Underground Security Zone No. 3 · Special Care Ward.
The security here was even tighter than at the previous Medical Center.
Thick alloy doors, surveillance cameras everywhere, and the air was thick with the smell of disinfectant and medicine.
Ling Chen was placed on the hospital bed, his body covered in various tubes and electrodes. His left arm was in a heavy cast, his chest was wrapped in bandages, and faint, regular breaths emanated from beneath his oxygen mask. On the monitoring instrument screen, his vital signs still hovered on the edge of danger, but they had stabilized significantly compared to when he was first dug out.
Outside the ward, in front of the one-way glass observation window.
Chen Xue clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, her nails digging deeply into her palms. She looked at Ling Chen on the bed, so pale and weak, as if he would shatter at a touch, and tears rolled down like broken pearls.
She longed to rush in and soothe his pain with her silver light, but... the doctor said he was extremely weak now, and any stimulation from an ability could take his life. She could only weep silently through the glass, praying.
Lin Wei stood beside Chen Xue, and in the depths of her amber pupils was a complex, unfathomable icy sea. She looked at Ling Chen, and at the vital signs curve on the monitoring instrument, which was so stable... it was almost fake.
Her Discernment ability was forcibly suppressed, no longer easily probing out.
She didn't believe it! She didn't believe that this 'dying' young man in front of her could be the existence that cast a terrifying shadow in the depths of her consciousness! But... that feeling... it was too real!
Grandfather... seemed to have temporarily put aside his suspicions too? Could it be... was it really just her own hallucination after her mental trauma?
Ling Chen kept his eyes tightly closed, but carefully observed Lin Wei and Chen Xue's expressions, seemingly understanding something.
Involuntarily, a smile appeared on his lips. This world was indeed crazy, and indeed absurd.
“Oh, so that’s how it is. It seems my ‘father-in-law’ must have dispelled his doubts then.”
He had imagined countless scenarios of Lin Wei reporting him to Qin Weiguo, or even directly and decisively exposing him, but Ling Chen, no matter how much he calculated, never accounted for such a miraculous situation.
That's right, she was a woman after all. Although she became the absolute strategist within the Panshi Military Region in his previous life, in this life she was still just an 18-year-old girl.
Li Mingyu and Sun Qiang also arrived.
Li Mingyu’s Buli (Brute Force) ability was severely overdrawn, and his face was still a bit pale, but his eyes were filled with worry and relief.
The cracks on Sun Qiang’s Steel Skin had not fully healed, and its metallic luster was dim. Both of them looked at Ling Chen in the ward, silent. This taciturn companion, who could always burst forth with astonishing strength at critical moments... almost didn't make it.
“Damn it! Those bastard ghouls!” Li Mingyu slammed his fist heavily against the wall, making a dull thud. “When I recover! I’ll smash them all into meat paste!”
“Count me in!” Sun Qiang grumbled, his metallic fists clenching with a cracking sound.
Just then, a young man in a brand-new military officer’s uniform, with captain’s insignia on his shoulder, walked over. He was tall and straight, with a stern face and sharp, knife-like eyes, exuding a sharp aura as he walked.
It was Zhou Yunguang!
During the previous zombie tide defense battle, he, relying on his powerful Guangren (Light Blade) ability, managed to cut down dozens of ghouls that rushed into the breach when the west gate defense line was on the verge of collapse, buying precious time for reinforcements! He had performed a great service!
He was personally promoted to Captain by Commander Qin and transferred to the Ability User Special Operations Regiment as a training officer.
Ling Chen’s eyes flickered. Indeed, his decision to suppress him was absolutely correct.
“Yunguang!” Li Mingyu’s eyes lit up when he saw Zhou Yunguang. “You’re here too!”
Zhou Yunguang nodded, his gaze sweeping over Ling Chen in the ward. A solemn and concerned expression also appeared on his stern face: “How is he?”
“The doctor said... his life was saved, but he’s too severely injured... he needs time to recover.” Li Mingyu sighed.
Zhou Yunguang silently looked at Ling Chen, his eyes complex.
He and Ling Chen weren't close, but they were classmates after all.
This usually quiet and unremarkable guy actually managed to survive such a desperate situation... he was truly lucky. He raised his hand, and a condensed, almost tangible white Guangren (Light Blade) flashed at his fingertips, then instantly dissipated. This power... was the responsibility the Fortress bestowed upon him. He had to become stronger to protect more people... including these... former companions.
“He’ll get better.” Zhou Yunguang’s voice carried an undeniable firmness. “We all will.”
Inside the ward. Ling Chen’s “consciousness” suddenly solidified.
His gaze focused on the elderly man who had just arrived, wearing a white coat, with white hair, gold-rimmed glasses, and a benevolent face.
Elder Wu.
Ling Chen’s “heart,” under the absolute control of the Soul Jade Physique, still beat steadily. But in the depths of his consciousness, a monstrous sea of blood and icy killing intent surged!
It was him! Wu Zhengde! The devil from his previous life who had imprisoned him in a sunless underground research facility, using all sorts of inhumane methods to study the peculiarity of his zombie body maintaining self-awareness, treating him as a guinea pig and experimental material!
The executioner who had branded endless pain and humiliation into the depths of his consciousness!
He was here too! He had noticed him during the previous examination; at that time, he even wanted to perform a brain probe on him. And... judging by his appearance, his status seemed quite high?
