**Chapter 81**
Hao Jian had pondered the functions unlocked at Level 5, ranging from store access, exchange privileges, map visualization, to inventory slots. Almost every one of these permissions could serve as a vital means of survival.
However, looking at the permissions unlocked at the previous four levels, the focus was mainly on maintaining basic living conditions and providing convenience for survival. She believed that the system's purpose wasn't merely to keep them alive. If it were just about survival, then simply providing access to the store and exchange features would suffice, allowing the host to hide in a relatively safe place with just enough resources for daily needs.
Considering the experience points required for leveling up, she realized that the system's true goal was to push them out into the world, to kill zombies, face the changing survival environment, and eventually become part of a larger transformation.
Thus, she speculated that the permissions provided by the system would become increasingly advanced as levels progressed.
For instance, at Levels 1 and 2, she could only buy food, medicine, or exchange money for points to purchase supplies. In terms of survival, she was at the lowest level, which could be described as "barely staying alive."
But after reaching Level 3, she gained the ability to buy melee weapons, which meant she could venture beyond her previous boundaries. However, this still wasn’t enough. To truly survive with dignity, she needed even more means at her disposal.
Many of her speculations were confirmed when she reached Level 5.
---
**Current Host Level: 5**
- New Functions: Zombie Detection
- Unlimited daily food purchases
- Limit of 50 non-prescription medicines per day
- Unlimited daily purchases of household items
- Limit of 10 prescription medicines per day
- Limit of 5 melee weapons per day
- Limit of 1 firearm per day
- Map visualization radius: 10 km
- Zombie detection radius: 100 meters
- Inventory limit: 20 items
**Rewards:**
- Basic reward: 3 packs of spicy sticks
- Level reward: 1 robotic vacuum cleaner, 1 wireless remote-controlled “Little Whale” (a multi-functional device)
**Experience needed for next level: 5000**
---
"Wait, what on earth is a Little Whale?"
Hao Jian was stunned. What kind of level rewards was the system even giving out?!
The system explained:
- "Robotic vacuum cleaner: Equipped with visual navigation and intelligent mapping, it cleans wherever you point, offering a customizable and essential helper for a cozy home."
- "Little Whale: A remote-controlled device operable via smartphone, featuring silicone waterproofing, silent operation, turbo vibration, and customizable patterns, specially designed to enhance the high-quality lifestyle of young women."
Hao Jian: *I thought I was bold, but it turns out this system is even bolder than me.*
She was increasingly baffled by the system's level rewards. The high-altitude safety harness set from last time at least proved useful eventually, but what about this robotic vacuum and Little Whale…
Fine, they might come in handy, but for her, they were pretty much useless, nothing compared to the binoculars or solar charging panel she had received earlier.
---
After ranting about the level rewards, she finally shifted her focus to the newly unlocked functions.
If her previous assumption that the "Survival System" was primarily aimed at “survival” was correct, then survival could be divided into "maintaining basic life" and "living well."
Now that firearms were available in the weapon section, it was already quite the game-changer. But with the new zombie detection function, she could say that this system was so powerful that it made one question the reality of this world.
The so-called “Zombie Detection” function would alert her if any zombies appeared within a 100-meter radius of her location, with the host at the center of this detection zone. However, zombies still in their incubation phase were not included.
Although it couldn’t pinpoint the exact location of zombies, it could warn the host in advance, allowing her to prepare and significantly reduce the chances of being ambushed and infected by zombies.
Combined with the newly unlocked firearms from the weapon section, one
could say that at Level 5, zombies were no longer a real threat to the
host.
“Does reaching Level 5 mean I
can finally relax?” Hao Jian couldn't help but think skeptically.
Although the functions granted at Level 5 did indeed offer her many conveniences, on the flip side, they also increased the chances of exposing the fact that she had a system. For example, she could now purchase firearms freely, but without a reasonable explanation for their source, she would inevitably face suspicion from other humans and attract the curiosity of other system hosts.
Additionally, if zombies appeared within a 100-meter radius, she would have to take precautions to avoid them. However, under limited visibility conditions, others with similar systems might start doubting her behavior.
For her, leveling up often came with high risks.
The system, puzzled, asked, "All your assumptions are based on the premise that other hosts are untrustworthy. Do you not trust them?"
