Opening and Closing Eyes

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei scouted the perimeter of the station building together, then sent the Mechanical Dog inside.

Once the Mechanical Dog's eyes lit up, they completely confirmed that the gas station was safe, just like before.

This was a necessary reconnaissance step every time they arrived at a new location. Honestly, Lu Xi'an hadn't been as cautious as Yao Wei before; he'd only thoroughly check a new place the first time he set foot in it, then he'd relax.

But he felt Yao Wei's approach was fine. After all, safety was no small matter, so he decided to follow her example.

To be honest, he'd learned a lot from this woman.

Afterward, Yao Wei took out a device from her backpack that could power circuits and walked towards the electrical box on the outside of the platform.

Lu Xi'an noticed Yao Wei frown as she looked at the square device in her hands, appearing hesitant and pained.

"What's wrong?"

He asked.

"It's almost out of power."

Yao Wei replied.

Hearing those four words, Lu Xi'an understood. That thing was probably a Power Bank or something similar. Its remaining charge was low, and it would likely be unusable after a few more uses.

--Maybe even just one.

No wonder Yao Wei was pained.

Speaking of which, the battery technology in this world was quite advanced. Look at Doggy, then look at the Power Bank in Yao Wei's hands; there was nothing this amazing in his previous life.

However, Lu Xi'an felt the energy technology in Doggy wasn't from ordinary batteries.

What kind of battery could support Doggy running around so energetically, walking, scanning, its eyes glowing, and even powering the villa?

He suspected Doggy housed an Ark Reactor or something similar.

He was very curious about it. If it weren't for his lack of technical skill, which would prevent him from reassembling Doggy if he took it apart, he definitely would have dismantled it to see.

"You should put it away and save it for later."

Lu Xi'an said to Yao Wei, then turned to the Mechanical Dog that had just trotted out of the station building, "Doggy, it's your turn."

Yao Wei looked taken aback. She lowered her head to look at the tiny Doggy on the ground.

The Mechanical Dog's eyes lit up, and it then shone its gaze towards the electrical box mounted on the outer wall of the station building. This was the process for scanning the electrical box's circuits.

Lu Xi'an instructed, "Just connect the gas pump's circuit."

The Mechanical Dog quickly located the circuit. Square panels opened on both sides of its body, and black wires with connectors shot out, heading straight into the electrical box.

After piercing into the electrical box, the light in Doggy's eyes dimmed. The entire Doggy was pulled up by the black wires. Just like when they were at the villa before, it stood upright with its back to the wall, unmoving.

However, at the villa, it had been pressed against the wall. This electrical box on the outside of the station building protruded outward, so Doggy hung from it, its body suspended in the air, swaying unsteadily.

"Buzzzzz--"

The gas pump's lights flickered on.

Yao Wei glanced back, then stared intently at the Mechanical Dog's eyes.

"Amazing."

She exclaimed.

This was the third time Lu Xi'an had heard such emotional fluctuation in her voice.

The first time was when she murmured his phrase "proctologist," and the second was when she said "what a pity" because proctologists couldn't eat.

All three emotional outbursts were related to Doggy.

"Consider it an early repayment for lending me your Wrench and Screwdriver."

Lu Xi'an said.

But Yao Wei still said, "Thank you."

Still adhering to her thrifty and economical attitude, she quickly went to the car, operated the gas pump, opened the fuel tank, and began refueling.

Once the tank was completely full, she told Lu Xi'an, "All done."

Lu Xi'an then told Doggy to come down.

Doggy retracted the black wires with a "clack" and landed on the ground. It wobbled over to Lu Xi'an's side.

Yao Wei's gaze had been fixed on Doggy the entire time; she seemed incredibly fond of it.

Only when Lu Xi'an picked up the Mechanical Dog did she say, "Let's go."

Both of them got into the car and slammed the doors shut. Yao Wei started the engine and continued heading west.

The moon was now high in the sky, likely past midnight.

However, neither Lu Xi'an nor Yao Wei had any timekeeping devices. The car had a clock, but it was long inaccurate, so they weren't sure of the exact time.

Long after leaving the gas station, a mountain appeared ahead. Yao Wei drove the car towards the mountains.

When they reached a place where the forest grew dense, she said, "Let's go."

Lu Xi'an glanced back, and seeing that Yao Wei had also opened her car door and gotten out, he followed suit.

He and Yao Wei scouted the surrounding area, finding a road suitable for concealment and for driving the car through, before they got back in.

"Actually, this job could be handed over to Doggy," Lu Xi'an said after getting into the car.

Yao Wei drove towards their chosen destination and replied, "I can't always trouble you."

Eight characters.

"So polite," Lu Xi'an chuckled, saying it casually, and then said no more.

After Yao Wei drove the car to the destination, she stopped, turned off the lights and engine, and asked Lu Xi'an to get out with her to cover the tire tracks they had made on the way in, before returning to the car.

This woman must be used to this kind of thing; she handled the tire tracks skillfully and efficiently, and Lu Xi'an learned another skill.

Back in the car, Yao Wei reclined the seat back, took off her leather jacket, and covered herself with it, saying, "Sleep."

Lu Xi'an did the same, reclining the passenger seat.

He closed his eyes, holding the submachine gun in his arms, and waited a moment, deliberately slowing his breathing as if he had fallen asleep. Then he listened carefully for a while longer, and only when he sensed no movement from his side did he relax slightly.

Meanwhile, Yao Wei beside him opened her eyes at this moment. Her nerves were constantly taut, and beneath her leather jacket, her hand still held a gun.

She didn't turn her head, only glanced sideways from the corner of her eye, and then, as if reassured, closed her eyes again.

After a while, Lu Xi'an rolled over onto his side, smacked his lips, the submachine gun still clutched in his arms.

After waiting a moment, he opened his eyes a slit and secretly glanced towards the driver's seat.

Still no movement, good.

He closed his eyes again.

After waiting a bit longer, Yao Wei also moved slightly, opening her eyes a slit, and glancing sideways again from the corner of her eye.

After that, under her leather jacket, the hand holding the gun relaxed slightly.

By this point, both of them were convinced that regardless of whether the other person in the car was asleep, they at least had no murderous intent towards them.

Only then could they truly fall asleep with peace of mind.

While they slept, Doggy had also transformed into its box form and lay quietly by Lu Xi'an's feet.

Of the two people and one dog, it was actually the one resting most soundly.

And so, a night passed. As the sky began to lighten the next day, the morning sun pierced through the mountain forest, and suddenly, a sound seemed to ring out.

The two people in the car woke up abruptly, followed the sound with their eyes, and saw a wild boar not far outside the car. It wasn't too big, but it wasn't small either.

The wild boars in this apocalypse looked lean and didn't have much meat, but it was enough for a good meal or two.

Today was good luck; the weather was warm, the cold snap hadn't arrived, and it was another bright sunny day.

And prey had come knocking first thing in the morning. This thing, unlike hyenas, should be edible.

Lu Xi'an immediately raised his submachine gun and gently rolled down the car window.

--Yao Wei's car had a hand-cranked window.