Chapter 98
At that time, Xie Xubai and his group were taking samples near the highly polluted area.
This story begins earlier—with Pei Yuheng's knowledge and technical support, Dr. Li and his team finally lived up to expectations and successfully extracted the pollutant: a scarlet active cell that constantly changes shape.
Everyone almost cried tears of joy!
They dared not delay and worked together to research drugs to inhibit the virus, but they encountered difficulties as soon as they got started.
Globally, the number of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine and the chemically synthesized substances in Western medicine is countless, and it would take forever to verify each one through experiments.
Not to mention that Chengnan New District is a newly established district with very few legitimate medical institutions. Where would they find those rare and comprehensive drugs?
It was at this time that Xie Xubai tentatively proposed an idea: if a venomous snake appeared, there would surely be an antidote within seven steps; perhaps they could find medicinal elements within the monster's body to suppress it.
This famous saying actually contains a fallacy, but it also has some merit—if a venomous creature proliferates and develops into a population, then other organisms that cannot migrate will evolve corresponding anti-venom genes in order to survive there. For example, mongooses have the ability to be immune to snake venom. This is natural selection and co-evolution.
Several dejected researchers were immediately inspired upon hearing this!
Seeing more and more of their companions perish in this mutated disaster, they were heartbroken and desperately wanted to defeat the virus. They even suppressed their fear of the monster and death and risked their lives to sneak into the highly polluted area to extract the monster's secretions.
It was through their selfless dedication and willingness to die that mature, comprehensive, and systematic countermeasures against alienation were developed in later generations.
Researchers dressed in white protective suits carefully walked among the ruins, holding long-handled detectors. Every now and then, they would bend down and use the straw-like tips to suck up the black blood stains left on the walls.
Xie Xubai stood guard to the side, his peripheral vision catching glimpses of shadowy figures around the corner of the corridor.
It could be a monster, or it could be a survivor. He wanted to go forward and find out, but the dark matter in the air danced wildly, and the white mist touched his ankles like cold tentacles, raising goosebumps.
Xie Xubai suddenly stopped.
For no other reason than that half a month ago, he had been inexplicably caught in a strange flow of time due to this subtle anomaly, and it took him more than ten days longer than expected to reunite with Pei Yuheng and the others.
Because he couldn't give a decent explanation, Pei Yuheng was still angry and kept staring at him with a cold face.
Xie Xubai was not afraid of taking risks. Just like now, when he felt that he was about to fall into an abnormal flow of time again, his first reaction was not to retreat, but to pay full attention and try to move forward to figure out the pattern and crux of the time change.
Rather than being unprepared due to ignorance, which leads to a series of mistakes, he would rather take a "small" risk to ensure he has enough information.
But before that, a burning gaze suddenly fell on Xie Xubai's back, making it impossible for him to ignore.
Xie Xubai turned his head to look, and Pei Yuheng was taking samples with his head down.
Wearing heavy protective gloves, the sampling action should have appeared clumsy and rough, but Pei Yuheng did it cleanly, neatly, and pleasingly.
Other researchers were amazed that Pei Yuheng possessed such mature and efficient sampling skills at such a young age. Only Xie Xubai knew that Pei Yuheng was probably experiencing a bout of mysophobia and was nearing his limit, so he was so efficient because he wanted to finish the work quickly.
The air was so quiet that it was almost unsettling, and even the slightest unease in one's heart was magnified infinitely.
The shadow at the corner of the corridor was still flickering, baring its fangs and claws, seemingly inviting yet resisting, like a demon luring people into an abyss.
Xie Xubai couldn't help but glance at him again, and Pei Yuheng's gaze followed him almost every second, staring intently at him.
Upon closer examination, it seemed to be a kind of worry and anger that feared their child would get lost again while playing outside.
So Xie Xubai poked the little black octopus on his shoulder.
The others didn't possess Xie Xubai's level of mental strength and couldn't see the little octopus. In fact, Xie Xubai's ability to see itself greatly surprised the little octopus.
Afterwards, it observed repeatedly and guessed that the gold-rimmed glasses had greatly helped Xie Xubai, making it easier for the young man to detect the strange presence.
Touched by the young man's jade-like fingertips, the little black octopus opened its eyes and looked over silently.
Its gaze remained lifeless and emotionless, showing almost no fluctuation in emotion. If Xie Xubai didn't get to the point quickly, it would close its eyes again in two seconds at most.
Xie Xubai communicated with it using his mental power: "If I insist on going to the other side of the corridor, will I disappear in front of others?"
The little black octopus, sparing with words: 【Yes.】
Xie Xubai then asked: "Is it just me, or does everyone experience this?"
Little Black Octopus: [Only you.]
Xie Xubai frowned: [Why?]
