Chapter 125: Behind the Awakening

Xie Han never imagined that the darkness could be so interminable. He walked aimlessly through a void devoid of a single glimmer of light. There was no direction, no purpose, and his mind was blank, stripped of all thought, as if he were meant to wander this way forever.

Like a walking corpse, he traveled for an unknown duration until, finally, a speck of light appeared ahead. As he drew closer to this sliver of brightness, his mind began to stir. Everything that occurred before he lost consciousness flickered through his thoughts like a film.

The Hunter had collapsed in front of him, writhing and twitching in agony. It had even tried to crawl toward him, its jaws agape, its sharp teeth desperate to tear him apart. Unfortunately, the internal damage caused by the GGT biological agent was too severe for it to recover. What happened afterward? Xie Han did not know; that was the last thing he saw before blacking out. Perhaps the Hunter had killed him, or perhaps...

The light grew brighter, and Xie Han seemed to hear someone calling his name, though the sound remained muffled and indistinct. He quickened his pace, running toward the glow, straining to hear who was crying out for him.

The light suddenly flooded his vision, and Xie Han winced, slamming his eyes shut. In the ensuing silence, a cry of joyful surprise rang out, followed by the sound of someone rushing away. Disoriented, Xie Han forced his eyes open. He was met with a expanse of snowy white. A faint scent of medicinal liquid mixed with the aroma of unknown herbs filled his nostrils, leaving him confused about his surroundings.

Soon, a flurry of footsteps approached, and seven or eight people swarmed into the room. The first thing he saw was Qi Feiwu’s face—slightly haggard, yet radiant with joy. "Xie Han, you're awake!" she exclaimed.

Xie Han tried to part his lips, but as his senses returned, an unbearable, searing pain surged through his body. His vision went white, and a sensation of suffocating, intense agony sent his brain into shock, causing him to pass out again.

When Xie Han opened his eyes once more, the infirmary was quiet. He tried to move his numb arm, but it was futile; he couldn't even twitch a finger. His throat felt scorched, and, consumed by thirst, he rasped, "Water... water..."

His whisper roused Qi Feiwu, who had been keeping watch. This time, she didn't cry out as she had before; instead, she quickly grabbed a pre-prepared cup of water, inserted a straw, and gently placed it to his lips.

Xie Han drank greedily, like a traveler in the desert stumbling upon an oasis. Only when his throat felt soothed did he release the straw. Moving his lips, he managed a faint, raspy sound: "Thank... thank you."

Qi Feiwu smiled. "You're finally awake. You won't scare me by passing out again, will you?" Xie Han shook his head slightly. "I... I shouldn't," he replied. After catching his breath, he asked, "Was it... was it Zhao Bai'an? Did he... did he bring me back?"

"Yes..." Qi Feiwu rubbed her hands together. She reached into a basket beside her and pulled out a dozen plump, root-like plants. Looking a bit embarrassed, she said, "When people get sick or injured elsewhere, they have all sorts of nutritious fruit to eat. It’s a pity we’re in the apocalypse; naturally, we don’t have such things. But these sweet roots were brought back by the scavenging team. They’re fresh and juicy. I’ve tasted them—they’re truly very sweet."

Watching Qi Feiwu use a press to squeeze the juice from the sweet roots, Xie Han couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had the ability to bring back many things lacking in this post-apocalyptic world, yet he had to hold back. Life in the base was austere. There was rice, but vegetables were even scarcer than meat. Fortunately, they had already planted a large plot, and the seeds had sprouted. Perhaps in a month or two, they would be able to harvest them.

He wondered how long he had been unconscious. Was New City doing well? Had Zhao Bai'an and the others successfully rescued those people? Were the scavenging missions still ongoing? And the construction of New City...

While Xie Han was lost in thought, Qi Feiwu brought the squeezed sweet-root juice to his lips. "Drink up. Dr. Wang said this juice is good for your injuries." Xie Han murmured an acknowledgment and drank the half-cup of juice, smiling as he finished. "It really is delicious."

"Do you want more?"

Xie Han shook his head. "No, that's enough." He closed his eyes, sensing the state of his battered body.

As he drifted, Zhou Ruomeng’s voice appeared in his mind, sounding amused. "I never realized Qi Feiwu cared for you so much. During the week you were unconscious, she stayed here almost the entire time, only leaving for the most important meetings. And as soon as they were over, she’d rush right back. Tsk tsk, look at her—pale and thin. I really don't know what you have that’s so special!"

