Apocalypse: Last Traveler-Chapter 372 - 351: Millstone, Notebook, Chicken, Knights of the Sea
As for Luo Ping’s request, Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei were naturally very willing.
The two of them disassembled the millstone again and explained it in detail to everyone. Everyone learned earnestly, and Luo Ping even took out a notebook, learning while taking notes, carefully recording Lu Xi’an’s explanations and the live scene in the notebook.
Shu exclaimed, "Brother Luo, when did you bring a notebook?"
"When I left home."
Luo Ping muttered, focusing intently on his notes.
Lu Xi’an walked over to Luo Ping, smiled, and said, "Not bad, a bad pen is better than a good memory. Relying only on your brain, you might forget it when you go back, but writing it down in your notebook..."
He paused here, unable to continue.
At this moment, he happened to walk behind Luo Ping and, looking down, saw the scribbles in Luo Ping’s notebook.
Heavens, what could anyone make out from this drawing?! Could it be that Luo Ping was drawing encrypted blueprints?
However, Lu Xi’an didn’t bother him and continued explaining. After he finished, seeing Luo Ping had also finished drawing, he asked, "Can you understand your own drawing?"
Luo Ping scratched his head and said, "Sort of, I guess. Bro, look, this is the millstone, and this is... uh, which one is the interface again?"
He turned the notebook around and around but couldn’t make sense of it himself.
Everyone was speechless. Lu Xi’an took the notebook from Luo Ping and redrew it.
With his drawing, it was much clearer. The various parts of the millstone were split up, the detailed structures were clear and precise, and all had proper text labels.
After seeing it, Luo Ping couldn’t help but give a thumbs up: "It has to be you, Big Bro, your drawing is truly clear, and so is the writing!"
Everyone nodded repeatedly, Shu’s branches above his head swayed back and forth, and Chai Xin also said, "Big Bro is the best!"
Yao Wei merely smiled quietly on the side without saying a word.
Lu Xi’an stuffed the notebook back into Luo Ping’s hands, saying, "Alright, alright, stop the flattery. Have a good rest. When the tide comes, you will use the boat we made to land on the island."
Luo Ping asked, "Then what about you and Big Sis? Aren’t you going to the island?"
Lu Xi’an said, "We’re not going. The boat is too small to hold so many people, and besides, someone needs to look after the two chickens you brought us."
Luo Ping and the others, as mentioned in the radio call, had brought two chickens for Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei.
Both chickens were hens, but one had manifested the appearance of wearing overalls, not growing as large as those at the 923 Base, which puzzled Lu Xi’an at first.
Shu explained to Lu Xi’an, "That’s just how this chicken is, we grabbed two, and this one just doesn’t grow much bigger. If we had one more, it would get bigger.
"We also took some chickens to Shanyang, initially with just two; they looked exactly like this. Later, when we took an extra one, suddenly this one got bigger.
"After sending more over, the chickens kept getting bigger, and eventually, they were as big as the ones at the base."
"This thing grows remarkably big. Old Tang is relying on these chickens there, training every day, not at all inferior to the Type A Neo-Humans."
Luo Ping added, "These chickens become so big that they don’t fit in our vehicle. So, coming out this time, we could only bring two chickens.
"Moreover, since both of you are so capable, you probably don’t need these chickens for protection; they just need to lay eggs, so two should suffice."
"I see."
Lu Xi’an nodded and said, "There are just the two of us, so two are indeed enough. Plus, this mini overall look is quite amusing, more fun than the big ones. It’s fine."
The mini overall-wearing chicken seemed like a rooster, strutting back and forth confidently under everyone’s eyes, like it was patrolling its territory.
Meanwhile, the hen lay in the nest Shu made for it—right in the middle of the "patrolling" area—clucking for a while. Suddenly, it stood up, revealing two eggs beneath it.
Shu went over to take one egg and handed it to Lu Xi’an, then explained to both Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei, "Bro and Sis, every time you take an egg, leave one in the nest.
"If you take all the eggs, it will stop laying or run around and lay eggs anywhere.
"These things need a guiding egg. Leaving one egg in the nest makes it feel safe and keeps it laying, thinking it hasn’t laid enough."
Lu Xi’an nodded in understanding, saying, "You mentioned this to others at the base, and I heard it. We’ll keep it in mind."
Shu nodded and said, "That’s good! That’s good! Anyway, just keep an eye, Big Bro. These hens lay quite a lot, more than the ones we raised before.
"Also, watch out that the hen doesn’t lay too many. If it thinks it’s laid enough, it will stop."
Lu Xi’an learned yet another new thing, unexpectedly seeing how humans tricked hens into laying eggs, turning them into eternal egg-laying machines.
