Chapter 39

Half a month later, the snow finally stopped, and the sun peeked out. The soft sunlight draped the snow-covered earth in a thin, gossamer layer of golden light, brightening the quiet winter day.

After the snow cleared, Zhou Yun and Guan Yuanfeng went to the rooftop to maintain and repair various equipment, including photovoltaic devices, wind power generation equipment, and rainwater collection and purification systems.

Since the water supply had been cut off, they had been relying on this rainwater filtration system for their water needs on the 30th floor.

—–

After the snowfall, the water tank had frozen over. Fortunately, they had Comet, and every few days, Zhou Yun would bring Comet to spray fire to melt the ice on the surface of the water tank. He would also use his ability to add some water into the tank, which helped ensure they had clean water for use.

On the rooftop, they also had various fish they had caught previously. After fishing for mutated fish in the fall, they had too many to store, and it would require a lot of salt and spices to preserve them. But now, with the freezing temperatures, everything had frozen outside, saving them the need for a refrigerator. They just left the fish outside on the roof or hung them outside the windows.

Zhou Yun stood on the rooftop, looking at the distant reservoir. After a long period of blizzard, the trees on the surrounding mountains had shed their leaves, and the nearby weeds were covered with thick snow. The ice surface of the reservoir gleamed with silver light, like a quiet painting.

Zhou Yun, who had been comfortably staying indoors, excitedly said to Guan Yuanfeng, “The ice on the reservoir must have frozen solid. Let’s go ice fishing! We can catch some fish and store them.”

Guan Yuanfeng could tell that Zhou Yun was getting a bit impatient with the daily training, but since Zhou Yun was willing to go outdoors, he was happy to accompany him.

After picking a day, preparing various ice fishing gear, they set off for the reservoir to ice fish.

The road to the reservoir was blocked, and the off-road vehicle was difficult to drive. The windows were covered in thick ice, but luckily, they had Comet, and with its fire breath, they managed to clear the path enough for the vehicle to pass through.

The midday sun was shining brightly, with the cold wind blowing, and the winter sunlight gently spread across the ice surface of the reservoir, sparkling with silvery snowflakes.

Standing on the ice, Guan Yuanfeng wore a neat leather cold-proof suit, waterproof gloves, and held an ice drill, making holes in the ice. The electric drill spun rapidly, and ice chips flew, creating a hole with a diameter of two feet in just two minutes.

Zhou Yun sighed as he watched, “The ice is too thick.”

Guan Yuanfeng responded, “Yes, the ice is thick. We need to drill deep. I’ve never seen such cold weather before.”

After making the ice hole, the two started setting up a camping tent for ice fishing. Their breath formed white mist in the cold air, freezing as they exhaled.

Both of them were very capable. They quickly and efficiently set up a six-sided tent on the ice.

This tent was a special ice fishing camping tent that Guan Yuanfeng had retrieved from a fishing store in the market. It was designed for ice fishing, with excellent windproof performance, top-notch insulation, and ample space. It was a popular choice for winter fishing enthusiasts.

The inside of the tent was fully equipped, with a flue for using a wood heater inside. It also had a portable gas heater, a moisture-proof heating pad, and a small camping stove for heating water and food.

Usually, people ice fish by drilling a small hole and building the tent directly over the hole. But their target was mutated fish, so the hole needed to be much larger than typical winter fishing holes, and the mutated fish were particularly fierce. Catching one would likely lead to a fierce struggle, so they set up the tent next to the hole instead.

Fortunately, all three of them were ability users and were not afraid of the cold. If ordinary people were out in this freezing temperature, they would have long since been reluctant to go out.

Zhou Yun sprinkled chive paste into the ice hole to bait the fish. This was a universal bait recipe he learned from a fishing book—chives crushed and mixed with peanut bran and soybean powder. The chives would float on the surface of the water for a long time before sinking, making it highly effective in attracting fish.

Since their target was mutated fish, Zhou Yun also added a crushed mutated cactus to the bait.

Once the bait was in, the murky water under the ice began to stir. At first, only a few cautious fish swam by, but soon more fish started to gather from all directions.

They could see shadows moving quickly under the water, creating ripples, all competing to grab the rare food, as if a grand feast were unfolding underwater. Every fish was doing its best to capture the delicious treat.