Communicating via his mind was effortless, so Xie Han replied fluently: "You said I was unconscious for a week?" Thinking of Qi Feiwu’s haggard appearance, a wave of emotion washed over him. "She really is foolishly adorable," he muttered.

Zhou Ruomeng chuckled at his surprise. "Surprised by a week? With the injuries you had, an ordinary person would have died the moment the Hunter struck. Do you know how many times the Hunter attacked you? Three times. There was hardly a bone in your body that wasn't broken, especially your chest—it was nearly pulverized."

***

It was true, as Zhou Ruomeng said; such injuries would have been fatal for anyone else, or at best, would have left them a permanent vegetable. In that sense, a one-week coma was indeed a miraculously short recovery. Xie Han asked, puzzled, "Ruomeng, with such severe injuries, how did Dr. Wang and the others save me? I recall that New City doesn't have the surgical facilities for that."

Zhou Ruomeng seemed momentarily distracted by his change in address, but she quickly burst into a laugh. "You mean that Wang Yezhi fellow? To be honest, with your injuries and the pathetic medical facilities of this base, it would have been impossible to save you. The only reason you’re still alive is because of your third-level gene rating."

Xie Han felt a bit dejected. "Does this third-level gene rating also have self-healing capabilities, like the R3?"

Zhou Ruomeng nodded. "You’re right. Self-repair is a sub-function of the third level. While its healing effect isn't as potent as the R3—not even a tenth as strong—it is a terrifying recovery ability for a human. Do you know how many bones you had fractured? Not to mention your internal hemorrhaging. Yet, in just one week, you’ve basically been repaired. I believe in another week, you’ll be able to walk freely."

"Is this self-repair really that miraculous?" Xie Han’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"Well," Zhou Ruomeng said, "it is miraculous, but your rapid recovery might have something to do with Wang Yezhi as well." Xie Han was stunned. "How could my inherent gene-rating repair function have anything to do with him?"

Zhou Ruomeng gave a dry chuckle. "Let’s put it this way: when you landed that final blow, didn't you ram your entire arm into the Hunter's mouth? That’s where the problem arose. Unfortunately, its teeth pierced your arm's micro-armor, and very unluckily, it grazed your skin. Just a tiny graze... you know what that means, don't you?"

"What?" Xie Han nearly bolted upright, startling Qi Feiwu, who was nearby. "What's wrong, Xie Han?" she asked anxiously. Xie Han shook his head and sank back down. "I'm fine, Feiwu, don't worry!" He closed his eyes and said to Zhou Ruomeng, "Couldn't you have given me some warning or a buffer?"

Zhou Ruomeng replied, "I was being quite tactful. Who knew you’d react so strongly?" Xie Han asked, "Being infected by the XR virus should be a death sentence, right? So why am I still sitting here after a week?"

"Heh, that’s where Wang Yezhi comes in," Zhou Ruomeng explained. "When you were brought back to the base, your condition was dire, and the symptoms of the infection were beginning to manifest. Everyone had given up hope; they were even ready to put a bullet in your head. It was only because Qi Feiwu refused that your skull remained intact."

"And then?" Xie Han pressed.

"And then..." Zhou Ruomeng teased him before continuing, "They kept you in a special room lined with weapons, just in case. Tsk tsk, I guarantee that if your condition hadn't improved, those weapons would have torn you to pieces."

Xie Han was speechless, though he held no grudge against those who had made the decision—it was reasonable given the infection. If it had been him, he might not have even offered a chance and would have gone straight for the headshot. "So, did they perform surgery?"

Zhou Ruomeng shook her head. "In this pathetic base? Surgery? They just used your traditional Chinese herbal medicine, applying it externally and giving it to you orally. Honestly, if it had been just that, you would have turned into a zombie. Fortunately, Wang Yezhi kept searching for a way, and he eventually used the Nüwa Grass you found to suppress the XR virus in your system."

Zhou Ruomeng’s calm narration sent a cold sweat down Xie Han’s back. If Wang Yezhi hadn't experimented with the Nüwa Grass, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Xie Han had finally discovered another use for the Nüwa Grass. Modern research institutions didn't know what the XR virus was, so they couldn't have identified the specific substance in the Nüwa Grass that targeted it. And Wang Yezhi, lacking equipment, couldn't have isolated the component either.

This intersection of circumstances had caused everyone to overlook the true utility of the Nüwa Grass, focusing instead on things like increasing fertility rates.

