Chapter 105 Spiral World (43)

Chapter 105: The Spiral World (Part 43)

At that moment, the knocking on the door sounded again. Xu Jianqiang’s heart hammered wildly, and he barked, “Come in!”

The door opened—not his adjutant, but a Pioneer.

Qiu Tian rushed toward Jiang Songnian, agitated, and blurted, “There’s been a jailbreak.”

“Oh, how rare,” Jiang Songnian replied calmly.

“They broke Carlos out!” Qiu Tian ground out through clenched teeth.

Jiang Songnian handed him a piece of chocolate. “Don’t get worked up. Have some chocolate first.”

Dr. Guo murmured weakly, “That’s mine… please give it back…”

*

Zhou Han’s head felt like it was about to explode—as if slapped. He shook his head violently, finally dispelling the sensation, and groggily opened his eyes.

He vaguely recalled leading a team in the prison break—walking straight into Jiang Songnian’s trap. Just before the explosion, he’d leapt from a window, been struck by a stray bullet, and blacked out on the grass.

He blinked. His blurred vision gradually sharpened. He found himself bound tightly in a dark room. A man sat barely an arm’s length away—He Yunchuan, whom he’d seen recently. Others were present too; he could hear two distinct breathing patterns and detect different body odors.

He Yunchuan had lain in wait for several days—and had indeed caught Zhou Han leading the jailbreak. As anticipated, Carlos had already been transferred. Zhou Han had fallen into the trap, and his entire team had been wiped out.

“I have to ask—do all Psychics suffer brain damage? Couldn’t you tell it was an obvious trap?” He Yunchuan found it unbelievable.

Zhou Han spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor and sneered, “Of course I knew it was a trap. The one with brain damage is you. The person I wanted to save wasn’t Carlos at all.”

He Yunchuan’s smile vanished. “What do you mean?”

“Let me go, and I’ll tell you,” Zhou Han said, straining against the iron shackles—then gave up when they refused to budge.

“I hold no grudge against you. I brought you here only to ask a few questions. If you’re honest, of course I’ll let you go,” He Yunchuan said.

Zhou Han grinned. “Then it’s a deal.”

“So—why take the risk?” He Yunchuan dragged a chair in front of Zhou Han and sat down, relaxed.

“Carlos was captured. Jiang Lingxiao is dead. Lu Li in Beian City must be barely keeping his head above water. In this situation, Aimeile is finished. Naturally, I needed to find a way out for myself,” Zhou Han said, raising an eyebrow. “Ever heard of high-concentration nutrient supplements?”

He Yunchuan paused in thought. “The drug with a ninety-percent chance of turning someone into a Psychic?”

Zhou Han scoffed. “Aimeile is a rat—chased and beaten by everyone. Yet those high-concentration nutrient supplements have wealthy elites and politicians lining up for them. Only Carlos and his inner circle know where the supplements are hidden. The people I wanted to save were those arrested alongside Carlos this time—perhaps they know where the supplies are.”

He Yunchuan fell silent, deep in contemplation.

“All right—I’ve told you everything. Any more questions? If not, let me go.”

“Do you know someone named… Xia Zhenshi?”

“Xia Zhenshi?” Zhou Han pondered for a long time, then shook his head. “No idea. Doesn’t ring a bell.”

“What about Xia Li—you know him.”

Hearing that, Zhou Han suddenly understood. “Ah—him. Xia Zhenshi, Xia Li’s father.”

The breathing from the corner of the room abruptly quickened.

“You know him?” He Yunchuan demanded urgently.

“No,” Zhou Han still shook his head. “But I know who he is—an unlucky man. Jiang Lingxiao told me Chen Ya, to prove her loyalty to her father, sent someone to run over her own son. The boy survived—but her adoptive father’s entire family was slaughtered. Oh, right—Xia Li is still alive.”

“What did you say?!” He Yunchuan shot to his feet—kicking the chair over in the process.

“I’m telling the truth. That’s all I know. For details, you’ll have to ask Jiang Lingxiao—in the underworld,” Zhou Han said, smirking mockingly.

Zhou Han finally grasped who was hiding in the corner. He turned his head toward the darkness—and flashed a gloating smile.

Xia Li could no longer contain his overwhelming rage. In that instant, he burst from the shadows.

