Chapter 518, Contaminated Zone 24 (Part 6)

Although Chongqing is known as the "Cyber ​​Capital," it's only because of its artistic style.

In reality, there is no darkness or oppression in the city.

People live and work in peace and contentment, the streets are filled with the aroma of hot pot, and when the light rail passes through buildings, you can always hear tourists cheering with delight.

"If this is its obsession, then it needs a great many residents."

Xie Tu slowly said, "It has neither mutants nor humans, and since Zone 24 is under control, it is destined not to grow."

He had barely finished speaking.

The neon lights on both sides of the street suddenly flashed simultaneously, as if in some kind of silent response.

Yun Zhao narrowed his eyes, noticing a subtle change in the text on the signs—

Below the advertisement for "[Neon Funeral Home]", a line of small print slowly appears:

[Today's Special Offer: Complimentary Customized Eulogy]

Yun Zhao read it to Xie Tu: "Is it angry?"

"It may have touched a nerve."

Xie Tu immediately looked down to check the two shadows. There was no change. The constantly flashing neon lights made his face appear to be in and out of focus.

"It's a pity that the gatekeeper can evade seven or eight waves of searches, but he won't show up just because of a few words."

Sure enough, the scrolling text quickly disappeared.

There were no mutants or fighting in this contaminated area.

Even because of Yun Zhao's existence, the dark matter is not afraid of threats.

All they had to do was find the gatekeeper and get out of this lifeless cyber town.

But what exactly is a gatekeeper?

Yun Zhao lowered his head and thought for a while, then tugged at Xie Tu's arm, "Let's go, let's go take a look at those shops over there."

The two entered a shop that was marked "24-hour supermarket".

Inside, however, it was a bare-bones apartment; there weren't even any shelves, let alone any merchandise.

Next door was a pharmacy, and it was just as eerie—an empty building with a brightly colored sign.

The two searched room after room.

The little bluebird quickly lost interest in the place, perched on her head and too lazy to even lift its head.

The entire street was bathed in a morbid halo of neon lights, yet eerily silent.

The fluorescent light from the billboards flowed like spilled electronic paint, turning the entire city into a fantastical, colorful swamp.

All the written signs were repeating their welcome messages to the empty stalls.

The whole city is like a forgotten old computer, stubbornly running programs that no one needs anymore.

Looking at it for too long can almost have a hypnotic effect.

Xie Tu pondered for a moment, "We can't find any clues under the normal advertisements, should we check other places?"

Just as Yun Zhao was about to ask where they were going, he looked up and saw a familiar advertising slogan.

Store your precious memories! First month free!

The small print below scrolls rapidly: 327 customers have said they can no longer remember the content they saved.

“I think I saw that slogan on the street down below just now,” Yun Zhao said.

These words did indeed move.

Was it random? Or were they being followed all along?

Xie Tu: "Shall we go take a look?"

Yun Zhao thought for a moment, then said, "Okay."

Even if it's a trap, it's still better than being clueless and getting nothing at all.

＊

On the other side.

A quiet, deserted residential building.

Xia Mingang yawned and said to Qi Shiqi, "Frankenstein, I'm going to take a nap. Call me if anything happens."

Although Qi Shiqi was not satisfied with him, he also knew that Xia Mingang had barely slept for three days because he had to guard him.

Qi Shiqi said with a stern face, "Just sleep here, otherwise who will protect us when the gatekeeper comes?"

"How can we sleep here?"

"Sleep on the floor."

"Damn it, you actually made me, a gentleman, sleep on the floor? Don't push your luck."

Are you going to sleep or not?

"Get up! I want to sleep on the sofa!"

Qi Shiqi's temper flared up immediately, "I'm a patient now, how dare you try to take my sofa?!"

"You look so energetic, you don't look like a patient at all!"

"It's all because of you! I told you to take the keys first..."

The two were arguing fiercely.

Qi Ling silently operated the robot, moving the bed from the room to the living room, thus ending the farce.

Qi Ling helped wipe the dust off, "Go to sleep, I'll call you if anything happens."

Xia Mingang stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. "Young man, you're a really good guy. How about coming to our Hope Base? I'm going to build my own team in the future and make you my second-in-command."

"No, thank you, I'm doing fine with Team Zero."

Qi Ling kept her head down and resolutely rejected Xia Mingang's attempt to poach her.

Xia Mingang looked at him with some regret, then stared at him up and down, asking curiously, "Why have you been keeping your head down?"

"No...it's nothing."

Qi Ling was in such a hurry to find Qi Shiqi that she forgot to look in the mirror or take off her gloves.

I don't know if it looks like a mutant or a normal person now.

Although he overcame his inner demons in the mirror world, this sense of inferiority and alienation still haunted him.

Upon seeing the logo on the robot's chest, Qi Shiqi suddenly snapped at Xia Mingang again, yelling gruffly, "Are you going to sleep or not? If not, get out and find some clues."

"sleep!"

Xia Mingang lay down on the bed and couldn't help but reply, "Frankenstein, are you going through menopause? You get so easily angered, be careful of your high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar."

Qi Shiqi, however, refused to pay him any attention.

Xia Mingang knew when to stop and closed his eyes to go to sleep.

The room quickly became quiet.

Qi Ling had his back to the room, and the robot guarding him stood by the window.

The neon lights outside the window shone through the glass, casting ever-changing colorful spots of light at his feet, like a swarm of restless electronic fireflies.

He was somewhat unsure how to be alone with Qi Shiqi.

The other person was older than him, but was his junior.

They're still the younger generation, many generations below them.

An awkward atmosphere spread throughout the room.

“You…” Qi Shiqi suddenly spoke, pausing for a moment.

He took off his reading glasses, which had slipped down to the tip of his nose, and mechanically wiped them with the corner of his clothes. "Come and sit down."

Qi Ling's back stiffened abruptly. "Oh, okay," she replied curtly.

He felt like a robot, turning around mechanically and sitting down at the other end of the sofa.

The two sat on opposite ends of the sofa, with enough room for Xia Mingang to sleep in the middle.

Qi Ling still clearly remembers that when they first met, Qi Shiqi looked at him with the eyes of someone looking at a monster, and even wanted to lock him in a cage and transport him to the Hope Base.

Finally, the captain and Yun Zhao intervened and prevented Qi Shiqi from taking him away.

He must be unhappy that he made the trip for nothing.

But then Qi Ling remembered something else.

It was on the night of Chinese New Year.

He was somewhat confused by Qi Shiqi's current attitude after the captain relayed the "Happy New Year" message.

"Thank you for earlier." Qi Shiqi said somewhat stiffly and awkwardly, "If it weren't for you, I might really have died here."

"No...you're welcome," Qi Ling replied dryly.

Silence fell again.

I don't know how much time passed.

Qi Ling finally couldn't hold back and mustered up the courage to ask, "Did you come to Dawn Base this time for me?"

Qi Shiqi's expression froze.

Before he could answer, a muffled laugh came from inside the room.

"Frankenstein, so he was your ancestor all along."