Volume One: Mutation Chapter Sixty-Two: The Uninhabited Zone

Zhang Chu was just over forty this year and had always remained single. For the first time in his life, a woman’s hands lingered over his body, and a strange feeling rose within him. His thoughts drifted to Wang Ying—beautiful, with a fine figure, and conveniently also single. His mind immediately became more active, and he resolved that when they returned, he must make an effort to get closer to her.

After applying the medicine, Wang Ying wrapped several layers of bandage around Zhang Chu, tying it off with a neat butterfly knot. When she finished, she stood up from the stool and gave his shoulder a firm pat. “All done. No strenuous activity these next few days, and keep the wound dry.”

Zhang Chu, lost in pleasant thoughts, was startled back to reality by the slap. He answered a little guiltily, “Alright, I definitely won’t get it wet.”

Wang Ying shot him a stern look. “And no strenuous movement, either!”

“Yes, yes, I promise—no running, no water!” Zhang Chu replied, looking as obedient as a schoolboy. The others burst into laughter at the sight, even Wang Ying couldn’t help but laugh herself.

Wang Na, who had been leaning coolly against the door since they entered, glanced at her watch and reminded them, “We need to get going, or we won’t make it there before dark.”

Wang Ying grabbed the prepared clothes and thrust them into Zhang Chu’s hands. “Put these on. We’ll see you off to the plane in a minute.”

Once Zhang Chu quickly changed, Wang Na and Wang Ying led the way out.

Seeing Zhang Chu still staring dazedly after Wang Ying, Liu Cong gave him a nudge. “What are you daydreaming about, Uncle Zhang? Hurry up and catch up!”

“Oh, right, coming!” Zhang Chu hurried after them.

Liu Cong walked behind, holding Liu Qingqing’s small hand, and glanced at Zhang Chu’s back. “Qingqing, don’t you think Uncle Zhang’s acting a bit odd? He was so steady before, but ever since we got here, he’s gone all absent-minded.”

Liu Qingqing watched Zhang Chu’s retreating figure and smiled, lips pressed together. “It’s just a case of ‘every pot has its lid.’”

———

The Wang sisters led Liu Cong and the others across nearly half the military district, passing dense arrays of military equipment before arriving at an open field. There, parked on a long runway, was a military transport aircraft—a steel behemoth compared to a helicopter, resting there silently like a sleeping giant. Beneath its wide wings, four engines stood in a row, proof that this iron monster was not only imposing in appearance but formidable at its core.

At the rear, the square cargo ramp stood open, the entrance facing them.

At the ramp, Wang Ying stopped. “This is as far as I go. You all get aboard. Nana, make sure you take good care of them.”

Wang Na nodded, greeted the crew on board, and then led Liu Cong and the others up into the plane.

Liu Cong and Liu Qingqing had flown on commercial airliners before, but never on a transport aircraft. Though it was their first time, movies had shown them enough that the experience wasn’t entirely foreign. What drew their curiosity were the many crates in the center of the cargo hold, covered by olive drab tarps and lashed down securely with ropes.

Once the group had settled into the seats along the sides of the cargo hold, the crew in the cockpit saw this through the monitors and pressed the button to close the ramp.

The engines roared to life, and the aircraft began to taxi, accelerating until it abruptly lifted off into the sky. Inside, everyone felt a powerful surge of centrifugal force, pinning them to their seats—everyone except Liu Cong and Liu Qingqing, who seemed unaffected.

Wang Ying stood on the ground, watching the transport plane fade into the distance. She let out a soft sigh before turning away.

———

At the same time, along the Japanese coast, a massive number of mutated creatures once again emerged, swarming inland in great hordes. It was clear that their direction was aimed straight at the secure base where Masao Nakamura was located.

This abnormal occurrence only heightened the terror among all Japanese survivors. Desperate messages poured out, begging the Japanese government for reinforcements. Given their regional forces, they simply could not withstand such a vast horde of mutated creatures.

In the conference room, Masao Nakamura wore a grave expression as he listened to one bad report after another from his subordinates. The underlying message was always the same: they wanted China’s help.

Nakamura, a brusque man by nature, would have liked nothing more than to drop a nuclear bomb on the densest concentration of monsters. But no matter where it landed, it would affect their own secure bases—an unsolvable headache.

His subordinates’ requests weren’t wrong; the best option now was to ask China for assistance. China had successfully eliminated a T4-level mutant, and the news had spread internationally. The whole world envied the Chinese people. Since the apocalypse began, whether it was protecting citizens or building secure zones, China had outperformed every other nation.

Their powerful military had repeatedly repelled monster attacks. Their world-leading infrastructure meant their safe zones were stronger and better built than anywhere else. Now, with a miraculous figure among them, who wouldn’t be envious?

Masao Nakamura rubbed his aching brow, overwhelmed by the endless crises he now faced in his position. “That’s all for now. I’ll contact the Chinese again and request their help.”

———

Li Yu and Zhang Quanyou sat in a conference room, both frowning as they discussed the latest developments.

“The Japanese contacted us again just now, asking for reinforcements. From the tone, things must be critical over there,” said Li Yu.

Zhang Quanyou looked puzzled. “Japan may be an island nation, but their military isn’t weak. How did it come to this? No other coastal country has suffered as badly—remember the Black Sea tsunami in Mexico? After that, things quieted down. Why are these monsters fixated on Japan?”

Li Yu also found it odd. Japan’s disaster was far worse than that of any other nation. Despite being neighbors with China, they were facing monster attacks dozens of times greater.

Knock, knock, knock!

The door was rapped.

“Come in!” called Li Yu.

A female secretary entered with a file in her arms. “Sir, this is from the monitoring department—they asked that you review it immediately.”

Li Yu took the documents from the table. “Understood. You may go.”

The secretary smiled, nodded, closed the door, and left.

He opened the sealed folder to find a report and several satellite images.

At a glance, Li Yu’s demeanor changed. He picked up his glasses from the table and put them on. “Old Zhang, take a look. These are satellite images of the Japanese coast.”

Zhang Quanyou studied them for a moment, his own expression turning grim. “Li, this is way too abnormal. With numbers like these, not even we could hold out without Liu Cong—let alone Japan.”

Li Yu replied, “To be precise, no country could withstand this. Something on Japan must be attracting them.”

“Exactly, but what could it be?” Zhang Quanyou echoed.

“In any case, we must send Liu Cong over. If he completes a rescue mission, he’ll gain plenty in return. It’s a fair trade,” Li Yu said. “But more importantly, we need to get the list of people Abe planted among us from Nakamura.”

Zhang Quanyou snorted coldly. “If not for that, I’d never have agreed to send him.”

Li Yu reassured him, “Don’t worry. His safety is our top priority. If things look bad, he can abort the mission and withdraw immediately.”

“That’s more like it.”

Li Yu checked his watch. “Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon. Come, Old Zhang! Let’s go make preparations to welcome our hero.”

———

After another three hours in the air, the transport plane finally approached the airspace of Safe Zone One. But instead of proceeding, the pilot began to circle in place.

“Why are we stopping? We’ve been circling forever, and there’s nothing below us!” Zhang Chu pressed against the window, peering down along the slanting fuselage.

Below lay an endless expanse of barren wasteland—azure earth devoid of life. It was a true no-man’s land, with only distant mountain ranges standing lonely and resigned on the horizon.