CHAPTER 1226: CHAPTER 289: I FEEL LIKE I CAN REPLACE HIM

...

On the desolate and lonely highway.

Lin Fan carried Frostmourne on his back and moved the overturned vehicles to the side of the road. Many of these vehicles were left abandoned since the apocalypse initially erupted.

The surviving people tried to drive away, but the road conditions were terrible. Many turned into zombies while driving, resulting in overturned vehicles that blocked the road.

Subsequent vehicles could not pass through.

If there were still people alive today trying to drive to Huang City and were chased by zombies, they’d be caught and die tragically because the road was blocked and they couldn’t escape.

Though the likelihood is slim.

It’s not impossible.

If something like that happened just because the road was blocked, it would surely be regrettable.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Lin Fan threw car after car to the side with his bare hands. Moments later, seeing the unobstructed road brought a smile to his face.

Pretending to wipe sweat from his forehead.

This is the fruit of hard work.

"I hope this road can indeed bring hope to the living."

Lin Fan turned back for a moment, then continued forward alone.

The vast land centered around Huang City had significantly fewer zombies now, most of them cleared by him. Any survivors reaching this cleared area would undoubtedly sense something different about it.

Zombies that were everywhere before.

Suddenly, they vanished without a trace, and spotting even one zombie became difficult.

Passing by a service station.

Feeling a slight urge to urinate, Lin Fan walked into the service station. Although there was no one around and he could relieve himself anywhere, he preferred using the restroom, considering it more appropriate.

Otherwise, the impact wouldn’t be great.

If a zombie suddenly appeared, it would easily be a startling situation.

The unmanaged service station was severely damaged, with weeds everywhere, and the sign at the entrance was so dusty it was hard to read the lettering.

The glass doors at the entrance toppled over, shattered glass scattered all around.

Looking inside.

It was indeed dilapidated, littered with trash everywhere, even the ceiling had a large hole, and broken cables hung down. There was no lighting, only some rays of sunlight illuminating the place.

Yet, the environment remained dim.

"Sigh, this service station was once bustling, never thought it would end up like this."

Lin Fan shook his head, expressing helplessness.

The apocalypse had taken away many beautiful scenes from people’s hearts.

"Huh huh"

"Huh huh"

In a dark corner, two zombies wandered, having stayed there a long time without seeing a living human. Yet, they remained in place out of territorial protection.

Now.

They twisted their necks to look at the door.

They spotted a human.

Their craving for delicious flesh made their ferocity explode, charging madly toward Lin Fan, even tripping over tables, they got up resolutely, hoping to devour the human.

"Scary."

As the zombies approached, Lin Fan couldn’t even be bothered to draw Frostmourne, merely waved his arm, his fingers cutting through the air.

Squelch!

Squish!

Though several meters away from Lin Fan.

Their bodies were torn apart by an invisible force, immediately split in two.

Thick blood splattered everywhere. For this environmental impact, Lin Fan felt helpless, yet he knew it had nothing to do with him.

He had just encountered danger and had no choice but to act.

Heading to the restroom.

Upon entering, the overpowering stench inside was suffocating, clearly from neglect over a long period.

Holding his breath, he approached the urinal and unzipped.

Tinkle...

In the silent restroom, only the sound of water splashing echoed.

Two minutes later.

Lin Fan exited the restroom, wanting to wash his hands at the sink but finding no water, went to the abandoned supermarket to grab a bottle of mineral water, drank over half, and used the rest to wash his hands.

This way he wouldn’t waste it.

The environment in the service station was significantly dimmer, with the bright light at the exit creating an odd contrast in the distance.

At this time.

A whizzing sound rang out.

In Lin Fan’s vision, within the dimness, the incoming object sparkled with a metallic white gleam at the tip.

Calmly turning his head, with a squelch, the incoming weapon—a crescent-shaped blade connected by a chain and very sharp—embedded into a nearby concrete post.

"Huh?"

A distant voice expressed surprize, as though pondering how this zombie managed to dodge, finding it incredibly puzzling.

"I’m human."

Lin Fan felt the other mistook him for a zombie, thus the sudden attack.

Sure enough.

Upon Lin Fan revealing his humanity, the other retracted the weapon without speaking, seemingly digging a toe into the ground in embarrassment.

"Sorry, thought it was a zombie."

A deep, apologetic voice called out from afar, indicating a voice seasoned by years. Even without seeing him, Lin Fan imagined a middle-aged man.

He walked forward.

Seeing the speaker clearly.

Indeed, it was a middle-aged man, holding a weapon in one hand and cup noodles in the other, with a bottle of sports drink tucked under his arm.

"Uh..."

Lin Fan found the other’s appearance a bit surprising.

He looked so laid-back.

As if the apocalypse wasn’t so horrifying for him.

While Lin Fan assessed him.

The middle-aged man was also observing Lin Fan. Though the move seemed casual, the ease with which Lin Fan dodged showed he was no ordinary person.

"Hello," Lin Fan smiled.

"Hello."

The middle-aged man returned to himself and replied.

"I’m Lin Fan, from Sunshine Shelter in Huang City."

Lin Fan introduced his background and name; this approach made strangers he met more at ease, facilitating deeper conversation.

The middle-aged man’s expression turned to shock, eyes wide, "You... you’re Lin Fan."

"Yes, you must have read the ’Zombie Album,’" Lin Fan smiled.

Encountering another survivor who had read the ’Zombie Album’ felt genuinely good, filled with an unspeakable pride.

The middle-aged man said, "Read it, very memorable; never thought I’d meet you here. Truly sorry for earlier, didn’t know you were human; given all the zombies now, it’s hard for an average person to survive."

Though he learned about Lin Fan from the ’Zombie Album’, he believed Lin Fan was authentically strong, not just hype.

"I understand, no worries, anyone in your situation would have made the same decision," Lin Fan said carefreely.

"Brother Gao, why are you taking so long to get water?"

At this moment, another voice piped up, a young man approaching, wondering why Brother Gao was taking so long to fetch water for his spicy beef noodles.

It seemed a normal task.

Yet Gao’s long absence raised concern among them, wondering what he was up to that took so long.

Were there any dangers?

Of course, they believed in Brother Gao’s capabilities, certain he could handle even evolutionary zombies without trouble.

"We’re a group, I’m getting water," Gao Zhan said.

"Oh, can you introduce us? I’d like to meet them."

Lin Fan sensed the person in front of him was a strong Awakener.

And he had other companions.

Evidently, this was a team.

Lin Fan was keen to know them, surviving and traveling in the apocalypse was an impressive feat.

PS: Have things to attend to today, that’s all for now, will continue tomorrow.