Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Capital City Base One

The imposing black iron gate slowly opened when the bus was about twenty meters away. After passing through the black gate, another iron fence came into view. The bus couldn’t go beyond the fence, so it stopped at a designated spot, and Yi Shaoqing led everyone off the bus.

As soon as they got off, two soldiers in military uniforms jogged over: “Zhuang Chen! Shaoqing!”

“Seventh Brother!” Yi Shaoqing hugged the man at the front and then the young man beside him: “Zhaotang!”

Zhuang Chen also hugged them in turn.

The reunion of the four was filled with emotion.

Ji Qige smiled and said, “It’s so good to see you all safe! After receiving your message, I was so worried I couldn’t sleep at night. Look at me, I’ve lost weight!” He wasn’t lying—dark circles under his eyes and a scruffy beard made him look far from the energetic and dashing Ji Qige Gu Ning had known in the other world.

“Where’s Ninth Brother?!” Ji Zhaotang had already scanned the crowd behind them but didn’t see Ji Jiuzhe.

Ji Qige also looked around but couldn’t find Ji Jiuzhe. A bad feeling crept into his heart, and he frowned at Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing: “A week ago, we got news that your plane had to make an emergency landing. Jiuzhe insisted on taking a helicopter to Zhongnan to find you. Didn’t you run into him?”

Yi Shaoqing and Zhuang Chen exchanged glances, and then Yi Shaoqing said, “We did meet, but… a lot happened after that. It’s complicated, and it’s hard to explain right now. What I can tell you is that Jiuzhe is absolutely safe. You don’t need to worry.”

Though Ji Qige and Ji Zhaotang were a bit confused by Yi Shaoqing’s words, his firm assurance about Ji Jiuzhe’s safety eased their minds. Now they had time to ask about Gu Ning and the others.

Ji Qige immediately noticed Gu Ning with her short golden hair. His sharp eyes quickly picked up on her uniqueness, but what surprised him was the familiarity and emotion in her gaze when she looked at him and Ji Zhaotang. However, when he looked again, all he saw was coldness and detachment, as if the earlier emotion had been an illusion.

Gu Ning’s feelings were indeed complicated. To her, these two were familiar faces who had always cared for her. Seeing them safe and sound moved her deeply. The once vibrant Ji Qige now seemed more subdued, and even the youthful Ji Zhaotang appeared more mature. Meeting them in this unfamiliar place, Gu Ning knew them, but they didn’t know her, leaving her with mixed emotions.

Zhuang Chen noticed the fleeting look in Gu Ning’s eyes and knew she must have met them before. After exchanging a knowing glance with Gu Ning, she introduced her to Ji Qige and Ji Zhaotang: “Let me introduce you. This is Gu Ning. We wouldn’t have made it back without her. She’s like a sister to me, so take good care of her.”

Ji Qige and Ji Zhaotang were surprised. The First Squad, including Yin Sang, had always been a proud bunch, especially Zhuang Chen, who had grown up among men and rarely got close to women. Her relationship with Yin Sang was tense, and she rarely spoke kindly of anyone. For her to call Gu Ning a sister and ask them to look after her meant she truly valued her.

“If she’s your sister, then she’s my sister too,” Ji Qige said with a smile. “Just call me Seventh Brother, like Zhuang Chen does.”

Gu Ning felt as if she was meeting Seventh Brother for the first time at the airport. She smiled and said, “Seventh Brother.”

Ji Zhaotang also greeted Gu Ning warmly.

After brief introductions to Xia Yu, Director Zhong, and others, everyone, including Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing, had to enter the quarantine station for medical checks and disinfection.

Compared to the simple checks at the Zhongnan Base, the inspection at Base One was professional. They filled out basic information cards, showered thoroughly, and then entered a metal chamber naked. A cold blue light scanned their bodies from top to bottom, and odorless gas sprayed from small holes in the chamber. After five minutes, a green light lit up, and the door opened automatically. They received base passes with their names and entry dates stamped on them. Only with these passes could they move freely within the base.

Base rules required everyone to register at the gate for each entry and exit, with only one entry or exit allowed per day. Additional trips required payment in supplies.

“This is the latest virus detection and disinfection machine. Our captain helped develop it. It was almost done when I left, but I didn’t expect it to be put into use so quickly,” Zhuang Chen said as she dressed, noticing Gu Ning’s curiosity about the machine.

Gu Ning could only marvel, “This is truly the Capital Base.”

Zhuang Chen just smiled.

When they passed through the iron fence and entered the base, Gu Ning understood the meaning behind Zhuang Chen’s smile.

No tents here—only rows of neatly arranged cement houses, mostly three stories high, clearly newly built. The cement was still fresh, and there were no tiles, making them look slightly better than unfinished houses. Clothes and blankets hung on the balconies. People sat on stools or directly on the ground between buildings, enjoying the long-missed sunlight. Children played and laughed, and groups chatted everywhere. The common thread was the relaxed expressions on their faces, as if it were an ordinary morning before the apocalypse, not the dangerous world they now lived in.

The women in the group were visibly envious.

Zhuang Chen explained as they walked, “It’s still rough, but it’s better than tents. A room can hold up to twelve people. The base population has exceeded 300,000, the smallest among the three bases. Bases Two and Three have around 700,000 to 800,000 people, and housing is tight there. Sometimes twenty people cram into one room. At night, when the zombie hunters return, the base becomes liveliest.”

