DipNovel Chapter 142 Old Friends
Chapter 142 Old Friends
Chapter 142 Old Friends
On the second day of patrolling Sector F-6, the sky was still a clear blue. Xu Mo walked ahead, his steps steady as always, his gaze habitually sweeping across the boundary between the fields and the river. But Zhang Yun, following behind, keenly noticed that Xu Mo was somewhat different today.
When they met in the morning, Xu Mo's eyes seemed to be shrouded in a thin mist, lacking their usual sharpness and focus.
Several times, when they needed to coordinate their actions and exchange glances to confirm safety, Zhang Yun noticed that Xu Mo was a beat slow to react. On one occasion, he should have noticed a suspicious ripple in the middle of the river, but he seemed to ignore it until Zhang Yun reminded him in a low voice.
Zhang Yun was puzzled. During the time she had known Xu Mo, her impression of him had always been that he was calm, perceptive, and seemingly unaffected by the outside world. But in just one night, Xu Mo's demeanor had changed so drastically.
Zhang Yun wanted to ask Xu Mo "What's wrong?" several times, but she swallowed the words back.
On the one hand, she wasn't one to pry into other people's privacy; on the other hand, Xu Mo always had a subtle, unapproachable distance about him. In the end, Zhang Yun simply suppressed her worries and took on the more proactive task of observing and being vigilant, silently making up for Xu Mo's occasional lapses in concentration.
Xu Mo noticed Zhang Yun's thoughtfulness and hesitation, and a warmth swept through him, but he felt mostly exhausted. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't control the turbulent thoughts in his mind, nor could he explain to others the chilling feeling stemming from his foresight into the abyss of human nature.
Xu Mo barely slept a wink last night.
His body wasn't tired; his Iron Bone Realm cultivation was enough to keep him awake for days without losing energy. But the heavy pressure on his mind, the suffocating feeling of being powerless in the face of an inevitable bad outcome, weighed heavily on Xu Mo's spirit like a cold boulder.
Xu Mo felt as if he were standing on the shore of time, watching helplessly as a turbid, malicious, and foolish torrent gathered and accumulated power in the distance. He knew it would breach the dikes and flood the fields, yet he could neither stop it nor escape. He even briefly considered leaving this place, out of sight, out of mind.
But reason told Xu Mo that this was a cowardly escape, a pessimistic self-exile. In the end times, where is a pure land? At least Jiangcheng still has walls, order, and a common direction for effort.
Leaving here is nothing more than entering another unknown, perhaps even more naked, dark forest.
However, this rational understanding cannot dispel the heavy sense of powerlessness and alienation in my heart.
Xu Mo felt like an audience member who knew the tragic script in advance, standing out among a group of actors who were still laughing and unaware of the impending disaster, feeling utterly out of place and filled with sorrow.
The patrol ended in an unusual silence. When returning the equipment, Zhang Yun finally couldn't help but speak as the two were about to part, his voice filled with cautious concern: "Xu Mo, are you free tonight? Want to grab some dinner together? I know a restaurant that serves pretty good stir-fries."
Xu Mo turned his head and saw the worry in Zhang Yun's eyes, a concern that was pure and based on their camaraderie in fighting side by side.
Xu Mo's heart stirred slightly, and he opened his mouth as if to say something, even if it was just a perfunctory excuse.
But in the end, all the words he wanted to say stuck in his chest, turning into a forced, even stiff, smile. Xu Mo shook his head: "No, thank you. I'm a little tired and want to go home and rest early today."
His smile didn't reassure Zhang Yun, but Zhang Yun didn't press further. He simply nodded, said "Get some rest," and turned to leave.
Xu Mo stood there, watching Zhang Yun merge into the dispersing crowd. He didn't want to spread his negative emotions to others, especially to a companion like Zhang Yun who was trying so hard to find a little bit of comfort and warmth in the apocalypse.
After standing at the meeting point for a while, Xu Mo turned and left. However, he did not return to the courtyard immediately, but instead wandered aimlessly through the streets of the inner city.
The setting sun cast a warm golden glow on the streets and pedestrians. Workers dragged their weary bodies home, street vendors hawked their last remaining goods, and children chased and played in the alleyways. The air was filled with the smells of sweat, dust, and the faint aroma of food. It was a rare, vibrant scene of life in a post-apocalyptic world.
