Qiu Shi had lived outside of Yun City since childhood. From the moment he and Zhao Lü dug their first shelter, it had been over ten years. Yet, he had never felt such an urgent desire to return home as he did now, driving the car Li Feng had given him, passing through the tunnel, and heading toward the shelter along the desolate rocky plains.
The more places he had been, the wider the world he had seen, the more he had witnessed the fragility of life and death, and the deeper he had experienced joy and sorrow, the stronger this feeling became.
The faint flashes of light from the direction of the shelter carried countless meanings, so much so that Qiu Shi’s vision blurred the moment he saw them.
He raised his sleeve to rub his eyes and flashed his car lights twice in response.
Xing Bi glanced at him, “Missing home?”
“You really know how to hit a sore spot.” Qiu Shi immediately slowed down, tears almost streaming down his face. He quickly pressed his sleeve against his eyes.
This sudden wave of tears was truly ridiculous.
Xing Bi reached over to steady the steering wheel, “Hurry up. There’s no danger around Yun City for now. They’re probably about to rush out. You can’t let them see Brother Shi’s tears.”
“Screw you.” Qiu Shi took a deep breath, quickly adjusted his emotions, and turned to Xing Bi, “Can you tell?”
“I’ll blind them all as soon as I get out of the car,” Xing Bi said.
“F***,” Qiu Shi laughed. “Is it that obvious?”
“People who rarely cry are like this when they do,” Xing Bi said.
“Wow, you sound experienced,” Qiu Shi said.
“Well, I do have over a hundred years on you,” Xing Bi replied.
“What, are you gonna tell me you’ve shed more tears than I’ve pissed in my life?” Qiu Shi said.
“…I usually avoid using such crude expressions, Mr. Corpse Collector,” Xing Bi replied.
“Oh, right. Forgot you’re wearing a suit,” Qiu Shi said.
Xing Bi chuckled, “I only dress like this for formal missions.”
“When this war is over, I’ll make Deputy Director Li get you a full suit,” Qiu Shi said. “I want to see how you’d look.”
“Sure,” Xing Bi replied.
The corpse collectors’ welcome was always that warm. A bunch of people who dealt with corpses daily somehow had more genuine emotions than those who mingled with the living.
And they always worried about Qiu Shi.
“We were all afraid you’ll die out there,” Zhao Lü said.
“I’m gonna die sooner or later,” Qiu Shi replied. “Don’t rush me.”
“F***,” Zhao Lü glared at him. “Can you not talk like that?”
“You’re all speaking so elegantly now,” Qiu Shi said. “How else am I supposed to talk?”
“Dinner’s ready!” He Jiang shouted from the shelter on the hill.
“Dinner time!” Zhao Lü shouted back, then pointed at Xing Bi, “No drinking today. Don’t you dare dodge.”
“Do I ever dodge?” Xing Bi replied. “If you can handle even one drink, I won’t argue.”
Zhao Lü laughed, “Drinking won’t fill our stomachs. Gotta eat properly today.”
Qiu Shi’s room was still the same. It was clear that someone cleaned it daily, likely Xiao Lei, who always found something to do despite having nothing to do. There wasn’t a speck of dust on the table or the floor.
Qiu Shi removed his weapons and left them in the room, keeping only a pistol, then stood by the window, looking outside.
“Hmm?” Xing Bi walked up beside him.
“Something’s off with these guys,” Qiu Shi said.
“Because they’re not drinking?” Xing Bi asked.
“Not just that,” Qiu Shi said. “Everyone’s expression is different. They look… heroic and solemn.”
“…What kind of feeling is that?” Xing Bi asked.
“You don’t understand that kind of feeling?” Qiu Shi said, then muttered to himself, “And there’s not even fewer people than usual.”
“Does it feel like someone died?” Xing Bi asked.
“Feels more like they’re about to do something big,” Qiu Shi clicked his tongue. “Guess they’ll tell me at dinner.”
Turns out, Qiu Shi knew his brothers well.
