The Return of Cambrian Period Chapter 4

 4 Global Evolution

As they rounded the street corner, Cong Xia suddenly asked, “Do you think that bonsai pine tree might attack others?”

“I’m not sure,” replied Cheng Tianbi.

“Shouldn’t we warn people then? There are others on the road.”

Cheng Tianbi halted and gazed down at Cong Xia. “Your mind still isn’t clear, is it?”

Cong Xia was taken aback.

Closing in, Cheng Tianbi took a step closer. “It has been eighteen hours since the earthquake, and that pine tree has grown over four hundred times its original size, and it shows no signs of stopping. Do you grasp the implications?”

These were the most words Cheng Tianbi had uttered since they met. Initially, Cong Xia suspected he had a speech impediment, but in that concise statement, their predicament was laid bare.

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Usdt Dky alyzkgle bkp vbkdjkdt byed’v qwzzu vaydpkvksdle qasx rlynlqwz vkxlp. Tl pvkzz nzwdt vs vbl clzklq vbyv kv oyp yzz y dktbvxyal, bszekdt sdvs vbl kzzwpksd vbyv vbl nakpkp oswze rypp yde psnklvu oswze tayewyzzu alvwad vs dsaxyz. Gqvla yzz, vbaswtbswv bwxyd bkpvsau, vblal byhl clld nswdvzlpp nyvypvasrbkn ekpypvlap. Tso nswze vbl esxkdydv bwxyd aynl cl hydiwkpble cu yd lyavbiwyjl?

Tsolhla, bl yzps wdelapvsse vbyv kq vbl lhszwvksd sq vblpl rzydvp yde ydkxyzp nsdvkdwle yv vbkp ayrke rynl, oyadkdt pktdp sa elvlaakdt rlelpvakydp qasx yrrasynbkdt oswze cl qwvkzl. Bdzlpp lhszwvksd nlyple, vblal oswze pssd cl pnyanl prynl qsa bwxyd pwahkhyz kd vbl nkvu. Tl nswzed’v yke ydusdl, dsv lhld twyaydvll bkp sod pyqlvu.

Usdt Dky nzldnble bkp qkpvp. “Zsw’al aktbv. R oydv vs oyjl wr qasx vbkp yp pssd yp rsppkczl, yde usw pbswze blzr xl. Zsw nzlyazu jdso xsal vbyd R es cwv alqwpl vs ekpnzspl vbl alypsdp. R esd’v oydv vs pvwxczl czkdezu. R bye kdvldele vs pvyu blal qsa vbl alpv sq xu zkql! Okvbla usw pbyal obyv usw jdso sa aldela xl wdnsdpnkswp. Rv’p uswa nbsknl oblvbla usw ralqla vyzjkdt sa nyaaukdt y rlapsd.”

Ubldt Mkydck dyaasole bkp lulp sd bkx. “R nswze zlyhl usw blal. Zsw oswzed’v zypv vball eyup.”

“Zsw xwpv byhl y alypsd qsa cakdtkdt xl yzsdt; svblaokpl, usw oswzed’v byhl nsxl.” Mbl xsal kdqsaxyvksd bl yniwkale, vbl bktbla bkp nbydnlp sq pwahkhyz. Ohld kq vbkp pszekla oydvle vs rbupknyzzu byax bkx, bl oyp okzzkdt vs vyjl vbl akpj.

Ubldt Mkydck pbsv bkx y nsze tzydnl, vbld rzynle bkp cynjrynj sd vbl taswde yde wdgkrrle kv. Usdt Dky rllale esod yde pyo yd yaayu sq olyrsdp. Ubldt Mkydck rwzzle swv y rkpvsz yde y eyttla, lmvldekdt vblx vsoyae Usdt Dky.

