Care Guide to Raising a Max Level Leaf in Apocalypse - 2
Chapter 02: Poisonous Mushrooms
Yu Feichen pinched Li Chao next to him and asked seriously, “Could it be that I accidentally ate poisonous mushrooms and started hallucinating?”
Li Chao brushed off the dirty hands on his body, stood up cautiously, and looked at the approaching figure, his expression gradually turning shocked.
The black combat suit, with a cut revealing well-trained muscles, bore signs of recent battles.
His disheveled appearance contrasted sharply with Ji Jiu, who looked clean and composed.
He appeared to have no fluctuations in psychic power, and as an ordinary person in the “Waste City,” how could he possibly handle himself alone?
Li Chao raised his gun vigilantly, pointing it at him. “Who are you?”
The gun was already out of bullets, his abilities depleted. He could only use bluffing methods to deter the other party from making any rash moves.
Ji Jiu tilted his head. “I’m Ji Jiu.”
His innocent response left both men present dumbfounded.
Yu Feichen swallowed nervously. “Why are you alone here? Where are your companions?”
He instinctively thought that Ji Jiu had been brought here by a possessive hunter. It was a common phenomenon in the base for attractive ordinary people to attach themselves to hunters.
For hunters, who were professionals in the apocalyptic world and often indulged in pleasures, it was not uncommon to bring a companion to meet their physiological needs during missions.
Although Yu Feichen despised such irresponsible behavior towards other people’s lives, they couldn’t afford to provoke the hunter at the moment.
At the very least, bringing such a good-looking vase-like beauty along meant that the hunter was powerful.
Ji Jiu was puzzled. “Companions?”
Yu Feichen explained, “The person who was with you before this.”
In that instant, it became clear that not only was Ji Jiu a beautiful vase-like person, but he also seemed lacking in intellect and physical strength—a simple-minded beauty.
He was asking about his owner!
Ji Jiu’s eyes lit up, and his voice sounded clear. “I don’t know!”
Yu Feichen was taken aback.
Unbeknownst to them, both Li Chao and Yu Feichen exchanged twisted expressions. Ji Jiu continued, “It seems like he got lost and couldn’t find me.”
His simple-minded owner got lost for three years. He couldn’t wait and took matters into his own hands.
Hearing this, Yu Feichen and Li Chao exchanged knowing glances, realizing the situation they were in. Getting lost in the “Waste City” had only one outcome—they would become a meal for the mutated creatures.
Perhaps they were in danger, and the hunter who had been protecting Ji Jiu automatically went to distract the mutated creatures.
It sounded like an overly arrogant and possessive hunter, but at least they hadn’t lost their humanity to the point of sacrificing the naive owner.
Yu Feichen looked at Ji Jiu with sympathy.
A good-looking beauty.
A good-looking beauty with limited intelligence.
A good-looking beauty with limited intelligence who had lost his protection.
They couldn’t just stand by and watch, and they didn’t even know who killed the nearby main brain of the blue vein vines—it could very well be the hunter who was protecting him.
In this situation, Yu Feichen and Li Chao didn’t need to communicate; they both silently agreed to take Ji Jiu under their wing for protection.
Yu Feichen relaxed his guarded posture and casually changed the subject. “Did you lose your protective mask? The air outside the base is not suitable for ordinary people.”
“Why?” Ji Jiu was simply curious.
Most of his knowledge of the world came from Si Yinyuan and the TV that was always on in his room.
Unfortunately, after the apocalypse started, the magnetic field became chaotic, and all the televisions in the world became useless by the fifth day of the apocalypse. Ji Jiu had only managed to learn about the emerging terms of mutated creatures and ability users through the news.
This made him eager to acquire new knowledge.
He was a little grass that loved to learn.
Yu Feichen further confirmed Ji Jiu’s naive nature and jokingly said, “It seems like you haven’t been paying attention to the scientific lectures in the base. Many mutated creatures’ toxins can be transmitted through the air, and ordinary people don’t have the resistance like ability users do. Once inhaled, it’s over for them.”
