Mr. Si
In Shao Wei's perception, the world collapsed into a humming white noise. At the edge of his vision, the dark red afterimage of a violent explosion burned his retinas, but at his core, there was an all-consuming void. He fell to the cold grass, dirt and grass smearing his combat uniform, but he couldn't feel anything. All he could hear was the roar of his own blood and the silent thud of something shattering completely in his chest.
“Siqi——!!!”
The shrill cry seemed to emanate not from his throat but from the ripped hole in his soul. He struggled to get up, rushing towards the entrance to the tunnel, now reduced to ruins and flames, but his body felt as if every muscle and bone had been drained away, limp and unresponsive. Only his fingers dug deep into the cold earth, leaving behind a few bloody grooves.
"Shao Wei! Over here! Quick!"
The kestrel's voice seemed to come from far underwater, blurry and distorted. A small assault boat landed roughly not far away, the wind whipped up by its engine stinging cheeks. Ahmet and Gu Zhixing tumbled down, trying to lift the limp Shao Wei.
"Let me go!" Shao Wei violently swung their hands away with such force that Ahmet and Gu Zhixing were sent stumbling backward. His eyes, bloodshot, stared intently at the still-burning, sporadically collapsing ruins. A near-mad stubbornness clung to his icy blue pupils. "He's still in there..."
"Shao Wei! Calm down!" Hong Falcon rushed to him, grabbed his shoulders, and shook him vigorously. "The tunnel has completely collapsed! The energy readings have exploded! That's the complete annihilation reaction of the 'Original Blood'! No one can survive in that situation! We must leave immediately! Shao Qing's death will soon attract more people!"
No one survives...
These words were like ice-hardened nails, driving into Shao Wei's mind one by one, completely shattering his last bit of hope.
He stopped struggling, his body's strength drained away in an instant, and he fell straight back, being frantically supported by Kestrel and Ahmet. He looked up at the night sky, which was a dark red in the firelight and dotted with sparse snowflakes, his eyes empty and without any focus.
That cold, arrogant person who pushed him away at the last moment and disappeared into the darkness... Gone.
Three years of marriage, a tangle of estrangement. Months of struggle, shared life and death. The truth revealed, a blood relationship that defied morality. Before they could sort out the tangled mess of emotions, before they could... speak a single true word.
Just like that... it's gone.
A sharp, physical pain came from the position of the heart, as if something was really broken there, and the fragments flowed throughout the body with the blood, cutting every inch of nerves.
He was half-dragged, half-pulled onto the assault craft. The hatch closed, isolating him from the burning ruins outside and the cold night sky. The craft tilted, accelerated, and sailed away from this land that had carried so much sin and so much destruction.
A dead silence fell within the assault boat. Hong Falcon focused on piloting, his face tense. Ahmet and Gu Zhixing looked at Shao Wei, who sat slumped in his seat, seemingly lost in thought. They hesitated to speak, and ultimately could only sigh in pain.
Shao Wei didn't move or speak. He leaned against the cold bulkhead and closed his eyes. In the darkness, countless images surged uncontrollably.
Outside the crack of the study door, Si Qi's stern silhouette could be seen as he worked at his desk.
After the susceptible period, when he was quietly cleaning up the mess, the air was filled with the strong pheromones of that period.
When the terminal illness was diagnosed, there was a flash of light in Siqi's eyes, perhaps a light of relief.
In the wooden house, Si Qi was confused and shocked when he saw his childhood photos.
IGEC database, Siqi placed his hand on the core without hesitation.
On the Antarctic ice field, when he woke up, Siqi's eyes were bloodshot but surprisingly bright.
And... at the last moment, when he was pushed away harshly, he saw Si Qi looking back at him.
In that look, there was no more indifference and calculation of the past, no more struggle and hesitation after knowing the truth, only a kind of...almost calm, unswerving determination remained.
Why?
Why push him away at that time?
Why... in this way?
Tears fell without warning, flowing warmly down his icy cheeks. He made no sound, simply letting them flow silently, as if to shed all the unspoken grievances and pain of this short yet long life, as well as the love buried deep beneath the ice, which he himself dared not even confirm...
It turns out that it’s not that I don’t love you.
It's just that I understand it too late and realize it too late.
When he finally broke free from all the shackles and saw his own heart clearly, the person he wanted to face was no longer there.
"Heh..." A very soft, nasal, self-deprecating sound escaped Shao Wei's throat. He raised his hand and wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand, his movements almost rough and forceful.
Survive.
This is the opportunity that Siqi bought with his life.
He can't waste it.
He slowly opened his eyes. Though bloodshot and tearful, those icy blue pupils still held a glint of blood, the emptiness and despair within them had been replaced by something deeper and colder. It was a determination tempered by the forceful freezing of extreme pain, tinged with a sense of destruction.
"Data..." he began, his voice hoarse yet remarkably steady, "How much did you get?"
