Chapter 192

Chapter 192

Lin Fen, after pondering for a moment, began, "To start with this matter, I have to go back to when we escaped from Abel's Tear Institute."

"Yu Yuan and I woke up from unconsciousness to find ourselves locked in an empty room. While trying to figure out a way out, we heard regular tapping sounds from the wall, using the military’s special Miller code. I communicated with the person next door using the Miller code, who told me there was a hole behind the sink. We passed notes through the hole, and that’s how I found out it was General Feng and his wife next door."

Yan Bubu turned to look at Feng Chen, placing his hand on Feng Chen’s, which Feng Chen then clasped.

Lin Fen continued, "Your parents were locked up there by Chen Sizhe the day before the earthquake. He had obtained the door lock code. We planned to seize the virus sample after getting out of the room. Everything went smoothly; your father distracted the guards, and Yu Yuan and I broke into the institute and seized the virus sample being researched."

"Being researched?" Feng Chen asked.

Lin Fen nodded, then asked them, "Have you ever opened the codebox before?"

"Never seen it."

"No, brother wouldn’t let me touch the numbers."

Lin Fen explained, "Actually, the codebox is a mini-thermostat powered by a small piece of Lishi, maintaining the temperature inside above zero degrees to preserve the virus, which was stored in a vial made of special material. They had just extracted the original sample when Yu Yuan and I burst in and took the vial."

"What followed was as you might imagine, the four of us escaping together. After some effort, we finally left the institute."

Lin Fen's tone was flat, but the phrase "after some effort" let Feng Chen and Yan Bubu imagine the difficulty and intense moments of that time.

"We were all injured at that time, and it wasn't easy to move. Your father thought it wasn't a good idea to continue like this. When they were about to catch up, he let Yu Yuan and I take the sample and escape, while he and your mother led the pursuers in another direction. We parted ways at that fork, and I haven't seen them since. But hearing from you that they are still alive, I feel relieved."

A gust of wind blew, rustling the leaves and bringing a chill. Seeing Yan Bubu shiver, Lin Fen stood up and said, "Let's go back, we can talk more as we walk."

He turned to leave, and the others stood up to follow. Bi Nunu and Sasa Ka were still playing in the woods, but started heading back to the house as they saw the group leaving.

Lin Fen glanced at Bi Nunu and then said to Yan Bubu, "That toy is really something."

"I've told you, it's not a toy," Yan Bubu muttered.

After leaving the forest, the path widened. Lin Fen slowed down, waiting for the two to catch up, then spoke, "After leaving the institute, Yu Yuan and I reached Jing'an City by the next afternoon. With our speed, we could have reached Central City in another day."

Yan Bubu and Feng Chen had passed through Jing'an City on their way to Central City and had even sat in a small private cinema there, knowing that the city was not far from Central City.

Feng Chen asked, "What happened then? Did Anbu Jia's people catch up with you again?"

"Anbu Jia's people were always behind us but never caught up. However, Chen Sizhe had set up defenses on the road to Central City and ambushed us with a lot of men."

Yan Bubu's expression grew tense, "So you were captured by Chen Sizhe's men?"

"What are you thinking? Would Yu Yuan and I be captured by Chen Sizhe's men?" Lin Fen frowned at Yan Bubu, "Caught again? We were only captured before because of that spider's trick. Would we have made such a mistake otherwise?"

The three had now walked out of the forest, passing through the vegetable fields. Lin Fen looked towards the left side of the field and suddenly stopped, "Wait." He then carefully walked through the soybean plants to the left.

He crouched down at the edge of the field and returned half a minute later with a few yellow wildflowers in his hand.

"I picked some pale pink flowers this morning; adding a few yellow ones would make them look even better," Lin Fen brought the flowers to his nose and frowned, "These flowers have been around since before the earthquake. Yu Yuan always said they smelled nice, but they actually have a rotten sweet potato scent."

Yan Bubu said, "Let me smell them."

Lin Fen then handed the flowers to him.

Yan Bubu sniffed twice and was about to comment on how fragrant it was when he saw Lin Fen looking down at him, so he offered a compromise: "It smells like sweet potatoes going bad."

"Hmm," Lin Fen nodded, continuing to walk forward with the flower in hand.

Passing through the vegetable garden and walking along the winding corridors, Lin Fen looked at the bouquet in his hands and continued his low, narrating voice.

"After we left Jing'an City, the people from Anbuja kept chasing us. By evening, we were only half a day's journey from the central city..."

……

The dim sky was filled with heavy snow, turning the world white. Only two figures were seen trudging through the snow.

"Can you still walk? I can carry you on my back," Lin Fen asked, his eyelashes frosted, turning to the person he was leading.

Yu Yuan was also covered in frost and snow, looking pale. His condition was due to both the extreme cold and his injuries.

