The Last 299 Days of Humanity

Yu Qing's days in Yadu were anything but pleasant. Even with Yao Dan's return, he couldn't find any joy.

He soon discovered that he was not popular in Asia. Although no one said it out loud, people's disdain was almost written on their faces—an expression that mixed a sense of superiority with a slight aversion. When he passed by, their eyes would deliberately avoid him, or a brief silence would form behind him.

He came from that backward region in the west, and was an ancient human being with almost no advantages in any aspect. "Ancient human" was the private term the people of Yadu used to refer to people of Yu Qing's primitive species. In their eyes, he was like an uncivilized primitive, completely out of place in this highly civilized society. How could such a loser be living so comfortably in Yadu!
They believed that Yu Qing was merely a speculator who had never created any value for Yadu, yet was plundering the wealth of Yadu's residents. This discontent quietly spread in private, becoming a topic of conversation.

The people of Yadu especially couldn't stand him ordering around girls like Xiaoqin. Watching an ancient human from a backward region command a highly educated woman from Yadu was like slapping Yadu, such an advanced civilization, in the face. Whenever Yu Qing gave Xiaoqin instructions, he could always feel the disapproving glances from all around.

One day, Xiaoqin carelessly broke a 5,000-year-old pottery jar, and Yuqing casually scolded her. This incident quickly spread throughout Yadu, causing a huge uproar, and he became the target of almost everyone's criticism. Social media was filled with accusations against Yuqing, calling him a "barbarian who doesn't know how to respect people."

Yu Qing, used to being carefree, once hugged Xiao Qin from behind in a moment of high spirits. Xiao Qin herself didn't seem to mind, but all the men in Asia City did. They condemned him as a disgusting lecher. The surveillance video went viral online, adorned with various insulting tags.

Someone handed him a note with neat handwriting that read: "Please take your unclean hands off us and don't touch the women of our city. Your hands are only fit to reach for that humanoid girl who's at your beck and call." The note was slipped under his door like an invisible dagger.

The Yadu people also discovered a loophole in Yu Qing's employment: he only hired young girls. There were eleven human employees on the Yadu Ark, all of whom were young women under 50. This discovery made Yu Qing's situation even worse.

The average life expectancy in Yadu is 218 years, and people under 60 are considered young. This fact makes Yu Qing's personnel choices even more questionable.

Because of this, people gossiped, believing that Yu Qing came to Yadu with ulterior motives. It was clearly a case of him coming to Yadu to hunt for women. Xiao Qin, due to her close relationship with Yu Qing, also got caught in the storm and almost left. She had to face the strange looks from her colleagues and the doubts from her family.

Under pressure from public opinion, Yu Qing had no choice but to hire a 150-year-old middle-aged man. His job was quite bizarre: to test whether the humanoid beauties on the Ark of Asia were qualified. This decision left Yu Qing feeling both helpless and amused.

What makes it most difficult to deal with is that at least ten thousand highly accurate cameras, both in the sky and on the ground, are pointed at the Ark of Asia. Many people are simply curious and want to study the behavior of ancient humans like Yu Qing. His every move is being recorded and scrutinized by countless eyes.

Sometimes, people just need someone to amuse them, not necessarily someone who is particularly likable or disliked, but simply someone who happens to be chosen by everyone. Yu Qing became that person's source of amusement. His daily life became a form of entertainment for the people of Yadu.

His walking posture also became a source of ridicule. Precise analysis revealed that the stride length of his left and right feet differed by at least 2 centimeters, leading some to conclude that he suffered from a serious genetic disorder in his right brain, resulting in a lack of coordination. This analysis video garnered millions of views.

Some people noticed that his teeth also had problems, with several being infested with cavities. Therefore, people suspected he had severe halitosis, which would have been unbearable for anyone around him. This "discovery" sparked another round of discussion about ancient human hygiene practices.