After devouring their meal like a pack of starving wolves, everyone put down their utensils and secretly glanced at Zhao Lü and Xiao Lei.
“Speak up,” Qiu Shi lit a cigarette. “If you keep holding it in, you’ll puke up everything you just ate.”
“You’re leaving again tomorrow morning, right?” Xiao Lei asked.
“Yeah,” Qiu Shi replied.
Xiao Lei glanced at Zhao Lü.
“Out with it,” Zhao Lü frowned and looked at Qiu Shi, “Where are you headed?”
“Xima Town,” Qiu Shi said. “Stationed there for a while.”
Xiao Lei, trying to prove himself, quickly spoke before Zhao Lü could, “Take us with you.”
“…What the hell?” Qiu Shi was stunned, cigarette dangling from his mouth.
Even Xing Bi looked up in surprise.
No one spoke. They all stared at Qiu Shi.
The smoke stung Qiu Shi’s eyes before he squinted and asked again, “Take you guys to do what?”
“We want to join the fight,” Zhao Lü said.
“F*** off!” Qiu Shi crushed his cigarette, his voice hoarse. “You bunch of lunatics trying to stir up more trouble!”
“We won’t be a burden,” Hu Xiaoling said. “We’re no worse than those soldiers.”
“Bullsh**!” Qiu Shi glared at him. “That’s only because the experienced soldiers all died out there!”
“Then if they all die, it’s our turn,” He Jiang said. “The inner city is already recruiting.”
“I…” Qiu Shi choked, coughing violently.
Xing Bi patted his back gently and said, “Don’t throw your lives away.”
“Why is it throwing our lives away?” Xiao Lei said. “Collecting corpses used to be our way of life. The outside world had nothing to do with us. But now… everyone knows…”
“Shut the f*** up!” Qiu Shi pointed at Xiao Lei. “Was it you? Was it you who went to Li Feng for this? If you’re so eager to die, just leave Yun City’s territory! I’ll bow to you if you survive a second!”
“Qiu Shi,” Xing Bi pulled his hand down. “Watch your words.”
Qiu Shi suppressed his anger, “Forget it. This is impossible.”
He turned to leave.
“Brother Shi,” Zhao Lü called out.
Xing Bi stopped him and whispered, “Solve the problem.”
“F*** your ancestors.” Qiu Shi sat back down.
“Brother Shi,” Zhao Lü hesitated for a moment before speaking, “We used to say, if something happened, we’d run away.”
Qiu Shi remained silent.
“Do you remember?” Zhao Lü looked at him. “The first time you told me the escape route, it was to head south through the mountains to Xima Town. Then Xima was taken.”
“There’s not just one Xima Town in this world,” Qiu Shi said. “Zhuyuan and Shidi are still safe. We can always find a way.”
“I asked you back then, why fight for Yun City,” Zhao Lü said. “Do you remember your answer?”
“Who the hell remembers the lies I told,” Qiu Shi said.
“Before we find a better place, as long as Yun City stands, our people won’t have to suffer outside,” Zhao Lü said. “We’re brothers who grew up together. Do you really not understand why we’re doing this?”
“We sit here every day, wondering,” Hu Xiaoling said. “Where’s Brother Shi? Is he alive or dead…”
“That’s just you,” Qiu Shi said.
“You’re Yun City’s hero now,” Hu Xiaoling said. “We’re the useless ones living off your protection, left to guess and worry from morning till night.”
“We’re your brothers. You’ve always taken care of us,” He Jiang said. “Now it’s time to be true brothers. Live together, die together. Instead of living off you like cowards, we’d rather die a death that we deserve.”
Qiu Shi stared at him.
“…That’s not how ‘deserved death’ is used,” Xing Bi said.
“Isn’t it?” Zhao Lü asked.
“Is that the f***ing point?!” Qiu Shi roared.
“The point is, Xiao Lei already told Li Feng,” Zhao Lü said.
Qiu Shi leapt up, moving so fast that even Xing Bi couldn’t stop him. He lunged across the table and punched Xiao Lei, knocking him out cold.
