The personnel stationed outside the city were all military. Deng Yeye’s actions quickly reached the general.
When Director Zhang received a call request from Colonel Xu, his face looked grim. He glanced at Li Feng, “Tell your people not to act yet.”
“The Security Bureau only has a three-person team there,” Li Feng said, “and they are unarmed; they can’t act.”
Director Zhang gritted his teeth, put on his headset, transferred the call to private mode, and walked to the side.
Li Feng’s call with the outside continued, the screen not cut off, still showing Deng Yeye and that person, along with the few large characters projected above their heads by laser.
“Xiao Lei,” Li Feng spoke.
“Here,” Xiao Lei’s voice came through.
“Tell them to come back first,” Li Feng said.
“Okay,” Xiao Lei responded.
The external support had been directly managed by the military from the beginning, so when they went to find Zhao Lü and his team, Li Feng only sent a three-person logistics team. Director Zhang was different; in the morning, Zhang Sihai had just been released from prison, and such an incident followed. Sending his own people to inquire, if it was really related to Zhang Sihai, he would at least be the first to know.
He just didn’t expect that the corpse collector would truly remain silent and that the kidnapper’s next move would come so quickly, with quite a commotion.
Now, not only did the higher-ups know that the radical elements from the outer city had caused trouble again, but they also knew that the city defense bureau personnel had entered the military’s support area with guns.
“You really are…” Curator Wu glanced at Li Feng.
“Brother Shi and the others are coming to cut off the communication,” Zhao Lü’s face appeared on the screen, speaking quickly, “Don’t go, even if Xiao Ling is really there, don’t go…”
Before he finished speaking, the call ended.
Qiu Shi stared at the box that no longer had the projection, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, feeling a bit of soreness in his forehead.
“Lao Wu,” Li Feng glanced towards Director Zhang, and asked in a low voice, “Who do you think the person next to Deng Yeye is?”
“I’m not sure,” Curator Wu also replied in a low voice, “Does Xing Bi have a judgment?”
“Level one hidden guard,” Xing Bi said.
“Are you sure?” Li Feng frowned.
“Not sure,” Xing Bi said.
“How did you judge that?” Curator Wu asked.
“Intuition,” Xing Bi said.
“How did this intuition come about…” Curator Wu couldn’t quite understand.
“There’s a bit of mutual recognition among similar kinds,” Li Feng glanced again at Director Zhang, who was standing very straight, “This might not be easy to handle.”
“I have to go,” Qiu Shi said.
“If you go, you might not come back,” Li Feng said.
“Then I won’t come back,” Qiu Shi said, “It’s not a particularly wonderful place here anyway.”
“Better than dying,” Li Feng said.
“I’m just being used as medicine here,” Qiu Shi said.
Director Zhang finished his call and turned to walk over. The already empty hall felt even emptier; it was so quiet you could hear Director Zhang’s breathing.
Of course, he was breathing quite heavily.
Qiu Shi felt that before he and Xing Bi returned from their mission, Li Feng and Director Zhang must have already had some conflict. With Zhao Lü’s previous statement and this phone call now, Director Zhang had an aura like he might explode at any moment.
“Let’s sit down and discuss,” Curator Wu, the most relaxed among the three, said. Although it was evident he leaned more towards Li Feng, he primarily handled technology and didn’t participate much in other matters.
Li Feng’s little pet received a message, and he glanced at it on his communicator.
“How is it?” Curator Wu asked, “What’s the situation now?”
“Ask Director Li,” Director Zhang said, “The Security Bureau has informants all over the city, their information is always very well-informed, right?”
“The person has left.” Li Feng didn’t put on an act this time.
“Left?” Curator Wu said.
“Radicals causing a bit of trouble, it won’t amount to anything significant,” Li Feng said, “The military didn’t step in to avoid exposing the coordination situation.”
“Any decisions now?” Qiu Shi asked.
“You’d have to ask Director Zhang about that,” Li Feng said, “He’s the main one coordinating with Colonel Xu.”
“Just a small corpse collector gone missing, is there a need for any decisions?” Director Zhang said, “It has nothing to do with the mission, even less with Colonel Xu, and nothing to do with Yun City.”
Qiu Shi looked at him without speaking. At that moment, he didn’t even feel obvious anger.
He just wanted to vent… But just as his shoulder moved slightly, before his arm had a chance to move, Xing Bi’s hand was already on his shoulder.
“Don’t,” Xing Bi said in a low voice.
Qiu Shi glanced at the hand gripping his shoulder, gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, then looked at Director Zhang and nodded, “Then that’s that, it’s nothing.”
