96

Could the entire city of Yicheng be impacted by the blast from that underground lab?

As she was tossed about by the rough ride, faced with a life-or-death situation, Yu Zhiwan's mind raced. If it were her, she wouldn't bet everything on the underground lab because once it was discovered, the enemy's primary focus would surely be on their stronghold.

But what could cause a massive disaster in a short time, something unexpected and nearly impossible to neutralize right away?

Yu Zhiwan thought of Yihu Lake.

They had indeed tampered with Yihu Lake before, but what if the bodies floating at the bottom were just a ruse, misleading everyone into thinking Yihu was merely a dumping ground?

The lake's surface was calm.

The gentle breeze barely rippled the water, its slight disturbance already smoothed over by a recent acid rain. The lake lay still and quiet, like a giant winged creature resting peacefully.

The acid rain had dealt a devastating blow to the aquatic life. Countless fragile fish floated belly-up on the water's surface, their gills stretched open, revealing pale, lifeless flesh. Crayfish were barely clinging to life, and the water plants had withered entirely. In a matter of moments, the natural disaster had wreaked havoc on a lake that had thrived for hundreds of years.

Pei Yujang wore a diving mask, snatched from the seat of the motorcycle, along with some survival tools. Yet, she belatedly noticed the sting of the wound on her face.

There was no time to tend to the minor injury as she kept thinking about Yu Zhiwan's last word.

"Water."

Yu Zhiwan had only enough time to mouth that one crucial word. She must have meant for Pei Yujang to search the lake. But what was she supposed to find?

Pei Yujang's lithe form, with an oxygen tank strapped to her back, sank deeper into the lake. Drawing on her previous diving experience, she managed to hold her own. Fortunately, Yihu Lake was no ocean, nor had it been overtaken by the sea. The water was not very deep, and she could still move about.

But what met her eyes was far from a vibrant underwater world.

Pei Yujang quickly scanned her surroundings, her legs moving like agile fish tails as she weaved through the water. Soon, aided by her high-definition waterproof binoculars, she spotted a complex web of devices.

The acid rain had corroded the old structures, sizzling as it fell on the leaves, a sound that made her grit her teeth. In the countryside near Yicheng, a forest had been riddled with holes by the rain. An old woman, leaning on her cane, stared anxiously out the misty glass of her home. The windows hadn't been reinforced, and now, wind was seeping in.

Zhao Manlin had just visited her grandmother in the countryside. Seeing the elderly woman standing stubbornly by the window, she half-dragged, half-persuaded her into the bedroom, fearing that another acid rain could shatter the window.

"It's a sin!" Grandma Zhao stood in the bedroom, which Zhao Manlin had fortified with thick wooden boards. She could only catch glimpses of the foggy world outside through the cracks, shaking her head. She wasn't particularly frightened, more regretful. "They've talked about reforestation for years, but it's been no use. The factories pollute more, and no one listens. Instead, they're moving industrial parks out to the countryside!"

Ji Lingxian, who had conveniently come to the countryside to "bump into" Zhao Manlin, was in the kitchen boiling water for tea. Her ears perked up when she heard Grandma Zhao sighing and hurried out:

"Don't worry, Grandma. The higher-ups have already issued a yellow card warning. Unless people want to die, they'll start working together to fix this."

After handing the hot water to the old lady to warm her hands, Ji Lingxian glanced out the crack in the window, her smile slowly fading.

The recent spread of doomsday rumors had everyone on edge, and some had already begun hoarding supplies, causing market shortages. She had stocked up at home, just in case. But if a true apocalypse struck, could humanity really fight against nature and find a way to survive?

And what if it wasn't just nature at play?

In Xiangcheng, Pei Jinhui, Fan Zhao Zhao, and Jiang Wenxiu were all trapped indoors by the torrential rain, unable to leave. Now that the highways were closed, Pei Jinhui was frantic with worry for Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan, losing handfuls of hair from stress.

Fan Zhao Zhao noticed the premature graying on Pei Jinhui's head, her heart aching. She patted her friend's shoulder:

"Don't worry, they'll be okay."

Pei Jinhui nodded, but she knew it was an empty comfort with little meaning.

Jiang Wenxiu, sitting in the living room, was furiously refreshing the web, cursing under her breath. The rain had been so relentless that the network had become unreliable. Someone had promised to report from the front lines in Yicheng, but so far, there had been no substantial updates.

