RIACMET chapter 190

 

The professors were currently in the lab. Using his authorization, Chu Yi led Jiang Nian and Cheng Jing directly to the observation room where Tang Ji was being held.

Tang Ji was still unconscious, but his vital signs were stable. His injuries had been healed, leaving no scars.

“What did the professors and doctors say? Did Tang Ji’s blood test show anything?” Jiang Nian asked. Most importantly, he wanted to know if the human body produces antibodies after being purified and healed post-infection.

“The latest test results from this morning show that Tang Ji’s condition returned to normal after the purification process. His body has started producing antibodies, but they’re currently inactive. That’s likely why he’s in a coma,” Chu Yi explained, pulling a folder from the cabinet beside the bed. It was filled with Tang Ji’s medical reports.

Jiang Nian flipped through it. The document was packed with technical terms and data that he didn’t quite understand. He asked, “So, basically, when he wakes up, the antibodies will become active and start working? In that case, is it possible to develop a detox serum from his blood?”

“…”

After giving it some serious thought, Chu Yi replied, “Theoretically, yes. But we don’t yet know how effective the serum would be. Also, it’s unclear what would happen if a person with developed antibodies were to get infected again.”

Plus, the professors said the strength of the antibodies varies between individuals. Given Tang Ji’s current condition, we don’t have enough comparable data to draw conclusions.”

Glancing at the boy in bed, Cheng Jing picked up the thread: “If you want more data, you’ll need more infected people to be purified and healed. Then, more people will produce antibodies, and the detox serum can be developed and distributed more widely. We could save a lot of people without needing to sacrifice anyone.”

Chu Yi nodded. “Exactly. The professors said that once Tang Ji wakes up, they will attempt to use his blood to create a detox serum and verify its effectiveness. Once they have results, they plan to officially discuss the next steps with you both.”

After speaking, he looked at Cheng Jing. Cheng Jing turned to Jiang Nian.

Jiang Nian rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Well, the theory sounds good, but we won’t know if it works until we test it. Rescue teams are heading out from the base every day—there’s always someone who gets infected. If they can be brought back in time, do it quietly.”

Right now, we’re short on everything except people infected by zombies.

All lives are equal, but if we have to choose, we should save the frontline fighters like Xiao Qi first. They’re the ones who can save more people.

Jiang Nian had no plans to make a big public display. Even if the detox serum succeeded in controlling the zombie virus, he didn’t care if the credit went to the professors and others.

What mattered were safety and peace of mind.

If this method worked, the next step would be to confirm the detox serum’s effectiveness and refine it in future iterations. Eventually, humans could begin to fight back against the virus — gradually, but proactively.

According to the original timeline, however, the first detox serum wouldn’t be developed until the weather turned extremely hot.

It would take time to perfect and mass-produce the serum, but things were already looking far better than in his previous life.

Tang Ji didn’t wake up that day. After confirming that nothing was unusual and concluding their discussion, the group moved on to their next destination, the base’s containment school.

On the way, Jiang Nian handed Chu Yi a small gift bag filled with homemade snacks. During their time working together, Jiang Nian had noticed how much Chu Yi liked to munch.

Chu Yi accepted the gift without hesitation. After all, they were friends now, and they would have plenty more opportunities to work together. There was no need to act distant.

The detention school was divided into a general area and a high-security section, separated by an unusually wide and thick isolation wall.

The top of the wall was designed as a visitor corridor, with doors on either side leading to both areas.

They were headed for the high-security section.

Aside from the towering walls and tight security, the inside of the school resembled any regular campus.

The students lived daily lives filled with academics, training in their supernatural abilities, psychological counseling, regular health checks, and participation in ability-related research.

Sometimes, those with stronger powers or who were older would be sent on rescue missions with the military or other teams. In dangerous situations, some simply vanished, and the outside world never heard about it.

Chu Yi used a special access card provided by Minister Wang to enter the visitor corridor just in time to see one of the doors in the high-security section open.

Two fully armed soldiers emerged with a teenage boy who looked about fifteen or sixteen.

He wore a plain, short-sleeved, gray uniform. His skin was dark, and he was thin and not very tall. A collar locked around his neck suppressed his powers. Handcuffs were on his wrists, and special seal tape covered his mouth.

As they passed by, the boy shot them a dark, intense, and unsettling glare filled with hatred.

After he was gone, Chu Yi said, “That was Luo Yuan. He’s sixteen and has an awakened sonic-type ability. At lower levels, it causes dizziness and short-term hypnosis. At higher levels, it can affect zombies. He was being taken to the hospital for a routine checkup.”

Jiang Nian turned his head to watch Luo Yuan disappear down the hallway. “That sounds like a pretty strong power.”

Chu Yi scoffed. “Sure is. He used it to sacrifice forty-six of his classmates and one teacher. He escaped the school and was rescued afterward. If it had only been him, that would have been one thing—but his classmates and teacher had a chance to run. He didn’t let them.”

“…”

“Ah.” Jiang Nian instinctively raised a hand to slap himself, but Cheng Jing caught it.

“Stop it,” Cheng Jing chided. “Don’t joke like that.”

Chu Yi sighed helplessly. “Cases like this aren’t rare. Many rebellious kids gain powers and target classmates they had grudges with, teachers they hated, and even siblings.”

In Luo Yuan’s case, his grades were at the bottom. He was often ostracized by his peers and frequently punished by his teachers. His rampage wasn’t entirely without reason.”

He didn’t condone Luo Yuan’s actions, but if you look at it from a different angle, revenge and rebellion aren’t that hard to understand. Adults could act on impulse, and teenagers could act on impulse even more easily.

“…”

Jiang Nian and Cheng Jing fell silent. It was hard to judge. Some kids were loyal and kind. Others went off the rails.

Chu Yi pushed open a door, and the three of them went down a staircase to a visitor room that had been converted from a classroom.

Seeing the neat rows of desks made Jiang Nian feel like he had gone back to his high school days.

After waiting about ten minutes, Xiaoya finally arrived, accompanied by a female teacher.

She gave a few reminders before leaving. They had forty minutes, after which Xiaoya would head to her counseling session.

She was dressed in a simple school tracksuit with her hair tied in a ponytail. Her face and hands looked clean. Jiang Nian hadn’t seen her in a while, and she had clearly grown taller.

She walked in with her head slightly lowered, looking a bit shy. But when her eyes landed on Jiang Nian, they lit up with a smile.

“Brother Jiang Nian…”

Then she noticed the other two.

“Mr. Cheng…Mr. Chu.”

She had always been a little afraid of Cheng Jing, even though he had never been harsh with her. She met Chu Yi back at the lab; he was a good-natured person.

Cheng Jing gave her a small nod, then walked with Chu Yi to the back of the room and sat in the last row.

They would leave the conversation to Jiang Nian. All they needed to do was watch from afar.