Chapter 186-I Clean Up Garbage in a Wasteland World
Chapter 186 Striking It Rich
Ding—
[Congratulations on completing the Side Quest: Find the Truth of Your Death. Search progress 100%!]
[Calculating rewards... Congratulations, you have received 150,000 Purity Points.]
[Congratulations on unlocking the System's hidden panel: Reboot Button.]
[Reward description: You may reboot Alpha Series Experimental Subject No. 0999, gaining the opportunity to re-activate skills. Please note—once rebooted, Purity Points and Health will be reset to zero, and all System items and talents will be cleared. Use with caution.]
[Congratulations on talent upgrade.]
[Metal Manipulation talent range expanded to 40 meters. Danger Sense range expanded to 5 minutes.]
After the holographic projection vanished, Zhu Ning heard the System rewards.
Completing tasks had always come with generous rewards before—150,000 Purity Points was certainly generous.
She'd unlocked the Reboot Panel. Only, she didn't have the Absolute Precognition talent, nor another chance to reboot.
The Initial Zhu Ning was right. This was the last time.
Zhu Ning lowered her gaze to her own hands. Under her control, the Xenomorph surged from the back of her neck—black slime coiling around her fingers, climbing upward.
Probably because it had been caught trying to devour Zhu Ning earlier, the black slime was now extremely docile, nuzzling against her palm like it was trying to curry favor.
The Xenomorph and the System were completely different. The System was cold and mechanical, but the Xenomorph seemed to have its own personality.
Zhu Ning clenched her fist, and the Xenomorph obeyed her command, crawling up her arm before quickly disappearing.
She stood up. Her legs were still uncooperative, so she slowly climbed the stairs. Shen Xingqiao was sitting in the burger shop.
Outside, the sky was faintly brightening. Morning light spilled in, landing on the mole at the corner of her eye, making her look very composed.
Ye Fei was standing guard outside the door. That made two checkpoints—meaning anyone who tried to assassinate Zhu Ning would have to get past Ye Fei first, then Shen Xingqiao.
Both of them would have to die before an enemy could reach Zhu Ning.
Shen Xingqiao saw Zhu Ning appear and said into her earpiece: "Boss is out."
Zhu Ning felt like Ye Fei and Shen Xingqiao were emotional debts left behind for her. She didn't know how to interact with them—in their minds, she'd probably just lost her memory.
Zhu Ning: "Um..."
Shen Xingqiao: "I know what you want to say. You don't have to."
Zhu Ning froze. Shen Xingqiao knew.
Although the Initial Zhu Ning hadn't explicitly said she'd erased her individual consciousness, they'd all lived together day in and day out. Their relationship was close—true siblings. There was no way they wouldn't notice when the person wasn't who they used to be.
Zhu Ning felt rather awkward about it. Ye Fei had already come inside and asked: "What are you going to do next?"
Zhu Ning: "I want to sleep?"
The Sanitation Center was still in turmoil, and she'd lived through a lifetime in a single night. Whether or not the apocalypse was coming, she wanted to sleep.
She needed to go back and sort out her thoughts.
Ye Fei blurted out: "Go back where?"
Before Zhu Ning could answer, Shen Xingqiao said: "I'll take you."
She knew Zhu Ning was heading to the Dignified Queen Club. Having Zhu Ning go to the Fire Seed Club right now—she definitely wouldn't be comfortable there.
Ye Fei opened his mouth, then silently closed it again. He probably still found it hard to accept that the Zhu Ning in front of him was his Boss.
After getting into the car, Ye Fei and Shen Xingqiao fell even more silent.
Snow was falling outside. Shen Xingqiao leaned against the car window watching it, and Zhu Ning sat there like an outsider, not knowing what to say either.
Suddenly, Zhu Ning's Sub-Brain flashed. Shen Xingqiao said: "Your money."
Zhu Ning looked down. The balance in her Sub-Brain account suddenly jumped—followed by a string of zeros that nearly made her think she was seeing things.
One billion NewCred.
Zhu Ning blinked, then counted again. No mistake—it really was one billion.
