1 – The Before the Apocalypse
Fool!
Chu Han couldn’t help but curse in his heart, who was this person, such a loud voice, weren’t they afraid of drawing the attention of the crowd of zombies?!
We shouldn’t shout!
Chu Han suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes revealing a savage and fierce glint, then he thought about shutting those people’s mouths!
Yet in the next moment, the fierceness and savagery in Chu Han’s eyes were instantly replaced by shock.
Without the dim sky, without the thick smell of blood, without the roar of zombies, without broken limbs everywhere …
Warm sunshine permeated through the limpid glass window (从明亮的玻璃窗穿入), four beds, a square table 四张床，四方桌!!!, two university students dressed in checked shirts were sitting excitedly in front of a computer with saliva and spittle flying everywhere, with hands incessantly pounding on the mouse and the keyboard.
The long lost environment from as far back as a decade ago assaulted Chu Han’s corneas, dirty clothing everywhere, smelly boxes of instant noodles piled high, the extremely messy environment made him reminisce, stirring up the old memories once again.
Fang Rong, Deng Weibo … his university dorm roommates!
“Why do you have such a dumbfounded sleepy expression (睡懵逼了)? Deng Weibo sitting opposite to Chu Han found time to raise his eyes, he had an ordinary and mediocre appearance, wearing a pair of glasses with up to 500 degrees of myopia – afterwards he awakened his ability, but then died in a zombie siege.
“Chu Han’s up? Fuck, I didn’t attack and lost!(I won’t play because I’ll loose) (妈的不打了，又输!!!)” Fang Rong pounded several times the Q key, he looked slightly wretched, he also died in that zombie siege
Chu Han forcefully rubbed his eyes, more and more stuff in his head welled up in his head, he became agitated and trembled from his entire body.
If he guessed correctly, he should have returned to 10 years in the past, to when the zombie outbreak still hadn’t happened and the three good brothers were still alive!
Fang Rong closed and put away the computer: “Chu Han and old Deng, lets go, it’s ten o’clock, old Deng quickly pack up, we need to to hurry if we want to catch the plane!”
Ten o’clock? Plain?
Was anything special about today?
Chu Han suddenly jumped up from the bed (床!!!), pushed away Deng Weibo, moved the mouse to open the calendar on the lower right corner.
“What the hell man? Hey, this is Laozi’s (italico) computer!” Deng Weibo swore at Chu Han. ((1
Chu Han turned a deaf ear, he was staring at the figures on the calendar.
03-07-2015, ten o’clock in the morning.
Was it actually this late?!
The day of the zombie outbreak was tomorrow, the darkness begun at six o’clock in the morning and ended at twelve o’clock in the noon, where the sun re-emerged, after a full six hours of darkness, everything had collapsed and the great cleansing had began.
Only one day, Chu Han felt a burst of urgency, his heart pounded madly!
“Hurry and move away, I need to pack the computer.” Deng Weibo said while carrying a big bag.
Chu Han stepped away, forced down the words that he almost blurted out, suppressed his emotions and said: “I heard the there was recently a virus epidemic, its highly infectious, tell both of your families to buy some more food and mineral water and don’t go out these next few days.”
“Virus?”
“Where did you hear that?”
“The news.” Chu Han know that those two never payd attention to the news.
“You actually would pay attention to the news?” Deng Weibo laughed: “Duly noted, we’ll leave first, ah!”
“Bon voyage.” Chu Han suppressed his reminiscing that resulted from reuniting with his friends after such a log time, (明秋) the both of them were better off as they left Mingqiu City before the Apocalypse.
Fang Rong and Deng Weibo’s were from Beijing, the both of them had already finished their tests and have airplane tickets for today at noon, although Beijing’s was densely populated with zombies, but as the capital, it had the protection of the army, it had the largest amount of humans surviving, it could be said that Beijing was the safest city, at least during the first two years after the outbreak of the Apocalypse.
Therefore Chu Han didn’t speak too much, he knew the rough track of things for the next 10 years, the matter of the two dying won’t happen for a few years.
There was still one roommate called Fan Hongxuan, who had already returned to his home in the south capital (南都!!!novel) – he died 1 year after the outbreak of the Apocalypse, after being set up by somebody, this had been always a knot in Chu Han’s heart, in his previous lifetime (上一世), he was unable to uncover the identity of the murderer.
