Li Feng sat in the laboratory, his legs propped up on the table as he leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed.
The wall of the room opposite him was made entirely of glass, allowing him to see Qiu Shi lying on a hospital bed inside, surrounded by a flurry of busy doctors.
When he first saw Qiu Shi, Li Feng had imagined him being gravely injured, perhaps even close to death.
But he hadn’t expected “close to death” to be a description; it was a fact.
Curator Wu even felt that the very notion of Qiu Shi still being alive when brought in was something that defied science.
“How long has it been?” Li Feng asked.
“A few hours, I suppose. I haven’t kept track,” Curator Wu replied, standing beside him.
“Don’t you want to go in and take a look?” Li Feng asked.
“I’m not a doctor,” Curator Wu said. “These things are better left to the professionals.”
Inside the glass-walled room were the best doctors in Yun City, representing the pinnacle of human medical expertise.
To be fair, the medical equipment was indeed top-notch. When the company first established Yun City, they had brought in the best equipment of the time. Over the years, the facilities had been continually upgraded.
But as for medical skills… Li Feng wasn’t so sure. That said, there wasn’t much else to be done at the moment.
“Will he wake up?” Li Feng asked. “He’s lost so much blood. Will it affect his brain?”
“It’s hard to say,” Curator Wu replied. “If it doesn’t work…”
“Not yet,” Li Feng interrupted. “That’s the last resort.”
“Didn’t you already prepare for the last resort when you ordered them to bring him back, even if barely alive?” Curator Wu asked.
“We’re not there yet,” Li Feng said.
Zhang Qifeng entered from outside. “Do you have any more questions? Zhao Yi has already finished his examination.”
“Have him wait for me in the conference room,” Li Feng said, standing up. He walked to the glass wall, gazing inside for a moment, then turned toward the door. “Lao Wu, I’ll leave this to you for now.”
Zhao Yi had already changed into casual clothes. When he saw Li Feng enter the conference room, he stood up. “Deputy Team Leader Li.”
“Sit,” Li Feng said, closing the door behind him. “There should’ve been someone from the military here, but this matter needs to be kept confidential. So, it’s just the two of us.”
“I understand,” Zhao Yi said.
“How were the controlled infected individuals dealt with?” Li Feng asked, diving straight into the matter.
Zhao Yi hesitated for a moment before replying, “Xing Bi controlled them.”
Li Feng raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “What?”
“Xing Bi controlled all the infected individuals,” Zhao Yi said.
Li Feng was silent for two seconds. “These infected individuals were originally controlled by how many…”
“Five bioroids,” Zhao Yi said. “Sang Fan said he could sense five at the scene, though there might’ve been more.”
“Alright,” Li Feng nodded. “And afterward, he killed those infected individuals?”
“Some collapsed suddenly, some killed each other, and others were killed by black-blooded people,” Zhao Yi answered. Recalling these events seemed to agitate him; he spoke quickly. “Afterward, he attacked the bioroid controlling the infected, the one who stabbed Qiu Shi, then crushed the bones in Qiu Shi’s left wrist and went after the entities.”
Li Feng took at least ten seconds to process this information.
“Other than the members of the second squad present, who else knows about this?”
“The old man,” Zhao Yi thought for a moment. “The captured black-blooded people we brought back probably don’t know. They were hiding in the underground levels when they were caught.”
“You know how to handle this information, don’t you?” Li Feng asked.
“Yes,” Zhao Yi replied.
“You’re heroes of Yun City,” Li Feng said.
Zhao Yi looked at him, his eyes betraying a faint sadness. “I know.”
Li Feng sat alone in the conference room for a long time before standing up and returning to the laboratory. Originally, he still needed to meet Lin Sheng and Sang Fan, but that might have to wait.
He didn’t doubt the accuracy of Zhao Yi’s information, but the reality of the situation was something he hadn’t expected.
He had always assumed Xing Bi had unleashed some immense combat strength or employed some method to eliminate all the infected. If things were as they stood now, Lin Sheng and Sang Fan might not be able to bring Xing Bi back.
Yun City had already lost all contact with Xing Bi. His physical data transmission had long been cut off due to the distance, and before Xing Bi left, he had crushed Qiu Shi’s wrist bones, clearly to prevent him from stopping him.