“All right—you can let me go…” Before Zhou Han could finish, over a dozen gunshots cracked through the room. Bullets tore through his chest. He drew his final breath—drowning in a pool of blood.

Xia Li’s entire body trembled. His wrist went slack—the gun clattered to the floor. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He looked utterly lifeless—as if his soul had fled his body.

“Lili…” He Yunchuan’s throat tightened; his eyes trembled as he stared incredulously at the young man before him.

“He’s lying! He *must* be lying!!!!!!” Xia Li screamed—his voice breaking—frantically clawing at his scalp, desperate to erase the memory.

He Yunchuan suddenly pulled Xia Li into his arms, holding him tightly. “That’s right—maybe he *is* lying. Everything he said is false.”

Consumed by grief, Xia Li slowly stopped crying. “So that’s how it is. Chen Ya—it was *her*. Chen Ya!”

He gripped He Yunchuan’s shirt tightly—his fingernails nearly piercing the thin fabric.

“Lin Yanqing must have known all along. He’s been covering for Chen Ya,” Xia Li bit his lip until it split and bled. Tormented and with no outlet for his pain, he allowed his soul to be stained by evil.

“I won’t let them get away with this,” Xia Li closed his eyes—a final tear slipping from the corner. In his mind, Lin Yanqing’s figure gradually faded—leaving only a blurred silhouette.

Suddenly, that figure turned—and gave Xia Li a gentle smile.

Xia Li blinked—forcing Lin Yanqing’s image from his mind. Shivering uncontrollably, he whispered to himself, “I won’t let *her* get away. Chen Ya—I’m going to kill her.”

*

“That bastard! How dare he act on his own in such a major matter! Who does he think he is—doing whatever he pleases?!” Jiang Feng raged. Meanwhile, Chen Ya sat calmly by the window, applying eyebrow pencil. Her composure secretly unnerved Jiang Feng.

Jiang Feng fell silent, glancing sideways at Chen Ya. After a long pause, he said gently, “You certainly keep your cool.”

Chen Ya met his gaze in the mirror—her lips curling faintly upward. With a sharp *click*, she snapped the mirror shut. “First, bring Si Nian back. We’ll handle the rest later.”

“Beian City has air traffic control—no planes can enter right now. Have them land in Tianhai City, then figure out how to get here.”

“As you wish. You’re the one who sent him away—you’re responsible for bringing him back safely,” Chen Ya said, picking up her coat from the sofa. “The old man called me back for dinner. I should go.”

Jiang Feng studied her meticulously applied makeup—and suddenly said, “Nan Yao City is in chaos, yet you seem completely unconcerned.”

“He’s my child. Why wouldn’t I be at ease?”

“I heard Xu Jianqiang is planning to evacuate the city—taking everyone to the northwest.”

Chen Ya offered a kind smile. “I wish them luck.”

“It was Lin Yanqing’s suggestion to relocate all humans to Xilin Province. He claims he’s pinpointed the location of the Snow Country—near Xilin Province.”

Chen Ya smiled—but said nothing. After a moment, she lowered her eyes, glanced at the time, and said, “I’m going to be late.”

As she turned to leave, Jiang Feng suddenly raised his voice and shouted, “When are you going to face *this* problem?”

“What problem?” Chen Ya turned back—her expression stern. “Jiang Feng, aren’t you meddling too much? My affairs are none of your business.”

She spread her hands, feigning bewilderment. “Isn’t everything fine now? Those with tickets enter the base; those without go to paradise. Everyone’s happy.”

Jiang Feng stared into her eyes, the two locked in a standoff, neither willing to look away first.

“Placing the fate of all humanity on the shoulders of a child—if he’s wrong, have you ever considered how much pressure he’ll have to bear?”

“That’s the difference between you and me,” Chen Ya said indifferently. “You always want Songnian to give up his ambitions and become an ordinary, average person, muddling through life in a daze.”

She walked up to Jiang Feng, slowly bent down, and placed both hands on the armrests of his wheelchair. The sudden sense of oppression actually made Jiang Feng flinch.

Chen Ya looked down at Jiang Feng and said arrogantly, “Lin Yanqing is my child. I want him to be free, to be wild, to do as he pleases and be himself. The only thing I don’t want is for him to become me.”

