Chapter 12

The emergency drill didn’t last long. Soon, rumors started circulating privately: “Zombies have appeared in first-tier cities. Stay away from those who suddenly develop a high fever, and don’t inhale the red mist.”

Although most people dismissed it as mere gossip, the uneasy atmosphere still spread.

The community distributed supplies once, and Zhou Yun declined, explaining that he already had plenty of supplies at home and only lived alone, so he didn’t need that much. He suggested the supplies be given to the elderly or those in greater need.

The community staff admired him for his generosity, complimented him a few times, and chatted briefly before leaving. Zhou Yun knew that Guan Yuanfeng had also declined the supplies, but he wasn’t surprised.

The weather indeed turned unbearably hot. One day, Zhou Yun checked the outdoor temperature on the rooftop; it was approaching fifty degrees Celsius.

The solar panels proved effective, and the power was sufficient to provide cool air to the poultry and livestock sheds on the rooftop. Even the comet had learned to stay inside the shed to enjoy the coolness.

Guan Yuanfeng simply moved his doghouse up to the rooftop, creating a home for it as well.

The rainwater Zhou Yun had collected earlier also came in handy. He used it to water the vegetables. Luckily, the rooftop garden mainly grew drought-resistant plants like sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

The delicate medicinal herbs in the temperature-controlled greenhouse were kept at the right temperature thanks to the solar-powered air conditioning.

Guan Yuanfeng looked at the equipment and sighed. “Research really does cost a lot of money. No wonder you’re broke. I just don’t know if these research results will be useful in the future.”

He had already sensed that something was wrong. Scientific research could only be pursued peacefully in times of stability.

Zhou Yun replied, “This is medical research. It will always be useful.”

He gently touched the succulent plants that were still thriving in the extreme heat. Even the cacti had borne bright red fruits. These were all valuable plants.

Guan Yuanfeng noticed the passion in Zhou Yun’s eyes, so different from his usual calm demeanor, and couldn’t help but smile.

Zhou Yun spent some time harvesting and slicing eggplant, chili peppers, and beans to dry them. Then, he carried the pot of ancient lotus seeds he had grown down to the first floor.

Guan Yuanfeng, still diligently practicing archery, came over to help when he saw Zhou Yun moving the lotus pot. “Afraid it’ll get sunburned? Looks like you really cherish this lotus.”

Zhou Yun replied, “This is an ancient lotus seed that a friend gave me.”

Guan Yuanfeng was curious. “It can still sprout?”

Zhou Yun smiled. “It can. Plant seeds can be preserved for a long time. There have been cases both domestically and internationally where rice, wheat, and lotus seed grains found in ancient tombs have sprouted again. The seed coating of the lotus is very tough, so it can preserve the seed’s viability, keeping it in dormancy. When the conditions are right, it can reactivate, root, and sprout.”

“This ancient lotus seed came from a classmate of mine who worked at a plant research institute after graduation. He collected a lot of ancient lotus seeds from dried riverbeds in local villages.”

“They used carbon dating, and the seeds are estimated to be over 1,200 years old.”

“He gave me a few seeds. I’ve just managed to grow them recently and am still recording data. I originally planned to hand-pollinate them and get a second generation of seeds for hybridization and gene sequencing.”

When Zhou Yun started talking about his research, he became animated: “Lotus seeds are living fossils. Their embryos contain compounds like oxidized ascorbic acid, which are many times higher than in other plants, giving them extraordinary vitality.”

“Have you heard of the Nuwa Project? They sent ancient lotus seeds to space in spacecraft to cultivate them at the space station. I heard they successfully grew them there.”

Guan Yuanfeng listened attentively and replied, “I’ve indeed heard that the space station is developing well. I also heard that after space breeding, the seeds returned to Earth with significantly higher yields.”

Zhou Yun nodded approvingly. “Yes, space breeding. Cosmic rays help select seeds, boosting their vitality. Seeds that can’t withstand the radiation won’t sprout, but those that do come back more vigorous, with lotus flowers blooming more vibrantly. The yields of lotus roots and seeds have greatly increased, and their quality and taste have also improved.”

He couldn’t help but stare at the ancient lotus, feeling a sense of awe. “Living organisms evolve to adapt to their environment, survival of the fittest.”

“Those who can’t adapt will die and become zombies. That’s the brutal process of upgrading and selecting in the apocalypse.”

Guan Yuanfeng watched Zhou Yun’s gaze fixated on the lotus flower, which had just bloomed and produced seed pods, and finally understood why Zhou Yun cherished the plant so much. He smiled and teased, “Are you studying medicine or botany?”

Zhou Yun replied seriously, “Science has no boundaries. Many things passed down by our ancestors may be experiential knowledge or results-oriented, but we can use their effects to reverse-engineer and find the scientific principles behind them.”

“This lotus seed and lotus flower can be used in medicine. There’s an old saying, ‘One lotus produces nine medicines.’ It’s effective for stopping bleeding, calming the heart, cooling the blood, detoxifying, removing dampness, nourishing the heart, and strengthening the spleen.”

He became excited. “I’ll make you some lotus root soup and lotus seed porridge today. It’ll be good for you.”

