The Return of Cambrian Period Chapter 17

 17 Global Evolution 

Cheng Tianbi’s pupils instantly dilated as a green flash of movement caught his eye. He could clearly perceive the subtle fluctuations in the air caused by the swift swing of the mantis’s blade-like leg. He followed the trajectory of the mantis’s attack based on those air movements.

However, seeing was one thing, but reacting was another. The mantis was astonishingly fast, and despite Cheng Tianbi’s superior physical abilities, which had been significantly enhanced since his evolution, his neural response speed fell short compared to this mantis, whose evolution surpassed his by a hundredfold.

Cheng Tianbi didn’t have time to raise his gun or draw his knife, let alone contemplate his next move. Instinctively, he raised his arm, feeling as if he held an ethereal blade, and swiftly struck at the mantis.

A resounding clash of weapons echoed!

Cong Xia spun around and witnessed the green mantis being thrown back three to four meters, crashing onto the grass with a thud.

Without hesitation, Cheng Tianbi dashed forward, unsheathing his military knife and driving it forcefully into the mantis’s body. Cong Xia could only hear a squelching sound, after which all went silent.

Cong Xia stood frozen for a few seconds before joining Cheng Tianbi and rushing over.

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Ombywpvle, Ubldt Mkydck pyv sd vbl taswde, bkp aktbv byde valxczkdt pzktbvzu.

Usdt Dky naswnble clpkel bkx, ypjkdt, “Gal usw yzaktbv? Zsw pnyale xl. Ebld eke vbyv xydvkp nyvnb wr vs wp?” Tl scplahle vbl xydvkp, kvp pvsxynb kxryzle cu Ubldt Mkydck’p jdkql, pvawttzkdt sd vbl taswde, pvkzz pbyjld.

Ekrkdt vbl polyv qasx bkp qsalblye, Ubldt Mkydck osdelale, “Uyd ol lyv vbkp vbkdt?”

Usdt Dky tzydnle yv vbl xydvkp yde alrzkle, “R’x dsv pwal, cwv tkhld kvp pkgl, vblal pbswze cl psxl xlyv. Ebu es usw zssj ps eaykdle?”

“R wple xu lhszwvksdyau ldlatu fwpv dso,” Ubldt Mkydck nsdqlpple.

Usdt Dky lmnzykxle kd ypvsdkpbxldv, “Eso, R jdlo uswa ldbydnle yckzkvklp oswze blzr usw elqlyv kv. Tso eke usw es kv? Zswa lhszwvksdyau rsolap byhl tasod pvasdtla. Vzlypl, vlzz xl obyv byrrldle.”

“R qlzv zkjl R nswze pbyrl vbl okde kd xu byde kdvs ydu qsax R elpkale,” Ubldt Mkydck lmrzykdle. Fvlrrkdt sd vbl xydvkp’p cseu, bl alvaklhle bkp xkzkvyau jdkql. “Ebld R yvvlxrvle vs eayo xu jdkql lyazkla, R oyp vss zyvl. Fs, vbl okde kd xu byde vaydpqsaxle kdvs yd kzzwpsau czyel, zkjl vbkp.” Ubldt Mkydck elxsdpvayvle y jdkql-bszekdt xsvksd, vbswtb bkp ryzx yrrlyale lxrvu. Jlqsal Usdt Dky nswze alynv, Ubldt Mkydck powdt bkp byde, yde y twpv sq okde awpble vsoyaep vblx. Usdt Dky cyalzu xydytle vs nyvnb y tzkxrpl sq y obkvl czwa okvb bkp dyjle lul. Fweeldzu, bl qlzv y nbkzzkdt pldpyvksd cawpb ytykdpv bkp dlnj yp y qlo pvaydep sq bkp byka olal nzlydzu plhlale yde tldvzu elpnldele sdvs bkp pbswzela.

Usdt Dky alxykdle qasgld qsa y qwzz vball plnsdep, vlaakqkle.

The cold sensation had passed perilously close to his neck. If it had been a mere two centimeters closer, he would have suffered the same fate as their team leader.

Regaining his composure, Cong Xia exclaimed, “What were you thinking! Oh my god, you scared me! Aren’t you afraid you might actually cut me?”

Cheng Tianbi didn’t take his complaints seriously. He simply shook his head and said, “I won’t make mistakes.” He looked at his palm, tightly clenched it and then opened it, repeating this motion several times. The continuous flow of energy within his body brought an unprecedented sense of excitement. Any man would feel thrilled by his own strength.