Instead of answering directly, Hao Jian replied, "It's not that I don't trust other hosts. I just still don't understand why your central system chose us. What special abilities do we have? And what makes my bonded junior sister unique?"
If the system's purpose was to preserve the hope of humanity, it certainly shouldn't have chosen her, because she was well aware that she wasn't particularly invested in humanity's future.
Could it be because she once studied anthropology?
Hao Jian had long outgrown her teenage fantasies of being the protagonist. Instead, from her accumulated experiences, she had gradually uncovered certain key points. Specifically, the connection between the characters involved in her missions and the emergence of the apocalypse.
"Perhaps the characters tied to these missions are the ones influencing the course of the apocalypse. So, what is our role in all this?" Hao Jian asked sharply.
The system had no answer.
Hao Jian continued as if talking to herself: "I've also noticed that I'm not the same type of person as Ding Gu Nian. If the system's goal is for hosts to join hands in creating a better future, then it should select hosts with similar values. Because if you expect me to cooperate with him without any shared interests, we'd probably end up fighting."
"..."
Just as Hao Jian once again rendered the system speechless, someone from the Refuge Management Office approached her. "Professor Lian Qing Miao wishes to see you. The request has been approved. Would you like to meet him?"
Hao Jian smiled slightly and replied politely, "Yes, I would. Thank you!"
"Then, please follow me this way."
As Hao Jian followed behind the staff member, she spoke to the system in her mind: "If zombies are becoming less of a threat to the hosts, I can only think of one reason why the system encourages us to continue leveling up."
The system couldn't resist asking, "What is it?"
"It’s that the threat to the hosts is no longer limited to zombies."
---
When Hao Jian stepped out of the vehicle, she saw Lian Ru Ning standing in the square beneath the national flag in front of the Science Center. Beside her was a middle-aged man who looked exactly like the one in the surveillance footage.
Lian Ru Ning walked briskly towards Hao Jian, took her hand, and led her to the middle-aged man.
Lian Qing Miao had the typical demeanor of a strict and serious mentor. However, from Lian Ru Ning’s earlier descriptions, it was clear he was a highly capable individual who had been promoted to full professor at the young age of thirty-eight.
Not only did he make significant contributions in his field, but he was also a responsible family man, always making time for his wife and children during holidays, ensuring he was not an absent father in their upbringing.
Being the eldest daughter, Lian Ru Ning was naturally the most important to him. He subtly guided her to follow in his footsteps, and although he was sometimes strict, in Lian Ru Ning’s eyes, he was undeniably a good father.
“Dad, this is Hao Jian,” Lian Ru Ning introduced, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as if eager for her father’s approval of Hao Jian.
Of course, she hadn’t yet disclosed her deeper relationship with Hao Jian to Lian Qing Miao, but that didn’t stop her from wanting her closest family to know how great Hao Jian was.
“Hello, Professor Lian!”
Lian Qing Miao, relieved at finally reuniting with his eldest daughter after a long period of anxiety, felt immense gratitude and affection towards Hao Jian, who had saved Lian Ru Ning and supported her along the way. The usually stern man couldn’t help but smile and said, “You’re Ning’s friend. Calling me ‘Professor Lian’ is too formal, just call me Uncle Lian!”
Hao Jian politely responded, "Alright, Uncle Lian."
Lian Ru Ning shot Hao Jian a sidelong glance. She thought Hao Jian might tone down her usual demeanor, but she hadn’t expected such a complete transformation.
When Lian Qing Miao invited them into the reception room of the Science Center, Lian Ru Ning, walking beside Hao Jian, whispered, "This isn't like you."
Hao Jian winked at her and said, "It's my first time meeting the parents; it's only natural to be a little nervous."
Lian Ru Ning knew she was just putting on an act, but she couldn’t help but laugh. In high spirits, she grabbed Hao Jian’s hand as they walked together.
Lian Qing Miao occasionally turned around to glance at them. He found it odd since he had never seen Lian Ru Ning so open and cheerful with anyone, smiling like a pampered little princess.
At the entrance, Hao Jian scanned her ID card again and handed over her gun before being allowed to enter.
