Chapter 12: The Red Fog Descends

Chapter 12: The Red Fog Descends

The emergency drills didn't last long before rumors began circulating privately about "zombies appearing in the first-tier cities, stay away from people who suddenly have high fevers, and don't inhale the red fog."

While most people brushed it off as just another rumor, an uneasy tension began to spread.

The community had distributed supplies once, but Zhou Yun declined, saying he had plenty of supplies and lived alone, suggesting they give it to more needy households. The community staff admired him for this, praising him before chatting for a while and then leaving. Zhou Yun knew that Guan Yuanfeng had also given up his allotted supplies, so he wasn't surprised.

The weather had indeed entered a scorching hot period. Zhou Yun measured the outdoor temperature on the rooftop one day, and it was nearing fifty degrees Celsius.

The solar panels were working effectively, providing enough electricity to cool the animal shelter on the rooftop, where Comet knew it was more comfortable to stay.

Guan Yuanfeng moved Comet's doghouse up there, giving it a new home on the rooftop.

The stored rainwater also came in handy, as Zhou Yun used it to water the vegetables. Fortunately, the rooftop garden was planted with drought-resistant crops like sweet potatoes and pumpkins.

In the climate-controlled room where he kept his sensitive medicinal plants, the electricity supplied by the solar panels and the precision air conditioning maintained the temperature.

Guan Yuanfeng looked at the equipment and sighed, "Research can be expensive; no wonder you're running low on funds. I just don't know if your research results will be useful in the future."

He had already vaguely sensed something was wrong; peaceful times were needed to conduct scientific research safely.

Zhou Yun said, "This is medical research, and it will always have its uses."

He gently touched the succulents, which were still thriving despite the scorching heat, and the cactus had even borne bright red fruit—these were all good things.

Guan Yuanfeng saw the passion in his eyes, quite different from his usual gentle temperament, and couldn't help but smile.

Zhou Yun spent some time harvesting and slicing the eggplants, peppers, and beans to dry. Then he carried the pot of lotus grown from ancient millennium-old lotus seeds downstairs.

Guan Yuanfeng was still practicing archery diligently. Seeing Zhou Yun moving the lotus pot, he came over to help, "Afraid it will get sunburned? You seem to treasure this lotus very much."

Zhou Yun said, "This was grown from millennium-old lotus seeds given to me by a friend."

Guan Yuanfeng curiously asked, "Can it really sprout?"

Zhou Yun smiled, "Yes, plant seeds can be preserved for a long time. There are cases both domestically and internationally where rice, wheat, and lotus seeds discovered in ancient tombs were able to sprout again. The hard shell of the lotus seed preserves its vitality, allowing it to remain dormant and reactivate under suitable conditions."

"These millennium-old lotus seeds were collected by a classmate of mine who worked at a botanical research institute. They were preserved in dried-up riverbeds by local villagers."

"They used radiocarbon dating to test them, and the age is estimated to be over 1200 years."

"He gave me a few seeds. I've only recently managed to grow them and am still recording data. I originally planned to artificially pollinate them to produce second-generation seeds for hybridization and gene sequencing."

When it came to research, Zhou Yun spoke passionately about his research, his words flowing effortlessly. "The lotus seed is a living fossil, containing compounds like oxidized ascorbic acid in its embryo, much higher than other plants. It has strong vitality."

"Have you heard of the Nuwa Project? The plant seeds cultivated in the space base aboard the spacecraft included ancient lotus seeds, and they were successfully cultivated there."

Guan Yuanfeng listened attentively and said, "I've indeed heard that the space base has been developed quite well. I heard that space-bred seeds have significantly increased yields when brought back to Earth."

Zhou Yun nodded in approval, "Yes, with space breeding, cosmic rays screen the seeds. Those that can't withstand the radiation won't sprout when returned. But those that do, their flowers bloom more vigorously, and the yield of lotus roots and seeds increases significantly, with better quality and taste."

He couldn't help but stare at the millennium-old lotus, feeling, "To survive in this world, organisms must adapt and evolve—only the strongest endure."

Those who can't adapt will perish, becoming part of the undead horde—this was the cruel evolution and selection of the apocalypse.

Guan Yuanfeng saw that Zhou Yun's gaze was fixed on the lotus pod that had just shed its petals and bore lotus seeds, finally understanding why he treasured this lotus so much. He joked with a smile, "Are you studying medicine or plants?"

Zhou Yun said seriously, "Science knows no boundaries. The knowledge passed down by our ancestors, although largely empirical and result-oriented, allows us to reverse-engineer and identify scientific principles based on observed efficacy."

"These lotus seeds and lotus flowers are medicinal in nature. As the saying goes, 'one lotus gives birth to nine medicines.' They are effective for stopping bleeding, clearing the heart and cooling the blood, detoxifying and removing dampness, nourishing the heart and spleen."

"Today, I'll make you a lotus root soup and lotus seed porridge. It'll be good for you," he said enthusiastically.

He immediately went down to retrieve his stored lotus seeds and lilies to soak in water, and then took out two sections of lotus root from the fridge, peeling and cutting them into blocks. He stewed the lotus root with bones and used the resulting broth to cook a hearty rice porridge.

