Hands held protectively in front of her chest, Ji Shiyou struggled desperately. It was over; Mingyue must have been infected too, or how else could she possess such strength?
Even though he was thin, at 185 centimeters tall, he weighed a hundred and forty jin.
Mingyue had lifted him with one hand, and now she was so violent. She must have turned into a zombie, wanting to eat his flesh and drink his blood.
"Don't move, I'll remove the zombie virus for you. It'll be too late if we delay any longer."
Sitting on top of Ji Shiyou, pinning him down to prevent him from thrashing, Mingyue's palm glowed with a green light as she approached the wound where he had been scratched by a zombie.
This was the power of life, passed down to her by the Ancestral Witch Jumang, the bane of the zombie virus. Jumang, as the Ancestral Witch of Wood, possessed abilities of growth and healing.
"You've mutated, gained superpowers?"
Looking at the wound on his body, which was visibly healing and disappearing, Ji Shiyou stopped struggling and asked in surprise.
"Your superpower is healing? In the apocalypse, this kind of ability is incredibly rare. How did you get it? Tell me, I'm very curious."
Seeing that Mingyue didn't answer his question, and after her wound had been fully healed, she got up and sat on a chair. Ji Shiyou stood up and chattered incessantly, pressing her for answers.
"What do you mean by mutation? What is the apocalypse? Do you know why this world has become like this?"
Healing Ji Shiyou was a momentary impulse for Mingyue. She hadn't intended to speak much, but hearing the words "apocalypse" repeatedly, Mingyue couldn't help but ask.
"You've come to the right person! Do you know what my job is? A web novel author.
It's not bragging, but the people with the most extensive knowledge in the world are novel writers, because they have to consult a vast amount of information for every book they write.
My novels are mainly about the apocalypse, so my research into the apocalypse can be considered expert-level."
Bare-chested, Ji Shiyou rambled on, spattering saliva.
From Ji Shiyou's description, Mingyue learned that the apocalypse, or "Moshi" for short.
It was caused by the influence of a certain virus or energy, leading to mutations in the planet's humans and animals.
The entire world's magnetic field and weather would change accordingly, and humans would undergo three types of transformations.
One would turn into zombies, devoid of reason, only knowing how to kill.
Another would be ordinary people, unchanged, but in the apocalypse, they would lack even the ability to protect themselves.
The last type would mutate into possessing special abilities. Such people were extremely rare, and each would be a target for various factions to recruit.
"There are many types of abilities, like strength, speed.
There are also the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. More advanced ones include space and healing."
As Ji Shiyou listed various abilities, Mingyue found them familiar. Weren't these the abilities of the various Ancestral Witches and Great Witches?
Each Witch inherently possessed various abilities. For instance, the healing she had just performed was Jumang's ability.
He was the Ancestral Witch of Wood, Rushou was the Ancestral Witch of Metal, Zhurong was the Ancestral Witch of Fire, and Gonggong was the Ancestral Witch of Water.
It was just that she was born without her own abilities, but she could learn from others. Therefore, the people of the Witch clan taught her their respective specialized abilities.
"Is that so?"
Extending her palm, Mingyue first condensed a ball of fire, which instantly transformed into a ball of water.
Then, a dagger appeared in her palm, followed by a vine that was over a zhang long, swaying gently towards Ji Shiyou.
"All elements! Boss, let's form a team! Please let me be your subordinate."
Kneeling on the ground dramatically, Ji Shiyou prostrated himself before Mingyue. In such times, abilities were paramount. Following Mingyue would ensure his survival.
"No, you're too weak. You'll be a liability."
Looking at Ji Shiyou's physique, Mingyue refused without a second thought. The strong only teamed up with the strong.
"No, boss, listen to me. I'm very useful.
With your combat power and my knowledge, we can definitely thrive in the apocalypse and reach the pinnacle of life.
Besides, what's most important in the apocalypse? Food. As a seasoned shut-in, my food reserves will surprise you."
To get Mingyue to accept him, Ji Shiyou tried his best to sell himself, pulling Mingyue to his home.
His apartment layout was different from Mingyue's single room; it was a two-bedroom unit with a living room, a bedroom, and a study.
Inside, apart from a bed for sleeping and a desk for writing, various foods were piled everywhere.
Instant noodles, snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages were stacked in boxes, reminding Mingyue of the company's warehouse.
"I forgot to ask, boss, do you have spatial abilities? With so much food, it's not safe left out in the open.
We can't stay here all the time. It's best to have a space to store it."
Thinking of the most crucial issue, Ji Shiyou looked at Mingyue with burning eyes.
"No."
Mingyue's answer was simple and direct. Space was the ability of Ancestral Witch Dijiang. She had learned about it, but she didn't have the ability to use it yet.
"That shouldn't be right. According to the apocalypse setting, the female protagonist shouldn't be without space. Could this ability be on me, the male supporting character?"
Hearing Mingyue's answer, Ji Shiyou was first disappointed, then his mind began to wander.
Finally, he started running around the room, rummaging through cabinets and drawers, pulling out many small items, including jade pendants, accessories, and even the shoehorn from his home.
He picked up a fruit knife, pricked his finger, and sat on the floor, dripping blood onto each item.
"What are you doing?"
Mingyue was confused by Ji Shiyou's strange actions. Was this person crazy? Self-harm.
"Blood recognition, then space appears. That's how it's written in novels."
Seeing that his finger had stopped bleeding and there were still many items to test, Ji Shiyou grabbed the fruit knife, intending to make another cut.
"Nonsense."
Without thinking, Mingyue instinctively reached out to snatch the knife, but accidentally cut her own hand, causing blood to flow immediately.
On Mingyue's wrist, she wore a jade bracelet, made of very poor-quality jade, a relic from her deceased mother.
The flowing blood ran down her wrist onto the bracelet, which was instantly absorbed. The once plain bracelet emitted a brilliant light, becoming clear and lustrous.
When the light faded, the bracelet disappeared, leaving Mingyue bewildered. The ancient texts of witchcraft did not record such an occurrence.
"Space, space, it must be space! According to the novel's setting, the female protagonist's personal belongings will recognize their owner upon contact with blood.
Now, concentrate and think about the space, and you can enter it."
Witnessing the bracelet absorb blood and disappear, Ji Shiyou jumped up, excitedly instructing Mingyue on what to do.
Collecting her thoughts, Mingyue did as she was told. Indeed, her figure vanished from the room and then reappeared within it.
"How is it? How is it? What kind of space is it?"
Like an excited child, Ji Shiyou circled Mingyue, pestering her with questions, incredibly noisy.
Annoyed by the commotion, Mingyue grabbed Ji Shiyou, and the two of them disappeared from the room, reappearing inside the space.
"It's a living space! Mingyue, you've hit the jackpot.
You know, there are many types of spaces. Some can only store inanimate objects and cannot accommodate living things.
Some, although they allow living beings to enter, do not support growth. Your space is too advanced!"
The place where they appeared was less like a space and more like a world.
The land was fertile, with flowing streams. In the distance, there were high mountains and rolling hills, with green trees and red flowers. It was a veritable paradise.
"Mingyue, promise me, you must never let anyone know you have this space. It will bring you trouble. Remember, okay?"
After the initial excitement, Ji Shiyou said solemnly to Mingyue. In the apocalypse, possessing such a space would attract the covetousness of various factions and bring great danger to Mingyue.
Looking at Ji Shiyou, who was earnestly explaining the importance of space in the apocalypse and analyzing the troubles that revealing it would bring her, Mingyue felt that having this person around wasn't so bad.