C5 Disorderly Burial Ground

At the Unmarked Common Graves, those who perished in the Great Calamity lay buried, nameless and unclaimed, in this haphazard resting place. After a brief search, he arrived at a nondescript mound and straightened an irregular white stone in front of it. This stone served as both the marker to find his parents' graves and their makeshift headstone.

"Dad, Mom, your son has come to visit again. Nine years and I'm still here," he said, a note of resilience in his voice.

"Do you remember Xu Meiting, the girl I mentioned last Qingming Festival?" he continued. "Mr. Xu and Mrs. Pann's daughter. I once said I wanted to marry her, but now, well, things have changed. It's a long story with many twists, so I'll spare you the details—I wouldn't want to bore you..."

As he burned the faded paper money, he spoke again, "Money's been tight this year, and I've got debts to clear, so no new clothes for the afterlife this time. Please don't hold it against me..."

"I just hope you'll watch over me, bless me with a peaceful year and the chance to earn well. Next year, I promise to bring chicken, tea, and wine to honor you properly..."

With the paper money turning to ash, he pulled a wrinkled pack of Green Bamboo cigarettes from his pocket and lit one up. The curling smoke carried him into a reverie, as the hazy memories from nine years prior slowly took shape before his eyes.

His parents hadn't been claimed by the Great Calamity itself, but rather on the first day of 2022, two years into the aftermath. It was a stroke of luck that his family had initially survived the catastrophe intact.

Tragically, during a clash between Evolvers, a skyscraper had crumbled, crushing dozens, his parents among them. The details of that day might have faded, but Lee Cha could never forget the two powerful Evolvers responsible. They dueled in the sky, their punches thunderous, oblivious to the terror of the mortals below who ran, screamed, and wept.

Yet, in the aftermath, the authorities spun a tale of a Mutant beast's rampage, claiming the combatants had slain the creature together. To the world, they were not reckless fighters, but heroes of Base City.

After paying his respects to his parents, Lee Cha walked over to another grave nearby, marked by a stone. Lighting another cigarette, he placed it on the stone and addressed the grave:

"Old beggar, you were a scientist too, weren't you? If I'm not mistaken, you were a renowned scientist before the Cataclysm, with an aura even stronger than Mr. Hee's."

"But how did you end up as a beggar?"

"It's not that I doubt you; I just feel a deep sense of regret for you. You saved me and ushered me into the world of science. I've kept your manuscripts, but my knowledge is too limited to understand them."

"You insisted those manuscripts must remain secret, warning that their exposure could lead to disaster. What could possibly be so dangerous?"

"Is it some kind of energy field? Or maybe a conceptual weapon?"

As the last of the cigarette ash fell on the gravestone, Lee Cha spoke again, "Old beggar, I'll visit you again next year. Please watch over me so I can bring you fine wine, choice cuts of meat, and the best cigarettes next time."

...

On the return journey, Lee Cha pulled out a dark brown wooden carving of Chang'e fleeing to the moon, a piece he had painstakingly crafted over several years. He had intended it for the life partner he'd hoped to find.

Chang'e's smile radiated warmth, and the jade rabbit at her feet was charmingly cute. Yet, for some reason, Lee Cha found this idyllic scene almost unbearable to look at.

Resolute, he took out a small knife, closed his eyes, and carved fiercely. When he opened his eyes, the jade rabbit lay on the ground.

Next, he gently lifted the corners of Chang'e's mouth with the blade, transforming her tender smile into something unsettling.

Much better, he thought. It felt more comfortable to him now.

Night fell without him noticing.

Lee Cha reflected on the day's events, how after consuming the Ambergris Fruit, he felt only a slight warmth in his body without any signs of evolution.

He was somewhat disheartened.

It seemed his hopes for evolution were dashed.

But then he remembered the undying flame in the old beggar's eyes, even in death, and his disappointment was replaced by a renewed sense of determination.

The old beggar, too, was someone with zero fitness compatibility.

Yet his unwavering faith in science and technology suggested he had stumbled upon something significant.

Lee Cha murmured to himself, "Even if I can't transform into an Evolver, I refuse to surrender. Knowledge, martial arts, technology—there's bound to be a viable path."

Ancient Homo sapiens weren't the strongest or smartest species of their time, but they managed to dominate the world and exterminate the Neanderthals.

The Neanderthals, suspected ancestors of the Evolvers, possessed special abilities.

If those primal humans could defeat the Neanderthals, why can't we?

The old beggar had once proclaimed, "We are the progeny of those ancient Homo sapiens."

...

A thunderous roar snapped Lee Cha out of his reverie.

Looking up, he beheld a sky filled with stars, sliced by the brilliant trails of a meteor shower.

"This year's meteor shower is a day late," Lee Cha noted, picking up his pace.

This area might be free of Mutant Beasts, but the night's eerie darkness felt as though innumerable eyes were watching him.

Half an hour later, he reached the banks of the Kang River outside Nancheng.

The roar of an engine grew louder, and the dazzling headlights forced him to instinctively shut his eyes.

He edged closer to the riverbank.

Seconds later, a piercing screech of brakes sounded from nearby.

Before he could react, he was airborne.

His head collided with the stone bridge.

The world spun, stars blurred, and darkness crept in.

Was this the end?

With a deep sense of defiance, his body plunged into the icy river, causing waves to soar before he vanished into the raging torrents.

...

Upon awakening, Lee Cha found himself beneath a large tree, still clutching the wooden box. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow on his face.

A stabbing pain throbbed at the back of his head.

He touched it and saw blood on his fingertips.

His expression darkened as he sat up, teeth clenched.

Post-cataclysm, medical supplies were scarce; an infection could have dire consequences.

He surveyed his surroundings with caution.

The ground nearby was carpeted with a thin layer of pale grey leaves, and dense foliage and trees surrounded him, some so large they couldn't be encircled by his arms.

A breeze swept by, carrying with it the whispering rustle of leaves that echoed into the distance.

"Gu... Gu..." The soft, low cooing of a dove emanated from the shadowy depths of the forest, sending a shiver down Lee Cha's spine.

It was then he noticed his clothes were soaked through.

He remembered the last thing before blacking out: being sent flying by a car's blinding headlights.

Fighting through the headache, he set aside the wooden box he'd been holding and felt around with his hands.

Relief washed over him after a moment; all his parts were intact. His second senior brother was still with him, and aside from some scrapes, there were no signs of surgery—his kidney seemed to be in place.

"Damn it! Did that driver think I was dead and dump me in the middle of nowhere?"

Lee Cha clenched his jaw and pulled out his cell phone, intending to check his location.

But the screen was dark, speckled with water droplets—it was likely dead.

He quickly took shelter under a large tree, warily scanning his surroundings.

The post-apocalyptic wilderness was notoriously perilous, a fact proven by the lives of many.

Yet, whether it was his own illusion or not, the air lacked the usual oppressive scent. Instead, it was refreshingly clean, sweet as a mountain spring.

He rolled up his sleeves to reveal a watch, scratched but still ticking, pointing to eight o'clock sharp.

The biting cold, gnawing hunger, and throbbing in his head soon dragged him back to the harsh reality.

He breathed on his pallid palms and rubbed them vigorously, trying to chase away the chill.

But the cold only deepened.

His resentment towards the driver grew.

"Damn it, who are you? I curse you..."

"It's me!" came a sudden, mechanical voice.