Apocalypse: Last Traveler

Heading south out of Gu County's town center, they found themselves on yet another uphill road leading into a mountain.

Fortunately, the mountain wasn't very high, and there was no need to navigate around it; they only needed to pass through a few tunnels.

Yao Wei took a look at the map; the mountain was called Sword Tail Mountain, and the tunnels varied in length, a total of eleven, named the Sword Tail Mountain Tunnel Group.

After exiting the Sword Tail Mountain Tunnel Group, they still had to travel a bit further, passing through two villages, to leave Jianshan City and reach the next city.

However, before Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei could reach the first tunnel of the tunnel group, they had to stop.

Halfway up the mountain, they encountered a landslide ahead. Large sections of rock from the mountains on both sides had rolled down, covering the highway.

The landslide stretched quite a distance, and it seemed to have been there for a while, with the debris forming a solid mass, making it difficult to clear.

"Why does every road we take have issues?"

Lu Xi'an sighed and said, "I wonder if this has anything to do with the earthquake at the town center of Gu County behind us?"

Yao Wei's response remained a simple "I don't know."

They had no choice but to turn back.

Once they reversed the car, Yao Wei opened "World Map One," and she and Lu Xi'an looked at it together.

She pointed to the position east of Gu County on the map and said, "There's a village here with a rural road that can lead beyond the fourth tunnel.

"I came from the mountain east of this village before."

Lu Xi'an took a look; the village was called East Stone Store Village, and further east was Little Immortal Mountain. East of Little Immortal Mountain was Jiangbei City.

Jiangbei City borders Pingchuan City to the north, and if Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei crossed Little Immortal Mountain to reach Jiangbei City, heading north would take them to Pingchuan City.

Lu Xi'an said, "Then we might as well go to Jiangbei City, and from there continue. Going up Sword Tail Mountain from East Stone Store Village, who knows if we can actually make it? What if the tunnels have collapsed too?"

Yao Wei shook her head and said, "If we encounter a collapse, we retreat. Even if it means going around from the east side of Pingchuan City, we should not go to Jiangbei City. Jiangbei City is very chaotic, with formidable Neo-Humans.

"My mom told me before that under no circumstances should we go to Jiangbei City; it's too dangerous there."

Lu Xi'an looked at the map again, east of Pingchuan City is Chuandong City, and from Chuandong City onwards, unless bypassing Jiangbei, they can only reach Coastal City.

This distance looked very far, driving there, it's hard to say how long it would take.

Lu Xi'an sighed, unable to help but complain: "This road is tough..."

Yao Wei said, "We really shouldn't go to Jiangbei City."

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

Lu Xi'an didn't offer any more opinions.

He knew nothing about this world, so offering opinions would be pointless. In these matters, it was safer to follow Yao Wei's guidance.

So Lu Xi'an stepped on the accelerator and headed back.

The road leading to East Stone Store Village was north of Gu County, where there was a junction that branched off into a path almost overrun by wild grass.

At that time, Lu Xi'an had glanced at it, wondering if the path was still passable, but now realized they needed to return and take that route.

He then proposed another idea to Yao Wei: "We can't go east because of that weirdo; the western road is blocked too. Shall we pass through the city?

"I see the trench doesn't completely block us; we could zigzag through the city and eventually reach the north."

On this matter, he felt he had some right to share his opinion.

Yao Wei nodded in agreement, saying: "Alright."

They drove back and, just before entering the city, Yao Wei climbed onto the car roof and took the drone out with Gou.

Lu Xi'an drove into the city only to reach where tall buildings blocked the road.

There was a crevasse in the road, wide on the west side and narrower on the east. When the building collapsed, it fit perfectly into the crevasse, blocking the car's path.

Yao Wei surveyed the city from atop the car. The collapsed buildings opened her view significantly, allowing her to see the east side clearly, saying: "To the east, there's an intersection where we can go north."

In the car, Lu Xi'an heard Yao Wei's voice and quickly turned the steering wheel, entered a narrow road heading east, reached the intersection, and was about to turn north.

Just as he was turning, Gou's eyes suddenly emitted light, illuminating the roadside ahead.

The place seemed like a streetside shop from the old world. Now, with the shop collapsed, a section of the low wall stood firm amidst the surrounding debris, creating the perfect cover.

Lu Xi'an's heart skipped a beat when he saw a figure suddenly dart out from behind the debris. Wasn't it the person that previously came out of the coffin on East Ring Road?

"Whoosh——"

Yao Wei, on the car roof, immediately shot an arrow, hitting the person in the shoulder.

The person was indeed not ordinary; just like Shu and the Fish Rider, one glance revealed something peculiar.

Yao Wei's arrows always aimed for the vitals, yet this person managed to dodge.

This speed wasn't comparable to Neo-Humans, but it was still faster than the hyenas they encountered in Yubei City.

However, after getting hit by the arrow, the person didn't fight back and hadn't intended to attack from the beginning; he ran to the middle of the road, "thud," kneeled before the car, and raised his hands, saying: "Good stuff! Got good stuff!"

Lu Xi'an's instincts from his previous life had him automatically hit the brakes.

The car stopped a bit away from the person.

Realizing this, Lu Xi'an thought about releasing the brake to step on the accelerator, deciding to simply run over the person.

But when the person knelt down, raising his hands and shouting "good stuff," the item he was holding fell beside him, lying flat on the ground, suddenly catching Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei's attention.

The item was a plastic jug, and from its shape, the label on it, and the muffled, substantial sound it made when it hit the ground, Lu Xi'an felt it might be engine oil for the car…

Lu Xi'an suddenly couldn't step on the accelerator anymore; this item was indeed valuable to him and Yao Wei.

