Chapter 20: Journey to Beijing

"Have you talked it over with your little sweetheart yet? We’re heading back first thing tomorrow morning," Lin Tian said, strolling over as evening approached.

"Yes, alright. I'll go ask her," Ye Yang nodded.

Qi Fang hadn't fully made up her mind yet; at that moment, she was downstairs being persuaded by Uncle Zheng and his group. It was clear she was struggling with the decision.

"Silly girl, why pass up such a golden opportunity? It’s rare that your little 'wolf dog' is willing to take you along. Tsk tsk, the son of a scientist—you’ve really struck gold." Uncle Zheng’s jest drew a roar of laughter from the bar, but the girl just bit her lip, remaining silent.

"I... I can't bear to leave you, Uncle. I can't bear to leave everyone," she finally whispered, her voice cracking as she began to sob.

The bar fell silent. No one spoke. In truth, how many of them could truly bear to part with Qi Fang? She was the little princess of the bar, practically a daughter to them all.

Yet, no one showed their sadness or reluctance on their faces; they only smiled. Every fatherly figure there shared the same thought: they wanted the best for her, for her to live a peaceful and secure life. A drifter’s existence was cool and edgy, but it was no life for a girl like her.

*Clack.* A lighter was tossed over by a tall, thin man. It was old but exquisitely crafted, engraved with a skull emblem.

"Alright now, stop the sniffling. Isn't this your favorite lighter? Take it! Keep it as a memento," the man said with a warm smile.

*Clack.* Then came a keychain, followed by necklaces, earrings, and even a small mirror with a Mickey Mouse print. Everyone stepped forward, offering the girl a small, precious token. Soon, her arms were overflowing with gifts.

These items weren't valuable—some were little more than trinkets—but they were all heartfelt offerings, and Qi Fang was too moved to speak.

"Come on, kid. You're young; you have to chase your own future. It’s not like we're never going to see each other again. If the chance arises, if the world changes one day, Uncle Zheng will take you for a ride on the bike again and teach you those fancy tricks," Uncle Zheng comforted her gently.

With a wail, Qi Fang finally broke down, burying her face in Uncle Zheng’s chest and sobbing uncontrollably until her voice went hoarse.

By the stairs, Ye Yang watched it all with a gentle smile, observing as the girl eventually walked over to him, still biting her lip.

"Decided?" Ye Yang asked softly. Deep down, he genuinely hoped she would come to Beijing with him. A girl like her deserved a life without worries—to go to school, to make friends her own age. She had already lost her childhood; at the very least, he wanted her to live the rest of her days like a little princess.

"Yes," the girl nodded firmly. "I’ll go to Beijing with you." As soon as she spoke, she turned and bolted up the stairs without looking back.

"Hey kid! If you dare to treat our little Fang poorly, we won't let you off easy!"

"Look after her, boy! Damn it, she’s like a daughter to me—don't you dare bully her!"

The bar was filled with chaotic shouting. Ye Yang promised each of them in turn, nodding and smiling at every demand. He didn't find it annoying at all; he understood well the feeling of parents sending a child off on a long journey.

***

On the stairs, Qi Fang sat on her knees, already a mess of tears. But just as Uncle Zheng and Ye Yang had said, she had to pursue her future; she had to take this step.

A truly better life? Qi Fang didn't know what that meant, but instinctively, she felt a glimmer of hope. It must be a life completely different from the one she had known.

"Don't you two have anything to pack? It’s dangerous outside Beijing. Unless we're on a mission, we rarely head out," Lin Tian asked, turning his head. Ye Yang shook his head; he had nothing to bring.

Qi Fang also shook her head. She had already given her rifle and motorcycle to Uncle Zheng. Firearms were forbidden in the city, and a desert bike wasn't suited for paved roads. Beyond that bundle of parting gifts, she only carried a small jar—her grandfather's ashes.

"Alright, let's go." Lin Tian vaulted into the helicopter, and Ye Yang pulled Qi Fang up after him. From start to finish, Qi Fang didn't look back. She was afraid that if she did, she might change her mind, unable to let go.

Outside the bar, it was quiet. No one came out to see them off. All that needed to be said had been said; expecting those tough men to cry during a farewell would be harder than killing them. Yet, Ye Yang noticed that behind the bar’s windows, beneath the curtains, were pairs of eyes shimmering with moisture.

"Take care, little Fang," Uncle Zheng murmured. At the very last moment, even this iron-willed man couldn't hold back; two lines of tears streamed down his rugged face.

He didn't regret letting her go with Ye Yang—after all, this was no life for a person—but he knew this goodbye might be forever. Perhaps they could call to check in occasionally, but meeting again would be nearly impossible.

Qi Fang was still a child, after all. Despite the sorrow of parting, her attention was soon captured by something else: a helicopter! It was her first time, and such a luxurious one at that.