"I'm fine, but you should be careful with your own wound on your waist," Yu Yuan said, then coughed softly.

Lin Fen pulled him into his arms to shield him from the snow, saying, "What's this knife wound? I've had worse injuries before. Are you cold? If so, let's rest behind that mountain ahead. They won’t catch up to us anytime soon."

Yu Yuan opened his thick military coat to check inside, his face showing anxiety: "We can't rest now. The temperature in the vial is dropping too low, almost to zero."

When they broke into the lab, the vial had already been removed from the password box, and the original insulating box was nowhere to be found.

General Feng was still dragging people into battle; they had no time to search for the box, so they only took the formulation tube. Although Yu Yuan kept the tube close to his body throughout the journey, and the tube itself insulated against cold and heat, the temperature on the display screen was gradually decreasing as they trekked through the snow in sub-zero temperatures.

"It's okay, we'll make it in time. As soon as we enter the city, we can contact the Western Allied Forces," Lin Fen comforted him, but his expression became increasingly solemn.

Yu Yuan licked his somewhat pale lips due to blood loss, about to say something, but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Lin Fen's gaze sharpened, and he immediately surveyed their surroundings.

Yu Yuan, with a sense of urgency in his voice, said, "Bai He just told me there's an ambush ahead."

"How many people?" Lin Fen asked.

"Several dozen."

Yu Yuan's face, fraught with anxiety, appeared even paler, his voice trembling slightly: "What do we do now? The people behind us will catch up soon."

Lin Fen looked to the sky where, amidst the snowstorm, a small shadow approached – it was the vulture that had been keeping an eye on the pursuers from behind.

"We have to detour. I know a path to the left that can avoid them. As long as we don't confront them directly, those following us aren't a threat," Yu Yuan said hoarsely.

Lin Fen shook his head: "No, that won't work. I know the path you're talking about. Taking it will cost us half a day, and by then the temperature of the sample will drop below zero, and we won't be able to preserve it."

"But if we don't detour, we'll have to face them head-on, and fighting them could take half a day. The formulation tube might even be taken. Think, think of something..." Yu Yuan urged anxiously.

The two stood quietly facing each other in the snowstorm. The vulture circled overhead twice before flying off to search for Bai He.

Lin Fen turned to look ahead, his vision filled with a vast expanse of white. He then turned back to Yu Yuan, gently brushed the frost off his eyelashes, and said softly, "There is a way. We'll go straight ahead. I'll take care of them later. You just focus on running forward."

"You'll take care of them? How will you do that?" Yu Yuan immediately pressed, "There are so many of them. What can you do to hold them off?"

"I'm sure there's a way—"

"Don't even think about it!" Yu Yuan interrupted him sharply: "Are you talking about risking your life? Lin Fen, let me tell you, if you dare gamble with your life, I'll take the specimen out and throw it into the snow right now."

"What are you talking about?" Lin Fen knew he was just trying to scare him, yet his face darkened: "We are both soldiers. You should know that from the day we took the military oath, my life belongs to the Ehate Federation. I must fulfill this responsibility!"

"But you're also my sentinel. Your life belongs to me too! You have a responsibility to me as well!" Yu Yuan shouted hoarsely, his eyes quickly reddening and tears surging out.

Those warm droplets hadn't yet hit the ground when they turned into sparkling ice beads in the air.

Lin Fen was about to say something, but seeing Yu Yuan like this, he ultimately remained silent. He caught an ice bead in his hand, gazing at the transparent crystal rolling in his fur glove, his expression gradually softening.

He tenderly stroked a bloodstain on Yu Yuan's cheek, then pulled him into his embrace, kissing his tearful eyes.

"Don't go, don't leave me..." Yu Yuan sobbed in his arms, clinging tightly to his waist.

Lin Fen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly but firmly pried the hands from his waist.

"Please don't go, there must be another way..."

Yu Yuan's desperate sobs pierced Lin Fen's heart like a knife, shredding his heart and flesh.

"...I'm sorry." He hugged the person in his arms tightly once more, then let go, turned resolutely, and strode forward.

Amidst the raging snowstorm, he buttoned up his coat and, without looking back, called out loudly: "I will draw everyone to the right. You take the formulation tube and look for a chance to break out from the left."

Yu Yuan stood motionless in the snow, his dark hair fluttering, making his pale face even more so. He watched Lin Fen's retreating figure, each step sinking deep into the snow, yet he continued forward unwaveringly.

Lin Fen could feel the gaze fixed on him from behind, and he could imagine Yu Yuan's expression at that moment.

He wanted to rush back and hold Yu Yuan tightly, telling him not to be sad, that he wouldn't go anywhere. But he never looked back, silently weeping, allowing tears to cover his face, quickly freezing into icy trails.

"Lin Fen!!!"

Lin Fen heard Yu Yuan's hoarse, loud cry.

