Forty years old, awakening attribute panel

Chapter 272

These days, Jiang Sheng has focused on collecting weapons and daily necessities, which has made his food reserves quite rich. On the dinner table, the braised venison exudes an enticing aroma. This is the spoils of his fierce battle with zombies under the North Bridge, at the cost of two magazines of bullets. The dehydrated vegetable soup was an unexpected discovery from the cellar of Long Island. Three heavy bags of vegetables, weighing more than 20 kilograms, provided them with a valuable source of vitamins. In addition, there was canned beef, which added more energy to the meal. And the can of canned yellow peaches, as a dessert after the meal, not only satisfied the desire for sweetness, but also reminded them that even in doomsday, there is still sweetness in life.

When it comes to the shelf life of canned food, Jiang Sheng is well aware that the production process of these foods is extremely strict, with high-temperature sterilization, the addition of preservatives, and sealed packaging, all of which ensure the long-term preservation of the food. Although canned fruit is not as durable as canned meat, it is more than enough to last for three to five years. The canned yellow peach in his hand is a vivid example, the taste is still delicious, and there is no sign of deterioration.

At the dining table, Moon Hyo-ri was wearing a leather jacket, looking wild, but she looked particularly elegant while dining, which formed a sharp contrast with her appearance. Her striking figure was even more difficult to ignore when viewed from a close distance, and Kang Seung's eyes unconsciously swept across her proud curves several times. Moon Hyo-ri seemed to have noticed it, or did it on purpose, and she deliberately leaned forward, making the tight leather jacket almost unable to bear the proud weight, and the curves behind her swayed gently with her movements, full of temptation.

Faced with such a scene, Jiang Sheng felt an irresistible urge, but he tried to restrain himself, quickly finished his meal, and politely said, "Take your time to eat, I'll go out for a walk." The moment he went out, he took a deep breath, as if he had regained his freedom, and his mood became much better. In the end of life, such a relaxing moment is particularly precious.

In the doomsday world, human desires are infinitely magnified in the struggle on the edge of life and death. The pressure of survival and the bloodiness of battle fill every cell with primitive impulses. Jiang Sheng is no exception. These days of wandering between life and death have accumulated too much repression and desire in his heart. However, reason tells him that entanglement with a mysterious and powerful woman like Moon Hyo-ri is likely to put him in a passive position. Once she makes a request that exceeds the bottom line, he may find it difficult to refuse. Therefore, for his own safety, Jiang Sheng decided to temporarily suppress this desire. After all, saving his life is obviously more important than physical pleasure.

"Why, are you afraid that I'll depend on you?" Moon Hyo-ri's voice suddenly sounded behind him, with a hint of ridicule, as if she had seen through Jiang Sheng's inner world. Jiang Sheng turned around abruptly, and met her penetrating eyes. His cheeks unconsciously flushed with heat, and he quickly explained, "No, I just came out to get some fresh air." There was a hint of embarrassment in his tone, trying to hide his true thoughts.

Moon Hyo-ri took a step forward, stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and looked towards the setting sun in the west. Her voice became soft, as if she was telling a certain philosophy: "You Chinese have a saying, drink today and don't worry about tomorrow. You and I are in the end times, and every day may be the last day. What's the point of thinking too much? So, don't worry, I won't force you to do anything if you don't want to."

Jiang Sheng did not respond. He knew that Moon Hyo-ri was right, but in practice, the situation was often much more complicated. In order to change the subject, he casually asked, "Where are you from?" trying to dig out more information about this mysterious woman.

"I am Chinese, I was born in North Korea and later married and moved to Hangzhou." Moon Hyo-ri's answer was simple and direct, revealing her complex and unique background.

Jiang Sheng nodded and responded, "I'm from Wuxi." In this environment where the multiverse intersects, he doesn't mind revealing his hometown. After all, they may come from different parallel worlds.

Hearing this, Moon Hyo-ri looked at Jiang Sheng's profile thoughtfully, "I see, the two places are not far apart, about 200 kilometers." There seemed to be a hint of yearning in her words, "If I have a chance in the future, I really want to go to Xicheng to have a look."

Afterwards, the two chatted casually, and Moon Hyo-ri wisely avoided mentioning any topic about the mission, as if it was just an ordinary chat between the two. As the sun set and the sky darkened, a tacit understanding quietly formed between the two. They turned around almost at the same time, without any extra words, and returned to the house together.

