Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 199 Green Treasure Bug, Deadly Threat!

The town of Dabo, with its cross-shaped layout, resembles a lower-budget version of Wenlu County in terms of its overall structure.

In addition to the road leading north to the Baishui River, the road also connects to surrounding villages and towns in the east, west, and south directions.

Heading east, you can reach Wenlu County, and the road extends all the way to Chuanshi.

To the west are more than a dozen villages of varying sizes, including Dahe Village, Xiaohe Village, and Xibian Village.

To the south lies Yunshui Town, the industrial zone, and Xiasha County. If these road networks hadn't been abandoned, Dabo Town, with its advantage of the Baishui River's water transport, should have been a place with no worries about development.

However, after more than 20 years of neglect, what was once a vital transportation artery has now become a major problem to clean up.

Last time I went to see the hydroelectric power station, I took the route along the river from the dam, instead of taking the main road leading out of town, which is near the Jiajiale Supermarket.

We had only walked about two hundred meters when vines sprouted from the cracks in the concrete and began to grow on the road.

They were intertwined in clumps, with thin branches only as thick as a finger, while the main vines that rooted downwards were as strong as a forearm.

Fortunately, the extraordinary curse of Shi Province absorbs the characteristics of plants, limiting their rampant growth; otherwise, after so many years of neglect, Dabo Town would probably have been completely swallowed up by the primeval jungle long ago.

Cheng Ye took out his Xin Huo Tong (a mobile communication device), opened the map to confirm the area. From the current location outwards, at least 500 meters still needed to be cleared. Including the areas spreading to the surrounding areas, this was definitely a huge and labor-intensive project.

"Start clearing! First, clear the main road, then expand to both sides!" he shouted the order.

The crowd immediately responded, raising shovels and axes as they rushed forward.

Even though their properties were weakened by the extraordinary curse, these vines were still incredibly resilient. The main vine, as thick as a forearm, required three or four swings of an axe to cut, and a hammer had to be used to smash the root joint before the entire vine could be pulled out.

The only saving grace is that the vine's underground root system is not very tough. You can cut the main root with a shovel by digging along the ground, and then pull it out to bring out a large clump of fibrous roots.

On the contrary, the weeds that are above the calves are more difficult to deal with. Even after digging half a foot deep with a shovel, you can still see the roots that are still intertwined in the soil. It takes several cleansings to get rid of them completely.

Cheng Ye drew his red sword and began hacking at the vines to find a way forward, all the while calculating in his mind: "If we can clear a road from the block directly to the hydroelectric power station, it would only be about two kilometers long, which would make transporting supplies and replenishing energy much easier in the future!"

It has to be said that Jackie Chan designed the Red Blade in this way, making it perfect for clearing the way.

With its extreme sharpness and heavy blade, he could sever even the thickest vines with a single swing, and then clear a half-meter-wide path with a kick, much faster than using tools.

After advancing about 100 meters and confirming that there were no traces of infection sources on the road, Cheng Ye turned back and took out the infection source detector from his waist.

After powering on, the screen still showed flashing red and yellow dots. He used the joystick to select several red dots, and the values ​​popped up one by one.

Most are around 1.5, and three exceed 2.

"What does a value of 2 represent? Does it mean that an infection source has passed through the area in the last three days?"

The staff didn't explain the specific standards in detail, so Cheng Ye could only mark the directions of the three high-value points with the detector and then stride over there.

Wearing armor means he has to lead from the front; he can't just hide behind ordinary people.

But trouble struck as soon as they stepped into the desolate wilderness by the roadside. The wet mud under their feet could not support the weight of their armor, and they sank half a foot with every step, making it extremely difficult to walk.

The surrounding weeds grew denser and denser. At first, they only reached my calves and knees, but after walking several dozen meters deeper, the grass stalks were almost up to my waist. The leaves scraped against my armor, making a "rustling" sound, and my vision was mostly blocked.

"Sir, should we clear a path first?" Bao Dashan, who had caught up with two guards, couldn't help but suggest, looking at Cheng Ye's boots stuck in the mud.