Even though Yu Feichen despised such behavior that didn’t take responsibility for others’ lives, they couldn’t afford to act differently in the current situation.
At least, bringing along such a good-looking vase-like beauty meant that the hunter was powerful.
Ji Jiu didn’t understand. “Toxic mushrooms? What kind of mushrooms?”
Yu Feichen nodded vigorously. “Yes, the ones with red caps and white stems, with small particles on top. As long as you don’t eat them, they won’t be deadly. The dangerous part is the spores they release, which ordinary people can’t come into contact with.”
It seemed that the naive little grass had done some homework.
Ji Jiu smiled shyly. Well, those mushrooms are quite delicious.
No one could have guessed that the one before their eyes was the culprit who had eaten all the poisonous mushrooms in the vicinity.
While Yu Feichen was muttering about not seeing any poisonous mushrooms nearby, Li Chao began asking if Ji Jiu would be willing to join them.
Li Chao said, “As you can see, our situation is not good, and we also have an A-rank mission to complete. We can’t guarantee your safety one hundred percent if you return to the base alone.”
Base?
Would the owner be there too?
Ji Jiu’s gaze momentarily followed a passing white dove, catching only one keyword.
He immediately nodded happily, “Okay.”
His eyes were innocent and clear, making it difficult to be too harsh on him.
Li Chao coughed, realizing why the hunter who had brought him here earlier couldn’t bear to leave him alone at the base. He retracted his stern words and simply said, “Follow us.”
He took out a detoxification pill from his waist and handed it to Ji Jiu, then briskly walked ahead.
Yu Feichen, walking beside Ji Jiu, explained, “This is a newly developed detoxification pill from the research institute. It can block most of the toxins in the air. Just make sure not to be reckless and eat any mutated creatures.”
The last sentence was said in a half-joking tone.
After all, no one would want to go to the extreme of eating mutated creatures.
The detoxification pill tasted sweet, and Ji Jiu liked it.
He obediently replied, “Okay.”
The black mist released behind them quietly swallowed up the lifeless blue vein vines on the ground.
…
As top-tier awakened individuals, Li Chao and Yu Feichen had astonishing recovery abilities.
After walking two blocks, they had almost fully regained their combat capabilities, while Ji Jiu followed them with ease.
Yu Feichen’s awakened ability, “Bullet Chaser,” allowed his fingers to transform into gun barrels, and the bullets he shot had automatic tracking.
His sharp gaze pierced through an approaching Parasitic Spine Mutant that was about to pounce, creating a hole in its body.
Curious, Ji Jiu picked up the lifeless Parasitic Spine Mutant that had been impaled by the impact force.
It resembled a small octopus with fine vines and saw-like teeth at the tip of the vines.
Yu Feichen, a person who couldn’t keep his mouth shut, couldn’t resist sharing information with the curious little baby Ji Jiu, even while remaining vigilant of their surroundings.
“This is a Parasitic Spine Mutant from the mutated Wench Silk Flower. Once it parasitizes a host, it devours the brain and takes control, turning them into mindless creatures seeking fresh flesh for nourishment.”
Yu Feichen’s expression turned threatening. “Have you seen zombie movies? Once parasitized, they become similar creatures.”
Ji Jiu widened his eyes, playing along with the role of an innocent child. His pupils were a shallow iridescent platinum color, giving him a moist appearance.
Yu Feichen, feeling like an uncle who successfully scared a child, rubbed his head. “Parasitic Spine Mutant can enter through the mouth, nose, or eyes, even through wounds on your body that are bleeding. So be careful not to get injured.”
Ji Jiu nodded. “Is your mission related to this?”
He sensed that there were many people parasitized by Parasitic Spine Mutant in front of them.
Yu Feichen replied, “Yes, we are responsible for eliminating the Parasitic Spine Mutant nests in this area and bringing back a few live samples for the research institute.”
