The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

Bach and his sister walked ahead. Passersby eyed them with undisguised vigilance.

Lou Dian appeared indifferent, while Lou Ling, accustomed to such scrutiny, paid it no mind. Instead, she observed the oasis. The journey had shattered her preconceptions. The oasis was unbelievably vast, a veritable hidden world. While it seemed rustic, with its ancient-style wooden houses, Lou Ling couldn't deny the effort required to establish such a scale in the apocalypse.

The Sage, as Bach called her, resided in a wooden house larger than the others, situated farthest from the main settlement. The door was closed. Bach approached, bowed, and said, "Sage, Bach has brought survivors who strayed into Anchilla to seek an audience."

Silence reigned inside. After a long pause, a voice finally responded, "Enter."

The voice was astonishingly young and feminine.

The tension in Bach's face eased momentarily before returning. He walked over and gently pushed open the wooden door.

Beyond lay an ordinary-looking living room, furnished with exquisite, antique-style pieces. On the central sofa sat a woman in a linen robe. She was mature and elegant, not conventionally beautiful but possessing a distinct grace. Her long hair was braided and coiled around her neck.

At first glance, she seemed an unusual woman. Hearing Bach and his sister address her respectfully as "Sage," Lou Ling surmised she was the oasis's leader. Yet, this woman, appearing only thirty or so, showed no outward sign of the power required to build such a place. She must possess some hidden strength.

As Lou Ling stared, she felt a squeeze on her hand and quickly looked away, offering an embarrassed smile. The woman returned a friendly smile, seemingly unperturbed.

"Please, have a seat," the Sage gestured, then gracefully began preparing tea.

Bach and his sister retreated outside.

Lou Ling noticed the teapot, which appeared to be made of purple clay, and the alcohol burner used to heat it, instead of electricity or gas. The woman's air of ease suggested the oasis thrived.

"May I know how to address you both? And from where have you traveled?" the Sage inquired with a calm, reassuring smile.

"Lou Dian, Lou Ling. We come from the Northwest," Lou Dian replied, his voice gentle and clear.

"From the Northwest Base?" The Sage raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "You are quite capable to have arrived here safely."

Lou Dian met her gaze with a calm expression. When she poured the tea, he didn't reach for the cup. Lou Ling, her hand held by his, followed suit.

A tense silence fell.

The Sage, true to her role as leader of the Anchilla Oasis, maintained her composure. Unfazed by their refusal, she smiled and said, "You have come a long way. If you don't mind, would you be willing to join Anchilla and become part of our community?"

"Thank you, Sage, but we are only passing through," Lou Dian politely declined.

The Sage's charming eyes, brown and deep, studied his handsome face. She smiled and said, "I see. However, traveling through the desert in these times is extremely dangerous. Perhaps you would consider resting here for a few days?"

"We would be grateful," Lou Dian finally agreed.

Having reached an accord, they began a subtle exchange, their words laced with veiled meanings. Lou Ling, playing the role of wallflower, felt slightly bewildered. From Lou Dian's skillful conversation, she gathered that the Sage was no simple woman. To match Lou Dian in such a verbal dance suggested she had been a formidable woman even before the apocalypse.

As they spoke, the Sage, initially shrouded in mystery, began to reveal her background.

"I was from H Province. Before the apocalypse, I was traveling in the desert with friends. Unexpectedly, the apocalypse struck, and some of my friends turned into zombies. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to find this oasis and settle down. I don't know what the outside world has become. Although it's safe here, it's difficult to return to the East, and much information has been lost…" After recounting her experiences, the Sage smiled sweetly. "By the way, Sage is what people call me here. My real name is Qin You."

Lou Dian's eyes flickered. He nodded. "So, Miss Qin You. I wonder if you have any relation to the Qin family of the Capital Base?"

"They are my family!" Qin You declared proudly.

Lou Ling thought, Speak of the devil!

After nearly an hour, Qin You finally allowed them to retire.

Qin You personally escorted them out. Many people outside witnessed this, and were surprised. Qin You held a high position in the oasis. With her endorsement, the oasis residents would treat them as their own, offering no trouble.

Following Qin You's instructions, Bach and his sister shed their previous coldness and enthusiastically guided them to their lodgings. They were assigned a small but well-equipped wooden house built against a tree.

