Chapter 99
Xie Xubai met Pei Yuheng's eyes, and for some reason, he suddenly remembered running away and hiding in a cement bucket back then.
The cold wind howled in, puffing out the cuffs and collar, taking away the little warmth left, and making the air icy cold as well.
His hands and feet were numb from the cold, he coughed incessantly, his face was burning hot, and his eyes were so swollen that he couldn't open them fully. He craned his neck to look up at the sky, and the clear night sky suddenly became dark and gloomy.
A strange, intense urge compelled him to crawl out of the cement bucket, his breath coming in heavy gasps.
He remembered that Pei Yuheng had once given him an address, a very vague address, and he ran out onto the street following his memory.
Countless vehicles whizzed past him, their headlights glaringly bright against the silent night.
The area was filled with barbecue restaurants, separated by just one street, yet it felt like two different worlds. On one side, he walked slowly down the empty street, his shadow stretching endlessly under the streetlights; on the other side, people in the alley were playing drinking games, laughing and chatting, the air thick with the aroma of cooking, and the lights of countless homes shining brightly.
He braced his increasingly heavy body, forced back the tears welling in his eyes, pretended not to hear any laughter, and stubbornly walked in one direction.
I don't know how long I walked, but finally everything went black and I collapsed to the ground. In a daze, I felt as if I had been taken to a clinic by a kind person from the barbecue restaurant.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw the IV drip by the bedside, dripping into the transparent tubing. Grandma Li's withered, sallow face was full of worry, and her silver hair was dazzlingly white under the light.
He stood there stunned for a moment, then whispered, "I'll go."
He couldn't wait any longer.
He went to the welfare home.
Perhaps the local welfare home staff were pressuring her too much, which made Grandma Li realize something was wrong. So she asked her children to help her secretly transfer him to a welfare home in another district or county.
He didn't understand how difficult it would be to do this. He also didn't understand why he had to be sent to an orphanage.
Thus, he embarked on a life of wandering and hardship, preordained by fate, with no one to rely on and encountering all sorts of people. He gradually learned the hypocrisy and scheming that Xie Yuchun hadn't had time to teach him.
Those regrets, misunderstandings, and concerns that were thought to have faded were ultimately rekindled by Pei Yuheng's undisguised concern.
Xie Xubai remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.
During this time, Pei Yuheng's breathing became slower and slower, and he unconsciously curled his fingers, pretending to be calm as he said, "To be honest, if my child accidentally fell off the car, I might jump off without even thinking about it."
Even as Xie Xubai was lost in thought, he still managed to pick up on his line: "Why would you jump down?"
"It acts as a cushion so the child's arm won't get hurt."
Pei Yuheng glanced at the rescued child who was sobbing softly.
The pain of a broken bone is unbearable for a child. His eyes were red and swollen from crying. Xie Xubai took the time to use his mental energy to help relieve the pain and barely managed to stop him from crying.
Xiao Xubai also cried in his arms with tears in her eyes, and his heart ached terribly that night.
Pei Yuheng seemed to be joking, but when he spoke in a low voice, he was unusually serious: "I can't bear to see him cry."
After a moment of silence, Xie Xubai sat down opposite Pei Yuheng.
These past few days he had been pondering the limitations of the rules. If he rashly leaked the secret to Pei Yuheng, it would most likely trigger a time rewind. Therefore, the two of them could not get straight to the point, and Xie Xubai could only answer "I can't say" to many things.
Even when he initially wanted Pei Yuheng to develop obsessive-compulsive disorder, he had to first put on the act of a villain. After his identity was exposed, he was even more constrained and unable to act freely.
Now that Pei Yuheng has revealed his innermost thoughts, he still can't open up completely, but he suddenly realizes that he might be able to be even more unrestrained in front of Pei Yuheng... Uncle Pei, his original adoptive father.
He seems to have that right.
Xie Xubai finally spoke the words he had been holding back for a long time: "I'm not complaining or blaming you for anything, but haven't you ever wondered why I'm here?"
Pei Yuheng's eyes flashed, and his mind raced with thoughts. Just as he was about to ask a question, he saw Xie Xubai put his index finger to his lips, making a "shush" gesture.
Xie Xubai: "I came here with great difficulty, definitely not for a vacation—you must remember this premise, even if you are currently confused and don't understand anything, you must strictly follow my requirements."
After a pause, Xie Xubai asked softly, "...Is it possible?"
How could Pei Yuheng not hear the change in Xie Xubai's tone? Even the slightest request for intimacy was enough to melt his heart. Instead of being displeased by the order, he looked at him with bright eyes and said, "Of course."
The heavy weight that had been pressing on Xie Xubai's heart vanished without a trace.
