Chapter 74: Saving Lives, a Useless Wood Ability? (First Update)

Bian Changxi was momentarily stunned, then frowned. “Is that true?”

“Yes, it is. There are zombies everywhere outside. Only the new district is safe. The commander doesn’t want any more casualties before the evacuation,” the soldier replied.

“I have something important to do outside. Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility for it myself.”

“Orders are orders,” the soldier’s tone turned cold and hard. “Go back. No one is allowed to leave, only enter. It’s the same at all other entrances.”

Another small group of survivors arrived, wailing as if in mourning. The soldiers went over to maintain order. Bian Changxi stood silently for two seconds, then continued walking forward as if nothing had happened. The soldier, who had been on guard, got angry when he saw this. “Hey, what’s your problem? Didn’t you hear me tell you to go back?”

He rudely reached out as if to push her, but Bian Changxi was just as unceremonious, grabbing his arm and twisting it. The soldier felt a sudden, precise force spin him around, and before he knew it, he was lying on the scorching ground.

Bian Changxi stepped back and muttered under her breath, “You want to control everything, even where I go? That’s a bit much.”

The other soldiers realized something was wrong and immediately abandoned the refugees, surrounding Bian Changxi and blocking her path. The display of force scared the survivors so much that they didn’t even dare to breathe, completely confused about what was happening.

The clerk in charge of registration hurriedly picked up a pager to contact someone. Of course, his pager was more advanced than the one Bian Changxi had—it could even transmit a few words.

But before he could dial out, someone from the new district arrived. A military jeep screeched to a halt, and several people got out. The one in front, dressed in white, smiled and said, “What’s going on here? Miss Bian, you’re here?”

Bian Changxi turned to look. It was Qu Nan.

The soldiers snapped to attention with a sharp salute. “Young Master Qu!”

Before they could complain, Bian Changxi spoke up, “I want to leave the new district, but they won’t let me. Isn’t that a bit much? I’m pretty sure I still have personal rights.”

“It’s not just you. It’s the same for everyone. No one can leave without special circumstances,” Qu Nan waved his hand, signaling the others to disperse. He smiled, “Before the apocalypse, Jiangcheng was already a major flu zone. Afterward, the number of zombies in the city exploded. Last time, nearly all five thousand people almost got wiped out. Who can guarantee you’ll come back in one piece if you leave?”

Bian Changxi waved dismissively. “Spare me the empty talk.”

Qu Nan gave a wry smile and stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Miss Bian, please don’t make things difficult for me. The military has a duty to protect important personnel, even if it means using special measures. Why make things ugly for both of us?”

He’d been doing this a lot lately. He’d gotten word early on that Bian Changxi was heading for the exit. Since her family hadn’t come to the new district, he guessed what she was up to and rushed over with his team.

How could he let her slip away? The military had a list of important people—outstanding individuals in their fields, including ability users and key scientists. Even if they couldn’t control them now, they’d try to recruit them sooner or later. Bian Changxi was one of them. While her every move wasn’t monitored, the military kept track of her general whereabouts and activities. If she left and didn’t come back, it would be a huge loss for them.

Bian Changxi snorted. She knew all about the military’s tactics, but as long as they didn’t interfere with her daily life, she could turn a blind eye for the sake of everyone’s safety. Anyway, unless it was someone like Gu Xu, no one else could really pressure her.

But restricting her movements? That was unacceptable.

“You want useful people, not prisoners. I’m not going out to die. Let them let me through. Forcing things won’t do either of us any good.”

A man behind Qu Nan sneered, “Big words. Why don’t we see who it’s really bad for?”

Bian Changxi glanced at him. She remembered he was the ice ability user who’d barely managed to freeze the mutant ant the other day. Next to him was the female water ability user. Despite the blazing sun, the two of them looked cool and relaxed.

“Agang!” Qu Nan scolded him, then turned earnestly to Bian Changxi. “You’d better go back. The city is too dangerous. Even if you make it to your destination, can you really find your people? And there are so many roads from Jiangcheng to Sucheng. Not everyone who leaves the city will come here. When my father led a team over, he met a lot of survivors who refused to join the military. Maybe your family is among them.”

Bian Changxi took off her sunglasses and held them in her hand, tilting her head to stare at him. Her dark eyes were unreadable. Suddenly, she sighed. “Now that Commander Qu is here, you’re all emboldened. So you’re really not going to let me go?”

Qu Nan’s expression changed awkwardly. “Come on, we’re just looking out for you.”

