Chapter 5 - Rainstorm

Due to the hot weather, Wu Ye soon finished the mineral water he fished out from the system. He was affected by the horror movies he had seen that he dared not drink the water from the well directly. When he needed to drink the water from there, he could only take down leftover wood boards from the house for firewood and boil the water. Only after boiling the water could he consider it safe for drinking.

After some time, the Wu Ye who was originally terrified of this apocalypse experience, slowly calmed down and considered a plan for his return home. For the time being, he still had to stay in this world, Qin Wuhua had not stirred yet, and his supply of nutrition packs was running out.

Wu Ye did not want to sit down and wait for death. He would constantly go out to look for food, hoping to meet any passing survivor who could help both him and Qin Wuhua. Wu Ye did not have much luck hailing a passing car along the country road. If there ever was one, it just roared past him, leaving him with a face full of exhaust gas, before he could call out for help. He was even almost mobbed by a group of zombies who got attracted to the sound of the car engine.

At this critical situation, Wu Ye decided to take action and defend himself. He traded the 12 points he had earned and the only crystal nucleus in his possession for a bow, and also bought 30 arrows on credit. Then, he used the beginner level archery skills that the system provided. Using all these, Wu Ye managed to escape while getting rid of more than 10 zombies that had been persistently chasing him. Now, the points Wu Ye had earned and the crystal nucleus he had gained had been spent to pay the system for his equipment and skills, leaving him with only two points and one crystal nucleus.

Even if Wu Ye was not good with bows and arrows, he still chose the weapon because it was what the system had advised him to do at that moment. Due to his poor skills, only five or six arrows could be reused from the original bundle of 30. He also had to exchange his remaining points and crystal nucleus for 10 pure steel-forged arrows, which could shoot better.

Moreover, Wu Ye had bought two tubes of low-level nutrients on credit and now owed the system 10 points and two first-grade nucleus. He was so vexed, he couldn't help but curse the system countless times.

"Why are the nutrients more expensive than pure steel arrows? Do your researchers know how unreasonable your prices are?" Wu Ye yelled resentfully at the system.

The system was silent for a while before it responded to him for the first time. "The exchange rules are calculated according to the law of energy conversion. Is there anything wrong with that?" the system asked in a puzzled tone.

"You algorithm is wrong," Wu Ye retorted. "How can such foul-tasting nutrient be sold at an unbelievably high price?!"

The system was silent for a long time before it uttered, "Oh". Then…

Then, there was no more. Whatever arguments Wu Ye wanted to raise, was met by the system's unyielding silence.

"If this goes on, when would I be able to save enough points to go back home?" Normally, Wu Ye was not easily discouraged. The nutrients he had bought was enough for him for two days, but the zombie repellent was almost used up. Without the zombie repellent, he wouldn't be able to hold off the zombies much longer. Moreover, zombie repellent was priced twice as much as the nutrients.

Aside from that, the system also said that only when the system had enough energy could it allow Wu Ye to buy things on credit. Without energy, it couldn't do anything. The system's credit scheme was not without its cost. Wu Ye's credit purchases were 30% more beyond the official exchange price. In its rarely generous mood, the system said that it would claim "loan interest" once Wu Ye had earned a balance.

Wu Ye did not know how much more things he could buy on credit. But right now, he could only see his future as one burdened with debts. When he reconsidered how he had spent a lot of money on silly things last month… forget it! The more you thought about it, the more it would bring you to tears.

In the evening, Wu Ye took a cold bath in the yard using well water. He also boiled some water and let it cool. When it was warm enough to drink, he ate a few mouthfuls of nutrients and washed it down with warm water. He then pried open Qin Wuhua's mouth to also feed him with the same water and nutrients.

"Really, why won't you wake up?" Wu Ye had asked for countless of times but the system pretended to be dead, and stayed silent not giving him any answer at all. After seeing that Qin Wuhua had finally regained his normal body temperature, his face had recovered its healthy color, and his wounds had completely healed, Wu Ye was reluctant to leave him.

The vaccine was expensive. The system would require him 500 points and 100 above-lowest-level nuclei to manufacture it. Even if he wanted to buy it now, what he had in his possession did not even add up to a tenth of the vaccine's cost. He had bet his free vaccines and used them on Qin Wuhua but he still had not stirred until now. This had not only ruined his potential profit from his investment but had also dissipated his fortune.

T/N: Dissipate one's fortune aka bankrupt.

Of course, Wu Ye had considered many times what would happen if Qin Wuhua woke up not recognizing people.

However, he remembered how Qin Wuhua had pulled him up when he fell, how he had helped him block the zombie's mouths with his bare arms, and how he had used himself to divert the zombie's attention before falling into coma. Qin Wuhua knew then that he had been infected, but he had desperately fled, unwilling to become food for the zombies. Still, Qin Wuhua willingly gave up all his effort to escape, to help a stranger like him. This is enough to assure him that Qin Wuhua was not a cold-blooded man.

Wu Ye had killed some zombies, but he did not think this was the real apocalypse. Even before he came to this world, old people had lamented how society had lost its morals. What more in an apocalyptic situation like this?

Rabbits bite when cornered, not to mention people who were pushed to their limit. One must not only be wary of zombies, but also the wicked minds of people. With his current ability, he wouldn't be able to save all those 1000 points and 1000 nuclei for that return trip back home, even if he offered his life. He must have a team. Also, instead of putting his trust on a complete stranger, might as well work with someone who had saved his life and also owed him one.

