EDEH Chapter 20

Rolling clouds poured down torrential rain. The avian contaminants had been basically eliminated, and the remaining scattered few had also retreated due to the harsh weather.

 

The rain grew heavier and more urgent, pattering down like hail.

 

Despite countless casualties and heavy losses in this battle, humanity had finally defended this pure land.

 

Huo Yanji stood by the window, looking out at the corpses shrouded in rain mist on the street that stretched endlessly. He lowered his eyes to wipe the blood-stained long dagger, focused and meticulous, as if he hadn’t noticed someone approaching behind him.

 

Saiya really couldn’t hold back anymore, asking for the nth time: “General, is he still not awake?”

 

“Mm.”

 

Huo Yanji’s silhouette always gave people a sense of calm composure, as if nothing could break him down no matter what happened.

 

Saiya felt somewhat reassured. He glanced toward the corner where Sang Jue was still sleeping soundly, wrapped in Huo Yanji’s wet coat.

 

Originally, after bringing him back, Saiya had specifically found someone to get a set of small-sized clean clothes. But the sleeping Sang Jue clutched the damp coat and refused to let go no matter what—even the General couldn’t wrestle it away from Sang Jue.

 

They had tried to wake Sang Jue, but he was like he’d been drugged—they couldn’t rouse him no matter what.

 

This was also why Saiya was anxious. Only when Sang Jue woke up would they possibly know Colin’s whereabouts.

 

Huo Yanji’s voice was made particularly cool by the storm: “How is Wei Heng’s condition?”

 

Saiya replied: “His life is saved, but that arm is completely gone.”

 

Huo Yanji: “What about Wei Lan?”

 

“…” Saiya immediately realized something and said awkwardly, “You… know about Wei Lan and Colonel Colin?”

 

Huo Yanji looked back, giving him a flat glance.

 

Saiya broke out in a cold sweat—perhaps there was nothing in the military the General didn’t know, it all depended on whether he wanted to pursue it.

 

“Colonel Wei Lan is still outside leading teams to dismember bird corpses.”

 

Huo Yanji said: “The cleanup operation begins as scheduled in twenty minutes.”

 

Saiya: “Yes.”

 

The cleanup operation, full name “Post-disaster Citywide Corpse Clearing and Decontamination Operation.”

 

For supervisors, after a battle ended was when their real busy work began.

 

Not only did they have to gather survivors at the Supervision Bureau for routine inspections, but after clearing the urban areas, they also had to search for and eliminate infected who had lost control, clean up corpses on the streets, and eliminate contamination from splattered blood.

 

Huo Yanji lowered his eyes to put on gloves, smoothing every inch of the seams before raising his hand to press the frequency exclusive to supervisors: “In ten minutes, all supervisors will conduct citywide cleanup operations—”

 

A sudden “thud” came from the corner.

 

Huo Yanji turned his head to look. Sang Jue, who had been lying on the table, had fallen to the ground like a peeled egg, staring at him with wide eyes.

 

“…” Huo Yanji continued his unfinished command, “Must restore order to the Seventh Human Safe Zone before dawn arrives.”

 

“District Seven South Supervision Center received.”

 

“District Seven Central Supervision Bureau received!”

 

“Main city support team all awaiting orders!”

 

…

 

Lifting Sang Jue back onto the table, Huo Yanji said flatly: “So clumsy, you can even fall while sleeping?”

 

“It’s all because you scared me in my dream…”

 

“What did I scare you with?”

 

Sang Jue accused: “I dreamed I turned into a lingzhi mushroom growing in the soil, couldn’t move at all. Not only did you not recognize me, you even wanted to pick me and make soup.”

 

Huo Yanji curved his lips slightly: “Lingzhi mushroom soup does taste quite good.”

 

Sang Jue frowned: “You’re not allowed to eat me.”

 

Huo Yanji: “Are you a lingzhi mushroom?”

 

“…Of course not.”

 

Though back in the city ruins, he seemed to have entered a spore infection zone…

 

“Then are you human?”

 

Huo Yanji’s smile was fleeting as a flash in the pan, and his sharp dagger suddenly pressed against Sang Jue’s neck.

