The car door was pulled open. Xing Bi tossed a set of clothes next to Qiu Shi. “Change into these.”
“I’ll change after reporting to the dog official,” Qiu Shi said, wrapped in a thermal blanket, facing Li Feng’s projection.
“I’ll report first,” Xing Bi said. “You go change.”
He glanced toward Li Feng and asked, “Okay? Director Li?”
“It’s up to you guys. You’re the biggest authority now,” Li Feng replied. “No need to go into too much detail, just a brief summary. Rest first, treat the injuries that need treatment.”
Qiu Shi took the clothes and went to the back of the car.
“249’s data storage had no special protection. After the explosion and soaking in seawater, you could say it’s… completely destroyed,” Xing Bi said. “Only copies activated were Zheng Ting and Lin Sheng; both have been dealt with.”
“Directly blown up?” Li Feng asked.
“Yes,” Xing Bi said, “No direct contact with the storage device.”
Li Feng sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair. “Is that copy really identical?”
“Like two lives of a bioroid in different environments,” Xing Bi explained. “Memories and personality before leaving the base, including emotions, are all the same.”
“Any signs of human experiments?” Li Feng asked.
“Only some… brain-related,” Xing Bi said, “Nothing else found, all destroyed.”
Li Feng closed his eyes, seemingly relieved.
“The bioroid entering the research institute, including the enhanced Qiu Shi,” Xing Bi looked at him, “are safe, not contaminated by 249’s data.”
Li Feng looked back at him.
“Let Chen Dang’s people withdraw,” Xing Bi said. “There are other things to do.”
Li Feng laughed, “Found out so fast?”
“Not found out, just guessed,” Xing Bi said. “Then you admitted it.”
“I was careless,” Li Feng said.
“You wouldn’t be completely unprepared, but if Yun City’s own covert guards wanted to kill us, cooperation would be difficult. So they can only use Chen Dang’s side,” Xing Bi said.
“Sharp,” Li Feng said. “Also, after the institute is dismantled, someone needs to enter for search and final cleanup. What do you think…”
“Xu Jie leads the team down, assisted by the bioroid from Donglin,” Xing Bi said. “Some things have to be led by Yun City.”
“Yeah, for further coordination, I’ll negotiate with Lin Sheng when he recovers. These bioroid — Donglin’s, Yun City’s, and the wild ones…” Li Feng said.
“It’s impossible to make them completely one entity,” Xing Bi still remembered Zheng Ting’s last look in the equipment room. “Experiences are indelible; only most can be made to choose roughly the same way.”
“That’s why controlling the total number of bioroid is so important,” Li Feng said.
“You say such blunt things to me?” Xing Bi said.
“Only with you can I be so blunt,” Li Feng smiled.
After changing clothes, Qiu Shi finally felt relaxed, the cold gradually fading, but at the same time, he felt the tiny pains from countless small wounds all over his body.
He got out of the car. Li Rui had already changed and was squatting by the tire.
“What’s up?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Wanted to check if you were okay. Fan Jie said your ribs were broken,” Li Rui stood up, frowning.
“I’m fine, already treated,” Qiu Shi said. “I’m not the only one with broken ribs.”
“You mean Bai Zhan?” Li Rui said. “He’s a bioroid. Lin Sheng big brother’s neck was like that and he’s fine.”
“You’ve been squatting here forever waiting for me just to remind me I’m not a bioroid who can take hits, right?” Qiu Shi said.
“Just caring about you,” Li Rui looked at him. “You don’t know, when the explosions started under the sea, the waves were so high, and there was fire in the waves, they were still exploding, the seawater was red. It was terrifying, like the end of the world. I was watching from the shore. Some migrants said you wouldn’t make it back…”
“But we did,” Qiu Shi said. “You saved us, thanks, San Ye.”
“No need for thanks,” Li Rui immediately waved and shook his head. “What kind of relationship do we have? Let’s not talk about that.”
Qiu Shi smiled.
“As long as you’re fine, I’m off to work,” Li Rui said. “We’re helping with those armored vehicles now.”
“Go ahead,” Qiu Shi said.
Xing Bi opened the car door.
“Done reporting?” Qiu Shi turned and asked.
“Yeah, I’ve changed,” Xing Bi got out. “Li Feng waited for you a bit. You didn’t say a word during the report.”
“Is there anything I know that you don’t?” Qiu Shi asked.
Xing Bi smiled and glanced at the medical vehicle parked nearby.
“Lin Sheng and Bai Zhan are both on the medical vehicle,” Qiu Shi said. “You should go handle that too.”