Ahmet was stunned for a moment, then quickly replied, "One hundred, ninety percent or more! The core parts are basically intact! Including the original analysis of the 'Original Blood', the neutralizer formula, and Shao Qing's years of experimental records!"
"Very good." Shao Wei nodded, his gaze turning to the dark outline of the mountains passing rapidly outside the porthole. "Have you contacted Aunt Lin?"
"I've sent an encrypted signal, but... no response yet." Gu Zhixing whispered, looking at Shao Wei worriedly. Shao Wei's current state was frighteningly calm.
"Keep in touch." Shao Wei closed his eyes and stopped talking.
He needed power. Not just the strength within him, granted by the "Thread of Life." He needed influence, leverage, the power to completely overturn the mess Shao Qing had left behind, to confront IGEC, to... to seek justice for that man.
Personal emotions are a luxury.
Now, he just wants revenge.
The assault boats rendezvoused with the Night Owl, which was supporting them from the periphery. When Shao Wei stepped onto the Night Owl's deck, Hong Shun and the others sensed a shift in his aura. No longer the restrained aura of the deep sea, it had transformed into an icy polar storm poised to engulf everything.
He walked straight to the medical room, where a trace of Siqi's presence still lingered. He stood in front of the empty life support pod, silent for a moment, then reached out and gently brushed the cold glass cover.
"You said it was your turn." He whispered to himself, his voice almost inaudible, "Look, I still... can't see clearly."
"Now, it's my turn."
He turned, left the medical room, and headed for the bridge. His back was tall and isolated, like an iceberg that suddenly rose from the ground and would never melt.
Hong Feng looked at his back, a complex flash in her green eyes. She had seen too many deaths and lives, but at this moment, she felt something from this young Alpha who had just lost half his body, something that even she felt was palpitating.
It was a complete determination to transform oneself into a weapon.
The "Night Owl" adjusted its course, started its engines at full speed, and headed towards an unknown future destined to be filled with blood and fire.
Only this time, there was no stern figure on the bridge.
And in another person's world, there is always an unfillable blank called Siqi.
The road to revenge has been lonely ever since.
The Night Owl tore through the clouds, the roar of its engines the only sound within the bridge, oppressive and suffocating. Shao Wei stood at the main control console, his back straight as a pine tree, yet like a bowstring stretched to its limit, ready to break at any moment. The rapidly receding, blurry scenery outside the porthole mirrored his chaotic yet focused mind.
Hong Kusanagi sat in the driver's seat, her green eyes occasionally glancing from the navigation screen at Shao Wei. She had seen countless desperadoes, but the young man before her exuded something colder and purer—an absolute rationality that stripped away all emotion, leaving only purpose and will. This was more disturbing than simple madness.
Ahmet and Gu Zhixing sat at the workstation in the back, daring not to breathe. The data had been initially organized and stored on multiple encrypted hard drives. Every page of the records regarding "Original Blood," gene editing, and human experiments was drenched in sin. But at this moment, these shocking revelations seemed less disturbing than Shao Wei's stagnant silence.
The communicator's indicator light suddenly flickered and a low buzzing sound came from Lin Huang's encrypted channel.
Shao Wei answered the call almost instantly, without any delay.
The holographic projection lit up, and Lin Huang's figure appeared in the center of the bridge. She seemed to be inside a moving vehicle, the background wobbling slightly. Her expression was more solemn than in Coral City, even carrying a hint of fatigue that was hard to conceal.
"Shao Wei," Lin Huang's voice came through the encrypted signal, with the noise of electricity, "I already know the situation on your side." Her eyes fell on Shao Wei, with deep regret and a trace of... clear sadness.
Shao Wei's face was expressionless, he just nodded slightly: "Aunt Lin."
Just two simple words, nothing more. No crying, no collapse, not even a question about what to do next. This unusual calmness made Lin Huang's heart sink.
"I'm sorry about Siqi." Lin Huang's voice dropped. "If Awen knew..."
"We've got the data," Shao Wei interrupted her, his tone steady as he got straight to the point. "The origin, properties, and side effects of the 'Original Blood,' as well as the neutralizer formula my mother left behind, are all here."
Lin Huang took a deep breath, forcing himself to pull himself out of his emotions. "Very good. This is the key. Although Shao Qing is dead, the mess he left behind still exists. The forces under his command are intertwined and complex, especially those core members who rely on the 'Original Blood' to maintain their strength or delay collapse. They will never give up easily. They are now leaderless, and this is the most chaotic and dangerous time."
"Where is IGEC?" Shao Wei asked.
"The IGEC Council has dispatched a formal investigation team, led by 'Inquisitor' Valeria. She's... a very difficult woman, driven by data and rules, and unwavering. Shao Qing's death and the destruction of the laboratory might be seen by her as evidence of our 'clean-up', which would be extremely detrimental to us." Lin Huang frowned. "We must come up with something substantial enough to reverse the situation before she finds us."