It was as though she'd accidentally stumbled into some squirrel's stash and achieved a genuine overnight fortune.
The Initial Instance had been ruthless with herself—leaving only a pittance to force her into the Sanitation Center. Otherwise, with Zhu Ning's slacker personality, she would've spent this entire life lying perfectly flat after rebooting.
Then Shen Xingqiao sent over Zhu Ning's complete personal file. Most of it matched what Yue Kaiyuan had dug up, except the Red House's existence had been scrubbed. Yue Kaiyuan hadn't been able to find which specific orphanage Zhu Ning came from—the background check the Sanitation Center had done was authentic.
The smaller details Zhu Ning had experienced herself. She now fully inherited the Initial Instance's social connections.
Shen Xingqiao itemized everything that belonged to Zhu Ning one by one. She even had an armory—right in the basement of the Fire Seed Club.
Zhu Ning had no property under her name. She'd always lived at the Fire Seed Club—probably because she couldn't bear to leave Shen Xingqiao and Ye Fei.
It wasn't until she needed to set her plan in motion that she'd moved into the Hive.
Zhu Ning listened quietly, feeling as though Shen Xingqiao was recounting a life that should have belonged to her.
Eventually Shen Xingqiao ran out of things to say. A person's life was that short—a few sentences could sum it all up.
Everything else was scattered, trivial details. Saying them aloud would only sound petty and sentimental.
They arrived at the Dignified Queen Club. Zhu Ning got out and was about to say goodbye when Shen Xingqiao said: "Boss."
Zhu Ning turned back: "Hm?"
Shen Xingqiao: "We're nearby. Call if you need anything."
Shen Xingqiao and Ye Fei had promised to look after Zhu Ning, and they would keep that promise.
Probably not wanting to linger, they drove off, leaving only a trail of exhaust.
After a moment, Zhu Ning's Sub-Brain flashed—she'd been added to a group chat. The group name: One Big Happy Family.
Same style as family group chats from Zhu Ning's era. The Initial Zhu Ning had probably named it.
The nicknames inside were Boss, Second, and Third. Shen Xingqiao was Second; Ye Fei was Third.
So "Boss" didn't mean what she'd thought—it was just siblings messing around.
After she was added, Ye Fei spoke first, sending a sticker: [Welcome back, Zhu Ning.]
Shen Xingqiao: [Welcome back, Zhu Ning.]
Zhu Ning's fingers paused, then she typed: [Welcome back, Zhu Ning.]
After sending it, Zhu Ning dismissed her Sub-Brain. She didn't go inside right away—just stood at the shop entrance.
The snow had been falling all night. It was blinding, making her squint instinctively.
Snowflakes drifted down, blanketing her head. District 103 was truly freezing.
The Dignified Queen Club's pink sign had gone dark—it was closing time now. The hosts were leaving through the back door. Zhu Ning's hearing was sharp enough to catch the creaking of that broken back door.
Suddenly, the bell hanging above the front entrance swayed, and someone stepped out.
Song Zhizhang wore a black turtleneck sweater, one hand propping the door open, his complexion not looking great either.
Song Zhizhang had just spotted Zhu Ning on the security feed. Zhu Ning was standing at the entrance in a damaged Protective Suit with a Sanitation Backpack on her back. At first Song Zhizhang thought he was seeing things, but when he came out—it really was her.
Song Zhizhang frowned. "Your Majesty, what exactly are you doing out here?"
Dressed so thinly—wasn't she afraid of freezing to death?
Zhu Ning: "Just standing here for a bit."
Song Zhizhang: "..."
What kind of hobby was this? Standing outside in a snowstorm like a human ice sculpture.
Song Zhizhang had been half-holding the door open. He thought about it, then shut the door and turned to go back inside.
Zhu Ning clicked her tongue. How cold-hearted.
After a moment, Song Zhizhang pushed the door open again. This time he was wearing a down jacket and tossed something over.
Zhu Ning's vision went dark. She reached out and caught it—a long down coat.
Song Zhizhang: "Brand new."
Sure enough, the tags were still on. Zhu Ning silently pulled on the down coat. Men's style, but Zhu Ning was tall enough that it fit well.
