Chapter 223: Epitaph
The sky, which had been bright for two hard-won days, turned gloomy again.
A wave crashed over, instantly capsizing a small boat woven from plastic bottles, which was pushed by the current toward Li Han.
But he merely lifted his eyelids slightly before continuing to lower his head and drill holes in the wooden board using his homemade hole puncher.
After twisting out the holes, he hammered in small wooden sticks, then placed the two connected boards over the semi-finished small wooden house at the bow.
It occupied two-thirds of the tin boat’s area in total.
The small stove in the cabin was still bubbling away, boiling hot water.
Overcast sky, small boat wooden house, iron stove hot water—though a bit flimsy, it gave him some sense of security.
“Splash…”
The surging water waves entering within five meters of the tin boat were layeredly weakened by some unknown force, finally turning into a faint ripple that scattered against the boat’s side.
If one looked carefully into the water, they could see a faint plant distributed in a net-like pattern under the tin boat.
This greatly enhanced the tin boat’s ability to withstand wind and waves.
“Bang!”
A muffled sound rang out at the bow.
Li Han looked up to see a pair of sturdy military boots stepping on the wooden board at his boat’s bow; looking further up, the mongoose was clutching her left arm with her right hand, drops of blood falling from her fingertips.
“Save people first.”
The mongoose’s voice was slightly hoarse.
“It’s already fine.”
There was a glint of brightness in Li Han’s eyes.
The green plant net had somehow lifted the unlucky guy who fell into the water and directly pushed him back onto his water bottle raft.
A tall plant extending from the tin boat had pushed the raft even farther away.
“Thanks.”
Seeing that the man was okay, the mongoose breathed a sigh of relief.
The people in this area were all under her responsibility; although that person had fallen into the water due to his own mistake rather than a mutated beast attack, if someone was missing during the evening check, that bastard He Jie absolutely wouldn’t give her a chance to explain.
“Your injury?”
“It’s fine, it’ll heal automatically in a bit.”
The mongoose withdrew her gaze, letting it fall on the tin boat.
Leaning against the inner side of the tin boat was a clay pot the size of a washbasin, filled with some moist soil; a branch as thick as a corn stalk stood in it, wrapped with green vines like iron wire, the vine’s end extending into the water like a fishing rod hanging off the boat’s side.
Just now, Li Han had used this vine to push that person’s raft away.
“This is… a branch of that crown pear tree?”
Hearing this, Li Han gave a wry smile; during this time, he hadn’t wasted any time—besides figuring out how to exchange for daily food, he’d been exploring how to use his ability.
Besides the crown pear tree branches, he had obtained three types of plants in total; the first was the plant net underwater, which he called [Twining Waterweed]; through the “Plant Affinity” ability, he could make them twine and weave into a large net floating under the boat.
[Twining Waterweed] didn’t need extra feeding and could survive on microorganisms in the water, and it was tough in texture.
Placed under the boat, it could help capture nearby supplies.
The second was the vines wrapped around the branch, which he had scavenged from nearby buildings, along with this clay pot.
But the most troublesome was this crown pear tree branch; although the branch had strong vitality, for some reason, no matter how he planted it, it was slowly withering.
“Yes, but this branch only looks alive; in reality, it hasn’t taken root.”
Li Han sighed, then as if thinking of something, turned around and carried out a small jar of something from the small wooden house.
He then poured some into a glass cup, added some boiling water, and handed it to the mongoose opposite him.
Looking at the steaming cup, the mongoose was stunned for a moment. “Tea leaves?”
“Yes.”
Li Han shifted his body, revealing the wooden house behind him; it wasn’t piled full of miscellaneous items, only a neatly folded quilt and a pot of tea tree.
“This is from seeds I exchanged with the train, then cultivated.”
The mongoose’s pupils dilated roundly.
Three days to cultivate seeds into edible tea trees—and thinking of the train farm’s fruits and vegetables store that only opened once a week, this person was absolutely a talent!
“You’re sure it only took three days?”
Li Han saw her surprise, hesitated for a moment, then nodded seriously.
“Very good, Li Han; perhaps you won’t have to sleep on the tin boat tonight!”
The fatigue on the mongoose’s face eased somewhat.
Li Han immediately realized, a hint of excitement on his face; although it had only been a few short days, he had gained a whole new understanding of the armored train’s strength— the reason he and the others had survived this long wasn’t luck, but the mongoose.
