Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

After dispatching the zombie rats, Shen Xiuzhe turned to Lin An behind him and inquired, “How did you know there were zombie rats underground?”

Lin An naturally would not respond. Observing the corpses and blood, he used his water-based abilities to clean the area, piling the remains to one side.

At this moment, the others also sensed something unusual about Lin An.

Typically, when encountering zombies, Lin An would clean up when he couldn't bear it, finally searching for a trash bin to dispose of the zombies and debris. And when using his water spouts, he would maintain the rotation until his powers were depleted.

But today was entirely different. Lin An was the first to detect the zombie rats, using his abilities to force them from underground, and now he was piling their corpses with the debris flushed from the sewers, actions that seemed to be guided by his own volition.

Everyone looked to Shen Xiuzhe, as he had been by Lin An's side for the past few hours.

Finally able to show off, Shen Xiuzhe tilted his head slightly towards Lin An and probed, “Lin An, who am I?”

The young zombie lowered his eyes, and after a long pause, he murmured softly, “Shen.”

The voice was crisp and pleasant, clearly not an unconscious utterance.

Xu Fang's eyes lit up, and he immediately leaned in, “An-ge, and me? I am Xu Fang.”

Lin An did not respond.

Ouyang Dong, taking advantage of his robust frame, nudged Xu Fang aside and introduced himself to Lin An, “I'm Ouyang Dong, Ouyang Dong.”

Still, Lin An offered no reaction.

Wu Shuangxue and her granddaughter were also astonished but did not approach. Instead, they stared intently at Lin An from a distance, curious about how Shen Xiuzhe had managed to teach Lin An. Everyone had been secretly instructing him, yet only Shen had succeeded so far.

With a slight smirk and a tilt of his chin, Shen Xiuzhe flashed a taunting look at his two juniors, “No need to ask anymore; he only speaks my name.”

The slender, phoenix-shaped eyes brimmed with mockery, radiating an air of smug satisfaction.

Even Ouyang Dong, the leader himself, felt the urge to punch him for that expression, although he was certain he couldn't win.

Xu Fang's gaze was intense. Next to Shen Xiuzhe, he had known Lin An the longest and was visibly delighted with Lin An's transformation: "An-ge, you're getting stronger. Make sure you look out for me when you come back to your senses."

Lin An remained unresponsive, quietly processing the words of those around him, struggling to regain his composure.

But he understood one thing: the person before him with the shining bald head was praising him, had been continuously praising his strength. So, Lin An quickly glanced up at the grinning bald man before shyly looking away, his cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and bewilderment.

Due to his experiences as a child, praise was a rarity, and he grew up avoiding much contact with others. Thus, Lin An had developed a trait even he wasn't aware of.

He was particularly praise-shy.

At that moment, a hand fiddled nervously with Shen Xiuzhe's black windbreaker, awkwardly picking at it. Had the fabric not been so sturdy, his fingers might have poked a hole through it.

Shen Xiuzhe and the others had grown accustomed to the stares. In ChuXi City, they had been gawked at and scrutinized too many times, so much so that now, even as the people of Mechanic City watched them, they remained unfazed, their expressions untouched by the surrounding eyes.

Shen Xiuzhe stood a good half head taller than Lin An, who would be out of sight to others unless they came close. Plus, his bangs, which had been pushed down during their arrival, lay soft and neat, falling back into place over his eyes after being disturbed, and with the dim indoor lighting, aside from Professor Lin, no one else noticed they were in the presence of a zombie.

"What did you all do just now?" a survivor finally mustered the courage to ask. The power they exhibited was too staggering, and compared to his own inclination to flee and scream, their strength and composure in the face of zombies left everyone in awe and yearning.

"Just now? That was the use of special abilities. Surely some among you must also possess such powers," Ouyang Dong replied, turning to explain.

"But..." The inquiring survivor, a young boy, extended his palm, from which a small flame flickered weakly, the orange light trembling as if it might extinguish at any second. "This is all I can manage."

He tossed the flame, which danced in the air before vanishing.

