Chapter 34: Underground City
The outer district was large, not smaller than the human residential areas enclosed by the barrier.
Moreover, there were no laws or regulations there. Many criminals who had nowhere to hide would find ways to smuggle themselves into the outer district.
Once inside the outer district, changing names and appearances could make one as hard to find as a drop of water in the ocean.
The mobility within the outer district was also high; many people did not stay in one place for long, making it unlikely to run into someone familiar.
When Yu Yan read the message from Lu Qiufeng, his first reaction was to think that Lu Qiufeng was trying to deceive him.
He imagined that if he replied with “How is 012 doing now?” Lu Qiufeng would immediately send a mocking reply, saying something like “Still pretending not to care, I knew you were just putting on a brave face.”
Considering their previous verbal disputes and grudges, this seemed very plausible.
Thus, Yu Yan repeatedly checked the terminal for that message but ultimately did not reply, pretending he had not seen it.
He did not respond, and Lu Qiufeng did not send any further related messages, making the message seem more like a whimsical joke.
Compared to Lu Qiufeng’s joke, Zhou Sheqing, who was determined to make trouble for him, was much more troublesome.
The Kang family quickly sent him an ultimatum, demanding that he return by the weekend in a week to discuss the marriage arrangement with the Zhou family.
It was clear that Zhou Sheqing, who had said she would give Yu Yan time to consider, had already informed the Kang family in advance.
Yu Yan had previously used his illness as an excuse to decline meetings with the Kang family, which had annoyed them. It was easy to foresee that if he refused again, the Kang family would take action.
For instance, they might seize his house, car, and other assets to use as leverage against him.
Fortunately, the salary of a senior researcher was not low, so it was enough for him to rent another place if needed.
But if the Kang family could jeopardize his job as well, he would have to consider going to seek refuge with his junior.
On the morning of the second day, when Yu Yan woke up, he found an unread message on his terminal from Lu Qiufeng.
[Help me, I’m in Rainbow]
It appeared to be a distress signal, and judging by Lu Qiufeng’s usual habit of punctuating messages precisely, this seemed like an incomplete message.
Checking the timestamp, it was from the previous night.
If it was indeed a call for help, the person might already be beyond saving.
Attempts to contact Lu Qiufeng were in vain, with only prolonged silence in response.
Early that morning, the junior researchers at the Evolution Research Institute saw Kang Shi, who usually arrived punctually, storming into the institute and heading straight for Deputy Director Yang Qingxi’s office.
Deputy Director Yang was in charge of the collection team, and with Lu Qiufeng, who was on the team, suspected to be in trouble, it was only natural to seek Yang’s intervention.
“Actually, we lost contact with the collection team yesterday. They were supposed to report their progress daily.”
Deputy Director Yang did not conceal anything and informed Yu Yan about the team’s loss of contact.
“Given that this has happened before, when a team lost signal due to deep exploration into the wasteland, we didn’t take immediate action. We planned to try contacting them again today.”
After reviewing the information provided by Yu Yan, Deputy Director Yang’s expression grew serious: “From the message you received, it seems they may have encountered danger. The institute will have to intervene.”
“Xiao Kang, you should head back for now. I will arrange another team to investigate the situation.”
Yu Yan did not leave. He said, “Director Yang, I want to join the investigation team to search for Lu Qiufeng in the outer district.”
Deputy Director Yang did not immediately agree or disagree but asked curiously, “When did you and Lu Qiufeng become so close that you’re willing to risk going to the outer district for him?”
Yu Yan thought to himself: Well, when it comes to saving lives, even acquaintances should pitch in.
Lu Qiufeng had previously gotten involved in researching a virus medication, and now Yu Yan had to help rescue him—this was what they called cause and effect.
Yu Yan replied, “Well, he’s a friend. When friends are in trouble, you should lend a hand.”
“Have you thought this through, Xiao Kang? You’ve never been to the outer district, right?” Deputy Director Yang’s expression showed disapproval.
Yu Yan remained steadfast: “True, I haven’t been before, which makes me a bit curious. I’d like to go and see it for myself.”
“Conditions in the outer district and the wasteland can be unpredictable. The danger might come from people or mutated creatures. Mutated creatures are easier to handle, but human threats are more concerning.” Deputy Director Yang spoke earnestly, “Without knowing the situation, how can you help Lu Qiufeng?”
Yu Yan quickly changed his approach: “Actually, to be honest, I want to go to the outer district to avoid some family pressure about marriage… Could you consider it a favor?”
Deputy Director Yang was momentarily speechless.
Yu Yan understood her concerns. With two of the four senior researchers at the institute now unavailable—Su He transferred and Lu Qiufeng missing—it would indeed be problematic if he went to the outer district and encountered danger without a new researcher to replace him.
Yu Yan sat firmly in the chair across from her, determined: “Don’t worry, I’m just trying to avoid trouble. I’ll stay in a safe place and wait for updates. The task of rescuing Lu Qiufeng and searching for the collection team will be left to the professionals. I won’t cause any trouble.”
“You know, I value my life above all else.”
“Is that so? I haven’t really seen that side of you,” Deputy Director Yang said with a hint of resignation.
Since he was insistent, Deputy Director Yang didn’t push back further. She stamped the intent form and reminded him to be careful.
