Chapter 111 Signal from the Core, The Suicidal Bees

Chapter 111: Signals from the Core—Bees with a Death Wish

She stayed alone in the tent for a while before Miao Yuanjin joined her.

Sitting beside Yu Xing, Miao Yuanjin whispered, "Da Ya is still busy, and Zhao Lan went to check in with Di Shensi."

Yu Xing lay quietly, saying nothing. Miao Yuanjin lay down next to her and murmured into her ear, "My information might have been wrong. Your brother has nothing to do with City 25."

Yu Xing remained silent. Miao Yuanjin continued, "I just did a quick count. Ten members of the exploration team are already dead."

Yu Xing frowned at this. Miao Yuanjin clasped her hands over her stomach, staring at the tent ceiling. "The first day in City 25 was this dangerous. Will Di Shensi just turn the convoy back tomorrow morning?"

As it turned out, Di Shensi had no intention of retreating. Early the next morning, he ordered everyone to get up and prepare to continue forward.

The area they were in had been covered in charred debris the night before, but by morning, tiny green shoots had already emerged among the ashes.

Today’s journey was slightly easier than yesterday’s. The intense battle the day before had burned down a large stretch of forest ahead, clearing many potential dangers for the convoy.

Yu Xing’s vehicle was still at the front, leading the way. The road today was unusually rough—even Yu Xing felt the strain.

Di Shensi sat in the passenger seat, his expression stern as he stared ahead.

"Commander Di," Miao Yuanjin asked, confused, "Do we really have to go to the core area? No one has been able to enter for so many years. Why must we go now? Ten people have already died. Should we really keep going?"

Yu Xing guessed it was because Di Shensi’s family had lived here—his relatives all perished the day City 25 fell. Perhaps he was determined to uncover the truth behind its downfall?

But soon, Di Shensi gave a reason she hadn’t anticipated at all.

"This time is different," Di Shensi said without turning his head. "Our mission isn’t to enter the core area to find the truth."

At his words, all four of them—Yu Xing and the others—stared at him intently.

Even Shen Tanrong paid partial attention to listen.

"Ten days ago, the military received a message," Di Shensi continued, gazing ahead. "Someone from the 25th Army successfully entered the core area. Not only that, they’ve been transmitting persistent signals to the outside world."

Yu Xing was stunned. "Really?"

"Yes." Di Shensi nodded. "The signal comes from a transmitter model that was discontinued years ago. None of the current military districts still use this type of signal emitter. So there’s only one possibility—that person entered City 25’s core area and used an old transmitter from the city to send a distress signal. The messages sent out were fragmentary, but they mentioned the truth behind the city’s fall."

"Several teams have already gone in before us," Di Shensi said gravely. "But all of them went dark within three days of entering."

The pieces fell into place. Now everyone finally understood.

"Someone actually managed to enter the core area and survive…" Zhao Lan suddenly thought of a crucial question. "Is that person still alive now?"

Di Shensi moved his hand slightly, his fingers brushing over the communication device on his wrist.

"Two hours ago, I checked in with command," he said. "The signal from the core area is still transmitting."

In that case, they had to find a way into the core area—because someone who knew the truth about City 25’s downfall was awaiting rescue there.

The terrain here was unforgiving—or rather, many places had no roads at all. Sometimes they had to stop, forge a path forward, and then continue.

By noon, the convoy finally reached the site of yesterday’s battle between the Monkey Man and the bats.

The forest here had been completely burned away, leaving nothing but a blackened wasteland. In the middle of the charred area was an ominous, gaping crater.

"Did you see the fight yesterday?" Miao Yuanjin grabbed Yu Xing’s hand. "I spotted it through my binoculars. The one who killed the bat in the end wasn’t the Bull Warrior—it was someone bizarrely dressed, wearing a monkey mask. A Monkey Man."

At this, Yu Xing instinctively glanced forward.

Then she saw in the rearview mirror that Shen Tanrong and Di Shensi were both looking at her through the reflection, their gazes locked in silent understanding.

Yu Xing: "..."

"I saw it," she said.

"The Monkey Man was amazing. She’s totally my idol now," Da Ya said, shifting her allegiance once more. "She must be a Divine Chosen of the God of Fire, right? So strong! The bat was chasing the Bull Warrior, but the Monkey Man took it down in seconds. What level do you think she is?"

"Probably Level 6," Zhao Lan suddenly said.

"Really?" Even Miao Yuanjin sounded disbelieving. Despite her family’s status, she had only seen a Level 6 Divine Favored once in her childhood from afar.

After all, Level 6 Divine Favored were practically mythical—not just anyone could meet one.

Zhao Lan didn’t confirm, perhaps because she wasn’t sure herself. But she pointed out the window at the massive crater everyone could see. "You see that pit, right?"

"The walls are strange—covered in a glass-like layer. That means this pit wasn’t dug out. It was probably scorched into being." Zhao Lan said, "I can’t imagine any fire other than that of a Level 6 Divine Favored of the God of Fire capable of burning such a huge hole in the ground."