Cheng Ye waved his hand and used his red knife to cut down a patch of weeds that were half a person tall in front of him: "No need, this is a good opportunity to alert the enemy and scout out the surrounding area. You guys keep an eye on the surroundings and make sure the source of infection doesn't come out of the grass and hurt the pioneer team members who are working."

"Yes!"

Seeing that Cheng Ye didn't need help, the three quickly returned to the roadside and cautiously surveyed their surroundings.

"What a nuisance! If only I could burn all this grass!"

Cheng Ye muttered to himself, but he knew it was just wishful thinking.

Although there are no fire regulations and no one cares about environmental protection in the wasteland era, it is no easy task to set fire to this grassland by the river.

It not only requires a super strong heat source for a long time to preheat, but also needs to be in hot and dry weather.

With the land so wet right now, unless Happiness City can provide gasoline to pour around the area, the idea of ​​burning it down is simply unrealistic. It would be much cleaner and more thorough to slowly dig it up by hand.

drop.

Drip
The closer they got to the marker, the more urgent the sound from the detector on their waist became.

Suddenly, Cheng Ye stopped abruptly, a look of surprise flashing across his face before turning into an unexpected smile.

While the detector cannot provide completely reliable information, it is not without its merits.

As far as the eye can see, there really is a source of infection!

Looking up, a green caterpillar the size of a palm was quietly coiled in the waist-high grass.

As the sunlight shines down, its body reflects a clear, dazzling light, like that of an emerald.

Sensing someone approaching, the caterpillar wriggled slightly, but neither hid nor ran away.

So beautiful!

Cheng Ye was stunned. Upon closer inspection, this was the first time he had ever seen a live wild infection source in person.

The guardian spiders we encountered last time were in a dormant state and showed no signs of anything unusual. But this "Hulk" infection source, one of the most common infection sources in the wasteland world, is now vividly present before us.

"Containment, or..."

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Cheng Ye took a large step forward and swung his crimson blade high into the air.

The infection source, which only costs 10 contribution points to be recycled, is really not worth the trouble of containing and taking back.

Furthermore, he was filled with curiosity about what characteristics this "Hulk" infection source could bestow.
Is it just about burning away one's life force to become a strong green-skinned creature for five minutes?

Wow.

With a flash of light, the caterpillar was cut in half at the waist, and thick green juice instantly splattered in all directions.

Visibly, any grass that was splashed with the sap grew wildly as if by magic.

In just a few seconds, the grass, which was originally waist-high, suddenly grew to the height of Cheng Ye's neck.

But then, right before his astonished eyes, it seemed to have instantly burned out all its life force and withered away.

"It's amazing!"

Cheng Ye used the tip of his knife to poke at the withered grass, and sure enough, it was completely dried out, turning into crumbs at the slightest touch.

Such scenes of growth and change can only be seen in modern special effects blockbusters. However, the difference in the level of shock between watching it on the movie screen and witnessing it in person is like night and day.

Touching the broken-in-two Green Treasure Bug with the tip of the knife immediately triggered a notification on the panel:
The collector has detected escaping biological information and is automatically absorbing it.

[Absorption complete. New creature added to the encyclopedia: Green Treasure Bug]

With a thought, the encyclopedia automatically opened.

The two illustrations clearly show the green beetle in its complete form, clinging to a blade of grass, and the beetle cut in two with its juices spilling out.

As you move down, line after line of text appears:

【Green Treasure Bug】

[Description]: Formed from a common cabbage caterpillar infected with a mutated virus, this parasite typically attaches itself to plant branches and stems, using its mouthparts to pierce the roots and extract life force, converting it into the life, vitality, and power it needs. There is a chance of infection upon contact with other organisms; during the parasitic period, there are no obvious abnormalities. However, once it senses a threat, the larvae inside the parasite stimulate the host's vitality, forcing the host to unleash strength far exceeding its normal limits. This process is irreversible, leading to the host's death.

[Current Parasitism Probability]:
Physical contact (life level reduction; no risk)
Mouthparts biting (parasitic probability: 100%)

[Currently Included Features]:
Messenger of Life (8.52%)

Energetic Ambassador (1.77%)

Power Messenger (0.82%)

Outbreak Messenger (0.02%)

"Hmm, I'm actually immune to contact parasites?"

Cheng Ye's gaze sharpened, filled with surprise.

