The Journey of Resident Evil - Chapter 19 - Chaos Symphony (Part 2)

The door to the room was pushed open, and I sat up to see it was Qimeng.

“Qimeng, is your waist okay? If you push yourself too hard, it could lead to a chronic injury.”

Qimeng smiled, sat down on the edge of the bed, and said, “I’m not as tough as you. We both fell, and yet you seem completely fine. Plus, your shooting skills have improved so quickly. That’s why I’m still working hard on my rifle practice. Wei Wei told me everything about today; you really can’t stand those survivors, can you?”

I sighed and said, “I just find it troublesome, that’s all. Even if we forced those foolish people to come with us, it wouldn’t change anything. Besides, there’s something very important to me that I need to deal with now.”

Qimeng tilted her head and asked, “What’s so important? Can you tell me?”

I looked at Qimeng for a while before saying, “Not right now. This matter is too dangerous. Once the Shen Family is settled, maybe after some time, I’ll head out alone.”

Surprised by my words, Qimeng said, “You’re going out alone?! That’s too dangerous! You know what it’s like out there…”

But before she could finish her sentence, I pulled her into an embrace, nuzzling against her fragrant hair. I said, “I know, but this matter is too important to me. I have to go.”

“Then take me with you.”

“No, there are some things that I must handle alone.”

“But…”

“Alright, we’ll talk about it later.”

Qimeng pouted and got up, huffing, “What the heck!” But upon seeing the bitter expression on my face, her anger subsided considerably: “Hey, I’ll tell you a secret.”

A secret? “What secret?”

Suddenly, Qimeng pushed me down onto the bed, and I could distinctly feel the softness of her chest. She breathed hotly into my ear, “Girls like cute guys and men who know how to pamper.”

Cute guys and men who know how to pamper, huh… Lin Pengxiao must be that type, but I’m not.

A sudden wave of annoyance surged over me, and I turned my head away, saying coldly, “Sorry, neither type suits me.”

Qimeng, aware that I was thinking of Lin Pengxiao again, gave a wry smile, “There were times when neither suited you, ever since junior high school, I admit. But now it’s different. Although you often talk about trivial things, you dare to step forward when it really counts.”

“I just feel I have no choice but to act!”

…After a brief silence, Qimeng suddenly grabbed my clothes and said sternly, “I understand now, Tiankuang! I’ve always known, it’s just that I never realized it might have always been this way. No, it definitely has been. But now, I just want to be with you, no matter what we do, I’m willing!”

Looking at Qimeng’s earnest expression, I knew something was off in her words, but I didn’t want to think about what exactly was wrong. I was scared, and there were many things I couldn’t figure out. Right now, I felt like those survivors, people who don’t want to see certain things, and don’t look at them.

Qimeng pressed her forehead against mine and said softly, “Because if I don’t, I can’t live.”

I smiled helplessly and said, “I don’t know whether to be happy or angry… because your words are just too capricious.”

Qimeng’s mischievous grin widened, and she blushed and threw herself onto me, then-started pulling at my clothes: “Women are naturally capricious creatures!”

Oh my, she wasn’t planning to overthrow me stylishly, was she? No way, as a man, how could I let a woman be on top? But, just as I was about to turn the tables, Qimeng suddenly clutched her waist and cried out. Seriously, trying to do bad things before she’s even recovered from a fall… Although Qimeng was reluctant, I ended up lifting her in my arms and handing her over to Ye Ling.

The buffer zone around the Shen Family’s perimeter.

Due to the need to protect critical facilities like the power plant and water treatment plant, Shen Fei had no choice but to deploy most of the specialized guard team, leading to a severe shortage of manpower. As a result, only a few survivors were acting as temporary sentries in the buffer zone. While they were chatting distractedly, a bus, driven by Feng Hai, sped toward them, having just rammed through several zombies blocking its path. Despite the presence of concrete barriers, the speed of the bus meant it was certain to smash through and break into the Shen Family’s territory, allowing zombies to potentially flood in!

“The speed! He’s not planning to stop!”

“It looks like he’s going to crash through!”

“Stop him! Sound the alarm!”

As they scrambled to activate the alarm, the bus came to a stable halt just in front of the barrier, much to the relief of the temporary guards.

“Please, save us!” a delicate voice called out from the bus. A girl poked her head out of a window, her school uniform’s collar undone to reveal a swath of her chest, looking pitifully at the guards whose eyes were now wide open: “Uncle, we’ve escaped from our school and have nowhere else to go. Please save us.” It became apparent that this girl was the same one who had earlier suggested throwing Wang Yi off the bus.