There are no restrooms in Asia designed for Yu Qing's physical characteristics. Their waste is disposed of in a special bin that instantly vaporizes it into harmless gas, which is then released into the underground pipe network. This advanced facility, however, is torture for Yu Qing.

The people of Yadu don't excrete solid waste; that's the material for their aged incense. But Yu Qing is different; he excretes real waste, so he has to bag it up and take it to the trash can after each use. This process is both troublesome and embarrassing.

But one time Yu Qing forgot this procedure and put his trash on the table. Coincidentally, Xiao Qin thought it was the Nine-Turned Incense she had forgotten there, because they were all in a standard bag... This oversight made headlines in Yadu and became the laughing stock of the whole city.

The aversion to ancient humans like Yuqing reached its peak in the city. Some suggested banning such vile and lowly animals from entering the city, or designating specific areas for their activity. This proposal received considerable support on the citizens' forum.

The image of Yu Qing with his buttocks sticking out was used to create a new type of trash can, whose mouth could automatically absorb any debris thrown within a one-meter radius. This trash can quickly became popular in Yadu, becoming a public mockery of Yu Qing.

Yadu also produced toys modeled after Yu Qing's appearance, but these toys were so small that if a child squeezed his belly, an ugly snake would emerge from the bottom. These toys sold like hotcakes, with almost every household owning one.

Of course, some people criticized those who vilified Yu Qing for being unkind, reminding the people of Yadu that their ancestors were actually the same as Yu Qing... but these voices were quickly drowned out by the tide of public opinion.

In response, some well-meaning inventors gathered together and urgently designed a special self-cleaning pair of pants for Yu Qing. They worked tirelessly for over ten days to deliver a successful sample to Yu Qing for him to try. Whether this action was well-intentioned or another form of humiliation is unclear.

These pants could quickly dry his excrement into a small cake, which could be stored in the cuffs for later disposal. It was already very clean, and people told Yu Qing that it could even be used as building blocks. The inventors proudly demonstrated this function.

Yu Qing had to feign gratitude, despite feeling deeply humiliated. He forced a smile and thanked them for their "kindness."

Although Yadu was nice, it wasn't his home. After all, he was just an outsider parasitizing this place. If his kind were to live in such a world in the future, their situation would certainly not be better than it was now. This realization filled Yu Qing with a deep sense of loneliness and helplessness.

The room where Yu Qing lives is now surrounded by 20-centimeter-high barriers to prevent his every move from being spied on by those cameras with X-ray vision capabilities. These walls make him feel safe, but they also make him more isolated.

He dared not go out, staying in his room all day long. Any instructions were relayed by Yao Dan. His room became his refuge, but also his prison.

Thus, Yao Dan was also targeted. Unexpectedly, she was praised to the skies. Men began to protest against Yadu's restrictions on the interactions between humanoid girls, considering it a shameful form of oppression. Yao Dan suddenly became a symbol, which Yu Qing found extremely ironic.

Yu Qing felt that if he continued living like this in Yadu, he might really go insane soon. But where could he go to live a peaceful life at this point? Essentially, he was just a passerby who needed temporary lodging wherever he went. This feeling of having nowhere to go kept him awake at night.

He desperately needed a piece of land that was entirely his own, to live among his kind. Even if he controlled Shengtian Company, it would only be a hodgepodge bound together by interests, and would not become his final destination. This longing grew stronger in his heart each day.

He began consciously stockpiling supplies in preparation for establishing his own settlement in the future. This plan gave him a glimmer of hope, allowing him to find direction in his despair.

What should be prioritized for stockpiling? Food and energy are as readily available as air, so they don't need to be considered for now. These things should ensure the safety of the community from external disturbances and the protection of personal safety. Therefore, necessary defensive facilities are indispensable. He began to meticulously plan the required supplies list.

He envisioned a city defense system, similar to those of other city-states, capable of repelling all illegal intrusions while remaining open to those with permission. This defense system had to withstand any unforeseen malicious attacks. The idea was both grand and challenging.

