TL: Moonlit

Xiao Hen rushed to the research institute with his team, only to find chaos inside, clearly indicating that they had been attacked.

Meng Lao was furious. “They have no professional ethics! This behavior is tantamount to betraying the country!”

After inquiring, Xiao Hen learned that the attackers of the virus research institute were all foreigners who had stayed in China during the apocalypse. Now that news about the zombie virus antidote and the vaccine couldn’t be contained, those foreigners had set their sights on the research institute.

What was even more infuriating was that someone from within the institute had let them in, proving the saying that even the most cautious person couldn’t guard against a family thief. The research institute was bombed, and the blood samples containing antibodies were stolen. It was clearly a premeditated act.

Xiao Hen asked, “Can those blood samples be replicated to obtain antibody cells?”

If antibody cells could be infinitely replicated, creating a vaccine would be a matter of time.

Meng Lao sneered, “Stealing the blood samples won’t help them. Antibodies remain stable within the human body. Once replicated, their structure becomes unstable and mutates in various directions. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been unable to produce a vaccine.”

Since the vaccine couldn’t be replicated, stealing the blood samples was useless.

Xiao Hen didn’t linger and immediately rushed to the place where Alen was detained. Alen’s corpse insects had been completely wiped out, and the backlash had been severe. Even now, he couldn’t use his abilities, but he hadn’t turned into a zombie and had been saved with the antidote.

Alen was still useful, and Xiao Hen didn’t want him to die just like that.

Alen looked disheveled, with the area where the corpse insects had burrowed still in ruins. He had become extremely thin.

Xiao Hen didn’t kill him, nor did he completely detoxify him. Every day, he added a few drops of the antidote to his drinking water, keeping him in this state. This led Alen to misunderstand, thinking that Xiao Hen was constantly trying to persuade him to cooperate.

“I’ve said it before, we’re not the first group. We have been exposed, and there are many others who haven’t been.”

“Your antidote is not perfect. It can’t completely eliminate the zombie virus. But the direction is correct. We can provide equipment and technical support. If we research together, we will definitely be able to produce a real antidote. You have to believe that there is still a gap between China’s medical level and the West’s. With our involvement, not only an antidote, but a vaccine is also not far away.”

Alen, who had been kept imprisoned, was unaware of the changes outside.

Xiao Hen knew that Alen and his group must have received professional training. Useful information hadn’t been extracted through interrogation, and instead, they were trying to persuade him to collaborate on research every day.

Xiao Hen said, “You might be mistaken. Our antidote is very successful, and we don’t need to collaborate on research.”

Alen opened his arms for Xiao Hen to see. “If this is what you call success, then I have deep concerns about your medical level.”

Xiao Hen replied, “Just because I haven’t cured you once doesn’t mean our antidote isn’t successful.”

Alen fell silent, gradually realizing a possibility, his expression growing darker.

“And…,” Xiao Hen revealed a transparent vial in his hand, “Is this the ‘human hope’ you’re searching for?”

Alen raised his eyelids and casually glanced at it, showing disdain on his face. “If it’s just an antidote, it’s far from enough. Humans cannot rely on antidotes to survive.”

Xiao Hen nodded. “You’re right, but this is not an antidote. It’s a vaccine.”

Xiao Hen continued, “A vaccine for the zombie virus.”

Alen’s face immediately changed drastically. He lunged toward the metal grille, staring intently at the transparent vial in Xiao Hen’s hand. “Is it really a vaccine? Have you really developed a vaccine?!”Xiao Hen nodded. “Yes, we have developed a vaccine, a genuine vaccine.”

Alen’s expression quickly shifted, various thoughts flashing through his mind.

Xiao Hen said, “Now, can we talk?”

Alen stared at the vaccine for a long time before slowly exhaling. “Yes, but I want you to know that we are all humans, and we should help each other.”