Dazzled by the sight, the temporary guards quickly summoned a forklift to move the concrete barriers, allowing Feng Hai’s bus to enter.

Meanwhile, Qimeng and I were packing up to look for her family. Shen Wei told us her father planned to lead the survivors out of the area in two days. I had no parents, and Ye Xiang, Xueqi, and Liu Yonglin’s parents were not in the country, so they couldn’t search for them. Only Qimeng’s parents were nearby; her mother was a scientist and her father a police officer. Originally working in FZ-HOPE City, her father was transferred to Tianhang City the day before the virus outbreak, and her mother had applied for a job transfer there as well. They were in Tianhang City when the outbreak occurred, planning to bring Qimeng to safety the following day, but now… This information was shared with me by Qimeng.

Qimeng, carrying her Type 99 Sniper Rifle with a bayonet already attached, asked, “Tiankuang, are you ready?” I slung the backpack filled with essentials over my shoulder, grabbed the steel spike I got from Shen Wei, and replied with a smile, “Yes, but how’s your health? We’re just going to the Municipal Public Security Bureau to check things out. I can go by myself.”

Qimeng smiled softly and said, “Don’t be so nice to me, or I’ll feel like being spoiled.”

“If I’m not nice to you, then who else? Alright, let’s go see Uncle Shen first.”

“Okay.”

No matter what, we had to inform Shen Fei of our plans, as he was the leader here, and leaving without a word would be quite rude.

Shen Fei was in the meeting room, which had been converted into everyone’s office. Several computers were running, wires were strewn across the floor, and documents were piling up. Everyone except Shen Fei was engrossed in their work. Shen Fei only took action on significant matters; for most of the time, he gazed out the window, lost in thought. After the guard outside the door announced our presence, we were allowed into the meeting room.

After listening to Qimeng, Shen Fei raised his eyebrows and asked, “You want to find your parents? Is that the case?”

I nodded and explained, “Since Qimeng’s father, Officer Ling, is with her mother, I think if we reach the Municipal Public Security Bureau, we can find out what happened to them.”

Leaning back in his chair, propping his face with his hand, Shen Fei asked, “Once you find them, what are you planning to do? We’ll be evacuating in two days. It’s too dangerous to stay here.”

“I plan to bring them back by car. If necessary, I’ll stay there, but no matter what, I’ll stick with Qimeng. If we haven’t returned by the time of evacuation, please assume I’ve made that choice. There’s also something I need to figure out, which I’m sure you’re well aware of.”

Shen Fei narrowed his eyes, giving me a piercing look that sent a chill down my spine, but I held his gaze, needing to show my determination. After a moment, Shen Fei said calmly, “If you decide to do that, try to contact me beforehand.” Not knowing what else to say, I nodded and led Qimeng out of the meeting room.

As we left, Shen Fei glanced out the window and smiled faintly to himself, murmuring, “Old friend, your son is just like you-so devoted, so stubborn!”

After leaving the meeting room, I kept pondering how to get to the Municipal Public Security Bureau. I didn’t want to involve Ye Ling and the others, who had just escaped danger, and walking there was out of the question since I couldn’t drive a car.

As we walked across the square, avoiding the survivors still lost in their dreams, Qimeng and I subconsciously headed toward the parking lot.

“Hey, Tiankuang!”

Looking around, I noticed Ye Ling and the others were all there. I pulled Qimeng along as we approached them.

Shen Wei frowned, asking, “Are you really planning to go just the two of you?”

I understood Shen Wei’s concern, so I smiled and said, “Yes, this is something between Qimeng and me. Besides, we’re not saying goodbye forever. I’ll bring back Qimeng’s parents with us.”

Qimeng teased me with a grin, “Don’t make big promises now.”

Shen Wei glanced at both of us and said, “Alright, then. Send my regards to your uncle and aunt. As a friend, I’m giving you this vehicle as a gift!” A vehicle? Before I could think any further, Shen Wei whistled, and a monstrous vehicle roared out from the garage nearby, driven by Mr. Mechanic, who had previously told Liu Yonglin in the storage room not to play recklessly with the gun.

The unusual vehicle came to a steady stop in front of us, and Mr. Mechanic jumped off, proudly patting the body of the vehicle. He smiled and said, “Pretty great, right? I specially modified it!”

The vehicle was bizarre-dark green, with no steering wheel but a handlebar akin to a motorcycle’s. It was open-top, shaped like a boat, and resembled an ATV but had eight wheels! What on earth was this thing?

