Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Medicine Pill

“Prepare to retreat, Xiao Zhang. Go to Professor Liu and retrieve the items!” Yang Weiguo ignored Ma Zhanlin’s cold sarcasm and strode directly to a woman wearing a mask.

Only then did Shen Lie notice the masked woman. Without a doubt, she was Du Lili, the so-called Queen Du. Judging from her figure and attire, she seemed quite young, and her body showed no signs of any inhuman mutation—only her face was hidden behind a striped mask, making it impossible to discern her appearance.

“Brother Shen, it’s so good to see you safe!” While Shen Lie was still studying the masked woman, Li Cheng hurried over, an awkward smile on his face.

“It’s nothing. I’m hard to kill.” Shen Lie nodded lightly.

From the moment Li Cheng left him at Yin Hao Supermarket, the entanglements between them were essentially over. Li Cheng clearly understood this, and seeing Shen Lie’s attitude, he left in disappointment.

Soon, the warrior called Xiao Zhang returned in haste, carrying a large suitcase and handed it to Yang Weiguo.

“Queen Du, among these people, you are the only one I trust. I am handing over these medicines with a single request: please do everything in your power to guarantee Professor Liu’s safety. Professor Liu is our nation’s foremost expert on genetics and pharmaceuticals—we absolutely cannot afford to lose him!” Yang Weiguo placed the suitcase at Du Lili’s feet, his expression grave, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

Before Du Lili could respond, Ma Zhanlin interjected with a tone both sarcastic and ambiguous, “If Sergeant Yang is so concerned about Professor Liu’s safety, why did you linger so long at the supermarket entrance? According to you, the lives of these ordinary survivors are worth less than a hundredth of Professor Liu’s, aren’t they?”

“That’s right. The existence of any individual must be subordinated to the nation. Without a country, there can be no home. Of course, when circumstances allow, saving more lives is not wrong. Ma Zhanlin, since you possess power beyond ordinary humans, you should take on greater responsibility—not just chase after your own interests!”

“Ha! Without the nation, there’s no home? I don’t even know if the nation still exists, but I know my home is gone. My family is gone! Yang Weiguo, my loved ones died right before your eyes, didn’t they? Why didn’t you show this noble spirit back then? Tell me, why didn’t you!” Ma Zhanlin’s voice was agitated, as if recalling some bitter memory.

“Let’s not waste time. Divide the medicines and prepare to leave. If that two-headed mutant comes back, I won’t be able to fend it off again.” Du Lili finally spoke. It was clear she commanded considerable authority here: all factions and individuals showed her respect. At her words, everyone fell silent.

Throughout the proceedings, Shen Lie remained aloof, standing by his vehicle and observing coldly. No one approached him, and he felt as though he had become invisible. He was also surprised by Du Lili’s strength—her words implied she had just repelled the two-headed dog that Huang Xiaoxue had mutated into. No wonder the survivors could wait here so calmly; they had a powerful protector.

Aside from himself, Shen Lie noticed that Wang Qingshan also stood quietly nearby, tightly gripping his daughter’s hand, while his wife nervously scanned their surroundings.

“Distribute the medicine!” Du Lili waved her hand, and her dozen subordinates opened the suitcase, each taking out a convenient box and beginning to hand out red pills to the survivors present.

“Everyone listen carefully; I’ll say this only once. These pills can only neutralize the toxins in the lighter passage of the Red Mist Zone. To use them, place the pill beneath your nostrils. The effect lasts for about a day, which should be enough for us to exit the Red Mist area, unless our luck fails us.”

“But let me add—” Yang Weiguo’s voice resounded clearly, “—our people have only explored a short stretch of this passage. Due to sudden changes in the Red River, we haven’t fully determined what dangers lurk inside. Once we enter, everyone must obey commands. Anyone who acts alone without orders will no longer be protected by our group—they’ll be left to their own fate!”

“Understood? If you do, let’s move out. Except for the bus carrying Professor Liu, everyone will travel on foot, with the bus at the center of our formation.”

Yang Weiguo finished speaking, and someone invited Shen Lie onto the bus, saying that all awakened individuals had special privileges to rest there. Shen Lie understood the true intention: Yang Weiguo wanted to gather the awakened together, undoubtedly to ensure Professor Liu’s safety.

