Continuing his journey, he began seeing remnants of vehicles and damaged buildings, getting excited at the sight of human traces.

"Hello! Anyone here?" Zhou You shouted as he walked, his voice echoing among the mountains, with only birds and beasts responding.

"Is that a city up ahead?" Zhou You, who had abandoned his bike on a path earlier due to the terrain, spotted walls covered in greenery. The architecture wasn't reminiscent of designs from ten years ago; it seemed newer.

Proceeding cautiously, he followed the city wall until he came across a large breach, overgrown with vegetation, signaling another abandoned place.

Entering through the breach, he found a well-structured village with some houses still intact but eerily empty.

Insects occasionally jumped out of the grass. Pushing open the door of a house, a steel door creaked loudly.

As the door swung open, a wild cat lunged at Zhou You, its sharp claws aiming for his face. He deflected its initial attack with his military dagger and drove it away with a piece of wood.

"Lucky it was just a cat. Its size was almost that of a leopard." The house's interior was modestly furnished, indicative of its occupant's simple needs.

The village houses had two floors. After exploring, Zhou You found some damp books—popular novels from a decade ago, broken utensils, and a usable thermos, which he took to replace his lost water bottle.

The town, originally walled, showed signs of attacks. No corpses were visible, leaving Zhou You hoping that the inhabitants had managed to escape.

In a dilapidated building, he discovered a suitcase with clean clothes and shoes, precisely what he needed. The suitcase also contained several packs of cigarettes and a melon knife, painting a picture of the chaos of the time when even civilians had to carry weapons.

He also found some personal items in other houses, including a bag with toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a towel. He packed everything into his suitcase without regard for expiration dates.

After covering the entire town, his suitcase was full, save for food. He had gathered many necessities and wouldn't be living like a savage for a while.

As night approached, Zhou You decided to spend it in one of the buildings. Despite their dilapidated state, they were more comfortable than caves. By securing the doors and windows, he knew he could sleep soundly, undisturbed by the roars outside.

Chapter 004: Offering You Grilled Fish

Zhou You was jolted awake in the middle of the night by the all-too-familiar sensation of an earthquake. He quickly grabbed his backpack and suitcase, jumping out of the window. The tremors intensified, indicating the earthquake's epicenter was nearby.

Watching buildings collapse one after another, Zhou You dashed toward the forest. Once beyond the city walls and looking back, the once-intact structures lay in ruins, soon to be reclaimed by nature and becoming part of the forest. Signs of humanity would soon vanish.

Zhou You witnessed the site's disappearance, feeling heavy-hearted. It's no wonder he hadn't seen familiar towns on his journey—they had been consumed by nature. Could humans still survive on Earth?

Re-entering the forest, he noticed the ground tremors had lessened. The trees had deeply rooted systems, holding firmly to the earth. No wonder the animals weren't fleeing in panic, making Zhou You, a human, seem out of place.

With dawn yet to break, Zhou You didn't dare wander. He settled beneath a tree, gazing at the sparkling stars—a breathtaking sight, marred only by solitude.

A soft chirp caught his attention. Three vibrantly colored birds, larger than any he'd seen before, soared above. Their species remained a mystery.

His curiosity piqued. Along his journey, he'd seen animals grow in size and mutate. But if both fauna and flora were evolving, why hadn't he changed?

Touching his bearded face, Zhou You remembered he hadn't had a proper look at himself since leaving the refuge. Recalling his razor in his luggage, he planned a trip to the river at first light.

A massive wild boar was drinking at the river's edge. Sensing Zhou You, it charged without hesitation, seeing him as a potential breakfast.

Dropping his belongings, Zhou You limbered up, shouting, "Come at me! I've been craving some pork!"

The boar, the size of an adult elephant, had daunting tusks and a forceful charge. Instead of confronting it head-on, Zhou You relied on his agility, outmaneuvering and disorienting it.

A powerful punch to the boar's forehead was met with the distinct sound of cracking bones and the creature's agonizing cry. Zhou You reckoned his full-strength blow was enormously powerful.

Exhausted, he sat amidst the upturned flora, reflecting on the viciousness of even common animals. "If boars are this deadly, what chance would I stand against a lion or a tiger?"

Upon venturing out, Zhou You was brimming with confidence, but recent challenges had shaken him. Without his training in the Taiyi Heart Sutra, he'd consider retreating.

Catching his breath, he considered slicing a piece of the boar. He'd eaten boar a decade ago, but wondered about the edibility of this mutated variety.