Hao Jian had worked here as a summer intern before, so the place wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to her. However, upon entering, she noticed that many things had changed. The original themed exhibition halls and the 20,000-square-meter temporary exhibition area had all been converted into research labs filled with a scientific atmosphere. The cinemas, digital halls, restaurants, and shops also had undergone some modifications.
Inside, researchers in white lab coats hurried back and forth. Surveillance cameras covered every corner, operating constantly, while patrols and guards made the place both secure and somewhat oppressive.
Behind the Science Center was an artificial lake, followed by a garden that marked the end of the island. But Hao Jian guessed that even the garden was likely filled with surveillance cameras.
After they arrived at the reception room, Lian Qing Miao personally poured them each a glass of water and began inquiring about their experiences.
---
Instead of sharing her own experiences, Lian Ru Ning was more eager to know about her family’s situation. “Dad, do you have any news about Mom, Ru Meng, and Ruoji?”
Lian Qing Miao sighed, “I only know about your mother and Ruoji’s whereabouts. As for Ru Meng, I still have no information.”
He recalled how he was busy in the lab when suddenly one of his students got bitten, and shortly after, he was taken here by the authorities. Only after a thorough explanation did he understand what had been happening during those days.
It was only then that he realized he hadn’t contacted his family. But by the time he tried to call them, he couldn’t reach anyone.
Filled with regret, he agreed to help the authorities with their research, though he was distracted. The officials comforted him, promising they would find his family and urging him to focus on his experiments.
To ensure a future for humanity, he temporarily set aside his worries about his wife and children, devoting himself to studying the effects of the zombie virus on soil, plants, and crops.
Recently, the authorities informed him that they had located his wife and son. However, since the family tracing system was not yet fully operational, they still had no news about his twin daughters.
Then, just today, he suddenly received word that his daughter had come looking for him, prompting him to immediately drop everything to meet her.
Fortunately, although Lian Ru Ning was thinner, darker, and looked exhausted, she appeared healthier and even more energetic than before. Her personality had also become more lively.
In the past, he always thought that his eldest daughter was calm, introverted, and quietly scholarly like her mother, while he had often scolded his wild-tempered second daughter. But now, it seemed that Lian Ru Ning had simply borne more responsibilities than her younger siblings. It wasn’t that she wasn’t cheerful; it was that they had put too much pressure on her…
---
Unaware of her father’s thoughts, Lian Ru Ning, after hearing his account, said, “Dad, I managed to find out through a friend that Ru Meng is in the refugee camp in the Foshan City.”
Lian Qing Miao was stunned for a moment before his expression turned excited. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, that friend is responsible for compiling the list of survivors in the triangular zone cities. He happened to find Ru Meng’s name, not just her name, but even her photo!”
“Where exactly is this refugee camp?” Lian Qingmiao asked eagerly.
“...” Lian Ru Ning paused, realizing that although her father was knowledgeable about geography, he probably had no idea where specific refugee camps were located. So she quickly pointed out its location for him.
Lian Qing Miao rubbed his hands together, but then his expression fell again.
“Dad, what’s wrong?”
"I know where your mother and the others are," Lian Qing Miao sighed, "but I feel embarrassed to trouble the government to bring them back for me." He continued, "When I left the school, the campus and streets were full of zombies attacking people. Many of the guards were surrounded and bitten. Later, I found out that before the city center was sealed off, the government had already sent a large number of troops to clear out the zombies there. But what was the result?"
The mere memory of that scene sent chills down his spine.
---
When the zombie virus was spreading rapidly, businesses and factories continued to operate, and people still went out shopping and having fun, thinking that wearing a mask would protect them from infection. However, because the virus had a long incubation period, by the time the authorities noticed, there might have already been thousands of people silently infected.
The government could only issue repeated warnings, urging people to avoid crowded places. Under the guise of heightened security measures, they deployed a large number of personnel to patrol the streets, hoping to capture and quarantine those showing symptoms before the situation escalated.
However, those who were detained didn't realize they were infected, leading to resistance and conflicts. Some guards were accidentally scratched during these altercations. But internal infections within the guard units were relatively rare because teammates would detect any symptoms and take action early on.