Then, Chen Ya curved her lips into a smile, as if no discord had ever occurred between them, and said brightly, “Old Jiang, don’t worry too much. Focus on recovering your health. Don’t waste a ticket.”

Jiang Feng took a deep breath, his gaze sharp as a torch. “Of course. Send my regards to your father.”

Chen Ya shot him a smiling glance and strode away.

Once inside the car, Chen Ya’s smile vanished completely. She instructed the driver to go faster—faster still. She had to hurry, to don another mask, to conceal the vulnerability she loathed.

The car headed toward the Chen residence. Chen Ya got out, her high heels clicking on the wooden floor. She unwound her scarf and casually tossed it to a maid, then walked into the dining room with a beaming smile.

The dining room was quiet, the table laden with dishes. The old man sat alone at the long table. When he saw Chen Ya enter, his eyes flashed with disdain.

Chen Ya pulled out a chair and sat down, crossing her long legs. She smiled and said, “Dad, why haven’t you started eating? You weren’t waiting for me, were you?”

The old man said sternly, “Ah Wang isn’t back yet.”

Chen Ya shrugged.

“Nan’yao City is in chaos. Any news about Ah Xing?”

“It’s always these same few dishes. This won’t do—they have no nutritional value.” Chen Ya rubbed her earlobe and shot a meaningful glance at Cao Guangsheng.

Seeing her hostile demeanor—and with his younger son and grandson still absent—the old man remained silent for the moment, waiting for Chen Ya to state her terms.

Cao Guangsheng had someone bring in an insulated container containing a Western meal. He personally placed the lunch in front of the old man and said with a smile, “Master, Madam personally cooked this for you.”

The old man narrowed his eyes, pushed the food on the plate with his fork, and said disdainfully, “I’m used to Chinese food. I can’t stomach this foreign stuff.”

Chen Ya sat at the other end of the long table but acted as if she were the host. She lifted her chin and said haughtily, “Dad, I cooked this myself. You wouldn’t refuse to give me face, would you?”

The old man glared at her, roughly forked a piece of foie gras, and shoved it into his mouth. “A mishmash—tasteless. Disgusting.”

Chen Ya burst out laughing, shaking her head helplessly.

“Alright, we’ve eaten. How is Ah Xing, really?”

“Ah Xing…” Chen Ya said regretfully, “There was an explosion at the factory. He was killed.”

“What did you say?” The old man stood up abruptly, clutching his chest in fury. “Say that again!”

Chen Ya rolled her eyes. “The Pioneers raided the factory, threw a few bombs, and accidentally blew Ah Xing up too.”

“Bullshit! It was you! You!” The old man finally understood. He pointed a trembling finger at Chen Ya. “You killed Ah Xing!”

“What does it have to do with me?” Chen Ya laughed incredulously. “Dad, are you getting senile? Do I have people in Nan’yao City? The Pioneer Army, Aimeile, and Chen Xing—three parties in a firefight. Casualties are normal.”

“Impossible! Jiang Songnian wouldn’t dare touch Ah Xing. If he laid a finger on Ah Xing, I’d fight him to the death! I get it now. You teamed up with Aimeile to set a trap for Ah Xing!” The old man had a sudden realization. “Aimeile bypassed me and collaborated with you!”

“As expected of my old man. Even at your age, your mind is still sharp. But I knew you’d say that.” Chen Ya stood up, took a photo from her handbag, walked over to the old man, gently placed the photo in front of him, and at the same time pressed down on his shoulder, forcing the elderly man back into his chair.

Only then did the old man realize how strong Chen Ya was. To ward off the cold, she always wore heavy coats, as if she were very sensitive to chill—but in fact, she no longer felt heat or cold.

“Did you take the nutrient serum?”

“If you mean the high-concentration nutrient serum, yes, I did.”

The old man sneered. “You really are ruthless.”

They had countless retainers and bodyguards, but no one in the Chen family had taken the nutrient serum. Ultimately, they never trusted Aimeile—and would never entrust their lives and fortunes to scientific experiments.

“Look, Dad. This fat man is named Jiang Hui. He’s Aimeile’s person in charge, Carlos’s godson. He’s the one who killed Ah Xing. Don’t worry, I’ll capture him and make him pay with his life.”

