Chapter 75 - Impossible To Unravel
Those people made their move far earlier than what Nie Yi and Qi Jingchen had anticipated, but Nie Yi and Qi Jingchen’s preparations were still sufficient. They had also already made arrangements. At least, they had guessed where the research institute was.
After Nie Yi injured Lu Junpeng, they had someone constantly tail him. For the past few days, Lu Junpeng had never left the hospital.
Nie Yi had ordered people to keep an eye on J City secure base’s largest hospital in advance and forbid anyone from leaving the hospital. Now, they were hurrying over there.
During the journey, Ping Shengchao recounted this matter to the surrounding people. “We were simply in our homes when people suddenly came out to capture us for no reason! They really gave us a fright. Thank goodness we had some skills, or they would have gotten away with it!”
“But even so, J City secure base should give us a statement!”
“These people said they came to capture us because they want the ability nucleus in our level two ability users. I honestly never imagined that J City secure base would go so far as to do something like this!”
…
Ping Shengchao’s appearance of being indignant at injustice made the others unable to doubt him. There were also a few who had a very strong sense of belonging to J City secure base who called it into question, suspecting that Ping Shengchao may have done it on purpose and wanted to smear their J City secure base.
“There are tens of thousands of people in your J City secure base’s army alone, and your registered ability users are several times more numerous than our entire team. Furthermore, nearly all our team members aren’t here; how could we bully you?” Ping Shengchao sneered.
Ping Shengchao’s words were reasonable, and people could see that Nie Yi and the rest weren’t numerous, and they lowered their guard. They even began to share doubts with the others… Could it be that the secure base was genuinely performing human experimentation?
Nie Yi had only gone halfway when Sun Chengzhi hurried over.
She had always helped her father handle some of the secure base’s affairs, so she had some people watching over Nie Yi and his team. As such, she had known of Nie Yi’s group being attacked from the very first moments. But before she could react, she was also told that Nie Yi and his men had burst through the secure base, demanding an explanation.
When Sun Chengzhi heard her subordinates’ report, she had even thought Nie Yi wanted to start a conflict with them. After hastily rushing over, she realised that Nie Yi’s side only had about seventy or eighty people, and immediately sighed in relief and asked, “Nie Yi, were you guys attacked?”
After asking, she even looked at Qi Jingchen, who was at the side. “Jingchen, are you okay?”
Qi Jingchen no longer allowed Nie Yi to carry him and was deliberately being low-key, so his presence wasn’t explosive like before. It was when Sun Chengzhi showed her concern that everyone noticed him. After seeing him, many people’s gazes were stuck to Qi Jingchen— Such a good-looking person, how surprising that they didn’t notice him before!
At first glance, the most notable thing was Qi Jingchen’s appearance; immediately, they couldn’t help feeling a little envy. The reason why this person was so good-looking wasn’t unrelated to how he dressed up. Such fair skin must definitely be covered in foundation; such large eyes most likely was because he put in contact lenses…
When they saw that Qi Jingchen didn’t have a single flaw on his body, and the pair of Dr Martens boots he wore shining glossily without a trace of filth… Those who originally had a slightly favourable impression of Qi Jingchen because of his looks soon lost more than half of their goodwill.
Of course, they would still take a few more glances, especially those who were decently strong and frequently left the base to kill zombies— After seeing too many zombies, they could refresh their eyes by looking at this fair youth.
“Jingchen’s fine. I’ll protect him well.” Nie Yi stepped forward and stood in front of Qi Jingchen.
Sun Chengzhi was immediately a little disappointed, but the people surrounding them became aware of something— Sentiment-wise, both Nie Yi and Sun Chengzhi were interested in that youth.
People who looked good would be harassed even during the apocalypse… Moreover, it turned out that Sun Chengzhi liked this sort of person; no wonder all her suitors had been soundly sent off with their tails between their legs!
Since Sun Chengzhi couldn’t see Qi Jingchen anymore, she looked at the people Nie Yi had captured. When she looked closely, she couldn’t stop her eyelid from twitching— There were a few among them that Sun Chengzhi couldn’t recognise, but there were also a few who looked familiar. Those two, weren’t they precisely the lackeys by Lu Junpeng’s side? When Sun Chengzhi thought of this, she immediately asked, “Was it Lu Junpeng waiting for a chance to seize revenge?”
