Chapter 132: Camping in the Wild

After finishing their lunch, the two left the ancient city.

With only the two of them present and no one else around, the ancient city felt like a ghost town. It was an unsettling experience, offering absolutely no value as a tourist destination.

It took them an hour to hike to the location where they had hidden their vehicle. There was no other choice; driving into the heart of the scenic area was impossible, as the roads were blocked by all sorts of abandoned cars. They had been forced to park on the outskirts and enter the area on foot.

"Sister Lin, where to next?" Li Gang asked, starting the military jeep and gripping the steering wheel as he looked at Lin Yan beside him.

"First, leave Henan Province, get on the highway, and head straight for Yunnan Province," Lin Yan replied coldly. Her face was set, and she seemed to be in a foul mood.

Li Gang was deeply puzzled by her sudden change in temperament. He didn't ask, though, silently speculating that she might be on her period. He focused on driving, following her instructions.

The city was full of vehicles, but every single one was parked neatly by the roadside or in the middle of the road. There were no signs of car accidents anywhere. It was easy to imagine that when the "Divine Erasure" had wiped out the population, it had frozen every moving vehicle in place, preventing them from colliding after losing their drivers.

Li Gang carefully maneuvered around the cars ahead, slowly making his way out of the urban area. Once they cleared the city, the number of parked cars on the road dropped significantly, and the military jeep’s speed gradually increased.

During this time, Li Gang had carefully observed Lin Yan several times and tried to sound her out about their future plans. For instance, following their current route, they would soon leave Henan and enter Guizhou Province. Guizhou was a large province with many famous historical sites, and he wondered if she had any interest in visiting them.

Initially, Li Gang had assumed she would be eager to stop and explore. However, her response surprised him: she expressed no interest at all, telling him to head straight for Yunnan and refusing to stop at any scenic spots in Guizhou.

"Could it really be her period?" Li Gang mused internally, silently noting the date.

Lin Yan watched Li Gang, who looked lost in thought beside her. If she knew what he was thinking, she wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry—or perhaps she would take the opportunity of a sparring match to "educate" him properly.

Over the past few days, she had intended to use their trips to the scenic spots to cultivate their relationship and see if they could move things to the next level. To her dismay, she found no progress had been made. Li Gang’s behavior was as wooden as a block of wood; he remained completely unmoved and often even avoided her gaze. This left her in a foul mood, so she simply gave up on the idea of sightseeing.

Lin Yan felt deeply frustrated. She couldn't understand why Li Gang always avoided her eyes, and she had even noticed that the number of times he stole glances at her had dwindled significantly. This, too, was a source of great vexation. She remembered that when they first met, she could clearly feel his attraction to her and the way he would occasionally display a certain desire. Yet, lately, that feeling had become scarce.

What exactly had happened? Having no experience in romantic relationships, Lin Yan was left feeling completely bewildered.

***

Intent on making progress, by dusk they had reached the heart of Guizhou Province, not far from the border of Yunnan. They parked the car on the highway; on one side was a grassy field dotted with wildflowers, and on the other, a small stream. The scenery was beautiful and well-suited for camping.

Li Gang retrieved the tent from the vehicle and began setting it up.

"I’m going to check the woods over there. While it’s still light, maybe I can catch some game," Lin Yan said. She gathered some stones, arranged them into a fire pit, and then, after a glance at Li Gang, headed off toward the woods alone.

"Alright, be careful," Li Gang replied, busying himself with his task.

He wasn't worried about her safety in the slightest. Given her current strength, there were no beasts left on Earth that could harm her, unless she ran into a massive pack. They weren't far from civilization, and there were no dangerous, large predators in this area.

Within ten minutes, he had finished setting up both tents. The sky was still bright, and the last rays of the sun were visible in the distance.

*Bang!*

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from the woods.

Li Gang’s expression shifted. He grabbed the automatic rifle nearby and ran toward the sound without a second thought. Before long, he reached the woods. A figure emerged from the front—it was Lin Yan.