“Did Li Feng actually agree?!” Qiu Shi grabbed Zhao Lü by the collar.
“Yes,” Zhao Lü’s voice cracked, unsure if from fear or emotion.
“When?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Yesterday,” Zhao Lü said.
Qiu Shi kicked open the shelter door and stormed out.
Xing Bi followed and grabbed him.
“Let go!” Qiu Shi glared at him. “I’m going to kill Li Feng! He knew since yesterday and didn’t tell me! He just wants to use my brothers’ lives to trap me!”
“I know.” Xing Bi wrapped his arms around him, patting his back gently. “I know, but you can’t kill him now, and you mustn’t. Solve the problem, partner—solve the problem. Killing Li Feng won’t solve it.”
“How the hell do I solve this?” Qiu Shi shouted in a hushed voice.
“Face it first,” Xing Bi said.
When Qiu Shi returned to the room, Xiao Lei was already awake. His neck was twisted, the left side of his face was swollen, and his eye was half-shut.
But everyone’s gaze remained firm.
Qiu Shi knew he could no longer stop them.
He sat down in silence and lit another cigarette.
“Brother Shi, think about it this way—if we go with you,” Zhao Lü tried a different approach, “maybe we’ll actually be safer. Here, Li Feng could use us to control you at any time.”
“Did you all go to school or something? What’s with all this talk of ‘deserving death’ and ‘control’?” Qiu Shi said irritably.
“At least it’s better than dying without you knowing,” Hu Xiaoling said.
“Yes!” Qiu Shi glared at him. “So you’d rather die right in front of me, haunt me even as ghosts?! What’s the damn difference?!”
No one said anything. They just silently and resolutely looked at him.
Qiu Shi finished his cigarette before speaking again. “I know I can’t stop you. Fine. Then remember the first rule: don’t trust Li Feng too much. To him, an ordinary person’s life isn’t worth a thing.”
Everyone nodded.
“Li the Dog Official is still a dog official. We know.”
“Don’t think you’re all that powerful. Don’t have any delusions about your abilities,” Qiu Shi said. “Humans are weak.”
Deng Yeye hid behind a small rock. She could see two faint lights flickering from the shelter in the distance—Qiu Shi must have returned. They were all gathered in the large shelter.
She waited for a long time, until her hands and feet had gone numb from the cold. Then, Qiu Shi and Xing Bi walked out.
Qiu Shi seemed to be heading out to relieve himself, and his path would pass right by her hiding spot.
But before she could make a move, something even colder than the night air pressed against the side of her neck—a blade, its edge sharp.
“What do you want with me?” Qiu Shi asked from nearby.
Deng Yeye turned her head slightly. Behind her, Xing Bi had already put the knife away.
Qiu Shi switched on the small space heater in the room. It was the same kind as the one in the dorms at Xima Town—the warmest model available.
Xing Bi brought Deng Yeye inside and closed the door.
“So you really are a middleman?” Qiu Shi glanced at her.
“Not exactly,” Deng Yeye said. “I’m just someone trying to find a way out for my kind.”
“Your kind?” Qiu Shi stretched out his legs as he sat in the chair. “Who’s your kind? Qiu Yu? Or that bunch of Black Blood cultists?”
“All of them.” Deng Yeye glanced at a water bottle on the table.
“Go ahead,” Qiu Shi said.
She picked it up and downed half the bottle in one go.
“Why are you helping Qiu Yu?” Qiu Shi asked.
“In this world, there’s room for everyone, whether they’re bioroids or humans,” Deng Yeye said. “But whether they’re ordinary humans or immune humans, we all have to unite. We have to be one in order to maintain balance in this war against the bioroids on our side.”
“Doesn’t sound like there’s anything wrong with that,” Qiu Shi looked at Xing Bi.
“Mm,” Xing Bi responded.
“There are still many Black Blood members left,” Deng Yeye continued. “They have their own beliefs, their own god. They’re highly united and strong in combat—an invaluable force.”
