Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 747: Wills

Translator: CKtalon

As Shang Jianyao read Lu Fuxing’s letter, Jiang Baimian casually pulled out the documents and information in the backpack while guarding against any accidents.

Among them, some of the paper was clearly yellowish and showed signs of turning brittle due to the lack of moisture. Some were relatively well-preserved, but they had a faint moldy smell.

The former consisted of documents that Lu Fuxing and the others had taken out of Renhui Hospital’s Vegetative Rehabilitation Center. The latter consisted of wills left behind by the survivors.

These wills didn’t have envelopes, but they were neatly folded. Facing up was the recipient’s name.

As she flipped through them, Jiang Baimian saw a familiar name from the corner of her eye: “Ding Ling.”

She immediately focused half of her attention on the backpack’s interior as a line of words appeared in her eyes: “Ding Ling from Ubei’s border settlement.”

Is this Ji Qiang’s will? Jiang Baimian didn’t know whether to be happy or sigh. She originally imagined that there was a high chance that Ding Ling’s husband, Ji Qiang, had died at Renhui Hospital’s Vegetative Rehabilitation Center because he was only a researcher. He was neither an Awakened nor a capable warrior. At most, he had undergone the combat and firearms training that the Salvation Army forced all members above the age of 12 and under 60 to participate in every year.

Even if Ji Qiang was lucky and didn’t become strange or silent, wasn’t forced to enter the rooms, or the room he entered wasn’t dangerous, after the scientific team split up, he had virtually zero hope of surviving the intense battle and escaping Renhui Hospital’s Vegetative Rehabilitation Center.

Unexpectedly, he persisted to the end and left behind a will.

Jiang Baimian couldn’t help but sigh with emotion at how lucky he was back then. But no matter how lucky he was, he couldn’t help but be trapped in Tai City and be infected with the Heartless disease. Only a will proved that he had been here.

With her curiosity, Jiang Baimian relied on her abilities and the military exoskeleton’s comprehensive warning system to take in her surroundings. She used the corner of her eye to observe the nearby situation as she stretched out her left hand, picked up Ji Qiang’s letter, and shook her wrist to shake it open.

There were several pages.

Jiang Baimian quickly scanned through it.

“Ling Ling, This might be the last time I’m calling you that. I’m already infected with the Heartless disease, and my head is slowly feeling heavy.

“Although I’ve never encountered any early-stage symptoms or a slightly serious bout of the Heartless disease, my colleagues’ performance confirms that this is really the Heartless disease. When I wrote this letter, three people had already contracted the disease and were executed by us on the spot. If I didn’t last to the end, this should be my outcome.

“The difficulty I originally told you about is that I would be spending a few months in Icefield surveying a large area. I might face a blizzard and a winter that’s several times worse than Ubei’s winter.

“Given such a season and such a mission, there are inevitably sacrifices for the cause every time. This is what I was worried about in the beginning.

“However, the development exceeded my imagination. This was an encounter that was filled with bizarreness, gore, madness, and despair.

“We discovered a strange city that we didn’t notice at all when we passed by two times in the past. We then entered a building that didn’t seem to belong to this world.

“I can’t tell you the exact process. First, there are confidentiality rules. Second, I don’t want you to have nightmares because of this, nor do I want you to bear a grudge for the rest of your life and end up wanting to investigate the truth and avenge me.

“What I can tell you is that the culprit of the entire matter has already died in that building—in the intense battle that happened after the team fractured. The only thing I’m confused about is why he and that group of people did those things. Don’t worry; the organization will investigate. We have the ability to do so.

“When I was young, I heard my grandfather and grandmother tell me stories from the early years of the Salvation Army’s establishment. I actually didn’t understand why the love between a loving couple couldn’t persist after they were separated due to war, disasters, and the organization’s orders, only to have another lover when they reunited again. Now, I kind of understand.

“Ling Ling, let me call you that again. Behind this will, I specially wrote an application to transfer you back to Ubei. As a sacrifice for the cause, I have the right.

“When you return to Ubei, remember to visit my parents. I didn’t leave them any last words, nor do I want the organization to inform them. I’m afraid that they won’t be able to take the shock because of their age. When you visit them, you can slowly hint to them about my sacrifice. Tell them when they are fully prepared mentally.

“Ling Ling, remember to find another partner when you return to Ubei. You like children so much. Your eyes glowed when we talked about the future. I still remember that you said you fell for me because I patiently helped a child repair her toy the first time we met. I still remember that beautiful smile of yours.

