The Centipede Head and Scale Armor Corpse met a tragic end amidst the swarm of insects; white monstrous bugs were frantically devouring their flesh, while some larger ones were attempting to drag their bodies into the tunnel.
However, two old proverbs describe the situation well: 'When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits,' and 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.'
The monstrous bugs might be the fisherman, but Feng Jun was that oriole.
Feng Jun took out two specialized fuel cartridges for a flamethrower, casually tossed them into the collapsed hole, and, just before they fell in, shot them with his Bolter, causing them to explode.
The burning flames immediately engulfed the entire opening, and the feasting swarm of insects shrieked as they were incinerated.
Fire is lethal to any carbon-based life form, and its effect on the insect swarm was immediate and obvious.
Taking advantage of the lingering intimidation from the two large Mutants, Feng Jun led Li Lu back to the collapsed subway entrance.
Feng Jun no longer concealed his abilities; he directly retrieved a flamethrower and its accompanying fuel from his storage space and handed them to Li Lu, saying, “Let’s deal with the insect swarm first; I’ll explain later.”
Although the tunnel continued to pour out an endless stream of insects, under the scorching heat of the two fiery snakes, no matter how many came, they died, piling up a thick layer of corpses at the entrance.
After a while, a cry echoed from deep within the tunnel; the white insect swarm, which had been continuously emerging, immediately ceased its attack upon hearing the sound and rapidly retreated deeper into the tunnel.
Seeing the insect swarm retreat, Feng Jun also breathed a sigh of relief.
One-third of the flamethrower’s fuel had been used, and although he had spare fuel cartridges, the barrel would always get hot.
After confirming the insect swarm’s retreat, Feng Jun immediately jumped into the pit.
The Roadblock’s corpse had been gnawed beyond recognition, while the Scale Armor Corpse’s appearance looked relatively intact, but it was limp and deflated like an inflatable doll.
He pulled out an electromagnetic vibration dagger and rummaged through the Roadblock’s chest; the Roadblock’s heart had long been swallowed by the Scale Armor Corpse, and the gene seed within it had also been consumed by the Scale Armor Corpse.
Feng Jun searched through the Roadblock’s chest but did not find the gene seed.
Originally, Feng Jun intended to directly inspect the Scale Armor Corpse’s body, but the twisted skull on the Roadblock’s back piqued his interest.
Feng Jun did not recognize this type of parasitic Mutant and mistook this head for a second head that the Roadblock had evolved.
He thought that if there was a second head, why couldn’t there be a second heart?
Cutting downwards along the spine of the second head, he finally found a heart within the fleshy layer of the back.
Inside this heart was an egg-sized red crystal; it was indeed a gene seed, and Feng Jun immediately put this gene seed into his storage space.
Walking to the Scale Armor Corpse’s chest, Feng Jun tried to insert the electromagnetic vibration dagger into its chest.
After several attempts, he finally managed to pierce through a gap in the scales, cutting a small, difficult hole.
He hadn’t expected the Scale Armor Corpse’s skin to be so tough.
Feng Jun cut open a hole and inserted half of his body inside; fortunately, the Scale Armor Corpse’s interior had been gnawed by the monstrous bugs, and most of its flesh was gone.
Feng Jun groped around inside for a long time and finally found two gene seeds in the stomach and heart areas.
These two gene seeds were slightly larger, possibly because the Scale Armor Corpse had eaten the Roadblock’s brain and heart, and the gene seed in the Scale Armor Corpse’s heart was a deeper color.
Feng Jun couldn’t believe that he had managed to obtain three gene seeds this time, and his heart was instantly filled with joy.
He could not only complete the task of collecting two gene seeds for his storage space ahead of schedule but also keep an extra one.
Feng Jun placed one gene seed into his storage space, while the other, darker-colored one, he put into his pocket.
As soon as the two gene seeds entered the storage space, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
“Congratulations, Host, for collecting two gene seeds and completing the mission.
Storage space expanded twofold.
Next mission: collect six gene seeds within one year, or face obliteration if you fail.”
Li Lu urged from outside the pit, “What are you looking for? The corpse swarm is starting to gather.”
It had been some time since the two large Mutants had died, and the corpse swarm that had been lingering outside began to spread into the streets.
Feng Jun didn’t dare to delay and was about to run, but then he suddenly saw the Scale Armor Corpse’s body lying on the ground again.
His storage space had already expanded to 120 cubic meters, and after removing the weapons he had originally stored, there was a large amount of extra space.
So, Feng Jun placed his hand on the Scale Armor Corpse and, with a thought, put the entire Scale Armor Corpse’s body into his storage space.
At this point, some Mutants had already discovered Feng Jun and Li Lu; some fast Mutants zombies were already rushing towards them.
Feng Jun released Old Nine from his storage space and, to Li Lu’s astonished gaze, lifted her onto Old Nine’s back.
Their speed on the Mechanical Dogs was considerably faster; they managed to rush into the subway tunnel with Old Nine, Feng Jun, and Li Lu before the corpse swarm could fully close in.
