CHAPTER 21: S CITY

Due to the selective nature of evolution for organisms, not every type of creature could mutate, thus bringing about this bizarre landscape now. On both ends of the road, white poplar trees stood upright on the earth. The majority were more than 10 meters high, only a few unexpectedly grew past the skies, even one or two had branches that strangely twisted, making the surrounding same species trees look disorderly.

Yu Jie incessantly turned the steering wheel, avoiding various abrupt attacks. It was also fortunate that there were not a lot of life forms on the two sides of the national highway. So after they had gone on the highway, there were even fewer organisms that blocked the way. There were only a few ownerless cars blocking the road. Their shabby and unused appearances seemed like they had already been abandoned for a long time.

“It looks like the so-called theory that the direct sunlight is dangerous has already been removed.” The car once again drove past a few trucks horizontally parked on the road. Qin Chu took a glance and continued to say, “It’s just that it’s unknown where these people all went. To throw aside their cars on the road like this, was there an accident?” 

Jing Xia froze and reflectively asked, “Sister Qin…… you never thought that these cars might have run out of petrol?”

“……” Immediately, Qin Chu’s face reddened. Awkwardly coughing twice, she turned her head away and said, “I…… I’m just making a joke, how could I not know about this? On the contrary, little bastard, that mutant hamster on your head seems to truly always depend on you. Look at this appearance of yours now —— holding an old rat on your head, haha.” The intentionally raised voice laughed heartily. Qin Chu had awkwardly changed the topic.

“Jijijiji!!!”

Granduncle Mouse is a mutant black line hamster! You are an old rat!

The fur on its whole body spiked up. Short, chubby legs tightly stuck on Jing Xia’s hair. It did not have claws nor did it have strength, trying to maintain its balance. It glared at Qin Chu with its tiny mung bean eyes, but its eyes were too small so they did not contain even the littlest bit of harm.

Jing Xia helplessly gave Qin Chu a glance and did not utter another word.

Before, when Steward Wang had passed away; because his emotions were too agitated, he pushed all the responsibility on Qin Chu. In hindsight, it really made him feel a little ashamed. Precisely as Qin Chu had said, he probably also knew that Steward Wang could not last for a few more days. Moreover, Qin Chu also did not do it purposely. Him blindly blaming others was his way to vent his grief, harming others. 

Steward Wang left feeling very gratified, and it could even be said that in this kind of apocalypse, it was also a kind of fortune for him to suffer a little less torment. After his mind had cooled down, Jing Xia had already calmly accepted this reality, meeting the next day head-on. Although he had not said anything to Qin Chu, the two tactically never mentioned the matters on that night, just regarding it as if nothing had happened.

“What is the ‘Dangerous Direct Sunlight’ theory?” Qi Yang, who had always remained silent, suddenly opened his mouth. He turned around and looked towards Jing Xia, asking with a smile, “What era is it now, there’s still this kind of theory?”

Jing Xia did not think much and subconsciously replied, “Due to the sudden disappearance of electromagnetic waves a few months prior, the leaders…… cough, you know, people just came and said it was abnormal sunspot activity, requiring all people not to expose themselves under the sunlight.”

Elegant eyes slowly widened, Qi Yang sluggishly stared for a long while, before suddenly bursting into loud laughter, “There are still people who believe in these kinds of lies? Really too interesting, really too interesting! Sunspot activity that is capable of triggering the disappearance of the majority of the electromagnetic waves worldwide can no longer be described using ordinary geomagnetic storm phenomenons. In that case, x-rays, ultraviolet rays, protons and beams of electrons emitted by the sun certainly have reached the extremity that humanity can no longer bear. As early as before the electromagnetic waves had disappeared, the atmosphere had already been completely destroyed. Before the leaders issued a notice, presumably, a greater part of humanity in this world would have died. Microorganisms rapidly multiplied, viruses spread, thoroughly becoming a hell.”

The more he spoke, the more excited he became. It was as if he had personally seen that scene. Qi Yang was so stimulated that his fair cheeks reddened. His eyes bent into a smile, “If this really is abnormal sunspot activity, before we are even able to evolve, we all would have died. How could the humans outside be so cute? Really cute enough that it made one cannot help but want to give a kiss.”