"My boss has fire-based abilities, too, but his flames can incinerate approaching zombies to ash without him moving an inch. You haven't seen it. When we go out for supplies, he sits in the car motionless while all the zombies outside burn to death. The sight of that inferno is awe-inspiring. Once you become more powerful, you'll be able to do the same," Xu Fang boasted about his leader at every opportunity, though he spoke only the truth, without exaggeration.

The reason Professor Lin had brought them here was to show that he and the robots weren't invincible. He hadn't anticipated the emergence of the zombie rats, but the outcome was favorable. Knowing that humans could be so powerful, that they could defeat zombies with their own strength, would surely motivate many to actively develop their abilities.

Watching the flickering light in the boy's eyes, Professor Lin felt his purpose had been achieved.

"How long can you stay here?" Professor Lin asked Wu Shuangxue, who was nearby.

Wu Shuangxue shook her head: "I'm not sure. We're just passing through to see this place and will continue to other cities soon. We can't stay long."

"Could you stay a day or two longer to help me? Whatever machines you desire, I can provide for you." Many of Mechanic City's inventions involved Professor Lin, and even those developed by others were within his capability to reproduce just by studying the designs or deconstructing the machines once.

Shen Xiuzhe agreed immediately. Staying a few extra days for the weapons they wanted was a beneficial exchange.

The surface was cleared of zombies, but the sewers were yet to be fully dealt with.

The sewer system of Mechanic City was vast and complex; even deploying robots to scour the depths was a prolonged endeavor, complicated further by iron grates that many robots couldn't traverse.

Professor Lin was familiar with Lin An's water-based abilities, which were potent enough to flush out some of the zombies from the sewers, obviating the need for a tedious search.

For the sections barred by iron grates, Professor Lin had a plan, possessing a complete map of the city's sewer distribution, which allowed for a zoned approach without concern for zombies getting stuck behind the grates.

The idea was sound, but only Lin An could execute this task. However, the current Lin An couldn't comprehend their words, nor could he be compelled to use his abilities.

That evening, they stayed at Professor Lin's factory, which appeared modest but was well-heated and provided clean blankets.

Each person had their own bed, and Professor Lin had thoughtfully constructed metal partitions for the females to sleep within.

Yet, Wu Shuangxue vetoed this, arguing that they weren't in a prison to need such partitions—a curtain would suffice to provide separation.

Their dinner, provided by Professor Lin, was simple: boiled water and plain cakes, no different from what other survivors ate.

Professor Lin didn't hoard supplies; instead, he rationed Mechanic City's ample resources daily. Even he ate the same food, ensuring enough provisions to last everyone for a year.

The city's surroundings were barren, predominantly rock and sand, with scant vegetation except for the hardiest of wild grasses.

The area's rich metallic ores meant few arable lands, but these same minerals had propelled Mechanic City's rapid growth over a few decades from a small town to its current expanse.

Their food was mostly acquired from ChuXi City, and with the population halved by the zombie apocalypse, Professor Lin collected all available food for scheduled distribution. While not luxurious, this method had prevented any starvation.

"Today, we only have plain cakes. Tomorrow, there'll be milk and rice, but fruits and vegetables are gone, only some pickled vegetables left, distributed on weekends. So, no vegetables for today."

Professor Lin cheerfully soaked his plain cake in hot water, a necessary concession to his advanced age and weak teeth that couldn't handle the hard bread.

Even now, he adhered to the rules he had set at the beginning, treating Wu Shuangxue and her group as regular survivors without offering special treatment for their heroics in saving the city.

He indeed lacked management finesse, unable to woo hearts like his robots that followed their programming—a stark fairness that had seen the city's populace through these hard times.

Shen Xiuzhe and his group, no strangers to scarcity in ChuXi City, weren't fussy eaters, grateful for any food.

Wu Duo was also undemanding, yet as she watched her elderly grandmother and Professor Lin soak their bread, she glanced back and forth, hesitatingly looking towards her grandmother.

Wu Shuangxue read her granddaughter's thoughts instantly; her own supply was plentiful, including soft foods suitable for the elderly. She shook her head at her granddaughter, signaling to continue eating in silence.

Ultimately, Wu Duo had no choice but to give up.