“No. According to what these people said, they didn’t come to catch me for revenge, but to take me away and use my ability nucleus for experiments,” Nie Yi said.
The ability users who were tightly tied up by Nie Yi opened their mouths and wanted to say something when they heard this. Unfortunately, Nie Yi had someone gag them, so they couldn’t speak.
“Could there be a misunderstanding?” Sun Chengzhi said, “Using ability nuclei for experiments? Why would there be such an absurd matter?” Ability users, especially level two ability users who had their own ability nucleus, were so valuable. Using them for experiments? Was this a joke?
“Whether it’s a misunderstanding, we’ll know when we see. They said the laboratory is in the hospital,” Nie Yi said, then coldly looked at those ability users.
When the captives heard Nie Yi, their eyes revealed fright, and some even looked at Nie Yi in disbelief.
When they were captured after they failed to ambush Nie Yi, they weren’t afraid at all. After all, as long as they said that they were here to avenge Lu Junpeng, Nie Yi could only acknowledge their words, and wouldn’t be able to do much to them.
The fact that Nie Yi had previously injured Lu Junpeng was the truth and for them, Lu Junpeng’s subordinates, to retaliate against Nie Yi would probably even have people saying that they were loyal! Also, they didn’t manage to do anything to Nie Yi, so how could Nie Yi possibly kill them?
However, Nie Yi didn’t even give them the chance to speak. From the very start, not only had he straightforwardly tied them up and corked up their mouths, but he also spoke of the research institute.
How could Nie Yi have known it was the researchers who wanted to capture him? And how could he have known that the research institute was in the hospital?
These ability users were all working for the research institute. When they had initially learnt of the research institute using ability users for research, they also had sympathy for the victims. Nonetheless, they were people from the research institute, and they could participate in the research and become like Lu Junpeng, using other people’s ability nuclei to upgrade their strength… When they saw Lu Junpeng’s soaring improvements in his ability, they discarded their initial sympathy, and began to work for the research facility with their utmost. Everyone had even privately discussed who would become the next level three ability user following Lu Junpeng.
But now… If the research facility was exposed, don’t mention becoming level three, they might not even be able to retain their lives.
Among them, a fire ability user probably became anxious and the wad of cloth Nie Yi had stuffed in his mouth abruptly ignited. Even though his mouth had been burnt black because of the flames he created, he could still speak. He immediately wanted to declare that he was just ‘avenging Lu Junpeng’ and that no one had heard of human experimentation.
He looked at Sun Chengzhi, his face filled with impatience, “Bo-” He had only said half a word when he fell unconscious.
Nie Yi retrieved his hand from where he struck his neck without even a change in expression.
“What did he want to say?” Sun Chengzhi furrowed her brows.
“Wanted to ask you for help.” Nie Yi said, “Sun Chengzhi, don’t stall for time; hurry up!”
“Who’s stalling for time?! If there really is someone using living people for experiments, I’m the first who won’t forgive them!” Sun Chengzhi was immediately angered by Nie Yi’s suspicion.
There were always people getting murdered for vengeance or whatever in the base, but didn’t affect the ruling class much, and many people even felt that those killed were problematic themselves— Or else, why would someone murder you and not others?
This sort of mindset was extremely selfish and indifferent, but it had to be admitted that the mentality of the masses where they wouldn’t care as long as it didn’t happen to them made it much easier for the secure base’s leaders to control the base.
However, if the secure base had a laboratory and would do human experiments… Who could guarantee that the next one captured wouldn’t be themselves? When that time comes, everyone would be endangered, especially the ability users.
The party of people soon approached the hospital. Suddenly, a man in his thirties rushed out. “Is what you’re saying true? Is there really someone doing human experiments and capturing level two ability users?”
“Of course it’s true, these people personally said it after we captured them.” Ping Shengchao pointed at the captured people.
We didn’t say anything! The prisoners were extremely indignant in their hearts, but they had already fallen into the hands of Nie Yi and the others, and couldn’t resist at all.
The man who came to interrogate them had a face filled with fury, and a few sparks suddenly emerged from his body. He seemed to already be accustomed to this, and used a hand to pat off the fire on his body, then said, “I’ll go with you!”
