While Lin Fan conversed with Duan Chenghu, Duan Yi’s gaze fixed unwaveringly on Lin Fan, and she was not alone – everyone present did the same, having not seen how the other had hunted the zombies.
But they understood that just now, he had moved with extreme speed, cleaning up all the surrounding zombies.
Their understanding was completely overturned after meeting Lin Fan.
Even though Awakeners had appeared, they had always believed that the relationship between Awakeners and people was very closely linked, the only difference being that Awakeners were slightly more formidable.
The emergence of Lin Fan shattered this perception entirely.
"Crystals are indeed very important; they are the essential items needed to enhance one’s abilities. White Crystals are not so difficult to get, but Black Crystals start to become a bit troublesome. Later on, I will send some crystals over to you," said Lin Fan.
Duan Chenghu’s face showed gratitude.
Even though, in their martial arts school, Awakeners working together could kill Evolutionary Zombies and even obtain Black Crystals, it wasn’t too difficult.
But it was often a fight for their lives, and one small mistake meant that even an Awakener could die at the hands of an Evolutionary Zombie.
Lin Fan looked solemnly at Duan Chenghu, stepping forward and patting his shoulder.
"Principal Duan, I am willing to give you crystals in hopes that it will enhance your abilities. In the event that you have the capability to defend yourselves and encounter helpless survivors, I hope you can extend a helping hand. If you find it a bit troublesome to deal with, you can give me a call,"
When he thought of those survivors who had done great evil, the first idea that came to his mind was to hand them over to Officer Huang.
Thinking of the helpless survivors facing harsh realities, doomed to never see a glimmer of hope until death, his heart ached for their plight.
Duan Chenghu looked solemnly at Lin Fan.
He nodded emphatically.
"I understand, I can do it."
He knew that the other party was sincere, unlike other survivors who spoke of benevolence and morality but were actually scheming to trick others – such petty individuals were countless.
Lin Fan smiled; he liked interacting with conscientious people.
Duan Chenghu wasn’t just spewing empty words to Lin Fan either. Before meeting him, just by looking through the "Zombie Album," he had thought that Lin Fan was extraordinary.
After meeting, he understood that any malicious thoughts in front of absolute strength were merely digging one’s own grave.
After a brief exchange, Lin Fan left the martial arts school. Duan Chenghu wanted to follow, but Lin Fan refused. He just wanted to go alone to see what purpose such a trading post served in this post-apocalyptic world.
Duan Chenghu looked up at the sky, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun.
"The weather is truly splendid," he remarked.
In the distance, a slightly overweight figure clad in veteran cadre attire, his head showing signs of male pattern baldness and a few unruly hairs swaying in the wind, hurried over.
Duan Chenghu looked at the approaching figure; he was the teaching director of the martial arts school, Zhu Tao.
"Director Zhu, why have you arrived only now?"
Zhu Tao clutched his stomach, helpless, "I had a stomachache on the way; nothing could be done about it."
Duan Chenghu shook his head. Ultimately, he had missed a scene that could have changed his way of thinking and the chance to meet a person who might change the apocalypse.
For him, it was a loss indeed.
"Director Zhu, just now Lin Fan from Sunshine Shelter came here. We had a chat," said Chen Wu, whose understanding of Lin Fan had undergone a dramatic change – it was a recognition of strength.
Zhu Tao looked at Duan Chenghu with concern.
"Principal, be careful in these apocalyptic times, in case you are deceived."
"It won’t happen; he is trustworthy."
Duan Chenghu shook his head, trusting his own judgment. He did not take Director Zhu’s words to heart.
"Is that the trading post?"
Lin Fan looked at a large ship not far from the coast, the trading post Principal Duan had mentioned. It was indeed safe on the sea, at least for now, since zombies still couldn’t swim, falling into the water meant they would thrash and gloomily sink, waterlogged.
Eventually, they would sink to the seabed.
His arrival caught the attention of some boatmen on the sea, each paddling a small boat.
"Brother, need a boat ride?" one boatman called out.
Most people who reached the trading post, unless they were leaving to find something, would stay there permanently, as having a safe haven to rest was quite nice after all.
The coast wasn’t far from the ship; a light leap could get him there.
Instead, he wanted to live the way ordinary people did and incidentally learn some news from the boatmen. However, when he looked into a boatman’s eyes, he spotted a murderous intent that had been let loose within their depths.
The man didn’t want to kill him; it was this damned apocalypse that had forced them into such actions.
A small boat approached the shore.
Lin Fan boarded with a smile, nodding to the boatman.
The boatman responded with a similarly forced and strained smile.
Over the calm sea, a small boat slowly made its way toward the giant trading ship.
As Lin Fan gazed at the boundless ocean, feeling an unusual sense of calm, he suddenly turned and caught the dagger thrust at him, while the boatman, a vicious look on his face, attempted to kill Lin Fan.
But seeing the other man catch the dagger barehanded, the boatman’s eyes widened in shock, and he collapsed with a thud, sitting down on the boat.
Boatmen in the distance who earned their living the same way, paddling small boats, knew that one of their own, who lived like them, was about to die and vanish from the world forever.