The real trouble was outside, as the incubation period ended, the number of zombies suddenly increased. At that time, it wasn’t yet known that the virus could also be transmitted through sexual contact, leading to more and more infections. Even students in schools weren't spared.
Eventually, the government made the tough decision to execute anyone showing signs of infection, but the families of these individuals tried to intervene, causing infected people to retaliate and attack the guards out of spite.
Adding to the chaos, the internet was flooded with negative and inflammatory remarks, which led to more infected individuals targeting law enforcement officers and even civilians. They believed that the government had hidden the truth from them, intending for them to die, which fueled their desire for revenge.
In their rage, they infected more and more people. Some, believing they were doomed, decided to commit crimes they had always wanted to but never dared to, such as assaulting women and children, attacking the wealthy, or, for those with antisocial tendencies, going on killing sprees.
As a result, even when the government dispatched more personnel, the situation remained out of control. The excessive use of force against rioters only deepened public distrust of the authorities among those unaware of the full story.
With the guards suffering heavy casualties, the government had no choice but to seal off the city, mandating that anyone trying to leave had to undergo quarantine. If any signs of infection were detected, they were to be shot on sight.
In the end, it wasn't the zombies that posed the greatest threat to people's safety, it was other humans.
Realizing this, Lian Qing Miao became even more worried about his wife and children, particularly fearing that his two beautiful daughters could fall victim to abuse.
However, his daughters' lives were precious, and so were the lives of the guards. These guards were already overwhelmed with their duties, he couldn't expect the government to reassign them just to find his family, especially since he wasn’t the only researcher who had lost contact with loved ones.
Moreover, upon learning that his wife and children were at the Haixin Island refuge with protection from guards, he felt it would be even more unreasonable to ask for them to be escorted here. What if it set a bad precedent, causing other survivors or researchers to feel unfairly treated?
---
Lian Ru Ning felt a twinge of disappointment, but she understood his position. She said, "It's alright, Dad. I'll go find Mom myself."
Lian Qing Miao stared at her intently, "Are you blaming me?"
Lian Ru Ning was about to speak, but Hao Jian suddenly interjected, "Uncle Lian, Junior Sister isn’t blaming you. In fact, we were already planning to head to Haixin Island, and not just that, we also have plans to go to Foshan City. Junior Sister knows that you are a fair and selfless person because she herself is just like that. She would never put others in a difficult position for her own benefit, nor would she want to trouble others, so she wouldn’t hold it against you."
Lian Qing Miao felt relieved by Hao Jian's words. Her calm demeanor and composed presence stood out, especially when compared to Lian Ru Ning's liveliness. For some reason, there was something familiar about her face and aura.
"Your name is Hao Jian, right?" he asked.
"Yes, it's Hao as in 'Red Ear Hao' and Jian as in 'letter,'" she replied.
Lian Qing Miao couldn't help but wonder why her father chose such a name for her. The surname "Hao" itself was uncommon and reminded him of an old friend, bringing a slight smile to his face.
"And what about your family?" Lian Qing Miao asked.
Lian Ru Ning frowned, thinking her father was being a bit too forward, and decided to tease him to gauge his reaction. "Dad, are you trying to find me a match? Why are you asking so many questions?"
Lian Qing Miao shot her a stern look. Although she had become more cheerful, she was pushing it with her jokes. Apologetically, he turned to Hao Jian and said, "I don’t know what's gotten into her lately, she’s become quite mischievous. I almost thought she was my younger daughter!"
Hao Jian wasn’t too keen on talking about her family, so she was relieved when Lian Qing Miao shifted the topic. She smiled and asked, "Was Junior Sister very well-behaved in the past?"
"Oh, absolutely..." Lian Qing Miao began sharing stories from Lian Ru Ning’s childhood. As they chatted, he suddenly recalled how Hao Jian addressed his daughter and asked, "By the way, are you also a student at Southern City University?"
"I only attended for half a year, so I don’t know if that counts," she replied.
Lian Qing Miao sensed that there might be a complicated situation behind her words. He was glad Lian Ru Ning had interrupted his earlier questions, bringing up personal matters could have put Hao Jian in an awkward spot, whether she chose to answer or not.
He didn’t stay with them for too long, as he needed to return to his experiments. Although the authorities gave him a day off upon learning that his daughter had arrived, his mind was still occupied with his research. After gaining Lian Ru Ning’s understanding, he decided to go back.
