L1LZDGD Chapter 1

Chapter 1

One o’clock in the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly and clear.

Whoosh—

In a small courtyard, a pepper bullet grazed Qian Hui’s hair before striking the zombie behind him with perfect accuracy.

The zombie’s head tilted sideways as it collapsed. Its emaciated body vanished within seconds.

A man-eating flower before him poked Qian Hui’s arm with a leaf, signaling him to lie down quickly, “Woo.”

Qian Hui looked up and saw his health bar nearly depleted.

He immediately closed his eyes, feigning death. He buried his face in the soft grass and shifted slightly to the side, quietly waiting for the day’s work to end.

At that moment, the horn sounded for the third time, and more zombies flooded in. They moved slowly, dragging stiff bodies forward, trying to eat all the plants in their path.

Behind the man-eating flower stood a pepper shooter, its black-bead eyes stern and sharp. Bullets it launched struck targets in rapid succession.

More plants lay in ambush across the courtyard lawn—Great Nut Walls, Tangerine Bowling Balls, Cabbage Boxers…

Lying in the corner, Qian Hui secretly opened his eyes. The sunflower across from him waved its leaves in greeting.

Ten minutes later, all the zombies invading the courtyard had been eliminated, except for Qian Hui.

The victory horn sounded at the courtyard entrance. The plants deactivated their combat states, swaying their leaves in celebration.

Qian Hui also crawled up from the ground.

The day’s work was done; he could rest now.

The health bar above his head showed only a sliver remaining. He’d slipped earlier when stepping on a zombie arm that had fallen in the courtyard entrance.

Though the fall hadn’t hurt, it had drained most of his health. Fortunately, the plants wouldn’t attack Qian Hui, allowing him to enter unimpeded on this thin margin of health.

Now that the work was done, the zombie remains in the lawn vanished. Qian Hui’s health bar began slowly regenerating.

He sat at the courtyard’s edge as a sunflower leaned close, plucking a petal to place in his palm.

In an instant, Qian Hui’s health bar surged back to nearly half-full.

The petal withered in his hand. Qian Hui patted the sunflower’s leaves and murmured, “Thanks, Xiaokui.”

Several plants in the yard remained injured. The sunflower’s leaves brushed against Qian Hui’s fingertips before turning away.

At the courtyard’s center, the wounded plants had automatically lined up in a queue, awaiting the sunflower’s healing.

Following the sunflower, Qian Hui went to help, only to see the man-eating flower and a carrot inexplicably bickering behind them.

Apart from the sunflower, most plants in the courtyard had aggressive temperaments. Minor squabbles among them were normal in their daily life together.

Qian Hui rushed over and grabbed the man-eating flower’s leaf. “What’s wrong…?”

Seeing him approach, the man-eating flower retracted its fangs and let out a huff.

Carrot, having ceased its fight, sidled up to Qian Hui and rubbed its head against his palm before turning to queue for treatment.

Qian Hui led the man-eating flower to join the line. When he turned back, he spotted the cabbage by the courtyard’s edge.

The cabbage’s right arm bore a massive bite mark. It was stomping on the grass where a zombie had recently vanished, venting its anger.

Noticing Qian Hui, the cabbage paused its rampage. It waddled closer with a series of grumbles and leaped into his arms.

Heart aching, Qian Hui wrapped the cabbage’s injury with petal bandages. “Xiaojuan,” he said slowly, “next time… stay in the back.”

The cabbage mumbled an agreement, testing its bandaged arm.

A pink shadow darted from the grass and landed on Qian Hui’s shoulder, planting a wet kiss on his cheek.

The little mushroom had hidden indoors during the battle. Being the youngest and smallest, it hadn’t been needed for combat.

After kissing Qian Hui, the mushroom also pecked the cabbage’s forehead before hopping away. It toured the courtyard before settling atop the man-eating flower’s head.

The man-eating flower lifted a leaf and gently nudged the little mushroom.

With all the plants settled, Qian Hui set down the cabbage in his arms and approached the small wooden board at the courtyard entrance.

The board was etched with numerous “1” symbols, each representing a completed task. Every seventh “1” bore a small circular mark beneath it.

Qian Hui picked up a twig and made a small mark on the board. Counting the previous ones, he confirmed it was indeed the seventh.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he added a mark below the “1” before happily running into the courtyard.

The wooden cabin at the rear of the small yard served as a storage room. Qian Hui retrieved his small cloth pouch and went to find the man-eating flower.

“Today, I’m going…” Qian Hui pointed in a certain direction. “I’ll be back later.”

The man-eating flower nodded and cautioned him to stay safe, “Woo woo.”

The pepper wanted to see Qian Hui off, but he shook his head, saying “No need.” He left quickly, waving to the plants in the courtyard as he went, “I’m off!”

