Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 241: Revival Medical, the Elder's Reward!

The street, cast entirely from alloy, lacked the slightest seam. Every inch gleamed with a cold, metallic luster.Stepping onto it, the clear clack of footsteps echoed in the open space, instilling a deep sense of security that rose from the soles of one's feet.

He raised a hand and brushed his cheek.

The air was filled with a crisp, refreshing scent, so clean it was almost eerie.

It was merely a high wall, yet it managed to keep every scent and essence of the buffer zone completely shut out.

Passing through the high wall and stepping into the inner city, the sight before him was entirely different from the Kindling Shelter City in his memories.

There were no towering skyscrapers piercing the clouds, nor were there densely packed buildings squeezed together. Most of what filled his vision were small, two or three-story buildings, much like the remote, small county towns of the modern era.

It lacked massive comprehensiveness, but it possessed a small, refined beauty.

The buildings closest to the high wall were a cluster of six-story residential villas. Emerald vines crawled up their light beige walls, and dark red tiles covered their roofs. In front of each building lay a spacious courtyard furnished with wooden tables and chairs.

On the side of the villas facing the street, the ground floors had been converted into various shops, both large and small.

Most of the shop fronts featured natural wood-colored frames paired with transparent glass doors. Hand-woven curtains hung over the doorways; some were embroidered with delicate little flowers, while others were adorned with small, colorful bells that let out a soft jingle whenever the wind blew.

Handmade leather goods stores, bookstores, tailor shops, flower shops, theaters...

Cheng Ye's gaze swept far ahead, eventually landing on the inner city's landmark building: a broadcasting center that stood a full twelve stories tall.

Its light gray exterior walls, paired with massive glass curtain walls, reflected a soft light under the night sky.

In the wasteland, every inch of space represented hope for survival. Such a low-density architectural layout was an unimaginable waste.

If built according to the density of Kindling Shelter City, this area could have accommodated at least three to five times as many people.

Yet here, no one obsessed over space utilization efficiency.

Because the core goal of Happiness City's inner city was never to house more people, but to ensure that everyone living here had ample space and comfort, allowing them to experience true, simple happiness.

"This is so nice... It feels so comfortable..."

Wang Kang's face was filled with nostalgia. He was completely immersed in the unique atmosphere of the inner city, and even his gaze had softened.

Cheng Ye, on the other hand, felt mostly a sense of novelty. Although these places were not unfamiliar in his memories, this was still his first time physically stepping into the inner city.

Unfortunately, they had to head to the medical point first. Not being able to stroll around and see exactly what the inner city looked like nowadays with his own eyes left a hint of regret in his heart.

Before long, two transport medical vehicles slowly drove over.

The medical staff first carefully loaded Luo Kuke and Garcia onto the first vehicle, after which Cheng Ye and Wang Kang boarded the second.

The inner city did not have complex medical clinics; it only had two medical points.

One was the Inner City Medical Center for ordinary residents, and the other was Revival Medical, a place ordinary people could never access.

Let alone his predecessor and Wang Kang, even with his current status, he would not be qualified to visit Revival Medical if he had not made a significant contribution.

Furthermore, the inner city was divided into four districts.

Centered around the Happiness Gate, the left side of the inner city was the residential area, where everyone could move about freely.

The bottom right corner was the Scientific Research District, which required specific clearance to enter. Relying on his status as the descendant of an Inspector, his predecessor had actually visited there twice.

However, the top right corner was the Administrative District, an area strictly off-limits to unauthorized personnel.

Only now could they be considered to have stepped into the inner city's Administrative District for the first time.

Yet the scene before them did not look much different from the inner city's western district. There were still alloy-paved streets with various shops lining the roadsides. Occasionally, a few massively structured, uniform buildings would appear, their scale suggesting they were independent functional agencies.

No one introduced the purposes of these buildings, and since Luo Kuke was in the other vehicle, Cheng Ye could only watch quietly, carefully observing everything around him and silently committing it to memory.

