Firstly, he wanted to gauge the strength of the other person, and secondly, to secure his own safety. From what he understood of his own spiritual energy, this talisman should hold up against the zombies outside until at least tomorrow afternoon, barring any unforeseen circumstances. If luck was on his side, he might recover somewhat by then and figure out a way to leave.
Thirdly, he hoped the person would see his utility and not immediately throw him out of the car. Of course, he had prepared for this contingency; the talisman bore his blood, and as a cultivator, his blood carried more spiritual energy than an ordinary person's. These vile creatures were attracted to blood, and once they smelled it, they would go into a frenzy.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before the car was surrounded. Xu Nuo had to admit, rather than hoping for rescue, he'd prefer if the person outside met their end, ensuring his own safety. Although he didn't often interact with people, the teachings of his master and the experiences of these past few days had taught him a valuable lesson: people are not trustworthy, especially in such an environment.
Who wasn't selfish? How many were truly altruistic? If someone was inherently evil, that was one thing, but he was more wary of those who seemed innocent, kind, or weak on the surface, only to stab you in the back later.
Therefore, he didn't really want the person outside to break through the zombies surrounding him. Xu Nuo had always been confident in his own abilities. He could keep the zombies at bay, unable to even touch the car, and he also had the means to drive them away once he regained consciousness.
What he hadn't expected was that the person was much stronger than he had anticipated. In fact, it was Park Su's second-stage ability attack that had roused him from his stupor. After all, the talisman was infused with his blood, allowing him to sense the other person's presence.
That strike directly weakened the defensive barrier, which could have lasted until tomorrow, reducing its endurance to just a couple of hours, severely impacting Xu Nuo's recuperation and even threatening his life. How could he not wake up?
He could roughly guess that the owner of the car had returned, but he hadn't expected the owner to be so powerful. If such an attack were repeated, the talisman's defense might shatter.
However, the other person didn't attack again but instead tore off the talisman and got into the car, rushing out of the zombie encirclement without even paying attention to him.
From that moment, Xu Nuo remained alert, even as his body felt terrible. He couldn't afford to relax, unsure when this person might attack him or throw him out of the car.
He hoped that, for the sake of their shared humanity, the other wouldn't abandon him in the midst of zombies. In his current condition, he wasn't sure he could survive on his own. After all, he had entertained the thought of hijacking the car, and he had taken someone else's seat, so if the other person decided to act, it would be understandable.
When Park Su stopped the car in a desolate area, Xu Nuo prepared himself to be thrown out. However, to his surprise, Park Su paused upon seeing him, then fed him water and carefully covered him with a blanket. Xu Nuo, of course, heard the words Park Su muttered, and because of those words, he knew he probably wouldn't be left behind.
It seemed that Park Su had recognized his utility value, but that alone shouldn't warrant such careful treatment.
Moreover, Park Su's earlier actions clearly indicated an intention to abandon him. He didn't understand why there had been a change of heart. Xu Nuo knew his own abilities wouldn't have been a surprise to Park Su just then; it must have been known from the beginning, but the decision not to throw him out was made only moments ago.
Xu Nuo couldn't help but frown internally. While he might be good-looking, he didn't think his appearance alone could keep him alive in this chaotic world.
What's more, he didn't like the idea of being valued only for his looks, especially since Park Su was clearly a man, and from his earlier observation with his spiritual sight, a very capable one at that.
He didn't believe such a man would value someone solely for their face. His intuition told him there was another reason for this treatment, which is why he couldn't help but open his eyes to take a closer look at this man who had not only saved him but was also taking care of him with such attention to detail.
Upon looking, he indeed found the person somewhat familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before. Especially under the dim light, the fair skin reminded him of someone. So, he quickly shifted his gaze to the man's hand, and sure enough, he saw the space ring he had crafted.
It turned out to be him; by this calculation, he was also a creditor to this man. However, if he died, wouldn't that debt be wiped clean? But now, discovering he knew this person, Park Su not only didn't throw him out of the car but took careful care of him. Was he so confident in his own abilities that he believed Xu Nuo would definitely help him?
Wasn't he afraid that when Xu Nuo woke up, he would demand repayment? Though in this world, money might be the least valuable thing. Xu Nuo looked at the man's profile and slightly hooked his lips into a smile. How long had it been since someone last took care of him?
His body was usually in good condition, perhaps because he knew that following his old master, the man wouldn't take the time to look after him. When sick, he had to tough it out on his own.
Therefore, his body had always been quite resilient, rarely encountering issues. Two years ago, his master told him he needed to seek out an opportunity to break through to a higher level of Daoist magic and would be leaving him behind to search for it.
Before departing, his master told him that if he couldn't find this opportunity, he might ascend directly or pass away. However, he had taught Xu Nuo everything he needed to know, and from then on, Xu Nuo's progress would depend entirely on his own practice and insight.
When his master left, Xu Nuo didn't go to see him off, not because he didn't care for the man who had raised him, but because watching him leave made him feel abandoned.
His master left for two years, and during this time, the world had turned into its current state without any sign of him, leaving Xu Nuo unsure whether he had found his opportunity or had passed on. Over these years, Xu Nuo's life had been about cultivation and earning money to enjoy life a little.
However, having lived in the mountains for so long, Xu Nuo had few opportunities to interact with people. Initially, his youthful appearance led many to doubt his abilities, but once they witnessed his strength, many started to try and take advantage of him, which made him increasingly averse to social interactions.
He didn't want to always assume the worst about others, but he was often shown their worst sides, which forced him to gradually mask his true self, making him appear more cunning and less gullible.
His presence here was due to a previous client asking him to help a friend with an exorcism. Two days before, Xu Nuo had sensed a significant shift in the spiritual energy of the air, but he didn't know whether it was for better or worse.
After helping that family with the exorcism late at night, he stayed in their guest room. The next day, the world outside had changed, and in their panic, they initially relied heavily on him, even pleading for him to stay and protect them for a while.
Initially, Xu Nuo had no intention of staying, but their tearful pleas gave him a headache. Plus, having done business with the friend, he felt compelled to stay out of respect, and they had promised a generous reward if he could protect them until the government sent help.
However, after helping them for a day and dealing with numerous zombies, Xu Nuo began to run a fever. They quickly noticed his condition, and without hesitation, they threw him out, completely forgetting who had initially begged him to stay.
Seeing their change of heart was like flipping a page in a book, Xu Nuo wasn't one to linger on such matters. This incident only served to show him the true nature of humanity more clearly. He gave a cold laugh and, despite the fever, left their place. Along the way, he encountered and dealt with many zombies until he saw Park Su's car near a supermarket. For survival, he targeted Park Su's car.
Park Su's care earlier had touched him somewhat, so as he looked at the young man's profile, his emotions were complex. However, he ultimately closed his eyes, deciding to see just how far Park Su was willing to go for him. If Park Su genuinely meant well, then teaming up with him wouldn't be a bad idea. After all, this kid seemed quite naive, and Xu Nuo felt he could handle him. Everything would have to wait until he recovered.
With this thought, he closed his eyes, fully focusing his consciousness on regulating the sudden influx of spiritual energy within his body.