As a Charming Mushroom, I Fell into the Apocalypse (MUSHROOM)
Half an hour later, Hui Gu, dressed in a pure white protective suit so bulky he resembled a giant steamed bun, appeared in the lineup for the encirclement and suppression mission.
He immediately attracted immense attention.
Nightclub naturally wouldn’t let their people undertake such a dangerous journey for nothing.
Just half an hour before Hui Gu’s arrival, the news had already been widely publicized.
Hui Gu was portrayed as a representative of ordinary people—the only "photographer" entering the wasteland from an ordinary person’s perspective to accompany the mission, while also serving as a form of spiritual comfort provided by Nightclub to those venturing into the wasteland.
Given Nightclub’s influence, it didn’t take long for the majority of the mission participants to eagerly anticipate his arrival.
As Hui Gu slowly made his way to the end of the vehicle convoy, he could feel countless gazes and hushed whispers.
Ji Nianwen observed him out of the corner of his eye, inwardly amused by the spectacle.
Everyone here was a new human, possessing a certain beast-like instinct—especially the mercenaries, who, having survived life-and-death struggles, expressed their desires more bluntly and overtly. Even their invasive stares alone were enough to overwhelm an ordinary person with psychological pressure.
He wondered if Hui Gu would feel afraid and what kind of helpless expression he would show.
Ji Nianwen thought idly, with no intention of stepping in to shield him.
The others, who had initially been wary of Ji Nianwen accompanying Hui Gu, grew bolder upon seeing this. Their discussions shifted from whispers to loud, open conversations.
"Are the people at Nightclub bored? Do they think this is a prison, needing to send someone regularly to perform for us?"
"Spiritual comfort? He doesn’t even have a supernatural ability. We already have Ji Nianwen."
"I bet he’ll be crying to return to the base in less than half a day out there."
"I’ll bet two hours!"
"I heard he’s quite good-looking, but his face is completely covered—can’t see a thing."
"My cousin watched his video in the square that day and has been completely captivated ever since."
"Pathetic! How can anyone still be obsessed with good looks at a time like this?"
A scar-faced man suddenly spoke up with ill intent: "I don't think he's here to comfort us, but to pick himself a master... Ah! Who's looking for death?"
Mid-sentence, someone heavily bumped into his shoulder. He cried out in pain and turned around furiously, unexpectedly meeting a pair of eyes filled with deathly stillness.
Lin Duqiu still wore his silver bite-prevention mask, his expression gloomy as he stared at the man spouting nonsense.
The scar-faced man was terrified by the ghost-like aura emanating from him. Without even needing to fight, he knew the other's level far surpassed his own. He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound, could only clutch his shoulder and retreat to the side, his expression extremely awkward and unpleasant.
Ji Nianwen's attention shifted away from Hui Gu.
The other's reaction inevitably disappointed him. As if immersed in his own world, Hui Gu paid no attention to others' gazes or words. He was trying hard to adapt to wearing the heavy protective suit, striving not to walk too clumsily, though he still looked like a little penguin.
Yet he didn't seem uncomfortable. The protective suit could somewhat block his pheromones, making any accidental leakage less noticeable.
This composed demeanor instead made him more likable.
The mercenaries who had many complaints earlier found themselves bored and gradually quieted down, turning to their own preparations instead of deliberately provoking anymore.
Not seeing the scene he imagined, Ji Nianwen looked displeased. His gaze swept around and landed on Lin Duqiu standing stiffly like a log. Remembering how he'd sent him to track Hui Gu last time, only for him to return with those dead-fish eyes saying he'd lost him without even knowing where he lived.
Ji Nianwen felt his anger rise from five to eight points. He made a gesture and walked behind the large armored vehicle nearby.
After a moment, Lin Duqiu followed, his gaze deathly still as he waited for orders.
Outwardly, he was here to participate in the mission, but in reality, he'd come under Ji Nianwen's command.