“Sure,” Nie Yi said. He had already recognised this person. According to their investigation, wasn’t he the older brother of one of the missing ability users?
This ability user brought a few of his subordinates and squeezed over to Nie Yi’s side. He first swept his gaze up and down the people Nie Yi had captured, then urged, “Quickly!”
This ability user was called Han Qishang, and he was overseeing a small team that was rather famous in J City secure base. He wasn’t married and both his parents were dead. It was just him and his younger male cousin living in this secure base.
His younger cousin was a water ability user, and was admitted to the hospital half a month ago when he had accidentally gotten appendicitis. After his surgery, he disappeared without a trace.
During the days his cousin spent in the hospital, Han Qishang happened to be looking for supplies outside and so didn’t visit him. He had initially thought it would be safe as long as he was inside the secure base, but unexpectedly, when he returned from outside, he couldn’t find him!
The hospital staff told him that his cousin had left, but he didn’t believe it at all. After all, his younger cousin was a very timid otaku, and wouldn’t run around. Even if he really did leave the hospital, he would immediately return home… However, his home simply had no trace of his younger cousin coming back!
For the past few days, Han Qishang had been stubbornly looking for his cousin. Now, when he heard someone speaking about human experiments, he immediately thought of his younger cousin.
That younger cousin of his was very cowardly, but his ability wasn’t weak. He had even reached level two before he went missing…
Nie Yi had also wanted to resolve this as soon as possible. After hearing Han Qishang out, he immediately sped up towards the hospital. By this time, the people paying attention to this matter were increasing, and through word of mouth, attracted even more people.
However, when this many people arrived at the hospital entrance, they were obstructed. The person obstructing them was precisely the leader of this secure base, General Sun.
“What are you all doing?!” General Sun angrily said, “Nie Yi, you’re making such a fuss on my territory; do you intend to oppose me?”
The suntanned General Sun was filled with hatred when he saw Nie Yi. Not waiting for Nie Yi to respond, he continued, “Nie Yi, we J City secure base do not welcome you! Even if there’s an issue with J City secure base, we do not need someone like you to handle it ”
“Dad…” Sun Chengzhi called out.
“And you! I just knew you were biased towards outsiders! I’m your father, yet you actually disobey me, instead helping outsiders call our own base into question! I don’t have a daughter like you!” The words General Sun said were a bit serious, but Sun Chengzhi was frequently reprimanded and just lowered her head, silent.
“General Sun, are you blocking this place because of a guilty conscience or just stalling for time?” Qi Jingchen suddenly spoke up.
“Even you can speak here?” General Sun coldly snorted, then looked at Nie Yi. “You have no basis and no proof, yet you ran over here to question me. I must question B City secure base about whether they look down on small secure bases like ours!”
General Sun was very famous in J City secure base, and his subordinates followed him blindly. At this moment, the people he brought along were giving malicious expressions to Nie Yi and Qi Jingchen.
There was also the fact that everything had been fine in the first place, yet Nie Yi and the others were accusing them of human experimentation only a few days after arriving at J City secure base. It would be strange if they were happy.
Both sides were at a deadlock. Qi Jingchen blinked, and just as he was about to explore the hospital with his spiritual strength, two nurses suddenly ran out from inside the hospital. Their faces were filled with alarm, and when they saw General Sun, they immediately said, “General! The basement- There are dead people in the basement!”
General Sun had just been reprimanding Qi Jingchen, yet never imagined such a disturbance would occur. His complexion became incredibly ugly as he lashed out, “What are you being anxious about?! How could there be dead people in the basement? Explain it clearly!”
“General… We were going downstairs to get patient clothes, but we didn’t think we would see an additional door in the basement. After we entered… there were many dead people inside,” the two nurses said. Though they had seen many corpses, there were none that were so frightening… Now, they were especially terrified.
Regardless of whether it was General Sun or the people by his side, all of them were bewildered. However, with the present situation, they had to go to the basement for a look.
Everything went smoothly. They had just reached the base when someone in the hospital suddenly discovered that the hidden basement had a research facility… Qi Jingchen blinked, feeling something was fishy.
