CHAPTER 95: THE FIRST BATCH OF MIGRATION BEGINS

Jing Shu should be grateful the temperature hadn’t suddenly risen above 50 degrees. Otherwise, many more people would have died from the heat. However, the dangers that came with the extreme heat were colossal—the most obvious being the parched land and oases turning into deserts. Huaxia was about to enter a state of severe water shortage, and water would become even more precious.

As Jing Shu pondered the approaching events, a group of five people arrived at Zhang Bingbing’s home. They climbed up to the ninth floor, gasping for air and drenched in sweat. They were so exhausted that they needed to drink a bottle of water or risk collapsing from dehydration.

Carrying a Wolf Fang Club that weighed more than fifty kilograms, Jing Shu wasn’t tired but was extremely hot. Eating so much food every day must have had some benefits.

"Jing Shu, we shouldn’t pry the door open this time," Wang Qiqi said between heavy breaths, still shaken by Jing Shu’s previous ferocity. "Put away your weapons first."

Wang Qiqi knocked for a while, but no one answered. So, he called out, "Is Zhang Bingbing there? This is Wang Qiqi. I know you’re inside. If you don’t make a sound, I’m going to pry the door open!"

"What’s all this noise? Do you know you’re breaking into someone’s home?" a middle-aged voice came from inside.

"Open the door. As a member of this community, I’m obligated to check on my neighbors’ safety. Otherwise, I’ll force it open."

The door swung open violently, revealing a middle-aged bald man in underwear wielding a kitchen knife. Behind him stood a young man, also only in underwear, holding a flashlight to examine the newcomers.

"Where’s Zhang Bingbing?" Wang Qiqi asked, sizing up the greasy middle-aged man and the young man who appeared to be only about twenty years old.

Through the dim light, Jing Shu couldn’t help but recoil at the sight of the middle-aged man’s wrinkled skin and sagging flesh.

Scratching his lower body, the bald man yelled impatiently, "Zhang Bingbing, come out now!"

A naked woman walked out slowly from the dark house. Her haggard face and sunken cheeks made it difficult to imagine what had happened to her these past few days.

Her eyes were unfocused and lifeless, showing no reaction to the arrival of Jing Shu and the others.

Jing Shu remembered when she first met Zhang Bingbing. It was at the start of the water shortage during the Dark Day. She had used her limited water to wipe her body. She had also asked Wang Cuihua for water and had scolded several elderly women in her car for not helping her or selling her water.

Later, no matter how scarce water became, she always maintained her cleanliness and cared deeply about her image, unlike now, appearing naked in front of everyone.

"Do you still recognize me, Zhang Bingbing?" Wang Qiqi frowned.

There seemed to be a hint of confusion in Zhang Bingbing’s eyes. "Wang Qiqi?"

Wang Qiqi nodded and pulled Zhang Bingbing toward him. "Who are those two behind you? Are they coercing you? Don’t worry, we’re here now. They won’t dare to do anything to you."

Zhang Bingbing turned her blank gaze towards the two men, and suddenly, fear filled her eyes. "They are my elder husband and my younger husband..."

The middle-aged bald man sneered, "Did you hear that, nosy parker? Zhang Bingbing, aren’t you coming back to serve us?"

Zhang Bingbing pushed Wang Qiqi away and retreated behind the middle-aged man.

Another young man in their group, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward. "Stop wasting words with them. Let’s capture these two who popped out of nowhere first, then figure out what’s really going on."

"No, you can’t! You can’t hurt them, father and son! I’m carrying their child! The baby can’t be born without a father! Go away, leave now, don’t take them!" Zhang Bingbing, acting frantically, pushed Wang Qiqi away, shoving everyone towards the door, and then slammed it shut with a BANG.

They were left looking at each other in dismay.

Jing Shu was completely baffled and couldn’t help but ask, "What’s going on? Is Zhang Bingbing insane?"

Wang Qiqi sighed. "If I’m not mistaken, these two are the ones who slipped in during the Biri and then raped Zhang Bingbing. She couldn’t handle the shock and had a mental breakdown. She might have a mental illness now. Plus, because these two have been constantly brainwashing her, she’s acting abnormally."

"Did I hear correctly just now? They’re a father and son?"

"It seems so."

"Beasts!"

In the apocalypse, there were many things that could shatter one’s worldview. Jing Shu could only think, The world is a vast forest; all kinds of birds can be found within it.

If those two were killed, how would a mentally unstable Zhang Bingbing survive, especially when even normal people were struggling to stay alive?

But if those two scumbags weren’t killed, would letting them continue to harm the already mentally disturbed Zhang Bingbing just add insult to injury for the victim?

Scumbags like them don’t deserve to live in this world and waste food, Jing Shu thought.

"Forget it," Wang Qiqi said. "Let me think more about how to handle Zhang Bingbing’s situation."

So, the matter was left unresolved for the time being.

When the family discussed this at dinner that night, they all lamented the situation. They were also grateful for Jing Shu’s decisive actions back then. Otherwise, they themselves could have been the ones harmed.

Zhang Bingbing was innocent, but what of it? A young white-collar worker, defiled just like that. Now she was being held captive, her mind broken. In these times, weakness was the root of all sin.

Lately, whenever they had free time, everyone diligently practiced their accuracy with the repeating crossbow. Mr. Jing, at home, also repeatedly checked and expanded the traps.

"According to the latest reports, a new type of mutated corrosive insect has been discovered in Kana Lake, Wu City. These insects have begun to reproduce on a massive scale within Wu City’s urban areas. A citizen hotline has now been established. Anyone who discovers corpses can call the ’Corpse Collection Hotline’ at 130. A reward of 2 points will be given upon verification."

"Due to the frequency of home invasions in Wu City and insufficient police resources, residents are encouraged to assist. Neighbors and nearby citizens who witness such incidents can dial 110. Alternatively, they can report the criminal’s identity and details of any casualties by submitting photos and a description via our official WeChat account. A reward of 1 to 100 points will be offered upon verification."

From the news in Wu City, one could tell that the authorities were gradually casting a wider net. The power of the people was immense, and the incentive of food could surely make them more effective than even Sherlock Holmes.

"According to CCTV reports, temperatures in Africa have reached 60 degrees Celsius, breaking historical records. African governments have issued emergency plans to dig underground shelters, over ten meters deep. People will take refuge there during the extreme daytime heat and return to the surface when temperatures drop at night."

"Meanwhile, temperatures in our country’s Hainan region have also surpassed 60 degrees Celsius. The meteorological station has issued a red alert, warning that these high temperatures will persist for at least ten days. The government has enacted emergency plans, urgently mobilizing national transportation resources. Ships and trains have begun the first wave of evacuations from Hainan, with the initial group expected to relocate to the Northeast."

"All national train services will be suspended until the first group of evacuees reaches their destination. The public is requested to cancel all unnecessary travel."

When Jing Shu saw this news, she squinted. This was the infamous first wave of relocations from her previous life. It was a disastrous failure, resulting in countless deaths, and consequently made future national migrations exponentially more difficult.