The infection tide took away far more than just lives, it also drained the intangible spirit and vitality from this land.

The entire buffer zone was like being wrung dry by an invisible hand, all life force extracted. The air was filled with an indescribable desolation and coldness, even the wind carried a heavy, oppressive smell.

Walking all the way from the Central Station, Jiang Chuan would occasionally stop and observe.

The faces of passing crowds showed little expression, only numb exhaustion remained. Occasionally there were a few whose eyes gleamed with shrewdness, clearly people who had clawed their way out of the slums, selecting targets, waiting for nightfall to strike.

Only those carrying military packs as migrants, or those squatting roadside exchanging supplies in preparation to leave, showed any trace of anticipation and smiles on their faces.

To them, Happiness City was merely one stop on life's journey, soon they would head to the next destination, naturally they wouldn't be infected by the decadent atmosphere here.

If he had remained in the buffer zone all along, Jiang Chuan recognized he wouldn't have been moved by these changes.

After all, he had lived here for nearly twenty years, from a naive sixteen-year-old youth, enduring to become nearly forty now, long since worn down by the ups and downs into acceptance.

But having just followed Ding Yishan into the inner city and witnessed the singing, dancing, and orderly prosperity there, then returning to this lifeless buffer zone, that sense of disconnection was like a dull knife repeatedly grinding at his heart, making him feel suffocated with panic.

"Buddy, are you leaving too? Want some solid nutrition paste?" a scruffy scavenger with a backpack approached, seeing Jiang Chuan standing motionless.

Opening his pack revealed boiled nutrition paste that had been gelled and formed into gray spheres, looking completely unappetizing.

"If you're leaving now, the liquid stuff will spoil in a few days. My stuff has plenty of preservatives added, take it with you and it'll last a month no problem." The scavenger patted his chest with pride in his voice, "Don't worry, at worst you'll get a small fever, definitely won't kill you!"

"No need, I don't eat that stuff," Jiang Chuan shook his head and continued walking toward B-7 District.

But the scavenger wouldn't give up, carrying his pack and following closely behind, chattering incessantly to continue his sales pitch.

At the same time, several other scavengers who had been hawking wares to other people also moved, quickening their pace and surrounding him.

"Brother, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, you need any? Don't let the handmade look fool you, they're just as effective as the real thing from medical stations!"

"9mm bullets, one happiness coin for two rounds, selling cheap, better to have some just in case!"

"How about a tent? You've got to need this at least! Leave the city without shelter from wind and rain, one downpour and you'll freeze sick, then you'll be calling to heaven and earth with no response!"

"If nothing else, how about insect repellent? Going into the wilderness without this stuff, the bugs will keep you awake all night gnawing on you!"

The more Jiang Chuan tried to avoid them, the more scavengers gathered around, their overlapping sales pitches wrapping around him like a net, making his progress increasingly difficult.

"Get lost!" Being pressed to annoyance, he stopped and barked lowly.

However, unexpectedly, the scavengers looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Oh ho, what, you want to fight us?"

"Come on, hit me in the head, see if you can kill me with one punch!"

"You've got so much money in your pocket, not buying anything, you want the brothers to drink northwest wind?"

The cacophony of voices mixed with sweat and dust smells surged forward. The circle of scavengers tightened further, the eagerness in their eyes gradually revealing a vicious edge.

In these times, no one would easily let go of a fat sheep.

Money? Jiang Chuan instinctively felt his pants pocket, which indeed contained quite a few happiness coins.

As the station chief's clerk, due to his special status, he usually went everywhere just swiping his badge. It had been many years since he'd had to think about money.

These happiness coins were borrowed from guards when he left the inspection station, intending to use money to clear the way once he entered B-7 District, to quickly find out what exactly Cheng Ye had been up to.

He never expected that before even stepping into B-7 District territory, he'd first be targeted by these sharp-eyed scavengers.

"Aren't you selling things? This is straight robbery?" Jiang Chuan's gaze turned cold, "Trying to force-sell me garbage that even those migrants won't buy?"

"What do you mean garbage, can't speak properly, brat!"

