Chapter 62

Jiang Baimian, Shang Jianyao, and Long Yuehong had all heard Bai Chen mention the mutated mosquito swarms and knew how dangerous they could be for unprepared humans:

They always move in large numbers, and their flight speed is not slow;

They can withstand a certain degree of high and low temperatures;

Their individuals are relatively small, making them hard to hit with bullets. Even if they encounter a marksman or their group is too densely packed, their vast numbers mean they are not afraid of the loss of a team's ammunition and ordinary bombs, and there is no way to match the sheer number of these mosquitoes;

They usually feed on plant sap but also crave fresh blood, possessing both a strong survival ability and extremely terrifying aggressiveness;

They have no brains and do not fear, even if more than half of their population is lost, they will still rush forward for blood;

Their bites carry toxins that can paralyze and slow down the thinking of humans and animals;

Their mouthparts, compared to those of non-mutated mosquitoes, are longer, harder, and sharper, capable of piercing through clothing fibers and entering the target's skin...

For many relic hunters and wilderness wanderers, this is a hellish tide that can devour life. Once encountered, even with a large group, it is difficult to escape.

Of course, as one of the most vicious creatures on the Ashen Earth, humans are not without ways to combat these mutated mosquitoes. However, all methods require relatively special equipment, such as flamethrowers, specially made mosquito repellent spray guns, "Pangu Bio's" "Weed Removal Bombs," a complete set of biochemical suits that can even protect against toxic gases, sufficient incendiary bombs, not yet fully developed power armor, and a few extremely rare and terrifying bombs from the Old World that can create large high-temperature areas at the core of an explosion...

Unfortunately, the "Old Adjustment Team" had none of these.

However, there was a piece of good news: the Jeep they were in was well-sealed, making it impossible for the mutated mosquito swarm to force its way in. Moreover, the vehicle was electric, so it did not have to worry about the mosquitoes blocking the exhaust pipe or other areas. Additionally, the mouthparts of the mutated mosquitoes were not strong enough to puncture rubber tires.

This was indeed good news for Jiang Baimian and the others, but there was also a downside:

The ventilation system had to be turned off, or it would be blocked by the mutated mosquito swarm.

This would quickly degrade the air quality inside the vehicle to an unbearable level, and Shang Jianyao and the others would have to get the Jeep out of the "surrounding circle" of the mutated mosquito swarm before that happened.

Bai Chen had experience dealing with these terrifying creatures. As Qiao Chu gave the order, she closed the windows and turned off the ventilation system.

She continued to press the accelerator while habitually reassuring everyone in the vehicle:

"Don't worry, these mutated mosquito swarms won't stay far from areas with a lot of plants. Once we pass through this vine area, they should give up."

"Left..." Qiao Chu nodded and directed the direction of travel.

Jiang Baimian murmured thoughtfully:

"Even mutated creatures have the instinct to continue their species, so these mosquito swarms won't leave areas with a lot of plants... This is the necessary condition for their survival, and human and animal blood is just a very attractive delicacy...

"Also, the Old World has been destroyed for so many years, and any mutated creatures without the instinct to continue their species should have died out long ago..."

Qiao Chu ignored Jiang Baimian's muttering and focused even more on identifying the road obscured by the dark green vines.

A few seconds later, the moving Jeep encountered the swarming mosquitoes.

Plop, plop, plop!

The mosquitoes, with dark red heads and the size of fingers, like miniature bombers, used themselves as bombs, crashing into the windshield one after another.

In Shang Jianyao's eyes, it was like the first heavy rain he had ever seen in Water Enclosure Town, with countless raindrops hitting the glass.

But unlike rain, these "drops" did not slide down and could stick to the glass.

Plop, plop, plop!

In the continuous, almost unbroken sound, the windshield and side windows were covered with black giant mosquitoes, their dark red heads and fierce mouthparts densely packed, making one's teeth chatter.

Bai Chen and Qiao Chu could no longer see the road ahead, and the Jeep was like a wild horse at the edge of a cliff, not knowing where it would run.

Long Yuehong's face turned pale quickly, wanting to save herself but not knowing what to do or how to help.

Jiang Baimian and Shang Jianyao's bodies tensed, their expressions showing both worry and a bit of confusion. The survival instinct and hormone secretion during the life-or-death sprint seemed to make them realize the abnormality of their current situation again.

At this moment, Qiao Chu no longer looked at the road ahead and lowered his head to look at the mechanical watch on his wrist.

The watch face had a compass with marked scales.

"Three o'clock and twelve minutes direction." Qiao Chu seemed to have built a mental map of the depths of the swamp and was using the instrument for "manual navigation."

Bai Chen was not unfamiliar with using time scales to indicate direction, but she had never encountered such a precise method before. After a brief moment of hesitation, she immediately reacted and started steering the wheel.

