123 The Mystery of the End Times
Everyone watched as Aqing led a group of store employees to bathe Abu, thinking that the money spent was well worth it. Because it took three hours to bathe him, using countless tons of water and shower gel, they finally rinsed off all the foam. Liu Fengyu was the first to break down, saying, "Is the bath finally over? How much time has passed?"
As the weather gradually warmed up, everyone was covered in sweat. Aqing wiped the sweat off his forehead, flapped his colorful wings, and flew down, laughing, "Liu Dashuai, are you impatient? After the bath, we still need to deworm, groom, and blow-dry him. Hey, why don't you all go back and come back to pick him up in the evening? How about this—I'll charge you two thousand, not expensive, right? It's a discount for all these handsome guys." Aqing flirtatiously winked at everyone.
Deng Xiao couldn't bear it any longer and said with a mournful face, "I'm so hungry."
Xiao Wang suggested, "There's a tea house over there with excellent snacks. Want to go sit there for a while?"
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I didn't expect it to take this long either. I thought one or two hours would be enough."
Aqing shook his head, "Too optimistic."
"Boss," a girl in a raincoat rushed over and said, "Boss, the customer, Abu's fur is too long and has been poorly cared for, so it's severely tangled. It's impossible to comb it all out. Now that the weather is getting hot, the fur will be uncomfortable, and it's prone to fleas."
Zhuang Yao furrowed his brow and asked, "What should we do then?"
Aqing sighed, "The best solution is to shave it all off and let it grow again."
Everyone took a glance at Abu, who had been washed clean and seemed to be in good spirits, and couldn't imagine what it would look like if it were shaved.
Deng Xiao frowned, "Will it look... ugly when shaved?"
Liu Fengyu shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "It's just a cat. It doesn't care about looking good or not. Shave it. I've been feeling hot these past few days."
Aqing looked at Zhuang Yao, asking, "Little handsome guy, what's your decision? With such long fur, it will suffer in the summer. If you plan to stay in Beijing for a long time, grooming it once a month will keep its fur at a more suitable length. Now, we can't groom it. It's too long and tangled."
Zhuang Yao helplessly said, "Then just shave it." After saying that, he walked towards Abu.
Abu saw him approaching and affectionately rubbed his hand with its nose. Zhuang Yao patted it gently, "Abu, let me tell you, they are going to shave off your fur for your own good. It will grow back soon."
Abu paused for two seconds, then suddenly let out a "meow" and retreated with all four paws, but the movement was minimal. It kept looking at Zhuang Yao's face, seemingly struggling.
"Abu, be good, you won't become bald, just your fur will be a bit shorter. It's hot weather, and you'll feel more comfortable with a trim."
Abu continued to meow softly, its amethyst-like eyes fixed on Zhuang Yao, and it moved back a little more.
Zhuang Yao held Abu's nose firmly and spoke more firmly, "Abu, be obedient."
Abu let out a pitiful "meow" and lowered its head, staying still.
Aqing and several flying mutants carried something resembling a plow out.
Cong Xia blinked and asked, "What... is that?"
"A custom-made hair removal machine." Aqing flew to Abu and swung the plow over its body. With a swipe, a large clump of white fur fell off Abu.
Cong Xia opened his mouth wide, looking at the bald spot on Abu's body, feeling a sudden pang of sympathy.
Abu lay down, burying its head in its chest, maintaining that position throughout the hour it took to shave off all its fur, without lifting its head.
Deng Xiao looked at the furless Abu and couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha, Abu looks like it lost half its weight. I didn't expect it to be like this without fur, and its flesh is pink, hahaha."
Zhuang Yao slapped his belly hard, "Stop laughing at it."
Aqing chuckled, "At first, it will take some getting used to. Don't worry; new fur will grow out in a few days. We sprayed it with insect repellent, so as long as you maintain regular care, those annoying little bugs won't bother it anymore."
Cong Xia gently touched Abu's face, "Abu, let's go back."
Abu still lay on the ground, its face buried in its chest, motionless.
"Abu?"
Zhuang Yao also nudged Abu, "Abu, let's go back. Abu?"
The two exchanged a helpless look.
Aqing circled around Abu, "Oh my, it has such a strong sense of dignity..."
Zhuang Yao sat down next to Abu, "Abu, there's no need to feel embarrassed. Let's go back now."
Abu let out a faint, plaintive sound from its throat, sounding extremely upset. No matter how they persuaded, Abu maintained that position and remained motionless.
Two hours passed, and no one could make it move.
Cheng Tianbi became impatient, "Let's go back. It will follow us."
"What if it doesn't?"
"It's your cat, figure something out."
"Of course, we'll wait until it figures it out itself."
"What a waste of time."
Cong Xia sighed, "How about we go buy some fish for it?"
Xiao Wang clapped his hands, "Buy fish? I know a place where they sell fish. I'll take you there."
Cheng Tianbi said, "You guys stay here to watch over Zhuang Yao. Liu Fengyu, come with us to buy fish."
Xiao Wang led the three of them outside. After leaving the pet shop, he stood by the roadside, manipulating his phone to send a text message, then waited in place.
Cong Xia wondered, "Xiao Wang, who are we waiting for?"
"Waiting for a taxi."
"What?"
"A solar-powered taxi. The place where they sell fish is quite far from here. There are new solar-powered vehicles in the city. Although they are very slow, they're still better than walking." Xiao Wang smiled, "They're quite expensive, and I've never been willing to take one, but it should be okay for you guys."
After ten minutes, a three-wheeled motorized vehicle approached. The vehicle looked light and made of thin materials, larger than a typical three-wheeled motorcycle, with two rows of seats, enough for four people to sit.
The vehicle stopped in front of them, driven by a middle-aged woman. "Where are you all heading?"