Little Black Octopus: [You don't belong here.]
In an instant, Xie Xubai realized that, in the end, it was this spacetime that was rejecting him from the future.
He wanted to ask more questions, but after talking to the little black octopus for a few more minutes, his thoughts were disrupted as if by an invisible hurricane, causing a dizzying sensation and a faint stinging pain.
In a sense, the existence of the little black octopus represents a taboo; if it were to spread pollution, the entire city would instantly be turned into hell.
In order to move smoothly on land, the little black octopus also restrained its power, but it was far less effective than Yan Shuo in later generations who sheathed his sword and suppressed the eerie aura to almost nothing.
Even ordinary humans who come into close contact with him will not be transformed into monsters in a short period of time.
While in pain, Xie Xubai couldn't help but feel a surge of suspicion.
He had never understood why Yan Shuo, a god who was high and mighty, would be interested in human activities such as running a company, and would strictly abide by human order.
Back then, the little black octopus wasn't interested in anything (except glasses). Could it be that it went through something in the past twenty years?
Before Xie Xubai could ask another question, the little black octopus closed its eyes and quietly became like a doll, blending into the air.
A deathly aura emanated from it, making it hard for Xie Xubai to remain unmoved. He reached out and rubbed the little black octopus's round head repeatedly.
Even the most unfamiliar intimate contact should become a habit after ten days or so.
The little black octopus didn't move, seemingly in agreement, occasionally extending a tentacle to wrap around Xie Xubai's fingertips and gently tap them, signaling him not to disturb the monster's sleep any further.
"Chief, Chief, look here, look at the camera! Hey, you look so photogenic, it's such a waste to have such a serious face, why don't you smile a little?"
Pei Yuheng didn't even look up, coldly rebuking him: "This is a highly polluted area, not a tourist attraction. Accidents could happen at any time! If you have nothing better to do, go help them carry equipment. What are you doing taking pictures here?"
The staff member with the camera was bombarded with criticism by him and looked embarrassed. Xie Xubai walked over and said, "I asked him to record this. In case any details are missed later, we can review the photos and videos."
This is one of the reasons. Xie Xubai's real purpose was to leave behind video evidence to prove that Pei Yuheng was not as incompetent as later generations had said, but had made outstanding contributions to the First Hospital.
Pei Yuheng stared at Xie Xubai expressionlessly for a moment, then refrained from further criticism.
However, when he collected samples of the scraps of meat on the ground, he inevitably had to bend down, and the thick protective mask covered half of his face, making it impossible to get a full picture from any angle.
Pei Yuheng, who was having a cold war with his child, became increasingly irritable, radiating a cold aura that kept people at a distance. The photographer dared not ask him to look up and find the right angle, so he could only look to Xie Xubai for help.
The young man cleared his throat and coaxed in the most sincere and gentle voice he could muster, "The director who is working hard is the most handsome. I really want to take a picture with him."
"..." Pei Yuheng's lips twitched slightly.
Before he could speak, a commotion suddenly erupted downstairs.
"What happened?"
The group rushed to the window and looked out.
The once quiet and chaotic street was now crowded with people. Everywhere you looked, there were men and women carrying briefcases, elderly people with canes, and children looking around blankly and crying.
Everyone was instantly astonished.
The researchers nearby hadn't seen so many people on the street in a long time and couldn't help but ask, "Are those monsters? Or are they hallucinations created by monsters?"
Xie Xubai immediately saw through the deception and shouted in a deep voice, "No, those are all living people! Everyone pack up your equipment, stop sampling, quick, we have to get down here quickly!"
Without a second to hesitate, everyone quickly retreated downstairs.
The main road was in complete chaos, filled with cries, questions, and bewildered shouts. Soon, the cacophony of voices in the far distance turned into piercing screams.
"Help! Help me! Help me, please!"
Before he could finish speaking, sharp bone spurs pierced his chest, lifting him high like a skewer. The man's face contorted in agony, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Unexpectedly, a dark shadow swooped down from the sky at that moment, its sharp claws squeezing too hard and crushing his head, sending red and white brain matter splattering everywhere.
The surrounding monsters were all attracted by this huge commotion!
Looking at the human skeleton that could move freely in front of them, and the human-headed vulture hovering high in the sky, the crowd erupted into even sharper screams after a brief silence.
"What the hell is that?!"
"Run!!"
An eerie red sun hung high in the sky, illuminating this bloody and horrifying scene, until a gentle yet powerful voice, like a thunderclap, shattered the fear of everyone present: "Run this way!"
People turned around in alarm, only to see a young man in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses standing at the crossroads. A golden light shot out like an arrow, grabbing several victims and dragging him out of the monster's gaping maw.
