Chapter 317: Chapter 317: Dealing with the Aftermath
But the thing that couldn't be replaced was the casualty, as almost a fifth of the survivors were dead.
Besides a few who injured themselves while running away from the center of the field, there was not a single person who survived the attack when they were in the mutant's sight.
What's even more tragic is that the bodies of the dead were mutilated to the point that it was barely recognizable to the remaining survivors who lost their loved ones when running away.
Many of them even volunteered to help alongside the soldiers in the cleanup effort, which included creating their own loved ones' bodies.
But not a single person complained at all, as death to many of the survivors was just another day in the apocalypse, with some even viewing it as an escape from the nightmare of being alive.
---
It was six o'clock in the morning, and the cleanup effort was finally mostly done.
"Ten thousand dead in a single night from five fucking mutants... How the hell did they even get inside?"
Xiaoyun was sitting in a temporary HQ tent inside the training field, reading the records of all the damages next to Yezi.
"Some of the survivors might have been spies that were in Qingyuan a long time ago... And they waited for this exact moment to strike us."
Hearing Yezi's suggestion, Xiaoyun still couldn't get over it.
"So you're telling me they planned the entire outbreak in Qingyuan, then let them loose out from the metro.
Then they perfectly predicted that we were going to send in a rescue mission to save as many survivors as possible and sneak those spies in?"
Seeing Yezi nodding, Xiaoyun let out a loud sigh.
"But how do they turn people into mutants? There's no way that an organization already researched——"
Before Xiaoyun could finish, a soldier suddenly barged inside the room.
"Sir! We found five different syringes inside one of the tents. And they all match with people's description of where the mutants came from."
As the soldiers dropped off the bag of evidence, Xiaoyun waved to dismiss them and began carefully examining the syringes inside the clear bag.
"Look like you jinxed it...." Yezi murmured as he watched Xiaoyun hold up the clear bag.
"Yeah..."
The two sat in silence as Xiaoyun put the bag back down on the table, both looking a little defeated.
The syringes in front of them meant that the organization behind this was able to manufacture mutants.
"What's up with you two's face?"
As the two looked up, Yuqi was standing right next to the entrance of the tent with a bag.
"Sorry. I need to go for a walk for a bit." Yezi apologized as he headed outside, leaving the two inside the HQ tent.
"It's very bad... We might be doomed from the start." Xiaoyun explained as Yuqi sat down next to him.
"Doomed? Is it that bad?" Yuqi asked in concern as she put her bag on the table.
"Yes. These syringes over here are what caused ten thousand deaths in a single night."
Hearing Xiaoyun's answer, Yuqi's casual attitude immediately shifted.
"What? How did so many die?" Yuqi curiously asked.
"The five mutants last night were immune to bullets, and all the civilian guards didn't have explosives on them."
"Oh..."
As the mood darkened, Yuqi's face was much more hopeful rather than Xiaoyun's depressing look.
"Xiaoyun. It's not as bad as you might think... If they could mass-produce mutants, why haven't they just sent those mutants to us?"
Seeing Xiaoyun looking a little more hopeful, Yuqi doubled down on her idea.
"Besides, we just have to make sure we are more careful with people coming inside Luoping... Also, you don't have to worry about this happening again inside the town.
This would have never happened if everything wasn't so rushed. Think about it, babe. We would have searched all of their belongings and forced them into isolated housing.
It could have been much worse if they had held on and waited after they had passed the training field.
So, babe, it's not as bad as you think for it to happen like this——"
"Qiqi, stop. I'm fine. You don't have to try to comfort me."
Seeing Xiaoyun looking much more cheered up, Yuqi didn't speak up again.
"Anyway, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be at home resting?" Xiaoyun curiously asked.
"Um, Mom brought you a meal... She said you might be hungry for the morning. I-It's inside the bag."
Yuqi's face started blushing as her hand froze on top of the bag she brought inside the tent.
"Qiqi you——"
"Oh, I-I got to go call off everyone's break to help you deal with this. See you later, babe!"
Yuqi quickly rushed out of the tent, leaving a confused Xiaoyun in the room along with the bag.
"What's inside the bag that's making her this nervous?" Xiaoyun murmured as he opened the bag inside, only to see a small note with a lunch box.
---
Back at Xiaoyun's home...
Leyan stood in the backyard with a watering can in hand, pouring water directly onto a patch of dirt.
But her watering session was quickly interrupted as a masked figure suddenly appeared on top of the fence and hopped over it.
"Took you long enough."
Leyan slowly puts the watering can to the side as the masked figure slowly removes her face covers.
"Sorry. I couldn't leave the area without being caught."
The person before Leyan was a woman who looked barely in her twenties, apologizing to Leyan as she put her mask into her pocket.
"It's okay. Did you find any information regarding the organization?"
Leyan's voice shifted a little to the serious side, looking to the side as she picked back up the watering can.
"Yes... But it might not be accurate. I'm not sure if this is a bait or——"
Hearing the hesitation in the woman's voice, Leyan impatiently interrupted her.
"Just tell me what it is. I'll decide for myself."
The woman took out a small, clear bag that contained a small tag.
"I found this tag that noted the shop's location from the clothes they were wearing——"
"Who's they?" Leyan curiously asked.
"The five mutants that attacked last night. They all were wearing this same brand of clothes from this location."
As the woman handed the bag over to Leyan, she suddenly pulled out a knife from the side and thrust it towards Leyan's stomach.
But the woman was in complete shock as Leyan was easily able to hold the blade with her two fingers.
As Leyan threw the knife to the side, her face looked a little disappointed.
"Zi Min, why did you betray me?" Leyan asked calmly, showing zero anger towards the woman despite almost being stabbed.
"Miss I-I... I'm sorry. They have my husband hostage, and I can't disobey them."
Hearing Zi Min's excuse, Leyan's heart softened a little.
"What husband? I thought your husband died a long time ago."
Zi Min stood in silence for a short moment before deciding to confess the truth.
"They promised me they could revive my husband from the dead..."
"Revive? That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard today. Zi Min, you really disappointed me today..."
The only sound in the backyard was the leaf crackling as Zi Min waited for her punishment from Leyan.
But to her surprise, Leyan suddenly patted her on the back.
"I understand your pain... I once lost my husband, too... I would do the same if I were you. But as advice for you, sometimes it's time to move on from the past."
Seeing Leyan turn around and look the other way, Zi Min felt a sudden surge of thankfulness and guilt.
"You can go now. Go be with your husband all you want."
Zi Min stood still for a second, then quickly made up her mind as she kneeled with her head on the floor.
"Mrs.Leyan, I'm sorry. I swear I'll never try to hurt you again..."
Hearing the promise, Leyan didn't care much and simply waved for her to leave. By the time Leyan turned back around, Zi Min was already gone.
"Mom... That was so risky."
Yueyue pointed out as she emerged from the bushes a few steps away from Leyan.
"If I don't bait, then we'll never catch the fish... Anyway, you are tracking Zi Min, right?"
"Yeah. I had sent two of my best agents to follow behind her... But I felt like this was a bit too easy."
"Too easy? I could have died if I didn't react fast enough."
Seeing Leyan getting a little angry, Yueyue brain immediately realized what she said was way rude.
"My bad, my bad... Anyway Mom, how did you catch that knife with only two fingers?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure if I can repeat it... I just noticed her hand moving behind her back and moved my hand to it."