Chapter Seventy-One

Chapter Seventy-One

Xu Fang rolled up his sleeves, glaring coldly at the opposite group. He had never lost in a confrontation. The cat-eyed boy also stood ready, warily watching the others, especially a bald man whose provocative gaze seemed like he was about to start a fight any second.

However, the two men at the center of this storm looked at each other for a few seconds and surprisingly bumped fists in unison.

"Long time no see."

"Yeah, didn't expect to find you here at such a time."

The tense atmosphere dissipated instantly, leaving their teammates confused by their familiar tone.

Friend or foe – which was it?

After the battle, Lin An had shifted from behind Grandma Wu to Shen Xiuzhe’s rear, almost like a shadow. Upon hearing Shen Xiuzhe's recognition of the other party, he peeked out curiously at Lu Li, showing only half of his face, then quickly withdrew.

Initially, Lu Li didn't notice Lin An, hidden as he was behind Shen Xiuzhe. Only when a head briefly popped out and then vanished did he catch a glimpse.

He saw only a hand clutching the hem of Shen Xiuzhe's robe.

The hand, though belonging to a man, was slender and delicate, unmarred by sun or wind, seemingly unused to hard labor, indicative of a pampered life. Before the apocalypse, such people were common, but afterwards, with diminishing conveniences and shrinking human habitats, idle individuals couldn't survive in the harsh new world.

So, who was this person behind Shen Xiuzhe...?

Lu Li appeared expressionless, but his mind was racing with thoughts. Thinking he had figured out Lin An's identity, he looked at Shen Xiuzhe with a meaningful gaze, though others saw no change in his demeanor.

Sensing Lin An's curiosity, Shen Xiuzhe turned slightly and explained, "He's an explorer I knew from before, named Lu Li."

Lin An didn't peer out again; he had seen enough of Lu Li and was aware of the group of battle-hardened psychics behind them, their presence oppressive and particularly daunting to someone with social anxiety.

Lu Li, unconcerned about this, glanced at Shen Xiuzhe's teammates: "So you're now an A-class fire psychic?"

Though phrased as a question, Shen Xiuzhe, familiar with Lu Li's character, knew what he meant. Lu Li probably boasted a powerful ability himself, hence showing off.

Lu Li was competitive and had never beaten Shen before. Now that everyone had abilities, he couldn't resist proving his superiority.

Shen Xiuzhe simply responded, "Yes, I'm an A-class fire psychic."

Lu Li lifted his chin slightly.

The cat-eyed boy behind him leapt forward, his amber eyes fierce and proud like a cat's: "Our leader is an S-class psychic, a powerful thunder type."

Expecting shock or admiration, they were surprised when the others remained indifferent.

So what if he's S-class? Lin An and Shen Xiuzhe were probably above S-class. One was a dual-type psychic, the other could turn you to ash in an instant. Even a thunder type would struggle against them.

But that couldn't be said aloud, as frustrating as it was to keep silent.

Shen Xiuzhe wouldn't flatter the other, ignoring the subtle smugness in Lu Li's eyes. "Did you come here just to tell me your psychic level?"

Lu Li had always been a prodigy, physically superior and intellectually gifted, outshining his peers. Except for veteran explorers with decades of experience, he was unmatched.

But this situation changed after Lu Li encountered Shen Xiuzhe. In his teens, Lu Li was beaten black and blue by this boy from another place, even ending up in tears. It was his first embarrassing defeat, so much so that even his father praised the other's formidable strength, predicting a legendary future for him as an explorer.

Since then, young Lu Li harbored a grudge against Shen Xiuzhe, challenging him to fights every other day, only to lose each time.

However, the emotions of youth are fleeting. Despite his outward hostility towards Shen, often resulting in fights upon meeting, Lu Li inwardly respected Shen's abilities. After the apocalypse, he wondered if Shen had survived and, with their newfound abilities, who would win in a fight.

Now knowing Shen is an A-class psychic, Lu Li finally felt a sense of equilibrium. Why bother competing? Shen was a level below him, and his psychic attack power was stronger.

A triumphant feeling.

If it weren't for the presence of his teammates and the need to maintain his image, Lu Li would have openly mocked Shen by now.

