Chapter 74: Exchange—Footage for Treatment

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

“Yes. 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 full responsibility.”

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

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 kept walking forward as before. The soldier, who had been on alert, got angry when he saw this. “Hey, what’s wrong with you? 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. She grabbed his arm and, taking advantage of the movement, spun him around with a force that was both powerful and precise. By the time the soldier realized what had happened, he was already lying on the scorching ground.

Bian Changxi stepped back and muttered, “You can control the heavens and the earth, but you think you can control where I go? Your reach is a bit too long.”

The other soldiers immediately realized something was wrong. They abandoned the refugees and quickly surrounded Bian Changxi, blocking her path. The imposing stance scared the survivors so much that they didn’t dare make a sound, completely confused about what was happening.

The clerk in charge of registration hurriedly picked up a radio to contact someone. Of course, the radio was more advanced than the one Bian Changxi carried, and could actually 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. Leading them was a man in a white shirt, smiling as he said, “What’s going on here? Miss Bian, is that you?”

Bian Changxi turned to look. It was Qu Nan.

The soldiers snapped their feet together and saluted in unison. “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 this a bit much? I’m pretty sure I still have personal rights.”

“It’s not just you. The rule applies to everyone. No one can leave the New District without special circumstances.” Qu Nan waved his hand for the others to disperse, then smiled. “Before the apocalypse, Jiangcheng was already a major flu hotspot. The number of zombies in the city exploded exponentially. Last time, out of five thousand people, we nearly lost everyone. Who can guarantee that anyone who leaves the New District will come back in one piece?”

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

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

He’d been dealing with this sort of thing a lot lately. He’d learned 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 they let her get away? The military had a list of important people—outstanding individuals in their fields, including those with abilities and key scientific personnel. Even if they couldn’t control them for now, they planned to recruit them eventually. Bian Changxi was one of them. While not every move of hers was monitored, the military kept track of where she went and what she did. If she left and didn’t come back, it would be their loss.

Bian Changxi snorted. She knew what the military was up to, but as long as it didn’t interfere with her daily life, she chose to turn a blind eye for the sake of everyone’s well-being. After all, 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 me through. Forcing things won’t do either of us any good.”

A man behind Qu Nan sneered, “Big words. Maybe we should see who really loses out.”

Bian Changxi glanced up. She remembered this guy—he was the ice user who’d barely managed to freeze the mutant ants last time. Next to him was the female water user. Despite the scorching sun, the two of them looked cool and relaxed.

“Ah Gang!” Qu Nan scolded him, then turned to Bian Changxi, pleading, “Please go back. The city is too dangerous. Even if you make it to your destination, can you be sure you’ll find your people? There are many routes from Jiangcheng to Sucheng. Not everyone who leaves the city will come here. When my father led his team here, he met many survivors who refused to join the army. Maybe your family is among them.”

Bian Changxi took off her sunglasses and held them in her hand, tilting her head as she stared at him, her dark eyes unreadable. Suddenly, she sighed. “Now that Commander Qu is here, you all have guts, huh? So you really won’t let me leave, no matter what?”

Qu Nan’s expression changed, and he said awkwardly, “Come on, we’re just doing this for your own good.”

Bian Changxi spread her hands. “But you know what they say—‘A melon forced off the vine won’t taste sweet.’ Whether it’s for my own good or not, going against my wishes is still going against my wishes. Aren’t you worried that if one of you gets badly hurt, I might take the opportunity to do something nasty while treating you?”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Ah Gang 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 after being blocked again and again.

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 radio signals are a mess. Only a few communication devices barely work. I doubt we can get the city’s surveillance feeds here. Besides, that’s under the police’s jurisdiction.”

“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 treatment whenever you’re injured. How about it?”

“I don’t get hurt that easily,” Qu Nan said, but he was clearly tempted. As things stood, Bian Changxi’s abilities were already several levels above other wood-type users. She could already bring people back from the dead—who knew how far she could go in the future? The so-called experts were already speculating: if she could heal wounds and repair tissue by hand, maybe even reviving the dead wasn’t just a fantasy.

To be on good terms with someone like her, or even get a promise like that, was like buying the ultimate insurance policy.

His handsome face showed a moment of calculation, then he looked Bian Changxi straight in the eye. “Why don’t you go to Gu Xu?”

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

“Wait, wait, wait!” Qu Nan quickly stopped her. “You promise? No time limit?”

“Uh, I can’t guarantee 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 could roast a person alive. You might be able to handle it with your powers, but I can’t.”

Bian Changxi smiled. As long as someone was willing, she knew the surveillance footage could be retrieved—she’d seen it done in her previous life. She’d been foolish not to think of this shortcut sooner. Now it was a bit late—okay, very late. If she could confirm that Bian Kuang was still in the city, she’d make another trip. Otherwise, she’d just have to take things as they came.

She was just about to get in the car when someone suddenly cried out, “Look! What’s that? A storm cloud?”

She turned to the horizon. A dark cloud was gathering, growing larger and closer. In the air came the shrill, menacing cries of some kind of bird. The air 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 going on?”

“It’s birds!” Ah Gang, with sharp eyes, also turned pale. He yanked Bian Changxi aside and shoved Qu Nan into the car. “Get in, Young Master Qu! Drive, drive!”

Bian Changxi stumbled from the sudden pull, while Ah Gang and the woman—probably called Ah Yue—had already bundled Qu Nan into the jeep. The vehicle spun around, spewing black smoke as it roared away.

Bian Changxi stared, wide-eyed. Seriously? That’s cold—karma’s going to get you!

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

What else could move in the sky?

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

They were fast, with large, powerful wings. By the time you felt the gust from their wings and saw their sharp, vicious beaks, it was too late to dodge.

The lead bird shrieked and swooped down on a man frozen in terror. With a sickening crunch, it snatched something up and vanished into the distance. Only then did the man let out a bloodcurdling scream—his right eye was now a bloody hole.

It was like a dinner bell. In the next instant, the dense flock of birds dove into the crowd, like sulfuric acid poured onto water. People scattered, screaming, trampling each other, as the birds pecked madly, the sound like machine-gun fire—rat-a-tat-tat.

Those closest to Bian Changxi, having heard her warning, managed to duck into buildings, hide under trees, or crouch by cars, escaping the first wave. But once they realized what was happening, most panicked and ran, making themselves targets for the birds.

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

The New District’s entrance facing the city was 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—having fled the city in panic, exhausted and desperate, thinking they could finally catch their breath. Who could have expected an attack out of nowhere?

In the chaos, almost no one could hear Bian Changxi’s voice."