After the apocalypse descended, the world’s roads had become unusable.
The once-smooth asphalt highways were either cut in half by fallen giant trees or collapsed buildings, or completely blocked by countless vehicles that, in panic, had tried to flee but ultimately became Zombie nests—or smashed into each other until only twisted scrap metal remained.
Some stretches had even been destroyed by an unimaginable force, the ground caving in and splitting into bottomless chasms, forcing Lu Yun to frequently change routes as he struggled through the desolate ruins.
Only when he entered a relatively open stretch of grassland with clear visibility did Lu Yun finally stop the vehicle again.
He turned back and saw that Li Yingxue had somehow already lain down in the back seat, seemingly asleep again.
Only when he heard the engine shut off did he slowly open his eyes and ask softly, “What is it, Darling?”
“Rest for a while,” Lu Yun replied briefly. He got out, walked around to the back seat, opened the door, and reached his hand inside.
Li Yingxue nodded and obediently placed his hand in his. Carefully guided, he stepped out of the car. His feet touched the soft grass, a completely different sensation from the jolting ride inside the vehicle.
It was about time for lunch anyway. Lu Yun skillfully lit a small fire again and placed canned food beside it to heat.
Meanwhile, Li Yingxue held the cup that Lu Yun had just given him and sipped warm water slowly, sitting quietly to wait.
But change always came without warning.
The cup in Li Yingxue’s hand suddenly jolted free and fell, warm water spilling onto the grass. In the next instant, he was suddenly lifted at the waist by Lu Yun, who stood up abruptly.
“Mm… what is it, Darling?” Li Yingxue asked blankly, instinctively wrapping his arms around Lu Yun’s neck.
Only then did he sense it too.
A piercing screech—sharp enough to tear through eardrums—and the terrifying sound of something massive slicing through the air at high speed.
Li Yingxue tilted his head slightly. Though he could see nothing, he clearly felt a malicious, greedy pressure descending from above.
A gigantic mutated bird was diving straight toward them.
Before he could react further, his waist tightened again. Lu Yun held him firmly and immediately threw himself sideways. The two rolled rapidly into a patch of dense grass half a person tall.
Li Yingxue was completely shielded in Lu Yun’s arms. The taller, stronger man formed a protective barrier with his body, carefully ensuring he did not press his full weight onto him.
Li Yingxue blinked, then immediately “understood the assignment.” He clung tightly to Lu Yun’s neck and buried his face into his neck, trembling slightly as if playing the role of a frightened, helpless victim.
Internally, he gave himself another point for perfect acting.
But holding such a soft, warm body—one that carried a faint, indescribably clean sweetness—made Lu Yun’s hand at Li Yingxue’s waist unconsciously tighten. The force made Li Yingxue let out a muffled sound.
Lu Yun snapped back to his senses.
This posture was far too intimate and inappropriate. He wanted to let go—but at that moment, the mutated bird was already upon them.
Its enormous wings beat violently, sending out a wave of foul, rancid wind that nearly flattened the grass.
Lu Yun lowered his voice and whispered into Li Yingxue’s ear, “Shh… don’t make a sound. I can’t beat this thing.”
Li Yingxue immediately nodded obediently and held his breath.
Lu Yun turned his head slightly, locking onto the circling monster from the corner of his eye. His right eye once again began to glow with an ominous red hue.
Along the way, his released spiritual power had detected many Mutant Species and zombies. To avoid trouble, he had silently eliminated them before they could even approach.
But his range was limited. This mutated bird was too large and too fast—by the time it entered his detection zone, it was already too late.
Lu Yun quickly calculated how to eliminate it cleanly without exposing anything in front of the “blind” person in his arms.
Taking a closer look, the creature was grotesquely mutated. Three vicious claws protruded from its underside. Half its feathers had fallen away, revealing rotting, blackened flesh oozing with pus.
In its beak, it even clutched a half-eaten zombie head, its murky, decayed eyes fixed on the grass below.
It had sensed it—a scent so pure, so sweet, it was unlike anything it had ever encountered.
A perfect meal.
But just as it prepared to dive again, an invisible yet extremely dangerous force suddenly coiled around it.
It felt as though cold, lethal threads had tightened around its neck, ready to sever it at any moment.
Instead of retreating, the mutated bird was enraged.
It let out another shrill screech and finally locked precisely onto the two figures hiding in the grass—especially the source of that irresistible scent.
So fragrant! So fragrant!
Lu Yun’s eyes sharpened. He grabbed Li Yingxue and shot sideways at astonishing speed, narrowly avoiding another deadly strike from the bird’s claws.
But constant evasion was not a solution. The redness in his right eye deepened, as if it would drip blood at any moment—his killing intent ready to erupt.
Crackle.
A blinding bolt of purple lightning struck down from the sky with pinpoint accuracy, hitting the mutated bird directly.
The smell of burnt flesh filled the air. The bird let out a tragic screech as its massive body convulsed and fell.
Lu Yun paused. The red in his right eye faded like a tide, returning to a deep, calm black. Still holding Li Yingxue, he turned toward the direction of the lightning.
From the edge of the nearby forest, a young man in a black leather jacket with striking short red hair rushed out. He shook his hand, faint arcs of electricity still dancing on his fingertips.
Behind him followed four others dressed in different styles, all emerging cautiously from the forest. Their gazes swept over Lu Yun and Li Yingxue before settling on the dying mutated bird.
Lu Yun’s expression grew unreadable. His arm around Li Yingxue tightened almost imperceptibly.