City D – 2025
Su Yan and Su Jin got into the car, and the driver started driving toward Su Jin's school.
"You've changed a lot, sister," Su Jin said, looking at her with curious eyes.
"Really?" Su Yan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. You even want to escort me to school today."
Su Yan smiled faintly.
"Oh? So you don't want me to?"
"What? No, no! Not at all!" Su Jin said quickly.
Su Yan chuckled softly.
"I want to take you somewhere tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow?" Su Jin blinked. "But I have school tomorrow."
"I'll call your teacher and tell her you'll be taking a day off."
"Oh… okay," Su Jin said happily.
Soon the car arrived at the kindergarten.
Su Jin jumped out of the car and waved at her before running toward the school building.
The driver turned around.
"Miss Su, where should I take you?"
"Take me to XXXX Supermarket," Su Yan replied calmly.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the supermarket.
Su Yan stepped out of the car.
"You don't have to wait for me. You can go back home."
"Alright, Miss Su," the driver said before driving away.
Su Yan walked into the supermarket and immediately began buying supplies.
She chose clothing suitable for the apocalypse: long pants, sportswear, thick coats, and sturdy boots for both herself and her little brother.
She also bought three sleeping bags and two large backpacks.
Then she picked up several baseball bats and survival knives.
After that, she moved to the food section.
Instant noodles.
Canned food.
Cartons of bottled water.
She filled several shopping carts.
Once she finished buying everything, she rented a small empty apartment in a quiet area with a low population.
She paid one month's rent in advance.
Then she moved all the supplies there and stored them inside.
Before leaving, she also bought a large mattress and placed it in the apartment.
By the time she returned home, evening had already arrived.
The family was sitting at the dining table having dinner.
Without saying a word, Su Yan walked over, sat down beside Su Jin, and quietly began eating.
No one spoke.
After finishing her meal, she stood up immediately and left the dining room.
She went straight upstairs to her bedroom.
She was exhausted.
And tomorrow would be an even longer day.
Because tomorrow was the exact day the apocalypse had started in her previous life.
Su Yan entered her room and locked the door behind her.
She walked into the bathroom and took a shower.
After finishing, she wrapped a towel around herself and began drying her hair and body.
While doing so, her eyes suddenly froze.
On her wrist was a faint mark.
It looked exactly like the bracelet she used to wear in her previous life.
That bracelet had belonged to her mother.
Her father, Su Jimo, had given it to her mother as a token of love.
After her mother passed away, the bracelet was given to Su Yan.
It was one of her most precious possessions.
Su Yan stared at the mark in confusion.
When did this tattoo appear?
She gently traced the mark with her fingers.
The next moment—
The world suddenly changed.
Su Yan felt a strange pull, and in an instant she found herself standing in a completely unfamiliar place.
The air was fresh and incredibly refreshing.
A gentle breeze brushed against her skin.
In front of her stood a small wooden house.
Nearby flowed a clear stream of water. The water was so transparent that the bottom could easily be seen.
Su Yan looked around in shock.
The surrounding scenery was beautiful and peaceful.
It felt like a hidden paradise.
She slowly walked toward the wooden house.
Inside the house were four small rooms and a living room.
She pushed open the first door.
It was a simple bedroom.
Inside there was only a wooden bed.
On top of the bed lay a single piece of paper.
Curious, Su Yan reached out and touched it.
The moment her fingers made contact, the paper disappeared into thin air.
Suddenly—
A handsome man appeared in front of her.
Su Yan instinctively stepped back.
The man looked like an immortal descended from the heavens.
His appearance was flawless, almost unreal.
His long hair flowed behind him, and his calm eyes held an ancient aura.
"Are you the descendant of the Su family?" the man asked calmly.
Su Yan frowned slightly.
"And you are…?"
"My name is Su Chen," the man replied as he casually sat down on the wooden bed.
"I am the creator of this miniature space."
Su Yan blinked in surprise.
