DipNovel Chapter 141 Warning
Chapter 141 Warning
Chapter 141 Warning
The morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, dappling the courtyard. Xu Mo was standing firmly in a stance, his mind focused on his body, feeling his blood and qi flowing steadily like a river through his Iron Bone Realm meridians.
Just as Xu Mo was cultivating, the radio set up under the eaves played the prelude music for the daily news broadcast. However, the announcer's voice that followed was much more serious and solemn than usual, even carrying a rare sense of urgency that was almost a warning.
"Attention all residents of Jiangcheng! We are now broadcasting an important public health and safety announcement!"
Xu Mo slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes to look at the radio.
The announcer's voice was clear and strong as he read out each word: "Recently, our Jiangcheng Medical Center has received and diagnosed several cases of abnormal physical mutations caused by consuming the meat of mutated organisms. The patients have all shown varying degrees of tissue abnormalities, organ dysfunction, and damage to the nervous system. Some of the more severely ill patients have exhibited aggressive tendencies and signs of loss of reason, posing a serious threat to themselves, their families, and the surrounding environment."
"The Jiangcheng Management Committee and the health and epidemic prevention department hereby issue a solemn statement and make an urgent appeal:"
"Do not believe or spread baseless rumors such as 'eating the meat of mutant creatures can stimulate superpowers' or 'enhance physical fitness,' as these rumors are extremely misleading and harmful."
"Mutant organisms are abnormal life forms created by unknown factors in a catastrophic environment. Their genetic structure, physiological functions, and metabolic products are all in a highly unstable and unknown state. Their flesh may contain unknown pathogens, toxic substances, or highly biologically active mutant factors that cannot be inactivated by ordinary cooking methods. If humans consume them, they will not only fail to gain so-called 'superpowers,' but will also have a very high probability of developing unpredictable and irreversible malignant physiological mutations, ranging from mild disability and deformity to severe loss of humanity and transformation into monsters that only know how to kill."
"Biological evolution is a long and complex process. The current form and function of humans are the result of millions of years of natural selection and adaptation. Any attempt to forcibly change our biological basis in the short term through extreme means is tantamount to opening Pandora's box, with unimaginable consequences."
"We understand everyone's urgent desire to enhance their own strength in a post-apocalyptic environment. But please believe that only through scientific training, rational use of existing resources, and active participation in the construction and defense systems of shelters can we achieve safe, reliable, and sustainable survival and development."
"The 'New Home' project in Jiangcheng is progressing in full swing, and all sectors need a large number of builders. We promise that every honest worker will receive enough food to fill their stomachs and corresponding contribution points as a reward. Building a safer home with our own hands is the most responsible choice for ourselves and future generations."
"Residents are urged to be vigilant, cherish life, and stay away from sources of danger. If you see anyone eating or attempting to eat mutated creatures, please immediately dissuade them and report it to the local security checkpoint. For your safety and that of your family, and for the stability and future of Jiangcheng, please be sure to heed this warning."
"Repeat it again—"
The announcer's voice repeated itself, each time growing heavier with each repetition. Xu Mo stood in the courtyard, listening quietly, his brows slightly furrowed.
The fact that Jiangcheng used such a formal and stern tone to issue this "food safety warning" via city-wide broadcast is unusual in itself. This suggests that the phenomenon of consuming mutated animal meat and suffering adverse consequences is probably not an isolated case, but rather has likely reached a certain scale, and may even have caused more than one or two serious incidents, forcing Jiangcheng to issue such a high-profile public warning and refute the rumors.
"What research conclusions have been reached?" Xu Mo muttered to himself.
The broadcast's certainty suggests that medical and research departments have conducted in-depth studies of the cases and obtained conclusive evidence confirming a direct causal relationship between consuming mutated animal meat and malignant mutations. Otherwise, they wouldn't have used absolute terms like "extremely high probability" and "irreversible."
Xu Mo could understand the mindset of those adventurers. With the arrival of the apocalypse and the collapse of order, the importance of individual combat power in survival was magnified infinitely.
Who wouldn't want superhuman strength? Who wouldn't want to gain a more advantageous position in a dog-eat-dog world?
The existence of people with superpowers is like a lighthouse in the darkness—rare yet incredibly bright, symbolizing power and status beyond the ordinary. When rumors circulate that "eating mutated meat can grant superpowers," it's like a drowning person grasping at a straw for those struggling at the bottom of society, yearning to change their fate but lacking legitimate means. No matter how high the risk, as long as there's a sliver of hope, it's enough to drive them to take the plunge.
As for the other possibility mentioned in the broadcast—that people were forced to eat mutated meat due to hunger—Xu Mo believes that this may exist, but it is by no means the mainstream.