Suddenly, the front of the medical vehicle dipped slightly, as if losing its horizontal balance.

Cheng Ye raised an eyebrow. A doubt he had harbored ever since transmigrating and sorting through his predecessor's memories finally found its answer in this moment.

The ground space enclosed by the Happiness Great Wall was not actually that large. Accommodating the daily lives of tens of thousands of people already took up a significant amount of room. Even though his predecessor had never been to the Administrative District, one could roughly calculate from the total area that many of the inner city's buildings were not on the surface.

Sure enough, his speculation was verified at this moment. The secrets of Happiness City were not above ground at all; they were hidden underground.

His predecessor had also wondered why the inner city's ground was paved with alloy. Thinking about it now, preventing infection sources was only one of the reasons. The more important reason was likely that the area beneath the inner city had long been completely hollowed out!

He watched as the alloy ground ahead slowly parted, revealing a downward-sloping ramp.

The two medical vehicles drove smoothly into the ramp, one after the other.

Immediately after, the surrounding light abruptly dimmed, and the windows of the medical vehicle were instantly covered with a sight-blocking coating, as if it had suddenly put on dark sunglasses.

Even though Cheng Ye's eyesight now far exceeded that of an ordinary person, he could only faintly see through the coating that the outer walls were dotted with entrances and exits of various sizes.

It somewhat resembled the layout of a subway station, yet it was not exactly the same.

Moreover, after the medical vehicle entered the passage, it was no longer driving on its own. Instead, it seemed to have merged onto a pre-set track, moving forward automatically along the rails.

The vehicle slowly descended along the track, circling round and round. The deeper it went, the cooler the surrounding air seemed to become.

'Could it be that Happiness City has excavated a massive underground cavern space similar to the rongdong?' Cheng Ye could not help but guess.

Just as he was pondering, the medical vehicle gradually decelerated and was eventually routed to an entrance on the wall.

As the vehicle slowly drove into the entrance, the coating on the windows instantly vanished. The view suddenly cleared, and a completely new, expansive space appeared before their eyes.

The underground space, which he had expected to be dim and oppressive, actually boasted an internal ceiling height of no less than fifty meters.

Light panels on the domed ceiling flickered slightly, emitting only a faint dark blue halo. It perfectly replicated the tranquility of the night sky outside, even sparsely dotted with fine pinpricks of light simulating stars. For a moment, it made one forget they were underground.

Looking to the sides, the scale of this space was absurdly large, completely beyond imagination.

Just the visible length alone exceeded three kilometers, and the width was roughly the same. It stretched endlessly as far as the eye could see, as if an entirely new world had been carved out beneath the earth.

The vehicle came to a steady halt at the entrance, and a dark gray metal plaque inlaid with silver edges was the first thing to catch his eye.

[Revival Medical]

Engraved in small print at the bottom right was a single line: [Life Reboot and Infection Rehabilitation Research Center]

Looking up again, six identical ten-story buildings stood neatly on both sides of the space. They were constructed entirely of alloy, and vertical warm yellow light strips were installed on the exterior walls of each building. The soft light flowed down the walls, draping the austere metallic structures in a gentle veil.

Between the high-rises laid vast expanses of artificial lawns, the grass looking as fresh and tender as if it had just been soaked by rain.

Artificial green plants were planted in several circular flower beds. Tiny water droplets clung to the petals, shimmering with a faint light under the simulated starlight.

Along the walkways bordering the lawns, light gray lounge chairs were placed every few steps. The chairs were fitted with soft brown cushions, and some even had neatly folded thin blankets draped over them.

On the walkways, a few people in loose rehabilitation suits were walking slowly. Some leaned on specially designed walkers, accompanied by medical staff in white coats who murmured instructions to adjust their walking pace. Others strolled in pairs, chatting leisurely with relaxed smiles on their faces, their identities unknown.