What was he planning to do?
Avenge Qiu Shi?
In Qiu Shi’s current state, would avenging him even matter?
Li Feng sat down in his chair, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
Curator Wu handed him a comb.
“What’s this for?” Li Feng looked at him. “Do I look like I’m in the mood for this?”
Curator Wu placed the comb on the table in front of him.
After a while, Li Feng picked up the comb and tidied his disheveled hair. “Lao Wu.”
Curator Wu let out a heavy sigh. “Am I about to hear another shocking secret?”
“No secret. I just have a question,” Li Feng said.
“Go ahead,” Curator Wu said.
“How did Xing Bi manage to control all the infected individuals at the same time?” Li Feng asked. “Especially when they were already being controlled by their respective bioroids.”
Curator Wu froze for a moment, then turned to look at him. “How is this different from telling me a secret?”
Li Feng remained silent. After a while, Curator Wu spoke again. “It might have been by controlling those bioroids, but theoretically, it’s extremely difficult.”
For now, all questions had no answers.
Li Feng stared blankly at Qiu Shi, who was obscured by the doctors surrounding him.
Outside, the residents of Yun City had already started celebrating the return of their hero team, but in the lab lay a hero who might never wake up again.
By the time the surgery was over, it was late at night. Li Feng felt that he was the one who might need that “last resort” treatment himself—something to strengthen him so he wouldn’t need to sleep anymore.
He walked to the bedside. Qiu Shi’s face had a bit more color than when he had first been brought back, but it was still pale. He looked nothing like his usual self—cocky and ready to kick anyone who annoyed him.
His injuries were hidden under the blanket, but his left hand, in a splint, lay outside. There were traces of dried blood on his fingertips that hadn’t been completely cleaned.
“Qiu Shi.” Li Feng sat down in a chair and called his name.
Of course, Qiu Shi didn’t respond.
“If you don’t wake up in three days, you might never wake up,” Li Feng said. “By then, you might be… I think you wouldn’t want that. If you want to refuse, you have to wake up and tell me yourself.”
There was no other sound in the room. The monotonous beeping of the machines at the bedside only made the silence even more suffocating.
“Making choices is hard, and sticking to them is even harder. That’s why I’ve never doubted my own choices,” Li Feng said softly. “You once asked me if I would feel guilty about you.”
He fell silent for a long time, watching Curator Wu and the laboratory staff bustling outside the glass wall.
“I would,” he said.
—
The command center was busy, though it didn’t require direct oversight. The stationed troops had reached Xima Town and were conducting final cleanups. After that, heavy equipment and weapons would move in. Squad One had been reassigned to secure the perimeter, a task originally meant for Squad Three. But since Lin Sheng might need to assist in locating Xing Bi, Squad Three had to adjust. They stayed in the inner city, awaiting new orders and watching Squad Two enjoy the glory of a hero’s return. Most members were fine with it, but their captain, Liu Wu, was clearly disgruntled.
Li Feng found a quiet corner to take a nap. The endless pile of messy issues seemed impossible to finish.
Just as he was beginning to doze off, Xiao Lei called.
Xiao Lei was part of the corpse collector team. Given the current situation, Li Feng couldn’t even muster the energy to get angry. He put on his headset. “What’s up?”
“What do you think it could be?” Zhao Lü’s voice came from the other side.
Li Feng pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll come find you in a bit.”
“We’re at the inner city checkpoint now,” Zhao Lü said. “If we don’t see you in five minutes, we’ll smash the damn checkpoint.”
“Wait,” Li Feng said.
—
Five minutes later, Li Feng’s car pulled out of the inner city. Zhao Lü and Xiao Lei were squatting outside the checkpoint with Hu Xiaoling and He Jiang.
“I’ll be there in about twenty minutes,” Li Feng said over the phone, then instructed the driver to stop the car. He got out, walked to the back door, and gestured for them to get in. “Hop in.”
Zhao Lü glanced at him, waved to his comrades, and they all got in. Instead of returning to the front passenger seat, Li Feng joined them in the back.
The car turned around and headed back to the inner city.
“Director Li,” Xiao Lei began awkwardly, “we…”
“I know you couldn’t stop them,” Li Feng said. “I didn’t expect you to.”
