Before the apocalypse, the Gu family had never been ordinary.
Gu Shao had been a scientist, someone who spent his days buried in laboratories, surrounded by glass tubes, formulas, and endless theories. He had always been obsessed with understanding how the world worked at its most fundamental level. Even as a child, he would dismantle machines just to see how they functioned.
Gu Yan had been an aerospace engineer. His work involved designing machines meant to leave the planet itself. His thinking was vast, precise, and disciplined. He was someone who believed no structure was impossible to build if one understood its foundation well enough.
Gu Xing had been a computer engineer, her mind capable of building logical systems that could simulate entire worlds. Her Order ability now was simply an extension of what she had always been capable of—bringing structure to chaos.
Li Qiao, though not born into the Gu family, was no less extraordinary. As a hacker, he had once navigated the hidden digital veins of the world, bypassing defenses others thought were unbreakable. His mind was sharp, flexible, and relentless.
Together, the four of them practically moved into the libraries Gu Mian had brought out from her space.
They spent their days there.
Morning.
Afternoon.
Night.
Sometimes even past midnight.
Books lay open everywhere. Notes filled entire tables. Diagrams were drawn and redrawn repeatedly. They argued, debated, tested theories, and built prototypes.
They were rebuilding civilization from knowledge alone.
Gu Mian watched them with quiet amusement and a little helplessness.
They had become completely obsessed.
Several times, she found them asleep on top of books, their heads resting on open pages, fingers still holding pens.
In the end, she could only sigh and enter her space.
She brought out a wooden cabin she had stored long ago and placed it beside the libraries.
It was simple, but warm.
Beds, blankets, water, and basic living facilities.
When Gu Shao saw it, his eyes lit up.
"Perfect," he said immediately.
From then on, they rarely returned to the mansion at night.
Electricity throughout the village was supplied through solar panels.
Even in winter, the panels absorbed enough light to power their daily needs. The energy was stored in jade-based storage devices Gu Xing and Gu Mian had worked together to create.
Life was peaceful.
For the first time since the apocalypse began, they were not running.
They were building.
It was during one such peaceful winter morning that Gu Mian suddenly remembered something extremely important.
Gu Ruisheng had never cleansed his impurities.
She froze mid-step.
Her eyes widened.
How had she forgotten?
She immediately turned and ran toward him.
Gu Ruisheng had just finished breakfast when she grabbed his wrist.
"Come with me," she said.
He raised an eyebrow but allowed himself to be dragged along.
Inside his room, she pulled him straight into the bathroom.
She began filling the bathtub with spring water from her space.
Clear water filled the tub slowly, glowing faintly with spiritual energy.
Gu Ruisheng watched her quietly.
Then he smiled helplessly.
"So you finally remembered."
She glanced at him, slightly embarrassed.
"You should have reminded me."
He laughed softly.
Without hesitation, he began removing his clothes.
Gu Mian froze.
Her face immediately turned red.
She had seen him countless times in battle.
Covered in blood.
Covered in dirt.
Covered in wounds.
But this…
This was different.
His body was perfectly proportioned. Muscles defined but not exaggerated. His skin carried faint scars, proof of countless battles survived.
He stepped into the water.
Immediately—
His entire body stiffened.
His hands clenched.
Veins bulged across his arms and neck.
Pain exploded through him.
His impurities began to be forced out violently.
He gritted his teeth but did not make a sound.
Gu Mian stood beside him, watching anxiously.
Hours passed.
The water slowly turned murky.
Black, oily impurities seeped out from his skin.
She quickly absorbed the dirty water into her space and refilled the bathtub.
The moment the new water touched him, the pain intensified again.
His breathing grew heavier.
His muscles trembled uncontrollably.
His entire body was being reborn.
Time passed slowly.
Three hours later, the water became dark again.
She replaced it once more.
This time, something changed.
His aura stabilized.
The pain began to fade.
His strength surged upward violently.
His eyes opened.
Sharp.
Clear.
Alive.
Without warning, he reached out and grabbed her hand.
She gasped in surprise.
Before she could react, he pulled her closer.
Her heart began beating rapidly.
He raised his hand.
With a small flick of his fingers, her clothes turned into ashes.
She froze completely.
Her face burned red.
She instinctively tried to pull away, but at that moment, the spring water reacted to her body.
The cleansing began for her too.
A strange numbness spread through her body.
Her strength weakened.
She could only collapse against him.
Her mind was in chaos.
She was embarrassed.
Ashamed.
And yet…
She did not resist.
He held her gently.
His hands traced her back slowly, carefully, as if afraid she would break.
He lifted her chin.
Their eyes met.
He kissed her.
She trembled.
But she accepted it.
She loved him.
She had loved him longer than she dared admit.
He deepened the kiss, his movements both gentle and possessive.
Time lost meaning.
The spring water glowed faintly around them.
When the cleansing finally ended, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
He laid her down carefully.
His lips traced her skin.
Her body trembled beneath his touch.
They explored each other slowly, carefully, without rushing.
When she finally asked him, her voice trembling slightly,
"Why won't you go further?"
He smiled softly.
"Because when I do… it will be as your husband."
Her heart froze.
Then melted completely.
She understood.
He wasn't rejecting her.
He was protecting her.
Respecting her.
She buried her face in his chest silently.
From that day onward, everything between them changed.
Life continued peacefully.
Everyone had their roles.
Training.
Cooking.
Maintaining the ranch.
Guarding the perimeter.
Researching.
Building.
Living.
They had created a new world for themselves.
After the winter ended, something unexpected happened.
Instead of spring—
A storm came.
Dark clouds covered the sky.
Thunder roared endlessly.
Rain began falling.
It did not stop.
One day.
Two days.
A week.
Two weeks.
An entire month.
This storm was unlike any before.
Tang Guo, far away at his base, recognized it immediately.
He remembered it from his previous life.
This storm would trigger evolution.
He ordered immediate preparation.
Livestock were slaughtered and preserved as jerky.
Hay was dried and stored.
Medicine stockpiled.
Canals dug.
Dams constructed.
The base prepared for survival.
The Gu family did the same.
Gu Mian stored animals safely inside her space.
She secured buildings.
Reinforced structures.
Everyone gathered inside the mansion.
They waited.
Outside, the storm reshaped the world.
Plants absorbed the rain.
Animals evolved.
Nature grew stronger.
This storm marked the beginning of the next era.
Thankfully, neither humans nor Zombies benefitted from this.