But Xu Mo felt like a ghost, floating outside this painting. He felt as if there was a thick layer of glass around him, and all that reached his ears was a blurry noise. People's joys and sorrows seemed to be separated from him by an insurmountable chasm. They were happy or sad about a full meal or a meager harvest, while he was worried about the possible division and alienation that humanity might be heading towards. This difference in their level of understanding made Xu Mo feel a profound loneliness. He felt as if he was no longer one of them, but an alien who coldly observed and foresaw the disaster.
Just as this suffocating sense of alienation was about to engulf Xu Mo, a slightly familiar figure at the street corner ahead broke his chaotic thoughts.
It was a tall, sturdy figure carrying a bulging, heavy-looking canvas backpack. He walked quickly, head down, flashing through the crowd before turning into a relatively quiet alley.
Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, Xu Mo had an excellent memory, especially for his initial impressions.
The figure's silhouette and gait were strikingly similar to Wang Meng, the survivor squad leader he first encountered and traded with in the ruins of Qingsongling Town.
Qingsongling Town was the starting point where Xu Mo truly came into contact with post-apocalyptic human society after his transmigration. Wang Meng's team was cautious but principled; after the transaction, they mentioned going to Jiangcheng and even invited him, though he declined at the time.
A few days later, the weather turned bad, and Xu Mo was worried about whether Wang Meng and the others would be able to reach Jiangcheng safely. Now it seems they have made it.
The appearance of a familiar face from "Qidian" temporarily dispelled the gloom and sense of alienation in Xu Mo's heart. A feeling mixed with nostalgia and curiosity welled up inside him. He wanted to know what Wang Meng and the others had gone through afterward, whether the rest of the team were alright, and how they were doing in Jiangcheng now.
Without much hesitation, Xu Mo quickened his pace, his figure nimbly weaving through the crowd. He reached the alleyway in a few steps and then slipped inside.
The alley is not deep; it's a typical L-shaped dead end with mottled old walls on both sides and no shops facing the street. There's only a faint musty smell and the stench of old garbage in the air.
Xu Mo quickly scanned the area but didn't see Wang Meng. He walked to the corner of the L-shape, and the scene before him made him pause in surprise.
After turning the corner, at the end of the alley, there was only a row of green plastic trash cans, each about half a person tall, tightly against the wall. Flies buzzed around them, emitting an even stronger stench. Apart from that, there was nothing else.
That's right, there was no door, no window, no pile of clutter to hide in. Wang Meng, such a big man, just vanished into thin air?
"Invisibility ability?" An absurd thought flashed through Xu Mo's mind, but he immediately dismissed it. If Wang Meng possessed that kind of supernatural ability, he wouldn't have been in such a sorry state at Green Pine Ridge.
Xu Mo's gaze shifted downwards and landed on the ground.
At the bottom of the alley, on the damp and dirty ground, besides stains and scattered garbage, there were several round, heavy cast iron manhole covers.
Through the gaps at the edge of the manhole cover, one could vaguely see the bottomless darkness and a faint, even more complex and unpleasant, sewer odor.
The answer is obvious: Wang Meng didn't fly or disappear into the ground; he most likely lifted a manhole cover and crawled into Jiangcheng's vast and complex underground pipe network system.
Xu Mo squatted down and carefully examined the manhole covers. One of them had marks on its edge indicating it had been freshly rubbed, and several grains of dried mud, likely scraped off from the soles of his shoes, were scattered around it.
Xu Mo's curiosity was piqued. What was in the sewers? What was Wang Meng doing in there? Smuggling? Secret transactions? Or some kind of unknown business or gathering?
Xu Mo's fingers almost touched the edge of the manhole cover with obvious marks. For a moment, Xu Mo even wanted to go in and take a look, to satisfy his curiosity, and perhaps even have an "underground reunion" with Wang Meng.
But in the end, Xu Mo's finger stopped a few centimeters above the manhole cover, and at that moment he understood a lot.
"Everyone has their own path, their own secrets," Xu Mo told himself. Wang Meng's choice to act in this way clearly indicated that he didn't want to be seen or disturbed.
Rushing in on your own would not only be presumptuous, but could also lead to unnecessary misunderstandings or even conflicts. In the end times, prying into the secrets of others is often the beginning of disaster.
Wang Meng and his group were able to make their way from Qingsongling to Jiangcheng, which means they must have their own survival wisdom and principles of conduct. As long as they don't harm others or cross their own bottom line, it's entirely their freedom to choose how to survive.
Thinking this through, Xu Mo felt a sudden sense of clarity. The heavy pressure and alienation caused by excessive worry about the future vanished. He felt himself grounded again, transforming from a pessimistic observer floating in the air back into someone with his feet firmly on the ground.