In their original state, humans are no longer capable of protecting themselves and can only rely on reliable facilities for protection. Moreover, they are now unable to adapt to the Earth's climate conditions on their own and must wear appropriate functional clothing or create a miniature low-temperature zone.

Then, a medical, production, and service system composed of humanoid beings needs to be established, fully inheriting the conveniences brought by modern science. Of course, these can be gradually improved in the future. The most complex and difficult part is establishing a defense system. He slowly sketched out the blueprint for this future community in his mind.

Yadu possesses the most perfect defense system. It can automatically filter dangerous factors from multiple dimensions and automatically allow normal people and goods to enter and exit without boundaries. Yu Qing coveted such a system.

That day, he even personally inquired about the cost and production cycle of this urban defense system. The vast majority of facilities in the eastern region were manufactured by this factory. The factory's massive silver building gleamed in the sunlight, exuding a sense of technology. One of the Yadu residents who received him was extremely surprised, because no one had ever shown interest in this thing before, let alone inquired about its construction costs. The man looked at Yu Qing with suspicion, as if he were a madman.

He asked, "Are you asking about prices for a specific city?"

Yu Qing answered truthfully, "No. Individuals can't buy these things, right?"

"No, not really, but this is the first time I've ever met someone like you..." The other person's words were clearly tinged with incomprehension and contempt.

The man initially thought Yu Qing was just curious, but when he asked such detailed questions about parameters like blocking distance and minimum target size, the man concluded that Yu Qing wasn't just wandering around and looked, but seemed to be serious. Yu Qing's professional questions gradually made the man drop his contempt and become more serious.

However, he ultimately didn't take any concrete action. The price was shockingly high, far exceeding his budget.

However, to his surprise, his actions made some people uneasy, which plunged him into an even greater crisis. His interrogation records were somehow leaked, triggering a new wave of speculation and panic.

Rumors circulated that he wanted to build a city within a city in Asia, creating an independent kingdom! Some even suggested a name for it: "Mantis Republic." This absurd rumor spread rapidly throughout Asia, growing increasingly believable with each passing whim.

This was entirely fabricated, but for no apparent reason, the authorities repeatedly investigated and questioned him, and even assigned a space-based satellite to track and monitor him 24 hours a day. Yu Qing felt constantly monitored, even in his dreams he felt like he was being watched.

Yu Qing felt it was time to leave. Yadu appeared prosperous on the surface, but internally it harbored more tiny cracks than the underdeveloped western regions, cracks that would eventually burst open. The largest crack among them was everyone's unwavering belief that they were the best. This collective arrogance made Yadu appear solid, but in reality, it was fragile.

But he was reluctant to leave like this. In the past two months, he had successfully converted nearly one trillion RB into three trillion Yuqing coins. This enormous wealth was the foundation of his future plans and he couldn't easily give it up.

According to Yadu's rules, once he leaves, all the Yuqing Coins he currently possesses will be immediately cleared to zero. Even if he returns, they will not be restored. This rule is cold and ruthless, leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.

If that were the case, and he simply left, wouldn't all his efforts these past few days have been for nothing? Besides, having lost such a large sum of money, he might never have another chance. This thought prevented him from making the decision to leave immediately.

Of course, he could exchange all his Yuqing coins for supplies. According to Yadu's regulations, even if he left Yadu, his belongings would still be his for three years. However, there was a problem: taking all his things out of Yadu was extremely difficult. This predicament kept him up at night.

First, the value of any valuables taken out of the capital cannot exceed one million; any amount exceeding this will be confiscated or even forfeited. It's said that completing the approval process for goods exceeding one million coins would take 327 years. This regulation is practically tailor-made to prevent the outflow of goods.

Secondly, if the technological content of these goods exceeds or equals that of similar products from the western region, an additional adjustment tax of 1,000% must be levied. This heavy tax is almost equivalent to a ban on exports.

