The two of them loaded their luggage into the vehicle. Fortunately, Ye Huizhou drove an SUV, which was spacious enough that they didn’t need to worry about where to put everything.
Ye Xihe climbed into the passenger seat and obediently fastened her seatbelt.
When Ye Huizhou got into the car, he seemed to perform a magic trick, producing an exquisite box from behind his back. Inside was a blueberry cake.
“Wow!” Ye Xihe’s eyes lit up as she happily accepted the little cake. “It’s confirmed! Big Brother is actually Doraemon in disguise!”
“The outside world isn’t what it used to be. Things will be chaotic, so you absolutely must not leave Big Brother’s sight, understand?”
Ye Xihe nodded.
Looking at his kitten-like Little Sister, Ye Huizhou chuckled softly. His broad hand landed on her head and ruffled her hair before he started the engine.
The journey went smoothly.
They occasionally encountered a few Zombies along the way, but Ye Huizhou dealt with them effortlessly.
During the early stages of the Apocalypse, most Zombies were only the lowest F-rank. Having returned from the future, Ye Huizhou possessed extremely precise control over his ability.
There were also a few fools who tried to rob them.
None succeeded.
Wanting to reach the Central Protection Zone in the capital as quickly as possible, Ye Huizhou chose to take the highway.
However, it looked like an accident had occurred near the highway entrance. Vehicles were backed up everywhere, and the toll station entrance was in complete chaos.
A burning car sat among the roadside bushes.
Ye Huizhou had no choice but to stop and assess the situation ahead.
Suddenly, a group of people in the traffic jam began screaming as they ran back toward them.
Ye Huizhou immediately made the decision to turn around.
Screech!
Before he could build up speed, he slammed on the brakes again, causing the brake pads to emit a sharp, ear-piercing sound.
Gripping her seatbelt tightly, Ye Xihe felt cold sweat appear in her palms.
At some point, a horde of Zombies had appeared behind them.
They were slowly advancing in their direction.
Ye Huizhou glanced into the rearview mirror, intending to break through the traffic behind them.
But beyond the fleeing crowd was another massive wave of Zombies.
His jaw tightened.
The Zombies ahead were fewer in number than the ones behind, so if they wanted to break through, they would need to turn around again.
Narrowing his eyes, he looked toward the burning vehicle.
There was a gap in that direction. Perhaps the Zombies feared fire, because almost none of them approached the area.
Locking the car doors, Ye Huizhou spoke in a low voice.
“Xihe, sit tight and hold on.”
Ye Xihe obediently did as she was told.
The SUV accelerated instantly and charged straight toward the flames.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sounds of zombies slamming into the front of the vehicle echoed repeatedly.
But there were simply too many of them. After forcing its way forward for a distance, the SUV could no longer move.
Ye Huizhou pressed harder on the accelerator.
The vehicle shook violently.
Sensing something was wrong, Ye Xihe looked behind them.
Bang!
A Zombie had bitten through the rear right tire.
Her face turned pale.
“Big Brother!”
At that moment, five or six Zombies surrounded the vehicle, while several more staggered toward them from a short distance away.
Ye Huizhou unfastened his seatbelt and prepared to get out and deal with them.
Ye Xihe immediately unbuckled hers as well.
Ye Huizhou stopped her.
“Big Brother! I can help…” Ye Xihe said anxiously.
“Xihe, as long as you’re safe, I won’t be distracted.” His deep black eyes locked onto hers. “Don’t make Big Brother worry, alright?”
Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded.
Watching through the window, she saw him jump out of the vehicle. The steel pipe in his hand smashed the nearest Zombie’s skull in a single blow.
Steel pipe in his left hand, lightning in his right.
Ye Huizhou eliminated two Zombies almost instantly.
His muscles tensed, every ounce of strength ready to erupt. His long leg swept out, sending a third Zombie flying.
The fourth! The fifth.
The sixth…
By the time the eighth Zombie fell, Ye Huizhou could clearly feel the purple lightning blade in his hand weakening.
His energy was nearly depleted.
Yet more Zombies continued closing in.
Panting heavily, he brought the steel pipe crashing down onto another Zombie’s head.
His Little Sister was behind him.
He had to keep going.
Inside the vehicle, Ye Xihe watched her brother gradually lose strength and desperately wanted to go help him.
But the door wouldn’t open.
Ye Huizhou had locked it.
At that moment, he happened to glance back and met her gaze. After catching his breath, he raised an eyebrow as if saying: I knew you’d try to come out.
