“There is a smell!! You humans just can’t sense it… I’m so jealous, waaah…”
They couldn’t smell anything, but Wen Qi could.
Jian An recalled the method that kept zombies away—and Wen Qi’s reaction. His gaze darkened slightly.
“Stay alert tonight.”
No one needed to say it outright—this place was strange. Tonight was destined not to be peaceful.
Except for one person.
“Why do we need to stay alert? Because of the strange smell?” Wen Qi held Jian An’s hand lightly.
A strange smell means danger… got it. Another lesson learned, the little spirit thought.
“It’s nothing. Just sleep well—we’ll wake you if anything happens,” Liao Liao said, casually sitting in a relatively clean spot.
There were clearly no people here, yet that man had said many travelers stayed behind.
So where are they?
And that huge crater—was it really caused by an earthquake?
What method could keep zombies away?
Was it related to the strange smell Wen Qi mentioned?
All these questions… would likely be answered tonight.
To avoid suspicion, Jian An took out bread and compressed biscuits.
“Eat a little. Since we’re on someone else’s turf, we’ll make do tonight. Tomorrow I’ll cook something good for you,” he coaxed Wen Qi.
At first, Wen Qi frowned when she saw the compressed biscuits.
But after hearing that, she reluctantly took them.
“You have to cook something delicious for me tomorrow,” she said, holding the bread and making him promise.
“I will. Definitely tomorrow,” Jian An said, opening a bottle of water for her.
Inside a dim room, faint light filtered in.
“Are the new arrivals good stock?” a heavily tattooed man asked.
The pockmarked man was munching on chips taken from Wen Qi’s vehicle.
“This batch… looks like a big catch.”
In this dangerous apocalypse, anyone carrying something like chips—bulky and not filling—was either very powerful… or had a spatial ability user.
“Mmm… still tastes the same.”
Shame—looks good, but useless.
Ji Chen opened another room.
After looking around, he said, “Oh? Two bedrooms and a living room.”
“This one’s pretty big. Let’s give it to Wen Qi,” Liao Liao concluded after inspecting it.
“Then the three of us will take the other room, and Wen Qi stays here,” Ji Chen decided.
“I’ll sleep in the living room. Easier to react if something happens,” Jian An said, pointing at the sofa.
No one objected.
Wen Qi, however, rolled her eyes thoughtfully, as if planning something.
The night grew quiet.
Jian An lay in his sleeping bag, resting with his eyes closed, ready for battle at any moment.
It stinks so much…
The little rabbit couldn’t fall asleep at all.
The smell was suffocating—she felt like she was about to faint.
This is too much… I want my fragrant one!
Creak—
Wen Qi froze.
Why is this door so loud?!
In the darkness, Jian An’s lips curved slightly.
Not very obedient…
Wen Qi tiptoed over to him and stared at the tightly zipped sleeping bag.
How does this thing open?
She focused intently, trying to figure it out.
“Not sleeping?” Jian An opened his eyes, watching her struggle.
Shouldn’t have taken this out just because I thought the place was dirty… now this little fool doesn’t even know how to open it.
Wen Qi looked wronged.
“Waaah… it’s uncomfortable. I can’t sleep…”
Seeing her pout, Jian An felt a dull ache in his chest.
“You can’t sleep, so you came to me?”
“I want to sleep while hugging you.”
Jian An unzipped the sleeping bag—
—and Wen Qi immediately squeezed in.
She hugged him tightly, the entire sleeping bag filled with his scent.
Wen Qi took a deep, satisfied breath.
“Sleep properly. Don’t start getting handsy,” Jian An muttered, already regretting it.
Shouldn’t have felt sorry for her… now I’m the one suffering.
In the silent village at night—
Footsteps suddenly echoed.
Jian An opened his eyes and sat up, pulling the sleeping bag tighter around Wen Qi.
Looking up, he saw Liao Liao and Ji Chen already at the door, guns raised.
As soldiers, knowing they were in a dangerous place only made them more vigilant.
Ji Chen gestured with his fingers—two, then split apart.
Two people, standing on either side of the door.
But strangely… they left.
Jian An listened carefully—the footsteps were indeed moving farther away.
Ji Chen signaled with his eyes.
Why did they leave? Were we overthinking it?
Still—better safe than sorry.
Jian An told everyone to rest again, while he remained seated beside the sleeping bag.
What exactly is hidden in this village…
Knock, knock, knock—
“Did everyone sleep well last night?” The pockmarked man stood at the door, a blade of unknown grass hanging from his mouth.
“Not bad at all. There really weren’t any zombies last night,” Ji Chen said, sounding pleasantly surprised.
“Of course not. No one here even keeps watch at night,” the man said smugly.
Liao Liao chewed on a compressed biscuit, glancing outside.
“Why don’t we see anyone else around?”
“Oh, we don’t keep idle people here. Before dawn, they all go out to guide travelers—just like we did for you. Earn a little toll,” the man replied, clearly uninterested in continuing the topic. “Come on, I’ll lead you out.”
Wen Qi, still half-asleep, was pulled up by Jian An. She leaned drowsily against his shoulder.
The pockmarked man glanced at her discreetly.
Wen Qi had changed out of her wide-sleeved dress. She now wore a white hoodie with a little rabbit eating a carrot printed on it—she loved it. Paired with black jeans and long boots, she looked both cool and stylish.
“Do you guys have abilities?” the man asked casually.
“Sigh, no. Abilities are rare,” Liao Liao deflected smoothly.
“You all look pretty fit,” the man said, eyeing Liao Liao’s biceps.
“I used to run a gym before the apocalypse.”
The man didn’t quite believe them—but it didn’t matter.
Soon enough, they’ll have them…
The further they walked, the more uncomfortable Wen Qi felt. The smell grew stronger—and more unbearable.
She grabbed Jian An’s hand.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, tightening his grip.
“It smells worse and worse… I can barely breathe,” Wen Qi said, unable to endure it anymore.
She slipped her hand into her pocket—actually reaching into her storage—and took out a pill.
This one should dull the sense of smell…
Without hesitation, she swallowed one whole, then popped another into her mouth and chewed it like candy.
Hearing her say the smell was intensifying, Jian An glanced around the narrow path.
Where exactly are they leading us…
He noticed her cheeks puffed as she chewed something and gently pinched her face.
“What are you eating? Don’t just eat random things.”
“A pill that numbs the sense of smell.” Wen Qi took out another.
“Want one?” The little spirit didn’t like keeping things to herself.
There’s even medicine like that… She really isn’t ordinary. From another world? A cultivator?
No matter where she’s from… she’s not allowed to leave.
She’s mine now. No one can take her away.
And if she dares to leave…
“Does it only numb smell?” Jian An asked softly near her ear.
“It just makes you unable to smell—it doesn’t make your nose stop working completely,” she replied. “If you couldn’t smell at all, wouldn’t that be like being dead?”
The pockmarked man glanced back at the two whispering behind him.
Soon… you won’t be laughing anymore.
The timing’s about right. Time to act.
Suddenly—
Several figures burst out from the ground.
Strangely, their bodies were wrapped in vines, their faces like tree bark. Their hands and feet had turned into twisting roots—
They had completely transformed into tree-like monsters.