Qiu Shi's words made Bai Zhan stunned for a moment, followed by a "tsk".
Xing Bi didn't say anything. He suddenly raised his hand and swung it forward. The knife in his hand brushed past Bai Zhan's ear and flew backwards, passing through the neck of a symbiote five meters away.
"Don't be distracted." Xing Bi said.
"Yeah." Bai Zhan responded, then made a "tsk" sound, turned around and rushed back to the formation where he was still fighting.
When Xing Bi said this, Qiu Shi felt a little strange, a natural and very unusual state, and Bai Zhan's answer was the same, a natural response like a conditioned reflex.
Xing Bi had probably trained Bai Zhan before. As for the unforgettable nature of biological bodies, even if they hadn't met for more than a hundred years, they would still have an amazing tacit understanding.
Qiu Shi felt a little emotional. In many cases, the emotions expressed between biological entities were far more solid and profound than those between humans.
"You're trying to kill yourself!" Xing Bi turned around and looked at Qiu Shi.
"Don't be distracted." Qiu Shi patted the dirt and grass residue on his body, which had been all over him when the explosion happened.
“… Follow the team.” Xing Bi turned and rushed back into the battle.
In this kind of battle between a group of stealth guards, it is difficult for Qiu Shi, as a human being, to get involved. His job is to take advantage of loopholes and make surprise attacks.
Qiu Shi held his gun behind several infected people who were blown into a pile, and watched with one eye exposed.
"A lone one." He reported the coordinates and fired a shot at a symbiote that wanted to attack the team from the side. The occasional flashes of gunfire and the smoke made it difficult for him to aim, but the shot still hit the symbiote's leg and forced it back into the attack range of Xing Bi and the others.
"Good shooting skills." said Bai Zhan.
"It seems that you haven't had much contact with humans." Qiu Shi said.
"I'm praising you, don't you understand?" Bai Zhan said.
"I aimed at his neck and hit his leg. Who are you praising? It sounds like an insult," Qiu Shi said. "Have you never seen a human being with really good marksmanship?"
"Does it hurt your human race's self-esteem?" Bai Zhan asked.
"What the hell?" Qiu Shi asked, and then found that the bright spot of the symbiote on the map began to move, "Are they going to retreat?"
"Yes." Xing Bi said, "No."
"Drive them through the drainage ditch," said Bo Zhan. "That's homeless territory, and there are a lot of traps."
"Fire." Qiu Shi stared at the map and reported three coordinates in a row.
The rear reacted quickly, firing three consecutive shots, cutting off the symbiotes' other retreat routes.
Bai Zhan blew a whistle, and a whistle was heard in the distance in response.
"A vagrant?" Xu Jie asked.
"Yeah," Bai Zhan responded, "There are quite a few homeless gangs nearby."
"Can they kill the Symbiote Sentinel?" Qiu Shi asked.
"Under normal circumstances, we can't kill them," Bai Zhan said, "but their lives are worthless. These symbiotes are not familiar with the terrain, and that place is full of their traps and mechanisms. We usually don't go there because we're worried about losing our lives and the traps..."
Qiu Shi didn't say anything. Although Bai Zhan's description of the vagrants was not wrong, it was shocking to hear such words coming from a secret guard...
"They are the most awesome humans," said Bai Zhan.
Hey, now it sounds nice again.
"Let's retreat," Bai Zhan said. "Leave the remaining infected people to the vagrants. If we can find anything, we can exchange them for supplies with the information station."
"Yeah." Xing Bi responded, "Retreat."
It seems that Li Feng is actually using supplies to exchange for these vagrants' hard work in helping to clean up the symbiote's camp. Li Feng, who has always been stingy, was very generous this time. In the past, Qiu Shi had to bargain when he asked for a meal in the inner city.
The teams of Yuncheng and Xingchuan evacuated the battlefield in the northeast of the base and returned to the defense area on the other side of the entrance. The infected people here will soon be cleared out by the vagrants.
