Apocalypse: Last Traveler

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei instantly raised their gun barrels.

The old man was so engrossed in conversation that he had already turned around to pick the corn.

After he finished picking the corn and turned back, he saw two dark gun barrels. Frightened, his hand trembled, and the corn fell to the ground with a "thud".

"W-why are you pulling out guns again?!"

He was so scared that he couldn't even speak properly.

"Guns? If you weren't still useful, you'd already be dead by now."

Lu Xi'an squinted his eyes and sneered, "You just said anyone who eats your corn dies, but now you're daring to bring us corn?"

The old man hurriedly explained: "No, no, I'm not giving it to you, it's for her... this little girl! I eat this corn with no problem, she should be able to eat it just like me since she can also turn invisible... should be fine, right...?"

"You don't believe me? I'll eat it right in front of you..."

Saying this, he was about to bend down to pick up the corn to eat raw.

"No need."

Lu Xi'an stopped the old man, then called out, "Gou."

The mechanical dog in the car immediately jumped out. The road here was not suitable for wheels, so Gou blocked the car's wheels and staggered to Lu Xi'an's feet.

Lu Xi'an looked at the tires on Gou's legs. In just this short time, the tires were already severely worn out. If they kept using them, it wouldn't take long to break down.

Lu Xi'an thought to himself that the quality of toy car wheels was indeed poor. It would be good if he could find wheels specifically for Gou.

But before that, he should replace Gou's original metal hooves.

"Scan the corn and see if it's edible."

Lu Xi'an gave Gou a new command.

Gou went to inspect the corn.

The old man stood there dazed, either scared by the overly intelligent mechanical dog or by the gun barrels, not daring to move.

After Gou's dog eyes scanned the corn on the ground, they emitted a continuous light, indicating that the corn was indeed safe.

—Certainly, safe for him, Yao Wei, and Chai Xin.

Gou had long been able to distinguish between individuals and tailored food requirements based on Lu Xi'an's standards. With Yao Wei and Chai Xin joining the team, the standards naturally adapted slightly.

Lu Xi'an understood this point and thus felt reassured.

However, he was curious and asked Gou: "What happens if an ordinary person eats this corn?"

Gou's dog eyes immediately flickered twice.

Well, it seems that the corn indeed has abnormal components. Ordinary people would have issues eating it, only Neo-Humans can eat it safely.

But... is this old man considered a Neo-Human?

And why is the corn here like this, harmful to ordinary people but safe for Neo-Humans?

Was it always this way or did it change later?

Chai Xin's father should have left Jianshan City later, so before that, the food here should've still been edible, right?

Which means, perhaps, the corn wasn't affected by strange rains, but had other reasons?

Or did it mutate later, making it inedible for ordinary people?

And when the corn mutated, everything in Jianshan City got impacted, forcing Chai Xin's father to leave?

But if that's the case, it doesn't explain the old man's previous words—

When someone occasionally comes, he hides and waits for them to poison themselves on the corn.

So before the corn mutated, how did the old man survive each time?

Can't figure it out...

If you can't figure it out, just don't think about it for now, better to ask.

Lu Xi'an lowered his submachine gun, and seeing this, Yao Wei followed suit, lowering her gun as well.

Although the old man couldn't remember things well, he was smart enough to know that Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei judged the corn was edible using the mechanical dog named "Gou", and finally felt relieved.

He hurriedly picked up the corn from the ground, tried to straighten his back and arms, and handed the corn to Chai Xin, saying: "Here, eat, eat."

Seeing this, Lu Xi'an didn't rush to ask questions nor did he stop the old man.

Chai Xin glanced at Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, and seeing that they didn't intervene, quickly took the corn.

Holding it in her hand, she was unsure about how to eat it, turning it over and looking at it without taking a bite right away.

Seeing this, the old man picked another ear of corn to demonstrate for Chai Xin.

He also asked Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei: "I don't know if you two can eat it? If you can, I'll pick two for you as well."

Lu Xi'an said: "We can eat it."

The old man's mouth twitched, then he picked two ears of corn, nodding and bowing as he handed them to Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei.

Then he picked another ear, peeled it, removed the corn silk, took a big bite of the kernels and cob, chewing vigorously, saying: "Just eat it like this."

Lu Xi'an was dumbfounded, this old man has impressive teeth, worthy of someone who can turn invisible!

Turning his head, he saw Yao Wei and Chai Xin were also imitating, peeling the corn, clearing the silk, and about to eat: "Wait!"

All three halted their actions and looked at Lu Xi'an. The old man's mouth was still full of chewed corn kernels and cob, but restrained himself from moving, feeling uncomfortable.

"Chew your corn."

Lu Xi'an told the old man.

The old man's mouth began moving again.

Lu Xi'an said: "Don't eat it like that, we'll cook it."

He immediately acted, the car was parked on the road for easy escape, took the pot from the trunk, drew some water, and poured it into the pan.

—No need for the pan now, it could temporarily serve as a water container.

Peel the corn, put it in the pot, place the pan as the lid.

Stack firewood, set the pot, use corn husks as kindling, ignite the wood, and sit down to wait.

Lu Xi'an finally asked the old man: "When did your corn start poisoning people to death?"

But the old man stared blankly at Lu Xi'an's pot as if daydreaming, not hearing Lu Xi'an's question.

"Sir?"

Lu Xi'an called a bit louder.

"Ah... oh!"

The old man snapped back to reality, but his eyes were glued to the pot, unable to look away.

Lu Xi'an squinted his eyes and asked: "Why, are you interested in this pot?"

"No! No!"

The old man hastily denied, then scratched his head, "I... I just thought... Could I cook one too?"

He seemed to recall the deliciousness of cooked corn and couldn't help but swallow.

Lu Xi'an didn't refuse, so the old man smiled, picked a new corn, peeled off the husk, removed the silk, and ran over joyfully, respectfully handing it to Lu Xi'an, saying: "Thank you! Thank you!"

After saying this, he anxiously waited, only relaxing after Lu Xi'an added the ear of corn to the pot, and grinned at Lu Xi'an, "You're such a good person!"