Bian Changxi spread her hands. “But you should know, forced favors aren’t sweet. Whether it’s for my own good or not, going against my will is real. Aren’t you worried that if one of you gets badly hurt and I’m treating you, I might do something nasty?”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Agang threatened.

Bian Changxi’s lips curled in a harmless, innocent smile, but her eyes made it clear—she absolutely would.

Anyone with a temper would be angry at being blocked over and over.

Qu Nan wiped his brow. “So what do you want?”

“I want to see the surveillance footage.”

“Street surveillance? That’s impossible. The whole world’s signals are a mess now. Only a few communication devices still work. The city’s surveillance channels can’t be accessed from here. Besides, that’s a police system.”

“Then go ask them for help. If you can pull this off, as long as I’m alive and you can find me, you can come to me for healing whenever you’re hurt. How about it?”

“I don’t get hurt that easily,” Qu Nan said, but he was clearly tempted. As things stood, Bian Changxi’s ability was far ahead of other wood ability users. She could already bring people back from the brink of death. Who knew how far she’d develop? The so-called experts were already predicting that if she could heal wounds and repair tissue, then maybe even reviving the dead wasn’t just a fantasy.

Being on good terms with someone like that, or even getting a promise from her, was like having the ultimate insurance policy.

A calculating look flashed across his handsome face, but he quickly met Bian Changxi’s gaze. “Why don’t you go to Gu Xu?”

Bian Changxi’s face stiffened. She replied coolly, “Maybe I should just go straight to Xiao Jing. I’m sure he’d be happy to help…”

“Wait, wait!” Qu Nan immediately stopped her. “You mean it? No time limit?”

“Uh, I can’t promise forever, but I’m sincere.”

Sincerity was enough. With sincerity, anything was possible.

Qu Nan breathed a sigh of relief. “Get in the car. This sun is brutal. You’ve got your ability to protect you, but I can’t take it.”

Bian Changxi smiled too. As long as you put your mind to it, you could always get the surveillance footage. Someone had done it in her previous life, after all. She was really dumb for not thinking of this shortcut sooner. Now it was a bit late—okay, very late. If she could confirm Bian Kuang was still in the city, she’d go again. Otherwise, she’d just have to play it by ear.

She was about to get in the car when someone suddenly cried out, “Look! What’s that? Storm clouds?”

She turned to look at the horizon, where a patch of dark clouds had appeared, rapidly growing larger. A shrill, menacing bird cry echoed in the air. The pressure dropped sharply, and the dust and scraps of paper on the ground began to stir.

She narrowed her eyes, staring for a moment, then her expression changed. She shouted, “Find cover, now!”

“What is it? What’s that?”

“It’s birds!” Agang had sharp eyes too. His face changed, and he yanked Bian Changxi aside, pushing Qu Nan into the car. “Young Master Qu, get in! Drive, drive!”

Caught off guard, Bian Changxi stumbled a few steps, while Agang and the woman—probably called Ayue—dragged Qu Nan into the jeep. The vehicle spun around, belching black smoke as it sped away.

Bian Changxi stared in disbelief. Seriously? That’s so shameless—watch out for lightning strikes!

She hurried to find cover nearby, but before she could crouch down, a wave of low pressure swept overhead.

What could be moving in the sky?

That patch of “cloud” wasn’t really a cloud, nor was it some mysterious UFO. It was a flock of mutated birds, grown huge and here to wipe out the survivors.

They moved incredibly fast, with powerful wings. By the time you felt the wind from their wings and saw their sharp, menacing beaks, it was too late to dodge.

The lead bird let out a piercing shriek and dove at a man frozen in terror. There was a snapping sound, like a beak grabbing something, and in an instant, the bird was gone. The man only then began to scream in agony, his right eye now a bloody hole.

It was like a dinner bell. At that moment, the dense flock of birds plunged into the crowd, like sulfuric acid poured into water. People ran for their lives, screaming and trampling each other, while the frenzied pecking sounded like machine-gun fire.

Those closest to Bian Changxi, having heard her warning, managed to take cover quickly—rushing into buildings, hiding under trees, crouching by cars—and narrowly escaped the first wave. But as soon as they realized what was happening, most of them panicked and ran, making themselves targets for the birds.

Bian Changxi shouted, “Don’t run! Find cover!”

This entrance to the new district faced the city, flanked by tall buildings and factories, with a wide road in the middle. Most of the people here, inside and outside the gate, had just arrived—fleeing the city in exhaustion, thinking they could finally rest. Who could have expected a sudden attack like this? They were completely unprepared.

In the chaos, barely anyone could hear Bian Changxi’s voice."