◎Happy 148th Day: Inherited from the Same Source◎
"Too late to put out the fire?" Jiang Muyun keenly caught the unusual meaning in the girl's words: "What does this mean?"
"I always feel like we may have missed something." Jiang Muyun stood up and walked around the room twice.
Chu Buwen put out the fire after testing the water temperature and found it was about right. Then he said to Jiang Muyun, "Something is wrong. Why don't we leave a few people here to watch Xiaobai and the others while we go out and check on the situation?"
Jiang Muyun found his cell phone, which he hadn't used for a long time. After turning it on, he saw that it still had some power left. He estimated that it would be enough for the time being, so he used it to take a picture of the shelter map.
Jiang Muyun pondered the map. "Let's go to the medical station first. Whether or not I can see Professor Chen, I have to go there to feel at ease."
Chen Cheng had just opened the foldable bucket and soaked his feet when he heard the words and hurriedly raised his hand to apply: "I want to go too, take me with you!"
In fact, looking at the living conditions of their neighbors, you can tell that this shelter should be quite safe, otherwise people would not have the leisure to care about whether they have water to boil at home, and Team Leader Luo would not be so relaxed to chat with them about those interesting things among the neighbors.
But Jiang Muyun felt something was wrong, and she would not be able to rest assured until she found the specific reason.
Jiang Muyun thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry, let's go find out what's going on in the shelter. Once we have a clear understanding, we'll take you there."
Chen Cheng agreed obediently.
She knew that in such an unfamiliar environment, Jiang Muyun and others were responsible for her safety by not taking her out before they understood the situation.
But even though she knew it, she couldn't control her worry about Professor Chen.
Chen Cheng didn't want to show his worry and cause trouble for Jiang Muyun and the others. He just wanted to slowly digest this negative emotion in his heart.
However, before Chen Cheng could comfort herself, Captain Luo, who had returned, brought her a piece of news that surprised her greatly.
"Professor Chen's identity has been verified." Squad Leader Luo, who had run all the way here with his men, spoke with heavy breaths. "Excuse me, among the samples you brought to the capital, there are also chemical pollutants and contaminated mutant organisms, right?"
As soon as Jiang Muyun heard the word chemical pollutants, he knew what Captain Luo was talking about.
When they were rowing across Qi City, Jiang Muyun had used a compressed towel to collect some of those strange metallic pollutants.
It was just that they'd sealed it in a bag and then stuffed it into their luggage, so Jiang Muyun hadn't remembered it before. The only experimental samples that Squad Leader Luo had mentioned needing to be kept separate were Xiaofen, the earthworms she'd raised, and the two mutated fish carcasses.
"Yes, there is such a thing." Jiang Muyun opened the door and handed a glass of water to Team Leader Luo.
Squad Leader Luo took the water cup and gulped it down. After finally catching his breath, he spoke rapidly, "Our superiors are taking Professor Chen to the Central Shelter. Professor Chen's immediate family, Comrade Yu Lian, former commander of the Third Company of the East China Military Region Special Operations Brigade, and the survivor who collected the chemical contaminants, are requested to accompany the team."
Jiang Muyun pressed down Xiaobai, who was holding the corner of her clothes, and exchanged glances quickly with everyone in the room.
Squad Leader Luo glanced at his watch and said anxiously, "Please rest assured, it's nothing serious. The higher-ups just want to know the details of how you discovered the pollutants. We'll give you some points as compensation. And the shelter will also reward you for escorting Professor Chen back to the capital."
Squad leader Luo did not hide his anxiety at all.
Jiang Muyun made a quick decision: "Chu Buwen and I will go, Gaoliang, you guys keep an eye on Xiaobai and the others."
I don’t know if it’s because Xiaobai and Dabai mutated earlier, but they are much more human-like than Xiaoguai and the others.
Jiang Muyun and Chu Buwen left, leaving Dabai and Xiaobai to be comforted by Gao Liang and others.
But if Gao Liang and the others left, Jiang Muyun and Chu Buwen would not be sure that they could hold Xiaoguai and Tutu down.
Fortunately, Captain Luo arrived quickly, and Jiang Muyun and the others had not had time to pack their luggage, so they could set off with just their backpacks.
Led by Captain Luo and his men, the group of four hurriedly made their way around the shelter. Along the way, Jiang Muyun saw many "No Trespassing" warning signs.
At first, Chen Cheng wanted to take the opportunity to ask about the situation of Professor Chen, the squad leader Luo, but the pace of squad leader Luo and others was too fast, and it was already very difficult for Chen Cheng to keep up with them. Less than two minutes after leaving the house, the little girl was out of breath and couldn't speak.
Captain Yu was walking behind and when he saw this, he picked up Chen Cheng.
Jiang Muyun frowned and asked, "Excuse me, what is Professor Chen's current situation? Is our time very urgent?"
