The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

After deciding that they couldn't return before dark, Lou Dian found a cave in the nearby mountains to spend the night.

Vines grew around the cave, completely covering the entrance. If Lou Dian hadn't been concentrating, he wouldn't have found it. Lou Ling used her powers to check inside, and only after confirming there were no mutated plants did they go in to clean the cave. As a wood-elemental power user, Lou Ling could find and communicate with mutated plants more easily than others, which helped them avoid danger in the mountains.

The cave was five meters deep and three meters wide. It was dry and could barely protect them from wind and rain, but it wouldn't stop mutant beasts or plants.

They quickly cleaned the cave. Lou Dian took out a table and chairs from his space and set them up. As it was getting dark, he also took out a solar-powered flashlight and placed it high up, illuminating the entire cave. Then, he started preparing dinner while Lin Baobao tended to Tan Mo's injuries.

Looking at the empty cave entrance, Lou Ling decided to grow mutant vines as guards. The vines that originally grew at the entrance were ordinary and easily broken, offering no sense of security. So, she moved them aside without hindering their growth.

Lou Ling used all her power to grow two mutant plants. One was an iron vine, known for its toughness and hardness. The vine looked like metal. If Lou Ling's power was stronger and she could give the iron vine more energy to reach maturity, it might have been able to bind the mutated python today without breaking under its brute force. The iron vine was one of Lou Ling's favorite battle weapons.

The other plant was a jade-green vine. To distinguish it, Lou Ling called it ivy. Of course, it wasn't the common ivy from before the apocalypse but a mutated variety. Its branches and leaves were lush, looking like dancing demons from afar. It was incredibly strong, but unlike the slender and easily carried iron vine, Lou Ling rarely used it. Now, she could use the ivy to seal the cave entrance, leaving only a small opening for entry and exit.

Lou Ling first grew the ivy. After resting and recovering her power, she continued to grow the iron vine. With these two guarding the cave entrance, she felt a sense of security.

While Lou Ling was busy, Lin Baobao had cleaned Tan Mo's shoulder wound, applied medicine, and bandaged it. She made him sit in a chair and ordered him not to move before condensing water to help Lou Dian with dinner.

Among the four, Tan Mo only knew how to eat. Lin Baobao could make instant noodles, and Lou Ling knew some home-cooked dishes. Only Lou Dian was a good cook. Although he didn't like cooking for others, he was happy to feed his beloved girlfriend. So, even with two extra mouths to feed, he rolled up his sleeves and started cooking.

Seeing Lou Ling sweating, Lin Baobao condensed a cup of water for her. She touched the ivy at the entrance. The vine looked like jade but felt cold. It wasn't as fragile as it appeared. When she touched it, the vine trembled, as if warning her not to touch it. Lin Baobao poured some water on its roots and found that the ivy trembled even more, seemingly enjoying it, which made her laugh.

By the time Lou Ling finished, the cave was filled with a delicious aroma.

Their dinner was the giant python!

After killing the python, they were worried that the strong smell of blood would attract other powerful mutant beasts, so they left quickly. Of course, before leaving, Lou Dian used another clean Tang knife—one that hadn't killed any zombies—to cut off a few tender pieces of meat from the python and store them in his space for dinner.

The two girls had a hard time adjusting, but Tan Mo stared at the boiling pot of soup, his eyes screaming one word: "Eat." Lou Dian took out some ingredients from his space and skillfully cooked a delicious snake soup. The aroma filled the cave, making the two girls, who knew it was from the terrifying python, ashamed to admit that they wanted to eat it.

Besides the snake soup, there was also stir-fried snake meat. When Lou Ling finished, Lou Dian was preparing the ingredients. Seeing him take out various seasonings from his space, Lou Ling was speechless. Lin Baobao was also speechless. While everyone was busy collecting food, he still had the leisure to collect other things. Just how many seasonings had he collected?

The cooking tools were a gas stove and gas canister, which Lou Dian conveniently took out from his space. There was also a pot of rice steaming on another stove.

After washing the snake meat, he cut it into even pieces and stir-fried them with garlic, dried red peppers, star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and other spices. When the stir-fried snake meat was served, the aroma in the cave intensified. The other three felt their stomachs growling as they stared at the dishes on the table.

Snake soup, stir-fried snake meat, and garlic-flavored vegetables—three dishes in total, but the portions were generous. There was also a pot of rice.

