CHAPTER 54: CODE 1: UNDEAD TIDE

Seeing them both come out of the Detention Center only meant the problem was already dealt with. "Thank goodness," he mumbled before asking them what had transpired.

He was skeptical as to why they were released so easily.

Di Jun said that someone was hurt by Miss Li, and judging from the latter’s strength, there’s no way the matter would end up with just the other side sustaining a simple bruise.

So what exactly happened?

Di Jun was also confused, but his confusion was only momentarily because something had attracted his attention.

Mr. Fang and Li Chunhua didn’t even have the time to narrate what had happened because the screeching noise of the siren reverberated in the base.

"Code 1."

"Code 1."

"Code 1."

Except for the oblivious newcomers Li Chunhua, Siri, who was in the greenhouse, Little Mantou playing with the children, and the three of Gu, Yu, and De getting their identification cards. The faces of the people who heard the noise changed into solemnity.

After ’Code 1’ was announced three times, another round of sirens resounded.

"Requests Ability Users’ Assistance on the Defense Wall."

"Requests Ability Users’ Assistance on the Defense Wall."

"Requests Ability Users’ Assistance on the Defense Wall."

"I better go as well, Sir Gong." Di Jun bid them goodbye and ran in the opposite direction, where the stairs to the wall were located.

Gong Panli nodded. "Be careful."

Numerous people carrying guns appeared, each shouting for people to return to their homes, while they ran towards the mission hall, the usual hub where ability users linger around to rest and have a chat with their fellow ability users.

"Gentleman Gong, what is Code 1?" Li Chunhua questioned, quite curious because of the dreadful ambiance suddenly circulating in the place.

Gong Panli and Mr. Fang had forgotten she was from the outside and didn’t know of the alarm system set by the defense department.

"There are three codes. Code 1 is used when there are hundreds of undead besieging the base. Code 2 is used if there are thousands, and Code 3 is used if the base is entirely surrounded." Gong Panli elaborated.

The tides had been appearing quite frequently, and the time interval in between shortened, filling the Management and Defense Departments with worries.

Mr. Fang nodded, confirming Gong Panli’s statement. Unlike his chatty personality before, this time he was serious and pondering over something.

So that’s why everyone was panicking. Li Chunhua thought.

Her trip to the public food market was interrupted yet again. Those people won’t stay in their stalls and will probably choose to go home after the alarm.

She rubbed her tummy in distress. She only ate one candy—only one.

If only that guy, Tan Ge, didn’t show up in the first place, she could have her fill or possibly have the chance to accomplish the mission.

Just don’t let her see him again, because her feet might get itchy and finish the job.

Sigh.

Tan Ge, still half-reclining on the bench inside the interrogation room, suddenly shuddered, feeling a cold wind blow by raising the hairs on the back of his head.

Wait, Little Mantou and Brother Siri are still outside.

But with these deterring high walls looking stronger than her territory fences, it’ll probably be okay.

Li Chunhua pondered before letting go of her worries.

---

On Siri’s side, his refusal of their offer to visit their homes went to deaf ears because he was helplessly dragged to the old five-story apartment buildings, where the elderly and children population were staying.

When they arrived at the entrance of the building, Siri immediately noticed the poor condition of the buildings.

There were visible cracks on the pillars and on the walls, and the stairs leading to the upper floors were rusted and had some of the railing broken and bent, but the elders seemed to not pay attention to these and only focused on talking and showing him their homes and bidding their goodbyes, and entering their own rooms.

Siri was frowning the whole time, and it only got worse when he was shown the interior of one of the rooms.

The place was cramped. There’s only a double-deck bed. There were folded clothes neatly placed on the corner of the bed because there was no closet.

In addition, there was also a small table filled with plates, bowls, and cups with chipped edges orderly stacked.

"Come inside. I’m sorry if it’s a little small." The granny smiled at him with embarrassment and entered the room.

Siri shrugged before curiously asking. "It’s okay, but how many of you are staying per room?"

"It’s three people. The other two are probably in the public food market, helping the others sell some snacks. We usually have our rotation when sleeping on the floor," the grandmother replied before fetching something under the small table.

There are three people in a room, and one of them needs to sleep on the cold floor at night?

Siri had difficulty imagining it and he felt immense pity for them.

"Oh, right, I just made some pickled chumpets yesterday. Would you like to try?" The grandmother placed an opened jar filled with green strips of chumpets, and a strong, familiar, appetizing smell spread out of the room, forming a lump on his throat.

Siri recalled the lunch where his master had finished most of the pickled chumpets on her own, donning a facial expression that she was extremely satisfied with the dish.

He couldn’t help but wonder about an idea. "How do you make pickled chumpets?" He asked the grandmother, eager to learn.

The granny looked at him in surprise. Pickled chumpets have been the most common household side dish in the past, and she (Siri) doesn’t know how to make them?

Nevertheless, it always brings her joy to share her recipes.

"It’s simple;. You just need to cut them into strips first, rub them with salt, and leave them for an hour before squeezing them out of the water. Make sure you draw all that water out, or it’ll ruin the fermentation process. Don’t wash them with water, but use clean fabric to take all that salt out. Sadly, we have no paper towels. As for the brine..."

"Code 1. Code 1. Code 1."

"What is that?" Siri was startled and unconsciously asked.

The grandmother became tensed all of a sudden and replied in a nervous tone. "The base is under attack. I wish all those people protecting the walls would be safe."

Siri was taken aback and sprang to his feet.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to find my master...I mean, my granddaughter," Siri hurriedly corrected himself.

---

Meanwhile, Little Mantou was currently sitting on the side of the road and munching on the candies he won from playing tag with the children.

Besides him were the children who had joined the game and were sitting on the dusty ground, panting and completely exhausted.

The little dog emptied their reserve of candy after consecutively winning the chasing game.

They couldn’t even score a point with how fast it was, leaving them helpless every time.

Little Mantou, after finishing the last candy, walked towards them, wiggled his tail, and barked, ’Woof, woof’, implying he was down for another round.

The children instantly shook their heads simultaneously.

No. We’re not playing anymore! This is simply torture!

They exclaimed in their heads.

"Code 1. Code 1. Code 1."

The children mulling over their losses, stood up in panic, regardless of how tired their limbs were.

One of them hugged Little Mantou before sprinting back to their residence in fear.

Little Mantou was confused.

"What is Code 1?" He barked. Unfortunately, no one can understand him.

(Little Baozi: Thank you for the lovely gifts littlelurkinglotus and Konner_Loking. It’s a rainy night with thunders here. ~(_.)