If it’s just a small corpse collector’s own matter, it’s easy to handle.
“What are you planning to do?” Director Zhang stared at him.
“Nothing,” Qiu Shi looked at him, “Does a small corpse collector need the Director of the City Defense Bureau to personally intervene?”
“Of course not, but if it’s someone related to the mission, I will not only intervene but also take measures,” Director Zhang’s eyes suddenly showed a sharp edge, “Given Qiu Shi’s involvement with Yun City’s top secrets, to prevent any potential leaks, the City Defense Bureau decides…”
At that moment, several people with guns burst in from the hall’s entrance, and Director Zhang also drew his gun from his waist.
Damn your ancestors.
Qiu Shi didn’t know whether they intended to execute him on the spot or arrest him, but he prepared for the highest level of execution response. As Director Zhang drew his gun, he ducked down quickly, using the table to shield himself.
Next, whether to pull Curator Wu or Li Feng to shield himself depended on who was more convenient.
But Xing Bi suddenly moved.
He stepped on Qiu Shi’s shoulder, leaped onto the table, slid in front of Director Zhang, snatched his gun, and pointed it at Li Feng, all within two seconds.
The intruders even took several more steps forward before stopping abruptly.
This surprise left everyone stunned.
“Xing Bi?” Li Feng looked at him in surprise.
Even Director Zhang, in shock, took two seconds to yell out, “Is this what you call 100% controllable?”
“In mission mode,” Xing Bi said, “the safety of the human partner is the top priority. My partner’s life was potentially threatened.”
“Lao Wu?” Director Zhang yelled again.
The stunned Curator Wu finally regained his composure and said, “This…is indeed how it’s set. He needs to ensure the human partner’s life safety unless the partnership is terminated.”
Director Zhang glanced at the armed men.
“I’m definitely faster,” Xing Bi said.
“Why not point it at him?” Li Feng asked, looking at the gun muzzle and slowly moving his body aside to avoid it, “It’s Director Zhang threatening your partner, not me.”
“So I point at you,” Xing Bi replied simply, the gun muzzle tracking his movement precisely.
Li Feng was silent for a moment, then smiled, “Director Zhang, are you going to kill Qiu Shi?”
“I’m going to detain him,” Director Zhang said, “I believe that allowing Qiu Shi to move freely at this stage poses a great threat to the mission.”
“He assured you, he won’t kill Qiu Shi,” Li Feng said, looking at Xing Bi.
Xing Bi didn’t speak or move; the gun was still aimed at Li Feng.
“Director Zhang,” Li Feng pinched his chin and sighed, “Let’s pull back the people. This is something that could have been solved in a meeting. As I said earlier, it’s just radicals causing some trouble. How are we going to end this if we keep making it worse ourselves?”
Director Zhang stared at Li Feng for five seconds. During that time, Li Feng was sure he was contemplating whether to use this opportunity to have Xing Bi shoot him. But in the end, he chose to wave his hand, signaling the people who had rushed in to withdraw.
Xing Bi jumped off the table and returned the gun to Director Zhang.
“Qiu Shi,” Curator Wu looked at Qiu Shi, his face still showing shock, “In such situations, you need to… take control.”
“Is that so,” Qiu Shi glanced at Xing Bi, “No one ever taught me, all the missions were forced with a gun to my butt.”
“I will personally go over the rules with you again,” Curator Wu said, “This mission state definition also needs to be reviewed with Xing Bi again…”
“Director Li,” Director Zhang leaned on the table, looking down at Li Feng, “Do you still think your plan is the best solution?”
“Whether it’s the best depends on the results,” Li Feng said, “And the result is, he asked us back to the table to start the discussion.”
“Fine,” Director Zhang nodded, “Then please share your thoughts.”
“Let’s not beat around the bush,” Li Feng stood up and took out his little pet, projecting a map, “Although we can contact the towns of Donglin and Xingchuan, we can’t get through. Apart from the terrain difficulties, there are infections and bioroids. But Deng Yeye set the location in Donglin, and now we can’t contact them. Adding the recently increased bioroids, what does that indicate?”
“Just say it directly, do we need a quiz?” Director Zhang said.
“Deng Yeye and the people behind her can move between Donglin and Yun City,” Qiu Shi said, “They are allied with those bioroids and have already taken control of Donglin, Xingchuan might also be under control.”
“Besides these two towns, we can’t contact other human settlements or know their locations,” Li Feng said, “We’ve always wanted to understand these people’s purpose. Now we have an opportunity, we need a chance to directly contact the other side…”
At this point, Qiu Shi suddenly realized that Li Feng wanted him to go to Donglin.
