Apocalypse: Last Traveler

Lu Xi'an kept his word. After asking his questions, he untied the two men.

The two of them expressed their gratitude profusely. They stood up immediately and said they would fetch water and leave overnight, picking up their yokes and buckets as they spoke.

But Lu Xi'an stopped them, saying, "You should rest first. Without recovering your strength, heading out to sea would be courting death.

"I said I would release you, and I mean it. I won't make things difficult for you."

Both men were astonished. Hu Xiaodong said, "You two are truly good people. We've never seen Neo-Humans as kind as you two before!"

Oh great, yet another "good person" card.

Ever since arriving in this world, whenever Yao Wei and I encountered people here, they always seemed to call us good people.

It seems that, to the people of this world, Yao Wei and I are indeed good people.

The two men cautiously put down their yokes and buckets while sneaking glances at Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, checking their expressions, as they sat back against the tree trunk.

Once they were sure Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei had no further interest in them, they finally exhaled in relief.

Hu Xiaodong even gave Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei an awkward smile, as if feeling it was presumptuous to sit down in front of two Neo-Humans and wanted to appease them with a smile.

But Lu Xi'an knew that fellow was just putting on a smile and suspected he might be thinking: Why aren't these two walking disasters leaving?

Suddenly, Lu Xi'an remembered something. He took an item from his pocket and asked Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong, "Take a look at this. Do you recognize it?"

What he took out was the Fish Mouth District medallion.

His inquiry was merely out of curiosity, with no real purpose.

He just wanted to try his luck, hoping to get some information, though he didn't really expect to gain anything significant.

Unexpectedly, upon seeing the medallion, Hu Xiaodong's eyes widened. "This is our East Island trading currency! How could you two have it?!"

"Trading currency?!"

Lu Xi'an was suddenly surprised.

Hu Xiaodong nodded, his eyes shining as he looked at the item in Lu Xi'an's hand. His son, Hu Dong, also stared in a similar trance, unable to avert their gaze.

Hu Xiaodong said, "The place on this is under the sea, known as Fish Mouth District.

"When I was little, I dived into the sea and saw that place. The houses were all covered with transparent domes and looked very beautiful.

"My grandpa said that his grandpa's grandpa used to live there. Later, it was going to be submerged—along with many other places, so people of the past chose a location to preserve as a memorial."

"People by the sea eventually moved. Some went west, others to East Island. My grandpa's grandpa ended up on East Island."

"East Island fared well without much trouble, but those who moved west suffered."

"My grandpa's grandpa said people in the west built two dams to block the tide. But how could they hold it back? It was a disaster."

So, the dike seen earlier was built by people anticipating the disaster to stop the sea tides?

The dam was of good quality and still stands firm today, but it couldn't stop the raging waves.

"However, my grandpa said that my grandpa's grandpa said low-lying areas of East Island were also submerged back then; only those who fled to higher ground survived."

"Nowadays, we live on the island's mountains and only launch boats into the sea when the tide rises. Otherwise, we avoid going down—it's too dangerous."

Hu Xiaodong continued.

Lu Xi'an recalled memories from his past life. When the Three Gorges Dam was built, many areas along the Yangtze River were destined to be submerged.

Those places became memories beneath the river, and sometimes, watching videos of them evoked a sense of wistfulness.

In this world, the memory of the underwater era seemed even more forlorn than that in the river.

According to Hu Xiaodong, his island's people likely descended from the migrants who once lived by the sea.

How many among them still know their original homeland and how many yearn for it?

People like Hu Xiaodong, who dive to see it, probably do so just for curiosity's sake.

He glanced at the medallion's engraved image, combining the river scenes from his past life with the city in the picture, and imagined an underwater city landscape.

The dense seawater cast a dim blue hue. Buildings were well-preserved under transparent domes, although algae covered them. Roads faintly appeared amidst seaweed and coral, with fish swimming around, but no human presence.

The scene was quiet and desolate, like the Atlantis buried beneath the sea.

He visualized this image, then detached his consciousness and said, "You still haven't explained how this thing is a trading currency."

That person had elaborated extensively but overlooked the initial question—going off on a real tangent.

"Oh, oh."

The person quickly spoke, seemingly unintentionally drifting off-topic, "This trading currency, it should be a commemoration coin, right?

"My grandpa's grandpa said it was made to commemorate areas destined to be submerged, and everyone had one.

