Chapter 10: The Transformed Man

After hearing Yang Dalong’s words, Zhang Xingmin became even more determined. Since the danger might be lurking right beside them, it was better to find a way to make the threat reveal itself. He convinced Yang Dalong to fake his death and assume the identity of Yang Yichen, and, surprisingly, things took a turn for the better. Of course, in doing so, Zhang Xingmin became more deeply entangled, unable to keep himself above it all. But that’s a story for later.

For now, the most urgent matter was that after Yang Dalong’s “death,” chaos truly erupted within the base—not just another power struggle, but real disorder. Zhao Nana, Lin Xiaofeng, and Zhang Xingmin had arranged to meet and discuss their strategy; Zhang Xingmin brought Yang Yichen along as well.

Zhao Nana and Lin Xiaofeng had arrived early, and from a distance, noticed Zhang Xingmin bringing someone with him. Their curiosity quickly turned to anger.

“He’s still alive? And you’re with him?” Zhao Nana was surprised; she’d seen Zhang Xingmin strangle Yang Dalong that day, so had she been deceived?

“Let me introduce our new companion—Yang Yichen. He’s probably older than all of us! Just call him Brother Yang,” Zhang Xingmin said with a smile.

After the introduction, Yang Yichen hastily greeted them.

Zhao Nana found it odd—it was clearly the same person. Did Zhang Xingmin possess some kind of sorcery to control people? Lin Xiaofeng wasn’t so imaginative; he blurted out, “Brother Long, you were faking your death! I worried for nothing!”

When she heard Lin Xiaofeng’s certainty, Zhao Nana was convinced too—this really was that ruffian, and she immediately became unhappy. Yang Yichen didn’t want to argue with a girl, so he quickly apologized, “Sorry, beautiful lady! About that day, I want to apologize to you, is that alright? I promise it won’t happen again, alright? Damin says the world needs me to save it! I don’t have time for anything else. See, I’m no longer the boss of those hooligans, I’ve turned over a new leaf!”

“Save the world?” Lin Xiaofeng and Zhao Nana both looked incredulous. Was his way of saving the world to stir up chaos in this tiny sanctuary?

Seeing Yang Yichen’s story becoming more and more absurd, Zhang Xingmin hurried to explain, “I’ve checked with Brother Yang. The Professor Wu we met that day and the mysterious organization he mentioned—there may be spies from them in this place right now!”

“I remember seeing signs of cyborg activity nearby. Yesterday, Damin told me about what you all experienced; I suspect Professor Wu is involved.”

Mentioning that day’s ordeal sent chills down their spines. Now, with cyborgs appearing right beside them, the sense of dread only grew. After all, if the monsters on the streets were genetically modified animals, then humans could be modified too.

After a round of discussion, the four decided to observe the situation closely. Yang Dalong, now using the alias Yang Yichen, had to hide his identity even more carefully.

Sure enough, the fighting in the safety zone escalated. At first, it was traditional brawling; then it turned into large-scale gunfights, and finally, the cyborgs began to emerge. The situation unfolded like this:

After news spread that Brother Long had been assassinated, the tenuous balance that had been maintained collapsed. With no leader, various small factions began to surface—A, B, C, D, E—each wanting to be in charge, none able to tolerate the others. One day someone attacked you, the next you hit him, the day after if he didn’t hit you, you didn’t hit him, then he’d hit someone else. Chaos reigned, and everyone’s strength was being depleted.

But then something unexpected happened. A small squad, let’s call them the Baldies, were barely noticeable at first—third-rate, not even second-rate—but suddenly they rose to prominence!

Over several days, other groups suffered casualties, but the Baldies seemed untouched, despite participating in the brawls. The other teams couldn’t make sense of it, but as outsiders, Zhang Xingmin and his companions saw everything clearly.

During hand-to-hand combat, the Baldies’ bodies were as tough as iron. While others suffered broken arms, legs, and bloody heads, they remained unscathed. In gunfights, while others were killed by bullets, their reactions were astonishingly quick—beyond human limits. Many of them could dodge bullets, and their marksmanship was exceptional, able to hit targets from a hundred paces.

As their rivals weakened, the Baldies, who had suffered little loss, became the star team. Some began to defect to them, much like courtiers in late Ming defecting to the eunuch faction when unable to compete with the Donglin Party. People were simply looking for protection.

