Chapter 22:
New ‘volunteers’

JingQizhen was deeply shocked. He looked at the pile of exactly nine documents printed and bound on A4 paper. Leaving one for Tang Song, he silently picked up the rest and passed them on to the others sitting around the round table.

After everyone got a copy, their expressions kept changing as they looked at the style of text on the cover.

Tang Song took a good moment to admire the volunteers’ appearance; they would be prepared for anything after reading the documents. He then put his chin in one hand and said with a smile, “We only have three days. Let’s meet with Ms. Li first, and then you all have a rest! I have to go check on the ‘volunteer’ team on the other side. Tomorrow morning, we will charter a plane and set off early to get to the coordinates of the erosion area. As for the last day, we will just get to know each other. What do you think of this arrangement?”

Jing Qizhen nodded, “I think it’s okay.”

The others also nodded.

“Okay.”

“No problem.”

Then, Jing Qizhen shook the A4 bound version of the ‘Nanny-level Survival Guide’ he had just opened in his hand, and asked with a smile, “The volunteer team on the other side should also be proficient in the ‘Military Field Survival Guide for Mountainous Forest Areas’, right?”

Tang Song nodded, said, “Yes,” and then supplied lightly, “But they all have the complete version. I had someone help me revise it yesterday, and I deleted all the complicated theories, leaving only the most straightforward and simple parts. After all, we are short on time, so there is no need to forcefully teach you all that. We can talk about the more detailed theory when we encounter the problem later!”

Jing Qizhen understood. After nodding, he also gestured towards Manman and Si Jiayang.

Manman’s eyes fell on the ‘Nanny-Level Survival Guide’, and she understood instantly, and gently touched her boyfriend next to her with her elbow.

Si Jiayang was slightly startled, “Huh? Manman?”

Manman introduced the words, “The list of games, novels, comics and other works we summarized.”

Si Jiayang suddenly understood and snapped his fingers, “I understand!”

Everyone seemed to understand what they were saying, but Tang Song was a little confused, “Huh? What are you talking about?”

Si Jiayang took out his phone and summarized what he had discussed with Manman, copied the list of works related to unlimited flow, and sent it directly to Tang Song’s WeChat without saying a word.

As the WeChat notification rang softly, Tang Song opened the phone screen and took a look, still a little puzzled, “This is…?”

Jing Qizhen tapped his fingers on the table twice, “We are studying the Nanny-level Survival Guide here. Let the other group of volunteers over there take a look at puzzle games and unlimited-flow novels such as ‘Silent Hill’. Maybe some of the inspirations in those works will be reflected in reality! Or maybe not.”

Manman and Si Jiayang also nodded at the same time.

Si Jiayang thought for a while and then added carefully, “I know you must have a staff group and other think tanks with you. Let them study all these things. It may be too late to read books and play games directly. However, if you look at the game guide, you can quickly understand the classic decryption logic and the instant death flags that must be avoided!”

Tang Song: …

At this moment, Tang Song’s mobile phone rang.

He answered the phone directly, “Okay, please let Ms. Li in!”

After putting down the phone, Tang Song looked at Jing Qizhen and the others, “Ms. Li Jiangli from Yunhai Wancheng Department Store is here.”

Everyone looked at each other and nodded.

Because of the last incident of being single and having no partner, Tang Song specifically looked at Old Xiao and mentioned to him, “I asked them to wait until Ms. Li’s daughter Shanshan went to school before knocking on her door.”

Old Xiao looked up from the Nanny-level Survival Guide. He had no idea that Tang Song was still brooding about that matter. After being stunned for a moment, he thought of his daughter who was also in high school at home, and suddenly showed a kind expression, looking like an old, genial father towards Tang Song and said, “Ah, that’s good, that’s good…”

After a night of video conference between Tang Song and many experts and professors examining the situation of the erosion area and the new erosion area which was about to appear in three days, the quarantine plan set up out of caution in the resort was naturally terminated.

To put it bluntly, the Earth was being eroded, and they didn’t know how many people would be involved next time. Who cares about other trivial problems?

They couldn’t meet the guests at the breakfast table, so Jing Qizhen and his party of seven, together with the extra Tang Song, all went to the conference room.

Soon, under the guidance of a staff member, Ms. Li Jiangli, who was meticulously dressed in makeup and still had a serious expression, appeared in front of the conference room.

Although she tried to relax as much as possible, the tension and uneasiness could be seen from the almost tense curve of her pursed lips.

After noticing the previously missing Jin Guijuan, Li Jiangli had a look of surprise on her face.

Jin Guijuan greeted joyfully, “Ms. Li!”

Being brought to a completely unfamiliar environment by a staff member in a police uniform caused a lot of psychological pressure on Li Jiangli. At this moment, she suddenly saw someone she knew and Li Jiangli instantly relaxed.

She tried to smile, but because she usually kept a serious face, she seemed awkward doing so.

Seeing the living Ms. Li Jiangli deeply touched Jing Qizhen and the others, even though they knew that she and the female ghost Ms. Li were not from the same world.

Jin Guijuan walked over directly and pulled her former manager to sit on the chair next to her.

The former cashier girl was so excited that she didn’t know what to say, so she simply took out the Black Card given to them by the ghost lady Ms. Li.

Seeing the black shopping card, a flash of disbelief and astonishment instantly appeared on Li Jiangli’s face.

