Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Feng Chen, covering Yan Bubu's mouth, whispered, "Nothing is more important than life. I'm going to give them the code box. As soon as I leave, you run immediately towards the underground city."

Although Yan Bubu couldn't speak, she didn't nod either, just gazed at him with her clear, large eyes.

"Do you understand?"

Yan Bubu still gave no response.

"Don't worry, as long as I hand over the code box to them, everything will be fine. I'll meet you at the safe point later."

Outside, Chu Shi lifted the cannon barrel again: "I'll count down three more times, and then this place will light up. You two poor little cats better find a hole to hide in."

Feng Chen let go of Yan Bubu's mouth, took a deep breath, and was about to stand up when the rumbling sound of a helicopter came from above.

Then a bright beam of light swept across the ruined streets, finally resting on Chu Shi.

"Attention to everyone on the street: you are now targeted. Drop your weapons immediately, drop your weapons immediately, or severe punitive measures will be used against you."

Chu Shi and Aidai turned around, looking up at the helicopter in the sky, while their subordinate shouted nervously, "Minister Chu, it's the Western Alliance Army."

"You are now targeted. Drop your weapons immediately, drop your weapons immediately, or severe punitive measures will be used against you."

Feng Chen, who was about to stand up, stayed still, and Yan Bubu also moved closer to the gap, both looking outside, one above the other.

The group that had been fighting the tiger ran from a distance. No tiger followed them; it was unclear if it had been killed or had escaped.

Of the six subordinates, only four remained now.

One of them, panting, said, "Minister Chu, we've made too much noise and attracted the Western Alliance's patrol. We should leave quickly. The helicopter is here, and the army must be on its way. Let's avoid further trouble."

"Yes, Minister, these two rabbits won't get far. Let's spare them for today and return later."

Chu Shi turned around, his sinister gaze sweeping over the ruins. After a moment of contemplation, he finally said, "Let's go."

He carried the cannon barrel towards a nearby hovercar. The warnings from the helicopter continued, "Drop your weapons immediately, hands on your head and squat down. Counting down from ten now, ten, nine, eight—"

Chu Shi ducked into the hovercar, which started moving. The countdown from the helicopter ceased, only to be replaced by a new announcement.

"Everyone in the vehicle, come out and squat down by the curb, awaiting inspection. Counting down from ten now, ten, nine—"

The hovercar kept moving forward, but Chu Shi leaned out of the window, shouldering the cannon barrel, aiming at the helicopter above.

"Counting down like me, go to hell."

The cannon fired, trailing a long plume of smoke. With a massive explosion, the helicopter burst into flames in the sky, illuminating the night like a brilliant firework.

Yan Bubu watched, mouth agape in shock, as helicopter debris scattered. A piece of the rotor, spinning rapidly, headed their way, but he stood frozen, forgetting to hide.

Feng Chen quickly pulled him aside, and the rotor blade sliced off half of the mud wall beside them.

"Hahaha…" Chu Shi's crazed laughter echoed as the hovercar sped away.

Sharp alarms rang in the distance. Feng Chen, shaking off the dirt and stones from his head, stood up and pulled Yan Bubu, who was spitting out mud, towards the ruins across the street.

Military tanks continuously passed through the streets, searchlights sweeping along. The two hid behind bricks and stones, waiting for a troop column to pass before proceeding. A journey that should have taken ten minutes took half an hour, and they finally reached the entrance to the underground shelter.

The entrance to the shelter looked like a subway station, brightly lit by searchlights as if it were daylight. However, a whole squad of Western Alliance soldiers, armed to the teeth, stood at the gate, with a row of machine guns mounted on the platform above, their dark muzzles pointing downward.

Feng Chen and Yan Bubu hid behind a large stone a hundred meters away, discarding their guns.

"Our biochips have been modified, and I've checked several times. The data alteration is flawless. The code box is made of a special material that won't be detected regardless of what's inside. Don't worry, there won't be any issues." Feng Chen's words seemed to comfort Yan Bubu as much as they reassured himself.

Yan Bubu squeezed his hand: "Don't be afraid, young master. I know, there won't be any problems."

Feng Chen lowered his voice: "Where did you hear that I'm afraid? I'm just reminding you."

Yan Bubu looked at him with utmost trust: "Hmm, I know. Don't panic."

"I'm not panicking."

"Hmm, I know—"

"Stop talking."

"Oh."

When the searchlight swept by again, the two slipped out from behind the large stone and walked towards the entrance. As soon as they appeared, they caught the attention of the sentries, and the searchlight immediately turned towards them, engulfing them in a bright beam that made every strand of their hair visible.

Feng Chen glanced at Yan Bubu beside him and mouthed without moving his lips: "Don't walk clumsily."

Yan Bubu, swinging his arms on the same side and stepping heavily, sounded somewhat panicked: "Young master, I've forgotten how to walk."

"Then put your hands in your pockets."

Yan Bubu quickly slipped his thumbs into the bib pocket of his overalls, leaving the other fingers dangling outside, lightly twitching.

