NOVEL SIMPLE CHAPTER 66
Chapter 66: A New Day
The reconstruction of Guangping Street was still underway when Bai Tianyu and his group arrived at Good Hope Village. The scene was one of devastation, yet a vibrant energy radiated from the survivors, a stark contrast to the despair that had gripped them before. This newfound optimism hinted at the positive changes taking place within the gathering place.
Zhang Lixin greeted the visitors, but before Bai Tianyu could utter a word, Huo Sheng anxiously inquired, “Where is Meng Jie?”
After saluting Bai Tianyu, Zhang Lixin gave Huo Sheng a curious look. “Dr. Meng is in her research lab,” he replied.
Huo Sheng nodded, his voice calm. “Dr. Meng’s research is crucial for humanity. I would like to see her. Is it convenient now?”
Zhang Lixin pondered for a moment, then nodded in assent. He instructed a survivor to escort Huo Sheng to Meng Jie’s lab and turned to Bai Tianyu.
“Is that Dr. Huo Sheng?” he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Yes,” Bai Tianyu confirmed, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Is he a suitor of Sister Meng?” Zhang Lixin inquired, his tone playful.
Bai Tianyu shook his head. “Not a suitor, but her ex-husband.”
Zhang Lixin’s eyes widened. “Ex-husband? So, the ‘remarriage brother’?” He couldn’t help but imagine the drama that might unfold.
Bai Tianyu chuckled. “Something like that. Their relationship is complicated. It’s hard to say who’s right or wrong. Let’s just focus on our own business.”
He gestured towards Lu Ming’s house. “Come on, take me to Brother Lu Ming.”
He had missed the opportunity to meet Lu Ming on his previous visit, and he was determined to make amends this time.
Meanwhile, Huo Sheng was escorted to Meng Jie’s home and laboratory. After a brief knock and a muffled response from within, he entered. The interior was sparsely furnished, almost crude, with the remains of the two Tyrants and several other zombies strewn about.
The room was filled with a pungent, metallic odor that made even Huo Sheng, a seasoned scientist, wrinkle his nose. Meng Jie, engrossed in dissecting the Tyrant corpses, seemed oblivious to his presence.
Huo Sheng approached the lab table in silence, patiently waiting for Meng Jie to acknowledge him. After five long minutes, she finally put down her tools and looked up.
“Thank you for your hard work,” Huo Sheng said, his voice filled with both professional courtesy and a hint of personal concern.
Meng Jie nodded, her expression neutral. “The Tyrants’ muscle tissues are denser than those of ordinary Level 3 Awakened,” she began, her tone clinical. “Their stomachs have undergone further mutations, allowing them to easily digest flesh and blood containing the mysterious factor.”
She paused, her eyes narrowing in thought. “I suspect the Tyrants are driven by an even greater hunger, relentlessly hunting down both Awakened and ordinary survivors.”
Huo Sheng was taken aback by her detached demeanor. He had never been one for social niceties, a fact that had contributed to their marital breakdown.
With a sigh, he shared his own observations. “Zombies have a significant advantage over humans. We need to consume zombie crystals of the same level to advance, while they can evolve by consuming even low-level Awakened or ordinary humans.”
He forced a bitter smile. “Sometimes, I can’t help but think that zombies are the more perfect form of humanity, our evolutionary successors.”
Meng Jie scoffed. “They’re not the future,” she retorted. “They’re just a bunch of ugly monsters.”
She picked up a test tube from the table, containing 50ml of Lu Ming’s blood. “I lack the resources to analyze this,” she explained, handing it to Huo Sheng. “But believe me, this is the future of our species.”
Huo Sheng stared at the test tube, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism on his face. “Take me to see him,” he finally requested.
Meanwhile, Lu Ming was in the midst of his morning workout, a ritual that remained unchanged regardless of the circumstances.
When Meng Jie and Huo Sheng arrived at his house, they found him surrounded by Bai Tianyu, Zhang Lixin, Zhang Chengcheng, and Wang Xiong. Lu Ming, under the strain of 100x gravity, was doing push-ups, his muscles rippling with power.
By 10:30 a.m., the workout session was nearing its end. Zhang Chengcheng released the gravity field, and Lu Ming took a brief rest before joining the others for breakfast.
The system interface blinked with a notification:
Fitness upgraded from Lv2 (1150/1200) to Lv3 (280/1300)
After the workout, Lu Ming felt refreshed and invigorated. His attributes had improved once again:
Name: Lu Ming
Age: 25
Strength: 82.7 (88.0)
Physique: 86.9 (88.7)
Agility: 108.8 (110.4)
Free Attribute Points: 1
Skills:
- Fitness: Lv3 (280/1300)
- Slingshot: Lv21 (1081/2100)
- Archery: Lv15 (788/1500)
- Gun Shooting: Lv5 (45/500)
- Hand-to-Hand Combat: Lv20 (259/2000)
- Cold Weapon Combat: Lv10 (621/1000)
- Basic Spearmanship: Lv3 (35/300)
- Throwing: Lv6 (152/600)
- Resistance Stance: Lv1 (32/100)
"Another day, another power-up!" Lu Ming thought with satisfaction.
As he prepared to return home, he noticed a group of unfamiliar faces watching him. The attention made him uncomfortable, and he turned to leave.
“Mr. Lu,” Meng Jie called out, “there are some people you need to meet.”
Lu Ming held Meng Jie in high regard. He respected intellectuals, especially those who contributed to society’s progress. He paused and turned to face Meng Jie, Huo Sheng, and Bai Tianyu.
“This is Huo Sheng, Dr. Huo, from the official shelter,” Meng Jie introduced, “and this is Bai Tianyu, Mr. Bai, who helped us during the last zombie wave.”
Lu Ming nodded politely. “Hello.” With that, he turned and headed home.
Meng Jie didn’t try to stop him. She watched him go, then turned to the bewildered Huo Sheng and Bai Tianyu. “You’ve met him,” she said. “Is there anything else?”
Huo Sheng and Bai Tianyu were taken aback. Was that it?
“This meeting was... brief,” Huo Sheng remarked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Meng Jie shrugged. “Mr. Lu doesn’t like interacting with people,” she explained, “and what he doesn’t like is forbidden here. He greeted you out of respect for me. Did you expect a heart-to-heart conversation?”
Huo Sheng wanted to say yes, but he held his tongue.
Wang Xiong approached, a friendly smile on his face. “If there’s anything you need, you can talk to me. I can handle most matters, and if it’s beyond my authority, I’ll consult with Brother Lu.”
Bai Tianyu nodded, understanding the protocol. Huo Sheng, however, could only mutter, “Weirdo...” under his breath.
End of Chapter 66