Chapter 135 Dangcheng Refuge Camp
In the distance, the majestic mountains are covered in ice and snow.
A swirling gray fog enveloped a large area, blocking out even sunlight, which could barely illuminate the abandoned land below.
The gray fog advanced layer by layer, slowly spreading along the edges.
Even from a great distance, it is still clearly visible that contaminated zone number 249 is spreading outwards.
"That's the Qilian Mountains."
Song Liang carefully compared the map and said, "There are two small bases on the other side of the mountain. They were preparing to migrate before they received the message from the sentry post."
The terrain in Subei is complex, with relatively complete strata exposed and distinct zoning, which can be divided into the southern mountainous area and the northern mountainous area.
—High-altitude cold mountainous areas and arid gravel Gobi desert areas.
There are also three smaller bases located in the northern mountainous area.
Like most surviving bases, this place is located in a remote and isolated area, far from the four major bases.
Migration is extremely difficult.
Two densely populated camps located at the foot of the mountain saw the contaminated area spreading towards their camps and originally planned to pack up and flee for their lives.
“One of the local small bases learned from the outpost that the base had sent people over.”
Song Liang continued, "They probably want to wait until we arrive and then see how things go."
Tao Haohao, somewhat displeased, asked, "What do you take us for?"
"This is their only option at the moment."
Song Liang was also helpless, saying, "Every glimmer of hope is worth waiting for."
The rabbit couldn't help but say, "It's not like we can only migrate to the four major bases. We can also escape to the northern mountains, right?"
The contaminated area is spreading slowly, extending westward according to the estimated area provided by the survey team.
The Beishan District is currently safe.
"It's not that they don't want to go."
The armored vehicle bumped along the rugged road, and the scenery outside the window became increasingly desolate.
Xie Tu, with one hand on the steering wheel, calmly said, "The problem is that there are multiple refuge sites in the same area, and they may be competing for resources with each other."
The land is barren, and the survivors here rely on hunting and scavenging for supplies on the fringes of the contaminated area.
There may be many mutated plants that can be eaten during the changing seasons.
Once food becomes scarce, it becomes difficult for small bases to coexist peacefully.
Most resources will be in the hands of the powerful.
According to the investigation report, conflicts frequently occurred between the Nanshan District and Beishan District. Both sides had strong search teams, including several Class A sentries.
Xie Tu: "If they really migrate north, the two sides, who already have conflicts, will have to fight each other to compete for resources."
The sentries were alright, but ordinary people could easily be implicated, resulting in serious casualties.
The rabbit suddenly understood. "I get it."
The people chatting on the bus did not disturb the person who was sleeping at all.
The armored vehicle bumped along the mountain road, and when it reached an altitude of 3,000 meters, the oxygen suddenly became thin.
Yun Zhao was woken up by the urge to breathe.
She had just propped herself up to sit up when a small oxygen cylinder was handed to her.
"Take it."
Xie Tu was driving when he saw that she was awake. He reached out and handed the things to the back seat without turning around.
Yun Zhao was taken aback for a moment, then thanked him and accepted the gift.
After a while, she noticed that everyone in the car looked normal.
After breaking down their mental barriers, people gradually get used to their heightened senses on the road.
Team Zero travels all over the country, including many high-altitude areas in western Sichuan, so they are used to it.
At this moment, Song Liang said, "There's no signal."
The nearest sentry post is over 100 kilometers away, and the monitoring tower's signal cannot provide full coverage.
"The signal is fine, and the reinforcements will come on their own."
Xie Tu glanced at the map upon hearing this and said, "But the car might not be able to get there."
The actual road conditions were more complex than on the map. The mountain roads were rugged, and many sections were too narrow for armored vehicles to pass.
"What about the supplies on the truck?" Duan Xi asked.
The rabbit rolled its eyes at him: "Of course, bring as much as you can."
Duan Xi turned his head and complained, "Wang Jiayu, can't you speak properly?!"
"How am I not speaking properly?"
"Then why did you roll your eyes at me?"
The two argued frequently, a situation the other passengers on the bus were already used to.
They were playing around in the car for a while, and then drove on for some distance.
Not far ahead.
In the valley, a small base came into view.
The wall was high, its mottled marks covered by fresh paint or patches, and it was strung with barbed wire to intercept mutated birds.
Hearing the sound of cars outside, several figures flashed by above the wall.
A faint, indistinct noise could be heard.
Tao Haohao kindly translated for Yun Zhao, "They're shouting that the sentries from the main base are coming."
The survivors here see them as saviors, hoping to remain in their homeland.
The base gate opened, and a group of people ran out.
Several sentries, dressed in worn but still relatively neat uniforms, stood in front of the vehicle without coming closer, their eyes revealing a complex mix of vigilance and hope.
Xie Tu glanced at them casually and sensed that there were two A-level sentinels among them.
"It is the Dangcheng refuge camp in the Beishan District."
Xie Tu said, "Let's go in and ask about the situation first."
Another refuge camp is not far away, on the other side of the mountain.
These sentinels operate on the edge of the contaminated zone year-round, and they might be able to find some clues based on the supplies they find.
Rabbit had just finished arguing and turned around angrily, "Sister Yunzhao, let's get off the bus."
Yun Zhao was pulled off the car by the rabbit.
A group of people standing at the camp entrance quickly noticed the red-crowned crane pattern on the shoulders of their combat uniforms.
"It's actually Dawn Base..."
"The nearest outpost around here belongs to Hope Base, right? Why is Dawn Base here?"
Clearly, this group had only heard that sentries from a large base were coming.
However, it is unclear which base it is.
The four bases designated this area as section 249 and classified the polluted area on the mountain as a four-star danger level.
They didn't actually have much hope.
Because, to date, humanity has eliminated only a handful of four-star contaminated areas.
The reason they didn't migrate was probably because they still harbored a sliver of hope deep down.
"Why are there only six people? There are so few people..."
"The girl behind doesn't look like a sentry."
"Stop discussing it, they can hear us!"
Xie Tu remained calm, walked over and stopped directly in front of a sentry, casually initiating a conversation: "Can you make decisions here?"
The sentry was tall with deep-set, sculpted features and a somewhat exotic appearance.
Seeing that Xie Tu had accurately locked onto him, he realized what was happening and couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, sir, you have a good eye."
The rules are the same in Nanshan District and Beishan District.
—Strength reigns supreme.
Here, or rather in most other regions, refugees are almost always bases controlled by the powerful.
Cases like Qingshan Town are just isolated incidents.
Xie Tu nodded. "Tell me about the situation in contaminated zone 249."
His tone seemed casual, but it revealed a hint of firmness.
Batel straightened his back slightly, and his expression became serious.
Anyone who becomes a leader but lacks discernment would have been ousted long ago.
The person in front of me is very strong!
Batel didn't dare offend the people at the main base, so he pointed to the gate of the refuge camp and said, "Sir, why don't we go inside and rest first, and I'll explain things to you slowly."
"OK."
Xie Tu remained expressionless, turned around to call his teammates, and his gaze involuntarily fell on Yun Zhao.
Throughout the journey, the six people were almost inseparable, spending most of their time resting in the car, and the two have not had a proper conversation so far.
She looked listless, staring blankly at the high walls of the refugee camp.
My heart seemed to be touched.
Perhaps in her heart, no matter how good the large base is, it can never replace her old small town.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