Against the backdrop of doomsday, such ordinary conversations and brief moments of peace are particularly precious. Amid endless battles and pressure to survive, they found a moment of tranquility and resonance. Although the future is full of unknowns, the warmth and understanding of this moment made them feel as if they had found a ray of warm light in the ruins.

A new day begins in the morning light. Moon Hyo-ri wakes up early and starts her daily fitness routine. The backstage on the first floor of the jewelry store has been transformed into a well-equipped fitness space by Jiang Sheng's careful transformation. Dumbbells, barbells, supine boards, and even a rare treadmill are all available. It seems that in the context of the end of the world, this place has become a small safe haven, reminding people that life must go on.

Jiang Sheng walked down slowly from the second floor, and the footsteps in the stairwell coincided with the rhythm of Moon Hyo-ri's skipping rope. When he stepped into the first floor, he saw Moon Hyo-ri exercising. She was wearing a light gray vest soaked with sweat. The sweat on her upper body was shining under the light, and the curves outlined were impossible to ignore. As for her lower body, she was only wearing shorts. Her two slender legs showed strength and beauty under the rhythm of skipping rope. Fine beads of sweat slid down her skin and finally formed a small pool of water on the floor.

"Hmm... Good morning!" Moon Hyo-ri stopped skipping rope, panting, with a smile that showed some ease and vitality. Kang Seung greeted her back, but he felt a little embarrassed. What happened last night happened too suddenly. The two had only known each other for a few hours, but they had intimate contact, and it was Moon Hyo-ri who took the initiative. For Kang Seung, who has always been conservative, this was undoubtedly a big shock to traditional concepts. But he soon realized that since it had already happened, it would be useless to dwell on it too much, so he took the initiative to change the subject and asked Moon Hyo-ri about her plans for today.

Moon Hyo-ri wiped the sweat from her forehead and walked towards Jiang Sheng, her smile still bright: "I plan to go to the downtown area to take a look, what about you?" Her attitude was natural and direct, as if what happened last night was just an ordinary trivial matter.

"I'm going to find food." Jiang Sheng's answer was concise and clear. They both understood that the rule of survival in the apocalypse is to do their own job and work together to ensure that each other's basic needs are met. Although Jiang Sheng felt complicated about his behavior last night, he knew that it was a kind of mutual dependence based on survival considerations, not a pure emotional exchange.

After a brief silence, Jiang Sheng plucked up the courage and tried to get to know the woman whose fate was connected with his: "Can you tell me about your mission?" He wanted to know what Moon Hyo-ri's goal was in this world. Perhaps this could also help him find a direction.

Moon Hyo-ri did not answer directly, but avoided his gaze, walked past him gently, and said as she walked: "Let's go have breakfast first." She seemed to be avoiding, or looking for the right time to talk about this topic. Jiang Sheng did not force it, and followed her steps to the kitchen. In the doomsday world, food has become the top priority of the day, and about the mission and the future, perhaps it will be easier to talk about it after a full stomach. There is a subtle tacit understanding between the two of them that is quietly growing. They are both working hard to survive, and are also trying to find more reliance and trust in each other.

At breakfast time, Moon Hyo-ri cooked a pot of rice with simple cooking utensils, and cooked the venison she had hunted earlier with dehydrated vegetables and dried beans to make a pot of delicious stew. The two sat around the simple dining table and silently enjoyed this hard-earned breakfast. Although the taste of the food was simple, it seemed particularly precious in the context of doomsday, and every bite contained the hope and strength of survival.

After the meal, Moon Hyo-ri put down her bowl and chopsticks and finally broke the silence: "My mission is to ensure that Neville can safely develop antiviral drugs and deliver them to the designated location." There was a sense of mission in her words, as if that was the only reason for her existence in this world.

Jiang Sheng listened, tapping his fingers unconsciously on the table. After thinking for a moment, he asked his own question: "So what are you going to do?"

Moon Hyo-ri put on a leather jacket and instantly regained her coolness and sexiness, but she could not hide her worry between her brows: "The best way right now is to stay put and wait, and be ready to deal with emergencies at any time. Other plans are too risky and not feasible." Her words revealed the difficulty and complexity of the task, and the building seemed like an insurmountable obstacle.