“Cough, cough……!!!” Jing Xia suddenly choked on saliva. He looked at the clearly crazy Qi Yang with horror. His body unconsciously moved towards Ji Chuancheng. When he leaned on that warm heat source, Jing Xia confirmed that he was at least 20 centimetres away from that scary smiling lunatic and finally let out a breath of relief.

He does not want to be that…… cute enough to make one not help but kiss him!

As if he had discovered the young man’s abnormality, Qi Yang raised his eyes and smiled, “That Jing Xia, it seems that you are still a person with average IQ. After all, you didn’t listen to those nonsensical lies and obediently stayed in the dark.”

“……” Jing Xia speechlessly gazed at Qi Yang, turned his head and didn’t take notice of him anymore.

If it were not for him being reborn, then he really would belong to those obediently staying at home, “IQ lower than average” ordinary masses.

“After going on the highway, the speed might increase a bit.” A low magnetic voice suddenly sounded from behind Jing Xia. He turned his head around and looked towards Ji Chuancheng, only seeing the latter lowering his eyes and continuing to say, “We can definitely arrive at S City  by approximately tomorrow evening.”

Jing Xia nodded, “En, by now, S City should already have established an evolved human organization. Wait when we get there, we can directly go find them and then discuss the matters concerning our next step.”

Ji Chuancheng faintly nodded.

“Why are you so certain that evolvers in S City have formed an organization?” A low ridiculing voice suddenly echoed.

Jing Xia subconsciously replied, “It has already been four months since the mutation began. Shouldn’t the people of S City have long-established a self-rescue base? I remembered it was at……”

“Because his IQ is average.” Ji Chuancheng suddenly spoke, interrupting Jing Xia’s words, “Since you don’t understand this question, then it’s still really a shame. Qi Yang, your IQ has not reached the average at all.”

Qi Yang, “……”

After seeing Qi Yang defeatedly turned around, no longer speaking, did Jing Xia feel his whole body dampened with frightened cold sweat——

He nearly just exposed himself!

On the account of having lived in S City for a long time during his previous life, he naturally knew that S City Base was established three months after the mutation day by three evolvers. At the start, it was merely to separate evolvers and normal humans, ensuring one’s own safety.

Different from the thinking of the ordinary people, in S City, evolvers who possessed special ability did not become well-known figures amongst the masses. From when the first person received an eye roll and besieges, to later when every evolver was forced to separate; a kind of foreboding thought arose in the minds of the ordinary humans.

Hidden deep inside their hearts was a kind of “not my kind, their hearts must be different” intrinsic thought. Due to their lack of strength, they gathered together and rebelled; because of their fear and dread, they searched for a reason to eradicate.

Thus, whenevolvers were initially disadvantaged, the lives of all evolvers could be said to be quite miserable. Except for those who had special abilities and strength to avoid the attacks from ordinary humans, the majority of the evolvers were all struggling against others under difficult circumstances. To the extreme that many evolvers were killed during the most unendurable process of evolution.

So, the beginning of S City Base for evolvers was purely to rival ordinary humans, striving for their own right to survive. This situation always persisted in S City. The tense and serious mood had not dispersed for a very long time, it was not until the first group of mutant beasts attacked did changes happen. 

S City’s vegetation was not dense, thus all evolved plantations could be ignored. The rare mutated house pets of some families were also under the control of normal humans, not causing a great matter. However, S City Zoo’s first major mutant beasts attack let humans experience first-hand the horrors of mutant beasts.

S City Zoo was located on the west of S City, adjacent to S City Airport. Due to its remote location in sites especially used for enterprises, after the mutation happened, it did not cause too great of an influence to the people in urban areas. However, in 2015, October the 3rd, on that day which was later named by the remaining surviving humans as “Crimson Epoch”, all mutant beasts in S City Zoo conducted a counterattack. 

A total of around 6000 animals,  species spanning over 400 types, amongst these, the rate of mutation had reached 10%.

Fierce as a jaguar, powerful as a gibbon, gigantic as an African elephant, sturdy as a polar bear.

