Chapter 1 Meeting in the West District

The meeting ended, and the four captains dispersed, but Zhang Ji was stopped by Lü Wencai.

"District Chief!" Zhang Ji was very polite.

But his tall stature carried an extremely oppressive aura, along with the imposing presence of a king cobra, causing Lü Wencai to tremble inwardly, his expression unnaturally stiffening.

"Sit down and talk," Lü Wencai said, instructing someone to bring a cup of tea.

Zhang Ji touched the cup but didn't drink. Lü Wencai sized him up, his gaze intense, and said, "Zhang Ji, born under the sign of the Snake, unmarried, 25 years old this year, a retired Special Forces soldier, participated in border operations, awarded a second-class merit, refused a job arranged by the state, and returned to Xichuan Town to serve his hometown. Before the Strange Mist Cataclysm, he worked as the deputy captain of security at Huatian Building."

He looked into Zhang Ji's eyes and said, "Am I correct?"

Zhang Ji narrowed his eyes and nodded. "District Chief, if you have something to say, please speak plainly."

He believed that the other party wouldn't be idle enough to investigate him for no reason.

Lü Wencai smiled slightly. "Now that Xichuan Town has fallen and is facing a great calamity, it's time to employ talent. When you return from this expedition, I will give you an important position. Work hard, Zhang Ji, and don't disappoint me."

Zhang Ji stood up and said, "Thank you for the District Chief's cultivation. Zhang Ji will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Lü Wencai picked up his teacup. Zhang Ji understood, stood up, bowed, and left.

As soon as he left.

From behind the conference room, a person in a white coat walked out, already in his twilight years, with a full head of white hair, but full of energy and bright eyes.

His name was Zhu Tiandao.

A well-known professor and expert in biology, entrusted by Lü Wencai to conduct special observation and research on the Strange Mist.

Now, he had already researched some results and made astonishing discoveries, especially regarding clues about the night's disasters and a corner of the terrifying truth.

"The test results are out. When the Strange Mist is present at night, it releases a large amount of black substance, causing people to mutate and become beasts, turning into monsters of their respective zodiac signs. This is the root cause of Xichuan Town's fall."

Zhu Tiandao said solemnly, handing Lü Wencai a cigarette, and lighting one for himself.

Lü Wencai's hand trembled slightly, his expression unsurprised, and he sighed, "It seems the scenes in the videos are all true."

The official means and foundation are unimaginable. Although the propaganda to the outside world claimed that the videos and monitoring had failed, they had secretly investigated some things, but the truth was too horrifying to be made public.

Zhu Tiandao exhaled a smoke ring, saw the expedition team in full gear in the courtyard, and said, "It seems you've made a decision!"

Lü Wencai stared blankly at the mist in the void until the cigarette in his hand burned his finger, then he came back to his senses, flicked the ash, and his eyes had become icy.

"Xichuan Town can't be left. At night, people mutate into beasts, and the strong survive. I'm a Dog, though only a Tibetan Mastiff, but I don't want to die. I want to live."

"Who cares about t

"That Zhang Ji is very good. If he can be captured for live experiments, perhaps it can succeed in one go!" Zhu Tiandao looked at Zhang Ji's back in the courtyard, his eyes burning.

Lü Wencai sighed, "I originally wanted to give him an important position, but since you've said so, so be it!"

"Zhang Ji, including the other hundred expedition members, none of them will escape. I will send them all to your laboratory, lock them up, and let you study them slowly!"

Hearing this, Zhu Tiandao's eyes revealed a look of anticipation, his hands, which had been doing live dissections for many years, trembled slightly with excitement, "In that case, many people may die."

Lü Wencai took a deep breath of the mist in the void, narrowed his eyes, and said gloomily, "Are there still few people dying now? ...The strong survive, the fittest survive. Their sacrifice is worth it!"

......

Zhang Ji left the West District Office compound.

Together with many expedition members, a total of one hundred people headed west. Along the way, they passed the Niu Niu Le Farm, and after walking dozens of miles further, they finally saw a large forest, looming in the mist.

This used to be the Xichuan Expressway, but now nothing could be seen. The forest was sealed off. Dimly, only five winding paths stretched into the depths of the forest, disappearing into the mist.

Zhang Ji looked surprised. He had been here yesterday and hadn't seen these five paths. How did they appear now?

At this time, a fat man in a white coat shouted loudly:

"Everyone, these are the five paths we are going to explore today. Five teams, each taking one path, led by one of our people."

There were four other people in white coats beside him, all experts sent by Lü Wencai to assist.

The five of them walked into the distance, whispering, and acting mysteriously.

Zhang Ji looked at the five people, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Captain Zhang, I will assist your third team." The five people quickly dispersed, and a person in a white coat walked up to Zhang Ji, but it was a woman, with a smile in her eyes and a handsome appearance.

"My name is Zhu Qi."

Zhang Ji nodded and said, "Time is of the essence, let's get moving!"

He looked at his watch. It was already twelve noon, less than five hours before dark. At that time, everyone would turn into ferocious beasts again.

Zhu Qi frowned unhappily, led the way ahead, and walked towards the third fork in the road.

"Everyone, follow me!" Zhang Ji shouted loudly.