"To the seafood street."
"Sixty."
"Forty."
"At least fifty."
"Alright, alright." Xiao Wang smiled triumphantly at them, "Get in the car."
As they got into the vehicle, Xiao Wang said, "It will take at least half an hour to get there. Actually, you could have just called the people at the seafood street to deliver, but Professor instructed me to let you have a better understanding of Beijing. I think it's better for you to personally go there and explore."
Cong Xia chuckled, "That's good. We do need to familiarize ourselves with this place, and we have many questions to ask you."
Xiao Wang touched his head, "Go ahead and ask. If it's too complicated, I might not be able to answer, but I know most things about Beijing."
"Can you give us a brief introduction to the current situation in Beijing? For example, which organization is in charge now, how do various mutant organizations operate under what rules and constraints, what are the laws and regulations, what innovative inventions are there, how does Beijing feed its large population, and what direction are we heading towards?"
Xiao Wang awkwardly chuckled, "Well, my brain is a bit slow, but I'll answer one by one. As for the current situation in Beijing, how should I put it... According to Professor Cong, Beijing is like an active volcano. Beneath its calm surface lies magma that could erupt at any time. Because all scientists insist that this disaster to humanity is far from over, from earthquakes to the events of nearly a year ago, it's just the prelude to the 'Cambrian Consciousness' punishment on humanity. So, even though Beijing appears relatively calm now and has gradually adapted to the new environment, establishing a relatively stable living circle, Professor Cong says that this is all temporary and that changes will happen soon. As for what changes, I'm not sure, but everyone knows that more and more mutants cannot have children. If this continues, with powerful mutants unable to reproduce and ordinary humans unable to protect themselves, humanity is doomed. But I feel that Professor Cong is not only worried about what will happen decades from now."
Cong Xia nodded, "The inability to reproduce is definitely not the most urgent crisis to be addressed. Putting that aside, after the spring, there will be a resurgence of mutant plants and animals. After enduring a winter, the surviving plants will become increasingly formidable. And those animals awakening from hibernation and thawing large aquatic creatures will pose another threat to humanity."
Xiao Wang sighed, "That's why in this world, only those who are carefree can sleep well every day. Sometimes, even my own nightmares can startle me awake."
Cong Xia consoled, "We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate. Now, let's talk about the current power distribution in Beijing."
Xiao Wang said, "I can explain this clearly. After the apocalypse, humanity experienced a peak of death. Beijing's population was reduced from over ten million to just over one million, and many of the latter were people who came from other places. In short, not only ordinary citizens but also many high-level leaders died. After the apocalypse, our army has been on the frontline against mutant plants and animals, and later, a large number of mutants awakened and joined the battle surrounding the city. It took almost half a year to kill and drive away the chaotic mutants and plants, making the city safe again. Although attacks by mutants on humans still occur daily, they are now rare events and no longer pose a significant threat. During this cleanup period, the army gradually gained control. Although the previous leaders are still around, they no longer have any real power and are protected with plenty of food and drink. The Beijing Military Region used to have three army groups: the 14th, 27th, and 35th. The 35th Army Group suffered the most casualties while clearing mutant plants and animals in the city. The commander of the 35th Army Group died of an epidemic, and this army group was merged into the first two, which are the 14th Army Group led by General Xu Ying and the 27th Army Group led by General Cao Zhixian." Xiao Wang glanced at Cheng Tianbi. It seemed that Cheng Tianbi's relationship with Cao Zhixian was not a secret; at least, Cao Zhixian wouldn't have come to see Cheng Tianbi so openly if he had any hidden intentions.
Xiao Wang continued, "The three most powerful forces in Beijing are the military, the Academy of Sciences, and the mutant organizations. The military, as I mentioned earlier, refers to the two army groups - the 14th and 27th. The Academy of Sciences is divided into six districts, while the mutant organizations are led by four major factions, and they have a considerable number of members. Currently, the military holds the reins of power and is in charge of Beijing, thanks to its possession of weapons and public support. However, these two army groups are also secretly vying for control of Beijing, which is a result of differing opinions on human reconstruction work, particularly from the brain domain evolvers within the Academy of Sciences. These differences are divided into two factions: the conservative faction led by Professor Cong and Colonel Tang, and the radical faction led by Dr. Zhuang. Professor Cong has support from the 27th Army Group, the Dragon Blood Clan, and other scattered mutant organizations, while Dr. Zhuang is backed by the 14th Army Group and the Fenglan Society."
Cong Xia said, "Colonel Tang? I think I've heard that name before."
"Colonel Tang is a top expert in genetics and the chief responsible for the Dragonblood human experiment. He's also a brain domain evolver. I heard that the smarter someone is, the more likely they are to become a brain domain evolver because their genetic makeup in that area is superior, giving them a higher starting point for evolution and making it easier for them to evolve. I'm not sure, but according to Professor Cong's theory, the better a certain dominant gene is expressed, the easier it is to evolve. So basically, all brain domain evolvers used to be geniuses. You see, Colonel Tang, Professor Cong, and the two Dr. Zhuangs were all geniuses before."
Cong Xia nodded, "That makes sense."
Liu Fengyu said, "Continue with the details about the distribution of power."
"Beijing is controlled by these two major forces. Besides the two mutant organizations I mentioned earlier, the Jiujian Prefecture (County) and the Liudao Huangquan have always remained neutral. They generally accept missions assigned by the military, regardless of which force gives the orders, but they never take sides. The leader of Jiujian Prefecture is quite arrogant, while the leader of Liudao Huangquan is more low-key. Their relationship with the military is not very close."
"What is the reason for the apparent stance of the Dragonblood Clan and the Fenglan Society?"
