IJWTRQ Chapter 017

When the ‘person’ in the protective suit arrived, he took an instrument and turned around, then raised his weapon and aimed at the meteorite where Liang Xian and others were hiding: “Who are you people?”

It’s Chinese!

The four men looked at each other, Ah San resolutely jumped out, raised his hands, and with a harmless face, said: “We are survivors.”

“How can there be survivors outside now, which base are you from? Why don’t the remaining three come out?” The man was very hostile and never put down his weapon.

The three of Liang Xian also raised their hands and walked out, Liang Xian said: “We are really survivors, I am a bachelor of the Chinese Academy of Science. I happened to be doing experiments in an underground research institute when the disaster struck. The research institute’s defenses are strong enough, the facilities are complete, and there is plenty of food, so we have survived until now.”

“Can you stay underground for over six years? What food has such a long shelf life! Moreover, the Chinese Academy of Sciences was hit by a huge meteorite at the beginning of the disaster, even the ground collapsed, causing a huge loss to human survival, how could anyone survive?” The person obviously didn’t believe it.

“Because I was studying agronomy, the research I was doing at the time was to breed new varieties of wheat through genetic hybridization technology, which could enhance the drought tolerance of wheat and increase the yield, it was expected to double the acreage yield.” Liang Xian said, “At that time, I was guarding an experimental greenhouse, there are still seeds around. The few of us survived by relying on that piece of an experimental greenhouse.”

Hearing the increase in grain production, the man obviously hesitated: “Then why don’t you come out? Can normal people really live in isolation for six years?”

“One person certainly can’t,” Liang Xian has a melancholy face, “But I have these three companions, they are the security personnel of the laboratory, and also special forces, who protected me at the beginning of the disaster. At that time, the base gate control system was smashed, and we were not good at intelligent system maintenance. We couldn’t get out of the gate, so we had to dig a little bit, and we didn’t get out until now.”

He said it with a straight face, as if these things happened for real.

But everyone knows that it was Liang Xian’s so-called hybridization experiment that really made the people in front of him believe his nonsense.

“The temperature is going to rise soon, if this continues, we will die.” Liang Xian continued.

“Throw all your weapons over and take this with you.” The person took out four handcuffs from his backpack.

After taking a look at the handcuffs, Liang Xian confirmed that they were handcuffs that he had practiced unlocking numerous times and was very familiar with, so he put them on without any pressure.

The same is true for Qin Li and Ah San, they are not worried that the handcuffs will trap them.

Tan Yan is even less troubled in this regard.

Seeing that they handed in their weapons and put on handcuffs, the man was relieved and said: “Follow me.”

“Wait, wait,” Ah San stood still and did not move, “The sun is about to rise, if we go any further with you, we will be sunburned to death.”

“How did you get here before?” the person asked.

We found ways to stay warm and out of the sun, rushing along at night and day, looking for survivors along the way, and came to this place when we were running out of food.” Ah San explained.

“Then hurry up, the base is just ahead.”

Now everyone had no objection, he walked in front, and several people followed, Liang Xian found that the protective shield on his head had expanded, enveloping all four of them.

“He shouldn’t be able to hear us anymore.” Tan Yan said.

Qin Li looks envious, his eyes written, ‘When can I have such power?’.

“The apocalypse came in 2012, and suddenly it felt like we escaped a catastrophe.” Ah San heaved a long sigh of relief, but there was still sadness in his eyes.

It is saddening that what was once your home is now in ruins.

“Not necessarily,” Liang Xian analyzed calmly, “He never said that it’s 2018.”

“They are all Earth, can the time of the two worlds be inconsistent?”

“Cross-space things can happen, what else is impossible. After we arrive at the base, try to get as much information as possible, compare the differences between the two worlds, and when we have collected enough information, we will find a way to leave.” Liang Xian continued.

“The other party’s position is unclear, I think we should get enough information on the way and leave immediately. The base’s defense measures must be very good, I’m afraid we won’t be able to get out if we go in.” Ah San objected, “I know Tan Yan is very good, and we can rely on him. But now, the three of us are holding him back. We can’t run even three steps outside. Do you want to rely on Tan Yan to protect us in front of the aircraft and cannons?”

Liang Xian was silent.

“I’m fine.” Tan Yan said, “You can do whatever you want.”

“No, what Brother San said is right,” Liang Xian changed Ah San’s name, “I did not think it through, too aggressive.”

This incident happened too suddenly, the four of them fought alone in a different world, and finally got information about the world beyond the ‘void’. They had to bring it back to their world as soon as possible.

If the ‘void’ is connected to the post-apocalyptic Earth, then with the frequent appearance of ‘void’ in their world, will it also face the end of the world?

Now the most efficient approach is…

“This person is an amateur and will let their back facing the enemy.” Qin Li said suddenly.

Ah San, Liang Xian, and Qin Li looked at each other, Ah San made several gestures, Liang Xian and Qin Li nodded, the three of them flipped their wrists, and the handcuffs fell to the ground.