“Ling Ling, when you find another partner, you have to choose someone who works in Ubei and won’t be assigned outfield. It doesn’t matter even if he receives a little less negotiables every month.

“Ling Ling, it’s better to be a dog in times of general peace than a man in the midst of war.”

It’s better to be a dog in times of general peace than a man in the midst of war… Jiang Baimian slowly exhaled.

Shang Jianyao had also finished reading the letter Lu Fuxing had left behind. He raised his right hand—which was covered in metal bones—and pressed it to his left chest with his palm. He then solemnly bowed at the skeleton in front of him. “For all of humanity!”

After he completed the ritual, Jiang Baimian said, “Fold the letters and put them back in the backpack. We’ll hand it to the Salvation Army on our return trip.”

Shang Jianyao nodded and asked curiously, “This letter of yours is?”

Jiang Baimian fell silent for a second before saying, “Ji Qiang left it behind. Ding Ling’s husband, Ji Qiang, left it behind.”

The Shang Jianyao that valued relationships stretched out his hand immediately. “Let me read it.”

Jiang Baimian handed Ji Qiang’s will to him, planning to take this opportunity to go through the documents simply to prevent any loss of information due to subsequent accidents.

At this moment, she realized that there was a will with just one piece of paper.

Out of curiosity, she unfolded it.

“Son, your father is dying!”

After reading the two lines, Jiang Baimian felt the slightly sad atmosphere almost break.

She calmed down and read it again.

“Fortunately, you’re already an adult and have been assigned a job. I’m not worried about you. As for a partner, the organization will introduce one to you.

“Haven’t you been saying that I’m old and stubborn? That I refuse to make exceptions and scold my high-ranking relatives—who resell supplies every day—resulting in me becoming marginalized in the unit. Why am I actively participating in missions that take months to survey the most remote and harsh climates? I’ll answer you now.

“When your grandfather was still alive, he often told me a saying from the Old World: do your utmost. Those people didn’t bother with doing good and chose to degenerate. They abuse their public office for personal gain and refuse to work seriously. It’s their problem. I can’t scold them while making all kinds of excuses to slack off.

“I have to live up to the oath I made back then.

“As for you, I never thought of you having my dream of saving all of humanity. I only hope that you can be a down-to-earth person and do things diligently—that you won’t associate yourself with those people or degenerate.

“Let those people continue doing it. Everyone’s eyes are open. The selfish benefit themselves for a moment, but those who serve the cause leave their names in history for all eternity. You young people will come to a realization sooner or later and understand.

“When the time comes, humanity’s beautiful future will definitely be realized!”

Jiang Baimian folded the letter again and stuffed it back into the backpack. She then picked up the stack of documents and gently flipped through them, afraid of causing any damage.

These documents were roughly divided into four categories: letters of contact, experimental records, orders from the higher-ups, and doctor’s notes.

Among them, three were the most important. Lu Fuxing marked them and greatly saved Jiang Baimian time.

One was an order to transfer one-third of the patients in the Vegetative Rehabilitation Center to Base 2. The person who issued the order was signed by the Eighth Research Institute, a week before the Old World was destroyed.

One was an experimental record that involved the brain conditions and physical reactions of many patients. It repeatedly mentioned the use of a certain stimulus, but it didn’t say what the stimulus was.

One of them was a doctor’s notebook. Written on one of his pages was: “We’re about to set up the stairs that will lead to the forbidden zone of deities. We can already vaguely see the so-called New World.”

Base 2… Jiang Baimian muttered and stuffed the document in her hand back into the dark-green canvas backpack. She then said to Shang Jianyao, “Let’s go down. We’ll read it in detail after we leave Tai City.”

Shang Jianyao—who had been reading Ji Qiang’s suicide note—looked up. His eyes under the visor were red and filled with tears.

Jiang Baimian’s first reaction was shock and surprise because this didn’t seem like something Shang Jianyao would do. She then vaguely understood the reason.

The current Shang JIanyao was the one who valued relationships and was mentally young. He recalled his father from Ji Qiang’s will, wondering if his father would’ve left a message for his mother and him before he died.

Jiang Baimian sighed and patted Shang Jianyao’s shoulder. “Put away the will, and let’s go down. The corpses in the surrounding rooms will be collected by the Salvation Army.”

After such a round of missile strikes, the fake Tai City probably wouldn’t appear again. The Salvation Army could directly enter the real Tai City.

Shang Jianyao quickly changed his personality and smiled.. “Alright.”