The hospital doors leading to the basement were open. General Sun brought his men to take the lead in going in, and very soon, the others had also followed along.
There were tons of people following along, but unexpectedly the hall of this basement could fit all of them… Naturally, no one had the time to pay attention to this point. Currently, everyone’s attention was focused on the corpses.
The basement really had a lot of dead people, and there was a pool at the very centre— Those who died in the experiments were all soaking inside; it was stuffed to the brim.
Not only that, but there were also a few corpses at the side who very obviously had just died. Among them, some were dressed in big, white gowns, some were wearing other clothing. One of them, whose brain had been split open and face scorched black, was shockingly Lu Junpeng.
There were five to six people who were like Lu Junpeng with their skulls cracked open. These people’s brains were splattered everywhere, and the sight made practically everyone unable to help but feel a chill on their forehead. The ability users who had followed along were even more appalled.
Dying in the hands of zombies was something they were helpless against; after all, those monsters already lost their minds. However, if they were killed by humans, the same as them…
Not only were those following after them feeling uncomfortable, even Nie Yi and Qi Jingchen felt a little shocked by the scene before their eyes.
They had originally thought that there would be a great number of deaths, but, currently, the corpses lying here were over a hundred. Seeing this, they felt that they were late by a step and the researchers might have already escaped.
Han Qishang immediately ran over to the side of the pool in the centre when he entered. By now, he had already found his younger cousin among the corpses… His body started emitting fire again, but this time, he didn’t extinguish them with his hands, instead flinging all the flames at Sun Chengzhi beside him.
Sun Chengzhi was familiar with Han Qishang, and now suddenly leapt back as she said, “Han Qishang, are you crazy?!”
“Calling me crazy? Boss Sun, such a big research facility, when was it built under the hospital? With so many people disappearing, how was it smoothed out? Furthermore, my didi is a level two ability user! In other secure bases, aren’t level two ability users the treasures of the base? Now, he died like this; shouldn’t you all be giving me an explanation?” By the time he finished his sentence, his gaze had already landed on General Sun.
General Sun had a cold face and did not say a word. Instead, it was Sun Chengzhi who spoke up. “We’ll definitely thoroughly investigate this matter and provide everyone with an explanation!”
“Provide an explanation?” Han Qishang’s face was filled with derision. “Perhaps you Suns are the masterminds behind the scenes, what explanation will you give?” The entire base was under the control of the Sun family. If the Sun family didn’t know of it, where would the research equipment and drugs these researchers need come from?
When they heard Han Qishang’s words, everyone looked at the Sun father and daughter pair. Even the subordinates General Sun had revealed some doubts in their faces.
Right at this time, a door at the side of this hall suddenly swung open. Everyone’s attention was completely attracted in that direction.
“This matter is my doing.” A person stepped out from behind the door. It was the person Nie Yi and Qi Jingchen saw when they were in the Sun house, Sun Chengzhi’s older brother, Sun Huan.
After a few days of not meeting, Sun Huan seemed to have become frailer. He was sitting in a wheelchair, covering his mouth as he let out a burst of coughs. He coughed to the point his face reddened, yet his lips were suffused in black.
“After becoming an ability user, one’s health will improve. I wanted to live, so I had someone research and see if they could transplant an ability belonging to an ability user to a regular person.” Sun Huan blinked. “Since I’ve now been discovered, I don’t have anything to say.”
“Ge!” Sun Chengzhi cried out in alarm. How could this matter be related to her brother? Impossible!
“Sun Huan!” General Sun also spoke, his eyes filled with wrath.
“Chengzhi, I’m sorry for disappointing you.” Sun Huan looked at Sun Chengzhi, eyes filled with regret.
Sun Chengzhi couldn’t believe that her own brother would do such a thing, but Han Qishang had already become exceptionally angry. With a raise of his hand, a fire dragon rushed towards Sun Huan.
Sun Huan kept his eyes open with no intention to avoid it. However, the fire dragon did not land on him— A wall of water suddenly appeared before him, stopping the fire dragon.
“Nie Yi! What do you mean by this?” Han Qishang glowered at Nie Yi.
“He’s not the mastermind behind the scenes,” Qi Jingchen spoke up all of a sudden, then looked at General Sun. “Right? General Sun?”