Comet, crouching beside the ice hole, watched the fish with bright eyes, seemingly tempted by the delicious bait. Its fur had grown thicker and shinier in winter, and it was completely unaffected by the cold wind. If anyone had suddenly seen such a giant dog on the ice, they might have mistaken it for a beast from the mountains.

Zhou Yun attached a moving fake bait with sound and light to the fishing rod, then placed a crystal core wrapped in a net on it. He slowly lowered the fishing rod into the ice hole. Guan Yuanfeng took the rod and said, “I’ll watch the rod. You go rest in the tent. Your face is red from the wind.”

Zhou Yun replied, “It’s fine. I applied cold protection oil before going out.” He turned around and started preparing, lighting the camping stove to warm up the tent.

He took a pot out of the car’s trunk. The pot contained leftover monkey head mushroom chicken soup from the night before, which had frozen into a pale yellow oil layer. He placed it on the stove to heat. The cold made him crave some hot soup to feel more comfortable.

As the smell of chicken soup filled the air, Comet, which had been staring intently at the fish, immediately rushed into the tent, rubbing against Zhou Yun and panting with its mouth open.

Zhou Yun patted its thick fur, feeling the warmth, and thought of it as a natural hot water bottle. He leaned against Comet and took out an e-reader to read a book. Comet obediently lay down, allowing Zhou Yun to rest more comfortably.

About half an hour later, the fishing rod suddenly sank. Guan Yuanfeng felt a huge pull on the rod, immediately lifting it and pulling the line. He saw a large black fish bite the hook. The fish was enormous, with seven distinct spots on its head and a long, snake-like body covered with fine black scales. It was most likely a mutated fish.

Guan Yuanfeng pulled too hard, causing the mutated fish to crash against the ice, struggling violently. The water below had been stirred up by the fish, turning the water murky. Zhou Yun, who had heard the noise, rushed out and shouted, “You need to tire it out! The hole is too small!”

Guan Yuanfeng, with a swift motion, used his lightning powers to stun the fish. He shook it and dragged it out of the ice hole, throwing it onto the ice surface. In no time, it was frozen solid, sticking upright to the ice.

Zhou Yun admired, “Your control over lightning is getting stronger. Now, you can stun the fish without worrying about it being fried to a crisp.”

Guan Yuanfeng smiled, “It’s a black fish. I remember this one is quite expensive. It’s delicious.”

Zhou Yun nodded, “It’s a Wu Yi, specifically farmed for its resilience. Even if the river dries up, it can bury its tail in the mud and breathe through its gills, surviving for weeks until the rain comes. It’s quite tough.”

As he spoke, he grabbed a knife and cut open the fish’s head. Sure enough, he found a water crystal inside. “This reservoir is huge. I thought we’d caught most of the mutated fish in the fall, but it looks like there’s still more to catch in winter,” he said, smiling.

Guan Yuanfeng replied, “Qingyun Reservoir is quite large.” He paused, scanning the area. “But I’ve seen even bigger reservoirs. The islands their number in the thousands… It was once a mountain, but when the dam was built, it created many islands.” His tone carried a hint of nostalgia.

Zhou Yun removed the fish head, saying, “You’ve probably traveled a lot.” This reservoir with its thousand islands seemed to hold some unforgettable memories for Guan Yuanfeng, who was clearly an outdoorsy person. The fact that he now had leg disabilities and couldn’t go outdoors must have been painful.

Guan Yuanfeng took the knife from Zhou Yun and said, “Yes, for missions. I’ll handle the fish; you check the rods.”

Zhou Yun stood up and joked, “Don’t ruin the fish’s gallbladder. Fish intestines make great fertilizer.”

Guan Yuanfeng waved him off. “No need for reminders.”

Having fished so much in the fall, they were experienced at cleaning fish.

Zhou Yun couldn’t help but remind him again, “Cut the meat from the belly first, we’re going to grill some fish.”

Guan Yuanfeng laughed helplessly. “Got it, go back to the tent.”

Once the fish was mostly cleaned, Guan Yuanfeng carried it into the tent. One bag contained fish intestines and organs to use as fertilizer, while another with trash was put into a plastic bag and stored in the car’s trunk.