Hit in their sore spot, the scavengers immediately exploded in anger, their savage grins intensifying. Someone was already clenching fists, about to swarm him.

However, just as Jiang Chuan prepared to fight, a rough roar suddenly came from behind the crowd: "Fucking hell, want to die? Selling stuff all the way to our B-7, don't want to live anymore?"

Everyone turned toward the sound to see five burly middle-aged men striding over, each with fierce expressions and dangerous glints in their eyes.

Visibly, the scavengers who had been arrogant and domineering just moments before instantly deflated, their viciousness punctured like a balloon, immediately becoming meek and obedient.

"Boss Huang, this is still B-5, we didn't dare enter your B-7," one said.

"Get lost! Still dare argue with me?" Boss Huang stepped forward, spittle flying in the other's face, "If you fucking dare loiter around here again, I'll chop off all your paws!"

Evil people need evil people to deal with them.

With Boss Huang's angry shout, the scavengers looked at each other. None dared make another sound, they could only hang their heads in defeat and quickly scurry away with their junk.

Though they were reckless, they could still distinguish between serious and light matters.

Tianyuan Community had over four thousand people, nearly three thousand adult males alone, absolutely not someone they could afford to offend.

Moreover, recently that "Poison Hand Dragon" had been frantically expanding territory like a madman, fiercely protective of his own.

Just last night someone had clashed with their people in B-6, and B-7's people directly rushed over and beat the opponent half to death.

Provoking them now would be asking for trouble.

"Brother, be careful when you've got money in your pocket. Getting tangled up with those people is no good," Boss Huang also noticed the bulging happiness coins in Jiang Chuan's pocket.

Just from the shape, he could tell this person carried at least several hundred coins, equivalent to a month's wages from their construction work.

"Thanks, brother. Here's for drinks," Jiang Chuan's eyes turned, suddenly pulling out two happiness coins of denomination '10' from his pocket.

Boss Huang instinctively swallowed, but remembering the district elder and Big Dragon's instructions, he shook his head, "No need, just helping out. All districts are having tough times now, everyone's living tight, you better keep it for yourself."

Won't even take money? Jiang Chuan was stunned, but didn't chase after him to say more. Instead, he followed Boss Huang from a distance into B-7 District.

Very strangely, though B-6 and B-7 were only separated by one block, after crossing this boundary, the desolate coldness in the air seemed cut off by something, retreating by more than half.

Roadside stalls had somehow multiplied, pieces of torn cloth spread on the ground, arranged in a row against the wall corners, displaying various trinkets.

Most stall owners squatted at the wall bases, not coming up to solicit customers. Their gazes weren't even on their own stalls, but uniformly looking toward the distant pedestrian street.

Ding-ding-dong-dong sounds drifted over, mixed with vague shouting and crisp metallic collisions.

Logically, with the infection tide just passed, the buffer zone should be sparsely populated. It would take a month or two for new people to join and autumn to arrive before vitality returned. Yet the entrance to the pedestrian street was packed with hundreds of people, a dark mass surging. Even those at the very periphery were stretching their necks to peer inside, actually showing some liveliness on their faces.

Jiang Chuan could see clearly, it wasn't sadness or numbness, but a tense anticipation.

RUMBLE!

A tremendous crash suddenly exploded, shaking the ground underfoot.

Two four-story illegal earthen buildings flanking the pedestrian street suddenly collapsed inward, broken bricks and yellow earth mixed with rotten wood shooting skyward. The splashing dust spread like a mushroom cloud, choking the front row into covering their mouths and retreating.

Several figures in work clothes emerged from the dust clouds, carrying crowbars and hammers, shouting at the crowd: "Everyone move back! Once we finish demolishing these two, the passage will be cleared!"

"Old brother, what are they doing?" Jiang Chuan squatted by the wall like the stall owners, watching the sweating crowd in the distance, couldn't help asking, "So enthusiastic about it?"

"Demolishing the pedestrian street, what else?" The stall owner smacked his lips, "I heard this place is being rebuilt. The entire pedestrian street has to be torn down and redone, new roads laid, shops built, and even a small factory constructed."

"Huh?" Jiang Chuan was stunned, instinctively straightening his back, "How much would that cost? Where would a small community get so many resources?"