Xie Han was pleasantly surprised. Compared to his severe injuries, this discovery made everything worthwhile. A blessing in disguise—that was the best way to describe his current situation.

Zhou Ruomeng added, "Don't get too happy yet. The Nüwa Grass doesn't cure the XR virus; it might not even suppress it in ordinary people. The reason it worked on you is primarily because of your gene rating. It has strengthened your genes, making your natural resistance a dozen times that of an ordinary person."

Xie Han didn't mind. "Regardless of whether it’s a cure, it’s a breakthrough. So, you're saying the XR virus in my body is just suppressed? Like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment?"

"That’s one way to put it," Zhou Ruomeng said. "But you’re different from the average person. Your powerful gene-based abilities will slowly eradicate the virus. By the time you can move around on your own, the virus should be completely eliminated. The only reason you’re still allowed in this room is because they’ve detected the disappearance of the virus."

***

Having understood the whole process, Xie Han felt much more at ease. He dismissed Zhou Ruomeng, opened his eyes, and said to the worried Qi Feiwu, "Feiwu, I'm fine, really. Don't worry."

Qi Feiwu, who had been unsettled by his long silence, was relieved to see him so alert. She said cheerfully, "That's good. Chen Liu and the others will be here soon. Your symptoms over the past week really scared us."

Thinking of what Zhou Ruomeng had told him about Qi Feiwu’s desperate efforts to protect him, Xie Han smiled and said earnestly, "Feiwu, thank you, truly."

A rare blush appeared on Qi Feiwu’s haggard face. "What is there to thank me for? You are the administrative commander of our New City. Without your leadership, we would lack hope. I think what you need most right now is to recover so you can return to the construction of the city." She paused, then added softly, "Xie Han, don't take such risks again, okay?"

The room became thick with an awkward, intimate tension. Xie Han nodded. "I promise."

Watching Qi Feiwu smile, Xie Han asked, "Have you figured out the situation with the people we rescued?" Qi Feiwu replied, "Chen Liu and Qiangzi are handling that. It seems they’ve mostly cleared things up, but these past few days... I haven't been keeping track."

Footsteps sounded at the door. Chen Liu, Xu Qiang, and four or five others entered. Seeing that Xie Han was able to talk, they all looked relieved. Chen Liu laughed heartily. "I tell you, Xie, you really should thank Feiwu. Otherwise, Qiang and I would have already taken your head off."

Xie Han retorted, "It’s a good thing you still have some brotherly affection and didn't pull the trigger, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing me today."

Chu Tianhe stepped forward cautiously. "Boss, you aren't mad at us, are you? You know how serious you were—your eyes were bloodshot, you were thrashing around, and your skin was turning gray. How did you have the strength to swing your arms and legs when nearly every bone in your body was shattered? And you were incredibly strong, too!"

"Damn it..." Xie Han glared at him. "What does it feel like? How about when I'm healed, I crush most of your bones so you can experience that feeling yourself?"

Chu Tianhe ducked his head, looking aggrieved. "I... I was just curious if you were the legendary cockroach-like survivor!"

Everyone laughed, lightening the serious atmosphere. Xu Qiang said, "Team Leader, just focus on resting. We’ll handle the base; I guarantee the construction hasn't stalled one bit. Everyone in the base knows about your feats now. The rumors are legendary—'eight feet tall,' 'splitting the mountain,' 'peerless hero'—it’s spreading like wildfire."

Xie Han rolled his eyes. "Damn, is it really that exaggerated?"

Chu Tianhe popped back up. "Boss, it’s not exaggeration, it’s fact! Tsk tsk, those R3-level Hunters—which one isn't a terrifying zombie? One can take out a whole group of us, and you took on two at once. That’s not just one plus one equals two; that is absolutely badass."

"Since you're so interested..." Xie Han laughed, "Next time we run into a Hunter, I'll leave it to you. I guarantee that if you kill a Hunter, you'll be even more famous than me. All the women in the base will be throwing themselves at you—it’ll fulfill your harem dreams."

Chu Tianhe opened his mouth, then muttered, "Boss, I surrender. How do you know all my strengths?"

Xie Han was speechless at Chu Tianhe’s antics. He turned to Chen Liu. "Brother Chen, what about those refugees?"

Chen Liu frowned. "It’s a bit troublesome. They came from An-Du City, and the situation there is dire." He sighed. "Xie, just focus on recovering. That’s far beyond what we can handle right now. All we can do is hope for the best for them."