Chapter 013: The Giant Lizard
Is this still the strength of a human? Zhou Yirong and Han Xue both had this thought, and at the same time, they arrived at an answer. Clearly not—this absolutely shouldn’t be human strength. This power belonged only to the beast-men, or perhaps, to those afflicted by the beast transformation disease.
After all, Zhou Yirong had witnessed such strength before. Professor Han Yi had once punched a hole through the conference table with a gentle fist, proving that once infected with the beast transformation disease, human strength was greatly enhanced. As for why Rong Hao was so powerful, perhaps it was because the proportion of beast transformation in his body was even higher.
A few minutes later, the jeep returned to the main road. Looking at Rong Hao, he was merely a little out of breath, making it seem as if he hadn't exerted himself fully. The terror of it!
...
The group continued on their way. Though they had faced some hardships, the outcome was fortunate—at least they were still alive.
Both of Zhou Yirong's hands were in casts, so driving was out of the question. Thus, the honorable task fell to Han Xue. The young girl drove carelessly, humming a popular song from Douyin:
Perhaps only after crashing into a wall will I turn back...
Perhaps only after seeing the Yellow River will I give up...
Perhaps I'm determined to walk this road into the darkness...
Perhaps I just haven’t met...that person yet...
But as she sang, she couldn’t help but pout her lips. The world had once been so beautiful; at her age, she should be falling in love, tormented by the longing of adolescence. Yet now, she was in a desert.
Love? There were hardly any normal people left in the world.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and the harder she pressed the accelerator. The jeep sped forward, trailing a cloud of dust.
That would have been fine, except she kept slamming the brakes and drifting around corners...
Zhou Yirong, sitting in the passenger seat, was terrified. “My little aunt, could you slow down a bit?”
If he died at the hands of this young girl, it would be an injustice greater than Dou E’s!
At least Zhou Yirong was lucky enough not to get carsick in the front seat. As for Xu Lang, who was in the back compartment, his face had turned green...
With all this bumping and jolting, anyone would be sick!
His stomach churned violently...
Ugh...
Ugh...
Xu Lang gasped for breath, throwing up several times.
Fortunately, after another hour or so, the jeep gradually slowed and finally stopped.
Zhou Yirong asked, “Why aren’t you driving anymore?”
Han Xue pouted, opened the door, jumped out, and shouted at the endless desert.
Ah!!!
Ah!!!
After yelling a few times, Han Xue squatted on the ground.
Zhou Yirong hurried out, walked over to her, and said nothing—just watched her quietly, hoping to offer some comfort. He could understand; if he were her age, he might not handle things any better.
Repressed emotions needed release, or they would harm the body.
But she wasn’t the only one who needed release... Xu Lang opened the rear door, jumped out, and squatted at the roadside, vomiting for a long while.
Little Rong Hao seized the opportunity to run into the desert and play. For him, all of this was new—a world of pure sand, truly fun...
Suddenly, little Rong Hao shrieked and ran quickly toward Xu Lang.
Sensing something amiss, Xu Lang stood up, looking at Rong Hao, but saw nothing.
Everything was normal?
He could only see little Rong Hao screaming and running toward him, and nothing else... Wait!
Something seemed to be moving rapidly behind Rong Hao!
Xu Lang quickly drew a military knife and dashed forward.
The thing moved swiftly, and when it neared Rong Hao, it suddenly spread its body, revealing its tongue...
A crimson tongue!
At the critical moment, Xu Lang arrived in time!
He kicked Rong Hao aside and slashed down with the knife!
A spray of blood burst forth—the creature, in pain, seemed enraged and lashed out at Xu Lang with two claws.
Only now did Xu Lang see the creature clearly—it was a lizard!
A giant lizard!
Dodge—dodge again—then, taking advantage of the lizard’s missed attack, he stabbed its throat with his knife!
One strike and he retreated!
The giant lizard rolled across the sand, blood gushing from its throat—a matter of time before death claimed it.
Zhou Yirong was stunned. How could this young man be so formidable?
He was truly a hidden talent!
Han Xue, meanwhile, was drooling all over the ground, her earlier repression gone.
So handsome! So dashing! Oh... Heavens, I’m done for!
The lizard’s blood had a strange, pungent odor.
Zhou Yirong stood beside the dying, struggling lizard, and only when it was completely still did he squat to examine it.
Something was wrong... The lizard shouldn’t be so large.
Judging by its markings and shape, it was a typical desert lizard, which should be small and numerous.
He’d once worked on a research project about them, so his impression was deep. But... what had caused this lizard to grow so huge?
Radiation? Impossible... Their destination was still two or three days’ journey away—a thousand kilometers at least. Besides, the desert research center’s reactor had already been cold-treated; it couldn’t possibly affect the local wildlife... So what then?
Zhou Yirong was baffled. Just then, little Rong Hao cried out, “Quick! Quick! Run! So many snakes!”
Snakes?
Little Rong Hao didn’t recognize lizards, mistaking them for snakes.
Zhou Yirong looked closely—ah! Indeed, countless giant lizards were swimming rapidly toward them, clearly drawn by the scent of blood.
He quickly called everyone to run for the car, but halfway, he stopped.
No! He had to take this corpse for research. He needed to know what was happening in the desert—why this species of lizard had suddenly grown so large.
Unusual events always have hidden causes!
“Xu Lang, help me—I want to take this lizard back for study!”
With both arms in casts, Zhou Yirong had no choice but to ask for help.
Xu Lang hesitated, but stopped.
Countless lizards rushed over, faster than expected. He had no time to think, grabbed the lizard, and tried to run. But...
Though agile, his physique was lacking.
Dragging a seventy or eighty-pound giant lizard, his speed could only be described as lumbering.
“Rong Hao! Come help!”
No need for prompting—Rong Hao was already running over. Afraid as he was, if his brother needed him, he would always be there.
No sooner said than done—two or three lizards lunged at them.
Clearly, they weren’t protecting the corpse. Cold-blooded creatures had no emotions—the only explanation was competition for food!
Rong Hao hoisted the dead lizard and ran, leaving everything else to his brother.
Dodging left and right... stabbing here and there...
Zhou Yirong and Han Xue watched wide-eyed from the driver’s seat—this guy was beyond extraordinary!
Initially, Zhou Yirong had worried about his last-minute decision, but now, he felt at ease.
These two brothers were simply not human!
Xu Lang dispatched three or four giant lizards before breaking free and jumping into the car.
The jeep roared to life, kicking up sand as it sped away.
Yet, Xu Lang, already queasy from Han Xue’s driving, was now faced with a reeking dead lizard in the back compartment, and his nausea returned.
Zhou Yirong noticed and opened the rear window. “Xu Lang, are you carsick?”
Xu Lang spat and said, “Can we switch seats? I really can’t take it...”
Zhou Yirong readily agreed, and when they reached a safe spot, the two swapped seats.
Once in the front, Xu Lang finally took a deep breath... Ah, at last, he felt alive again.
Little Rong Hao poked his head out the rear window. “Miss, you and my brother sitting together feels so nice!”
Han Xue’s fair cheeks instantly flushed, and she snapped, “What do you know, you little brat?”
Hmph!
Xu Lang snorted coldly.
Han Xue stole a graceful glance at him, hesitated, but couldn’t help herself: “You were really super handsome just now!”
Hmph!
Another cold snort, and Zhou Yirong in the back could barely contain his laughter.