He also saved a section of lotus root, chopped it up, mixed it with meat filling, wrapped it in tofu skin, and steamed it, creating a perfect dish.

After lunch, as usual, Zhou Yun administered an acupuncture session for Guan Yuanfeng. It had been a while since the last needle insertion, and Zhou Yun buried the needles again, saying, "It's hot, so be careful not to get an infection."

Guan Yuanfeng didn't think much of it, assuming it was part of the treatment. The herbal remedies Zhou Yun had been giving him had significantly improved his sleep.

Regular meals and increased exercise from practicing archery had restored vitality and energy to his body.

The daily trivialities, like deciding what to eat for each meal and focusing on hitting the target with each arrow, helped distract him from his mental pain effectively.

Thinking of this, he felt a greater sense of closeness towards Zhou Yun.

It was too hot, but by nightfall, it finally cooled down. The evening breeze gently blew as Zhou Yun set up a small charcoal stove on the rooftop, placing a grilling stone slab and preparing some sweet frozen rice wine. He gathered fresh vegetables, cucumbers, enoki mushrooms, and sliced lamb, beef, and pork for a barbecue on the rooftop.

Wearing gloves, he held a frozen piece of beef, slicing thin pieces that revealed a marbled fat pattern, indicating exceptional taste.

Guan Yuanfeng, watching him slice the meat, couldn't help but praise, "Your scalpel skills are impressive. This knife is beautiful. Do you like collecting weapons?"

The short knife with beautiful patterns was skillfully held by Zhou Yun. His fingers, though slender and fair, exuded strength, wielding the knife with the dexterity of a master butcher.

Zhou Yun smiled slightly and squeezed half of a freshly cut lemon, letting the juice fall onto the meat slices, releasing a refreshing and invigorating lemon scent.

After the apocalypse, doctors became incredibly valuable, as the initial zombie outbreak occurred in hospitals, causing heavy casualties among healthcare professionals.

As a rare doctor, Zhou Yun had indeed performed many surgeries.

He had dissected countless corpses, searching for crystal cores inside, studying the physiological differences between zombies, psychic users, and ordinary people, and exploring the scientific basis and principles behind the formation of powers.

On the rooftop, clusters of honeysuckle flowers bloomed, their fragrance permeating the moonlit night. The leaves of pumpkins and sweet potatoes reflected faint light. Someone in the neighborhood was playing the violin intermittently, probably finding solace in music amidst the restrictions.

A deep blue night sky hung with a bright moon, as pure and icy as a disk.

In the distance, the shadows of mountains were deep, and a few scattered stars glimmered at the edge of the dark sky.

The reservoir's surface shimmered faintly, and the night sky, distant mountains, and water merged together under the moonlight, quiet and beautiful, as if existing eternally from ancient times.

Yet Zhou Yun already knew that time was running out. He could no longer remember which night in his previous life the red fog suddenly descended, marking the arrival of the apocalypse. But it should have been during the period of emergency control, and such brilliantly peaceful summer nights would no longer exist.

As he had read in a book, "A thousand cups of untasted fine wine were spilled, and a thousand unmet gazes of love were shattered. A thousand unseen vistas vanished, never to return."

Feeling slightly tipsy, he looked at Guan Yuanfeng's strong brow, deep eyes, and stubborn jawline, and poured a glass of sweet, thick rice wine, saying, "Have a drink. This is the best batch of rice wine I've brewed."

Guan Yuanfeng, observing the young and handsome doctor, couldn't understand why there was always a hint of melancholy in his gaze, often with a sense of pain and pity. But he didn't feel his pride was offended; instead, he sensed a genuine regret.

Smiling, he took the cool, icy glass filled with rice wine and crystal-clear ice cubes, took a sip, and agreed, "Indeed, it tastes very good."

In the middle of the night, Zhou Yun was awakened by intense pain and a parched throat. He struggled to get up, breaking out in a layer of sweat.

He looked out the window and, sure enough, saw that the moon had turned red, as red fog enveloped it.

In Danlin City, the red fog had descended.

His entire body was in excruciating pain. His throat felt like it was being sliced by a razor, and his head throbbed so badly he wished he could just black out.

There was an infrared thermometer on the bedside table, and Zhou Yun measured his temperature, seeing that it had already reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

It felt like a forced upgrade. Either you survived and gained psychic powers, which would help you survive in this apocalypse, or you died and turned into a zombie.

He had always suspected that the virus promoting this evolution was the same one, and becoming a zombie was perhaps just another form of "transformation."

Zhou Yun struggled to sit up, fighting off the dizziness, and plucked the lotus pod from the bedside. He put it in his mouth, chewing and swallowing it.

The fresh, tender lotus seeds provided a burst of sweet juice, while the slightly bitter core added a sharp contrast. He ate every bit of it, then grabbed a glass of water from the bedside table and drank it down.

In his past life, taking a fever reducer did nothing to help. This time, he took a fever reducer, hoping it wouldn’t interfere with his psychic awakening. He picked up his phone and checked the neighborhood group chat. It was eerily quiet, with no one realizing that the apocalypse had already begun in the darkness of the night.