“Do you believe in Qiu Yu?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Partially. His obsession runs too deep,” Deng Yeye said. “But for now, Chen Dang and the others can still keep him in check. Our goal is to survive first, isn’t it?”
In this aspect, Deng Yeye was a bit like Li Feng.
“And after that?” Qiu Shi asked.
“That’s up to you—your brother, your kind,” Deng Yeye said. “You’re Yun City’s hero, and you’re a god to these people. Whatever you do, history will turn the page.”
“Heh.” Qiu Shi chuckled, looking at her. “Qiu Yu said you had a small team.”
“Yes, two people,” Deng Yeye said.
“Quite the scale,” Qiu Shi remarked.
“The old man knows him,” Deng Yeye said. “And so does Xing Bi.”
“Who?” Qiu Shi asked, glancing at Xing Bi.
“I’ll introduce you when there’s a chance—maybe in Xima Town,” Deng Yeye said. “He’s not very mobile right now.”
“As bad as the old man?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Not the same.” Deng Yeye’s gaze suddenly turned sorrowful. “He’s dying.”
After Deng Yeye left the shelter, Qiu Shi sat in the room, dazed for a long time.
Xing Bi walked up to him. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s too much going on,” Qiu Shi said. “My mind’s a mess.”
“Want me to give your head a squeeze?” Xing Bi asked.
“You think you can squeeze my brain?” Qiu Shi asked.
Xing Bi chuckled, moved behind him, and pressed his fingers against Qiu Shi’s head. “Feel that?”
“No.”
Xing Bi applied a little more pressure. “Now?”
“No.”
“Then your brain must be pretty small,” Xing Bi said.
“Screw you.” Qiu Shi laughed and leaned back against him. “Just squeeze whatever you want.”
Xing Bi continued to massage his head, slowly and steadily.
“Xing Bi,” Qiu Shi closed his eyes, “the person Deng Yeye mentioned—do you know who it is?”
“I can’t think of anyone,” Xing Bi said.
“You know them. The only ones who could still be alive are bioroids,” Qiu Shi said. “But she said he’s dying. If it’s a human, it must be someone from after you were reactivated. I should know them too, but she didn’t say I did.”
“Mm.” Xing Bi hummed in response.
“A dying bioroid?” Qiu Shi wondered aloud.
“Hm?” Xing Bi’s hands paused.
“Injured and dying?” Qiu Shi said.
“Impossible,” Xing Bi replied. “Bioroids beings either regenerate, or—if they can’t—”
“—then only Yun City’s laboratory can save them, right?” Qiu Shi said. “But Deng Yeye didn’t sound anxious at all, so…”
Qiu Shi thought for a long time before finally laughing. “This has to be a bioroid being dying of old age.”
Xing Bi said nothing.
Qiu Shi laughed for a while, then stopped. “What’s wrong? Is there really one?”
“I only heard about it,” Xing Bi said. “First-generation bioroids beings were unstable. When their systems were damaged, they slowly lost the ability to sustain their bio-organic reactions.”
“They age? And then die?” Qiu Shi was a little shocked.
“I’ve only heard about it, never seen it myself,” Xing Bi said. “But later first-generation models were all destroyed. After the second generation was produced, they were completely replaced.”
“Damn,” Qiu Shi sighed. “Even bioroids have a rich history.”
“Yeah,” Xing Bi said.
Qiu Shi found Xing Bi’s massage techniques impressive—he didn’t even know when he fell asleep. His last memory was leaning against Xing Bi’s stomach, feeling the gentle rise and fall of his breath, a lulling, comfortable sensation.
When he woke up, he was lying on the bed, his head resting on Xing Bi’s lap. Xing Bi was leaning against the headboard, playing with that old smartphone.
“Damn,” Qiu Shi yawned, looking up at Xing Bi. “I actually slept the whole night without waking up. Did you knock me out?”
“No,” Xing Bi said. “You fell asleep sitting up.”
