Chapter 19: Transformation

Sheng Anyu recounted his experiences over the past two days, leaving his family trembling with fear as they listened. Unlike Lin Wanmei, who had been immersed in zombie films since middle school and was familiar with the tropes of various scenarios, they only knew that hospitals were dangerous places teeming with people. Hearing the harrowing scenes described by Sheng Anyu gave them a profound, visceral realization, making their hair stand on end as if they were experiencing it themselves.

Lin’s mother, still shaken, gripped Sheng Anyu’s hand with a look of deep distress. "Although Meibao acted on her own this time, it is fortunate she arrived in time. You have survived a great disaster, and surely good fortune will follow!"

"Exactly!" Lin Wanmei chimed in, trying to make her presence felt, which earned her another glare from her mother.

"That may be so, but next time, no matter what you intend to do, you must inform us! You are not allowed to act secretly on your own again!"

"Of course, of course, I know..." Lin Wanmei replied coaxingly. Being able to hear this much from her mother was already quite a relief; it seemed her grandmother’s words had truly sunk in. She had been genuinely worried that they would forbid her from going anywhere at all in the future.

Lin’s mother immediately called her second brother, Sheng Minghuai. Upon hearing that his eldest son was safe and sound at his sister’s house, Sheng Minghuai, a man in his forties, broke down in tears over the phone. His wife, along with the grandparents, also wept and laughed in turn, leading Lin’s mother and grandmother to wipe away their own tears.

Sheng Anyu expressed his concern for his family’s situation, and finding that everything matched what Meibao had told him, his anxious heart finally settled. After agreeing to keep in touch and for everyone to stay safely hidden in their homes until a suitable opportunity for reunion arose, both sides hung up the phone with lingering reluctance.

Catching sight of the fatigue on her second brother’s handsome face, Lin Wanmei immediately clutched her stomach and asked, "Mom, is there any food left in the pot? We’re starving!"

"Yes, yes, we specifically saved some for you! Go wash your hands and eat!"

"Got it!" Lin Wanmei pulled Sheng Anyu up, and he followed her into the bathroom with a smile.

After washing up and returning to the dining table, Lin’s mother and grandmother had already served steamed buns, fresh and appetizing cold dishes, and a plate of red-braised pork that had clearly been left untouched. Lin Wanmei felt a warmth in her heart; she knew at a glance that her family had been worried sick all day and had specifically prepared her favorite dishes for her return. She fed her parents and grandmother a bit of each dish before sitting down to enjoy the meal herself.

After chatting for a while after dinner, Lin Wanmei urged Sheng Anyu to go to the guest room to rest. Having barely closed his eyes all night, Sheng Anyu was indeed physically and mentally exhausted. He didn't stand on ceremony, took a quick shower in the guest room, put on the clean clothes provided by Lin’s father, and lay down on the bed. Once he relaxed, he realized how sore and heavy his limbs were, and his eyes could barely stay open. Within a few breaths, he drifted into a deep sleep.

Once the guest room fell quiet, Lin Wanmei faced her family’s expectant gazes and said softly, "Let’s go, let’s talk in the room."

The family walked through the hallway into her parents' bedroom and closed the door. Lin Wanmei couldn't wait to take off her jacket. "Phew... I’m burning up!" If not for the air conditioning in the house, she wouldn't have been able to endure it.

"How was it? Did the talismans work smoothly today? And how did you explain it to your second brother?" Lin’s mother had a barrage of questions.

"Hmm... it was okay. The Chicken, Ox, and Snake talismans are quite easy to use now! But the Rabbit talisman... it really taught me a lesson today." Lin Wanmei pursed her lips as she reached back, the pain she had been deliberately ignoring flaring up again.

Grandmother quickly reached out to touch her back. With a flash of white light, the pain vanished before Lin Wanmei could even react. She marveled at it, realizing it was the healing power of the Horse talisman. "That’s amazing! I don't have to fear getting hurt anymore!"

"Pfft, don't say that. You shouldn't get hurt at all," Grandmother said, stroking her hair affectionately. "Tell us, how did the Rabbit talisman end up hurting you?"

"The speed was too fast, and I couldn't control it!" Lin Wanmei said with a mournful face. "I hadn't mastered the pacing, and the hospital corridor was too narrow. I hit the wall in the blink of an eye."

The three of them were torn between amusement and concern. Lin’s father suggested, "Why don't you try a different one?"

"It’s fine! I’ll adapt once I practice more!" Lin Wanmei refused to believe she couldn't master the Rabbit talisman. "By the way, I didn't use the Pig or Rat talismans today." The Pig talisman caused too much of a commotion, and she hadn't thought to use it at first. Later, after killing the zombies herself and staying with Sheng Anyu the whole time, there was no need. After all, her grandmother would be the primary user of the Pig talisman later on, and it would be difficult to explain if things got too chaotic.

She repeated the explanation she had given Sheng Anyu to her family; from now on, they would maintain a unified story: they had awakened special "golden finger" abilities. This would be their collective justification. Even if people were curious, they would never link it to magical talismans and would ultimately just be left envious.

"Meibao," her mother said, staring at her intently. "Tell me, do you have other plans?"

Since she had promised not to act without permission, Lin Wanmei nodded honestly. "I’ve found my second brother, but there’s still my fourth brother."

"Where are you going to look for him? At least with your second brother, we knew he was at the hospital. Your fourth brother could be anywhere..." Lin’s mother also wanted to find all her nephews, but to her, it seemed like an impossible task.

"Mom, have you forgotten we still have the Sheep talisman?" Lin Wanmei held her hand and promised, "Don't worry, I won't be reckless enough to wander aimlessly. Once we finish gathering supplies, I’ll stay at home and use the Sheep talisman to find my fourth brother!"

Lin’s mother opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. She knew that as long as Meibao didn't put those talismans away, it meant she would continue to go out. Despite her worry, thinking of her daughter's performance today, she let out a self-deprecating laugh. "You are much braver than I am."

"I just understand the talisman abilities better than you do!"

Lin’s mother felt a complex surge of emotions. Since the apocalypse began, her daughter seemed to have grown up overnight, even taking the time to comfort her and consider her feelings. If that were the case, how could she be a burden to her child?

"I’ll go with you this time," Lin’s father said.

"Alright." Lin Wanmei didn't refuse; she couldn't bring back much by herself, and having someone accompany her would be more efficient.

"When are you leaving?" her mother asked.

"Right now. It’s better to be early than late."

"Then you sit for a moment, and your grandmother and I will go prepare."

Watching her mother’s suddenly proactive back, Lin Wanmei and her father exchanged confused glances. What had just happened?

Lin’s mother and grandmother set to work immediately, emptying everything out of the suitcases. The snake-skin bags had already been mostly cleared, leaving only the last of the food supplies. In less than twenty minutes, all the supplies they had brought back were laid out on the floor. They hadn't realized it while packing, but spread out, the items occupied half the living room, and it was only then they realized just how much they had actually brought home.