CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: THIS IS NOT THE END

The two of them trained for quite a long time. Lu Xi’an didn’t feel too tired, but his stomach was empty, and he was starting to get hungry.

So he stopped and asked Yao Wei, "Do you want to continue? I’m hungry, how about I go cook something to eat?"

Yao Wei paused and thought for a bit, then requested, "Could you cook? I want to keep practicing. In a couple of days, I won’t be able to train."

Lu Xi’an didn’t think much of it, assuming Yao Wei meant she’d be leaving the shelter in a few days to continue their journey.

He thought, this woman is really dedicated. But that’s good, the stronger Yao Wei gets, the better their chances of survival.

—At least until they part ways.

His current combat skills and marksmanship were no match for Yao Wei, so supporting her with logistics was just fine.

Let Yao Wei get stronger first, and then he could gradually strengthen himself under her protection.

"Alright, you continue."

Lu Xi’an said as he went to the kitchen alone. Thinking about leaving in a few days and continuing their journey, he felt a bit reluctant.

To be honest, the place had plenty of supplies, and with Gou’s help, water and electricity weren’t an issue. If he settled here, who knows how many years he could live comfortably?

For a moment, Lu Xi’an was tempted to stay put, letting the outside world be damned with its wind and rain, while he hid snugly in the shelter. Wouldn’t that be lovely?

But upon careful consideration, no matter how many years, the supplies would eventually run out.

Staying here would only mean consuming resources day by day.

And if he stopped here, the firm resolve he had for finding a place where he could survive long-term and live his life would surely be worn away.

By then, when the supplies ran out, would he still have the courage to leave the shelter and start the journey anew?

This place was merely a temporary refuge, not the end.

Lu Xi’an took a deep breath and told himself he must remain steadfast, without any wavering.

In two days, they must leave without lingering.

Breakfast was still rice, with dehydrated vegetables soaked into soup.

This time, however, Lu Xi’an had a new idea. He cooked extra rice and soaked extra vegetables, setting them aside.

He called Yao Wei when the meal was ready. When Yao Wei saw the extra portions, she felt a bit sorry and thought to eat it all in one meal and skip the next.

Lu Xi’an quickly stopped her, saying, "Don’t rush, these are for the next meal. I made extra so we can try something different for dinner, like stir-frying."

Only then did Yao Wei relax.

Hearing Lu Xi’an say "stir-fry," she recalled the little stir-fried river shrimp he made outside, involuntarily swallowing.

Stir-fried food seemed to be tastier than this...

She couldn’t help but look forward to the next meal.

The next meal, Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei weren’t sure if it was at night.

They had taken a nap and couldn’t tell the time now.

Including meals, showers, and other water usage, they consumed five barrels of water, so after eating, they went outside to replenish from the reservoir.

Speaking of, three barrels of water were left, enough to last a while.

But Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei both knew they had to replenish water frequently to ensure a sufficient supply.

The weather outside was unpredictable; who knows when a cold snap could freeze the water surface?

If the ice was thin, they could break it. But if it was too thick, they’d have to bring it back and melt it, which would be troublesome.

In such a case, one could only hope for snow, which would be easier to collect and melt than chipping away ice from the river.

Originally ten buckets, one was turned into a showerhead by Lu Xi’an. So each of them took three, making it six buckets to fill and bring back.

They called Gou over to send out the drone for reconnaissance, which was much more efficient than them operating the machine manually.

After confirming through the drone that it was safe outside, Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei carried the buckets out.

The sun was in the western sky, so it must have been afternoon.

The problem was they had just eaten not long ago. By evening, they might not be very hungry, making the next meal not coincide with their usual dinner time.

Perhaps when they felt like eating, it would already be another day.

The windowless shelter, lacking effective timekeeping tools, made it impossible to plan according to the typical daily schedule.

Lu Xi’an even went to search the office in the wing and checked the computer but didn’t find a clock.

He knew there should be one on the computer, but he didn’t know where it was located. Unable to find it himself, he tried asking Gou to adjust it, but to no avail. Perhaps Gou wasn’t capable of accessing software and programs?

Thus, it proved once again that the shelter wasn’t suitable for long-term residence.

This was not the endpoint of their journey, but merely a rest stop along the way.

Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei tried to make their stay in the shelter fulfilling, ensuring enough rest, and leaving time for exercising, treating it as a form of recreation.

When they trained to the point of hunger, Lu Xi’an cooked the next meal.

He stir-fried the leftover rice and rehydrated vegetables together, with oil, salt, and frying in a pan, making the meal tastier than boiled vegetables and plain rice.

Yao Wei ate heartily, but Lu Xi’an still found it a bit regrettable.

"It’s a pity... there’s no egg. Otherwise, we wouldn’t need these vegetables."

What deliciousness could compare to egg fried rice made from leftovers?

But alas, there were no eggs.

The next meal, Lu Xi’an used sausages, served cold.

The meal after that, back to boiled vegetables with rice.

The next after that, leftover boiled vegetables stir-fried with rice.

The next next meal, sausage slices stir-fried.

The next next next meal, just stir-fried plain rice.

...

Unknowingly, Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei had stayed there for quite some time, estimating that three days should have passed outside, with the locals guarding the road having achieved nothing and probably retreating.

So Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei planned to pack their things and continue their journey.

But just as they discussed their plan, Lu Xi’an suddenly noticed Yao Wei frowning, looking somewhat uncomfortable, and asked, "What’s wrong with you?"

"It’s nothing."

Yao Wei said, "There are always a few days each month when it hurts, but it’ll pass. We should pack up and get ready to leave."

Only then did Lu Xi’an realize something, asking, "When you said you wouldn’t be able to train in two days, was it because of this?"

Yao Wei nodded and answered, "Yes."

So, that’s it...