Xie Xubai's tone was calm and composed, his clear eyes filled with laughter, making even the most beautiful flowers on the windowsill pale in comparison: "The first thing is that, based on my observations these past few days, I've discovered that the alternate dimension we're in isn't randomly selecting unlucky people. It's been intentionally expanding its territory on a large scale. This will lead to a situation where, for some time to come, there will be a large number of victims every day, just like today. If they mutate into monsters, the rate at which the contamination spreads will be unimaginably fast."
"To avoid such a situation, I suggest organizing a search and rescue team to bring back as many victims as possible. If anyone is infected with the virus, I will handle the treatment and purification."
Pei Yuheng immediately thought of the row of container dormitories built behind the health clinic, which Xie Xubai had personally overseen.
At the time, everyone, including him, was puzzled. There weren't many survivors in the base, so who would live in all these dormitories? Who would have thought it was all for today?
Hearing what he said next, he couldn't help but frown: "Aren't you going to treat all of them? Isn't that a bit too much of a burden?"
Xie Xubai remained noncommittal: "So you and Dr. Li need to step up your efforts and try to develop an antiviral drug before I'm exhausted. This is of utmost importance and will directly determine the life or death of everyone."
Pei Yuheng hadn't expected the situation to be so serious. Seeing Xie Xubai's calm and serious expression, which didn't seem like he was exaggerating, he quickly agreed solemnly.
"Don't worry about me," Xie Xubai said with a light smile. "I can't handle this for more than a few days; someone else will take over."
Just as Xie Xubai said, for the next few days, citizens looking around blankly would appear randomly in various corners of the Otherworld from time to time.
Seeing the desolate, apocalyptic scene before them, their reactions were almost identical: confusion, doubt, shock, and collapse.
Until the clinic's search and rescue team appeared like gods and led them to the orderly survivor base.
Looking at the magnificent and massive complex of buildings before them, with its towering protective walls, the survivors were all doing their jobs in an orderly manner, leaving the newcomers dumbfounded.
At Xie Xubai's prompting, Pei Yuheng removed his lab gloves, took a deep breath, adopted a calm and capable expression, and stepped forward to begin his introduction: "Hello everyone, I am the director of this clinic..."
The photographer followed along, recording the entire process.
Including Pei Yuheng's research on alienation and pollution, which was enough to cause a global uproar, Xie Xubai also had him sign a copy, recording every step of the process clearly, ensuring that even a layman would not doubt its authenticity at a glance, and then entrusting them to different trustworthy people for safekeeping.
Just as the number of victims was increasing and the container dormitories, which were being built and expanded, were about to be full, the Alliance branch in H City finally found a way to enter the Otherworld.
This time, the higher authorities dispatched a total of thirteen wheeled armored vehicles and twenty-seven rescue helicopters, which can be described as a significant investment.
However, due to various unforeseen circumstances, the rescue team was attacked by an unnamed force while crossing the spatial rift. Some were lucky enough to escape in a sorry state, while others were unlucky enough to be torn to pieces along with their vehicles. Only three armored vehicles and five helicopters successfully reached the Otherworld.
Looking at the ominous, gloomy red sun hanging high in the sky, the person in charge of the rescue command felt his heart sink to the bottom.
A small black dot slowly approached, each step feeling like it was treading on one's heart.
The commander held his breath, his face grim, and gave a shout that put his men on high alert, ready for a fierce battle or even total annihilation.
But who would have thought that the first people to arrive were not monsters, but a search and rescue team sent by the clinic!
The commander was astonished, but when he followed the squad to the well-defended infirmary, which was practically a small fortress, he realized what a miracle was!
According to the original estimates of outside researchers, if even three out of ten of the victims who fell into the Otherworld survived, they would be considered extremely lucky, since ordinary people could hardly withstand the mutation and infection. But judging from the size of the base, at least seven out of ten people have survived! More than double the original estimate!
He couldn't help but be shocked when Pei Yuheng arrived after hearing the news. The commander's expression softened slightly, and he greeted him with undisguised admiration: "It's unbelievable that you could do something like this. Thank you for your hard work! It's all thanks to you that the casualties were minimized."
Pei Yuheng and Xie Xubai exchanged a glance, then took out the prepared remarks, inevitably mentioning the polite phrases about everyone working together to overcome difficulties.
Finally, there was the message Xie Xubai truly wanted to convey to the outside world through the commander's words: "We are developing an antiviral drug to suppress mutated pollution, and we have made initial progress. We believe it will be available soon."
For a moment, the commander's breath hitched, then he blushed with excitement: "What did you say? Is it true? You really developed a suppressant?!"
"Although it has not yet undergone clinical trials, it does have an inhibitory effect on pollutants."
Upon hearing this, the commander disregarded everything else and immediately ordered his subordinates to bring out a specially made protective suit.
