Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 199: Green Jewel Bug, A Deadly Threat!

With its cross-shaped layout, Dabo Town looked like a budget version of Wenlu County.Aside from the northern road leading to the White Water River, the eastern, western, and southern routes all connected to neighboring villages and towns.

Heading east led to Wenlu County, extending all the way to Chuanshi.

To the west lay Dahe Village, Xiaohe Village, Xibian Village, and over a dozen other settlements of varying sizes.

Going south opened the way to Cloud Water Town, the industrial zone, and Xiasha County. If these road networks had not been abandoned, Dabo Town, buoyed by the shipping advantages of the White Water River, would have been a place with boundless development potential.

However, after over twenty years of desolation, these former transportation arteries had become a massive headache to clear.

The last time he went to inspect the Hydroelectric Station, he took the route along the dam by the river, completely bypassing this main outbound road past the Jiajiale Supermarket.

Now, having walked barely two hundred meters outward, thick vines jutted out from the cracks in the concrete surface.

They tangled together in dense clusters. The thinner branches were only as thick as a finger, but the main vines taking root below were as robust as a man's forearm.

Fortunately, the Supernatural Curse of Shi Province absorbed plant traits, restricting their wild growth. Otherwise, after so many years of abandonment, Dabo Town would have been entirely swallowed by a primeval jungle.

Cheng Ye pulled out his Kindling Terminal and opened the map to confirm their perimeter. From their current position, they still had to clear at least five hundred meters outward. Factoring in the surrounding areas they needed to expand into, this was bound to be an exhausting and massive undertaking.

"Start clearing! Open up the main road first, then expand outward to both sides!" he commanded loudly.

The crowd immediately voiced their agreement, raising their shovels and axes as they charged forward.

Even weakened by the Supernatural Curse, the vines possessed an astonishing resilience. It took three or four heavy axe chops to sever a forearm-thick main vine, and they still had to smash the root connections with sledgehammers to yank the entire segment out.

The only silver lining was that the underground root systems weren't as tough. A sharp thrust of a shovel flush against the ground easily sliced through the taproot, and a strong pull dragged out a massive clump of fibrous roots.

Surprisingly, the calf-high weeds proved more troublesome. Digging down about six inches with a shovel still revealed interwoven, stubborn root threads clinging to the soil, requiring repeated passes to clear completely.

Cheng Ye drew his Red Blade, slashing through the vines to pave the way while calculating in his head, 'If we can clear a direct path from the blocks to the Hydroelectric Station, it would only be about two kilometers. Transporting supplies and replenishing energy will be so much easier later!'

It had to be said that the way Cheng Long designed the Red Blade back then made it absolutely perfect for trailblazing.

Combining extreme sharpness with a hefty blade, a single swing from him sheared right through any vine, no matter how thick. With a casual kick, he cleared a half-meter-wide path, working vastly faster than anyone using regular tools.

After advancing about a hundred meters and confirming there were no traces of Infection Sources on the road, Cheng Ye turned back and retrieved the Infection Source detector from his waist.

Upon powering it on, the screen flickered with red and yellow dots. He maneuvered the joystick to select a few red blips, prompting their numerical values to pop up one by one.

Most hovered around 1.5, but three of them exceeded 2.

'What does a value of 2 represent? Does it mean an Infection Source passed by within the last three days?'

Since the staff hadn't specified the exact criteria, Cheng Ye simply noted the directions of the three high-value marks on his detector and strode toward them.

Wearing combat armor meant he had to lead from the front; he couldn't just cower behind ordinary people.

But trouble arose the moment he stepped into the roadside Wilderness. The damp soil couldn't bear the weight of his armor. With every step, his boots sank about six inches into the mud, forcing him into an awkward, exhausting, and uneven trudge.

The surrounding weeds grew denser as well. Initially, they only reached his calves and knees, but after venturing several dozen meters deeper, the stalks nearly crested his waist. The blades of grass scraped against his armor with a crisp rustle, obscuring most of his vision.

"Sir, do you want us to clear a narrow path first?" Bao Dashan asked, catching up with two security members. Seeing Cheng Ye's combat boots sunk deep in the mud, he couldn't help but offer the suggestion.

Cheng Ye waved him off, raising his Red Blade to chop down a patch of waist-high weeds before him. "No need. This is a perfect opportunity to beat the grass and startle the snakes to check our surroundings. Keep a close eye on the perimeter. Don't let any Infection Sources dart out of the brush and hurt the Pioneering team while they're working."

"Understood!"

Seeing that Cheng Ye required no assistance, the three men quickly retreated to the roadside, maintaining a vigilant patrol of the area.

