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In the Buddha Hall, a quiet tension filled the air as Song Jiu's resonant voice lingered, leaving the gathered crowd exchanging glances, each displaying a different expression.
Huihui, now the center of attention, felt a bit awkward. She touched her cheek nervously and forced a dry smile, softly saying, "As long as I can help..."
Suddenly, Yuan An, sitting beside her, interrupted her with a hint of hesitation and displeasure in his tone. Looking at Song Jiu, he said, "Huihui is not a bargaining chip."
"That may not sound pleasant, but it's the truth," Song Jiu replied, unfazed by Yuan An's emotions. He waved his hand dismissively and continued, "I understand your concerns. I assure you that Huihui will not come to any harm."
Song Yao and Jin Bo seemed somewhat out of sorts today; they appeared to be mulling over Song Jiu's earlier words. Only Wu Wentao's eyes lit up with understanding as he nodded in agreement and murmured, "So, we should start preparing for the sea expedition."
Luci analyzed the situation carefully and found it to be a feasible plan. However, there were numerous issues to address. The matter of going out to sea could be entrusted to Jin Bo, but in the vast ocean—who knew where The Establishment was? Moreover, no one was clear about The Establishment's current stance or capabilities. Even if they had the power to confront Gobi Desert, how could this group persuade them? Did they really think holding onto Huihui would suffice? It seemed rather unrealistic.
Dr. Zhong, who had been silent until now, cleared his throat to draw their attention and said seriously, "Let me say a few words. Before the incident occurred, I discovered some issues in the laboratory that I haven't had the chance to tell you about."
The group fell silent again as they resumed their hushed discussions. So much had happened in the past couple of days that most had forgotten the original purpose behind Roundabout's drastic renovations. However, upon Dr. Zhong's mention, curiosity sparked among them as they began to speculate about new discoveries in the lab. Chef Jia and a few others who had received prior information seemed to recall something significant at his words.
Dr. Zhong coughed lightly and remarked, "Thanks to Liu Yan before your departure; she asked me to find a way to test for Acid Rain. With some free time on my hands, I conducted an analysis and found..." He paused for effect and glanced at Wu Wentao before continuing, "I discovered that rainwater contains Powdered Zombie Virus. I discussed this with Old Tian and Jia Jia; we all agreed it must be the work of those individuals."
"What does Powdered Virus mean?"
The group's reaction mirrored that of Chef Jia and her companions earlier—shock mixed with confusion. They seemed to grasp something yet struggled to fully understand.
Dr. Zhong organized his thoughts and translated many technical terms into layman's language: "To put it simply, someone has used certain methods to decompose and recombine liquid virus samples to create a new type of virus—what I just referred to as Powdered Virus. I compared it with the original liquid; Powdered Virus is more contagious. Unlike becoming a zombie through bites or scratches, this powder spreads through the air; rainfall is one such method of transmission. Whether through skin contact or respiratory exposure, infection can occur."
"The hospital's sudden crisis stems from this issue. Some individuals came into contact with Acid Rain and developed symptoms that would normally be manageable; however, the medical conditions couldn't control the situation effectively. Pulmonary Edema has a high mortality rate under such circumstances. Although people died from illness, they were already infected by Powdered Virus before death, leading to subsequent transformations."
The Buddha Hall fell into a profound silence once more. Even Song Yao and Wu Wentao were left stunned by this unexpected revelation.
Powdered Virus Airborne Transmission
"Are you saying that being infected by the Powdered Virus won't lead to immediate death, but after death, there will be a transformation into a corpse?" Luci widened her eyes, a chill rising within her. Last time, Roundabout conducted a nationwide health check, and aside from a few Zombies showing no obvious abnormalities, everyone else was confirmed to be infected.
"It seems to be the case," Dr. Zhong adjusted his glasses and continued, "In fact, if the virus is ingested in its raw form, it also won't cause immediate death. Most of the transformations we've observed are due to injuries inflicted by Zombies, transmitted through their bites. The injuries caused by Zombies are not just viral infections; they also involve many pathogenic toxins that can be fatal, such as common symptoms like fever and vomiting. These are merely the onset symptoms, but the virus catalyzes the absorption and spread of these toxins. So there is a distinction between the two."
"What the hell?" Jin Bo was confused, looking at Song Yao and the others, who seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation.
"We've all been infected with the Infected Virus," Song Jiu shrugged and briefly explained what had happened. Halfway through, as if recalling something, she asked, "What do you mean by airborne transmission? Does that mean the entire city is now filled with the virus?"
"I don't know," Dr. Zhong replied apologetically. "We haven't had time for further tests or analyses; for now, it's mostly speculation. Airborne transmission would first require human release. Old Tian believes it could be through artificial rain, but I don't think so. The cost of artificial rain is too high and its coverage isn't extensive enough; what happened with Roundabout should be considered an accident."
"So what does that mean?" Jin Bo still didn't understand and frowned as he asked, "Are you saying that all of you are now virus carriers?"
"Yes, if we die, remember to finish us off," said the graduate student with a hint of helplessness in his eyes, making a rather unamusing joke.
"Dr. Zhong, please continue," Song Yao pondered over his words and felt that Dr. Zhong must have a specific purpose in bringing this up.
