251: What are you little kids asking about?

Looking at that familiar sign, the memories of the once-prosperous scenes flashed by like a fleeting moment, making one feel as if they were in a different lifetime, unable to see clearly.

"Sister, do you think it's possible for this world to return to the way it was before the Apocalypse?" Ye Rui said softly.

Ai Yue patted her shoulder and said in a firm tone, "It will, it definitely will. You must hold onto this belief so that you won't feel lost about the future."

Ye Rui looked up at Ai Yue. In Ai Yue's firm gaze, she saw glimmers of light, the light of hope reflecting in her heart.

Ye Rui smiled happily and nodded vigorously. "Mhm!"

"I want to watch TV... My parents used to be so strict that I never had the chance. I always thought that once I got into university and moved far away from them, I could watch as much as I wanted. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned; the Apocalypse started just as I entered high school. Once the Apocalypse is over, I'm going to watch it every day, every month."

Ai Yue gave her a look of disdain and said crossly, "Look at you, so little ambition. If you want to watch, you don't have to wait until the Apocalypse ends. Once I kill the Nameless Monster and get its crystal core, I'll let you enter the Space and watch as much as you want!"

Ye Rui fantasized for a moment and giggled. "Mhm!"

"What are you two whispering about? Hurry up and catch up!"

Ai Guosheng looked back, saw the two of them standing there giggling, and shouted to them.

"Coming!"

Ye Rui called out and pulled Ai Yue along, quickly walking toward Ai Guosheng and the other.

Ai Guosheng held Li Shilan's hand as they walked slowly, looking around.

"Hey, isn't this that Xu Family Private Kitchen?"

Li Shilan suddenly pointed to a pile of ruins nearby.

Ai Guosheng quickly looked in the direction Li Shilan pointed. After trying hard to identify it, he said happily, "That's right, it is the Xu Family Private Kitchen. Look, there's even a stone lion under those rocks. That was an old brand, passed down for half a century. Their Dongpo pork was a masterpiece; it was my favorite."

Ai Guosheng spoke incessantly, "Oh, and that Bengrou Rice place next to it wasn't bad either. The owner was a great guy. Every time I came, he'd give me a plate of his secret-recipe side dishes for free. It was so delicious."

Li Shilan followed his gaze, her eyes filled with memories. A smile naturally formed on her lips as she nodded in agreement with Ai Guosheng's words.

"Honey, do you remember? One time I went out drinking with colleagues and didn't come home until midnight. You were worried something had happened to me and came looking for me. While you were supporting me on the way back, you were nagging in my ear. I wanted to talk back, but my stomach was turning, and I couldn't hold it in—I vomited all over you. Do you remember?"

Ai Guosheng's eyes lit up as he suddenly spoke.

Li Shilan rolled her eyes at him and said crossly, "You have the nerve to bring that up? You knew I was a bit of a germaphobe back then, yet you still vomited on me. I was so angry I wanted to divorce you!"

"Then why didn't you get divorced?" Ai Yue asked curiously.

Li Shilan rolled her eyes at her. "It was all because of you. You were so small then; how could I let you grow up without a father?"

Ai Guosheng laughed and waved his hand dismissively. "Don't listen to your mother. It was clearly because I knelt and begged for forgiveness that she forgave me. It had nothing to do with you! Haha..."

After saying that, as if thinking of something funny, Ai Guosheng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Dad, what are you laughing at? Tell us. Is it something embarrassing about you? Or something embarrassing about Mom?" Ai Yue looked gossipy, and Ye Rui also pricked up her ears, looking at the two of them curiously.

Li Shilan gave Ai Guosheng a pinch and said coldly, "Watch your words!"

"Ouch, ouch! I didn't say anything!" Ai Guosheng said with a pained expression.

"Oh, Dad, that little pinch is nothing. Stop pretending and tell us already!"

Ai Guosheng glared at Ai Yue and said, "What are you prying for, you little brat? Just keep walking."

Ai Yue: "..."

Ye Rui: "..."

Ai Guosheng acted as if nothing had happened and continued walking forward with Li Shilan.

Just then, the ground beneath Ai Guosheng's feet suddenly caved in. The moment he felt something was wrong, he pulled Li Shilan and quickly dodged to the side, just barely avoiding it.

Before the two of them could steady themselves, a ten-meter-long Ancient Centipede suddenly lunged out from underground, opening its hideous maw to bite them.

Facing this sudden situation, the two of them didn't panic at all. With a raise of their hands, an invisible ripple enveloped the Ancient Centipede.

The Ancient Centipede was like mud meeting water; it began to dissolve from its head until it finally vanished completely.

Ai Yue and Ye Rui quickly rushed to their side. "Mom, Dad, are you okay?"

Ai Guosheng waved his hand. "We're fine. However, to think an Ancient Centipede would appear here. Moreover, they've become quite a bit stronger than they were two years ago."

Just as Ai Yue was about to speak, Ai Guosheng suddenly pulled her behind him and waved his hand toward the Space behind her.

Ai Yue immediately turned around and found that more centipedes were silently and continuously crawling out of that hole, attacking them.

Ai Yue's expression changed. She hadn't expected these centipedes to have evolved to the point where they could launch silent sneak attacks.

Even she hadn't noticed anything; they were truly not simple.

Ai Yue and Ye Rui stepped forward. By tacit agreement, neither used their Superpowers; they charged forward with their blades instead.

Unexpectedly, before a single round was over, Ye Rui was sent flying and crashed into the ruins.

Ye Rui shook her head and crawled out of the ruins, saying aggrievedly, "These centipedes are not only strong, but their shells are also incredibly hard. Even though I've trained my body to be very tough, I still... Sigh, I'd better use my Superpower."

Li Shilan smiled helplessly and threw a beam of green light toward Ye Rui. The next moment, Ye Rui stood up, full of vigor again.

With a pull of her hands, a bolt of lightning was generated. With a flick, it landed on a centipede. The centipede crackled and popped, and a moment later, a burnt smell wafted out.

Ye Rui took the opportunity to close in, flourishing her blade. A transparent stone then appeared in her hand.

When she turned around to look for her next target, she found the ground covered in corpses; not a single centipede was left alive. Ai Yue was standing there with her arms crossed, smiling at her.

Ye Rui pouted. "Sister has become even stronger. I still need to work hard."

Ai Yue nodded and said with a gratified expression, "It's good that you recognize your shortcomings. As for the gap, we'll just have to work harder."

Ye Rui sniffle and nodded heavily. "Mhm, I will."

"By the way, these Ancient Centipedes have clearly leveled up. I wonder if their transparent stones are still useful for the Space?"

Ai Yue shrugged. "I just tried; they're useless."

"Alright, let's go. Otherwise, more Ancient Centipedes might pop out of the hole in a bit. Since their transparent stones are useless, there's no point in wasting energy killing them."

The others had no objections and continued walking toward home.