南都 had also a military district, it had received the protection of the military during the outbreak of the Apocalypse, Chu Han felt temporarily relieved, but going to 南都 to looking for Fan Hongxuan was absolutely necessary, in this lifetime (一世!!!), he definitely won’t let Fan Hongxuan fall into danger.
He was current highest priority was to ponder over how to first survive the subsequent chaos and then how to become strong, only after becoming strong would he have the ability to help his three brothers evade their respective crisis, otherwise, the only thing awaiting was death.
during the Apocalypse, the most important matter was to survive!
Fang Rong and Deng Weibo, after the two of them left, the once again empty dorm room provoked palpitations in Chu Han’s heart.
Ring …
Suddenly urgent telephone ringing sounded.
Chu Han suddenly hang up the phone, ignoring the three missed calls on the screen, he dialed the number of his home.
Beep … beep …
After two rings, the joyful voice of his mother came through: “Xiao Han?” ((2
Hear that voice after such a long time, although he had went through 10 years of darkness, Chu Han’s hard as iron heart was still unable to bear that slightly choked voice (声音微微哽咽), he had lost contact with his parents ever since the zombie outbreak, he couldn’t find them after a whole decade.
What happened, he did not dare to think …
He suppressed his excitement and said: “Mom, where’s dad?”
“He’s here, what’s up son?” On the other end, Chu Han’s mother perceived his tone being amiss.
“Mom, dad, what I’m going to say next, you must follow it to the letter!” Chu Han’s tone was serious, so serious that his mom didn’t made a sound on the other end.
“A classmate of mine is from Beijing, I’m talking precisely about Fang Rong, his dad has access to some inside information, it’s sad that within our country (说是国内出现) there is a new type of virus, its highly infectious, people will die, you need to go and quickly stock up on some food and mineral water, the more the better, go right now, the virus has already begun its spread.” Chu Han knows that talking about zombies would be too shocking, his parents simply wouldn’t believe him, thus his only choice was to made up a lie.
His parents were in Anluo City while he was at Mingqiu City, there was no direct D车-railway (chinese second fastest highspeed railway) connection (动车) nor any direct flights, the two cities were too far apart, not to mention a day, even two days wasn’t enough ( 来不及) to return, therefore, he can only let them prepare in advance and keep the danger to a minimum.
Now that he’s back (重来一世!!!), he must go look for his parents at Anluo City!
“Ah! what should we do 这可咋办?” Hearing about people dying, for a moment, his mother was at a loss, there was atypical pneumonia half a year ago, so she didn’t doubt Chu Han’s words at all.
“Mom! Don’t worry, you and dad, just don’t leave the home.” Chu Han quickly tried to appease his mother: “However you absolutely need to prepare enough food as it’s still unknown when the spread of virus ends.
“Alright, I’ll go with your dad right away and do the preparations.” His mom immediately agreed: “You also be careful over there, are you short on money, I will wire you some，you go prepare more things to eat 你多备点吃的.
“There’s no need, I already have enough, you go prepare some more (多备些), however, you need to go today, absolutely don’t go out tomorrow, additionally … don’t go out, wait for me at Anluo City!” Chu Han urged – his parents were over 50, it would be too difficult for them to face zombies.
The call was ended – the previously hang up caller once again called him (之前挂断的电话再次打了进来!!!), Chu Han once again mercilessly hang up on him, he then dialed Fan Hongxuan’s number, before once again fabricating a lie, Fan Hongxuan on the other end was doubtful, but he still promised to take heed of Chu Han’s words.
After finishing the task, Chu Han immediately put on a jacket, checked the cash in his wallet, quickly went beside the door (走到门边!!!), he needed to buy supplies.
The more and the sooner, the better!
Just as he was about to open /walk through (踏出!!!) the door, Chu Han suddenly paused, he looked back at the interior of the dorm room, his gaze revealing a glint (精亮!!!), the computer, the messy flat panel speakers and other stuff, they all can sell for a lot of money – although not everything was his, but once the Apocalypse breaks out, all of it would be worthless.
Chu Han’s heartbeat was getting faster and faster, now was not the time to 要无脑冲!!!, he needs to hurry and minimize the danger as far a possible (危害降到最低!!!9, family, friends, supplies and even … weapons.
