Apocalypse: Last Traveler

Lu Xi'an certainly didn't feel any sympathy or guilt, nor did he regret killing the Fish Rider because of his identity.

The Fish Rider attacked him, and after repelling him, still pursued them relentlessly, threatening the lives of him and Yao Wei. How could he not kill?

He suddenly felt the passage of time from the few words in the letter and the possible identity of the Fish Rider.

He thought that person should be Liang Xiaobin.

Otherwise, who would carefully wrap a used syringe and a piece of letter paper with tape, hiding them so cautiously?

As time flows like water and the sea changes into mulberry fields, did the couple who wrote this letter on some unknown battlefield imagine that with time and change, the things they sent would ultimately end up in the belly of a giant monster fish?

Did they know that the world's order would collapse due to war and other factors, and their child would become this ghostly figure, wandering above Liang River, surviving by hunting people and animals?

Lu Xi'an grew increasingly curious about the past, yet curiosity was not the focus of survival.

With insufficient clues, the past couldn't be easily explored, and he and Yao Wei could only continue south, embarking on their journey.

The gas station at the East Outer Ring soon appeared before their eyes, its signboard still hanging, with the words "First Petrochemical" on it.

These four words, like the syringe in the fish's belly, had weathered the passage of time, covered with dust, full of gaps, with broken corners, standing out prominently on the hole-ridden roof.

The fuel dispenser at this gas station could still be used. Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei didn't need to open valves or use oil pumps laboriously. They simply used Gou to supply electricity, filled up their fuel tank, and could leave.

Yao Wei felt somewhat regretful about this; she seemed to want to try things out when she had something in hand, fearing the items she collected would go unused, as if it were a waste.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Lu Xi'an always felt that Yao Wei appeared more like a child unable to play with a toy and feeling dissatisfied.

—Of course, as this thought passed, Lu Xi'an clearly told himself that this was a wrong interpretation.

How could Yao Wei be so childish, like a little girl?

Shortly after refueling, they quickly reached the South City gas station.

This was a local Jianshan City gas station, named "Sword Mountain Oil".

The "Sword" character on the rooftop was missing two Blades, and the "Mountain" character was also lacking its central stroke, unable to be deciphered. But Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei still deduced its original name from its shape.

They only paused briefly, searched the station building, and then left.

After leaving the city, dusk gradually fell. Lu Xi'an then reached a rest area ahead and stopped to rest.

He got out of the car and looked skyward, seeing the stars filling the sky like falling into a starry river. The feeling of a "pot lid" pressing overhead disappeared, making him feel much more comfortable.

Yao Wei also got out of the car, stood beside Lu Xi'an, raised her head to watch the sky silently.

Lu Xi'an spoke first, sighed, and said, "Last time at this kind of rest area, there was also Chai Xin in the car. Thinking about that letter reminds me that life and death partings are the norm…"

"Hmm."

Yao Wei nodded but seemed unaffected by such abstract concepts. She was just thinking, "I wonder how Chai Xin is doing now?"

Lu Xi'an said no more, grabbed two handfuls of fried corn kernels from the car, gave one to Yao Wei, and they silently gazed at the starry sky while chewing on the corn.

That night, they didn't light a fire or set a pot; they ate the corn with water and then rested.

The laptop was already charged on the front dashboard by Yao Wei, and once inside the car, they opened it, reclined the seats, laid down under the bedsheets, watched some videos, and slowly fell asleep.

The bedsheet belonged to Yao Wei; Lu Xi'an's was used again to wrap the fried corn kernels.

Lu Xi'an lay on the main driver's seat, covering only his upper body with the bedsheet, hands under his head, watching the action movie on the laptop screen.

Before realizing it, he fell asleep while watching.

Yao Wei only turned off the laptop after Lu Xi'an fell asleep, moving gently to lie down, sleeping thereafter.

This procedure seemed to have become their bedtime routine; every night, Lu Xi'an fell asleep first, and then Yao Wei turned off the laptop and slept.

The next morning, upon waking, Lu Xi'an suddenly realized this and felt somewhat embarrassed.

"I should pay more attention at night, not just sleep without caring and leave you to turn off the laptop."

Yao Wei, however, shook her head unconcernedly, saying, "It's fine; you fall asleep quickly, and I want to watch movies for a while. It's perfect to watch, turn off the computer, and sleep quickly."

Lu Xi'an: "..."

On that particular night, after lying down in the car, Lu Xi'an forced himself to stay awake, intending to watch more, waiting for Yao Wei to feel tired and yawn before turning off the computer and going to sleep.

Yet Yao Wei seemed full of energy, staring at the laptop screen, showing no signs of fatigue.

Lu Xi'an glanced at Yao Wei's profile, where the screen's glow rendered her face shimmering, the blending of darkness and light dramatizing the lines, full of beauty.

Hmm…

Nice to look at, but why so enduring?

Is she not sleepy?

After watching for a while, Lu Xi'an felt his eyelids growing heavy, while Yao Wei stayed energetic.

Yao Wei also noticed Lu Xi'an's condition, turned, and whispered, "You better sleep; you can't endure while watching the computer."

Oh...

This woman seemed to be underestimating him.

Hence, Lu Xi'an widened his eyes to stare at the screen, then staring…staring…staring...

He didn't know when he fell asleep...

The next morning, upon waking, Lu Xi'an touched his forehead, feeling speechless.

Ever since traversing into this world as a Neo-Human, he had been full of energy, capable of enduring. Staying up for two or even three nights was not a concern.

Why is it that while watching videos on the laptop, he unconsciously wants to sleep?

He felt the laptop's flashing glow while playing videos might be akin to the sweat of Type C Neo-Humans, playing with his spirit through pheromones...

Lu Xi'an ultimately relinquished resistance. One evening, while watching videos, he willingly followed his feelings, closing his eyes to sleep as drowsiness set in, drifting into a hazy dream state.

But this particular night, something odd occurred; in his dream, he seemed to return to Liang River, feeling as if he became a mutated figure with flesh hung upside down, riding a giant fish beneath him.

He wandered aimlessly on Liang River atop the fish, unsure whether he was reminiscing about his parents or his home long lost in the river of time.