Chapter One Hundred Eleven: Four Years

“Hmm...” Upon hearing Liu Chang’s words, Li Qingshui fell silent for a moment. He didn’t argue about He Zhizhi’s fate; instead, he smiled faintly. “So you’ve learned she’s still alive.”

“Yes,” Liu Chang replied. “We lived together for a time. I don’t want her to have just died like that.”

“She won’t die. In fact, if I hadn’t studied her, she would have been dead by now. When I said her internal organs were shattered that day, I wasn’t entirely lying,” Li Qingshui said, patting Liu Chang on the shoulder. “But no matter what, since you want her now, I have no reason to refuse. Tomorrow at dawn, as soon as the sun rises, I’ll hand her over to you.”

“Thank you,” Liu Chang nodded. “May I ask why you insisted on using He Zhizhi for your experiments?”

“There’s no special reason. I have no personal relationship with her, and she used to be Zhao Zhuo’s subordinate. Using her as a test subject carries no psychological burden for me,” Li Qingshui said calmly. “That’s one reason. Another is that mutated humans are rare, especially those with sensory mutations. In the entire military district, there are only two or three. So I’m quite interested in her.”

“After all, her mutation is olfactory, and my recent research focuses on the expression of recessive genes. I’m trying to see the connection between her olfactory mutation and those hidden genes in her body. She’s an excellent subject for study,” Li Qingshui’s tone grew somber. “When I saved her, she was barely clinging to life. I wasn’t sure if she’d survive, so please don’t blame me.”

“I understand your position. Since you’ve always used her for experiments, I feel a bit guilty towards you.”

“No need for guilt. Just being able to release her is enough,” Liu Chang sighed. “You have your reasons, I have mine. I’m already grateful you considered my wishes.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Li Qingshui nodded.

“Just one thing—I don’t want to live in the compound anymore,” Liu Chang smiled faintly. “It’s not the place for me. Too oppressive. I don’t feel safe here. I want to live out there.”

“Sure, if you want to leave, just leave. Keep in touch. If you ever need help, feel free to come to the institute—whether it’s weapons or food, I’ll provide for you,” Li Qingshui said, patting Liu Chang again. “I hope this won’t affect our relationship.”

“It’s fine. I understand you. He Zhizhi isn’t me, nor Xiaojing, and certainly not your family. She has no real ties to you, so you have no obligation to care for her,” Liu Chang said bitterly. “That’s politics. Politics and emotions can’t be mixed.”

“What are your plans once you’re out?” Avoiding the political subject, Li Qingshui pulled a cigarette from his white coat, lit it, and placed it to Liu Chang’s lips.

Liu Chang took the cigarette, drew a puff, and said, “I don’t know. I’ll just drift along. After I inject your panacea, I’ll try to earn a living. With my abilities, I shouldn’t starve out there.”

“I believe that. You managed well in Kaifeng, so here should be no different,” Li Qingshui smiled. “But about that medicine, be careful. Its effects take a long time; it’s not instant. Altering genes autonomously is a lengthy process. I only recently understood this. For example, if you want enhanced olfaction, you first need to grow more olfactory cells. Even if the recessive genes express themselves, your body must adapt to gain that extra function. Fish without gills can’t survive underwater.”

“This is what I’ve concluded from recent studies. The medicine’s effect lasts a lifetime, so be prepared mentally.”

“I understand,” Liu Chang nodded. “Take care of yourself after we leave.”

“Heh, don’t worry. I’m here; no one dares to touch me except that source of unease,” Li Qingshui said with a helpless smile. “Lately, I constantly feel that unease. It’s been watching me, lingering nearby these past few days.”

“What is it exactly?”

“I don’t know, probably a living being—an incredibly powerful one. It seems very interested in my research, which means it must be intelligent,” Li Qingshui smiled. “It always watches me from afar but never attacks rashly.”

“Are you in danger?” Liu Chang asked with concern.