He had seen firsthand how strong the mongoose was.
The day before yesterday, a mutated zombie [Water Ghost] suddenly burst out of the water and sliced open a tin boat in one go, but the mongoose and the others seemed prepared; the moment it surfaced, they encircled it and swiftly strangled it.
After the train’s free popular science these past few days, Li Han had gained a whole new understanding of the apocalypse.
He naturally knew how powerful Tier 1 zombies were.
But hearing the mongoose say she was just the train’s lowest-level reserve.
The armored train’s strength became immeasurably deep in Li Han’s mind in an instant.
As long as he could join the armored train, he could escape this precarious situation.
But thinking of He Jie mocking the mongoose, Li Han hesitated. “Isn’t that too optimistic?”
Perhaps the way the mongoose mentioned was like the crown pear tree branch.
Requiring some price to be paid.
Ever since understanding the train’s points system, he had a more intuitive impression of points’ purchasing power.
Though he didn’t know how many points the mongoose had been deducted, it was absolutely a number that selling him couldn’t repay.
He didn’t want to trouble the mongoose for such slim hopes.
The mongoose’s lips pursed, the fine fuzz on her cheeks gently swaying.
There really was a possibility of being targeted by He Jie.
But if it were ordinary matters, so be it; when it came to others’ lives, she had to be cautious.
“You can find the Train Conductor; he values logistics talent highly, and if he knows about your talent, he’ll definitely let you on board.”
Li Han looked up in surprise, gazing at the mongoose’s determined eyes, and nodded half-believingly.
……
“Ha… how does it feel to be treated like the villain?” Su Huan set down the blueprint in his hand and smiled.
The crown pear tree’s erection was called the “Floating Giant Wood” plan; various materials were nearly prepared, and action could begin.
Now they needed to clear out a site large enough to start work, so Su Huan had called He Jie for a quick discussion.
Yu Yue happened to overhear the conversation outside and shared it with the two discussing.
Yu Yue didn’t monitor every blade of grass and tree twenty-four hours a day; it was just that Li Han’s ability was too special, so he was placed on the Train Conductor’s key attention list from the start.
So the little chef would scan the key attention targets whenever she was idle.
She had a lot of free time each day, so she naturally stumbled upon interesting things often.
Generally, if she heard it, Su Huan knew too.
He Jie rolled his eyes and snorted. “Preconceptions in people’s hearts are a huge mountain.”
“Then you might have to carry that mountain a bit longer.”
“What do you mean?”
A trace of vigilance immediately appeared between He Jie’s brows.
“Follow what we just discussed: clear out that factory area outside Guan Chong City, aim to start work tonight.”
Su Huan said calmly.
Accompanied by a long whistle sound, the armored train started again, heading toward a factory building north of Guan Chong City.
Thousands of small boats were like towed surfboards, cutting white trails in the water.
Though the time was short, some people had already begun to learn to band together.
They connected their small boats, forming larger areas to resist wind and waves, gaining more activity space.
And this banding together also increased their chances of obtaining supplies.
Soon more people followed suit.
Forming large and small water platforms.
But some stubbornly stuck to one boat per person, accumulating points to upgrade their own small boats.
Among these people, Li Han was already one of the most outstanding.
Hearing the assembly signal, the mongoose’s expression changed; she turned to instruct Li Han, then leaped out, stepping twice on the ropes towing the boats, her whole body like a nimble civet cat, vaulting onto the train in leaps.
……
Besides the Armed Corps, the crew also mobilized.
In Carriage 11, Professor Ma set down the materials in his hand, stood up, and habitually thumped his old waist.
Xiao Zhao was already waiting nearby. “Teacher, the Train Conductor has ordered the ‘Floating Giant Wood Plan’ to begin; the Factory Director has some matters to confirm with you.”
Professor Ma glanced at his students, who weren’t very enthusiastic. “Mm, let’s go.”
Once out of Carriage 12, Professor Ma casually asked, “I see everyone has been low in spirits lately?”
Xiao Zhao paused her steps beside him and hesitated. “It might be Li Hong’s incident that scared everyone.”
Professor Ma chuckled lightly. “They wouldn’t be badmouthing this old man behind his back, would they?”
“Ever since the sky changed, Teacher, everyone has seen how you’ve taken care of us; no matter when, you’re our most respected teacher.”
Xiao Zhao said sincerely.
Professor Ma walked forward while waving his hand. “You’re all good children; I know. What do you think of the Train Conductor?”
