Chapter Twelve: Surveillance Radar

Dusk.

As the setting sun drew its curtain across the sky, an inexplicable sense of loneliness always lingered in the air. The appearance of Qin Xiaofan, in particular, cast an even deeper shadow over everyone’s hearts. It felt as if a once-comfortable and secure little circle had suddenly been intruded upon by a colossal being, crushing everything beneath its weight.

Beside the campfire, three or four large fish were skewered over the flames, the aroma of roasting flesh drifting out now and then. Qin Xiaofan, transformed into a ravenous beast, ate with single-minded abandon. He was simply famished. His stomach seemed a bottomless pit, never knowing the feeling of satiety.

Everyone stared at Qin Xiaofan, as though beholding some kind of monster. Each fish weighed at least four or five pounds, yet Qin Xiaofan had already consumed two whole ones and showed no sign of stopping.

Someone swallowed audibly, unsettled by the ferocity of Qin Xiaofan’s appetite.

After a moment’s hesitation, Xiaoyan walked to Qin Xiaofan’s side and asked in confusion, “Brother Fan, can you tell me now why you fell into that deep sleep? And… what was with the lightning?”

Qin Xiaofan froze, then slowly looked up at Xiaoyan with calm eyes. “Sorry, Huohuo, it’s really hard to explain clearly. To be honest, I don’t entirely understand it myself…”

Xiaoyan was taken aback, but quickly nodded seriously. “I understand. Everyone is entitled to their secrets.”

Qin Xiaofan smiled and thumped Xiaoyan lightly on the chest. He had his reasons for silence—the system had to remain secret. As for the cause of his slumber, it was likely connected to the white floating light. And besides… how could he tell anyone that his consciousness had returned to 2010, where he’d witnessed the dawn of the age of superpowers with his own eyes? That was simply too much to believe.

Suddenly, Qin Xiaofan asked, “By the way, is that bald guy still alive?”

Xiaoyan replied, “He’s alive… but in pretty bad shape. He won’t be getting up for three or four days at least…”

“Hah, serves him right for trying to show off in front of me. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s people putting on airs around me,” Qin Xiaofan said, glancing at the long-haired woman.

The woman shifted uncomfortably, and the others lowered their heads, silent as the grave. Given the strength Qin Xiaofan had displayed, he could easily overpower any of them. They even suspected he was a B-rank superhuman, not knowing he was still only C-rank, and that his apparent power was due to the floating light within him.

At that moment, Qin Xiaofan stood up and said with a smile, “My name is Qin Xiaofan. Don’t be afraid—I’m a very easy-going person. As long as you don’t provoke me, I won’t electrocute you half to death.”

The group was left speechless.

Qin Xiaofan continued, “There’s one thing I have to make clear. You all owe your revival to me… because the liquid that revives humans wasn’t originally in those metal containers—it was created by me!”

At these words, everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief. Qin Xiaofan smiled. “I know it sounds absurd. But as Huohuo put it: I’m the savior sent down from above.”

“I’m not going to explain further. Just know that the secret of reviving humanity rests in my hands,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the group. Apart from Xiaoyan, everyone was stunned into silence.

The savior… It was too preposterous to believe.

After a moment’s hesitation, the girl with antennae spoke. “You say you invented the revival liquid. Can you tell us how it’s made—the stuff in the metal containers?”

Everyone waited for Qin Xiaofan’s answer. But he would never be so foolish as to reveal that it was his own blood. He already had his plans.

Tilting his head, he replied, “Why should I tell you? Whoever controls the means to revive humanity, controls humanity’s future. And how do I know there aren’t members of Change Among Us?”

At this, a chill ran through the crowd. They all knew what that name implied.

The antennaed girl forced a smile. “Um… that’s a bit much, isn’t it? Everyone here seems decent enough. I doubt any of us are members of Change…”

But her voice trailed off uncertainly.

“Heh, who can say…” Qin Xiaofan answered expressionlessly, his gaze moving from face to face, sharp and penetrating, compelling them to lower their eyes. Some members of Change tattooed themselves with a “Dark Cloud” sigil, but not all. Many were highly secretive. So who could guarantee that these people were all trustworthy?

Night fell.

Beneath the pitch-black sky, only a few faint stars shone. The silence was profound, broken only by the crackling fire and the bald man’s pitiful wails.

“Can someone shut him up?” Qin Xiaofan said impatiently.

The chubby boy with grass growing from his head grinned. He had often suffered at the hands of the bald man—now was the time for payback. To everyone’s shock, the chubby boy pulled the grass from his own head and stuffed it into the bald man’s mouth.

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Chubby’s revenge was not too late, even after ten years.

It was a pitiful sight—everyone looked at the groaning bald man with a mixture of sympathy and schadenfreude.

By the fire, the long-haired woman, Dai Li, was secretly observing Qin Xiaofan. Dai Li was indeed a striking woman, a rose with thorns. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but in the darkness, Qin Xiaofan seemed somehow different from everyone else.

It wasn’t her imagination.

In the night, countless white motes of light drifted toward Qin Xiaofan—though none of the others noticed at all. Qin Xiaofan was certain that his slumber had been caused by the floating light entering his body. Whether it would happen again, he did not know.

As night deepened, the group gradually drifted into sleep. But Qin Xiaofan could not close his eyes. Even now, everything felt strangely unreal, as if he were living in another world.

He thought of the mysterious little girl, of the strange words on the paper boat, and the more he pondered, the deeper his unease grew. The black sky seemed to press down like an endless abyss.

Shaking his head, Qin Xiaofan forced himself not to think further. Sometimes, the more one dwells on something, the greater the terror it brings.

He checked his system panel:

Host: Qin Xiaofan
Level: C-rank Superhuman
Power: Lightning (Level 1)
Skill: Thunder Palm
Equipment: Pig-Slaughtering Knife, Titanium Eye, Detection Radar
Points: 2,850
Mission: Revive ten humans (1/10)

As expected, all his equipment had returned—and he now had a detection radar. When he activated it, a clear two-dimensional radar appeared in his mind, delighting him. He had thought the radar would be a physical device, but instead, it manifested directly in his mind.

On the radar, he could clearly see the location of statues within a kilometer’s radius. Although it only showed basic, two-dimensional outlines, it could display the power levels of the superhumans within those statues.

For Qin Xiaofan in his current situation, this was an invaluable treasure.

He began to plan his next steps. With more people reviving each day, things would soon become even more complicated and troublesome.

Above, the last starlight faded behind gathering clouds. In his heart, Qin Xiaofan’s plans gradually took shape.

Time trickled by.

Before dawn, in the half-light, Qin Xiaofan quietly rose. He glanced at the sleeping group, then gestured for silence to Xiaoyan, who was standing watch.

Xiaoyan looked at him in confusion, but Qin Xiaofan said not a word. He turned and walked into the dim night, his figure quickly swallowed by the darkness.

He had something important to do.

Something that would decide life or death.