“Yeah,” Xing Bi walked toward the medical vehicle. “Some of Yun City’s troops will return tomorrow and take Lin Sheng back first. We’ll leave later.”
“Do we still need to check the ruins of the research institute?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Yes, no risks can be left,” Xing Bi said.
“What about this place later…” Qiu Shi asked quietly, “Will Yun City leave people here?”
“No,” Xing Bi said. “Yun City can’t expand its operations here. Besides, this place is already destroyed, no chance of recovery. So it’s abandoned, but must be thoroughly searched.”
“That’s Li Feng’s style,” Qiu Shi smiled.
“You wait here, don’t wander around. I want to talk with you later,” Xing Bi said, then got into the medical vehicle.
Qiu Shi almost guessed what Xing Bi wanted to talk about.
When Xing Bi threw him into the equipment room, as a high-end covert operative in a suit, he was swearing—if he hadn’t been seriously injured, he might have punched himself again.
Bai Zhan leaned against the nearby vehicle, watching him.
“What are you looking at?” Qiu Shi looked back at him. “Injury treated?”
“Almost healed,” Bai Zhan said.
“Hmm.” Qiu Shi responded. He actually wanted to ask Bai Zhan about his next plan but felt it was better to talk to Xing Bi first.
“I’m taking Lin Sheng’s vehicle to Yun City tomorrow,” Bai Zhan said.
“Hmm?” Qiu Shi was a little surprised.
“My brothers are staying here to help,” Bai Zhan said. “I want to go to Yun City to see. I haven’t seen many human cities in a long time.”
“Yun City isn’t like your old city; it’s a mining town,” Qiu Shi said.
“I know,” Bai Zhan said. “I mean people.”
“The people are mostly refugees, a real mess,” Qiu Shi said.
“…Are you sick or something?” Bai Zhan asked. “If you don’t want me to go, just say it straight.”
“I’m just afraid you’ll be disappointed,” Qiu Shi said.
“I won’t be. I’ve been hanging out with the nomads for so long and never got disappointed,” Bai Zhan said. “Besides, there’s someone like you.”
“What kind of person am I?” Qiu Shi asked.
“The kind that always annoys me,” Bai Zhan said, turning and walking away.
Xing Bi came out of the medical vehicle. Qiu Shi peeked inside. “How’s it looking?”
“Not bad,” Xing Bi said. “But the system is a bit damaged and needs repairs back in Yun City. No major issues though. We’ll take Bai Zhan back tomorrow to fix his system as well.”
“Mm,” Qiu Shi nodded, recalling the last kill scene with Lin Sheng on the monitor—basically a reckless attack that gave up any chance of survival. “Lin Sheng really is ruthless…”
“You’re not bad yourself,” Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi closed his mouth.
“Go check out the beach,” Xing Bi said, walking toward the reef. “Take a look at the sea you almost died in.”
“Damn,” Qiu Shi muttered softly. “Why don’t you scold Lin Sheng instead?”
“You know I didn’t?” Xing Bi glanced back at him. “That’s why I didn’t let you get in the car.”
Qiu Shi sighed and followed him.
The beach was no longer a battlefield but still chaotic. Except for the orderly Yun City soldiers and convoys, everything else was a mess—people and vehicles scattered everywhere.
Except for the first batch of wounded leaving early tomorrow morning, everyone else would stay a few more days. Many nomads and refugees wanted to go to Yun City; there were also some bioroids and a small number of symbiotes who needed someone to manage them.
But these matters were no longer Xing Bi or Qiu Shi’s concern. Ji Sui, Feng Zhi, Jiang Liu, and the others were clearing nearby houses to set up a temporary office.
“Is it all over?” Qiu Shi asked.
“In theory,” Xing Bi said.
“What do you mean by ‘in theory’?” Qiu Shi asked again.
“The mission to destroy 249 is complete. Speaking of that alone, it’s over,” Xing Bi said. “But this is just the beginning of a new order and a new world.”
Qiu Shi sighed.
“Li Feng still can’t sleep,” Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi laughed. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“If human brains could really reach the level of bioroid clones,” Xing Bi said, “Li Feng would be the most needed person—probably destined to die young.”
“He won’t use it,” Qiu Shi said.
“Mm,” Xing Bi nodded. “Live fiercely if you live; die peacefully if you die.”
Qiu Shi smiled.
Xing Bi said no more, silently stepping down from the roadbed and jumping onto the seaside rocks.
Qiu Shi followed, hopping onto the rocks, moving away from the research institute battlefield.
Among the rocks lay a lot of debris washed up by the sea from the research institute—building rubble and many objects that caught Qiu Shi’s eye.
