Early morning!
A beautiful day begins as the sun rises.
When Lam Pham wakes up every day, he cooks himself a bowl of congee and two eggs. It seems very simple, yet it's his favorite. Life is just that simple.
When he goes downstairs, he stops by Sister Ly's place to see Little Manh.
Little Manh's walking is very steady. When she sees Lam Pham, she calls him "dada." Even though he doesn't carry her with him, she still remembers Lam Pham, still remembers the man who gave her a second chance at life.
He was the one who brought the child back, but in order to speed up the cleanup process, he had no choice but to entrust the child to Sister Ly's care. Therefore, with no worries holding him back, he often spends most of his time cleaning up until late at night before returning.
The result is that the cleanup speed has been extremely effective.
Walking along the shelter's streets, greeting acquaintances he passes by, this is also part of his daily routine. As the most famous figure in the Sunshine Shelter, these things are unavoidable.
"Ah."
Lam Pham saw Ha Khanh dressed in sportswear walking from a distance, accompanied by an unfamiliar woman.
Looking closely, she was quite formidable.
She exuded a certain kind of aura.
A single glance was enough to tell that she was a wealthy lady.
Ha Khanh saw Lam Pham and wanted to avoid him, but unfortunately, his thoughts were seen through by the old sister in a single glance. She directly grabbed his arm. "What, have you done something against your conscience that you don't dare to face him? Come on, let's go say hello. You don't even have this basic courtesy?"
Sigh. A silent sigh came from the bottom of his lungs. Ever since rolling in the sheets, my fate is truly no longer my own.
"Mr. Lam, hello." The old sister was relatively normal in front of Lam Pham, greeting him with gratitude and respect. If he hadn't saved her, she would have died long ago, without even the capital to rely on others.
"Good morning." Ha Khanh, unable to avoid it, exchanged pleasantries smoothly.
"Hello to you both." Lam Pham smiled. "Did you two meet at the matchmaking event?"
The old sister said, "Yes, if you hadn't organized the matchmaking event, it would have been very difficult for us to get to this point."
Lam Pham laughed. "Lovers will eventually be united. Even without me organizing the matchmaking event, you would have been brought together by fate."
Ha Khanh, standing to the side, rolled his eyes upon hearing this. You can't just spout nonsense. Who said we were brought together by fate? I was plied with alcohol, and this was caused by drunken recklessness.
"Mr. Lam is absolutely right. Fate is truly indescribable." The old sister's normal demeanor was probably reserved only for Lam Pham. As for what was reserved for Ha Khanh, it was probably along the lines of, Don't you dare make me angry, or I'll discipline you until you're dead, and other words that Ha Khanh's current body could not withstand.
Even if he couldn't stand it, he had to.
"Where are you two headed?" Lam Pham asked.
The old sister pointed at Ha Khanh and said helplessly, "At his age, his body is not good. In peacetime, it was drained by wine and women, and his physical functions are extremely poor. We want to contribute to the future inheritance of civilization, but we can't contribute a physically unfit hope. So, I'm forcing him to start morning runs to improve his physical fitness."
"I was not drained by wine and women!" Ha Khanh feebly retorted. He never thought he would encounter such a situation. Can't you speak like a human being? Your mouth is like a knife.
He wanted to say something, but to his surprise, Lam Pham was listening very seriously, even nodding from time to time. Don't tell me he actually believes this old broad's nonsense.
Lam Pham saw Ha Khanh's deathly expression and held back a laugh. "I believe you two can do it. The future requires everyone's joint efforts. I think we can definitely have a beautiful future."
He thought of Ha Khanh's former style.
That was the style of a big shot. He owned the Lucky Star, took in over a thousand people, ate steak, drank red wine, and had loyal subordinates. But now, because of a matchmaking event, he was completely pinned down.
Indeed, the scenery is the same, but the people have changed. Who can always have smooth sailing?
"Yes, Mr. Lam. Oh right, I forgot to introduce myself. My real name is Vuong Nam." The old sister proactively stated her name. It wasn't that she was unwilling to tell others her name, but her name was indeed a bit unpleasant to the ear.
Ha Khanh, at the side, blinked, staring blankly at the old sister. Well now. I asked you and you wouldn't say. But in front of Lam Pham, he hasn't even asked, and you just blurt it out.
