Lu Zhaoming rushed back to the stronghold, covered in dust from the journey, feeling as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart.

The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and a faint stench of blood, which made him frown even more.

"How is Liu Feng?" He grabbed a busy medic and asked anxiously, his voice hoarse.

The medic didn't even look up, his tone tinged with helplessness: "The situation isn't good, Ming. We've used all the available medications, but the effects aren't significant. He... he's just hanging on by a ventilator."

Lu Zhaoming's heart sank, and he strode toward Liu Feng's ward.

In the ward, Liu Feng lay pale on the bed, his body covered with various tubes, his faint breathing sounding as if he might disappear at any moment.

Xiao Hu sat on the edge of the bed with red eyes, holding Liu Feng's hand tightly, motionless, like a statue.

Lu Zhaoming walked to the bedside and looked at his brother who had fought alongside him, now on the verge of death. He felt a mix of emotions.

He reached out and checked Liu Feng's pulse; it was so weak he could barely feel it.

"System, how is Liu Feng doing now?" he asked in his mind.

"The target's vital signs are extremely weak, and organ failure is severe. Special medications are needed to sustain life." The system's voice was cold and mechanical, yet it sounded like a death sentence, causing Lu Zhaoming's heart to sink to the bottom.

Special drugs?

In this apocalypse, where can you find anything?

He turned his head sharply, looking at Qinglian standing in the corner, his eyes sharp as knives: "Do you know where Lin Shuang's secret base is?"

Qinglian trembled under his gaze and quickly nodded, "I know... I know. That Lin Shuang is a cunning fellow with multiple burrows and several secret hideouts. I know the location of one of them."

"Where?" Lu Zhaoming pressed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“In…in the abandoned factory area outside the city, it’s heavily guarded and full of traps, there’s almost no chance of winning.” Qinglian’s voice trembled, clearly filled with fear of that place.

"Odds of winning?" Lu Zhaoming sneered. "When have I ever tested my odds of winning? As long as there's a sliver of hope, I'll give it a try!"

He turned around, preparing to leave the ward.

"Ming-ge!" Xiao Hu suddenly stood up, grabbed Lu Zhaoming's arm, and questioned him emotionally, "You...you really have to go on this risk? Do you know how dangerous it is there? Don't you really care about my brother's life?"

Lu Zhaoming stopped and looked back at Xiao Hu with a complicated expression.

He could understand Xiaohu's feelings, but he also knew that if he gave up, Liu Feng would be truly finished.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "It's precisely because I care that I can't give up. Liu Feng is my brother, and I can't just stand by and watch him die."

"But..." Xiao Hu wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Lu Zhaoming.

"No buts!" Lu Zhaoming said firmly. "I will do everything in my power to bring him back. Trust me!"

After saying that, he broke free from Xiao Hu's hand and strode out of the ward.

Xiao Hu gritted his teeth and held back his tears, watching Lu Zhaoming's departing figure, his heart filled with worry and unease.

He knew that Lu Zhaoming was trying to save his brother, but he still couldn't let go of the pain of his brother's near death.

The rift between the two seems to be widening.

On the way to the secret base, Lu Zhaoming felt that something was wrong.

He felt dizzy, as if he were drunk, and strange hallucinations began to appear before his eyes.

He saw countless distorted faces flash before his eyes and heard some indistinct voices whispering in his ear, as if someone was constantly bewitching and seducing him.

"Give up...you can't save him...give up...no one can escape death..."

Lu Zhaoming forcibly suppressed his discomfort and tried his best to stay awake.

He knew that this was a side effect of the trial system.

He has been experiencing this situation frequently ever since he forcibly advanced the mental interference module last time.

This stuff is like taking drugs; it feels really good, but the side effects are really deadly.

"Are you alright?" Qinglian, who was walking ahead, seemed to notice Lu Zhaoming's unusual behavior and asked with concern.

"It's nothing." Lu Zhaoming shook his head, his voice weak. "I'm just a little tired."

"How about... I help you share some of the pressure? My special ability can stabilize your mental state," Qinglian said tentatively.

Lu Zhaoming glanced at her, his eyes deep and complex.

He knew Qinglian had ill intentions, but the current situation was indeed quite bad.

"No need." He shook his head, declining Qinglian's suggestion. "I can manage on my own."

He didn't want to take any risks. He didn't know Qinglian's background yet, and if she took the opportunity to harm him, it would be troublesome.

He would rather tough it out himself than entrust his life to someone else.

Upon arriving at the abandoned factory area, Lu Zhaoming discovered that it was more complicated than he had imagined.

The entire area is surrounded by high walls covered with barbed wire and cameras, and armed personnel are patrolling, making it heavily guarded.

"Lin Shuang is really cautious," Lu Zhaoming sneered inwardly.

He took out the map provided by Qinglian, studied it carefully, and found a relatively weak entrance.

“Follow me,” he said to Qinglian, then walked towards the entrance first.

The two carefully avoided patrol personnel and cameras, and successfully infiltrated the perimeter of the base.

However, just as Lu Zhaoming was preparing to take further action, the system suddenly emitted a piercing alarm.

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