People often believed they could survive the apocalypse merely by clinging to the government's side. They never realized that someone else was carrying the crushing weight of existence for them. When survival became the only thing that mattered, humanity squeezed out every possible method they could imagine. If someone lived comfortably, it only meant someone else had already held up the sky to shield them. Looking back at her previous life, Jing Shu remembered surviving until the tenth year of the apocalypse. If the government hadn't existed, China's survival rate would have been far lower.
"Alright, that's all for now. No need to walk us out. We have got other things to do," she said, her voice echoing in the cold, damp air of the cave. "I will leave this lab to you. If anything comes up, you can contact me anytime."
She spoke the polite lines, but she was no longer in the mood to keep exploring. This place definitely had more secrets buried beneath its fourteen levels. She understood why Song Bin had turned pale the moment they arrived. The researchers here weren't exactly normal; a fanatical obsession with the unknown burned in their eyes. It wasn't a passion for life or material gain.
It was a hunger for discovery that surpassed the need for ordinary comforts, so much so that they even used themselves as test subjects. Jing Shu rarely felt awe toward anything, yet the Imperial Capital's biological research lab became one of the few things she couldn't look at casually. These people were simply different.
"Alright, let's move on," she told Song Bin.
Nothing in the lab could stop her pace. She was only staying in the Imperial Capital for a few days, and she felt the pressure of time against her. The moment she finished signing the agreement, she urged Song Bin to take her to their next stop.
She didn't idle on the road. As they traveled, she started harvesting a batch of seasoning plants that had ripened inside her space. The durians she had been waiting for had finally matured too, filling the air within her mind with their heavy, sweet scent. She quickly stored everything away, already imagining the taste. A thought flickered in her mind: something that couldn't be shown openly before might finally be allowed to surface when she returned home.
Only a few years had passed since the apocalypse began, yet the hundreds of kilograms of seasonings she had bought long ago were almost gone. She had planted another batch before coming to the capital, and whenever she had time, she fussed over the crops. She wanted to stockpile more before the migration, so she planted a large quantity this time, especially Sichuan pepper.
Wind oil essence and floral water were running low, and Sichuan pepper was an excellent insect repellent. It worked well when mixed with rice and flour. In traditional medicine, it warmed the stomach and relieved pain, killed parasites, and treated rashes. Most importantly, during the migration, corpse-eating insects would be everywhere. She needed to save her wind oil essence. Until she figured out how to make more, she could at least scatter the aromatic Sichuan pepper throughout the interior of the RV.
"Miss Jing, we are here," Song Bin said. His tone was respectful. Outside of Jun Shao, no one else ever earned this attitude from him. Everything Jing Shu had done these past few days made it impossible for people not to feel a sense of awe toward her.
She nodded and followed him to the Imperial Capital's infamous black market. Both of them carried large cases that felt heavy in their hands. Since they were already in the capital, she couldn't pass up a visit to a place filled with such danger and excitement. In the apocalypse, nothing mattered more than supplies. There was nothing left in Wu City that caught her eye, but in the capital, she was sure she would find better things. It wasn't just curiosity; she wanted to see if she could pick up anything she desperately needed. For some reason, the moment she heard there were rare treasures or end-times specialties, she became excited.
Getting into the black market wasn't easy. Many of the items traded there couldn't appear in public, so the market enforced a strict membership system. Only members or people vouched for by members were allowed inside, and the members were ranked by their status.
"Ahem. Miss Jing, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Fan Jianqiang, a Silver-level member of the black market. He can bring in two guests, which means he can take us inside," Song Bin said. "We are the ones recommended by Jun Shao."
Fan Jianqiang lifted his chin, his expression full of pride. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. Just stay behind me later. Don't ask for prices at random and don't try to trade cheap stuff. If my points drop, I will fall back to Bronze. Do you know how much I had to spend to get Silver? If not for Jun Shao, I..."
He tightened his heavy coat and continued to grumble. He adjusted his scarf and yawned, looking bored. "Stay close," he reminded them.
He wondered if they knew he had face blindness. If they wandered too far, he would never find them again. It was a hassle, and they couldn't exactly hold hands with him.
Jing Shu let out a soft sound and her brow furrowed, her mind lost in thought. Song Bin fell silent too. They followed Fan Jianqiang until they passed the verification and entered the night market. More accurately, it was an underground night market that looked like a tomb. The underground walls were built with solid stone blocks that felt cold and ancient.
Song Bin gave her a discreet thumbs up and whispered, "You are spot on. Food is running short, and anyone who still has the leisure to trade for other supplies is someone in the circle. Calling it a black market isn't accurate. It's more like a VIP playground that everyone upstairs quietly approves of. The rules are indeed designed to push spending. In a way, it speeds up the circulation of goods."
Fan Jianqiang bent over slightly as he led them with a flashlight, the beam cutting through the thick dust in the air. The downward passage sloped several stories deep. They constantly had to duck or step over ancient stone steps, and the arch above them was carved with detailed, intricate patterns.
A tomb. It was definitely a tomb for someone important. Jing Shu was certain of it.