Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei immediately began working, moving aside each stone that the mechanical dog's eyes indicated.

It only took them a little while, as those stones, whether large or small, weren't heavy for them. Even if they had been frozen together over time, it was only a matter of seconds for them to lift each stone up.

A slightly more troublesome aspect was that when they moved the stones from the middle section, they would dislodge many of the smaller stones on the sides, which needed to be picked up and discarded one by one.

Soon, a "hole" was excavated. If they put a roof over it, it would be a good place to hide away from the cold by yourself.

—However, to hide here, you'd need to be someone small, like Chai Xin.

The mechanical dog's eyes continued to point downward, focusing on the center of the hole they had dug.

Originally, the place had been tiled, but due to the house collapsing and hitting that spot, the tiles were already shattered.

Lu Xi'an handed the mechanical dog to Yao Wei and carefully pried open the tiles, tossing them aside.

The tiles had long since loosened and separated, requiring no effort at all to pry up.

After discarding the tiles, a thick layer of dirt was revealed beneath them.

"Go get a small shovel."

Lu Xi'an said to Yao Wei.

Yao Wei responded with a nod, then turned to get the tools.

Soon, she returned with a shovel and said to Lu Xi'an, "Our car... I suddenly realized something's off."

"What's wrong?"

Lu Xi'an asked.

Yao Wei said, "It's too clean."

Lu Xi'an understood what she meant, feeling that a car so clean was too conspicuous in this world, attracting unnecessary attention.

He took the shovel from her and began to scoop away the dirt while conversing with Yao Wei, "No matter how dirty our current car gets, it'll still stand out, right?

"Being a bit dirtier only slightly reduces how eye-catching it is.

"But you're right, in this world it's best to attract as little attention as possible, so we should try to minimize it.

"We'll wash only the interior of the car from now on, and leave the outside alone."

"Okay."

Yao Wei nodded and said, "But we still need to wash the windows."

Lu Xi'an laughed, "True, if we don't wash the windows, our visibility will be affected. They should be cleaned."

"Dong—"

The shovel hit something below.

Lu Xi'an quickly adjusted his force, carefully clearing away the dirt to reveal a door.

It really was a door.

A wooden door for a regular room, with cracks due to the pressure from the collapsed house.

Even so, the door hadn't completely broken apart and was still connected, albeit with bends and cracks.

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei had to clear more debris from the sides and raise other tiles until the whole door was revealed.

A secret door beneath the tiles... What kind of setup is this?

He examined it closely and then noticed that the tiles and the door were perfectly flush, as if the tiles were specifically laid on the door, making them a unified surface.

The dirt he had excavated seemed different in color and texture from the surrounding soil.

For some inexplicable reason, he felt that the door, the dirt, and the tiles were all interconnected, as if the dirt and tiles on the door were its outer shell.

—Or perhaps, a disguise?

"Do you remember the underground shelter next to the gas station in Mengxin City?"

Lu Xi'an asked Yao Wei.

When they first arrived in Mengxin City, they found a courtyard next to a gas station, where a wall-side underground shelter could be accessed by removing the tiles and dirt to reveal a door with broken hydraulic rods.

At that time, they used the strength of the Neo-Humans to open the door and found a voice message from the original house owner, learning about another cliffside shelter. From that cliffside shelter, they found a radio.

Later on, when they excavated a shelter in Jianshan City, they were inspired by that cliffside shelter.

Why did this door remind him so much of that style, even though the materials were different?

"Yes."

Yao Wei nodded and stood by, asking Gou, "Gou, is there any danger below?"

Gou's eyes flickered twice, indicating no danger.

Feeling reassured, Lu Xi'an grabbed the door handle of the wooden door laying flat and gave it a strong pull.

"Creak—"

The long unused door creaked painfully as it was lifted, releasing a mixture of mold and damp odors that made Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei hold their breaths.

What they saw beneath the door shocked them—

Underneath wasn't the large shelter they imagined, but just a small pit big enough for someone to lie in.

In the pit lay a person, now reduced to a skeleton, wrapped in a large coat.

Lu Xi'an's heart skipped a beat.

So, was this the "tomb" painstakingly crafted by the owner decades ago?

Did someone, knowing they would die in the cold disaster, choose this way to bury themselves?

Perhaps...

Or perhaps not...

But regardless, they should first see if there was anything useful there.

Lu Xi'an applied more force, intending to prop the door open completely. However, with just a bit of strength, he heard a 'crack' as the door's hinge snapped.

Helplessly, he tossed the door aside, bent down, and rummaged through the skeleton's coat to see if there was anything inside.

—There was nothing.

But while exploring, Lu Xi'an noticed there was a square "pillow" under the skull.