The teacher’s topic shifted too quickly; Xiao Zhao didn’t catch up right away and gave a few direct impressions. “Does things a bit strangely, but very effectively; has strong leadership, and is somewhat mysterious.”
Professor Ma’s gaze deepened. “How long did it take the Train Conductor to resolve the Same Boat Society matter?”
Xiao Zhao thought for a moment, uncertainly. “Seems like… he didn’t take it seriously and solved it casually.”
“Silent and traceless—that’s the thunderous method.”
“Though similar in age, you’re just children in a greenhouse…”
“What about the Train Conductor then?” Xiao Zhao asked curiously in return. “I’d really like to know your evaluation of him, Teacher.”
“The victor who writes the epitaph.”
“Epitaph? Whose?”
“Either the era’s, or his own.”
……
After half an hour, the armored train’s speed slowed.
Ahead, the city of towering high-rises turned into a flood zone where only a few buildings poked above the water.
But thanks to the relatively high terrain chosen when the factory building was built, it hadn’t been completely submerged by the flood.
Retaining more than half of the buildings.
The mongoose jumped back onto Li Han’s small boat, her expression tense.
Li Han knew his boarding matter had probably fallen through, but he didn’t know what to say.
After all, the other was running around for him; saying discouraging words now would be somewhat ungrateful.
The mongoose sighed and said, “I didn’t see the Train Conductor; the upper command has come down—we’ll be clearing the abandoned factory ahead, and you survivors have to follow in to scavenge supplies.”
“No problem.”
“There’s strong general energy fluctuation inside the factory building; I can’t take you with me—it’ll disrupt the formation. Be careful on your own.”
As soon as they finished speaking, an explosive roar came from ahead.
Li Han clearly saw all expression vanish from the mongoose’s face beside him, like a drawn blade, radiating chilling killing intent.
Before he could react, she had already dashed dozens of meters away over the small boats.
Looking left and right, he urged the [Twining Waterweed] under his boat to hook onto nearby people’s boats, preventing himself from getting too far ahead and being squeezed forward.
By the time they entered the factory building, zombies of various types were already down on the ground.
The Armed Corps soldiers showed them what efficient slaughter looked like.
Assault troopers up front, firepower specialists behind; powerful firepower mowed down the zombie tide like cutting wheat.
Occasionally, the heavy sniper rifle’s cannon-like sound could be heard, booming and echoing inside the factory building.
Even if a few broke through the defense line now and then, they would be harvested by roles similar to the mongoose wandering among them.
The entire Armed Corps was like a precise machine, small parts forming modules, accurately and steadily strangling zombies.
Though the number of Tier 1 zombies was somewhat high, after He Jie’s many days of training, they had long grown accustomed to this slaughter rhythm.
Steadily advancing into the factory building’s interior.
Only Senior Colonel He Jie had furrowed brows, one hand carrying the heavy machine gun, the other holding a cigar, strolling through the roaring zombie horde.
Gunfire flickered from his hand, illuminating his face in flickering light.
He always felt Su Huan was up to something.
Mm, and planning to pit him.
……
In the storm zone, on a desolate cliff face, a large opaque crystal suddenly appeared among the cold, stern rocks.
And behind the crystal was Black Kite’s headquarters.
The intense sunlight was stripped of excess colors by the crystal, leaving only stark black and white.
Illuminating the empty room and the sofas in the center.
A total of five people, standing or leaning, gathered around the sofas.
In a certain sense, Black Kite’s top meetings were very similar to the armored train’s.
Mister Shu spread his hands. “That’s roughly how things are.”
“No good intentions.”
A slightly sharp voice came from nearby.
Mister Shu calmly looked at the man leaning in the shadow of the stone pillar. “No. 4, what do you mean?”
“Don’t misunderstand, I mean Deep Blue Data has no good intentions.”
Mister Shu turned his head to look at the man wearing a white coat directly opposite the sofa, “So, what’s your take, Number 1?”
Number 1’s gaze had always been fixed on the boundary line between the crystal’s light and shadow, and upon hearing this, he said indifferently, “Managing the company is your business, just don’t disturb me while I’m doing my experiment.”
Mister Shu breathed a sigh of relief; as long as Number 1 acquiesced, it would be easy to handle.
At that moment, a soft and glutinous female voice suddenly said.
“What if your daughter is in his hands?”
(Writer’s block, it’s crowdfunding writing time again)