Jiang Sheng thought about it and came up with a bold idea: "What if we just blow up the building?"

Moon Hyo-ri shook her head. "The building covers an area of ​​more than 3 square meters, with a complex structure and underground passages. A simple explosion cannot completely eliminate the zombies inside." She paused, glanced at Jiang Sheng, and said with a hint of helplessness: "Besides, those zombies targeting Neville are not ordinary ones. They have a certain amount of wisdom and amazing strength. A head-on confrontation will only put us in a passive position."

Jiang Sheng heard this and touched his nose silently without rebutting. He understood that Moon Hyo-ri's words implied an evaluation of the level of zombies he had dealt with before. Obviously, those were just minor characters.

"You should have seen the drama movie," Moon Hyo-ri continued, "In fact, we don't need to completely eliminate all the zombies. The key is to ensure that Neville's research is not disturbed so that he can successfully develop the antidote." When she mentioned "we", she hesitated a little. The contrast between yesterday's vows and today's requests for help was sharp, making her feel embarrassed.

Jiang Sheng did not express dissatisfaction with this. Although Moon Hyo-ri may have had a clear purpose in approaching him at first, in this doomsday world, helping each other is itself a survival strategy. Moreover, helping Moon Hyo-ri complete the mission may also mean more resources and security for him. The rules of survival are redefined in the doomsday, and cooperation and mutual assistance between people have become an important force to fight against despair.

"Okay, I will help you, but we have to make a careful plan." Jiang Sheng finally said, knowing that if he wanted to survive in this doomsday game, fighting alone was not a long-term solution. The two began to discuss the action plan in detail, striving to find a ray of hope in the crisis-ridden environment.

Last night, after that unexpected intimacy, Moon Hyo-ri revealed an important piece of information to Kang Seung: as long as he can be injected with the antiviral drug developed by Dr. Neville, he will be immune and no longer afraid of the zombies. This is undoubtedly a huge temptation for Kang Seung. In the doomsday world, fighting zombies is difficult, but what really scares people is being infected by zombies, losing yourself, and becoming a member of the walking dead. Once antibodies are produced in the body, he will no longer be limited by the threat of zombies, and the task will become much simpler, and the hope of survival will increase greatly.

"Are you sure?" Jiang Sheng's voice was a little excited, but more cautious.

"Well, I'm sure!" Moon Hyo-ri answered firmly and forcefully, with an unquestionable light flashing in her eyes.

Plans are always changing and adjusting. The two did not debate too much, quickly reached a consensus, and immediately started preparing for the action. In order to ensure Neville's safety, they need sufficient firepower support. Jiang Sheng moved all the firearms and ammunition brought back from the police station onto the Ford explosion-proof vehicle. The addition of Moon Hyo-ri greatly improved the efficiency of the transportation. Not only is she a great shooter, but she is also very strong. She easily carried two boxes of bullets weighing 249 kilograms, without changing her face and calm, which made Jiang Sheng secretly amazed. In addition to weapons and ammunition, they also packed the necessary food and drinking water to ensure that there were enough supplies to cope with unknown challenges. Afterwards, the group drove to Moon Hyo-ri's temporary base. After arriving at the destination, Jiang Sheng found that Moon Hyo-ri's material reserves were also rich. The most eye-catching of them were two M squad machine guns and several boxes of grenades. The appearance of these heavy weapons undoubtedly greatly enhanced their combat strength.

Jiang Sheng asked half-jokingly, "Are these two machine guns specially prepared for me?" There was a hint of curiosity and anticipation in his tone.

However, Moon Hyo-ri answered frankly: "Yes." Her directness surprised Kang Seung.

"When did you start paying attention to me?" Jiang Sheng asked.

Moon Hyo-ri continued to carry the grenade and chuckled, "I noticed you the first time you went to the supermarket alone to look for food."

Jiang Sheng was speechless when he heard this, and he couldn't help but complain in his heart: "Then why didn't you help me at that time?"

Moon Hyo-ri stopped what she was doing and looked at him seriously. Just when Jiang Sheng wanted to touch his nose out of habit, she suddenly laughed: "Okay, it's my fault. But you have to understand that if you can't even deal with a few zombie dogs, it means you still have a lot to learn and improve. I was observing you at that time, and also evaluating whether you were worthy of my help." Her words contained both apology and a rational interpretation of the laws of survival.

