Apocalypse: Last Traveler

Darkness fell, then it turned light again.

Yao Wei's car was parked on the road outside the gas station all night, with no one coming by.

The remaining people in Tongzhou County were already frightened by the presence of Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei; these two were Neo-Humans and had killed Fa, so people in the county did not dare to confront them.

Thus, as day and night alternated, Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei remained safe.

— Of course, it also helped that the people in the county weren't united.

With a car in hand, and Tongzhou County being so scarce of resources, the people in the county assumed the two strong newcomers wouldn't stay and would leave sooner or later.

Who would want to provoke Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei?

Exerting energy without gain could reduce their forces, and once the two Neo-Humans left, how could they compete with others?

Another day passed, and Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei waited through another night. When the day broke again, seeing that Chai Xin still hadn't appeared, they drove off.

After leaving the county, they found a place to stop the car, made a fire, and had their first hot meal in a long time.

Sitting down to savor the aroma of cooked food and feeling the long-missed warmth, Lu Xi'an couldn't help but exclaim, "Comfortable! This is what eating's all about!"

"Mm!"

Yao Wei buried her head in her meal and said, "Too bad there's no river shrimp."

She still missed the river shrimp from before. That first taste of delicacy had left a lasting impression on her.

Even though she now had to admit that meal was quite dry, and without water, it was hard to eat.

After finishing the meal, they packed up their dishes. Lu Xi'an said, "If Chai Xin didn't come here, the only possibility I can think of is that she went to Mengxin City. Should we still go?"

Yao Wei frowned in confusion, "But isn't Mengxin City dangerous?"

This question was both an answer to Lu Xi'an's question and a puzzle about Chai Xin's actions.

She couldn't understand why someone would head toward danger when it wasn't necessary.

Obviously, there's the relatively safer option of Tongzhou County to choose, but they still chose Mengxin City. Such recklessness seemed completely unnecessary to her.

"Who knows? Maybe she has reasons we don't know about."

Lu Xi'an let out a gentle breath and said, "Let's go then, forget about her.

"Going to Mengxin City is just our speculation anyway.

"We can't be sure how dangerous Mengxin City is. If we go and there's damage, or even a threat to our lives, and she isn't there, it would all be for nothing.

"We've done all we can. Let's hope she's lucky and survives."

As for the mysterious stone, the secrets it held would have to be explored later when an opportunity arose.

Yao Wei nodded and said, "Mm." She also felt this was the best choice for now.

They got back in the car, shut the doors, and drove off.

Leaving Tongzhou County again behind them, not knowing if another fight had broken out there.

Or maybe after enough people had died, they could finally put down their conflicts, coexist peacefully, and share the so-called "food"?

Even the dead were fought over, indicating that resources in Tongzhou County were scarcer than imagined. In times of severe food shortage, would they start eating grass?

After all, outside the county, there's plenty of grass.

Lu Xi'an often drifted into thought while driving. Though he had various thoughts in his mind, they never disrupted his focus on the road.

With his hands on the wheel and foot on the accelerator, he could still look around and listen closely, hoping to find traces of Chai Xin.

This was the last effort he could make.

Such a world tends to harden one's heart.

Lu Xi'an felt he had become more indifferent compared to his past life, but actually, he was somewhat better than before.

If this were before meeting Yao Wei, he might not have returned to Tongzhou County at all...

But now, he did.

Thinking of this, Lu Xi'an unconsciously glanced at Yao Wei.

Yao Wei sensed Lu Xi'an's gaze and asked, "What's up?"

"Nothing."

Lu Xi'an said, "I was just thinking… if it were you missing, would I charge into Mengxin City?"

Yao Wei suddenly paused, turned her head to stare out the window, as if searching for Chai Xin's trail.

She was silent for a long while, seemingly either intentionally or unintentionally ignoring Lu Xi'an's question. Yet, after a while, seeing Lu Xi'an hadn't responded, she couldn't help but ask, "Would you?"

Her voice seemed a bit stiff, making Yao Wei slightly uneasy.

She couldn't understand why she felt this way… it was just a normal question.

Was she afraid Lu Xi'an would say no? But that wouldn't be unusual, right?

Wanting to stay alive means not taking unnecessary risks.

That's common knowledge…

And besides, she had a faint feeling inside that Lu Xi'an would say yes...

"I probably would."

Lu Xi'an said, "You're different from Chai Xin. I hitched a ride with you, not looking for you would be incredibly ungrateful."

"Mm."

Yao Wei nodded, suddenly feeling an inexplicable joy in her heart that she couldn't suppress.

She suddenly thought that if Lu Xi'an went missing and might be in Mengxin City or another dangerous place, she might also go looking for him.

After all, along the journey, though it was Lu Xi'an hitching a ride with her, this guy also helped her a lot and taught her many things.

As the car drove forward, reaching the Mengxin Petroleum gas station, they filled up the tank with another round of fuel.

As they refueled, Lu Xi'an checked the station building. The computer's case and monitor were still lying inside, untouched.

It seemed Chai Xin hadn't been there either.

Lu Xi'an thought for a moment, returned to the car, grabbed tools, and dismantled the speakers from the monitor.

Yao Wei asked why he was dismantling it. He explained, "Gou is so clever; he might even master language logic.

"I took the speakers from the monitor so that if there's a chance, we can try installing them on Gou.

"That way, Gou could communicate with us without flashing those dog eyes all the time, but by speaking."

Yao Wei then understood and said, "You're amazing, knowing how to do even this."

Lu Xi'an felt a bit embarrassed, "I'm not actually capable; if I were, I'd install it right now. For now, we can only keep it."

Both finished their tasks and got back in the car.

Lu Xi'an said, "Actually, the radio could also work, but it's still functional and convenient to carry. I'm reluctant to take it apart."

"Mm."

Yao Wei nodded. That radio could still receive signals, and who knows if it might catch useful information later? Better not dismantle it.

Continuing west, they reached the familiar forest edge road.

Yao Wei climbed out of the car onto the roof, prepared with her gun and bow, in case the wolf pack attacked again.

Fortunately, the wolves didn't come.

But as they were about to reach a bend ahead, they suddenly noticed two people striding along a path in the distance up front, off the road.