Chapter 6: Where to Go from Here

Professor Wu, seeing that the three truly harbored no ill intentions, dropped his act and simply found a place to sit down. Out of respect for his knowledge, Zhang Xingmin, Lin Xiaofeng, and Zhao Nana treated Professor Wu with the utmost courtesy. Of course, what they wanted most was to glean some news from him—information about the changes overtaking the world.

“Professor Wu, do you know what’s happened? We’ve searched everywhere, but there seems to be no one left,” Zhao Nana asked, having carefully rehearsed in her heart to sound as approachable as possible.

Realizing the trio meant no harm, Professor Wu gradually let down his guard. He began to recount the harrowing experiences of the past days—memories that would haunt him for life, though, as he admitted to himself, that life had little time left.

It turned out that on the day before everything happened, Professor Wu Zhixue hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary. As usual, he was buried in the laboratory with his students. Their project had consumed them for over half a year, and at this critical juncture, he was practically living in the lab. At last, they achieved a breakthrough; everyone was exhausted. Ever considerate of his students, Professor Wu insisted they go home and rest. Other colleagues working overnight in different departments also gradually left for the day, and the vast observatory building began to welcome a new morning.

But the new day was nothing like before. Even after the usual clock-in time had long passed, no one arrived. Of course, Professor Wu only realized this late in the afternoon, as he had dozed off in the lounge after his students left for class. The building was always quiet—full of eccentric scientists—but this was different. When a violent tremor jolted Professor Wu awake, he was left in a panic by the emptiness around him. Having lived most of his life and nearing old age, he’d never experienced anything like this; it felt as though the world itself had abandoned him.

Before he even had time to grieve, something even more shocking caught his attention. The streets outside were in chaos, littered with collapsed buildings, and wandering the roads were not bored youths, but creatures at once familiar and utterly strange.

He understood the building collapses. As a researcher, he knew there might be a large-scale earthquake soon. But these bizarre creatures—what were they? And where had all the people gone?

He didn’t have time to dwell on these questions before disaster struck again. One day, a group of unknown people suddenly appeared in the building, searching everywhere and capturing the last few staff members and some who had sought refuge inside. Professor Wu survived only by faking death with the help of a drug injection.

Listening to Professor Wu’s story, Zhang Xingmin found it full of holes. Professor Wu seemed to notice Zhang’s skepticism. Understandably so—who wouldn’t doubt such a tale? Before Zhang could say anything, Professor Wu declared, “I swear, every word I’ve said is true!”

Zhang Xingmin smiled. “Professor Wu, I don’t doubt you. But I do have a few questions.”

“Go ahead,” Professor Wu replied, unperturbed by skepticism.

“First, since you’d predicted geological disasters, why wasn’t there any warning?” Zhang asked directly.

“According to our calculations, the period of heightened geological activity wasn’t supposed to arrive for at least another year. We issued reports to that effect—perhaps the instability of the solar system accelerated the timeline, but there’s no definitive conclusion. Reports were submitted nonetheless,” Professor Wu explained.

At this, Lin Xiaofeng pulled out two documents Zhang Xingmin had given him earlier and waved them. “These?”

“Yes, yes, those are the ones!” Professor Wu grew animated upon seeing the files. “There’s a detailed analysis in there—I trust you’ve read it.”

“But according to that analysis, both tectonic movement and geological disasters are strictly scientific events. They have nothing to do with those little monsters roaming the streets!” Lin pressed.

“Exactly, there seems to be some connection between biological mutations and geological upheaval,” Zhao Nana added.

“You’re right. Tectonic movements fall under geology, biological mutations under biology—they shouldn’t be directly related, unless by coincidence. Or perhaps someone exploited these natural phenomena to create a supernatural atmosphere.” Professor Wu did not answer directly, but instead slipped into speculation, muttering as if to himself, “Who could it be? Biological mutations? Could it be him?”

Seeing the look on Professor Wu’s face, the trio sensed he’d thought of something. “Professor Wu, did you recall something?” they asked eagerly.

After a moment to compose himself, Professor Wu replied, “I can’t be sure. It must have been seventeen or eighteen years ago, when I’d just become a professor. I was lucky enough to be invited to the World Science and Technology Congress. There, an unofficial World Gene Engineering Organization was also present. They proposed a grand plan, which was rejected, and vanished within two or three years. Could it be that they’re conducting illegal gene recombination? No reputable research institution would ever undertake something so harmful to humanity.”