After reattaching the bait and placing the rod back in the ice hole, Zhou Yun called out to Guan Yuanfeng, “Come in and have some grilled fish.”

Sure enough, Guan Yuanfeng smelled the fish aroma and entered the tent. On the camping stove was a cast-iron grill with fish pieces, coated in batter and golden-brown, giving off a delicious smell.

Comet, sitting nearby, was enjoying a mixture of mutated fish meat, shredded carrots, corn, and chicken soup.

Zhou Yun first handed Guan Yuanfeng a bowl of hot soup with monkey head mushrooms. Guan Yuanfeng noticed it was in an enamel cup with a handle, making it easy to drink. Although it was the same chicken soup from the previous night, the added mushrooms made it more flavorful. The rich broth slid down, bringing warmth and comfort.

Zhou Yun served two pieces of grilled fish to Guan Yuanfeng. He tasted them and was surprised by how the batter was crispy and golden, giving the fish a texture like it had been fried. The inside remained tender and juicy, a delightful taste.

After only two bites, Zhou Yun noticed movement at the fishing rod. “You eat, I’ll check,” he said.

He stepped outside and saw that the rod had caught something. The hook was almost being pulled into the hole, but he quickly grabbed the rod. It seemed that, like them, the mutated fish were struggling to find enough food in the winter. With the bait of a crystal core, they were more easily caught.

He patiently reeled the line in, carefully leading the long, smooth fish towards the surface. It appeared to be a type of eel, struggling fiercely before finally tiring out and surrendering. Zhou Yun pulled it out of the water and onto the ice.

This fish was not like the big one that had been stunned by Guan Yuanfeng and frozen hard. It was still wriggling, its long, two-meter body twisting on the ice. It turned out to be a mutated water snake.

Zhou Yun stepped back a little, not wanting to get splashed by water. Comet, now full, excitedly approached and bared its teeth at the water snake, threatening it with its tail.

Inside the tent, Guan Yuanfeng extended his hand and used his lightning to stun the mutated water snake. Zhou Yun took a knife to begin gutting the snake, laughing, “Lightning powers are really useful. We don’t even need weapons when we’re outside.”

The snake was long and slippery, making it hard to find its crystal core. It also had a strong fishy odor. Zhou Yun wrinkled his nose and pulled out a pair of gloves from his pocket.

Guan Yuanfeng said, “Leave it, I’ll do it in a moment.”

Zhou Yun obediently set the knife down and washed his hands with water from the ice hole. After drying them with a towel, he returned to the tent and began preparing vegetables for the grill: slices of steamed bread, mushrooms, greens, chives, and cabbage. He occasionally brushed on some seasoning and oil, sprinkling sesame seeds and shrimp flakes. The fresh, fragrant aroma of the grilled vegetables began to fill the air.

Guan Yuanfeng had already grilled a few pieces of fish. He handed some to Zhou Yun, who ate a couple of pieces before adding noodles to the chicken soup. Just as the noodles softened, he heard Comet calling again.

Guan Yuanfeng gestured for Zhou Yun to keep eating while he stepped outside to check the rod. This time, it was a plump golden crucian carp. Its golden scales gleamed like armor as it swam erratically, but Guan Yuanfeng quickly stunned it with lightning and pulled it up.

After the golden crucian carp and the mutated snake were processed, Comet called out again.

This time, it was a mutated bighead carp, weighing about 40-50 kilograms. The fish’s head blocked the hole, so they had to use an electric drill to enlarge the opening before finally pulling the huge fish out.

After that, several more mutated fish were caught, followed by ordinary fish, which jumped out of the hole and froze immediately on the ice, hardening in the cold.

Guan Yuanfeng was a bit surprised. Zhou Yun said, “The ice layer is too thick, and the oxygen is low. There were mutant fish earlier, and they probably didn’t dare to come up. They’re mostly flower carp, which is good. In this weather, we can make dried fish. It’s tasty.”

Guan Yuanfeng, while processing the crystal cores from the mutated carp, asked, “Is it different from the dried fish you made?”

Zhou Yun replied, “Naturally dried fish has a better flavor, and it’s dried whole. The mutated fish before were too large to dry whole, so I had to cut them into pieces.”

