"So, occasionally finding someone to spar with, to release these emotions with some measure, can actually serve as a buffer, preventing harm to yourself when it truly erupts."

Cheng Ye remained silent for a moment and then nodded.

"Alright, once this busy period is over, I'll seek your advice."

"It's a deal then, otherwise, in a little while, I might truly not be a match for you."

"Hey, look who's talking."

The two of them exchanged a smile.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder boomed outside the training ground, the low rumble making eardrums tremble.

That familiar sense of oppression instantly swept over, strikingly similar to the afternoon when the Stand-In Starfish erupted.

Clap.

Clap.

Raindrops the size of beans began to fall, sparse at first, but quickly turning into a dense curtain of rain, fiercely pounding on the tin roof of the training ground, making a clattering sound.

It's raining again.

...

A whole night's steady rain plunged the Buffer Zone back into familiar flooding.

The next morning.

Cheng Ye donned a raincoat and went downstairs. Fortunately, the apartment building wasn't submerged today, with water only reaching the ankles.

With rain boots on, one could walk easily with deep and shallow steps.

People hurried on the street, everyone with their heads down, covered in colorful raincoats, resembling a group of silent, moving blocks of color.

However, as he walked toward the city's outskirts, Cheng Ye noticed many new faces under the eaves by the roadside.

Why say new faces?

Because these people didn't have the deadened look of those who survived the infection wave, nor the numbness typical of long-time Buffer Zone residents.

Every face exuded a raw liveliness, brimming with curiosity about the new world and a subtle anticipation for a new life.

Especially under the disaster relief tents by the road, after receiving free nutrient paste, bursts of laughter could be heard, noticeably intriguing on this gloomy rainy day.

Since the inspection stations restarted, the addition of these newcomers seemed to infuse a trickle of vitality into the stagnant waters.

They brought not just population but a long-lost "vitality."

Cheng Ye tugged at the collar of his raincoat to block the raindrops blown by the wind, his steps unconsciously becoming lighter.

Everything seemed to be getting better, and the Buffer Zone was soon to welcome a new phase of development.

Perhaps in no time, it would return to the way he knew it.

He reached the bus stop.

Master Tian's bus only ran to the North Inspection Station, but unexpectedly, Cheng Ye ran into an acquaintance.

Master Zhang!

"Ah, Inspector Cheng, what brings you here?"

Master Zhang spotted him through the rain, barely bothering to put on a raincoat, and dashed down from the driver's seat, a genuine smile on his face.

"I'm on duty at the South Inspection Station this week, are you running this route?"

"Yes!" Master Zhang nodded vigorously, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "I just transferred here at the beginning of the year, I drive the early shift from the city to the South Inspection Station and return to the city in the evening!"

"What a coincidence." Cheng Ye stepped onto the bus, which was empty, with not even a shadow in sight.

"No migrants these past two days?" he asked casually.

"There are, about three to five hundred people a day."

Master Zhang boarded after him, closing the door to shut out the rain and wind, "But with such heavy rain, no one dares to travel; the wilderness is most dangerous during rain and winter."

After saying this, he rubbed his hand on his thigh, looking a bit embarrassed yet earnest: "Inspector Cheng, I really must thank you."

"Moved to Zone B-7?"

"Moved, moved!" Master Zhang nodded repeatedly, his tone full of gratitude, "As soon as Brother Long heard I was introduced by you, he arranged housing for my family that same day, much better than where I used to live in Zone C-11. There, you could always hear fighting and smashing sounds at night. Now, Zone B-7 is so clean, you can't see a single thug, and it's peaceful to sleep!"

"That's good, order will be gradually restored."

Cheng Ye lightly nodded, "Let's go, I'll charter the bus."

"Alright."

Master Zhang agreed, gently stepping on the gas, and the bus slowly pulled away from the platform, its wheels rolling through the water, sending up two arcs of spray.

During this week of hospital stays, Cheng Ye had become somewhat familiar with the terrain here after several round trips.

Compared to the route to the North Station, this path was noticeably more down-to-earth; once past the library stop, most of the way traversed sprawling shantytowns, where plastic sheets and tin roofs gleamed oily in the rain. Though it looked messy, the crowd was much denser than near the North Station.

Occasionally, he saw people without raincoats darting between the shacks, huddling in groups of three to five under the eaves, chatting.

The new round of construction in the Buffer Zone was also largely concentrated in the South Suburb.

Along the way, several large building foundations could be seen, with steel frameworks protruding in the rain and fog, like hibernating steel beasts.

Only due to this rainfall, the construction sites temporarily halted, looking somewhat deserted.

Meanwhile, the newcomers' first stop was also mostly in the South Suburb.

Colorful tents were pitched on high ground, and at a glance, there were at least several hundred to a thousand, exuding vibrant life.

Soon, the bus stopped at the last stop on the southern line.

Cheng Ye took out ten coins and inserted them into the slot, then alighted through the front door, raising his eyes to survey the South Inspection Station ahead.

From an overall perspective, the northern and southern stations were essentially the same in scale and structure.

But in terms of construction details, there were some subtle differences.

For example, at the North Station, the entrance was distinctly divided into three lanes: the left for staff, the middle for vehicles, and the right for residents.

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