Chapter 51

"Dean Dean Andong Ao, you're also going to look for Deputy Chief Gu?"

Qin Qiang knew Dean Andong Ao's purpose; they chatted for a while, but Dean Andong Ao kept dodging the topic, so she finally laid it out plainly.

Everyone's goal is the same: ostensibly to find Gu Xian, but in reality to find Geng Qianxing.

Even Bai Chi knows Geng Qianxing was captured by the Gene Alliance.

Ding Huan, who taught three students with such astonishing results at Yujiang University, couldn't possibly be unknown to Geng Qianxing.

Precisely because Geng Qianxing knew, the Gene Alliance struck first.

She dared not act against Geng Qianxing lightly; now that the Gene Alliance has moved, she must hurry to find out what's happened.

Qin Qiang reminded him that the Gene Alliance tried to capture Ding Huan but failed; now Geng Qianxing has been taken.

She needed to find out exactly how much Geng Qianxing knew—she didn't want to end up with not even a drop of broth.

If she gained any benefit from Geng Qianxing, she intended to claim her share.

Dean Andong Ao chuckled, "I heard Chief Shi left Pujiang on business—do you think it's related to that Ding Huan?"

"Heh…" Seeing Dean Andong Ao still dodging her question, Qin Qiang let out a dry laugh and walked straight into the Dongxun Gene Center building.

Where Shi Changyi went—did she really not know? Still putting on an act.

This guy was clearly a European, yet his speech patterns mimicked the most seasoned bureaucrats.

Seeing Qin Qiang enter, Dean Andong Ao had no choice but to follow.

"What happened?" Qin Qiang frowned at the two security guards lying dead at the entrance of the Dongxun Gene Center building.

"What happened? This is clearly the result of the Seleu gene serum," Dean Andong Ao replied.

Qin Qiang said, "I know they fused the Seleu gene serum, but this incident happened some time ago."

Given the Gene Alliance's usual speed, even the corpses at the gate haven't been cleared yet—that doesn't make sense."

Saying this, Qin Qiang rushed into the building. The first floor was completely empty—not a single person, not even the receptionist.

Qin Qiang's heart sank; she sensed something was wrong with the Gene Alliance. This didn't serve her interests—and she was part of the Gene Alliance.

"Go to the top floor," Dean Andong Ao also sensed something was off.

The Seleu gene serum has gone wrong; everywhere, people are dying from it.

But the Gene Alliance is different—it would have contained the situation immediately. The corpses at the gate wouldn't have remained untouched for so long.

The elevator quickly brought them to the top floor.

The top floor was also empty; only the conference room's light seemed to be on.

Two bodies lay dead at the conference room door.

Dean Andong Ao stepped forward in one motion, flinging open the conference room door.

A faint scent of blood seeped out; the sight inside left both Dean Andong Ao and Qin Qiang stunned.

"Did they all fuse the Seleu gene serum?" Dean Andong Ao immediately realized how stupid the question was.

"Heh, can't you see some were shot and stabbed?" Qin Qiang sneered at his intelligence.

Dean Andong Ao walked to Gu Xian's side, pressed a finger against his face—the flesh collapsed like mud.

He quickly pulled his finger back, murmuring, "This isn't the death state of Seleu serum. Could it be gene chain collapse? Doesn't look like it—more like poisoning."

Qin Qiang walked around once, then said gravely, "Of them, only a few died from the Seleu gene serum; the rest were all killed."

"Who would dare kill here?" Dean Andong Ao was utterly confused.

Dare to kill at the Gene Alliance's headquarters? Is this person tired of living?

"Earlier, I saw you talking to a herbal merchant outside the Dongxun Gene Center building—who was he?" Qin Qiang suddenly asked.

Dean Andong Ao suddenly realized, then said:

"It must be him—I sensed a faint aura of killing intent on him, so I stopped him. Didn't expect you to come find me then."

"Then what are we waiting for? Go find him!" Qin Qiang snorted.

She suspected Dean Andong Ao was trying to shift blame onto her.

"Where would he go?" Dean Andong Ao asked instinctively.

Qin Qiang frowned, then said, "He attacked the Gene Alliance—he'll try to leave Puhai immediately. Check every high-speed rail station in Puhai."

She suspected it was already too late to catch him at the station—but if she said this and took action, it would show she was actively helping the Gene Alliance.

…

Ding Huan was desperately anxious, wishing he could immediately head to Yiling City in Anjiang Province—that was Qu Yi's address.

Geng Qianxing's matter had to be postponed.

As long as the Gene Alliance hadn't obtained the true methods to cultivate the Thousand-Network Gene Scripture and Basic Long Fist, Geng Qianxing was safe.

Had he not met Dean Andong Ao, he could have killed all the Gene Alliance's senior members in the Dongxun Gene Center building—no one would have known, because he left no survivors.

Ding Huan only hoped Dean Andong Ao and the woman named Qin would chat longer, and not enter the Dongxun Gene Center building at all.

Once these two entered the building, his massacre of the Gene Alliance's leadership would be exposed immediately.

Though he had disguised himself, he still hadn't left Puhai.

Ding Huan wanted to leave right away, but he worried about Qu Yi—he had to take the high-speed train from Puhai.