Usdt Dky blpkvyvle caklqzu cwv lhldvwyzzu ynnlrvle vblx. Rv oyp bkp qkapv vkxl bszekdt y alyz twd, yde kvp olktbv qlzv pwcpvydvkyz kd bkp bydep. Tl talo dlahswp, yrralbldpkhl sq clkdt dsvknle. Tl okpble vs nsdnlyz kv kd bkp nzsvblp pokqvzu cwv alyzkgle vblal oyp ds pwkvyczl bkekdt prsv. Rv oyp vbl xkeezl sq pwxxla, yde bl sdzu osal y M-pbkav yde flydp. Tl nswzed’v pkxrzu vwnj kv kdvs bkp rsnjlv; vbl twd’p bydezl oswze cl lmrsple.

Ubldt Mkydck qwaasole bkp caso yde alvaklhle vbl rkpvsz. “Uyd usw bydezl kv?”

“I know the procedures, but I haven’t practiced before.”

“This is the safety catch. When you use it, pull it back like this.” Cheng Tianbi pulled back the safety catch, chambered a round by pulling the slide, and then closed the safety catch. “The gun is loaded now. When you use it, pull back the safety catch.”

Cong Xia said, “I… I know the steps.” He hesitantly took the gun again and sheepishly asked, “Where should I put it? My clothes are too thin.”

“In your crotch,” Cheng Tianbi said bluntly.

Cong Xia couldn’t help but lower his head to look at Cheng Tianbi’s crotch.

Cheng Tianbi nudged his head and showed him the gun holster hanging from his waistband.

Cong Xia awkwardly chuckled. “Could you give me a holster?”

“Do you think I’m joking? It’s convenient to tuck it in your crotch.”

“But, putting it there… it will affect my walking.”

Impatiently, Cheng Tianbi snatched the gun back and grabbed Cong Xia’s shoulder, making him spin in place. Then he lifted his clothes and tucked the gun into his lower back.

The cold barrel of the gun slid roughly against Cong Xia’s skin, causing slight discomfort. He stiffened, and Cheng Tianbi pushed him forward. “Let’s go.”

After recalibrating their position with GPS, the two of them continued walking toward the airport.

Cong Xia followed in Cheng Tianbi’s footsteps, asking, “Mr. Soldier, can you tell me what you know now? About what you mentioned earlier on the way?”

“Ask.”

“What exactly is happening? The mutations in all the living beings around us, or the frenzied evolution, what is going on?”

Cheng Tianbi said, “I don’t know much more than you. The biological evolution is related to the earthquake. After the earthquake, some kind of energy was released from the Golmud area, spreading across the country, and even globally. And it doesn’t weaken with distance. If this trend continues, global dissemination is only a matter of time.”

“What kind of energy is it? How can energy propagate without attenuation? And most importantly, why does it cause species mutations?”

Cheng Tianbi shook his head. “I don’t know.”

Cong Xia pondered for a moment. “This kind of collective species evolution reminds me of the Cambrian explosion over 500 million years ago. If we only compare the results, the Cambrian period and what we are experiencing now are highly similar. New organisms are born, species rapidly evolve and rise, greatly enriching Earth’s biodiversity. However, the so-called ‘rapid’ evolution during the Cambrian period was only relative to geological history and actually took millions of years, occurring in several stages. But the speed of evolution I’m experiencing now is a million times faster than the Cambrian period. From any perspective of human science, it’s extremely unreasonable, yet it’s happening right before our eyes. The energy released by that earthquake must be extraordinary. Could it be related to hormones…?”

Cheng Tianbi cast a surprised glance at Cong Xia. Cong Xia was the person he considered to be the perfect subject for his mission, and he had initially viewed him as a burden. However, he was taken aback to discover that Cong Xia wasn’t as ordinary as he had presumed. Cheng Tianbi responded, “Some individuals in Beijing have proposed the concept of the Second Cambrian Period.”

“The Second Cambrian Period?”

Cheng Tianbi affirmed with a nod.

“When did you contact Beijing? What did they say? Did you speak with my uncle? He is an expert in paleontology and has devoted his life to studying the Cambrian Period. He must possess a wealth of knowledge.”

“It was three hours ago when I made contact, and shortly afterward, I received the mission to bring you back to Beijing.”

“Was there anything else? What was discussed?”