“No. It’s cautious, and I have countermeasures. But it always keeps its distance, seemingly fascinated by my genetic studies,” Li Qingshui said. “I think it’s trying to figure out how to reproduce.”

“Reproduce?”

“Yes. The chance of a super strong mutated organism appearing is very low, and its genetic changes are huge. Creating a single individual is extraordinarily difficult. So it can’t have a mate. Without a mate, no offspring; without offspring, no continuation. No matter how strong it is, it remains a solitary individual—unable to establish a dominant presence, except for the Great Willow Tree, of course,” Li Qingshui chuckled. “So, this entity is probably studying how to reproduce. Judging by its behavior, it’s not its first time interacting with humans.”

“What will you do?”

“Nothing. It has powerful stealth skills. I can’t catch it; I only deduce its presence from the unease it emits,” Li Qingshui said. “But don’t worry. If it’s smart, it won’t show itself. And if it does, it’ll be the one to die, not me.”

“That’s good,” Liu Chang nodded one last time. “Since you’re safe, I’ll leave with peace of mind.”

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll hand her over to you safely. If there’s any news from your relatives, I’ll inform you.”

“Alright.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.” Li Qingshui took the half-smoked cigarette from Liu Chang’s mouth, inhaled deeply, then flicked the butt to the ground.

---

The next morning, as the sun rose, Li Qingshui sent the female officer—missing half an arm and a finger—precisely on time.

The officer looked physically unharmed but her eyes betrayed exhaustion. Upon seeing Liu Chang, gratitude shone in her gaze.

“Xiaojing and I want to leave. Will you come with us?” Liu Chang asked immediately after receiving He Zhizhi, who was already packed. He held the little girl, his expression stiff.

“Yeah, let’s go together,” He Zhizhi nodded.

“Then let’s leave.” Carrying a large pack and holding the girl, Liu Chang led the way out of the research institute.

The officer followed silently. As the three stepped beyond the compound’s boundary, a profound realization swept over them.

With one step outside, they knew they had escaped the eye of the storm in this apocalyptic world. They could live in relative peace for a long while—though it was peace of mind rather than true safety. The battles between humans were over for now, but the struggle between man and nature would never cease. Nature would continue to present humanity with challenge after challenge.

The global evolution would not pause for anyone. Life on Earth would continue to evolve and mutate at lightning speed, weaving an ever more intricate and tangled food web.

Whether humanity, perched atop this web, would be pulled down in the end—no one could say.

---

Four years later.

Zhengzhou City.

Inside the Smiling Bar.

“Hey, waiter! No striptease here?” A few drunken men waved their glasses. “We went out to the forest during the day, managed to catch some new species, sold them to the institute for money, and now you won’t even let us have some fun at night? What kind of lousy bar is this?”

“Heh, this place has no performers,” someone at a nearby table said, hearing their shouts. “This bar’s just for drinking, no shows. You’re from outside the district, right?”

“Yeah, we’re mercenaries from the new district, first time here,” one laughed. “Never thought there’d be a bar in this back alley. We figured, since it’s tucked away, it’d be that kind of place. Turns out, there’s nothing—no girls, not even a dancer.”

One mercenary slammed his fist on the solid wood table, punching a hole through it. The glass on the table shattered from the force.

“You’d better not cause trouble. I’ve heard this bar has powerful backing,” the man at the neighboring table warned, his tone half friendly, half threatening. “Rumor has it the owner has deep ties with the military district and knows some high-ups. There was once a gang that tried to take over, but the next day, their leader’s head was smashed, and the body thrown into the sewer. I suggest you watch yourselves.”

Though he sounded like he was warning them, it was clear he was provoking trouble.

Indeed, the outsiders’ anger flared. The most drunk among them climbed onto a chair and, to the rhythm of the bar’s music, shouted loudly, “Damn it! Everyone says they’ve got connections and aren’t afraid to die—how many really mean it?”

“I’m Mo Sanpang standing right here. Let’s see who dares touch me!” he laughed arrogantly, drawing all eyes in the bar.