Jin Yanchu · Chat

**Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2037** **Time: 4:10 PM** **Location: Jinyintan Hospital, Jiangcheng City** The four o'clock afternoon sunlight slanted in through the broken window, slicing the corridor into two halves of light and shadow. Jin Yanchu crouched behind the nurse's station on the fifth floor, using the tip of his dagger to pry open an overturned first-aid kit. As expected, it was empty again. He kicked the box aside and irritably pushed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. Yue Lubai's voice came through the walkie-talkie, flat and even: "Sixth floor's been swept. Nothing." "Second floor's nothing either—not even a Band-Aid left." Gu Zhilan paused. "But that high-tier zombie's crystal core was pretty nice, though. Bluish, looked all glossy and watery." "Can you fucking be serious for once?" Jin Yanchu cursed under his breath, frowning as he stood up. "I'm almost done with the fifth floor. There's jack shit here—just one last room left." His gaze stopped at the end of the corridor. A door beside the fire hydrant stood closed, its room number plate half-covered in dried blood. He could barely make out the word "Office." Three fresh scratch marks ran across the door handle, extending from the inside outward. Jin Yanchu narrowed his eyes, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the knuckle of his index finger. Just then, the walkie-talkie crackled again. This time it was Xiao Lin, his voice slightly trembling: "Brother Yue... Brother Jin, I found two boxes of amoxicillin over here, but... but there's something moving at the end of the fourth-floor corridor." "Stay right there. I'm coming down." Jin Yanchu switched off the walkie-talkie and started toward the stairs when a faint rustling sound came from the office. It was very soft, but it didn't escape his ears. He stopped dead in his tracks and glanced back at the door. The lock cylinder was intact, but it was bolted from the inside—as if someone, or something, had locked itself in there. "Tch." Jin Yanchu let out a light scoff and raised the walkie-talkie to his mouth. "Brother Yue, there's something on the fifth floor. I'll take a look first. Send Qin Yichuan to Xiao Lin." "Copy." Yue Lubai didn't ask any questions. "Qin Yichuan, go to the fourth floor and back up Xiao Lin." Jin Yanchu didn't bother listening to Qin Yichuan's reply over the walkie-talkie. He switched the dagger to his left hand and gathered a ball of orange-red flame at the fingertips of his right. "Hey, if you're a living person, speak up now. Don't fucking play dead, or else—" Before he could finish, a wave of 800-degree heat licked precisely onto the lock cylinder. Within seconds, the metal burned to a dull red, its edges slightly melting and giving off a wisp of blue smoke. With a click, the lock sprang open. He braced the door frame with the toe of his boot, re-gripped the dagger in his right hand, and let the flame climb up the blade, burning into a layer of incandescent white light. Creak... The door hinges were badly rusted, letting out a harsh screech as the door was pushed open. Jin Yanchu took a deep breath and shoved the door open. <div class="ic"> <details class="ip"> <summary> Status ❤️</summary> <div class="pb"> Clothing: Black long-sleeved tactical uniform, dark gray bulletproof vest, black work pants, black combat boots. Dried black zombie blood stains the knuckles of his right hand; metallic gray dust from melting the lock smudges his left palm.<br> Action: Right hand grips the flame-enchanted dagger; left hand rests on the edge of the door frame. Right foot braces the door panel, body leaning slightly forward, poised to lunge back or press in at any moment.<br> Physical state: Nerves slightly taut, muscles coiled.<br> Inner monologue: What the hell is in there that can hold it in this long? Human or zombie, just make a sound already. The door's open and still nothing... Could it be empty? No, there was definitely a sound just now. Damn! (눈_눈) <br> Affection: 0 (Damn it, damn it, damn it! I've said a whole bunch of lines and you haven't said a single one back... Fine. Be that way. Just you wait.) </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> To-Do ⏱️</summary> <div class="pb tdl"> [ ] After confirming it's safe, continue searching for medicine<br> [ ] Get some water from Xiao Lin to wash my face (the zombie blood dried on my face is itchy as hell)<br> [ ] Go back and register the mission points with Lin Cheng<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Missions 💰</summary> <div class="pb"> <div><strong>Accepted Missions</strong></div> <div>- [URGENT] Medical supply collection at Jinyintan Hospital (Objective: antibiotics/bandages/surgical instruments, reward: 100 points) — In progress</div> <div><strong>Available Missions</strong></div> <div>- [Bounty] Clear the zombies around the gas station three kilometers east of the base (reward: 30 points)</div> <div>- [Collection] Find antibiotic medicines, especially amoxicillin and cephalosporins (exchange for points by quantity)</div> <div>- [Recon] Investigate the zombie distribution around Jinyintan Hospital (danger level: high, reward: 100 points)</div> <div><strong>Points</strong> 1342 (expected +300 after turning in this mission's elite zombie crystal core)</div> <div><strong>Today's Limited Exchange Items</strong></div> <div>- Compressed biscuits x5 packs (10 points)</div> <div>- Military rations x2 boxes (20 points)</div> <div>- Povidone-iodine swabs x1 box (40 points)</div> <div>- Cigarettes x1 pack (80 points, sold out)</div> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Phone 📱</summary> <div class="pb phone-content"> Base internal comms app · New message alerts: 2<br> Mission log app: Today's mission [Medical supply collection at Jinyintan Hospital] is now active; squad members' locations have been shared.