"Are you just staying here temporarily or..." Lu Li wanted Shen to join his team. Although Shen might not be at his level, he was still among the top psychics. But knowing Shen's character, Lu Li knew he wasn't one to willingly play second fiddle.

Shen Xiuzhe: "I plan to return to Baize City."

Lu Li: "The journey is treacherous. Besides the Eye of the Desert, nearby small towns are deserted, and many areas are overrun with zombies. It will be difficult for you to get back."

Shen Xiuzhe: "I've already traveled most of the way here from Chuxi City. I never thought of giving up."

The journey from Chuxi City here involves passing through a vast forest. Even experienced explorers travel in groups for safety, what with the various zombified flora and fauna. In the early days of the apocalypse, some tried to escape to the forests, but none returned.

That’s Shen Xiuzhe for you.

Lu Li inwardly sighed, unable to keep Shen but still wanting to offer help. After knowing each other for so many years, he had finally become stronger than Shen and was eager for a rematch.

"Alright, are you here for supplies? Need anything?"

Shen Xiuzhe didn’t beat around the bush: "Actually, I wanted to inquire about a few things from you. Let's talk back at the base."

Lu Li’s arrival had drawn many eyes; as a rare S-class psychic in the Eye of the Desert, his every move was closely watched. This was not the place for private conversations.

Normally, zombies only launch one wave of attack, so there was no need to stay on guard. People were assigned to keep watch and continue clearing the battlefield.

Lin An, holding a dog with one hand and clinging to Shen Xiuzhe's robe with the other, kept his head down as they all walked back. Their group attracted a lot of attention, and even Lu Li occasionally glanced at Lin An.

He was curious about the person who had captivated Shen Xiuzhe but only saw the back of his head. Eventually, he had to give up under Shen's warning gaze.

He would see him sooner or later.

They all went to the temporary residence of Shen Xiuzhe and his group. As a rare S-class psychic, Lu Li had his own dwelling by a lake, arguably the best spot in the Eye of the Desert.

They often stayed in tents while scavenging for supplies, yet none were as clean as this one.

The pure white tent was spotless, even on the inside. Shen Xiuzhe had only arrived today, as far as he knew.

Why was the tent so clean? Did the base have such new tents?

Filled with questions, Lu Li saw his teammates about to enter and gestured for them to leave.

Only the boy with cat-like amber eyes hesitated, unwilling to go. Though their leader knew the other party, they were surrounded by strangers. What if a fight broke out?

Lu Li’s brow furrowed slightly, his ash-grey eyes showing a hint of displeasure: “Luo Yuan.”

The amber cat eyes immediately dulled, looking pitifully at Lu Li.

Lu Li remained unmoved.

Finally, Luo Yuan reluctantly left the tent.

When only Shen Xiuzhe and his companions remained inside, Lu Li’s rigid shoulders relaxed. He found a chair to sit in, crossed his legs, and went from a cold youth to a carefree and unrestrained demeanor in a flash.

“What do you want to know?” Lu Li asked, shaking his leg.

Wudo turned her head away in dismay, taken aback by the drastic change in Lu Li’s demeanor.

Shen Xiuzhe, having watched Lin An enter the tent, visibly relaxed and even let out a quiet sigh of relief. He found Lu Li’s sudden change amusing and only returned his attention when Lu Li spoke. Seeing his casual posture, Shen wasn’t surprised, knowing Lu Li had always been this way.

“Have you seen a red meteorite?”

“Meteorite? Haven’t seen any. What do you need a meteorite for?”

“You must know about last year’s meteor shower. The zombies appeared after it. I’m looking for meteorites that might have fallen during that event.”

Lu Li sat up straight: “I had my suspicions too. The day after that meteor shower, people started turning into zombies. But I’ve never seen a red meteorite. I’ll ask around when I get back.”

Even if meteorites had fallen, they’d likely be buried under sand by now. Shen Xiuzhe wasn’t too hopeful.

“Secondly, I want to know if there are any dangers on the way to Baize City.” Though their group’s abilities were complementary and strong, Shen wasn’t complacent. The previous incident with the zombie tree was a stark reminder. Knowing potential dangers in advance could help avoid them.