The fastest way to reach Yiling City in Anjiang Province is by taking the high-speed train from Puhai. If he left Puhai now, it would take him two extra days to reach Yiling.

He knew waiting at the station was dangerous, but he had no choice but to risk it.

He changed his disguise again—not only did he swap his bag, but he transformed from a lone herbal merchant into a student who failed the Puhai examination.

To get from Puhai to Yiling, one must first go to Jingchuan City, then take another train to Yiling—that's the fastest route.

The high-speed train leaves in an hour; Ding Huan sat in the waiting room, appearing dejected on the surface, but constantly monitoring his surroundings.

He only hoped Dean Andong Ao wouldn't come—if Dean Andong Ao did come, what then?

Ding Huan didn't want to consider this question—but now he had to.

……

On the train to Luohe, Geng Geng Qianxing stared blankly ahead; one person sat on each side of him.

He had told the Gene Alliance that some endurance gene data was hidden in Luohe.

These were just lies—he made them up; all the endurance gene data, except what was written in his notebook, resided inside his own mind.

The reason he led the Gene Alliance members on this winding detour was to give Fang Chong and the others time to complete their evaluation.

Once Fang Chong and the other three completed their evaluation and joined one of the Top Ten Academies of Blue Star, the Gene Alliance would have no way to continue targeting them.

Only half the journey to Heluo City had been completed when a Gene Alliance member sitting beside Geng Qianxing suddenly convulsed, then let out a guttural "uh-uh" sound; the next moment his face twisted, and blood began oozing from all his features.

"Gu Zhao, what's wrong with you?" Another Gene Alliance member hurried around Geng Geng Qianxing to reach his companion.

His companion could not answer him—he collapsed onto the aisle.

Geng Geng Qianxing was equally puzzled—had this guy suddenly suffered a disease?

Soon Geng Geng Qianxing realized this was no disease; two others in the carriage were experiencing the same condition.

A virus outbreak?

Geng Geng Qianxing's heart lurched, then he saw Quan Laoda intently watching his companion—this guy was no good.

If he passed up such a perfect opportunity, as Ding Huan would say, he deserved it.

Ding Huan had said more than once that he wasn't suited to survive in this chaotic age—he was only fit for scientific research in times of peace.

What was the point of working on endurance genes? With his level of survival ability, Geng Geng Qianxing was just dooming himself.

Wasn't Ding Huan right about him right now? No—he wasn't some soft target in this chaotic age.

Thinking this, Geng Geng Qianxing no longer hesitated—he stood up and delivered a palm-strike to the back of Quan Laoda's neck.

Geng Geng Qianxing had trained for several months and was now nearing First-Grade Gene Cultivator strength.

With this blow, not even Quan Laoda could withstand it—let alone a true First-Grade Gene Cultivator.

Quan Laoda grunted softly, then collapsed.

The carriage was now in chaos—not just Geng Geng Qianxing's section, but every other carriage had the same situation; who would care about Geng Geng Qianxing's actions?

Geng Geng Qianxing stared at the unconscious Quan Laoda, locked in fierce internal struggle.

Kill or not kill.

If he was going to kill, now was the best chance—if he waited, it would be too late.

Could he just flee without killing Quan Laoda?

Soon Geng Geng Qianxing realized: if he didn't kill Quan Laoda, fleeing now would only chain himself.

Looking at the chaotic carriage, Geng Geng Qianxing gritted his teeth and smashed a punch straight into Quan Laoda's death point; with a burst of internal force, Quan Laoda let out one final grunt, then fell utterly still.

Geng Geng Qianxing took a breath—he had killed his first person.

If he didn't kill Quan Laoda, the next to die would be him.

Not only would he die, but Ding Huan might even be lured to Luohe City to meet his end.

He had to prove to Ding Huan: in this age of ferocious beasts, little Geng could still survive.

No one cared that Geng Geng Qianxing had killed someone; over ten people had already been found dead suddenly on this train.

This wasn't over—the number of dead kept rising.

All carriages were now in chaos; to others, this looked like a virus outbreak.

Crowds surged toward the train doors, shouting for the train to stop so they could flee.

Some began smashing the windows.

Just as the chaos seemed utterly uncontrollable, the intercom crackled to life.

"I am the train conductor, Lou Xin. All passengers, please remain calm. This incident is not a virus—it is gene collapse among passengers who have integrated the Seleu Gene Serum."

"The problem lies with the Seleu Gene Serum, not a virus, not a virus, not a virus…"

The conductor repeated "not a virus" over and over, finally calming the passengers.

Soon everyone identified the common trait among the dead: all had integrated the Seleu Gene Serum.

Geng Geng Qianxing broke into a cold sweat—if Ding Huan hadn't warned him, he would have killed his own mother.

Calm now, Geng Geng Qianxing decided to head to Luohe first. Once there, he'd find a way to warn Ding Huan, then take his mother and leave Luohe to find a safe place to hide.

He would then train hard in the Thousand Network Gene Art to strengthen himself.

Geng Geng Qianxing did not know he was now perfectly safe—no one would come after him, and the Gene Alliance wouldn't even think of him for a long time.