Comet, excited, spun around the fish, its tail wagging like a fan. Zhou Yun said, “Comet is really happy.”

“It’s been cooped up, hasn’t it?” Guan Yuanfeng said, as he took out the fish intestines from the flower carp and threw them into another bucket.

Zhou Yun smiled, “Isn’t it going out every day with you to hunt zombies?”

Guan Yuanfeng replied, while putting the fish into the bucket, “Zombies can’t be eaten, so fishing is definitely more interesting, especially with you around.”

Zhou Yun: “…”

He cleared his throat lightly, “Is this because I didn’t go with you to hunt zombies?”

Guan Yuanfeng snapped back to his senses, “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant was, Comet really likes you.”

Zhou Yun smiled.

At this moment, the red sun was sinking, and the setting sun was as red as blood. The distant mountains gleamed with cold light, and the ground was covered in snow. Guan Yuanfeng looked at Zhou Yun’s smile and felt a little embarrassed. He turned his head and lifted the heavy bucket of fish into the vehicle.

As the sun was almost down, the fish stopped coming, and the wind started picking up on the ice surface, causing the temperature to drop.

Guan Yuanfeng finished with the big fish and decided to pack up the fishing rod. He returned to the tent and began eating the noodles he hadn’t had time to eat earlier but sent Comet outside on a lookout duty.

Once the large Comet went out, the tent immediately felt much emptier. Guan Yuanfeng stretched his long legs and felt more comfortable.

After finishing a bowl of delicious chicken noodle soup, he ate two pieces of grilled bread, and Zhou Yun poured him some wine, “Drink a bit to keep warm.”

Guan Yuanfeng took the cup, sniffed it, and frowned, “Baijiu (Chinese liquor)?”

He looked at the bottle, surprised, “Aren’t your wines always soft rice wine or grape wine? Why is there strong baijiu?”

Zhou Yun smiled at him, “Many people say that when ice fishing, it’s good to drink a bit of baijiu to keep warm, so I brought some.”

Guan Yuanfeng: “…” He could tell it was his family’s high-quality wedding liquor.

Zhou Yun took a small sip of the drink, feeling warmth sliding down his throat and into his stomach. His whole body immediately warmed up, and his face turned red. “I’ve heard of it for years, but it’s my first time drinking.”

Guan Yuanfeng murmured, “I’ve never had it before either.”

The cold wind howled outside, and some snowflakes fell, making a “pa pa pa” sound against the tent.

Guan Yuanfeng put the wine back on the table, “Just drink a little to keep warm, don’t drink too much. It’s bad for your health.”

Zhou Yun looked at him not drinking, “Aren’t you drinking?”

Guan Yuanfeng replied, “I’ll be driving later, and I don’t feel cold, so you can drink.”

Zhou Yun said nothing. In the apocalypse, only zombies were left on the road, so having one or two drinks wasn’t a big problem. Perhaps it was because of some unresolved feelings about his family that made him hesitant to open up. Today, he felt that it was better to drink to help himself speak.

He held the wine glass, contemplating, hesitating. Today wasn’t the right time. Maybe… he could wait for another time. He had patience; he could wait.

Guan Yuanfeng noticed the change in Zhou Yun’s expression and, for some reason, sensed his subdued mood. He gently explained, “We can’t take things lightly. I’m used to going on missions outside, so I can’t drink.”

“Now that things aren’t peaceful outside, if you’ve already had some, I can’t drink. The only people left for us to rely on are each other. We can’t both slack off. I don’t mean to reject the drink.”

Zhou Yun said, “…Alright, then you drink soy milk.”

Guan Yuanfeng didn’t refuse, took a cup, and poured some for himself, then poured another cup of liquor for Zhou Yun. “Drink.”

Zhou Yun looked up at him. Guan Yuanfeng had a hint of guilt on his face, clearly feeling bad for not being able to drink with him. However, he would not easily change his principles. To him, safety came first.

He saw Zhou Yun drink it all in one go. His face flushed with red, and Guan Yuanfeng couldn’t help but feel a little indulgent. He always thought Zhou Yun stayed on the rooftop all day, so it was rare for him to go out to fish and have some fun. Since he hadn’t been able to drink with him, he tried his best to lift the mood, “Did you drink before?”

