The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

It was late March, a time of spring, yet the weather in the northwest remained bitterly cold.

As the first light of dawn crept in, Lou Ling awoke to her internal clock. She reached out a hand, only to quickly pull it back against the chill. Remembering they were departing today, she couldn't afford to laze in bed. With a shiver, she climbed out, inadvertently dragging the man nestled beside her from the warm covers as well.

Sleeping in was simply unacceptable. As a man, how could he be more attached to the bed than she was?!

Lou Dian was awake but reluctant to leave the warmth. He moved slowly, toothbrush dangling from his mouth, a froth of toothpaste bubbling around his lips. He paused mid-brush, staring blankly at her for a moment. Only when she glared and nudged him did he shrug and continue brushing.

Unsure when they would return to the base, Lou Ling meticulously tidied their home. Clothes and blankets were stowed in the wardrobe, pots, pans, and gas canisters were stored away. The entire house resembled a place about to undergo renovations, everything packed and sealed.

After finishing, Lou Ling checked her backpack. A lighter, a bottle of water, a bag of seeds, candies and chocolates, her saber, a change of clothes, and an orange nestled on top. These were essentials, sometimes useful for diversion.

While she checked her supplies, Lou Dian leisurely finished his preparations, ready to depart at any moment.

They had informed Lin Bao and the others of their departure two days prior. Lin Bao initially wanted to join them but was firmly refused by Lou Dian. He also employed a tactic to ensure Tan Mo remained at the base, serving as a safeguard for the northwest base. Tan Mo's presence was invaluable. Lin Bao, left with no choice, could only fume before finally accepting the situation.

Locking the door behind them, they headed towards the base gate.

Despite the cold, the slight warming trend had prompted people to venture out, gathering supplies and eliminating zombies. So, even in the dim light of dawn, numerous figures bundled in thick clothing could be seen heading towards the gate.

As they reached the gate and were registering, a shout reached them.

"Brother! Brother! Don't go so fast!"

They looked up to see Lou Yan, bundled like a ball, rolling towards them. As she drew closer, they saw the sweat on her face and the flush in her cheeks from running. However, these couldn't hide the dark circles under her eyes, her gaze slightly dull from lack of sleep.

"Xiao Yan, what's wrong?" Lou Ling asked, supporting her.

Lou Yan pulled a communicator from her pocket and whispered, "I made this communicator last night. It'll be easier to stay in touch."

Lou Ling was surprised but quickly accepted it. After the apocalypse, Earth's magnetic field was disrupted, affecting satellite communication. Scientists were working on a solution, but it was limited to high-ranking officials within the base; ordinary personnel were out of luck. She hadn't expected Lou Yan to be so talented as to create one herself. Although it only had calling functionality, unlike a phone, it was more than sufficient.

Lou Ling patted the young woman's head, urging her to go back and rest. Lou Yan reluctantly left.

After registering, they left the base and walked a short distance before Lou Dian retrieved a Hummer from his spatial storage.

With Lou Dian driving, Lou Ling sat in the passenger seat, enjoying steaming hot buns for breakfast. She offered him one and some water, their actions affectionate yet natural.

"Which way?" Lou Ling asked, savoring the juicy filling of the bun.

"To the northern desert." And then they would turn east.

Lou Ling had no objections, a faint excitement stirring within her. It felt as if their journey began with the road beneath their wheels.

However, the sight of large mutated beasts darting past and zombies shuffling through the snow brought her back to reality, a stark reminder of its dangers. The road ahead would likely be fraught with peril. Yet, the challenge was also exhilarating.

At the end of March, the snow began to melt in the eastern regions, marking a period of increased activity for humans, zombies, and mutated flora and fauna. However, in the northwest, due to the higher altitude, the snow persisted, making some areas impassable. They had to resort to an electric snowmobile, traversing the snow-covered landscape, a scene of unique beauty.

The unmelted snow slowed their progress considerably. They traveled intermittently, sometimes stopping to find shelter before nightfall.

Along the way, Lou Ling encountered several snow-dwelling mutated beasts: wolves, foxes, elk, Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks, argali, blue sheep, red deer, wild camels, and more. Most of these mutated beasts were aggressive, charging at them the moment they were spotted, terrifying Lou Ling.

Post-apocalypse, mutated animals had grown several times their original size, resembling behemoths. Their temperaments had also changed. Even a docile sheep could charge like a bull if provoked, let alone creatures that were already ferocious.

Lou Ling could handle one or two, but when faced with a dozen… it was time to run.