The old man violently brushed her arm away and threw the photo on the ground. “Get out!”

“You think I want to stay here? Give me the jade token, and I’ll leave immediately.”

Every retainer trained by the Chen family received a jade token as a credential and a symbol of unity. The token in the old man’s possession was the paramount one. Whoever possessed the fish-pattern jade token would gain the allegiance of all members of the Chen family.

The old man gritted his teeth. “Don’t even think about it! Who do you think you are, to covet my Chen family’s fish-pattern jade token!”

He leaned on the chair to stand up and shouted around, “Someone! Quick, someone!”

Soon, countless bodyguards rushed in, surrounding the dining room.

“If you don’t give me an explanation today, don’t even think about leaving here,” the old man sneered.

Chen Ya crossed her legs and sat back in her chair, scoffing. “We’ll see about that.”

The old man said sharply, “Quick, send people to find Ah Wang first. Make sure to bring him back safely.”

His words were fierce, but the hand holding the cane was trembling. He was old and had been relying on his sons for everything.

“Dad, your health isn’t good. Don’t get so worked up. Ah Wang? He returned some time ago.”

“What?” The old man looked around but saw no sign of Chen Wang.

Chen Ya slowly raised her eyes and glanced at the dishes on the table.

The old man’s eyes widened suddenly. “What are you saying?”

A brilliant smile bloomed on Chen Ya’s face.

“Since he’s your precious darling, of course he should be returned to your belly.”

The old man’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

*

On a day in mid-September, Xu Jianqiang announced the relocation effort to Xilin Province via broadcast. He informed the public in meticulous detail about everything they knew. They would do their utmost to help everyone move northwest. However, at the same time, the Alliance could no longer deceive the people. Their supplies were running on empty—whether food, water, medicine, or transportation.

Only a hundred days had passed since the virus outbreak, yet the world had already reached a dead end.

In another hundred days, Earth would enter a new era, and the entire world would be destroyed.

At this point, the Alliance could no longer bear the responsibility for everyone’s fate. Xu Jianqiang decided to return the choice to each individual. From then on, the road ahead would be treacherous. They might encounter hordes of the frenzied, suffer from hunger and cold, or perhaps lose their lives to acid rain on the journey forward.

In the end, Xu Jianqiang announced that the remaining supplies would be distributed equally among all survivors.

After tomorrow, no one knew what would happen next. Perhaps things would descend into greater chaos, and the situation would worsen. Yet Xu Jianqiang hoped that in these final days, people could truly unite, stand shoulder to shoulder, and build a wall to withstand the impending brutality.

*

The imagined protests and anger never came. The people in line seemed drained of their vitality, their fatigue having stripped them of their fighting spirit.

That was the volunteers' last day of work, and perhaps also the last time Li Hao and Lin Yanqing would see each other. After distributing the supplies, Li Hao came to the government building to bid farewell to Lin Yanqing. They would leave here tomorrow, following the first batch of troops heading northwest.

Lin Yanqing was discussing something with Jiang Songnian. The door was open, so Li Hao walked straight in.

"Brother, we're leaving tomorrow," Li Hao said with a smile.

In just a few days, he had tanned considerably and was very thin, but he was in good spirits.

"Leaving tomorrow? The first batch of troops might encounter groups of frenzied people and a lot of unknown factors. Would you like to wait a bit?" Lin Yanqing asked.

Li Hao shook his head. "Zhou Pingping's father has a bus that can seat dozens of people. We've filled a bus so we can look out for each other."

Li Hao's eyes filled with tears as he nodded firmly. "We definitely will!"

There was a commotion outside the door. Qiu Tian was nearly in tears, rushing in breathlessly. "Boss, something's happened again!"

Jiang Songnian asked, "Has the sky fallen?"

"No, but the highway is blocked. Not just the highway; several roads out of the city are all jammed," Qiu Tian said, sounding defeated. "All those frenzied people who were driven away have gathered on the roads. It looks like they don't want anyone to leave."

Li Hao frowned, feeling so distressed he could hardly breathe. Them again! His father must be among them!

Jiang Songnian held his forehead, saying painfully, "Will this ever end?"

Qiu Tian said urgently, "Let's go take a look."

