PSW - Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Zheng Yi and the others didn't linger in Zhongshan for long. After providing shelter and a plentiful supply of water, they set off for Pujie with the Xia siblings early the next morning.

Yu Yinan's driving skills were now first-rate, and she knew the routes from Pujie to various other places like the back of her hand. Pushing onward at full speed, they reached the city of Pujie by evening.

She possessed the 【Magical Carrier Pigeon】 that Zheng Yi had given her, so she had naturally detailed the situation with the mutated zombie and the Xia siblings in a letter. Before departing, she had also sent word of their approximate arrival time. Thus, as soon as their car drove into the Pujie base, the well-prepared Zhao Haiyue and the others got the news.

"Let's start with a simple check-up. We'll draw two vials of blood tonight." Yun Lingjian gave Zheng Yi and the others a brief greeting before focusing her attention on the Xia siblings. She moved closer and carefully observed their pupils, but instead of beginning a hands-on examination right away, she had them follow her to be checked with professional equipment. "One vial will be for lab tests, and the other for our research."

"Based on the time of your infection, the prognosis isn't optimistic, to be honest. But considering how special that zombie was, and the fact that you've retained your consciousness… it's not entirely hopeless," Yun Lingjian explained earnestly as she led the way at a brisk pace. "Over the next few days, I hope you won't stray too far from the research institute, so we don't waste time looking for you when we need samples. The shelter will provide food and water, so you don't have to worry. As for lodging, you can stay here at the institute for the time being. We have dedicated rest rooms. They aren't spacious, but they have all the necessities, like showers and decontamination rooms."

"Try to relax and maintain a stable state of mind. Eat and drink as you normally would, and keep yourselves in a positive, energetic state. We may need to draw your blood quite frequently over the next few days, and we might also need samples of your hair, skin, or other bodily fluids. But you can rest assured that we won't intentionally harm you, nor do we have any intention of dissecting you for research. I've read all the information in the letter. Humanity's Light is also preparing for a visit from the Dawn Research Institute in Changping. Once their Director arrives, there will be real hope of developing a cure."

From the moment they met, Yun Lingjian was a whirlwind of activity. This made the Xia siblings nervous as well. After a quick glance at Zheng Yi, they hurried to keep up with Yun Lingjian and begin the various examinations.

"It's fine. Take as much blood as you need, as long as it doesn't kill us," Xia Sheng said with a bitter smile. "We're already in this state. You'd better hurry and draw more blood while we're still somewhat human. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until we're dead to dissect us."

"That's right. This… Jiejie, you don't need to rush. We understand the situation and are mentally prepared for it," Xia Cheng added with a serious expression. "From now on, we will follow your orders unconditionally!" Even if they died, as long as they could offer even a little help to the people of the future, they could probably be called heroes, right?

"Don't worry. I've looked through a lot of data since I received the news." After all, she had dissected and studied that special blue zombie before, and even prior to that, Yun Lingjian had dissected her fair share of enhanced zombies and those with crystal cores in their heads. Hadn't Zheng Yi also provided some meteor fragment powder? That powder contained a vast amount of energy, including elements that could cause creatures to evolve and gain special abilities, as well as factors that prompted human mutation. And regarding zombification, Yun Lingjian had a few theories of her own.

She glanced at the two Xia siblings following closely, then at Zheng Yi, Yu Yinan, and Zhao Haiyue, who were trailing behind at an unhurried pace. A look of resignation crossed her face, but after a moment's thought, she decided to share some of her deductions. "This zombification… both humans and mutated beasts can turn into zombies, but there are no such things as zombie plants. From this perspective, could it be that plants hold the key to resisting zombification? I have a bit of a lead now, and I'll be working in this direction to find a cure, so you don't need to be too pessimistic."

"Plants, huh?" Zheng Yi thought for a moment, then asked, "In that case, do you need any more mutated plants?"

"We do," Yun Lingjian said, looking at Zheng Yi. "Although some plants in the cultivation area have mutated, there aren't many of them, and they aren't very powerful."

"Alright, I'll bring you a batch of mutated plants tomorrow. Do you have a place to keep them?"

"We do. The empty lot behind the cultivation area has been completely leveled and cleared. We were originally planning to expand the planting area, but with the high-temperature season approaching, we've put that on hold." Yun Lingjian showed no curiosity about where Zheng Yi would get the mutated plants and simply continued, "It's getting late. If you haven't eaten, Haiyue can take you to dinner, and then you can get some rest. It will take some time to get the initial results from their tests."

"That's right! Zheng Yi, Yu Yinan, don't worry about us. We can take care of ourselves. You two haven't even eaten yet! We can just find you after we're done with the tests," Xia Cheng quickly added, turning around. She and her brother had already troubled Zheng Yi and Yu Yinan enough on the road. There was no need for them to waste time waiting around when they hadn't even had dinner. It would be better for them to eat and rest early; the journey had been exhausting enough.