Thus, they were chased numerous times, frustrating Lou Ling to no end. So, whenever they encountered a lone mutated beast and were pursued, she would unleash her pent-up anger, slaying the creature and butchering it for food, storing the meat in her spatial storage.

Besides mutated beasts, they also encountered zombies and zombified animals. Unlike the edible mutated beasts, she had no fondness for zombies and zombified animals. These grotesque creatures were a threat to be consumed, not a source of sustenance. Eliminating them was the only sensible course of action.

Traveling north, stopping and starting, a two-day journey stretched into nearly half a month. The weather grew warmer, prompting them to shed their winter clothes for spring attire. The snow finally melted, revealing tender shoots of grass trembling in the chilly breeze, a scene of vibrant renewal.

By April, summer arrived globally, including the northwest. The weather turned hot.

By this time, Lou Ling and Lou Dian had reached the desert.

Their desert trek began. During the day, they drove the jeep, searching for mutated plants. At night, they stayed in the RV, scattering pollen from the monster-repelling Yaohonghua flower around the perimeter and relying on the mutated vines for security, ensuring a good night's sleep.

One evening, as the sun set, Lou Ling sat in the vehicle, gazing at the desert landscape, recalling a poem: "Vast desert, lone smoke straight, long river, setting sun round." The desert seemed unchanged by the apocalypse. Its vastness and sparse population, even the scarcity of zombies, created a peaceful tranquility, almost indistinguishable from the pre-apocalypse world.

The vehicle stopped before a sheltered sand dune. After they disembarked, Lou Dian retrieved the RV. They would rest here for the night.

The RV, likely acquired by Lou Dian before the apocalypse, was a foreign model. Inside, it resembled a small apartment, compact yet fully equipped, a perfect companion for travel.

After cultivating a mutated plant, Lou Ling wiped the dust from her face and entered the RV, heading straight for the bathroom to wash up. The aroma of home-cooked food greeted her, her stomach rumbling in response. It seemed to be beef stew and braised ribs… so tempting, her mouth watered.

Lou Ling hurried to the kitchenette, where Lou Dian was busy cooking. The fragrant air filled her with a sense of happiness. Having a boyfriend who was a good cook was pure bliss. All she had to do was wash her hands and wait.

When they were alone, Lou Dian enjoyed cooking for her, as if trying to capture her heart through her stomach, making her inseparable from him. However, in the presence of others, he reverted to a cool and aloof demeanor, sitting and waiting to be served.

Lou Dian glanced back at her, his expression softening. He leaned in, kissing her lips, and said, "Go wash the dishes. Dinner will be ready soon."

Lou Ling obediently retrieved the dishes and cutlery from the sterilizer, set the table, and sat down to wait.

After dinner, feeling full, they stepped out of the RV for a walk in the desert to aid digestion, taking the opportunity to replenish Changqingteng's energy with her ability. After two consecutive infusions, Changqingteng grew even more lush, its vines crawling along the RV, covering every surface except the doors and windows. From a distance, it resembled a massive green monster.

"Brother, we haven't seen any giant cacti, and even mutated plants are rare. Are we on the wrong track?" Lou Ling asked, a little discouraged. Apart from mutated beasts, they hadn't encountered any other mutated plants.

"No, we're probably just on the wrong path," Lou Dian replied calmly, unconcerned. If it weren't for the apocalypse, Lou Ling would have suspected he was on a leisurely road trip, enjoying an early honeymoon.

After their walk, they were covered in sand again. The heat, combined with the sand and sweat, was quite uncomfortable. Back in the RV, Lou Ling immediately took a warm shower, worrying about whether they would run out of water. In the current desert, even oases were rare, let alone water. Even if they found water, they were afraid to use it due to the risk of contamination.

After they both showered, Lou Ling voiced her concerns. He pulled her onto the bed, kissing her, and declared with a confident air of wealth, "Don't worry. You can use as much as you want."

His extravagant demeanor eased Lou Ling's worries. Although she had some doubts, she trusted him and put it out of her mind. Under his touch, they naturally embraced and made love. Without the worry of pregnancy, he was always passionate and unrestrained.

The next day, they continued their leisurely journey.

Perhaps due to Lou Ling's persistent nagging, that afternoon, they finally came across an oasis teeming with desert plants, thriving even more vigorously than before the apocalypse.

Author's Note:

Today's goals:

Lou Ling's goal: Find mutated plants!

Lou Dian's goal: Roll around in the sheets!!

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