However, even as he returned to the lab, he couldn't help but request the guards to look out for them. As for their plans to stay or leave, he left that to them and the organization to decide.
---
Lian Ru Ning and Hao Jian were assigned to the student dormitories at Southern City University. Most of the campus had been repurposed as accommodations for researchers, guards, and administrative staff, making it feel especially deserted without the usual student presence.
After dinner, Lian Ru Ning and Hao Jian strolled around the campus. Lian Ru Ning regretted that they never had a chance to walk together on the Rhine Pathway before, but now, they could make up for that missed opportunity.
They walked to the central lake, found a long bench, and sat down to enjoy the lakeside view. The bench was covered in dust, a sign that it hadn't been used in a long time.
As darkness fell, the streetlights gradually lit up around them.
They sat there for a while before encountering the guards, who naturally began questioning them. It became clear that lingering outside for too long wasn’t feasible, as any patrol they encountered would continue to question them. Not wanting to be disturbed, they decided to return to their dorm.
The dormitories in the university town were equipped with air conditioning. Given that this area was of utmost priority, there was no concern about power outages from using the air conditioning.
With the air conditioning on, both of them had a comfortable sleep after their showers.
The next morning, Lian Qing Miao came to take Lian Ru Ning out for breakfast, while Hao Jian had plans to meet up with An Minghui, so she didn’t join the father-daughter duo.
Still curious about Hao Jian's background, Lian Qing Miao asked Lian Ru Ning, "What does your friend do?"
"Dad, I already told you yesterday, she’s a
record keeper for the Xiang City Security Department," Lian Ru Ning explained.
"It seems like she’s also somewhat connected with the security forces... For someone so young to overcome all the challenges and bring you here, that’s truly impressive," Lian Qing Miao praised. What he was most grateful for was that Hao Jian had protected Lian Ru Ning. Just hearing about what she went through had already made him break out in a cold sweat.
After finishing breakfast, Lian Qing Miao asked, "Would you like to come and see my research lab?"
Lian Ru Ning was quite surprised. Although her father used to love taking her and her siblings to the lab when they were kids, his current research was of critical importance. He had always been strict about it, so why would he invite her so easily this time?
Still, she was curious to know what her father was researching, so she agreed.
The Science Center had many laboratories. According to Lian Qing Miao, some were studying arthropods and chordates, others were focused on water quality, and his own research was on environmental studies. These were all major projects, but each one had more specialized sub-projects. For instance, environmental research was broken down into categories like vegetation and crops.
Lian Qingmiao’s research was on a large-scale project: finding ways to mitigate the impact of viruses on soil and crops and developing crops that could be safely consumed by humans.
However, for the nation, the most crucial research was on the development of vaccines against the virus. That section wasn’t located in the Science Center but in a highly secure, undisclosed facility. Even Lian Qing Miao didn’t know where it was. The virus samples he used for research were delivered through safety cabinets.
Curious, Lian Ru Ning asked, "I heard that researchers have developed a way to detect carriers of the zombie virus. Is that true? We had our blood drawn for testing both in Xiang City and after landing."
Lian Qing Miao replied, "There has been some progress, but we can’t quite say we’ve fully developed a solution yet. We’ve found that the Q virus has breached all four levels of biological safety, we had to categorize it as BSL-5. It’s a completely new virus with no precedents to learn from. But since it can infect and spread among humans and primates, it likely shares some characteristics with other viruses."
Researchers had discovered new features of the virus by studying arthropods exposed to it: the virus caused disruptions in the circulatory system of segmented animals, leading to coagulation of coelomic fluid, which halted internal material transport. This caused their segments to stiffen, eventually leading to death.
Moreover, it was widely believed that arthropods could evade the virus primarily due to their nervous systems. Their neural networks were highly concentrated, and sensory-rich organisms like polychaete arthropods had interconnected tactile cells, chemoreceptors, and ciliated receptors on their bodies, making them particularly sensitive to the zombie virus.
Thus, the researchers were currently attempting to develop tools mimicking the sensory systems of polychaete arthropods to significantly shorten detection times.
Lian Ru Ning was genuinely impressed by the researchers' work.
