Chapter 34: The Specter Before the Cataclysm

Most of the time, a fundamentally sound decision is quickly passed by unanimous vote as soon as it is proposed; only those decisions whose correctness is questionable require repeated discussion.

Clearly, the decision to "go and seize it if you can't buy it" was absolutely correct, time-tested, and in line with the basic requirements of dialectical methodology.

Thus, it passed without controversy, and once ratified, the four-person squad immediately began discussing the specifics of the operation.

The results of their deliberation were condensed into four steps: Information gathering, field reconnaissance, combat search, and orderly withdrawal.

It seemed simple, but in the vast majority of cases, this set of procedures was highly effective.

Consequently, after acquiring sufficient peripheral intelligence on the Blood Skulls from Xu Lie and grasping the approximate location of their stronghold, the squad immediately organized their equipment. On this bright and breezy afternoon, they prepared to cross the Yangtze River and head toward the western bank, the primary activity zone for the Terror Beasts.

Xu Lie found their rapid mobilization incredible. He could not fathom what these people intended to do there without thorough preparation.

But Chen Jian’s answer was simple:

"We are going for reconnaissance; now we are just making contingency plans in advance."

"If a suitable opportunity arises, wouldn't it be perfect to just get the job done right then?"

The flawless logic left Xu Lie speechless. Convinced that he could not stop Chen Jian, he finally said:

"……Those Terror Beasts aren't particularly strong, but that's only true when they are the ones attacking. If they hole up in the jungle or retreat into their own stronghold, breaking in won't be easy."

"Since you’re going... then let’s go together. We’ve been to the west bank before; we’re much more familiar with the terrain than you are."

"If we have any gains, we’ll split it eighty-twenty, how about that?"

"Agreed."

Chen Jian, of course, would not refuse available support. Although he remained vigilant toward these Blood Saints in his heart, he knew that at this juncture, they were unlikely to betray him.

And so, the group of eight left Hanshui City after a simple preparation. Circling around to the north, they planned to use the still-structurally sound Junshan Bridge to cross the Yangtze and advance toward the Blood Skull stronghold on the west bank.

The journey from Hanshui City to the bridge went quite smoothly. They covered the nearly six-kilometer distance in just one hour.

However, upon reaching the Junshan Bridge, the atmosphere changed abruptly. Chen Jian felt as if he had just stepped into another world.

The bridge deck was strewn with shattered human bones and dried bloodstains. Occasionally, he could see crows pecking at rotting chunks of flesh, though it was unclear whether the remains belonged to humans or the Terror Beasts themselves.

The stench was pungent; he even had an urge to activate his respirator.

As he continued forward, he asked:

"……Since Hanshui City has no need to expand westward, why don't the people of the Church of the Mechanical God just blow up this bridge?"

"If they destroyed this bridge, it would be much harder for the Terror Beasts to cross the river, and wouldn't the pressure on the city's defenses be greatly reduced?"

"It’s not that simple."

Xu Lie shook his head and replied:

"Hanshui City is surrounded by the river on three sides, and the remaining side is blocked by several large lakes; it’s practically a city with no retreat."

"This location has already greatly reduced the defensive pressure on Hanshui, but it hasn't solved it completely. No one can guarantee that one day a high-level monster won't cross the terrain barriers and enter the city. If that happens and there is no route for retreat, it would be a catastrophe for Hanshui City."

"Therefore, the bridges over the river must never be destroyed. Even if we know the Blood Skulls are on the other side, it’s much better than having nowhere to flee when the monsters are at our gates."

"You could build boats."

Chen Jian proposed a new solution, but Xu Lie shook his head again.

"No one is willing to waste resources on an uncertain future."

"……You lot are truly… short-sighted."

"That is true. Most people are simply just surviving."

Chen Jian said no more. By then, the squad had crossed the Junshan Bridge and arrived on the west bank of the Yangtze.

Just as Xu Lie had mentioned, the landscape here was indeed much more complex than in Hanshui City.

Near the riverbank, there had once been a town, but now, it was completely overgrown by vegetation. The tallest trees had grown to dozens of meters in height.

The low-rise buildings constructed by humans were not merely "covered"; they were buried—buried by the humus accumulated in the forest over hundreds of years.

"Be careful, watch out for the boggy spots on the ground. If you sink in, you might not be able to crawl back out."

"Then we’ll stick to the road. There won't be as many traps there."

Chen Jian replied briefly and turned slightly to the left.

Xu Lie was stunned. Watching Chen Jian’s movements, he suddenly realized that although this was the other party's first time here, they seemed even more familiar with the area than he was.

Their gaze seemed to pierce through the dense vegetation to see the roads hidden beneath.

What kind of ability was this? Or rather, what kind of technology was it?

He chased after him to ask, and Chen Jian replied with four words:

"Inertial navigation."

Xu Lie had no idea what those four words meant, and Chen Jian couldn't be bothered to explain.

He simply directed He Shuo to constantly refresh the squad's current position on the local map to calibrate the drift error of the INS system.

After hundreds of continuous calibrations, the deep learning module in the PDA successfully intervened in the calibration process. Their movement trajectory was finally displayed once more on the map within their smart eyepieces.

This time, it was no longer a rough position indicated solely by triangulation.

"Turn left ahead, pass in front of the Rural Golf Club, and continue heading south."

"Follow the road southwest for 4 kilometers to reach the first reconnaissance point. Establish an observation post at the Phoenix Hotel."

"Attention, we have entered an active enemy zone. Maintain vigilance."

"Understood."

The squad members replied immediately, while Xu Lie’s team of Blood Saints looked at each other, confused.

But when the squad reached the left turn, Xu Lie’s expression changed.

He saw the landmark Chen Jian had mentioned.

On a massive boulder obscured by vines, the words "XXX Golf Club" were vaguely inscribed!

Without a doubt, this was a relic from before the Great Cataclysm.

Yet those "Chosen Ones" had used it as a waypoint.

They weren't unfamiliar with the terrain; they were simply unfamiliar with the terrain *after* the Great Cataclysm.

Xu Lie took a deep breath and said to Chen Jian, who was walking in front:

"So you really are... ghosts from before the Great Cataclysm."

Chen Jian turned to look at him and shook his head:

"Not really."

"We just happen to know what is here."

"Never mind that. We are about to enter the danger zone."

"It's your turn to take the lead."