The trio considered the strange monsters they’d encountered on their journey—creatures that did seem like the products of gene engineering. The one in the stairwell appeared to be a cross between an octopus and a gecko; the blind one bore traits of both primates and bats; the giant ape was simply an oversized version.

“But what could their motive be?” Zhang Xingmin asked.

Questions kept piling up. Professor Wu only shook his head.

“Do you have any contact information for that organization?” Zhang continued.

Again, Professor Wu shook his head.

“So what do you actually know?” Zhang asked, growing frustrated. Anyone would be annoyed by someone who knows nothing.

Professor Wu coughed violently, then, after catching his breath, said, “I truly know nothing! There’s no point in asking me!” He broke into another fit of coughing, as if he might cough up his very organs.

“Are you alright, Professor Wu?” Zhao Nana, cold on the outside but warm within, asked with concern.

“I’ll be fine—should be able to hang on a bit longer. Don’t worry about me, just save yourselves,” Professor Wu said weakly.

After some hesitation, Zhang Xingmin, Lin Xiaofeng, and Zhao Nana left the dying Professor Wu behind. In these precarious times, death was almost commonplace. Though Professor Wu had shared some “insider knowledge,” they had no familial ties to him, and saving him would have been difficult—staying to care for him, unrealistic.

“What now?” Zhao Nana asked as they reached the door, though in her heart she already knew the answer.

“Should we head to the safe zone, or try to find that mysterious organization?” Zhang mused, but what he truly wanted most was to leave Jiang City and return home to find his parents—he hadn’t been able to reach them for days and was deeply worried.

“The safe zone, of course. Why look for some mysterious organization? Didn’t you find Professor Wu’s appearance suspicious? There’s just something off about it,” Lin Xiaofeng replied after a brief thought. “Honestly, it felt like he was an NPC in a game…”

Prompted by Lin’s words, Zhang Xingmin shivered. Now that he thought about it, it did feel as though they were characters in a game.

“Let’s go back and check!” Zhang made up his mind and ran back. If this really was a game and Professor Wu was an NPC, would their encounter replay if they returned?

Zhao Nana and Lin Xiaofeng hurried after him. The three rushed, breathless, to the room where they’d spoken with Professor Wu, but found it empty.

“My god, he’s really gone!” Lin Xiaofeng exclaimed in shock.

“Was he just lying to us? It didn’t feel that way! As a doctor, I’d say Professor Wu’s condition was not an act,” Zhao Nana said, frustrated by her own misjudgment.

“Maybe even his identity was fake,” Zhang suggested, emboldened as his suspicions were confirmed.

“Well, the archive isn’t far—let’s check and see,” Lin, unaccustomed to wild speculation, headed straight for the records room.

After searching, the trio confirmed there was no Professor Wu at the observatory.

“There, we’ve got it. A madman pretended to be a professor and spun us a tale. But why?” Lin muttered, rubbing his head as he tried to think.

“Well, it wasn’t all nonsense. Some of it was scientifically sound—maybe it’ll help us,” Zhang shrugged and replied with a weary smile.

“Do you think that mysterious organization actually exists?” Lin wondered aloud.

“Who knows?” Zhang dared not think too deeply about it.

“Maybe he was one of those gene engineering people, declaring war on us?” Lin suggested, then realized how absurd it sounded and couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

Zhao Nana couldn’t help but chuckle. “Xiaofeng, do any of us look like big shots worthy of a declaration of war?”

Lin grew embarrassed by his own melodrama. Clearing his throat, he said, “Let’s go. I can’t stand another minute in this place.”

The truth was, neither Zhang Xingmin nor Zhao Nana wanted to stay, and they both regretted coming back at all.

At last, they reached the entrance. After a brief discussion, the three decided to forget about the mysterious organization for now and head to the safe zone to lie low. After all, they were just ordinary people—not heroes out to save the world. Surviving was enough. Of course, there was no guarantee the safe zone was truly safe. Still, it had to be better than staying in the city.

On the way, they managed to commandeer a car, dodging and hiding as they went, and finally reached the safe zone again. To their surprise, after all their wandering, they ended up right back where they started. But this time, the scene before them left them utterly stunned.