Chapter 36: U City’s Dire Fate

“What? Slow down, tell me everything in detail.”

When Qiao Xia heard the explosive news from Zhou Li, he froze for a few seconds. Once he processed it, he immediately urged Zhou Li to recount the entire situation.

‘How could U City be quarantined in just a single day?’

‘While the Red-Eye Disease spread at a terrifying rate, the power of the nation should prevent an entire city from being completely isolated. And what did “destroyed” even mean? It couldn’t be the dire outcome he was imagining, could it?’

A myriad of thoughts flooded Qiao Xia’s mind. Yet, he quickly suppressed them, redirecting his focus. Panicking now was useless; obtaining the complete information was paramount.

“– I heard from my dad today… *crackle*… serious… *crackle*… not just our Z Nation… *crackle*… –”

However, just as Qiao Xia awaited Zhou Li’s reply, the phone signal began to falter. Zhou Li’s words became fragmented and indistinct, making it impossible to discern what he was saying.

Qiao Xia’s mouth twitched in exasperation. ‘Could his luck truly be this terrible?’

He had encountered a similar interruption before, when inquiring Liu Ge about the mysterious liquid in the syringe. Crucial information had been cut off midway, impossible to reconnect. Now, it was happening again!

The mysterious liquid in the syringe had merely been a vital clue for Qiao Xia to save Liu Ge from his illness.

But the words Zhou Li was speaking now concerned Qiao Xia’s very life and safety.

Under no circumstances could Qiao Xia allow this information to be cut short. He *had* to get the latest, complete details from Zhou Li.

Regarding the phone signal… he suddenly remembered a signal booster in the teachers’ office. Entering there might resolve his current predicament.

With that thought, Qiao Xia wasted no more time. He swiftly ascended the stairs and sprinted towards the teachers’ office.

The glass entrance was guarded by Li Lin Guan, and after witnessing the horrors of the Red-Eye patients, no one dared to open the main gate. Qiao Xia felt completely reassured.

Upon reaching the teachers’ office, Qiao Xia simply pushed the door open. He strode inside, and as the voice on the other end of the line cleared, no longer indistinct, he immediately let out a sigh of relief.

His guess had been correct. Now, he wouldn’t have to worry about crucial information being cut off.

However, just as Qiao Xia entered the teachers’ office, the voice of his homeroom teacher, Wang Li, suddenly rang out beside him.

“Qiao Xia, you assaulted a classmate without cause in school today. Even if you come to plead now, it’s…”

Qiao Xia didn’t even bother to look. He simply waved his hand dismissively towards the source of the voice, then continued his call with Zhou Li.

To avoid further trouble, Qiao Xia moved to a corner. Amidst the teachers’ various strange glances, he calmly held his phone, continuing his conversation.

“– My dad’s friend told me today that a strange infectious disease has recently spread globally, causing many people to become impulsive and violent. Initially, due to their slow movement and stiff actions, the Global Disease Research Institute believed it was a new type of illness that wouldn’t harm others. But in the past few days, they discovered infected patients had undergone further changes: they actually *liked* to eat people!”

Zhou Li’s voice on the other end of the line was laced with urgency. Even though he had heard the news some time ago, he still hadn’t fully processed it.

This infectious disease was far too bizarre, especially the cannibalism aspect, which filled Zhou Li with profound regret.

Even if Qiao Xia had firmly refused yesterday, he should have forcefully taken him away, rather than leaving him alone in U City.

If the nation truly decided to destroy U City with a missile… Zhou Li couldn’t even bear to imagine such a development. He could only hope the epidemic would be controlled in time.

“– I just encountered Red-Eye patients. They are indeed different from yesterday… But wait, it’s not just our country; this disease is global? And if it’s everywhere, why is only U City quarantined?”

While Qiao Xia awaited Zhou Li’s reply, his homeroom teacher Wang Li, seeing that Qiao Xia had completely disregarded her, became furious and immediately spoke again, her voice sharp with exasperation.

“How dare you, Qiao Xia, speak to a teacher like that? You’re completely rebellious! I’m calling your parents right now!”

Qiao Xia paid her no mind, his entire attention fixed on the phone, desperately eager to unravel his confusion.

“– I don’t know the exact details, but I saw on the news today that the Red-Eye disease has appeared all over the globe. As for U City’s quarantine, it seems the decision was only implemented yesterday. My dad’s friend said it’s because the infected patients in U City suddenly mutated, and the rate of infection accelerated tenfold compared to other regions. If it’s not brought under control quickly, the entire nation could descend into panic.”

Upon hearing about U City’s unique plight, Qiao Xia inwardly fumed. ‘Why only U City?!’

“– Qiao Xia, listen closely! Although the news reports U City has descended into chaos, it’s still only the initial stage! Regardless of whether the nation rescinds its decision to destroy U City, you *must* leave within a week. If things get truly desperate, I’ll beg my dad to send a helicopter to pick you up.”

“– No need. I’m confident I can leave U City safely. You be careful over there too; stay safe. I’ll call you once I’m out of U City.”

Afterward, Qiao Xia didn’t continue the call with Zhou Li. Once he hung up, he stood alone in the corner, processing the information he had just received.

In essence, a terrifying infectious disease had emerged globally, and Z Nation was not immune.

However, U City had outpaced other cities, with the disease’s spread accelerating tenfold. This forced the nation to isolate U City to prevent the Red-Eye disease from spreading further.

Even worse, due to the widespread outbreak in U City, there was a possibility it could be directly annihilated.

Therefore, Qiao Xia had to escape U City within a week…

It sounded easy enough, but execution was another matter. Right now, he couldn’t even leave the school, let alone escape U City entirely.

Although Zhou Li had just offered to send a helicopter to pick him up, Qiao Xia didn’t want to put the Zhou family in a dangerous position at such a time, nor did he wish to trouble Zhou Li.

With his cheat ability, Qiao Xia wasn’t yet in a desperate situation.

Paths were forged by people. If others could do it, why couldn’t Qiao Xia?

Buzz.

Just as Qiao Xia was steeling his resolve, the phone in his hand vibrated once more.

He glanced down, only to find it was a call from Duan Yulan.