“Dr. Sang, Bai Lixin, pay attention to your footing. This area is filled with gravel and obstacles. We wouldn’t want any injuries.”
The bearded man whispered ahead of them. Several individuals held searchlights to ensure the safety of Dr. Sang and Bai Lixin, resulting in a slower pace.
Three people led the way while two remained behind, providing firm protection for Bai Lixin and Dr. Sang.
The front group meticulously cleared the path of obstacles, guiding the others through narrow and dim corridors.
Suddenly, the bearded man halted. “Wait a moment.”
In the next second, a clang of metal resonated, and as the light followed the sound, the bearded man had already plunged a sharp dagger into the formidable head of a zombie. A black crystal nucleus adorned the dagger’s tip.
Outside the long and narrow corridor, a bolt of lightning struck, casting a faint blue glow that served as a backdrop to the white illumination.
Within the claustrophobic space untouched by the white searchlights, darkness left nowhere to hide.
Around a dozen zombies lurked amidst decaying body parts, their pairs of pure white eyes fixated on the group with vigilance. Among these zombies were not only humans but also zombified animals, resembling hounds or something similar.
The moment the lightning bathed the area in blue light, the zombies instantly withdrew, and the rustling gradually subsided until it vanished entirely.
The bearded man explained, ”These are low-level zombies, quite timid and unlikely to initiate attacks. The crystal nucleus they possess is of no use—just the common black variety.”
“If it was before, a few of our comrades would have killed them without hesitation, but that would have compromise the level of protection if we engaged in pursuit.”
Dr. Sang replied, “It’s alright, let’s proceed.”
Under the heavy rain, the night air turned bitterly cold. In the darkness, Dr. Sang secretly observed the slender young man beside him with his non-reflective eyes, then silently removed his windbreaker and placed it over the young man’s shivering shoulders.
The young man was startled and trembled imperceptibly, though he eventually turned his head to gaze blankly at Dr. Sang.
Dr. Sang pursed his lips and returned the gaze, his demeanor implying, What? Are you impressed?
In the darkness, the young man blinked and spoke earnestly, “I understand everything, Dr. Sang. Don’t worry.”
Dr. Sang: “…”
You understand nothing!
Five minutes later, the group arrived at the safe house mentioned by the bearded man.
The interior resembled a shop specializing in disc sales, its posters now yellowed with age after half a century.
Leading the way, the bearded man instructed, “This is a good spot, the true hiding place lies beneath.”
Bai Lixin felt inexplicably anxious but still followed silently behind the group.
After spending a day together, he could sense genuine kindness and a sense of security from these people. At the very least, he could be certain that they wouldn’t stab him in the back like Billy would during times of danger.
Everyone stepped on disc fragments, and from time to time, there was a crisp sound of plastic breaking.
After walking for another two minutes, the bearded man opened a secret door. “Hey, I’ve finally found it. Let the two of us go in and have a look first. Once we confirm it’s safe, you can come in as well.”
The bearded man entered with a long haired ability user, and a minute later, the long-haired man poked his head out from the crack of the door. “Alright, it’s safe. Come in quickly.”
For some reason, Bai Lixin couldn’t help but sense a hint of eagerness and excitement in the long-haired man’s voice.
Even the ability users outside expressed joy upon hearing this.
Bai Lixin entered the room curiously, and noticed the bearded man tinkering with something in front of an instrument. After a few pats on the old screen, an electrifying sound resonated, and the old TV screen flickered to life.
The young ability user was the last to enter, firmly closing the heavy iron door, effectively isolating the not-so-narrow room from the darkness and silence outside.
Bai Lixin swiftly scanned the room with the searchlight in hand.
In front of them stood a slightly larger TV screen, and behind it were rows of seats embedded in the ground. Faded red cloth strips were faintly visible on the seats, and the walls were adorned with thick sound insulation equipment.
From the looks if it, it was a small screening room.
The bearded man tapped the screen carefully once more, causing it to emit two sudden jumps and display a somewhat blurry image.
The bald-headed man’s eyes lit up. “Awesome, it can still play.”
The bearded man smiled, mysteriously pointing to the screen as he addressed Bai Lixin and Dr. Sang, who stood behind him. “This is called a ‘movie.’ In the time before the zombies, it was one of the recreational activities for humans during their leisure time. They gave this room where movies were shown lofty names like ‘screening room’ and ‘cinema.’ Such wonderful things are unavailable on the Ark, and even when people come to the surface, ordinary individuals with ability users seldom get the chance to witness them.”
“Not that I’m boasting,” the bearded man said with great interest, his face beaming. “but Dr. Sang, I’m sure you’ve never seen one before.”
“It seems the rain will continue until tomorrow, and there are still more than ten hours until dawn. Dr. Sang, the two of you can watch a movie and relax before going to sleep. Our group will take turns keeping watch during the night.”