"Is there any progress on your end, Dad?" she asked.
Lian Qing Miao shook his head. "There’s still a lot of research left to be done..." He paused, then asked, "Ru Ning, would you consider staying to help your father?"
Lian Ru Ning was taken aback. Wang Zishao had previously mentioned that the country was in dire need of manpower in this area, even if she was just a student. At least she had some professional knowledge that could assist the professors. But back then, all she wanted was to find her family, she had no interest in staying in a lab.
Now, however, it was her father extending this olive branch. Should she accept it?
After thinking it over, she said, "Dad, I still need to find Mom, Ru Meng, and Ruoji. I won’t be at peace until I’m sure they’re safe."
"You don’t need to worry about that," Lian Qing Miao reassured her. "I’ve already contacted someone to help search for your mother and siblings."
Lian Ru Ning was even more surprised. "Dad, who did you contact?"
If he could reach out to someone, why hadn’t he done so before?
Lian Qing Miao explained, "Well, I didn’t know them before. It was only after you came yesterday that a colleague of mine mentioned it. I told them about our situation, and she said that there were some private investigators who could help."
"But, Dad, how did you manage to contact them?"
"These private investigators are triplet brothers. One of them used to be in the special forces but retired after being injured. They’ve partnered with the Refugee Management Office and have become a sort of semi-official team. They mostly travel between different places and can help with searches or other tasks, as long as you can afford it. So, I reached out to the Refugee Management Office, and they said they’ve already made contact. We can meet them tomorrow."
Just as he was speaking, Lian Qing Miao pointed and said, "Look, that’s the colleague who made the introduction."
Following his gaze, Lian Ru Ning saw a woman in a white lab coat sitting by the lakeside near the main building of the Science Center, sipping coffee. From the side, she looked quite young, with a tall, slender figure. Unlike the other female researchers, she wore stiletto heels, standing out in the predominantly male research environment.
Sensing their gaze, the woman looked over and then stood up, walking toward them.
"Professor Lian," she greeted with a faint smile. Her demeanor was neither overly enthusiastic nor cold, maintaining a polite distance.
"Researcher Le, let me introduce you to my eldest daughter, Ru Ning."
Lian Ru Ning quickly extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Researcher Le!"
"Nice to meet you. You’re even more beautiful than in Professor Lian’s photos," Le Yan said, her expression unchanged, making it clear to Lian Ru Ning that it was just polite flattery.
Lian Qing Miao chuckled, saying, "Researcher Le is a postdoctoral fellow in the water quality lab next door. Recently, due to her new discoveries on how the zombie virus behaves in water flow, she's become quite valued at the institute."
"You're too kind, Professor Lian," Le Yan responded modestly. "I've only made progress by standing on the shoulders of giants. Without the foundational research you all have done on the virus's transmission, it would've taken me years to reach this point."
"You're too humble, Researcher Le."
Lian Runing discreetly glanced at her father, then at Le Yan, who looked striking even without makeup. She noticed that her father seemed to talk more when interacting with this woman, which inevitably sparked some thoughts.
Le Yan seemed to catch her gaze and smiled, this time with a warmth that outshone her earlier, more reserved demeanor. Caught red-handed, Lian Runing felt a bit embarrassed.
However, Le Yan and Lian Qing Miao didn't converse for long before parting ways. Lian Runing then asked, "Dad, are you and Researcher Le close?"
Lian Qing Miao didn't catch the implication behind his daughter's question and answered, "Not really. We only interact occasionally for joint research between our labs. She's usually quite aloof. If it weren't for her recent breakthroughs, I doubt many would know her."
After a moment, he caught on and chuckled, "You don't think your old man is getting ideas just because she's young and pretty, do you?"
"Isn't that the case?"
Lian Qing Miao's eyes widened in mock severity, though his daughter was unfazed.
"Nonsense! If you're really that worried, why don't you come stay by my side and keep an eye on me for your mom?"
Lian Runing pondered aloud, "Why are you so set on having me help you here, Dad? Don't you have other students who could assist you?"
Lian Qing Miao sighed, "Given your background, you could actually be of help here. Plus, you'd be safer staying inside. Sure, some experiments involve handling the Q virus, but it's much safer here than out there. And don't worry, I wouldn't have you directly exposed to the virus."
