Xu An ascended the mountain ahead of the others, only to discover the forest was lush and green, unlike the withered state of vegetation elsewhere. Here, everything was vibrant with life.
She followed the winding path and saw a massive willow tree standing tall on the summit, with numerous small animals gathered around it.
Approaching closer, Xu An realized that many of the animals here had not mutated and retained their pre-apocalypse forms.
"Is this tree protecting the ecological environment here?"
Xu An voiced her question. Ze Yuan, his voice laced with the languor of someone not quite awake, replied, "Didn't you see it yourself?"
Without Ze Yuan's reminder, Xu An had already spotted the small mushroom radiating a faint blue halo at the center of the giant willow tree the moment she arrived.
"What will happen to this willow tree after I take the mushroom?"
"Nothing will change; it will simply become an ordinary willow tree."
Ze Yuan's tone was casual, as if discussing an insignificant matter, but Xu An understood his meaning.
Once it became an ordinary willow tree, all the flora and fauna on the mountain would be left unprotected. When people discovered that the plants and animals in this area were unaffected by mutation, it would inevitably attract many to hunt and shoot these creatures.
"What if I don't take the mushroom?"
Ze Yuan's voice remained listless. "If you don't take it, others will find it sooner or later. Isn't the doctor behind you here for this willow tree? And! This is my consciousness avatar, not some little mushroom!"
Xu An paid him no mind.
However, Ze Yuan was right. Even if she didn't retrieve these small mushrooms, the people on the lighthouse would have their sights set on them, not to mention that people on the mainland also seemed to be searching for this thing.
She attempted to approach the willow tree. The moment she got close, the tree seemed to sense the human presence and began to writhe its branches wildly.
Fortunately, Xu An was quick to dodge. She watched as a large, hard stone beside her was torn to pieces by the willow tree's thrashing branches.
"I can't go head-to-head with it. This willow tree is too fierce!"
Xu An grumbled inwardly, and Ze Yuan heard her clearly.
"If I weren't fierce, how could I scare away you humans?"
Xu An: "......"
"Then let's wait. When we set out earlier, I saw that doctor bring a lot of detection equipment. I think they should have a way to control these willow trees. Otherwise, they wouldn't have come here without any preparation."
Receiving Ze Yuan's affirmation, Xu An decided not to rush. She found a hidden spot and entered her space. First, she enjoyed a good meal, then found a novel to read to pass the time.
Not long after, Xu An heard the sound of someone approaching. She flashed out of her space and hid behind a large rock.
Zhang Bo and his一行คน carried many silvery boxes, followed by Lin Zhuoran and others, as they made their way up the mountain.
It was now noon, the time when the mist was thinnest. They held powerful flashlights that could penetrate the fog, shining them forward.
"Why haven't we arrived yet? We've been climbing for an hour."
The two young assistants following Zhang Bo were clearly people who were not used to physical labor. Carrying two heavy toolboxes only added to their burden.
After climbing for over an hour, they were already at their limit.
"Almost there, almost there. The instruments show it's nearby. It must be due to the mist that we can't discern the direction of the willow tree."
Zhang Bo had brought an excessive amount of equipment, including two radar detectors.
Lin Zhuoran, Zhou Haimai, Wang Zhao, and others helped carry some of it, managing to bring everything up the mountain.
It had to be said that the driver who always followed Zhang Bo, despite looking unremarkable, possessed immense strength. He carried the two heaviest boxes himself, walking forward without a word or an unnecessary comment.
Zhou Haimai, looking at the bulging muscles on his arm, was astonished. This person was clearly skilled in martial arts, yet had such a low presence.
She approached Lin Zhuoran and whispered, "Do you know who Zhang Bo's driver is?"
Lin Zhuoran shook his head blankly, "I don't know. I haven't seen that person before. He looks unfamiliar. He must be someone Zhang Bo brought with him."
Prompted by Zhou Haimai, Lin Zhuoran also began to pay attention to the man. He stepped forward and asked casually, as if by accident.
"Doctor, your driver is quite strong. What's his name? He looks unfamiliar. He doesn't seem like he's from the bunker, does he?"
Unintentional words, but thoughtfully received.
Zhang Bo's tone paused noticeably before he replied, "Oh, he's a survivor I happened to rescue while I was doing research outside. He was penniless and couldn't afford the city entry fee, so he's been staying nearby. He comes to help me whenever I need it."
"So, what's his name? We've walked all this way, and I still don't know."
"His name is Song Ran."
"Okay, if there's a chance, we can team up back there."
"Okay, okay."
Lin Zhuoran asked a few more questions. After the initial moment of surprise, Zhang Bo answered all subsequent questions fluently, temporarily dispelling Lin Zhuoran's doubts.
Song Ran, who had been walking at the very front, seemed to notice this small interlude. A different light flashed in his eyes, but it quickly dimmed.
Soon, they reached the vicinity of the willow tree. Zhang Bo first signaled for everyone to stop and rest, while he immediately began calibrating the equipment.
As Xu An was waiting idly behind the large rock, Ze Yuan's quiet reminder suddenly reached her ears.
"Xu An, something seems to be approaching you."
"Is it a zombie?" she wondered if the zombies that could follow commands had returned.
But she heard Ze Yuan's voice carrying a rare solemnity.
"No, it's much more terrifying than that. This time, you're likely in trouble!"
As soon as Ze Yuan finished speaking, Xu An heard a piercing sound echoing in her ears. It seemed to be the sound of an electronic instrument, as if it had pierced through her eardrums and entered her brain.
She quickly covered her ears, but it was useless. She felt as if her entire brain had been stuffed into a washing machine and was being tossed back and forth, causing her to become disoriented.
The source of this sound was Zhang Bo's signal jammer.
He had previously distributed sound-absorbing and insulating sponge to everyone. As long as they inserted this sponge into their ears, even if there was still noise, it would be negligible compared to the sharp, stinging sensation that penetrated their brains.
Xu An couldn't stand it any longer. She flashed into her space, and only then did she feel alive again.
"Keep an eye on the situation outside for me. Tell me immediately when the willow tree loses its attack power."