Chapter 40 – The World Is So Big, I Want to See It 世界那么大，我想看看

Three months later, the sky above the Capital City became a clear, bright blue, and there seemed to be an indescribable fresh scent in the air. The area where the World Tree was located was set up as a protected zone. The surrounding ruins had been cleared away, replaced by a newly built small research base and a vibrant green field.

Amazingly, a "small" World Tree had quietly grown beside the original one. Its branches and leaves were still tender, yet they exuded a mysterious luster. The researchers were extremely amazed by this and considered it a miracle of nature. People believed the land was recovering, with a faint "spiritual qi" in the air.

At the same time, the medicine to turn zombies back into humans was officially promoted and used. Although this technology still had limitations, as only zombies that had been infected with the zombie virus for no more than two months could be successfully restored, it was already enough to save millions of survivors.

Even more strangely, since some unknown time, ordinary people seemed to show some signs of having supernatural powers. Some could control water currents, some could manipulate wind and fire, and others could strengthen their bodies. All this made people suspect the apocalypse was a prelude to spiritual qi revival, and human evolution had just started.

...

Five years later, the Capital City had risen from the ruins and become a vibrant new city. People no longer feared the shadow of zombies, and a new civilization was thriving here.

Jiang Tianming's prosthetic limb technology had long been optimized to a level close to the flexibility of real legs and feet, and he had become the deputy captain of a security team. Now, there was more calmness on his face and less of the former melancholy. What surprised everyone the most was that Jiang Tianming and Lin Yuan's aunt, Cao Yuwei, had actually gotten together.

Lin Yuan stood on the street corner and watched as Cao Yuwei, dressed in casual clothes, was holding Jiang Tianming's hand with a contented smile on her face. He clicked his tongue and told Xiao Hei, "The world sure changes! I thought Auntie'd be a commander or at least a high-up rank officer in the Capital City. But she married Jiang Tianming and became a housewife. Now she's truly 'living a quiet life' ."

Xiao Hei let out a low growl, as if echoing Lin Yuan's complaint. However, its big tail wagged happily, as if it was also satisfied with the happiness of its master and Cao Yuwei.

Lin Yuan smiled and stroked Xiao Hei's big head. Suddenly, he heard the voice of the Jiuchong Ring in his mind again, "Host, the additional mission has been completed. You will travel to the next plane in seven days."

Lin Yuan was taken aback for a moment and looked up at the blue sky. The bits and pieces of the past five years flashed through his mind in an instant. He recalled the battles and losses, and most importantly, the trust and company of his friends. It wasn't his first farewell, but this time, it was surprisingly difficult to part.

When it was late at night and everything was quiet, Lin Yuan sat in his room, took out paper and a pen, and wrote a short letter:

"Brother Tianming, Auntie, Xiao Hei, and everyone else:

Over the past few years, I have been honored to fight side by side with you and live together. Thank you for giving me the warmth like that of a family, and for making me understand what perseverance and hope are.

The world's huge and I want to explore. There might be unknown sights and tales ahead.

I hope you all have gotten the lives you desire. If we can meet again...

——Lin Yuan"

Lin Yuan folded the letter, put it on the table and took a last, deep look at the familiar room. He knew this departure could be a real farewell.

...

Seven days later, Lin Yuan stood beside the World Tree. The air after the snow was cold and fresh, and the branches and leaves of the World Tree swayed gently in the wind, as if seeing him off.

Lin Yuan looked up at it and smiled slightly, "Thank you for helping us so much over the past few years, World Tree... Goodbye."

The next second, the voice of the Jiuchong Ring sounded in his mind, "Everything is ready. The teleportation is about to start."

A flash of light, and Lin Yuan vanished on the spot.

And the leaves of the World Tree trembled slightly, as if responding to his farewell just now.

On the streets of the Capital City, Xiao Hei suddenly stopped in its tracks, as if it had sensed something. It raised its head and looked into the distance, letting out a long, low bark. Cao Yuwei stroked its head and said softly, "That kid Lin Yuan always likes to run around. I don't know when he'll be back."