Cong Xia was genuinely happy for him. “It seems like your energy is growing rapidly.”

“It’s also related to the information preserved in the ancient jade. These past few days, I’ve been constantly sensing the energy core.”

Subconsciously, Cong Xia touched the pocket on his chest. “I’ll do my best to help you. You’re definitely much more formidable than those so-called strongmen. You deserve at least ten portions of food every day!”

Cheng Tianbi stuffed the mantis’s corpse into his bag. “If we can contact Beijing through the military, we won’t have to worry about food. But until then, we mustn’t expose ourselves.”

“Don’t worry, I understand.”

The people in the neighborhood had scattered in panic, and the tall weeds hindered visibility. No one noticed what had just transpired. Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia pretended as if nothing had happened and caught up with the residents.

The people in the neighborhood were still shaken, their faces pale. They didn’t even notice Cheng Tianbi and Cong Xia returning. However fearful they were, they didn’t turn back. If they didn’t get food, they would eventually die. It didn’t matter if they died. Who here didn’t have loved ones they worried about?

Cong Xia was infected by their desolate atmosphere, and his spirits sank. Only Cheng Tianbi’s strong will kept him cautious and vigilant, never faltering since the apocalypse began.

He assumed the role of a guard, constantly sensing the flow of wind around him, preventing any potential mantis attacks on the group.

The journey proceeded smoothly, except for one person getting bitten on the leg by a rat. Two hours later, they finally arrived at a large shopping center located southwest of the city center. It had the largest square area in Kunming.

From a distance, they could see countless people congested around the square, with many others heading in that direction.

Since the earthquake, Cong Xia and Cheng Tianbi had never seen so many people. The dangers outside their doors made most people choose to stay at home. It was unimaginable to think that there were still so many people in the city until they witnessed it with their own eyes.

These individuals who were once rays of light now wore expressions of worry and fear, their eyes filled with panic and trepidation. They stood silently in long queues. Despite the multitude gathered in the square, there was no chaos or noise. The deathly silence weighed on people’s hearts, plunging them into depression.

Cong Xia sighed, “Even the military’s food supplies won’t last more than a few days. It’s only a matter of time before things descend into chaos. With so many people, who knows what might happen?”

Cheng Tianbi stated bluntly, “There will be a massive loss of life.”

A young man from the neighborhood overheard their conversation and chimed in, “We’ve been speculating too. These rations won’t sustain us for long. There’s news that the military is planning to retreat south, completely abandoning us. They’re too preoccupied with their own troubles.”

Cong Xia asked, “How many more days do you think the supplies will last?”

The man let out a sigh and leaned closer, lowering his voice. “I overheard them earlier. They said that the food supply for mutants has increased. The government is trying to recruit talented individuals as quickly as possible. So, I guess their reserves are running low, and they want to quickly win over those mutants and then retreat.”

Cong Xia furrowed his brow, not fully agreeing with his viewpoint. He didn’t believe that the military would abandon so many civilians, especially since, if they wanted everyone to retreat, the civilians wouldn’t let them off easily.

Meanwhile, Cheng Tianbi looked thoughtfully at the nearby military vehicles.

As the line of people stood patiently, a commotion suddenly erupted from behind.

“Move aside, move aside! Clear the way for us!”

Everyone turned their heads to see seven or eight people emerging from the crowd, with a tall and skinny man leading the group. He was surrounded by his companions. The man had long hair that partially covered his cheeks, giving him a sinister appearance. Arrogantly, he lifted his chin, allowing his subordinates to create a brash path for him.

“Make way, don’t block our leader’s path! Our leader is the most powerful mutant!”

“Who is he?” Cheng Tianbi asked the young man from earlier.

The man sneered disdainfully. “Him? He’s a mutant. I heard he’s quite powerful. He can single-handedly kill a three or four-meter-tall wolf-dog.”

“What kind of mutation ability does he have?”

“I heard his entire body of hair can transform into needles. He can turn into a hedgehog-like ball or a fluffy ball. In short, it’s a mutation related to hair. The government highly values him now.”

Both men gazed at the tall and skinny man, simultaneously considering his combat strength. Hair mutation, capable of killing an evolved wolf-dog single-handedly, was indeed impressive.

