The Last 299 Days of Humanity

Chang Sheng lost patience. He sensed that if things continued like this, he wouldn't be able to stand firm for long. He wanted to end it all, to ensure Yu Qing would never speak again.

Of course, he didn't dare kill Yu Qing; instead, he wanted to make him a vegetable or turn him into an idiot.

This was something he had wanted to do from the very beginning.

Once the idea took hold, it grew wildly, consuming all hesitation. Chang Sheng knew he had to use some shady power, as well as the technological and medical resources he had accumulated over the years through his vast network of branch offices—resources far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

First, he needed to find Yu Qing's exact hiding place.

He had initially fallen into Yu Qingxian's trap, believing that Yu Qingxian was indeed at Shengdi Company, colluding with them. However, after repeated confirmations by his informants, the possibility of Yu Qingxian being at Shengdi was zero.

Chang Sheng used a technology that Shengtian Company had just successfully developed, which allowed him to quickly locate a person as long as he knew the general direction in which they might appear.

The principle behind this technology is very simple, although the process is quite complex. It uses facial imaging and biometric indicators to track a person's movements and activity patterns.

Facial imaging is an ancient technology, but it has now evolved to be even more terrifying: it can identify you from the crowd from the sky by your breathing rate and lung capacity.

Furthermore, a person's biological characteristics are even more difficult to conceal. It can even locate where your feces flow out through sensors pre-installed in sewers, and can detect your skin flakes, hair, and exhaled gases and body odor from the air through microparticle detectors installed on the streets.

Chang Sheng first used this technology to pinpoint Yu Qing's actual hiding place in Yadu. He then narrowed down the search to a location 500 meters from Yu Qing's basement.

Yu Qing infiltrated the underground passage from there. The humanoid Shu, who was in charge of garbage collection, successfully obtained the unique substance from Yu Qing's body from there: a few strands of hair with follicles and the snot he left on a lamppost when he sneezed.

Although they didn't immediately find the secret passage, they located Yu Qing's excrement using instruments in the area's underground sewage network. Yu Qing's biological characteristics were present there.

Then they released a miniature, eel-like device that located the restroom Yu Qing had used. Fortunately, Yu Qing hadn't actually used that restroom, but his excrement had indeed been discharged into the city's sewer system via that drainpipe.

Since Yu Qing's current residence is on the seventh basement level, the sewage is pumped up to the surface. When not in use, the system is completely shut off, and there is a check valve to prevent objects from entering the pumping pipe. Therefore, the loach "ended there."

Having obtained this precise information, Chang Sheng began planning his operation.

In fact, as early as when Yu Qing was on his way from Wengcheng to Yaoxing, Chang'e, who was controlled by the Shengtian backdoor program, extracted the complete genetic map of Yu Qing from his hair. However, at that time, Chang'e could not find the upload link. It was not until she entered Hongqiu that Chang'e automatically completed the submission.

Now, using the complete map he obtained, Chang Sheng commissioned a company he indirectly controls that focuses on cutting-edge biomedical and neuroscience research to complete the construction of the Yuqing physiological model in the shortest possible time using the acquired biological samples.

Their goal was not to kill him, but to find a way to precisely and irreversibly destroy his higher-order brain functions (such as thinking, memory, and consciousness) while preserving the brainstem's basic life functions (such as breathing and heartbeat) to the greatest extent possible.

“We need a ‘neural key’,” the lab’s chief scientist reported in an encrypted communications, his tone a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

"A neuro-targeting agent and induction technology that can target his unique genetic characteristics to cause permanent cortical and subcortical combined damage, but avoid the vital centers of the medulla oblongata. Ideally, it should be disguised as a sudden brain hemorrhage or an acute attack of a rare neurodegenerative disease."

In less than a week, Chang Sheng obtained a specific neurotoxic protein encapsulated by a nanocarrier.

This protein can bypass the human immune barrier and, based on a pre-inputted gene map, attack only specific neuronal synapses related to consciousness and cognition, like a guided missile, triggering large-scale, irreversible neuronal apoptosis, ultimately leading to cortical coma (i.e., a vegetative state).