Lian Runing was taken aback. She never expected her father, usually so impartial and selfless, to harbor a protective side. The only thing he could do for her was to keep her close and as safe as possible... Her eyes stung with emotion, but she still declined. "Dad, I can help, but not right now."
"Why not? I've already arranged for people to help find your mom and siblings..."
"It's not just about that..."
Lian Ru Ning thought of Hao Jian. Now that Hao Jian had joined the Science Center, she could stay here. But what about Hao Jian? She was no longer just someone with family, she had someone she loved. Hao Jian always consulted her before making decisions, so it didn't feel right to make a choice without her input.
Lian Qing Miao didn't push her further and simply said, "Let me know when you change your mind."
---
Meanwhile, after meeting up with An Minghui, Hao Jian learned about the latest movements of the "Wujio" group. This was their second collaboration since their initial encounter with the group in Jiang City.
Previously, An Minghui had been pursued by "Wujio" members, but he turned the tables, using their retreat to trace them back to their stronghold. They discovered that the group had established a branch in Nanfang City. The "Wujio" organization was structured hierarchically, with the central sect at the top, followed by three major sects, sub-branches, and local cells.
Lei Mu was the leader of a small cell in Jiang City, while Nanfang City hid members of a larger branch. They speculated that the leader of one of the three major sects might also be based there, although this was yet to be confirmed, as their informants hadn't penetrated the higher echelons.
Hao Jian found it odd. "Don't you think this organization is becoming more mysterious?"
An Minghui sighed, "Yes, the small cells are quite vocal, but the higher-ups are incredibly secretive."
"No orders to take out the smaller cells?"
"The directive from above is not to alert them prematurely. The more they expose themselves, the easier it will be to take them down in one swoop. But perhaps due to the government's stronghold here, they've remained in hiding. Yet, recently, they've started to stir, and we’ve detected movements from their branch members in the city center."
"City center of Nanfang City?"
"Yes. Although the government has abandoned that area, there are still many survivors. It seems like they're hunting survivors there, turning it into their playground. That's how we managed to gather more intel on them."
"Hunting survivors..." Hao Jian pondered. "Don't they attack zombies?"
"They do, but only because if they don't, they'd be killed themselves. They disguise themselves as ordinary survivors, blend in, and strike when their targets are unsuspecting, looting their supplies for fun."
Hao Jian frowned deeply. "The 'Wujio' members we encountered before weren’t this extreme."
"Exactly. Local cells focus on hoarding resources, but the core members of the branches appear to have a more violent streak, revealing the chaotic and unpredictable nature of 'Wujio.'"
"So now..."
"The higher-ups are worried they'll target two of the shelters in the city center. We've been assigned to provide support, and we're also tasked with transporting some munitions to reinforce the guard at Haixin Island."
"When do we move out?"
"The military supplies are still pending approval, so there’s no confirmed date yet, but it should be within the next couple of days. You're heading to Haixin Island anyway, so you can join us."
Hao Jian had no reason to refuse.
When she returned and told Lian Ru Ning about the mission to Haixin Island, Lian Ru Ning said, "That's perfect timing. My dad hired a private detective to look for my mom and siblings on Haixin Island. We can go together."
"Private detective?"
"Well, more like a hired team. I heard they’ve collaborated with the government, helping with searches and other tasks. They’re somewhat like that fishing boat crew we encountered."
Hao Jian, aware of the potential threat from "Wujio" targeting Haixin Island, felt a surge of caution upon hearing about this team. "Mind if I tag along when you meet them tomorrow?"
Lian Ru Ning grinned, "Like I’d mind that!"
Hao Jian squinted her eyes, leaned in, and gave Lian Ru ning a quick peck on the lips. "Little junior, I recently got my hands on something fun..."
Lian Ru ning’s mind went to that rather explicit little stone sculpture she'd seen before. She quickly tried to get up from the bed, but Hao Jian pulled her back, whispering with a mischievous smile, "Little junior, my period is due in a couple of days. The clock is ticking, let’s not waste time."
"..."
Lian Ru Ning hesitated for a moment, silently thinking: Well, let's see what tricks you've got up your sleeve!