Sharp Brother Luo Ping

The luggage was brought to the tunnel entrance in bundles, and Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei carried over two buckets instead of just one.

They stacked the buckets together, planning to use them as a single bucket most of the time. If one broke, they could use the other as a replacement.

Also, after some of the supplies in the car had been used up, there would probably be room to store the buckets.

But there wouldn't be room for many more, so they took only two.

The dog had already cut off the power in the shelter and followed them. It had charged the drone's battery to full, and now sent it out to fly around under its control.

"It's clear outside. Let's go."

After the Mechanical Dog's eyes lit up, Lu Xi'an was satisfied that it was safe. He and Yao Wei moved the rocks blocking the entrance.

Once they were outside, they didn't rush to seal the entrance. Instead, they tore down the back wall beside it and moved out the car that had been parked inside the room for so many days. Only after loading everything into the car did they seal up the entrance.

They sealed up the back wall of the house as well.

In this world, you never knew what might happen. What if they needed this place again someday and had to hide the car inside?

After they had finished everything, Yao Wei opened the car's hood and reconnected the battery cables. Lu Xi'an put the key in the ignition and started the car. Once they had confirmed everything was in order, it was time to set off for real.

They first went to the gas station east of Gao Family Village and refilled the tank, then continued on their way.

Lu Xi'an took the driver's seat this time, so he would drive.

After their last fight, the two of them had developed a good understanding.

Lu Xi'an wasn't much of a shot, but he was a decent driver. It made more sense for him to drive and for Yao Wei to take the passenger seat and provide cover.

They would still have to go around Gao Family Village. Neither Lu Xi'an nor Yao Wei wanted to run into the people occupying it again.

"I wonder how Sharp Brother is doing. It's been so long; he must have gotten away by now, right?"

As they drove along a small road, Lu Xi'an chatted idly.

Aside from Yao Wei, Sharp Brother was the person who had left the strongest impression on him since he came to this world.

That sharp outfit of his and the slick way he talked made him hard to forget.

But Lu Xi'an's nickname for him came from memories of his previous life, so Yao Wei didn't understand. "Sharp Brother?"

"That Luo... Luo..."

For a moment, Lu Xi'an couldn't remember Sharp Brother's name.

Yao Wei remembered it, though. "Luo Ping."

She still didn't understand why Lu Xi'an called him that. Luo Ping didn't seem sharp or like a brother to her. He looked older and greasier.

How could someone that greasy be sharp?

"Oh, right. Luo Ping."

Lu Xi'an said, "He should have left. That sedan of his was pretty fast, and those people wrecked one of their own cars. I doubt they could catch him now."

"Mm."

Yao Wei thought Lu Xi'an was right.

But just after he finished speaking, they suddenly heard a voice from far away. "Big brother, big sister, save me!"

The voice was faint, as if it had drifted from a great distance. Even Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, both New Humans, could barely make it out.

They exchanged a glance, then both confirmed that the voice really was coming from far away.

It was Sharp Brother Luo Ping's voice.

Lu Xi'an hit the brakes and made a snap decision. "Looks like things didn't go the way we expected. Let's go take a look and see how that guy's doing. We can ask about the situation while we're at it."

"Okay."

Yao Wei agreed.

But Lu Xi'an didn't drive straight over. First, he had the dog send the drone out to scout the area. Only after confirming there was no danger did he shift gears, step on the gas, and turn the wheel, following the drone.

Luo Ping was lying by the small road, about two hundred meters away. The ground there was slightly higher, but tall weeds had grown all over it. Who knew how they had survived the ice and snow?

He was lying among the weeds, his body hidden from view. People wouldn't see him unless they came right up to him, but from his higher vantage point, he could see the road.

"Big brother, big sister, long time no see. I knew it was you as soon as I saw the car. Sure enough, you two are the only good people around here."

The moment he saw Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, he grinned.

They saw that his face was ashen and his lips were pale. His sunglasses were nowhere to be seen, and there was a gash across his chest. Blood had soaked his entire coat. He was so weak that he seemed about to die at any moment, yet he was still able to speak with a smile.

The guy had an incredible will to live.

"What happened to you?"

Lu Xi'an got out of the car, pointed his gun at Luo Ping, and asked.

Luo Ping didn't seem to mind the gun pointed at him. "Those people from the county seat don't fight fair. They teamed up with Liangshui Village. I've been hiding for days, and they still kept watch for me. They even stole my car.

"I risked my life over and over and killed a lot of them. I also wiped out everyone at their Gao Family Village stronghold.

"But I've run out of food. If I don't get something to eat, I'll die..."

Lu Xi'an was confused. "What do you mean, you risked your life over and over?"

"I'm a Type B New Human."

Luo Ping spoke urgently. "Big brother, big sister, could you ask me later? If I don't get something to eat, I really won't make it."

Lu Xi'an was a little surprised. Were there different types of New Humans, like Type A, B, C, and D? He had thought all New Humans were the same.

He glanced at Yao Wei, but saw a fleeting look of confusion in her eyes too. It seemed she didn't know about this either.

From what Luo Ping said, it seemed that a Type B New Human's condition was connected to food.

Seeing how Luo Ping was struggling just to speak and really did seem close to death, Lu Xi'an decided to trust him for now. He went to the car, took a packet of Instant Noodles from his bag, and opened it as he asked, "What other types of New Humans are there?"

"Thank you! You're a good man, big brother!"

Luo Ping was overjoyed. He managed to speak and quickly answered Lu Xi'an's question. "If there are Type B New Humans, then there must be Types A, C, and D too. But I haven't met any, so I don't know what they're like.

"Someone else told me I was Type B."

Then Lu Xi'an broke off a piece of the noodle cake and tossed it to Luo Ping.

Luo Ping: "..."

Lu Xi'an said, "Sorry, I don't have much Instant Noodles left either. Including this packet, I only have four packets left." He divided half the remaining noodle cakes in the bag and handed them to Yao Wei.

Yao Wei took them without hesitation. The two of them munched on the noodle cakes as they watched Luo Ping perform.

Luo Ping's mouth twitched, but he managed to smile. "It's fine. A bite is enough. It'll keep me alive for now."

As he spoke, he picked up the piece of noodle cake that had fallen on him, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed vigorously for a long time, cheeks bulging, before swallowing it.

Then Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei watched as his head lolled to one side and his eyes closed, as if he were dead.

The two of them were baffled, but a moment later they saw the wound on Luo Ping's chest rapidly scab over and heal. The corpse-like pallor faded from his face before their eyes, and his lips quickly regained their color.

This guy had really come back to life!