62 Cambrian Consciousness
Cheng Tianbi took out a map of Chongqing and unfolded it to show everyone. He said, "The three circled areas are where Tang Yanqiu and I found suitable accommodations for these people. They are all small hotels with about fifty to sixty rooms, which should be enough for them to stay. We have already found the owner of one of the hotels, and he is asking for 400 liters of gasoline. The other two are controlled by the military, and we haven't negotiated with them yet."
Zhuang Yao said, "400 liters is not much. Let's try to avoid dealing with the military. Tomorrow, I'll take Zhang Gong to check out the place. If it's suitable, we'll finalize the deal with that hotel."
Liu Fengyu added, "I have gathered information on several major trading points in the city. There are quite a few local gangs, one of which is affiliated with the bald group. We should try to avoid them. The other gangs also compete with each other. We can't exchange too many items at once, and we should go after it gets dark."
Cong Xia shared the information he had gathered as well. After listening to everyone, there was a moment of silence.
Zhuang Yao rubbed his chin with interest and said, "Natural force manipulator mutant, heh. I really want to see that. I wonder who is more formidable, Cheng Tianbi or their evolver."
Cong Xia replied, "Regardless of who is more powerful, we must avoid direct conflicts."
Tang Yanqiu sighed softly and said, "I can't leave without finding them a reliable backer. We've already offended the Hongwei Gang by killing the bald leader. Not to mention, we are carrying so much oil with us. Once we leave, these ordinary people in the industrial park will be subjected to retaliation and robbery."
Cong Xia said, "We understand, so we need to find a solution now. The allocator suggested that we approach the Qingyan Gang. They have a large arsenal and military background, making them the most influential force in Chongqing and also in opposition to the Hongwei Gang."
Zhuang Yao asked, "How strong is their opposition? Have they had any major conflicts?"
Cong Xia replied, "There haven't been any major conflicts so far, but there have been constant minor clashes between their subordinates. The military mainly controls them to prevent any major disturbances."
Zhuang Yao chuckled lightly and said, "How can things go on without any major conflicts..."
Everyone looked at him, wondering what ideas were running through his mind.
"Liu Fengyu, tomorrow you will make contact with the Hongwei Gang. Leak the information about the oil tanker located twenty kilometers outside the city. If they want you to take them there, do it, but remember to use disguises. If there are any remnants of the bald group, they might recognize you. Cong Xia, tomorrow you will find that allocator and tell him that we are interested in cooperating with the military to retrieve the oil tanker. We only need a 20% share, but the military must provide us with a sign that hangs outside the residents' building, proving that our hotel is under military supervision. I suspect the military doesn't want a direct conflict with the Hongwei Gang, so they will secretly assign this task to the Qingyan Gang. If that's the case, you should voluntarily give up the 20% share and seek protection from the Qingyan Gang. Their flag should be displayed on the hotel."
Cong Xia clapped his hands and said, "This plan is excellent."
Zhuang Yao looked at Cheng Tianbi and Tang Yanqiu and said, "Both of you, I want you to kill the leader of the Hongwei Gang, the reversion-type amphibious atavistic human. Oh, it would be best if you could bring the body back for Cong Xia. But remember, Cheng Tianbi, you absolutely cannot reveal your abilities in front of others. This is even more important than killing the amphibious person. As long as we achieve our goal, we must not attract the attention of another naturally evolved individual. Tomorrow, I will bring Abu and the oil to sign the contract with the owner of that hotel."
Zhuang Yao's decisive actions made Tang Yanqiu feel uncomfortable for a while. After all, Zhuang Yao was just an eleven-year-old child. It felt strongly out of place hearing those words from his childish voice. Moreover, Tang Yanqiu had been living in the industrial park since the apocalypse, knowing very little about the new world. Although he had heard them describe many things, he couldn't truly grasp the power of natural force manipulator evolved humans and cerebral domain evolvers. So, even though he knew that Zhuang Yao was a cerebral domain evolver, subconsciously, he still saw him as a child.