Beyond the plant courtyard lay a wide lawn with several stone-paved paths extending into the distance.

In the silent, deserted landscape, Qian Hui walked alone for several minutes before reaching a grove of trees.

Though the sun shone brightly, the forest appeared shrouded in a layer of grayish dim light, creating an oppressive and mysterious atmosphere.

Qian Hui quickened his pace, following a narrow path into the woods.

As he ventured deeper, the light grew dimmer, sparse sunlight filtering through gaps in the foliage.

At the heart of the forest stood a simple stone hut, its entrance guarded by a tall man.

His imposing stature and frost-like countenance made him blend with the dark stones behind him, radiating an aura that warned against approach.

Hearing faint footsteps ahead, Nan Tingjin raised his gaze.

The coldness between his brows softened, his expression warming considerably.

Qian Hui hurried over, climbed the stone steps, and threw himself into Nan Tingjin’s arms.

He held the warm body close, lifting his head. “Did I… come too late?”

“No,” Nan Tingjin replied softly, brushing silver strands from Qian Hui’s face. “You woke earlier today.”

The open door of the hut released the faint bitterness of medicinal herbs.

Qian Hui wrinkled his nose, sniffing at Nan Tingjin’s collar where the same scent clung.

Nan Tingjin had risen early, preparing the soup earlier than usual, so it now stood at the perfect temperature.

Sitting on the stone steps, Qian Hui accepted the small bowl from Nan Tingjin and took a cautious sip.

The medicinal soup in the bowl was pitch-black, its contents unknown. The bitter aroma wafting from it was overpowering.

Yet Qian Hui seemed to relish it. He cradled the bowl and murmured, “It smells so good.”

Nan Tingjin remained silent, his slightly downcast eyes fixed intently as he watched Qian Hui slowly finish the soup.

After drinking, Qian Hui licked his lips, set down the bowl, and snuggled close. He tugged gently at a small section of Nan Tingjin’s sleeve.

Nan Tingjin responded by pulling Qian Hui onto his lap, their positions becoming affectionate.

“I missed you so much,” Qian Hui mumbled, nuzzling his face against Nan Tingjin’s collar. He wrapped his arms around him and added, “I haven’t been hurt these past few days. I’m completely safe.”

During his last visit, Nan Tingjin had noticed a small wound on Qian Hui’s palm.

Despite Qian Hui’s earnest explanations—that he’d accidentally collided with a zombie’s weapon, not the plants’ doing, and that it no longer hurt—Nan Tingjin’s expression had remained stormy for days. He’d applied crushed herbs to the injury twice before finally relaxing.

Nan Tingjin seemed to harbor distrust toward the plants in the small courtyard, never venturing beyond the forest.

The plants reciprocated this distance. When the carrot had previously escorted Qian Hui here, he’d only made it halfway before retreating.

Hearing Qian Hui’s words, Nan Tingjin gave a soft “mm” in response.

He took Qian Hui’s hand, gently massaging the wrist and finger joints.

Qian Hui was completely different from the other zombies in the courtyard. Apart from his silver hair and red eyes, his appearance was more akin to a human’s.

He looked beautiful and delicate, with pale, fragile skin. The joints of his hands showed slight bruises, occasionally feeling stiff and sluggish.

Thus, Nan Tingjin often massaged his hands, which should have some effect.

The fingers felt warm and comforting. Qian Hui nuzzled closer to Nan Tingjin’s embrace, closing his eyes like a contented cat.

Then he continued recounting the events of these past six days.

From the cabbage smashing a hole through the courtyard wall to the number of cherries he ate after dinner, every detail, no matter how trivial, was shared with Nan Tingjin.

This had been Nan Tingjin’s request before, given their limited time together and inability to be constantly by each other’s side.

Qian Hui spoke slowly, many words still unfamiliar. His descriptions came out hesitant and stumbling, words tripping over each other.

Nan Tingjin listened intently, occasionally guiding or asking questions with infinite patience.

As Qian Hui finished speaking, he suddenly grew tense.

“Two days ago,” he whispered, clutching a small cloth bundle in his pocket, “I made a gift for you.”

Nan Tingjin’s lips curved into a smile. “What is it?”

Qian Hui lowered his head, pulled out the cloth bundle, and carefully unwrapped it layer by layer to reveal a wooden ring.

His expression was a mix of nervousness and pride. “I made it myself.”

In the small wooden house of the courtyard, there were several illustrated books of unknown origin. Qian Hui had learned carving from these books and made many items following their patterns.

Qian Hui also wanted to learn. He spent a long time flipping through the books before deciding to make a small pendant.

The wood softened by soaking in the courtyard’s spring water was very pliable, and he learned quickly. However, he accidentally carved it crooked at the end, so he hollowed it out and turned it into a ring.

Nan Tingjin took the ring, holding it carefully in his hand to examine it.