Xiao Fu obediently stayed by its owner's side. Shen Xiuzhe hadn't brought its dog food when he came out. Although there was plenty in storage, it wasn't taken out because of Professor Lin's presence. So, Xiao Fu also ended up eating the plain cakes, not fussy at all, quickly finishing them and licking its mouth.

Professor Lin, looking at the obedient dog, smiled and stroked its head: "There's dog food in the warehouse. It was intended as emergency food if we ran out of everything else. Tomorrow, I'll have a robot fetch some for you to take."

Xiao Fu seemed to understand and immediately started wagging its tail like a whirlwind.

Lin An sat aside. He didn’t need to eat, so he just held a photo frame, his gaze slowly surveying the surroundings.

The environment was unfamiliar, strewn with parts and the remnants of robots. The damaged robots from the day were all piled up here, awaiting repairs when Professor Lin had time.

Despite the clutter, it wasn’t dirty. Lin An looked around for cleaning tools, but not finding any, he stopped searching.

He had held the photo frame all day. Even when accompanying Shen Xiuzhe, he held onto the other's clothing with one hand while clutching the frame to his chest with the other.

After the meal, as they sat chatting, the discussion still centered on how Lin An could use his powers to deal with the zombies in the sewer, as nobody else’s powers were suitable.

“Lin Huai, have you ever thought about leaving with us?” Granny Wu asked.

“Are you continuing to Baize City? No, I can't travel that far now with these old bones. I wouldn't be of any help, just a burden.”

Professor Lin shook his head, well aware of his limitations: no special abilities, advanced age, and an environment in the wilderness that changes in the blink of an eye. A person like him, who had never ventured out, would only cause trouble.

“The robots you make are so powerful, worth countless ability users.” Xu Fang also wished Professor Lin would join them, having even thought about taking him by force initially.

“Come with us, we can protect you,” Ouyang Dong also immediately said.

Wu Duo, though silent, kept nodding in agreement.

Shen Xiuzhe, unaware of the earlier events, had heard of Lin Huai's reputation. The combination of his machines and Shen's abilities would indeed be formidable. However, the old man's health was indeed a concern. Wu Shuangxue, having braved the wilderness in her youth, still possessed skills not to be underestimated even now, her vigor hardly less than that of the young.

But Professor Lin had never left this place. If he were to leave with them, there might be issues adapting to new environments or drastic weather changes, potentially leading to illness. And they had no doctor among them to provide treatment.

Lin An had been observing his surroundings silently. When he heard Granny Wu call Professor Lin's name, he suddenly looked up, his red eyes wide, gazing directly at the professor.

He stood up and slowly approached Professor Lin, silently standing behind him, as if wanting to get closer but not daring to, lingering there.

Lin An's unusual behavior caught everyone's attention, finding it odd to see the small zombie wavering behind Professor Lin.

"An Ge, what are you doing?" Xu Fang, scratching his bald head, looked puzzled.

Ouyang Dong stroked his chin, speculating, "Is he trying to speak to Professor Lin but too afraid to approach? That seems unlikely; he doesn't have such awareness yet."

Professor Lin turned to look at Lin An standing behind him. Although aware that he was a zombie and couldn't understand speech, he kindly asked, "Do you need something?"

Under Professor Lin's gaze, Lin An's eyes slightly lowered, avoiding eye contact, yet he did not leave and continued to stand behind him.

Shen Xiuzhe, resting his head on one hand, glanced at Lin An before saying, "It seemed that he reacted only after Grandma Wu called out Professor Lin's name."

"Lin Huai?"

At this name, Lin An suddenly lifted his head, seemingly desperate to convey a message, yet unable to speak, he could only look at Professor Lin anxiously, shifting from foot to foot.

"Come to think of it, Lin An shares the surname with Professor Lin. Could there be some relation?" Ouyang Dong speculated.

Xu Fang, always quick to guess, exclaimed, "Grandfather and grandson!"

Wu Shuangxue asked in surprise, "You know Lin An? Are you his grandfather?"

Professor Lin immediately shook his head in panic: "I've never been married."

