Sichuan Province.
The basin was already hot, and under this extremely high temperature, the surface temperature became even more terrifying.
Gan Xiong looked outside, seeing the visible high temperatures.
On the window glass, due to the large temperature difference inside and outside, a layer of condensation formed.
Dong dong dongâ
A series of knocks on the door.
"Come in," Gan Xiongâs voice was deep and robust, carrying an inherent calm and command.
The door was pushed open, and the person who entered, with his head lowered, did not look around and walked straight to Gan Xiongâs side.
"Thirty people died from the heat yesterday, additionally, the slaves that Zhang Family bought recently rioted last night, killing the Zhang Familyâs old master. Four slaves were killed immediately, and now one slave has escaped. The Zhang Family is requesting our support to help search."
Silence.
From the moment this person entered, Gan Xiong hadnât said a word.
Even now, hearing these reports, his expression did not change.
He didnât dare raise his head, just kept it low.
Xililiâ
A sound of water came.
He caught a glimpse of Gan Xiong watering a lush potted plant from the corner of his eyes, still with his head lowered.
Watering for almost 2 minutes.
Dongâ
Gan Xiong set the watering can on the table.
Drip dripâ
"Old Zhuang," Gan Xiong suddenly spoke.
"How many years have you been with me?"
"26 years, I suppose."
"Time flies. Do you remember when you first started as my driver? The young Zhuang has now become Old Zhuang, haha."
Gan Xiongâs tiger-like eyes flashed with reminiscence, filled with nostalgia, he said.
What seemed like a frozen atmosphere just then, now dissolved instantly with Gan Xiongâs laughter, easing the tension.
"Thanks to you, big brother. If it werenât for your support at that time, my family surely wouldnât have the life we have now, even in these apocalyptic times, we can still live well."
"Old Zhuang, youâre a wise man, unlike some who canât appreciate whatâs good for them."
Immediately, an invisible oppression caused the middle-aged man to bow his head even lower.
"Take this pothos, for instance," he continued. "I provide it with a good environment, I water it, and it grows lush and beautiful â thatâs sensible. But if I give it everything it needs and it still doesnât thrive, then itâs better to just throw it out and let it die in the sun."
The room wasnât hot, extravagantly cooled by air conditioning maintaining a temperature of only 27 or 28 degrees, and there was even a humidifier misting the room with moisture.
Hearing Gan Xiongâs words, however, made the middle-aged man sweat on his forehead.
"Are you suggesting that we take out the Zhang Family?"
Gan Xiongâs face was expressionless, calm as a still well.
"Handle Zhang Familyâs canned food factory properly."
The middle-aged man instantly understood Gan Xiongâs plan, his face troubled, he spoke: "But there are still some people in Zhang Family, if others come to know about this, wouldnât it cause a bad influence?"
Huâ
Gan Xiong turned around, like a fierce tiger, expressionless, but his words were chilling.
"Ha! I allowed Zhang Family in because of old man Zhangâs face value. His son, Zhang San, has started to stand up against me. He doesnât look at the times we are living in. Kill them! Make sure itâs clean! Then weâll pin the blame on those slaves."
"Okay. I understand; Iâll go arrange it now."
"Hmm."
Silililiâ
Hearing this sound, he knew Gan Xiong was spraying water on the plants again, this was a sign to leave.
The middle-aged man, understanding, bowed and backed out of the room, then carefully closed the door.
Bangâ
After the door closed.
Gan Xiong put down the watering can, his eyes flickering with contemplation, opaque and inscrutable.
........
He Chao got up early the next morning.
Carrying sunscreen, water, and weapons.
He, Uncle, Old Zhou, and others drove out in the Unimog.
Only six people went out, just to notify the Extra Staff and those cooperating with the base, so not many were sent.
The dawn was just breaking.
The forests around five kilometers away from the base had caught fire due to the excessively high temperatures two days earlier.
The fires burned through several nearby mountains.
From the baseâs Observation Tower, one could see the wildfires at night.
They did not go out to extinguish the fires; it was meaningless and futile.
In fact, it wasnât only near the base that wildfires occurred, globally, some forests were ignited due to ongoing high temperatures and the sunâs scorching, the pine needles being highly flammable with pine tar on them.
Once ignited, they burned uncontrollably, like a sweeping prairie fire.
After leaving the base.
The air was filled with the smell of char, and white ash drifted in the sky.
Since it was morning, the asphalt roadâs surface was not yet too hot.
By midday, the road would be so hot it could burn holes in tires.
This issue was also considered, and Li Yu had He Bing modify the Unimogâs tires overnight.
Unimog tires, already bulletproof with excellent quality, could withstand temperatures up to 200 degrees.
After further adjustment, their heat resistance improved even more.
An hour later.
The vehicle slowly entered Xin City.
Uncle, inside the vehicle, looked through the windows, feeling deeply shocked.
In this apocalyptic scene of high temperatures, the entire city had become desolate.
The relentless sun scorched the earth, and heat waves spread like flames through the air. The sky was devoid of any clouds, only filled with suffocating heat and dust.
The streets were empty, except for bodies that lay on the ground, charred to the point of swelling and deformation.