"Because the Dragonblood Clan is part of the military. It's evident from Colonel Tang's military rank. Additionally, all members of the Dragonblood Clan are soldiers, and their leader is no exception. Naturally, they have a close relationship with the military. As for why they side with the 27th Army Group, it must be related to that divergence in opinions, and Colonel Tang's choice aligns with Professor Cong's. As for the leader of the Fenglan Society, he has a cruel and ruthless personality and lacks compassion. His greatest interest is continuously becoming stronger, which aligns with Dr. Zhuang's concept of survival of the fittest. Most of the other scattered mutant organizations are mostly neutral."
"What rewards do the Jiujian Prefecture and the Liudao Huangquan receive for accepting military missions?"
"There are quite a few. Firstly, they are legally allowed to possess a Puppet Jade, and the military is currently collecting Puppet Jades nationwide, not missing a single piece. Only these four organizations can own them. Secondly, they enjoy a multitude of resources, including energy, food, and more. They also have the right to use new weapons, new drugs, and various new inventions. They don't have to worry about basic needs. However, in exchange for collecting Puppet Jades for the military, they have also suffered significant losses and paid with many lives. The things they gain come at a high cost. Yao Qianjiang was injured when he went to Xi'an last time, and he still hasn't fully recovered."
Liu Fengyu couldn't help but shudder as he thought of the bugs in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Cheng Tianbi asked, "So, what are Professor Cong and Dr. Zhuang's respective ideas on human reconstruction work?"
"This is a complex topic, and I can't explain it clearly. In simple terms, Professor Cong advocates for the development of new agriculture and animal husbandry, the exploration of new energy sources, and the restoration of human life to its normal state as much as possible. On the other hand, Dr. Zhuang believes that we should continuously research genetic modification experiments to make mutants more powerful and transform ordinary humans into mutants. This way, humans can face the threats from mutant plants and animals without fear and regain their position as the dominant species on the planet. Their ideas are profound, and I can't fully comprehend them. On the surface, Dr. Zhuang's approach may seem cruel, but his recent speech was very provocative. I'm an ordinary person, and I don't agree with his views, but... if you were a mutant, many would support him. Different perspectives make it hard for me to say who is right and who is wrong. I suggest you ask Professor Cong about this matter."
"So, the food you eat now comes from new agriculture and animal husbandry?"
"Most of it does. Initially, we relied on mutants to hunt and provide food for the entire city. At that time, many people starved to death every day. Later, we developed new seeds and domesticated some animals, which gradually improved the situation. Now we can solve the food supply problem for over one million people, and the credit goes to the Academy of Sciences, as its prestige is very high. The Academy of Sciences has also started a nationwide restoration of communication work to help other cities solve their food problems and eventually address security issues. Though it's just the beginning, and the difficulty is immense, there is still hope." Xiao Wang's eyes sparkled.
Cong Xia smiled and nodded, "There is still hope for humanity."
Xiao Wang looked ahead and said, "Ah, we've arrived at Seafood Street. Let's get off here, and I'll take you around."
The four of them got off the vehicle, and ahead was a bustling street with many passersby and large trailers scattered about. It seemed that no matter where they were, energy was a scarce commodity. Cars, once the most important means of transportation, had become something only special individuals could use now.
"This Seafood Street sells mostly freshwater fish, and most of them are farmed. Fish have a short growth cycle, which is better than livestock, so fish have become our main source of meat. However, it's still hard for ordinary people to get access to them. Most buyers here are from the mutant organizations," Xiao Wang explained with a smile.
They followed Xiao Wang into Seafood Street, and the shops on both sides of the street amazed them. Although the fishy smell in the air was quite commonplace, these shops were far different from traditional fish markets. At least, during the civilized era, not every store would have fish tanks as large as aquariums, nor would they sell fish as big as people.
As they walked along, they noticed that most of the fish being sold were common grass carp, catfish, and tilapia. These fish had tender meat, and most importantly, they had strong vitality and reproduced quickly, making them suitable for human consumption.
As they passed by a store, a man with braids pointed to a three-meter-long tilapia in the water tank and said, "We'll take this one. Boss, hurry up and load it onto the truck. We need to deliver it before dark. It's for our big brother's mother's birthday, and this fish will be the main dish for her celebration."
"Don't worry, don't worry. Jiujian Prefecture is only about five or six kilometers away from here. It won't take long to get there."
"It must be alive. If it's dead upon delivery, I won't spare you."
"Brother Qian, you can trust me. We've been doing business for so long. When have I ever delivered dead fish to you?"
"Alright then, give me a price."
The shop owner looked at the fish and said, "A fixed price, twelve hundred."
"Deal, deal, deal." The guy with the braids took out a gun and paid without hesitation.
Liu Fengyue poked Xiao Wang, "Don't they weigh the fish here?"
"There's a rule here. It's too much trouble to weigh fish over three meters long, and it's easy to kill the fish during the process. Generally, they just estimate a price. Those who can afford such a big fish usually have plenty of money to spare."
Cong Xia said, "Let's buy a big one too, otherwise it won't be enough for Abu to eat."
Li Fengyue smiled, "Poor Abu. Let's buy the biggest one to comfort him after his fur has been shaved."
Xiao Wang suggested, "Let's walk further. Such big fish aren't available in every shop. There might be only one or two in the area."
Indeed, after walking half a street, they hadn't seen any fish over three meters long. Even those around two meters were rare.
Xiao Wang explained, "These are farmed fish, and many of them haven't had the chance to grow to their full size before being bought and consumed. Although they haven't reached their full size, these mutated fish can already weigh tens to hundreds of kilograms. They are usually quickly sold out and it's difficult to keep them. Fish over three meters are either kept by the shop owner to increase the price or are possibly wild fish, which will cost at least double the price."