"There are those from Fish Mouth District, and from other districts too. There are quite a few designs, so it's no big deal.

"Anyway, after arriving on East Island, people gradually began to use these trading coins for barter. It also has another name, called money. People used to call it that, but now we all say trading coin.

"Or Big Coin. The one you two have is a Big Coin and can be exchanged for a lot of things.

"And there are many Small Coins, which are cut up into tiny pieces, making it easier to use for everyday purchases.

"Where we are, there are basically three terms: one Big Coin, half a Big Coin, and Small Coin."

So the frequent use of Big Coins and Small Coins caused the people on East Island to gradually overlook the term "money" and switch to saying "trading coin"?

No wonder the father and son widened their eyes when they saw the commemorative medal in their hands, unable to look away; the currency they had was too large.

Who knew how much it was worth? If it weren't for Yao Wei and I being Neo-Humans, these two might have taken risks.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xi'an suddenly had a thought and asked, "Do you want this Big Coin?"

Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong's eyes immediately widened again. Hu Xiaodong kept looking between the commemorative medal in Lu Xi'an's hand and Lu Xi'an's face several times, as if trying to determine if this Neo-Human was serious or not.

After a good while, Hu Xiaodong finally asked, "You... can give this to me?!"

After observing Lu Xi'an's expression for a long time, Hu Xiaodong still couldn't read anything, and spoke with some trepidation and disbelief.

"Of course."

Lu Xi'an said, "But it's not for free; you'll have to do something for me."

"You say! What do you need?"

Hu Xiaodong quickly asked, then added nervously, "Is it something difficult?"

Lu Xi'an said, "The tide has only been rising for three days, so you still have time. I need you to go back and bring me some of your food.

"Those potatoes, sweet potatoes, and barley you mentioned. If you can get them, I'll give you this Big Coin."

The Fish Mouth District commemorative medal held by him and Yao Wei wasn't really of much use. They had enough hidden weapons and didn't need it.

If possible, it would be better to exchange it for some food.

Even though their variety of food was increasing, it's still better to have more; who would refuse extra food?

Moreover, there were potatoes among them, which were his favorite back then. Potato shreds, potato slices, and french fries—all simple ingredients and simple methods but invariably his favorites.

Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong were immediately tempted.

But Hu Xiaodong was a bit troubled: "We are willing, we trade sweet water here and have saved some Small Coins to exchange for food.

"But the journey is too far.

"You two are Neo-Humans, much stronger than us, so you might not know. To go there and back, we would expend most of our energy, and rowing the boat back might leave us exhausted halfway through.

"I'm afraid we won't make it in time."

Lu Xi'an said, "If you're willing, I can think of a way."

Hu Xiaodong said, "You're not suggesting coming with me to the island, are you?" While speaking, his eyeballs rolled around, seemingly plotting something.

—If he could bring a Neo-Human to the island, scaring everyone, then once the Neo-Human left, he might be able to leverage their reputation for many benefits!

But Yao Wei heard Hu Xiaodong's words and became nervous, clutching Lu Xi'an's hand.

This woman had always been terrified of the sea, fearing Lu Xi'an would enter it and never return.

Lu Xi'an patted Yao Wei's hand and smiled, "Don't worry, I won't go."

Only then did Yao Wei feel relieved.

But Hu Xiaodong felt extremely disappointed, though he didn't dare show it and asked, "Then, what will you do?"

Lu Xi'an did not answer his question but only said, "You two rest here for the night, and when you wake up tomorrow morning, go to the boat. You'll know then.

"As for this water bucket, we'll take it first, and tomorrow morning, we'll draw water for you and send it over, saving you some effort."

At this point, he paused for a moment and added, "Don't worry, I'm not forcing you. If you take away the water, and if you can bring the items back to me, this Big Coin is yours.

"If you can't make it in time, and the tide falls, and we leave, then it just means you and this Big Coin were not meant to be."

Hearing this, Hu Xiaodong repeatedly said, "You two are truly kind people!"

He was worried that Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei would confiscate their water bucket, leaving their family without the tools they relied on to survive.

Lu Xi'an smiled and accepted the "good person card," then picked up their water bucket and carrying pole, and went up to the top of the mountain with Yao Wei.

"Have a good rest, see you in the morning."

He said to the two of them.

The father and son could only watch as the two Neo-Humans took away their living and production tools, powerless to do anything about it.