This man feared death. While telling others he needed no special treatment for this S-class wasteland mission, he'd secretly arranged for Lin Duqiu to blend in as his bodyguard.
Ji Nianwen treated him merely as a convenient tool, not bothering to disguise his attitude. He spoke venomously: "You failed to track him last time. You can't fail again in the wasteland, can you?"
Tracking him again.
Thinking of Hui Gu, Lin Duqiu unusually lost focus for a moment.
Though from his stagnant eyes, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
Ji Nianwen: "When necessary, I need you to create some accidents for me."
"What accidents?" Lin Duqiu's tone turned icy.
Ji Nianwen assumed it was due to discomfort from pollution level. He extended a hand condescendingly, a ball of white Mental Power gradually materializing in his palm, threads of it seeping into Lin Duqiu's body.
His tone was lofty, devoid of any pity, his eyes holding only clear commands mixed with self-interest: "This Mental Power will keep you pain-free for an hour."
"You must complete what I've assigned."
A faint curve lifted the corner of Ji Nianwen’s lips, yet there was not a trace of warmth in his eyes. Without waiting to see Lin Duqiu’s reaction, he turned and walked away, completely missing the complex emotions swirling in Lin Duqiu’s gaze.
Lin Duqiu raised his hand and stared at his own rough palm.
The numbness from the Mental Power had dulled the bone-deep, piercing pain that had plagued his entire body. In the past, he might have felt a fleeting satisfaction from this relief.
But after experiencing true spiritual release, he began to sense that something was wrong.
It shouldn’t be like this.
His pain was only temporarily numbed, but the true torment—the violent, rampaging urge to kill surging within him—had not disappeared.
Reason told him he could no longer indulge this desire to dominate his instincts. If he did, he would truly cross the critical threshold of his pollution level and become a mindless Exotic Beast.
He yearned for genuine spiritual solace.
If he had never felt that fleeting moment of peace in Hui Gu’s presence, he might have continued deceiving himself in a daze.
But now it was different. He had grown greedy. He wanted to hear the beating of his own heart once more.
Lin Duqiu reached up and touched his chest—not to feel his pulse, but to gently stroke, through his clothes, the half-eaten apple pie hidden inside.
It was the one Hui Gu had taken a bite of before tossing to him. He had kept it all this time, unable to bring himself to eat it.
Would Hui Gu be willing to stop and speak with him again…?
Unable to control himself, Lin Duqiu glanced in Hui Gu’s direction, then quietly concealed himself among the crowd and began to approach.
At that moment, Hui Gu was unaware of the complex emotions behind the gazes fixed upon him.
After adjusting to the protective suit and managing to walk at a normal pace, he began trotting forward, eager to reach the convoy ahead.
This mission had drawn a large number of participants—a rare large-scale operation organized by the base, with over a hundred people in total.
He was currently at the very rear of the convoy but could faintly sense Gu Wang’s presence at the very front.
Unfortunately, he had only taken a few steps before someone stopped him.
An older-looking Mercenary spoke to him kindly, “Don’t go any farther. Our convoy has rules. The people gathered at the front are higher-level new humans, and they’re more dangerous. They’re there to clear the way for us.”
He was one of the lucky few who had witnessed Hui Gu’s speech in the square that day. Looking at Hui Gu reminded him of his own son, who had gone missing in the wasteland, which was why he couldn’t help but offer a warning.
Hui Gu turned his head to look at him. “Okay.”
He was certain the Incubator was up ahead, but now didn’t seem like the right time to seek him out.
He didn’t know why he suddenly felt such a strong urge to see Gu Wang.
He wasn’t usually such a clingy Mushroom.
But as he touched the protective jade pendant and recalled the expression on Gu Wang’s face last night when he had unhesitatingly drawn blood, an inexplicable longing to see him welled up in his heart.
“Time to board!”