"None of your business." The stall owner shook his head lightly, but his tone carried thick envy, "Tianyuan Community has thousands of people. This infection tide only killed a few dozen, minimizing losses. I heard they even got a 'Happiness Third-Class Merit,' the funding from above could probably renovate half this street."

"Happiness Third-Class Merit?" Jiang Chuan was completely stunned.

He instinctively felt this third-class merit might be related to Cheng Ye, but a probationary inspector...

After thinking, he lowered his voice, "Do you know if there's a Cheng... Inspector Cheng around here?"

"Don't know." The stall owner honestly shook his head, "We just saw B-7 had good order and didn't descend into chaos after the infection tide, so we dared come set up stalls. If you want to ask about people, you need to find Tianyuan Community people to ask. This whole area is under their control."

"What about Boss Huang..."

"Patrol team, specifically responsible for maintaining order. Find him and you're set."

"Thanks!"

Jiang Chuan nodded, didn't ask further, but his heart was churning with massive waves.

The buffer zone had been under Idealist control these years. Though inspectors held honored positions, the inspection station's actual authority was continuously shrinking.

Previously they could directly access all buffer zone information, now they needed approval applications for everything.

To avoid alerting anyone, he hadn't dared apply for B-7 District information.

Now asking around, good heavens, was B-7 about to turn the world upside down?

While pondering, sudden cheers erupted nearby.

The last section of broken wall had been pushed down, revealing a spacious passage behind. Several workers were raising hammers in celebration, and scattered applause arose from the watching crowd.

Soon, large earth blocks were smashed into fragments by hammers. The watching crowd consciously stepped back, clearing a narrow path.

Six wheelbarrows entered, their operators rolling up sleeves, bending to shovel earth blocks onto the carts with practiced efficiency.

Jiang Chuan thought for a moment, got up and walked to the crowd's periphery, deliberately choosing a kind-faced woman.

"Sister, let me ask you something." Jiang Chuan tried to make his tone gentle, "Has any big shot come to B-7 District recently? Otherwise why would they suddenly start demolishing and rebuilding the street?"

The woman looked up at him, wariness flashing in her eyes. But seeing he was dressed reasonably well and didn't seem like a troublemaker, she pointed to a tall man directing the clearance work not far away, "Don't ask me if you have business, go ask him. Chen Dong, you can call him Captain Chen."

"Good!"

Jiang Chuan moved his steps, but secretly noted how highly alert the Tianyuan Community people were.

Not even giving him a chance to offer money, none of them would engage with his questions.

"Captain Chen."

"Mm?" Chen Dong turned his head, "Who are you? What's up?"

"I'm from next door, want to pay you for some information."

"Next door, pay money?" Looking at the several denomination '10' happiness coins in Jiang Chuan's hand, Chen Dong snorted through his nose, "Speak up, what is it? Let me hear first."

"Nothing major. I heard there's this Inspector Cheng living in this area. Don't know if you recognize him?"

"Inspector Cheng?" Chen Dong was stunned, then frowned, "You'd have to ask our Big Dragon about that. He should know. We just do the work, how would we know about inspectors?"

"Then where might I find Big Dragon?"

"Oh, he's in the mall. Wait a moment, I'll take you there."

"That would be wonderful, thank you."

Finally finding a breakthrough, Jiang Chuan sighed in relief and stood aside.

However, within just a few minutes, the surrounding atmosphere inexplicably became somewhat tense. The workers who had been laughing and joking all buried their heads in work, even the hammering sounds grew softer.

The watching crowd quietly stepped back further, glancing in his direction with indescribable meaning.

Jiang Chuan was just realizing something was wrong when Chen Dong walked over, expressionless: "Let's go. Big Dragon is waiting for you."

"Let's go."

Chen Dong led the way, Jiang Chuan found it strange but could only follow.

However, he wasn't concerned. Whether in status or strength, crushing a group of ordinary people was simple enough.

At the mall entrance stood several young men, eyes flashing with fierce light, sizing him up.

"Got a gun? Hand over any guns. Our community prohibits firearms."

