Chapter 47: Cracks in the Relationship

The scorching sky gradually darkened, like the ebbing tide by the sea. A group of people got off the vehicle, pitched their tents, and lit a small fire.

Around the campfire, no one spoke a word. Well, actually, someone did say something.

“Make sure you save some for me, okay? Absolutely!” The little rascal, now transformed into a big pot, didn’t forget to remind everyone.

“...”

No one paid any attention to it, but it stubbornly continued.

“Hey, dirtbag… Yu Yue, remember to save some for me.” It awkwardly addressed Yu Yue.

But clearly, Yu Yue didn’t want to respond. The water in the pot was boiling vigorously as Lin Youwei dropped in two packs of noodles.

“Alright, stop nagging. I’ll save some for you.” Lin Youwei said helplessly.

Soon the noodles were cooked. She scooped a bowl and handed it to Yu Yue. “Don’t dwell on those pointless things. Surviving in the apocalypse is what really matters.”

She served herself a bowl as well. “How long have we known Lu Yan? Don’t you know what kind of person she is by now?”

“I just feel that Li Luyan...” Yu Yue raised her head, catching Lin Youwei’s gaze, then lowered it again. After taking a fierce slurp, she said, “Fine, forget I said anything.”

Lin Youwei shook her head and continued eating. She had always regarded Yu Yue as a younger sister. Having struggled through the apocalypse together for so long, they had become inseparable family.

She was quite afraid that Yu Yue’s impulsive nature would lead her to do something foolish.

Everyone had their worries—except for that little rascal.

“Didn’t you say you’d save some for me?”

“Why is it just this little bit?”

“I don’t care! Dirt… Yu Yue saves more than you all do, aahhh!”

After Li Luyan shot a sharp glance, the little rascal quietly shut its mouth.

At night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Yu Yue quietly got up and slipped into the small woods to relieve herself. Just as she pulled up her pants and started to walk back,

a hand touched her neck. The voice that followed was unclear—sometimes distant, sometimes right beside her; it was impossible to tell if it was male or female.

Though the person was right next to her, she couldn’t make out the voice clearly, as if it was shrouded behind a veil of mist.

The voice spoke: “I sense your sorrowful emotions—resistance? Fear? Confusion?”

“Such exquisite emotions... hehe... so sweet...”

A cold sweat broke out on Yu Yue. Her voice trembled, “What... what are you?” She realized this thing was crouched behind her, and she couldn’t even use her powers. This was definitely beyond any human’s ability.

“Ah... haha... What am I? Don’t you all want to become me?”

“Little girl... help me get rid of... hehe... the Creator God... Seems you have some grievances against her.”

“What?” Yu Yue was puzzled. She tried to turn around but found her whole body paralyzed. “Creator God? Who?”

“…Haha… don’t tell me you don’t know? Your... hehe... emotions tell me... you’re displeased with her.”

Displeased with her? Today, aside from harboring some ill thoughts about Li Luyan, Yu Yue hadn’t conflicted with anyone else.

So this ghostly presence behind her was referring to Li Luyan as the ‘Creator God’?

Was Li Luyan also a divine being? Then why, when Gao Zheng and Lin Youwei were fighting, didn’t she intervene? Was it because she didn’t trust them or didn’t want to reveal her identity?

Yu Yue’s gaze darkened bit by bit. It seemed ‘Sister Yan’ had never truly considered them family.

Once a seed of doubt is planted, it gradually takes root until it finally bursts through the surface.

“What do you want me to do?” Her voice steadied, no longer as frightened as before.

“Simple.” Though Yu Yue couldn’t see the figure’s face, she sensed pleasure in the voice. “Become my follower.”

The voice was soft, almost seductive, like an invisible hook snagging at her heart.

“Fine.”

…

After four days of travel, the group finally arrived at Tian’an City.

Tian’an was a fifth-tier city, with plenty of farmland and villages. The southern part was economically developed, comparable to Tong City’s urban area, but the north was vast stretches of wheat fields dotted with scattered villages.

“Where should we go next? I’ve never been to Tian’an,” Lin Youwei stopped the car, glancing back at Li Luyan. “Maybe we should sweep through the city first before heading to the countryside?”

The countryside had less foot traffic, making it more suitable for establishing a base.

Though Tian’an’s urban area was fairly developed, wild monsters and mutated animals were still sparse.

No wonder they could build an apocalyptic base here. Other cities had dense populations and numerous mutants; building a base there early on would lead to monsters overwhelming them quickly.

With limited supplies and manpower, Tian’an’s fewer mutated creatures made it the best choice.

“We can’t go to the countryside,” Li Luyan said coolly. Noticing Yu Yue’s hesitation, she continued, “Villages usually raise chickens and ducks, and other animals.”

“If those animals mutate, it would be just as troublesome.”

“Plus, rural areas have abundant plants. If those mutate, the base would be trapped in a siege.”

“Although urban areas have some mutated residents, steel buildings are lifeless, and many resources are readily available.”

“Compared to the countryside, I think the city is a better place to establish a base.”

Lin Youwei said, “Then let’s find a residential building to rest for a while.”

Li Luyan nodded, then turned to Yu Yue. “What were you about to say earlier?”

Her voice was cold and clear. When Yu Yue met her beautiful, unreadable eyes, she shook her head. “N-nothing.”

That cursed God of Misfortune had given her a disgusting artifact. She suddenly recalled what the god had said yesterday and now only felt a headache.

“Well then, I mark you as my follower.”

“In your human terms... I think you call that a divine being.”

“Having slept for tens of thousands of years, I didn’t expect those guys to be awakening…”

“Especially ‘Him’…”

She felt a bit shaken. Looking at it this way, Li Luyan didn’t seem so bad after all. That time it was Niao Niao who stole first.

She shook her head. Forget it, she’d keep her a few more days.

Li Luyan turned back and closed her eyes to rest. She could only vaguely see the figure from yesterday, but not its face—it was covered by a swirling mist. What exactly was that thing?

…

“All right, there are very few mutated monsters in this area. Looks like someone’s cleaned up here,” Lin Youwei stopped the car. “Let’s take care of these leftovers and then rest.”

“After all, I don’t really like resting in places with uncertain factors.”

Li Luyan was the first to open the car door. Her pajamas were already stained with several unknown marks.

Now, she just wanted to go inside and change clothes properly.

But those disgusting monsters showed no mercy, lunging at her with their foul, gaping mouths—such a wet, putrid stench she hadn’t smelled in a long time.

Yu Yue… please don’t become the next Ye Zhouzhou…