Focus on the survivors in the present.
After taking one last look at the manhole cover and the foul-smelling sewer opening, Xu Mo turned and walked out of the dirty alley without hesitation, rejoining the flow of people on the inner city streets under the setting sun.
This time, the surrounding noise seemed less detached. Xu Mo heard the vendors' cries, mothers calling their children home, and workers jokingly recounting their day's hardships. The sounds were still noisy, but full of authenticity. He no longer felt out of place; instead, he felt a sense of peace, a feeling that "I am one of them, all striving to live in my own way."
Back in the courtyard, it was already dark. Xu Mo didn't turn on the lights, but instead immediately set up his stance in the yard. This cultivation session was different from usual. He no longer deliberately pursued the surge of qi and blood or the tempering of strength, but instead sank his mind into a longer, more stable rhythm.
Wang Meng's unexpected appearance not only illuminated a trace of an old acquaintance, but also unintentionally dispelled the dark cloud that had gathered in his heart due to excessive worry.
The end times are long, and the future is uncertain. All he can do is respect others' choices and stay true to himself. As for whether the great flood will come, when it will come, and what will happen when it does, let's wait and see.
At least tonight, Xu Mo felt he could sleep peacefully.
The next morning, the meeting point square was still bustling with people. Xu Mo arrived on time, and Zi Guang habitually scanned the crowd, looking for Zhang Yun.
Soon, he spotted her near the familiar registration tent. Zhang Yun was leaning against a half-buried concrete pillar, head down, seemingly lost in thought, staring at the ground. When Xu Mo took a few steps closer and saw her profile, he couldn't help but feel a slight jolt.
Zhang Yun had noticeable dark circles under her eyes, and her eyes were also bloodshot, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well last night. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and a lingering worry shrouded her face, a stark contrast to her usual efficient and capable demeanor. She didn't even notice Xu Mo's approach at first.
Xu Mo paused, realizing that Zhang Yun's current state was likely related to his unusual absent-mindedness and silence the previous day. He hadn't expected that his momentary low mood would have such a direct impact on his partner. This silent concern and worry went far beyond the scope of ordinary temporary partners, filling Xu Mo with a mixture of surprise, warmth, and, above all, a sense of apology.
Lost in his pessimistic predictions about the future, he neglected the feelings of those around him. Zhang Yun had lost her entire team and was struggling to survive alone in Jiangcheng, perhaps already lacking a sense of security. As her former relatively trusted partner, his behavior yesterday had likely made her uneasy, and might even have triggered some unpleasant memories.
Sensing Xu Mo's gaze, Zhang Yun looked up blankly in Xu Mo's direction. Xu Mo didn't walk over immediately, but instead, from a few steps away, he flicked his arm and sent a makeshift plastic bag, simply folded from an old newspaper, flying steadily towards Zhang Yun in an arc.
Zhang Yun subconsciously reached out and caught it. It was slightly heavy and warm. She paused for a moment, then looked down and opened the bag. Inside were three plump, white buns, still steaming.
She looked up at Xu Mo, her eyes filled with doubt and a lingering worry.
Xu Mo had already walked over, a hint of apology on his face and his usual calm smile. He said in a relaxed tone, "I was a little distracted yesterday and made you worry. I saw some steamed buns on my way here this morning and bought a few for you as an apology." After saying this, Xu Mo paused, a hint of teasing in his smile, "Of course, if you still want to treat me to dinner today to make up for the big meal I missed yesterday, I will definitely go, no questions asked."
Zhang Yun looked at him, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but in the end it just turned into a shallow, noticeably more relaxed smile. She gave a soft "humph," her tone rising, "Dream on." Then, she lowered her head and took a big bite of the steamed bun in her hand. The filling was a simple mix of wild vegetables and a little bit of crushed tofu; it wasn't particularly delicious, but it was steaming hot, perfectly seasoned, and carried the most genuine comfort of food.
As Xu Mo watched Zhang Yun begin to eat the steamed buns, the worry on his face gradually dissipated with the heat of the food, he smiled as well.
"Let's go get our gear. We still need to check that black patch of land today," Xu Mo said, gesturing towards the registration desk.
"Hmm," Zhang Yun mumbled in response, his mouth stuffed with a steamed bun, but he had already caught up.
As usual, the two received their walkie-talkies, maps, and armbands. Today's patrol area, unsurprisingly, was still the scorched F-6 area. But for some reason, Xu Mo felt that the sunlight today seemed gentler than yesterday, and the smell of the scorched earth underfoot was no longer so irritating.
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