Chapter 256

In the tent at the temporary camp in the Ice Field Mountains, the light from the emergency lamp fell steadily on the tabletop. Sister Chu Yao Yao crouched on the ground, her fingertips sliding rapidly across the screen of the portable medical database.

The dense text and data on the screen kept refreshing,

from the characteristics of the conventional zombie virus to the mutation map of the secondary infection virus,

and then to the gene sequence of this new type of virus in A Nian's body, every piece of information was checked by her repeatedly.

Lu Ran sat on the cold-resistant mat nearby, his gaze fixed tightly on the screen,

the submachine gun in his hand gripped until his knuckles turned white. A Nian was curled up on the other side, her face still pale,

and although the black veins on her right calf had temporarily shrunk, they still occupied the space under her skin like spiderwebs, faintly exuding a dangerous aura.

Xia Nuan stood at the tent entrance, holding the last spare inhibitor, her eyes filled with anxiety. She knew that conventional treatment methods had already failed,

and the inhibitor couldn't last long either. Now, the only hope was this medical database brought out from the Human Alliance headquarters.

Time passed second by second, and Sister Chu Yao Yao's fingers slid faster and faster,

the content on the screen flipping continuously, from the virus's transmission route to the symptoms after infection,

and then to the existing treatment plans, every item was carefully checked by her. Suddenly, her fingers stopped, and a line of bold red text jumped out on the screen,

with a highest-level danger warning marked next to it.

Sister Chu Yao Yao's pupils contracted sharply. She leaned close to the screen, reading it word by word,

her face becoming increasingly heavy. Lu Ran's heart rose to his throat;

he hurriedly leaned over, but only saw a line of obscure, difficult-to-understand professional terminology, not understanding what it meant at all.

"Team Leader Chu,

how is it?

Is there a way?

" Lu Ran's voice carried a hint of trembling; he grabbed Sister Chu Yao Yao's arm, his force so great it almost crushed her bones.

Sister Chu Yao Yao slowly raised her head, her eyes carrying a hint of despair. She looked at Lu Ran,

then looked at A Nian, who was curled up to the side, her voice hoarse beyond recognition: "Only by completely releasing the healing ability core can this mutant virus possibly be cleared, but the practitioner will definitely die."

This sentence was like a bomb exploding in the tent. Lu Ran's body stiffened suddenly,

and the hand grabbing Sister Chu Yao Yao's arm also loosened. The inhibitor in Xia Nuan's hand fell to the ground,

making a crisp sound, yet no one went to pick it up. A Nian slowly opened her eyes. She looked at Sister Chu Yao Yao, then looked at Lu Ran, and tears slid down silently, soaking the cold-resistant mat beneath her.

"I won't be treated." A Nian's voice was very light, yet it clearly reached every corner of the tent, "I don't want anyone to die because of me."

Shut up!

Lu Ran turned his head suddenly and roared at A Nian, "Without your sensing ability, we can't find the Human Alliance headquarters, and everyone will die. You must be treated!"

A Nian's tears flowed even more fiercely; she buried her head in her knees, her shoulders trembling continuously.

Sister Chu Yao Yao took a deep breath. She picked up the inhibitor from the ground and stuffed it into Lu Ran's hand: "This is the last inhibitor; it can last for three hours.

We must reach the Human Alliance headquarters within three hours; perhaps there is another way there."

Lu Ran took the inhibitor, but his hands were trembling continuously. He knew

that Sister Chu Yao Yao was telling the truth, but he knew even more clearly what completely releasing the healing ability core meant.

That was using the practitioner's life to trade for another person's chance to live. No one was willing, and no one had the right to ask others to do so.

The wind and snow outside the tent gradually lessened, and sunlight spilled down through the cloud layer,

landing on the vast white snow. Lu Ran stood up, carefully finished injecting the inhibitor for A Nian,

and wrapped her tightly in the cold-resistant blanket again. Xia Nuan had already packed the equipment, carrying a huge backpack, and stood at the door waiting for them.

Sister Chu Yao Yao took one last look at the text on the medical database,

then turned off the screen and tucked it into her bosom. She knew that she must let this secret rot in her stomach.

At the same time, in the slum area of the western hills safe zone, Lin Chen was patrolling with two team members.

This was the most dilapidated place in the safe zone, with low and old prefabricated houses,

the roads were muddy, and a foul odor permeated the air.

Several ragged children were crouching by the roadside, holding salvaged waste. Seeing Lin Chen approach, they all stood up and looked at him timidly.

Lin Chen's gaze swept over the surroundings, his brows knitting tightly. Although the overall order of the safe zone had improved a lot,

the situation in the slum area was still not optimistic. He instructed the deputy beside him: "Notify the logistics department to send a batch of cotton clothes and food tomorrow, and send a few people to repair the roads here."

The deputy nodded immediately and took out his communicator to make arrangements. Lin Chen continued to walk forward,

his gaze landing on a garbage pile not far away. A man wearing old cotton clothes was crouching there,

holding an iron rod, rummaging through the garbage pile for something.

His hair was messy, and his face was covered in mud, making it impossible to see his specific appearance.

Lin Chen's footsteps paused; he always felt that this man's back was somewhat familiar. He waved his hand to let the team members behind him stop,

and walked over slowly himself. The man seemed to sense someone approaching; his body stiffened suddenly, and he turned around slowly.

When he saw the man's face clearly, Lin Chen's pupils contracted sharply,

and his footsteps stopped in place. The man's face was full of the vicissitudes of life, his eyes carrying a hint of numbness and a hint of vigilance that was not easily detected. He looked at Lin Chen, his lips moved, but he didn't say a word.

Lin Chen also looked at him, his heart churning. This man was none other than Fu Tian. He was a brother who had once lived and died with him, but later, because of different philosophies, they parted ways and became like strangers.

Fu Tian also recognized Lin Chen, and a hint of complex emotion flashed in his eyes,

including surprise, embarrassment, and a hint of unwillingness. He lowered his head and continued to rummage through the garbage pile, as if he hadn't seen Lin Chen at all.

Lin Chen stood in place, watching Fu Tian's actions, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He wanted to say something, but didn't know where to start. A former brother,

now picking through garbage in the slum area's trash heap—this contrast made it difficult for him to accept for a moment.

The team member beside him recognized Fu Tian and whispered to Lin Chen,

"Captain Lin, should we..."

Lin Chen waved his hand, interrupting the team member's words. He watched Fu Tian's back, remained silent for a long time, and then spoke slowly: "Long time no see."

Fu Tian's body trembled suddenly, and the iron rod in his hand fell to the ground,

making a crisp sound. He didn't turn back, nor did he speak, just crouched there, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Lin Chen looked at him and said another sentence: "If you have any difficulties, you can come to the command center to find me."

After saying this, Fu Tian's body trembled even more violently. He still didn't turn back,

nor did he respond. Lin Chen sighed, turned to the team members, and said: "Let's go."

The two team members immediately followed, and they slowly left the slum area with Lin Chen.

Beside the garbage pile, Fu Tian remained crouching there, not moving for a long time. The sunlight fell on him, yet it could not dispel the chill on his body.