She truly was a very democratic and lenient old lady.
Yu Yan kept his plans to go to the outer district strictly confidential. By the time the Kang family learned of his whereabouts, he was already passing through the barrier of Fifth District.
In daily life in Fifth District, the blue sky and white clouds seemed ordinary. It was only when crossing the boundary wall that one could see the invisible isolation layer that enveloped the sky.
This layer was designed to block radiation and pollution, preventing mutated creatures from entering from the sky.
It appeared as a semi-spherical dome, connecting to the ground’s isolation walls.
The research institute’s convoy passed through the several-meter-wide tunnel of the wall, with only a few, like Yu Yan, looking up.
After passing through the tunnel, the isolation layer became invisible again, reappearing as an invisible barrier in the sky.
There were two checkpoints in the middle of the tunnel. Ordinary people could not freely enter or exit the isolation barrier; entry permits were required from institutions like the major research institutes.
Yu Yan observed the people around him, surprised by the number of individuals heading to the outer district.
Most of those in anti-contamination suits were people of some status, going outside for research or treasure hunting.
With a calm demeanor and a robust build, the individuals frequently moving between the inner and outer districts usually traveled in groups of three or five. They often had reddish patches on their hands and faces, left by years of frequent visits to the wasteland.
There were also exiles, those who had committed crimes not severe enough to warrant extreme punishment but had offended powerful figures, leading to their banishment to the outer district.
Yu Yan also noticed some cargo convoys with various large group logos. These were subjected to minimal inspection, and drivers often exchanged pleasantries with the guards.
A diverse array of people poured out of the tunnel.
Kang Shi had never been to the outer district, and the scene was equally novel to Yu Yan, the outsider.
Right next to the isolation wall were tall, imposing buildings. However, these weathered and eroded structures appeared to have been uninhabited for a long time. As far as the eye could see, the roads, worn down by the passage of time, were lined with such abandoned buildings.
The convoy moved forward silently, and the experienced bodyguards began checking their weapons and gear.
Yu Yan also checked the energy gun strapped to his waist.
This energy gun had been purchased at a high price by Kang Shi in the past. Since it was not needed, it had become a collectible, which now conveniently served Yu Yan.
Unlike traditional firearms, this energy gun was much easier to use and could be fired hundreds of times with a power crystal the size of a thumb.
Of course, these energy crystals were expensive, and without some wealth, one couldn’t afford them.
After the weapon check, Yu Yan put on an extra layer of clothing.
It was incredibly cold. Once outside the barrier wall, the temperature began to drop sharply.
The team leader came over to speak with him.
The team leader named Xin Luo was very polite. They planned to search based on the last known location of the collection team, which was in a desolate area known for high-risk mutated animals. Therefore, they hoped he could stay in the safe outer district and wait.
“I will have Da Tou and Xiao Fei stay behind to protect Researcher Kang, so you don’t need to worry about safety.”
Captain Xin Luo was skilled in his communication, and to ensure Yu Yan didn’t feel like a hindrance, he formally asked him to handle communication, just in case.
They all knew that having Yu Yan in charge of communication wouldn’t make much of a difference.
He was pleasant, and Yu Yan cooperated, making both sides satisfied.
“So, this is the outer district?” Yu Yan asked, pointing at the abandoned, desolate buildings with no signs of life.
“No, this is the garbage area, the area between the barrier wall and the outer district,” Captain Xin Luo said with a smile. “You’ll see when you get there. I’m not sure how to describe it.”
As night fell, their convoy finally reached the true outer district, also known as the Underground City.
It was a city built entirely underground, with massive entrances resembling the dark maw of a sea beast, and several giant lights above that looked like the beast’s eyes.
The tiny convoy entered the beast’s mouth, moving steadily downward, and suddenly the surroundings were brilliantly illuminated.
Yu Yan leaned against the vehicle and gazed out the window. For a moment, he was struck with awe, unable to find words to describe the scene before him.
Buildings stretched out on the ground, upside-down buildings hanging from the sky, buildings in mid-air—every direction was filled with stacked structures, countless and unending.
The lights within these buildings formed a sea of stars, crowded and densely packed.
The maze-like streets were chaotic and lacked any discernible pattern, weaving through dangerous, cramped, and dilapidated buildings. Even the most advanced smart navigation systems would likely fail here.
Countless tangled lines crisscrossed the air, with old-fashioned suspended monorails creaking and squeaking as they moved, resembling spiders climbing on webs.
The overcrowded passenger cabins made one wonder if these monorails might collapse at any moment, scattering the packed passengers everywhere.
The ground-level trains were even more exaggerated, with no doors and people clinging to the sides. Overloaded and speeding recklessly, these trains thundered past the convoy with a loud clattering noise.
Children scavenging for coal on the tracks skillfully dodged the chaotic trains, rolling on the ground. Their already grimy appearances were further dirtied.
Yu Yan noticed that the children had varying degrees of disabilities, such as atrophied limbs or facial abnormalities.
It wasn’t just the children; most people on the streets had physical deformities.
These were ordinary humans living in polluted areas for long periods. They had no evolutionary genes to improve their bodies and, unlike mutated creatures, couldn’t adapt to the pollution, leading to short, illness-prone lives.
This was another side of the so-called peaceful and orderly world—a world of chaos and disorder.