After that, Luo Ping and the others set up camp on the mountaintop to rest. Meanwhile, Lu Xi’an took them to the East Sea coast to practice sailing to ensure they would know how to navigate out to sea independently. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
Two days later, when the tide arrived, everyone stood together atop the eastern cliff, watching the roaring waves surge across the barriers. They were utterly amazed and deeply moved.
Luo Ping exclaimed, "Incredible! I had only ever seen the sea before, never anything like this. I can’t even find the words to praise this scene."
Lu Xi’an laughed, "Aren’t you good at saying those two words?"
Luo Ping immediately understood, exchanged a smile with Lu Xi’an, and in unison, they both said, "Awesome!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
The sea flooded the mountain paths, and after the tide, a rainbow arched in the sky. Luo Ping and the others were incredibly lucky; this time, a mirage appeared, not of that father and son who went to sea, but of the East Island.
"Why does this East Island look so strange?"
Liu Hua exclaimed in surprise.
Shu nodded and said, "Why does it look... so much like a cake?"
Chai Xin said, "Is it that cake from TV?"
Shu said, "Yeah, doesn’t it look like it?"
"It does."
Chai Xin swallowed.
Shu laughed, "Too bad, you’re not lucky enough to eat it."
Chai Xin, angered, punched Shu, but after that, still grinned and said, "But I can eat other delicious things, like the noodles made by Big Brother and Sister!"
They waited there for a while, and saw at the horizon a sailboat appeared with two people on it.
Being a Type A Neo-Human, Tang Er’s vision was better, and after seeing clearly the people on the boat, immediately asked, "Are those two men the ones you mentioned, Big Brother and Sister?"
"Yes."
Lu Xi’an nodded, leading everyone down.
He lent the vine box to Luo Ping and others, making it convenient for them to purchase items on East Island.
When they reached the East Coast, they waited a while longer before the sailboat at sea slowly approached.
Although Hu Xiaodong and his father Hu Dong were mentally prepared, they were still startled upon seeing so many people at once.
Fortunately, once they landed, everyone was quite friendly, especially one long-haired, scruffy-bearded man who liked to joke, quickly making them feel at ease.
Thus, the two quickly let their guard down.
Lu Xi’an said, "You guys wait here, chat some more, Yao Wei and I will fetch water for you."
Hu Xiaodong said, "No need to hurry, right?"
Lu Xi’an said, "Let’s get the water first. If you’re tired, rest. If not, we can head back directly.
"Some of us here have learned how to row. We can help you. You just guide us on the boat."
Hearing that, Hu Xiaodong said, "That’s great. If everyone’s eager to get on the island, we can leave soon."
Lu Xi’an smiled and, with Yao Wei, each carried two buckets to fetch water from the pond.
Upon returning to the East Coast, they allocated the two boats: two buckets and three people per boat, ensuring the load was manageable.
—Chai Xin, being younger and lighter, wouldn’t be a problem as an extra on the boat.
Finally, Hu Dong, Liu Hua, Tang Er, and Chai Xin took one boat, while Hu Xiaodong, Shu, and Luo Ping took another, and they set off immediately.
Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei watched as the boats sailed out to sea, and as they watched, they suddenly showed slightly astonished expressions.
The two boats, having gone far from the shore, suddenly had ripples around them, and a whale-like large fish leapt from the sea, giving Hu Dong quite a scare.
Were it not for Tang Er grabbing him, he might have fallen into the sea.
There wasn’t just one large fish; a whole group escorted the two sailboats eastward, like guardians for the sea travelers, truly a magnificent sight.
On the sea, Liu Hua hesitated briefly, then suddenly a large fish swam closely next to the sailboat, keeping pace with it.
Liu Hua stepped out and sat upon the back of the large fish.
The fish firmly bore Liu Hua, carrying her forward, leaving Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong slack-jawed.
"I want to! I want to! Sister Liu Hua, help me!"
Chai Xin exclaimed eagerly from the boat.
So another large fish swam over.
The courageous young Chai Xin leapt out and sat on the back of the fish, prompting Shu to quickly remind, "Be careful! The back of the fish is slippery, don’t fall off!"
Just as he finished speaking, Chai Xin slid into the sea with a "splash."
"Ah!"
Hu Xiaodong shouted in surprise.
But a large fish suddenly dove into the sea, and soon emerged carrying Chai Xin.
Chai Xin wiped her face, unafraid, bursting into laughter. Seeing this, everyone also burst into laughter.
On the boat, Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong exchanged glances, their eyes holding unspoken emotions.
Mr. Lu and Mr. Yao’s friends, one more extraordinary than the other!
"Do you want to give it a try too?"
Luo Ping suddenly asked Hu Xiaodong and Hu Dong.
The two shook their heads repeatedly, indicating they didn’t dare, but in their hearts they thought, these people were extraordinary, yet so friendly, much better than the rumors of the Neo-Humans.
Fortunately...