For some reason, Ha Khanh always felt like his head was a little green on the outside. Of course, this was just his joke. Even if the old sister were thirty years younger, Lam Pham would not possibly be interested in her.
Wait a minute... that's not the right way to put it. Doesn't that mean it's very shameful for me to be pinned down by her?
"Alright, I'll remember. After you finish your morning run, go back and have breakfast. I'm also heading out to clear zombies." Lam Pham didn't want to disturb their two-person world. Who knew, maybe when they got home, the two would get excited and have another battle.
"Mr. Lam, please go ahead with your work."
Vuong Nam said politely.
Lam Pham left with a smile, until his back disappeared into the distance.
Only then did Vuong Nam retract her gaze. She looked at Ha Khanh beside her and said, "See? The ambition of a young man is something you can't achieve at your age."
"Oh, I see, Vuong Nam." Ha Khanh deliberately emphasized the name.
"I hope you will call me 'wife,' 'honey,' or 'baby' in the future. I don't want to hear my name from your mouth."
"Oh, I see, Vuong Nam."
Could Ha Khanh be afraid? He certainly couldn't be. Otherwise, it would be a disservice to his former status and position.
Vuong Nam gritted her teeth and looked at Ha Khanh, a cold smile on her face. "Very good, really very good. This old lady just loves stubborn old men. If you can get out of bed today, then this old lady's life will have been a waste. Let's go, come home with me. My understanding of you has been met with your ingratitude."
After speaking, she dragged Ha Khanh hastily towards their home.
"Let go, let go! What are you trying to do so early in the morning..."
Ha Khanh shuddered, a chill running from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. "Let's talk this out properly. Don't get physical."
"Hmph, it's not up to you." As soon as Lam Pham left, Vuong Nam's assertive personality erupted. And Ha Khanh, with no power or influence in the Sunshine Shelter, was no match for Vuong Nam. He could only be dragged further and further away under the appreciative gazes of the people around them.
A man who was cleaning the glass of a shop watched the helpless Ha Khanh being dragged away and couldn't help but shake his head and sigh.
"The former Master Ha has finally fallen. This is karma, a fitting retribution."
To think how arrogant the former Master Ha was on the Lucky Star.
That's how pathetic he is now.
. . .
Outside Hoang City, on the great river-crossing bridge.
"I really didn't expect you to take the initiative to find me."
Lam Pham met the person he wanted to see, but knew would be very difficult to see. Thoi Tieu Phi had proactively contacted him and arranged to meet here. It truly exceeded his imagination.
"Is it that surprising?" Thoi Tieu Phi looked at Lam Pham, who seemed calm and placid on the surface but contained incomparable energy within. The order of the entire post-apocalyptic world was gradually being stabilized by him alone. Zombies had no brains; they just relied on their vast numbers to occupy this broken apocalyptic world. But what was the result? At least on his way here, he no longer encountered those zombies that had pushed humanity to the brink.
As for the organization's headquarters, they were just hiding in the shadows, developing. Dared they jump out? They definitely didn't dare. If they dared to appear, what would greet them would be a thunderous sweep.
"A little bit of a surprise. Ah, what are these books for?" Lam Pham noticed a large bag of books next to Thoi Tieu Phi. The cover title was Love the World. He had never read this kind of book. His favorite was still Stark and His Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Girlfriends. That kind of book was truly enjoyable.
Although some of the details inside seemed a bit risqué, whether it was risqué or not was just a matter of written description. The reader had to find enlightenment within the text. What you see with your eyes is not necessarily real. Only what you can feel with your heart is true understanding.
Thoi Tieu Phi said, "It's a book recommended by Chung Hong. After reading it, it can soothe a person's heart."
"Yes, reading can indeed bring peace to one's mind. The power of the words in books can often shake a person's soul, just like the books I read. I also read books in my spare time, but I haven't been reading much lately," Lam Pham said.
Thoi Tieu Phi said, "I didn't come here to chat with you about books."
"I know, but you brought books, so I just mentioned it," Lam Pham said with a smile.
Thoi Tieu Phi still felt that Lam Pham was an interesting person. His words and actions gave no hint that he was an existence that could cut down countless zombies like vegetables.
Indeed, truly terrifying existences are always difficult to see through.
"Can you do me a favor?" Thoi Tieu Phi said.
"Please speak."
When faced with someone who needed help, he never skimped on his abilities. Sometimes, helping others was equivalent to helping himself.