Upon reaching the entrance, they stopped. A Western Alliance soldier checking them looked at them, then behind them: "Just the two of you?"

Feng Chen nodded: "Just us two."

The soldier asked: "Has anyone been with you these past few days?"

"No."

"Yes."

Feng Chen and Yan Bubu's answers came out simultaneously.

The soldier looked at Yan Bubu, who met his gaze calmly, then tilted his head towards Feng Chen: "He's been with me."

Due to extreme nervousness, the child's face was devoid of expression, and the way his thumbs were hooked in the bib pocket of his overalls gave him a somewhat cool demeanor.

The soldier asked, "How have you two been getting by recently?"

Feng Chen saw no need to lie about this: "We've been staying in a parking lot, scavenging for food here and there."

All the soldiers were sizing them up, their gazes like searchlights on their dust-covered bodies. Yan Bubu's nervousness grew, and his face became even more impassive.

"This kid seems pretty cool," one soldier remarked after a moment, speaking to his companion.

The others seemed to find Yan Bubu amusing and chuckled.

The soldier asked Feng Chen, "What's your name?"

"Qin Shen."

"And the kid, what's your name?" the soldier then asked Yan Bubu.

With everyone staring and laughing at him, Yan Bubu's mind was blank. When asked his name, he instinctively almost blurted out 'Yan Bubu'.

"Cough, cough." Feng Chen suddenly coughed twice, bowing his head.

Yan Bubu jolted, instantly recalling Feng Chen's earlier stern warning not to reveal his real name. His name was supposed to be... what was it supposed to be?

What's my name again?

"Complex Beautiful Crystal," Yan Bubu said expressionlessly.

The soldier, taken aback, asked, "What?"

Realizing his mistake, Yan Bubu abruptly dropped his hands to his sides, looking bewilderedly at Feng Chen, his breathing growing rapid.

Feng Chen, without a change in expression, took Yan Bubu's hand and squeezed it, then said, "His name is Fan Renjing, but he doesn't like the homophonic sound of his name, so he usually doesn't say it outright."

The soldiers all laughed after realizing the joke.

With Feng Chen holding his hand, Yan Bubu suddenly felt less nervous, and his expression relaxed considerably.

The soldier stepped aside, revealing a standing scanner behind him: "Come, place your wrists on it."

They took turns placing their wrists on the scanner. Feng Chen quickly glanced at the adjacent screen, which correctly displayed the personal information he had altered.

With their identities verified without issue, they followed the command to step onto the nearby hazardous materials detector.

The detector scanned their bodies, emitting a mechanical tone: "...no firearms, ammunition, or unidentified chemical products permitted..."

Yan Bubu stood next to Feng Chen, watching the green line slowly ascend from the bottom. When it reached Feng Chen's chest, where the backpack was, he felt Feng Chen's grip on his hand tighten.

He clasped one of Feng Chen's fingers in return, gently squeezing it as he had done earlier to comfort himself.

"Ding! Scan complete, no suspicious items found."

With the sound of the all-clear, Feng Chen slowly exhaled and then led Yan Bubu off the scanner.

"You've passed the inspection and may now enter the underground shelter," said the soldier, wiping the sweat off his face. "Follow the corridor inside, take the downward transporter to the reception point, and don't worry about anything else."

Feng Chen thanked the soldier and led Yan Bubu towards the entrance corridor. His back looked calm, but only he knew how his heart had nearly leaped out of his throat moments ago.

The corridor wasn't long, and they quickly reached the end, where a large circular platform surrounded by iron bars, resembling a massive steel birdcage with a single door, stood.

Feng Chen led Yan Bubu onto the platform. Yan Bubu remained silent, curiously observing the surroundings.

"The downward transporter is about to depart. Please stand firm and be cautious for safety."

The automated female voice sounded, the iron bars slowly closed, and with a clanging noise, Yan Bubu felt a tremor underfoot, followed by a sensation of descending.

Outside the glass, steel supports ascended rapidly, indicating the rapid descent of the platform. The overhead light flickered intermittently, emitting crackling sounds of unstable electricity.

A chill swept over them as the high temperature vanished. Feng Chen glanced at his wristwatch, where the LCD displayed 36 degrees and continued to drop.

Clang.

The transporter made a heavy sound and suddenly stopped. Yan Bubu stumbled and was about to fall, but Feng Chen quickly caught him.

"Young master!"

"Don't panic."

Gear sounds creaked from below the platform, followed by another clang, then it resumed its descent.

Yan Bubu cautiously steadied himself and asked, "Is this an elevator?"

Feng Chen thought for a moment: "It's probably not an elevator, but rather a purely mechanical contraption, ensuring that the transporter can operate even in the absence of electricity."

Yan Bubu gave a half-understanding nod.

Beyond the iron bars lay cold metal frames, followed by dark black walls. The confined view, combined with this steel cage, created an intense sense of oppression.

Yan Bubu felt a bit dizzy and was about to divert his gaze when suddenly everything became bright.

The obstructing black walls vanished, revealing a vast underground space behind the metal frames.