In the doomsday world, every time you help someone, you may be taking risks. Although Moon Hyo-ri's choice seems indifferent, it is also a clear understanding of reality. This experience made Kang Seung more deeply aware that in this dangerous environment, improving oneself and learning to survive independently are the most reliable guarantees. His cooperation with Moon Hyo-ri also indicates that they are about to embark on a new adventure on the road to surviving the doomsday.

Jiang Sheng's face flashed with embarrassment, but he quickly suppressed it. Moon Hyo-ri's words "You know" were direct, but they also revealed the reality and cruelty of the doomsday world. He didn't say much, but just continued to load boxes of ammunition into the car. After half an hour of busy work, the Ford explosion-proof car was filled with various firearms, and the two immediately set off and headed towards the Williamsburg Bridge.

The bridge spans the wide river, like a bridge connecting two worlds. Once across the bridge, you will reach downtown New York, the former political and financial heart, now a dead ruin. Luxury cars are scattered on the streets, once a symbol of status and wealth, now only rusting in the wind; in high-end shops, expensive luxury goods are discarded at will, and what is covered in dust is not only the items, but also the prosperity and dreams of that era; mansions worth millions of dollars stand alone, and the empty windows seem to tell of endless loneliness and loss.

Jiang Sheng looked at this familiar yet unfamiliar scene, feeling mixed emotions. In his memory, these unattainable luxuries, even the most insignificant one, were his dreams that he could not achieve even after working hard for months. Now, they lay here quietly, losing their former luster, becoming a touch of irony in the doomsday landscape.

Moon Hyo-ri seemed to be able to read his thoughts. She turned her head to look at a Mercedes SUV on the side of the road and said calmly: "If you can survive this doomsday and go far enough, you will find that these so-called wealth and status have become meaningless." Jiang Sheng nodded silently. He had begun to understand that the doomsday changes not only the world, but also people's hearts and values.

Indeed, the cruelty and despair of the doomsday are like purgatory, grinding everyone. It forces people to abandon their past selves and learn to survive in desperate situations. Jiang Sheng is no exception. In the past, he was an ordinary office worker who was afraid of zombies, monsters that only exist in movies and TV shows. Now, he not only dares to face zombies, but also learns how to fight them. The instinct of survival makes him strong.

According to the plot in the movie, they drove south along Madison Avenue and soon arrived at the Brooklyn Bridge, which was called the Southport Bridge in the movie. According to the script, Robert Neville would send a survival broadcast through this bridge every sunny noon to find other survivors. Their mission was to win Neville's trust and help him complete his mission.

Driving to the seaside, a lonely figure came into view. The man was concentrating on fishing, accompanied by a loyal German shepherd. This picture seemed particularly abrupt against the background of the apocalypse, but also unusually harmonious. Jiang Sheng and Wen Xiaoli looked at each other and wondered in their hearts whether this was the person they were looking for - Robert Neville. They slowed down and slowly approached, preparing to start this crucial meeting.

As the car approached, the German shepherd sitting next to the fisherman suddenly became alert. It quickly stood up and barked loudly at the approaching car, as if to declare its territory or to warn its owner. This sudden sound broke the silence around them and made Kang Seung and Moon Hyo-ri's hearts rise to their throats. They knew that the next encounter was crucial.

The figure with his back to them finally reacted. Robert Neville slowly turned around and faced the Ford explosion-proof car approaching slowly. His eyes were first puzzled, and then turned into incredible shock. Unlike the elegant Will Smith in the movie, Neville in front of them was a typical middle-aged uncle, with a head of uncut thick blond hair gleaming in the sun, and the traces of time were clearly visible.

When Kang Seung and Moon Hyo-ri got out of the car, Neville did not rush forward, but kept a certain distance, holding the gun tightly in his hand, and asked a series of questions in English. Obviously, years of lonely life made him wary of the outside world. Moon Hyo-ri answered fluently in English and introduced Kang Seung to Neville. The eye contact between the two seemed to convey enough trust. Neville then put down his guard, stepped forward, and said in slightly awkward Chinese: "Welcome." There was both surprise and a subtle sense of loneliness in his tone.

