Chapter 8: Submerged in Panic, Utterly at a Loss
So it had gotten this late already…
When Zhong Jing came back to his senses, he glanced at his watch—it was already around 7 PM. Just an hour remained until Chu Sheng City's curfew took effect.
Pedestrians had long since thinned out on the streets, and the shops on either side were shuttering their metal gates, ending a day’s business. Even this major thoroughfare of Chu Sheng City had returned to a state of desolate quiet.
According to the Chu Sheng City Curfew Management Ordinance, no one was allowed to loiter on the streets during curfew hours without a permit issued by the base government. Violators would be fined heavily, and in more serious cases, detained by the Order Maintenance Department.
An hour wasn’t too rushed—but it wasn’t leisurely either. If he didn’t hurry, he might really get tangled up with one of those troublesome Order Maintenance patrols.
Fines or detention were both outcomes Zhong Jing could ill afford—because that might lead to an even bigger problem: his current form definitely wouldn’t match his personal records. If he were treated as undocumented, that would be a disaster.
"Sister Shang Shu, it's getting late. Let's meet again tomorrow."
"Eh? Is it safe for you to go home like this, Zhong Jing? Why not spend the night at my place?"
Shang Shu knew exactly where Zhong Jing lived. For most Chu Sheng City residents, the word "resettlement zone" conjured only one image—chaos. The thought of Zhong Jing returning to that place made her uneasy, especially now that he looked like this. He would attract far too much unwanted attention in a place like that.
A pretty, lone young girl showing up in the resettlement zone...
"Don’t worry, Sister Shang Shu. Did you forget? I’m a mercenary—I can protect myself." Zhong Jing pulled on his hood and gas mask, pointing confidently at himself. With his face concealed, only a chilling shadow remained—an intimidating sight.
“Well… alright then. See you tomorrow.”
Though hesitant, Shang Shu was eventually convinced. After all, she had witnessed firsthand how effective that mercenary attire was.
Bidding a reluctant farewell to Shang Shu, Zhong Jing headed home carrying a nearly full shopping bag. These were the “essential items for a girl’s life” Shang Shu had insisted on buying for him.
The expenses were far more than his usual minimal shopping. Though none of the items were particularly expensive, the entire experience had only strengthened his desire to return to normal.
Speaking of that—looking back on his day, from the Special Affairs Processing Center to the Medical Center and then being dragged around for shopping—it had been the busiest day he’d ever spent in Chu Sheng City. He had set out with a clear objective in mind, yet by the end, he had found no new leads.
Number 28… The day was almost over, and that made Zhong Jing both frustrated and anxious.
This aimless investigation couldn’t go on. If there were no leads in Chu Sheng City, then tomorrow he’d have to venture out—seek proof in the world of dreams.
As he pondered this, Zhong Jing soon arrived near Outer City’s Sector 3 Resettlement Zone. The sky had grown even darker; through the thick layer of gray dust above, a few faint stars could be seen.
Turning right at the upcoming intersection, the road’s end to the left led to Sector 3 Resettlement Zone. Zhong Jing glanced at his watch again—7:35 PM. Still enough time.
But the moment he turned that corner, the scene that unfolded ahead made his steps falter involuntarily.
Frozen mid-stride, Zhong Jing stared blankly at the sight before him, one question repeating in his mind—what happened?
At this time of night, the streets should’ve been empty, yet the place was teeming with activity—an unusual kind of activity.
Seven or eight light infantry vehicles blocked the road about two hundred meters ahead. Each vehicle had a heavy machine gun manned by a gunner.
Alongside concrete barricades and crash barrels, they had formed a highly secure blockade across the street.
Behind that blockade were hundreds of shabbily dressed residents, squatting on either side of the road.
Dozens of armed men in black uniforms maintained order around the perimeter. From temporary watchtowers, searchlights swept back and forth across the unlit shadows where the streetlamps didn’t reach.
From a distance, Zhong Jing could hear the blaring of loudspeakers. Though she couldn’t make out the words due to the gap in distance, it was clear something major had happened in Sector 3—this level of mobilization was anything but routine.
Zhong Jing resumed walking. As she stepped into the street, the armed personnel ahead quickly noticed her.
Two or three raised their guns in her direction, and even one vehicle-mounted heavy machine gun swiveled her way, its ammo belt clinking ominously.
Zhong Jing loathed being on the business end of a gun. But unless she wanted to be riddled with bullets, cooperation was her only choice.
When she got within twenty meters of the blockade, a soldier gave a hand signal and stepped over the barricade toward her. Zhong Jing stopped and waited.