Elder Wu, accompanied by Zhou Zhengyang, walked to the observation window. He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, and his gaze behind the lenses, like the most precise scanner, fell upon Ling Chen.
That gaze... seemed benevolent, with a doctor’s compassion, but in its depths... it concealed an indescribable, snake-like cold and greedy desire for investigation!
“Poor child...” Elder Wu’s voice was gentle and magnetic, carrying a soothing power. “So severely injured... it’s a miracle he survived.”
He carefully looked at the data on the monitoring instrument, then at Ling Chen’s still tightly furrowed brows and pained expression even in “coma,” and sighed slightly: “Although his vital signs have stabilized, the internal organ injuries and nervous system damage... will likely leave severe sequelae. He will require long-term treatment and observation.”
He turned to Zhou Zhengyang and said: “Captain Zhou, this child... leave him to me. I will personally oversee his subsequent treatment and recovery. The Fortress needs every survivor, especially... children like him, who possess abilities and tenacious vitality.”
Zhou Zhengyang quickly nodded: “Yes! Elder Wu! With you personally taking charge, Ling Chen will surely recover!”
Elder Wu smiled and nodded, his gaze falling on Ling Chen again. In the depths of that benevolent smile, a very subtle hint of excitement and greed, as if he had discovered a rare treasure... flashed and disappeared!
It’s actually the rare mental ability 【Beast Taming】! Since you don’t recognize its value, why not give it to this old man!
Ling Chen’s thoughts were cold as a knife. Old man... you really haven’t changed! Still that hypocritical face! Personally oversee? You want to treat him as a new experimental subject, don’t you?
Very good, extremely good.
The pain and humiliation you inflicted upon me in my previous life... in this life... I will return it a hundredfold! But for now... it’s not the time.
Ling Chen continued to maintain his “comatose” state. The Soul Jade Physique precisely simulated unconscious muscle twitching and painful expressions caused by nerve damage. A perfect disguise.
Days passed, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had gone by.
Under Elder Wu’s “personally formulated” “special medicine” and “meticulous treatment” (Ling Chen secretly devoured most of the medicinal energy, leaving only a small amount for the slow recovery of surface injuries), Ling Chen’s “injuries” began to improve at a speed “consistent with medical common sense.”
The cast on his left arm was removed (“bones healed”), but it was still bandaged, and his arm hung “powerlessly.” The bandages on his chest were also removed (“ribs reconnected”), but he still slightly furrowed his brows with “pain” when breathing.
He could “weakly” sit up, “laboriously” drink some liquid food, and even “intermittently” speak a few words.
Every day, Chen Xue would come to see him, carefully using her silver light to soothe his “damaged spirit” (Ling Chen simulated a soothing reaction after being comforted).
Lin Wei would occasionally come, but always stood silently to the side, a complex expression in the depths of her amber pupils. Li Mingyu, Sun Qiang, and Zhou Yunguang would also make time to visit, telling him about what was happening in the Fortress, and their training and combat experiences.
Ling Chen played the role of a severely injured, newly recovered, taciturn young man with a hint of post-disaster timidity. He rarely spoke, just listened quietly, occasionally nodding or showing a “weak” smile.
But his ears, his thoughts, were like the most sensitive radar, capturing every bit of information inside and outside the ward!
The progress of the Fortress’s defense reconstruction... the training situation of the Ability User Special Operations Regiment... Commander Qin’s movements... Elder Wu’s seemingly concerned but actually probing “examinations” and “inquiries”... and... most importantly... news about “that thing”!
He knew Commander Qin wouldn’t easily give up his suspicions. Elder Wu’s appearance further proved this point. The Fortress high command... was still watching him! He had to be careful! Even more careful!
The opportunity... finally came.
This afternoon, Ling Chen was “weakly” leaning on the hospital bed, resting with his eyes closed (in reality, his consciousness was extended outwards).
The ward door was slightly ajar, and from the hallway outside came the deliberately lowered, yet still clear, voices of two military officers.
“...How are the survey team preparations coming along? Commander Qin is pressing hard,” a slightly hoarse voice asked.
“Almost there,” another younger voice replied. “Equipment and personnel are all in place. Just waiting for the ‘key’ to be finalized. This time... we must get our hands on the reverse scale pendant! We can’t let those lunatics get there first again!”
“Yes... I heard that Oracle also sent out an elite squad, and their target is also that burial pit at the northern foot of Mount Li... Time waits for no one!” The hoarse voice carried a hint of solemnity.
“Don’t worry! The route map has been optimized! Three days from now, 4 AM sharp, we set off! We’ll take the newly discovered secret passage through ‘Broken Dragon Gorge’! Avoiding the main zombie tide! This time... we’re bound to succeed!” The young voice was full of confidence.
The footsteps gradually faded away.
Inside the ward. Ling Chen still had his eyes closed, as if he hadn’t heard anything. But in the depths of his consciousness, the Soul Jade Physique’s icy will, like a stone dropped into a lake, instantly rippled with coldness!
reverse scale pendant! Northern foot of Mount Li! Burial pit! Three days from now! 4 AM! Broken Dragon Gorge secret passage!
All crucial information! Like the most precious puzzle pieces! Instantly complete!
Commander Qin... Elder Wu... you really... still couldn’t resist! Wanting to use the reverse scale pendant to test me? Or... lure the snake out of its hole?
Very good. Then... as you wish!