"I feel something's off about this guy. The sword he carries on his back, I'm familiar with it—it's Frostmourne from the World of Warcraft. I could understand that in normal times, but now it's the apocalypse. I really doubt his sanity," he said.
"What do you think, could this be a trap?"
If it had been earlier, nobody would have been so cautious.
But now, in the apocalypse, the past days have truly shown how sinister human nature can be.
Friends who used to be close, who spoke freely with each other, now kick you from behind just to buy themselves time to escape, all to save their own lives.
So, they were very cautious now. In these times, one careless moment could cost them their lives.
In times of peace, it was already hard to gain someone's trust, let alone now. Gaining trust had become even harder.
"We mean no harm. If we have disturbed you, please forgive us," the gang leader said.
She couldn't figure out this person's situation either.
In the library, it was normal for people to read books.
But what about now?
It was the apocalypse, a time filled with danger; who would come to read books?
"No worries, just continue, but keep it down a bit, after all, this is a library," Lin Fan said as he sat down and buried his head in his book again, finding the knowledge on cultivation quite interesting. He wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet while reading.
The gang leader whispered, "Let's keep our voices down from here on."
She had a feeling that the man before them was not someone to trifle with, not because she knew something, but just a woman's intuition.
Time passed.
Lin Fan heard the footsteps of the people leaving, stood up, and looked outside to see them rushing out.
"Are you leaving?" Lin Fan asked.
The short-haired woman said, "May I ask if you need something?"
She appeared very amiable, showing no hint of impatience.
"If you're taking a lot of books, you need to sign them out; these books aren't personal property, every loan must be registered," Lin Fan said, not implying anything, just giving a reminder.
What?
Not only was the short-haired woman baffled, but the two men beside her were also shocked.
Actually, not just them.
Anyone would have been.
What is he talking about?
"Dude, are you okay in the head?" the man in the baseball cap couldn't help but ask, a bit amused. "Are you from some mental hospital? It seems like the only one around here is Qingshan Mental Hospital."
Look at the time now.
Still wanting to sign out? He must be crazy.
"Do you know what's going on outside?" the short-haired woman asked cautiously.
She hadn't thought there was something wrong with him, but now, she felt it.
Not normal, just too abnormal.
"Yes, I know, it's the apocalypse. There are zombies outside that might bite people, but other than that, not much has changed," Lin Fan replied indifferently.
"Bro, even if you know what's happening outside, you really should understand that this is just too... never mind, you have your thoughts, and we got what we wanted. Let's not trouble each other and mind our own business, okay?" the man in the baseball cap said.
He wasn't a vicious person; he was just an ordinary member of society before, living a regular 9-to-5 life, not breaking the law, not causing trouble, just trying to survive and live a better life.
Lin Fan saw that they seemed a bit nervous and smiled, "Don't be nervous, it's all right. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. It's dangerous outside now, and I understand that none of you want this kind of situation."
"Oh, and remember my name. I'm Lin Fan, I live in Sunshine District, Building 2, Unit 704, Second Floor. If you find yourself surrounded by zombies and your lives are in danger, you can come to me. I'm very strong. A hundred or eighty zombies are no match for me."
Short-haired woman: ...
Baseball cap man: ...
The last man: ...
It's confirmed.
He really is crazy.
But they didn't say it.
"Thank you. If we really run into danger, we'll come to find you," the short-haired woman quickly said, then hurriedly left with the group.
The other two men took a deep look at Lin Fan.
Maybe they wanted to say... dude, you really know how to brag.
"You left too fast, I didn't even get your names," Lin Fan said as he watched their retreating figures with a bit of regret. But studying brought him joy, and he returned to his seat to continue his studies.
Plant cultivation was a bit complex.
Whether he could be self-sufficient in the future depended on himself.
The library quieted down.
Only the sound of flipping pages rose in the quiet library.
Outside the library.
"Boss lady, I can guarantee, a hundred percent for sure, that guy must be crazy. The apocalypse definitely scared him silly," the man in the baseball cap confidently said.
"I think so too," another man added.
"Enough talk, let's hurry on," the short-haired woman said.
The three got into their armored vehicle. Seeing everyone safe, the driver, Lao Mao, breathed a sigh of relief, started the vehicle, and sped away quickly.
The noise from the vehicle's engine attracted several zombies.
They obviously had wandered over from elsewhere.
But to think they could stop this gigantic steel beast was like an insect shambling into a vehicle—overestimating themselves. They were instantly crushed under the wheels, leaving behind a mess of gore.
"Amazing, Lao Mao. Every time I see your vehicle crush those zombies, it feels incredibly satisfying," the man in the baseball cap said.