Mutant creatures are generally more difficult to catch and more dangerous than ordinary animals. How much ability and courage would a person who cannot even guarantee basic food have to actively hunt mutant creatures? More likely, some people try it with a "take a chance" mentality, or after hunting mutant creatures, they are misled by their seemingly powerful bodies and have the absurd association of "you are what you eat" and end up eating them.
The broadcast ended, and a rousing construction propaganda song played on a loop. Xu Mo returned to his room and ate something.
After finishing his meal and tidying up, Xu Mo headed to the meeting point. When he arrived, Zhang Yun was already there, leaning against the wall with a somewhat somber expression, clearly having also heard the morning's broadcast.
The two met up and received their mission, which was still in Sector F-6. As they walked towards their patrol area, the other patrol members around them were whispering about the broadcast, and the atmosphere was more tense and uneasy than usual.
"Did you listen to the morning broadcast?" Zhang Yun asked, speaking softly.
"I heard that." Xu Mo nodded. "It seems the situation is more serious than we thought."
"Hmm." Zhang Yun kicked away a pebble at his feet. "I've heard the rumors about 'eating mutated meat making one a mutated being' before in the shantytown. They were quite detailed, saying things like someone ate the meat of a mutated wild dog and became several times stronger; others said that eating the meat of some strange fish made their skin invulnerable to blades and bullets. Now it seems like it's all nonsense, and it could even be deadly."
Zhang Yun paused, his tone tinged with lingering fear and relief: "Luckily, I didn't believe it, and I didn't have the guts to try it. Mutant creatures look terrifying; who knows what would happen if you ate them? It's good as it is now. Although patrolling is a bit tiring, I earn my living through my own abilities, and I feel at ease."
Xu Mo glanced at Zhang Yun and could see a sense of awe and clarity that came from having experienced life and death. Zhang Yun was not the kind of person who would be tempted by illusory power; her resilience stemmed from a clear understanding of reality and solid military skills.
"The emphasis on construction in the broadcast was also intended to give everyone a clear and safe way out," Xu Mo said. "This can also be seen as directing people's attention and energy toward the important matter at hand."
"I hope it works," Zhang Yun sighed. "I'm just afraid some people are already obsessed and won't listen. Or some people are simply desperate." She thought of the desperate days after her team was wiped out. If she hadn't been rescued by another team, would she have had some extreme thoughts? She didn't dare to think about it too deeply.
The two men fell silent, focusing on their patrol. The scorched fields remained, and the distant river flowed silently, as if the threat had never existed. But the air seemed to be thicker than usual, not just from the heat, but also from the invisible pressure of the broadcast.
The afternoon patrol was uneventful. During the handover, the duty officer gave an extra reminder: "Be vigilant lately. Besides those in the water, also pay attention to people on the shore. If you find anyone behaving abnormally, acting strangely, or with unexplained deformities, do not approach them and report it immediately."
This statement clearly echoes the morning's broadcast, indicating that Jiangcheng has come to regard "eating mutated meat leading to mutations" as a new, alarming internal threat.
On the way back, Xu Mo pondered the deeper information revealed by the broadcast.
The mechanism by which superhumans are created remains a mystery and is unrelated to eating mutated flesh. Jiangcheng's categorical denial suggests they likely have some research on superhumans, at least knowing that their awakening is unrelated to consuming mutated substances. This only adds to the mystery and rarity of superhumans.
Moreover, the fact that the medical department was able to quickly identify the dangers of consuming mutated meat and summarize the characteristics of the mutation indicates that they already have a certain foundation in their research on mutated organisms themselves.
Furthermore, the blind thirst for power among ordinary people, the incitement of rumors, the continued shortage of resources, and external survival pressures are all fueling various irrational and risky behaviors.
Jiangcheng has clearly recognized this trend and is attempting to guide and suppress it using both "construction" and "warning." However, the effectiveness remains to be seen.
The most important point is that the risk of "mutation" has spread from external organisms to humans themselves.
In the past, mutations were zombies, strange birds, and fish in the river.
Now, humans may also become new "zombies" through their own choices. This blurs the boundaries of the "enemy" and makes the internal environment more complex and dangerous.
Back in the courtyard, it was still early. Xu Mo didn't immediately begin his cultivation as usual, but instead sat on a chair in the courtyard, sorting through the recent information in his mind.
The secrets of the Red Star Industrial Zone, the bizarre monsters of the G-2 area, the mutated fish in the F-6 River, and the malignant mutations in humans caused by consuming mutated meat—these seemingly isolated events all seem to point in the same direction: the mutation process in this world is accelerating, and its forms are becoming increasingly diverse and penetrating deeper into the essence of life.
