Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 119 Assimilation of Order, Terrifying Migration Tide!

A wish fulfilled beyond measure?

Cheng Ye paused for half a second, then immediately realized that Jiang Chuan was referring to the extraordinary Earthbound Spirit.

The authors of related books have given these kinds of "creatures" a wide variety of names:
The terms "obsessive attachment to the spirit of the land," "transcendent lingering soul," "obsessive attachment to the bound soul," and "lingering attachment to the spirit of the hometown" are all, in essence, descriptions of the special forms of residual consciousness left behind by extraordinary individuals after death.

"This name is more fitting."

The thought flashed through his mind, and Cheng Ye nodded slightly.

Compared to the "extraordinary earthbound spirit" he saw in the Survival Library, Jiang Chuan's current description of "wish-keeping extraordinary" seems more accurate.

However, the name is not important; what matters is its actual impact.

As a major contributor to the annual winter infection surge, Shouyuan's extraordinary threat has long been documented in countless lessons learned through blood and tears.

Its most terrifying characteristic is not its extraordinary combat power, but its almost catastrophic appeal.

Once Shouyuan Chaofan leaves his activity range, the places he passes through become like a giant magnet attracting iron filings, continuously drawing in infected from the surrounding area to join his ranks. In a short period of time, he gathers a massive wave of infected, attacking all human shelters and settlements along the way.

The infection wave will only dissipate once the distance is reached to its limit, or the wish is fulfilled and the person leaves.

Once the infection wave subsides, the extraordinary threat level of the Guardian will decrease significantly, rarely causing any substantial impact.

After all, those extraordinary individuals who can form earthbound spirits after death often possessed extremely strong mental resilience during their lifetime.

This resilience extends into their post-mortem consciousness, making them more inclined to achieve certain goals rather than destroy everything or unleash their desires.

"Did you come from the fog cave?"

"It's basically confirmed. Based on the photos of the backpack we provided, Xinhuo has done a basic comparison and it is indeed almost identical to the one you saw last night, with only minor differences in wear and tear. They just finished checking the entire B4 area and have found nearly 600 identical backpacks."

Jiang Chuan deliberately slowed down his tone and reduced the pace of information output, trying to ease the tense atmosphere in the call. "But you can rest assured, Shouyuan Chaofan has already left the territory of our Happiness City. This guy is probably just passing through and has no intention of staying in our Happiness City."

"gone?!"

Cheng Ye was stunned for a moment, and almost dropped the defense communication device in his hand.

Wow, so cool!

"Are you sure?"

"I can't say for sure, but there's at least a 99% chance. Director Liu personally led a team to investigate and trace the source, but they found no trace. The last trace of their presence was near the North Checkpoint. If it's not a deliberate ruse, they should have already left."

Jiang Chuan pondered for a moment, "Prosecutor Cheng, because you were the first to discover this matter, you are qualified to know information related to Shouyuan's extraordinary abilities. However, according to regulations, you will only have the authority to know about information regarding the extraordinary individuals in Happiness City, as well as some core emergency defense mechanisms, after you are promoted to the third-stage prosecutor. I'm sorry, I'm just a messenger, and I really can't say more."

"clear."

Cheng Ye didn't press the matter further, letting out a long sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't a case of maternal infection, that was fine.

Throughout the day, he was on tenterhooks, constantly worried that another terrifying source of power would emerge, dealing another devastating blow to the already fragile buffer zone.

Whether they've left or are hiding, it seems the threat posed by Shouyuan Chaofan is still within a manageable range.

"As for the backpack style..."

Jiang Chuan continued to explain, "You only noticed the backpack, but its influence goes far beyond that. For example, Zhang Daniu's shoes are almost identical to those of the person you saw last night. This is because the Shouyuan Supernatural will continuously influence the people around it, causing everyone's thoughts and behaviors to gradually gravitate towards it."

"For example, lifestyle habits, clothing style, and naturally, the way patches are applied and the style of backpacks."

"Yes, if you are already similar to Shouyuan Chaofan, you are easily influenced. For example, Zhang Daniu has a backpack of the same style, so he and his wife immediately became the objects of assimilation. However, this influence is limited and reversible. As long as you leave his radiation zone, you will return to normal after a while."