The short-haired girl looked through the glass, deeply gazing at the library.
Wondering when this apocalypse would finally end.
It felt like being in darkness, unable to see even a glimmer of hope.
...
"There's too much content, I can't finish it all in a short time," he said.
He had stayed in the library for a long time, and as the light began to fade with the coming of the sunset, a swath of earthy yellow brilliance passed through the library's glass windows, quietly merging with the floor.
He closed the book.
"It looks like I'll have to borrow it and read it slowly."
The book on plants recounted many aspects of vegetable cultivation.
He greatly admired those farmers who had a thorough understanding of growing various vegetables, sometimes even more detailed than what was documented in books.
"That's it, let's head home."
Lin Fan stood up, holding a book, and went to the library counter to check it out.
If you don't have a library card.
You need to pay a hundred yuan as a deposit and leave your phone number.
He would take only one book as taking more could hinder his study progress and distract him.
Experts on TV had said, when you finish at the library, just borrow one book, borrowing more is just for show.
Especially between men and women, it's best for men to borrow just one book.
According to the nature of men, they are focused only when there are no external temptations; if there are temptations and choices, they get distracted by beautiful things or women, ending up not concentrating at all.
After paying the deposit, holding the book, he walked out of the library and then shut the bronze door behind him.
Outside.
The far sky was reddish-yellow, the sun was setting, and it was getting dark soon.
He walked on the quiet street, with tranquility on each side, each storefront empty.
Occasionally, a decaying corpse lay there, unheeded by anyone.
A gust of wind blew.
Lin Fan sneezed, his nose tickling.
He had long been used to the surroundings, not much different from before, the only difference was the absence of people.
When he had come, he ran without paying much attention to his surroundings; now he was walking back slowly, appreciating the environment.
Back at the seed company.
There were various vegetable seeds, clearly labeled.
He took some seeds, packed them, and put them in his pocket.
There was also base fertilizer, which is essential for the lush growth of vegetables.
"Here's the money," Lin Fan said as he took out the money from his pocket and placed it on the counter.
Although the owner wasn't there, he couldn't just take things for free; it was a matter of principle.
Taking things for free often could become a habit over time.
And once it became a habit, it would truly be terrifying.
He left the seed company and headed towards his home.
There was much to do next.
He needed to choose a place to plant.
The open spaces in the district were a good choice; of course, these open spaces were not his alone, and he needed everyone's permission to plant there.
Back home.
Lin Fan placed the book to one side, along with the seeds and fertilizer he had bought.
His outing today had not been in vain.
He had encountered people struggling to survive in the apocalypse and those committing atrocities.
"To be yourself is to be of the greatest help to others," Lin Fan said as he patted his face, trying to relax.
Though entertainment was gone, he could focus on studying.
It was getting late.
Dinner was not yet prepared, and there were still some vegetables left to eat.
Soon.
The aroma of food wafted through the house.
"A man who can cook truly is the best,"
Lin Fan thought cheerfully, maintaining a positive spirit even in the apocalypse.
At night.
He sat at his computer desk, reading the rented books and taking notes, jotting down some content.
Books ultimately had to be returned, and it was better to note down some content to avoid forgetting later.
After a while.
His eyelids grew heavy, and he wanted to sleep. He closed the book, lay down on the bed, and holding a teddy bear, he drifted beautifully into dreamland.
In the quiet night, occasionally, the growls of zombies could be heard.
This was a reminder to the living that danger was always present.
In a certain desert, an underground base.
You could see traces of zombies, but these were being controlled.
A group of people in protective suits were conducting various experiments.
"It's strange, according to our tests, the cellular activity in the zombies' bodies is slowly increasing every day."
"You mean the zombies are evolving?"
"You could say that."
"Never mind that for now; I just want to know, can we develop antibodies for the virus?"
"No, the viruses are strange, unlike anything we've ever seen, even remotely,"
"You mean, these people have died and come back to life in a different form?"
"Hard to say..."
"Keep researching, no matter what, we must find those virus antibodies, we must eliminate the zombies and get the world back on track."
"Yes."
Since the zombies first appeared, this base also faced problems.
But fortunately, the situation wasn't too dire.
With the sacrifice of a few personnel, they had managed to eliminate those who had turned into zombies.
Learning about the apocalypse outside, with zombies rampant, they were completely stunned.
They had no choice but to rely on the power of this place and research intensely.
Hoping to develop a cure.
To utterly eradicate the zombies.
If things continued like this, the world would be utterly destroyed.
PS: Asking for monthly tickets, asking for all kinds of tickets.