Chapter 36 – The Long-lost Peace 久违的平静

After being reminded by the Jiuchong Ring, Lin Yuan subconsciously clenched his fists, and his body tensed up due to nervousness. Moments later, the alarm suddenly stopped, and there was nothing unusual around. Lin Yuan was stunned for a few seconds. Just as he was about to take action, the voice of the administrator came from the laboratory's public address system:

"The alarm is lifted. The alarm is lifted. That was just a system test just now. Please stay calm, everyone."

Lin Yuan's eyes widened and he almost choked. "A test? Are they kidding? I thought the zombies were right outside!"

The Jiuchong Ring said coldly, "Host, even if it was just a test, it serves as a reminder that you can't let your guard down in the apocalypse. Also, it's time for you to experience your newly acquired ability now."

Lin Yuan was speechless, but he still followed the Jiuchong Ring's suggestion and tried to channel his wood-based supernatural ability. When he went to a place with fewer people, Lin Yuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the plants around him seemed to be summoned immediately. They quickly extended their branches, blossomed and sprouted. In seconds, a corner of the research institute was covered in green.

Lin Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the plants that grew according to his thoughts. His heart was filled with mixed emotions. He commanded the plants to try to transform into a shield, then into the shape of a spear, and finally even built a solid plant wall.

"It's really quite practical," Lin Yuan smiled self-deprecatingly. "This improvement is quite reliable."

"Host, this is just the start of your ability. Once you master it well, your wood-based power can work over a wider area, creating a wood domain and letting you control things."

Lin Yuan nodded, feeling more confident about the journey ahead.

...

The stable life in the Capital City, although not perfect, gradually helped Jiang Yulian regain her long-lost smile.

Every day, she would accompany her younger brother Jiang Tianming to walk around in the community and help him get used to the way of moving with his new prosthetic limb. Although Jiang Tianming had difficulty moving around, his mental state was much better than before. Every time he saw his sister's encouraging smile, he could feel a sense of warmth and strength.

One evening, Jiang Yulian, Jiang Tianming, and Xiao Hei were resting on a green lawn. The children around were playing. Despite the supply shortage, their laughter still rang in the air.

Jiang Tianming was sitting on a bench, stroking Xiao Hei's head and looking up at the setting sun. "Sis, do you think this place... is kind of like our old home?"

Jiang Yulian smiled. "It is a bit like it. Although it's a bit shabby, at least it's safe here, and we can catch our breath."

Jiang Tianming nodded thoughtfully. "If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have survived until today."

Jiang Yulian patted his shoulder gently. "Don't talk like that. As long as we're alive, things will get better. Success comes from sticking it out. Tianming, we must believe in ourselves."

Her voice was soft, but it carried a sense of firmness, which made Jiang Tianming's eyes become resolute as well.

In the following few days, Jiang Yulian began to actively participate in volunteer activities in the community, such as taking care of the injured refugees and assisting with the management of resource allocation. Although life was still difficult, she found a sense of value in it and brought more hope to the people around her.

Once, while she was handing out food to the kids, a little girl took her hand and asked shyly, "Auntie, can't we leave the city in the future?"

Jiang Yulian squatted down and gently comforted her, "No, that won't be the case. As long as we all work together, we will definitely be able to defeat those zombies, and then we can go out of the city to play. Little one, you have to be strong, okay?"

The little girl nodded vigorously and showed a sweet smile on her face.

That night, when Jiang Yulian and Jiang Tianming got back to their place, she looked at the city's twinkling lights outside the window and felt relieved. "Despite all the hardships, people still have good hearts. This city will come back to life."

The few days of peace also made Lin Yuan and Cao Yuwei relax a little. Lin Yuan even started to make fun of the "farmer attributes" of his wood-based supernatural ability.

"Growing vegetables, accelerating the growth of plants, building plant walls... Jiuchong Ring, are you sure I'm not on the path to becoming a senior gardener?"

The Jiuchong Ring replied coldly, "Host, if you can build an unbreakable plant defense or kill enemies with countless plant thorns, would you still see yourself as just a gardener?"