Assimilation of humans?

Cheng Ye was taken aback; this information was completely absent from the books he had read.

and many more.

Is this why the Guardian of Wish is able to gather infected individuals?
Cheng Ye immediately noted this crucial information down in his mind, and then hurriedly asked, "Have you determined Shouyuan's extraordinary abilities?"

"It's not completely confirmed yet." Jiang Chuan, on the other end of the microphone, shook his head slightly, glanced at Ding Yishan, Harlin, and six fifth-generation graduates and a bunch of fourth-generation graduates who were sitting inside having a meeting, and lowered his voice:
"Based on the analysis of existing information, the ability is most likely related to 'action ability'."

"Ability to act?"

Cheng Ye repeated those three words; the answer was too abstract and left people somewhat confused.

"Specifically, within his sphere of influence, people will be prompted to do things that have been buried in their hearts for a long time, but they have never had the courage or the opportunity to do."

Jiang Chuan seemed unsure how to describe it, “This is the initial conclusion from the transmission of the torch. After our questioning of Zhang Daniu, we discovered that his goal was to make more money and move to the city center as soon as possible, leaving the shantytown. That’s why he had the idea of ​​going to Fog Cave.”

"Make more money? Then why didn't he think about killing and robbing instead of choosing the more dangerous Fog Cave?"

“Amplifying the negative is the power of the Mother Source; the Guardian of Wishes would not do that.”

Jiang Chuan's tone became more certain, "They will only stimulate positive emotions in people's hearts, such as the yearning for a better life, the adherence to promises, and the persistence in pursuing goals, and will never induce negative emotions."

"Is it?"

Cheng Ye frowned, the greed in the man's eyes from last night flashing through his mind again.

That doesn't sound like a positive emotion.

"This is true based on existing cases, but exceptions cannot be ruled out."

Jiang Chuan added, "If the person being influenced lacks positive emotions and their heart is filled with negativity, then Shouyuan's extraordinary energy may have a reverse effect, amplifying the hidden malice. Just as sunlight shines on a mirror and creates light, but shines on ink and only makes the darkness more obvious."

"Any more detailed information?"

"Not yet. He hasn't affected enough people yet; the sample size is too small. We are currently investigating other affected individuals throughout the city. Xin Huo is also compiling data on the 600 cases in Zone B4. We need to wait for the data from both sides to be combined before we can draw a conclusion."

"Okay, please."

The faint sound of disorganized conversation could be heard from the other end of the microphone, suggesting a meeting or discussion.

Cheng Ye didn't ask any more questions and hung up the phone.

The infected mother was replaced by a superhuman, and the other party had already left Happiness City, so the situation was not as bad as he had expected.

"Thank goodness. If another mother source had appeared, I would have suspected that I had transmigrated to Happiness City and caused the world's will to wreak havoc in this region."

Cheng Ye muttered to himself, then pushed open the bathroom door and went out.

The thought of not having to face the scene of another massive purge that could erode the entire buffer zone is very appealing.

I was so worried this morning, but now I feel so relieved.

It was as if a dark cloud weighing on my heart had been blown away by the wind, revealing the warm sunshine.

Moreover, standing in front of the restroom, the afternoon sun really did shine through the thin mist, casting a warm glow on my shoulders, so comfortable that it made me want to sigh.

Cheng Ye stood there for a while until his body was completely warmed by the sun before slowly walking towards the inspection area.

Liu Kun was leading a team to search for any remaining traces of Shouyuan Chaofan today, so it seems there won't be a chance to search.

Fortunately, the morning search used up 25% of my energy, so it's safer to replenish it after get off work.

"Hey, Brother Cheng."

Hearing the voice behind him, Wang Kang turned around and almost thought he was seeing things.

Before Cheng Ye went to the restroom, he looked as solemn as if the sky was about to fall. But when he came back, he returned to the lazy look he had at the hospital. All the pressure in his eyes had vanished, and even his steps were light.

"Why don't you go and rest? Jun Dao is here to keep an eye on things for me, nothing will go wrong."

"I'll just sleep there, it won't bother you."