He immediately went downstairs and took out the lotus seeds and lilies he had stored, soaking them in water. He then found two sections of lotus root in the fridge, peeled and cut them into pieces, and started making soup with the bones. The soup made with lotus root and lotus seeds was used to cook porridge with japonica rice.

He also kept a section of lotus root, chopped it up, mixed it with minced meat, wrapped it in tofu skin, and steamed it, which turned out to be another perfect dish.

After lunch, as usual, he gave Guo Yuanfeng acupuncture. It had been a while since he last inserted the needles, and this time, Zhou Yun did it again, saying, “It’s hot, be careful not to get infected.”

Guo Yuanfeng didn’t think too much about it, assuming it was just a stage of treatment. These days, he had been drinking the medicine Zhou Yun made for him, and his sleep had greatly improved.

The regular meals and increased exercise from archery practice made him feel more energetic and lively.

The trivial daily tasks—deciding what to eat for each meal and focusing on whether each arrow would hit the target—helped him redirect his mental pain.

Thinking about this, he became even closer to Zhou Yun.

The heat was unbearable, and by the evening, it finally became cooler. The evening breeze blew gently. Zhou Yun set up a small charcoal stove on the roof, placed a stone slab for grilling, and made some sweet fermented rice wine. He prepared fresh vegetables, cucumbers, enoki mushrooms, and cut lamb, beef, and pork for grilling on the roof.

Wearing gloves, Zhou Yun held a frozen piece of beef and sliced it into thin pieces, with net-like marbled fat that made it look extraordinary in texture.

Guo Yuanfeng watched him slice the meat and couldn’t help but praise, “I see you’re very skilled with the surgical knife. That knife is beautiful, you like collecting weapons, don’t you?”

The short knife, with its beautiful patterns, was held in Zhou Yun’s hand. Despite his long and fair fingers, they were full of strength, and his handling of the knife was as nimble and graceful as a chef expertly dissecting a cow.

Zhou Yun smiled faintly, squeezing half a freshly cut lemon. The juice dripped onto the meat, releasing a refreshing lemon fragrance.

After the apocalypse, doctors became very precious because the zombie outbreak began in hospitals, and medical personnel suffered severe casualties.

As one of the rare doctors, he had performed countless surgeries.

He had dissected countless bodies, searching for crystal cores and studying the physiological differences between zombies, people with special abilities, and ordinary humans, exploring the scientific basis and principles of how powers were formed.

On the rooftop, honeysuckle flowers bloomed in clusters, their fragrance spreading in the moonlight. The pumpkin and sweet potato leaves reflected faint glows. Someone in the neighborhood was playing the violin, intermittently, probably because the quarantine was too dull, and they could only entertain themselves with music.

The moon hung high in the deep blue sky, glowing as bright as an ice disk.

In the distance, the shadows of mountains and trees deepened, and the scattered stars twinkled at the edge of the dark sky.

The water surface of the reservoir glowed faintly, and the moonlight blended with the night sky, distant mountains, and water, creating a peaceful and beautiful scene, as if it had existed forever, from ancient times to the present.

Zhou Yun knew, however, that time was running out. He could no longer remember which night the red mist descended, bringing the end of the world, but it must have been after the emergency quarantine. This brilliant, peaceful summer night would no longer last.

It was like the lament in a book he had read: “Thousands of cups of fine wine were spilled, thousands of love-filled gazes shattered, and thousands of scenes that could not be appreciated were irreversibly lost.”

Slightly tipsy, he looked at Guo Yuanfeng’s hard brows, deep eyes, and stubborn jawline. He poured a glass of sweet, thick rice wine. “Have a drink, this is the best batch of rice wine I’ve brewed.”

Guo Yuanfeng looked at the young and handsome doctor, not understanding why his expression always seemed melancholic, especially when looking at him, often accompanied by some pain and sympathy. But he didn’t feel offended; instead, he sensed it was genuine regret.

He smiled and took the glass, which was cold with water droplets. Inside, there were crystal-clear ice cubes. After taking a sip, he agreed, “The taste is really good.”

In the middle of the night, Zhou Yun woke up to excruciating pain and a dry throat. He struggled to get up, drenched in sweat.

He looked out the window and saw that the moon had turned red, with a red mist surrounding it.

In the small city of Danlin, the red mist had descended.

His body ached terribly, his throat felt as if a sharp blade was cutting it, and his head hurt so much he wished to faint.

He checked the infrared thermometer at his bedside and found that his temperature had reached 40°C.

It felt like a forced upgrade: either survive to awaken special abilities and live through the apocalypse, or die and quickly become a zombie.

He had always suspected that this evolutionary virus was actually the same, and becoming a zombie might be another form of “evolution.”

Zhou Yun, bracing himself against the dizziness, picked a lotus seed pod from his bedside, chewed it, and swallowed it.

The tender lotus seeds provided him with sweet juice, while the lotus heart was slightly bitter, but he ate it all. He then drank some water.

In his previous life, he had taken antipyretics, but it was useless. This time, considering the potential impact on his ability to awaken, he took an antipyretic pill, then checked the property group on his phone. It was eerily quiet, and no one had noticed that the apocalypse had already arrived in the dark of night.