"Why don't they keep the fish until they grow larger and then sell them?"
"Fish over three meters might be expensive, but they are difficult to sell. Such large fish weigh at least two hundred kilograms, and it would require a lot of people to finish eating them. Unless there's a big gathering or a group purchase, it's not easy to sell them. Moreover, as they grow larger, the space in the water tanks becomes limited, and fish feed is also expensive. Mishandling could lead to losses. So, the fish vendors also have to take risks. The best-selling fish here are usually around one meter in size, affordable, and can be finished in one meal to avoid waste."
Li Fengyue teased, "You seem to know quite a lot."
Xiao Wang chuckled, "Well, I've been here for a long time, so I've learned a thing or two. Oh, look, there's a big fish on the opposite side."
They turned their heads and indeed saw a large fish. It was slightly smaller than the one sold to Jiujian Prefecture earlier, but it was close to three meters as well. They had reached the end of the street, and this was the last big fish available.
Cong Xia walked over excitedly, "Boss, how much for this fish?"
The shop owner chuckled, "Young man, haven't seen you before, a new customer. I'll give it to you for a thousand."
"Deal, can you deliver it to Xinxing Street? It's the mutant pet grooming salon."
"Oh, that's a bit far. We usually deliver within a five-kilometer radius. If it's beyond that, there'll be an additional delivery fee of eighty. Are you willing to pay that?"
"No problem, just send it now."
"Alright then. Son, help me take it out." The father and son started preparing to drain the water from the tank, which turned out to be portable. It seemed they planned to empty the tank and then open it to let the fish slide out.
"Boss Sun," a voice sounded from behind them. Cong Xia turned around and saw the guy with the braids who had bought the big fish earlier for Jiujian Prefecture.
"Oh, Brother Qian, hello."
"Boss Sun, we'll take this big fish. Hey, today, it's just you and the old Wen family who have big fish. Hurry up and deliver it to us."
"What?" Boss Sun looked hesitantly at Brother Qian, then at Cong Xia and his group.
Brother Qian also glanced at them. Seeing that they were dressed plainly and looked young, he didn't pay much attention to them. "What's the matter?"
Cong Xia felt that Brother Qian wasn't a mutant. If he were, he would have sensed the energy from Cheng Tianbi.
Boss Sun said apologetically, "Brother Qian, this fish, this young man just placed an order for it."
"Oh." Brother Qian smiled and handed a cigarette to Cong Xia. "Our Jiujian Prefecture's leader is celebrating his mother's birthday today, and we need two big fish. The beauty of being considerate is commendable, especially for such filial piety. It wouldn't be nice to ruin the joy. Let's give this fish to us." Although his words seemed polite, his tone was arrogant. After all, Jiujian Prefecture was the largest gang in Beijing, and they carried an air of prestige everywhere. When their people went out to do something, who wouldn't give them some face?
Cong Xia hesitated a bit but thought that it wasn't necessary to cause a conflict over a fish. They could just buy a few smaller ones.
Liu Fengyue was full of dissatisfaction and said, "Brother, we saw this fish first. There's a matter of who came first, and it wouldn't hurt for you to buy a few smaller fish instead."
Brother Qian's face changed slightly. "Young man, our Jiujian Prefecture's leader is celebrating his mother's birthday. How can we use a few smaller fish to make up the numbers? It would be a blow to his face, don't you understand?"
Liu Fengyue was about to say something, but Cong Xia quickly intervened, "Let it go, Liu Ge. Let's buy a few smaller fish. It's the same."
Brother Qian extinguished his cigarette. "Alright, boss, load it up quickly."
Boss Sun apologized to Cong Xia, "Young man, could you please pick another one? We have other fish, and we'll deliver them to you for free."
"Oh, okay."
"Come over here and take a look," Cong Xia decided to bypass the big tilapia that had slid into the trailer tank and check out other fish.
At that moment, he, Cheng Tianbi, and Liu Fengyue were separated by the big fish.
Coincidentally, Brother Qian stood next to Cong Xia. In the blink of an eye, Brother Qian suddenly threw the lit cigarette towards Cheng Tianbi.
The three of them were startled as a cloud of white smoke diffused in the air.
Cheng Tianbi quickly blew the smoke away, but he still inhaled a bit, causing a momentary dizziness. When he came back to his senses, he noticed that Brother Qian had sprouted wings on his back and was already holding Cong Xia, flying towards the exit.
However, after just a few steps, the effect of the ancient jade took effect. No matter how hard Brother Qian tried to pull, Cong Xia remained motionless.
Cong Xia, feeling dizzy from the smoke, regained clarity and realized he was being lifted about one meter off the ground. He thought Brother Qian was an ordinary person, but he turned out to be a mutant? And now he was trying to grab him?
Cheng Tianbi and Liu Fengyue rushed towards the exit, while Xiao Wang and Boss Sun were petrified in their original spots.
Out of nowhere, more than twenty mutants suddenly appeared and surrounded the fish shop. They lunged at Cheng Tianbi and Liu Fengyue.
Liu Fengyue shouted, "I'll hold them off, go save Xia."
Cheng Tianbi used a wind blade to clear a path, and before Brother Qian could understand what was happening, his enormous wings were suddenly cut by an invisible blade!
"Ahhhh!" Brother Qian screamed in pain, and everyone in the fish street watched in shock.
Cheng Tianbi kicked him to the ground.
Mutants kept rushing at them, but their attacks were weak against Cheng Tianbi and Liu Fengyue. They were quickly taken down.
Brother Qian held his injured wings and writhed on the ground.
Cheng Tianbi stepped on his chest and coldly asked, "Two questions. First, who sent you? Second, why don't you have any energy fluctuations?"