Although they claimed it was to avoid impacting the western market, the real reason was to prevent their technology from flowing elsewhere. Even if you were willing to pay such a high adjustment tax, by the time you shipped it out after 327 years, it would be too late. This system was so ingeniously designed that it virtually blocked all possible loopholes.

Leaving supplies in the east and ultimately establishing the main base there would be difficult to achieve. While the west is scattered and underdeveloped, it still has considerable undeveloped land, offering a small space for indigenous people to live and thrive. But here, there is no place for them to stand.

Yu Qing had no choice but to return to the west. He also had to go to great lengths to transfer all the spoils he had acquired to the west. This task seemed impossible, but he had to find a way.

Everything seemed to have returned to square one. The First Paradise and the Fortress might be a starting point for their return. It was still a no-man's land, and no one would stop him from building his own territory. This idea gave him a glimmer of hope.

However, such a large-scale transfer of supplies from east to west was simply not allowed in Asturias. This fact stood like a high wall in his way.

Yu Qing needs to outwit and outmaneuver the Yadu people to have any hope. Clearly, simply outsmarting them on his own won't be enough. He must deliver a multi-pronged attack. This decision is both dangerous and necessary.

Now that he was under public scrutiny, Yu Qing decided to act boldly. He suddenly issued an order to Xiaoqin and her team, instructing them to rent warehouses totaling five million square meters in Yadu. If that wasn't enough, they were to fill the gaps in nearby cities. This order took Xiaoqin and her team by surprise.

So Xiaoqin led a dozen or so Yadu people and over a thousand humanoid girls, searching street by street for warehouses. They didn't even overlook storage rooms of a dozen square meters. This scene caused a sensation in Yadu, with people speculating about Yu Qing's intentions.

In fact, Yu Qing deliberately had Xiao Qin use such a primitive method to find homeowners, his purpose being to let everyone know what he was doing. This high-profile approach was completely different from his usual low-key style.

Those owners whose warehouses had been vacant for years were naturally overjoyed and readily rented them to him. The steady stream of rent money flowing into their accounts made them look at Yu Qing, this "ancient human," with new respect.

But frankly, you couldn't even find 500,000 square meters of idle warehouse space in Asia Land. Scarcity drives up prices, and this move immediately inflated Asia Land's rents. The real estate market began to fluctuate wildly.

Yadu's numerous production lines only operate for a few days each year to meet societal demand, spending most of the time occupying space and gathering dust. Consequently, some businesses began dismantling those production lines, freeing up space to rent to Yuqing as warehouses. This trend snowballed and grew larger and larger.

Some stores even reduced their product display space and rented the vacant space to Yu Qing at high prices. Yu Qing accepted all of these offers with a smile.

This caused a sensation in Yadu. The people of Yadu hadn't been this excited in a long time. Yu Qing's every move became the focus of media attention, with daily reports about him.

People were speculating wildly about what this damned ancient human was up to. What could be stored in so many warehouses? Was he hoarding food to fill his perpetually empty stomach? But his mouth couldn't possibly have eaten that much. All sorts of absurd guesses went viral on social media.

Unable to fathom his intentions, some people were nearly driven mad, wishing they could grab him by the collar and demand an explanation. Yu Qing's mysterious actions became the biggest enigma in Yadu.

But then many residents of Yadu suddenly realized that commodity prices were inevitably rising. After all, with the dismantling of those production lines, the output of some products had been greatly reduced, and only surplus goods are cheap. This discovery made Yadu residents uneasy.

Was this ancient human deliberately doing this to sabotage Yadu's economy? But Yu Qing's actions didn't violate any rules, and people could do nothing but curse him. This sense of powerlessness left the people of Yadu both angry and helpless.

But these people's ideas are far too naive and simple. This wasn't his original intention, and if such a consequence were to occur, it would merely be a byproduct. Yu Qing had a much longer-term plan in mind.

Yu Qing's real plans are yet to come. (End of Chapter)