“Is Qiu Shi dead?” Zhao Lü asked.
These guys really thought Qiu Shi was bound to die every day.
“No,” Li Feng said. “But he’s injured and hasn’t woken up yet.”
“Where are we going now?” Zhao Lü asked.
Compared to Qiu Shi, Zhao Lü was slightly more composed. If it had been Qiu Shi, the moment Li Feng said “hasn’t woken up yet,” he might’ve already kicked him.
“To see him,” Li Feng said. “Maybe you guys can wake him up.”
“How did he get hurt so badly?” Hu Xiaoling shouted hoarsely, his voice trembling with emotion. “Everyone else in that hero team seems fine. Why is he the only one so injured he can’t wake up?”
“Where’s Xing Bi?” Zhao Lü asked.
Li Feng hesitated and didn’t answer.
“Where’s Xing Bi?” Zhao Lü asked again.
“Don’t know. He’s missing,” Li Feng said.
Zhao Lü fell silent, and so did everyone else in the car.
—
The exhibition hall had set up a special route, allowing the group to reach Qiu Shi’s room without passing through any sensitive areas.
Li Feng pushed open the door. A doctor stood inside.
“How is he?” Li Feng asked.
“His condition is stable,” the doctor replied. “It’s just a matter of when he wakes up.”
“Please wait outside for a moment,” Li Feng said.
The doctor left the room, closing the door behind him.
Zhao Lü and the others slowly approached the bedside. The room was eerily quiet as they stared at the motionless Qiu Shi.
“Director Li, where is he injured?” Xiao Lei asked.
“His body, mostly knife wounds,” Li Feng replied.
Frowning, Zhao Lü pulled back the blanket. Qiu Shi’s body was wrapped in bandages, some of which were still stained with fresh blood. Hu Xiaoling took one look and immediately squatted down, hugging his head as he sobbed.
He Jiang crouched down silently and gently patted his shoulder.
“Brother Shi,” Zhao Lü leaned close to Qiu Shi’s ear. “Can you hear me?”
“Brother Shi…” Hu Xiaoling also leaned over, wiping away tears as he clung to the bedside. “Can you hear us?”
“Qiu Shi,” Xiao Lei began but seemed unsure what to say. “The supplies… they’re still enough for the next few days.”
He Jiang glanced at him. “What are you even talking about?”
“An unconventional approach,” Zhao Lü said. “Are you trying to annoy Brother Shi awake?”
“Qiu Shi,” Xiao Lei adjusted his tone. “Wake up soon. These guys can’t live without you.”
Hu Xiaoling burst into tears.
“That’s not true,” Zhao Lü sighed. “Say something more encouraging.”
“I want to join the corpse collector team,” Xiao Lei said.
“How is that encouraging?” He Jiang asked.
“Qiu Shi,” Zhao Lü lightly tapped Qiu Shi’s face with his finger. “Did you hear that? These guys can’t even talk straight. Do you know how hard I’ve had to work? Hurry up and wake up; come on.”
Suddenly, Qiu Shi let out a faint “hmm.”
Li Feng froze.
“Did you hear that?!” Zhao Lü suddenly lifted his head. “Did you hear it?”
“Say it again.” Li Feng rushed to the bedside.
“I broke Official Dog Li’s leg,” Zhao Lü said.
“The City Defense Bureau scumbags came to cause trouble at the shelter again,” He Jiang said.
“Hu Xiaoling said he’d go after Xing Bi alone,” Hu Xiaoling said himself.
Qiu Shi’s left hand, which rested outside the blanket, moved its fingers slightly.
“Xing Bi,” Xiao Lei immediately leaned closer. “Xing Bi, Xing Bi, Xing Bi, Xing Bi, Xing Bi…”
“Damn it, I knew you two…” Zhao Lü poked Qiu Shi’s face. “All of us together can’t compare to one Xing Bi, huh? Xing Bi, Xing Bi, Xing Bi…”
After half an hour of effort, Qiu Shi didn’t wake up, but despite only two small reactions, there was still hope.
However, Qiu Shi still needed rest. Not waking up was also related to his poor physical condition.
“Can we come back to see him tomorrow?” Hu Xiaoling asked.
