Apocalypse: Last Traveler-Chapter 398 - 377: Mushroom Eater’s Home

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei continued eastward. After leaving East Sea City, they entered Jiannan City's territory. It was here that Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei noticed something different.

The people here didn't avoid them like before.

This made Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei suspect that their ability to conceal their aura had improved, until those unfazed people entered their view.

Only then did they realize these people were staggering, standing or lying down in a state of drunken stupor, lost in a dream-like state, appearing as if they drank counterfeit alcohol. Not being normal humans, it was unsurprising they were unaffected by their aura.

"Gou, can you check what's going on?"

Lu Xi'an continued his tradition of asking Gou whenever unsure.

Gou scanned around and quickly provided an answer: "Detected high fungi levels in the area with hallucinogenic effects."

Fungi?!

Has Yunnan been moved to the seaside?!

Lu Xi'an inspected further, noticing variously sized and differently colored things growing in the nooks and corners, including red umbrellas, white stems, greens, blues, purples, and even floral patterns, all present.

There were people foolishly smiling, chewing something, likely mushrooms.

Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei met eyes, neither getting out of the vehicle, cautiously driving through this "Mushroom Wonderland".

Under the eaves beside the deserted street, in the corners, diverse fungi appeared, some glowing eerily, others secreting viscous liquid, with the air filled with a sweet, decaying scent.

Someone was gnawing crazily on a rock, calling it his wife, while another drooled pointing at the clouds, talking to the wall nearby, saying, "See, this dog can talk, I told you."

Another laughed wildly at a tree, proclaiming, "I am a dignified Type A Neo-Human, how could I fear a regular human?" Then relentlessly punched and kicked the tree trunk, but appeared to be just a regular person.

Some were already decomposed, dead by the roadside, their rotting bodies merging into the soil, becoming nutrients for the fungi.

"Airborne spore concentration exceeds the limit, advise holding breath, immediate evacuation!"

Gou's voice suddenly came through the camper's speakers. Seeing this, Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei dared not linger, quickly accelerated, leaving the area.

"Gou, let me know when we're out of this area."

Lu Xi'an said to Gou again.

Gou understood.

However, once driving out of the area, Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei could discern visually without Gou's reminder.

The uncomfortable smell vanished, no fungi were visible, nor the mad, decaying people, indicating safety.

But Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei habitually sought confirmation from Gou, only relaxing after Gou confirmed safety.

"Never expected a place like this here..."

Lu Xi'an muttered with a sigh after looking back through the rearview mirror.

"Hmm."

Yao Wei nodded, suddenly lowering her head to caress her belly, worriedly asking, "Will it affect the child?"

Lu Xi'an replied: "It shouldn't. Let's have Gou take a look."

Gou immediately responded: "Fetal condition stable, no adverse effects detected."

That's good.

Lu Xi'an rejoiced inwardly, trusting Gou at crucial times. Gou could practically serve as an ultrasound device.

Or even better than an ultrasound.

"Gou, can you check if the baby is a boy or a girl?"

Unable to resist, he asked.

Gou replied: "Manufacturer's restrictions, this query cannot be answered, apologies."

Lu Xi'an: "????!!!!"

Damn!

How bored were the creators of Gou to impose such restrictions? It's the wasteland post-apocalyptic era, how could anyone still favor boys over girls?!

...

Well, if it's not answerable, then so be it, boys and girls are the same.

Lu Xi'an thought, though he actually preferred a girl. He sensed if it were a boy, he might lean towards strict discipline, but with a girl, he'd likely never raise a hand.

"Do you want a boy or a girl?"

He asked Yao Wei.

"Don't know, either's fine."

Yao Wei's response was as usual, unsurprising to Lu Xi'an.

After thinking briefly, she surprisingly added, "Yet somehow, if it's a girl, I feel I'd be strict, whereas if it's a boy, I wouldn't bear to reprimand."

Lu Xi'an laughed: "Then we're opposite. If it's a boy, I'll discipline; if a girl, you discipline. Can't let the child run wild."

Yao Wei blinked, puzzled: "Isn't it good to let sheep roam?"

"..."

Lu Xi'an's mouth twitched.

Generation gap.

Slowing the vehicle, something ahead seized their attention, ending the child topic.

It was a house, ordinary in structure and appearance.

Yet this house was unusually clean, almost like those on East Island, clearly tidied by someone.

—Specifically, it looked tended by someone in the past.

Now, dust settled, grass grew, though less than elsewhere, indicating past habitation, but deserted now.

Lu Xi'an stopped the car, exchanged glances with Yao Wei, scrutinized it, and listened intently, hearing no sounds inside.

At their current perception level, failing to detect sounds meant confirmation of emptiness.

Lu Xi'an, following protocol, had Gou check again, awaiting Gou's confirmation before discussing with Yao Wei: "Shall we take a look inside?"

Yao Wei replied: "Hmm, let's check."

They disembarked, walked through low grass outside, approaching the house, finding a wooden plaque nailed on the roof, causing wall and plaque cracks due to poor craftsmanship.

The plaque was crudely made, covered in dust, obscuring text.

Lu Xi'an brushed off the dust, revealing carelessly carved letters, unattractive in appearance.

The plaque read: Mushroom Eater Home.

Apparently, a mushroom eater lived here once?

Was he not affected by fungi hallucinations?

Or did he later suffer severe effects, trapping him in the fungi-occupied region, unable to leave?

Guessing was fruitless for Lu Xi'an and Yao Wei, who forcefully pushed, opening the door.

They didn't rush inside, instead held their breath, retreated two steps, observing carefully.