The Baldies welcomed newcomers with unprecedented generosity, accepting almost everyone. At first, nothing seemed amiss, but over time, people started noticing the secret: those who joined the Baldies saw their strength skyrocket in a short time, as if they’d been launched by rocket.

The four-person detective team tracked this for days and finally discovered the secret. Every new member was taken to a mysterious small room on their first day, where they underwent an initiation ceremony and were injected with some kind of serum. After returning, they gradually changed—though some never came back at all.

Zhang Xingmin was now almost certain: the “illegal global genetic engineering organization” mentioned by Professor Wu was definitely linked to these cyborgs. He just didn’t know where they operated or if that was truly their name. Their real purpose could hardly be something as simple as accelerating biological evolution.

The four were now deeply anxious. What should they do? The number of cyborgs in the base was increasing, while normal humans like themselves were dwindling. When only they remained, would the cyborgs turn on them?

The four stared at each other, hoping to find a solution through discussion, but all were helpless.

“What now? We tried to be heroes, but we’re about to become cowards! Damn it, you all tricked me!” Yang Yichen lay slumped on the table, dispirited.

“Hey, don’t be so down! Maybe someone will come and save us!” Lin Xiaofeng said.

“If you’re scared, just go out and join them!” Zhao Nana still gave Yang Yichen no quarter.

“Save us? With those monsters outside, if we’re not eaten, it’ll be a miracle!” Yang Yichen spoke the truth. Everyone understood, and silence lingered.

After a while, Zhang Xingmin finally spoke, “If worst comes to worst, we should just escape! Forget the mysterious organization—even those cyborgs, we can’t beat them! There should still be other survivors in Jiangcheng. That group we met in the warehouse that day…”

Before Zhang Xingmin finished, Yang Yichen interrupted, “You mean the army? You all can go—I won’t! I’m afraid they’ll catch me!”

“Were those people from the military?” Zhang Xingmin asked, unconvinced.

Lin Xiaofeng nodded in agreement.

“If the military’s here, shouldn’t things be less chaotic?” Zhang Xingmin couldn’t believe it. Isn’t it said an army is kept for times of crisis?

“Right! In times like this, the military should be keeping order!” Zhao Nana echoed, though without much confidence.

Lin Xiaofeng looked at them as if they were fools. “Don’t you know how strict military orders are? Most communications in the country are down—maybe they’re waiting for orders.”

“You seem to know a lot! Did you grow up in a military compound?” Zhang Xingmin asked Lin Xiaofeng, probing.

“Didn’t you know each other before?” Zhao Nana had always assumed Zhang Xingmin and Lin Xiaofeng were close friends.

“Ask him how we met!” Zhang Xingmin pointed at Lin Xiaofeng.

“You tell it!” He really couldn’t bear the embarrassment of getting lost drunk.

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? Got drunk, went to the wrong floor, that’s all!”

As soon as Zhang Xingmin finished, Yang Yichen asked in surprise, “You three didn’t know each other before?”

The three looked at each other and nodded.

Once the obvious was spoken, the budding suspicion among them was extinguished, and they all felt much lighter. In such chaotic times, it was at least some comfort.

“Come, have some tea, rest! You all look exhausted!” Zhao Nana’s mother had been watching the four youths with worry. Seeing their anxious faces, her heart ached. How had things come to this? She had lived most of her life and could accept whatever came, but these young people were still so full of promise. Alas, she couldn’t help them, and only felt like a burden. Of course, she dared not show her pessimism in front of them.

They discussed and discussed, but remained at an impasse. Seeing the base about to be overrun by cyborgs, they had no choice but to flee. Though it was a perilous gamble, it was better than waiting for death.

As they slipped out of the safety zone late at night, an armored division was rushing toward the northern part of the city. They had received reports of anomalies and deployed as soon as they were ordered.

The four-person team encountered the armored troops not far from the northern safety zone.

“Who goes there?” A soldier in camouflage, holding a submachine gun, shouted.

The headlights from the armored car were so bright the four could barely open their eyes, shielding their faces with their arms. Yang Yichen, at the front, stammered nervously, “Sir! No, officer! Wait, not right, um…handsome soldier! We’re all good people. We were taking shelter in the north, but the boss died and everyone started fighting, so we escaped to avoid getting caught in the mess.”

A man who looked like an officer waved, signaling the soldier to lower his weapon and let them board. They didn’t dare object, so obediently got in and returned to the northern safety base. If you watched closely, you’d notice Lin Xiaofeng was a bit evasive, but at the time, none of them dared breathe, and no one noticed.