'What a hassle. If only I could just set all this grass on fire!'

Cheng Ye grumbled in his heart, though he knew perfectly well that it was nothing more than wishful thinking.

Even though the wasteland era lacked fire regulations or environmental concerns, igniting this stretch of riverside grass was easier said than done.

It wouldn't just require an intense heat source to preheat the area for a long time; it also demanded a stroke of luck with high temperatures and low humidity.

Given how damp the soil was right now, unless Happiness City could supply gasoline to douse the entire perimeter, clearing the area with fire was completely unrealistic. Manual labor, slowly digging up the roots, was far more thorough.

Beep.

Beep, beep.

The closer he drew to the marked locations, the more frantic the chimes from the detector on his waist became.

Suddenly, Cheng Ye halted in his tracks. A flash of surprise crossed his face, quickly morphing into an unexpected smile.

While the detector couldn't provide completely flawless information, it wasn't entirely useless either.

Right within his line of sight, there really was an Infection Source!

Looking ahead, nestled quietly amidst the waist-deep grass, was a green caterpillar about the size of a hand.

As the sunlight draped over it, its body reflected a clear, dazzling radiance akin to a Green Emerald.

Sensing someone's approach, the caterpillar wriggled slightly but made no attempt to hide or flee.

'Absolutely beautiful!'

Cheng Ye couldn't help but stare in awe. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had seen a living, wild Infection Source with his own eyes.

The Spirit-Guarding Spider he encountered last time had been in a deep slumber, displaying none of its extraordinary traits. But this green giant Infection Source, one of the most common Infection Sources in the Wasteland World, was now vividly presenting itself before him.

'Should I contain it, or...'

The moment the thought flashed through his mind, Cheng Ye took a massive stride forward, smoothly hoisting the Red Blade high into the air.

An Infection Source with a retrieval value of a mere 10 Contribution Points wasn't worth the effort to securely pack and carry back.

Furthermore, he was burning with curiosity. What sort of Trait could this green giant Infection Source possibly grant?

'Could it just make a person burn their vitality to turn into a brawny green brute for five minutes?'

Slash.

A flash of steel gleamed as the caterpillar was cleaved right down the middle, sending thick green fluids splattering in all directions.

Visibly to the naked eye, any blade of grass touched by the splattered fluid began growing at a frenzied pace, as if enchanted by magic.

Within a scant few seconds, the waist-high grass shot up to Cheng Ye's neck.

Yet right after, as he watched in sheer astonishment, the stalks swiftly withered away, as though they had instantly exhausted every last drop of their vitality.

"Incredible!"

Cheng Ye nudged the withered grass with the tip of his blade. They had indeed dried out completely, crumbling into dust at the slightest touch.

Such a spectacular scene of hyper-growth was something one usually only saw in modern blockbuster movies with heavy CGI. But witnessing it firsthand was leagues more breathtaking than watching it on a screen.

He prodded the severed Green Jewel Bug with his blade, and the interface immediately popped up with a prompt:

[The Collector has detected dissipating biological data and is automatically absorbing it.]

[Absorption complete. New biological entry recorded: Green Jewel Bug.]

With a mere thought, the bestiary flipped open.

Two vivid illustrations appeared. One showed the Green Jewel Bug clinging to a leaf in its complete form, while the other depicted it sliced in half with fluids oozing out.

Below that, lines of text cascaded into view:

[Green Jewel Bug]

[Description]: Mutated from the common cabbage caterpillar found in forests upon infection by the mutant virus. It frequently clings to plant branches and stems, using its mandibles to pierce the roots and sap vitality, converting it into the life, vigor, and strength it needs. Biological contact carries a chance of Parasitism. There are no obvious abnormalities during the Parasitic Stage. Once a threat is perceived, the larvae within will stimulate the host's vitality, forcing the host to unleash power far beyond their normal limits. This process is irreversible and continues until the host dies.

[Current Parasitism Probability]:

Physical Contact (Mitigated by higher life tier; Risk-free)

Mandible Bite (Parasitism Probability: 100%)

[Currently Recorded Traits]:

Life Emissary (8.52%)

Vigor Emissary (1.77%)

Strength Emissary (0.82%)

Burst Emissary (0.02%)

'Huh, I can actually resist contact parasitism?'

Cheng Ye's gaze sharpened, profoundly surprised.

As the most common Infection Source in the wasteland, the Green Jewel Bug had weak combat capabilities and posed a low direct threat, but the stealthy nature of its contact parasitism had always been a massive headache for people.

He never expected that raising his life tier would grant him immunity to such a basic infection. This would undoubtedly be a colossal asset when venturing deeper into the Wilderness.