The others had long grown accustomed to it. They obeyed Zhuang Yao's commands because his plans were always perfect and well-considered. Only by completely eradicating the Hongwei Gang could they ensure the safety and peaceful life of the people in the industrial park.
After finalizing the time and plan for tomorrow's operation, they all went to sleep.
They hadn't slept for two days, remaining constantly vigilant. Now they had safely arrived in Chongqing, lying within the military's territory. There were people patrolling and guarding outside. Everyone finally relaxed, intending to get a good night's sleep.
Sure enough, the temperature dropped during the night. The last time they experienced a temperature drop was over a week ago when they were in the car with the heater on. It didn't feel too cold then, but they wasted a lot of gasoline, which was regrettable.
In this post-apocalyptic era, they didn't have many favorable conditions. The five of them covered themselves with two quilts, huddling together, shivering from the cold.
Cong Xia didn't want to overuse his physical energy, so he didn't generate heat autonomously. Instead, he tried his best to stick close to Cheng Tianbi. In the end, they almost nestled in each other's arms, seeking warmth in a half-embrace.
With the weather so cold, falling asleep was not easy. Cong Xia found it even more difficult now. He was very close to Cheng Tianbi, and he could even hear Cheng Tianbi's strong heartbeat. He had never felt so happy during any temperature drop before. Cheng Tianbi, who usually kept his distance from others, was now so close to him. With just a slight movement, Cong Xia could nudge Cheng Tianbi's face. After hesitating for a while, Cong Xia finally couldn't resist his inner desire and boldly embraced Cheng Tianbi.
Cheng Tianbi's body stiffened for a moment but didn't push him away.
Cong Xia earnestly explained, "It's cold, so warm." To prove that he was indeed cold, he even used his icy hand to touch Cheng Tianbi's neck.
Cheng Tianbi softly said, "Behave yourself."
"Okay." Cong Xia quietly held onto Cheng Tianbi. The room was pitch black, no one could see them, and he couldn't see anyone else. It was as if he had entered a completely secluded space where he could do whatever he wanted and touch whoever he desired.
He had never expected to have any other way of interacting with Cheng Tianbi. He couldn't imagine what two men could do together. As long as he could stay by Cheng Tianbi's side and occasionally have intimate contact, it was enough for him. He felt content.
Suddenly, a hand was placed on his waist.
Cong Xia's lips trembled slightly, but he held back and didn't make a sound.
Cheng Tianbi silently wrapped his arm around Cong Xia's waist, the palm of his hand against his back, and his chin gently touching Cong Xia's shoulder.
The temperature had dropped to more than ten degrees below zero, but neither of them felt cold anymore. The warmth generated by an embrace with someone they trusted was enough to ward off any cold.
Cong Xia smiled softly and gradually fell asleep.
The next morning, the group casually ate a few bites of dry food and then went their separate ways.
Liu Fengyu's mission was quite dangerous, so Zhuang Yao specifically instructed him to carry four grenades and a distress signal flare. As for Cheng Tianbi and Tang Yanqiu, Zhuang Yao felt confident in their abilities. Despite being formidable, an amphibious atavistic evolver shouldn't pose a threat to the two of them.
Cong Xia brought some gifts and went to find the allocator.
The allocator lived in a well-conditioned apartment building with his wife and children, making him easy to locate. After Cong Xia explained his purpose, the allocator nervously pulled him into the house and asked where he had received the information.
"The oil tanker was brought here from Guizhou by us. We couldn't take it with us at the time, so we left it in the forest. It's too dangerous for us to retrieve it ourselves, so we want to cooperate with the military."
The expression on the officer's face became complex. "How much oil is still in the truck?"
"Around fifty to sixty tons."
"So much..." The assignment officer sighed. "With so much oil, many people would be envious. By the way, no one else knows about this, right?"
Cong Xia pretended to be clueless. "Everyone who came with us knows."
"Oh no, that's not what I meant. I'm asking if you haven't told anyone else or spread rumors in the city."