Green Treasure Bugs are the most common source of infection in the wasteland. Although they are weak in combat and pose little threat, their "contact parasitism" is a persistent headache due to its stealthy nature.

Unexpectedly, after advancing to a higher life level, one gains immunity even to such basic infections, which will be a tremendous help in future explorations into the wilderness. Furthermore, the fact that all four naming rules are identical is even more astonishing.

"Could it be that by acquiring these traits and the resulting skills, I can also restore my vitality by eating grass?"

Cheng Ye seemed to be deep in thought.

These characteristics are somewhat similar to the Firehawk's ability to devour fire, except one relies on plants and the other on flames.

If you collect enough attribute points to redeem it, you can try it out. These types of recovery skills are unlikely to conflict.

Collect multiple types; even if the recovery limit of each individual is not high, they can accumulate to form a considerable battery life.

"Bao Dashan, go get a containment box!"

Cheng Ye turned around and shouted towards the roadside.

Although the value of the dead source of infection is greatly reduced, it cannot be allowed to rot and ferment in the wilderness. If it were to breed other hidden dangers, it would be troublesome. Putting it into a containment box and taking it back can at least avoid the risks.

"My lord, I'm coming!"

When Bao Dashan arrived with the containment box, Huang Liang took it first and ran over quickly. Seeing the remains of the green treasure insect on the ground, he skillfully picked them up with tongs, threw them into the box, and sealed it.

"What, you've encountered this before?"

“There are plenty of these things in the wilderness of Guangdong Province. I’ve seen dozens of them clustered together before. But the plants in our Shi Province don’t have enough nutrients to support them, so they are rare.”

"Oh?"

Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow, his mind instantly becoming active.

If you happen to encounter a group of dozens of Green Bugs, you might be able to stack all four traits at once, saving you the trouble of searching for them later.

However, Huang Liang's words also enlightened him. Although Shi Sheng's extraordinary curse prevented crops from growing, it also had obvious benefits.

Herbivorous infectious agents like the green worm, which survive on plants and parasitizes upon contact, simply cannot proliferate in large numbers here.

When Happiness City chose to locate its base in Shijiazhuang Province, it probably already took this security advantage into account.

After carefully collecting the remains of the Green Treasure Insect, Cheng Ye immediately headed towards the other two locations with values ​​exceeding 2.

After walking a few steps, I found another green beetle on a blade of grass.

This one was a size larger than the previous one, and its body had a faint silver sheen along the edges, clearly showing a tendency to evolve into a "Silver Treasure Moth".

He felt a chill run down his spine; once he turned into a moth, the threat of this source of infection would increase dramatically.

After all, no one can guarantee that it won't suddenly go crazy and fly onto a person to parasitize them.

Especially when camping in the wilderness, getting entangled with someone by accident can be a huge problem!

Without the slightest hesitation, Cheng Ye swung his sword and severed it.

A notification popped up on the panel, and the attribute value was indeed higher than before.

At this rate of accumulation, after cutting about ten more, I can accumulate the basic trait of Life Messenger.

"Awesome! It's a pity there are so few of these monsters!"

Cheng Ye got excited and, ignoring the mess of his boots getting stuck in the mud, grabbed his red knife and charged wildly through the grass.

Each of the three high-value locations contains a green treasure worm, but the lower-value locations are not without their rewards as well.

After searching around twice, I killed four more, bringing my total to six.

The cumulative percentage of Life Messenger has reached 67%, and the other three traits have also broken into single digits.

Although there aren't many herbivorous sources of infection in Shijiazhuang Province, this number still shows that if you venture into the wilderness without protection, the probability of encountering an infection source is definitely not low.

"But the green worm is so conspicuous, it can still be parasitized unless it's in a panic."

Under the sunlight, Cheng Ye could see the emeralds perched on the grass blades from a great distance.

Scavengers who go out to collect trash will definitely spot him, but the Hulk still appears every now and then.

the other side.

The pioneer team members who were clearing vines by the roadside kept looking up at Cheng Ye, their eyes full of amazement.

The wilderness is a dangerous place that ordinary people would avoid at all costs; even if you are wearing armor, you may still get infected due to negligence.