Pens, sketchbooks, a whole map, a metal vase, a ball…
“I should have brought a bag,” Qiu Shi muttered as he climbed up and down the rocks picking things up. “All good stuff. I never found anything of this quality in my previous ten trips out.”
Xing Bi said nothing.
“Damn, my ribs hurt a bit. Has the painkiller worn off…” Qiu Shi balanced on two rocks, bent over to pick up a carved handle from some object, and looked up at Xing Bi.
Xing Bi stared at him expressionless. He remembered they were out here to reflect on Qiu Shi’s previous reckless behavior.
“Get up!” Xing Bi said sternly.
“Ah.” Qiu Shi jumped back onto the rocks hugging his loot. “I’m used to it…”
Xing Bi looked at him, then after a moment pulled a waterproof bag from his pocket, opened it, and held it out to Qiu Shi.
Qiu Shi hesitated for two seconds, unsure if Xing Bi’s intention was as he guessed, then put all the items he was holding into the bag.
Xing Bi tightened the bag opening and hung it over Qiu Shi’s shoulder. “Carry it yourself.”
“Mm.” Qiu Shi couldn’t help but laugh. “You scared me.”
“How many times have you scared me?!” Xing Bi’s voice rose a bit.
Qiu Shi stayed silent.
The rocky shore ended, opening to a vast sea. The afternoon sun was tilting westward, casting slanting light over the water. In a few hours, the sunset would appear.
Here, it should be called a sunset into the sea…
Maybe because of the recent explosion, the sea looked restless. Large patches of sunlight shattered by waves flickered everywhere—very beautiful.
Xing Bi stood on the largest rock, staring at the sea.
Qiu Shi put down the waterproof bag, jumped to the rock beside him, and crouched down.
“So beautiful,” Qiu Shi whispered. “This is the first time I’ve had the chance to really look closely at the sea.”
“There are some sandy beaches too. When we have time, I’ll take you to see them,” Xing Bi said.
“Mm.” Qiu Shi nodded.
“You said earlier that Li Feng won’t use that brain technology,” Xing Bi said.
“Yeah, he wants to live but not that kind of life,” Qiu Shi said.
“What about you?” Xing Bi asked.
“Me?” Qiu Shi paused, then said, “Of course, I wouldn’t want my brain scooped out and put in another body…”
He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing why Xing Bi asked.
“I’m very scared,” Xing Bi said.
“Sorry,” Qiu Shi said. “Back then I didn’t… I didn’t know what to do. I’m scared too.”
“I wasn’t always that scared,” Xing Bi lowered his arm and twirled a lock of Qiu Shi’s hair gently with his fingers. “Because I knew as long as I was there, no matter what happened, I’d save you.”
Qiu Shi said nothing.
“But today, whether you live or die depends on that mine,” Xing Bi said. “Not me. If that mine had exploded on schedule, Qiu Shi, you’d be dead.”
“I know,” Qiu Shi whispered.
“When I rushed over, I was terrified,” Xing Bi said. “I was afraid you were dead.”
Qiu Shi reached out and grabbed Xing Bi’s hand.
“I’ve lived so many years, never that fast,” Xing Bi squatted down beside him. “Just went to the med vehicle to treat a ligament in my leg.”
“Hm?” Qiu Shi turned to look at him. “What happened?”
“It was torn completely,” Xing Bi said.
“Ah?” Qiu Shi quickly felt his leg. “Then can you still walk?”
“It’s torn, not broken,” Xing Bi said. “If it were broken, I could still walk.”
“Why suddenly so cocky?” Qiu Shi said.
Xing Bi smiled. “I’ll be more careful in the future.”
“You interrupted me and now I can’t say anything,” Qiu Shi said.
“Don’t even say it, you’re just saying you won’t do it again,” Xing Bi said, “What else could you say?”
“Then… what am I supposed to do?” Qiu Shi said. “In that situation, if I didn’t set off the bomb, I feel like Lin Sheng wouldn’t have waited any longer. He would have opened fire. Every minute we delay, the variables inside increase.”
“Yeah,” Xing Bi said, putting an arm around his shoulder, “It’s because there’s no other way that I was scared.”
“Well, I didn’t die,” Qiu Shi said, “You still saved me.”
“You’re going to die eventually,” Xing Bi said.
“That sounds like you’re just scolding me,” Qiu Shi glanced at him.
“You’ll definitely die before me…” Xing Bi said, “That sounds even more like scolding.”
“I’m still human,” Qiu Shi said, “Our lifespan is only so long. If it were up to the base and the research institute people, they wouldn’t be messing with those things. They’d just want to live like turtles.”