Zhou Yun: “…”

He subtly replied, “Occasionally brewed some grape wine.”

Then he changed the subject, “Tell me about the missions you’ve been on. Any interesting ones?”

Guan Yuanfeng replied, “Nothing much to say. It sounds exciting, but most of the time it’s just boring tasks like protection and patrolling. Occasionally there are chases or rescues, but nothing really worth mentioning.”

Zhou Yun knew there was likely some discipline involved. This person wouldn’t even drink and drive in the apocalypse, so he definitely wouldn’t casually reveal confidential mission details. The foreign prince he mentioned before was probably something foreign-related that he could share.

Zhou Yun cut to the point, “What about your leg? How did it get injured? You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

Guan Yuanfeng smiled, “It’s nothing, just a mission. There was a landmine, and a comrade made a mistake. I went to rescue, and I got blown up. Had to amputate the leg.”

Zhou Yun asked, “Were you close to your comrade?”

Guan Yuanfeng gently said, “It’s not about how close we were. I was the team leader. I had a responsibility.”

Zhou Yun furrowed his brow but said nothing. His gaze fell on Guan Yuanfeng’s outstretched leg, and he asked, “Does your leg still have any issues?”

Guan Yuanfeng shook his head, “No.”

Zhou Yun lightly touched his knee with his finger, then quickly withdrew it. He furrowed his brow.

Guan Yuanfeng felt the presence of his touch acutely, his throat tightened. For some reason, he felt that Zhou Yun’s attitude today was as if he had something to say.

Zhou Yun, however, just kept his eyes on his leg, almost as if it had a physical presence.

Guan Yuanfeng struggled to speak, “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Yun slowly said, “You need to take good care of it.”

Guan Yuanfeng said, “Lost and found, of course.”

Zhou Yun then asked, “Do you guys all like to sign donation agreements or whatever before going on missions?”

Guan Yuanfeng replied, “…Hmm, we do arrange some matters like that, such as wills.”

Zhou Yun said, “Then my legs… let’s consider them healed by me, shall we? Can I request that you not sign any body donation or medical research agreements without my consent?”

Guan Yuanfeng chuckled, “It’s the apocalypse… I’ve already retired…”

But he paused because Zhou Yun was looking at him. After drinking too much, when he looked up at him, Zhou Yun’s eyes seemed particularly bright, as if they had been washed by tears.

Zhou Yun just stared at him without speaking.

Guan Yuanfeng felt that he was joking. After all, it was just the two of them, surrounded by heavy snow, with no one else around, and they didn’t know when this situation would end. Why would such a strange topic come up suddenly?

But for some reason, Zhou Yun’s gaze deeply moved him, or perhaps it was the slight confusion and innocence in his slightly tipsy eyes that made him feel protective.

He suddenly felt guilty and couldn’t look directly into Zhou Yun’s eyes. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his eyelashes lowered, “I’ll get your consent.”

He promised, “My legs are yours; only you can study them.”

Zhou Yun smiled, “You make it sound like I’m some kind of mad scientist.”

Guan Yuanfeng felt a sense of relief in his heart, and the inexplicable pressure suddenly eased. He smiled back at Zhou Yun.

Perhaps it was because of the rare indulgence in drinking after so many years. Zhou Yun’s eyes seemed to have a slight mist, with the corners of his eyes slightly reddened, and his face had a faint flush from the alcohol. His mind was a little dizzy and tipsy.

He knew that Guan Yuanfeng always kept his promises. In the apocalypse, those with powers were respected. Since he had made a promise, no one could force a dual-power person like him to participate in any research.

With the promise, Zhou Yun felt happy and smiled at Guan Yuanfeng, feeling particularly relaxed.

Guan Yuanfeng looked at him, thinking that such a smart person was so easily pleased by just a few words.

Zhou Yun got up and walked out of the tent. Outside, the sky was almost completely dark, and the snow had lessened. Even though he had drunk, he still felt warm and didn’t feel cold, as the comet came over to affectionately circle around him.

Zhou Yun patted its head, “Go back.” He turned to Guan Yuanfeng, waved his hand, and teased, “I’m off, Captain Guan, time to drive.”