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墨書 Inktalez
Misty Morning, Cien Cemetery.
Dew clung to the smooth marble gravestone, winding down the dark surface, leaving clear trails of water that dripped down.
Song Jiu wore a solemn expression as he burned paper money and lit incense, bowing three times in reverence.
In the center of the gravestone, the name “Ginger River” was engraved in seal script. The dates of birth and death were carved in the lower right corner, with no photograph, no porcelain likeness, and no biography.
Last night, the siblings had talked throughout the night. To be precise, it was Song Yao who spoke while Song Jiu listened. From the beginning of the disaster to their reunion, she recounted everything, her words flowing until dawn broke. In truth, Song Yao had little to share; she had slept through three winters, and most of her stories revolved around that initial half-year.
From the sweltering August to the biting cold of winter.
Song Jiu had always thought that he had endured enough hardships over these three years, accumulating enough blood and tears. However, after listening to his sister's recounting throughout the night, he suddenly realized how incredibly fortunate he still was. Perhaps it was because he had fewer emotional ties that the pain of life and death felt less piercing.
Song Yao had traveled from the ancient city to Shanxi, passing through the Gobi Desert and then to the vast ocean. During this time, Song Jiu wandered around the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. He had been studying in Beijing, where the imperial city fell completely by late October. Initially, many troops were stationed there; although they retreated step by step, they managed to hold on for several months, giving many Survivors a chance to escape. When Song Yao was trapped in China Zun Building, Song Jiu had just met Dream Fan, ending his solitary journey and beginning to gather people to flee into the mountains.
During those days, everyone brushed past one another—each other and life and death; whether it was a glance back or a turn away; years later, it became increasingly difficult to meet again.
Song Jiu believed he had long forged a heart of iron and stone, but when he saw the cold gravestone before him, his nose involuntarily tinged with sorrow. Three years ago, what kind of conviction had sustained this young man of similar age as he journeyed alone through the bitter winter with a sleeping girl back to the ancient city?
“When I opened my eyes again, what I saw was him lying in eternal slumber. Can you understand how I felt at that moment?”
Last night, when Song Yao asked this with swollen eyes, Song Jiu couldn’t help but shed tears as well. Who could understand her feelings besides Song Yao herself? For her, the last glimpse in her memory was from a hundred meters high amidst fierce wind and snow when she told him to “wait for me.” Yet Ginger River could not wait for her; it was just a fleeting glance that separated them forever.
Song Yao had once held onto hope; since she and Luci awakened after winter, why couldn’t Ginger River? She had persisted through despair and breakdowns; it was all in vain. The anguish of the living could not bring back lost lives. That body which had never been robust grew cold at last; his heart stopped beating, and he drew no more breath—just like those companions who fell along the way—lightly departing without being able to catch up or hold on.
He was fortunate; at least he could return home in spirit.
He was unfortunate, separated from the two by just one night.
Ming Junwei told Song Yao that Ginger River, even on his deathbed, remained full of hope. He firmly believed that his Yao Yao would wake up. He struggled to capture the final moments of his life in those opening eyes, but ultimately he could not withstand the swift passage of life. The endless night and the dawn were merely a moment apart; one pair of eyes opened while another closed, as time shifted and the world changed.
Song Yao did not let Ginger River down. She persevered through her grief, found the nearest cemetery, and buried him there.
Song Yao knew he was a person who loved liveliness, so she filled many empty graves beside him, allowing the companions who had once walked alongside him to still hold hands in the afterlife. She wanted to build the Tomb of Attire, but aside from memories, it seemed there was no evidence left in the world that those companions had ever been there.
Spring Breeze and Summer Rain came and went, autumn faded into winter, year after year, age after age. In Ruined City, grass grew three feet high while hearts hung empty for several years.
The dead were already gone; those who lived still needed to carry on.
After a night of catharsis that untangled many knots in her heart, Song Yao felt a sense of relief. Standing before the tombstone, her heart was no longer filled with sorrow but instead warmed by a flicker of comfort.
