Chapter 63: with translation of chapter title

Liu Shuming?

Translation: "Liu Shiming?" (question mark). Keep same punctuation.

Lin An frowned slightly, quickly finding this piece of information in his memory.

Translation: "Lin An frowned slightly, quickly finding this piece of information in his memory."

Lin An frowned slightly, quickly finding this piece of information in his memory.

It seemed that before he went to the Dream Party Inn, someone had shouted this name at him from behind.

Translation: "It seemed that before he went to the Dream Party Inn, someone had shouted this name at him from behind."

It seemed that before he went to the Dream Party Inn, someone had shouted this name at him from behind.

It sounds a bit familiar.

Translation: "It sounded somewhat familiar."

"What's the matter?"

Translation: "What's up?"

Lin An glanced at the man and asked calmly.

Translation: "Lin An glanced at the man and asked calmly."

Liu Shuming gasped heavily, struggling to swallow a mouthful of saliva before quickly speaking.

Translation: "Liu Shiming gasped heavily, difficulty swallowing a mouthful of saliva before quickly speaking."

"Big brother, I want to follow you guys."

Translation: "\"Big brother, I want to follow you. \""

"Please take me with you, I can work, I... I can endure hardship a lot. Really!"

Translation: "\"Please take me with you, I can work, I.. I can endure hardship. Really! \""

Do you want to join my team?

Translation: "Want to join my team?"

Lin An did not respond.

Translation: "Lin An did not respond."

With his current mental power, he could easily tell that the man before him was just an ordinary player, with nothing special about him.

Translation: "With his current mental power, he could easily tell that the man before him was just an ordinary player, with nothing special."

Bringing him along would be no different from carrying a burden.

Translation: "Bringing him along would be no different from a burden."

Seeing that Lin An hadn't spoken to him, Liu Shuming couldn't help but grow nervous.

Translation: "Seeing Lin An not respond, Liu Shiming couldn't help but grow nervous."

The man before him was the strongest human he had seen in these days! No, the strongest player!

Translation: "The man before him was the strongest human he had seen in these days! No, player!"

Even among the group he had seen hiding at the window stand the day before, the man who could wield lightning was nowhere near as strong as Lin An!

Translation: "Even among the group he saw hiding at the window counter the day before, the man who could wield lightning paled in comparison to Lin An!"

Lightning may look mysterious, but its effect is merely to paralyze zombies, which pales in comparison to Lin An's ability to cleave through hordes of zombies with a single strike.

Translation: "Lightning may look mysterious, but its effect is merely paralyzing zombies; compared to Lin An's one strike that cuts down swaths of zombies, the difference is enormous."

One strike cuts all; he often recalls that blade these days.

Translation: "One strike, all cut; that blade he often recalls these days."

But he didn't know that Lin An's current strength was even more terrifying than he imagined.

Translation: "But he didn't know that Lin An's current strength was even more terrifying than he imagined."

Since Lin An rode away on his motorcycle that day, he has been hiding in his room, afraid to even step out the door.

Translation: "Since Lin An rode away on his motorcycle that day, he has been hiding in the room, afraid to even step out the door."

When Huang Gang's group was scavenging for food, he forced himself into a cabinet to hide, which is why he wasn't discovered.

Translation: "When the Huanggang gang searched for food, he forced himself into a cabinet to hide, thus avoiding detection."

Eight days...

Translation: "Eight days..."

Over those eight days, he ate everything edible in the house, even the succulents he had nurtured for years, stir‑fried them as greens.

Translation: "In those eight days, he ate everything edible at home, even the succulents he had raised for years, stir-fried as greens."

If this continues, he seriously doubts he'll starve to death.

Translation: "If this continues, he seriously doubts he will starve to death."

To Lin An's group, the scattered zombies posed no threat, but to him they felt like wandering evil spirits.

Translation: "To Lin An's group, the scattered zombies were nothing to fear, but to him they were like wandering evil spirits."

"Big brother, I really can work... I promise... I won't hold you back."