After watching the video left by 249, Qiu Shi now feels a little more sad when he sees the infected people. Those fungus-infected people who were initially walking back and forth in pain in the laboratory are always swaying in front of his eyes.
There were infected people lying on the ground in groups, and Qiu Shi could step on them with every step.
These failed efforts by humans to gain immortality ultimately became weapons of biological organisms; death was the only real relief for them.
Back at the convoy, the soldiers needed to undergo disinfection and medical treatment. Qiu Shi found an empty car, waited for Xing Bi to come over, and prepared to contact Li Feng.
Bai Zhan's men seemed to be preparing to leave, and Xing Bi and the others were talking to him.
"Brother Shi." Li Rui poked his head out from the car door.
"Hmm?" Qiu Shi responded, "Have you injected the inhibitor? I didn't disinfect it."
"I got the vaccine," Li Rui said, "I really envy those who are immune."
"Did you just follow Xingchuan's team?" Qiu Shi smiled.
"Well," Li Rui sat down by the car door and patted the gun holster on his leg. "The captain gave Da Xiong and me two good guns. It was fun, but it's a pity that we didn't hit a single target."
Qiu Shi smiled and said nothing.
"It's useless," Li Rui said. "I usually think I'm pretty good, but now I'm afraid I'll be a drag in a fight."
Although the soldiers of Yuncheng do not have much practical experience, they have never missed any training in their daily lives. As long as the command is correct, these soldiers will fight quite well.
"Your methods are different," Qiu Shi said. "Those soldiers are formally trained, and you are vagrants. It's hard to say who is better."
"Brother Shi," Li Rui moved closer to him, "If I follow you back... can I join?"
"Join what?" Qiu Shi asked.
"Regular army," Li Rui said, "Can Daxiong and I join the army of Yuncheng?"
"Yes," Qiu Shi said, "but your sister must agree."
"She agrees? Why do I need her to agree?" Li Rui was stunned. "She must agree!"
"It's different if she agrees to you going and if you go and she agrees," Qiu Shi said. "Don't make her worry."
Li Rui thought about it and nodded: "I understand."
"Go and take a rest. We'll probably leave early tomorrow morning," said Qiu Shi.
"Well, Brother Shi," Li Rui stood up, "I always thought you were not very cultured, but from what you said, you are not that uncultured."
"Fuck your ancestors," Qiu Shi said. "Get lost."
When Xing Bi got into the car, Qiu Shi had already been sleeping for a while with his head tilted back, half asleep and half awake.
"Are you done talking?" He heard the noise and straightened his head by pulling the back of his head.
"Well," Xing Bi reached out and touched his face, "Why don't you get some sleep first?"
"No," Qiu Shi rubbed his face, "Report to Li Feng, otherwise he will go to bed when it gets light."
"Okay." Xing Bi smiled, "What if he sleeps tonight?"
"Impossible," Qiu Shi said, "We are entering the base tonight. If he can fall asleep, he must be too careless. Normally, he can't sleep without him."
Xing Bi smiled and said nothing.
"Is Bai Zhan going to take people away?" Qiu Shi asked.
"He wants to leave," Xing Bi said, "I mean it's up to him, but Xu Jie and Ji Sui want him to stay. They need people now, and Bai Zhan and his gang are all very good undercover guards."
"You can tell he's pretty awesome," said Qiu Shi.
"He wanted to join when we were selecting members for our team," said Xing Bi.
"Why didn't you join? Who did you lose to?" Qiu Shi asked.
"We didn't lose to anyone, and there was no rule that our team could only have five people," Xing Bi said, "I just felt that he was not mature enough at the time. He graduated a few years later than us, so he didn't have enough experience, and..."
"Hmm?" Qiu Shi looked at him.
"The review believes that he is not controllable enough," said Xing Bi.
"Fuck." Qiu Shi frowned, "He is Professor Song's student."
"You know what," Xing Bi smiled, "the teacher doesn't completely agree with 'controllable'. His views have always been controversial. 'Song Lan's student' is a minus point in itself."