'Holy crap, is this really underground?'

Wang Kang was already staring in dumbfounded awe. As Cheng Ye glanced around, he too couldn't help but curse inwardly.

'Just how many good things that ordinary people can never touch are still hidden in Happiness City?'

Unlike the several Kindling Rail Mountains over on the Kindling side, all these secrets were buried underground. Without proper clearance, one wouldn't even have the chance to catch a glimpse.

Of course, compared to the miraculous, almost divine nature of the Kindling Rail Mountains, the construction difficulty of this underground space before them was clearly much lower.

Soon, the two medical vehicles stopped in front of the second building on the left.

Two rows of medical staff who had been waiting nearby immediately filed forward, their movements swift but not frantic.

Garcia was wheeled out of the vehicle. The white sheet covering him was gently lifted, revealing a body entwined with vines underneath.

The ten medical personnel taking charge showed no surprise at this sight. They expertly pushed the hospital bed and walked briskly into the building.

On the other side, Luo Kuke was also carefully transferred from his wheelchair. Surrounded and escorted by medical staff, he too entered the building.

"Inspector Cheng, this building is the Life Recovery Center. It's used for emergency rescue operations involving acute infections."

The medical personnel sitting beside Cheng Ye spoke up to introduce it at the appropriate moment.

"Based on our preliminary data analysis, both you and Inspector Wang are in relatively stable physical condition. For the follow-up, systematic rehabilitation treatment is more important. Your situation, in particular, requires close attention to your adaptation status post-infection."

Cheng Ye did not respond, merely waiting quietly.

He waited until the medical vehicle stopped in front of the third building on the right, which was also the last building in this area.

The car doors slowly opened. As he bent down and stepped out of the vehicle, his first impression was that it felt surprisingly similar to the rongdong space he had seen before.

Even though they were underground, breathing was exceptionally smooth, without the slightest hint of stuffiness. Coupled with the adequate ceiling height of the overall space, there was absolutely no sense of oppression. It felt almost indistinguishable from the outside environment.

Two teams of medical personnel were already waiting by the vehicle. One of the teams stepped forward first, surrounding Wang Kang in the center.

"Brother Cheng?" Wang Kang instinctively looked toward Cheng Ye.

"Go on and don't worry. It's not like they're going to harm you here," Cheng Ye waved his hand dismissively.

However, he also knew that Wang Kang wasn't anxious about being taken away or being separated from him. Rather, the young man was worried about Cheng Ye's medical examination, faintly aware of just how terrible his current condition could be.

After Wang Kang left with the medical staff, the other team immediately came forward to greet him.

Walking at the very front was a middle-aged woman with a calm and capable demeanor.

"Hello, Inspector Cheng. I am Cui Qiao, the vice director of the Infection Source Rehabilitation Department," she said, proactively extending her hand with a polite tone.

"Director Cui, hello," Cheng Ye nodded slightly and gently shook her hand.

"Please follow me. We will discuss the follow-up examinations and treatment plans in detail inside the building." Cui Qiao withdrew her hand and turned sideways in a guiding gesture.

Surrounded by the group, Cheng Ye walked into the building in a grand procession.

However, the moment he stepped inside, a distinct sense of disjointedness rushed over him.

If the underground space outside exuded a sense of technology that surpassed the current era, the interior of the building seemed exceptionally 'ordinary,' bearing a striking resemblance to a hospital from modern society.

Aside from the lack of crowded patients and the absence of registration and payment counters, the layout of the examination rooms and the placement of the equipment were nothing special, even when compared to the medical clinics in the buffer zone.

"In other words... this underground space might have been excavated or maintained using Transcendent power, but these medical devices and the technology used are actually legacies left behind from the previous era?"

Cheng Ye looked at the familiar examination instruments, deep in thought.

Over the next period, a series of examinations—blood tests, lab work, MRI scans, ultrasounds—were carried out in a methodical and orderly manner.