Then, immediately afterward, he unlocked the doors.
“Xihe.”
Grabbing her arm, Ye Huizhou quickly explained.
“In a moment, I’ll clear the Zombies directly ahead. When I do, take the chance and run.”
Seeing the worry in her eyes, he forced a relaxed smile.
“Don’t worry. Big Brother is only staying behind to cover you. I’ll catch up soon.”
But there were simply too many zombies.
Breaking through was proving impossible.
Even worse, more continued pouring in from behind. Within moments, over a dozen Zombies had gathered around them.
Purple lightning lashed out again and again, yet it could only force them back.
Ye Huizhou had run out of energy.
At the beginning of the Apocalypse, he was still too weak.
The encirclement tightened.
Then suddenly, a streak of crimson flames tore through the air.
The several Zombies closest to the siblings were instantly reduced to charred remains.
Ye Xihe abruptly turned around.
A man was walking toward them against the backdrop of firelight.
Dressed in a black combat uniform, he possessed broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He was tall, with long, straight legs, and as he strolled calmly through the ruins, he somehow managed to look as though he were taking a leisurely walk through a garden.
Crimson flames danced effortlessly at his fingertips.
Within moments, the dozen-plus Zombies had all been burned to ash.
A high-level ability user.
Alarm bells immediately rang in Ye Huizhou’s mind.
High-level ability users could identify the powers of weaker ones, much like powerful cultivators in xianxia novels could see through another person’s cultivation level.
Subtly, he moved to shield Ye Xihe behind him.
But Ye Xihe was curious.
Peeking out from behind her brother, she stuck her head out to take a look.
The man’s expression was indifferent. He had originally intended to walk past them.
Yet the moment he saw Ye Xihe, his steps halted.
Had Ye Huizhou been standing closer, he would have noticed the slight contraction of the man’s pupils.
Changing his mind, the man stopped directly in front of them.
Lazily extending a hand, he introduced himself.
“Gu Zhuoye.”
Ye Huizhou immediately stepped forward and shook it first.
“Ye Huizhou.”
The two men locked eyes.
In that instant, both came to the same conclusion.
This person was no ordinary individual.
Both stood close to six-foot-three, tall and long-legged, possessing strikingly handsome appearances.
However, Ye Huizhou’s features were more rugged and masculine. Gu Zhuoye’s bone structure was equally sharp, yet his pair of peach blossom eyes softened his overall appearance, giving him an almost androgynous charm.
Gu Zhuoye’s gaze shifted toward Ye Xihe.
Still holding his hand, Ye Huizhou subtly stepped in front of her in a protective stance.
“This is my Little Sister, Ye Xihe.”
Poking her head out again, Ye Xihe waved.
“Hi~”
Gu Zhuoye pressed his tongue lightly against the inside of his cheek and let out a low laugh.
“Your ability is very special.”
Ye Huizhou’s grip tightened instantly, his gaze turning razor sharp.
“Brother, thanks for the help just now.”
If this man had any other intentions, he would eliminate him.
He couldn’t allow his Little Sister to be placed in danger.
Fortunately, Gu Zhuoye made no further move. He returned the handshake and replied casually.
“It was nothing. Just happened to be passing by.”
Meanwhile, Ye Xihe’s thoughts were racing.
Gu Zhuoye was already a high-level ability user in the early Apocalypse.
Logically speaking, someone like that shouldn’t have been an unknown nobody.
Yet in the original novel, Dawn of the Apocalypse: Judgment of Thunder…
There had never been a character named Gu Zhuoye.
Noticing her staring at him, Gu Zhuoye raised an eyebrow.
“You like me, bro?”
Ye Xihe: ?
Ye Huizhou: ?
He suddenly felt like drawing a knife.
“Xihe.”
Ye Xihe snapped back to reality.
“What is it, Big Brother?”
“Go sit in the car first. I’ll replace the spare tire.”
Ye Xihe obediently replied, “I can help.”
Before Ye Huizhou could answer, Gu Zhuoye suddenly spoke.
“I’ll help.”
The two men worked together to install the spare tire from the trunk.
After all, Gu Zhuoye had just saved both him and his Little Sister. After a moment’s thought, Ye Huizhou politely asked:
“Brother Gu, where are you headed? Need a ride?”
Gu Zhuoye smoothly climbed into the vehicle.
“The Central Protection Zone. Thanks.”
Ye Huizhou: …