On the other side.
The seventh walled city.
Zhang Chen, holding Zhao Xiyue, flew out of the tunnel of the seventh walled city and slowly landed on the ground.
The two then separated.
Zhao Xiyue's pretty face was flushed, and she lowered her head, a slight smile playing on her lips.
This was the first time Zhang Chen had actively hugged her, and for so long...
She looked up and sneakily glanced at Zhang Chen, while Zhang Chen was nervously observing the mysterious seventh walled city.
"Is this what the seventh walled city looks like in the ultimate apocalypse?"
It was no different from other walled cities: dilapidated cars, high-rise buildings covered with vines, and roads covered layer by layer with fallen leaves.
It looked like a place abandoned by humans.
No survivors, no monsters, and no danger.
With this, it wouldn't be enough to explain why survivors never returned!
Zhang Chen had been prepared for a fierce battle as soon as he exited the underground tunnel, but this was it?
Zhang Chen drew a big question mark in his heart; this place shouldn't be so simple.
"Brother Chen, look over there, it looks like there are words!"
Zhao Xiyue pointed to the outer wall of a building facing the tunnel entrance.
Zhang Chen followed her gaze and indeed saw a huge sign. However, it had been oxidized by years of wind and sun, and many vines were growing around it. If one didn't look closely, it would be difficult to discern the handwritten words.
Zhang Chen flew up and cleared the vines from the sign.
It read: Welcome to Paradise!
A curved arrow followed, pointing to the left behind the building.
"Paradise? Is there paradise in the apocalypse?"
Zhang Chen curled his lips. This sign was likely a trap set by survivors of this city to lure outsiders.
"Could this be a trap?"
Zhao Xiyue asked worriedly.
"It's definitely a trap. Do you believe anyone would tell strangers about finding paradise for no reason in the apocalypse?"
Zhang Chen asked with a smile.
"I believe there are such good people, but certainly not the vast majority. He must be a very special person."
Zhao Xiyue said this while gazing at Zhang Chen with affectionate eyes.
Zhang Chen's question earlier reminded her that in the apocalypse, only Zhang Chen was willing to help her and treat her as a friend with kindness, never making any excessive demands.
In the apocalypse, there were no laws, and human nature was unleashed. Many dark sides of humanity were unrestrainedly expressed here.
Only Zhang Chen was an exception.
With his strength, if he wanted to be an absolute emperor and have countless beauties, it would be as easy as flipping a hand.
But even now, he hadn't done so, focusing all his attention on pursuing the truth of the apocalypse and solving it.
This kind of vision and perspective was far beyond what others could match.
"Heh, you're such a little fool!"
Zhang Chen chuckled and lightly tapped Zhao Xiyue's nose with his index finger, saying with a smile,
"How can there be such a person in the world? Even if there were, they'd probably be one in ten thousand!"
Zhao Xiyue nodded, agreeing,
"That's right, he is one in ten thousand!"
"Alright, whatever you say. Anyway, when the apocalypse ends, your belief will be helpful in managing the camp!"
Zhang Chen conceded.
If anyone else had said such a thing, Zhang Chen would have cited countless real-life examples from the apocalypse to shatter her fantasy, because only then could she survive.
But facing Zhao Xiyue, Zhang Chen couldn't bear to do so.
Perhaps Zhao Longchuan was right; it was rare for someone to maintain such purity, so let her keep it.
This trap might expose her to the darkness of human nature. Hopefully, she could still maintain her original intention...
The two walked along the road in the direction indicated by the sign.
Perhaps due to the many mysterious and terrifying legends about the seventh walled city, few survivors had come here for a long time.
As a result, these signs hadn't been maintained for a long time, and it was easy to miss them if one didn't look closely.
"There's another sign here!"
Zhao Xiyue pointed at the glass of a restaurant on the street corner.
A large arrow indicated to turn right here.
Thus, the two wandered through the quiet city, guided by the signs.
In the entire city, apart from the rustling sound of leaves in the wind like ocean waves, the only sounds were the crunching of Zhang Chen and Zhao Xiyue's footsteps on the fallen leaves.
"Brother Chen, if the apocalypse ends... what do you want to do?"
Zhao Xiyue asked curiously.
"If the apocalypse ends, I'll find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters to retire, grow some flowers, play with birds, and live the rest of my life peacefully."
Zhang Chen answered casually.
"Huh? How old are you, and you're already thinking of retiring!"
Zhao Xiyue covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"I just want to live a peaceful life, without monsters, and without worrying about someone suddenly harming you. Just a simple, happy life, isn't that good!"
Zhang Chen replied.
"Mmm, it is indeed very good. I'd like to live with you then, is that okay?"
Zhao Xiyue asked, her cheeks flushed.
"Of course, but you'll be managing the work and lives of tens of thousands of people, so you probably won't have much time."
Zhang Chen said with regret.
"I can live with you, and then go to the camp to work every day, just like commuting!"
"Oh right, I can also ask Xiao Ruan to help me open a teleportation portal, so commuting will be even easier."
"Xiao Ruan, do you think that's okay?"
Zhao Xiyue said, bending over and looking into Zhang Chen's pocket.
Xiao Ruan wriggled in his pocket but did not respond.
"Stop pretending, I saw you move. You're awake now, come out quickly!"
Zhao Xiyue stretched out her finger and gently poked Zhang Chen's pocket.
"Gurgi!"
Xiao Ruan shot out of his pocket with a whoosh, floating in mid-air and waving its tentacles.
"How is it? What did it say? Did it agree?"
Zhao Xiyue looked at Zhang Chen expectantly and asked.
"Uh... it said you poked it and it was very ticklish..."
Zhang Chen translated Xiao Ruan's words and then laughed along with Zhao Xiyue.
After walking for about forty minutes.
Suddenly, at the entrance of a building, there was a sign that read: Welcome to Paradise! Please come in!
"So... the trap is in this building?!"
Zhao Xiyue retracted her relaxed expression and said vigilantly.
"This building... it feels a bit familiar..."
Zhang Chen looked at the building covered in vines, then looked at the empty hall revealed behind the glass door.
"This seems to be... the laboratory building where the natives researched space rifts!"