Then, a loud engine roared from not far away. Several researchers drove up just in time, shouting, "Everyone, get in the car!"
All the bewildered people regained their composure amidst these orderly and steady calls, and hurriedly boarded the bus.
The monsters gathered in greater numbers, and eerie cries like the wailing of children echoed from all directions. The researchers, noticing the critical situation in their rearview mirror, sped off. Someone in the back, sweating profusely, shouted, "There are still people who haven't gotten on the bus!"
The driver yelled, "Hurry up! We're going to be late!"
They hadn't expected to encounter so many people on this trip. Even with a modified pickup truck with shock absorbers and muffler, there simply wasn't enough room. The back of the truck was packed with people, who tried to squeeze together to make room for others. But the moment the truck started moving, it jolted violently, causing people to sway and fall. A child huddled in his mother's arms lost his balance and was thrown out of the truck.
"Nannan!!" The woman was slammed against the car wall by the impact, unable to pull her hand back in time, and screamed in heart-wrenching pain.
At the critical moment, Pei Yuheng, who was standing nearby, reached out and grabbed the child's arm.
The car made a sharp turn while speeding along, with tremendous force. A loud cracking sound was faintly heard, and the child burst into painful cries!
Sweat beaded on Pei Yuheng's forehead, and the gust of wind made it hard for him to open his eyes. He gritted his teeth, let go of the handrail with his other hand, and with both hands he pulled the child into the car.
Xie Xubai stayed behind to cover the retreat and prevent the monster from getting closer. Almost two hours later, he led the remaining survivors to a vehicle and rushed back to the clinic. Upon hearing the news, he hurriedly went to the treatment area.
The woman, with tears in her eyes, kept thanking Pei Yuheng while holding her child.
Pei Yuheng's wrist was swollen and red, with a lump on it. His forehead was sweating from the pain. He kept saying that he was fine and trying to calm the anxious crowd. He then said to the woman, "The child's arm may have been twisted as well. You should take him to see a doctor first. If the bone grows crooked, it will be very difficult to correct it later."
"My dear director, you should think of yourself first!"
The research needed Pei Yuheng's hands, and Dr. Li was pacing anxiously beside him, but swallowed all his curses because the person being rescued was present.
Upon seeing Xie Xubai arrive, everyone looked over as if they had seen a savior: "Pei Yu! Quickly, come and see the director's hands!"
Pei Yuheng quickly withdrew his hand, feigning composure, and said calmly, "It's just a dislocation, there's no need to make such a fuss."
Xie Xubai grabbed his wrist without saying a word, pulled it out and saw that there was a purplish-blue line on the swollen skin!
Forces are reciprocal; Pei Yuheng dislocated his wrist, and since children's bones are brittle, he wasn't much better off.
However, Pei Yuheng, already dislocated, was violently struck by the car's edge during the bumpy ride, compounding his injuries. He suffered not only a fracture but also a torn ligament, making his injuries even more alarming. He is now in so much pain that he cannot lift his head.
Xie Xubai immediately told the nurse to take the child to be immobilized, and placed his palm on Pei Yuheng's twisted wrist, using his mental energy to relieve the pain.
This injury was self-inflicted by Pei Yuheng; even mental defenses were useless against it. Player A had very few healing items left, but luckily Xie Xubai had saved a few when he went to the magician to take advantage of him.
The prop worked, and Pei Yuheng's wrist returned to normal at a visible speed, with the redness and swelling gradually disappearing.
Everyone was finally relieved, but Pei Yuheng's heart was pounding, not for any other reason than that Xie Xubai had remained silent the entire time.
His long, narrow eyelashes drooped slightly, and his silent gaze was fixed on his wound, as if he were lost in thought. One could vaguely sense that the young man had unspeakable worries and pain.
The story of someone injuring their hand while saving a child has come true; in the future, there will be another instance of someone drinking to the point of stomach bleeding while trying to secure resources.
Xie Xubai realized more than once that Pei Yuheng was such a selfless and fearless person. Although he would do the same thing if he were in the same position, he still couldn't help but feel sorry for him and sighed, saying softly, "This is not an overreaction. You should pay more attention to your own safety."
"..." Pei Yuheng pursed his lips.
The others were quick to read the room. Seeing that Pei Yuheng's injuries had improved, they exchanged glances and quietly left, leaving the two of them alone.
The surroundings suddenly became much quieter.
Pei Yuheng stared at the whorl of hair that Xie Xubai revealed when he lowered his head. It was soft when he was a child and remained smooth as he grew up, making one want to touch it without thinking.
He recalled the cold war that had lasted for days and finally couldn't help but say in a dry voice, "I didn't not care about myself... That child was about the same age as my child. By the time I realized what was happening, my hand had already been reached out, and I couldn't let go no matter what."
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