Mr. Mechanic stood with his arms crossed, boasting, “It’s an amphibious ATV-an All-Terrain Vehicle! With eight wheels, you can’t flip it even if you tried!”

“How am I supposed to drive this…?”

“Don’t worry. I heard you can ride a motorcycle, and this isn’t much different. It’s a military vehicle prototype, sturdier than any civilian car! Go on, young man, hop on and give it a try. You’ll be satisfied, guaranteed!”

“Whoosh-!”

I got into the driver’s seat and twisted the throttle, and the vehicle shot off like a wild horse. Luckily, the Shen Family property was spacious, and with the vehicle’s eight wheels, it was extremely stable, so I quickly got the hang of driving it.

I brought the ATV to a stop, climbed down, and said to Mr. Mechanic with a smile, “This is a great vehicle, sir.” Mr. Mechanic rubbed his nose and replied, “Of course it is. You can plow through those zombies with this thing, and in an emergency, it can even go into the water. Oh, and it’s best to take the water routes as much as possible. Driving too much on the roads wears down the tire’s water-resistant treads.”

As we were talking, Qimeng suddenly held her gun and ran toward the entrance of the parking lot. We looked and saw a familiar bus and an even more familiar person-Feng Hai! Feng Hai was chatting with one of Shen Fei’s assistants at that moment.

The assistant clearly recognized Feng Hai. “I never expected to help Governor Feng’s son in such a situation. It’s remarkable that you managed to escape with the students. Truly a good young man, inheriting his father’s virtues.” Feng Hai silently scoffed but replied, “It’s a teacher’s duty, after all.”

Inheriting his father’s virtues? Feng Hai kept sneering internally. Damn it, how could such a thing even exist? Indeed, when I was young, I respected the man I called father, and he even became a governor. But he betrayed my mother and me, keeping a mistress outside! In the end, my mother was so sorrowful that she drank herself to death! Yet despite all this, I still believed in something, which led me to attend the college that man chose for me. After graduation, I came to teach at TP High School in FZ-HOPE City to maintain connections. But I never realized how foolish it all was. “This place won’t be yours. I’ll let your brother handle it. You stay in FZ-HOPE City to help him,” he had said to me so heartlessly at the time. My brother? The child born in secret with his mistress!! But I didn’t resist because the man wielded too much power for me to challenge him. So I went even further to aid him, but of course, it’s all to gather leverage against him! I want to destroy this man with my own hands!

“There is a man at the Municipal Public Security Bureau in FZ-HOPE City investigating my matters. His daughter attends your school.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Have his daughter repeat a grade. He should understand then. That girl’s name is Ling Qimeng.”

“I understand.”

I bore no grudges against the man investigating my father’s affairs or his daughter, but I carried out the orders without hesitation. It was all to achieve my goal one day!!

“What do you plan to do now?” The assistant’s voice pulled Feng Hai back from his memories. “Oh, sorry, I got a bit distracted,” he replied.

“Ah, that’s alright. What do you think should be done now?”

Feng Hai’s eyes flickered as he responded, “I know things are difficult right now, but please, you must help my students. As for myself, it’s not important…”

“You really are remarkable, Mr. Feng!”

Before Feng Hai could finish, he felt a cold sensation on his neck. Qimeng had pressed a bayonet against his artery! Feng Hai turned pale at the sight of Qimeng. He could never have imagined she would be here or even have survived to reach Tianhang City-and holding a gun, no less, with a bayonet aimed at his artery! At this moment, he felt entirely helpless; any slight force from Qimeng’s hand could end his life, given the current medical conditions. So, he managed to force a stiff smile and said, “Qi-Qimeng, it’s so good to see you’re alright…”

Qimeng sneered, “Do you know why my shooting skills are so good? My father taught me. The father in the police force who always upheld an impeccable reputation, reduced to tears and apologizing to me, saying it was his fault I had to repeat a grade-because of your framing! That’s when I realized you were the one manipulating my grades. But I kept quiet because I heard that if my father succeeded in gathering evidence, they would arrest that Governor Feng! But now…” Qimeng’s hand started to tremble as the uncertain fate of her parents tormented her. Feng Hai’s neck was already lightly cut by the sharp bayonet, with a thin line of blood seeping out.

Feng Hai feigned calmness and said, “Are you planning to kill someone? As a police officer’s daughter, do you want to become a murderer?” In truth, Feng Hai was gambling on the idea that Qimeng, being the daughter of a police officer, wouldn’t go through with it.

“Who are you to say that to me?!” Qimeng was on the brink of losing control. “Then kill him!” A booming voice thundered from behind. Everyone turned to see that Shen Fei was the one who had spoken.