 

The atmosphere immediately turned cold.

 

After a long standoff, Sang Jue said stubbornly: “Since you suspect me, you should have killed me when you found me.”

 

The cold blade tip lifted Sang Jue’s chin, forcing him to meet Huo Yanji’s gaze.

 

Sang Jue wasn’t afraid, just reached a conclusion—humans were very fickle creatures, and humans couldn’t possibly be good to one person… one dragon forever.

 

Huo Yanji asked: “How did you escape?”

 

The Seventh Safe Zone had torrential rain at least one-third of the year. To prevent the urban area from flooding, the underground drainage passages were as complex as a maze.

 

At the same time, fire magma had an extremely low ignition point and would burn even in water. Even if one sewer opening was missed and no magma was deployed, its burning speed was much faster than human escape speed.

 

Yet Sang Jue, who had never been to District Seven before, not only showed no signs of green fungus infection but had found an exit in such a critical situation and escaped completely unharmed.

 

—It was suspicious enough not to require thinking.

 

Sang Jue bit his lip: “When I woke up, there was nothing around. I turned two corners and saw that sewer exit.”

 

“Didn’t see Colin?”

 

“No.”

 

He wasn’t lying—he had thought about looking for Colin, but the fire was too urgent at the time, there was no time at all.

 

“How did your clothes disappear?”

 

Sang Jue was stunned. Looking down, he was wearing only Huo Yanji’s coat, and it was wet.

 

“…I didn’t have any when I woke up.”

 

“I didn’t know green fungus was a creature that liked stripping people’s clothes.”

 

Sang Jue didn’t know how to answer, so he said stubbornly: “Believe it or not, up to you.”

 

After staring at each other for a while, Huo Yanji put away the dagger and raised his hand to wipe away the mud spots on Sang Jue’s neck: “Don’t act spoiled.”

 

Sang Jue’s frame was already thin. Sitting on the table hugging his knees, the oversized coat only covered the important parts, leaving his calves and collarbones exposed to the air. His face still had red marks from sleeping, looking utterly aggrieved.

 

“You’re the one acting spoiled.” Sang Jue turned his head away, not looking at Huo Yanji. “Just go. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

 

Huo Yanji had set fire to burn him, threatened him with a dagger, and wouldn’t give him clean clothes.

 

Friendship points -10000.

 

Huo Yanji really did leave.

 

But he came back shortly after, carrying a set of clean clothes and a bag of ham sandwiches.

 

Sang Jue turned his butt around, facing away with the back of his head toward him.

 

“…” Huo Yanji lifted the curtain and walked back, calling out, “Saiya.”

 

Saiya hurried over. Just from Huo Yanji’s tone, he thought something serious had happened.

 

Huo Yanji: “Take the clothes and food inside.”

 

Saiya: “…?”

 

This corner of the cafeteria was a rest area designated for Huo Yanji, so it was partitioned off with white curtains. People outside had no idea what was happening inside.

 

“He’s awake?” Saiya was somewhat confused. “Why don’t you just give them to him directly?”

 

Huo Yanji said lightly: “Accidentally made him angry.”

 

Saiya: “…”

 

Was this really their general, and not some humanoid contaminant in disguise?

 

He lifted the curtain and went in, finding Sang Jue still wrapped in the general’s coat, facing the wall as if reflecting on his mistakes.

 

Saiya placed the clothes and food to one side. Although he didn’t know how the general had made him angry, he still had to ask what needed to be asked.

 

He casually started a topic, pretending to be relaxed as he teased: “You like the commander’s coat that much? Clutched it while sleeping and won’t let go, still so reluctant even after waking up.”

 

Sang Jue’s back stiffened.

 

“I was… clutching it and wouldn’t let go?”

 

“That’s right. The commander and I together couldn’t wrestle it away from you.”

 

“…”

 

Even if covering him with wet clothes was a misunderstanding, Huo Yanji’s behavior just now was still very bad… He wouldn’t forgive easily.

 

Hmph.

 

“Did you see Colin in the sewer?” Saiya couldn’t hold back and asked directly, “Is there any chance he’s still alive?”