Cheng Ye smiled and shook his head, walked to the recliner, curled up comfortably, and casually pulled the duty jacket hanging next to him over his body.

It's no exaggeration to say that Wang Kang was born to be a prosecutor.

Although his academic performance was inferior to his and his fighting skills were terrible, this was all a result of his parents' lack of education, not because he was incapable of talent.

For example, in terms of duty performance right now, Wang Kang's performance is flawless.

Cheng Ye even compared himself to Wang Kang in his mind and felt that he might not be able to achieve the same level of dedication and seriousness.

why?
Because Wang Kang's world is too "pure"!

Having received less information, he didn't have as many miscellaneous thoughts in his mind, unlike him, a transmigrator with modern memories, who was always distracted by various curiosities.

Sometimes you even get carried away by the collector, thinking about adventures and reaping some benefits.

Wang Kang was like a carefully pruned sapling, inheriting the rigorous and meticulous qualities he was taught, but without acquiring the wild and restless spirit that was inherent in him.

A top student, so outstanding that it puts your mind at ease.

Seeing that Cheng Ye had indeed closed his eyes to rest, Wang Kang pursed his lips and said nothing more.

For the past two days, he had been feeling uneasy, fearing that Cheng Ye would find out what happened on the first day of his duty.

But Cheng Ye acted as if he knew nothing about it, and this way of protecting his freedom made him feel relieved.

However, he was unaware that Cheng Ye wasn't completely oblivious; he had simply been too busy to notice.

From yesterday morning when I started investigating the caravan until now, the amount of information I've received in a day and a half is probably more than what an average person would receive in several months.

Even now, while resting, I'm still thinking about things.

"Placing it in the City of Fire and Protection would indeed have little impact on mobility, because the internal environment is too stable. People living there would only work harder in the factory and participate more actively in the construction."

"But this is where Happiness City comes from."

Cheng Ye frowned slightly, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on his knee.

The explanation of "action" is too general.

Jiang Chuan said it's driven by positive emotions, but where are the boundaries of positivity?

For Zhang Daniu, going into the fog cave to make money and move house is a positive thing.

But for someone who is desperate and has low moral standards, would stealing money be considered something they absolutely have to do?
If it were to trigger some antisocial personality disorder, no wonder the explosives wouldn't be sold.

Behind each outrageous rule lies an even more outrageous true story.

This was exactly the kind of situation we were trying to prevent!

As I thought about it, an overwhelming drowsiness washed over me, and my eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if weighed down by lead.

Cheng Ye stopped struggling and let his consciousness gradually fade. He curled up in the recliner and fell into a deep sleep.

When I woke up again, it was already completely dark.

The fine drizzle tapped against the awning overhead, making a pattering sound.

A light mist drifted in from the direction of the wilderness, like a thin veil enveloping the entire checkpoint. The distant city ruins were completely shrouded, leaving only a blurry outline that appeared and disappeared in the night.

Cheng Ye sat up, rubbing his heavy temples. His duty jacket slipped off his shoulders, carrying the slight chill of the rainy night.

Today was one of the few days since he started his duty that he didn't hear any gunshots.

It was either fog or rain streaks.

At this pace, autumn will arrive soon, and everything will settle down.

"Brother Cheng, you're awake? I just finished heating the nutrient solution; it's in the thermos."

Wang Kang's voice came from the alloy table. There was no one left in Quarantine Zone B, but according to the rules, the duty records still had to be written.

This will...

Cheng Ye stretched, his joints making a series of soft cracking sounds, and took out his defense communication device to glance at the screen.

"It's 7:30. I've slept for more than three hours, that's enough."

He got up, walked to the thermos in the corner, opened the lid, took out a bag of warm nutrient solution, tore it open, and gulped it down.

The taste of the nutrient syrup that I had gotten used to seems to have changed from yesterday to today.

It has a cheap, cloying sweetness, and after drinking it, I felt a bit nauseous, just like when I first started drinking it.

After finishing the bag, Cheng Ye smacked his lips and closed the thermos. "After my shift, I'll take you out for a nice meal."

"What's good?"

Wang Kang paused, his eyes lighting up. Back when the two of them were in the inner city, they had spent most of their money on food and drink.