“Their goal is to destroy Yun City! Destroy humanity!” Director Zhang said firmly, “More than your partner duo, we need a strong armed force. Symbiotic bioroids and the military are the ultimate means. Don’t delude yourself with…”
Director Zhang pointed at Qiu Shi, “Such a person can save Yun City! Save humanity here! If he has any use, it’s just his immunity.”
Li Feng looked at him and suddenly smiled, “I always thought I was arrogant enough, but it turns out Director Zhang is truly arrogant.”
“Watch your words,” Director Zhang said coldly, “Don’t think the leverage you have is that useful. Even if it involves my son, if it affects Yun City’s safety, I won’t hesitate.”
“How many bioroids does Yun City have? How many soldiers? How many people willing to fight? How much material do we have left? Do you know how much is left in the Security Bureau’s warehouse? What is the yield from our farms and breeding grounds?”
Director Zhang looked at him without speaking.
“Am I not supposed to hear this?” Qiu Shi spoke up. Li Feng’s questions made his back feel chilly.
“Too late,” Li Feng turned to him, “Welcome to the Yun City Despair Club.”
“That’s why we need a quick resolution,” Director Zhang said, “If the other side is really that strong, they wouldn’t have been dealing with us for so long!”
“Can Yun City silence the communications between Donglin and Xingchuan?” Li Feng asked.
Director Zhang looked at him.
“No,” Li Feng said, “but they can. So, shouldn’t we first explore their strengths? Why have they been dealing with us for so long and suddenly acted?”
“Because Nest One was destroyed,” Xing Bi suddenly said, “The symbiotic beings rely on nests for control. They need to connect the nests in a network, but Nest One suddenly died.”
“They didn’t expect that,” Curator Wu seemed to understand something, “The bioroids have been harassing Yun City on a small scale to test our situation. They didn’t expect us to destroy Nest One.”
“They’re in a hurry,” Li Feng said.
“So you’re going to deliver what they want to them quickly,” Director Zhang sneered.
“Now I know who Zhang Sihai takes after,” Li Feng said.
Director Zhang, already fuming, was provoked even more by this statement and lunged at Li Feng with a punch.
But he missed.
Li Feng was yanked away by Xing Bi, thrown into a chair, and slid more than a meter away.
Curator Wu rushed over to hold Director Zhang back, “What’s going on here? You’re not children anymore. Why can’t you control your temper?”
“This Level One hidden guard! Safe? Controllable?” Director Zhang pointed at Xing Bi.
“You cannot get hurt,” Xing Bi said, “If Colonel Xu saw it, there’s no way to explain it.”
Qiu Shi glanced at Xing Bi, thinking back to when he had pointed the gun at Li Feng. Li Feng could die, but not get hurt?
“A Level One hidden guard is not a puppet,” Li Feng, still sitting a meter away, didn’t move back, “Humans need these bioroids because they have emotions, thoughts, and the ability to judge right from wrong. And when humans go mad like this, they can remain calm.”
“That’s what I think,” Curator Wu, after a moment of silence, spoke slowly, “The symbiotic experiment on Test Subjects Two, Three, Four, and Five has also begun but requires more time for cultivation and observation. At this stage, like…”
He glanced at Xing Bi and said, “A partner with no particular use, probing the other side’s intentions wouldn’t lose much. After all, they want Qiu Shi. If they wanted to harm him, there would be many opportunities, especially before the outer city had coordination.”
Director Zhang remained silent.
“We do need a chance to make contact with the other side,” Curator Wu said. “The company has always focused on defense. It seems the general is also not in a hurry for a direct confrontation. If there’s an opportunity for negotiation, it can’t be entirely ruled out as a bad thing…”
Curator Wu had the characteristic earnestness of a technical person, which clearly made Director Zhang more agreeable. After a moment of gritting his teeth, he finally said, “I don’t entirely oppose it, but even if they are useless, they have been in contact with core content. How do we ensure they won’t leak information?”
“For Xing Bi, we can set a power supply time,” Curator Wu said. “Set a deadline—three days, five days, eight days, ten days, up to a month. When the time is up, it will automatically stop the biochemical reactions in his body.”
“What happens when the biochemical reactions stop?” Director Zhang asked.
“It means I die,” Xing Bi said.
“It would be interrupted by our lab, marked by us, and only we can reactivate it,” Curator Wu said. “This is a primary measure to prevent bioroids from… defecting.”