Wrapped in the coat, her whole body felt much warmer.
There was a railing by the shop entrance. Song Zhizhang leaned against it, watching her. Snow had settled on his eyebrows and lashes.
Looking at Song Zhizhang like this—the little shop manager really was quite good-looking.
Zhu Ning asked: "You're this nice to me?"
Song Zhizhang's hand resting on the railing curled slightly. He flashed his signature smile. "This is just good customer service."
Zhu Ning clicked her tongue. So he was the type who was warm to everyone.
Then again, given Song Zhizhang's personality, he'd probably bring a coat out for a beggar standing at his door.
Song Zhizhang studied Zhu Ning carefully. There was blood on her legs, both pant legs torn and ragged, as though something sharp had sliced through them.
Zhu Ning was seriously injured.
Song Zhizhang paused. He didn't ask about her wounds. Instead: "Feeling stressed?"
Standing at the door without going in—she must have something on her mind.
Zhu Ning gave a soft "mm." Of course she was stressed. The Initial Zhu Ning had dumped a whole mess of a situation on her.
Zhu Ning had inherited her money, and also her dying wish.
Zhu Ning needed to play her role—handle everything she'd left behind. The pressure was suffocating.
All she'd wanted was to be a slacker.
Song Zhizhang asked: "Want me to call someone over to help relieve some stress?"
Zhu Ning laughed. "Are you trying to get me to spend money?"
Song Zhizhang: "Not at all. I can give you a discount—fifty percent off."
Zhu Ning found it rather surreal. Their positions were almost the same as when they'd first met—Song Zhizhang had stood in this exact spot and asked if she wanted to give it a try.
The only difference was that this time Song Zhizhang wasn't wearing a purple turtleneck, and there was none of that exaggerated theatricality. It was as though his true colors were showing through.
Fate had come full circle. Everything was back to the starting point.
Zhu Ning held out her Sanitation Backpack. "Boss, I've got Contamination Spores to turn in."
Song Zhizhang's side business was running a containment depot.
Song Zhizhang glanced at it. "Quite a haul this time."
Zhu Ning had meant to crack a joke, but the words left her mouth and she realized she wasn't in the mood. Even with her eyes closed, she could sense the colossal thing beneath the ground. The Initial Zhu Ning was right—once you knew, there was no going back.
That thing felt as though it were breathing right under her feet.
Zhu Ning asked abruptly: "If the apocalypse came, what would you do?"
The question wasn't strange. Everyone inside the walls was uncertain how long this facade of peace could last.
Song Zhizhang was holding the spores Zhu Ning had collected. He answered: "Wait to die?"
"Huh?" Zhu Ning: "You'd give up that fast?"
Song Zhizhang: "I came to District 103 to wait for death in the first place."
Zhu Ning thought about it. Song Zhizhang had clearly been through something—otherwise he wouldn't have ended up in District 103.
Zhu Ning's breath kept puffing out white clouds as she asked: "Why is District 103 called the Forsaken Land?"
Song Zhizhang: "Travel between other districts isn't free—you need a transit pass first, then wait for a scheduled flight. But District 103 doesn't require any of that. It's basically a landfill. Anyone can enter without applying, and there are garbage trucks every day—you can even hitch a ride in on one."
So that's how it was. A total no-man's-land. No wonder the crime rate was so high.
Even if people here died, nobody higher up would lose much sleep. There was definitely no strategic deployment in this area.
Zhu Ning asked: "If I told you right now to take Xiaofeng and leave this place, would you go?"
She'd previously suggested the same to Li Nianchuan.
Song Zhizhang was silent for a moment. Zhu Ning wasn't the type to ask pointless questions. Her saying this meant District 103 was about to become dangerous.
The incident with contaminants appearing at the Sanitation Center had been huge news—everyone in the circle had heard about it. They called those things Non-Natural Humans.
They looked exactly like real people on the outside—meaning some of the Dignified Queen Club's clients could be among them.
The situation was chaotic now. Danger was everywhere.
Song Zhizhang asked: "Where would you have me go?"
Zhu Ning: "I have a transit pass to the Divine Kingdom."