"This road is under lockdown. Please take a detour," the soldier said, stopping two paces away. He glanced at the shopping bag in her hand before giving a firm warning.
"My residence is in Sector 3 Resettlement Zone. What’s going on up ahead?" Zhong Jing asked, her gaze carefully drifting toward the blockade. She caught sight of a wire fence further back, separating the residents from the zone itself.
“Oh? You live in Sector 3?” The soldier glanced briefly over his shoulder, then turned back. “I don’t know the details. The order came from the Research Institute. Supposedly just a routine epidemic inspection of the zone.”
“When did it start?”
“Somewhere around seven or eight this morning. It’s nearly finished now. If you want to go home, just queue up for a medical check by the health team.” With that, the soldier turned and returned to his post.
Seven or eight this morning?
That would’ve been shortly after she left the zone for the Special Affairs Processing Center… and it had been going on all day.
Zhong Jing couldn’t help but feel something was off. This didn’t look like a normal health inspection.
Chu Sheng City conducted routine inspections monthly, but this one hadn’t been posted on Sector 3’s bulletin board the day prior, as was standard. And it had gone on for over ten hours—far longer than usual.
Besides, epidemic checks were typically managed by the Medical Center. Since when did the Research Institute issue such orders?
Not to mention the military presence—hundreds of Standing Army soldiers, plus Security Team members and infantry vehicles. For an epidemic check? That was serious overkill.
Zhong Jing couldn’t imagine any underground force in Chu Sheng City bold—or foolish—enough to stir up this kind of hornet’s nest.
The so-called epidemic inspection was clearly a smokescreen. But what was the Research Institute’s real target?
It felt like... something inside Sector 3 was being hunted.
But first things first—she had to get home. Her arms were already sore from carrying the heavy bag for so long.
After showing her mercenary credentials, Zhong Jing was granted passage through the blockade. Just ahead of the wire fence stood several white tents marked with red crosses. Masked medical staff in white coats bustled between them.
A long line of over a hundred people stretched from the tents all the way back to where she stood. Zhong Jing had no intention of waiting. Nor did she plan to go through a full checkup—she walked straight toward the entry tent.
With her current getup, cutting the line was easy.
“Sorry, you’ll need to wait until after a valid check—”
“This is my examination report from the Health and Medical Center today. Will this do?”
Before the medical staff could finish, Zhong Jing produced her health report from earlier.
“A health report?”
The doctor blinked, caught off guard. He took off his glasses and began skimming it, though Zhong Jing had the distinct feeling his eyes weren’t really on the paper.
“I’m sorry, miss, but this kind of routine exam doesn’t meet epidemic inspection criteria. However, you can skip the standard check. Please proceed to the final stage—the temporary scanning room.”
Final stage?
Just as she’d suspected—this wasn’t an ordinary health screening…
Though sick of being examined all day, Zhong Jing held her patience. She followed a nurse into the so-called scanning room.
It was just a slightly larger tent. But unlike the others, this one wasn’t made of ordinary cloth—it looked plastic, thicker, more like some sort of energy-insulating material.
She stepped onto the soft carpeted floor. The sight inside revived her curiosity.
Various machines filled the tent, exuding a strong sense of high-tech design. In the center stood a scanner shaped like a doorframe, connected by cables to several terminal stations. People in lab coats worked at the terminals.
These aren’t doctors… Zhong Jing instantly recognized who they really were—people from the Research Institute.
This inspection wasn’t just supervised by the Institute—it had been orchestrated by them. The Medical Center staff were just playing along.
“Please remove your coat and mask. I’ll hold onto them for you. Just walk through the scanner. If the readings are normal, you’re free to go.”
That’s it?
Zhong Jing handed over her coat and mask and stepped toward the scanner. As she passed through, she felt—perhaps it was just her imagination—a faint sensation, like her skin brushing against unseen particles, passing through an invisible membrane.
It lasted only a moment—but it was oddly vivid.
“Is that it?” she asked, turning around. If the scan was done, could she finally go home?
“W-Wait!”
A young researcher at a terminal suddenly jumped up, his face filled with shock. All the other researchers froze and turned toward his screen.
His outburst drew the attention of the soldiers outside. They rushed in, guns raised, immediately taking aim at the stunned Zhong Jing.
Wait—what the hell just happened?!
Frozen in place, Zhong Jing had no idea. She hadn’t done anything. Yet now they were treating her like a threat at gunpoint.
Or… had the scanner detected something about the changes in her body?