Qiu Shi listened, feeling a bit dazed hearing these words from Curator Wu, who seemed much more earnest than Director Zhang, especially Li Feng.
When he looked at Xing Bi, Xing Bi had no expression at all, as if none of this concerned him.
“Additionally, Qiu Shi can also restrict his partner’s actions if he deems them against human principles,” Curator Wu looked at Qiu Shi again, “Those control gestures.”
“Who will control Qiu Shi?” Director Zhang asked. “In my view, he’s no safer than an uncontrollable bioroid.”
Curator Wu carefully glanced at Li Feng.
“During their time away from Yun City, the corpse collector will be supervised by us,” Li Feng answered very smoothly, “If Qiu Shi shows any suspicious behavior…”
“I’ll just collect your corpse right now!” Qiu Shi jumped up and kicked at Li Feng.
But Xing Bi moved first, throwing Li Feng, chair and all, two meters back, and then grabbed Qiu Shi’s arm.
“I wouldn’t really kill him!” Qiu Shi tried to shake off his hand.
“Hit him privately,” Xing Bi said in a low voice.
Qiu Shi could feel Director Zhang’s gaze from behind, perhaps waiting for him to prove himself more dangerous than a bioroid.
He suppressed his anger, pointing at Li Feng and saying, “You’re really shady.”
“I’m the whitest among the people you hate.” Li Feng stood up and slowly walked back to the table, “Now back to business, the road to Donglin Town.”
“I know it,” Xing Bi said.
Li Feng turned to look at him and asked, “Which year’s memory?”
“The year before I was sealed,” Xing Bi said.
“How many years ago was that?” Li Feng asked Curator Wu.
“After Yun City expelled the bioroids,” Curator Wu said, “no one here has experienced it… but theoretically, not much has changed.”
“Then we can set that aside for now,” Li Feng said, “What about the time limit?”
“I need to discuss it with the technical team,” Curator Wu said, “Level One hidden guards are limited and cannot be damaged, so this time limit needs to be discussed.”
“Fine, one more thing,” Li Feng sighed lightly, “I need to talk to Zhang Sihai.”
“What do you want to do?” Director Zhang looked at him.
“To get information on Deng Yeye, the people behind her, and how deeply he’s involved with them,” Li Feng said, “Of course, if Director Zhang is willing to help, that would be best.”
“I’ll ask,” Director Zhang, after a moment of hesitation, seemed to make a decision, “Send him back to the cell, I’ll go there to ask.”
“Thank you,” Li Feng said.
The specific details of the “mission” to Donglin Town still needed time to be finalized. Before that, Qiu Shi had almost a day of free time, though it was limited to outside the inner city.
Essentially, it was time for him to explain to his brothers why they were being guarded by the City Defense Bureau and to reassure them not to cause trouble.
To ensure safety and further bond with the partners, Xing Bi would go with him.
“But Xing Bi’s true identity cannot be exposed. To outsiders, he’s just a guard from the City Defense Bureau,” Li Feng said, sitting with them in the car. “I’ll go to the warehouse and find some ordinary clothes for him.”
“Can I choose?” Xing Bi asked.
Li Feng looked at him and said, “Then you choose yourself.”
“What about me?” Qiu Shi asked.
“If you want to choose, choose. Didn’t you guys not get your clothes for the second half of the year?” Li Feng said, “Take them all this time.”
“What about the wine?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Take the big black barrel,” Li Feng said.
“This sounds like Yun City is about to be destroyed, and we’re taking the opportunity to loot the warehouse and run,” Qiu Shi said.
Li Feng smiled, “As long as you two come back, Yun City has been half-dead for more than a year or two. Surviving isn’t easy, and dying isn’t that easy either.”
Qiu Shi looked at him, unsure of what to make of Li Feng. Calling him not human wouldn’t be an exaggeration. He was ruthless in using people, seemingly indifferent to human lives, yet when facing the “core” of Yun City, he was the one Qiu Shi feared the least.
Maybe, as Zhang Qifeng said, they were Li Feng’s “optimal solution.” Li Feng needed them, but why? Qiu Shi couldn’t quite understand.
“Why didn’t you point the gun at Zhang Qifeng when you grabbed it?” Qiu Shi turned and asked Xing Bi.
“It doesn’t matter who I point it at, but Li Feng wouldn’t think bioroids are uncontrollable just because a gun was pointed at him,” Xing Bi said, “Director Zhang would look for a chance to seal me again.”
“Can you really think that far?” Qiu Shi frowned.
“Compared to those who don’t think at all, yes,” Xing Bi said.