“We have our own vehicle, we won’t trouble Sergeant Yang.” Shen Lie had no desire to play bodyguard to someone important. Though they claimed to have found a way out, he wasn’t naive enough to believe it. Not even the spider monster or the big black cat dared enter the Red Mist Zone; who could predict the outcome for humans? Awakened ones were not omnipotent.

“Heh, perhaps Comrade Shen is unaware—the Red Mist Zone is very different from outside. All cars inside fail to start, and guns won’t fire. It seems the red mist blocks all chemical reactions. Our bus has been specially modified, powered by over a hundred batteries. It’s a fully electric vehicle!”

This explanation from Yang Weiguo’s subordinate caught Shen Lie off guard; no wonder no one objected to marching on foot—they already understood the situation.

“Each awakened individual may bring two family members aboard. That’s the vehicle’s capacity, and their relatives will receive priority protection.”

Shen Lie had intended to refuse, but this changed his mind. The arrangement was clearly premeditated, leaving the awakened no choice. He glanced at Zhang Jing and little Tao Tao, nodded silently, and agreed—there was no other way. Zhang Jing could walk with him, but Tao Tao’s injuries had not fully healed; she could not possibly make it safely through the mist on foot.

The bus’s modifications were rudimentary; only the front half had seats, while the rear was filled with batteries, all interconnected by a tangle of wires. If not for the apocalypse, no one would dare ride such a vehicle.

“This is Professor Liu. I trust there’s no need for introductions among you. All of you possess awakened abilities—superhuman powers. I hope we can stick together for this escape; only then will you have the opportunity to shine. Here in this small town, no matter how powerful you are, it means little.” Yang Weiguo brought the awakened onto the bus, introduced Professor Liu, and then stepped off. The retreat began at once.

The bus started slowly. Shen Lie gazed through the window at the crowd outside, their faces numb. He couldn’t tell how many would survive the passage, or if any would at all. In just a few months, he had experienced so many bizarre events; even now, it felt as if he were still dreaming.

“Ahem, King Shen?” Shen Lie was lost in thought when a dry, raspy voice reached his ears.

He turned and was surprised to find Wang Qingshan initiating conversation. It was strange; since gathering here, everyone had been led by Yang Weiguo, and the awakened had barely exchanged a word, watching others with cold detachment—including Professor Liu, who was absorbed in his research.

“There are no kings here—we’re just mutated people. Maybe in this town folks fear us, but outside, we might be seen as monsters.” Shen Lie had no interest in talking to the hunchback, but Ma Zhanlin, nearby, interjected with self-mocking humor.

“Heh, what does it matter if we’re monsters? Nowadays, strength is power. Otherwise, why are we riding while others walk?” Wang Qingshan chuckled dryly, showing no concern for his physical mutation.

“Brother Shen, I admit I was wrong last time—I was misled by Xiao Gang. Now that Xiao is dead at your hands, I wonder if we can leave our past grudges behind?”

“To show my sincerity, I’m willing to offer some compensation.” Wang Qingshan was very humble, and Shen Lie didn’t want to be overly cold. After all, they were now in the same boat; in a crisis, it was better to have allies than enemies.

“What compensation?” Though willing to reconcile, he still wanted something in return.

“Heh, I’m naturally timid, so I haven’t collected anything valuable lately. But I do know something others don’t—a secret about the mutated crows. Would you be interested?”

Wang Qingshan spoke mysteriously, his voice barely audible to anyone but Shen Lie, but it did spark Shen Lie’s interest. Though they had assembled at the edge of the mushroom field, the evacuation route was not through that area, but in a diagonal direction. To avoid unnecessary trouble, no one had gathered phantom mushrooms or confronted the mutated crows.

Even if caution prevailed, that didn’t mean there was no desire for phantom mushrooms—especially among the awakened. Shen Lie suspected Du Lili and Ma Zhanlin both wanted some, but hesitated because of the crows. These mushrooms were a local specialty; once they left, it would be impossible to obtain them again.

“We’re about to enter the Red Mist Zone. Speak quickly if you have something to say.” Shen Lie looked at Wang Qingshan’s hunched form, his face expressionless.