Ye Chen slowly read on.

File contents:

January 24th.

Feng, today is a magnificent day. The United Nations finally signed the documents, agreeing to this grand research. Once the research is successful, I promise you will be the first to use it, ha ha...

February 28th.

Ha ha, today I witnessed so many renowned scientists from around the world—the apprentice of the physician who achieved the miracle surgery of heart transplantation, along with numerous other prominent figures in medicine and science. I am ecstatic! The coming collaboration promises to be incredibly rewarding.

...

May 2nd.

The sample was finally developed today, so I swiftly gathered a batch of convicts and implanted it into their bodies, hoping for a positive outcome.

May 3rd.

A failure. Perhaps the hormone levels were too high, causing all those convicts' bodies to collapse, dissolving into pools of blood.

...

September 28th.

Another failure. After the injection of the gene agent, this particular convict underwent a monstrous mutation; the skin disintegrated, transforming him into a bloodthirsty zombie.

March 12th.

I argued with those fools today. They only know how to blindly increase the nutritional elements, completely disregarding what the human body can endure.

July 24th.

They finally heeded my advice and began slowing down the nutritional elements, adding more tempering agents. We experimented on a white mouse, and a miracle occurred: this small mouse transformed into an incredibly powerful and robust beast, no weaker than a tiger!

August 28th.

The experiment is finally successful! We chose September 1st, a cheerful holiday, for the release. This experiment is absolutely a product that transcends centuries, capable of completely transforming the human body into the New Human. Little Feng, I will definitely bring you a bottle when the time comes.

September 2nd.

Feng, by the time you receive this message, I might be close to death. Their monstrous jaws are staring at me from beyond the steel frame. Heh, I never expected to die because of the very creation I was most proud of.

Are the monsters already rampant in your world outside?

On September 1st, I saw a man in black enter the laboratory through the surveillance camera. Moments later, the storage room containing the gene nutrient solution exploded. There was nothing flammable in there, and entry required a passcode—yet that man in black simply walked right in...

There's no use dwelling on this now. Next, I will tell you how to survive in the apocalypse.

Firstly, most people around you will turn into zombies. Although our research was ultimately successful, for reasons unknown, this situation still arose. These zombies are stronger than ordinary people; direct confrontation is impossible.

However, Heaven has not abandoned us in utter despair; there is always a turning point, no matter the circumstance.

These zombies are essentially New Humans who failed their evolution, devolved into another form of creature: the Dark Beings! In an ancient Maya record, every thousand epochs, Dark Beings descend upon the world, marking the advent of a new civilization.

In the early stages, Dark Beings lack thought. Only when they reach an extreme level do they develop rudimentary intelligence. They communicate among themselves via brainwaves; the weak unconditionally obey the strong. Within every Dark Being lies Jihua—a solidified essence of the gene nutrient solution, rich with energy. Ingesting it can enhance one's physique!

Once you become strong, you can seek out the military and join them in establishing Base Cities. Many scientists, at the outbreak of the disaster, transmitted crucial data and information to their apprentices or friends. Therefore, it won't take long for Base Cities to form across the globe, and the secret of Jihua will eventually be disclosed.

So, you must rapidly enhance your strength in the initial phase to ensure continued survival later on.

...

Below the document, much more detail was recorded. Ye Chen glanced over it, his brow furrowing. He looked up at Mo Feng, assuming the sender of the file was either his master or a close friend.

"This was given to me by my master," Mo Feng said, his expression calm as he looked at Ye Chen. "I don't know how you came to know this, but it's no longer important. I received word that the military will be establishing a Base City in Beijing next month. With your capabilities, I believe you would quickly distinguish yourself if you joined the army."

"Joining the military..." A fleeting image of a certain beautiful figure crossed Ye Chen's mind, and he nodded. "Very well. I will go once it is established."

Inside the Base City, one could reside safely by paying the necessary residency fees. At that point, the safety of his sister, Ye Zhu, and others would be better secured.

If it were just him, he could go anywhere, from one end of the earth to the other. But now, threads of deep connection bound him.

Ding!

The elevator suddenly opened, and Bai Long rushed out, looking frantic. "Ye Chen, your sister has fainted!"

Ye Chen's expression shifted instantly.

Whoosh!

His figure blurred, transforming into a streak of light that shot toward the staircase. In the blink of an eye, he reached the first floor and sprinted into the dining hall, where he immediately saw his sister, Ye Zhu, collapsed on the floor. Zhuge Fan and Yue Heng were pacing anxiously, like ants on a hot pan.