Jiang Sheng was surprised that Neville could speak Chinese. Neville smiled and explained, "You know, life alone is too hard. I taught myself a lot of things, including Chinese, so that I can at least talk to myself and not completely lose the ability to speak." As he spoke, he packed up his fishing equipment, his movements were skillful and orderly, and then he put them one by one into a Ferrari sports car that looked a little out of place. The German Shepherd named "Sam" jumped swiftly into the passenger seat, and Neville turned around and invited with a long-lost enthusiasm, "Let's go home."

Moon Hyo-ri looked at Kang Seung with anticipation in her eyes, and chuckled, "I'd be happy to." Her tone showed both curiosity about the unknown and anticipation for the new life that was about to unfold.

Neville's residence is a garden house next to New York City Hall. Its appearance is classical and elegant, which is in sharp contrast with the dilapidated surroundings. When entering the room, Neville's enthusiasm is beyond words. "Please sit anywhere. We haven't had guests in our house for a long time!" This sentence makes the whole space filled with a long-lost warmth.

Jiang Sheng keenly caught the hidden meaning in Neville's words. He asked casually, "So, there have been other survivors here before?" There was a hint of curiosity in his voice, as well as respect for past stories.

Neville's expression instantly became solemn. He sighed softly and responded, "Yes, but they ultimately failed to survive in this cruel world. The threat of zombies is everywhere, and the battle is so difficult." As he spoke, one could feel the heaviness and sadness in his heart. It was a remembrance of the deceased and a deep understanding of how difficult it is to survive.

Neville took out a bottle of Hennessy from the deep of the refrigerator. The dust on the bottle seemed to tell that it had witnessed too many stories. He gently unscrewed the lid, and the amber liquid swayed in the crystal clear wine glass. He poured a glass for Kang Seung and Moon Hyo-ri, with a touch of nostalgia in his eyes. "Those two guys were very brave and helped me a lot. Alas, what a pity~" There was a hint of sadness in his words, as if every memory was a burden on his heart.

Jiang Sheng and Moon Hyo-ri exchanged glances, both of them were full of surprise. They had never expected that there were other hunters in this world, and they had never expected that they would end up like this. Moon Hyo-ri broke the silence and asked in a respectful and gentle tone: "Mr. Neville, can you take me to see their tombstones?" Her voice was full of respect for the deceased.

Neville didn't hesitate and agreed very readily: "It's in the back garden, I'll take you to see it." Along the way, as the three of them walked and talked, Jiang Sheng and Wen Xiaoli gradually pieced together some clues. Through Neville's description, they were almost certain that the two "survivors" were actually hunters like them. Perhaps like Wen Xiaoli, they were also ordered to protect Neville, but their fate was unfortunate and they ultimately failed to complete their mission.

In the back garden, Neville's careful care makes this small world look particularly lively in the desolation of the end of the world. Flowers are blooming, and two simple tombstones look particularly solemn among the flowers. Neville stood in front of the tombstones and said sadly: "They are real warriors. It was they who saved me at the risk of their lives. Otherwise, you would not see me today." His words were full of gratitude and nostalgia.

Moon Hyo-ri gently pulled Kang Seung's sleeve, and the two bowed deeply to the tombstone together, expressing their respect and condolences for the deceased. "May you rest in peace in heaven!" Moon Hyo-ri prayed softly, her voice full of sincerity.

After the ceremony, Moon Hyo-ri turned around and looked directly at Neville, her eyes full of sincerity: "Mr. Neville, to be honest, these two people are very likely our companions. The main purpose of our trip is to find them."

Neville was skeptical, with a look of curiosity and doubt in his eyes: "Are you sure?"

Moon Hyo-ri raised her arm, showing the personal terminal on her wrist, and explained: "Do they also have such a device on their wrists?" A trace of memory flashed across Neville's face, and he quickly nodded, confirming this detail.

A hint of surprise that was hard to conceal flashed across Moon Hyo-ri's face, but she quickly regained her composure, and her tone was anxious: "Mr. Neville, this instrument is very important to us and must not be lost. Excuse me, can we take it out?" There was urgency in her words, and at the same time, she also revealed her respect and cherishment for the deceased's relics.

(End of this chapter)