Squad Leader Luo continued walking. "Professor Chen is not in immediate danger of death. We need to go to the Central Shelter for a detailed examination. She should be in the car by now."
As for what kind of car it was, Jiang Muyun and the others had already seen it without them asking.
On a former subway track, a peculiarly shaped vehicle, resembling a minecart but with a roof, sat parked. Through the gap between the roof and the vehicle's bed, several people could see a stretcher secured to the back.
The person lying on the stretcher was obviously Professor Chen.
The car was brightly lit inside and out. A line of soldiers was standing in front of the door, with the leading soldier holding two metal boxes in his hands.
Seeing Captain Luo and his men arrive, the man quickly stepped forward, opened the metal box in his hand, and handed it to Jiang Muyun: "Excuse me, are these the samples you brought with you?"
Jiang Muyun took a quick look and saw that the metal box was covered with sponge. The bottles containing the powder and earthworms, as well as the bag containing the compressed towel contaminated with pollutants, were all stuck in the gaps of the sponge and fixed firmly in place.
Jiang Muyun nodded, but before he could say anything, the man slammed the box shut with a swift bang, and then opened another metal box.
When the metal box was handed to Jiang Muyun, he felt a gust of cool air blowing on his face.
Looking again, the box was filled with a whole block of crystal clear ice, and the two mutant fish corpses were lying quietly in the middle of the ice.
Is this a freezer specially prepared for them?
Seeing that Jiang Muyun and others had no objection, the man fastened the box with a clang.
"My last name is Wang. You can just call me Captain Wang. I'm in charge of this transfer." Captain Wang gestured for them to get in the car. "Let's talk in the car. It's not a good time to stay in the outside world for long."
Jiang Muyun and Chu Buwen hesitated for a moment, and then Jiang Muyun nodded to Chu Buwen imperceptibly.
She was not defenseless. As long as she wanted, she could pull out weapons of mass destruction from the space at any time. This was her confidence.
Chu Buwen didn't know where Jiang Muyun's trust in Captain Wang and others came from, but this did not prevent him from trusting Jiang Muyun.
The four of them got into the car, and Captain Wang followed at a trot with five or six other people.
As soon as the door closed, the modified car started up in a hurry, even before the last few soldiers got on the car and sat down.
As soon as Chen Cheng got in the car, he rushed to Professor Chen on the stretcher.
Professor Chen's situation is not bad, but it is not good either.
She was awake now, but her face was pale. She was receiving an IV drip and was connected to an oxygen tank. Her eyes were half open and she looked listless.
When Professor Chen saw Chen Cheng, she seemed to want to smile at her, but unfortunately, perhaps because she lacked strength, or perhaps because her facial muscles had not recovered from frostbite, she tried for a long time but could not bend the corners of her mouth. She could only move her fingers slightly and hold Chen Cheng's hand.
This mine car looked strangely modified, but its speed was quite fast. Chen Cheng, who had been standing on the car, was almost thrown off by inertia several times.
Jiang Muyun gently took Chen Cheng's shoulder and asked her to sit next to Professor Chen: "Professor Chen is just out of energy now. Let her have a good rest. She will recover soon after arriving at the central shelter."
The two medical staff members standing by Professor Chen's side saw the little girl about to cry and hurriedly comforted her, "That's right, Professor Chen is just old and can't recover for a while. He's not in danger for now, so don't worry too much."
Chen Cheng sniffed, and with red eyes he smiled at them, "I know. Thank you for your hard work."
The more Jiang Muyun looked, the stranger it seemed.
Just now she thought that Captain Luo and others were so anxious because Professor Chen's health condition could not wait any longer and he had to be rushed to the Central Shelter for rescue.
But now it seems that although Professor Chen's condition is not good, it is not to the point where she needs to be sent for emergency treatment immediately. The medical staff guarding her are also very relaxed, and the words just now were not meant to comfort Chen Cheng.
Then why did everyone from Squad Leader Luo to Captain Wang and the driver look so anxious?
Jiang Muyun thought so and asked.
Captain Wang and his companions looked at Jiang Muyun with strange eyes.
Jiang Muyun was baffled. "Is this something you can't ask?"
Captain Wang looked even more bewildered than Jiang Muyun: "No, it's not."
He scratched his hair, then slapped his thigh and said, "I forgot, you came from South City, right?"
Jiang Muyun didn't know why he suddenly said this, so he just replied, "I came from Nanshi. I encountered a cold wave just after arriving in the capital, and then I was lucky enough to find the entrance to the shelter. Is there anything wrong?"
Captain Wang said, "No, no, there's nothing wrong. I just forgot about it."
"It's not something you can't ask." Captain Wang looked a little embarrassed. "It's just that everyone knows about it, so I didn't react at first."