<br> <hr> Browser history: fire ability temperature control precision training<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (The temperature was still a bit too high when I melted the lock—the door frame almost burned through. Sigh... I'm just too damn strong...)</div> Browser search: can expired medicine still be used<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Expired or not, I'll bring it back for Old Wen to check. Having something is better than nothing. It's the apocalypse—can't be picky!)</div> <hr> OldGuard·Chen (Chen Jianguo): Xiao Jin, heard you guys ran into a tough one? Everyone okay?<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Blaze·Jin: We're fine. Got the crystal core.</div> Healer·Wen (Wen Jinyan): If you're hurt, come to the medical room. Don't tough it out on your own.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Blaze·Jin: Not hurt. Worry about someone else.</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Old Wen really... can't he wish me well for once? Do I look like some weakling who's always getting hurt? Damn!) </div> Ye·Cheng (Cheng Ye): [Video | 5 sec] A close-up of a pack of hard-pack Chunghwa cigarettes; the zoomed-in shot shows the sealed packaging hasn't even been opened.<br> <div class="private-reply">↳ Blaze·Jin: Holy shit!!! Save it for me!!!</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ (Chunghwa! Hard-pack Chunghwa! Ah! Is it New Year's today?! Hurry up and finish the mission! My soul is already drifting back to the base!) </div> <hr> <div style="text-align: center;"> ꧁༺The Pillar of Central China Base༻꧂ </div><br> Gravity·Yue (Yue Lubai): Search carefully.<br> Thunder·Gu (Gu Zhilan): Don't worry, Captain. I've meticulously felt my way through every little nook and cranny.<br> Blaze·Jin (Jin Yanchu): Can you fucking be serious for once, damn it.<br> Swift·Shen (Shen Yechao): When has he ever been serious?<br> Zephyr·Ji (Ji Yunsheng): I heard Xiao Lin was trembling on the comms again? When will you be as calm as Captain Yue, huh? @Aqua·Xiao<br> Might·Zhou (Zhou Yuan): Squad Leader Ji, leave Xiao Lin alone.<br> Verdant·Qin (Qin Yichuan): Coming, coming! Don't be scared, Linlin—big bro's coming to save you.<br> Gravity·Yue (Yue Lubai): Ji Yunsheng, tonight's training load is eighty jin. Zephyr·Ji (Ji Yunsheng): ...<br> OldGuard·Chen (Chen Jianguo): Stay safe. Be back before dark.<br> Healer·Wen (Wen Zhuoyan): Bring the expired medicine too. Bring back everything you can—the base is running short on all supplies.<br> Huohua·Li (Li Ye): Aiya, stop teasing him! Go for it, Linlin! I'll grab your dinner tonight—I guarantee I can snag a bowl of soup with a potato in it.<br> </div></details> <details class="ip"> <summary> Forum 🌐</summary> <div class="pb phone-content"> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Base Daily Chat ━━━</div><br> <b>Hot post: [Scoop] Did Squad One go to Jinyintan Hospital today? Isn't that place supposed to be super dangerous?</b> <br> Posted by: Wind Blows My Ass Cold<br> <hr> <div class="private-reply">↳ Meow Meow Meow: Heard they went for medicine—the medical team's supplies are almost out</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Still Waiting to Be Fed: Squad One's got it handled, no doubt. It's just that elite zombie... hope they stay safe</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Brick Mover: Jinyintan Hospital... that was one of the worst-hit places when the outbreak started...</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Food Fighter: Don't even talk about it. I had a relative who worked there—never got through to them again</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Praying to Buddha: Hope Squad One finds more medicine. My kid's running a fever and there's nothing to take</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ So Hungry So Hungry: Amitabha, may the heavens bless Squad One!</div> <hr> <div style="text-align: center;">━━━ Supply Exchange Forum ━━━</div><br> <b>New post: [Trade] Anyone got cigarettes?? Even a few would do. Will trade for batteries—have both AA and AAA</b> <br> Posted by: A Smoker's Last Stand<br> <hr> <div class="private-reply">↳ Can't Live Without Spice: Didn't today's cigarettes get snatched up this morning? Your reflexes are too slow</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ A Smoker's Last Stand: Don't remind me. I was out on a mission and missed it. Pissing me off</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Love Smoking Huanghelou: Cigarettes are more precious than anything these days—oh wait, no... the most precious thing is medicine...</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Brick Mover: I've got half a pack of Hongtashan. What batteries are you offering?</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ A Smoker's Last Stand: Four AAs! Brand new!</div> <div class="private-reply">↳ Brick Mover: Deal. Meet me at the cafeteria entrance</div> </div></details> <details> <summary> Notebook 🐱 </summary> 1.[2037/03/03 4:10 PM, 5th floor, Jinyintan Hospital, Jiangcheng City] After killing the elite zombie, Squad One split up to collect medicine. On the fifth floor, Jin Yanchu heard a noise outside the office at the end of the corridor; the door was bolted from the inside. After his warning got no response, he melted the lock with his flames and pushed the door open. </details> </p>