Chapter 101: Calamity Plant (5th Update, Asking for Monthly Tickets!!)

Zhao Yan looked at Ding Junyi with an urgent expression. Although she usually disliked this colleague who lacked emotional intelligence, she knew at this moment that the other’s rationality far surpassed her own. It was precisely her communication and style that had secured the rescue from Lin Xian’s group.

Seeing Ding Junyi’s busy state, her eyes suddenly lit up as she thought of something. She quickly called over her student, Xu Wen. “Little Xu, quick, let’s copy our research data and bring it with us.”

“Huh? Why bring that?”

“This is our life’s work!” Zhao Yan glanced at Ding Junyi, pulled Xu Wen aside, and whispered, “If we get out, these things can still prove our value. If we want to find our original organization or seek refuge with the New Apocalypse Federation, don’t you think these things are important?”

Xu Wen gasped upon hearing this and nodded solemnly, understanding the importance of the matter. As researchers, this research data could very well become their capital for survival later on. Thinking of this, the two of them quickly ran to their computers and began downloading data.

Han Qiming, who was at the side, saw the actions of the three and understood as well, joining in the process of downloading data.

Ding Junyi paid no attention to the thoughts of the other three. Besides the research data, she also downloaded the holographic structural map of the underground city and the notes for each cabin area. She even took the most recent monitor information that could be backed up. At this moment, she looked at the three figures moving quickly on the surveillance screen and thought of something else. She then began to search the system for relevant information about the underground city’s transport train system.

Not long after, the figures of Lin Xian’s trio disappeared from the surveillance. Judging from their last location, they had already passed through Area D23 and should only be a few hundred meters away from Area F13 where they were.

But the surveillance in the corridors and passages outside their location was damaged, so Ding Junyi couldn’t see Lin Xian’s group’s movements.

So, after finishing everything, she got up directly and walked quickly towards the laboratory, arriving at the sealed hall. There was an isolation door here, which was their last line of defense.

Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming also followed her out. Seeing Ding Junyi standing by the door, they didn’t dare to approach.

“Are they coming?” Han Qiming shouted.

Xu Wen had an anxious look on her face. “Director Ding, are you going to open the door? It doesn’t look like there’s anyone outside.”

The three of them retreated far away, not daring to get close to the main door, afraid that countless man-eating monsters would pour in the moment it opened.

But Ding Junyi just raised her hand to signal them to be quiet, then stood silently behind the isolation door, her slender fingers resting lightly on the open button.

Thump-thump, thump-thump.

Inside the highly sealed and soundproof isolation door, most of the sound was blocked out. The hall was incredibly quiet. The few people waiting for rescue could almost hear their own heartbeats.

No one knew what kind of situation they would face after that door opened.

It could be rescuers descending from the heavens, or it could be terrifying monsters swarming in.

At this moment, everyone’s heart was in their throat.

Ding Junyi listened intently to the sounds outside, her expression calm and unruffled, as if devoid of any emotion. Suddenly, her eyes moved slightly, and she decisively pressed her finger down.

Hiss~

The isolation door, sealed for many days, suddenly opened, and a cold, biting air rushed in.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!

Intense gunfire rang out. Almost at the instant the isolation door opened, three figures wearing gas masks suddenly rushed in, followed by the howls of countless zombies.

Voom!

After rushing in, Kiki waved her hand back. An invisible telekinetic barrier surged, instantly sending the pursuing zombies flying.

“Ah!!”

This terrifying scene made Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming shrink into a corner in fear. Han Qiming was even holding a stool in front of him for protection.

“Wow, the door opened right on time,” Kiki said, looking at Ding Junyi by the door in surprise as soon as she entered.

At this moment, Ding Junyi pressed the close button again.

Clang~

The isolation door closed, shutting out the deafening howls. The lights in the research area hall were bright, and the interior was clean and tidy, a world apart from the bloody, death-filled atmosphere outside.

Then, Ding Junyi turned around and slowly raised her hands, facing the three.

“I am Ding Junyi. The air warning system has not sounded an alarm, so you don’t need to worry about the air quality. You can take off your gas masks.”

Lin Xian aimed his gun at Ding Junyi. The other party had her hands raised, her face calm, her entire being screaming “harmless.”

Seeing this woman, a trace of surprise flashed through his heart.

Calm, logical, seemingly devoid of emotion. Her features weren’t stunningly beautiful but were delicate and pleasant to look at. Gold-rimmed glasses, a long white coat, jeans, short high heels—her entire being exuded an aura of high intellect and cold beauty.

Lin Xian took off his gas mask, took a breath, and then turned to look at Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and the others with a scrutinizing gaze. “Just the four of you, right?”

“Zhao Yan, PhD in molecular biology, a Federal Level-One scientific research talent asset. Xu Wen, PhD in biochemistry, a Federal Level-One scientific research talent asset. Han Qiming, PhD in microbiology and also an ecology expert.”

Ding Junyi calmly introduced them while her hands were raised. She wasted no words, directly and quickly explaining the value of each person to Lin Xian.

Her words were concise, without any fluff, as if trying to tell Lin Xian that the people he had saved were not ordinary people, and that he should at least think twice if he wanted to kill them.

“We have no weapons and are willing to cooperate with all your actions. If you rescue us, you can exchange us for a certain value of benefits from the former federal government teams or the New Apocalypse Federation organization.”

“Yes, yes, we can provide value. Please don’t hurt us!” Xu Wen pleaded, nodding repeatedly.

“We are just researchers, we have no hostility.”

“Yes, yes.”

Zhao Yan and Han Qiming also quickly added.

Lin Xian’s eyes sharpened.

“Didn’t you just say that you were already abandoned assets?”

Ding Junyi did not refute, saying, “In terms of the difficulty of rescue, we were abandoned. But as long as we are alive, to the officials, our existence still has a certain value.”

Hearing this, Lin Xian couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

Even after being abandoned, they were still talking about their value. The logic of intellectuals was truly profound and fucking annoying.

However, from a survival perspective, it made a lot of sense. For these researchers, their best chance of survival was to join a government organization. In this situation, what was the point of纠结 whether they were assets or had human rights?

“Dalou, check them,” Lin Xian gestured to Dalou.

Dalou then walked over with his gun raised. His huge figure scared Zhao Yan and the others into backing away repeatedly.

He used his gun to lift their lab coats and checked them. After confirming they had no weapons, he nodded at Lin Xian.

“Wow, what is this thing?!”

At this moment, Kiki, who had just taken off her gas mask, suddenly saw something and quickly walked over. In the laboratory, there was a sealed, transparent cultivation chamber. Inside grew a plant that resembled a chrysanthemum, but the difference was that this was an almost pure black flower, with a hint of scarlet in the center of the inflorescence, looking extremely strange.

“Blood Calamity Plant. We call this one No. 1. It was discovered during the first polar night.” The woman named Xu Wen walked up nervously at this moment. “From the leaves, stem, and inflorescence, it’s clearly from the Asteraceae family, but this seems to be some kind of mutated classification, because it was found growing on…”

“Growing on a corpse!” Ding Junyi replied in a cold voice.