The twenty team members behind him hurriedly followed. Zhang Ji looked into the distance. Zhao Zigang followed the fat man in the white coat, leading the team to the fifth fork in the road.

The other teams also set off.

The fog was hazy, the ancient trees towered into the sky, and the forest seemed even darker. The ground was covered with rotten leaves and dead branches, like an ancient primeval forest that had existed for many years.

But strangely, no animal presence could be felt, it was silent and oppressive.

Strands of mist fell on everyone's bodies, silently seeping into their flesh and blood, making their skin and bones feel cold. Several team members shivered and muttered in a low voice that they hadn't brought enough clothes, and the forest was so cold.

"Captain, I heard you were a soldier before, is that right?" A female team member asked with admiration in her eyes. Zhang Ji's tall and burly figure was very oppressive, but also very reassuring, making her involuntarily want to get closer.

"Here, Captain, have an apple!"

The female team member was very active and secretly stuffed an apple into Zhang Ji's hand, but she was so cold that she was shivering, and the apple almost fell to the ground.

The other team members laughed softly when they saw this scene.

Zhang Ji took off his coat and draped it over the female team member's shoulders. The female team member felt the warmth of the coat and Zhang Ji's masculine aura, and immediately smiled shyly and happily, her face turning as red as an apple. She whispered, "My name is Wu Xiaobei, I'm 21 years old this year... um... I don't have a boyfriend yet."

Zhang Ji "hmm"ed and told her to stay close to him.

Wu Xiaobei pouted and snorted softly, thinking he was an unromantic blockhead.

The fog in the forest was very heavy, and everyone's figures were hazy.

Zhang Ji shouted loudly: "Everyone, cheer up, don't fall behind, and be careful of wild beasts around you."

The surroundings were silent, without even mosquitoes, let alone wild beasts, but when the team members heard this, their expressions turned serious, and they became much more vigilant.

In front, Zhu Qi led the team, frowning slightly when she saw this, but she didn't say a word and continued to move forward, occasionally stopping to observe the surroundings, as if she was identifying something.

Zhang Ji followed closely behind her, quietly watching this scene.

After walking for about two hours, passing a crooked-necked banyan tree, Zhang Ji suddenly shouted, "Expert Zhu Qi, haven't we walked this road three times already?!"

"Are you leading us in circles?"

His eyes turned cold as he stared at Zhu Qi.

Zhu Qi's eyes showed a hint of panic, but she said angrily, "Am I the expert, or are you the expert? What did the District Chief say to you in the meeting before we came? He told you to listen to my command in all your actions."

"I'll tell you how to walk, and you just follow me. Don't be nosy!"

"Is it so easy to explore the road to leave Xichuan Town?"

Zhang Ji grinned, his white teeth gleaming, and apologized, "Expert Zhu Qi, don't be angry, please continue to lead the way!"

Zhu Qi snorted coldly and said, "When you talk to me, don't show so many white teeth, it makes me uncomfortable!"

"We're not going anymore, we'll rest in place for half an hour before setting off again."

As she spoke, she squatted on a tree stump, took out a bottle of water and drank it, with an angry look on her face, but she was anxious in her heart.

Why hadn't the people who were supposed to be ambushing around arrived yet? She couldn't handle so many people alone, especially this Zhang Ji, with his fierce face and muscles all over his body. She had no confidence at all.

Moreover, the other party seemed to suspect her.

She was very worried and drank large gulps of water to cover up the anxiety in her heart.

Zhang Ji raised an eyebrow, took a deep look at this Expert Zhu Qi, waved his hand and let the team members behind him also gather around to rest in place.

After resting for a full hour, Zhu Qi finally called out, leading everyone to continue moving forward.

In reality, she was just circling in the forest.

The sky was getting darker and darker, the fog in the forest was getting heavier and heavier, it was eerily cold, several team members were constantly sneezing, and the female team member named Wu Xiaobei came over again and handed Zhang Ji a peach.

"Captain, have a peach!" Her face was full of pure and beautiful smiles, very sunny, and she was no longer so cold wearing Zhang Ji's coat, and her face had a glow.

Zhang Ji admired her very much. A little girl dared to sign up for the expedition team, which was commendable.

"What's your zodiac sign?" he asked.

Wu Xiaobei hurriedly replied, "I'm a Horse, what about you?"

"Snake!"

"Wow! Our zodiac signs are so compatible!" Her eyes were as bright and pure as gemstones, full of happy smiles, and some expectation.

Zhang Ji smiled, and was very curious that this girl, born under the sign of the Horse, was so pure and lovely, but she could pass two rounds of elimination, so the mutated beast at night must be no ordinary horse, but extremely ferocious.

He looked at Zhu Qi in the distance again and asked, "Expert Zhu Qi, what's your zodiac sign?"

"Rat!" Her tone was indifferent. "What, are you investigating me?"

"No, I just wanted to say it's such a coincidence, my previous supervisor was a Rat. She deducted my salary and made things difficult for me every day. In the end, she..."

"What happened to her?"

"She died!!!"

Zhang Ji's eyes suddenly flashed with a great surge of cold light. He leaped up, like a humanoid beast preying on its target.

"I've endured you for a long time, dear Expert Zhu Qi. Tell me your real purpose!"

The icy voice echoed in the forest.