Not to mention the approximately a thousand mutant beasts, mere mutant passion flowers and southern snake vines directly swept away and entirely slaughtered hundreds of humans. These ordinary humans mostly did not have even the slightest strength to resist. This long coming counterattack continued to the common boundary between the Changping region and Ning’an region before their steps stopped. 

Confronting the clamouring, revolting mutant beast crowds, several hundred of evolvers formed small assault squadrons. Under the sacrifices of hundreds of people, going all out at the risk of their lives, they blocked the advancement of the mutant beasts, successfully defending the lives of several millions of ordinary humans in S City Base. 

Thinking of this, Jing Xia lightly sighed, his fingers also subconsciously clenched tightly.

If the “Crimson Epoch” was the first time that the people assembled at S City Base had faced the terribleness of the mutant beasts, then…… this also could only be regarded as a prelude. 

“Rest earlier today, strive to arrive in S City earlier tomorrow.” Ji Chuancheng broke the compressed bread in half and handed it to Jing Xia. Seeing the young man’s slightly pale complexion, his enigmatic eyes slightly narrowed, “When we arrive at S City, Qi Yang will separate from us, you don’t need to care about him much.”

Originally Jing Xia was immersed in his own downcast mood. Suddenly hearing this sentence, he could not help but raise his head with astonishment and asked, “Qi…… Qi Yang? What happened to him?”

The ignited flames of the open fire crackled, illuminating the dark night. The whistle of the desolate autumn wind wore down Jing Xia’s voice so that Qin Chu and Qi Yang who had sat further away did not hear anything. Only Yu Jie gave them a puzzled glance, not saying anything more.

Ji Chuancheng slightly froze and said, “Nothing.”

The dim, twilight amber moonlight despondently shone down on this small highway. Every hundred meters or so was an abandoned vehicle left in the middle of the road. Half a meter away, Jing Xia lowered his head, staring at the luminous fire, throwing the small stick he was holding into the fire.

“A’ Chuan, B City’s first beast tide should’ve already passed now, right?”

“En.”

Jing Xia slightly frowned, “That beast tide cannot be regarded as very big, but I don’t want…… the same thing is still happening, just like before.” His voice was lowered, only two people could hear it.

Ji Chuancheng calmly turned around, solemnly focusing his gaze firmly on Jing Xia. Only after a long while did he reply, “I already have reported what should be reported to my superiors. Although it is impossible for everyone to be perfectly intact, the….. tragedy that you mentioned will definitely not happen.”

B City was surrounded by Sanshan District, not at all like S City, so close to the East China Sea and the species of living creatures were also less than the latter. That beast tide that had crossed the Yan mountain range and the Taixing mountain range was not as fierce as S City’s few beast tides. However, due to lack of preparation, it brought about hundreds of thousands of casualties.

“It’s impossible for you to save everyone, and because the depths of the inland are surrounded by forests and mountain ranges, it’s also impossible for B City to become the final headquarters for humanity. Our decision to go to S City is correct. There is no need for you to be guilty. At least you definitely have saved many people.”

“Pfft.” Hearing this, Jing Xia suddenly let out a low laugh, “A’ Chuan, have you discovered that you always say phrases like ‘don’t feel guilty’ and don’t be ashamed’ to me? Like this, you have evolved to become a caring brother ah.”

Ji Chuancheng coldly swept him a glance, “Not sad anymore?”

Jing Xia spread out his hands, “I don’t dare, caring brother.”

Ji Chuancheng, “……”

Ghastly cold wind lingered in the calm night. Specks of flame still slowly went out even after adding firewood several times. The glittering first ray of light shone down from the East, breaking the silence of the night, signifying a new day. Taking advantage of the faint coloured dawn, the black Land Rover was travelling along the straight highway. 

When the round setting sun calmly sunk, passing through that long bridge, the only car travelling on the tranquil earth finally passed the Yangtze River and approached that peaceful city. When the last wisp of light of the sunset glow disappeared along the West horizon, the black Land Rover finally passed the “S City Welcomes You” horizontal sign board, entering its ultimate destination. 

The surroundings were auspicious and peaceful, seemingly serene.

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