The people from the Sanitation Center headquarters had given her a chip card directly. In the current situation, that thing really was like a ticket onto Noah's Ark.
As long as they got into the Divine Kingdom first, Zhu Ning could help connect them with Liu Niannian. It was at least one more option than ordinary people had.
Song Zhizhang was taken aback. He hadn't expected Zhu Ning to offer him a transit pass to the Divine Kingdom. A single one of those could fetch an astronomical price on the black market.
Song Zhizhang: "What about you?"
"I'm staying. I'm going to save the world." After saying it out loud, Zhu Ning felt the pressure lighten. She'd already dared to make such a shameless boast. She sensed Song Zhizhang smiling, and asked: "You don't believe me?"
Song Zhizhang looked into Zhu Ning's eyes and said sincerely: "I believe you."
He believed. Prometheus had painted a beautiful future, and Song Zhizhang had always believed Zhu Ning could make it happen.
Zhu Ning smiled. She genuinely felt a bit lighter. She exhaled. "Freezing to death out here. I'm going to bed."
Song Zhizhang saw her mood had improved—at least she could feel the cold now. He opened the door for her, as though welcoming a distinguished guest.
Zhu Ning went home and collapsed face-first into bed. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. She needed the rest.
Until she had more information, there wasn't much she could actually do.
She had to wait for Huo Wenxi's decision first. If Huo Wenxi gave up, her efforts alone wouldn't amount to much.
Same as with the Desolate Village incident—Zhu Ning needed Huo Wenxi to back her up.
...
The Sanitation Center.
The lights were off in Huo Wenxi's office. A tablet lay fallen on the floor, its screen still flickering—red light illuminating the carpet.
Drip—
A drop of blood fell onto the screen, spattering across it.
It was Huo Wenxi's blood.
The sound startled Zhuang Lin outside. Huo Wenxi had asked to view a classified investigation report, and Zhuang Lin had been guarding the door for her.
Zhuang Lin didn't know what had happened inside. Anxious to check, he gripped the door handle.
"Don't come in." Huo Wenxi's voice came through.
Zhuang Lin's motion froze, his hand still on the handle. He couldn't see what Huo Wenxi was doing or what state she was in—he only knew she was in bad shape.
He could hear the tremor in her voice. It was fear.
Zhuang Lin had been with Huo Wenxi for a long time and had never seen her display such intense terror. She'd always been in control—always able to maintain emotional stability.
Zhuang Lin: "Team Leader?"
Inside the office, Huo Wenxi was gasping heavily. With shaking hands she closed the video. The red glow cut out abruptly, but the dread didn't leave—it seemed to swell, filling the entire room.
Huo Wenxi's right eye socket was pooling with blood. A crimson streak ran down from her right eye, stark against her ashen face.
Zhuang Lin stood silently outside the door and asked softly: "Going back to the Huo estate?"
Zhuang Lin was Huo Wenxi's assistant. He'd just received word from the Huo family's main house—urgent situation, arrange for Huo Wenxi to come home immediately.
Zhuang Lin's instincts told him this was serious. Whatever Huo Wenxi was investigating, the Huo family wanted her to abandon it. This had clearly exceeded what Huo Wenxi could handle alone.
As long as Huo Wenxi went home, the Huo family would do everything in their power to protect her.
There was no response from inside the office for a long time. Zhuang Lin's hand was still on the handle, barely restraining his impulse to go in and check.
"No need." Huo Wenxi's voice came through clearly.
Zhuang Lin understood her too well. He immediately grasped the meaning—Huo Wenxi was staying in District 103.
Huo Wenxi felt her teeth chattering. She leaned against the wall and slid down to sit on the floor, pressing her hand over her right eye. Blood seeped through the gaps between her fingers. Her long braid was soaked with blood, her suit stained in spreading blotches—utterly wretched.
Huo Wenxi clenched her jaw. No matter what the ending would be, she was going to witness it through to the very last moment.
Author's Note
Minor text edits~ Sorry, I'll probably be working overtime recently, so update times might be irregular. If you don't see a chapter by 9 PM, just check back the next day!
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