Young Funa, clearly fond of Lou Ling—and her candy—tagged along. When no one was looking, Lou Ling slipped her two more candies. The girl, understanding the concept of secrecy, clutched them tightly and hid them in her sleeve.

Evening arrived, and the oasis residents began preparing dinner. Meals were communal. Bach personally delivered two bowls of cooked mutant beast meat, fragrant with a lingering gaminess due to the limited seasonings available.

Lou Ling, accustomed to Lou Dian's meticulous cooking, especially in the desert, found it difficult to accept. However, she maintained a polite smile, accepted the bowls, and inquired if they had eaten.

"We're just about to go eat. You are the Sage's guests and must be treated well," Bach replied cleverly.

"Thank you!" Lou Ling slipped Bach two more candies.

The steady young man clutched the candies tightly. While not filling, they provided energy, and his sister enjoyed them. Bach didn't refuse, offering a word of thanks.

After Bach left, Lou Dian closed the door, shielded the room with his psychic power, and stored the mutant beast meat in his spatial storage. He then retrieved pre-made dishes for their dinner: a pot of rice and three dishes, appearing freshly cooked. Lou Dian often prepared extra food and stored it for times when he didn't feel like cooking.

Lou Ling watched silently, then served him a bowl of rice. As they ate, she asked, "Brother, what's strange about this place?"

Lou Ling hadn't expected to encounter the Qin family, of all people, in the northern desert. Since Qin Peng's death, the Qin family of the Capital Base, though outwardly unchanged, was destined to decline. The other factions in the Capital Base were not to be trifled with. Lou Ling harbored a dislike for the Qin family, but lacking direct conflict, her aversion hadn't translated into active hostility.

"Plenty is strange," Lou Dian said, his eyes cold. "That woman's wood-type ability is quite good. She managed to slip poison into the tea undetected. It seems she's quite wary of our surname."

Lou Ling now understood. Qin You's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, making it difficult to discern which was which. Her initial hostility, however, was genuine, hence Lou Dian's refusal of the tea, which thwarted her plan. Lou Ling recalled the oasis residents. Most seemed ordinary, yet they carried themselves with a military air. Certain small movements couldn't be disguised.

Lou Dian wouldn't tolerate anyone threatening Lou Ling. When they arrived, the busy residents had made several attempts to approach, restrained only by Qin You's silence.

After dinner, Lou Dian disposed of the evidence in his spatial storage. They had only revealed themselves as wood and psychic ability users to Qin You, concealing their spatial ability, so many items remained hidden.

Lou Ling opened the window. The residents had closed their doors and windows for the night, leaving only the patrol outside.

After observing for a while, Lou Ling turned away, washed up with the water Lou Dian provided, and lay down fully clothed. They began discussing the oasis in hushed tones.

"This is likely a private base the Qin family established before the apocalypse," Lou Dian whispered. "It seems a skilled individual modified this place, perhaps using some metaphysical formation to alter the surrounding woods. Without a guide, one would only become lost."

"Even in the apocalypse, with limited communication, they shouldn't cause any further trouble, right?" Lou Ling thought Qin You seemed trapped.

"Who knows? Perhaps this serves as a backup plan for the Qin family," Lou Dian speculated.

"What do you think Qin You is planning?" Lou Ling asked. In the darkness, she couldn't see his face, but tracing the lines of his jaw, she could clearly picture it—a face that attracted women, no wonder Qin You had glanced at him repeatedly today, ignoring her completely.

"Who knows?" Sensing her unusual tone, Lou Dian rolled over, pinning her beneath him. Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingling. "Why do you ask about her?"

"…Nothing, just curious!" Why did she feel like he was accusing her of something? Qin You was clearly interested in him, yet he seemed to think she was the one about to stray.

Lou Dian kissed the corner of her lips. "Don't be curious. Regardless of her plans, we won't stay here long." Their arrival was accidental, an unexpected discovery of a secret Qin family base. If not for the limited communication in the apocalypse, Qin You, unaware of the events in the Capital Base, wouldn't have revealed her connection to the Qin family to build rapport.

Indeed, compared to the few other survivors they'd encountered, fellow easterners felt more familiar. Today, Qin You's subtle probing had confirmed Lou Dian's suspicions.

Author's Note:

Today's goals:

Lou Ling's goal: Guard against fire, theft, and women!

Lou Dian's goal: Guard against fire, theft, and all living creatures!

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