"No, no. How could we dare to spread rumors? We only trust the military."
"Alright, that's good."
"But..."
"But what?"
"We were being chased by a group of bald guys at the time, which forced us to abandon the truck. We killed a few of them, but we're not sure if we got them all. It's possible that they have knowledge of the oil tanker. We're concerned about this and came to inform you as soon as it was daylight."
The officer (allocator) grabbed his clothes. "Hurry, come with me. I'll take you to meet someone."
Cong Xia followed closely, asking, "Big brother, can our requests be fulfilled?"
"It's a small matter, a small matter."
The officer led him towards the command center, which was located in a villa area. There were soldiers from the People's Liberation Army guarding the entrance. After a brief exchange between the assignment officer and the guard, they were led inside and taken to an office.
Sitting in the office was a military officer in his thirties.
The assignment officer called out, "Captain Sun."
"Lao Wu? What brings you here?"
"I have an urgent matter to report."
"Oh, what is it?" Captain Sun glanced at Cong Xia. "Who is he?"
The assignment officer said to Cong Xia, "Go ahead, tell him."
Cong Xia then recounted the story of the oil tanker in great detail.
Captain Sun's eyes widened when he heard about the fifty to sixty tons of oil. He quickly got up and closed the window, cautiously asking, "Besides your group and the Hongwei Gang, does anyone else know about this? Before coming to me, did you seek help from anyone else?"
"No, absolutely not."
"Good job. Do you know the way?"
"I do. We followed the expressway, so it's not difficult to find."
Captain Sun pondered for a few minutes. "Both of you, come with me." He led the two men out of the command center and towards the city center.
Cong Xia asked, "Captain Sun, where are we going?"
"You'll find out when we get there. Answer whatever questions come up, and don't waste time."
"Alright." Cong Xia felt a vague sense of unease.
Half an hour later, the three of them arrived at a residential area. Two green flags were inserted on the gate. Could this be the headquarters of the Qingyan Gang?
Captain Sun spoke to the guard for a few moments, and then they were allowed inside. They waited in a room for a few minutes until a tall, thin man walked in.
Cong Xia immediately sensed the golden energy emanating from him.
The man politely greeted Captain Sun, "Chen Shao isn't here. What's the matter, Captain Sun?"
Captain Sun explained the situation, concluding, "Time is of the essence, and I haven't reported to the commander. I think it's not appropriate for us to handle this matter personally. It would be better to leave it to Chen Shao."
"Indeed, we are currently short of oil as well. The researchers at the institute consume a lot of fuel during their experiments, and we can barely keep up." He looked at Cong Xia and asked, "What are your demands?"
Cong Xia replied, "We have offended the Hongwei Gang and fear their retaliation. After obtaining the oil tanker, we don't want a single drop. We will give it all to you, as long as you can provide us with a military-backed administrative region status and allow us to fly the Qingyan Gang's flag."
The tall, thin man smiled. "Quite clever."
Cong Xia added, "We also have some oil in our possession, and we are willing to exchange it all for you."
"Good, you're sensible." The man stood up. "Wait here for half an hour. Once Chen Shao returns, we'll set off." He looked at Cong Xia and spoke coldly, "I see you're just an ordinary person. You shouldn't dare to play any tricks. As long as everything you've said is true, we won't mistreat you."
Cong Xia smiled. "Rest assured, Big Brother. Every word I've said is true. I'm just concerned..."
"What are you worried about?"
"I'm worried that the Hongwei Gang might also know about the oil tanker."
The man sneered. "Hmph, the Hongwei Gang will be dealt with sooner or later."
Cong Xia sensed the energy fluctuations within the room and wondered if there would be any danger when they went to retrieve the oil tanker. If that happens, he would do his best to avoid it...
This was his first solo mission, without the protection of Cheng Tianbi and others. He was essentially just an ordinary person. The more critical the situation, the more he needed to remain calm and composed. He only hoped that the plan would be successfully executed and that everyone would stay safe.