Further down, the four uniformly named Traits were even more astonishing.

'Does this mean if I obtain the skills formed by these Traits, I can just eat grass to restore my vitality?'

Cheng Ye fell deep in thought.

These Traits were somewhat similar to Blazing Eagle Devours Fire, only one relied on plants while the other utilized flames.

If he gathered enough Trait points to exchange for it and test it out, these types of recovery skills likely wouldn't conflict with each other.

Collecting a few more of them—even if the individual recovery caps were low—would stack up to provide phenomenal Endurance.

"Bao Dashan, go fetch a Containment Box!"

Cheng Ye turned around and yelled toward the roadside.

Although a dead Infection Source lost a significant portion of its value, he couldn't just leave it to rot and ferment in the Wilderness. It would be a nightmare if it bred further hazards. Stowing it in a Containment Box to take back would at least mitigate the risk.

"Sir, allow me!"

When Bao Dashan arrived with the Containment Box, Huang Liang beat him to the punch, snatching it up and sprinting over. Catching sight of the mangled Green Jewel Bug on the ground, he deftly picked it up with tongs, tossed it into the box, and sealed it tight.

"What, have you run into these before?"

"These things are everywhere in the Wilderness of Guang Province. I've seen them clustered in the dozens before. But the plants in our Shi Province don't offer enough nutrients to keep them alive, so they're pretty rare here."

"Oh?"

Cheng Ye arched an eyebrow, his mind instantly racing with possibilities.

If he ever stumbled upon a cluster of dozens of Green Jewel Bugs, he could probably max out all four Traits in one fell swoop, sparing him the effort of hunting them down later.

However, Huang Liang's words also struck a chord. While the Supernatural Curse of Shi Province prevented crops from growing, it came with a blatant advantage.

Herbivorous Infection Sources like the Green Jewel Bug—which relied on plants to survive and initiated Parasitism upon contact—simply couldn't breed in vast numbers here.

When Happiness City established its base in Shi Province all those years ago, they had likely factored in this very layer of security.

After securing the bug's remains, Cheng Ye immediately marched toward the other two spots with readings over 2.

Not more than a few steps later, he discovered another Green Jewel Bug resting on a blade of grass.

This one was a full size larger than the last, its edges faintly shimmering with a silver glow. It was clearly showing signs of evolving into a Silver Jewel Moth.

A chill rippled through his heart. Once it transformed into a moth, the threat level of this Infection Source would skyrocket.

After all, there was no guarantee it wouldn't suddenly go berserk, fluttering directly onto a person to initiate Parasitism.

Particularly when camping out in the Wilderness, getting latched onto by one of these due to a moment of carelessness would result in a massive catastrophe!

Without a shred of hesitation, Cheng Ye swung his blade and slashed it in two.

The interface prompt popped up, confirming that the Trait values were noticeably higher than before.

At this rate of accumulation, he only needed to butcher about ten more to synthesize the foundational Life Emissary Trait.

'This is awesome! It's just a shame these wild mobs are so scarce!'

Cheng Ye's interest peaked. Disregarding the sorry state of his combat boots sinking into the mud, he gripped his Red Blade and rampaged through the tall grass.

The three high-value spots each yielded a Green Jewel Bug, but the spots with lower readings weren't entirely devoid of loot either.

After sweeping the area twice, he chopped down four more, bringing his total haul to six.

His progress on the Life Emissary Trait had surged to 67%, while the other three Traits had broken out of the single digits.

Even though herbivorous Infection Sources were uncommon in Shi Province, this haul proved that charging recklessly into the wild bush without protection carried an undeniably high risk of encountering one.

'It's just that Green Jewel Bugs are so conspicuous... Anyone who actually gets parasitized by them must have been running totally blind in a panic.'

Under the blinding sunlight, Cheng Ye could spot these living emeralds coiled on the leaves from a mile away.

Any Scavenger out on a run would surely be able to spot them too. Yet somehow, these green giants still managed to claim victims every so often.

On the other side.

The Pioneering team members clearing vines by the roadside kept glancing over at Cheng Ye, their eyes swimming with absolute awe.

In the eyes of ordinary people, the Wilderness was a treacherous death zone to be avoided at all costs. Even those armored to the teeth could fall victim to infection from a single moment of negligence.

But Cheng Ye looked as if he was simply having fun out there, utterly shattering their preconceived notions of danger.

"As expected of an Inspector from Happiness City! I've heard rumors that every Inspector slaughters Infection Sources and Infected Bodies for sport every single day. Seeing it today, I know the legends are true!"