“If there’s a chance, I’ll arrange it,” Li Feng said softly. “But Qiu Shi’s injury and Xing Bi’s disappearance are classified. Letting you visit too frequently could cause issues.”
“Try your best to arrange it,” Zhao Lü said. “We could come one at a time.”
“Alright.” Li Feng nodded, looking at him.
“You can rest assured about the confidentiality,” Zhao Lü said. “We’ve dealt with corpses for years. We’re used to keeping our mouths shut.”
“I’ll have the driver take you back,” Li Feng said.
Qiu Shi’s injuries had already received the best equipment and treatment Yun City could offer. At this point, apart from waiting for him to wake up on his own, there were no other conventional methods left.
There were, however, unconventional methods.
Curator Wu had been eager to try. Normally, he avoided trouble and conflicts whenever possible, but the only thing that could genuinely excite him was anything related to bioroids and modifications.
Li Feng was reluctant. He insisted on waiting for Qiu Shi to wake up and decide for himself.
“What if he doesn’t wake up?” Mr. Long asked. “He’s our only hope for finding Xing Bi. You know how dangerous a bioroid like Xing Bi can be if he’s not on our side.”
Li Feng stared at Mr. Long’s face on the screen in silence for a long time before speaking: “Mr. Long, let’s wait a bit longer. You know what Xing Bi did for his teacher. To him, Qiu Shi is no less important than his teacher. If we really act against Qiu Shi’s will, Xing Bi will become the greatest danger, created by us.”
“Can Wei Yuan be found now?” Mr. Long asked. “Xing Bi knows about his close relationship with Qiu Shi. Would he…”
Hearing the old man’s name mentioned so suddenly, Li Feng froze momentarily before reacting. “No. Zhao Yi left him supplies. He told Zhao Yi he was in Xima Town, but now the stationed forces haven’t found any trace of him.”
Mr. Long sighed.
“If he stays in Xima, it’s probably to wait for Qiu Shi or Xing Bi,” Li Feng said. “Once Qiu Shi recovers, I plan to send him there first.”
“The General has already agreed to using unconventional methods on Qiu Shi,” Mr. Long said. “If he doesn’t wake up within two days, I won’t be able to hold them off.”
“I understand,” Li Feng said.
After dealing with the endless mess at the Department of Security, Li Feng called for the driver and headed to the Exhibit Hall.
On the way, he noticed more pedestrians on the streets than before. Laser and neon signs on the mountain walls flashed slogans about the heroic team. It looked quite inspiring.
But Li Feng couldn’t feel uplifted.
The hero captain was still lying unconscious, unseen by the public. The longer this lasted, the more likely people would start questioning.
He sighed and shifted his gaze from the car window.
One minute later, Curator Wu called. As soon as the call connected, an anxious voice came through: “Get here quickly. Qiu Shi is responding.”
“I’m on my way.” Li Feng gestured to the driver, who immediately accelerated. “Is he waking up?”
“Not sure, but he’s responding to light and sound,” Curator Wu said. “Maybe some more stimulation will wake him.”
“I’ll stimulate him when I get there,” Li Feng said. “Don’t mess around.”
“I’m a professional,” Curator Wu replied.
“I’ll handle it,” Li Feng said.
“Got it, got it,” Curator Wu said.
As soon as Li Feng entered the lab, he saw Curator Wu waiting outside the hospital room.
“When I go in, ask about Xing Bi,” Li Feng said.
“Xing Bi?” Curator Wu looked at him. “Will it work?”
“It will,” Li Feng said before walking into the room.
Qiu Shi was still lying on the bed, his complexion slightly better than it had been a few days ago.
“Qiu Shi,” Li Feng sat by the bed. “I have to head to the command center in a bit, but I came to check on you first.”
Curator Wu pushed the door open and peeked his head inside.
Li Feng signaled to him.
Ask about Xing Bi.
“Xing Bi is back!” Curator Wu blurted.
Sticking his head in the door seemed to have short-circuited his brain.
Li Feng was speechless. Just as he was about to ask Curator Wu to redo it, the heart monitor’s beeping changed. Li Feng then noticed Qiu Shi’s breathing had also quickened.