Qiu Shi was stunned. This was something he had not expected.
"But he is very prestigious and has many supporters," Xing Bi said. "Although the military does not accept his views, there is no consensus within the military."
So this is probably the reason why the teacher has no contact with military research.
"What he teaches you actually has nothing to do with what is controllable or not," said Qiu Shi.
"He taught us to think and judge, to understand humans, and to experience emotions," Xing Bi said. "He didn't try to make us become humans, but just let us understand what humans are like."
"He is really a very good person." Qiu Shi said softly.
"Yeah." Xing Bi nodded.
Li Feng sat in front of Director Wu's desk, carefully cutting a can of luncheon meat into small pieces with a knife and placing them neatly on two plates.
Director Wu sat opposite him, propping up his eyelids with his fingers and looking at him.
"It's really delicious," Li Feng pushed a plate of luncheon meat in front of him, "Old Wu, try it."
"It's been overdue for a hundred years!" Director Wu frowned.
"The canned foods in Yuncheng don't have production dates. Do you know why?" Li Feng said.
"Because of your so-called 'financial difficulties' in the Security Bureau, there is no machine for printing dates," said Director Wu, "and a certain Director Li thinks it is unnecessary to spend money on such things."
"This is also a very important reason." said Li Feng.
"Any other reasons?" asked Director Wu.
Li Feng smiled and said nothing.
"What's the reason?" Director Wu asked again.
"There are a lot of expired canned foods in Yuncheng, right?" Chen Dang said, "The ones we eat on a daily basis may not all be freshly produced."
"That's right." Li Feng nodded and took a bite of luncheon meat. "When I counted the inventory before, there were still a lot of stocks that I brought over from there."
Director Wu looked at him in shock.
"Try it," Li Feng said, "It's really delicious. Chen Dang, you should try it and tell him if it's delicious."
"It tastes better than the canned food in Yuncheng now, and has more meat." Chen Dang said.
Director Wu was still very hesitant. Although Yuncheng also had century-old cans, Li Feng might not really give these cans to these "seniors" to eat.
"Take a bite!" Li Feng slapped the table.
Director Wu jumped on his chair, was stunned for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth, picked up a small piece and put it in his mouth.
"How is it?" Li Feng stared at him.
Director Wu frowned, chewed it for a few times, and then there was a puzzled expression on his face, which then turned into surprise.
"It's delicious, right?" Li Feng leaned back in his chair with satisfaction.
"If this hadn't expired..." Director Wu took another piece and put it in his mouth, "It would taste better, right?"
“Not much change,” Chen Dang said, “maybe the texture will be softer.”
"Is the Food Department going to do this?" Director Wu asked, "We have so many things to do now, do we still have the energy to do this?"
"The Food Department doesn't have to go out to fight," Li Feng said, "After so many years of idleness, shouldn't they do some work? There must be some changes that every resident of Yuncheng can feel. The current chaos is for a better and more comfortable life. Not everyone can truly feel the expanded area and those houses..."
Li Feng picked up the can and took a look: "Don't underestimate this little bit of food, everyone can eat it."
"Director Li has foresight," said Director Wu.
"You don't mean what you say, Director Wu." Li Feng said. Director Wu's secretary knocked on the door and came in: "I have a call from Director Li. Has he got through to the office?"
"Please bring it in." Director Wu said.
"I didn't stay up all night in vain." Li Feng quickly ate the remaining canned food. When there were two pieces left, he glanced at Chen Dang and said, "Do you want to taste it and savor the flavor?"
"Biochemical bodies don't forget," Chen Dang said, "there's no need to reminisce."
"That's what I said." Li Feng said.
"I only brought back these few cans," Chen Dang said, "It's a rare opportunity to eat something good, so don't share it."
Li Feng laughed and ate the remaining luncheon meat.
The incoming video was projected on the wall, and Qiu Shi saw at a glance that he was eating: "What are you eating?"
"Luncheon meat." Li Feng took the tissue and wiped his mouth.
