"Sister Yao, are we leaving with the main group?" Xiao Shiliu asked.
"Yes. Traveling together will be safer. All sorts of mutant plants have wrecked the roads, so speeding down the highway is out of the question. We'll be safer with the main group.
"But there's no need to go to the Safe Zone. As long as we're strong enough, anywhere can be a safe zone." Bai Yaoyao's confident tone made everyone pause before bursting into laughter.
That was Sister Yao, even in the apocalypse.
Everyone was just about to head off to train when they saw Captain Meng Qilin return.
"Captain Bai!"
"Captain Meng, what can I do for you?" Bai Yaoyao saw someone lying on the stretcher carried by several people behind Meng Qilin and could more or less guess why he had come.
"I was wondering whether your team has anyone with a healing ability. The healer we brought has run out of energy..."
Bai Yaoyao glanced at the unconscious old man on the stretcher. Malnutrition had probably caused him to pass out. There were also obvious scratches on his arm, but the wounds had no rotten smell. She suspected a mutant beast had scratched him rather than a Zombies.
Seeing Bai Yaoyao's slight frown, Meng Qilin hurried to explain, "Those aren't Zombies scratches. We just checked. He hasn't been bitten or scratched by a Zombies."
Bai Yaoyao nodded. The unconscious old man looked oddly familiar, but she couldn't remember who he was.
When Peiqi saw Sister Yao nod, she stepped forward and immediately began healing him. Pale green light radiated from her hands, and the wounds on his arm began closing before their eyes.
But the wounds were too deep, and he probably had other injuries as well. Peiqi gradually began struggling to sustain her ability.
"Little Brother Xuan, lend a hand," Bai Yaoyao said.
Chenxuan was already prepared, just waiting for Sister Yao to ask.
"His ability is amplification," Bai Yaoyao patiently explained to Meng Qilin.
Meng Qilin couldn't help raising his eyebrows. This was a new type of ability the authorities didn't yet know about. He would have to update the information and report it when he got back.
About five minutes later, the unconscious old man finally woke up.
Only when Bai Yaoyao saw him open his eyes did she remember who he was-Professor Lin Zhengying!
In the ninth year of the apocalypse, he had developed a Prototype Serum that could resist infection from Zombies poison. It was called a prototype because it wasn't completely effective; its success rate was very low.
Yet even a prototype had been enough to give people hope. Unfortunately, Professor Lin Zhengying had died after developing it, due to old injuries compounded by severe overwork.
She wondered whether Peiqi and Chenxuan's help this time would change Professor Lin Zhengying's fate from her previous life and allow him to develop a fully effective serum.
Bai Yaoyao was filled with emotion, but none of it showed on her face.
Although Professor Lin Zhengying had regained consciousness, he was still weak. Captain Meng Qilin didn't linger. He left ten Level-Two Crystal Cores, said goodbye, and hurried away with his people.
Bai Yaoyao casually tossed the crystal cores to Peiqi and Chenxuan, smiling. "Look at you two, already earning money on the side."
"Hahaha!"
Over the next few days, the temperature was so high that they stayed indoors, focusing on improving their abilities.
Their abilities all improved considerably. Although not everyone had reached level three yet, they were close.
Level three was a dividing line. With enough crystal cores, almost anyone could reach it, but progressing beyond that required talent and combat experience.
When Bai Yaoyao woke up that morning, she suddenly noticed that the temperature had dropped considerably. She quickly switched off the air conditioner and looked out the window. Seeing that it had started raining again, she frowned.
After the intense heat came torrential rain. There was no need to think about it-the whole city would be filled with an indescribable stench.
Downstairs, she found Fat Brother and Stone already awake, chatting on the sofa.
"Yaoyao, I'm bored out of my mind. We've absorbed all our crystal cores, too. Isn't it time to head out?" Fat Brother bit off half a jianbing without letting it interrupt his talking.
Stone said nothing, but he looked just as eager.
"All right. Once everyone's here, we'll eat our fill and set off. After this rain, there'll be almost no level zero zombies left. The zombies and mutant flora and fauna will all be much stronger, too.
"We're too close to Phoenix Cry Mountain. Staying here any longer will be dangerous. It's time for a change of location anyway," Bai Yaoyao said.
"Oho, are we unlocking a new map?" Fat Brother asked with interest.
"Something like that."
Once everyone was up, they enjoyed a lavish breakfast together, then quickly packed their things and prepared to leave.
Peiqi had bought only the best furniture and appliances when furnishing the place. Leaving them behind would be such a waste, so Bai Yaoyao emptied the entire villa, not even leaving a single curtain.
Peiqi was deeply pleased by Sister Yao's actions. "Now all the money I spent on these things hasn't gone to waste."
Monkey added, "This is the most expensive villa neighborhood in H City. Should we loot the other villas too?"
Bai Yaoyao thought it was a good idea. The more supplies they had, the better. Who knew how long the apocalypse would last? Better to be prepared.
So she said, "Wait here for a bit. I'll take a look around."
There were sixteen villas in the area, and apart from their group, no one remained nearby. There had originally been a few survivors, but when Captain Meng Qilin came to rescue Professor Lin Zhengying, he had taken the other survivors away as well.
Bai Yaoyao simply forced her way through the doors and collected all the basic furnishings.
Interestingly, several villas had rooms that looked like collection rooms. People fleeing for their lives couldn't possibly take antique vases with them, so Bai Yaoyao got them all. She even found three small boxes of gold bars in one villa.
When she returned after looting everything, she found Keke still saying goodbye to the large tree outside their villa.
Seeing how reluctant Keke was to part with it, Bai Yaoyao let Little Crook out to persuade the tree to leave with them.
Keke hesitated, then said, "Sister Yao, the tree says it doesn't want to leave its home. Let's forget it."
Bai Yaoyao nodded. Although a wood ability allowed someone to communicate with plants, if the plant itself was unwilling, they couldn't force it into a contract.
Bai Yaoyao gave Keke a cup of Spring Water. "Little Crook loves drinking this. Give the tree a cup and see what it says. I'll go inside and tell everyone it's time to leave."
By the time Bai Yaoyao came out with everyone, the tree outside had vanished, leaving a deep pit behind. Keke, meanwhile, was flushed with excitement.
"Sister Yao! Qingling said that from now on, wherever I am will be its home. I named the tree Qingling," Keke said, running over.
Little Crook wrapped a branch around Bai Yaoyao's arm.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle!"
(Look at that name!)
Bai Yaoyao felt a little embarrassed and ignored Little Crook's silent protest. Little Crook was a perfectly nice name-descriptive and easy to remember!
She didn't know why plants loved this Spring Water so much. She hadn't noticed Little Crook leveling up or growing stronger, and neither she nor Doggie had experienced any changes after drinking it. It quenched their thirst, just like ordinary water.
Still, it was a good thing.
Before you continue