 

Sang Jue didn’t speak for a long time.

 

He really hadn’t seen Colin, but in that situation, if 007 hadn’t guided him, he might not have been able to escape either.

 

“I didn’t see him… don’t know if he’s still alive.”

 

“…”

 

Saiya let out a long breath and tilted his head back.

 

Although it was an expected result, his heart still ached terribly. He and Colin were from the same class, entered the Supervision Bureau together, joined the military together—it had been twelve years in total.

 

“I…” Saiya pressed his fist to his lips, his eyes slowly reddening. “You eat something. If you’re hungry, sleep some more. I’ll go first.”

 

Sang Jue listened to Saiya’s footsteps fade away before extending a paw from the oversized coat, quietly grabbing the sandwich bag and swooshing it to his front.

 

After eating, Sang Jue felt much better.

 

He tried to leave the table, but his body ached terribly, as if he’d been beaten up. Any movement caused pain.

 

After finally putting on the fresh, clean clothes, Huo Yanji walked in as if timing it perfectly.

 

“Don’t hide.” Huo Yanji said flatly. “I’ll leave soon.”

 

“You won’t have to see me from now until dawn, so don’t wander around. Your muscle fascia is severely strained. Sleep when you’re tired. When accommodation arrangements are made, someone will take you to my room.”

 

Sang Jue finally spoke: “Why do I have to go to your room?”

 

“Because clean, uncontaminated accommodation is limited. It’s all two people per room.” Huo Yanji’s tone was flat. “Who do you want to room with?”

 

Colin.

 

Sang Jue almost blurted it out.

 

But Colin might have already been burned to ash by the sewer fires. Sang Jue lowered his head—fortunately, he hadn’t had time to become friends with Colin, otherwise he would have lost another friend.

 

If they weren’t friends, there was no loss to speak of.

 

A hand fell on his head, gently ruffling it before being stingily withdrawn.

 

Huo Yanji was about to leave when he heard a very soft question from behind: “Aren’t we friends? Why were you so mean to me?”

 

Huo Yanji’s steps paused.

 

Perhaps Huo Yanji was Sang Jue’s friend, but the army general wasn’t, nor was the highest supervisor executive—the responsibility on his shoulders was above all else.

 

Sang Jue didn’t get an answer. He watched Huo Yanji’s figure disappear, and soon after, cold commands came from outside: “Cleanup begins.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The human presence outside the curtain instantly decreased by half.

 

Sang Jue quickly understood what “cleanup” meant—gunshots gradually rang out on the silent streets, and the bloody smell that had been dispersed by the storm rose again.

 

He thought for a moment and asked 007: “How did I transform back into a human?”

 

“You lost consciousness under the stone bridge. Perhaps smelling General Huo’s scent, you transformed back into human form just before he approached.”

 

“I lost consciousness?”

 

007: “Yes.”

 

Sang Jue lifted his aching arms. Not just his arms—his entire body, even his fingers and toes, ached—perhaps because the green slime’s genetic sequence was too different from his own, so the cost of transformation was greater.

 

He asked about his most pressing concern: “What about the spacecraft?”

 

“The spacecraft’s power system and propulsion structure have varying degrees of damage. Repairs will take some time. I’ve established remote connection permissions with the spacecraft’s main system. Even if you return to the main city, the spacecraft can continue self-repair.”

 

That was good.

 

The doctor was still waiting for him to come home on his home planet.

 

Tonight’s rain was too heavy, and the clouds too thick—not a single star was visible.

 

Sang Jue dragged his aching body to sit by the window watching the rain. After a while, he heard footsteps behind him but didn’t turn around—this was the third person tonight to ask about Colin’s whereabouts. There might be more.

 

Knowing Sang Jue was awake, the travel-worn Wei Lan hurried back: “How are you?”

 

Sang Jue tilted his head: “I’m fine.”

 

Wei Lan was very beautiful, more beautiful than anyone Sang Jue had ever seen, like an elf.

 

But her aura was too sharp, overshadowing her delicate features.

