Chapter 58: Truly Heartbroken

One of the major survival rules in the apocalypse: adapt to circumstances.

Mo Yu felt that this incident hadn’t left much of a psychological shadow on her; at most, it warned her never to trust others so readily again. Thus, after her checkup, she accepted the invitation from the man in black with utter indifference. Besides, they weren’t even going in the same direction—Mo Yu had to take Li Jun to the capital!

After leaving the dark room, other base staff guided them to the entrance of the facility. The entrance was separated from the inside by a heavy iron gate, but what it really blocked was the flow of living souls. There were two groups, totaling more than twenty people. Each person received a small plastic tag at the entrance with some numbers written on it; the guide told them these were their tent numbers. Mo Yu glanced at hers: “2318.”

She looked at the man in black walking ahead of her: his tent number was also “2318.”

Mo Yu: “......” Oh well. Adapt and survive.

A harsh screech echoed as the gate slowly opened from inside, filling their ears with noise, and their eyes with the bustling crowd and a patchwork of tents in various sizes and colors. The base staff led them to the entrances of their respective tents and then departed, but before leaving, turned to look at them deeply, seemingly with a burning anger. When the staff noticed Mo Yu and the man in black staring back, he hastily turned away and strode toward the base entrance.

“What was that about?” Mo Yu paused, then shrugged it off and turned away.

Man in black: “......” -_-#

Mo Yu, Li Jun, and the still-unnamed man in black entered the bright pink tent ahead of them. It was neither too big nor too small—just right for two adults and a child to sleep together, with a bit of space left to move around.

They placed their bags close by. Li Jun tightly hugged Mo Yu’s black bag to his chest, still feeling guilty since he’d heard someone tried to snatch it after he’d woken up. If he hadn’t insisted on eating well, Mo Yu’s bag wouldn’t have been targeted. Though the thief didn’t get the bag and broke his hand instead, Li Jun still felt bad.

For the next ten minutes, the three of them stared at each other in silence. Well, actually, Mo Yu and Li Jun were both glaring at the man across from them.

Li Jun & Mo Yu: ╭(╯^╰)╮ Don’t you know you should leave?

Man in black: -_-!

Mo Yu & Li Jun: Hurry and leave, please ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Man in black: -_-|||

In the end, the man in black picked up his bag in resignation and went off to find his friends. So this is what Mo Yu’s “adapt and survive” looks like! No matter what, Mo Yu and Li Jun felt a sense of achievement at driving the interloper from their territory with mere glances.

Once the man had left, they naturally took out blankets from their bags and spread them across the floor, covering every inch. Instantly, the tent radiated a sense of warmth and coziness. After a night without sleep and days without cultivating her body, Mo Yu felt a touch of fatigue. She decided to return to her space, practice, and then plant some vegetables! Today she’d try planting new varieties!

After giving instructions and setting up her mental defenses, Mo Yu disappeared into thin air. Li Jun wasn’t surprised—after all, when Mo Yu was scratched by a mutant zombie, she’d vanished under his healing light as well. He hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, but he could feel it with his powers. He kicked off his shoes, stretched out on the carpet, and lazily relaxed. It had been so long since he’d felt this comfortable!

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Mo Yu entered her space, but apart from two rows of tomato plants, everything else was barren—not even a blade of grass. She had intended to practice before planting, but realized that would only leave her sweaty and waste physical and spiritual energy. Better to farm first and then enjoy a bath and practice. Acting on this thought, she got to work; the sooner she finished, the sooner she’d be done.

“Strange? Where’s Egg?” She’d walked all the way to the little house but hadn’t spotted the puppy. It was odd; usually, as soon as she entered the space, she’d see that energetic, mischievous dog.

“Egg? Egg!” Mo Yu called loudly from the warehouse on the first floor, but only her own echo replied. With a sigh, she headed upstairs.

“Egg? Come out, don’t be naughty!” She opened room after room, but never saw the black little figure.

Mo Yu: (⊙_⊙)? Could it have starved to death...?

She opened every door on the second floor, but still no sign of Egg. Looking at the makeshift door made from broken planks, she gripped the dusty handle. A wave of heat rushed out, forcing her to step back. It took her ten seconds to adjust before she managed to squint into the room. There, in the center, lay a black shadow—Egg—quietly curled up. In front of him stood another door! Egg’s posture was protective; could he be guarding this room? What could be so important behind that door?

Mo Yu tiptoed... past Egg.

“Woof!”

Mo Yu: ╮(╯▽╰)╭ Caught...

When Mo Yu was bitten by her own dog and tossed out of the room, she felt the world was just too much (#‵′)凸!

She turned and went downstairs decisively. She’d know sooner or later! It was just a matter of not being high enough level...

She vented her frustration as she sorted through the pile of seeds, finally choosing a packet of cucumber seeds and a packet of strawberry seeds. Cucumbers for their water content, strawberries for nutrition!

“Sun shines bright, flowers smile at me, grass says ouch ouch ouch, why are you pulling me out~” Mo Yu sang as she worked. Thanks to her persistence, she’d already tilled several rows next to the tomatoes. “Almost done!” she shouted, as if cheering herself on.

Once, twice, three times—her movements grew slower. An inexplicable sense of gloom and discomfort welled up. She swung her hoe mechanically, suddenly feeling that everything was meaningless. Large tears rolled down her cheeks, falling into the soil. She stood there, hunched over, then suddenly dropped her tool and slid to the ground. She didn’t know what the point of living was anymore. Every day she forced herself to be happy, encouraged herself to keep going, survived day after day in monotony. From the beginning of the apocalypse, more than three months had passed, and she still hadn’t left her small province. When would she ever reach the capital? When would she reunite with her family? Regret surged in her heart—why hadn’t she left with her family? Why had she insisted on being so stubborn?

Mo Yu knew her negative emotions were seriously affecting her, but she was too upset! She needed to vent, but there was no one to confide in. All she could do was bury these dark, filthy feelings deep inside, waiting for them to accumulate and eventually explode all at once.

She sobbed and suffered; no one came to comfort her. She had to learn solitude in the apocalypse, and strength as well.

So immature.

Mo Yu removed her hands from her face and let the sunlight shine upon her.

So warm, so warm...

Author’s note: I went browsing around halfway through writing this chapter, and saw a post that made me feel really bad, so this chapter turned out a bit oppressive. I guess I poured my emotions into the story.

May there be no scum men in the world, sigh...

Love you all...