Xie Yunqing did not answer. He and his team were merely invited participants in the rescue mission. Although the convoy currently operated under his command, it did not mean he held absolute authority over the entire rescue team.
One of the team members, Jia Liang—the man who had originally given Jiang Fanxing the communicator—walked over with a joyful expression. “Of course you can! You are warmly welcomed. Our team needs people like you who are kind and compassionate!”
It was clear that Jia Liang was aware of Jiang Fanxing’s repeated reports to the base regarding survivor locations. Jiang Fanxing generally avoided overly enthusiastic people, as he disliked physical contact. However, he could tolerate a handshake if he kept his gloves on.
“Thank you.”
He shook Jia Liang’s hand briefly and pulled his hand back in a subtle, practiced motion. He then informed Jia Liang and the others about the situation in the town. “Are you planning to go there for a rescue?”
Jia Liang did not answer immediately, instead looking toward Xie Yunqing.
Xie Yunqing declined. “Not yet. The vehicles are full; we need to return to the base first.” Since those people had food and water for the time being, waiting a little longer would not hurt.
The driver’s cab could only hold four people. With both trucks full, Jiang Fanxing would have to ride in the cargo bed if he wanted to join them. He did not particularly want to sit with the other survivors. After a moment of thought, he looked at Jia Liang. “Jia, I have some questions I need answered. May I sit next to you?”
Jia Liang was happy to oblige. “Sure, I will have Xiao Li move to the back.”
With that, Jiang Fanxing successfully squeezed into the cab. During the journey, he asked Jia Liang about the situation in Reservoir Village and Jinji Village.
“There are quite a few survivors in Jinji Village, 28 in total, including five elderly people and three children. As for Reservoir Village, as you know, there are just those four children.”
Jia Liang knew that Jiang Fanxing had acted ruthlessly by blowing up the entire gang of adults in that village. However, having heard the circumstances from the young girl, he was a man who hated evil as much as he loved good, and he found himself admiring Jiang Fanxing’s decisive nature.
Jiang Fanxing nodded. “That is a significant number.”
Before the apocalypse, cargo trucks were not allowed to carry passengers, but now, with their ample space, these vehicles were the best tools for rescue. Mathematically, a truck bed could hold 25 to 30 people. Counting the children from Reservoir Village, the total was only 32. Since children took up less space, one truck could easily manage the entire group.
Jiang Fanxing asked thoughtfully, “Have you rescued people from other villages as well?”
Jia Liang nodded. “Yes, we also picked up people from Xiaohe Village and Gujiagang.”
Those were villages Jiang Fanxing had passed earlier. He had not encountered survivors in the former, and he had fled the latter due to the presence of a violent gang. Recalling those immoral thugs, he could not help but warn them. “The people in Gujiagang are not to be trifled with. Be careful.”
Jia Liang seemed indifferent. “Do not worry, we confiscated all their weapons. They cannot do anything.”
Seeing that Jia Liang did not take the threat seriously, Jiang Fanxing decided not to press the issue. Instead, he asked, “How many are there?”
Jia Liang’s expression soured, as if he had a toothache. “Seventeen of them. They did not want to leave, but Captain Xie and his team beat them into submission and brought them back in restraints.”
Jiang Fanxing was stunned. It made sense why they were not worried about an uprising. “Do you force survivors to go to the base?”
Jia Liang and the other rescue team members flushed slightly. “No! Absolutely not! We adhere to the principle of voluntary participation.”
Jiang Fanxing was skeptical, but considering he himself had chosen not to follow them before, he assumed there must be a policy in place. Before he could ask, Jia Liang explained the reasoning. “If the people of Gujiagang were as united and kind as those in Jinji Village, we would not force them to leave if they refused. But Gujiagang had embarked on a path of oppressing others. They would have continued to harm innocent survivors in the future, so we brought them back to ensure the safety of others.”
Jiang Fanxing had a new concern. “If you bring so many people back, can the base accommodate them? Does the base provide work for these survivors?”