123 The Mystery of the End Times
Everyone watched as Aqing led a group of store employees to bathe Abu, thinking that the money spent was well worth it. Because it took three hours to bathe him, using countless tons of water and shower gel, they finally rinsed off all the foam. Liu Fengyu was the first to break down, saying, "Is the bath finally over? How much time has passed?"
As the weather gradually warmed up, everyone was covered in sweat. Aqing wiped the sweat off his forehead, flapped his colorful wings, and flew down, laughing, "Liu Dashuai, are you impatient? After the bath, we still need to deworm, groom, and blow-dry him. Hey, why don't you all go back and come back to pick him up in the evening? How about this—I'll charge you two thousand, not expensive, right? It's a discount for all these handsome guys." Aqing flirtatiously winked at everyone.
Deng Xiao couldn't bear it any longer and said with a mournful face, "I'm so hungry."
Xiao Wang suggested, "There's a tea house over there with excellent snacks. Want to go sit there for a while?"
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I didn't expect it to take this long either. I thought one or two hours would be enough."
Aqing shook his head, "Too optimistic."
"Boss," a girl in a raincoat rushed over and said, "Boss, the customer, Abu's fur is too long and has been poorly cared for, so it's severely tangled. It's impossible to comb it all out. Now that the weather is getting hot, the fur will be uncomfortable, and it's prone to fleas."
Zhuang Yao furrowed his brow and asked, "What should we do then?"
Aqing sighed, "The best solution is to shave it all off and let it grow again."
Everyone took a glance at Abu, who had been washed clean and seemed to be in good spirits, and couldn't imagine what it would look like if it were shaved.
Deng Xiao frowned, "Will it look... ugly when shaved?"
Liu Fengyu shrugged nonchalantly and replied, "It's just a cat. It doesn't care about looking good or not. Shave it. I've been feeling hot these past few days."
Aqing looked at Zhuang Yao, asking, "Little handsome guy, what's your decision? With such long fur, it will suffer in the summer. If you plan to stay in Beijing for a long time, grooming it once a month will keep its fur at a more suitable length. Now, we can't groom it. It's too long and tangled."
Zhuang Yao helplessly said, "Then just shave it." After saying that, he walked towards Abu.
Abu saw him approaching and affectionately rubbed his hand with its nose. Zhuang Yao patted it gently, "Abu, let me tell you, they are going to shave off your fur for your own good. It will grow back soon."
Abu paused for two seconds, then suddenly let out a "meow" and retreated with all four paws, but the movement was minimal. It kept looking at Zhuang Yao's face, seemingly struggling.
"Abu, be good, you won't become bald, just your fur will be a bit shorter. It's hot weather, and you'll feel more comfortable with a trim."
Abu continued to meow softly, its amethyst-like eyes fixed on Zhuang Yao, and it moved back a little more.
Zhuang Yao held Abu's nose firmly and spoke more firmly, "Abu, be obedient."
Abu let out a pitiful "meow" and lowered its head, staying still.
Aqing and several flying mutants carried something resembling a plow out.
Cong Xia blinked and asked, "What... is that?"
"A custom-made hair removal machine." Aqing flew to Abu and swung the plow over its body. With a swipe, a large clump of white fur fell off Abu.
Cong Xia opened his mouth wide, looking at the bald spot on Abu's body, feeling a sudden pang of sympathy.
Abu lay down, burying its head in its chest, maintaining that position throughout the hour it took to shave off all its fur, without lifting its head.
Deng Xiao looked at the furless Abu and couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha, Abu looks like it lost half its weight. I didn't expect it to be like this without fur, and its flesh is pink, hahaha."
Zhuang Yao slapped his belly hard, "Stop laughing at it."
Aqing chuckled, "At first, it will take some getting used to. Don't worry; new fur will grow out in a few days. We sprayed it with insect repellent, so as long as you maintain regular care, those annoying little bugs won't bother it anymore."
Cong Xia gently touched Abu's face, "Abu, let's go back."
Abu still lay on the ground, its face buried in its chest, motionless.
"Abu?"
Zhuang Yao also nudged Abu, "Abu, let's go back. Abu?"
The two exchanged a helpless look.
Aqing circled around Abu, "Oh my, it has such a strong sense of dignity..."
Zhuang Yao sat down next to Abu, "Abu, there's no need to feel embarrassed. Let's go back now."
Abu let out a faint, plaintive sound from its throat, sounding extremely upset. No matter how they persuaded, Abu maintained that position and remained motionless.
Two hours passed, and no one could make it move.
Cheng Tianbi became impatient, "Let's go back. It will follow us."
"What if it doesn't?"
"It's your cat, figure something out."
"Of course, we'll wait until it figures it out itself."
"What a waste of time."
Cong Xia sighed, "How about we go buy some fish for it?"
Xiao Wang clapped his hands, "Buy fish? I know a place where they sell fish. I'll take you there."
Cheng Tianbi said, "You guys stay here to watch over Zhuang Yao. Liu Fengyu, come with us to buy fish."
Xiao Wang led the three of them outside. After leaving the pet shop, he stood by the roadside, manipulating his phone to send a text message, then waited in place.
Cong Xia wondered, "Xiao Wang, who are we waiting for?"
"Waiting for a taxi."
"What?"
"A solar-powered taxi. The place where they sell fish is quite far from here. There are new solar-powered vehicles in the city. Although they are very slow, they're still better than walking." Xiao Wang smiled, "They're quite expensive, and I've never been willing to take one, but it should be okay for you guys."
After ten minutes, a three-wheeled motorized vehicle approached. The vehicle looked light and made of thin materials, larger than a typical three-wheeled motorcycle, with two rows of seats, enough for four people to sit.
The vehicle stopped in front of them, driven by a middle-aged woman. "Where are you all heading?"