"I want to meet with the principal."
Thoi Tieu Phi knew that Principal Doan Thanh Ho had truly held high hopes for him. He was also the most outstanding student in the principal's heart. Any teacher who encountered an outstanding student, even if they no longer taught them, would often mention that outstanding student they once taught in front of new students. This wasn't to praise others, but to have been able to teach such a student was a matter of pride in his professional career.
"Anyone else?"
"No, just the principal."
"Alright, wait a moment. I'll send him a message and have him come over himself."
Lam Pham took out his phone, found Doan Thanh Ho in his contacts list, sent his location, and asked him to come over now, telling him that his student, Thoi Tieu Phi, wanted to see him.
A moment later.
Lam Pham put away his phone. "The message has been sent. He should be here soon."
"Thank you," Thoi Tieu Phi said.
"You're welcome."
The wind blew. In this desolate place, the two looked at each other. After a brief silence, Thoi Tieu Phi voiced the question that had been weighing on his heart for a long time.
"Do you think the future has a future?"
"Yes. I firmly believe so."
Lam Pham always had hope for the future, never doubted it, and even made it his goal, always striving forward. Even if he encountered some obstacles along the way, he would not be discouraged.
"Oh? You've been saving survivors in the apocalypse all this time. How many are there?"
"9,058 people."
Thoi Tieu Phi looked up at the sky, his eyes calm as he slowly said, "That's right. Over a billion people, and in the end, the population in the Hoang City shelter is only nine thousand. Do you really think human civilization will be passed on? To restore the former prosperity, how long would that take?"
He could hear that Thoi Tieu Phi held no hope for the future. Clearly, in his view, what could so few people do? What could they achieve? Compared to the past, it was just a drop in the ocean.
Lam Pham said firmly, "Time is not the issue. The issue is whether one has belief and confidence. If even we don't have confidence, then there really is no hope. Fifty years, a hundred years, two hundred years. As long as we maintain our belief from beginning to end, I believe that day will eventually come."
Thoi Tieu Phi smiled. Deep down, he felt a little emotional. If he had met Lam Pham a little earlier, been saved by him, and joined the Sunshine Shelter, perhaps on the path of pursuing a beautiful future, among the tens of thousands of figures, his would have been there too.
But now, it was too late to say anything.
"Then have you ever thought about a problem?"
"What problem?"
"Since ancient times, wherever there are people, there is conflict. Now, the shelter is fine because of your existence, and everyone gets along well. But in the next few decades, or even a hundred years, if you are no longer here, have you ever thought about what will happen to humanity then?"
"That would be an order just like in peacetime," Lam Pham said.
Thoi Tieu Phi shook his head. "No, it's absolutely impossible for it to be exactly like peacetime, because Awakeners and Mutants have appeared. They represent power. If the future order is led by these two types, then they will inevitably oppress ordinary people. And if the leaders of the order are ordinary people, then those with power will certainly not submit. Without you, human civilization will eventually face a great catastrophe."
Hearing Thoi Tieu Phi say this, Lam Pham fell into deep thought. After a moment, he slowly said, "Perhaps you are right. What you said will eventually happen, but that is a matter for the people of the new era. We, the remnants of the old era, just need to pass down the spark of civilization."
What the future holds is not what he needs to think about now. He can only do so much, and he only wants to do the present well. At least, civilization cannot be broken in their era.
Thoi Tieu Phi smiled. "A noble ideal often requires vigorous effort to achieve. You have indeed done it. It's just a pity that extraordinary power has appeared in the apocalypse. Extraordinary is, after all, extraordinary. If there were talk of immortals and gods, and myths reappeared, perhaps you would think about whether you could reverse the flow of time, go back to the past. Even if you had to pay any price, you probably wouldn't hesitate, because I can feel from you the most important bond buried deep inside."
Lam Pham was slightly stunned, the soft spot in his heart trembling slightly. "Perhaps you are right. It's just that what you said about reversing time and so on is ultimately just a speculation."
At this time.
Inside the shelter.
After receiving Lam Pham's message, Doan Thanh Ho was stunned on the spot for a few seconds. His once most hopeful student had come and wanted to see him. This made his feelings very complicated.
He hurried home and found a piece of clothing from his wardrobe that he hadn't worn in a long time.