“…Where did it come from?” Qiu Shi asked.
"It was sent by someone from Xingchuan," Li Feng said, "and given by Li Rui's sister."
“Fuck,” Qiu said, “I want to eat.”
"I'll prepare a car for you when you come back," said Li Feng.
"Then you have to hurry. We will be at the beach in two days," Qiu Shi said. "The base has basically been searched. Xing will give you a list. Some equipment can be transported back to Yuncheng."
"Who did you fight with?" Li Feng asked, "There's a wound on your face."
"I'm from 249," Qiu Shi said, "Do I need to ask... I have a wound on my face?"
"Don't you feel it?" Li Feng sighed, "You are a human being, not a biochemical being."
Qiu Shi turned and looked at Xing Bi.
"Here." Xing Bi tapped his face lightly.
Qiu Shi discovered that it was the same place where Xing Bi had touched his face when he got in the car just now.
"Fuck," Qiu Shi also touched his face, "I only feel the pain now, will my face be disfigured?"
"You are still handsome even though you are disfigured," Li Feng said, "Don't go off topic."
"The main part of the base has been searched, and many instruments and data are still in good condition," Xing Bi said, "We can directly have them transported back to Yuncheng."
"Have you seen them all?" Li Feng asked.
"I've checked. All the ones listed are related to medical equipment for humans," Xing Bi said. "Some of the ones used by biochemical bodies will be left at the base."
"Yeah." Li Feng nodded.
"But some of them are also applicable to humans," Xing Bi looked at Li Feng, "and can be shared."
"The same goes for Yuncheng," Li Feng said, "the existing biochemical body repair cabins can be arranged in the future."
Although it was not stated explicitly, Qiu Shi could understand what Li Feng and Xing Bi meant. Yuncheng and the base, as strongholds for humans and biochemical organisms, are relatively independent, but they share facilities and cooperate with each other, which can also be understood as a kind of mutual dependence and need.
"We have also successfully entered the core area." Xing Bi said.
Li Feng raised his eyebrows: "How is it?"
"There is a backup hiding place that 249 wanted to use, but it has been temporarily cut off," Xing Bi said. "There is also a video recording of 249 before he stripped the data from his system. We have watched it, and it should be automatically deleted."
Li Feng was silent for a long time. When he spoke again, he did not ask about the content of the video. He just asked, "Who went in?"
"I, Xu Jie, Ji Sui, and Qiu Shi." Xing Bi said.
Li Feng didn't say anything, seeming to be thinking.
"What's inside?" Director Wu couldn't help but ask.
"Not sure," Xing Bi said. "We don't have time to check, but there are a lot of books. A lot."
"Did you read anything else besides the books?" Director Wu asked, "Apart from the storage devices and the books, is there nothing else in the core area?"
Of course there are. It seems that many of the instruments inside are related to the original experiment 249.
Qiu Shi didn't know whether Xing Bi would answer or how he would answer, but before Xing Bi opened his mouth, Li Feng interrupted Director Wu's further questions.
"If possible, transport the books out, and the other things..." Li Feng paused for a few seconds, "seal them up."
"Director Li?" Director Wu stood up in shock and anxiety. "Why? These are treasures, technological treasures left by our ancestors. Maybe there will be..."
“That’s a fucking time bomb,” Li Feng said, raising his voice. “Those things are the reason why we ended up living the life we are living now.”
"Your idea is wrong, science..." Director Wu was very anxious, but he was interrupted by Li Feng again.
"We don't need that science," Li Feng said. "What we need now is peace, stability, food to eat, no wars to fight, and to live and die of old age. Old Wu, I just want these people to die of old age, live well when they should live, and die when they should die."
Director Wu didn't say anything, his hands were shaking slightly.
Qiu Shi could actually understand Director Wu. As a technician who mastered the most advanced technology in Yuncheng but was unable to make breakthroughs, he could only watch the once glorious technology being permanently sealed up, something he might never understand again in his lifetime. Even if he was not a technology lunatic, he would feel pain.