Lin Baobao suddenly felt that a man who could cook was a treasure. She ate happily and then turned to look at Tan Mo, who was clumsily trying to use chopsticks. Because he couldn't pick up the food fast enough, he tried to grab it with his hands. Lin Baobao used her chopsticks to hit his hand and patiently taught him how to use them correctly.

Perhaps conquered by the delicious food, or because cooked food was indeed much tastier than raw food, Tan Mo's wariness towards Lou Dian decreased once again. Coupled with Lin Baobao's brainwashing—"Listen to Dian, or you'll die a terrible death! And you'll have nothing to eat!"—Tan Mo decisively joined their side.

After dinner, Lin Baobao and Lou Ling cleaned up while Lou Dian took Tan Mo out of the cave to threaten the surrounding mutant beasts.

Standing in the open space in front of the cave, Lou Dian looked around at the dark forest. The stars were dim tonight, and the surroundings were so dark that it made one's heart hang in suspense. Tan Mo squatted to the side, his aura scaring away the nearby mutant beasts, causing them to retreat a few miles away.

While Tan Mo was busy driving away the beasts, Lou Dian took out a transparent glass bottle from his space. Inside the bottle was a pink pollen. Tan Mo looked at it curiously, but when Lou Dian opened the bottle, the scent of the pollen carried by the night wind made his hair stand on end. He bowed his body and let out a low growl like a wild beast.

The two girls who were cleaning up in the cave heard the sound and rushed out. They saw Tan Mo acting as if he was threatened, keeping his distance from Lou Dian.

"Take him inside," Lou Dian said to Lin Baobao.

Although Lin Baobao didn't know what was going on, she didn't want Tan Mo to clash with Lou Dian. She quickly pulled Tan Mo back to the cave.

Lou Ling walked over and looked at the bottle in Lou Dian's hand. She quickly recognized the pink powder inside. She was shocked. She remembered being seduced by this pollen, almost thinking she had to kill Lou Dian and feeling so desperate that she wanted to commit suicide.

Lou Ling immediately jumped back and asked, "What are you doing with that?"

"Repelling mutant beasts," Lou Dian replied, sprinkling some of the red powder on the nearby tree roots.

This was a good method, at least they didn't have to worry about mutant beasts visiting in the middle of the night. This pollen was very effective, but it had a drawback. It could also harm humans. Inhaling even a little bit would cause terrifying hallucinations. It was very convenient to use in the wilderness but not suitable for use indoors where the air was thin.

After finishing, Lou Dian closed the bottle, put it back in his space, then withdrew his mental barrier and returned to the cave with Lou Ling.

Back in the cave, Lou Dian put away the table and chairs and took out two sleeping bags. Both were double sleeping bags, but Tan Mo didn't sleep lying down like them. Instead, he curled up like an animal. Because Tan Mo always squeezed into the same room with her, Lin Baobao didn't bother correcting his unreasonable sleeping posture and happily occupied the entire sleeping bag by herself.

In the middle of the night, they were awakened by the sound of crackling. It was raining heavily.

Lou Ling woke up to the sound of rain and sat up in a daze. The world was pitch black. When she came to her senses, she felt a pang of panic until she was enveloped in a warm embrace.

"Brother, it's raining," she said blankly.

"Yes."

Lou Dian's light voice came from the darkness.

Lou Ling felt an inexplicable panic in her heart. "It hasn't rained since the temperature rose. This rain is strange…"

Lou Dian calmly hugged her, the heavy rain dispelling the summer heat. In the mountains, the temperature was even lower, and it was already getting cold. He tucked her back into her sleeping bag, patted her back gently, and said, "Don't think too much, go to sleep."

Lou Ling just felt that something was wrong, but she didn't know what would happen. Then she thought, it was already the apocalypse, it couldn't get any worse than this.

With that, she finally calmed down and fell asleep. Only Lou Dian lay awake, staring into the darkness, thinking about the changes this rain would bring. It was worse than he had imagined.

The next day, the heavy rain continued without any sign of stopping.

The four of them were trapped in the mountains.

Author's Note:

Today's goal:

Lou Ling's goal: Conquer the heavy rain!

Lou Dian's goal: Feed his sister!

Lin Baobao's goal: Suppress her brother!

Tan Mo's goal: Eat, eat, eat…

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