Fortunately, there were no further collapses within this section of the tunnel.
If the path remained clear from now on, Feng Jun and Li Lu could reach their target location by tomorrow morning.
The future Great Ming had spared no effort in building its subways; although abandoned subway cars still remained within the tunnels, Feng Jun and Li Lu riding Old Nine through the tunnels felt no congestion at all.
Li Lu was held in Feng Jun’s arms, feeling the warmth of his chest against her back, and she realized that what she had just seen was not an illusion.
“You should explain to me your ability just now, and how Old Nine appeared,” Li Lu suddenly broke free from Feng Jun’s embrace, jumped off Old Nine’s back, and said.
Feng Jun had long anticipated today’s situation; after sharing a room with Li Lu, he had thought about this matter.
Whether it was Song Peng or Song Zhan, he had never explained his origins or the source of his food to them.
But for Li Lu, he knew he would have to tell her the truth about himself eventually.
Feng Jun also dismounted from Old Nine’s back, but when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know how to organize them.
Feng Jun placed his hand on Old Nine, activated his storage space ability, and Old Nine instantly vanished into the tunnel.
“You can understand this as spatial teleportation, or extremely advanced spatial technology.
As for the principle, I cannot explain it to you.”
Feng Jun then released and recalled Old Eight, then a Ripper electromagnetic knife appeared in his hand, then he switched to a G645 assault rifle, then conjured a can of food, and finally produced a cup of cola which he handed to Li Lu.
Li Lu took the cola Feng Jun offered, shook it with some doubt, confirmed that she was indeed holding a real drink, then opened the cap and began to drink.
“Is this why you can transport food here? What else are you hiding from me?”
Feng Jun also opened a bottle of cola and took a sip.
“I don’t know how to explain it; you could say it’s a ‘parallel universe’ or a ‘multiverse’.
I come from a time that has not yet experienced war and the Doomsday.
The historical trajectory of that world is similar to this one, and the timeline is basically consistent, but the timeline I came from is a bit late.
To be precise, I am from the past, from 2023.”
Li Lu interrupted Feng Jun, “You’re from the past? Over a hundred years ago!
No wonder you’re always curious about everything, like a primitive person.”
Feng Jun gave an awkward laugh; future technology was indeed more advanced, but it hadn’t reached the point where he would be considered a primitive person.
At least in terms of biological structure, he had no significant difference from the Doomsday people of the future, at least not from ordinary people who had not been injected with Gene Agent.
“I can travel between two worlds and carry a certain amount of supplies.
Because of the time difference, the technology here is indeed much more advanced than in my world.
This is also why I am keen on collecting technology or talents in that field.”
Feng Jun explained some of the things he had done, as well as the source of his food.
Li Lu looked worried after hearing this and said, “So, will you suddenly leave?
After finding what you want, will you leave without a word, just leaving me alone to continue living in this Doomsday?”
At first, Feng Jun did indeed think that way, but now the storage space was still making him collect the so-called gene seeds, and he had already genuinely fallen in love with Li Lu.
Feng Jun didn’t say much, reaching out to embrace Li Lu.
“Although there are many other factors, believe me, I will only love you in this life, I will never leave you, and I will always protect you.”
After a while, Li Lu shyly broke free from Feng Jun’s embrace.
“Who wants your protection, you’re so weak, okay?”
“It’s true!” Feng Jun said with a serious expression.
Li Lu, however, quickly ran off, “I don’t believe you.”
The two then continued their journey through the subway tunnel, chatting as they went.
Feng Jun explained some of the things he had done to Li Lu, who was quite curious about Feng Jun’s world and timeline.
Li Lu took the gene seed Feng Jun handed her and examined it, but she couldn’t see anything unusual.
“So you have to complete the tasks given by the space, and regularly collect these so-called ‘Gene Seeds’ from Mutants?” Li Lu asked.
Feng Jun nodded and said, “That’s right, and next time I have to hand in three.
The deadline is still one year, and after completing the task, the storage space just gets bigger; it doesn’t grant me any special abilities.”
Feng Jun had once thought that after completing the mission, the storage space would give him a pile of equipment, or strengthen his body, allowing him to tear zombies apart with his bare hands, but none of that had happened so far.
The storage space only issued tasks, and the upgrade was just a continuously expanding space volume.
Li Lu nodded and said, “That’s fine then.
Next time you go back, remember to bring me more delicious food, and secondly, clothes.
I haven’t changed my clothes in a long time.”
Li Lu’s hobbies were simple: food and clothes.
In the Doomsday, there was almost no clothing trade, and if there was, it was mostly old items found on dead people or in some surviving warehouse.
Upon hearing that Feng Jun’s timeline was still peaceful, Li Lu immediately made her demands for food and clothes.
“You should write down my clothing sizes, my shoe size is **, my pants size is **, and I like to wear the color **….” Li Lu began to give Feng Jun instructions.