Chapter Seventy-Six: The Biological Genetics Science Research Park

Carrying the fat man's corpse, Liu Chang walked out onto the street. At the roadside, he found a rubber tube in an abandoned car, inserted it into the gas tank, siphoned out some gasoline, and poured it over the bullet-riddled body.

By the time he finished everything, Li Qingshui had also come out with two soldiers.

"Alas, he still died?" Shen Mingyi looked at the corpse on the ground and sighed softly, "My condolences."

"Yes." After one last glance at the fat man, Liu Chang took Li Qingshui's lighter, ignited the flame, and tossed it onto the body.

Blazing flames roared, melting his flesh and burning away the alien lives lurking within.

"Let's go." When the fire had finally consumed everything, Li Qingshui looked at the charred corpse, stepped forward, and patted Liu Chang on the shoulder. "He didn't die in pain."

"That is the only comforting thing," Liu Chang nodded. "What now? Where are we headed?"

"To the research institute," Li Qingshui gazed northwest. "I'm curious to see just how much of a role human technology can play in this world ruled by nature."

"Where is the institute?" Liu Chang turned to Shen Mingyi.

"It's at the intersection of Huayuan Road and Guangdian South Road in what used to be Jinshui District, Zhengzhou. There was once a village-in-the-city called Xuzhai, which was completely demolished during the urban renewal in 2002. A large research base was built there," Shen Mingyi recalled the information he'd received before departing. "It's a major biological research base. Apparently, since the end of 2002, such bases have been constructed around many large cities. After the red mist incidents of that year, the nation began placing great emphasis on biological research. They must have learned quite a few secrets about the red mist in advance."

"They just didn't expect the red mist would descend on this scale so suddenly," Li Qingshui looked up at the crimson sky and sighed. "Come, let's see for ourselves!"

"Alright." Pushing aside his grief, Liu Chang touched the finger bone of the fat man in his pocket, shouldered the little girl, and followed the team along the main road of Zhengzhou, heading northwest.

As they advanced, Liu Chang paid close attention to their surroundings, and soon noticed many differences between Zhengzhou and Kaifeng.

Because of the large-scale human ecological sphere here, other forms of life seemed even more withered than in Kaifeng; the wild grass no longer reached a man's height, and mutated monsters were rarely seen. Along the way, he even saw many people searching for food along the streets, suggesting that there were far more survivors here than in Kaifeng, and people no longer had to rely solely on the military for protection.

"What a peaceful place," Liu Chang marveled as he walked among the tufts of wild grass.

"Indeed," Li Qingshui surveyed the environment and the people around them. "This place is to Kaifeng what Kaifeng is to the wild jungle—much safer and more tranquil. But I wonder what these survivors eat. If they're living off these plants alone, trouble is sure to come eventually. If I were at the research institute and had a say in the direction of their research, I would place the food issue as the top priority."

"Well, you're about to be part of the institute," Liu Chang replied.

"Unfortunately, as a newcomer, my voice may not carry much weight," Li Qingshui frowned. "Besides, I still don't know how many brain domain mutants there truly are."

"We'll find out when we arrive," Liu Chang said. "But let me say this now: I don't think there will be many brain domain mutants. If everyone was like you, this apocalypse wouldn't be so terrifying. Human technology would leap a hundredfold in a year, and the plight of humanity would be overturned in no time!"

As Liu Chang spoke, he caught sight in the distance of a cat the size of a human, heading their way. But as soon as the cat caught their scent, it fled at full speed—clearly sensing danger.

"Such a clever creature. Could it too be a brain domain mutant?" Liu Chang couldn't help but exclaim at the cat's reaction.

"What did you say?" Shen Mingyi, who hadn't seen the scene, asked Liu Chang.

"Nothing. Let's keep going."

"Alright."

After a night's rest, their strength had returned, and they made good time. In a little more than an hour, they traversed most of Zhengzhou, from east to north, and reached the research base that Shen Mingyi had spoken of earlier—the "Biological Gene Science Research Park."

The name was displayed boldly on the plaque above the main gate, which loomed grand and imposing. Around the park, large numbers of troops were stationed, each soldier armed and vigilant, defending this obviously important place.

At the gate, Li Qingshui and Liu Chang watched Shen Mingyi approach the soldiers on guard duty and negotiate for a long time. Eventually, one of the soldiers went inside to report. Not long after, a senior officer—a division commander—came out to greet them from afar, led by Shen Mingyi.