“I don’t have a gesture to silence you,” Qiu Shi sighed, “Would you shoot?”
“No,” Xing Bi said.
“I thought you might shoot me in the arm or shoulder,” Li Feng said.
“Shooting has no meaning,” Xing Bi said. “It’s only useful when uncertain. Once the outcome appears, the threat loses effect.”
“…See,” Li Feng stretched, “that’s the wisdom of the ancestors.”
“Your ancestors are just over a hundred years old,” Qiu Shi said. “What kind of species has such a short history?”
Xing Bi laughed.
From the outside, the reserves in the civilian warehouse of the Security Bureau seemed quite plentiful. Every time Qiu Shi came, he could see supply trucks transporting goods inside.
But he had never calculated how much these goods would amount to per person. It might not be much, which is why people outside the city, and some refugees, found it so difficult to get supplies. Even the work opportunities provided by the inner city only earned enough to barely survive.
A big barrel of wine, for Zhao Lü and his group, was not just wine; it was a windfall.
Qiu Shi asked for some long-lasting compressed food, loading almost half a truck. Li Feng frowned all the while, as if he were making a losing deal.
They could get a few sets of clothes from the warehouse each year. Qiu Shi always took some randomly and distributed them casually when he got back. Only his own scarf was specifically chosen; he liked that color. But he hadn’t seen the same color for many years, so he hadn’t replaced it.
Xing Bi, surprisingly, spent a long time choosing.
“Are you colorblind or just not used to wearing your own clothes for so long?” Qiu Shi asked him. “Can’t you just take a couple of sets randomly?”
“They’re too ugly,” Xing Bi said.
“…What?” Qiu Shi was stunned. Whether they looked good or not was never a concern for him. Having clothes was good enough, definitely better than stripping them off dead refugees. “What did you wear before? Were they very good-looking?”
“Suits, casual wear—I had both,” Xing Bi said.
“Suits?” Qiu Shi looked at Li Feng.
“There are none in Yun City, not even Mr. Long wears them,” Li Feng said. “To avoid being distant from everyone.”
“Whatever,” Qiu Shi rummaged through, randomly grabbed a few pieces, and stuffed them into Xing Bi’s hands. “Put them on, quickly.”
Xing Bi took off his laboratory clothes and started dressing.
Qiu Shi watched him for a while. The wounds on his arm were completely healed, and there were no black spots on his body. He had no idea how far the fungus had spread.
Xing Bi finished dressing. The clothes Qiu Shi picked were extremely casual; the pants were even a bit short.
“Who can tell the length when you’re wearing boots?” Qiu Shi didn’t care at all. “The more random the clothes, the better. You don’t have any scars on your face, so if the clothes don’t look messy, you’ll be the most obvious target wherever you go.”
Li Feng rummaged through a box, pulled out a blue scarf, and threw it to Qiu Shi.
“This is my personal gift to you.”
“You’re really setting me up to die, huh?” Qiu Shi wrapped the scarf around his neck.
“Is your life only worth a scarf?” Li Feng said.
“In your eyes,” Qiu Shi said, “it probably isn’t worth a scarf.”
Li Feng glanced at him, waved his hand, and turned to get into the car. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the tunnel entrance.”
“Now it’s possible,” Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi only hesitated for half a second before he understood what he meant.
“Director Li.” He caught up with Li Feng.
When Li Feng turned around, Qiu Shi kicked him in the stomach.
“Are you crazy?” Li Feng sat on the ground, clutching his stomach, almost losing his breath.
“If anything happens to Hu Xiaoling or my brothers,” Qiu Shi said, “the company is too far, the General is too far, I will blame it all on you.”
It took nearly five minutes for Li Feng to come out of the warehouse and get into another car.
The two cars drove out of the outer city tunnel and stopped.
The driver of Qiu Shi’s car went to the car behind. Qiu Shi would drive the car loaded with supplies back to the bunker.
This time, returning outside the city, there were no corpse collectors waiting at the tunnel, and Qiu Shi didn’t feel the usual sense of relief of returning to his own world when leaving Yun City’s inner and outer boundaries.
He got out and stood for a while, looking in the direction of the bunker from afar. Hearing the car behind him enter the tunnel and leave, he pulled up his scarf to cover half his face as the wind blew sand against it.
“I’m going for a stroll,” He took a deep breath and started walking down the slope.
The familiar rocky protrusions didn’t require any thought to step on; he could mechanically jump to the bottom of the slope.
Then he turned around and ran back to the top of the slope.