Qian Hui asked eagerly, “Do you like it?”

The ring’s surface was rough, with a wide flattened front where two crooked circles were carved, intertwined with a small leaf above them.

Qian Hui pointed at the circles and a leaf. “This is me.”

The two circles and a leaf together formed the character “Hui”.

Nan Tingjin’s breath caught momentarily before he replied, “I like it.”

He then asked, “Does your hand hurt?”

Qian Hui shook his head with a smile. “I’m wearing gloves.”

He tried to put the ring on Nan Tingjin’s finger but found it too small, so he finally settled for placing it on his pinky.

Qian Hui fiddled with the ring, holding Nan Tingjin’s hand and feeling the steady warmth radiating from him.

He looked up to study Nan Tingjin’s expression, confirming the man was in a good mood.

Nan Tingjin stroked Qian Hui’s hair and led him to a stone bench on the side of the cabin.

The bench basked in the sunlight, with a few books arranged nearby.

Nan Tingjin picked up one of the books, still holding Qian Hui in his arms, and began teaching him to read.

Most of the words in the book were already familiar to Qian Hui, so he paid little attention, focusing instead on the occasional pictures.

Nan Tingjin didn’t push him, his deep voice carrying a gentle tone as he spoke.

Qian Hui’s pocket still held a potato bread, which Pepper had stuffed in there before they left.

He peeled off the crust and offered it to Nan Tingjin first, but the man refused to eat.

Qian Hui dug in himself, then when he couldn’t finish half of it, offered the remaining piece to Nan Tingjin again.

This time, Nan Tingjin accepted the offering and gently wiped Qian Hui’s face.

Gradually, drowsiness overtook Qian Hui as he leaned against Nan Tingjin’s chest and fell asleep.

He didn’t sleep for long. When he stirred, the book had been returned to its original place.

Nan Tingjin sat against the stone chair with his eyes closed, his handsome profile bathed in warm sunlight.

Qian Hui reached out tentatively, tracing the contours of his eyelashes, the corners of his eyes, and the sun-kissed skin.

In the next instant, his wrist was caught.

Nan Tingjin opened his eyes, capturing Qian Hui’s hand in his grasp.

After waking, Qian Hui resumed his reading and kept Nan Tingjin company in conversation.

They remained until a breeze stirred through the forest, the sun dipping toward the horizon, and the surroundings began to darken.

Qian Hui had to return to the plant courtyard before nightfall or risk losing health points.

Reluctantly, he embraced Nan Tingjin. “I must go back now.”

Nan Tingjin’s waking moments were limited; once Qian Hui left, he would slip back into prolonged slumber.

Emotion clouded Nan Tingjin’s downcast gaze as he slowly released Qian Hui’s hand. “I understand.”

Qian Hui touched the wooden tail ring adorning his finger. “I’ll come visit again.”

“Alright.”

Before leaving, Nan Tingjin brushed aside the stray hair from Qian Hui’s forehead, leaned in close, and kissed him.

Then he slowly moved downward, placing another kiss on his cheek.

Qian Hui touched the lingering warmth on his cheek, glancing back every few steps.

Soon, Nan Tingjin’s figure had completely disappeared into the woods.

Nan Tingjin remained standing in place, still gazing in the direction Qian Hui had left.

As the woods were gradually enveloped by the darkening night, he only turned to return to the stone house when the darkness had fully settled in.

Meanwhile, Qian Hui hurried back to the plant courtyard before nightfall. From a distance, he saw the man-eating flower waiting by the entrance.

The man-eating flower’s eyes were filled with anxiety as it waved its leaves at Qian Hui.

The little mushroom on its head made a few “hum hum” sounds and blew out a bubble.

“I’m back!” Qian Hui rushed toward them, catching the little mushroom as it jumped into his hands.

The man-eating flower closed the gate and went to the rear courtyard with Qian Hui.

The plants’ resting place was in the back of the courtyard. A large pot in the open space was cooking dinner, waiting for Qian Hui to return so they could eat together.

Qian Hui walked over holding the little mushroom, accepted a tomato from the man-eating flower, and helped it serve a bowl of fruit porridge.

The other plants gathered around him one by one. The sunflower moved closer to Qian Hui, only relaxing when it confirmed he had returned safely.

After dinner, Qian Hui helped wash the pots. After washing up by the stream, he returned to the giant tree at the center of the lawn and found the carrot and cabbage fighting again.

Qian Hui hurried over to break up the fight, standing in front of the cabbage. “Your wounds have just healed…”

The cabbage waved its fists and bared its teeth, but managed to calm down.

The carrot still wasn’t satisfied, but after getting punched by the man-eating flower, it finally settled down.

Qian Hui pulled the carrot over, patted the leaves on its head, and offered some comforting words.

The carrot grumbled a bit, then rubbed its head against Qian Hui before turning back to its own territory.

