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The girl was momentarily stunned, slightly dazed as she turned to Ming Junwei. When their eyes met, she froze, staring for a long time. A layer of mist covered her dazed eyes, and tears streamed down her face.
"Brother Ming."
Ming Junwei rushed forward, shouldering aside the Field Duty who held the chains. His hands trembled as he supported Yinuo's arm, lifting her heavy bangs. His rough hand brushed over the shocking scars on her face, and he clenched his teeth in anger.
"What happened here?" Ming Junwei turned his head, his eyes filled with fury.
Su Lan opened her mouth but found herself speechless, equally bewildered as she looked at the Field Duty with confusion. "Are you abusing the workers?"
The two Field Duty members' expressions changed drastically as they shook their heads repeatedly, explaining, "It's not our fault; they did this to themselves."
Su Lan stepped forward to block the furious Ming Junwei and whispered, "Don't make a scene here; let's take her away first."
After several deep breaths, Ming Junwei endured his anger and finally released his tightly clenched fists.
Seeing this, the Field Duty members didn't dare say much more. Following the principle of avoiding trouble, they unlocked Yinuo's chains and handed her over to Su Lan.
Throughout the ordeal, Yinuo remained silent, tears streaming down her face. Her gaze towards Ming Junwei seemed dreamlike, as if she couldn't believe that the leader of Roundabout had come to save her from her suffering.
Under the eaves of reality, even though Ming Junwei was seething with rage, he couldn't let it out. Once Su Lan had arranged everything properly, they took the dazed Yinuo back to the car and left the eerie atmosphere of the Industrial Zone. The tension in Yinuo's mind finally snapped; she burst into tears and threw herself into Ming Junwei's arms.
Su Lan sat in front, feeling a mix of emotions as she watched Ming Junwei comforting the girl through the rearview mirror. There was confusion in her eyes, along with a sense of apology.
Ming Junwei didn't rush to ask questions; he gently patted Yinuo's thin back. Through the collar of her poorly made clothes, he saw that her back was also covered in healed scars. He closed his eyes in pain, unable to bear looking any longer. What had Yinuo endured during the two months since Roundabout fell?
The girl in his arms cried for a long time; eventually, her turbulent emotions began to settle. She sobbed softly, trembling uncontrollably, which tugged at his heartstrings.
Ming Junwei sighed deeply as he comforted Yinuo in his embrace. He glanced at Su Lan, who signaled him to speak up.
"Ming Ge will take you home; don't cry." Ming Junwei exhaled and took the tissue Su Lan offered him to wipe away her tears. He quietly asked, "What happened to your injuries?"
Yinuo cried harder, gasping for breath as she shook her head, seemingly unwilling to discuss it further.
After a long silence, Yinuo lifted her face, her voice tinged with tears. "I thought everyone was dead because of me. If I hadn't gone to the train station, no one would have been ambushed."
"Foolish girl," Ming Junwei gently interrupted her self-reproach, comforting her. "It's not your fault. Everyone is fine; no one is hurt."
"Xiao Ming," Su Lan suddenly spoke from the front seat. "You need to step outside for a moment."
"What?"
"Just go out for a bit." Su Lan shot him a glance and whispered, "I need to check on her injuries, Young Lady."
Ming Junwei understood and nodded. He softly reassured Yinuo before turning and slipping out of the vehicle. He stood by the side of the car, lit a cigarette, and squinted at the gray, oppressive buildings in the distance.
After a while, Su Lan came out, her eyes filled with apology. "It's nothing serious; she just needs some time to recover."
"Aso?" Ming Junwei frowned, about to ask something when Su Lan waved her hand to interrupt.
"I asked around; it wasn't Field Duty's doing," Su Lan sighed and explained. "It was those workers' fault. I didn't expect it to turn out like this."
"What do you mean?" Ming Junwei paused, realizing something.
"Field Duty was only responsible for supervision; it was a conflict among the workers." Su Lan's expression was strange, as if she didn't know how to describe it. After hesitating for a moment, she sighed again. "It's my responsibility for not managing the work area properly."
Ming Junwei stood there in shock, vaguely understanding what Su Lan meant, his face displaying an unusual expression.
Su Lan took half a cigarette from his hand with a sigh and relayed what Yinuo had just said to Ming Junwei.