Perhaps because they were already in the car, they couldn't change the speed at all, so Captain Wang was able to patiently explain to them: "The transition between winter and summer in the capital is a peak earthquake season. The more extreme the temperature, the higher the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes. Of course, this is just my personal summary of the rules. I've seen this happen over the past few years, and there's no scientific basis for it. Just listen to it."
"There is a mutant goose in the central shelter that is very sensitive to temperature changes. The goose suddenly went crazy a few days ago, and the higher-ups said that this cold wave might be serious, so they arranged for the survivors to take emergency shelter." Captain Wang said.
Jiang Muyun: "No, this means that there is a high probability of a major earthquake in the near future, and more than one?"
Jiang Muyun felt unwell.
From Team Leader Luo telling them not to go out recently, to the fixed tables and chairs, the aggressive animals, and the girl's words "it's too late to put out the fire".
If it was because of an earthquake, or a major earthquake that everyone knew could happen at any time, then the abnormalities that Jiang Muyun encountered in the shelter could be explained.
But in this situation, the reasons for those abnormalities are no longer important.
She assumed that the living quarters in the shelter had been retrofitted to earthquake-resistant standards, but what about the track they were currently walking on?
Jiang Muyun could have seen it before getting on the train. This was just an ordinary subway track, patched together. It didn't look like it could bear the weight of a normal subway. Only this single-section mine car could run on it.
What level of earthquake can this patched passage withstand?
Captain Wang quickly reassured them, "Don't be afraid. Our shelters have been rebuilt and renovated, including the tracks, and are highly earthquake-resistant."
As he was speaking, the modified mine cart turned a big corner, and after a noticeable uphill slope, it entered another tunnel.
The mine cart was moving quite fast, and under the influence of inertia, Jiang Muyun was pressed against the side of the cart.
Jiang Muyun swore that the strange passage just now was definitely newly dug after the apocalypse, and even the track did not look original.
Isn't this just forcibly combining two unrelated subway lines?
No wonder the only thing you can drive in the capital's underground city is this modified minecart.
"Besides, we were pretty quick on the road, so we didn't lose any time. We were already driving at top speed." Jiang Muyun could see a hint of grievance on Captain Wang's stern and rugged face. "Normally, we could reach the central shelter in less than two hours."
Jiang Muyun was silent for a moment and then said, "Less than two hours?"
Even if this modified mine car is not as fast as the subway, it shouldn't take more than an hour to get to the city, right?
They were walking on the subway tracks, which were interconnected and had no route planning, so they could turn wherever they wanted.
Captain Wang nodded. "Not all subway tracks have been cleared. We'll have to take a detour through Anshan."
"No, since it takes so long to get to the Central Shelter, how did Professor Chen's matter get reported?" Jiang Muyun was puzzled.
From the time they knocked on the door of the shelter until now, it has been just over two hours.
The shelter was verifying Professor Chen's identity and had received a clear order from the central shelter to take chemical pollutants with him. How did this information get passed back and forth?
Could it be that the military has a dedicated channel?
Is there any channel that can be used to convey information related to Professor Chen, but Professor Chen himself cannot use it?
Could it be that short-distance communications have been restored in the capital?
Jiang Muyun immediately became excited when he thought of this possibility.
However, Captain Wang interrupted Jiang Muyun's happiness with one sentence: "There's a megaphone."
Jiang Muyun and the other three were all stunned.
"A megaphone...are you serious?" Jiang Muyun felt that this person was taking them for granted and teasing them. "What kind of megaphone can transmit tens of kilometers?"
Captain Wang looked at Jiang Muyun like he was a fool. "Of course, the megaphone can't transmit information for dozens of kilometers, but we can set up a few more stations and transmit it down section by section."
Jiang Muyun didn't know what to say about this subtle yet outrageous feeling.
Thanks to the two of them chatting, everyone's nervousness about traveling far away at such a special time was relieved a lot.
Seeing that they were gradually relaxing, Captain Wang casually said, "From the time Xiao Luo came to find you to the time we arrived at the central shelter, the whole journey took about two hours."
Captain Wang jokingly said, "If this happens to coincide with an earthquake, we'll be incredibly unlucky."
Chu Buwen suddenly interrupted Captain Wang: "Please wait a moment."
Captain Wang was puzzled: "What's wrong?"
Jiang Muyun said calmly: "What did you just say?"
Captain Wang asked tentatively, "Then, how bad will our luck be?"
Jiang Muyun looked up at Captain Wang.
Captain Wang's lips trembled slightly.
No, to be precise, their entire car was shaking slightly.
Captain Wang swallowed his saliva and calmly called to the front cab, "Old Li."
If you ignore the volume echoing through the tunnel, the driver, Mr. Li, seems quite calm: "Got it."