Xing Bi followed accurately on the path Qiu Shi had taken, making almost no sound.
“You’re pretty heavy,” Qiu Shi rubbed his shoulder where Xing Bi had stepped, opened the car door, and got in. “How come you didn’t make any sound just now?”
“If you’re careful, you won’t,” Xing Bi said.
“Next time, if you dare step on me again, I’ll cripple your leg,” Qiu Shi said. “You’re too reckless for your age.”
“Okay,” Xing Bi responded.
A small light flashed in the direction of the bunker.
Qiu Shi flashed the car lights twice.
“Is that a corpse collector?” Xing Bi asked.
“Yeah, it’s Zhao Lü, asking if I’m okay,” Qiu Shi drove the car down the slope. “It’s our signal. When we’re too far away while clearing infected, we use this to communicate.”
“Have you worked together for a long time?” Xing Bi asked again.
“We don’t call it work; it’s just a way to survive,” Qiu Shi said. “But it has been a long time. I met Zhao Lü the earliest, around when I was just over ten years old. Hu Xiaoling was brought by his dad from a small infected outpost. His dad died when they got here.”
“How did he die?” Xing Bi asked.
“Died of thirst,” Qiu Shi said.
Xing Bi didn’t say anything.
A vehicle drove out from the bunker; it was a corpse collection vehicle. There was no doubt Zhao Lü was coming to pick him up.
“What are they to you?” Xing Bi asked.
“Blood brothers!” Qiu Shi glanced at him.
It was the first time Xing Bi had so many questions; usually, Qiu Shi asked more.
“They might not be very friendly to you later,” Qiu Shi said. “We’ve been together for a long time; we’re xenophobic.”
“That’s okay,” Xing Bi said.
When the two vehicles met in the middle of the rocky beach, the corpse collection vehicle stopped.
“Qiu Shi!” Zhao Lü shouted, standing up on the driver’s seat as there was no roof, stepping on the steering wheel to stare over.
“Hey—” Qiu Shi immediately stuck his hand out the car window and waved, also stretching his voice to shout.
“Shit—” Zhao Lü jumped off the vehicle. “How are you driving a Security Bureau car? Did you rob their warehouse or something?”
“Qiu Shi!” Xiao Lei suddenly popped his head out from the back of the truck bed, then was slapped back by the oncoming wind.
“I’ll get off first and have a few words,” Qiu Shi tilted his head and instructed Xing Bi, “Wait in the car, and remember not to spill anything.”
“I won’t,” Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi smiled without saying anything, then got off the car.
Zhao Lü kept his eyes on the passenger seat. “Who’s that? A hostage from the Security Bureau?”
“His external identity is a Security Bureau guard,” Qiu Shi said.
He didn’t directly say he was a Security Bureau guard; even someone like Zhao Lü, who grew up with him, wouldn’t believe it, nor would an idiot like Xiao Lei.
“And internally?” Zhao Lü glanced at Xing Bi again. “He doesn’t look like someone from the Security Bureau.”
“Security Bureau guard,” Qiu Shi replied.
“Okay, got it,” Zhao Lü frowned. “What’s going on?”
“I’ll explain in detail when we get back,” Qiu Shi said. “I don’t have much time; I have to leave tomorrow.”
“What do you mean?” Zhao Lü got anxious immediately. “I told you not to go! Don’t go looking for Xiaoling. If he knew you were going to find him, he’d be furious!”
“I’ll explain when we get back,” Qiu Shi patted him.
Zhao Lü’s brows didn’t relax. He looked at Qiu Shi, then at Xing Bi, and as he turned back to his car, he shouted at Xiao Lei, who was about to jump down and hug Qiu Shi, “Sit back down.”
The area outside the city, once managed by the corpse collectors, was now sealed off. Even refugees were not being accepted temporarily. The city defense bureau had set up checkpoints, forcing many refugees to gather on the spot, staring at the close yet unreachable shelter. The simplest hope was to survive long enough to get a chance to enter the city.
As the car headed towards the bunker, Xing Bi looked at the Dahei Mountain from the window.
“Have you always lived here?” he asked.
“Yes,” Qiu Shi nodded. “I have memories here. But I asked Li Feng; he said an old man brought me here. Where I came from, I don’t know.”
“And the old man?” Xing Bi asked.
“I don’t know,” Qiu Shi couldn’t help but glance at him. “You’ve got a lot of questions today. Did you trigger some mechanism? Are you with Zhang Qifeng?”
Xing Bi gave a slight smile. “No, just curious.”
“You’re…” Qiu Shi started but didn’t finish.