“They conveyed that, following the earthquake, Golmud City in Qinghai fell into an uncontrollable state eight hours later. The hardware systems malfunctioned, and communication was severely disrupted. The distress calls were the last signals received.”

“Was the earthquake the cause, or…?”

“The details are unclear. The primary highway to Golmud was destroyed by the earthquake, and the entire road became overgrown with wild grass, rendering it impossible for helicopters to land. Only one helicopter managed to touch down on the rooftop of a building, but it quickly lost contact. Outsiders couldn’t enter, and those inside couldn’t escape.”

Cong Xia shuddered, “What about the people inside?”

“Most of them will perish,” Cheng Tianbi stated without any trace of emotion. “Evolution necessitates sustenance.”

Cong Xia tightened his fists. Despite the sweltering summer, an icy chill ran through his body. He knew Cheng Tianbi was right. His fellow countrymen not only faced a food crisis but also the danger of becoming prey for other species. Golmud, as the epicenter of the earthquake, was the first to succumb, followed by the entire Qinghai Province, then spreading to the northwest, Yungui, Sichuan, and eventually encompassing the entire country. 

At the current rate, it wouldn’t be long before evolved species occupied human living spaces. Humans would lose not only their dominion but also teeter on the verge of becoming the weakest species, facing the possibility of extinction.

How horrifying! It had taken millions of years for humanity to ascend to the apex of the food chain, and in less than a day, an earthquake had upended everything!

Apart from labeling it as a catastrophe, Cong Xia couldn’t find any other words to describe the situation.

Trembling, Cong Xia inquired, “Can we escape from Yunnan?”

Cheng Tianbi’s voice remained steady. “I don’t know.”

Cong Xia fell silent. In his mind, he revisited the calculations he had conducted in the early morning with the online community on the hacker forum, estimating the speed at which the food scarcity phenomenon would spread nationwide. Their conclusion was that it would take approximately 55 hours for the food scarcity phenomenon to engulf the entire country, aligning with Cheng Tianbi’s mentioned energy diffusion rate. Assuming Golmud as the center and drawing a circle with a radius of 55 units from Golmud to Fuyuan County on the Heilongjiang Province border, with Golmud as 1 and Fuyuan County as 55, Kunming fell somewhere between 10 to 15. If Golmud entered the “distress state” eight hours after the earthquake as number 1, it meant that Kunming, positioned between 10 to 15, would also succumb within 80 to 120 hours, or 3 to 5 days to fall!

Cong Xia widened his eyes and tightly grabbed Cheng Tianbi’s arm.

Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, looking at Cong Xia.

Cong Xia repeated his thoughts, his voice trembling. He was overwhelmed with uncertainty and couldn’t shake off the feeling that their departure by plane wouldn’t go smoothly. Most flights had been delayed or canceled today, and since the energy could spread across the land, it might also affect the airspace.

And even if they managed to reach Beijing, what then? If the situation didn’t change, Beijing would inevitably…

Cheng Tianbi nodded. “Your analysis of 3 to 5 days is correct. They provided me with the same timeframe.”

Cong Xia’s legs weakened, and he forced a bitter smile. “I can’t imagine what this place will become in a few days.”

Cheng Tianbi didn’t answer that question. In truth, no one could answer it. Nobody knew how the world would ultimately unfold.

Cong Xia let out a deep sigh. “Let’s talk about something else, like you. Did you talk to my uncle? Is he alright?”

“No, I received the orders directly.”

“What military branch are you from? Which unit do you belong to?”

Cheng Tianbi ignored him.

Cong Xia grew even more frustrated. “Comrade, can you talk to me a bit more? We might not have many days left, so it would be nice to have some company and conversation before we meet our end.”

Cheng Tianbi glanced at him. “Do you want to die?”

Cong Xia trembled. “No, I don’t. But I feel like doomsday has truly arrived, and I won’t be able to survive.”

“That’s true.”

Cong Xia’s face wore a mournful expression. “Perhaps you’ll outlive me. Hey, have you noticed how it’s getting colder?”

Cheng Tianbi halted his steps.