Compared to other protective suits, the difference of this one is directly reflected in the layer of dark blue unidentified material covering the surface. Others may not feel anything, but Xie Xubai can see it directly. The dark matter floating in the air is consciously avoiding this protective suit!
It can actually isolate pollution!
Given the Alliance branch's technological capabilities, they should have found an effective means of suppression long ago. However, judging from the commander's reaction, it seems that this protective suit cannot be replicated. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so excited when he heard about Pei Yuheng and his team's research.
The commander said righteously, "Mr. Pei, please evacuate with us!"
Crowds thronged in front of the clinic, helicopters were constantly loading people, and even armored vehicles prepared for combat made room for the victims to squeeze in.
At the same time, they also solemnly announced a cruel truth to everyone.
—Forcibly crossing spatial rifts using special methods would place an enormous burden on the human body. An elderly research expert had volunteered to join the rescue, but now that expert has closed his eyes. His body surface is intact, but his internal organs are all shattered. The moment someone touches his skin, blood-red spores gush out and scatter into mist.
They couldn't analyze the specific reasons, but judging from the results, the stronger the person, the better they could withstand the burden. So only young adults could go with them, while those with slightly weaker constitutions, such as the elderly and children, had to stay behind.
Upon hearing this, an elderly man with white hair immediately teared up, holding his cane and repeatedly murmuring in sorrow, "Fate, it's all fate."
Originally, old bones like them would only face certain death if they entered the inner world. It was Xie Xubai and others who rescued them from the jaws of death and forcibly extended their lives.
The rescuers' eyes also welled up with tears. They came with a mission to save lives, but seeing the victims and being unable to rescue them was just as painful. They could only repeatedly emphasize, "Trust us, everyone. The higher-ups will definitely find a solution as soon as possible and get everyone out of this predicament!"
But everyone knows it's hard to find a solution. Even if there were, the inner world is full of dangers, with monster attacks happening one after another. People die every day, and how lucky can they be?
Not to mention that this rescue took away most of the young and strong, leaving behind only the old, weak, sick and disabled. They didn't know how to use the weapons they scavenged, and they couldn't break through the monster's oily skin no matter how hard they tried. How long could these people hold out?
Staying behind is tantamount to being abandoned, or waiting to die on the spot.
Realizing this, people scrambled even more frantically onto the bus, pushing and shoving each other, almost to the point of madness.
The commander closed his eyes, raised his hand, and a gunshot rang out, shaking the sky and startling everyone who turned around in surprise and uncertainty.
The dark muzzles of guns were pointed at the guys who were secretly dragging people off the vehicles. The commander said in a deep voice, "Line up, one by one. No cutting in line. Anyone who doesn't meet the requirements, get off immediately, or you'll be executed on the spot!"
No one doubted the truthfulness of his words.
Because a burly man who refused to believe in the danger and recklessly pushed forward was directly shot in the shoulder by the commander, blood splattered, and he screamed in pain!
The person was carried away for treatment, and the noisy crowd instantly quieted down, lining up to undergo checks before boarding the vehicle. The checks included whether there were any symptoms of infection and whether the person's physical condition was up to standard. After these rigorous screenings, a scene of undisguised sobbing and despair remained.
The commander urged Pei Yuheng, "There's no time to lose, Mr. Pei, please come with us quickly." He had to protect such a talented person no matter what.
Pei Yuheng looked at the protective suit in his hand and suddenly asked, "Will wearing this protective suit reduce the burden on the body when passing through the rift?"
The commander, without suspicion, nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, Pei Yuheng turned around and walked towards a pale-faced pregnant woman who was supporting her large belly.
After Pei Yuheng briefly explained the situation, the pregnant woman realized that he intended to transfer her precious chance of survival. She stared wide-eyed in disbelief, exclaiming, "How can this be!"
“Why not?” Pei Yuheng laughed instead, looking tenderly at the pregnant woman’s belly. “Although the fetal movements are normal, no one can guarantee what kind of accident might happen to the child born in such a distorted world.”
In short, it made the pregnant woman swallow all the words she wanted to say in refusal.
She hesitated, unsure of what to say to express her gratitude, and before she knew it, her eyes were completely red.
The commander was shocked: "Mr. Pei, aren't you going to come with us?"
Pei Yuheng shook his head: "I can't leave."
He looked at Xie Xubai and Dr. Li behind him, and answered firmly and respectfully, "The progress of the research is not my achievement alone. Without everyone's help, I might not have been able to continue the research. Moreover, the active cells that inhibit the virus were extracted from certain monsters, which is why I must stay in the Inner World."
"I hope you can help me consult with the branch office. If the pollution spreads to an uncontrollable level in the future, please help us buy more time. We will do our best to find hope for human survival."
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