Lin Yuan shook his head, sighing. "Fine, I get it."

=====================

在九重戒提醒后,林远下意识握紧了拳头,身体因紧张而绷直.片刻后,警报声却突然停止,周围也没有任何异样.林远愣了几秒,正准备行动时,实验室广播中传来了管理人员的声音:

"警报解除,警报解除,刚才是系统测试,请各位保持冷静."

林远瞪大眼睛,差点一口气没提上来:"测试?吓唬谁呢?搞得我以为丧尸群已经打到家门口了!"

九重戒冷冷地开口:"宿主,就算是测试,也提醒了你,末世中不可掉以轻心.还有,现在应该感受一下你新获得的能力了."

林远无语,但还是依照九重戒的建议,尝试引导自己的木系异能.来到人少的地方,林远闭上眼,深吸一口气,周围的植物仿佛立刻受到了召唤一般,迅速伸展枝条,开花,发芽.短短几秒内,研究所的某个角落已经被绿色覆盖.

林远睁开眼,看着那些随着自己想法而生长的植物,心中一阵复杂.他指挥植物尝试变形成盾牌,接着又变形成长枪的形状,最后甚至构建了一堵坚固的植物墙.

"还真挺实用." 林远自嘲地笑了一下,"这提升还算靠谱."

"宿主,这只是能力的初级阶段.熟练掌握后,你的木系异能甚至可以在更大范围内生效,形成木之领域,控制局势."

林远点点头,心中对接下来的旅程也多了一分底气.

...

首都城的安定生活,尽管并不完美,却让江玉莲逐渐找回了久违的笑容.

她每天会陪弟弟江天明一起在社区内走动,陪伴他适应新假肢的行动方式.江天明虽然行动不便,但整个人的精神状态比过去好了很多.每次看到姐姐鼓励他的笑容,他都能感受到一种温暖和力量.

某天傍晚,江玉莲和江天明以及小黑在一片绿地上休息.周围的孩子们正在玩耍,虽然物资短缺,但笑声却依然在空气中回荡.

江天明坐在长椅上,摸着小黑的脑袋,抬头看着夕阳:"姐,你是不是觉得,这里... 好像有点像以前的家?"

江玉莲笑了笑:"是有点像,虽然有些破旧,但至少这里安全,能让人喘口气."

江天明若有所思地点点头:"如果没有你,我恐怕活不到今天."

江玉莲轻轻拍了拍他的肩膀:"别说这些丧气话.只要我们还活着,未来一定会越来越好.成功是坚持下来的结果,天明,我们要相信自己."

她的声音虽然轻,但却带着一种坚定,让江天明的眼神也随之变得坚韧.

接下来的几天,江玉莲开始主动参与社区里的志愿活动,比如照顾受伤的难民,协助管理资源分配等等.虽然生活依然困难,但她从中找到了价值感,也为周围的人带来了更多的希望.

有一次,她帮忙给孩子们分发食物时,一个小女孩抓着她的手,怯生生地问:"阿姨,我们是不是以后都不能出城了?"

江玉莲蹲下身,轻声安慰道:"不会的,只要我们大家齐心协力,一定可以打败那些丧尸,到时就可以出城玩了.小朋友,你要坚强,知道吗?"

小女孩用力点点头,脸上露出一个甜甜的笑容.

这一天的晚上,江玉莲和江天明回到住处时,她看着窗外灯光点点的城市,心里感到一阵欣慰:"虽然经历了这么多苦难,但人心还在,人性也还在...这座城,终究会恢复生机的."

这几天的平静,也让林远和曹雨薇稍微放松了一些.林远甚至开始吐槽起自己木系异能的 "农民属性" .

"种菜,催生植物,建植物墙... 九重戒,你确定我不是在走向高级园艺师的道路?"

九重戒冷冷地回应:"宿主,如果你能用植物建出坚不可摧的防线,或者以千百根植物刺灭杀敌人,还会觉得自己只是个园艺师吗?"

林远无奈摇头:"好吧,听你的."