Chang Sheng also had a brilliant plan on how to inject this protein into Yu Qing's body. He decided to use the sewage pipes to have the aggressive "loach" launch a surprise attack while Yu Qing was using the toilet. In just one second, the loach could inject the protein into his anus.

To ensure a successful hit, Chang Sheng sent ten "loaches" to the source of Yu Qing's excrement three days in advance, placing them in the water traps of three different toilets there.

Because the attack lasts only one second, and the protein is only harmful to Yu Qing, it would be difficult to detect even if the wrong target was attacked. They planned to attack continuously for ten days until no more of Yu Qing's feces appeared.

A woman felt a stinging sensation on her buttocks while using the toilet for three consecutive days, but nothing happened afterwards. Intrigued, she had her humanoid servant remove the toilet, where she inadvertently discovered the "loach."

The matter was quickly reported to the authorities. The authorities soon discovered that the loach was actually a miniature weapon, and the news quickly spread throughout Asia.

Enraged authorities launched a city-wide search and eventually arrested the ten "loaches." This caused panic among the residents of Yadu, with some no longer daring to use the toilet and instead having humanoid servants hold special basins for them.

This became big news in Asia, and Donghao naturally found out about it too. That day, Yuqing was about to go to the restroom when Donghao grabbed him.

Yu Qing asked, "What's wrong?"

Donghao said, "You can't sit on the toilet, so I've prepared a chamber pot for you."

Yu Qing laughed loudly, "Donghao, are you a pervert?"

So Donghao told Yuqing about the recent events. Yuqing asked, "Is anyone planning to invade Yadu?"

"No, only ten have been found so far. The key is that they are in those three restrooms not far from us."

Yu Qing was startled and said, "Then this attack was clearly targeted..."

At this point, his expression suddenly changed drastically, and he shouted, "This is aimed at me!"

Donghao asked, puzzled, "Why do you say that..."

"Stop arguing, get ready quickly, we're leaving here immediately."

Yu Qing realized that the bunker was no longer reliable, and Chang Qing's men might find it soon. They were certain they already knew he was hiding nearby.

He would be discovered the moment he stepped out of the bunker. But staying here, with its limited space, would make him an easy target. At the very least, he should return to the surface; going back to the warehouse would be safer than staying down there. If Chang Sheng managed to sneak in with something even more dangerous than a "mudfish," he wouldn't even have a place to escape.

It can be confirmed that this warehouse has not been targeted by Chang Sheng for the time being, otherwise he would not have attacked the toilet two or three hundred meters away. He could have easily killed someone by sending a few special flies or mosquitoes into the warehouse.

Regardless, Yadu is a peaceful city and would never allow anyone to commit murder in the streets. Yu Qing decided to stop hiding and swagger out of the warehouse, letting Chang Sheng's people see for themselves.

Wouldn't that be too risky? Chang Sheng might not kill him, but he could create an accident that would leave him half-dead. The main problem is, we can't guess what kind of accident that would be.

Therefore, Yu Qing decided to leverage the warehouse's strength: shipping.

A warehouse that remains closed and unused for years is more suspicious. Since Chang Sheng might have informants in the vicinity, they must be investigating one by one. Opening the warehouse now to release goods makes sense.

The warehouse door opened, and twenty self-propelled crates slid out of the warehouse and headed straight for the outskirts of Yadu City.

These boxes contain the humanoid creatures that Yu Qing originally bought, and they haven't been opened yet. If detected using ordinary imaging scanning, they would all appear to be human-shaped. Of course, they cannot withstand the illumination of life recognition instruments.

However, if twenty self-propelled boxes suddenly walk out of the warehouse, unless you have already determined that there is something wrong here, laid an ambush in advance, and arranged a large number of people, it will be impossible to identify what is inside those boxes in a short period of time.

In any case, if someone is monitoring this place, we will still have to spend some time or manpower tracking it for a period of time.

Then Yu Qing shipped out another eighty boxes, which quickly glided out of the city from different streets.

These humanoid beauties were originally intended for the outer city to maintain its smooth operation for several years to come. He had prepared a thousand, and today he collected them and sent them out.