Xiao Hen replied, “We have always known that, but what about your involvement in the power struggle of other countries? Was it appropriate?”

Alen remained silent.

They didn’t want to get involved in this mess. They had no clue about the “human hope” and had been deceived by the Yin family. They only joined in for the mission, but no one ended up in a good situation.

Alen said, “I believe Colonel Xiao doesn’t want to argue with me about this.”

Xiao Hen responded, “This may not be something that can be resolved with a simple argument. Your country infiltrated ours without permission, participated in the power struggle, killed our generals, disrupted our base’s order… These are all serious matters that can’t be resolved with just words.”

Xiao Hen felt exhausted. It was already the apocalypse, yet he had to consider international relations. It shouldn’t escalate to the point of open conflict, mutual condemnation, and long-distance confrontation. He was already 2/3 zombie. Why should he bother his mind with the life and death of humanity?

Alen’s expression turned serious. “How does your country propose to resolve this matter?”

Xiao Hen turned the vial in his hand. “Let me ask you a question first. How did you know that the ‘human hope’ was in our country?”

Alen fell silent, clearly reluctant to answer that question.

Xiao Hen sneered. “I suppose your country has any ‘precognitive’ or ‘prophetic’ abilities, right?”

Alen’s expression changed, but he quickly concealed it. Even if he reacted quickly and concealed it well, he couldn’t escape Xiao Hen’s eyes. Accidentally or not, Xiao Hen’s calculations were accurate.

Xiao Hen was almost certain that the M country did indeed have a precognitive ability user. He wondered to what extent their precognitive abilities reached and how much they could predict. Who was more formidable compared to his little zombie?

Precognition abilities were incredibly powerful and extremely rare. Wen Qingling only began to have some foresight after his mental power was enhanced again, but they were still fragmented glimpses and highly random.

Even Wen Qingling couldn’t fully control this ability. Xiao Hen speculated that the M country’s precognitive ability user would be even less capable. Furthermore, that person’s precognitive abilities probably didn’t match Wen Qingling’s. If they could see visions like Wen Qingling did, Alen and his companions wouldn’t be wandering around the Central City like headless flies; they would have gone to Ling City long ago.

Knowing that the opponent’s precognitive ability user was not as strong as his little zombie, Xiao Hen felt relieved.

“I thought that for the sake of the survival of humanity, you could be more honest,” Xiao Hen said.

After pondering for a moment, Alen suddenly asked, “Does your country also have a precognitive ability user?”

Otherwise, how could Xiao Hen guess that their country had such an ability?

Xiao Hen gave a cryptic smile. “You guess.”

Alin: “…”

Will you tell me if I will guess?

Alen shrugged. “Okay, for the sake of humanity, I’ve decided to be honest. ‘Human hope’ is indeed in the East, as predicted by the Prophet. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have come here.”

Xiao Hen: “The East is vast. How will you search for it?”

Are there no more specific hints?Alen: “That’s why we cooperated with the Yin family. We can’t let go of even the slightest bit of information about ‘human hope.’ But they didn’t know anything.”

Xiao Hen didn’t believe that the Yin family truly didn’t know. Perhaps they had already figured out who the “human hope” was, but they didn’t reveal it to these foreigners and only used them.

Regardless, no matter how chaotic things were behind closed doors, it was their own business. Others couldn’t touch their own belongings.

Both Yin Jiang and Yin Cheng were military personnel and understood this principle.

Until now, Alen and his group thought that the Yin family had no idea what “human hope” was.

Alen stared eagerly at the vaccine in Xiao Hen’s hand. “Now it’s confirmed that the ‘human hope’ is indeed in the East. The vaccine is the hope for all humanity, and I’ve found it.”

Alen suppressed his excitement and said, “Please let me go back and inform my people about this good news.”

Xiao Hen: “Okay, but while delivering the good news, your country should show some sincerity.”

There should be some compensation, apologies, and technology exchange. Otherwise, they shouldn’t expect to obtain the antidote and vaccine from China.