He carefully assessed the situation, and indeed, it was getting colder. It was the peak of summer, so how could the temperature suddenly drop?

Three people approached from a distance, a family of three, all hurrying with their luggage. When they saw Cong Xia and Cheng Tianbi, they spoke up, “Are you also heading south?”

Cong Xia nodded. “More or less. Where are you headed?”

“Along the coastal area. They say once you cross the sea, everything will be fine. Otherwise, the food spoils within a few hours, even refrigerators are malfunctioning. People will starve to death soon. The smart ones have already started leaving. Anyway, we’re just trying to find a safe place for now.” The middle-aged man finished speaking and rubbed his arms. “Strange, why is it suddenly so cold?”

“But many flights have been canceled. How are you planning to leave?” 

“We were supposed to drive, but the traffic is so bad. We’re going to try our luck at the train station. Not many people are leaving yet. If we wait until the food spoils in a few days before leaving, it will turn into a chaotic exodus. No vehicles will be able to move. Little brother, let’s hurry.”

After the family of three left, Cheng Tianbi glanced at the thermometer on his watch and remarked, “Something’s not right. The temperature has dropped by eight degrees.”

“Exactly! Let’s quickly go back and get some clothes. Who knows how much lower it will drop? I wouldn’t be surprised if we suddenly go from summer to winter.”

Cheng Tianbi grabbed his arm and pulled him into a residential building. “We’re wasting time, and time is running out.”

He held out his wrist in front of Cong Xia, who was surprised to see that in the time they were talking, the temperature had dropped another two degrees. It was now nineteen degrees. From twenty-nine to nineteen degrees, it seemed like it took less than ten minutes!

“Where are we going?”

“To find some clothes.”

Cheng Tianbi dragged him up the stairs, knocking on every door they passed. If someone answered, he moved on to the next floor. They continued until they reached the seventh floor, where they finally found a door that remained unanswered. Cheng Tianbi took out a handgun, and Cong Xia heard the muffled sound of a silencer as the door lock was opened.

Cong Xia whispered, “What are you doing? What if someone’s inside?”

“Shut up.”

Cong Xia shivered from the cold and checked Cheng Tianbi’s wrist. Fifteen degrees!

Once the door was open, he followed Cheng Tianbi into the house. The air inside still retained some warmth, which was incredibly inviting.

After entering the house, Cheng Tianbi intentionally knocked over a vase, creating a loud crash, but there was no response from within.

Cong Xia let out a sigh of relief; it seemed like there was truly no one. With a sense of guilt for trespassing, he carefully took off his shoes and closed the windows. The atmosphere was growing colder and more eerie by the minute.

Cheng Tianbi said, “Turn on the air conditioning and search for clothes.”

The temperature inside the house remained above twenty degrees, providing some comfort to both of them.

To alleviate their tense emotions, Cong Xia even dared to have a drink of water before proceeding to the bedroom to find warmer clothes and make further plans.

Just as he took a few steps inside, he heard a noise emanating from the bedroom, resembling the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor.

Cong Xia froze in his tracks, and Cheng Tianbi silently approached, discreetly drawing his gun.

In a cold voice, Cheng Tianbi demanded, “Who’s in there? Come out.”

The dragging sound ceased, but in the next second, it suddenly accelerated. Cong Xia’s scalp tingled as he watched the bedroom door, and then a large reddish-brown creature burst out, measuring nearly two meters in height!

Without hesitation, Cheng Tianbi fired a shot at the creature. It let out a howl, fell to the ground, rolled, and then retreated behind the sofa. Only then did Cong Xia and Cheng Tianbi get a clear look—it was a monkey.

However, this creature, with its red face, exposed fangs, long fur sweeping the ground, a two-meter-long body, and incredible speed, was far from the monkeys they knew.

Cong Xia was petrified, unable to make a single movement. His legs quivered uncontrollably, while cold sweat dripped from Cheng Tianbi’s forehead. Both of them fixated their gaze on the monkey concealed behind the sofa.

Neither of them dared to take action.

******

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