The situation was much like Ming Junwei had guessed; the so-called workers' dormitory was indeed no different from a prison. Unlike prisons that separated men and women, here they lived together. Kenny's rules and systems allowed the city to function smoothly, and the distribution of armed forces ensured internal and external harmony. However, on the Survivor side, there were still oversights.
Su Lan referred to it as an oversight, but Ming Junwei knew that according to Kenny's nature, it was likely intentional.
The Survivor workers here were essentially slaves under the watchful eyes of Field Duty's guns, reduced to mere cogs in a massive machine. They had no freedom, no compensation, no future—only the monotonous routine of daily labor: dull, tedious, grueling, exhausting. Their efforts earned them only three meals a day and basic clothing; beyond that, they had nothing at all.
The adaptability of humans is remarkable. Under immense pressure, the Survivors gradually accepted their fate of enslavement. The Field Duty left them powerless to resist, with towering walls isolating them from the Zombies, cutting off their freedom. Those with sharp edges perished, and those who remained were naturally unwilling to die. They adapted to the monotonous work, accepted their lowly status, and adjusted to the living conditions here. Eventually, their true nature reignited; the law of the jungle reemerged under the shackles.
Having lost their will to resist, even a large number of them became like scattered sand. Though they were all enslaved, there was no unity or mutual support among them, no shared hatred for their oppressors. The Field Duty and Zombies were formidable foes, but the Survivors had their own ways of coping. Discontent never vanished among social animals, especially in human crowds. Even though everyone was shackled, if someone was living better than them, that simply could not stand.
Gradually, small groups began to form among the Survivors. Friction arose between different regions, and petty disputes became outlets for grievances. In the workplace where Field Duty was present, the Survivors dared not act recklessly. However, within the confines of the great prison where Field Duty was less vigilant, after several tests of resolve, the Survivors began to sense the limits of Field Duty's oversight; as long as no one died, they were largely ignored.
Thus, a new order emerged among the slaves.
Ming Junwei sighed deeply. At that moment, he suddenly understood Su Lan; such people would only turn on each other if placed outside. Rather than waste them, it was indeed better to make use of them—though it was unfortunate for others like Yinuo, who truly suffered from unwarranted calamities, entering a tiger's den only to fall into a wolf's lair.
Among the Survivors' divisions emerged groups led by leaders. Zombie City thrived on resources supplied by these groups while internal conflicts over meager resources began to escalate.
The guards of Field Duty were themselves ruthless thugs; as long as operations ran smoothly and work wasn't delayed, they were happy to watch the drama unfold. Like animal keepers watching monkeys fight in cages, they would munch on snacks while enjoying the spectacle. Only when things got out of hand and blood was shed would they step in to break it up and scold those involved. The Field Duty personnel found their time here rather dull; entertainment served as a distraction.
Moreover, the small leaders within these groups employed every trick in the book. While Zombies could only be avoided or fought off for resources like food and firewood, Field Duty personnel were different—they could understand human speech. Although they held life-and-death power over others, they also possessed resources that the Survivors coveted.
For instance, cigarettes and strong liquor.
Zombie City was operating smoothly and methodically. The slaves in the great prison followed in their predecessors' footsteps, reinterpreting prison rules here. Field Duty needed only to offer a few cigarettes or milliliters of fine liquor or occasionally bring in some food and supplies from outside; these small favors symbolized privilege and honor within the great prison and could be exchanged for simple things.
The most common exchange involved women. The gender ratio in the great prison was relatively balanced; however, women who managed to stand out were still few.
The city was bustling with activity; although various street shops had reopened, the ancient flesh trade had yet to reemerge. The Field Duty personnel lived day by day without any thought for tomorrow; few married or had children during their prime years. Regardless of gender, physiological needs could not be neglected. As they watched the city gradually normalize while ordinary citizens indulged in pleasures daily, these pioneers felt somewhat psychologically unbalanced as they lived like ascetics.
The Industrial Zone had strict regulations prohibiting guards from abusing prisoners to ensure factory operations ran smoothly; thus, Field Duty adhered to these standards without crossing any lines.
However, it couldn't be considered abuse if a Survivor voluntarily offered themselves.