“Qiu Shi,” Li Feng leaned close to his ear. “We’re sending people to Xima Town to find Xing Bi, but we can’t do it without you…”
Qiu Shi’s eyes moved beneath his eyelids.
Curator Wu called in a doctor. When the doctor entered, he carried a bottle of some solution, seemingly ready to hook it up to Qiu Shi. Li Feng immediately noticed the lab’s logo on the bottle.
“What is that?” He stopped the doctor and looked at Curator Wu.
“A support drug, safe for humans,” Curator Wu explained. “It won’t cause any changes to his body. It’s just used to assist someone who’s on the verge of waking up. Even Mr. Long has used it.”
Li Feng didn’t say anything, motioning for the doctor to hook it up.
His head felt heavy, his eyelids like lead.
His entire body ached terribly.
Qiu Shi didn’t want to open his eyes, but he knew he’d been lying there for a long time. He’d heard many voices and seen many shifting shadows, but everything was unclear.
His last clear memory was of Xing Bi’s boot.
And the stomp that landed on his wrist.
As the scene replayed in his mind, Qiu Shi felt that piercing pain again.
Not from his wrist, but from his left chest.
His breathing became rapid and labored.
“Qiu Shi? Can you hear me? Open your eyes.”
Someone was calling him. The voice was very familiar, though it didn’t bring him any joy.
“You’re already awake. Open your eyes. We don’t have much time.”
It was Li Feng.
Qiu Shi struggled to open his eyes.
“Any later, and I’m afraid we’ll miss the best chance to find Xing Bi,” Li Feng said.
Xing Bi.
Qiu Shi’s eyes suddenly snapped open. The room’s light was soft, but even that dim light instantly filled his eyes with tears. He quickly closed them again.
“Turn off the lights,” Li Feng said.
The surroundings dimmed.
Qiu Shi opened his eyes again.
“You’re finally awake,” Li Feng said.
“How long?” When Qiu Shi spoke, he realized his throat felt like it had been scorched by fire, almost unable to make a sound.
“Nearly three days. If you hadn’t woken up soon…” Li Feng placed a straw near his mouth. “Drink a small sip.”
Qiu Shi took a small sip of water. It felt like his soul had been swallowed back into his body with that sip. His vision gradually became clearer.
“I want to get up,” Qiu Shi said, trying to move.
“Don’t move yet,” Curator Wu hurried over. “You’re still very weak.”
“I feel fine,” Qiu Shi said.
“That’s the medication talking,” Li Feng said. “It’s keeping you awake for a short time. It doesn’t mean your body is okay. You were stabbed seventeen times and almost bled out. It’s not something you can recover from in just three days.”
Qiu Shi glared at the ceiling. After a while, he asked, “Where’s Xing Bi?”
“…Still out of contact,” Li Feng said. “He disappeared.”
“After he crushed the bones in my hand?” Qiu Shi turned his head slightly to look at his left hand, encased in a splint and thick bandages.
“Yes,” Li Feng replied.
Qiu Shi fell silent.
“Where do you think he might have gone?” Li Feng asked.
“He knows that bioroid, the core one. They know each other,” Qiu Shi said.
Li Feng leaned forward. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” Qiu Shi said. “Earlier…”
Qiu Shi paused. His body wasn’t doing well—just saying a few words made him feel drained. He took a couple of breaths before continuing, “When we returned from Donglin, it was the same… an infected person called Xing Bi… by name.”
“I see,” Li Feng patted him on the shoulder. “Get some rest first.”
“Let’s talk business,” Qiu Shi said.
“Hmm?” Li Feng looked at him.
“You waited here for me to wake up… for three days,” Qiu Shi said. “Since when… have you cared so much about me?”
Li Feng chuckled. “That’s not fair. I may have put you in tough spots, but I do care about you.”
Qiu Shi said nothing, staring at him.
Li Feng glanced at Curator Wu.
Curator Wu stepped forward. “Qiu Shi, in your current condition, a full recovery to the point of walking unaided… with Yun City’s best medical resources…”
“How long?” Qiu Shi interrupted.
“Two months,” Curator Wu said. “With all the best medicine and equipment.”
Qiu Shi frowned.
That timeline was longer than he had expected.