"One handgun." Taking out his defensive pistol from his waist, a young man took it while two others came forward to search him.

"Alright, go in."

The door was pulled open, inside seemed somewhat deep.

He could dimly see a man exercising in the middle of the mall. Chen Dong jerked his chin, "That's Big Dragon. Go ask him."

"Thanks, brother."

Jiang Chuan didn't suspect anything, immediately strode over.

However, after just a few steps, he heard the dull sound of the door closing behind him.

"Come here, boy." The Big Dragon in the activity area crooked his finger, "I heard you're looking for Inspector Cheng?"

"You know?"

"Of course I know. What business do you have with him?"

Big Dragon stepped forward twice, sharp eyes looking him up and down, "A martial artist too?"

"I just wanted to ask Big Dragon about something. That night of the infection tide, did you see Inspector Cheng?"

Jiang Chuan cupped his hands, pulling out the remaining happiness coins from his pocket, "I only want information. If Big Dragon knows, these are yours."

"Got an identity badge?"

"No." Jiang Chuan honestly shook his head.

Before his words finished, a vicious wind suddenly struck his face.

Big Dragon's entire body leaped forward like a leopard, right fist striking at nearly a vertical angle toward his face, the punch wind carrying killing intent, clearly a lethal move.

Jiang Chuan's pupils contracted slightly, his body instinctively dodged left, avoiding this heavy punch.

Then his shoulder applied slight force, reaching out to push, actually using pure strength to force back the attacking Big Dragon.

"Got some skill. An expert?"

"I wouldn't dare claim that."

Jiang Chuan's gaze cooled slightly, "I don't want to fight you, just want information. If you won't talk, I'll just leave."

"Then you're dreaming."

Big Dragon coldly laughed, foot stomping hard on the ground, his entire body shooting forward like an arrow. His right fist carried fierce wind straight at Jiang Chuan's heart, left elbow secretly blocking his retreat, the moves three times more vicious than before.

But this time, Jiang Chuan no longer dodged. His toes ground against the floor, body suddenly sinking.

Just as the fist was about to reach his chest, he suddenly spun and sidestepped, simultaneously his left hand hooked like iron onto Big Dragon's wrist, right hand smoothly pressing against the opponent's elbow bend, striking hard.

CRACK!

Big Dragon felt his right arm go numb and powerless, his offensive momentum instantly stalling.

But Jiang Chuan gave no breathing room, using the momentum to twist and apply force, actually using Big Dragon's own charging momentum as a pivot point for a clean over-the-shoulder throw!

THUD!

Big Dragon's burly body was slammed to the ground like a broken sack.

"Opening ordinary tendon gates, false Dao Embryo, fighting entirely on vicious energy. You won't go far on this path. Better stop trying to be a tough guy in the future."

Jiang Chuan shook his head, about to turn and leave.

However, after just one step, crisp clicking sounds came from behind.

Big Dragon, who had been thrown to the ground, grinned and coughed twice, pulling out a handgun from his lower abdomen and disengaging the safety.

"Brother, I'm afraid you can't leave yet."

"Just you? With that gun?"

Jiang Chuan laughed coldly, his fingers already lightly resting on his belt where a three-inch defensive knife was hidden.

The realm gap was clear.

He was completely confident he could send a flying knife straight to Big Dragon's throat before the gun fired.

However, Big Dragon just chuckled as he climbed up from the ground, patted dust off himself, and waved at the empty circular walkway above.

Click, click, click...

A series of crisp light-switching sounds connected into one piece, the dim mall instantly bright as daylight.

Jiang Chuan suddenly looked up, the next second completely stunned.

The second and third floor circular walkways bristled with countless gun barrels.

Handguns, rifles, even four machine guns?

What was this? Madness?

"Come on, be honest now."

Big Dragon clapped his hands again, and four sturdy men immediately emerged from the shadows, carrying chains as thick as forearms.

"Unity of Man and Heaven is impressive, but you can try and see if you can dodge machine gun fire."

I've been captured? Captured by a group of ordinary community people?

Unable to focus on Big Dragon's flickering expression as he made a phone call, Jiang Chuan still couldn't process what had happened.