Yao Wei's car was extraordinary, still operational in these times, but it had issues like the engine making a lot of noise when running, and its fuel consumption was a bit high.

Lu Xi'an guessed it was because the car had been specially modified for the end times, so each part on it was far superior to the ordinary.

But no matter how extraordinary, parts will still wear out.

When Lu Xi'an drove, he would occasionally worry about the engine's groaning, wondering if the car would break down and stop moving.

If there was a barrel of engine oil to lubricate the car, things would certainly be much better.

So, seeing the car about to run over a barrel of engine oil, Lu Xi'an hurriedly slammed on the brakes.

Yao Wei on the car roof also didn't shoot a second arrow, perhaps thinking the same thing as him?

Probably yes...

This person's steps were weak, appearing old and frail, and although their burst of speed was far above ordinary people, it still fell short compared to the Neo-Humans.

Moreover, he didn't attack stealthily, nor did he hide, so he should have nothing to do with the B-types or D-types. Given his displayed strength, Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei need not fear him.

So... perhaps there's no need to rush to escape from here. Maybe we can first try to get that barrel of engine oil... right?

But why did Gou think this person was dangerous?

Lu Xi'an pondered seriously, staring at the person for several more glances, seeing his emaciated, decaying body, forming a slight judgment in his mind—

Gou might have sensed something abnormal about this person. After the Liangcheng County reservoir incident, Gou heightened its danger assessments for people like Shu and the Fish Rider.

Therefore, upon discovering this person hiding in a coffin beneath the ruins, Gou alerted Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei.

Or, did Gou mistake the coffin for a secret compartment again, similar to ones previously discovered? And when Yao Wei inquired about potential danger, Gou's eyes shone because of the strange person inside?

Lu Xi'an was certain of his assessment that this person's physical condition was far inferior to that of an ordinary Neo-Human, or even the Fish Rider outside the Liangcheng County reservoir.

—In hindsight, that Fish Rider also relied entirely on the big fish and brown bear. The feeling they gave to Lu Xi'an was only slightly stronger than this person.

Perhaps it was indeed the prolonged stay on the Bright River, coupled with taming the big fish and brown bear, that made him appear stronger than Neo-Humans from Mengxin City.

The Neo-Human from Mengxin City was shot in a vital spot by Yao Wei because his posture was incorrect, lying on the ground, making it difficult for him to move nimbly. And Yao Wei's sudden attack left him no time to react.

If he had been running like this person, or constantly on alert like the Fish Rider at the reservoir, he might have avoided a vital hit.

But Gou's warning was unmistakably real.

Previously, on the East Outer Ring, Gou's eyes brightened for a moment, identifying the strange person inside the coffin plank.

Now, this person was hiding behind the ruins, obscured from vision, yet Gou still managed to spot them, proving there is indeed some danger.

So Lu Xi'an felt that regardless, maintaining vigilance was still necessary.

"Back off."

Yao Wei said from atop the car.

It seemed she shared Lu Xi'an's thoughts; currently wanting to intimidate that person to retreat, then go down to retrieve the barrel of fuel.

Lu Xi'an initially intended to do the same. Now, seeing Yao Wei directing things, he stopped to secure the car, leaving the external matters to Yao Wei.

The person obediently listened, standing up after hearing Yao Wei's words and taking a slow step back. While retreating, both his arms remained raised high, as if reassuring the people inside and on top of the car.

"You drove from the north, didn't you? Currently, there's only one road from the north that leads to Gu County at Sword Mountain; you must have come through Liangcheng County, right?"

As he retreated, he stared at the car, speaking quickly.

He seemed afraid that speaking slowly would leave him no chance, fixating on the people inside and on top of the car with intense focus, "Did you pass the reservoir east of Liangcheng City, and did you see a person there?

"That person looks quite like me, with a lot of their skin falling off, is their skin still hanging on?

"I mean no harm, just want to exchange this item for an answer to that question with you.

"This is engine oil, new goods from the old world, so it's still good to use now. You driving the car must really need this stuff."

After saying so much, he had already retreated quite a distance.

Yao Wei thought this was enough, so she jumped down from the rooftop.

She adopted Lu Xi'an's trash-picking process; before collecting the plastic barrel, she had Gou check it to confirm no issues, and then bent down to pick it up.

And while doing all this, she never took her eyes off the strange person.

Inside the car, Lu Xi'an's eyes also remained fixed on that person.

Lu Xi'an had already rolled down the driver's window; in his left hand was a spoke from a car wheel, his arm resting on the window, ready to easily swing and launch the spoke if the situation turned sour.

Now, having become a Type A Neo-Human, both his hands seemed adept, allowing him to throw things with great skill and precision.

"Do you know that person?"

Lu Xi'an asked.

"I know, of course I know. Look at me, you should know that we definitely know each other. We look similar."

The person suddenly became excited, answering hurriedly.

Hearing Lu Xi'an's question, he immediately confirmed that the two people in the car had met the person he mentioned. Finished answering, he quickly followed up, "You saw him, right? How is he?"

"He's dead."

Lu Xi'an said.

While speaking, Lu Xi'an used his peripheral vision to glance at Yao Wei.

Yao Wei had already picked up the barrel of engine oil and retreated back.

"Click—"

The passenger door opened, and Yao Wei placed the barrel of engine oil inside, then saw the person slump down, murmuring, "Dead... dead..."

In his murmuring, the person's hands unintentionally fell, then suddenly realized and raised them again.