Gu Ning listened as Zhuang Chen described Base One as the pinnacle of the Capital Base, housing people with certain abilities. Bases Two and Three were next, while the survivor settlement points were at the bottom. The law of the jungle remained unchanged even in the apocalypse. Class divisions persisted, and the upper class remained upper class. Meanwhile, the lower class struggled even for basic survival. The better life was here, the worse it was for those in the settlement points… If the women rescued from the ship hadn’t met them, they would never have made it to Base One, likely ending up in a settlement point instead.

Zhuang Chen noticed Gu Ning’s expression and thought she was still worried about the Three-Linked Team. She quickly said, “Gu Ning, don’t worry. Once we settle them, I’ll go with you to Bases Two and Three to find your parents.”

Gu Ning nodded but said nothing more. Words wouldn’t change anything.

Xia Yu asked hopefully, “Zhuang Chen, can we live in these houses too?”

He had lived in a tent at the Zhongnan Base and would be thrilled to move into these cement houses. When they entered the iron fence, he saw soldiers saluting Ji Qige and Ji Zhaotang, clearly indicating their high status in the base. Since Zhuang Chen was with them, maybe she could pull some strings to get them a couple of rooms.

“Sorry, but no,” Zhuang Chen flatly refused.

Xia Yu’s mood instantly dropped. He muttered, “I thought we wouldn’t have to sleep in tents anymore.”

After passing over a dozen rows of such buildings, a much wider street suddenly appeared between the houses. Lazy calls filled the air as a market came into view. Everything imaginable was for sale: winter coats, blankets, socks, shoes, cups, toothbrushes, and even machetes, axes, and clubs. One stall was particularly crowded, selling a batch of cold medicine from who-knows-where.

Yi Shaoqing explained, “Medicine and guns are the hottest commodities in any base. You never have to worry about finding buyers. In the apocalypse, even a small cold can kill you.” He looked at Gu Ning and smiled, “Gu Ning, I have a feeling you might become the richest person in Base One.” His idea of “rich” was, of course, on a different level.

His words puzzled the others, but Zhuang Chen and Gu Ning understood. Zhuang Chen couldn’t hide her excitement, “Oh my god! I’m so lucky to know you!” She hugged Gu Ning, “Gu Ning! You’re a treasure now! Don’t forget me when you strike it rich!”

Gu Ning had access to resources from another world and had connections with people like Ji Jiuzhe. Guns and ammunition, which were out of reach for ordinary people, were no problem for the First Squad. As for medicine, as long as you had money, you could get as much as you wanted. But did the First Squad lack money? Before returning to the Capital Base, Zhuang Chen and Yi Shaoqing hadn’t fully realized it, but now they saw Gu Ning’s space as an inexhaustible gold mine!

Gu Ning could only nod helplessly.

Xia Yu, though confused, was still happy.

Gu Ning had seen the power of the Five-Star Brigade in the Capital, and Director Zhong had some idea of Yi Shaoqing’s status. So when Zhuang Chen led them past the cement houses to a building that was clearly a cut above the rest and said they would be staying there, Gu Ning wasn’t too surprised, but it was enough to make the women and Xia Yu gasp in amazement.

Xia Yu immediately realized Zhuang Chen had been teasing him earlier, but he couldn’t be mad—he was too happy.

They happily moved their luggage into the three rooms assigned to them.

The rooms were adjacent on the third floor.

Each room was about thirty square meters, with six single wooden beds, leaving plenty of space. A decent-sized balcony with two bathrooms opened at the back. The floors were tiled, and the rooms were clean and tidy, with thin blankets on the beds—too thin for the current weather.

Zhuang Chen said, “Housing is tight in the base, so you’ll have to squeeze in for now.”

Xia Yu quickly said, “It’s not crowded at all! This is great!”

The others nodded like chicks pecking at rice.

Zhuang Chen sighed, “There aren’t enough beds, so Xia Yu and Wu Shu will have to share with the women.” Director Zhong, being a government official, didn’t stay here.

Xia Yu was a bit embarrassed, but Wu Shu remained expressionless.

“It’s fine,” Liu Mei said proactively, “They can stay with us. We’re like family now, and we’re more than satisfied with these conditions.” She eased Xia Yu’s awkwardness.

The others also agreed, as this was far better than they had expected!

“Alright, get settled in. Gu Ning, let’s go!” Zhuang Chen said.

“Wait, wait! Can I come with you?” Xia Yu quickly put down his luggage and volunteered.

Zhuang Chen said, “What would you do there? Once you’re settled, take the girls around the base and familiarize them with the area. I’m entrusting their safety to you.”

“Alright then!” Xia Yu perked up at the thought of protecting the girls.

Yi Shaoqing had to report to headquarters, so he couldn’t accompany Gu Ning. Instead, Ji Zhaotang was assigned as their bodyguard.

Ji Zhaotang drove a military-green SUV with a bright red five-star emblem on the hood, representing the Five-Star Brigade, allowing them to move freely in and out of the base.

The car drove out of the base in a different direction from where they had come.

As Gu Ning watched the scenery fly by outside the window, her anxiety began to grow.