Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Cheng Jing woke up, and the daily operations of the team and the military unit returned to normal. Each team carried out their duties according to the schedule.

By mid-August, as predicted by the weather forecast, the peak heat period arrived.

Daytime temperatures had already hit nearly 70 degrees. Despite the base’s best efforts, people were still succumbing to heatstroke daily.

The satellite broadcasts were filled with an increasing number of distress calls.

After Cheng Jing and the others returned from Guanshan Prison, the Southern City Base dispatched several more rescue teams, bringing back many survivors.

Aside from leading his own squad in assisting the base’s heat mitigation efforts, Jiang Nian also visited the grocery store to coordinate supplies with Li Shuhui.

Their shop was the only one still operating normally on the entire street. Li Shuhui refused to take a break, saying there was no difference between staying in the store and staying in the dormitory.

Now, their customers were all Supers. Just by selling sugar, salt, and tea, they were raking in profits.

Supers had much higher resistance to extreme weather than ordinary people, but their bodies also required substantially more energy.

As a result, items like powdered milk, milk tablets, cheese, high-sugar products, and various energy-boosting supplements became "life-sustaining goods."

Even with prices skyrocketing to outrageous levels, people still bought them.

Coincidentally, Jiang Nian had hoarded plenty of these goods, and their team had ample supplies, so they hadn’t tapped into them.

After completing the Guanshan Prison mission, aside from gaining credits, the squad also received a share of supplies.

Among them was a box of small individually packaged milk powder, approaching expiry. Since none of the teammates wanted it, they agreed to put it on the shelves for sale.

The base had livestock farms. With the development of soil remediation compounds for basic civilian needs, farms would soon be operational. Within a year, fresh dairy products, vegetables, and fruits would be available.

So, while prices were at their peak, they decided to sell their stockpile after keeping enough for personal use—turning a profit while meeting demand.

According to Department Head Wang, who was overseeing construction, the base would continue expanding as the population grew, eventually connecting with other shelters and bases.

Construction of the crystal core energy power station had already begun. Once power generation stabilized, industrial planning would also be put on the agenda.

Following this trend, by the time the apocalypse ended, each base would become a new city.

To support reconstruction, the authorities would surely open up resources, and those holding the most chips would benefit the most.

"…"

*Buzz—Buzz—*

*Buzz—Buzz—*

"Hello, Department Head Wang?"

At 9 p.m., while leading his squad on patrol, Jiang Nian suddenly received a call from Command.

The situation was urgent, so Department Head Wang dispensed with formalities:

"Jiang Nian, the rescue team has returned. Five of them were accidentally infected, and it’s been over five hours. We need you to come to Lab Building No. 3 immediately."

"Copy that. I’ll be right there."

This wasn’t the first time. Jiang Nian hung up and shared a look with Tang Ji, motioning for him to assume command of the patrol. Then he turned back to the guard post, mounted his Black Knight, and rode off at speed.

These days, he rides his Black Knight to and from work every night, his sleek figure parking in front of the guard booth turning heads—the uniform and bike were a perfect match.

The engine's signature growl cut off abruptly outside Building No. 3. Jiang Nian pulled off a slick skid-stop, then shut off the engine, removed his helmet, and fussed with his hair in the rearview mirror.

His movements were fluid and effortless, showing how second-nature it was for him now.

Chu Yi was waiting for him at the entrance of the building, waved him through without badge-checking, and gave him a thumbs-up:

"Looking sharp!"

Jiang Nian cockily tossed his bangs and shamelessly asked,

"Bro Chu, are you complimenting the man or the bike?"

"Bike's sharp—but the rider's sharper."

Chu Yi answered without hesitation.

Jiang Nian was pleased and patted his shoulder:

"Bro Chu's got smooth talk—I’ll send you a snack haul later."

Chu Yi flashed a grin of white teeth:

"Great, thanks."

Snack stash: reloaded.

"..."

The two quickly made their way to a special observation room on the second floor, guarded by two rifle-toting guards.

The observation room, standard hospital-room sized, had been cleared out:

The surveillance was turned off, excess equipment and items had been removed, leaving only five beds, each occupied by an infected soldier turning zombie.

No Supers here, so they weren’t wearing special collars—just strapped tightly to the beds with their mouths gagged.

The soldiers still retained some rationality, but the symptoms of their craving for flesh had already surfaced, their eyes going feral and clouded.

No researchers were present—only Department Head Wang and his guard, faces set in grim lines.

The extreme heat was wearing Department Head Wang down, who lacked Superpowers, sapping his energy. Fortunately, his guards and medical staff took good care of him.

When Jiang Nian entered, Department Head Wang nodded at him and Chu Yi:

"Jiang Nian, this is your show now. As before, Chu Yi will assist."

After drilling safety reminders into them, he left with his guard.

Chu Yi checked the soldiers’ restraints to ensure they were secure, while Jiang Nian went straight to work—palm flat against the wall, and within moments, his Purification Superpower flooded the whole room.

Based on the current progression rate of ordinary zombie virus infections:

1 to 6 hours was considered Stage 1 infection, 6 to 15 hours was mid-stage, and beyond 15 hours was deep infection, when they could snap any second.

Today’s five soldiers were all in the Stage 1 category, and with their strong military discipline, Jiang Nian’s simultaneous Purification wasn't breaking a sweat.

"Ghn—!"

Fully enveloped in Purification energy, the people bound to the beds began to writhe in agony, emitting muffled growls from their throats, their faces contorted and drenched in cold sweat.

Jiang Nian was already a pro at purification rescues, so a situation like today's was considered 'routine' for him.

Thus, seeing their intense suffering, he took breaks to let them recover, making small talk. After all, they could all be saved—no rush.

"......"

An hour later, Chu Yi and Jiang Nian walked out of the observation room.

Chu Yi transferred the unconscious patients to the special quarantine ward, where they would await blood draws upon waking to develop an antidote serum.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nian headed to Gao Xuyang's room, planning to purify him too, only to find Yang Kai, who had gotten off work early, slumped against the door, knocking. It seemed he had been there for a while:

"Professor Gao, I was wrong. Just let me in first..."

"I’ll discuss everything with you before acting from now on..."

"Xuyang, I really know I was wrong..."

"......"

Smelling trouble, Jiang Nian fighting back a grin, quickly stepped forward:

"Bro Kai, what's up?"