"Tell me about it! I've survived in the wasteland for a long time, and this is the first time I've ever seen anyone get genuinely excited about bumping into an Infection Source. Anyone else would've run for the hills by now!"

"Heh, following Inspector Cheng was definitely the right move! We can just focus entirely on our work. With the boss holding the line on security, I feel even safer than I did back at the mines."

"Quit chatting! Keep your eyes glued to the vines at your feet. Careful you don't get scratched by the roots and catch an infection!"

"Yeah, let's put our backs into it! Dabo Town is absolutely destined to be a prime spot among the satellite cities. If we bust our asses now and Inspector Cheng takes notice, we'll achieve an Instant Ascent!"

Bao Dashan shouted from the sidelines. His words acted like a spark falling into a powder keg, instantly igniting the motivation of every worker present.

When the Inspection Station initially recruited personnel for the assessment, it wasn't just the temporary pay that tempted them; it was the golden promise of becoming the first-generation Residents of a satellite city.

While their numbers were still small, as long as they could show their faces in front of Cheng Ye—even if it just meant doing an exceptionally stellar job—they stood a real chance of rising above the rest.

Just like Lin Xiaoshan, Sun Dazheng, and Ma Mingyuan.

They didn't envy the leaders among the Able-bodied Youth, knowing full well they lacked the capability to undertake such perilous risks themselves.

But the three individuals chosen from the family groups looked perfectly ordinary. When it came to leading teams and getting their hands dirty, these workers believed they were second to none!

The shift was glaringly obvious.

The movements of the Pioneering members became vastly more efficient. Their shovels dug deeper, their axes swung with greater ferocity, and the haulers quickened their pace. Weeds and vines were piled so high on the handcarts that they teetered, carted away load by load to the designated dumping zones.

In just over half an hour, they had pushed the clearance of the main road forward by nearly fifty meters.

When Huang Liang returned from dropping off the Containment Box, he was momentarily stunned by the sheer fervor. He immediately adjusted their labor divisions:

He kept half the group pushing ahead on the main road, while delegating the other half to spread out along the margins. They were ordered to first clear the muddy ground Cheng Ye had just tread upon, steadily expanding the safe zone.

By the time Cheng Ye had practically stomped over every inch of mud on the left side of the assessment zone and confirmed there were no straggling Infection Sources, he turned around to gaze back. The town's road, previously choked to death by an impenetrable tangle of weeds and vines, finally revealed its clear, unblemished outline.

Though the surface remained littered with loose rubble and dried stalks, the vision-obstructing barricades were entirely gone.

Sunlight washed over the bare asphalt, affording an unobstructed view all the way to the Supermarket several hundred meters out. The newfound clarity elevated his spirits.

Unfortunately, that good mood didn't last long. Before he could even step back onto the main road to clear the right flank, a sudden burst of rapid gunfire echoed from the direction of the distant Red Zone, mingled with faint, panicked screams.

'Is that coming from the riverside?'

Cheng Ye's heart clenched, and he instantly broke into a sprint.

The most lethal hazard in Dabo Town was none other than the White Water River, which had been left to mutate and grow unchecked for over twenty years.

Clearing the western Wilderness might be a royal pain, but at worst, it only housed minor threats like Green Jewel Bugs. Even if there were other herbivorous Infection Sources, they would inevitably be driven away by the flocks of Thorn Birds.

But the White Water River was an entirely different beast. It connected directly to the Linjiang River, meaning the terrors lurking beneath the water were infinitely harder to guard against than those on land.

By the time he rushed to the boundary between the Red and Blue zones, he caught sight of Luo Kuke trudging back from the river embankment, his face as black as thunder.

Seeing Cheng Ye's inquiring gaze, Luo Kuke stopped in his tracks. His voice was grim and low. "People died. Two of them."

"Two?" Cheng Ye felt a jolt of shock.

The assessment had barely begun half a day ago, yet lives had already been lost.

Even though the casualties hadn't occurred on his watch, once he won the assessment, all of these workers were destined to be the future Residents of Dabo Town.

Lethal danger had arrived far swifter than he could have ever anticipated!

It didn't wait for nightfall to descend, let alone the torrential downpours expected tomorrow.

"There's far too much lurking in that river. We were just clearing the banks when two Water Leeches suddenly launched out. They latched right onto the legs of two Residents. By the time we even reacted, they were already dead."

Luo Kuke paused, a heavy solemnity settling in his eyes. "Furthermore, this river is far from peaceful. I've scoped it out—there's absolutely a substantial number of Infected Bodies concealed beneath the surface."

"Brace yourself. Tonight, Infected Bodies will absolutely be swarming the shores!"