62 Cambrian Consciousness
Cheng Tianbi took out a map of Chongqing and unfolded it to show everyone. He said, "The three circled areas are where Tang Yanqiu and I found suitable accommodations for these people. They are all small hotels with about fifty to sixty rooms, which should be enough for them to stay. We have already found the owner of one of the hotels, and he is asking for 400 liters of gasoline. The other two are controlled by the military, and we haven't negotiated with them yet."
Zhuang Yao said, "400 liters is not much. Let's try to avoid dealing with the military. Tomorrow, I'll take Zhang Gong to check out the place. If it's suitable, we'll finalize the deal with that hotel."
Liu Fengyu added, "I have gathered information on several major trading points in the city. There are quite a few local gangs, one of which is affiliated with the bald group. We should try to avoid them. The other gangs also compete with each other. We can't exchange too many items at once, and we should go after it gets dark."
Cong Xia shared the information he had gathered as well. After listening to everyone, there was a moment of silence.
Zhuang Yao rubbed his chin with interest and said, "Natural force manipulator mutant, heh. I really want to see that. I wonder who is more formidable, Cheng Tianbi or their evolver."
Cong Xia replied, "Regardless of who is more powerful, we must avoid direct conflicts."
Tang Yanqiu sighed softly and said, "I can't leave without finding them a reliable backer. We've already offended the Hongwei Gang by killing the bald leader. Not to mention, we are carrying so much oil with us. Once we leave, these ordinary people in the industrial park will be subjected to retaliation and robbery."
Cong Xia said, "We understand, so we need to find a solution now. The allocator suggested that we approach the Qingyan Gang. They have a large arsenal and military background, making them the most influential force in Chongqing and also in opposition to the Hongwei Gang."
Zhuang Yao asked, "How strong is their opposition? Have they had any major conflicts?"
Cong Xia replied, "There haven't been any major conflicts so far, but there have been constant minor clashes between their subordinates. The military mainly controls them to prevent any major disturbances."
Zhuang Yao chuckled lightly and said, "How can things go on without any major conflicts..."
Everyone looked at him, wondering what ideas were running through his mind.
"Liu Fengyu, tomorrow you will make contact with the Hongwei Gang. Leak the information about the oil tanker located twenty kilometers outside the city. If they want you to take them there, do it, but remember to use disguises. If there are any remnants of the bald group, they might recognize you. Cong Xia, tomorrow you will find that allocator and tell him that we are interested in cooperating with the military to retrieve the oil tanker. We only need a 20% share, but the military must provide us with a sign that hangs outside the residents' building, proving that our hotel is under military supervision. I suspect the military doesn't want a direct conflict with the Hongwei Gang, so they will secretly assign this task to the Qingyan Gang. If that's the case, you should voluntarily give up the 20% share and seek protection from the Qingyan Gang. Their flag should be displayed on the hotel."
Cong Xia clapped his hands and said, "This plan is excellent."
Zhuang Yao looked at Cheng Tianbi and Tang Yanqiu and said, "Both of you, I want you to kill the leader of the Hongwei Gang, the reversion-type amphibious atavistic human. Oh, it would be best if you could bring the body back for Cong Xia. But remember, Cheng Tianbi, you absolutely cannot reveal your abilities in front of others. This is even more important than killing the amphibious person. As long as we achieve our goal, we must not attract the attention of another naturally evolved individual. Tomorrow, I will bring Abu and the oil to sign the contract with the owner of that hotel."
Zhuang Yao's decisive actions made Tang Yanqiu feel uncomfortable for a while. After all, Zhuang Yao was just an eleven-year-old child. It felt strongly out of place hearing those words from his childish voice. Moreover, Tang Yanqiu had been living in the industrial park since the apocalypse, knowing very little about the new world. Although he had heard them describe many things, he couldn't truly grasp the power of natural force manipulator evolved humans and cerebral domain evolvers. So, even though he knew that Zhuang Yao was a cerebral domain evolver, subconsciously, he still saw him as a child.