The distant sky brightened, like it was announcing a new day.

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

三个月后,首都城的天空变得湛蓝明朗,空气中似乎弥漫着一股无法言喻的清新气息.世界树所在的地方被设为保护区,周围的废墟已经被清理干净,取而代之的是新建的小型研究基地和一片生机盎然的绿地.

让人感到不可思议的是,世界树旁竟然悄悄生长出了一棵 "小" 世界树.它的枝叶尚显稚嫩,但却透着一种神秘的光泽.研究人员对此无比惊叹,认为这是大自然的奇迹.人们开始相信,这片土地正在逐渐复苏,甚至连空气中都隐约弥漫着一种名为 "灵气" 的能量.

与此同时,丧尸变人类的药剂正式被推广使用.虽然这项技术仍有局限性,只有感染丧尸病毒不超过两个月的丧尸可以成功恢复,但这已经足以拯救数百万的幸存者.

更诡异的是,不知道从什么时候开始,原本的普通人似乎都出现了一些异能的迹象.有人能控制水流,有人能操纵风火,还有人能强化身体.这一切让人们开始怀疑,这场末日其实是灵气复苏的前奏,而人类的进化才刚刚开始.

...

五年后的首都城,已经从废墟中崛起,成为了一座充满活力的新兴城市.人们不再惧怕丧尸的阴影,新的文明正在这里蓬勃生长.

江天明的假肢技术早已被优化到接近真实腿脚的灵活程度,他也成了一名安保队的副队长.如今的他,脸上多了几分沉稳,少了曾经的忧郁.最让人意外的是,江天明和林远的小姨曹雨薇竟然走到了一起.

林远站在街角,看着一身家常衣服的曹雨薇正挽着江天明的手,脸上挂着满足的笑容.他咂了咂嘴,对旁边的小黑说道:"真是世事无常啊!我原以为小姨会成什么指挥官,至少也是首都城的高层,结果居然嫁给了江天明,还当上了家庭主妇!这下可真是 '安心养老' 了."

小黑低吼了一声,似乎也在附和林远的吐槽.不过,它的大尾巴却摇得很开心,仿佛也为主人和曹雨薇的幸福感到满意.

林远笑着摸了摸小黑的大脑袋,忽然又听到了脑海中九重戒的声音:"宿主,追加任务已完成,七天后将前往下一个位面."

林远愣了一下,抬头看向蓝天.五年来的点点滴滴一瞬间在脑海中闪过,他记得那些战斗,记得那些失去,更记得这些伙伴们对他的信任和陪伴.他不是第一次经历告别,但这一次,竟有些难以割舍.

当夜深人静时,林远坐在房间里,取出纸和笔,写下了一封简短的信:

"天明大哥,小姨,小黑,以及各位:

这几年来,能和大家并肩作战,生活在一起,我感到很荣幸.谢谢你们给了我家人一样的温暖,也让我明白了什么是坚持和希望.

但这世界那么大,我想出去看看,也许有更多未知的风景和故事在等着我.

如果有一天还能再见,希望你们已经实现了所有想要的生活.

——林远"

将信折好,林远将它放在桌子上,最后深深地看了一眼熟悉的房间.他知道,这一次的离开,也许会是真的离别了.

...

七天后,林远站在世界树旁.雪后的空气透着一股冷冽的清新,世界树的枝叶在风中轻轻摇摆,仿佛在为他送别.

林远抬头看向它,微微一笑:"多谢你这几年帮了我们这么多,世界树...再见了."

下一秒,九重戒的声音在脑海中响起:"准备完毕,传送即将启动."

光芒一闪,林远的身影消失在了原地.

而世界树的叶子微微颤动,似乎在回应他刚刚的告别.

首都城的街道上,小黑忽然停下了脚步,仿佛察觉到了什么.它仰头看向远方,发出一声悠长的低吠.曹雨薇摸了摸它的头,柔声道:"林远那小子,总是喜欢到处跑,也不知道什么时候才会回来."

远方的天空渐渐明朗,似乎在预示着新的一天即将开始.而林远的旅程,正走向新的篇章...