“I do know something about that. About a hundred kilometers ahead, there’s a small dune town. The zombies there are fierce. Even I couldn’t come out unscathed. It’s best for you to avoid that town.” The dune town had abundant supplies, but its zombies were numerous and dangerous. Lu Li had ventured there once and nearly didn’t make it out alive.

"Additionally, the stone bridge to the Ice and Snow City has collapsed. If you wish to continue to Baize City, that's the only route." Between the Eye of the Desert and Baize City lies a major city, perpetually blanketed in snow and ice. To reach it by land, one must traverse a bottomless canyon, as if a giant had cleaved the continent in two.

There used to be a stone bridge over the canyon, connecting the lands on either side.

After the apocalypse, those seeking refuge in the Ice and Snow City found the bridge destroyed. With the canyon being so deep and long, crossing without the bridge was impossible.

Shen Xiuzhe pondered for a moment and felt this task wasn’t too difficult, considering the unique abilities of their group. Xu Fang's earth-based powers, Ouyang Dong's plant-based skills, his own metal abilities, and Lin An's powers could easily construct a bridge.

Lu Li lightly tapped his finger, sizing up Shen Xiuzhe's teammates – one too small, one too old, one too fat, and one bald. No matter how he looked at them, they seemed unreliable compared to his own formidable team.

However, watching the young man crouched in the corner of the tent feeding a dog, Lu Li felt somewhat uneasy. Who would have thought Shen Xiuzhe had found someone?

Although Shen Xiuzhe barely spoke to the young man, the way he looked at him was far from innocent.

Damn it, he lost again.

How could Shen Xiuzhe, heartless as he seemed, beat him to being in a relationship? That young man must have been deceived by his superficial charm.

Lu Li subconsciously overlooked Shen Xiuzhe's fierce aura, which could make children cry. After all, in terms of looks, Shen Xiuzhe was only slightly inferior to him.

Thinking this, Lu Li sat up straight: "I'm going to look for supplies tomorrow. Do you want to come with me? The road ahead is treacherous, often with zombies hiding in the sand for ambushes. It's best you acclimate a bit more before proceeding." And maybe get a glimpse of my current grandeur.

Shen Xiuzhe agreed to the suggestion. They weren’t short on supplies, but the zombies here seemed unusually strong, possibly related to the meteorite. Gathering more information would also aid their journey.

Lu Li left, resuming his usual cold and distant demeanor as he exited the tent, eliciting a tongue click from Ouyang Dong. He sure could put on an act.

Early the next day, Lu Li arrived; their destination was a small town over fifty kilometers from the Eye of the Desert, home to food processing machines they needed to transport back.

With Grandma Wu needing constant care and Wuduo likely to stay with her, leaving just the two behind was worrisome. Thus, they all decided to go together.

Lu Li always felt Shen Xiuzhe was burdened with a family. Just as he was about to ask if they needed vehicles, two SUVs appeared.

The vehicles looked brand new, far superior to Lu Li's own weather-beaten car.

Lu Li: ...I've lost.

Shen Xiuzhe and Xu Fang took the driver's seats expertly. Lin An, with little Fu, and the grandmother-granddaughter duo of Wu Shuangxue joined Shen Xiuzhe, while Ouyang Dong went with Xu Fang.

Lu Li's team arrived with three cars, ten people in total.

The mission wasn’t particularly difficult and didn’t require so many people. But Lu Li wanted Shen Xiuzhe to see how impressive his teammates were, so he brought along the most powerful ability users in the team.

Five vehicles raced through the desert, kicking up clouds of sand. Lin An sat in the passenger seat, gazing out the window with Xiao Fu.

The undulating dunes jolted them continuously under a cloudless, azure sky. Its deep and unblemished clarity, untouched by pollution, painted a serene canvas of pure hues.

Previously focused on the journey, Lin An hadn't taken the time to appreciate the sprawling sands. Now, he was truly taking in the scenery.

He had kept his head down and remained silent, partly due to social anxiety, but also to conceal his eyes. After all, only zombies had red eyes, and being discovered could spell trouble for his teammates.

About twenty kilometers from the Eye of the Desert, Lin An, who had been gazing out the window, suddenly turned his head eastward. His pupils contracted, and his face showed a mix of surprise and craving.

“Over there!” Lin An pointed eagerly eastward.