Morning light poured down, illuminating the stone tablet with a dazzling golden glow, casting hazy shadows.
"Let's go back."
"Okay."
Roundabout, Fan Bar.
Cyclops and Four-Eyed were seated in a booth discussing something. The hall was quiet; Big Yellow Dog curled up at the door soaking up the sun while Tabby Cat led a litter of Kittens snuggling in Yellow Dog's embrace for a nap. People came and went; everything was as usual.
The Song siblings walked into the bar just as Yinuo came running down from the second floor with two bowls of food in hand. She mixed them together and placed them in front of the Mascot at the entrance. Noticing that both of their faces were not looking good, she didn’t say much but greeted them before dashing off to Seafood Restaurant where Chef Jia was preparing breakfast. With nothing else to do, Yinuo planned to learn some culinary skills while sneaking a bite to eat.
" Brother Jiu."
"Yao Yao."
The five of them called the two over in unison, their expressions indicating that they were discussing something serious.
"You look like you haven't rested well," Ming Junwei said, noticing the dark circles under their eyes. He sighed and added, "Why don't you take a nap? We can talk at noon."
"It's nothing serious," Song Yao gently shook her head, curiosity evident in her voice. "What's going on?"
"Nothing for now, but it might change later," Ming Junwei pointed to Liu Yan and Song Jiu. "Your brother has quite a bit of information. We've been active less these past few years, and our intel has fallen behind."
"What do you mean?" Song Yao asked.
"The people from the Gobi Desert," Ming Junwei replied, cigarette in hand, smirking slightly. "They have some big ambitions."
Ming Junwei discussed many topics with Liu Yan, including some changes that had occurred at their previous camp. One particular issue piqued his interest: the 'Zombie' circle theory proposed by Chef Jia and her team.
"Zombie" was a new term circulating among Survivors over the past two years. Ming Junwei and his group had been at the center of the storm and understood the so-called "Zombies" better than most. Not to mention, Song Yao and Luci were among the first to be injected. After that harsh winter, everything seemed to settle down; Zombies continued to roam while Survivors struggled on. The tumultuous times of The Establishment and RCA gradually faded from people's memories as civilization began a long process of reconstruction. Survivors scattered across various regions worked hard to adapt to new environments and rules. Besides the threat of Zombies, the biggest issue became the competition for resources.
As far as Ming Junwei knew, aside from Roundabout and Gaoyang Division, there were at least two or three other Survivor camps in this area. However, they rarely communicated with each other; everyone was living their own lives as long as there were no conflicts—this was considered harmony. In such circumstances, few people focused on matters beyond survival. Ming Junwei wasn't particularly concerned about rumors; he knew the people from Gobi Desert were dangerous, so he chose to keep a low profile—everyone minding their own business was best. However, Gaoyang couldn't resist the urge for interaction; they sought contact with Zombies wandering through various regions and successfully marketed themselves into this brand-new third group.
To this day, Ming Junwei and his group remained unaware of the true intentions of those from Gobi Desert. They had never received any real answers or truths regarding the Zombie disaster that erupted three years ago and the impending threat of another Zombie crisis. It seemed similar yet somehow different until Liu Yan proposed the "circle theory," which finally sparked an epiphany in Ming Junwei.
History always repeats itself; dynasties fall, eras change, and those at the top continue to repeat what others have done before them, tirelessly.
"So, your judgment is that they are purposefully dividing the area, creating a stable production line through pig farming, and then rolling outwards like a snowball to radiate to more places, ultimately completing..." Ming Junwei scratched his ear, suddenly at a loss for words. After pondering for a while, he tentatively said, "Completing the establishment of an empire or something?"
Liu Yan remained noncommittal, shrugging his shoulders. "What it will ultimately form is hard to say, but from what we can see now, they are indeed doing just that."
