LCFM Chapter 46

Qian Ranran burned with fever the entire night and only regained consciousness the next morning.

After being treated with medicine, the wound on her leg began to heal, and all the black thread-like veins entwined beneath her skin had completely faded away.

What that meant was self-evident.

She was recovering. She hadn’t turned into a mindless monster.

She was hope.

“Before Chief Gong lost consciousness, I told him about Ranran’s condition. He immediately ordered Mo Wang to go seek help, then told me to make sure Ranran was sent to the underground base,” Zheng Yi said, lowering his head to clutch the warm potato in his palm. When he looked back up at Kang Cheng, his voice was steady. “She might be the only one of her kind. She is irreplaceable. Please, ensure her absolute safety.”

“It’s my duty,” Kang Cheng replied solemnly, nodding.

“The military airfield prepared earlier for evacuation is still secure. I’ll confirm our current position, and then we’ll depart immediately.” Kang Cheng handed the water he was holding to Zheng Yi, then stood and went to discuss plans with Lei Pengtao and the others who were patrolling nearby.

Zheng Yi broke the potato in half and swallowed a piece. He lowered his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I didn’t expect to see you again.”

“Xing Xing had a bit of a situation. We couldn’t catch up with the main evacuation convoy,” Fu Yan said, turning his head to glance at Jiang Xinghuai, who was crouched by the bus tire giving the dog water. “Captain Kang saved us.”

“When the emergency alert came, a large wave of mutants attacked. I was with Academician Qian and the other professors who stayed in the lab. We boarded one of the military’s armored vehicles. I wanted to go find—” Zheng Yi paused, taking a deep breath before changing the subject with a faint smile. “You said that kid had a bit of a situation. What happened? Did he get so scared he couldn’t walk?”

Fu Yan’s brows slowly furrowed. “He’s… not doing well.”

Zheng Yi noticed the change in his expression and froze for a moment. “What happened?”

Fu Yan stayed silent for a while before recounting Jiang Xinghuai’s condition and his own assessment.

When Zheng Yi finished listening, his expression turned serious. “From what you’ve described, I agree with your judgment.”

He paused for a moment before continuing. “So, you understand. Right now, we don’t have the conditions to treat him, or even to make a definitive diagnosis.”

Fu Yan nodded silently.

“The only thing we can do is get Ranran to the underground base as soon as possible. Only there will we have the necessary equipment and medicine.” After saying that, Zheng Yi lowered his head slightly. “And you and him—”

“Fu Yan, what are you two talking about?” Jiang Xinghuai suddenly stood up and walked over.

“Oh? Why the sudden switch to calling him Fu Yan? Weren’t you calling him Uncle before, little one?” Zheng Yi asked with a teasing smile.

Jiang Xinghuai narrowed his eyes, sat down beside Fu Yan, wrapped his arms around his, then tilted his head to rest against Fu Yan’s chest before speaking softly. “Uncle, what were you talking about?”

Zheng Yi: “……”

This kid was getting more and more insufferable.

“How’s Mo wang? Did you change its dressing?” Fu Yan chuckled and patted his head.

“Just like you said, it’s all done.” Jiang Xinghuai raised an eyebrow proudly. “Didn’t mess up a single step. I think I might have some talent for being a doctor.”

“Oh? Is that so? Getting into a medical university isn’t easy,” Zheng Yi said with a cheerful smile. “How are your grades?”

Jiang Xinghuai: “……”

“You—”

“Captain Kang! Aren’t you being a bit too authoritarian? Have you even asked what the rest of us think?”

“Mr. Wang, this isn’t my decision. It’s my assignment. If you have nothing else to say, please return to your seat.” Kang Cheng frowned and turned away, ready to leave.

Wang Qinhai took a deep breath, then strode forward to block his path. He raised both hands beside his head in a mock gesture of surrender and said, “We’re willing to atone for our mistakes! That place isn’t just well-stocked with food, it’s safe. We should—”

“No. I’m carrying out my mission.” Kang Cheng cut him off firmly.

“Then why should we follow you to our deaths?!” Wang Qinhai finally exploded. He grabbed Kang Cheng by the collar. “Why do we have to die? Are you insane?! You really think five soldiers can escort us across several provinces? How many times do you think we’ll die before we even get there?!”

“Damn it,” Jiang Xinghuai muttered, frowning as he stood up and looked toward the commotion. “What the hell is Wang Qinhai trying to do?”

“Wang Qinhai, I’ll say it again. This is my mission.” Kang Cheng’s eyes darkened. “This is your first warning. Let go.”

“Oh, what—you’re going to hit me now? Go ahead. Soldiers think they can do whatever they want, huh?” Wang Qinhai sneered. He released his grip and stepped back a few paces. “Let’s see how you plan to hit me today.”

As his words fell, people began slowly stepping down from the bus behind him.

