, "Why are you so ugly now? I won't play with you!"
The Obsidian Beetle could neither cry nor laugh.
"Ok, ok, we should leave!" Zhang Mu urged them.
"I know, but... how can I get on its back?" Yuan Rui looked confused.
Zhang Mu patted his head and got an idea. He lifted Yuan Rui up and ordered the Obsidian Beetle to squat down. He smoothly put Yuan Rui on Little Black's back. Before Yuan Rui could cry in fear, he had run away. Little Black flapped its wings and tightly followed behind him.
At first, Yuan Rui was scared, but soon, she gradually got used to Little Black's speed. She looked around and opened her arms to the wind, enjoying the pleasant sensation.
At first, Little Black couldn't carry a person and fly at the same time, but after eating over a hundred crystals, it was able to fly at its full speed even with Yuan Rui on its back.
Zhang Mu looked back at them with a contented expression.
Going through the roads that Zhang Mu had 'cleaned' up, the three of them were travelling at full speed with a whole crowd of zombies chasing after them, attracted by the racket they made.
Yuan Rui was frightened, but shortly afterwards, she had realized that even the fast zombie couldn't catch them. Without having to worry about anything, she curiously looked around at the world that had changed.
Chapter 29: Two Survivors
Zhang Mu ran on the streets for half an hour. After warming up his body, he increased his speed again to about three times faster than an ordinary person’s.
Little Black swallowed the bitter pill in silence. Yuan Rui was slender and light, but even so, she was an adult. She gradually became a weight that slowed down its flying speed. However, it didn't dare to protest and had to follow tightly behind Zhang Mu.
"Uncle, where are we going? Aren't we going to the Longmen Grottoes? I don't remember it being in this direction!"
The wind was fierce. Yuan Rui had to curl her hands next to her mouth like a trumpet to yell at Zhang Mu.
Apparently, Zhang Mu heard her words. He gradually slowed down his speed. 2.5x in speed, 2x, then 1.5x, 1x... In the end, he was leisurely walking on the street.
Taking a glance at the Obsidian Beetle, Zhang Mu realized that he went too fast. He took a few steps back
ward and walked beside Little Black, then looked at Yuan Rui and said, "Look at your right. What do you see?"
Yuan Rui looked at the direction Zhang Mu pointed at.
"It's... a highway?"
She turned back and asked Zhang Mu in confusion, "Uncle, why did we come here? I remember that there is a way that leads directly to the Longmen Grottoes, why don't we go that way?"
Zhang Mu walked to the toll station and answered, "I know that way, but we can't go from there. There is probably a lot of zombies, and I don't want to take the risk and be entangled with them. Today is the last day of the debugging period, we shouldn't waste our time on them."
Yuan Rui still felt confused. "But aren't there a lot of zombies on the highway? I remember it was six p.m. when the catastrophe happened. It was the rush hour."
Zhang Mu nodded and looked at the highway in the distance with fiery eyes. "It is the reason. Even if we are taking a detour, even if we can only slowly walk on the highway and can't rely on the Obsidian Beetle, it is still the safest way, because... the zombies on the highway are all jammed inside their cars!"
He smilingly looked at Yuan Rui and asked, "Now, do you understand why I came here?"
Yuan Rui suddenly realized what he meant, "Haha! We don't need to worry about anything there!"
Zhang Mu shrugged his shoulders and waved his hands, "Yes, it's the safest way, but there might still be some dangers. Things must not be taken lightly."
Soon, they reached the toll station and squeezed pass from between the railing. There was no one was inside the station, but there was a lot of blood. They didn't know if the officers had run away or if they had become zombies.
Various cars were scattered here and there on the highway. The quietness made the surrounding seem indescribably strange. Yuan Rui walked quietly next to Zhang Mu. The Obsidian Beetle had transformed into a small beetle again and was crouching on Zhang Mu's shoulder.