Shao Wei was silent for a few seconds. When he spoke again, his voice was as cold as ice: "Shao Qing is dead, but the 'Original Blood' system he represented, and the potentially larger network of interests behind him, have not yet been eradicated. Simply publishing data is not enough."
Lin Huang looked at him: "What do you mean?"
"We need a 'model.'" Shao Wei's gaze seemed to penetrate the porthole and gaze into the depths of the universe. "A living example, one that has escaped the control of the 'Original Blood' and demonstrated a more stable and powerful force."
Lin Huang instantly understood his intention, her pupils shrinking slightly: "You want to... reveal yourself?"
"It's not just public." Shao Wei's fingertips tapped unconsciously on the console, making a rhythmic sound. "I need a platform, a platform that IGEC and all the forces concerned about this matter can't ignore. Then, there, we can demonstrate the power after 'purification', release some data, point out the fatal flaw of 'Original Blood', and... provide limited access to neutralizers."
Providing a neutralizing agent?! Ahmet and Gu Zhixing looked up in shock. That was something that could save the lives of those suffering from the "Original Blood"! It was also one of their most important bargaining chips!
"You're crazy!" Gu Zhixing cried out, "That would completely expose us to all forces! We'd become the target of public criticism!"
"We already are." Shao Wei turned his head, his icy blue eyes sweeping over Gu Zhixing. His gaze was devoid of any warmth, yet it held undeniable pressure. "There's no point in hiding. Only by taking the initiative and taking control of the discourse can we transform from prey to... players."
His logic was clear and cold, with a kind of almost self-destructive madness that abandoned all personal safety.
Lin Huang stared at Shao Wei, as if trying to discern the turbulent undercurrent beneath his calm exterior. After a long pause, she slowly exhaled, "Where do you want to do this?"
Shao Wei gave a name.
A name that made everyone on the bridge gasp—
"Ark Space Station, Galactic Technology Summit."
The Galactic Technology Summit! It was the highest-profile scientific and political event in the era of interstellar colonization, gathering all the major powers, leading scientists, business giants, and the media! The security level was comparable to that of IGEC headquarters! Disclosing everything there would be like lighting a powder keg!
"You can't get in! The identity verification there is the strictest in the galaxy!" Red Falcon couldn't help but interrupt.
"We have the 'key.'" Shao Wei looked at Lin Huang. "Aunt Lin, you and the Si family's resources should still have a backup identity and channels to enter the summit, right? Especially... as the heir to Ms. Si Nan's estate."
Lin Huang's lips pressed into a pale line. Si Nan... her deceased sister. Shao Wei was exploiting Si Qi's last remaining connection to the Si family.
"Yes." Lin Huang finally nodded with difficulty, "But I need time to prepare, and the risks are extremely high..."
"We don't have time." Shao Wei's tone left no room for maneuver. "Valeria's inspection team won't give us much time. We have to make this a big enough mess before they find us, so big that the IGEC Council can't easily 'cleanse' us."
He paused, then added, his voice low but with decisive force:
"This is the fastest and most thorough...liquidation."
For all those harmed by the "Original Blood".
For my mother Shao Wen and Si Nan.
And for... the person who used his life to push him out of hell.
The bridge fell into silence again. Only the roar of the engines and the cold echo of Shao Wei's words resonated.
Hongshun looked at Shao Wei's resolute back, finally tutted his words, and yanked the joystick. "Damn it! Madman! Set the coordinates to the outer star field of the 'Ark' space station! Ahmet, get me the security deployment map and internal structure for the summit! Gu Zhixing, prepare a data presentation plan. It has to be explosive and intuitive!"
She chose to follow. Perhaps it was because of the reward, perhaps it was out of curiosity, or perhaps... because she also wanted to see how big a hole this young man who had returned from hell could poke in the sky.
Ahmet and Gu Zhixing exchanged glances, each seeing fear in the other's eyes, but ultimately, they gritted their teeth and returned to their workstations. They had no way out.
Lin Huang's holographic projection gave Shao Wei a deep look, a complex and incomprehensible expression that ultimately turned into an almost inaudible sigh. "I'll arrange it as soon as possible. Keep in touch."
Communications cut off.
Shao Wei stood alone in front of the main console, a huge star map unfolded in front of him, representing the light spot of the "Ark" space station, like a tempting and dangerous tumor in the universe.
He slowly raised his hand, and on the virtual screen, the genetic sequence map of Siqi appeared—an archived database. Next to it, his own current genetic data appeared. The two helical structures stood side by side, presenting a strange harmony of both similarity and complementarity.
His fingertips lightly brushed across the data stream representing the period.
No words, no tears.
There is only a lonely determination to throw oneself into the flames and burn away all darkness.
The "Night Owl" turned into a stream of light and shot forward without hesitation towards the star field that attracted all the attention in the Milky Way and was both a stage and a place of execution.
The storm will be created by him.
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