But Cheng Ye's demeanor seemed to suggest he was "having fun," completely overturning their perception of danger.

"As expected of the prosecutors of Happiness City! Rumor has it that every prosecutor kills sources of infection and infected individuals every day for amusement, and seeing it today, it's definitely true!"

"That's right! I've lived in the wasteland for so long, and this is the first time I've seen someone so excited after encountering an infected source. Anyone else would have run far away by now!"

"Hey, following Inspector Cheng was definitely the right choice! We can just focus on our work, and the adults will take care of our safety. It's much more reassuring than back in the mines."

"Stop chatting! Keep your eyes on the vines under your feet, or you'll get cut and infected by the roots!"

"Yes, everyone, let's all work harder! Dabo Town will definitely be a hot spot among the satellite cities in the future. If we work harder now, and if Inspector Cheng notices, we could rise to the top in one step!"

Bao Dashan shouted from the side, and his words were like a spark that ignited the enthusiasm of everyone in the room.

When the checkpoint was recruiting and assessing personnel, what attracted them was not only the temporary pay, but also the identity of "first-generation residents of the satellite city".

When there are few people, as long as you can show your face in front of Cheng Ye, even if it's just doing your job well, you might stand out.

Just like Lin Xiaoshan, Sun Dazheng, and Ma Mingyuan.

They didn't envy the young and strong leaders, because they knew they didn't have the ability to take such risks.

But the three people selected from the family group may look ordinary, but they are confident that they are no less capable of leading people to do chores!
It's quite obvious.

The pioneers' movements instantly became more efficient. They dug deeper with their shovels and swung their axes more fiercely. The people responsible for transporting the waste also quickened their pace. The weeds and vines on the carts were piled high, and one cart after another was sent to the designated dumping area.

In just over half an hour, the main road had advanced nearly fifty meters.

When Huang Liang returned after delivering the containment box, he was taken aback by the scene and immediately adjusted the division of labor:
Half of the people were left to continue clearing the road, while the other half spread outwards along the roadside to clear away the mud that Cheng Ye had just stepped on, and to further expand the safe area.

After Cheng Ye had practically trodden through all the mud on the left side of the assessment area to confirm that no source of infection had been missed, he turned around and looked back. The town road, which had been completely covered by weeds and vines, finally revealed a clear outline.

Although there were still pebbles and withered grass stems scattered on the road, there were no longer any obstacles to obstruct the view.

Sunlight streamed onto the bare road, and the supermarket could be seen hundreds of meters away. The view opened up, and my mood lightened up a bit.

Unfortunately, his good mood didn't last long. Before he could get back to the main road and clear the area on the right, a burst of gunfire came from the direction of the red zone in the distance, accompanied by faint exclamations.

Is it by the river?
Cheng Ye's heart tightened, and he quickened his pace instantly.

The biggest danger to Dabo Town is the Baishui River, which has been developing in a disorderly manner for more than 20 years.

While clearing the wilderness in the western area is troublesome, it only poses a threat such as green beetles. Even if there are other herbivorous sources of infection, they will be dispersed by flocks of thornbirds.

But the Baishui River is different; it connects to the Linjiang River, and the dangers hidden in the water are far more difficult to guard against than those on land.

When he hurried to the red-blue boundary, he saw Rokuk returning from the riverbank with a dark expression.

Seeing him looking over curiously, Rokuk stopped and said in a low voice, "Two people are dead."

"Two?" Cheng Ye's heart skipped a beat.

The assessment had only been going on for half a day when a death occurred.

Although no one died on his side, these people would become future residents of Dabo Town after winning the assessment.

The deadly danger came much faster than he had anticipated!

They didn't even wait for nightfall, let alone for the rain to come tomorrow.

“There are too many things hiding in the river. Just now, when we were cleaning the bank, two water leeches suddenly darted out and wrapped themselves around the legs of two residents. By the time we reacted, they were already dead.”

Rokuk paused, his eyes showing a hint of seriousness. "Furthermore, this river is not safe. I have already investigated it, and there are definitely a considerable number of infected individuals lurking underwater."

"Get ready, there will definitely be infected coming ashore tonight!"

　P.S.: In this race against time, two chapters have been delivered!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)