"To the seafood street."
"Sixty."
"Forty."
"At least fifty."
"Alright, alright." Xiao Wang smiled triumphantly at them, "Get in the car."
As they got into the vehicle, Xiao Wang said, "It will take at least half an hour to get there. Actually, you could have just called the people at the seafood street to deliver, but Professor instructed me to let you have a better understanding of Beijing. I think it's better for you to personally go there and explore."
Cong Xia chuckled, "That's good. We do need to familiarize ourselves with this place, and we have many questions to ask you."
Xiao Wang touched his head, "Go ahead and ask. If it's too complicated, I might not be able to answer, but I know most things about Beijing."
"Can you give us a brief introduction to the current situation in Beijing? For example, which organization is in charge now, how do various mutant organizations operate under what rules and constraints, what are the laws and regulations, what innovative inventions are there, how does Beijing feed its large population, and what direction are we heading towards?"
Xiao Wang awkwardly chuckled, "Well, my brain is a bit slow, but I'll answer one by one. As for the current situation in Beijing, how should I put it... According to Professor Cong, Beijing is like an active volcano. Beneath its calm surface lies magma that could erupt at any time. Because all scientists insist that this disaster to humanity is far from over, from earthquakes to the events of nearly a year ago, it's just the prelude to the 'Cambrian Consciousness' punishment on humanity. So, even though Beijing appears relatively calm now and has gradually adapted to the new environment, establishing a relatively stable living circle, Professor Cong says that this is all temporary and that changes will happen soon. As for what changes, I'm not sure, but everyone knows that more and more mutants cannot have children. If this continues, with powerful mutants unable to reproduce and ordinary humans unable to protect themselves, humanity is doomed. But I feel that Professor Cong is not only worried about what will happen decades from now."
Cong Xia nodded, "The inability to reproduce is definitely not the most urgent crisis to be addressed. Putting that aside, after the spring, there will be a resurgence of mutant plants and animals. After enduring a winter, the surviving plants will become increasingly formidable. And those animals awakening from hibernation and thawing large aquatic creatures will pose another threat to humanity."
Xiao Wang sighed, "That's why in this world, only those who are carefree can sleep well every day. Sometimes, even my own nightmares can startle me awake."
Cong Xia consoled, "We can only do our best and leave the rest to fate. Now, let's talk about the current power distribution in Beijing."
Xiao Wang said, "I can explain this clearly. After the apocalypse, humanity experienced a peak of death. Beijing's population was reduced from over ten million to just over one million, and many of the latter were people who came from other places. In short, not only ordinary citizens but also many high-level leaders died. After the apocalypse, our army has been on the frontline against mutant plants and animals, and later, a large number of mutants awakened and joined the battle surrounding the city. It took almost half a year to kill and drive away the chaotic mutants and plants, making the city safe again. Although attacks by mutants on humans still occur daily, they are now rare events and no longer pose a significant threat. During this cleanup period, the army gradually gained control. Although the previous leaders are still around, they no longer have any real power and are protected with plenty of food and drink. The Beijing Military Region used to have three army groups: the 14th, 27th, and 35th. The 35th Army Group suffered the most casualties while clearing mutant plants and animals in the city. The commander of the 35th Army Group died of an epidemic, and this army group was merged into the first two, which are the 14th Army Group led by General Xu Ying and the 27th Army Group led by General Cao Zhixian." Xiao Wang glanced at Cheng Tianbi. It seemed that Cheng Tianbi's relationship with Cao Zhixian was not a secret; at least, Cao Zhixian wouldn't have come to see Cheng Tianbi so openly if he had any hidden intentions.
Xiao Wang continued, "The three most powerful forces in Beijing are the military, the Academy of Sciences, and the mutant organizations. The military, as I mentioned earlier, refers to the two army groups - the 14th and 27th. The Academy of Sciences is divided into six districts, while the mutant organizations are led by four major factions, and they have a considerable number of members. Currently, the military holds the reins of power and is in charge of Beijing, thanks to its possession of weapons and public support. However, these two army groups are also secretly vying for control of Beijing, which is a result of differing opinions on human reconstruction work, particularly from the brain domain evolvers within the Academy of Sciences. These differences are divided into two factions: the conservative faction led by Professor Cong and Colonel Tang, and the radical faction led by Dr. Zhuang. Professor Cong has support from the 27th Army Group, the Dragon Blood Clan, and other scattered mutant organizations, while Dr. Zhuang is backed by the 14th Army Group and the Fenglan Society."
Cong Xia said, "Colonel Tang? I think I've heard that name before."
"Colonel Tang is a top expert in genetics and the chief responsible for the Dragonblood human experiment. He's also a brain domain evolver. I heard that the smarter someone is, the more likely they are to become a brain domain evolver because their genetic makeup in that area is superior, giving them a higher starting point for evolution and making it easier for them to evolve. I'm not sure, but according to Professor Cong's theory, the better a certain dominant gene is expressed, the easier it is to evolve. So basically, all brain domain evolvers used to be geniuses. You see, Colonel Tang, Professor Cong, and the two Dr. Zhuangs were all geniuses before."
Cong Xia nodded, "That makes sense."
Liu Fengyu said, "Continue with the details about the distribution of power."
"Beijing is controlled by these two major forces. Besides the two mutant organizations I mentioned earlier, the Jiujian Prefecture (County) and the Liudao Huangquan have always remained neutral. They generally accept missions assigned by the military, regardless of which force gives the orders, but they never take sides. The leader of Jiujian Prefecture is quite arrogant, while the leader of Liudao Huangquan is more low-key. Their relationship with the military is not very close."
"What is the reason for the apparent stance of the Dragonblood Clan and the Fenglan Society?"