"Um… I didn't mean to intrude. I—"
"It's fine," Su Chen interrupted calmly.
"Since you were able to enter this space, it means the bracelet artifact has accepted you as its owner."
"You may use this place as you wish."
He looked at her carefully before continuing.
"The bracelet artifact can only be activated by the blood of a dying descendant of the Su family."
"When that happens, the descendant is granted a second chance at life and access to this space."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"So that means… you have already experienced death."
Su Yan nodded slowly.
"Yeah… something like that."
Then she raised an eyebrow.
"So this whole place belongs to me now?"
"Yes."
Su Chen nodded.
"I am only a half soul without a physical body."
"I will remain here and guide you in cultivation until I find the other half of my soul."
"Which should also be within a member of the Su family."
"Oh…" Su Yan said thoughtfully.
"So how will you find your other half?"
"I will sense it when you get close to it."
Su Yan sighed.
"That might be difficult."
"Why?"
"Because in a few days… the apocalypse will begin."
Su Chen frowned.
"Apocalypse?"
"It means the end of the world," Su Yan explained.
"People will start going crazy and eating each other's flesh."
Su Chen's expression darkened.
"The end of the world…"
"That sounds like dark energy corruption."
"The only person capable of releasing such energy…"
He paused.
"…is Long Zao."
Su Yan's eyes widened.
"So you mean this disaster was caused by a person?"
Su Chen shook his head.
"No."
"It was caused by a devil cultivator."
"Long Zao is obsessed with ruling the world."
"A thousand years ago, I sealed him inside a distant tomb and placed him into eternal slumber."
"But it seems someone must have broken the seal and awakened him."
Su Yan's expression became serious.
"So there's a way to stop him from turning people into those monsters?"
"Yes."
Su Chen looked directly at her.
"The only way… is to kill him."
"Once he dies, all the corrupted creatures will cease to exist."
Su Yan frowned.
"Then why didn't you kill him back then?"
Su Chen sighed softly.
"I was already dying."
"I had used all my strength to destroy the other evil cultivators."
"And Long Zao was too powerful for me to kill in that state."
"So I used my remaining energy to seal him instead."
"But after a thousand years… the seal must have weakened."
"And someone must have accidentally released him."
Su Chen stood up.
"Come with me."
He walked outside the wooden house.
Su Yan followed him.
They stopped beside the clear water stream.
"You should drink this," Su Chen said, pointing at the water.
"It will be extremely beneficial for your cultivation."
Su Yan didn't hesitate.
She bent down and drank the water.
The moment the liquid entered her body—
A wave of intense heat exploded inside her.
Pain spread throughout her entire body.
Her face turned bright red.
"Damn it!" Su Yan gritted her teeth.
"Why didn't you warn me about the pain?!"
Su Chen blinked.
"Oh… I forgot."
"It seems I have been asleep for too long."
"I've forgotten many things."
"You—!"
Before Su Yan could finish complaining, her vision went dark.
She fainted.
Su Chen calmly sat down a short distance away, crossing his legs as he began meditating.
A long time passed.
Eventually, Su Yan slowly woke up.
She immediately wrinkled her nose.
Her body was covered in a thick layer of black, sticky substance.
And the smell…
It was horrible.
She quickly pinched her nose.
"It's good that you're aware of how bad you smell," Su Chen said calmly from nearby.
Su Yan glared at him.
"How long was I unconscious?"
"Two days," he replied.
"What?!"
Su Yan jumped up.
"That long?! I need to go outside!"
Su Chen shook his head slightly.
"A day inside this space equals about five or six hours in the outside world."
Su Yan sighed with relief.
"Still… I should go back."
She paused awkwardly.
"Um… how do I leave?"
"You simply need to focus your thoughts on the outside world and—"
Before he could finish speaking—
Su Yan disappeared instantly.
Su Chen opened one eye.
"…leave."
He shook his head slightly.
"So impatient."
Then he closed his eyes and continued meditating.