Next, boxes slid out of the warehouse one after another, leaving the city from different directions, heading towards the barbican at different times and along different routes. But they all had one stop along the way: the old man's former residence, Qiongshan.

Chang Sheng was most afraid that the old man might have some other terrible plans, so he decided to let him be afraid to his heart's content.

After most of the boxes containing humanoid beauties had been taken out, Yu Qing and Dong Hao left through the secret passage.

This secret passage is not a grand engineering project, but rather a clever modification made by the original owner using existing pipes and gaps in the building. It is narrow, hidden, and the exit is concealed in the basement storage room of an ordinary residential building in Asia City.

The property rights to this residential building are now in her own hands, registered under Yu Wa's name.

A few minutes later, Yu Qing and Dong Hao emerged from the hidden door of the storage room, dusting themselves off. They quickly changed into clothes that had been prepared beforehand, making them indistinguishable from ordinary citizens of Yadu.

Dong Hao also activated optical camouflage, stuffing Yu Qing into a large suitcase, while she disguised herself as an ordinary humanoid woman carrying luggage.

Donghao blended into the afternoon crowd on the street. People in Yadu always made a grand entrance; a single person would be accompanied by at least eight women. Donghao deliberately mingled among them; the bright sunlight, the noise, and the mingled smells provided perfect cover.

No matter how advanced Changsheng's technology is, it cannot instantly and accurately identify a target who is deliberately hiding, has just changed into new clothes, has no recent biometric traces, and is packed in a suitcase from among millions of pedestrians.

Donghao walked at a measured pace, blending seamlessly into the rhythm of those around her. She didn't look around or engage in any behavior that might attract attention. Her sensors were discreetly scanning her surroundings at maximum power, filtering and analyzing all electromagnetic signals and suspicious movements.

"No directional tracking signal has been detected yet," Dong Hao's voice came through the bone conduction headphones to Yu Qing's ears. "The biometric scan wave shows a regional coverage pattern and is not focused."

Yu Qing felt somewhat relieved. His strategy had begun to take effect. Chang Sheng's attention was indeed largely drawn to the massive convoy of bicycles heading out of the city. Inside the city, they relied on satellite wide-area surveillance and automatic algorithmic identification, rather than a manpower-intensive, grid-like search.

Donghao walked through several streets and finally entered an inconspicuous apartment building, taking an old elevator upstairs. The elevator doors opened in a quiet corridor. Yu Qing walked to a door and, instead of using the electronic lock, opened it with a physical key.

Behind the door was a neat but somewhat empty small suite. This was the last safe house Yu Qing had prepared, with the rent prepaid for many years, paid in kind by Yu Qing and a cunning businessman.

Most importantly, it has no connection with any of Yu Qing's businesses or usual identities, making it a true "blind spot".

"We've arrived." Donghao locked the door and let Yuqing out of the box.

Dong Hao removed his disguise and began quickly scanning the room for surveillance equipment or eavesdropping devices.

Yu Qing laughed and said, "It's absolutely safe here. Nobody's watching this place. I heard that something bad happened here before, and people think it's a haunted house, so they all avoid it."

Donghao said, "I'm afraid they'll find us sooner or later."

Yu Qing said, "It won't be that fast. Even if Chang Sheng eventually finds out that I didn't go to Qiongshan, or even judges that I'm still in the city, it will take time to find this one among hundreds of thousands of apartments in Yadu. Moreover, his previous tracking relied heavily on my biometrics."

However, Yu Qing knew this was not a permanent solution. Chang Sheng would never give up.

"Donghao, from now on you must shut down all your external connections. All external communications will be handled by me personally. I can use Lingxi and Eying to transmit information about the outside world point-to-point."

“At the same time,” Yu Qing’s eyes deepened, “we need to begin the next phase of our plan. Hiding is only temporary; we must take the initiative and find a way to completely eliminate the threat.”

"How will you solve the problem of food? And will they attack the toilet you sat on again...?"

“I will have Eying arrange for someone to deliver the food to the elevator regularly, and you can go there to receive it. As for all my waste, seal it up and hand it over to her to dispose of.”

To ease the tense atmosphere, Yu Qing joked, "That old bastard Chang Sheng, he even went after my backside!" (End of Chapter)