Wu Shuangxue retorted, "Well, one doesn't need to be married to have grandchildren."

Not realizing Wu Shuangxue was teasing him, Professor Lin quickly defended himself, "I am not that kind of person, truly."

Wu Shuangxue laughed heartily at him. Indeed, Lin Huai hadn't changed; he was the same decades ago, never able to detect when someone was joking.

Realizing that Wu Shuangxue was once again teasing him, Professor Lin said helplessly, "There are many with the same surname. I truly don't know him."

But the anxious Lin An behind him spun around in distress before finally handing over his treasured picture frame to Professor Lin.

Professor Lin, puzzled, took the picture frame and adjusted his glasses to look at the family photo, drawing the others to gather around.

Xu Fang had seen the photo before, but the others hadn't; when they had left, Lin An's other possessions were stored in Udo's space, leaving only the picture frame and some clothes which Shen Xiuzhe had placed in the RV's cabinet.

Udo looked at the picture frame and realized how much Lin An resembled his mother; both parents were good-looking, which explained why Lin An was also handsome.

Professor Lin stared at the picture frame, his brows slowly furrowing as if he were trying to remember something.

Wu Shuangxue noticed his gesture and teased, "What's the matter? Have you finally remembered he's your long-lost grandson?"

"I have seen the two people in this photograph," Professor Lin declared, prompting even the languid Shen Xiuzhe to rise and come closer.

"It was the summer fifteen years ago. Adventurers often passed through here to the ancient ruins of Morus City, which had been discovered then. That expedition was large, including many experts and scholars of history and flora and fauna. They came to Mech City to purchase a significant amount of weapons and equipment. However, none of those people ever returned."

Professor Lin suddenly turned to the photograph, where the child was clearly a younger version of Lin An.

"Professor Lin, why have you stopped talking? Didn't you say you've met the people in the photograph?" Ouyang Dong was almost frantic with impatience.

Pointing at the man in the photograph, Professor Lin continued, "He shared my name, Lin. I was out shopping for materials to make robots when someone called out my name. I later realized they were addressing someone else, the man in this photograph. Because of this mix-up, we spoke briefly, and I learned that he and his wife were also headed to Morus City. I never saw them again after that."

"Morus City?" Wu Shuangxue repeated the name, her expression grave, "There used to be many adventurers from Chuxi City, and due to the influence of our generation, the subsequent decades saw many venturing into the wilderness, even discovering ancient ruins. But it was fifteen years ago when a large group of adventurers set out for the ruins, and soon after, a massive earthquake occurred. None of those who left returned, and since then, the number of adventurers from Chuxi City has dwindled."

The people in the photograph were obviously Lin An's parents, who had gone to some ancient ruin fifteen years ago and never returned, surely having met their end...

The conversation was too mixed and multifaceted for Lin An, who strained to discern the important information: "Morus City."

Xu Fang had been considering whether to offer some words of comfort to Lin An, but he was suddenly taken aback when he heard Lin An articulate a complete word, exclaiming with wide eyes, "Brother An spoke!"

Shen Xiuzhe knew that Lin An must have never ceased searching for his parents; he read extensively and was determined to venture into the wilderness, all in the hopes of finding them.

Now, by a twist of fate, he had encountered a Professor Lin sharing his father's name, and he had learned of his parents' whereabouts.

Ouyang Dong, understanding Lin An's feelings, immediately asked, "Where is Morus City located?"

Shen Xiuzhe replied gravely, "It's far from here, deep in the forest. Hardly anyone ventures there; it's said to be very dangerous."

Udo inquired, "Will our path forward take us near there?"

"No, but we don't need to detour too far. That area was the epicenter of the earthquake fifteen years ago, the most severely damaged, with the terrain and vegetation completely altered. It has even sprouted many bizarre plants and animals. Most explorers deliberately avoid it..."

While he was still speaking, someone tugged at his sleeve.

Turning his head, Shen Xiuzhe saw Lin An gripping his sleeve, his plea urgent, "Go, let's go!"

Though his eyes were obscured by hair, Shen could imagine the earnest, ruby-like gaze of the young zombie fixed on him.