Chapter 121: Xingshan Research Institute

Originally, the group had planned to leave Shancheng the next day, but they ended up staying an extra day.

This was because He Ze’s ability was ready to level up.

Thanks to Fu Jingmo and Shen Rangchen’s prior experiences, the group wasn’t particularly worried.

Shen Rangchen took care of him throughout the night, and He Ze successfully advanced to Level 2. However, the entire room ended up flooded as if the Water Overflowing the Golden Mountain legend had come to life.^[1]The phrase “the Water Overflowing the Golden Mountain legend had come to life” refers to a well-known story from Chinese folklore or cultural expressions, particularly tied to the … Continue reading

Now, their team of four consisted of one Level 4, two Level 2s, and Lin Mu with his unique ability.

Among the numerous mutated individuals who were still stuck at Level 1, they truly stood out as a formidable force.

As the morning mist lingered, the car left the residential area, passed through the riverside avenue, and drove away from Shancheng.

—

On the first day, they traveled north along the national highway.

Once they left Shancheng, the road was elevated between two mountains, with a sheer abyss stretching down below when viewed from the bridge.

It was hard not to marvel at how Z Nation truly excelled in infrastructure—any driver without real skill would hesitate to navigate this road.

At night, they lit a fire to cook on the open plains, surrounded by absolute silence.

From Yichang City to Wushi, and then to Shancheng,

Nearly half a year had passed since the apocalypse began.

The messages extracted from the black box contained statistics about the population lost on this land in the past six months.

Nearly four-fifths of the population had turned into decayed, walking corpses.

That was tens of billions of people, and as for the remaining survivors—

Most were hiding in safe zones, while many others were concealed within cities teeming with millions of zombies.

They lived without sunlight, struggling desperately to survive.

This prolonged catastrophe showed no signs of ending.

No one knew how many years it would take for it to finally pass.

But at the very least, humanity had not gone extinct—there was still hope.

…

The wind howled across the plains, stinging their cheeks like knives.

Winter had just begun, and as the temperatures continued to drop, it would pose yet another immense challenge for humanity.

Large areas were without power, and many people lacked warm clothing. No one knew how they would endure this winter.

How many would fail to see the sunlight of spring?

—

The four of them gathered around the fire, cooking a hot pot of noodles. They drank a few sips of warm soup, letting it heat their bodies.

Since they had already set out together, Fu Jingmo completely trusted them.

“I’ll drive tomorrow,” he said. “After that, we’ll need to find a place to park the car and proceed on foot into the mountains.”

“Into the mountains?”

“Yes,” Fu Jingmo nodded. “The place we’re heading to is called the Xingshan Research Institute. From Shancheng to the provincial border, it’s all mountainous terrain. Xingshan is just a fictional name, and the location of the research institute can only be found using classified coordinates.”

Fu Jingmo paused for a moment. “Judging by the distance indicated by the coordinates, it’ll take about two days on foot. The specifics, I’m not entirely sure.”

Lin Mu spoke up, “What kind of research was conducted at this institute?”

“To put it in modern terms, it’s biological elements. The R1 serum we’ve been using is enhanced with an element chain, which is why everyone’s abilities differ after success.

This research institute was focused on studying biological DNA before the apocalypse. It also houses some highly valuable amber, containing ancient biological elements.”

“I need to acquire the research data and these pieces of amber.”

“Wow, damn, that sounds so awesome! High-tech stuff! Brother Fu, do you think the amber contains biological elements from dinosaurs? Or maybe mammoths or some other badass creatures?”

He Ze babbled excitedly, his imagination running wild.

Fu Jingmo shot him a cold, sidelong glance. “Hmm, do you think amber can hold a Tyrannosaurus rex or a Plesiosaurus?”

“…”

“What’s on your mind?”

Lin Mu asked. If it was just about retrieving some data or amber, such a task wouldn’t be enough to trouble Fu Jingmo.

Fu Jingmo let out a cold laugh, a glint of frost flashing in his eyes.

“These odd researchers can create just about anything, especially in the field of biological research. DNA and the like—what’s hidden deep in the mountains is often the kind of stuff that can’t see the light of day.”

He had once been to a toxicology research institute. The experimental subjects there, tainted by toxins, were grotesque, covered in pustules, and mottled in bizarre, vibrant colors.

Compared to the decaying zombies roaming around now, those creations were far more horrifying.

Even someone like him couldn’t help but get goosebumps at the sight.

“In any case, don’t let your guard down. What you’ll see there will definitely shatter your understanding of the world.”

He Ze rubbed his arms uneasily. “Alright, Brother Fu, you’re really scaring us with that.”

The conversation ended there. They packed up their things, arranged a schedule for taking turns on night watch, and each went to rest.

Fu Jingmo took the first watch. The fire crackled softly in the darkness, surrounded by an expanse of pitch black, with only the faint sparks providing any light.

Lin Mu returned to the car, wrapped himself in a blanket, and closed his eyes to rest for a while, though he couldn’t fall asleep.

After tossing and turning a few times, Lin Mu noticed that up ahead, He Ze was already snoring softly, and Shen Rangchen’s breathing had evened out.

Sighing softly, he sat up.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Fu Jingmo didn’t turn around. The coldness in his eyes instantly softened, and the corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly.

Lin Mu sat down beside him, a thin blanket wrapped around him.

With a stretch of his long arm, Fu Jingmo pulled both Lin Mu and the blanket into his embrace.

“Are you cold? Here, let me cover you a bit.”

“No need, I’m not cold.”

Mutants had enhanced abilities in all aspects, including increased resistance to the cold. However, Lin Mu was somewhat different from the others.

It seemed that only his five senses and physical strength had been enhanced, but his overall constitution remained that of an ordinary human.

Before them was the warmth of the crackling fire, while behind them stretched the boundless darkness of the night.

The two sat very close, and Fu Jingmo held Lin Mu’s hand in his palm, gently kneading it. While turning his head slightly, he lightly rubbed his cheek against Lin Mu’s. “What’s the matter? Can’t sleep without Brother holding you?”

“Mm, can’t sleep.”

He lifted his eyes and smiled at Fu Jingmo. The firelight reflected in his amber-like eyes, sparkling like a field of stars.

“Lin Xiao Mu, why do I like you so much?”

Fu Jingmo truly loved Lin Mu’s playful demeanor. Once Lin Mu accepted something, he faced it with complete honesty, without any pretense.

Muah. Fu Jingmo lowered his head and planted a kiss on Lin Mu’s lips. Feeling unsatisfied, he leaned in for another.

Only when Lin Mu’s thin lips glistened with a watery sheen from the kisses did Fu Jingmo reluctantly let him go.

Fu Jingmo pulled a strawberry milk candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into Lin Mu’s mouth.

“Eat it. Once you’re done, go to sleep.”

“…It’ll give me cavities,” Lin Mu muttered, frowning, though his tongue still flicked over his lips, now coated in sweetness.

“It’s fine,” Fu Jingmo replied. “Once you’re done, Brother will take you to brush your teeth.”

Fu Jingmo gently pressed Lin Mu’s head, letting it rest against his shoulder.

Feeling the warmth of the body next to him, Lin Mu closed his eyes.

The candy in his mouth was sweet, and somehow, his heart also seemed to be infused with a hint of strawberry’s sweetness.

…