They tried almost every rare food that money could buy, from canned meat and compressed biscuits brought in from outside to the occasional dehydrated vegetables.

But after they came out, Cheng Ye never mentioned it again, so naturally he didn't dare to bring it up on his own initiative.

"It's even better than what we eat in the inner city."

Cheng Ye chuckled, keeping everyone in suspense, and didn't mention that he had also gone to the City of Fire and Fire last night.

"I'm going to take a shower in the back. Come back when it's time."

"it is good!"

After staying up all night, Cheng Ye's hair was already greasy and matted, sticking uncomfortably to his forehead.

Fortunately, the checkpoint was equipped with a simple shower room. Although it was not as well-equipped as the medical station, it was enough to wash away all the fatigue.

Hot water poured over me, washing away the tension and fatigue that had accumulated over the past two days.

Cheng Ye wiped his face in front of the mirror and twitched the corners of his mouth. Unconsciously, he had become qualified to participate in this disaster that affected the city of Sanctuary.

It's true, fate is cruel.

After washing, Cheng Ye stuffed his old clothes into his bag and changed into the checkpoint's uniform.

This was the first time he had worn this uniform since the assessment ended.

It is black from top to bottom, with a large "检" (inspection) character on the back.

A little weird.

Like a prison guard, his originally refreshing demeanor instantly became more serious and rigid.

However, wearing a dark blue duty jacket to cover the "inspection" character on the back made it much more effective.

The well-fitting cut made his figure appear even more slender, and the exposed half of the collar accentuated the neat lines of his neck, giving him a more dashing look than his usual casual short-sleeved outfit.

As for his thinness when he first transmigrated, Cheng Ye has completely forgotten about it now.

thump.

Eight O'clock.

The bell rang over the checkpoint.

One chime, two chimes, three chimes. The echoes slowly faded away only after the sixth chime had fallen.

The extra note indicates that the South Checkpoint is safe and sound today, a lucky omen.

For the guards and staff who had been on edge for more than half a month, the sound of the bell was like heavenly music.

No matter what happens tomorrow, at least for this moment, everyone's spirits are at ease.

After Wang Kang and he exited the checkpoint, Mr. Zhang's bus was already waiting by the roadside.

This is a clear case of misuse of public vehicles!

As I boarded the vehicle, a strong smell of salted fish wafted over, clearly indicating that the cargo I had hauled the night before hadn't completely dissipated.

"How's it going at the convenience store?"

"The renovation was completed this afternoon. Dozens of people were working on it, and the progress was very fast!"

"I'll go back first and bring some things. I'll go to the chemical plant residential area later."

The bus slowly drove away from the checkpoint.

This was Wang Kang's first time enjoying the privilege of a chartered car, and his eyes were full of curiosity. One moment he would dart to the front and lean against the back of the driver's seat to watch how Master Zhang drove, how he steered, and how he applied the brakes. The next moment he would run to the back and point at the scenery outside the window, just like a bird that had just been released from its cage.

"What, I thought you weren't interested in these things anymore."

Cheng Ye leaned back in the middle seat and couldn't help but tease Wang Kang as he watched him beam with joy.

I pretended to be an adult for a few days.

This time, he finally couldn't hold back anymore and revealed his true nature, which he had been suppressing all along.

"I don't usually have the mind to look at these things!"

Wang Kang scratched his head and smiled a little embarrassedly.

"Ha, that's right."

Cheng Ye looked out the car window at the shantytowns passing by, and was about to laugh when his lips suddenly froze.

The word 'action' involuntarily flashed through my mind.

Wang Kang was indeed being a bit too active.

Looking further towards the shantytown, Cheng Ye's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

Yesterday, the shantytown was completely deserted, but now it seems to have been transformed. Almost every household has its lights on. Although it can't be described as vibrant, it has completely shed its previous lifeless and oppressive atmosphere.

"Master Zhang, drive slower."

"okay."

As the car slowed down, Cheng Ye pushed open the window, and a cold wind mixed with the dampness of the earth rushed in.

He peered into the depths of the shantytown and was completely stunned.

The garbage and construction waste that used to be piled up on the outskirts of the shantytown have all disappeared.

