The End of the World Chapter 3 Part2

Jing Xia slightly hooked his lips, and his previously tense body abruptly relaxed. His beautiful peach blossom eyes contained a smile as he asked: "A’chuan, do you really believe that this mutation is caused by the so-called... abnormal sunspot activity?" 

Ji Chuancheng could not help but tightly knit his eyebrows after hearing this, turning to ask: "What do you think this is caused by?" 

"I don't know either."

Ji Chuancheng stated: "Due to the occurrence of the mutation, the use of electromagnetic waves became limited, causing an overwhelming majority of the high-tech equipment to be inoperative. Even more so, the communication facilities completely collapsed, and it could be said that all forms of communication between human beings had been lost. However, just by…”, the gloomy voice suddenly cut off. Jing Xia raised his head, suspiciously looking up to see what the other party was doing—only to catch Ji Chuancheng staring at himself with a deep gaze. He seemed as though he was pondering about some important matter. 

He was perplexed and wanted to raise a question, only for Ji Chuancheng to say: "Since the critical moment had already arrived, I will just directly tell you. Based on the aviation information that was collected through the final probe made by the Huaxia government’s secret legion’s top intelligence system: the sunspot’s abnormal activity is the origin. This point is undoubtable. If you just want to speculate on the root cause of the mutation, perhaps there is a possibility that the cause differs from this reason. However, based on our current knowledge, the solution given by the government is the most probable answer.”

"A’chuan, I was reborn." 

Ji Chuancheng was holding the slender handle of the teapot, pouring a cup of tea for himself when he heard these words. His fingers suddenly shook, and the light coloured tea splashed onto his hand. Fortunately, the tea was not scalding hot, so nothing major happened.

His slender phoenix eyes narrowed slightly in a cold and severe manner, and Ji Chuancheng suddenly raised his head. Looking at Jing Xia imposingly, the gaze contained a coldness that Jing Xia had never experienced previously. He felt a p.r.i.c.king and numbing pain, as though thin needles were stabbing straight into his bones. A bone-biting chill caused his heart to feel as though it was submerged in ice.

His first reaction was: perhaps he had believed in the wrong person?

But just a second later, he dismissed that idea, only to see Ji Chuancheng staring at him for a long time with raised eyebrows before suddenly sighing: "You really are Jing Xia. Now, you can explain to me what is the so-called... rebirth."

The gaze that seemed as if it could completely expose a person, finally moved away from Jing Xia's body, causing him to gasp with relief. It was only then did he realize that his forehead was covered in fine sweat. 

There was once someone who said that: Ji Chuancheng was the person with the highest resolution within the younger generation in the B city. As the most outstanding person, he was young, yet he would occasionally give off an oppressive feeling that did not lose to the older generation at all. 

However, Jing Xia never believed these heresays.

Although Ji Chuancheng did have a slightly cold disposition—occasionally saying poisonous words when he spoke. However in the past two decades of friendship, Jing Xia had never felt the rumoured aura of “a ferocious beast staring at their prey” from the other person. 

However, today... he could be considered to have finally gained some experience. 

Being startled into swallowing his saliva, Jing Xia said: "You should understand the surface meaning, so I won't have to explain. Now, I want to tell you, this is not a simple mutation nor will any of the peaceful conclusions in mankind's imagination happen. In fact, some inferior creatures have already begun to evolve." 

Listening to Jing Xia's words, Ji Chuancheng's deep black pupils became overshadowed with gloom. He silently nodded his head, indicating for the other party to continue on. 

"I think you must have also discovered this change. Take the maple tree in front of your house as an example, it has been developing at a strange speed. It is only midsummer, yet some leaves were already yellowing, the trunk was withered and the bark was peeling. This is one of the results that I mentioned of evolution - failure."

"On the other hand, the majority of the trees are still growing normally, without much change. This is what we later called - the 'evolution deserter', unable to obtain qualifications for evolution, so it did not have success or failure. This name didn’t come from me, it came from you." 

Ji Chuancheng's fingers tightly clenched the blue-and-white porcelain cup and due to the excessive strength, a grating sound ensued. His distinct straight brows were wrinkled tensely, while the sunlight coming from behind him sprinkled onto his black hair. It gave off a slightly hazy, golden hue. 

Jing Xia had just drank a mouthful of tea, preparing to continue, only for Ji Chuancheng to suddenly interrupt: "It seems that there is another result which is evolution success. If I did not guess wrong, this is to go beyond the boundaries of living creatures. Every creature is formed from cellular structure, yet individuals without cells can also be evolved. The success rate can’t be high, however, for the evolution of these races, the outcome must be very bitter." 

Jing Xia stared blankly after hearing Ji Chuancheng’s a.n.a.lysis, automatically asking: "How did you know?" 

Ji Chuancheng's expression became increasingly complex. He asked: "Now I want to know, in the future, if there are any intelligent organisms outside of humanity." 

Suddenly, after being asked this question, a stab of icy cold pain entered Jing Xia’s heart, causing him to take a while before transferring his attention back. This was his heaviest expression since entering the house. That sorrowful and helpless expression caused Ji Chuancheng’s pupil to shrink slightly, and then he heard the delicate and beautiful youth gnash his teeth as he said: 

“ Yes.”

“... More than one kind."

Translator's Theatre:

Meow Meow: Welcome to our new proofreader, Fred, a master in the art of language! She has decided to join us on our extremely rocky journey.

Lin: After much persuasions (aka bribes), Meow Meow finally decided on an update schedule of Monday and Friday. Yay!

Meow Meow: Please also support Lin's first translation, 'The Rivers and Mountains', a short story which is also available on our website. I have exhausted much effort to push her into this pit after all.