“An ancestor but still curious,” Xing Bi finished for him.
“You said it yourself,” Qiu Shi laughed.
Since learning about Hu Xiaoling’s disappearance, Qiu Shi had been overwhelmed with suppressed anger. Coupled with the sudden need to leave the place he had lived for over twenty years, he felt confused and scared. It wasn’t until now that he felt a bit better.
Hu Xiaoling’s disappearance had dampened the spirits of the corpse collecting team. Seeing Qiu Shi return with a truckload of supplies, including a big barrel of wine, slightly diverted their attention.
There were no other people visible around the bunker, but Qiu Shi knew the area was under tight surveillance. After he left, the people here would become hostages. He didn’t know what his brothers would face if something happened to him.
Li Feng might… but Zhang Qifeng definitely wouldn’t spare them.
“Store the supplies, drive the car back to the tunnel and leave it there,” Qiu Shi instructed Zhao Lü. “We’ll drink later.”
“Got it,” Zhao Lü nodded.
“I’ll have a few words with Xiao Lei first,” Qiu Shi said.
“Go ahead,” Zhao Lü said. “If you don’t, he might kill himself tomorrow.”
Qiu Shi called Xiao Lei into his room. Zhao Lü thought the “guard” would go in too, but the man stayed outside, just watching the corpse collectors move the supplies.
There was something unusual about him.
Few people could stay so relaxed near corpse collectors, especially a group of them. But this man was very relaxed, not even avoiding eye contact.
“What’s your name?” Zhao Lü asked him.
“Xing Bi,” Xing Bi replied.
“Security Bureau guard?” Zhao Lü asked again.
“Yes,” Xing Bi responded.
“I believe your ancestors,” Zhao Lü said.
“Security Bureau spy,” Xing Bi said.
“F*ck,” Zhao Lü laughed. “Go, help out.”
Xing Bi glanced at the car.
“Don’t look. Even if Li Feng were here, he’d have to help out,” Zhao Lü said.
Xing Bi said nothing more and went to take a box from a corpse collector, then turned to carry it into the bunker used as a warehouse.
He Jiang, whose box was taken by Xing Bi, was stunned for a while, then looked at Zhao Lü. “Who is he?”
“From the Security Bureau,” Zhao Lü thought for a moment. “Brother Shi’s bodyguard.”
Compared to the title of guard, he felt that bodyguard was more fitting for Xing Bi’s image. He really didn’t look like a guard, nor like someone from the Security Bureau, nor like those bastards from the city defense bureau…
Actually, to put it bluntly, Zhao Lü thought he didn’t seem like someone from Yun City at all. There were no such people in Yun City.
“Dry your tears before you come out,” Qiu Shi said, pointing at Xiao Lei as he walked out of his room. “Don’t let people think I beat you up and made you cry.”
“What if you can’t come back?” Xiao Lei whispered.
Qiu Shi grabbed a shoe brush from beside the door and smashed it on his head: “Don’t jinx me like Hu Xiaoling, cursing me every day.”
When he turned to leave the room, he saw Xing Bi carrying a box of canned food into the storage room, integrating naturally into the new environment.
“Can you really not tell me what Xing Bi’s real identity is?” Zhao Lü squatted by the door.
“Guard,” Qiu Shi squatted down too.
“He’s definitely not an ordinary person,” Zhao Lü said. “Someone like him following you, the one who took Xiaoling must not be ordinary either.”
Qiu Shi said nothing.
“Probably whether you go or not isn’t up to you,” Zhao Lü said.
“But I definitely have to go,” Qiu Shi said.
“When you come back,” Zhao Lü said, “let’s take these brothers and leave. We can’t stay here anymore.”
“Okay.” Qiu Shi nodded. “While I’m gone, the city defense bureau will be watching you all…”
Zhao Lü scoffed, “Don’t worry.”
There were some things he couldn’t say to everyone, only to Zhao Lü, who would then handle the situation with the others. Since Hu Xiaoling’s disappearance, it was only when Qiu Shi returned that the group started to show some spirit again.
“Before, it was like they were all going to die tomorrow,” Zhao Lü said. “Very quiet.”
“Xing Bi and I are going to the corpse cave,” Qiu Shi said. “I want him to look at some of the old man’s things.”
“Okay,” Zhao Lü nodded. “Seems like this guy really isn’t ordinary.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Qiu Shi said.
“Get lost,” Zhao Lü laughed.
“Xing Bi,” Qiu Shi stood up and called out to Xing Bi, who had just come out after moving things.
Someone behind Xing Bi said, “We’ll drink later!”