Someone shouted, and the others shouldered their backpacks and climbed into the nearest vehicles. Hui Gu followed their example and boarded the closest truck.
Sitting inside a vehicle in human form for the first time, he felt a flicker of curiosity and gently stroked the seat cushion beneath him. Finally, he remembered that he, too, had a mission to fulfill.
He lowered his head and fiddled with the small camera attached to his chest.
It was a new imaging device developed by the research institute after the apocalypse, unaffected by the chaotic magnetic fields of the wasteland, capable of clearly transmitting visual data.
Until today, all footage of the wasteland had been filmed by special task forces and submitted to the research institute, intended solely for researchers who couldn't personally visit the wasteland to study. There had never been an instance of it being publicly released.
As the first ordinary civilian representative joining the expedition, Hui Gu naturally needed to do something special and attention-grabbing.
The camera on his chest was currently linked to the only large screen at the central square of the base.
With a poke of his finger, a beep sounded as the small camera emitted a faint red light and began working.
Simultaneously, at the central square, the originally sparse crowd began to gather as the large screen flickered to life.
Rare anticipation appeared on the numb faces of the people.
Unfortunately, this time they didn't see Hui Gu's strikingly handsome and unforgettable face, but rather the interior of what appeared to be a very bumpy vehicle.
"What is this?"
Some in the square expressed confusion, but immediately there were people arranged by Nightclub who stepped forward to explain.
After hearing the explanation, everyone's expressions became quite animated.
This unprecedented experience made their hearts tense with anticipation.
Especially the ordinary civilians who had never left the base since entering - they couldn't help but feel particularly anxious.
They could only learn about what the outside world had become through official broadcasts and descriptions from outgoing task force members.
This was the first time someone was going to film it all and show it to them.
Where there was agreement, there was naturally opposition—and not a small amount at that.
"This is simply madness. They're killing him."
"What does it matter to us how the wasteland outside has changed? We're trapped here for life anyway."
"This is too dangerous. He looks like he just reached adulthood. You can't do this to him!"
"Why isn't he speaking? I want to hear him talk."
"There's no sound. In the wasteland, only special recording pens can capture audio. Otherwise, due to interference from certain mutant creature vocalizations, recordings can't pick up anything."
"It moved! The perspective moved! We can see outside the car window now!"
"What kind of monster is that? Damn, the city outside is completely overgrown with greenery!"
More and more people gathered in the square, but regardless of their opinions, they instinctively raised their gaze, staring intently at the screen, afraid of missing anything.
Hui Gu was unaware he had stirred quite a commotion both inside and outside the base. He was captivated by the scenery whipping past outside, happily turning his head to feel the gentle touch of the wind against his face.
But the protective mask blocked this experience completely.
Hui Gu blinked unhappily. He remembered riding in the car with Gu Wang before—back then, he could freely stick his head out the window, a small mushroom swaying in the wind.
He never had to worry about being blown away, because Gu Wang was always watching over him.
Suddenly, Hui Gu sensed a gaze more intense than the others. Without moving his body, he merely tilted his head slightly. "What are you looking at?"
The boy's pleasant voice caught Lin Duqiu off guard, making his fingers tremble slightly. Even though they were separated by protective gear, just hearing him speak sent ripples of excitement through his heart.
Lin Duqiu wanted to bury his head as low as possible, but the highly distinctive muzzle on his face was enough to remind Hui Gu of their less-than-pleasant previous encounter.
"You're the one who followed me before."
For the first time, Lin Duqiu felt a profound sense of helplessness. He shook his head, opening his mouth to explain, but facing Hui Gu, his already deteriorated language skills fell apart completely.
His face flushed red, yet he couldn't utter a single word.
What a strange person.
Hui Gu stopped looking at him and returned to enjoying the scenery outside the window.
Just as he had almost forgotten Lin Duqiu's presence, the man's low voice suddenly spoke up.