“Mm.” Xing Bi nodded.
“I know what you want to say,” Qiu Shi said, “You want to ask if given the chance, would I choose to become a turtle?”
Xing Bi laughed, “What kind of expression is that?”
“If I die there,” Qiu Shi looked at him, “The choice is in your hands. What would you do? Would you choose to make me into a turtle?”
Xing Bi was silent for a long time before answering, “No.”
Qiu Shi pulled his hand and gave him a kiss on the head. “What about you?”
“What?” Xing Bi asked.
“Don’t pretend you’re clueless. You know when Grandpa sabotaged the system so he could die naturally,” Qiu Shi said, “Don’t tell me you didn’t have any thoughts.”
Xing Bi smiled, “I wouldn’t do it.”
“Mm.” Qiu Shi nodded, “You…”
“I’ll go back to the sleep pod,” Xing Bi said, “bioroid bodies aren’t immortal either, they’ll die eventually.”
“Damn your ancestors,” Qiu Shi cursed, “What’s the difference?”
“There’s a big difference,” Xing Bi said, “I have memories—many of them—and many years left to make more. No one knows how long bioroid bodies can live. I’ve lived for a long time already. Maybe one day, we’ll grow old together and then die together…”
“Humans don’t die together either, usually one goes first,” Qiu Shi said, “No couple just dies suddenly at the same time.”
“…Is that the point?” Xing Bi asked.
“I’m just correcting your mistake,” Qiu Shi said.
“Alright,” Xing Bi said, “Maybe one day we’ll grow old together, then die one after the other.”
Qiu Shi couldn’t help but laugh for a long time, “You’re crazy.”
“I wasn’t always like this,” Xing Bi said.
“You can tell, Bai Zhan’s really afraid of you,” Qiu Shi said.
“I’m more serious,” Xing Bi said.
“You were pretty serious just now,” Qiu Shi said, “Scared me so I didn’t dare say a word.”
“And you didn’t say less,” Xing Bi said.
A voice came through the headset: “Xing Bi, where are you?”
“At the beach,” Xing Bi pressed the button on his headset.
“I’m preparing to take some people down, while it’s still light,” Xu Jie said, “You stay here and keep watch.”
“So urgent?” Xing Bi said.
“The refugees are hard to control, they won’t wait for us to finish checking before going down,” Xu Jie said, “Some have already gone down.”
“Mm,” Xing Bi stood up, “Who are you taking down?”
“Me, Ji Sui, Sang Fan, Feng Zhi, Dong Lin, and someone from Bai Zhan’s team—not a stealth operative, but experienced in searching.”
“Bai Zhan isn’t going down?” Xing Bi asked.
“Didn’t agree to let him,” Xu Jie said, “He’s badly injured. They only just found out during the check.”
“Mm.” Xing Bi responded.
“What are you mainly looking for?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Medical supplies, probably. Might not find much, it was too thoroughly bombed. Just trying,” Xing Bi said, “Even if we don’t want to become turtles, we still need medicine. Yun City is expanding, with so many people, we can’t just care about the inner city.”
“Mm,” Qiu Shi replied, “There’s basically no medical care in the outer city.”
If you got sick, you’d just have to wait to die. These were memories in his head about the refugees in the outer city.
“There will be. Schools exist, so will medical care,” Xing Bi said.
“Are the schools already built?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Should be,” Xing Bi said, “It’s about time you went to school, Qiu Shi.”
“What the hell?” Qiu Shi was stunned, “Me, go to school? What the hell school would I go to?”
“To improve your education level. Even Li Sheng and San Ye laughs at your lack of culture,” Xing Bi said, “A proud Yun City hero captain, that’s embarrassing.”
“I’m not going to school,” Qiu Shi said, “If I do, it’ll be with Zhao Lu’s group of real illiterates. I can still write my own name.”
“Can you write your own name?” Xing Bi asked.
“Yeah!” Qiu Shi said, “I can write a lot of characters, just ugly!”
“Very ugly,” Xing Bi said.
“I still won’t write,” Qiu Shi said.
Xing Bi said nothing.
“Speechless, huh?” Qiu Shi looked at him.
Xing Bi still said nothing. After a while, he laughed, “That’s true.”
“If I have to go to school, it’ll be quietly,” Qiu Shi said, “A proud Yun City hero captain, twenty-five or twenty-six years old, still having to go back to school.”
“You want me to teach you?” Xing Bi asked.
“You wouldn’t be able to teach me, right?” Qiu Shi asked.
“I have lots to teach you, end-of-the-world guy,” Xing Bi said.