The original bumpy dirt road has been mostly filled in, and you can even see people building simple drainage ditches with gravel by the roadside.

Is this something that can change in a single day?

As the bus continued forward, passing the tent camp, Cheng Ye couldn't help but gasp.

If the changes in shantytowns are somewhat understandable, then the changes in tent camps are simply too dramatic.

The once scattered campsite is now neatly arranged by color.

The blue tents stood side by side, the green tents formed a continuous line, and the old, tan tents were neatly arranged at the very edge, with almost identical spacing between them.

A network of simple drainage ditches was dug on the ground, and murky rainwater flowed along the ditches into the distance.

All the garbage, rags, and waste piled up next to the tents, just like in the shantytown, have disappeared without a trace, and even the sour smell in the air has faded considerably.

"Is this the effect of the Wish Keeper's extraordinary abilities?"

Cheng Ye was stunned, his whole body trembling slightly, feeling that the extraordinary power of this world was too terrifying.

The mother source brings destruction, annihilating everything in the most brutal way and rebuilding order from scratch.

The extraordinary power of Shouyuan brings assimilation, which is also brutal, but hidden beneath a gentle exterior.

This ability has completely surpassed superpowers such as fire-breathing, water control, and flight.

After all, no matter how strong those superpowers are, they are just a concrete manifestation of energy use, with boundaries and traces.

Compared to this kind of power that can influence people's hearts and distort the logic of behavior, it's simply not on the same level.

What's even more chilling is that Shouyuan Chaofan may have already left, but even the lingering aftereffects have brought about such an astonishing impact.

"If this happened in modern times, I'm afraid a lot of people would pay Shouyuan to superhumanly transform them."

Cheng Ye was somewhat taken aback.

This ability is practically the nemesis of procrastination, but no one can say for sure whether the change brought about by external forces is a salvation or another kind of shackle.

Since it didn't need to stop along the way, the bus quickly entered the city.

It was the first time Cheng Ye had ever been back in a car at the entrance of the electronics factory compound, and he still felt a little out of sorts.

However, when his gaze passed the street corner and he saw the warm yellow light shining from the window of the convenience store in the distance, his vision blurred for a moment.

Through the rain, I vaguely saw Uncle Dong busy inside.

He blinked unconsciously, and the illusion dissipated.

There were only a few workers finishing up at the entrance, replacing the small shop's metal door with a large security door.

The lights were no longer the energy-saving bulbs that Uncle Dong usually used, but were replaced with bright shadowless lamps.

"The convenience store is open!"

This was the first time Wang Kang had seen the lights on. "Brother Cheng, is this the shop you rented?"

Cheng Ye grunted in agreement, and once the bus came to a complete stop, he was the first to push open the door and get off.

Looking through the security door, the layout is basically unchanged.

The shelves against the wall on the left, the glass counter in the center, the narrow staircase leading to the sunken basement in the back room, and even the plastic bag hooks hanging on the wall are all in their original positions.

The shelves are still the old three-tiered style, but they have been replaced with moisture-proof stainless steel, and the bright silver metallic reflection makes the room even brighter.

The wooden frame of the glass counter was replaced with a dark gray alloy, and even the cabinet doors at the bottom were fitted with magnetic locks.

As for the waterproofing that Cheng Ye was most concerned about, a section of the entrance to the shop was specially removed and three new steps were built.

Near the steps, a half-foot-high granite retaining wall was built, with a narrow slit on the inside and a hidden culvert underneath, leading directly to the drainage well at the street corner.

The steps themselves have also been modified; the front edge of each step is half a finger higher than the back edge, creating a slight slope so that water falling on them will flow away along the grooves on the side of the steps.

Stepping into the convenience store, the plastic handrails leading to the basement have been replaced with stainless steel ones, and the cool metallic feel is very reassuring to grip.

Cheng Ye half-squatted and pushed open the door. Instead of the usual musty smell, a faint aroma of wood mixed with the salty freshness of salted fish wafted out.

Wang Kang followed behind, peeking curiously inside. When he saw what was there, he was so shocked that he took a half-step back, almost bumping into the door frame: "My God!"