He reached out and touched it. The "pillow" seemed to be wrapped layer upon layer in cloth, and covered in dust, making its original appearance indistinguishable.

Once he pulled out the "pillow," the skull fell and shattered.

Lu Xi'an said, "Amitabha, sinful, sinful." Then he brushed away the dust and went to open the "pillow."

Yao Wei, listening nearby, felt puzzled and didn't understand what "Amitabha, sinful, sinful" meant. But seeing Lu Xi'an focus on opening the "pillow," she didn't ask.

The "pillow," as Lu Xi'an expected, was indeed wrapped in cloth.

The cloth was white but had long been stained and wouldn't clean easily. After unraveling it layer by layer, what was revealed inside was a thin notebook.

— A notebook deliberately brought along into a coffin must be something very important?

What does the notebook record?

Though curious, Lu Xi'an didn't immediately open it to look. After rummaging around the passage again to make sure there was nothing else, he restored the door to its place.

Re-covering the pit and refilling it with rubble, restoring it to its original state, Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei then left the ruins.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but when he looked back after leaving the ruins, Lu Xi'an suddenly felt that this stretch of ruins resembled a massive grave burying its owner.

The lonely person, feeling no one would bury him, made his own grave and buried himself.

After shaking off the dust from himself and the notebook, Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei boarded the car.

Sitting inside, they finally opened the notebook to read—

January 11, 2123

Teacher Dong died, and the records for tree planting were all burned. Fortunately, this notebook remains, and I intend to note a few things.

I have aged and can't remember much.

Haven't recorded anything for a long time; wonder if the audio tapes back home are still preserved?

If I hadn't left back then, I might have already joined the battle and died on the battlefield.

Regrettably, I didn't reach the emergency disaster command station broadcasted; instead, I was muddle-headedly saved by Teacher Dong and brought here.

Teacher Dong asked me to cut down all the apple trees he cultivated, saying such a world didn't need them, but I couldn't bear it and spared one.

No matter what, those trees are the fruit of Teacher Dong's hard work, how could they all be destroyed?

I transplanted the tree amidst the ruins; people nowadays lack patience, who can ever find it planted so deep?

Lu Xi'an's heart skipped as he read this diary entry.

He turned to Yao Wei and asked, "Doesn't this seem to match the recording from Mengxin City?!"

"Hmm."

Yao Wei nodded. She and Lu Xi'an, huddled together reading, also saw the problem.

Lu Xi'an turned the page; the next entry was half a month later.

February 1, 2123

Teacher Dong was undoubtedly part of the Reconstruction Faction? I once thought I was too, but now upon reflection, I must be from the Decadent Faction.

Ah...

Initially, I thought the world had long become that way, but unexpectedly, the so-called Reconstruction Faction, Joyful Gang, Decadent Faction, Adapters were merely specialties from Mengxin.

Other places weren't nearly as chaotic.

But that was back then; now, only the Decadent Faction and Joyful Gang remain, though people don't call them such anymore.

If that wasn't the case, Teacher Dong wouldn't have been so disappointed, burning his research material and asking me to cut the trees.

But there was no choice; having been his assistant for so long, these trees were also a part of my life, watching them grow.

Gradually they went from only growing leaves without bearing fruit, to seeming like before the cold disaster, how difficult that was!

How could I bear it?

Now there's only one tree left, whether it's good or bad, I don't care anymore, it's all up to luck.

I should leave too.

The broadcast is still speaking; perhaps I can try heading towards East Sea City.

After all, initially leaving home was due to the national emergency disaster command center.

I want to see the Reconstruction Faction once more.

…

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, reading this, were fully convinced this person was the one who left the voice recording under the yard next to the gas station in Mengxin City.

Unexpectedly, having traveled round and round from north to south, and from west to east, they still managed to encounter a "familiar face," truly incredible.

Turn to the next page—

February 7, 2213

Couldn't leave.

Too old, unable to walk. Neo-Humans blocked the southern road, and I couldn't pass.

Ah...children without guidance, possessing immense strength, but only knowing to act arbitrarily. Today's world is more chaotic than Mengxin ever was.

I plan to wait here for death, already dug myself a pit, when I can't move anymore, I'll lie in it and cover the door.

Teacher Dong, you had me bury you, but now you're gone, and no one else is around to help me, so I must bury myself.

March 5, 2123

Unexpectedly, in the end, I survived with the tree transplanted in the ruins.

No food, if not for the fruit on that tree, I wouldn't have lasted till now.

Yet that tree was blocked by ruins, didn't grow well, and bears small fruit. Who knows if it will survive...

Forget it, since I'm nearing death, why worry about the tree?

Regrettably, I never managed to reach the national emergency disaster command center.

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