Embark on the Road

by Tai Baiyang

  These people couldn’t even be compared to the cannibals. They didn’t dare to resist and would only bully their own kind, especially those that were weaker than them.

  Zhang Mu’s eyes turned cold. He slowly said, “Are you all still humans? You can’t even resist against cannibals but in this area, you seem really good.”

  The man finally realized that Zhang Mu was not related to the powerful evolvers. He immediately retracted his humble expression and started to become arrogant. “I thought that you are with those people. You should be a new food that they caught right? Look at you, besides having better clothes than us, how are you different from us?”

  The man felt scared when he saw Zhang Mu’s eyes. However, he remembered that there was still a lot of people behind him so he plucked up his courage and shouted at Zhang Mu, “why are you acting so noble? Since we are going to be eaten anyway, why can’t we enjoy ourselves first? Since we will die, why not die comfortably?”

  “Is this the reason for losing your conscience?” Zhang Mu’s voice floated up lightly.

  The man appeared to have heard the funniest joke in the world. He purposely leaned closer with his ear and wanted Zhang Mu to repeat the sentence. “Conscience? You are talking to me about conscience? You are a prisoner too. This is so funny. Look, this person is actually talking to me about conscience.

  Ask everyone in this room, do they have a conscience? Will anyone dare to say a word? Why? Because we have more people, we are powerful. They don’t dare to say anything. They are afraid that they will get implicated.

  Why are you locked together with us? Because we are trash. We can’t defeat them. We can only become their food. Do you understand?

  If you dare to be a busybody again, I will kill you.”

  Zhang Mu didn’t care about him. He followed the man’s finger and scanned the entire room. He realized that most of the people were still in daze. Even if someone had some reaction, they just shivered and didn’t dare to look up. They would occasionally gaze towards this direction and immediately looked down again.

  When these men were bullying the little girl, they must have pretended that they didn’t see anything too.

  Despair filled up Zhang Mu’s heart. He felt unworthy for himself. The people that he was going to save was such a bunch of people. The one that was worth saving was already dead.

  “What you mean is, you are more powerful than others so you can do anything without a conscience?”

  The naked man didn’t expect this to be the last words he heard. He started laughing more arrogantly, “yes, so what...”

  When Zhang Mu said this sentence, a black shadow flashed passed him and his head was slitted off his neck. It was so fast, he didn’t feel any pain at all. His eyes were still filled with arrogant laughter.

  “I am being too nice to you all.” A few more flashes of black shadow and all these people’s head were cut off.

  This scene woke the people in a stupor and someone finally screamed. The place was in a mess.

  Zhang Mu lifted the dagger again and the room turned silent. He didn’t look back at the people. He slowly said, “the cannibals are all dead. I will give you all one minute to get out of this place. You can go anywhere you want. Don’t let me remember your face.”

  The cannibals were dead? The people started exchanging glances with one another. They didn’t know if the cannibals were already dead but they knew that if they continued to stay here, they would be killed by Zhang Mu.

  They got up hurriedly and rushed out. Very soon, there was no one left in the room.

  Zhang Mu walked to the little girl and squatted down. He took off his trenchcoat and placed it on her. He reached out and closed her angry eyes. He said, “this is all I can do.”

  He got up and transferred energy into the Obsidian Beetle dagger. He threw it at the wall. The flame burnt everything it could find in its path. It got bigger and brighter.

  Zhang Mu walked out of the unfinished building. He didn’t look at the fire that was burning behind him. He didn’t dare to look. He blamed himself and he was really sorry towards the little girl.

  I am sorry, I am too weak.

  I am sorry.

  Chapter 115: The Heart Is In A Mess

  On the way back, those normal people that escaped from the unfinished building wanted to seek protection from Zhang Mu. However, when most of them saw Zhang Mu’s dark face, they didn’t go forward. They just followed behind him silently.

  As he looked at the people following behind him, a certain fire started burning in his heart. A murderous intent spread from his heart and his heart became heavier and heavier. He started to feel suffocated.

  Now you know that humans should help each other? Now you know that you need a comrade?