They stood behind Wang Qinhai.

One after another.

“Now, can we have a proper talk?” Wang Qinhai tugged at the collar of his suit and smiled faintly. “Captain… Kang.”

“Damn it!” Jiang Xinghuai shot to his feet and charged forward.

Kang Cheng reacted quickly. He caught Jiang Xinghuai around the waist and lifted him clean off the ground. Like that, Jiang Xinghuai’s feet nearly kicked Wang Qinhai right in the face.

“What the hell do you think you are?!” Jiang Xinghuai shouted furiously. “You blew up all those people! How do you still have the face to say these things?!”

Wang Qinhai gave a cold, mocking laugh. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you that children shouldn’t interrupt when adults are talking?”

“No,” Jiang Liangyuan said flatly.

“And who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that?” Wang Qinhai glared at Jiang Liangyuan, who had somehow ended up standing across from them. “When you first got into the base, you were begging and groveling. If it weren’t for me, you’d never have made it in. And now you want to play the good guy? Aren’t you disgusted with yourself?”

“If I am, will you vomit it up for me?” Jiang Liangyuan sneered. “Wang Qinhai, you’d better watch your mouth. My son is none of your damn business.”

“Oh, your son? Isn’t your son sitting in the vehicle? And this older son, when did you pick him up, huh? Oh, I get it. You’re just thrilled that this big son of yours got close to President Fu, right? So—” Wang Qinhai kept talking as he took several steps forward.

Kang Cheng raised his gun, his voice cold and sharp. “Stay where you are. Hands up.”

“What, got a gun and think you’re tough now?” Wang Qinhai stopped, stepping back. But almost immediately, several children were shoved forward to the front of the crowd, fear and panic written all over their faces.

“Go on, shoot,” Wang Qinhai said, tilting his head back, his tone arrogant and fearless.

Kang Cheng froze. As one of the children began to cry, his hands holding the gun started to tremble.

“That little girl. She’s the one carrying the antibody, isn’t she?” Wang Qinhai’s gaze fixed on the small girl who had just stepped down from the vehicle.

“Don’t point at her.” Jiang Xinghuai stepped in front of Qian Ranran.

Since waking, Qian Ranran hadn’t cried once. She sat quietly in the vehicle and didn’t speak. Right now, she showed no reaction to Wang Qinhai’s movements. She only held onto Jiang Xinghuai’s finger.

“All right, all right, let’s not get off track. I only have one idea. Captain Kang, just think about it. Think carefully.” Wang Qinhai changed his tone and began to reason. “Our whole group can go stay at our company’s industrial park. We wouldn’t need to go into the city to scavenge for food, and our industrial park even has labs. Mr. Fu and that rescued doctor could even develop a vaccine! You should know this: sending you five soldiers to escort her to that so-called underground base is a death sentence.”

“We are professionally trained,” Kang Cheng said.

“Professional training… Didn’t your main forces receive professional training too? Didn’t they all end up dead? What can you five soldiers represent?” Wang Qinhai shot back.

“What we represent is the will of the people, the strength of the state! No matter what, it is unbreakable!” Kang Cheng stepped forward, his words ringing out. “Even if the main force is gone, I am still here! The law is still here! The country is still here! You must be held accountable for everything you’ve done!”

“So,” Wang Qinhai raised his chin, “what are you going to do to me?”

A bright red dot flickered across his eyeball and then landed on his chest. Wang Qinhai startled, looked down, and followed the angle with his gaze.

On the roof of the bus, a soldier stood, cradling a rifle.

The muzzle was pointed straight at his chest.

“Believe me, Sergeant Lei Pengtao is one of the best snipers in our military district,” Kang Cheng said.

Wang Qinhai raised both hands.

Cold-glinting silver cuffs snapped onto his wrists.

“Until we reach the underground base and your sentence is decided, your personal freedom is restricted,” Kang Cheng said.

The people on the bus were split into two groups, front and back, forming a separation zone. Two soldiers, rifles in hand, sat in the middle of the vehicle.

Jiang Xinghuai changed Mo Wang’s dressing once more. He looked back at that group, then looked at Jiang Liangyuan sitting on the other side of the aisle. His eyes were a little wet.

He opened his mouth, about to say something—

“Don’t give me that look. I’m still your father.” Jiang Liangyuan stuck out his neck and didn’t even look this way. As if guessing he was about to speak, he rushed out the words all at once. “I don’t know what you thought before, but I have never stopped treating you as my son. You will always be my son. You can’t deny it. Although… I… did some things wrong, do you still want me to say sorry to you?”

Jiang Xinghuai froze for a moment.

Jiang Liangyuan clenched his fist. “Dad—”

“Not ‘Dad’. I just wanted to say.” Jiang Xinghuai gave a toothy smile. “You behave yourself, try to get your sentence reduced. When your term is up and you get out, start over.”

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