Lin Shi slowly opened his eyes. The safe house, devoid of any light source, was pitch black. Had the solar storm and geomagnetic storm passed? Lin Shi rubbed his forehead, still feeling a bit dazed. He flipped his hand and retrieved an emergency flashlight from his spatial pocket, hanging it on the wall. Then, he took out a household gasoline generator and connected it to the wiring in the house. As he pulled the switch, the entire safe house was restored with power.
Lin Shi had no idea how long he had been unconscious. In his previous life, he had been out for a day and a night, but he wasn't sure if it was the same this time. His mechanical watch showed that it was 11:34 AM. "Gurgle... gurgle..." The hunger in his stomach made him feel as though he hadn't eaten for two or three days.
Lin Shi decided to first hydrate and eat something before going out to assess the situation. He suddenly recalled the message that appeared on the treasure basin interface before he lost consciousness: [The solar storm has arrived, and a geomagnetic storm is forming. "Origin" material is rapidly generating.]
What was this "Origin" material? Checking the treasure basin interface, he found no changes; the countdown had vanished. "Gurgle..." His stomach protested again. Pushing aside his curiosity, Lin Shi retrieved a pot, an induction cooker, and a piece of beef from his spatial pocket. He filled the pot with water, added some hotpot base, and began slicing the beef into the boiling water. The beef was fresh, and as he sliced, he started eating, complementing it with some fresh vegetables. Before long, five pounds of beef were consumed.
"When did I become such a big eater?" Although his stomach was full, there was a lingering sense of not being fully satisfied. A side effect of the geomagnetic storm? Lin Shi patted his belly, placed the dishes in the sink, and turned on the faucet to test the water. Ordinary electric pumps would have been damaged by the EMP, so when designing the pump, Lin Shi had insisted on a traditional, non-electric one. The fact that water still flowed proved his foresight correct. The water was slightly cold but within a normal range.
After washing the dishes, Lin Shi changed into a long-sleeved shirt and pants, then opened the first door of the safe house. The soundproofing of the safe house was excellent, and as he approached the main entrance, he peered through the peephole. Satisfied, he opened the front door. Outside, a heavy rain was falling. Lin Shi reached out and caught a handful of rainwater. The outdoor temperature was only slightly cool, suggesting that the duration of his unconsciousness was similar to his past life.
In his previous life, after the solar storm, the sun's brightness visibly diminished, and the planet's temperature dropped by several degrees over three days. At that time, in Hai City, Lin Shi remembered the temperature dropping by about ten degrees Celsius on the second day, accompanied by heavy rain. People were panicking over the loss of electricity and the inability to receive outside information, unaware of the unusual weather, which they attributed to a strong cold front. But by the third day, the temperature plummeted another twenty degrees. Hail, severe typhoons, and blizzards occurred in many places. People began to realize something was wrong and started to hoard supplies amidst the snow. On the fourth day, the temperature dropped another thirty degrees within a single day. The morning-to-afternoon temperature difference of twenty to thirty degrees was terrifying. Many who went out for supplies and couldn't return home in time died from hypothermia in the blizzard. Temperatures in the south dropped to around minus fifty degrees Celsius, and the north was even colder. The human body needs time to adapt to temperature changes, but the sun didn't give them that time. Even those who stayed indoors, wrapped in blankets, couldn't withstand the sudden drop in temperature, leading to illness, frostbite, and death. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and medical equipment and ambulances were all destroyed by the solar storm, with no power to operate. The rate of people falling ill outpaced the ability to treat them, and medicine became scarce. Countless people died within a day. Panic and chaos set in, and people finally realized the apocalypse had arrived.
Shashi, being near the equator, should experience a slower temperature drop than Hai City. The temperature in Shashi had been around 32 degrees Celsius just two days ago. Lin Shi retrieved an electronic air thermometer and measured the current temperature at 22 degrees Celsius. He returned inside, put on a jacket, and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He needed to go out and gather supplies before the blizzard hit. Though he had enough supplies in his spatial pocket, no one would complain about having too much. Extra supplies could be traded or kept for emergencies. With no surveillance outside, he no longer had to worry about exposing his spatial pocket. Donning a waterproof raincoat, Lin Shi stepped outside and picked up the shared bicycle he had discarded earlier. The electronic lock on the bike was damaged by the EMP, but it was still usable. He hopped on the bike and sped down the mountain.
Once he descended, Lin Shi noticed that riding the bike felt much easier. Previously, he had to pedal hard to reach forty to fifty kilometers per hour, but now he could do it effortlessly. Had his physical condition improved after sleeping? Lost in thought, Lin Shi didn't notice a group of people emerging from a corner ahead. The group, wearing matching raincoats, had stern and alert expressions. Closer inspection revealed military green uniforms beneath their raincoat collars. Among them, a girl in a transparent raincoat and a white dress was protected in the center.
Seeing the sudden appearance of people, Lin Shi tried to brake, but it was too late. "Screech!!" The shrill sound of brakes echoed, but the bike still crashed into the group. "Ah!" A girl's scream rang out. A middle-aged man among them frowned, stepped forward, and delivered a swift kick to the bike's frame!
A normal person's leg would have broken under the force, but instead of a cry of pain, Lin Shi and the bike were pushed back! Lin Shi's eyes narrowed, and he managed to steady the bike after retreating a few meters. Looking down, he saw that the bike's frame was dented. Who were these people? So strong!
"Who are you?!" The others became wary, eyeing Lin Shi, with some reaching into their raincoats. Lin Shi quickly reacted, scratching his head and apologizing, "Sorry, I was in a hurry to get some supplies and head back home. I'm glad I didn't hit anyone. Is your leg okay, sir?"
The middle-aged man didn't speak, only frowned, scrutinizing Lin Shi with a guarded look. Lin Shi's grip on the handlebars tightened slightly. Both sides fell silent, the atmosphere tense. Then, a female voice from the group spoke, "Uncle Qiu, let it go. He didn't mean it."