Most of the plants had already settled down, finding their favorite spots to sleep. To the side was a bed made of cabbage leaves—Qian Hui’s bed.

The little mushroom stood by the pillow, its body emitting a soft glow like a small nightlight.

Qian Hui sat down on the small bed. A large pea rolled over with a “gurgle-gurgle”, then extended its leaf-like arms and legs.

Qian Hui picked up the pea, yawned, straightened his clothes, and lay down.

The plants still wandering outside gradually returned to sleep, and the area around the giant tree grew quiet.

Finally, the man-eating flower curled its stem and lay beside Qian Hui.

The little mushroom glowed briefly, then jumped onto the man-eating flower’s leaf, slowly fading its light.

In the latter half of the night, Qian Hui was startled awake by a loud noise.

He struggled to open his eyes, feeling his body heavy and surrounded by many swaying, blurry figures – probably plants.

It seemed leaves were entangled around his arm, urgently tugging at him.

Qian Hui’s head was muddled. The red light at the horizon was glaring, and he immediately fainted.

…

After an indeterminate period, Qian Hui regained consciousness.

His mind felt sluggish as he stared blankly at the object before him.

It was half a piece of metal embedded in the wall. With inexplicable vibrations, fragments of stone and rock debris pelted against Qian Hui’s hands.

As he moved, a cacophony of sounds flooded his ears.

Feeling disoriented, he rotated his stiff neck and found himself in an unfamiliar cramped space.

With continuous commotion outside, Qian Hui pushed himself up and crawled slowly toward the source of light above him.

Several collapsed sections of wall lay scattered across the ground. The recent vibrations had created a narrow opening between them.

Qian Hui emerged from the gap, an acrid odor immediately assaulting his nostrils.

The stench mingled earth, rotting flesh, and dried blood, creating a murky and dangerous atmosphere.

Looking up, he spotted several wandering zombies nearby.

These creatures resembled those that had invaded the plant courtyard earlier – skin darkened to a bluish hue, bodies twisted and emaciated, eyes bulging red, white hair caked with mottled dirt or blood clots.

Yet unlike before, no health bars hovered above their heads. They appeared more menacing and lifelike, each with distinct variations in form and appearance.

Even in his post-drowsy state, Qian Hui immediately sensed something unusual about these zombies.

He felt an instinctive fear and took half a step back toward the side of the broken wall and ruins.

The nearest zombie heard the movement and turned its head to look over.

It spotted Qian Hui, staring intently as if trying to determine whether he was one of its own kind.

Qian Hui grew increasingly frightened, scanning his surroundings for familiar plant forms.

He had always known he was different from other zombies.

He could speak, read, and exhibited normal behavior and emotions.

Moreover, the plants accepted him, cared for him, never attacked him during work, and protected him from other zombies…

Yet as Qian Hui looked around, his expression grew more bewildered.

He wasn’t in the plant courtyard, nor anywhere familiar.

All around were ruins and debris of buildings, collapsed walls, and dust-covered ground. Sparse green plants clung to cracks, exuding an air of desolation and decay.

His gaze reached the horizon where it met a gray sky, devoid of wind.

Where… was this?

Before Qian Hui could react, the ground trembled again.

The zombie’s gaze shifted away from him, and it let out a fierce roar toward something behind him before charging forward.

The surrounding zombies, as if following a command, began moving in unison toward the same direction.

Qian Hui turned around, his pupils contracting sharply.

A hundred meters away, a massive man-eating flower emerged from behind the ruins of a building, its shadow darkening the sky like a gathering storm cloud.

The plant stood seven or eight stories tall, its mouth lined with rows of razor-sharp fangs. It snapped up several zombies in its jaws, reducing them to shredded flesh in an instant.

More zombies swarmed around the man-eating flower, their attacks raining down like hail. The plant spat out the remains of its meal and swung its thick stem, sending the surrounding attackers flying.

Atop the flower’s dark purple crown, four white spikes stood out, accompanied by flame-like gray patches along its sides.

These features were both familiar and alien to Qian Hui. He stared in shock, murmuring, “Xiao… Zhi?”

Simultaneously, a crisp mechanical voice resonated in his mind.

[Ding—You have bound the Plant Encyclopedia System.]

[The apocalypse has arrived! The war between super-powered humans, the enigmatic Zombie King, and the berserk mutant plants is about to erupt! Please enjoy the game to the fullest!]

Translator’s Note:

Good day, readers! I translated some chapters already and there will be a lot of mutant plants that appeared along the way, like Pepper, Mini Cabbage, etc. I decided not to translated them for several reasons. In the raw text, Pepper is Lajiao, Mini Cabbage is Xiao Baocai, and so on. These are more acceptable in my eyes, hehe. But don’t worry, depends on the text I will still translate them, but mostly not. Thank you for understanding~