But he knew that Li Feng's choice was correct and they could not afford such a treasure.
"We can force them not to go in. We can't go in anyway," Director Wu glanced at them and said, "Xing Bi, it's not that I don't trust you. What I mean is..."
"I know," Xing Bi said, "Once Qiu Shi dies, the only ones who can go in are the biochemical bodies."
"Yes," Director Wu looked at Li Feng, "There are only biochemical bodies."
"Which biochemical bodies can enter?" Li Feng supported his forehead.
"The highest level of guard team at that time." Xing Bi said.
"You four plus Zheng Ting," Li Feng thought for a moment, "Qiu Shi should have been authorized to enter by you, right?"
"Yes." Xing Bi said.
"It's safe now," Li Feng said, "and this setting can be changed by the highest authority, right?"
"Yes." Xing Bi replied.
"Then we can solve the problem of balance," Li Feng said, "For three people to enter, one of them must be a human, or some other method, we can discuss it later."
"You're not allowed in anyway, right?" Director Wu asked, imitating his tone.
"That's right, Director Wu." said Li Feng.
Director Wu bit his lip, sat down, was silent for a while, and sighed: "Forget it, I'll listen to you, you always make sense."
"I have to have a point. If you can't win with words, I still have a gun," Li Feng said, "You'll have to listen to me."
"I have one last piece of shit to say," Director Wu said. "Can I ask?"
"You've been talking nonsense," Li Feng said, "Go ahead."
“We have always suspected that the fungi were released from the lab, so we have reason to believe that they have relevant technologies, including reversible symbiosis,” said Curator Wu. “What about these things that we currently don’t have the ability to solve but need to solve?”
"It may be involved in the information we have found now," Xing Bi said, "You can check it first. Fungal research does not have as high a confidentiality level as other contents in the core area."
“What will be in the core area…” Director Wu leaned back in his chair and raised his head and sighed deeply.
"Why don't you dig out your brain and put it together with the general's before you die," Li Feng said, "and let them tell you after it's decrypted."
"Shut up!" said Director Wu.
"Thank you for your hard work," Li Feng looked at Qiu Shi and Xing Bi, "Just briefly report the other situations along with the list, and absorb the feedback from new members and those we spread outside along the way."
"Yeah." Xing Bi responded.
"Have you found any old items? Or anything interesting?" Li Feng asked.
"You've exposed your true nature, you corrupt official," said Qiu Shi.
Li Feng laughed: "Remember to come back and trade with me when you find something good."
"Does canned luncheon meat count?" Qiu Shi said, "We can trade a lot of this."
"No," Li Feng said, "It's not for me personally."
"I knew it." said Qiu Shi.
"Let's take a rest. We have to set off again tomorrow," Li Feng said. "I'm also very sleepy. I need to go to sleep for a while."
"We should look for any recipes for stimulants," said Chen Dang.
"You're right, I can look for this," Li Feng said, "I need it. If we mass produce it, it will be a profitable business... The vagrants will definitely need it..."
"Good night." Qiu Shi said.
"Good night." Li Feng said with a smile.
When I got out of the car after finishing the call, there was no longer the chaos of people coming and going. Everyone had already packed up and started to take time to rest.
"I can't sleep," Qiu said. "I was very sleepy just now, but now I'm not sleepy at all."
"Want to see the moon?" Xing Bi raised his head. "Today's moon is very big."
"Where can we go..." Qiu Shi looked up and was stunned when he saw the big, round moon in the sky. "Fuck, I felt like there was no moon just now."
"The wind is blowing, and the clouds are blown away." Xing Bi hugged his shoulders and led him towards the main building of the base. "I'll take you to a place to see the moon."
"That building?" Qiu Shi followed him and walked slowly forward. "It's not that high. There's not much difference between going up there and standing on the ground."
"You don't understand this," Xing Bi said, "That's the place I want to go most after I come back."
"Okay," Qiu Shi nodded, "Let's go."
The author has something to say:
To be continued tomorrow⊙▽⊙.
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