Jing Qizhen still remembered Tang Song said that there was no document similar to the design of the shopping card in the Yunhai Wancheng Department Store plan, but obviously, Li Jiangli knew about it.

“Do you recognize this card?” Jing Qizhen asked.

Li Jiangli had a strange expression on her face and said softly, “The department store’s spring project includes a plan to launch a new style of shopping card. The last time I took my daughter out to play, I casually mentioned that I wanted to design a new card. Later, Shanshan and I came up with an idea. My little girl is only a teenager, and she really likes this black design because it’s cool. However, I haven’t had time to make the design drawings. How do you know about it?”

When talking about her daughter, Li Jiangli’s eyes seemed to be filled with smiles; completely different from the severe and indifferent expression she usually displayed.

Jin Guijuan was still smiling as she sat next to Li Jiangli until she remembered what happened to the female ghost Ms. Li in another world. Her eyes suddenly became indescribably sad and desolate.

Jing Qizhen looked at Tang Song first.

Tang Song nodded, “It’s okay, let’s talk. The erosion area is not something that needs to be kept secret. After all, the affected scope is too wide.”

He hadn’t had time to tell Jing Qizhen and the others yet. In fact, the relevant staff were already drafting and preparing to publish in detail the formation and characteristics of the erosion area, official detection and prediction of the erosion area, as well as safety reminders to the general public and other related issues.

Erosion areas were not something that a few people could solve, but a crisis and challenge that anyone living on the Earth might encounter.

Jing Qizhen breathed a sigh of relief and seriously shared the real-life Li Jiangli everything about the female ghost Ms. Li they encountered in the erosion area.

By the time Jing Qizhen finished speaking, Li Jiangli’s face was already pale.

She calmed down for a while, then shook her head with a wry smile and said, “My husband’s affair… I actually know that the woman is an accounting clerk in the supermarket. But Shanshan is about to take the college entrance examination, and I don’t want to mention anything that may affect her. The security guard in the duty room is a junior from my husband’s village. He hasn’t gone to school for a few years. My husband asked me to arrange a security guard job for him in the department store. From what you just said, he must be an insider. After finding out about my murder, he didn’t call the police, so he must feel ashamed to face me!”

Jin Guijuan’s face turned red with anger, “How could they do this?!”

Old Xiao also shook his head, “He’s not a real man.”

Manman’s word was short but powerful, “Scum!”

Jing Qizhen frowned slightly, “It’s useless to call the police for this kind of family problem.”

Tang Song glanced at Li Jiangli. As an outsider, his emotion was far calmer than Jing Qizhen and others who had firsthand experience, and he also reminded gently, “The situation in the real world has changed. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth it to put yourself in danger for revenge.”

Li Jiangli smiled bitterly and shook her head, “I understand. I will protect myself, but the college entrance examination will be in a few months, and I don’t want to hurt Shanshan…”

Unexpectedly, Old Xiao, who was most concerned about the college entrance examination, suddenly said, “You can’t do this! That man is a scumbag. Even if nothing happens this time, there are still several months to go. There is no guarantee that nothing will happen within that time.

“You have to explain this matter clearly to your child. Your daughter is now a senior in high school and is no longer a child. She can understand! Besides, if you and your husband have relationship problems, it doesn’t happen in just a day or two. Your child is at home every day. Do you really think she doesn’t know anything?”

Singles like Jing Qizhen and Tang Song didn’t say much on the topic of divorce. Instead, Grandma Fang advised warmly, “If you continue your marriage, you will suffer. Do it for yourself, and also for your child, Shanshan.”

Li Jiangli covered her face with her hands, she was obviously a little confused, and she whispered, “I have to think about it, I’ll think about it again…”

After they said all that needed to be said and successfully fulfilled the last wish from the female ghost Ms. Li, Jing Qi Zhen and the others had nothing else to say.

Tang Song gestured, and after arranging for someone to send Li Jiangli away, he looked at Jin Guijuan who still looked gloomy and comforted, “Don’t worry too much. As a person who can form the core of erosion, we are very concerned about Ms. Li’s safety…”

Jin Guijuan’s eyes lit up instantly, and she looked at Tang Song with piercing energy, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

Tang Song smiled and blinked, “Probably. Anyway, someone will protect Ms. Li for a long time to study the erosion area.”

Jin Guijuan stood up directly and bowed to Tang Song with some excitement, “Thank you!”

Tang Song blinked again and smiled so wide his small tiger tooth was showing, “You’re welcome. It’s my duty to serve the people.”

After the commission from the female ghost Ms. Li came to an end, and the matter of Li Jiangli’s safety was settled, Tang Song quickly left with the list of horror decryption games and novels given by Manman and Si Jiayang.

The short one-day break was fleeting.

Early the next morning, Jing Qizhen and others still held the Nanny-level Survival Guide in their hands, insisting on reading and reciting it like primary school students, and met with another team of volunteers brought over by Tang Song.

The elites selected from various military academies and troops were all tall and straight-back, with smart military uniforms. Their faces and heights alone were comparable to the honor guard rising flag on National Day. At the moment, the group had not had time to change out of their woodland camouflage uniforms. The elite volunteers in training uniforms were holding computers, tablets, PS4s, and switches attentively, struggling in the horror game over and over again with the same dark circles as Tang Song’s…