The others fell silent because Zhao Lan was likely right.

Zhao Lan continued speculating, "And I think the Monkey Man and the Bull Warrior must know each other. The Bull Warrior couldn’t handle the bat, so the Monkey Man showed up."

"Exactly!" Miao Yuanjin added excitedly. "They both wore really ugly masks—they must be from the same group!"

Yu Xing: "..."

"Were the masks… really that ugly?" Yu Xing felt a little hurt. She had always thought the Bull Warrior’s mask was cool—especially the Great Sage Qi Tian’s mask, which she had manifested herself. She thought it looked awesome.

"They were super ugly. Don’t you think so?" Miao Yuanjin said. "They weren’t fully animal-like—they had extra designs, but zero artistic sense. I’ve never seen more hideous masks in my life."

Yu Xing: "..."

Profoundly stung, Yu Xing curled up in the back seat, no longer wanting to speak. She retreated into herself.

The convoy carefully navigated around the deep pit. Shortly after passing it, the sky suddenly darkened.

It was midday, with no sign of rain—the sky was cloudless, yet the world grew darker. They were nearing the core area now, where the monolithic tree’s sprawling branches blotted out the sun. From here onward, aside from that colossal tree, no other vegetation reached higher than a person.

A chill immediately settled the moment they entered this zone.

Yu Xing checked her terminal—it was only 11°C here.

She looked back. Golden light still lingered not far behind them. This was just the edge of the tree’s shadow, yet it was already this cold. She dreaded to think how frigid the true core area must be.

From a distance, they had only seen the tree’s general silhouette. Up close, Yu Xing noticed its leaves were fan-shaped, not unlike ginkgo leaves.

Each leaf was enormous—the smallest was the size of Yu Xing’s head.

The tree’s foliage wasn’t particularly dense, but because the tree was so massive, and the leaves were large enough, their collective size completely blocked out all sunlight from above.

As the vehicles moved forward, the trunk above suddenly trembled.

"A rustling... then..."

Then came the sound of beating wings—evidence of hidden inhabitants within the tree.

"Pull over," Di Shensi commanded through the communication device.

The convoy stopped. Probably from years without sunlight, the ground here was covered with moss and some mushrooms.

Seeing mushrooms automatically made everyone think of the blue mushrooms they encountered yesterday. Even though the mushrooms before them were of different colors, they couldn't help but stay on guard.

Di Shensi and Shen Tanrong carefully approached, torching a safe zone with flamethrowers. Afterward, Di Shensi said, "Take a short rest here. Everyone, hydrate with nutrient packs."

"What's that?" Zhao Lan suddenly pointed to an area on the right.

It looked about the same—moss and mushrooms covered the ground, along with some unfamiliar grass and see-through blooms that Yu Xing didn't recognize.

Di Shensi walked over and scuffed the ground with his boot. Soon, he crouched down, studying the dirt closely.

Yu Xing and the others also approached. Only when they got closer did they realize that beneath the moss were a pair of tire marks.

"These must have been left by people who came here before, right?" Miao Yuanjin ventured. "Could it be the people we're trying to rescue?"

It was possible, or another rescue squad's tracks.

Still, it was a clue. Following the tire tracks might lead them to the people they were trying to save.

Di Shensi perked up a little. After a ten-minute break, they rolled out again.

The journey afterward got much easier. For one, there were no tall trees blocking the path. Secondly, following the tire tracks gave them direction.

After nearly two more hours of travel, Shen Tanrong stopped the vehicle. "The tire tracks are gone," he called out.

Just as Di Shensi was about to step out to investigate, a tiny black speck came flying at them from ahead, slamming hard into the windshield.

"Bang!"

After the loud impact, they saw that it was an insect—smashed against the windshield.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't just any insect. It resembled a bee, but much larger—about the size of an adult's fist. Its body was striped yellow and black, covered in fuzzy hairs, somewhat like an Earth bumblebee, only significantly bigger.

The insect had exploded upon impact, guts splattered across the glass—nasty as hell.

Shen Tanrong pressed a button, and the wipers sprayed and scrubbed.

At that moment, Yu Xing frowned. "I hear something," she said.

Immediately, everybody in the truck snapped to attention.

If Yu Xing said there was a sound, there definitely was. After all, when they were outside the walls, she caught birdsong from twenty minutes out. So, everyone tensed up.

"What're you hearing?" Di Shensi asked gravely.

"Hmm..." Yu Xing stared at the now-clean windshield. "Buzzing... like a bee swarm."

"Bees?" Da Ya blanked. "What are bees?"

Yu Xing raised her hand, pointing at the windshield. "That... insect."

No one seemed familiar with bees. Di Shensi asked, "You know about these insects? What are their characteristics?"

Yu Xing thought for a moment. "They live in groups, feed on pollen, and... oh, their butts pack stingers that can hurt people."

Hearing this, Di Shensi's expression changed. "Go! Now!" he ordered.