Zheng Yi didn't answer, instead looking to Yu Yinan as if waiting for her to decide. Yu Yinan froze for a second when she caught Zheng Yi's gaze, but after a moment's thought, she spoke up. "It's no trouble. We… don't have anything urgent to do right now. We can wait with you for the tests, and we can all have dinner together once the results are out. It'll be a good chance for everyone to talk." This was the first time Xia Cheng and Xia Sheng had been to Humanity's Light, and their first time meeting Yun Lingjian and Zhao Haiyue. Their most profound experience with a base was likely the one in Yongdu. Yu Yinan figured that since they were in an unfamiliar place, had endured so much, and were now slowly turning into zombies—a kind of chronic death—it would be good to keep them company. It might help put them at ease.

"Right. We can talk as we walk and get to know each other," Zhao Haiyue agreed, quickening her pace to walk beside Yun Lingjian toward the research institute. As they walked, something occurred to Zhao Haiyue, and she suddenly turned to Yu Yinan. "That pigeon of yours is incredible. It appears and disappears in a flash. Where did you catch a mutated pigeon like that?" Zhao Haiyue wanted one for herself.

"I gave it to her," Zheng Yi interjected with a light laugh. "There might be other mutated birds out there, but as for a carrier pigeon like that one, Jiejie has the only one."

"…" Even after all this time, Zhao Haiyue still felt a natural sense of awe when facing Zheng Yi. She simply acknowledged the statement, offered a few words of praise for the pigeon, and didn't press the matter further.

They arrived at the research institute, and the Xia siblings were quickly ushered away for various tests. Zheng Yi and Yu Yinan sat with Zhao Haiyue in the waiting area, where Yu Yinan began to softly recount the situation in Changping in greater detail. While letters were convenient, there was too much to say, and a small piece of paper could only hold so much information, so Yu Yinan usually kept her messages brief. Now, face to face with time to spare, it was the perfect opportunity to talk.

Throughout the conversation, Zheng Yi simply watched the two of them with a smile, never interjecting. She just listened while diligently peeling an orange, acting as if she weren't the protagonist of Yu Yinan's tale. Zhao Haiyue couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Zheng Yi, but every time she did, Zheng Yi would immediately sense her gaze and hand her a plump orange to peel for herself.

The orange was sour and astringent. The moment she took a bite, juice burst into her mouth, so sour that her face twisted in pain and she nearly cried out. If Zheng Yi hadn't been watching her with a smile, she probably would have shot to her feet, chugged eighteen glasses of water, and thrown it all up. She barely managed to swallow the single segment, the effort bringing tears to her eyes.

"…Chu Yi, is the orange that sour?" Yu Yinan asked hesitantly, looking at Zhao Haiyue's flushed face. The pained expression certainly didn't look fake. She opened her mouth slightly and, without hesitation, bit into a segment Zheng Yi held to her lips. A sweet, fruity fragrance instantly filled her mouth. She glanced at Zheng Yi, who winked at her twice. Finally, just before Zhao Haiyue looked like she might die from the sourness, Zheng Yi handed her a glass of water. "It's been a while. We needed a little surprise, a little joke, right? Here, have some candy. This time, it's sweet." Zheng Yi smiled and offered Zhao Haiyue a handful of milk candies. She watched as Zhao Haiyue, looking like she wanted to say something but held her tongue, accepted the candy and managed a "thank you."

Finally, the worried Xia siblings emerged with Yun Lingjian.

"The test results are relatively optimistic. Their bodily functions are still healthy. As long as we can develop a cure in time, they can go back to being the ability users they were before." However, the zombification process would still leave some indelible marks on their bodies. As for the siblings' future lifespans—whether they would live to be seventy or eighty—that would be up to fate.

"Yes, our condition isn't critical just yet." Xia Cheng let out a long sigh. That counted as good news. Perhaps it had something to do with them being transformation-type ability users? In any case, Xia Cheng and Xia Sheng had already decided that while assisting with the research, whenever they weren't actively needed, they would do their best to remain in their transformed states.

"Well, that's good news!" Zhao Haiyue nodded and stood up. "Come on, I'll treat everyone to dinner. I've also arranged your rooms for tonight. Yu Yinan, you and Zheng Yi can stay in the same room as before. Xia Cheng and Xia Sheng, I got you a two-bedroom suite, with a master and a secondary bedroom, right next door to theirs."

---

On their second day at Humanity's Light, the Xia siblings moved into the laboratory with Yun Lingjian, and the research into a cure for zombification officially began.

Zheng Yi couldn't offer much help in this area. She simply added another high-level Apocalypse Shelter Barrier over Humanity's Light and brought over a portion of the mutated plants from Sugui Mountain, having them voluntarily assist with the research. Afterward, she began to receive a steady stream of Saint Points from Xuancheng and Zhongshan, totaling 45,343. Perhaps it was because of the miracle she had performed in Zhongshan—the water dragon that stored water—or perhaps it was because the protective barrier had sheltered the hearts of everyone there as well. Whatever the reason, the quality of the Saint Points she received this round was surprisingly high.

It seemed that after her departure, Base Leader Feng had worked very hard to spread her name once more.

[Ding! Host's cumulative Saint Points have exceeded 150,000! Reward: Special Physical Enhancement Potion x3, Special Mental Limit Enhancement Potion x3, Capsule: Portable Lottery Chance x5]

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