Bai Lixin remarked, “It’s been so long. Do you still have the energy to power it?”
The bearded man significantly lowered the volume of the movie. “You’re right. We also stumbled upon the fact that this projection room runs on a generator. We managed to acquire some gasoline and fueled it up, enabling us to turn on the electricity.”
On the big screen, a prelude played, gradually revealing a serene blue lake descending from the sky.
The long-haired man swiftly made a “shh” gesture toward Bai Lixin. “Shh, keep your voice down. Find a place to sit. The movie has begun.”
The faint blue light gradually reflected in everyone’s pupils, and they gazed at the big screen with earnestness, their eyes brimming with yearning, creating an unbreakable spell.
Bai Lixin momentarily froze, and stopped speaking.
He found a chair, brushed off the ashes, sat down, and quietly directed his gaze forward.
While everyone else watched the movie, he observed these ability users.
Ultimately, savage and primal individuals like Billy would exist, but the majority still longed for peace and serenity.
The screen seemed to depict a musical romance. Over time, the hero and heroine fortuitously encountered each other during a seaside vacation, leading to ironic incidents stemming from misunderstandings.
Intermittently, scenes of the bustling city from that era appeared on screen, bustling with people traversing the streets, airplanes soaring above, and heavy traffic on the roads.
At night, neon lights illuminated the metropolis, while those who had been occupied all day strolled by the seaside, basking in the sea breeze and engaging in conversation.
No one knew that what seemed like an ordinary day would become an irretrievably beautiful memory someday.
As the film drew to a close, the handsome hero enveloped the elegant and enchanting heroine in his arms, and the two shared a kiss beneath an unexpected eruption of fireworks.
A romantic and touching love story.
Even after the movie concluded, those seated at the front remained ensnared by the allure of the spectacle.
It was only when the bearded captain sighed, “Alright, we must awaken from this dream. Let us rest.”
———————
In the live broadcast room:
[“Wake up from this dream, let us rest.” How ironic. It appears that our former mundane days are now a luxury during doomsday.]
[Indeed, cherishing the present holds tremendous significance.]
[Yes, nobody knows what will come first, tomorrow or calamity. I hope that when I die, I shall harbor no regrets.]
[I typically do not watch romance movies, yet today, I finished watching one in the live broadcast room. Strangely, tears welled up in secret.]
[Because you have projected yourself, envisioning a survivor in this doomsday scenario, watching with a different perspective.]
[I really hope they develop a zombie antidote soon, hastening the end of this doomsday and enabling a return to their former lives.]
[Indeed, let’s hope so.]
———————-
Due to the room’s exceptional facilities and airtightness, Bai Lixin could no longer hear the sound of rain outside.
In the faint light, he closed his eyes and gradually extended a myriad of red threads.
Within his spiritual realm, the flames symbolizing the ability users burned fiercely, particularly those of the bearded man and the bald man.
The two of them appeared to be at the S level, while the flames of the others were slightly weaker, yet even the least formidable among them still rivaled Billy’s strength.
This team possessed was really strong.
After surveying the interior of the projection hall, Bai Lixin shifted his attention to the outside, expanding his observation range.
He swiftly extended his field of vision from the immediate vicinity to a radius of 100 meters, and then further to 1,000 meters.
During his observation, an increasing number of crystal nuclei emerged within the spiritual realm. Just as his red threads were about to reach the edge, he sensed a powerful surge of danger and oppression.
At the end of the red thread, he discovered a crystal nucleus brimming with tremendous energy.
While an ordinary zombie’s crystal nucleus would be no larger than a grain of rice, the crystal nucleus of the previous special zombie was about the size of a broad bean.
However, this crystal nucleus was as big as an adult.
Around the white light, numerous clusters of light, varying in size, were present. The larger ones resembled five or six-year-old children, while the smaller ones were about the size of a fist.
Fearful of being detected by the other party, Bai Lixin refrained from advancing further. Instead, he discreetly retreated, ensuring he remembered the other party’s position, and silently made his way back to the auditorium.
As he opened his eyes, he noticed a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
Dr. Sang leaned against the wall, his black eyes devoid of any glimmer in the darkness, making it impossible to discern whether they were open or closed from this distance.
Bai Lixin took out a tissue from his pocket and gently wiped the sweat off his forehead. Suddenly, a rustling sound emanated from the side, and in the next moment, the young ability user appeared beside Bai Lixin.
In the dim light, the eyes of the young ability user gleamed brightly. He extended his hand toward Bai Lixin, who, after lowering his head in surprise, realized that the young ability user was offering a bottle of nutrient solution.
The color was an unprecedented shade of pink.
Lowering his voice, the young ability user spoke, “Here, I’ll give it to you. I noticed you haven’t eaten all day. This is a strawberry-flavored nutrient solution. It tastes delicious. There were only a few left at the exchange center. Try it while you can.”
