Chapter 397: A Stroke of Bold and Vivid Colors
The three thousand people sent by Changjing wouldn’t arrive in Taoyang until early November, so building their houses and training grounds could wait a few days.
The immediate priority was finding Jiang Tong.
Leaving the old commander’s office, Su Tao spotted Gu Mingchi—tall and lean, wearing a black-gray trench coat with silver-rimmed glasses, his hands tucked in his pockets.
When he saw her, he lifted his chin slightly and said, “I’ll give you a ride.”
Su Tao asked, “Is there something from the meeting we didn’t finish discussing?”
Was there really more to talk about on the way back?
Clearly not. Gu Mingchi hesitated, then said, “…Yes.”
Left with no other choice, Su Tao declined Pei Dong’s offer to take her home and got into Gu Mingchi’s car.
As soon as the engine started, Su Tao stared at him intently—she might as well have had the words “Spit it out already” written on her face.
Gu Mingchi racked his brain. “I forgot to ask during the meeting—since the coastal regions have a lot of seafood specialties, do you want anything when the convoy goes there?”
Su Tao waved her hand dismissively. “No, no. As long as you bring back energy cores, I don’t want anything else. That’s it? Nothing else?”
Gu Mingchi couldn’t come up with any more excuses and drove her back to Taoyang in silence.
As he watched her hurriedly exit the car and disappear, he fell into deep thought—maybe he needed to improve his conversational skills?
*
Su Tao didn’t dwell on the encounter. Back in Taoyang, she met with Old Mei to discuss the housing and planning needed for the incoming three thousand people and asked him to prepare the designs in advance.
Old Mei’s eldest apprentice, Zheng Xing, lit up with excitement when he heard about the new project.
Old Mei patted Zheng Xing’s shoulder. “You’ve been learning for a while now. This project will be yours to design—I’ll assist you.”
Zheng Xing panicked. “N-no, Master, you should handle it…”
Old Mei laughed heartily, gave him a few instructions, and sent him away. Then, he turned to Su Tao and said:
“Let’s go. Last night, Xiao Pan came to me in a dream again—she kept apologizing for giving birth to a wretch and urged me to check on that wretch. Even in death, she can’t rest in peace… can’t rest at all…”
Su Tao, silent, supported him as they made their way to the research base and contacted Shen Wencheng to lead them to the lab’s deepest chamber.
As heavy security doors opened one by one, Su Tao once again saw Bone Wings.
But this time, it was in pieces.
Its body had been dismembered—each wing was submerged in separate tanks. One wing even had a long incision filled with tubes.
The creature’s naked body lay exposed, a large cavity carved into its back, packed with unfamiliar instruments and tubing.
Nearby, a table displayed a collection of bones and joints, all apparently extracted from its body.
Bone Wings lay still in the blue-green liquid, eyes closed, expression calm, appearing utterly harmless.
Its facial features were so human-like—it could easily pass for a strikingly handsome young man.
Thinking of Jiang Tong, Su Tao’s expression subtly shifted.
She asked the busy Shen Wencheng, “Is it still alive?”
Without looking up, Shen Wencheng replied, “Yes. If it dies, it loses research value. We won’t let it die—at least not yet.”
His attention returned to the samples in his hands, eyes gleaming with fascination.
Su Tao hesitated before asking, “Can it feel pain?”
“Probably,” Shen Wencheng answered absentmindedly.
Su Tao fell silent, asking no further questions.
Old Mei cast a distant glance at Bone Wings but said nothing. With a hunch in his back and leaning on his cane, he slowly walked away.
Su Tao followed him.
The research base—an intersection of cruelty and hope.
As Shen Wencheng escorted them out, he hesitated before asking, “Boss Su, about the second specimen…”
Su Tao reassured him, “We’ll get it soon. Just focus on your research. Changjing will send advanced personnel to assist you shortly, along with upgraded equipment. You won’t need to worry about staffing or resources.”
Shen Wencheng’s eyes gleamed with renewed enthusiasm. He grasped Su Tao’s hand excitedly:
“Boss Su, we will succeed—Taoyang’s name will leave a bold and unforgettable mark in the history of humanity’s apocalypse.”
From that day forward, he decided to cut his sleep by another two hours to accelerate their progress.
Hearing his impassioned declaration, Su Tao felt a mix of excitement and unease.
Outside the base, Old Mei gazed at the blue sky, a rare look of relief on his face.
“Taoyang girl, I only have two wishes left,” he said softly. “One is to check on that wretch so Xiao Pan can rest in peace. The other is to see Zheng Xing become a master in his own right. I’ve already fulfilled the first—soon, the second will be done. I’m content.”
He tapped his chest with a clenched fist.
Su Tao shared in his happiness and reflected on her own wishes.
At first, she only wanted to escape the Su family and have a small room to call her own.
Now, with her system, her friends, and the President’s words, her ambitions had grown—she wanted to end this damn apocalypse once and for all.
As Old Mei’s figure receded into the sunset, his shadow stretched long and thin—both lonely and lighthearted.
If Zheng Xing successfully completed this design project, Old Mei could finally retire and enjoy his twilight years.
*
That night, there was still no news of Jiang Tong from Dongyang, nor from the people Su Tao had sent out.
She ordered Lingyu to initiate a thorough search and spread rumors that Jiang Yu was critically injured and near death.
If Jiang Tong heard this, she would surely reveal herself—or at least leave a clue.
Terrified, Lingyu began the search but returned every day quaking with fear:
“Lingyu is scared! So scared!”
“She wants to kill me—kill me!”
It even stopped eating, refusing its favorite strawberries.
The memory of Huapi’s deadly gaze haunted it. The mere mention of Jiang Tong triggered Lingyu’s fear of becoming bird food.
After two days, Su Tao gave up.
She turned her attention to Black Sesame, who was grooming Chilli.
Black Sesame froze mid-lick, then bolted.
That evening, Su Tao mentioned the issue to Shi Zijin. After some thought, he said:
“Lingyu and Black Sesame have strong danger senses. This Huapi creature must be extremely powerful—don’t provoke her. Leave finding Jiang Tong to me.”
Su Tao almost scoffed—what could a ghost do?
But on second thought, as a ghost, Shi Zijin could move freely at night and wouldn’t be physically harmed.
Pleased, she instructed, “Good job. From now on, check in with me at 7 p.m. every night before you start searching.”
Only when she shoved him out the door did Shi Zijin realize—she had just assigned him to the night shift.
*
Late at night, in a shadowy corner—
Huapi stared at Jiang Tong in surprise. “Didn’t you leave? Why are you back?”
Jiang Tong asked coldly, “If I go to Taoyang now, what will happen?”
Huapi sneered, “You’ll be swarmed by those foolish humans. That place is a deathtrap—don’t go.”
Jiang Tong insisted, “I have to. My brother is dying.”
Huapi’s beautiful face twisted with rage.
“Idiot!” she spat.