For example, the hexagram storage space technology is quite good, and his little zombie likes it.

Xiao Hen was well aware that once news of the antidote and vaccine spread, they couldn’t ignore other countries. Moreover, by elevating the importance of the antidote and vaccine to the level of “human hope,” it could protect Wen Qingling.

Since the apocalypse, countries worldwide have been desperately searching for a solution to the zombie virus. China possessed the information about the antidote and vaccine, which should have already spread. It wouldn’t take long for representatives from various countries to arrive.

Concerning the survival of humanity, China couldn’t keep the results to themselves. Otherwise, they would face a collective attack and wouldn’t be able to escape. If their lives were at stake, who would fear starting a war? Taking a risk gave them a chance to survive, while not taking a risk meant certain death. There was no need to choose.

Now, Xiao Hen had to consider how to dig out more useful things from other countries’ hands. Wen Qingling wouldn’t consider these matters, so Xiao Hen had to think about them more.

Xiao Hen agreed to release Alen but kept the other two detained, so that the M country would come with sincerity to redeem them.

Xiao Hen headed straight to the headquarters of the Third District. Countless meetings had been held these past few days, discussing the issue of relocation. They had witnessed the peace and tranquility of the civilized city, and they longed for such a life. But they were hesitant to give up the central mega city they had painstakingly built.

Most survivors were unwilling to leave, even if they knew there was an antidote and vaccine in the civilized city. They would rather send people there to purchase supplies than leave the central mega city.

They were extremely afraid of hunger and homelessness. If they could settle down and live in peace, they didn’t want to continue taking risks.

Today’s meeting was to make the final decision. If they were unwilling to leave, Xiao Hen didn’t want to wait any longer. Every extra day meant more danger. They would take as many survivors as they could, even if he informed the entire central mega city about the potential risks, the survivors still refused to leave.

Without seeing it with their own eyes, they still held onto a glimmer of hope.

The central mega city had remained stable for so long. It couldn’t be said that it would fall just like that. Even in the face of zombie disasters, the central mega city remained intact, and the zombies had been eradicated.

The final decision of the meeting was for Xiao Jiang and Xia Jiang to lead the willing survivors to leave and relocate to Lan City.

Mo Jiang and Lei Jiang weren’t unwilling to leave, but there were too many survivors who didn’t want to go. They couldn’t leave the survivors behind and go by themselves, so they had to stay.

Only less than one-fifth of the survivors were willing to leave. This was the result of several generals personally inspecting and working together afterward. Otherwise, there would be even fewer people.

Xiao Hen had already sent people to the civilized city to ask for Wen Qingling’s help in clearing and building Lan City. When the migration team arrived, they could directly move in. The conditions for Wen Qingling’s assistance had already been negotiated with the military. Helicopters, armored vehicles, and heavy weapons were not a problem. Additionally, Xiao Hen asked Wen Qingling to send some people to protect the migrating survivors along the way.

The civilized city wouldn’t lend a hand for nothing. These were conditional arrangements.

However, the people Xiao Hen sent were a step late. Wen Qingling had already left with Mi Yan to find Mi Yan’s parents. There was no choice but to wait outside the outer city for Wen Qingling’s return.

Once the people from the civilized city arrived, the migration team from the central mega city could set off. But despite waiting, they couldn’t see the people from the civilized city arriving. Xiao Hen was a bit worried and personally flew back in a helicopter to check. That’s when he found out that Wen Qingling wasn’t in the civilized city and had already been away for several days, with no information about his whereabouts.

Xiao Hen had no choice but to bring a group of stronger civilized zombies over himself. It was crucial to ensure the smooth migration of the team.

They still had a considerable amount of time on the road, which should be enough for Wen Qingling to return and clear Lan City.

Helicopters arrived one after another to pick up the people, rumbling as they flew towards the central mega city.