Chu Han quickly began to sort out the things, until the dorm room was cleaned out of all of its valuables, by the time Chu Han dragged an large suitcase and left Mingqiu University’s Campus (小道!!!), it was already two hours later, sweating all over under the hot summer day (夏日里出了一身汗!!!).
“Chu Han, where are you going? Don’t you have a test at 12 o’clock?” From behind him, a person asked in surprise.
Chu Han looked back, momentarily, he couldn’t recognize who it was, therefore, he could only dodge the question: “反正考不过, 还不如不考了下学期重修.”
Exams? Nobody would still care about tests before an Apocalypse!
“It’s quite obvious (倒是有自知自明!!!).” Sounded another voice full of scorn.
Chu Han narrowed his eyes, this person wearing an expensive white T-shirt, his lower body dark sweat pants and black shoes (脚上的鞋子!!!), Chu Han didn’t even recognize the brands.
To actually meet at a time like this, such a coincidence! (可真是够巧的!!!)
“Duan Ming (段明!!!), your name is good (起的好!!!).”Duan Ming, die young (段明，短命!!!). ((3
Duan Ming obviously didn’t got Chu Han’s meaning – he gave Chu Han several glances, while unable to make head or tail of it.
Chu Han didn’t pay him any more attention (多余的眼神!!!), he dragged the large suitcase and left the premises (往校门外!!!), the cell phone in the pocket of his pants vibrated incessantly.
He found a store that bought second-hand electronic devices, he sold all the items in the large suitcase for 4,000 Yuan e four thousand, plus the 1,000 Yuan that he originally had in his wallet, he had a total of 5,000 Yuan. Chu Han was quickly operating his mind, the prices from 10 years ago had long since become blurry in his memory and he was somewhat uncertain about what was their current purchasing power. ((4
First of all, he needs to find a weapon, that was the most vital part, as the zombies could only be killed by bursting their heads, the weapon must be lethal. A hammer wouldn’t be enough, an ordinary hammer were inferior to an axe, but an axe would easy get stuck, it required very formidable skills.
He entered a weapons store, the store manager saw such a young man coming in and he subconsciously frowned: “I sell here art crafts, this is a house of business, if you don’t want to buy anything than don’t bother me.” (这里是卖工艺品的，不买别打扰我做生意。!!!)
Chu Han was obviously an university student, his clothing was also ordinary, the store manager didn’t think that Chu Han could afford the things in his store.
2 – Global Darkness
“A grind?!” ((5
The store manager found Chu Han’s requirement for a grind surprising and abnormal – this kid upon arriving immediately selected an hamaxe, then requested a grind, if the axe were to receive a grind, then the degree of its might and sharpness would be incredible, ah! ((6
“Yes, a grind, the sharper the better.” Chu Han was still calm – but he didn’t know that this so to speak calmness of his, added to the steady glace which was tempered during the Apocalypse, made store manager’s shudder within.
“Young man … …” Just as the store manager wanted to speak.
Bang!
Suddenly a dagger was placed on the counter and Chu Han ‘s voice sounded: “Please do also a grind on this dagger, I’ll give you a total of 2,000, I’ll be here in the evening to receive them, here is an advance payment of a 1,000.
Chu Han resolutely blocked the store manager’s words, 还给店长加了价!!!, the at most would be priced at 200.
The store manager swallowed, 不和钱过不去!!!.
Chu Han immediately left to collect other things, the time restriction didn’t allow him to bargain nor socialize.
The axe was to be used to take care of zombies, while the dagger was to be used to guard against people.
1 – Laozi (italico) – I your father, it’s a way of cursing
2 – Xiao – means little/small, it’s an endearing form of calling somebody
3 – 短命 is a homonym to his name, 段明; it means: to die young
4 – 4,000 Yuan is a bit more than 500€
5 – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grind
6 – https://terraria-zh.gamepedia.com/index.php?title=锤斧&variant=zh
I just realized that its about to be released on Qidian under the tile ‘Meltdown System in Eschatology’…
I did this around 2-3 weeks ago, but didn’t got the chance to clear check upon the things that I had doubts about nor edited it. But it could serve as a sneak peek of some sorts.
So that would be it from me fro this novel, it should be up on Qidian in a few days.
enjoy
Xaio Mo Ge 