"Because the Dragonblood Clan is part of the military. It's evident from Colonel Tang's military rank. Additionally, all members of the Dragonblood Clan are soldiers, and their leader is no exception. Naturally, they have a close relationship with the military. As for why they side with the 27th Army Group, it must be related to that divergence in opinions, and Colonel Tang's choice aligns with Professor Cong's. As for the leader of the Fenglan Society, he has a cruel and ruthless personality and lacks compassion. His greatest interest is continuously becoming stronger, which aligns with Dr. Zhuang's concept of survival of the fittest. Most of the other scattered mutant organizations are mostly neutral."
"What rewards do the Jiujian Prefecture and the Liudao Huangquan receive for accepting military missions?"
"There are quite a few. Firstly, they are legally allowed to possess a Puppet Jade, and the military is currently collecting Puppet Jades nationwide, not missing a single piece. Only these four organizations can own them. Secondly, they enjoy a multitude of resources, including energy, food, and more. They also have the right to use new weapons, new drugs, and various new inventions. They don't have to worry about basic needs. However, in exchange for collecting Puppet Jades for the military, they have also suffered significant losses and paid with many lives. The things they gain come at a high cost. Yao Qianjiang was injured when he went to Xi'an last time, and he still hasn't fully recovered."
Liu Fengyu couldn't help but shudder as he thought of the bugs in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Cheng Tianbi asked, "So, what are Professor Cong and Dr. Zhuang's respective ideas on human reconstruction work?"
"This is a complex topic, and I can't explain it clearly. In simple terms, Professor Cong advocates for the development of new agriculture and animal husbandry, the exploration of new energy sources, and the restoration of human life to its normal state as much as possible. On the other hand, Dr. Zhuang believes that we should continuously research genetic modification experiments to make mutants more powerful and transform ordinary humans into mutants. This way, humans can face the threats from mutant plants and animals without fear and regain their position as the dominant species on the planet. Their ideas are profound, and I can't fully comprehend them. On the surface, Dr. Zhuang's approach may seem cruel, but his recent speech was very provocative. I'm an ordinary person, and I don't agree with his views, but... if you were a mutant, many would support him. Different perspectives make it hard for me to say who is right and who is wrong. I suggest you ask Professor Cong about this matter."
"So, the food you eat now comes from new agriculture and animal husbandry?"
"Most of it does. Initially, we relied on mutants to hunt and provide food for the entire city. At that time, many people starved to death every day. Later, we developed new seeds and domesticated some animals, which gradually improved the situation. Now we can solve the food supply problem for over one million people, and the credit goes to the Academy of Sciences, as its prestige is very high. The Academy of Sciences has also started a nationwide restoration of communication work to help other cities solve their food problems and eventually address security issues. Though it's just the beginning, and the difficulty is immense, there is still hope." Xiao Wang's eyes sparkled.
Cong Xia smiled and nodded, "There is still hope for humanity."
Xiao Wang looked ahead and said, "Ah, we've arrived at Seafood Street. Let's get off here, and I'll take you around."
The four of them got off the vehicle, and ahead was a bustling street with many passersby and large trailers scattered about. It seemed that no matter where they were, energy was a scarce commodity. Cars, once the most important means of transportation, had become something only special individuals could use now.
"This Seafood Street sells mostly freshwater fish, and most of them are farmed. Fish have a short growth cycle, which is better than livestock, so fish have become our main source of meat. However, it's still hard for ordinary people to get access to them. Most buyers here are from the mutant organizations," Xiao Wang explained with a smile.
They followed Xiao Wang into Seafood Street, and the shops on both sides of the street amazed them. Although the fishy smell in the air was quite commonplace, these shops were far different from traditional fish markets. At least, during the civilized era, not every store would have fish tanks as large as aquariums, nor would they sell fish as big as people.
As they walked along, they noticed that most of the fish being sold were common grass carp, catfish, and tilapia. These fish had tender meat, and most importantly, they had strong vitality and reproduced quickly, making them suitable for human consumption.
As they passed by a store, a man with braids pointed to a three-meter-long tilapia in the water tank and said, "We'll take this one. Boss, hurry up and load it onto the truck. We need to deliver it before dark. It's for our big brother's mother's birthday, and this fish will be the main dish for her celebration."
"Don't worry, don't worry. Jiujian Prefecture is only about five or six kilometers away from here. It won't take long to get there."
"It must be alive. If it's dead upon delivery, I won't spare you."
"Brother Qian, you can trust me. We've been doing business for so long. When have I ever delivered dead fish to you?"
"Alright then, give me a price."
The shop owner looked at the fish and said, "A fixed price, twelve hundred."
"Deal, deal, deal." The guy with the braids took out a gun and paid without hesitation.
Liu Fengyue poked Xiao Wang, "Don't they weigh the fish here?"
"There's a rule here. It's too much trouble to weigh fish over three meters long, and it's easy to kill the fish during the process. Generally, they just estimate a price. Those who can afford such a big fish usually have plenty of money to spare."
Cong Xia said, "Let's buy a big one too, otherwise it won't be enough for Abu to eat."
Li Fengyue smiled, "Poor Abu. Let's buy the biggest one to comfort him after his fur has been shaved."
Xiao Wang suggested, "Let's walk further. Such big fish aren't available in every shop. There might be only one or two in the area."
Indeed, after walking half a street, they hadn't seen any fish over three meters long. Even those around two meters were rare.
Xiao Wang explained, "These are farmed fish, and many of them haven't had the chance to grow to their full size before being bought and consumed. Although they haven't reached their full size, these mutated fish can already weigh tens to hundreds of kilograms. They are usually quickly sold out and it's difficult to keep them. Fish over three meters are either kept by the shop owner to increase the price or are possibly wild fish, which will cost at least double the price."