By the time all the results were compiled and handed to Cui Qiao, she looked at the thick stack of analysis reports, a clear look of surprise appearing on her face.

The two of them went to a soundproof examination room, where Cui Qiao couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment:

"The transmitted data shows that you used an A-rank benign infection source and have already achieved symbiosis?"

"Yes," Cheng Ye nodded.

"Your data is incredibly normal, and all vital signs are stable. This doesn't look like the result of an infection source extracting your life force."

"I have my methods to suppress its extraction and compensate for the deficit."

Cheng Ye spoke breezily, not hiding these crucial pieces of information at all.

Even if he didn't say anything, Luo Kuke's resurrection could not be kept a secret and would definitely result in a comprehensive analysis report.

Moreover, there were simply too many things that couldn't be easily explained away, like the Passage Padded Garment and the various analytical methods he had demonstrated.

This included the fact that the Earth-Shrinking Giant Louse on his body was no longer an ordinary infection source, but had evolved into a Transcendent Mother Source.

When there are too many things that don't make sense, they ironically start to make sense.

Tan Ming had already bestowed him with two Rune marks. If they had any questions, they could go ask Tan Ming.

In the results-oriented wasteland, and under his status as an Inspector, he was completely entitled to refuse to answer.

Not to mention, standing behind him were...

"Let him come up, 1001," Elder Qian's voice transmitted from the void, echoing faintly in the room.

Cui Qiao froze for a moment, then hurriedly stood up respectfully and made an inviting gesture.

Following her out of the examination room, the two got onto an elevator and soon arrived at the top floor of the building.

The tenth floor.

Surprisingly, there were only two rooms on the tenth floor.

Room 1001 on the left, and Room 1002 on the right. It was unknown how large the interior spaces were, but they certainly looked far more prestigious than the medical clinics in the outer city.

The door near the elevator was wide open. Cui Qiao glanced at it, then immediately retreated back to the elevator and said, "If you need anything, just press the green contact button on the wall, and I'll receive the message."

"Alright, thank you."

Cheng Ye nodded. Only after the elevator doors closed did he enter the room through the open doorway.

What a spacious living room. The overall decor followed the style of the Song Dynasty.

The wooden furniture glowed with a warm amber luster, and the edges of the tables were carved with intertwining lotus patterns.

A moon-gate curio cabinet stood near the entrance. In its compartments sat scattered porcelain vases and a few scrolls of ancient texts bound by thin hemp rope. Their pages bore a faint beige hue, exuding a serene aura settled by the passage of time.

Visible through the cabinet, a light gray velvet carpet was spread across the center of the living room. It felt soft but not sinkable underfoot, perfectly neutralizing the coldness of the wooden furniture.

A bronze incense burner stood in the corner, curling white smoke rising from it and suffusing the air with the scent of pine needles and agarwood.

However, Cheng Ye's eyes narrowed slightly. Aside from Elder Qian, there were actually two other elderly men sitting on the sofa in the living room.

The three of them were gathered around the coffee table sipping tea, seemingly having waited here for him for a long time.

"Come and take a seat."

As Elder Qian's words fell, Cheng Ye walked over as instructed and sat in the subordinate seat.

He hadn't expected to find a large TV in this living room—a full 85 inches at that. Truly an extravagant touch.

While Elder Qian rinsed the tea, Cheng Ye inconspicuously observed the other two elders.

Neither of them was the Elder he had met the other day.

The elder on the left wore a washed-out, navy blue traditional mandarin jacket. He appeared to be around seventy years old. His hair, though mostly gray, was meticulously combed and loosely tied behind his head with a simple ebony hairpin.

The elder on the right was entirely different, wearing a crisp, dark gray Mao suit. He looked slightly younger than the elder on the left, perhaps in his sixties. His hair was more black than white, though his hairline had receded considerably, revealing a smooth, broad forehead.