Dr. Zhong carefully chose his words before looking up and saying, "I agree with Song Jiu's plan. First of all, we have Huihui, who carries the Antibody. If we can mass-produce the Antibody Vaccine, the threat from Zombies will significantly decrease. Additionally, the research on new viruses by the other party is definitely purposeful. If airborne transmission is valid, then it wouldn't matter whether one hides in remote mountains or distant islands; it would be futile. The virus currently appears to be in a dormant state, but I can't confirm whether there will be later effects. From any perspective, this is a new wave of destruction and slaughter; there's no reason for The Establishment to continue hiding."
"So now it's not about capital; The Establishment should have the capability to set up laboratories, and we have the Antibody. As long as The Establishment isn't completely out of their minds, they won't refuse cooperation." The more Song Jiu thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Dr. Zhong's words were spot on; the virus creators had already forced all Survivors into opposition through their actions. While one could evade Zombies, how could one escape from airborne threats? In such circumstances, if they didn't rise up to fight back, they might as well find a crooked tree to hang themselves from.
"Is there any evidence?" Song Yao asked with a furrowed brow.
"Well, you mentioned the Powder Virus" Dr. Zhong paused for a moment upon seeing Song Yao nodding in agreement. He smiled confidently and opened a nearby medical kit, retrieving a slender sealed culture preservation test tube. It appeared empty inside the transparent test tube.
Dr. Zhong noticed the puzzled expressions on everyone's faces and realized his mistake. He awkwardly explained, "Powdery is just an adjective; it doesn't mean it's something you can see under a microscope like flour."
"Sister, didn't you have contact with The Establishment? What were those people like? I heard your friend is there too, so it should be fine, right?" Song Jiu had a rough idea and vaguely recalled Ming Junwei mentioning this topic before. He asked, "It's been several years; can your friend play a role in this?"
"That's hard to say," Song Yao shrugged helplessly. The only ones who managed to leave safely back then were Zeng Yadong and Tan. One was indifferent to everything, and the other was just a little girl. In an environment like The Establishment, which resembled warlord factions, it was already good enough for them to live their lives in peace.
"What do you mean? Are we set on going to find The Establishment?" With Fang Fei's explanation, Jin Bo finally understood the focus of the discussion.
"I have no objections." Wu Wentao extinguished his cigarette, making his stance clear with those four words. Initially, he had planned to collaborate with Ming Junwei on vaccine development, but that was clearly no longer feasible. They had suffered significant personnel losses, and Jin Bo's territory was far out at sea. It would be too difficult to gather equipment and personnel for independent development. Moreover, their influence was limited; Kenny's reach was extending further and further. Continuing to hide was not a solution. To confront this giant named Kenny, The Establishment was their only way forward—provided that the organization still existed.
"Alright, let's go to your place to regroup." After some thought, Song Yao realized there was no better option. She furrowed her brow and asked, "Did Shaoshan leave you any information about the location of The Establishment's island?"
"Yes," Jin Bo nodded. That coordinate had been his only hope back then. Later, as the situation improved, he managed to land and, with Ye Qingmei's help, created a relatively accurate Sea Chart. Unfortunately, due to certain reasons, he had never been able to attempt a visit.
Sure enough, Luci immediately asked curiously, "If you have the coordinates, why haven't you gone to find Dongdong? Don't you have a boat?"
Jin Bo's face flushed red as he stammered, "I do have a boat—a kayak or an assault boat—but getting to The Establishment in the Spratly Islands is really beyond my capabilities."
Wu Wentao let out an inappropriate laugh, his expression strange as he asked, "Where is your island?"
"Near Zhoushan," Jin Bo replied sullenly while glancing at him.
Wu Wentao raised an eyebrow and nodded thoughtfully, muttering, "No wonder; trying to reach Spratly by kayak is indeed impossible. I remember many boats were stranded in Bohai Bay; why not switch?"
"No one knows how to drive a boat, and we have no idea where to get fuel," Jin Bo said, rolling his eyes. "There is a small boat, but it's broken."
Song Jiu silently observed everyone's reactions. Seeing that no one had anything more to say, he declared, "Then it's settled. Let's prepare to set off. Without a vehicle, it will be difficult to leave the city if the zombies gather."
"It's over a thousand kilometers to Zhoushan. We definitely need a vehicle," Wu Wentao said, lowering his eyelids and sighing regretfully. "It's a pity the train was destroyed; it would have saved us a lot of effort."
"That's easy enough to solve. We found a few gas stations on the way," Jin Bo replied, noticing that everyone had agreed on the plan. He turned to Fang Fei and asked a few questions. "It's not too far; if we walk, it should take at most two days."
"Is there any dissent?" Song Jiu asked when he noticed his sister seemed hesitant to speak up. He frowned and pressed, "Is there a problem?"
"Can we wait another two days?" Song Yao bit her lip lightly and exchanged glances with Luci. "Just one more day."
Everyone was puzzled; given the current situation, time was of the essence. Song Yao surely understood this—what was she still hesitating about?
Song Jiu's eyes flickered as if he had thought of something. "Alright, everyone can rest today and prepare some food and drinks. We'll set off tomorrow morning."
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