The once dark and damp basement is now covered with a thick layer of moisture-proof wooden planks on the cement floor, and a bright light bulb hangs every two meters, illuminating every corner clearly.

Twenty bags of rice, flour, and cooking oil were piled on a wheeled metal rack, while dried salted fish, tightly wrapped in vacuum bags, were neatly stacked in a dehumidifying cabinet in the corner.

The metal shelves against the wall were filled with cans, their red, yellow, blue, and green labels crammed together, giving a reassuring impression.

"Brother Cheng, this..." Wang Kang poked his head in again, his words slurred.

"It's just a small warehouse. We can come in and get it whenever we crave something."

Cheng Ye casually took a can of yellow peaches from the shelf, opened it, and handed it over.

Wang Kang wanted to decline, but when he smelled the sweet aroma, he froze on the spot.

"Taste it."

"Then I'm welcome."

Wang Kang took the canned food, drank some of the sweet water, and immediately closed his eyes comfortably.

I took another bite of peach, and felt so comfortable, as if my heart was blooming with joy.

"Isn't it delicious? There are still thirty cans left."

Cheng Ye took two boxes of each type of canned food and put them in his backpack.

They didn't forget to put the piece of chopped-off Yaksha beef into Wang Kang's backpack so he could take it with him.

In addition, he also pulled out more than ten packets of seeds with labels.

This was prepared by Li Changfeng; it filled a whole snakeskin bag, presumably because he guessed that Li wanted to try planting it in Shi Province.

"Let's go!"

After leading Wang Kang out of the convenience store, the bus turned around and headed towards the chemical plant residential area.

Cheng Ye made a call in advance, but he didn't expect that Luo Xiaoxue would be waiting for him at the entrance of the community with Yi Yi.

As the bus approached, Yi Yi, wearing a pink jacket, rushed towards it like a little cannonball.

Wang Kang subconsciously lowered his head, thinking the little guy was about to jump into his arms, but he saw Liu Yi walk straight past him, open her arms and rush towards Cheng Ye, who picked her up steadily.

Ouch, that hurts!
"Cheng Ye, bro! Seeds! I want to see the seeds!" Yi Yi hugged Cheng Ye's neck, her little face pressed against his shoulder, her voice crisp and full of anticipation.

"Hey, all you're thinking about are seeds? Don't you want to eat some delicious beef?"

Cheng Ye pinched her little cheek.

"I don't eat beef!"

puff.

Liu Yi spoke seriously, and Cheng Ye couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Master Zhang, would you like to come up and sit for a while?"

"No need, I'll just wait for you downstairs."

"Okay, thank you for your help."

Cheng Ye tossed his backpack to Wang Kang, then happily got off the bus with Yi Yi in his arms.

To be honest, he can now finally understand why those villainous bosses sometimes feel a strange sense of emotion when they see the new generation.

Yi Yi's vibrant energy, like a seedling growing wildly in the sunlight, can indeed dispel the gloom that accumulates in people's hearts.

"When she heard you were coming, this little girl's eyes lit up, and she insisted on dragging me down to meet you."

Luo Xiaoxue greeted him with a smile, "If his dad knew, he'd probably be green with envy."

"Haha."

Upon reaching the fifth floor, Luo Xiaoxue pushed open her door, and a wave of heat rushed towards her.

Water has already been boiled in advance; judging from this, it seems they intend to treat them to boiled cabbage again.

However, after sitting down, Cheng Ye first took out several packets of labeled seeds from his backpack and handed them to Liu Yi, who was looking at him expectantly.

Then they took out a huge chunk of beef, which was still covered with a layer of frost that hadn't thawed.

"This"

Luo Xiaoxue was taken aback. "Where did this come from?"

“Bought from a caravan,”

Cheng Ye casually explained, then took out another can of food, "There's also salted fish, but the smell is too strong, so I didn't bring it today."

Liu Yi, who was squatting on the ground digging in the dirt with a small shovel, heard the sound of canned food and immediately dropped her toys and ran back, standing on tiptoe and clinging to the edge of the table: "Wow, it's canned food!"

Given Liu Bi's status, buying canned goods wouldn't be difficult, but most of them were meat and vegetable canned goods produced locally. High-end fruit canned goods like these were extremely rare.