Translation: "\"Big brother, I really can work... I promise... I won't hold you back. \""

"I'm definitely stronger than those girls!"

Translation: "\"I'm definitely stronger than these women! \""

Liu Shuming quickly glanced at the crowd behind Lin An, his eyes full of hope.

Translation: "Liu Shiming quickly glanced at the crowd behind Lin An, full of expectation."

In his view, Lin An was even willing to take a little girl, so there's no reason not to take him.

Translation: "In his view, Lin An even willing to bring a little girl, so there's no reason not to take him."

After all, I'm an adult male—my strength is surely greater than a little girl's!

Translation: "Anyway, I'm an adult male; my strength should be greater than a little girl's."

Inside the car, Wenyya frowned slightly, saying nothing.

Translation: "Inside the car, Wen Ya frowned slightly, saying nothing."

Stronger than her?

Translation: "Stronger than her?"

The man outside didn't notice the smile that tugged at Lin An's mouth after hearing those words.

Translation: "The man outside did not notice the smile curling Lin An's lips after hearing those words."

Now Wenyya doesn't mention her mutant identity; even as a zero‑stage awakened, she can handle a small group of zombies alone without trouble.

Translation: "Wen Ya now does not mention her mutant identity; even as a zero‑rank Awakened One, she can handle a small group of zombies alone."

Lin An opened the car door, gesturing for everyone to get in first. He doesn't like wasting time.

Translation: "Lin An opened the car door, gesturing for everyone to board first. He does not like wasting time."

"Ten seconds—tell me what you can do."

Translation: "\"Ten seconds, tell me what you can do. \""

Establishing a safe zone requires manpower; bringing this man along isn't necessarily out of the question, but only if he's useful.

Translation: "Building a safe zone requires manpower; taking this man along is not necessarily out of the question, but he must be useful."

In the apocalypse game, whether you're a business elite or a singer‑artist, before zombies you're just a running slab of meat.

Translation: "In the Doomsday Game, whether you are a business elite or a singer‑artist, before zombies you are just a piece of meat that can run."

Usefulness?

Translation: "Useful?"

The man stood frozen for a moment, then frantically wondered what skills he actually possessed.

Translation: "The man stood stunned for a moment, then frantically thought about what he could actually do."

Before the outbreak, he was an architect who regularly prepared building plans for clients.

Translation: "Before the apocalypse broke out, he was an architect, usually providing clients with building plans."

But now there's no electricity, and computers are just scrap metal; his livelihood skills are utterly useless.

Translation: "But now electricity is gone, computers are just scrap metal; his livelihood skills are utterly useless."

"I can drive!"

Translation: "\"I can drive! \""

Liu Shuming clung to the car door in panic, pleading with Jing Tian not to start the vehicle.

Translation: "Liu Shiming clung to the car door in panic, his eyes pleading with Jing Tian not to start the vehicle."

Lin An remained calm; being able to drive isn't particularly useful.

Translation: "Lin An remained calm; being able to drive is of no use."

Let alone that plenty of ordinary players can drive; any awakened can rival a professional racer.

Translation: "Never mind that many ordinary players can drive; any Awakened One can rival a professional racer."

Liu Shuming read Lin An's expression and instantly panicked.

Translation: "Liu Shiming read Lin An's attitude in his eyes and instantly panicked."

"I can grow vegetables and tend flowers! I usually enjoy doing that kind of thing!"

Translation: "\"I can grow vegetables and tend flowers! I usually like doing these things! \""

"Please take me with you—I really don't have the courage to survive alone!"

Translation: "\"Please take me with you; I really don't have the courage to survive alone! \""

"Zombies are terrifying; if I stay here any longer, they'll surely eat me!"

Translation: "\"Zombies are terrifying; if I stay here I'll surely be eaten! \""

He spoke rapidly, fearing that Lin An would order the vehicle to start any second, while scattered zombies nearby had already heard the noise and were closing in.

