After reading the diary.
Everyone's face was solemn.
The situation was far more serious than they had imagined.
Initially, they thought it was just an isolated incident at the Jiang City Research Institute, but the diary mentioned several cities, and even stated that the Jingdu Research Institute had taken that "thing."
Therefore, the zombie virus outbreak.
Was nationwide!
Li Xichen stared at Yan Qingdu with a hint of suspicion.
"You're a researcher at the lab. What exactly is that thing?"
Yan Qingdu shrugged, his posture lazy.
"I only realized it might be some kind of spore plant after reading this diary."
"Before this, what Director Zhou gave us was an extracted blue liquid."
"He said it was a liquid discovered in a meteorite crater. He wasn't telling the truth."
Zhou Yu'an's face was even paler.
He couldn't believe that as a doctor meant to heal and save lives.
His own father was actually the mastermind who single-handedly orchestrated this evil experiment.
And that the very beginning of this experiment was to cure him?
Those two mutants they had seen soaking in the liquid earlier.
Were most likely the promoted staff members mentioned in the archivist's diary.
Chu Liuyue glanced at Yan Qingdu.
Then she looked at the other two.
"I have something to ask him. You guys step out first."
Zhou Yu'an didn't say anything; he just nodded and left.
Li Xichen cast an uneasy glance and added,
"I'll be right outside the door, Sister Xiaoyue. Call me if anything happens."
"Okay."
The door was closed.
Yan Qingdu sat up straight, his hands resting properly on his lap, his back perfectly erect.
He looked at her with seeming obedience.
"Yueyue, what do you want to ask?"
Chu Liuyue stared at him with a serious expression.
"At this point, I hope you won't hide anything."
"This concerns whether we can successfully escape."
Yan Qingdu dropped the casual look on his face.
He nodded.
"Ask away."
"Why did you mention before that I am your most satisfying masterpiece?" Chu Liuyue stared at him, enunciating every word.
"Ah, about that..."
"Cut the nonsense." She raised an eyebrow.
Yan Qingdu smiled.
The smile was a bit strange.
"I was the one who guided you to the lab. Your plastic surgeon is a friend of mine. I wanted to help you."
"Help me with what? Getting revenge on Gu Man?" Chu Liuyue furrowed her brows.
Yan Qingdu let out a faint sigh.
He said in a heavy tone,
"To help you survive this catastrophe that is wiping the slate clean for humanity."
He paused, then added,
"Yes."
"Half a year ago, I sensed that these disasters would happen.
My assigned field mission was to deliver those lightly dosed serums to nearby hospitals."
"And to follow up on the subsequent conditions of those users."
"At first, the effects were great. Cancer cells stopped growing, and patients gradually recovered in about three months."
"But..."
His tone shifted.
Carrying a hint of iciness.
"Gradually, besides the cancer cells, all normal cells also stopped regenerating and growing."
"It was like a flower that, after being treated with excessive disinfectant, bloomed brilliantly for just a few nights before rapidly withering."
"But in reality, this was far more terrifying than a withering flower."
"They turned into another kind of creature."
"Zombies had actually appeared a long time ago."
"Initially, they were still under control. The guards would lock them in iron cages and take them away, though it wasn't clear where to.
"Until that day at the hospital, when it completely spiraled out of control and broke out."
Chu Liuyue's thoughts were clear.
After listening to Yan Qingdu's explanation, she laughed coldly,
"You were helping me?"
"Or harming me."
"How could you be so sure that after becoming a lab rat, I would successfully awaken an ability instead of turning into a zombie?"
Yan Qingdu shook his head, his tone certain. "You wouldn't."
"Why?" she pressed.
Yan Qingdu thought for a moment.
He decided to tell her what he had discovered from his research.
"Regarding the cellular research on human immortality, one of the most important directions is actually genetics."
"Did you know?"
"The reason Li Xichen, Brother Zhong, Lao Yu, and Sister Wan were all able to awaken abilities is because they all possess the same gene."
"This discovery was first made by Director Zhou on Zhou Yu'an."
"Subsequently, to verify the hypothesis, your batch of test subjects came into existence."
"Of course, I deliberately placed you in the last batch."
"It was to ensure your safety."
Chu Liuyue remained silent.
The abilities she had displayed before weren't just superpowers.
In the previous modern worlds she had experienced, she couldn't feel even the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy, let alone cultivate.
However, ever since the serum entered her body, it was as if her meridian channels had been opened.
In this apocalyptic world, she could actually faintly sense the presence of spiritual energy.
And the gene that Yan Qingdu spoke of.
Put another way, it was a spiritual root.
It meant the serum was a catalyst. Those with a spiritual root would naturally be catalyzed to develop abilities and become a new type of human.
Meanwhile, those without a spiritual root would have their cells destroyed and reorganized, turning into mindless zombies driven only by the subconscious instinct to feed.
She was able to use fire-element abilities.
Because she inherently possessed a fire spiritual root.
Naturally, trying to cultivate in this apocalyptic world was still incredibly difficult.
Seeing her stay silent.
Yan Qingdu grew a little nervous.
"What's wrong? Yueyue, you don't believe what I said?"
Chu Liuyue suddenly raised her eyes.
Looking straight at him.
"Why did you do this?"
"To atone for your sins?"
Yan Qingdu fell silent for a moment.
Then he finally said,
"I'm sorry."
"Tell the truth."
"It wasn't entirely for you. It was just for myself."
"I didn't know about the things Gu Man did until much later. I think my inaction was the reason things escalated."
After he finished speaking.
He looked at her cautiously.
Chu Liuyue suddenly sighed.
"Forget it."
"Forget it?" Yan Qingdu was stunned.
"I'll spare your life for now. As for Gu Man, rather than dealing with her myself, having Senior Yan, the man she secretly loves, push her into hell would probably be much more interesting." She curled the corners of her lips.
Yan Qingdu frowned slightly.
"What are you going to do?"
Chu Liuyue revealed a villainous smile.
"We're going to find her."
"Senior Yan, you will personally push her into the zombie horde."
"How about it?"
Yan Qingdu's expression changed.
"Me?"
"Yes!" Chu Liuyue nodded. "Forgiving her is something a saint would do, and I'm only responsible for sending her to hell."
"Of course, if you don't want to do it, I won't..."
Yan Qingdu swiftly interrupted, "Okay!"
Satisfied, Chu Liuyue was just about to lift her foot and leave.
He reached out.
And grabbed her sleeve.
"What is it?" Chu Liuyue turned her head slightly.
"Do you... still hate me?" he asked softly.
Chu Liuyue smiled.
The meaning behind that smile was unclear.
"There is no love, and there is no hate."