Li Changfeng had also taken this into account, so he mainly packed canned fruit.

Cheng Ye casually opened cans of strawberries, yellow peaches, and oranges. These fruits, which are commonplace in modern times, are rare in Shijiazhuang and Xingfu City.

Even Luo Xiaoxue couldn't help but swallow hard, shaking her head and saying, "This is too extravagant!"

"It's okay, it's worthless."

It's really worthless, since it was obtained for free.

"Wow, this is delicious!"

Wang Kang used chopsticks to pick up a piece of orange and feed it to Yi Yi.

The little guy smacked his lips as he finished eating, then bounced around the room like a wound-up toy, shouting "Delicious, delicious!"

Luo Xiaoxue also picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, chewing it carefully, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes, "The last time I ate this was probably five or six years ago. Back then, some people around here still grew these things, but later I don't know if no one bought them or if the yield was too low, they gradually disappeared."

"I have plenty more, all for winter, that'll be ready then."

Cheng Ye smiled and was about to talk about the winter plans when his communication device suddenly beeped.

He stopped talking, took out his defense communication device and glanced at it; it was a call from Jiang Chuan.

"It's Jiang Chuan on the phone."

"Okay, you can go to the room next door to pick it up."

Cheng Ye got up, went to the bedroom, gently closed the door, and stood by the window.

"Ok?"

"Inspector Cheng, it has been confirmed that the Guardian of Wish, codenamed [Wanderer], who came through the fog cave, has left our Chuan City area and entered the neighboring Yun City."

"Confirmed?" Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow, feeling a sense of relief.

"Yes, we mobilized a lot of manpower and resources and finally took a photo of him traveling in the wilderness. But due to confidentiality reasons, we cannot send it to you for the time being."

"That's good, it's good that you've left."

Cheng Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

Shouyuan Chaofan was indeed unconventional; he didn't linger in Happiness City, and the direct impact should dissipate soon.

However, the words coming from the microphone the next second made him freeze instantly.

“The matter is not over yet. I can’t send you the photos of the traveler, but I can send you these.”

"what?"

Cheng Ye took the defense communication device away from his ear and turned on the screen.

Sure enough, the videos Jiang Chuan sent were loading.

He was completely stunned when he clicked on the first paragraph.

Under the pitch-black rainy night, the camera seemed to be shooting from above, and there were densely packed figures moving across the distant wilderness, numbering at least several thousand or tens of thousands.

Everyone wore raincoats and carried bulging backpacks. The column stretched endlessly, like a migrating locust swarm passing through, leaving a long, wriggling line on the muddy ground.

A surge in infections?
This was Cheng Ye's first reaction.

But the next few videos completely dispelled his idea. The people in the videos were in a hurry, but they were orderly. Some people were organizing the group with flashlights, and some were carrying the elderly, weak and disabled.

One segment was filmed from the ground, showing that the migrating group included many families, including quite a few children like Liu Yi's age, clearly indicating an organized migration.

After turning off the video, Cheng Ye asked thoughtfully, "What are these?"

"They are migrants."

Jiang Chuan's voice was somewhat helpless, "The Traveler's target is not us, nor has he deliberately affected Happiness City. What he really affects are the surrounding settlements, and even Yueye Shelter City. Under the influence of his extraordinary abilities, more and more people who were hesitant about coming to Happiness City have made up their minds. What you see now is the first group of people who set off at noon."

"how many people?"

"The first batch of 30,000 people has already entered the border area of ​​our Sichuan city, but based on the traveler's route, the total number is expected to be no less than 500,000!"

"How many?"

Cheng Ye suddenly raised his voice, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.

Half a million?
Are you kidding me? Not counting the people in the industrial zone, the peak permanent population of the buffer zone was at most around 400,000.

This number alone is already straining infrastructure resources, let alone providing enough jobs.

But now, tell him that half a million people are going to migrate to Happiness City?!
Crazy!
　P.S.: On the last day of July, thank you all for pushing the monthly votes to 10,000, an unprecedented achievement! Thank you so much!
　　P.S.: There will be a month-end summary later, where I'll talk about my plans for a big update and the next phase.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)