"What happened?" Ye Chen rushed to the table, instantly scooping up his sister and checking her pulse.

"The beat is steady, breathing is normal."

Ye Chen let out a slight sigh of relief, then turned to face Zhuge Fan and the other man beside him. "Why did she suddenly collapse?"

Yue Heng glanced at him. Even this usually composed and level-headed man now had cold sweat beading on his forehead. He quickly explained, "She just got up to serve herself some food, walked a few steps, and then suddenly collapsed."

Ye Chen frowned, carefully carrying Ye Zhu to her room and covering her with the bedding. Looking at her delicate and lovely face, his heart filled with tenderness. After a while, Bai Long, Mo Feng, and the others also entered.

Mo Feng approached the bedside, checked Ye Zhu's pulse, paused thoughtfully, and then said, "I need to draw some of her blood for testing to determine what sickness she has."

Ye Chen nodded.

Mo Feng pulled a syringe from his white coat, extracted a small amount of blood, and then left.

Ye Chen looked at his unconscious sister, feeling a surge of helplessness. Even facing hordes of zombies, he could grit his teeth and fight his way out with his sister in tow. But against this inexplicable ailment, he was utterly powerless.

"Don't worry!"

"It will be alright."

Bai Long and the others offered comfort.

Not long after, Mo Feng returned, his expression considerably troubled. Seeing his look, Ye Chen’s heart sank. "Just tell me," he urged.

Mo Feng looked at him. "She has leukemia, and quite possibly in its advanced stage."

"Leukemia? Late stage?"

Ye Chen felt his mind go blank with a deafening boom, as if struck by lightning. After a moment of stunned silence, he snapped back to reality, his eyes wide as he stared at Mo Feng. "You're not mistaken?"

Mo Feng shook his head.

Ye Chen turned to look at the pure white sheets where the quiet girl lay, moments of the past flickering like ghosts before his eyes.

"Brother, wake up."

"Brother, time to eat."

"Brother..."

Those light words and laughter, those smiling cheeks, began to surface one by one before him.

Ye Chen's head throbbed fiercely. Leukemia was a form of cancer, and late-stage at that...

A wave of grief and indignation washed over him, and he slammed a fist into the adjacent wall.

Boom!

The wall shuddered violently and then cracked apart, collapsing with a loud report.

Bai Long and the others jumped in fright; they had never seen Ye Chen in such a state.

"Don't panic yet, maybe it can still be treated!" Mo Feng suddenly interjected.

"Treated?"

Ye Chen spun around abruptly, his eyes nearly bloodshot as he locked onto Mo Feng. After a long pause, he managed, "Really?" His voice was hoarse and low, drawn out as if every syllable required immense effort.

Mo Feng pondered for a moment. "If this were any other time, treatment might be impossible. However, her physique already possesses the strength of twelve men, coupled with the specific effects of Jihua. If we combine it with a mixed serum, there might be a ten percent chance."

Ye Chen froze for an instant, then quickly composed himself. "As long as there is a sliver of hope, we cannot give up."

Mo Feng nodded. "The research institute doesn't have her specific serum. We'll have to go to a nearby hospital to find it."

Ye Chen pulled out a map from his backpack and checked. To the east of the institute, not far away, there was a large-scale hospital that should contain the necessary serum. He immediately folded the map, equipped his fire axe and soft leather armor, preparing to leave.

"You're going alone?" Bai Long exclaimed, aghast. "It's nighttime; it’s too dangerous outside."

Ye Chen remained silent. Even if the outside was swarming with monsters, nothing could stop him from leaving. Every second delayed meant Ye Zhu’s condition worsened by a degree!

"Wait!"

Mo Feng suddenly spoke up. "I'm coming too."

The others were astonished, staring at him in surprise, but Mo Feng acted as if nothing was amiss, grabbing a piece of soft leather armor, a handgun, and a fire axe.

Ye Chen glanced at him but did not refuse. He told the three remaining behind: "You stay here and help look after her."

Bai Long gritted his teeth. "I'm coming too."

"I won't be responsible if you die."

"...I'm a man of great fortune; nothing will happen to me."

...

I'm a little late tonight... sweat. The next chapter might be a bit terrifying, so I might write later. It will be out before midnight; writing this has left me quite shaken...