Humanity, whether passively enduring or actively choosing death, is already deeply entrenched in this situation.
Jiangcheng is working hard to build walls, trying to keep out external threats. But now it seems that some threats may already be inside the walls, in people's hearts, and on their dining tables.
Xu Mo thought of the group of men in gray jackets again; they had chosen a relatively stable path. But there were others, driven by despair or ambition, who might be heading down a different, irreversible road.
"Power—" Xu Mo murmured to himself. He was also pursuing power, but his method was through diligent cultivation and tapping into his own potential. This was fundamentally different from those who pinned their hopes on external things or even destroyed themselves.
Night falls, and the city lights remain on. But how many people are keeping awake tonight because of the morning's broadcast?
How many people are hesitating, fearing, or in the darkness, still dreaming unrealistic dreams about the unknown pieces of flesh?
Xu Mo didn't know, he only knew that in this increasingly bizarre apocalypse, guarding one's true self and one's path was more important than ever before.
As night deepened, Xu Mo tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. His thoughts were like a boulder thrown into a lake, creating ripples that lingered for a long time.
Xu Mo initially thought the morning broadcast was just a routine warning about food safety and ignorant rumors. But by evening, deeper and more unsettling thoughts, like vines growing in the darkness, quietly entangled his mind.
Xu Mo thought of the "tissue abnormalities," "organ dysfunction," and "nervous system damage" described on the radio—
Even "aggressive tendencies and loss of rationality".
Is this really just a description of "food poisoning" or "physiological disorder"? It sounds more like a description of another kind of artificially induced, unstable zombie.
A terrifying conclusion gradually took shape in Xu Mo's mind:
In the post-apocalyptic world, the disparity in individual power is magnified to an extreme degree. The survival ability and social status of a powerful superhuman are almost worlds apart from those of an ordinary survivor. This disparity inevitably leads to the transfer of power and the differentiation of social classes.
Jiangcheng currently maintains a semblance of order and suppresses potential individual armed challenges by relying on a relatively complete system, a strong stockpile of firearms, and efficient collective organizational capabilities.
But does this mean that the water is truly calm beneath the surface?
Would those who crave power and desire to change their fate risk everything and try any possible method? The stern rebuttal of the rumors on the radio precisely proves the widespread existence of this desire and the prevalence of rumors.
So, before the warning was issued, and even now, how many people have secretly tried to eat the flesh of mutated creatures?
Have these people quietly formed a secret group with a distinct self-identity?
More importantly, how do those who have consumed the flesh of mutated creatures and experienced some physical changes view themselves? What will their relationship be like with ordinary people who haven't tried such extreme methods?
A hierarchy of discrimination is almost inevitable.
Normal people might fear, reject, and loathe these aliens who have eaten monster flesh, viewing them as potential dangers, symbols of depravity, or even as outsiders.
Those who attempt this may experience a complex psychological shift, from fear and inferiority to distorted pride, and ultimately even hatred towards normal people. They may band together for support, forming small cliques. If the number of people is large enough and the power imbalance is significant enough, they may demand special status or resources, or even resort to confrontation.
"We are different now. Why should we be like you 'mortals'?"
This division based on physical differences and sources of power is more primal and more deadly than divisions based on wealth or birth, because it directly touches upon the shared identity of the "human" species.
When a group of people begins to deviate from the normal physiological range, even if it is only slight and subtle, the seeds of group division have already been sown.
In a post-apocalyptic environment where survival resources are scarce and external pressures are immense, this seed may take root and sprout at an astonishing speed.
Jiangcheng is now trying to extinguish this dangerous wildfire by issuing warnings via broadcasts and guiding construction projects. But can the flames truly be completely extinguished? And for those who have already tasted the forbidden fruit, can their physical and mental states return to what they were before?
Could they hide away, continue experimenting in the dark, or even develop a more secretive group about mutation and evolution? Xu Mo dared not think further. He seemed to see undercurrents surging beneath the calm surface of Jiangcheng, with countless twisted desires and mutated bodies writhing and converging in the shadows.
At this moment, Xu Mo felt a chill sweep over his entire body. This chill did not come from the weather, but rather seeped from the depths of his heart and quickly spread to every part of his body.
Xu Mo suddenly felt as if summer had abruptly ended, and without the buffer of autumn, he had fallen directly into the icy, bone-chilling winter.
Disturbed, Xu Mo sat up in bed and walked to the window. Despite his Iron Bone Realm cultivation, which allowed him to see almost normally in the dark, he felt like he couldn't see anything clearly.
>