Elder Qian slowly finished rinsing the tea, gently twirling a teacup between his fingertips, and casually gestured to the two beside him. "Old Lin, Old Pang, and I—the three of us are the ones you people refer to as the Elders of the Idealist Faction."

Hearing this, Cheng Ye immediately stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to the other two elders in turn. "Greetings, Elder Lin. Greetings, Elder Pang!"

Elder Lin waved his hand gently, his gaze full of kindness. "No need to be so formal. The three of us have never cared much for these empty pleasantries. As long as our ideals align, even if we're generations apart, there's no harm in treating each other as peers."

Beside him, Elder Pang rested his gaze on the back of Cheng Ye's hand. After clearly seeing the two Runes, he slowly nodded, his tone carrying a hint of approval. "Not bad, Cheng Ye. We all saw your performance in Dabo Town this time. It was outstanding."

Cheng Ye could clearly feel that the auras emanating from Elder Lin and Elder Pang were exceptionally peaceful, like a refreshing spring breeze. They entirely lacked the terrifying sense of oppression that Elder Zeng possessed.

'Ideals... or rather, Belief!'

This thing was truly wonderful. It could actually restrain powerful individuals, making them consistently practice their own understandings without bias.

At this time, as Elder Qian poured hot water into the teapot, he pondered and said, "Tan Ming was among the first batch of Transcendents from the previous era. Although no one ever listed him in the ranks of the 'top-tier Transcendents,' it wasn't because he lacked strength, but because this person... was born with some mental defects, suffering from severe schizophrenia and paranoia."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Tan Ming did a lot of things in his life. I won't go into detail about the relatively mundane ones. I'll have someone send over his complete biography later, and you can read through it carefully yourself. The truly impressive things he did boil down to exactly three events."

"The first is that he was part of the first batch of Transcendents, and also the first to voluntarily give up his Transcendent power. This was an extremely unimaginable act at the time. Even now, we still haven't fully figured out why their group decided to abandon the power they had worked so hard to obtain."

"The second is that he was the first person to regain Transcendent abilities after abandoning them. And he didn't rely on consuming a Transcendent Object; he relied on the power of Belief. In other words, he had actually turned himself into a Transcendent Object, rather than remaining a pure human."

"The third is that he was one of the few Transcendents to live to the end of the Old Era. You could even say that one of the key factors defining the split between the New Era and the Old Era was the successive deaths of their batch of old-era Transcendents."

'Tan Ming was actually one of the first Transcendents? And he went through a process of abandoning his power only to regain it?'

Cheng Ye's heart trembled violently, but he didn't show the slightest abnormality on his face. Instead, he seized the opportunity to ask the most crucial question hidden in his heart:

"The curse... that Tan Ming left behind, is it good or bad for us?"

"Good!"

Elder Qian gave his answer immediately, almost without a second of hesitation, seemingly seeing right through his little thoughts:

"You don't need to have any misgivings. We didn't expect that you could reconstruct Tan Ming's Thought Body through this method either. We can only say that everything is predestined, and the power of Belief is just that miraculous and grand. Furthermore, although Tan Ming was insane, he was a madman with principles and Belief. He never did a single thing to harm people, completely unlike those Wish-Guarding Transcendents."

"The reason Happiness City was established in Shi Province back then was precisely because of the curse he left behind. This curse is actually more like a barrier, binding the infection sources on this land and preventing them from stirring up trouble. To this day, powerful plant-type infection sources cannot be born within Shi Province, all thanks to this barrier."

"Since you have inherited Tan Ming's Belief, you now have the opportunity to walk a Transcendent path similar to his."

Elder Qian set down the teapot, his gaze becoming solemn as the subject suddenly shifted. "Dabo Town is too small. It might still accommodate you for now, but in the future, it will only become a cage that binds you."

"Yueye Shelter City. If I put you in charge, do you have the confidence to take it on?"