 

Wei Lan seemed to dislike showing weakness in front of others. Even though Sang Jue could smell her thick fatigue, her expression remained composed and capable.

 

Sang Jue said: “You need rest.”

 

Wei Lan shook her head: “I’m fine, just need to sit for a while.”

 

Sang Jue hugged his legs, chin resting between his knees, and asked questioningly: “Don’t you want to ask me about Colin’s situation?”

 

“I’m not the first person you saw when you woke up.” The implication being that if Sang Jue knew Colin’s whereabouts, she wouldn’t need to ask again.

 

Sang Jue thought to himself, but you still came.

 

Why?

 

“I came to personally confirm—Colonel Colin, is he dead?”

 

Wei Lan didn’t cry, her eyes weren’t red, her tone was as calm as always, but her heart was raining.

 

Sang Jue heard it.

 

For the first time, he somewhat understood why humans all feared death.

 

Sometimes, humans feared others’ deaths even more than their own.

 

…

 

Time passed minute by minute. The survivors staying at the Supervision Bureau gradually began complaining: “We’ve all been checked, why won’t they let us go?”

 

“There’s not even a place to sit. Either stand or sit on the ground. How can my old back take this?”

 

“Hey! How much longer do we have to be crammed in this hellhole?”

 

“Keep it down. Don’t you hear the gunshots outside? They’re killing people.”

 

“Sigh… The one leading support this time is General Huo Yanji, the highest supervisor executive. I heard thousands if not tens of thousands have died by his hand, and he’s particularly strict about cleanup standards.”

 

“Don’t know how many houses will be emptied tonight…”

 

Everyone looked toward the nearby exit, where a man had been pleading desperately for an hour: “My wife is still outside! Let me go home and check on her. I’ll go find her, I promise to come back with her as soon as I find her—”

 

The expressionless supervisors were like machines: “Wandering outside is prohibited during cleanup. Please cooperate.”

 

The man knelt down, eyes red as he begged: “Please, I’m begging you! Just one hour, no, half an hour, I’ll definitely bring her back!”

 

The supervisors remained unmoved, not allowing passage: “Please cooperate.”

 

Residents who noticed this scene began whispering: “So heartless… Would they be this calm if it were their own family members?”

 

“They have no hearts. You should know this by now.”

 

“How were they trained… Some people still have their sanity, yet they can strike without hesitation.”

 

The noisy complaints stopped at the supervisors’ sudden respectful greeting: “Sir!”

 

Huo Yanji had arrived.

 

Everyone instantly fell silent. From afar, they could see patches of different colors on Huo Yanji’s trench coat—all blood.

 

Arriving with him was Commander Lin Shuyi, who had been stationed in District Seven for years.

 

Although older and higher in rank, Lin Shuyi didn’t seem rigid or stern: “I remember you never went anywhere without your gun. How come I don’t see your sidearm today?”

 

Huo Yanji said flatly: “Someone lost it.”

 

Sang Jue hadn’t even brought clothes out of the sewer, naturally he couldn’t bring out Huo Yanji’s gun either.

 

Lin Shuyi paused strangely: “Is that person alright?”

 

Pretty good, except before he could even mention the gun, the little thing was already feeling aggrieved, as if one more word would make him cry.

 

Beep beep—Huo Yanji’s communicator rang.

 

He pressed to answer, and Hill’s voice came through: “Old Karl, whom you asked me to keep an eye on, passed away half an hour ago.”

 

Huo Yanji’s steps paused: “Passed away?”

 

Rather than “passed away,” researchers more commonly used “lost control” to describe infected individuals’ condition.

 

“Yes.” Hill was encountering this situation for the first time. “He passed away naturally without losing control, showing no aberrant characteristics, and without anyone killing him.”

 

“Most strangely, in the half hour after Mr. Karl’s death, his body gradually grew over ten lingzhi mushrooms.”

 

Huo Yanji suddenly looked up, remembering the dream Sang Jue had told him about not long ago.

 

At that time, Sang Jue had said, ‘I dreamed I turned into a lingzhi mushroom growing in the soil, couldn’t move at all. Not only did you not recognize me, you even wanted to pick me and make soup.’

 

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