Bai Lixin hesitated for a moment, then declined, “No, thank you. It must be quite expensive, and you already have important responsibilities to shoulder. Don’t compromise your own supply of nutrient solution just to take care of me.”
With that, he retrieved a tube of blue nutrient solution from his pocket and continued, “I have this one here. I’m not particularly hungry at the moment, but I’ll drink it when the time comes.”
The young ability user’s eyes sparkled, “Are you concerned about me?”
Bai Lixin: “?”
The young ability user: “You’re so kind. Not only are you handsome, but you’re also incredibly thoughtful.”
Snatching the blue nutrient solution from Bai Lixin’s hand, the young ability user turned around and placed his own pink nutrient solution in Bai Lixin’s palm. “It’s truly delicious. You must try it when you have the chance.”
Bai Lixin gazed at the pink nutrient solution in his hand and nodded, “Alright, thank you.”
The young ability user: “Hey, no need to thank me. Consider it a stroke of fate that we met. Your name is Bai Lixin, right? Well, you haven’t learned my name yet. I’m Naia.”
Bai Lixin smiled silently in the darkness, “Hello, Naia.”
Naia looked at the gentle smile on the young man’s face, and his heart quivered slightly. Nervously, he asked, “Well, Bai Lixin, I have a question for you.”
Bai Lixin placed the pink nutrient solution in his pocket and inquired, “What is it?”
Naia glanced at Dr. Sang in the distance, then carefully examined Bai Lixin before posing his question, “I’ve been observing you and Dr. Sang together. Are you two…lovers? You seemed quite close in the car earlier.”
Dr. Sang, who was concealed in the darkness, strained to catch every word exchanged between the two individuals.
Lovers? Of course. They even kissed. It was the young man himself who sealed the deal and admitted it.
“Hey, don’t talk nonsense,” the young man’s voice trembled with panic, cutting through the air and reaching the man’s ears. “Dr. Sang is my idol, and he treats me well because I’m the only one who can match the transparent crystal nucleus. Taking care of me ensures that the surgical experiment progresses faster. A dedicated scientist like him has sacrificed everything for scientific research. We may be close, but please don’t spread baseless rumors.”
The young ability user heaved a sigh of relief and added, “So that’s how it is, that’s great.”
“I thought you two were in a romantic relationship, in which case I would have no chance. I’m certainly no match for Dr. Sang.”
Bai Lixin: “Huh?”
Naia’s intense gaze grew even stronger. “Bai Lixin, then I suppose you don’t have a lover either?”
Bai Lixin’s eyes flickered. “Not yet.”
Naia: “What are your preferences? What do you think of me?”
His voice gradually became anxious. “I possess the greatest potential among young talents. Today, I’m only 20 years old, and I’m expected to reach S-level abilities by the age of 21. None of my peers surpass me.”
“And I have no interest in continuing the family lineage. I don’t seek those red collars who can give birth. Time is limited, and I simply desire genuine love. Since humans in the past could unite for love, why can’t we do the same?”
“The first time I saw you, I felt an electric shock in my heart.”
“Please forgive my impetuousness, but I genuinely like you. Can you accept me?”
“I understand this is sudden, and you don’t need to answer me now. Just observe my actions over the next few days, and give me your answer once we have safely returned. Oh, and don’t worry, I won’t bother you during this time.”
Naia spilled out a flurry of words, and before Bai Lixin could respond, he turned and vanished into the darkness.
Bai Lixin watched Naia’s departing figure of and suddenly felt as though he was being scrutinized.
He raised his head and noticed that Dr. Sang, who had been leaning against the wall, had silently appeared behind him.
Dr. Sang’s face remained obscured in the darkness, and from Bai Lixin’s viewpoint, only the other party’s tense jawline was visible.
Bai Lixin: “Dr. Sang?”
Dr. Sang’s hoarse voice sounded slightly displeased as he tossed something into Bai Lixin’s arms from above. “This is for you.”
The Item had a somewhat soft and cool touch, and it was quite thick.
Bai Lixin gazed down in confusion—it was a sleeping bag.
Dr. Sang pointed to the vacant spot where he had been standing just moments ago. “Go there and sleep.”
The young man held the sleeping bag, hesitating. “Did you deliberately bring this for me? Is it your sleeping bag? What about you?”
Dr. Sang: “It’s none of your concern.”
After the words left his mouth, Dr. Sang realized that his tone was too strong. He bravely offered an explanation, “I tend to sleep late and only require three hours of sleep per night, which is enough for me. You go to bed first.”
The bearded man still hadn’t fallen asleep, so he laughed when he heard this: “Dr. Sang, you researchers are truly dedicated. How can three hours of sleep be enough?”
Naia immediately chimed in: “That’s right, how can you sleep less than an elderly person. Won’t your health suffer! That would be bad Dr. Sang.”
Dr. Sang: “???”
Come again?
Who is an old man?
I have endured for a long time, you know?