"You must be Mr. Li." The division commander, after confirming their identities, immediately broke into a broad smile. "Welcome, welcome!"

"I just heard from this young soldier that you came from Kaifeng and that you're a brain domain mutant?" the young-looking commander in his forties said, stepping forward to shake Li Qingshui's hand.

"Yes, sir, I came from Kaifeng," Li Qingshui replied, shaking the commander's hand.

"My, that must have been a difficult journey, fraught with danger," the commander said, his expression sympathetic. "Unfortunately, we've lost contact with the surrounding cities. Otherwise, we would have sent troops to escort you."

"Thank you for your kindness," Li Qingshui nodded with a smile.

"No need to stand on ceremony—we'll be working together from now on, comrades in arms. If you need anything, you have only to ask. I'm in charge of this area, commander of the 52nd Division. In fact, a few years ago I transferred here from Unit 955231 in Kaifeng, so we're practically old neighbors. Ah, I nearly forgot—my name is Xie Hang, but you can just call me Old Xie." As he chatted warmly with Li Qingshui, Commander Xie gestured for Liu Chang and the others to join them. "Are these your friends? Come in, come in. It's been over a year since the park was built, and hardly anyone has visited."

Following Commander Xie, Liu Chang entered the "Science Park." Only after stepping inside did he realize just how vast it was. The architecture was ordinary, not at all the futuristic spectacle he had imagined. But that, he surmised, was just the surface; what lay within was anyone's guess.

"This science park cost the state billions to build—almost as much as the Olympic Bird's Nest," Commander Xie explained as he led them on a tour. "That's the advantage of a strong centralized state—when the nation sets its mind to something, resources can be mobilized in an instant, and we can accomplish great things. In recent years, I've heard there have been major breakthroughs in biological research, and every major city has a park like this. I hear the one in Beijing is even bigger!"

"So the country was not entirely unprepared for the apocalypse," Li Qingshui remarked. Commander Xie led them into a reception hall, smiling as he said, "Mr. Li, please have a seat. I'll fetch Dr. Chen—he's one of the people in charge here. That old fellow will be delighted to know a brain domain mutant from Kaifeng has arrived!"

"Thank you, Commander Xie," Li Qingshui replied with a smile, watching as the commander left.

Once his figure had disappeared, Liu Chang, seated on the sofa, relaxed visibly. "It seems they think highly of you."

"Yes," Li Qingshui nodded, seeming relieved. "That puts my mind at ease. Now, it's just a matter of seeing what the higher-ups decide."

With that, Li Qingshui fell silent, and Liu Chang, understanding his mood, kept quiet as well.

A while later, the door to the reception room opened again, and in walked a man who looked to be in his fifties, yet whose hair was black and lustrous, even more so than a young man's. Liu Chang, sharp-eyed, immediately spotted the name tag on his chest: "Third Research Section, Biological Research Institute—Team Leader: Chen Xudong."

Contrary to Liu Chang's expectations, Chen Xudong was not dressed in a researcher's white lab coat, but in military uniform. Having spent so much time in military areas, Liu Chang recognized his rank—Major General.

In China, major general is the highest honorary military rank for a scientific researcher; above that, rank signifies not just honor but actual command.

After Chen Xudong entered, Commander Xie greeted him, then tactfully excused himself.

"Old Chen, I've brought the man you wanted. Remember this favor," Commander Xie said.

"Of course," Chen Xudong replied, patting Xie on the shoulder and seeing him out.

Then, with sharp gaze, he turned to Li Qingshui.

"You're Li Qingshui?"

"Yes."

"Come with me."

Their first exchange was brief. After those three words, Li Qingshui and Liu Chang followed him to the door of a strange room.

"This is the testing room, equipped with various instruments and devices. Let's begin by testing the extent of your brain domain mutation," Chen Xudong said, opening the door.

Peeking inside, Liu Chang caught his first whiff of "advanced technology" among the array of unfamiliar machines.

"You, the young man holding the child, wait here," Chen Xudong said to Liu Chang.

"Alright."

He watched as Li Qingshui followed Dr. Chen into the technology-filled room. Soon, he heard the hum of machines and, after a pause, Li Qingshui's calm voice, answering questions.

After more than ten minutes, the two of them emerged. This time, Chen Xudong's face no longer bore the calm of before, but instead was transformed by a look of utter shock and excitement—so unrestrained that even someone as inexperienced as Liu Chang could see how profound it was. (To be continued)