Since this was the last vehicle in the convoy, it was mostly filled with supplies. The only living people were the two of them and the driver, who was separated from them by a solid partition up front.
Lin Duqiu: "Be careful of Ji Nianwen."
Hui Gu didn't respond. He could clearly sense that Lin Duqiu carried traces of Ji Nianwen's Mental Power. Even without fully understanding the specifics of Mental Power, he knew they were definitely connected.
"This mission isn't as simple as it seems on the surface." Unfazed by the lack of response, Lin Duqiu lowered his head, trying to make his words clearer. "You're in danger."
Hui Gu grew impatient, his pretty face beneath the protective mask furrowing slightly. "You're the one who's dangerous."
Like a long-haired cat that liked to swat with its claws.
He should be protected, not used as a pawn here.
Lin Duqiu touched his chest and continued, "The S-class target we're hunting this time is a Mutated Plant. Strangely, it was originally a non-aggressive mutant creature from the north, but recently it has suddenly become extremely violent."
"And it left its own territory to attack other mutant creatures everywhere. This is a new situation never recorded before. What's worse is that it's no longer attacking other mutants and has been moving toward the base."
As if... it was searching for something.
He didn't voice this thought aloud, as it was merely speculation.
The idea of a mutant creature looking for something seemed too absurd, and he didn't want to sound foolish by saying it.
Hui Gu had been listening half-heartedly at first, but the more he heard, the more uneasy he felt.
He couldn't shake the feeling that this description sounded familiar.
Could it really be such a coincidence...
He finally looked at Lin Duqiu and asked, "What kind of plant is it?"
Lin Duqiu, surprised to receive a response, replied eagerly, "It's a giant Titan Arum. The bud is several meters long and reportedly still growing. It used to produce small, glowing yellowish fruits as bait to hunt for food."
But that was its feeding habit back when it was a non-aggressive mutant. After turning violent and aggressive, it no longer uses bait—instead, it shreds any living thing it sees with its serrated petals.
If Hui Gu had been somewhat uncertain before, after hearing this description, he was now completely sure that the target of this hunt was the Titan Arum.
As one of the pursuers in the wasteland, the Titan Arum was annoying—always dumping "trash" at his doorstep—but it had genuinely helped him many times.
After getting to know the Titan Arum, many of his previous extreme pursuers had been dealt with by it.
Sometimes, when he was in a good mood, he would even lie on its petals to sunbathe.
Could it be that it left its original territory... to look for him?
Hui Gu: =o=
Seeing Hui Gu fall silent, Lin Duqiu thought his words had frightened him and couldn't help but blame himself for speaking too much.
He opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, then said solemnly, "I'll protect you."
It was the only comfort he could think of.
The vehicle stopped, and someone outside shouted that it was time to eat and rest.
Hui Gu's eyes lit up. Ignoring Lin Duqiu, who seemed to want to say more, he cheerfully opened the door, got out, and approached the person distributing food with the small bowl he had specially brought along.
"One can per person," said the woman handing out the food. She looked to be in her early forties, her hair tied up to reveal a full forehead, her movements swift and efficient.
The scar-faced man in front of her grumbled discontentedly, "I'm big—can't I have an extra can?"
Facing a man a full head taller than her, she didn't back down at all, her tone leaving no room for argument, "You can have more rice until you're full, but the canned food ration is strictly one per person."
The scar-faced man cursed under his breath, but with other Mercenaries around who were in no mood to indulge him, someone immediately glared at him in displeasure.
Afraid of provoking collective anger, he took his box of rice and one can and left.
The woman distributing the food snorted disdainfully, "There's always someone like that..."
She trailed off as she suddenly met a pair of sparkling, expectant eyes—cat-like eyes blinking, shimmering like a watery lake.
After a brief moment of breathless surprise, she snapped back to reality and asked sharply, "Why did you take off your protective mask?"
Hui Gu rubbed his stomach. "Time to eat."