How would he compare to Cheng Tianbi? Cong Xia wondered. Although Cheng Tianbi’s evolutionary abilities didn’t seem as powerful, he himself was a formidable soldier. If they were to fight, he might not necessarily lose.

However, it would be best to avoid the day when a fight was necessary because that man seemed like a difficult opponent.

After the group passed by, the crowd returned to calmness.

Cong Xia had been waiting in line for two hours and was starting to feel anxious. He and Cheng Tianbi had other plans for the day. He asked, “How much longer until it’s our turn?”

“It’ll be a while. Look at all these people. It usually takes six or seven hours to reach the front. Why? Do you need to use the restroom?”

Before Cong Xia could respond, Cheng Tianbi interjected, “Yes, we need to use the restroom.”

“Go ahead, but come back soon. Don’t get lost. There’s one inside the mall, and it’s empty. You can use it freely.”

Cheng Tianbi glanced at the sprawling shopping center spanning several acres and said to Cong Xia, “Let’s go inside and find something.”

“What are we looking for?”

“We’re looking for some outdoor mountaineering gear, a change of equipment.”

The two of them walked toward the shopping center as planned.

As expected, despite the countless beautiful items that once filled this luxurious and magnificent mall, and the fact that everything was free for the taking, it now stood empty. The mall had been stripped of useful items like food and daily necessities, leaving behind things that hungry people didn’t need, such as clothes, cosmetics, and perfumes.

The items that were once expensive and alluring had instantly lost their meaning in the face of the apocalypse.

Following the mall’s directions, they went straight to the men’s department on the third floor, where the mountaineering equipment section was located.

Upon reaching the floor, they spotted a man from behind. He was tall and dressed in a sky-blue polo shirt and off-white casual pants, leisurely browsing through the clothes.

Yes, he was really shopping for clothes.

And not just any mountaineering gear designed for warmth and rain protection, but fashion garments.

Cong Xia could hardly believe his eyes. In a time when people couldn’t even fill their stomachs, there was a man who wanted to dress up? Did he have something wrong with his brain?

Upon hearing the voices of the two men, the man turned his face.

Cong Xia was even more astonished because he recognized this person. Many people in China knew him. It was the movie star Liu Fengyu. Although Cong Xia never paid attention to the entertainment industry, it was difficult not to remember someone with such a captivating and handsome face who frequently appeared in the media.

“You, you are Liu Fengyu?”

Liu Fengyu raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his charming eyes. “Hello there.”

Cong Xia suspected that Liu Fengyu had some kind of cheat code. Not only did he have such a handsome face, but he also had a rosy complexion and was dressed in immaculate clothes, strolling around with ease while everyone else was in a miserable state. It was as if the world outside had no connection to him. If Cong Xia wasn’t hungry, he would have doubted if he was dreaming.

While Cheng Tianbi also recognized Liu Fengyu, he had no interest in wasting time on trivial matters. He said, “Let’s go,” and started walking towards the mountaineering gear section.

“Hey,” Liu Fengyu smiled at Cong Xia, “don’t rush off. Help me decide which color looks better between these two shirts?” He held up two shirts and gestured on himself. “Give me your opinion.”

Cong Xia was dizzy from his professional smile and stammered, “Um, they both… look good.”

Cheng Tianbi grabbed Cong Xia’s arm and said, “Let’s go. He smells awful.”

Liu Fengyu’s face changed, almost instantly transitioning from an elegant and refined gentleman to a menacing thug. He sternly exclaimed, “Are you looking for trouble?”

Cong Xia was taken aback.

The fragrance of perfume emitted from Liu Fengyu was indeed noticeable throughout the entire floor, but it was still perfume. It couldn’t be described as unpleasant, at most slightly overpowering.

Cong Xia looked at Liu Fengyu’s intense expression and quickly explained, “No, he didn’t mean it that way…”

Liu Fengyu glared at Cheng Tianbi and then shifted his gaze to the innocent-looking Cong Xia. His expression softened slightly, and he smiled, “Do you like the scent of my perfume?”

Cong Xia reluctantly replied, “Yes, I do.”

Liu Fengyu narrowed his eyes and chuckled, “That’s good.” After saying that, he paid no further attention to them and continued browsing the clothes on his own.

Cheng Tianbi couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to leave. Just before leaving, Cong Xia noticed that the bag at Liu Fengyu’s feet was filled with various brands of perfumes.

********

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