"Did you have any countermeasures at that time?" Ming Junwei asked.
"I thought of some strategies, but unfortunately, they were declared a failure before I could implement them." Song Jiu took a sip from the bottle Ming Junwei handed him and sighed. "I had planned to send people to search for nearby stations, but I didn't expect them to act so quickly."
"Contact other breeding grounds?" Ming Junwei raised an eyebrow, somewhat curious. "That's quite bold; going head-on."
"It was forced." Song Jiu said helplessly. "At that time, I had just settled into the new camp, nestled between mountains and water, not any worse than yours, Roundabout. How could I bear to pack up and leave?"
"That's true; I wouldn't leave either." Ming Junwei nodded in agreement, his gaze drifting towards Song Yao with a hint of admiration.
"It seems this place isn't safe anymore; those people won't allow an independent Survivor camp within their territory." Song Jiu felt somewhat uneasy. With one sister and one brother by his side, both so-called injected bodies, it didn't feel right to call out old Zombies.
After Song Jiu finished speaking, there was an awkward silence. This was the reality before them; combining information from both sides along with Gaoyang over there made it strange for Roundabout to remain secure in one corner.
After a long pause, Ming Junwei slowly spoke up. "Xiao Jiu, you need to make a decision."
"Oh?" Song Jiu raised an eyebrow and soon understood what he meant. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Rationally speaking, I don't recommend holding this place, but this location holds significant meaning for you all, so I can understand." He paused and glanced at the gentle-faced Song Yao before continuing, "I guess my sister definitely wouldn't want to give this up; as her brother, I certainly won't leave her behind."
"Xiao Jiu, the situation is different now; you are the leader of the team. You should consider multiple aspects." Song Yao's voice remained soft as she gently said, "I've gone through life and death many times with Brother Ming and others; it's inevitable that we've weathered storms together. Your team members should also have their own plans; there's no need to force anyone."
"Don't worry about that; staying or leaving is up to them. I've never forced anyone." Song Jiu understood his sister's good intentions and smiled as he said, "My experience dealing with those people isn't as rich as yours, but I've managed to survive in this world until today—don't underestimate your brother."
"Alright, since you put it that way, I won't say much more." Ming Junwei raised his bottle and clinked it with Song Jiu's, smiling as he said, "Last night was a welcome gathering, and today we officially welcome you to Roundabout. From now on, we are truly one family."
Song Jiu clinked glasses with him and forced a smile. "From today on, I guess I'm the Second Route Marshal."
"No," Ming Junwei replied seriously. "That's also what I wanted to say. We may have to face their crazy retaliation together. You and I operate differently, and in the short term, we might not mesh well. Your people will still be led by you; that way, we can maximize our combat effectiveness."
"I have no objections. I barely have anyone left under my command," Song Jiu said, smacking his lips and sighing. He then asked, "Since the decision has been made, do you have any plans? Their movements are quite rapid. I just entered the city the night before last, and they attacked yesterday morning. Even though they clearly lost many personnel at the riverbank, within just a couple of days, they had another group ready. Their mobility and firepower are far superior to ours."
"Moreover, they retreated for some unknown reason yesterday; it wasn't because we drove them away," Liu Yan added at a crucial moment. "From what I know about her, unless there's something more serious to deal with or a new mission arises, she wouldn't back down when she has the upper hand."
"Speaking of this matter, I want to ask a question first." Ming Junwei suddenly furrowed his brow in confusion. "You mentioned something similar yesterday; do you really know those people well?"
Song Jiu recalled Liu Yan's words to the Blonde Woman that night at the camp and found it not too surprising. He simply explained, "They used to be colleagues."
"What?" Ming Junwei and Song Yao's expressions changed dramatically; they were quite shocked.
Liu Yan adjusted his glasses on his nose, maintaining a calm demeanor as he stared at Ming Junwei for a moment before saying lightly, "Actually, we met at Launch Base; it's just that you don't remember me."
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