The Only Player in ‘Child of Stardust’
Chapter 273 - 189: Jie Jie

Chapter 273: Chapter 189: Jie Jie

Summer continued recalling:

"At that time, some people came to see him. I don’t remember the specifics of their conversation... All I remember is that during their talk, I overheard mentions of ’Hebolong Corporation’ and ’people like us.’"

Zhou Yuan’s heart stirred at these words. "Was your grandfather a superhuman?"

Summer shook her head. "No, but my grandfather was very strong physically. He lived to be over one hundred fifty years old and was still able to do heavy labor before he died. Moreover, all his descendants are superhumans."

Strong body, long lifespan, and all descendants are superhumans - this clearly indicated genetic modification... Zhou Yuan quickly asked, "Is his body still around?"

Night Divine Power offered a variety of Divine Arts, one of which could communicate with the dead. The only requirement was having the body, and it had to be relatively intact.

"The body? It was burned long ago. When someone dies here, we always cremate the body. The elders say burial could cause the body to mutate and turn into a terrifying creature called a zombie, which eats human flesh. These zombies carry deadly viruses - once bitten or scratched, the living also become zombies. Eventually, human-to-human transmission would lead to a terrible zombie tide."

Summer spoke with a hint of fear, "There seemed to be a zombie crisis in the old world. At that time, an entire city’s population was infected by zombies, leading to the birth of many mutant creatures. Maybe monsters like the Fungus-head and Sharp-winged Moths originated this way.

I read some related documents excavated from relics. They were quite creepy."

Cremation... that meant not even the ashes were left.

Zhou Yuan felt deeply regretful. "Are any other relatives of the same generation still alive?"

"It’s been so many years. No matter how long they could live, they couldn’t survive till now. But my father and uncles seemed to know something. Before grandpa passed away, he called them into his room individually. When they came out, they looked very serious, and they always avoided answering whenever I asked about it."

Summer paused, as if recalling something, and gently said, "Do you think my grandfather knew the truth about the Cataclysm?"

"Impossible." Qiao, calculating with his fingers, interrupted, "Grandpa lived to be one hundred fifty-two. Fifty years before he was born, the Cataclysm had already occurred. How could he possibly know the truth?"

"Qiao, did you shoot your brain out just now?"

Summer raised her hand and gave him a flick on the forehead. "Hebolong Corporation manufactured hibernation pods. Grandpa once worked for them. It’s very possible he used a hibernation pod. I even suspect that grandpa might have originally been from the old world before the Cataclysm.

Moreover, think about it: is it reasonable for humans to evolve into superhumans within just two or three generations?

Consider this closely: weren’t the grandparents of other superhumans just like grandpa, physically stronger and living longer than ordinary people?

People used to think that the harsh, dark environment squeezed out human potential, leading some individuals and their descendants to evolve. The Alliance also promoted this in textbooks... But after experiencing and excavating so many relics from the old world, you’d be naive to still think this way.

Compared to that explanation, I lean towards another possibility: they were specifically chosen to reproduce superhumans, ensuring human survival even in dark environments."

Qiao’s face showed a trace of embarrassment, as he really hadn’t thought this deeply...

"Anyhow, when we go back this time, I must question my father and uncles thoroughly," Summer said with a determined expression. This time, she wouldn’t let them brush it off.

Uncovering the truth behind the Cataclysm had always been her life’s goal, and now she felt she was on the brink of achieving it.

Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, "If your father and relatives are unwilling to speak the truth, I’ll handle it myself."

Having mastered Mental Psychokinesis, obtaining information became much easier. A dose of mental hypnosis, and even bedwetting incidents from a few years back would be admitted bald-faced.

·

Six hours later, the bus arrived at its destination.

Summer and Qiao’s hometown had arrived.

This was a human settlement called Fire Seed Town.

Zhou Yuan surveyed the surrounding houses, all built with brick and tile. Their doors were wide open, seemingly not worried about thieves.