Ordinary people wouldn't immediately die without protective suits in the wasteland, but prolonged exposure to the highly contaminated air outside was indeed dangerous.
She quickly handed him the canned food and rice. "Go on, go eat over there and put your suit back on afterward. You ordinary folks are so troublesome and delicate."
Though her tone was harsh, her movements were gentle as she scooped rice into his bowl.
Hui Gu hugged a can, his delicate nose twitching as he sniffed. Tilting his head, he asked, "This smells really good. Can I have another one?"
He liked it, he wanted it!
His words were straightforward and pure. Several Mercenaries who had been unconsciously sneaking glances at him immediately felt their hearts tighten. Some of them had previously looked down on Hui Gu joining their team, but they had completely forgotten what they'd said not long ago.
Their minds were now filled with floating captions: He's so fair-skinned... so cute... with such big eyes... just like a little kitten...
Humans always have low resistance to adorable things.
After hearing his request, they worried he might get scolded like Scarface did.
With his delicate skin and tender flesh—so different from their rough group—if he got yelled at, he'd probably cry.
The woman distributing food narrowed her eyes and raised her hand high... then placed another can in front of Hui Gu.
She cleared her throat and spoke before Scarface, who hadn't gone far, could start complaining: "This can is from my portion. You can have it."
Scarface could only glare darkly in their direction. Without a reason to cause trouble, he was pushed further away by others.
Hui Gu blinked again. "Then you won't have any."
The woman waved her hand. "Every official mission serves this same canned food. I'm tired of it already. Someone as slender as you needs to eat more to protect yourself."
"Thank you." Hui Gu curved his eyes into a sweet, sincere smile.
The surrounding air quieted for a moment before the crowd erupted into chaos, everyone talking over each other: "You can have my canned food too!"
"Get lost! Don't listen to him—that guy's up to no good. Have mine instead! I brought my own biscuits! You can have those too!"
"Hey, stop pushing me! Weren't you just saying you despise people obsessed with good looks?"
"Who? Who said that? Don't you dare frame me!"
The scene descended into minor chaos.
Though they were at the rear of the convoy, the distance wasn't that great. The commotion here grew loud enough for those at the front to notice.
They turned to look back, asking each other what was happening.
Xiao Wubian, with his strikingly bright red hair, was chatting with Gu Wang. Just half a day into the journey, he'd already noticed this rising star who single-handedly eliminated about eighty percent of the mutant creatures they encountered, leaving no room for others to act.
More importantly, he sensed a strangely familiar aura about the man but couldn't pinpoint it. Tentatively, he asked, "Are you Gu Chen?"
Gu Wang lowered his gaze, wiping away traces of mutant creature blood from his hands. "Hmm."
He showed none of the usual unease one might feel toward the leader of the First Guild. Instead, he carried himself like the superior one.
Not only did his aura feel similar, but even this damned natural leadership quality—acting like a king yet leaving no room for criticism—was exactly the same.
Xiao Wubian twitched the corner of his mouth, the unbelievable conjecture in his mind growing clearer.
"Not you, bro..." He was about to continue when the increasingly obvious clamor in his ears interrupted his train of thought.
Finally unable to bear it any longer, Xiao Wubian turned around and slapped his subordinate on the head: "Hey, what are they arguing about?"
The subordinate scurried over to inquire and returned within minutes, trotting back eagerly to report: "Seems like a few mercenaries are arguing over that mascot sent by Nightclub."
Mascot was the nickname they had secretly given Hui Gu among themselves.
Xiao Wubian originally had no interest in the mascot, but upon hearing this, he was surprised: "The reason?"
The subordinate also showed a bewildered expression, scratching his head: "They want to feed him their own canned food."
Gu Wang, who had been listening nearby, couldn't help but let out a light scoff, his thin lips parting slightly: "Foolish."
Xiao Wubian: "..."
He had been tangled in doubt before, but now—no need to doubt anymore.
This was Gu Wang!!
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