“Okay,” Xing Bi replied.
“I have something to tell you,” Qiu Shi tilted his head, leading Xing Bi into a nearby bunker and then bending down into a tunnel. “You even drink? Don’t you short-circuit after drinking?”
“I’m not a robot,” Xing Bi said. “I’m a bioroid.”
“Suddenly, you’re not joking anymore,” Qiu Shi said.
“I think you really don’t understand,” Xing Bi said.
“Stop analyzing me,” Qiu Shi said.
“Yes, Brother Shi,” Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi stopped, turned, and looked at him: “You seem to fit in well here?”
“Not very xenophobic here,” Xing Bi said.
“Get out,” Qiu Shi laughed, turning to continue.
The underground parts of the bunkers were interconnected by tunnels, much more complex than what was visible on the surface. Normally, no one would take this route to the corpse cave, but now they didn’t know who might be watching around.
The corpse cave was far from the bunkers; there was no defense set up on this side of the mountain.
“I want to show you something,” Qiu Shi listened to the surroundings, using his intuition to sense the area.
“No one here,” Xing Bi said.
“You’re sharp,” Qiu Shi said.
“Is there anyone?” Xing Bi asked.
“No,” Qiu Shi said.
“You’re sharp,” Xing Bi said.
“…You bastard, so vengeful,” Qiu Shi took out the old man’s suitcase. “These things were found after the old man disappeared. Is there anything you can understand, great-grandfather?”
Xing Bi said nothing, reaching into the suitcase and slowly rummaging through it.
“These are very… old things.”
“How old?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Probably as old as me,” Xing Bi said. “Before the war.”
Qiu Shi looked at him. Hearing this from Xing Bi, it was somewhat incongruous. After all, Xing Bi looked like he was in his twenties, probably because he was bioengineered. His skin was even quite smooth, with no scars, no marks from wind or sun.
It wasn’t surprising that Zhao Lü thought he was extraordinary.
Xing Bi picked up some old picture cards, staring at them in a daze, then took a glass bead and examined it. Qiu Shi didn’t specifically direct him to look at the map, wanting to see if there was anything special to Xing Bi among the items in the suitcase.
Xing Bi took out a cylindrical metal device with a small display screen and a connected wire that looked like earphones.
“Have you seen this before?” Xing Bi asked.
“What does it do?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Plays music,” Xing Bi said.
“Never seen it,” Qiu Shi said. “Do you want to listen? The old man once gave me a device that can charge these old things.”
“Yeah.” Xing Bi nodded.
“Take this back,” Qiu Shi put the device in his pocket. “It’s yours.”
“Thanks,” Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi said nothing. Suddenly, this top-tier hidden guard, capable of grabbing a gun in a second, killing in a second, answering questions instantly, seeing through things at a glance, and stepping on his shoulder in a second, someone with both formidable combat skills and incredible insight, seemed strikingly human.
There was even a sense of fragility.
Qiu Shi reached out and pinched Xing Bi’s face.
Xing Bi looked at him.
“Tell me,” Qiu Shi frowned. “Is it possible that there are bioroids in Yun City, living among the people like ordinary folks?”
“No,” Xing Bi said. “The company has been monitoring the city for a long time. Any bioroid would trigger an alert.”
“I always thought it was only at checkpoints,” Qiu Shi said.
“It’s all over the city,” Xing Bi said. “Exact locations, names, and identities are all displayed.”
Qiu Shi suddenly realized: “Is this the system that Yun City uses to detect and expel bioroids?”
“Yes.” Xing Bi picked up the map.
Qiu Shi stared at him, saying nothing more.
“Is this what you wanted me to see?” Xing Bi asked.
Qiu Shi felt a bit helpless. Xing Bi hadn’t even flipped it over to see the “Qiu” character on the other side before coming to the correct conclusion.
“Yes,” Qiu Shi said. “There’s more on the back.”
Xing Bi flipped it over and looked: “Do you think this has something to do with your background?”
“I don’t know, that’s why I wanted you to look at it,” Qiu Shi said.
“Do you want to go?” Xing Bi asked.
“What?” Qiu Shi was stunned.
“Here.” Xing Bi lightly tapped his finger on the small circle.
“We’re going to Donglin to get someone,” Qiu Shi reminded him. “Not for a trip.”
“In the future.” Xing Bi said. “You won’t stay in Yun City forever.”
Qiu Shi stared at him: “Xing Bi.”
“Hmm?” Xing Bi turned his head to look at him too.
“Are you really in a controlled state?” Qiu Shi asked.