The others had long grown accustomed to it. They obeyed Zhuang Yao's commands because his plans were always perfect and well-considered. Only by completely eradicating the Hongwei Gang could they ensure the safety and peaceful life of the people in the industrial park.
After finalizing the time and plan for tomorrow's operation, they all went to sleep.
They hadn't slept for two days, remaining constantly vigilant. Now they had safely arrived in Chongqing, lying within the military's territory. There were people patrolling and guarding outside. Everyone finally relaxed, intending to get a good night's sleep.
Sure enough, the temperature dropped during the night. The last time they experienced a temperature drop was over a week ago when they were in the car with the heater on. It didn't feel too cold then, but they wasted a lot of gasoline, which was regrettable.
In this post-apocalyptic era, they didn't have many favorable conditions. The five of them covered themselves with two quilts, huddling together, shivering from the cold.
Cong Xia didn't want to overuse his physical energy, so he didn't generate heat autonomously. Instead, he tried his best to stick close to Cheng Tianbi. In the end, they almost nestled in each other's arms, seeking warmth in a half-embrace.
With the weather so cold, falling asleep was not easy. Cong Xia found it even more difficult now. He was very close to Cheng Tianbi, and he could even hear Cheng Tianbi's strong heartbeat. He had never felt so happy during any temperature drop before. Cheng Tianbi, who usually kept his distance from others, was now so close to him. With just a slight movement, Cong Xia could nudge Cheng Tianbi's face. After hesitating for a while, Cong Xia finally couldn't resist his inner desire and boldly embraced Cheng Tianbi.
Cheng Tianbi's body stiffened for a moment but didn't push him away.
Cong Xia earnestly explained, "It's cold, so warm." To prove that he was indeed cold, he even used his icy hand to touch Cheng Tianbi's neck.
Cheng Tianbi softly said, "Behave yourself."
"Okay." Cong Xia quietly held onto Cheng Tianbi. The room was pitch black, no one could see them, and he couldn't see anyone else. It was as if he had entered a completely secluded space where he could do whatever he wanted and touch whoever he desired.
He had never expected to have any other way of interacting with Cheng Tianbi. He couldn't imagine what two men could do together. As long as he could stay by Cheng Tianbi's side and occasionally have intimate contact, it was enough for him. He felt content.
Suddenly, a hand was placed on his waist.
Cong Xia's lips trembled slightly, but he held back and didn't make a sound.
Cheng Tianbi silently wrapped his arm around Cong Xia's waist, the palm of his hand against his back, and his chin gently touching Cong Xia's shoulder.
The temperature had dropped to more than ten degrees below zero, but neither of them felt cold anymore. The warmth generated by an embrace with someone they trusted was enough to ward off any cold.
Cong Xia smiled softly and gradually fell asleep.
The next morning, the group casually ate a few bites of dry food and then went their separate ways.
Liu Fengyu's mission was quite dangerous, so Zhuang Yao specifically instructed him to carry four grenades and a distress signal flare. As for Cheng Tianbi and Tang Yanqiu, Zhuang Yao felt confident in their abilities. Despite being formidable, an amphibious atavistic evolver shouldn't pose a threat to the two of them.
Cong Xia brought some gifts and went to find the allocator.
The allocator lived in a well-conditioned apartment building with his wife and children, making him easy to locate. After Cong Xia explained his purpose, the allocator nervously pulled him into the house and asked where he had received the information.
"The oil tanker was brought here from Guizhou by us. We couldn't take it with us at the time, so we left it in the forest. It's too dangerous for us to retrieve it ourselves, so we want to cooperate with the military."
The expression on the officer's face became complex. "How much oil is still in the truck?"
"Around fifty to sixty tons."
"So much..." The assignment officer sighed. "With so much oil, many people would be envious. By the way, no one else knows about this, right?"
Cong Xia pretended to be clueless. "Everyone who came with us knows."
"Oh no, that's not what I meant. I'm asking if you haven't told anyone else or spread rumors in the city."