Translation: "He spoke rapidly, fearing Lin An would have someone start the vehicle any second; scattered zombies nearby had already heard the noise and drawn near."

This was his first encounter with zombies outside, and his legs had already turned to jelly from fear.

Translation: "This was his first time encountering zombies outside, and his legs had already gone weak from fear."

Lin An shook his head, preparing to close the car window.

Translation: "Lin An shook his head, preparing to close the car window."

"If you can't do anything, at least you should have courage."

Translation: "\"If you can't do anything, at least you should have courage. \""

Establishing a safe‑zone base truly requires a batch of experts skilled in agricultural technology; relying solely on pre‑apocalypse supplies won't last long.

Translation: "Establishing a safe‑zone base truly requires a batch of experts versed in agricultural technology; relying solely on supplies left from before the apocalypse cannot last long."

To keep a base running at a basic level, it needs a team of nearly a thousand people.

Translation: "A base wanting to maintain basic operations needs at least a team of nearly a thousand people."

But at a glance, the man before him is clearly an urban white‑collar worker, and his farming ability is probably only amateur level.

Translation: "But the man before him is clearly an urban white‑collar worker; his planting level is probably just amateur."

What he needs is at least expert‑level, or an experienced farming professional.

Translation: "What he needs is at least expert level, or an experienced planting professional household."

"Hum."

Translation: "\"Hum. \""

The engine roared, Lin An didn't give the man a chance to continue speaking.

If you can survive, you can come find me at Linjiang Academy later. There, I need some help.

The car window shook, and Lin An passed some canned food and drinking water through the gap.

As a fellow survivor, his kindness goes no further than this.

The man clutched the can, staring blankly as the vehicle drifted farther away.

Lin An still gave him a glimmer of hope: if the man could reach the Safe Zone on his own, it would show he had at least learned to survive.

Letting someone who doesn't even dare to step outside or face zombies join the group would only bring unnecessary trouble.

Youwei inside the car glanced back reluctantly, but didn't speak up to persuade Lin An.

Even though she was still a little girl, the experiences of these days had made her understand a truth.

The apocalypse is cruel; no one will give you charity.

Without strength, do you want to eat? Do you want to survive?

If you're pretty, maybe you can trade your body, trade your dignity!

Otherwise, risk your life!

In the distance, zombies howled; few survivors remained in the residential area, and the man before them was like a slab of fresh meat laid out before their eyes.

The man clenched his fists.

Courage?

Do I really lack the courage to face it?

Liu Shiming couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, unwillingly shouting at the departing vehicle.

"I'm an architect!"

"I know I'm useless to you right now!"

"I also know that in this damn apocalypse, you need strength to survive!"

"But you promised me, didn't you!"

"As long as I can make it alive to Linjiang Academy, you'll let me follow you!"

After saying that, the man turned and stared at the howling zombies, gritting his fear as he picked up a scattered iron rod from the ground.

"Come on!"

"You bunch of beasts!"

The departing vehicle suddenly braked, and Lin An froze inside the car.

An architect?

Liu Shiming...

No wonder the name felt so familiar; he had thought the man had shouted his own name earlier.

"Go back."

"Zhang Tie, get out and bring him over."

Lin An raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised as he ordered Zhang Tie to get out and bring the person over.

Beyond belief.

He never would have imagined that the cowardly man behind him

He was likely the chief designer of one of the A-rank Safe Zones in the Huaxia theater of his past life—Hope City.

Strange, he recalled seeing this designer appear in the chat channel before.

Back then he seemed generous and passionate, full of confidence—now he's a cowardly, fearful wreck, worlds apart.

In the Doomsday Game, architects really aren't useful.

But if a player's skill is the Architect profession, it's a different story.

For example, a real-life blacksmith with sufficient skill can turn his ability into a professional skill, adding attributes to weapons when forged.

This is also why most non-combat players in his past life could join Safe Zones and survive.

Lin An's gaze fell on the man Zhang Tie was holding outside the window.

He would certainly recruit such a player under his command.

However.

You have to be him.