“Right now, you’re relying on medication to talk to us like this,” Curator Wu said. “This drug can’t be used continuously—it has side effects. Once the effects wear off, you might fall back into a coma. Your organs are severely damaged; there are too many stab wounds.”
Qiu Shi remained silent.
“Lao Wu,” Li Feng looked at Curator Wu and the doctor. “You both step out for now. I want to talk to Qiu Shi alone.”
Curator Wu hesitated but then left with the doctor.
“You’re not all on the same page, are you?” Qiu Shi asked.
“Yeah,” Li Feng smiled. “Pretty sharp for someone who just woke up from such serious injuries.”
“It’s probably the drugs,” Qiu Shi glanced at the yellow liquid hanging above him. It looked like urine. Ugh.
“If you remember anything,” Li Feng said, “I can send Lin Sheng and Sang Fan to find Xing Bi.”
“No,” Qiu Shi said. “That’s suicide.”
“Even Lin Sheng?” Li Feng asked. “Sang Fan may be new and inexperienced, but Lin Sheng is a top-level Hidden Guard, just like Xing Bi. They’re from the same batch…”
“He’ll die,” Qiu Shi said. “I’ll go.”
Li Feng said nothing, just stared at him.
“Xing Bi isn’t an ordinary… top-level Hidden Guard,” Qiu Shi turned his head. Li Feng quickly brought the straw to his mouth, and he took another small sip of water. “His control… is too strong. In his current… out-of-control state, even Lin Sheng might… be controlled by him.”
“Maybe he hasn’t lost control,” Li Feng said quietly. “When he left, the last order he gave to Sang Fan and the two Level 2s was to protect your safety.”
Qiu Shi froze, staring at Li Feng for a long time without speaking.
It wasn’t until Li Feng handed him a tissue that he realized his face was covered in tears.
“Damn it.” Qiu Shi tried to lift his left hand but saw the splint. When he tried with his right hand, he found it covered in tubes and wires.
“I got it, I got it,” Li Feng said, wiping his face with the tissue.
“You and Curator Wu… disagree about what?” Qiu Shi asked.
He had a vague idea but wanted confirmation.
“Your injuries were so severe you shouldn’t have survived,” Li Feng said. “Even now, we can’t guarantee you won’t relapse into a coma. Even if you don’t, many of your body’s functions may be permanently impaired. A full recovery… will take a long time.”
“Maybe I’ll never recover,” Qiu Shi wasn’t surprised. He had known when those blades fell that he might die. “You want to… modify me.”
Li Feng stayed silent.
“If I don’t recover,” Qiu Shi said, “Xing Bi won’t have a suitable… partner.”
“More precisely, he won’t have anyone he trusts,” Li Feng said. “Yun City would lose Xing Bi. Worse, we might gain an enemy. And we wouldn’t have any way to find him.”
“Why do you… think he’d even want…” Qiu Shi closed his eyes. “To be found?”
“Maybe I don’t know,” Li Feng said. “But you certainly do.”
Qiu Shi didn’t respond.
“This doesn’t have to be decided now,” Li Feng said. “I want you to make the choice yourself.”
“If I don’t… agree,” Qiu Shi stared at him, “can you withstand the pressure?”
“Not necessarily,” Li Feng admitted.
“You already…” Qiu Shi said, “know I’ll agree. You just… want me to say it myself.”
Li Feng turned his head and slowly walked to the glass wall, gazing out at the lab beyond.
“I’ve been the same as Xing Bi for a long time,” Qiu Shi said.
Li Feng didn’t move or speak.
“We’re just tools.” Qiu Shi closed his eyes and sighed softly. “The old man had a little box on the back of his neck. He… enhanced himself. He said… once it’s installed, you’re no longer human.”
Li Feng still said nothing.
“You bastard,” Qiu Shi turned to look at him. “Tell me, if I’m… enhanced, will I still be human?”
Li Feng turned back, walked over to the bed, and sat down. “First, tell me why you’d agree.”
“I’m not… doing it for Yun City, or for humanity, or… for peace. I’m not that… noble,” Qiu Shi said. “I just don’t want Xing Bi to be hurt.”
“That’s enough,” Li Feng said. “To go this far for someone you care about—feelings like that, and the courage behind them—who would dare say you’re not human?”