Jia Liang proudly introduced the base’s situation. “Our base is enormous, covering one million square kilometers and capable of housing tens of millions of people. Jiang, look at the suits we are wearing; these are our latest heat-control outfits. I do not understand the science behind them, but they work! No matter how cold or hot the outside world is, we feel nothing. Furthermore, I have heard that the base is developing heat-control living units. If successful, we will no longer fear the elements. We will be able to farm, raise livestock, and live self-sufficiently indoors.”
At that point, although the climate would remain harsh, the human apocalypse would effectively end. Jiang Fanxing realized that the heat-control housing was currently just a concept, but it explained why the base was constantly seeking survivors: they needed to keep humanity alive long enough to make that concept a reality.
“I wish you all success in the research,” Jiang Fanxing said sincerely.
“Indeed, I hope that day comes soon,” Jia Liang sighed.
The interior of the truck went quiet. Jiang Fanxing closed his eyes to rest, but he actually opened his system account to check his status. After a brief calculation, he understood the exchange coin criteria: delivering water to an adult earned him 20 coins, while a map, if useful, earned 500. Delivering water or food to a child earned 10 coins per person, and saving a child from a life-threatening situation earned him 100 coins.
He currently had 3,052 exchange coins. At this rate, the 10,000 coins required for the system to reach Level 2 would be accumulated quickly. However, he could only upgrade after leaving this world and entering the next rift. He sighed inwardly. When will this ever end?
Knowing that Jiang Fanxing and the others could not withstand the extreme cold of the Ice and Snow World, Xie Yunqing and his team drove toward the entrance of the Scorching Heat World base. Two days later, they arrived.
From the outside, the base looked like a weathered, brown eggshell. Jiang Fanxing had learned from Jia Liang that this world had only one country with a population of 5 billion. Tens of millions of survivors were a drop in the bucket compared to that. The current population of the base was just over two million, and it was likely that the base would never be fully occupied before the end of the world.
The entrance was underground. After walking through a long tunnel, they entered the subterranean world. Upon entering, Jiang Fanxing noticed the temperature dropped significantly. While it was still hot, it was comparable to the cool of the night outside. Seeing the relaxed expressions of the survivors, he knew the temperature here was comfortable.
The base was bathed in bright white light. After passing through countless identical intersections, Jiang Fanxing felt lost; he could not remember the route. Everything looked the same, distinguished only by the room numbers on the doors.
Eventually, Jia Liang and the others stopped. Jiang Fanxing asked, “Are we here?” He could see no difference between this spot and the places they had passed.
“This is where we settle the survivors. You do not live here; just follow me,” Jia Liang replied.
Jiang Fanxing nodded helplessly. When Jia Liang and the others began to get busy, he noticed that Xie Yunqing and his team were nowhere to be seen. “Jia, what about the other four?”
Jia Liang, having a spare moment, replied, “You mean Captain Xie? They have finished their mission and gone to rest.”
So that was it. Jiang Fanxing waited quietly. Ten minutes later, all the survivors had been placed in their rooms. Jia Liang led Jiang Fanxing to the residential area for the rescue team. Except for the color of the door plaque, it was identical to the survivor area.
Staring at the green door plaque, Jiang Fanxing felt personally mocked. Seeing him stare, Jia Liang joked, “Are you surprised, Jiang? The plaque is green! It really suits your performance art.”
Jiang Fanxing felt a little annoyed. He forced a stiff smile. “Yes, I like it very much.”
Jia Liang gave him some instructions and promised to apply for a heat-control suit for him, asking him to wait patiently. After bidding Jia Liang farewell, Jiang Fanxing entered his room. The room was not small, at least 30 square meters, divided into a living room and a bathroom—but no kitchen. Since the base provided standardized meals, a kitchen was unnecessary.
“110, check the room for cameras.”
“Host, no cameras detected. You may rest assured.”
Jiang Fanxing stripped off his cumbersome layers, revealing his skin and face, which had been wrapped tight for days. He let out a long breath, feeling as if he had shed ten kilograms of weight.
A few hours later, Jia Liang returned with a meal box and the heat-control suit.
“Thank you.”
He the clothes and the box lunch.
Jia Liang reminded him, “Remember to wake up early tomorrow. We are going to the town to bring those people back.”
Jiang Fanxing nodded. “I understand.”