  What are you doing before this then? When you looked at the little girl being bullied, did you think that you are a part of humanity?

  This seed of thought spread like wildfire across Zhang Mu’s mind and he slowly stopped walking. He turned to look at the people that were more than ten meters behind him. The person leading them was a middle-aged man. He looked at him flatteringly.

  They thought that Zhang Mu changed his mind and was willing to bring them along now. Their eyes instantly lit up with hope.

  However, the next second, Zhang Mu immediately appeared in front of the middle-aged man. When he saw the expression on Zhang Mu’s face clearly, the middle-aged man felt that something was amiss. Zhang Mu didn’t look like he changed his mind.

  Zhang Mu was engulfed in an oppressive aura. The middle-aged hurriedly turned and ran away. Zhang Mu looked like a devil now. He let out an evil smile and lowered his head. Zhang Mu said slowly, “Since I save your life, I will take it back now.”

  The moment he finished his sentence, a killing intent appeared in his eyes and he looked really scary. He kicked his leg on the ground and threw his Obsidian Beetle dagger directly to the middle-aged man.

  Whizz!

  The Obsidian Beetle dagger landed itself accurately in the middle-aged man heart. It didn’t meet any obstacles and pierced directly through his spine. Then, it maintained its speed and stabbed into the ground. Only the handle of the dagger was above the ground. You could tell how furious Zhang Mu was and how much force he used to throw the dagger.

  Zhang Mu slowly walked over and stepped on the middle-aged man’s body as he went to pick up his dagger. He grabbed the handle and pulled it up, keeping it back onto his waist.

  He scanned the people around him who were weak from fear. He said with the voice that could be heard by every one of them, “now, go away. If any of you appeared in front of me again, I will take your lives back.”

  After that, he turned and walked away. No one followed him anymore. Zhang Mu’s heart slowly calmed down.

  If these people didn’t follow him, he would not have the urge to kill them. They just dug their own grave.

  He thought that the apocalypse changed humanity but it was just the start of Cataclysm now. Maybe, humans are ugly, to begin with. The ugliness was just suppressed before Cataclysm.

  This was his first time killing someone who didn’t provoke him. Zhang Mu felt that there was something wrong with him today. His emotions were too easily triggered. It was not like him at all. Is it because the emotions from his current self were slowly integrating inside him?

  He touched the jade pendant in front of him instinctively. He felt more at peace.

  When he went back to the survival base, he saw Wang Liang waiting for him at the gate. He walked over.

  “Brother Mu, how is it?” Wang Liang looked at Zhang Mu nervously. He didn’t know about Zero’s abilities but he knew that there were around 50 to 60 evolvers over there and they were at their prime. He was worried that Zhang Mu would be in a dangerous position.

  After Zhang Mu left, he regretted his decision. He always felt that Zhang Mu was someone very powerful but after calming down, he realized that he was too optimistic. No matter how powerful Zhang Mu was, h
e was a human. He was the same as them. He had a head above his shoulders and it sounded too difficult for him to fight against 50 people alone.

  However, when he saw Zhang Mu coming back safely, he finally felt at ease. The development of this survival base needed Zhang Mu. If Zhang Mu didn’t come back this time, Wang Liang would have no chance to turn the tables around anymore.

  If Wang Liang knew that the 50 evolvers were nothing as compared to the dangers Zhang Mu faced, he would probably be speechless in astonishment.

  Zhang Mu had no mood to tell Wang Liang the stories now. He just said indifferently, “yes, no one left from the North city.”

  Wang Liang predicted this outcome but when he heard it directly from Zhang Mu, he still felt a sense of relief. Although he didn’t kill them personally, he managed to answer his brothers below.

  However, he felt that Zhang Mu’s mood was not very good for some reason. Based on their relationship, he shouldn’t react like this when he knew that he came out personally to welcome him.

  “Brother Mu, you must be tired. Go back and have some rest first. I thank you on behalf of my brothers.”

  When he saw the sincerity in Wang Liang’s eyes, Zhang Mu felt that he shouldn’t vent his anger on his. He softened his tone and said, “Ah Liang, you shouldn’t stand here and wait for me directly. If anyone sees you, how can you be their leader anymore?