After countless refreshes, the "Civilian Rescue Team" post finally popped up. Jiang Wenxiu's eyes lit up, and she turned to the others, shouting, "Mom," not sure whether she was calling Fan Zhao Zhao or Pei Jinhui:

"My sister's out there fighting, and we're sitting here like idiots? We've got to help somehow! There's an emergency rescue team from Xiangcheng to Yicheng, and the high-speed train takes an hour. Are we going or not? Give me a straight answer!"

Back at Pei Yujang and Yu Zhiwan's residence, the noodle shop owner nervously glanced out the window. His eldest daughter stretched her arms, complaining:

"What kind of weather is this? Acid rain again. The roads are flooded, and going out will ruin our shoes. We might not be able to open for days."

"Open?!" The owner snapped at his daughter, his eyes clouded with memories and fear. "The last time I saw acid rain, I was just a kid. That one was much smaller, and we didn't go outside for days. They say there's a war in Yicheng, too. Who knows what'll happen after tonight. Sigh..."

The icy waters of Yihu Lake battered against Pei Yujang's body. In the vast lake, the figure of a single human seemed so small yet so determined.

Pei Yujang wore gloves and a diving mask, meticulously clipping wires with scissors. In her past life, fighting on the front lines, disarming bombs had been a mandatory skill for her patrol team. But a task this delicate, where a tiny mistake could lead to disaster, made her acutely aware of the stakes.

Ten minutes remained.

The lives of millions in Yicheng and surrounding areas hung in the balance. Sweat beaded on Pei Yujang's forehead but was quickly absorbed by her waterproof suit. Whether it was her imagination or the encroaching nightfall, the lake seemed darker, the cold water lapping against her like an unfeeling force, urging her away.

Most of the aquatic life had perished in the acid rain. Those that remained clung to life in hidden corners, leaving the vast freshwater lake seemingly lifeless, save for one solitary figure.

The physical and mental exhaustion gnawed at Pei Yujang, blurring her vision. She was forced to pause for a few seconds, then bit down hard on her tongue to stay conscious. The taste of blood filled her mouth as familiar images flashed in her mind, but there was no time to dwell on them, nor could she afford to let herself be consumed by worry for one particular person.

As the deadline approached, the lakebed seemed to tremble.

Five minutes remained.

Soaked in the acidic lake water, Pei Yujang felt an intense discomfort. No matter how well-trained a person was, the psychological burden of holding so many lives in her hands was overwhelming.

She had figured out the wiring, but doing this alone was nearly impossible within the remaining time. Frustration mounted as she struggled, facing the bitter taste of failure. Negative emotions surged uncontrollably.

She had bitten her tongue countless times already, the pain now dulled by repetition. As she reached out to cut another wire, she suddenly heard the sound of someone approaching.

It was definitely a person; even in her foggy state, Pei Yujang recognized the sound of flippers breaking through the water. She turned to defend herself, seeing the newcomer gesturing to her while displaying a work badge.

Pei Yujang wasn't entirely convinced by the badge, so the person pulled back their waterproof suit to reveal a tattoo from the research institute.

More people followed, diving into the water. After confirming their identities, Pei Yujang pointed out the wires, time slipping away. She couldn't even ask the questions that weighed on her, particularly her concern for Yu Zhiwan.

She swam to the central hub, marking key points and issuing commands. Thankfully, the team members had excellent memories, following her instructions quickly.

Ten minutes later, the tide in Yihu Lake surged, tossing out a group of exhausted people. But despite their ashen faces, they shared relieved smiles.

Pei Yujang's mouth was numb from the pain, her speech slurred. As she struggled to her feet after removing her diving suit, she noticed a crowd gathering on the shore. She squinted at a woman wearing a volunteer badge, finding her somewhat familiar, but her eyes burned too much to see clearly.

An Yao Yao lit a small lamp and used a loudspeaker to direct the crowd, her petite frame bustling with energy. The rain had started again, and her face was covered with a special transparent material as she ordered people to secure the sandbags.

After running back and forth, An Yao Yao finally had a moment to check on Pei Yujang, noticing something wrong with her condition. Frowning, she called over a strong female Alpha to support her.

As Pei Yujang's strength waned, she heard An Yao Yao say:

"Miss Pei, we won't let Yicheng fall."

An Yao Yao. Pei Yujang remembered now. She was the volunteer from Xiangcheng's welfare home, the one who had a falling out with Fang Nianjing and swore not to get involved again. But wasn't she supposed to be in Xiangcheng? Why was she here in Yicheng?

In her daze, Pei Yujang thought she heard some familiar voices, but her energy drained away, and everything went black as she lost consciousness.