She bounced around like a little monkey, having the time of her life, leaving the pilot sweating nervously. Helicopters usually didn't close their cabin doors, and if this girl fell out, it would be a disaster.

Lin Tian was busy fiddling with Qi Fang’s small mercury dagger. She hadn't given that away, keeping it by her side—it was her most prized possession. She felt Ye Yang might need it too, since hunters also used mercury weapons.

"Hmm... the craftsmanship is decent. Must be city-made, though it's a bit small," Lin Tian sighed. "Fine for zombies, but if you're fighting those tougher specimens, a small blade like this is dangerous."

"Exactly!" Ye Yang agreed wholeheartedly. The knife was indeed small; it had been useless in his own battles against mutants.

"Here, take this for now. I'm not sure if you're used to this kind of weapon, but no rush. Once you become a hunter, you'll have custom-made gear."

As Lin Tian spoke, he flipped his wrist and a long, antique-style blade appeared in his hand. The helicopter cabin was cramped, and it nearly poked Ye Yang in the nose.

"How... how did you do that?" Ye Yang was completely stunned. He had been so close, yet he hadn't seen a thing. Was it magic? He had seen Ling Fengyan produce a greatsword like that—could all hunters use magic?

"Ah? Oh... I forgot you just had your seal removed and don't know anything yet." Lin Tian gave a dry laugh, shook a brick-like object in his hand, and tossed it over. "Here, the latest iPhone 9. It has storage capabilities."

"Humans have mastered interdimensional space technology. While the disaster that brought it was a tragedy, it’s been applied to daily life. This iPhone 9 integrates storage space, roughly equivalent to the trunk of a sedan. Very convenient."

"iPhone 9?" Ye Yang's jaw dropped. He never would have guessed this brick was an iPhone 9, let alone one with storage technology. Human technological progress was truly changing by the day.

***

"Damn! Is that *Plants vs. Zombies*? In 3D?" Ye Yang was torn between laughter and disbelief. In the 3D version, the zombies looked exactly like the real-world undead, while the plants were dressed like hunters, equipped with various superpowers, weapons, and ultimate moves.

Qi Fang also rushed over with wide eyes, snatching the iPhone 9 and playing with it incessantly. She had never seen anything like this; phones in the drifter camps were rare, and the ones they did have were old-fashioned landlines.

"Like it? Ha, but I can't give it to you just yet," Lin Tian said with a smile.

Ye Yang felt frustrated—why tease him then? But he heard Lin Tian continue, "This requires identity verification. My phone can only be opened by me. As for you... once you become a hunter, you’ll be issued one."

"And as for the little lady, the iPhone 9 is a limited edition worldwide, so I can't give you mine. But don't you like motorcycles? How about I help you get a Skull-brand road racer?"

"Yes, please!" Qi Fang was instantly thrilled. Even Ye Yang rubbed his hands in excitement. In his past life, he had always wanted an iPhone, but his family's allowance had been too small, and his salary after graduation wasn't high enough. This was perfect—apparently, hunters received government-issued gear, and the latest iPhone 9 at that!

According to Lin Tian, the iPhone 9 wasn't just for storage; it had many practical applications he would understand once he had his own. Essentially, it was an essential piece of equipment for home life, travel, and combat.

"Stop! Please, stop!" Ye Yang held his head, feeling as if a cat were clawing at his heart, making Lin Tian burst into laughter.

The helicopter flew at incredible speed. Soon, Ye Yang and the others returned to Beijing—the eternal capital of the Chinese people, the city that had stood tall through countless battles. Even after the apocalypse, it remained majestic.

Ye Yang had been to Beijing before, many times, but he was still shocked by his first glimpse of it now. It was vastly different from the city he remembered.

The towering steel and concrete walls were over twenty meters high. This wasn't the ancient Great Wall, but a newly constructed, even more imposing defensive structure. Looking down from the helicopter, he saw machine gun turrets placed every few meters along the wall, with massive howitzers and missile launchers every hundred meters. This wasn't just a city; it was a fortress.

Yet, Ye Yang understood. This was the only way to completely stop the invasion of zombies and monsters, to keep Beijing impregnable, and for humanity to continue its desperate struggle for survival.

Outside the walls, a sea of zombies surged, their roars constant. Ye Yang and Qi Fang turned pale. Was this a zombie siege?

"You'll get used to it. It’s always like this outside the city. But don't worry, these guys can't get in—Level 2s, Level 3s, none of them can break through," Lin Tian said dismissively.

"This is one of the last sanctuaries in the world, the eternal Beijing, and the seat of our Chinese Alliance. Little Yang, welcome home," Lin Tian laughed.

Ye Yang and Qi Fang exchanged glances, seeing the same joy reflected in each other's eyes. They had finally made it.