The clothes were a bit old, but it was his most cherished set. It was what Thoi Tieu Phi had bought for him with the first prize money he won from a competition.
He hadn't sent that prize money home. Instead, he had bought a Zhongshan suit for him, the principal.
He still remembered what Little Phi had said to him back then.
"Principal, you look really handsome in this suit. You have the air of a secluded master, steady and reserved, not to mention really cool."
Doan Thanh Ho had reprimanded him for spending money frivolously, but the feeling was wonderful. This was what his student had bought for him with his first competition prize money. It absolutely could not be measured by money.
He stood in front of the mirror, carefully adjusting himself, flipping the collar, smoothing the shoulders, tugging at the hem, taking a deep breath. Everything looked so spirited.
He went into the bathroom and carefully trimmed his hair.
Then he left the house.
"Dad, where are you going?"
As he was leaving, Doan Nghe saw her father and couldn't help but ask curiously. When she saw the clothes her father was wearing, her expression changed slightly.
Because she knew what these clothes represented.
When the Martial Arts School left with Lam Pham, her father hadn't brought anything, only this set of clothes.
Now that her father was wearing these clothes to go out, what was happening was self-evident.
"It's nothing. You go about your business."
Doan Thanh Ho didn't say much, just casually brushed her off, and then left in a hurry.
He then started one of the shelter's vehicles and headed towards the designated location.
Doan Nghe knew who had come.
She wanted to go with him.
But thinking of her father's temper, she ultimately decided against it.
Sometimes, she even felt that in her father's heart, Senior Brother Thoi was more important than her, his own daughter. She was a little jealous.
. . .
While waiting for Doan Thanh Ho.
Lam Pham and Thoi Tieu Phi chatted a lot.
Today, they had set aside their respective identities. He was not the Protector of the Sunshine Shelter, and Thoi Tieu Phi was not the strongest perfect Mutant of the Mutant headquarters.
Thoi Tieu Phi's stance was one of doubt about the future.
Lam Pham's was one of trust in the future.
At this moment, a car sped towards them.
"Principal Doan is here."
Lam Pham looked at the car in the distance. It was driving very fast, which showed that Principal Doan was also anxious. Even if this student had once had different ideas from him, so what if he was angry? His love for this student would ultimately not change.
Thoi Tieu Phi also looked on.
Until the car stopped in front of them. Principal Doan, who was in the car, didn't get out immediately. Instead, he held the steering wheel, slowly took a few deep breaths, opened the car door, and got out.
The first thing Thoi Tieu Phi's eyes saw was the clothes the principal was wearing.
His gaze changed slightly.
Those were the clothes he had bought for the principal.
So many, many years ago.
The principal had actually kept them all this time. He had even told him, "This suit of yours, I, the principal, must keep it well. In the future, when my girl gets married, I'll wear this suit and tell everyone that this suit was bought with the prize money my student won from the national martial arts championship. It's more precious than any Armani, Heilan Home, or what have you."
As a teenager, he had said that after so many years, the clothes would surely be old and tattered. Others might see it and think how poor the principal was.
He never thought... the principal had kept them so well.
Thinking of this, Thoi Tieu Phi's eyes grew moist.
"Principal," Thoi Tieu Phi called out proactively.
"Little Phi."
Doan Thanh Ho looked at his proudest student. For a moment, the words were stuck in his throat. It wasn't that he had nothing to say; there were a thousand words, but when he saw him, the words he wanted to say were unable to come out for a long time.
"You two, teacher and student, can chat. I'll go over there for a bit."
Lam Pham didn't disturb them. Instead, he walked to a rock in the distance and sat down, quietly waiting for them to finish their conversation.
He felt that Thoi Tieu Phi's emotions were a bit gloomy.
Like someone who had worked hard and grown tired outside. On the outside, they showed strength, but their inner weakness was often only revealed in front of the person they trusted most.
. . .
"Have you been well recently?"
Doan Thanh Ho asked, just like he was caring for a child who had run away from home. Even if this child had gone down the wrong path, after being reprimanded, what remained was still care.
"I'm okay."
"What about those junior brothers and sisters you took with you?"
"They... are also okay. It's just that there was a situation during the fusion of the serum, and after gaining power, some people's mindsets changed..."
Thoi Tieu Phi didn't hide anything from the principal. In his heart, the principal would always be the person he trusted most.
"Do you regret it?"