“And then you…” Qiu Shi lifted the blanket and looked down. “You didn’t do anything, did you?”
“You were out cold,” Xing Bi said. “Even if I did something, it wouldn’t be any fun.”
“…Your ancestors,” Qiu Shi muttered. “Can you control yourself when you talk?”
“You keep asking,” Xing Bi said. “If I don’t answer, I’d feel bad for your curiosity.”
Qiu Shi laughed for a while. Just as he was about to check the time—planning to go settle accounts with Li Feng—someone knocked on the door twice.
“Brothet Shi.” It was Zhao Lü’s voice.
Zhao Lü never addressed him so formally. Normally, they would just barge into each other’s rooms. This knock felt suspiciously meaningful.
Qiu Shi jumped up at once. Xing Bi had already moved to lean against the table, still looking down at his phone, appearing completely natural—like he had been standing there all night.
“What the hell are you knocking for? Did you all go to school or something?” Qiu Shi asked while hurriedly putting on his pants, trying to act normal as quickly as possible.
Zhao Lü pushed the door open.
When Qiu Shi saw what was outside, he understood why Zhao Lü had knocked.
Outside, standing in neat formation, were seventeen fully-equipped corpse collectors, a still-swollen-faced Xiao Lei, and three strangers in military uniforms.
Over twenty people were watching him put on his pants.
“Sh*t,” Qiu Shi cursed. “Close the door.”
Zhao Lü shut the door again.
Xing Bi chuckled.
“You think that’s funny?” Qiu Shi asked in a hushed voice.
“Yeah.” Xing Bi was still smiling, unable to hold it back.
Qiu Shi threw on his clothes, yanked the door open, and stepped outside.
“Captain Qiu,” one of the unfamiliar soldiers, who looked like an officer, spoke up. “I’m Li Guang, the leader of today’s escort convoy.”
“What’s Li Feng to you?” Qiu Shi couldn’t help asking.
“He’s our commander,” Li Guang replied, standing stiffly. “He’s waiting for you in the car below.”
“Perfect. I was just about to go find him!” The moment Qiu Shi heard that, he stormed downhill without even bothering to grab his coat.
Five large black vehicles were parked below. Li Feng was leaning against the door of the middle one.
“Give me an explanation!” Qiu Shi charged over, grabbed Li Feng by the collar, and shoved him into the car, slamming the door shut behind them.
“Captain Qiu,” Li Feng, sprawled on the seat, glanced at him. “Such a bold man.”
When Qiu Shi looked around, he saw about ten soldiers inside the vehicle. They were presumably part of the escort team and were now all staring at him in shock.
Qiu Shi hadn’t expected to find himself in a situation where he had to mind his image. He cleared his throat, opened the door, and said, “Group Leader Li, I have something urgent to discuss with you.”
“Alright.” Li Feng nodded and got out of the car with him.
Once the door was shut, Qiu Shi hissed under his breath, “Li Feng, f*ck your ancestors! Besides screwing me over and screwing over my brothers, what else can you do?”
“Qiu Shi,” Li Feng said, “it’s better for them to be with you.”
“Better my ass!” Qiu Shi snapped. “At least here, they wouldn’t die! They’re just corpse collectors. They’ve barely interacted with living people, and now you’re throwing them into battle against symbionts?”
“You need your own people,” Li Feng said. “You only have Second Squad in Xima Town, which is far from enough. These are people you trust, people you can rely on. With them, you’ll have a firmer foothold.”
“And who said I was going to help you in Xima Town?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Clearing out strongholds near Xima Town, destroying other nests,” Li Feng said. “When you told me your plan, it was clear and logical. You weren’t just talking—you knew what to do, and you intended to do it, didn’t you?”
Qiu Shi stayed silent.
Despite being severely sleep-deprived, Li Feng’s memory was still sharp.
“You are a hero. You are truly an exceptional human,” Li Feng said. “Whether you like it or not, history will remember Qiu Shi as a hero.”
Thank you for the chapter!