“Gene-level vaccine research is also underway. We believe that in the near future, the apocalyptic plague that flew out of Pandora’s box will be completely eradicated from our planet.”
Clap, clap. Clap.
Starting with one or two people, applause spread like wildfire across the venue, filling the spacious hall with thunderous acclaim.
Ning Yu removed his glasses, covering his face tightly with his palm.
His fingertips turned slightly white from this gesture until long after the applause subsided, he finally released his hand and lowered his head to put his glasses back on:
“Before publishing the antibody map, I want to first publish a list.”
Hundreds of eyes watched him as Ning Yu retrieved a notebook from beneath the test tube rack in the antibody box.
It was a somewhat worn black leather notebook. Ning Yu opened it and displayed it to the hall, revealing neatly recorded names and dates:
“These are the experimenters who sacrificed on the operating table during the virus evolution trial, some voluntary and some not, totaling ninety-five individuals.”
“Their dates of death have been recorded. I hope future human historical records will forever remember their names.”
This time, the hall remained silent, everyone maintaining a long, profound stillness.
In the last row, near the brass door.
“Why didn’t he say which ones weren’t voluntary?” Chun Cao whispered.
Zhou Rong lowered his gaze and sighed, patting her head:
“Who knows.”
·
This unprecedented global conference lasted over ten hours, and Ning Yu did not participate in the remaining proceedings, quietly leaving the venue after publishing the antibody gene map.
The laboratory looked exactly the same as when he left that morning.
Sunlight quietly spilled through the glass onto walls covered with numbers and cluttered experimental tables. Fire Seed No. 1’s server racks blinked with indicator lights, and the titanium-silver biological equipment emitted a faint halo in the sunlight.
Ning Yu sat directly in front of the monitor, seemingly gazing into the void, or staring at his blank face in the black screen.
Knock, knock.
A knock at the door, and someone entered.
“Dr. Ning…” the laboratory assistant carried a tray with a bowl of tomato and egg noodles, speaking cautiously: “Would you like to eat something…”
Ning Yu moved his neck, suddenly stiffening, before turning:
“I don’t eat during the day.”
“But…” the assistant mustered courage: “The experiment is complete now, and eating lunch shouldn’t matter. Besides, not eating lunch for a long time is very bad for your health, so…”
Ning Yu stared directly at her.
He was like a shell whose soul had already departed, sitting there emptily. For a moment, the assistant didn’t dare to meet his gaze.
“Leave it there,” Ning Yu finally uttered three words.
The assistant, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly placed the tray at the laboratory door and bowed out.
Ning Yu slowly turned back, saying nothing, thinking nothing.
Without even moving his eyes, the warm food’s aroma drifted through the air, passing by his invisible cold shell, gradually rising.
Ning Yu never moved.
·
In September 2020, global mass production of antibodies was completed, and the gene vaccine project was launched.
The army cleared city after city ruled by zombies using methods like burning, bombing, and tank crushing, starting from the southernmost point of the motherland and advancing northward in a fan-shaped pattern, reaching Tahe, North Frontier, and Inner Mongolia. Simultaneously, planes began air-dropping food and antibodies, rescuing millions of civilians from highlands and deep mountains in addition to survivors already settled in five major bases.
This operation, codenamed “Fire Seed,” continued for over four months, until deep winter.
The vaccine project no longer required Si Nan’s cooperation, and Zhou Rong was free. He received special central approval to lead the original 118th Sixth Squadron along with civilian volunteer Si Xiao Nan, forming a temporary unit to execute a targeted breakthrough mission at the Su North border.
However, an unexpected guest joined the team just before departure – Ning Yu.
“Dr. Ning is from Su North, though he didn’t stay there for long,” said General Zheng.
“He reported wanting to join as a military doctor and visit his hometown, and his superiors specially approved.”
Zhou Rong questioned, “Isn’t he supposed to be in the laboratory?”
“The vaccine has preliminary results. He says all major global laboratories are working on it, and it makes no difference with or without him.”
Zhou Rong felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.
“Do well, Colonel Zhou!” General Zheng patted his shoulder encouragingly. “You’re leading the most highly configured special forces squad. Don’t let your superiors down!”
“…” Zhou Rong coldly replied, “Sir, you might not know, but Ning is a terrible military doctor. He’s less skilled at bandaging than me. What if he kills the entire team…”
The old general was both amused and exasperated: “Stop talking nonsense and get going!”
However, Ning Yu wasn’t as troublesome as Zhou Rong had imagined, and was much more approachable compared to his initially sarcastic and caustic demeanor.
The seven-person squad, along with their armored vehicle, was air-transported to Dunhuang, Gansu. The urban area had already been carpet-bombed, leaving few zombies. The challenge was the tourist groups stranded at historical sites during the virus outbreak, now completely zombified. To protect cultural relics from excessive damage, a special forces squad was deployed for a sweeping clearance.
Zhou Rong’s plan was to first eliminate zombies outside the scenic area, then use the military-developed high-concentration Alpha pheromone lure to draw the living dead from Mogao Caves to the Gobi Desert, where they would be eliminated by vehicle-mounted rocket launchers. He left Ning Yu in the armored vehicle, strictly instructing him not to open the door or exit under any circumstances, before charging out with his team, guns ready.
It was peak tourist season when the virus broke out, and though many zombies had already fled, those remaining were formidable. As soon as they exited the vehicle, zombies rushed towards them.
Zhou Rong: “Quick, use grenades to clear the way, Mogao Caves are that direction!”
Zombie hordes were blown apart by grenades, the ground covered in muddy, rotten blood.
The team charged through the ticket booth, facing a massive wave of stumbling zombie retirees, led by a tour guide still dutifully holding a small red flag.
“Every time, they’d run away within three hours! I don’t know why!”
Zhou Rong: “…”
Chun Cao patted his shoulder encouragingly: “You won’t find a girlfriend in your next life.” Then she charged forward, launching a mortar that sent the zombie group flying.
Si Nan typically excelled at missions by neither leading nor falling behind, always staying silent and close to the team, only jumping out during critical moments. This time, however, Zhou Rong noticed he kept rushing forward, pulling him back by his collar, only to have him slip ahead again.
“What are you doing, Xiao Nan?” Zhou Rong had to quicken his pace. “There’s no supermarket ahead, just a mud building! This is a scenic area!”
Si Nan seemed deaf, carrying an assault rifle and shooting continuously, quickly reaching the “mud building” and shooting a climbing rope, nimbly entering the cave.
The scenic area was crowded with zombies. Zhou Rong was timing the pheromone lure when he saw this and nearly went mad: “Bring him back! What is he doing? A paid vacation?!”
Guo Weixiang immediately sprang to action: “Okay, I’ll find him!” and swiftly flew up.
Yan Hao: “I… I’ll go find him too!”
Chun Cao: “Wait for me, wait for me!”
