41: Oh no! I got struck by lightning!

Li Shilan walked over, put her arm around her daughter's shoulder, and asked, "What's wrong? Why the long face?"

Ai Yue snapped out of it and sighed, "Sigh, Mom, why are the events of this life gradually becoming different from the last? In my previous life, the acid rain didn't fall until a year after the extreme cold, but now?"

Li Shilan patted Ai Yue's shoulder comfortingly, "It's already a blessing from the heavens that we could live another life. Let's take things as they come. Regardless of whether future events are the same as the last life, as long as our family is together, we'll face whatever comes our way. Relax, don't carry it all on your own; you have us!"

After hearing Li Shilan's words, Ai Yue's heart felt much lighter.

Indeed, no matter what happened, she was still with her family, and that was enough!

Besides, in this life, she also had her super cute pet, Dawang. There was nothing to fear. At least she still knew a little bit about the future and had a general idea of what would happen.

Ai Yue snuggled against Li Shilan's shoulder, her worries dissipating.

The sudden acid rain didn't cause too much surprise. After several natural disasters, people no longer showed much emotion when another one occurred. They had become numb from the constant struggle, living day by day. There was no hope in sight, and no one was coming to save them.

The acid rain grew heavier. People who didn't make it home in time let out agonized wails as the rain hit them. Their exposed skin instantly turned red and ulcerated; in an instant, cries of misery filled the air.

This acid rain was accompanied by a great commotion. Lightning streaked across the gloomy sky, illuminating it with an eerie pallor. Along with the deafening thunder and terrifying bolts, it felt as if the entire world was being torn apart.

After eight days of acid rain and massive lightning, a thunderclap rang out. The towering tree outside Ai Yue's house was struck, snapping in half and crashing onto the house.

Before the Apocalypse, Ai Yue had specially built a bulletproof glass dome for the acid rain period. Under the impact of the tree, the joints of the glass dome shattered. The entire dome collapsed to the ground with a "crack," exposing the house to the acid rain. Worst of all, under the double blow of the tree and the glass dome, the house shook, and the walls instantly cracked.

The acid rain relentlessly corroded the walls.

Ai Yue and the two others realized they could no longer stay in this house. Any further disturbance would cause it to collapse; it was too dangerous.

Ai Yue immediately decided to set off for the Safety Tower in Changyuan City right then and there.

Ai Yue and the two others set off through the night in the toughest, most corrosion-resistant marauder.

Shortly after Ai Yue and the two others left, the rain gradually slowed down until, two days later, the acid rain stopped completely.

In the following days, military vehicles drove through every city, their loudspeakers looping announcements that the Safety Towers were fully open and that survivors should head to the nearest one.

The extreme cold combined with the acid rain had caused mass casualties. Therefore, the military decided to do their best to notify every survivor to head to a Safety Tower, preserving as many seeds of humanity as possible.

Everyone who heard the news wept with joy, their will to survive instantly strengthening. They were no longer like rootless duckweed; finally, someone was looking after them.

Reinvigorated, people immediately packed their bags and set off for the nearest Safety Tower.

Looking down at the country, one would see a vibrant energy emerging, like a giant beast about to turn over.

Although Ai Yue's family had left two days early, the road conditions were poor, and the journey was not smooth. By now, they had only traveled ninety kilometers, with about a hundred kilometers left to reach Changyuan City.

After the acid rain stopped, Ai Yue was finally able to drive the marauder a bit faster.

They didn't encounter anyone along the way; only Ai Yue's marauder rumbled down the road, splashing through the acidic mud.

Just then, a military vehicle turned onto the road from a side path behind them, quickly catching up to Ai Yue and the two others.

Three men sat inside. The most striking was a youth with pink hair. He was the young master who had unsuccessfully bid against Ai Yue for the marauder at the Technology Auction before the Apocalypse and had harbored ill intentions.

The pink-haired youth was now shouting in the car, "Ah, that's my marauder! The person inside must be the son of a bitch who stole it from me. Young General, stop them quickly! I want to see who had the audacity to steal my stuff."

The man called the Young General rested his fingers on the steering wheel, his lips curling almost imperceptibly as his gaze darkened behind his lenses. "What did you say? 'Your' stuff? 'Your' marauder?"

Hearing the man's cool voice, the pink-haired youth finally realized. Everything at the Technology Auction belonged to him! To boast like that in front of the rightful owner was to show no respect to the heir of the Gu Clan, the world's greatest family.

Moreover, he had even used a commanding tone. Was he tired of living?

The pink-haired guy shuddered. He knew how ruthless this Young General could be. His family had insisted he follow the man to curry favor, not to offend him.

Sitting in the back seat, the pink-haired guy gave a dry laugh. "Heh, I have no place to speak in your presence. I was just being loose-lipped. I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive the nonsense I blurted out in my confusion."

The man in black in the passenger seat let out a disdainful sneer. A playboy like him, still acting so lawless even in the Apocalypse—it seemed he wouldn't live much longer.

Seeing a military vehicle following them and noticing their high speed, Ai Yue purposefully pulled over to the side of the road, given how large her vehicle was.

To her surprise, after overtaking Ai Yue's car, the military vehicle stopped sideways in the middle of the road.

Ai Yue's gaze turned cold. They were looking for trouble.

Braking to a halt, Ai Yue and the two others, who had been fully armed since leaving home, each gripped a handgun and watched the military vehicle warily.

The driver's side window of the opposite vehicle rolled down, revealing a striking man. He held up something that looked like an ID, though Ai Yue couldn't see it clearly.

He signaled that they were with the military and meant no harm, suggesting they get out to talk.

He then opened the door and stepped out, his long legs clad in a military uniform as he walked toward them. Two men followed him, and they stopped three meters away from the marauder.

Seeing them stop at a safe distance, Ai Yue gripped her weapon tightly. She signaled her parents to stay in the car and cover her before jumping out.

Standing in front of the car, Ai Yue noticed that the pink-haired youth had been eyeing her with hatred ever since she got out. She looked closely but didn't recognize him, so she ignored him.

Her gaze shifted to the other man behind the uniformed man, realizing he was an acquaintance. This man in all black was looking at her with a playful smile; he likely recognized her too.

"Long time no see, Mr. Mo. I didn't expect that instead of staying in India, you would run back to this country." Ai Yue stared at him unfriendly. Seeing him reminded her of when she and her father were buying gold in India and were coerced by him into buying those gold nuggets.