Seeing her, Li Gang looked her over carefully and, finding her completely unharmed, felt a wave of relief wash over him. Then, he realized how he had lost his composure the moment he heard the shot.

Lin Yan walked toward him, carrying a bleeding wild boar. It wasn't fully grown, but it wasn't small either, weighing roughly fifty pounds. A single bullet hole in the boar’s head showed it had been killed instantly.

"Oh, you came running with your gun—were you worried about me?" Lin Yan asked, seeing Li Gang standing there with his rifle. A happy smile blossomed on her face.

"Yeah, I heard the shot and didn't think twice before coming to check. We shouldn't separate like that again," Li Gang nodded, saying what came to his mind.

In truth, if he had stayed calm or checked the tracking map, he would have realized that the nearest competitor was at least forty or fifty kilometers away; it was impossible for them to have been ambushed by another "Chosen." He had simply been too concerned for Lin Yan’s safety to think clearly. It hadn't occurred to him that, in terms of pure power, Lin Yan could thrash him with one hand.

Lin Yan was taken aback, not expecting him to admit so readily that he had been worried.

"We'll talk about other things later. Let's head back. This boar is enough to last us a few meals," she said. She felt a surge of joy, but remembering Li Gang’s recent coldness, she wiped the smile from her face and walked past him.

Li Gang, not understanding why she changed moods faster than flipping a book, assumed it was the "period" again. He made a face behind her back and hurried to catch up.

By the stream, Lin Yan used her dagger to skin the boar and remove its entrails, then washed it clean in the water. Meanwhile, Li Gang gathered wood and started a fire.

***

Half of the boar was skewered on a wooden stake, sizzling over the flames, with drops of fat occasionally hitting the fire. As Lin Yan roasted the meat, she applied seasonings, and the aroma of the barbecue soon filled the air.

By now, night had fallen completely. Because they were far from the city, there was no light pollution, and the sky was filled with a spectacular, breathtaking display of stars. Having lit a few mosquito coils earlier, they enjoyed the night view without the bother of insects—it was incredibly pleasant.

Li Gang lay back on the grass, admiring the night sky. His enhanced physical constitution meant he didn't mind the gravel beneath him. He had already removed his tactical jacket and was wearing only his new JGS bulletproof vest. He never took it off except to bathe, and by now, it fit him like a second skin.

Beside him, Lin Yan roasted the meat with care, occasionally using her sharp dagger to slice into it to check if it was cooked through. Before long, she cut off a large piece of roasted boar and handed it to Li Gang.

Li Gang sat up. He didn't fear the heat, taking the meat directly into his hands. His physical resistance allowed him to easily endure the temperature of the freshly roasted boar.

"Delicious, truly delicious. Sister Lin, you have quite the talent!" Li Gang took a large bite, his mouth glistening with grease, and couldn't help but praise her.

Lin Yan smiled and cut a piece for herself, joining in.

Half the boar disappeared—one-third into Lin Yan’s stomach, and two-thirds into Li Gang’s. As their physical stats continued to climb, far exceeding the limits of normal humans, their appetites had grown accordingly. However, they also required less frequent meals as long as they weren't engaged in high-intensity activity, as their bodies didn't burn energy as quickly.

After tidying up, they lay side-by-side, watching the stars. Usually, Lin Yan would read a novel or watch a martial arts movie to pass the time, while Li Gang would practice his guidance techniques, wasting not a single second. Tonight, however, in the wilderness under the magnificent canopy of stars, they both tacitly abandoned their usual routines to lie together and admire the sky.

Li Gang felt Lin Yan’s presence beside him, his expression tranquil and content. At that moment, he felt like the happiest person in the world, bar none. He believed that there was nothing more blissful than spending ordinary time with the person you loved.

Though they lay together, they did not touch, both tacitly maintaining a small distance between them.