The crucial part of the mission was the live samples of the Parasitic Spine Mutant for the research institute.
While Li Chao transformed his hands into sharp bone spikes and easily severed a Parasitic Spine Mutant, he didn’t even turn back to continue their conversation. “Be careful! We’re almost at the location marked on the mission map!”
Yu Feichen immediately turned his head back, his expression turning serious once again.
Ji Jiu silently handed the lifeless Parasitic Spine Mutant in his hand to the black mist, which devoured it.
Humans were really busy.
He followed them as a obedient tail, occasionally releasing black mist to stealthily consume some unwary mutated creatures along the way.
The closer they got to the Parasitic Spine Mutant stronghold marked on the map, the stronger the stench became.
Ji Jiu wrinkled his small nose in disdain; he didn’t like the smell.
The smell of decay mixed with the metallic scent of blood and flesh.
Yu Feichen said, “According to the map, the stronghold should be that hospital. You don’t have combat capabilities, so you can’t get any closer.”
Ji Jiu replied, “Okay.”
What combat capabilities could a small plant have? It was just good at eating.
He was surprisingly obedient.
Li Chao showed a satisfied expression. He had already planned to bring Ji Jiu along despite his fear of being left behind by the hunter who had brought him here. But this naive little beauty turned out to be even more obedient than he had imagined.
Ji Jiu was settled in a small restaurant not far from the hospital, and a gun was also handed to him.
Seeing Ji Jiu’s dazed expression, Yu Feichen couldn’t help but remind him, “Don’t step out. If you go a bit further, those things will smell your scent.”
Ji Jiu nodded, his attention captivated by the pictures of delicious food displayed in the restaurant.
Sweet and sour spare ribs, steamed fish, dry-fried shredded potatoes—all of them were dishes he had never tasted before, only seen on TV.
Ji Jiu thought that maybe when he found his owner, they could bring him to try these delicious foods.
If his owner didn’t want to, it didn’t matter. Just like before, as long as he watered him every day, he would be happy.
…
Yu Feichen stood on a overturned ambulance, his face covered in dirt and frustration. He gritted his teeth and shouted, “How is this only a few hundred? There are definitely over a thousand!”
This was far beyond what the two of them could handle. They not only had to deal with the parasitized people but also remain on guard against the Parasitic Spine Mutant lurking outside, ready to attack their wounds or orifices.
No one expected that the hospital hid so many people parasitized by the Parasitic Spine Mutant.
Their faces were pale with dilated pupils, their protruding fangs unaffected by pain, as they mindlessly approached, clawing and scratching.
In addition to those wearing doctor and nurse uniforms and patient gowns, there were many locals and even some hunters who had come to this area for missions, identifiable by the blue badges on their chests.
Half of the hospital had been demolished, with construction materials piled up and half-finished steel reinforcements, and a half-eaten corpse hung from the remaining steel bars.
The “zombies” here had started fighting amongst themselves. If left unattended, they might even breed a Parasitic Spine King.
As soon as they caught a whiff of the scent, they went crazy, desperate to get closer and take a bite of flesh. Countless withered hands reached out, yearning to tear apart the prey before them.
Yu Feichen’s bullets refreshed every twenty seconds, so he struggled to deal with the quantity-based mutated creatures.
After reluctantly pulling back his leg, which had almost been bitten, Yu Feichen truly felt, “This is the first time I’ve missed the team.”
He had absolute confidence in his team’s combat capabilities and wasn’t worried about them encountering any danger. It was only a matter of time before they arrived.
Li Chao extended bone spikes from his right leg and effortlessly sliced through a “zombie” that almost bit him. He was wearing a combat suit that had even more holes due to his awakened ability “Bone Spikes,” but he didn’t have the luxury to care about that now. He shouted, “Why the hell are they all going to the east!?”
“The east?” Yu Feichen turned his head back, and his face turned ashen. He couldn’t help but curse, “Fuck!”
The east was exactly where Ji Jiu was staying.