  Yes, I feel a little uncomfortable. I will go back first. You don’t have to send me. It is very near from here.”

  “Okay, as long as you are fine. You did this for me, this is what I should do. You go ahead first.”

  Zhang Mu waved his hand and walked passed Wang Liang towards his own house.

  When he walked into the courtyard, the Obsidian Beetle cocoon was still in the same place. However, its glow got darker. Zhang Mu guessed that the energy on the cocoon was being sucked in by the Obsidian Beetle.

  That is good. He was going to leave again soon so this mutated Obsidian Beetle who just reached level 2 would be a great help to him. If it really needed to evolve for such a long time, Zhang Mu would have to leave by himself.

  During Cataclysm, time was the most important and precious thing to the era sub-merchants.

  Zhang Mu had the confidence that he would complete his second mission before other merchants completed their first one.

  He walked into his house and laid on the bed. He looked at the white ceiling and went into a daze.

  At this moment, Yuan Rui pushed the door and walked in. She carried a pot of clean water and placed the towel in front of Zhang Mu to wipe his face.

  Since Zhang Mu was not talking, she started to speak, “Uncle, Brother Wang says that you went out. Just now, I saw you were looking really tired. What happened? Did you fight again?”

  Zhang Mu didn’t reply Yuan Rui. He patted Yuan Rui’s hand and signaled for her to move the towel away. He asked her a question that was totally not related at all.

  “Yuan Rui, do you think that it is overly confident and stupid for one person to help the injustice in the world?”

  Chapter 116: Do It Personally

  Zhang Mu slept soundly that day. He only woke up at night.

  Just now, he heard Yuan Rui’s reply and went into the dreamland. He had a very unique dream.

  Yuan Rui thought for a long time but didn’t manage to give him an answer. However, she used an old saying, “When you are poor, you think about yourself. When you are wealthy, you want to help the world.”

  Zhang Mu knew about this saying but when Yuan Rui mentioned it, he realized that the saying was true. The more powerful he got, the more responsibilities he wanted to take on. If not, he would just feel proud that he was so powerful. Last time, he was just a small merchant and living was a luxury to him. He didn’t have the mind to think about other people. However, when he had the abilities now, his heart slowly changed.

  Although this thinking seemed ridiculous, he still felt that he should do it. He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Maybe his guess was right. When he was reborn, his spirit from the past life didn’t just take over this body.

  His body had its own spirit too. His spirit didn’t take over the body. It merged with the spirit in this body. The maturity from the last time and the hot-blooded spirit now, the zen Zhang Mu last time and the ambitious Zhang Mu now.

  He was having a conflict with his own spirit. It seemed impossible but logical at the same time.

  You dream about what you think during the day. Zhang Mu’s dream had something to do with all of these too. He dreamt that there were two Zhang Mus. One was 28 years old and one was 18 years old. They were looking at each other in silence.

  Then, after a long while, they smiled at each other and said something.

  Zhang Mu didn’t know what this dream meant and as time goes by, his impression of the dream got fainter. Very soon, it disappeared from his memory. He couldn’t remember what they said.

  He didn’t think about it anymore. He shook his head and saw the moon high up in the sky. He only realized now that he had missed two meals. He touched his flat stomach and gave a bitter smile.

  No wonder he didn’t have energy. Compared to a normal person, an evolver had a higher requirement for energy so after missing two meals, all the cells in his body were screaming out their natural desires.

  Meat, he wants to eat meat!

  Zhang Mu got down from the bed and walked out of the door. He saw Yuan Rui taking care of the Obsidian Beetle cocoon outside and felt a stream of warmth flowing past his heart. He coughed. Yuan Rui turned her head and looked at Zhang Mu in surprised. “Uncle, you are awake?”

  Zhang Mu smiled and said, “It seems I have slept for a long time. It is already so late. I am starving.”

  “Uncle, are you hungry?” Since we can’t use electricity here, I made a huge pot of rice and had it with small amount of meat that Brother Wang sent over as well as some vegetables. I left a huge portion of it and it was being warmed up in the house. If you are hungry now, I can bring it out for you.”