The car's speed slowly decreased, and by the time Jiang Muyun and others had to hold onto Professor Chen's oxygen cylinder and IV bottle, the car finally came to a complete stop.
Captain Wang directed several people to pull out the fixing belts equipped in the vehicle and secure themselves and all the supplies they carried.
Jiang Muyun and Chen Cheng were the closest to Professor Chen. Jiang Muyun pushed Chen Cheng back without saying a word: "Protect yourself."
Jiang Muyun then took the restraint belt handed to him by Chu Buwen, and the two of them quickly secured Professor Chen on the stretcher, one in front and one behind.
It can be seen that after the end of the world, earthquakes have indeed occurred frequently in the capital. The car is equipped with everything from fixed belts to safety buckles for fastening the belts. Jiang Muyun knew how to use them at a glance and got the hang of it very quickly.
The two medical staff who were guarding Professor Chen on the side couldn't even catch up. Seeing that Jiang Muyun and Chu Buwen were so skilled, they simply pulled out the needle for Professor Chen while the other turned around to plug in the oxygen tank.
"Hold on tight and don't get off. This car has been specially modified. Even if the tunnel really collapses, we will be safe in the car." Captain Wang's voice was shaking unconsciously.
It wasn't that he was scared, but the vibration was too strong.
In just one sentence, Captain Wang bit his tongue twice.
There was a moment of feeling of being suspended in the air, followed by a clanging sound.
This was the sound of the car under them being thrown up and then falling back to the ground.
It was only then that Jiang Muyun realized that Captain Wang's words were completely true.
Her neck was almost broken by the shock just now. The tunnel did not collapse in an earthquake of this magnitude. Could it be more reliable than this?
Captain Wang was the last one to sit back in his seat. Before he could fasten his seat belt, he was almost thrown out by the horrible shaking.
Chu Buwen, who was sitting next to Captain Wang, was quick to pull Captain Wang back.
The soldier on the other side directly pulled the strap from Captain Wang's hand and tried to fasten it for him.
However, the shaking was too severe and the soldier failed despite trying several times.
The car body had begun to slide uncontrollably on the track. Old Li in the cab had veins bulging on his forehead as he was trying hard to pull the handbrake to try to stop the car body from sliding. The tunnel was filled with the sharp hissing sound of metal friction, which made everyone in the car's scalp tingle.
Captain Wang held onto the railing beside the car to steady himself while trying to reassure everyone: "It's okay. The tunnel is very earthquake-resistant and won't collapse. We just need to hold on."
Before Captain Wang finished speaking, the car body shook violently.
Then everyone fell forward uncontrollably.
Jiang Muyun grabbed the swinging IV needle, pulled it off along with the hose, and threw it out of the car to prevent it from swinging around and hurting anyone.
Old Li in the front cab shouted something.
But amidst the current roar, no one could hear what he said.
But that doesn't matter.
Because the downward trend of the car body was so obvious, everyone knew what was happening without him reminding them.
Jiang Muyun gritted his teeth.
Could it be that Captain Wang has some blood relationship with Wang Qingqing?
This crow's mouth is exactly the same!
Jiang Muyun pulled the scarf off his neck with his backhand, and without turning his head, he said to Chu Buwen beside him: "Help me."
Chu Buwen had been staring at Jiang Muyun since the beginning, and as soon as he saw her expression, he knew what she wanted to do.
He leaned on Jiang Muyun's left hand to loosen the railing, and put his arm around Jiang Muyun's waist to help her stabilize her body.
The car body fell again, and someone was screaming in the front, but Jiang Muyun could no longer hear it.
She took a deep breath and loosened her grip on the railing.
During the violent shaking, the only thing that could keep her in place was Chu Buwen's arm, apart from the belt around her waist which still had some space left.
Jiang Muyun wrapped the long scarf around the foot of the stretcher, crossed it a few times, and then wrapped it back around the railing behind Chen Cheng.
Then she passed the two sides of the scarf through Chen Cheng's armpits and tied a knot tightly in front of her chest.
Chen Cheng was a child raised in the apocalypse; she was incredibly thin. Even with the seatbelt fastened, she nearly slipped out of the gap between the seatbelt and the seat several times.
There was a loud muffled sound in the tunnel, and the car body sank suddenly.
The IV bottle, which was half filled with medicine, finally couldn't be retained by the iron hook and fell to pieces with a clang.
Jiang Muyun's arms slammed back and forth on the railing several times before he grabbed the railing again to steady himself amid the violent shaking.
The tendency of the car body to lean forward became more and more obvious. Jiang Muyun's waist and abdomen were hurt by the fixing belt, and his whole body was almost hanging above Chu Buwen.
Jiang Muyun struggled to squeeze out two words from his throat: "Hold on tight."
The next second, her eyes went dark and she felt weightless.
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