"No, no. How could we dare to spread rumors? We only trust the military."
"Alright, that's good."
"But..."
"But what?"
"We were being chased by a group of bald guys at the time, which forced us to abandon the truck. We killed a few of them, but we're not sure if we got them all. It's possible that they have knowledge of the oil tanker. We're concerned about this and came to inform you as soon as it was daylight."
The officer (allocator) grabbed his clothes. "Hurry, come with me. I'll take you to meet someone."
Cong Xia followed closely, asking, "Big brother, can our requests be fulfilled?"
"It's a small matter, a small matter."
The officer led him towards the command center, which was located in a villa area. There were soldiers from the People's Liberation Army guarding the entrance. After a brief exchange between the assignment officer and the guard, they were led inside and taken to an office.
Sitting in the office was a military officer in his thirties.
The assignment officer called out, "Captain Sun."
"Lao Wu? What brings you here?"
"I have an urgent matter to report."
"Oh, what is it?" Captain Sun glanced at Cong Xia. "Who is he?"
The assignment officer said to Cong Xia, "Go ahead, tell him."
Cong Xia then recounted the story of the oil tanker in great detail.
Captain Sun's eyes widened when he heard about the fifty to sixty tons of oil. He quickly got up and closed the window, cautiously asking, "Besides your group and the Hongwei Gang, does anyone else know about this? Before coming to me, did you seek help from anyone else?"
"No, absolutely not."
"Good job. Do you know the way?"
"I do. We followed the expressway, so it's not difficult to find."
Captain Sun pondered for a few minutes. "Both of you, come with me." He led the two men out of the command center and towards the city center.
Cong Xia asked, "Captain Sun, where are we going?"
"You'll find out when we get there. Answer whatever questions come up, and don't waste time."
"Alright." Cong Xia felt a vague sense of unease.
Half an hour later, the three of them arrived at a residential area. Two green flags were inserted on the gate. Could this be the headquarters of the Qingyan Gang?
Captain Sun spoke to the guard for a few moments, and then they were allowed inside. They waited in a room for a few minutes until a tall, thin man walked in.
Cong Xia immediately sensed the golden energy emanating from him.
The man politely greeted Captain Sun, "Chen Shao isn't here. What's the matter, Captain Sun?"
Captain Sun explained the situation, concluding, "Time is of the essence, and I haven't reported to the commander. I think it's not appropriate for us to handle this matter personally. It would be better to leave it to Chen Shao."
"Indeed, we are currently short of oil as well. The researchers at the institute consume a lot of fuel during their experiments, and we can barely keep up." He looked at Cong Xia and asked, "What are your demands?"
Cong Xia replied, "We have offended the Hongwei Gang and fear their retaliation. After obtaining the oil tanker, we don't want a single drop. We will give it all to you, as long as you can provide us with a military-backed administrative region status and allow us to fly the Qingyan Gang's flag."
The tall, thin man smiled. "Quite clever."
Cong Xia added, "We also have some oil in our possession, and we are willing to exchange it all for you."
"Good, you're sensible." The man stood up. "Wait here for half an hour. Once Chen Shao returns, we'll set off." He looked at Cong Xia and spoke coldly, "I see you're just an ordinary person. You shouldn't dare to play any tricks. As long as everything you've said is true, we won't mistreat you."
Cong Xia smiled. "Rest assured, Big Brother. Every word I've said is true. I'm just concerned..."
"What are you worried about?"
"I'm worried that the Hongwei Gang might also know about the oil tanker."
The man sneered. "Hmph, the Hongwei Gang will be dealt with sooner or later."
Cong Xia sensed the energy fluctuations within the room and wondered if there would be any danger when they went to retrieve the oil tanker. If that happens, he would do his best to avoid it...
This was his first solo mission, without the protection of Cheng Tianbi and others. He was essentially just an ordinary person. The more critical the situation, the more he needed to remain calm and composed. He only hoped that the plan would be successfully executed and that everyone would stay safe.
