Apocalypse: Last Traveler

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei had already woken up.

Hearing Chai Xin's voice, Lu Xi'an turned to take a look. Although the girl was curled up and huddled, she appeared full of energy, as if she had enjoyed a good sleep.

Lu Xi'an suddenly wondered whether this huddled posture was a side effect of Chai Xin using the Fungus Stone?

She nestled with the Fungus Stone in the cave, curled up but not uncomfortable, leading to her becoming hunchbacked over time, unable to straighten her drooped shoulders no matter what.

"It's tough to manage on the car, but when you can, try to stretch out a bit while sleeping. Otherwise, you'll find it hard to change the habit of staying curled up like this."

Lu Xi'an kindly reminded Chai Xin.

But Chai Xin replied with a bitter face, "No way, I've gotten used to it. I can't sleep if I lie flat."

Lu Xi'an: "..."

She sure knows how to save space.

After waking up, they didn't set off immediately. Instead, they dealt with some personal matters nearby and then prepared to eat together.

This morning's meal was naturally wolf meat.

Chai Xin volunteered to handle the wolf carcass, while Yao Wei and Lu Xi'an weren't idle either, clearing a spot and gathering firewood. Once Chai Xin finished skinning and cutting the meat, they set it up to roast.

Chai Xin expertly divided the wolf skin, skillfully cutting it down, and hung it aside, saying, "Can I have this skin? With this shape, I can tie it into a bundle later, I'm going to need a bundle."

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei had no objections and agreed.

Chai Xin was delighted, thanked them quickly, and went back to dealing with the wolf meat.

However, her handling of the wolf meat was much rougher compared to Yao Wei, but luckily, Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei weren't picky. Once it was over the fire, it all cooked well.

After the first batch of meat was roasted, Chai Xin insisted Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei eat first, while she continued roasting the rest, not stopping until it was all done.

Lu Xi'an urged her to eat first, but she just shook her head with a grin, saying, "I'm prepping more food for the road. This makes it easier to travel."

After saying this, as if fearing Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei would mind, she quickly added, "Don't worry, most of this is for you guys. I'll just eat the scraps and the organs.

"I'll also handle the hunting or get other things on the road later. I can make grass cakes too, not sure if you guys would like them?"

Lu Xi'an took out a green cake compressed from grass, confiscated from a man and woman yesterday, and asked, "You mean this?"

Chai Xin nodded and said, "Yes, exactly that. I was worried you wouldn't eat it."

Lu Xi'an laughed and said, "Of course, we'll eat it. It's food, after all, why wouldn't we? Besides, I had Gou check it, and it's completely fine for us to eat."

Chai Xin glanced at the mechanical dog, exclaiming, "Is it that? Amazing!"

Suddenly, there was a rare sound of agreement.

The unexpected concurrence made Chai Xin's eyes widen in disbelief. She looked towards the sound, never expecting the usually reserved older sister would speak on such a trivial matter.

But Yao Wei, the subject of Chai Xin's incredulous look, was merely chewing on her meat, as if the "hmm" hadn't come from her.

"Looks like Gou really is impressive..."

She muttered another sentence.

...

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei certainly couldn't let Chai Xin do all the work and stay hungry.

After Chai Xin shouted "comfortable" in the morning, her stomach soon started growling, proving that the Fungus Stone indeed only allowed for a good sleep but didn't curb hunger.

Once the two were full, they insisted Chai Xin eat as well, and then together they handled the remaining meat.

They were long accustomed to cooperating with each other, and now working together, they showed great synergy—even if there was no conversation throughout.

Chai Xin sat to the side, grabbing a piece of cooked meat and gobbling it up. But as she ate, she involuntarily glanced at Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, and her chewing unconsciously slowed down.

The two in her sight were already good looking, exceeding in appearance and physique compared to ordinary people in this world, as Neo-Humans. Now, as they cooperated seamlessly, their movements appeared rhythmic, pleasing to simply watch.

So wonderful...

Chai Xin couldn't help but silently admire, and then suddenly felt a bit envious.

Envious of such harmonious beauty, and in a world like this, to be able to fully trust and collaborate with one another.

Within this trust and cooperation was a peace that shouldn't exist in this world, and just watching it brought a sense of calm.

This is something the now solitary Chai Xin couldn't experience.

Born in Tongzhou County, she grew up, faced life and death, escaped, and then struggled to survive in the wilderness of Mengxin City, witnessing deception and life-or-death struggles, whether alone or with others.

Not even her father, who once ruled Tongzhou County, gave her the beauty shared by the two in front.

She even suddenly felt an impulse to leave quickly, to not disturb their harmony.

Fortunately, her reason held her back.

She still wanted to leave here, couldn't stay permanently.

Afterwards, once out of Mengxin City, someday she would part ways with them to go elsewhere, but not yet.

Perhaps then, she could head to the place they mentioned, wondering if she could find this peace there?

She didn't need to personally experience this mutual trust and harmony; just the feeling of peace would be enough...

Thinking so, she couldn't help but glance back towards the direction of Mengxin City's urban area.

It seemed like the people there were about to engage in internal conflict.

But in these times, internal strife is quite normal. Even those who seem united might turn against each other in the future, with some maybe uniting with the two people abandoned at the gas station.

—So those two aren't necessarily doomed.

Sigh...

How many people in this world could trust each other like the two people in front, clearly never having a conflict among themselves?

So nice... so enviable!

After a long reverie, Chai Xin snapped back to reality, hurriedly scarfed down her meat, then rubbed her belly to feel full, and then went to help.

All the meat had been processed, smoked, and roasted, and just like before, was hung up one by one on the car.

After they were hung, Chai Xin leaped onto the car roof, grinning, saying, "Rest assured, I'll watch over all this meat, no birds will snatch it, and no mosquitoes will bite it!"

As she spoke, she took the cloth Yao Wei had used to wrap the wolf carcass, swinging it in her hand, indicating it as her tool against insects and birds.

Observing her nimble actions hopping onto the car roof, Lu Xi'an, though noting it wasn't as graceful as Yao Wei, felt she was far ahead of ordinary people and not far from being a Neo-Human.

He laughed as well, saying, "Alright, from today on, you're appointed as the Meat Master! You take charge of the meat on the car!"

"Got it!"

Chai Xin nodded in agreement, then asked, "What's a Meat Master?"

Lu Xi'an explained, "It's the overseer of the meat."

Chai Xin asked again, "What's an overseer?"

"..."

Lu Xi'an paused for a moment, then explained, "It means the boss."

Chai Xin shook her head repeatedly, "No, no, you guys are the bosses!"

Lu Xi'an smiled and said no more. He and Yao Wei got into the vehicle, started it up.

This time, they would surely not turn back, heading southward to leave Mengxin City.