  When Yuan Rui heard that Zhang Mu was starving, she hurriedly finished her sentences and wanted to go in and take the rice.

  However, Zhang Mu stopped her. He saw Yuan Rui frowning and explained, “I predict that with my appetite, the rice you made is not enough. The energy that rice and vegetables can provide to a combat evolver like me is totally not enough. I think that Wang Liang didn’t give you a lot of meat too.

  Let me tell you first. I am not suspecting your cooking skills. I am just saying that on normal days, it is enough but not now. I used a lot of energy today.”

  During the battle with Zero, Zhang Mu didn’t manage to succeed in retaliating but he kept trying to resist the spiritual power that was controlling him. Even though there were no results, he used a lot of his spiritual power. Some were replenished during his sleep just now but the energy couldn’t just come back by itself.

  Zhang Mu smiled mysteriously and waved his left hand. He showed off the Obsidian Beetle dagger and said, “Let me show you the real barbecue master technique.”

  “Techniques of a barbecue master?” The unhappiness that Yuan Rui felt when Zhang Mu didn’t want to eat the food that she made disappeared. She looked at Zhang Mu’s empty right hand with curiosity.

  He controlled his mind and the mutated black bear body that was stored in his era merchant ring got shifted out. It slammed heavily on the ground.

  Under Yuan Rui’s surprised gaze, Zhang Mu used the Obsidian Beetle dagger and skillfully peeled off the bear’s skin. He passed it to Yuan Rui and said, “Wash off the blood on it. I already have one with me. It was from the bear that we ate last time. This bear skin is for you. We will use it as a mat when we go out next time.”

  The bearskin was really big. Zhang Mu was afraid that Yuan Rui didn’t have the strength to carry it so he placed it on the side. He left Yuan Rui to settle the rest. He found it too troublesome.

  A flame rose from the tip of the dagger. This was something uni
que about the Obsidian Beetle dagger which Zhang Mu found out earlier on. If the flame stuck on the tip of the knife, it would be suppressed by the material of the knife and the temperature of the flame would not be as high. It would just be a little higher than the flames on Earth.

  Zhang Mu held onto the flame dagger and cut the bear’s meat. He aimed at the bear’s chest and cut through it. Since the flame’s temperature was not so high, the bear’s meat only got cut when the knife touched it. After that, under Zhang Mu’s control, the energy maintained its size and gave out a ‘zizi’ sound.

  Zhang Mu cut the meat really slowly but the Obsidian Beetle dagger was too sharp. The mutated animal’s meat was nothing to it so he followed the texture of the meat and sliced a thin piece of meat. He barbecued it in high temperature and the meat immediately became soft and crispy. A wonderful meat fragrance started to float in the air.

  Zhang Mu was so hungry, he could not overcome the temptation of this meat. After slicing off a piece of meat, he instantly put it in his mouth.

  He chewed the meat but the movement of his hands didn’t stop. He was like a highly efficient machine, slicing meat and eating them at a steady pace.

  Very soon, this part of meat disappeared and the bear’s organs were revealed.

  Zhang Mu moved on to another spot. Yuan Rui was watching him in awe.

  He can eat so much?

  Chapter 117: Little Black Woke Up

  This mutated bear that weighed more than a ton was eaten by Zhang Mu just like that. There was no visible change to his stomach. Yuan Rui watched him from the side and found him really scary.

  Zhang Mu glanced occasionally at Yuan Rui who was watching him in daze. Other than that, he didn’t stop eating at all. After a while, he gave Yuan Rui a piece of barbecued bear meat unwillingly and continued eating thereafter.

  The bear’s body got smaller and smaller. Some parts were difficult to cut and Zhang Mu was not happy as it slowed down his pace. Hence, he transferred more energy into the dagger and the flame got bigger. It engulfed the entire bear body and started cooking it. Zhang Mu didn’t care if the bear got burnt. His appetite was opened so it didn’t matter if the meat got burnt. He would just eat it.