Sleep, sleep, don't think too much. Tomorrow, he would need to find a way to get more points and crystal nuclei. People in debt can't afford to be hurt. After running all day, Wu Ye's entire body felt uncomfortable. He fell down on the broken cotton wool that he had collected and was asleep like dead in minutes.

In the middle of the night, Qin Wuhua woke up again and accidentally touched the warm "octopus" wrapped around his body. In fact, for half a month, he would always wake up in the middle of the night, and three days ago, he felt that he had gotten better. His had gradually recovered his strength with a mysterious force slowly filling up his body.

Although he had heard that some people who had been bitten by zombies survived and woke up with new power, that rumor has not been confirmed. Qin Wuhua did not expect that one day, he would meet good fortune because of his bad luck. He also did not expect that this little guy would take care of him all the time while he was indisposed.

He had always hated touching people. In the past, if someone had dared to lay on him like this, that person would have been sent flying. But now, he felt that the feeling of holding this little guy in his arms did not seem so annoying.

Had he become vulnerable because he had been weak?

Qin Wuhua hesitated for a moment before raising his hand to put it on Wu Ye's back. In the quiet room, while listening to each other's breathing and heartbeat, Qin Wuhua felt at ease.

In the morning, Wu Ye woke up to the sound of thundering rain. Only then did he realize that this was the first rain since he came to this world. He opened the door, and saw the rain pouring outside. The rain curtain covered the place with a thin layer of water mist, and the strong vapor that hung in the air brought a bit sense of depression. On the other hand, it successfully washed away the lingering stench of the ordinary day, making people feel at ease.

It was raining hard, and it was impossible to go out, so Wu Ye decided to boil some water for breakfast. Even after eating the nutrients for more than 10 days, he still couldn't adapt to its sour taste, and could only swallow it with water. However, it was raining hard to fetch water. Fortunately, Wu Ye had developed a sense of crisis during his half-month stay in this apocalyptic place, that he had stored boiled water in pots and pans for emergency use.

The rainy weather made the firewood under the stove moist. It took Wu Ye a great deal of effort to light them up before a white smoke finally floated out of the chimney, making a conspicuous sight in the wilderness.

On the country road, a speeding pickup truck suddenly came to a halt after traveling from a long distance. Ji Yun helplessly stopped the car and hit the steering wheel with annoyance. "Boss, we ran out of gas. What should I do?" Recalling his experience these past few days, Ji Yun couldn't help but curse his boss's mother. Once they have returned, he must break away from this Mr. Wang. Even if Mr. Wang had power, he was a complete lunatic. Working for him would ensure that one would meet his death sooner or later.

Wang He rolled down the window and surveyed the place with his telescope. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of smoke rising from the distance. He grinned and said, "There's someone in that house ahead. You hold Ah Jian, and I'll go get something. We'll stay here first and think of something when the rain stops."

Ji Yun looked at the half-zombie Wang Jian from the rearview mirror, and he felt his scalp turn numb as he hesitantly said, "Boss, brother Jian…"

Wang He gave him a pointed look and asked, "Why, you have a problem with holding my younger brother?"

Ji Yun, gulped and said dryly, "No, no problem. Brother Jian has a bright future ahead of him. He will certainly be able to awaken his powers like boss did."

Wang He sneered with an uncertain meaning and said, "Alright, stop the flattery and quickly help my brother out. Once he wakes up, you would ultimately benefit from this."

Ji Yun could not help but recall the incident last night when Pang Zhonglin broke his neck when Wang Jian suddenly pounced on him and bit him. That time, Pang Zhonglin was sitting just beside him! He could still hear his pitiful screams and the munching sounds Wang Jian made as he gnawed on Pang Zhonglin's body. Now, that body was placed inside a sleeping bag which sat in the car trunk. Ji Yun could guess what Wang He was up to but what could he do? He was just an ordinary man. Wang He wanted to kill him and he couldn't escape.

Think before you act.

Ji Yun gritted his teeth and jumped out of the car. He tied up Wang Jian up into a zongzi*, stuffed his mouth, wrapped him in a thick raincoat, and covered him up. It was Pang Zhonglin's flesh and blood that played a huge role in satisfying Wang Jian's hunger, that he obediently let Ji Yun carry him while staggering forward. He did look like a patient at first glance.

Truthfully, Wu Ye was a very lucky guy. The small mountain village where he had been transported to was located on the edge of a medium-sized encampment, surrounded by mountains on three sides, where very few zombies exist. Similarly, because the place was already looted several times by survivors, and the roads to this location was not very good, very few people passed by.

While the fire burned under the stove, Wu Ye skimmed through the history textbooks he had collected two days ago. The book was written in traditional Chinese characters, which Wu Ye was able to understand. This textbook should be aimed at junior students as it described the order each dynasty's reign, and the outstanding emperors of each dynasty. Wu Ye was surprised to find out that the history of this world was similar to his Z country's history. They also have the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns*, the three emperors were Xia, Shang, and Zhou and the five dynasties were Qin, Han, Wu, Song, Yuan, and Ming, as well as several familiar historical figures.

This biggest turn of events in this world's history which differed from Z country's was that the braided army did not overthrew the rulers of Ming Dynasty. Instead, a Wu Sangui seized the throne and became emperor, replacing Ming Dynasty with his own Qing Dynasty. Then, under the forces of history, Qing Dynasty gradually fell apart as domestic capitalism grew, and European colonial expansion crept it.

Wu Ye was reading about the Opium Wars, which was regarded as a turning point in the history, when he suddenly heard someone knocking loudly at the door from the outside.

"Hello! Is there anyone inside?"

Wu Ye stood up in surprise. "F*ck, who had such loud voice? Did he want to draw all the zombies out to him?"