They moved in different directions, forming a triangle shape, and gradually surrounded the person in protective suits from behind.

Due to the protection of the protective cover, the person in front couldn’t hear the sound of their quiet approach. When the three of them were in a position suitable for attacking, Tan Yan removed the protective cover.

Ah San leaped, pinned the person down, and removed the gun from his hand. Qin Li snatched back the backpack, while Liang Xian placed his left hand on a very hidden button and said in a low voice: “Answer whatever I ask you, or I will immediately remove your protective clothing and expose you directly to the sun.”

The person struggled desperately, but it’s hard to defeat four hands with two fists¹雙拳難敵四手 shuāng quán nán dí sì shǒu: It’s hard to defeat four hands with two fists (idiom); (fig.) one person cannot beat two., not to mention against three very skilled special forces soldier.

Seeing that he still dared to move, Liang Xian pressed the button hard while the sun was still not intense, and the protective suit immediately fell off, revealing the face of a middle-aged man.

Half of his face was covered with burns, and his eyes looked like two empty holes. That’s not an ordinary look of fear of death, but a look of complete abandonment.

Give up the pursuit of a better world.

“Please… don’t let me see the sun.” Seeing the sun, the man immediately closed his eyes.

Ah San’s heart was as cold as iron, and he dragged him behind a rock. It’s very shady here, and it should be able to block the sun for a while.

Liang Xian didn’t help him put on the protective clothing but said: “We’ll just ask a few questions, answer them, and we’ll let you go.”

“If it’s the situation of the base, I don’t know, I’m just a low-level searcher, now, anyone capable can come out on patrol with only a gun like me. A random meteorite can kill me!” The man’s voice was full of fear, it didn’t seem like he was lying.

“Don’t worry, we only ask some basic things,” Liang Xian said, “What year is it now? What happens after the atmosphere disappears? What is the current population of the country? What is the disaster situation in foreign countries?”

“These… You don’t know? Children in the base will learn common sense in classes.” The man showed a look of surprise.

“Don’t be long-winded, you just need to answer the questions.” Ah San said as he dragged the man towards the sunlight.

“Okay, okay, okay!” The man immediately surrendered, “According to the post-apocalyptic algorithm, this year is the end of the calendar year 6, if the previous algorithm, it’s the year 2018.”

Same time as Earth.

“Just after the atmosphere disappears, it will be the beginning of autumn, one-tenth of the population froze to death overnight, and everyone dies in their sleep.” When the man mentioned this incident, tears flowed silently, “I was on the night shift at the time, and I turned on the air conditioner when I felt the cold. After a while, the power went out, but I was still able to move around. I was lucky to save my life, but when I got home in the morning, my wife and children died.”

Although he was crying, there was no sadness in his eyes, only numbness.

“In the beginning, I cried and cried, I felt that I was the most miserable, who knew that there were many people who were more miserable than me. The next day there was no blue sky and white clouds, the sky was pitch black, the sun was like a searchlight, and many people were roasted to death.

The crops died overnight, and the country took out relief food and distributed it in the morning and evening. But there are many people queuing up, if you don’t go early, you won’t be able to grab it. I went out to pick up my meal in a black cloak an hour earlier, and my face became like this.

Meteorites began to fall from the sky, all the buildings on the ground were destroyed, and all the plants and animals died. Robbery, homicide, humiliating women are everywhere, people who are still alive are like madmen.”

“What about later?” Liang Xian didn’t really want to hear it anymore, so he just skipped the follow-up question.

“Later? Almost everyone died, and there is less than one-fiftieth of the population left in the country. Those who are lucky enough to survive have been brought to the underground base built by the country. The base is very strong, and the temperature is constant, so there is no need to worry about sudden death.

Some were assigned to farming, others ventured out to find energy, and there were patrolmen like me who went around every day to see if anyone from a hostile base was coming to attack us.”

“Why are you being attacked?”

“Robbing food. We are all farming underground, lack of water, soil, and sunlight, the yield is extremely low, and the people in the base don’t have enough to eat, so we can only rob. In fact, I have long seen that you’re not right, but you said that there is a way to increase wheat production, I… I just want to try.” The man said with a sorrowful face.

Liang Xian took a deep breath and asked: “Is this the Earth? What country are you in, and what was the leader’s name before the world’s end?”

Confusion appeared in the man’s eyes, but he still answered Liang Xian’s question: “If not Earth, then what? Aren’t we all people of Xia Guo²夏國人 Xià Guórén? The leader is President Wang.”

Four people: “…”

The time is right, but history seems to have taken a turn in this world, this is not the country they are familiar with.

A parallel universe, there is only this one explanation.

If you like my translations, a cup of coffee would be much appreciated. Thank you!

• 1
  雙拳難敵四手 shuāng quán nán dí sì shǒu: It’s hard to defeat four hands with two fists (idiom); (fig.) one person cannot beat two.
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  夏國人 Xià Guórén