The group drove to the city entrance. The frenzied people had gathered at the gate, holding megaphones and shouting loudly, calling for negotiations with Xu Jianqiang.

Xu Jianqiang had passed out from exhaustion last night and was currently on the phone with Zheng Weiguo. It would take a while for him to get here.

Upon arriving at the gate, Li Hao jumped out of the car and climbed onto the roof of a large truck. Using a child's telescope hanging around his neck, he looked ahead.

A dense crowd was blocking the way, all tall and sturdy infected individuals, among them his father.

Li Hao saw that grinning face and lowered the telescope in disappointment.

Li Changyuan also saw him and immediately climbed onto the railing, shouting toward Li Hao, "Sonny! Sonny! Dad's over here!"

Furious, Li Hao borrowed a megaphone, pressed the button, and shouted, "Go to hell, you turtle bastard! I'm not your son! Get lost!"

Jiang Songnian sternly reprimanded, "You can curse, but don't call people turtles."

Li Changyuan was stunned for a moment, scratched his head, and climbed down from the railing.

Lin Yanqing jumped onto the truck, took the megaphone from Li Hao, and asked, "What are your demands? You can state them now."

The frenzied people all spoke at once, their words jumbled together, impossible to make out.

Lin Yanqing simply jumped off the truck and walked outside the railing. Li Hao quickly raised the telescope again, looking toward Li Changyuan's position.

Lin Yanqing walked into the crowd. Li Changyuan said awkwardly, "We don't have any demands. We heard the broadcast and came to collect supplies."

Another tall, composed man beside him asked, "Level with us, is there any for us?"

Lin Yanqing pursed his lips and answered honestly, "No."

The man covered his face, his body trembling. After a moment, he asked again, "Will the Alliance Army shoot at us?"

Lin Yanqing replied, "As long as you don't attack civilians or riot, no."

The man asked further, "Is there room for us in Xilin Province?"

"Once the city gates open, frenzied people, ordinary people, Psychics—everyone will be treated equally. Those who successfully reach Xilin City can all survive and start a new life."

The man stared intently at Lin Yanqing, confirming he wasn't lying. Then he ordered the crowd to disperse, pointing toward the long line of vehicles stretching into the distance. "We've checked all the vehicles here. Abandoned cars have been moved aside; the rest are still drivable. Nearby gasoline and supplies have also been gathered and loaded into them. We'd like to trade these for food and water. Is that acceptable?"

Lin Yanqing looked at him in astonishment.

Jiang Songnian, who had, at some point, climbed onto the railing, answered on Lin Yanqing's behalf. "No problem, but the quantity won't be large. Is that acceptable?"

"Just don't treat us like idiots," the man said, hooking an arm around Li Changyuan's neck and pointing at him. "Also, these things were done because Brother Li persuaded us. His turtle son must apologize to him!"

Li Changyuan smiled awkwardly and waved his hands. "No need, no need."

Li Hao shouted from a distance, "Dad, what are you doing?"

Jiang Songnian used another megaphone to shout loudly, "Little Hao, your dad's become a gang boss!"

"Get lost!" Li Hao jumped off the truck and stomped back angrily.

Li Changyuan smiled awkwardly.

"Once the city gates open, Li Hao will be among the first to leave. Soon, your family can be reunited," Lin Yanqing said with a smile. "By then, we'll still need you to protect them."

Li Changyuan's eyes suddenly reddened as he nodded. "I won't waste this chance."

Lin Yanqing nodded with a smile. "General Xu is still busy with urgent matters. Why don't you send a few people to discuss with him in detail? Don't block the intersection."

The Leader agreed, and Jiang Songnian sent a car to take them to the municipal building.

Lin Yanqing also had to return; they were due for another meeting soon.

In the municipal building, the wind had blown the map to the floor. Ye Qihan picked it up as he entered and gently placed it back on the table.

Next to Xilin City was Cangqiong Mountain, where Kuang Tianye had found him.

A bitter smile touched his lips. After thousands of years, he wondered if Kuang Tianye still remembered everything from the past.

Footsteps that shook the earth echoed in the corridor. Ye Qihan looked up to see Xiong Dun entering. Despite not being a Psychic and never infected with the frenzied virus, his massive frame still nearly blocked the doorway.