"Why don't they keep the fish until they grow larger and then sell them?"
"Fish over three meters might be expensive, but they are difficult to sell. Such large fish weigh at least two hundred kilograms, and it would require a lot of people to finish eating them. Unless there's a big gathering or a group purchase, it's not easy to sell them. Moreover, as they grow larger, the space in the water tanks becomes limited, and fish feed is also expensive. Mishandling could lead to losses. So, the fish vendors also have to take risks. The best-selling fish here are usually around one meter in size, affordable, and can be finished in one meal to avoid waste."
Li Fengyue teased, "You seem to know quite a lot."
Xiao Wang chuckled, "Well, I've been here for a long time, so I've learned a thing or two. Oh, look, there's a big fish on the opposite side."
They turned their heads and indeed saw a large fish. It was slightly smaller than the one sold to Jiujian Prefecture earlier, but it was close to three meters as well. They had reached the end of the street, and this was the last big fish available.
Cong Xia walked over excitedly, "Boss, how much for this fish?"
The shop owner chuckled, "Young man, haven't seen you before, a new customer. I'll give it to you for a thousand."
"Deal, can you deliver it to Xinxing Street? It's the mutant pet grooming salon."
"Oh, that's a bit far. We usually deliver within a five-kilometer radius. If it's beyond that, there'll be an additional delivery fee of eighty. Are you willing to pay that?"
"No problem, just send it now."
"Alright then. Son, help me take it out." The father and son started preparing to drain the water from the tank, which turned out to be portable. It seemed they planned to empty the tank and then open it to let the fish slide out.
"Boss Sun," a voice sounded from behind them. Cong Xia turned around and saw the guy with the braids who had bought the big fish earlier for Jiujian Prefecture.
"Oh, Brother Qian, hello."
"Boss Sun, we'll take this big fish. Hey, today, it's just you and the old Wen family who have big fish. Hurry up and deliver it to us."
"What?" Boss Sun looked hesitantly at Brother Qian, then at Cong Xia and his group.
Brother Qian also glanced at them. Seeing that they were dressed plainly and looked young, he didn't pay much attention to them. "What's the matter?"
Cong Xia felt that Brother Qian wasn't a mutant. If he were, he would have sensed the energy from Cheng Tianbi.
Boss Sun said apologetically, "Brother Qian, this fish, this young man just placed an order for it."
"Oh." Brother Qian smiled and handed a cigarette to Cong Xia. "Our Jiujian Prefecture's leader is celebrating his mother's birthday today, and we need two big fish. The beauty of being considerate is commendable, especially for such filial piety. It wouldn't be nice to ruin the joy. Let's give this fish to us." Although his words seemed polite, his tone was arrogant. After all, Jiujian Prefecture was the largest gang in Beijing, and they carried an air of prestige everywhere. When their people went out to do something, who wouldn't give them some face?
Cong Xia hesitated a bit but thought that it wasn't necessary to cause a conflict over a fish. They could just buy a few smaller ones.
Liu Fengyue was full of dissatisfaction and said, "Brother, we saw this fish first. There's a matter of who came first, and it wouldn't hurt for you to buy a few smaller fish instead."
Brother Qian's face changed slightly. "Young man, our Jiujian Prefecture's leader is celebrating his mother's birthday. How can we use a few smaller fish to make up the numbers? It would be a blow to his face, don't you understand?"
Liu Fengyue was about to say something, but Cong Xia quickly intervened, "Let it go, Liu Ge. Let's buy a few smaller fish. It's the same."
Brother Qian extinguished his cigarette. "Alright, boss, load it up quickly."
Boss Sun apologized to Cong Xia, "Young man, could you please pick another one? We have other fish, and we'll deliver them to you for free."
"Oh, okay."
"Come over here and take a look," Cong Xia decided to bypass the big tilapia that had slid into the trailer tank and check out other fish.
At that moment, he, Cheng Tianbi, and Liu Fengyue were separated by the big fish.
Coincidentally, Brother Qian stood next to Cong Xia. In the blink of an eye, Brother Qian suddenly threw the lit cigarette towards Cheng Tianbi.
The three of them were startled as a cloud of white smoke diffused in the air.
Cheng Tianbi quickly blew the smoke away, but he still inhaled a bit, causing a momentary dizziness. When he came back to his senses, he noticed that Brother Qian had sprouted wings on his back and was already holding Cong Xia, flying towards the exit.
However, after just a few steps, the effect of the ancient jade took effect. No matter how hard Brother Qian tried to pull, Cong Xia remained motionless.
Cong Xia, feeling dizzy from the smoke, regained clarity and realized he was being lifted about one meter off the ground. He thought Brother Qian was an ordinary person, but he turned out to be a mutant? And now he was trying to grab him?
Cheng Tianbi and Liu Fengyue rushed towards the exit, while Xiao Wang and Boss Sun were petrified in their original spots.
Out of nowhere, more than twenty mutants suddenly appeared and surrounded the fish shop. They lunged at Cheng Tianbi and Liu Fengyue.
Liu Fengyue shouted, "I'll hold them off, go save Xia."
Cheng Tianbi used a wind blade to clear a path, and before Brother Qian could understand what was happening, his enormous wings were suddenly cut by an invisible blade!
"Ahhhh!" Brother Qian screamed in pain, and everyone in the fish street watched in shock.
Cheng Tianbi kicked him to the ground.
Mutants kept rushing at them, but their attacks were weak against Cheng Tianbi and Liu Fengyue. They were quickly taken down.
Brother Qian held his injured wings and writhed on the ground.
Cheng Tianbi stepped on his chest and coldly asked, "Two questions. First, who sent you? Second, why don't you have any energy fluctuations?"
