The First Order

Wang Shengyin carried on explaining more about artificial intelligence. For example, the practical field of artificial intelligence was not very wide. It was mainly put into the stronghold’s surveillance cameras to create the so-called “eye in the sky” function.

It was precisely because of the appearance of such an artificial intelligence that the Central Plains could become a civilization where one wouldn’t need to shut their doors at night. It could even analyze thefts and inform the stronghold’s Public Order Division to arrest the thief.

Thus, the rumor that people in the Central Plains did not close their doors at night was not because that place was civilized, but because it was too easy to be caught after committing a crime.

Ren Xiaosu could not help but ask, “Are there also refugees in the Central Plains?”

Wang Shengyin looked at Ren Xiaosu. “Yes.”

Ren Xiaosu realized the Central Plains were not exactly a paradise either. From his point of view, there was no such thing as paradise as long as oppression existed.

When Ren Xiaosu learned of the meaning of the phrase “artificial intelligence,” he found it extremely ridiculous. Back when he was still living in town, he did not even own any electronics!

In the entire town, only brick houses like the ones that Wang Fugui lived in had electrical cables wired. The rest of the refugees did not even have light bulbs in their homes, but someone here was actually saying that machines in the Central Plains were close to being intelligent?

Ren Xiaosu found this unreal.

Zhou Yinglong stated, “That means the combat strength of those in Central Plains is about the same as ours, but the only difference is that there’s been a breakthrough in this pain of an AI thing.” To this burly man from Stronghold 178, the first thing he was most concerned about was the combat strength of those in the Central Plains.

Wang Shengzhi laughed and said, “The wars happening in the Central Plains aren’t going to reach Stronghold 178 any time soon, so don’t worry.”

“Who can say?” Zhou Yinglong muttered. “Alright, get some rest. We’ll reach Stronghold 178 in another two days.”

At this moment, Ren Xiaosu was leaning on a mound. Here he was at the northernmost part of the valley, an area that was closest to where the Zong Consortium called its territory, where the vast expanse was covered in yellow dust.

Because there were no industrial activities out here, the stars in the sky seemed to be right in front of him.

But there was no one to keep watch for Ren Xiaosu anymore.

Ren Xiaosu stared into the void while thinking. No matter how hard he tried to fall asleep, he just could not.

He wondered where Yan Liuyuan was right now. Perhaps he was already on his way to the Central Plains? Did Wang Fugui and the others survive? Ren Xiaosu had seen Jiang Wu’s power undergo a new transformation at the last minute before they got swept away by the flood. So with Jiang Wu around, the others might have survived.

According to Wang Shengzhi, the Central Plains were downstream of this river. It would flow past Strongholds 46, 37, 28, 7, 9, and end at Stronghold 1. If Ren Xiaosu wanted to seek out his family, he could go there according to this route.

Ren Xiaosu made a mental note of it. He would definitely go and look for Yan Liuyuan after the Zong Consortium was destroyed. But before the Zong Consortium’s destruction, Ren Xiaosu did not want to drag Yan Liuyuan, Wang Fugui, and the others into this mess.

At this moment, Wang Shengzhi rolled up to Ren Xiaosu in his wheelchair and asked, “Are you thinking about your family and friends?”

Ren Xiaosu gave him a look. “Actually, I don’t have any family left, just friends who were like family.”

“I’ll help you look for them after I return to the Central Plains. Tell me their names.” Wang Shengzhi smiled and said, “If they really did manage to get to the Central Plains, I’ll definitely help you locate them.”

However, Ren Xiaosu remained silent for a moment. He did not want to give Wang Fugui and Yan Liuyuan’s names because he did not know if Wang Shengzhi was a good or bad person. How could he possibly entrust the safety of Wang Fugui and the others to someone else? He believed that even without Wang Shengzhi’s help, Wang Fugui and the others would still be able to live well.

Ren Xiaosu suddenly said, “Thank you, but only one of my friends still remains. His name is Li Shentan.”

Ren Xiaosu did not tell the truth.

Wang Shengzhi smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll remember it.”

After the convoy restarted their journey, the Zong Consortium did not reappear. After driving for some distance, the sunset in the wilderness was starting to arrive later.

On the night before reaching Stronghold 178, the sun only went below the horizon after 8 PM.

The vastness of the Northwest was something Ren Xiaosu had never seen before when he was in the Southwest. In his wheelchair, Wang Shengzhi looked out into the vast plains and snowy mountains in the distance and said with emotion, “Today, I’m finally able to appreciate how large this world truly is.”

Zhou Yinglong chuckled and said, “A real man should be living out here. You people from the Central Plains aren’t noble enough.”

Wang Shengzhi did not refute that. He asked, “Why did Commander Zhang leave Stronghold 178?”

Zhou Yinglong asked in return, “And how did you get to know our commander?”

“After Commander Zhang left Stronghold 178 all those years ago, he traveled to the Central Plains. We got to know each other then.” Wang Shengzhi smiled and said, “Back then, I still had full control of my legs. But time passes like a song. He and I are both getting old.”

Zhou Yinglong curled his lips. “Our commander is still young though.”

All of a sudden, a convoy of cars appeared on the horizon. Zhou Yinglong waved excitedly and said, “I used the satellite phone to inform the commander yesterday that you were arriving soon. Who’d have thought you’d be so important that the commander would even come out personally to welcome you?”

Wang Shengzhi smiled without saying anything. Beside him, Wang Shengyin looked at Ren Xiaosu. “When we get to Stronghold 178, it shouldn’t be difficult for my brother to arrange for you to join Stronghold 178 with his influence.”

Ren Xiaosu was a little stunned. How long had it been since he last saw Zhang Jinglin?

He had squatted outside the school and listened to the classes for three years. Later on, he was finally allowed to attend classes in the school by Zhang Jinglin. Counting the days, Zhang Jinglin and he had known each other for quite some time. But that teacher had turned into the commander of Stronghold 178 all of a sudden.

The vehicles on the horizon drove over in the twilight of the sunset. When the convoy arrived in front of everyone, the first person to jump out of a vehicle was someone Ren Xiaosu knew: Xu Xianchu.

When Xu Xianchu saw Zhou Yinglong and the others, he was stunned. Zhou Yinglong smiled and said, “Bro, why have you come in advance to pick us up?”

Afterwards, Xu Xianchu walked in a trance past him and came to Ren Xiaosu. When he saw Ren Xiaosu’s pale face and the bloodstains on his body, he asked anxiously, “What happened? You got injured?”

Ren Xiaosu smiled and said, “It’s just a minor injury. I’ll be fine soon.”

“You call that a minor injury?” Xu Xianchu was shocked. He lifted Ren Xiaosu’s shirt and saw the scar on the right side of Ren Xiaosu’s abdomen. “It’s a penetrating wound? Who did this? Weren’t you at Stronghold 88?”

Ren Xiaosu said, “It’s a long story. This was done by the Zong Consortium.”

“Where’s Liuyuan?” Xu Xianchu looked around at everyone. “And where’s Wang Fugui?”

Ren Xiaosu’s face darkened for a moment. “We got separated.”

Zhou Yinglong, Wang Shengyin, and Wang Shengzhi were all stunned. “What’s going on? Didn’t he say he was a normal refugee?”

Meanwhile, Zhou Yinglong was even more surprised. He had never heard Xu Xianchu having friends on the outside… Wait a minute! It seemed like Xu Xianchu really did have a friend on the outside…. Damn!

Was Stronghold 178 about to play host to the two great jinxes?!