These years staying by Ding Yishan's side, though he'd never ventured out again, after reaching half-step transcendent, killing those foreign Unity of Man and Heaven experts wasn't much different from facing ordinary people.

Yet today, he'd actually overturned at an ordinary community?

"Brother, really sorry about this. Inspector Cheng is coming right over. If it's all a misunderstanding, I, Big Dragon, will kowtow in apology."

Big Dragon put down the defense communicator, awkwardly scratching his head. The tense atmosphere in the mall immediately relaxed.

The crowd nonchalantly put away their weapons, chatting and laughing as if nothing had happened.

The first floor also became lively, many people carrying materials inside, apparently busy repairing basic facilities.

This place was indeed completely different from other parts of the buffer zone, radiating an indescribable vitality.

Children chased and played in the mall, actually giving Jiang Chuan a momentary illusion of the "singing and dancing prosperity" only found in the inner city.

Of course, it remained run-down, with debris piled in corners and bunk beds stacked to the ceiling, everything appearing chaotic.

But ignoring these external shabby conditions, the human energy flowing through this space actually made him feel more comfortable than the carefully maintained order of the inner city.

Jiang Chuan secretly clicked his tongue, suddenly regretting his rash intrusion instead of approaching more cautiously.

But he vaguely felt everything happening here could be reported back to Ding Yishan in detail. This kind of change absolutely shouldn't exist in the buffer zone.

Even though Ding Yishan had always been lukewarm toward Idealist reforms, and Cheng Ye definitely wasn't as simple as he appeared. Without even meeting him, there was already a sense of déjà vu from when Cheng Long had secretly gathered strength in the Pioneer Corps, worthy of focused attention.

Of course, the most important thing now was escaping.

Fortunately, he'd never met Cheng Ye face to face before. He could bluff later, disguising as someone the station sent to check on medical applications and examine injuries. That should work, right?

Whoosh.

As his thoughts churned chaotically, someone shouted that Inspector Cheng had arrived.

Jiang Chuan instinctively looked up, completely stunned.

The chaotic mall seemed to have a pause button pressed. Nearly a thousand people simultaneously put down their work.

Whether men, women, or even children, all turned their gazes in unison toward the entrance in that instant.

Thud, thud.

Steady footsteps approached from far to near. A remarkably young-looking man strode in with head held high.

Simple short sleeves and long pants, not particularly tall in stature.

As he walked, nearly a thousand pairs of eyes spontaneously followed, filled with rich gratitude and respect.

When he stopped, the crowd's breathing followed suit, pausing slightly. The enormous mall suddenly fell silent.

He was Cheng Ye?

Jiang Chuan's mind exploded like being struck by a heavy hammer, completely losing all ability to think.

Countless scattered memory fragments overlapped.

Years ago when Ding Yishan took office, there had been a similar scene outside the inspection station.

Countless people spontaneously gathered, eyes full of respect and devotion.

But since then, he'd never seen such a scene again. Even though many residents were respectful to inspectors, they couldn't achieve such uniform attention, much less this almost instinctive solemnity.

"Who is looking for me?"

As his words fell, nearly a thousand people almost simultaneously turned their heads, gazes focusing over in unison.

Jiang Chuan had never imagined being watched by people could bring such an intense feeling of being on pins and needles.

Every gaze seemed to carry weight, pressing on his shoulders until they felt heavy, even his breathing became labored.

But at this moment, he had no other choice.

He could only steel himself to look up, forcing a bitter smile, meeting the young inspector's gaze.

Memory blurred again. The sixty to seventy percent similar face and condescending gaze made him seem to see Cheng Long standing there.

"Hmm?"

As their gazes met, the other's eyes seemed filled with stories, but Cheng Ye searched his memory and confirmed he'd definitely never seen this face before.

He instinctively opened his interface.

Then couldn't help raising his eyebrows.

[??, 98.8%]

[Searchable Range: Intelligence, Items, Skills (Lv1, Lv2, Lv3)]

"Strange, where did this person come from? Why such high compatibility, almost maxed out before even speaking?"

"Huh, and there are Lv3 skills to search?"

[NEXT CHAPTER]