Ye Qihan turned his face away, saying with disdain, "Open the window!"

The government building had Energy Stones as a power supply, so the air conditioning still worked normally. Some residential areas also had restored limited electricity, but people were still in a rough state, and Xiong Dun was no exception.

Xiong Dun snorted coldly. "I don't want the window open; I'm dying of heat."

Night Owl sneered and sat down as far away from him as possible.

But the window was still opened. Xiong Dun clamored to have it closed.

A deep voice refused. "Let some air in."

Ye Qihan's body stiffened abruptly, his back rigid. He could even hear the cracking of his bones as he turned his head.

Kuang Tianye, dressed in military uniform, stood behind him, his gaze as deep and slightly smiling as in the past.

Ye Qihan's eyes instantly welled with tears. It had been too long since he had seen Kuang Tianye, so long that he thought this was all an illusion.

"A Ye..."

Kuang Tianye's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Hello, my name is Duan Beiya."

Ye Qihan pursed his lips and sat back in his chair.

At that moment, Jiang Songnian and Lin Yanqing entered, shattering the tense atmosphere.

"Let's cut to the chase. First, the conclusion: we've found the entrance to the Snow Kingdom, right here at Cangqiong Mountain next to Xilin City." Jiang Songnian hung up the map and circled the spot with a red pen.

"Huh? Are you sure? Such an ordinary location." Night Owl was skeptical.

"Cangqiong Mountain is a major snow-capped mountain, located in an earthquake zone. It may seem ordinary, but it's actually full of dangers," Duan Beiya explained.

"Don't worry about that. You have your own mission; we'll discuss it later." Jiang Songnian winked at him.

Sensing Jiang Songnian's mischievous vibe, Duan Beiya couldn't help but shiver.

Lin Yanqing said, "To be honest with everyone, the entrance to the Snow Kingdom is sealed by a glacier. The ice layer is ten thousand meters thick, so even though we've pinpointed the location, there's no way to open that door."

"Unless we have Energy Stones—lots of them." Xiong Dun glanced sideways at Jiang Songnian.

"Exactly. So, our latest plan is that Lin Yanqing and I will head to Bei'an City to 'borrow'—not steal—all the remaining Energy Stones." Jiang Songnian spoke quickly. "Mai Li, you're coming back with me to back me up."

Xiong Dun jumped at the chance. He shook his collar. "I can enjoy the air conditioning again."

Night Owl covered his nose and punched him in the chest. "Hold still."

"As for Night Owl, you'll lead a team to Suxi City to deliver the message to the survivors and help them migrate northwest, joining forces with General Xu's troops as soon as possible," Jiang Songnian said.

Night Owl nodded. "No problem. There's still a team in Suxi City. I'll try to recruit volunteers then."

"As for Duan Beiya, I spoke with Old Fang earlier. He wanted to come to Nanyao City, but I refused. The latest arrangement is that after handling all matters there, Old Fang will lead the northern survivors to migrate toward Xilin City. You, however, will stay in Nanyao City to protect an important figure," Jiang Songnian said gravely.

Without hesitation, Duan Beiya nodded. "Understood. I'll cover the rear."

Jiang Songnian was quick to shake his head. "No, no, not covering the rear—protecting the important figure. We'll discuss rear-guard duties in December."

Duan Beiya said impatiently, "I understand. I'll protect Doctor Guo."

"I don't think you quite get it." Jiang Songnian pointed at Ye Qihan. "The important figure I'm referring to is him—Ye Qihan, the most powerful martial artist in human history."

Ye Qihan said calmly, "Thank you for the compliment."

Duan Beiya let out a long sigh. "Then what about Doctor Guo?"

"Doctor Guo, of course, will be protected by the most powerful martial artist." Jiang Songnian stated firmly, "Duan Beiya, your only task is to follow the arrangements of the great leader, the Scavenger. Understood?"

Duan Beiya leaned back in his chair, covering his eyes helplessly.

Ye Qihan's lips curved into a smile, his cheeks flushing red. He quickly turned his face away to conceal his broad smile.

"The meeting is adjourned." Jiang Songnian straightened his posture and said earnestly, "I hope everyone will be here for the next meeting."

Everyone's gaze deepened, revealing resolute determination.