However, with the mutated mosquito swarm in front of her, she could not follow the "navigation" instructions precisely, and there would inevitably be some error.

Qiao Chu did not mind, as he knew that without auxiliary chips or corresponding genetic modifications, humans could not achieve such precision at high speeds. He gave such precise directions to keep the error within an acceptable range.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao suddenly spoke:

"We can wear the exoskeleton to drive."

Qiao Chu had already seen the military exoskeleton in the trunk. After a brief thought, he nodded:

"As soon as possible."

Normal exoskeletons have a small-range positioning ability, often integrated into the "comprehensive warning system," providing convenience to the wearer through auxiliary chips.

"I'll do it." Jiang Baimian volunteered.

Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong had no objections and immediately turned around to drag the military exoskeleton from the trunk.

With their help, Jiang Baimian quickly adjusted the length of the metal skeleton and put on the equipment.

"Done." She said quickly after the system self-check was complete.

"Stop the car." Qiao Chu immediately shifted his gaze from his watch.

Bai Chen did not hesitate and stepped on the brake.

With a screech, the Jeep came to a sudden stop, and Shang Jianyao and the others felt a strong urge to lurch forward, but they were protected by the seat belts. Many of the mutated mosquitoes covering the windshield and side windows were thrown off.

As for Jiang Baimian, who did not have a seat belt, the inertia was easily offset by the military exoskeleton she was wearing.

As soon as the vehicle stopped, Bai Chen immediately unbuckled her seat belt, adjusted the gear, and pulled the handbrake.

Then, she climbed to the back seat from the armrest.

Jiang Baimian, with her arms covered in black metal, picked her up and placed her next to Long Yuehong.

Then, she followed the path Bai Chen had taken and quickly climbed to the driver's seat.

Plop, plop, plop! The dark red-headed mutated mosquitoes once again crashed into the glass, densely covering it.

With the energy pack on her back, Jiang Baimian could not lean back and had to lean forward to restart the Jeep.

She operated the steering wheel with one hand and fastened her seat belt.

Qiao Chu lowered his head again, identifying the changes in the compass on his watch, and continuously reported the time direction they needed to go.

With the assistance of the chip, Jiang Baimian operated the Jeep precisely, navigating through the swamp and vines in the midst of the black mosquito swarm.

In a state of high concentration, time seemed to blur. After an unknown duration, when Shang Jianyao and the others began to feel anxious and short of breath, the giant mosquitoes on the front and rear windshields and side windows started to fly away one by one.

Soon, these mutated creatures all left the Jeep, flying backward as if reluctantly.

Shang Jianyao, Long Yuehong, and Bai Chen then saw a vast, pure black mud ahead, with no plants growing on its surface, but bubbles occasionally emerging.

"Two o'clock and twenty-four minutes." Qiao Chu lifted his head and no longer paid attention to the compass on his watch.

After Jiang Baimian turned the steering wheel, the occupants of the vehicle saw a downward road.

It sloped into the swamp, with a deep black cave at the end.

"Drive in." Qiao Chu gave the order.

Jiang Baimian, wearing the exoskeleton, did not hesitate and drove the Jeep into the road.

The black mud on the road was soft and mushy, and the wheels sank in, but deeper down, there seemed to be something harder supporting it, making the heavy Jeep stable.

The vehicle quickly entered the cave, and at the same time, Jiang Baimian turned on the ventilation system and the front headlights.

Shang Jianyao and the others immediately took deep breaths and looked around through the glass windows:

The cave was pitch black, with only the sound of water droplets intermittently hitting the ground. The areas illuminated by the headlights were quite flat, with some mud on the rock walls and road.

"It doesn't seem naturally formed." Jiang Baimian commented while driving.

"An Old World underpass." Qiao Chu responded simply.

Jiang Baimian nodded lightly and thought for a few seconds:

"No moss plants, a bit strange...

"Was the previous environment unsuitable for life?"

Qiao Chu did not respond further and said calmly:

"Keep driving forward."

The tunnel was initially silent, but the vehicle occasionally hit cracks or protrusions on the ground, causing intermittent clanging sounds that echoed into the depths of the tunnel without returning.

In this deep, strange silence, no one spoke, as if they were heading to the end of the world.

After several minutes, light gradually appeared ahead, quickly forming an arched exit.

Jiang Baimian, with her helmet's built-in visor, was not affected by the change in light and drove the vehicle out of the tunnel.

The sun was already setting outside, and the sunset's glow illuminated the earth, as if gilding it with gold.

Not far away, tall buildings, dozens to hundreds of meters high, stood in rows, with no movement or end in sight.

Bathed in the reddish sunlight, they resembled a silent forest of steel and concrete.

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