So far in the city, life remained bland and uneventful while flesh trading had already taken shape in the great prison. Although what was given did not equate to what was received in return, both parties achieved their goals and found satisfaction—a state of harmony prevailed.
In such circumstances, Yinuo—who had been captured—naturally fell into misfortune.
Witnessing countless companions fall and the painstakingly built Roundabout reduced to ashes, Yinuo felt disheartened and numb to the fate that awaited her. Faced with the isolated city of Gobi, she had been shocked before, but when given a choice by E, Yinuo resolutely refused, leading to her imprisonment in a large prison.
Alone, the girl sank into despair; her indifference and unwillingness to compromise dragged her deeper into the abyss. Compared to the threats posed by Zombies, the malice from her own kind was evidently a greater test.
The torment Yinuo endured in the prison over the past two months need not be elaborated upon here; her wounds were raw and bloody. Ming Junwei did not wish to examine them closely. Fortunately, at this moment, Yinuo was free from suffering, and Ming Junwei had no time to consider anything else.
"I can arrange for a doctor to take a look at her."
After a long silence, Su Lan looked up at Ming Junwei and said softly, "Make sure she's alright so we can travel with peace of mind."
"Yes, thank you." Ming Junwei did not refuse Su Lan's kindness. She had already guaranteed their safe departure, and now he was left with nothing. If Yinuo were injured or ill, he would truly be at a loss.
Perhaps worried that Ming Junwei might do something irrational, Su Lan abandoned the idea of settling them in the city and turned back toward the opulent Shanzhai Palace.
Kenny and Old Yang were both absent; the vast hall was silent and remained as it was when they left.
Su Lan instructed Field Duty to take Yinuo downstairs to the Medical Office. After returning to her office and arranging various matters, she prepared a vehicle for Ming Junwei along with essential supplies for their journey.
Ming Junwei sat across from her, quietly watching her with mixed emotions swirling within him. He asked himself if this place was indeed good; it had everything he had imagined and could truly be a place for new beginnings.
If Yinuo was not seriously injured, they would leave this desolate Lonely City in half an hour. Ming Junwei pondered where they should go next; Roundabout seemed like a destination. Before he and Hou Xiong left, they had completely sealed off the bank storing supplies at Roundabout. Song Yao and the others had left in such haste that Wu Wentao brought many military rations that were still stacked there in boxes—plenty of compressed food that wouldn’t spoil anytime soon.
The explosion had destroyed the hospital laboratory they intended to build, but other buildings were only slightly affected. Returning to tidy things up wouldn’t pose much of a problem for daily living. If worse came to worst, there was also Lin Daozhang's temple. Ming Junwei had visited it once and saw Song Yao's message; it was large with a well—a decent place indeed.
Leaning back in his chair, Ming Junwei stared at the screen wall, lost in thought and somewhat disordered. Whether it was Roundabout or the temple, it was just him and Yinuo left; even Cats and Dogs were gone. How would they live now?
Having arranged many matters, Su Lan noticed Ming Junwei's forlorn expression and gently asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing." Ming Junwei forced a smile and sighed, "Thank you for everything you've done."
"We're friends; there's no need to be so formal." Su Lan smiled back. Regardless of what happened last night, with parting imminent, there was more reluctance than anything else.
As time goes by, reunions become fewer and farewells more frequent. With a turn of the head and a brush of shoulders, years pass, and the next meeting remains uncertain.
The atmosphere of parting grew heavier, and both felt a twinge of sadness. They exchanged silent glances, their smiles tinged with bitterness.
After a moment of silence, Ming Junwei sat up, raised an eyebrow, and looked past Su Lan, his gaze landing on the wall. Curiously, he said, "That one is jumping."
"Ah?" Su Lan was taken aback, thinking he was about to say something about their farewell, but instead he uttered this puzzling remark.
"That screen." Ming Junwei pointed with his chin toward her back. "The screen is jumping."
Su Lan hurriedly turned around to look. Indeed, the fluorescent surveillance screen facing the city gate was flickering as if a strong wind had swept through, making it hard to see clearly. Just as she was about to take a closer look, the image flashed several times and then went black.
Staring at the pitch-black screen, Su Lan was stunned for a moment before hesitantly saying, "I think I saw..."
"Zombies," Ming Junwei replied solemnly, finishing her thought.
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