Chapter 126: Old Li's Proposal

One month passed quietly.

With Sun Qian and her medical team successfully developing a broad-spectrum antiviral serum, the terrifying plague that could have overturned all of Xuanwu City was finally nipped in the bud.

Whether they were infected individuals already showing symptoms or potential carriers yet to fall ill, after receiving the effective serum, they all recovered at a visibly rapid pace.

The gloom of panic and despair lifted, replaced by the wild joy of survivors and a firmer hope for the future.

The entire Xuanwu City once again brimmed with vigorous vitality.

In the newly planned agricultural zone, lush crops swayed in the breeze, exuding a refreshing fragrance; on the construction sites of the new residential buildings, workers sweated profusely yet wore smiles from the heart; on the wide streets, children chased and played, their clear laughter ringing throughout the city, filling it with the warmth of everyday life.

Everything was developing toward a better direction.

That evening, inside a newly completed two-story building in Xuanwu City.

About a dozen imposing middle-aged men were seated around a simple round table made of high-strength alloy.

They were precisely the leaders of the several dozen small and medium-sized shelters from Suchen back then.

Leading them was the chief of the Black Wolf Refuge—scar-faced Old Li.

"Everyone, I called you all together today to discuss something."

Old Li downed the cup of sweet potato liquor in one gulp; the fiery liquid burned his throat, instantly flushing his weather‑worn face crimson.

He set down the cup, his gaze sweeping over each face, and said in a low voice:

"We've been in Xuanwu City for over two months. These two months, what kind of days we've lived—I needn't say more; you all know it in your hearts."

"Meat every meal, full every day, living in houses without worrying about leaks, walking the streets without fearing that some man‑eating monster might pop out from any corner."

His words left everyone present silent.

Yes, such days in the apocalypse are practically heaven.

They repeatedly woke in the dead of night, terrified that everything before them was merely a beautiful dream they didn't want to end.

"But,"

Old Li's words took a turn, his voice tinged with regret,

"Let's ask ourselves honestly: in these two months, aside from exerting some strength and doing some rough work, what valuable contribution have we truly made to this city?"

Among those present, who wasn't a notable figure before the apocalypse?

Even after the apocalypse struck, each was the undisputed leader of his own refuge, commanding anywhere from over a thousand to several thousand survivors.

Yet upon arriving in Xuanwu City, their proud leadership abilities and combat experience proved utterly insignificant here.

They were like ordinary screws, assigned to the most basic, inconspicuous posts.

Although no one complained, and indeed everyone felt grateful for it.

But they felt stifled, as if their strength had nowhere to go.

"Old Li, what… what exactly do you want to say? Just spit it out!"

An impatient leader couldn't help but ask.

"What I want to say is, present‑day Xuanwu City lacks nothing except people!"

Old Li slammed the table, a flash of determination bursting in his eyes,

"I learned from the old-timers of Xuanwu City that the city now is bigger than some small counties before the apocalypse! But the population? At most a little over three thousand! This isn't just a shortage—it's a dire shortage!"

Having said that, Old Li deliberately paused, scanning the crowd,

"Don't you all forget why we came to Xuanwu City?"

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized—yes, they came to Xuanwu City not just for themselves to join, but so that everyone from their dozen‑odd refuges could join Xuanwu City.

The only reason it's been delayed is that they'd only just passed the assessment when the plague broke out in Xuanwu City, pushing everything to now.

"So I've decided to go see the City Lord tomorrow!"

Everyone was stunned by Old Li's words.

"Bring tens of thousands of survivors into Xuanwu City?"

Although they'd like to do that, Xuanwu City now has only over three thousand people—if tens of thousands suddenly poured in, who would we listen to then?!

After a long while, someone finally spoke in a trembling voice, cautiously asking:

"Old Li, with so many people, do you think the City Lord… will agree?"

"I don't know."

Old Li shook his head,

"But how can we know if we don't try?"

…

At the junction of the outer and inner city, the City Lord's residence.

"Mr. Li, please go back. Without the City Lord's order, no one may enter the inner city."

Two members of the Black Tortoise Guard, clad in black combat uniforms and wielding Gauss electromagnetic rifles, expressionlessly blocked Old Li's path.

Old Li felt no resentment at this; rather, he thought it perfectly natural.

"Gentlemen, I'm not trying to force my way in."

Old Li lowered his posture, wearing a placating smile,

"I… I have a very important matter and wish to see Minister Han; I'd ask you two to do me a favor and pass the word along."

The two guard members exchanged a glance, and one of them coldly said:

"Minister Han's time is precious—not just anyone can see him. If you have something to say, tell us directly; we'll relay it."

Upon hearing that, Old Li lowered his voice, leaned into the guard's ear, and quickly relayed his idea.

After hearing it, the guard's expression first showed disbelief, then shock, and finally settled into a barely concealed gravity.

He then exchanged a glance with his companion and spoke in a low voice:

"Wait here; I'll go report."

After a moment, Han Ya, dressed in a neat black combat uniform, appeared before Lao Li.

「You want to see me? 」

Her voice had no emotion at all.

「Yes, Minister Han! 」

Lao Li dared not be the slightest bit negligent, and hurriedly repeated his idea in detail once more.

Han Ya listened silently, her expression unchanging from start to finish, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.

Only after Lao Li finished speaking did she slowly speak, her voice still calm.

「Wait for me here. 」

Having said that, she did not linger, turned, and walked toward the inner city.

Lao Li watched her retreating back, his heart leapt to his throat.

Success or failure, all in this one move!

In the City Lord's mansion, inside the study.

Lin Yue fell into a long silence after hearing Han Ya's report.

Nearly eighty thousand survivors...

It must be said, Lao Li's proposal also made him feel a stir of the heart.

For Xuanwu City to develop, population is an obstacle that cannot be avoided.

With Xuanwu City's current population base of over three thousand, trying to support this ever-enlarging moving city has begun to show signs of being stretched thin.

If this nearly eighty thousand population could be fully absorbed, Xuanwu City's population problem would be instantly resolved.

The speed of the city's construction would also be like having a rocket thruster attached, covering a thousand miles a day.

But the risk is equally huge.