Every household’s courtyard was filled with piles of plastic bottles, glass bottles, cables, rags, parts, cardboard, and other miscellaneous items, resembling small junkyards.

After walking further, fierce red flames burned brightly, lighting up the night sky. Several large bonfires blazed in the square, with people singing and dancing around them, laughter echoing as if they were hosting a grand bonfire party.

"Looks like we returned just in time."

Summer hummed a tune joyfully as she explained to Zhou Yuan, "This is the ’Fire God Festival’ that Fire Seed Town holds every week. We pray to the God of Fire for protection, good health, harmony, and smooth everything.

At the gathering, you can eat and drink as you please. I suggest you try Ms Susan’s grass cakes and sweet grass juice; they’re an absolute delight.

If you fancy a girl, you can even invite her to sleep... Oh, sorry, I forgot you haven’t adopted our customs yet."

"It’s alright." Zhou Yuan’s gaze fell on the people laughing around the bonfire, and he couldn’t help feeling curious. "Are all these people your relatives?"

"That’s right. The entire Fire Seed Town is one big family."

Summer nodded, her eyes shimmering with warmth. "In this wasteland world, danger is ever-present, and family is our only support and source of strength.

... I see my father. Wait a moment, I’m going to ask him now. Qiao, come with me."

"Oh..." Qiao told Zhou Yuan to wait here and quickly followed the determined Summer.

Zhou Yuan sent out shadow demons to follow, then nonchalantly looked around. His attention was drawn to a table laden with steaming grass cakes and sweet grass juice, their inviting aroma wafting through the air.

He licked his lips; the grass cakes and sweet grass juice looked delicious...

Grass cakes and sweet grass juice were made from night grass, a genetically modified plant that served as the primary food source in the wasteland world: highly adaptive, high yield, rapid reproduction, and rich in energy and vitamins.

It was practically tailor-made for the dark world.

Zhou Yuan took a bite of the grass cake and was immediately captivated by the crisp, crunchy texture, similar to thin potato chips but even more delicious. Each bite came with a delightful crunching sound.

Upon closer tasting, there was a faint grass fragrance with a subtle salty flavor. This taste was refreshing and unique, making one feel as if they were in the vast grasslands and the mighty ocean simultaneously.

"Mmm~~~"

Zhou Yuan let out a sound of praise, then devoured ten grass cakes in one go.

While eating, he eavesdropped.

Summer approached her father aggressively and directly said, "I want to know what grandpa told you before he died."

Summer’s father was stunned at first. Seeing Summer’s determined look, he fell silent for a long time. Finally, he spoke up, "It seems you found some important clues during your excavation...

Alright, it’s time I told you everything. This is not the place to talk. Follow me."

Summer’s father led them away from the square, heading straight for home.

"Stop eating, brother, stop eating, if you keep eating, there’ll be none left for us!"

Someone nearby suddenly cried out in exasperation. Where did this starved ghost come from?

Zhou Yuan smiled sheepishly, stuffed the last piece of grass cake into his mouth, and downed a cup of sweet grass juice in one go. That drink was quite good too.

"Don’t just eat by yourself, bring some for me too," Fang Qing, hidden within his body, complained.

"Alright, how much do you want?"

"Three cakes, and a cup of sweet grass juice."

Zhou Yuan grabbed some food while no one was looking and quickly slipped away, finding a spot to continue eavesdropping.

Just as Summer and the others were about to reach home, a sudden change occurred.

Newly baked grass cakes and sweet grass juice were brought to the table, but upon seeing those, the Eyes of Identification marked them as dangerous.

[These foods are poisoned. Consuming them will result in immediate death. Hehehe, this is the revenge from the Goddess Night Cult! Die, you heretics who worship the Fire God!]

Simultaneously, shadow demons hidden near Summer and Qiao detected dozens of people filled with murderous intent rapidly approaching.

These people radiated a chilling malice, as if from the depths of hell.

Zhou Yuan frowned and muttered, "How is this possible..."