This heart-wrenching voice, filled with reluctance and determination, finally made Lin Fen stop in his tracks and slowly turn around.

His gaze pierced through the blinding snowstorm, meeting a pair of eyes brimming with sadness and love.

……

"Lin Fen... he called out to me." Lin Fen stood silently in the corridor, his eyes gazing into the distance, murmuring softly.

"Whenever I quiet down, whether I'm gardening, pruning branches, or doing anything else. As soon as I quiet down, I can hear his voice. He keeps calling my name, over and over, 'Lin Fen, Lin Fen, Lin Fen...'"

Yan Bubu, led by Feng Chen, stood behind him, a foreboding feeling rising in his heart. He held his breath, waiting for Lin Fen to continue, but Lin Fen fell silent, staring ahead as if lost in his memories.

A night breeze blew, gently fluttering his graying hair.

The three of them stood motionless, while Binunu and Sasaka, who had walked ahead, turned back to wait for them.

After a long pause, Lin Fen brought the bouquet to his nose, then turned back to smile at the two: "I wasn't lying. Yu Yuan is indeed sick, so he couldn't come to meet you. Let's go, I'll take you to see him now."

Yan Bubu, who had initially guessed that Yu Yuan might no longer be alive, relaxed his tense heartstrings at Lin Fen's words, turning to look at Feng Chen with surprise.

However, Feng Chen's expression did not brighten at Lin Fen's words. His solemnity caused Yan Bubu's heart, which had just leapt with joy, to sink again.

As they walked forward, Yan Bubu's mind raced with thoughts, nearly tripping over stones twice, only to be steadied by Feng Chen.

"Be careful where you walk, watch the path," Lin Fen called back.

"Oh, okay."

Returning to the fortress-like building, Lin Fen asked the two to wait in the hall: "Wait here. I'll go get Yu Yuan's favorite flowers to accompany this bouquet and take them to him."

Seeing Colonel Yu still able to appreciate flowers, Yan Bubu felt much more at ease and let out a silent sigh of relief. He looked at Feng Chen, who also seemed more relaxed, evidently thinking the same as him.

Lin Fen soon came out with two bunches of wildflowers of different colors, handing them to Yan Bubu: "Hold these for me."

As Yan Bubu carefully held both bunches, Lin Fen walked to the left, picking stems from each bunch to create a bouquet with the most complementary colors.

Looking down, he saw Bi Nunu staring at the flowers in his hand, so he picked one and tucked it behind her ear, remarking, "It suits your complexion, pretty girl."

Bi Nunu gently touched the flower with her paw, then walked over to Sasaka to show it off.

To the left was a long corridor, flanked by tightly shut rooms, likely the former laboratories. After passing this corridor, Lin Fen had finished arranging his bouquet and, satisfied, examined it before heading up to the second floor.

The footsteps of the three echoed in the empty corridor. Yan Bubu looked at the rooms on both sides, noting their size and the fitness equipment and entertainment items inside, probably used by the researchers for rest and exercise.

The further Yan Bubu walked, the more puzzled he became.

If this were a row of sick wards, it would make sense, but clearly it's not. So why is Yu Yuan living alone on this floor after falling ill?

However, his confusion didn't last long. Lin Fen walked to the end of the corridor and stopped in front of a tightly closed door.

The door appeared similar to the others on this floor, made of dark grey steel. Yet, it had a keypad lock on one side, its numbers glowing faintly green under the dim corridor lights.

Yan Bubu watched Lin Fen press the numbers, and a panel above the door slid to the left, revealing a square window from which a gentle music drifted out.

Lin Fen stood at the window, looking inside. His gaze immediately softened, and a slight smile formed on his lips: "He's resting."

Having said that, he moved aside to make room at the window.

The sight of this window suddenly reminded Yan Bubu of the time when he went to look for Feng Chen at the medical point during the flooding of the underground shelter. Those rooms also had small windows above steel doors…

Yan Bubu suddenly felt the air oppressive, causing panic in his chest. Feng Chen seemed to have realized something as well, standing still like him. Both felt a cold sweat in their clasped hands, unsure whether it was their own or the other's.

Finally, Feng Chen took a step forward, moving slowly, and Yan Bubu involuntarily followed.

The window was almost at eye level with Feng Chen, but Yan Bubu had to stand on his toes to see inside.

He saw a spacious room with only a cushioned bed and a table. The bed and table were wrapped tightly in thick velvet, concealing their original material. In one corner of the ceiling, there was a player emitting soft violin music.

All around the room, the walls were padded thickly, divided into upper and lower layers. The lower half was brown leather padding, indicating that the space was previously used for physical training, hence the protective mats. The upper half had cushions of various colors, seemingly assembled from sofa cushions, covering the entire room.

Sitting in the middle of the bed was a person in white cotton clothes. Though he was facing away from the door and many years had passed, Yan Bubu recognized him at first glance as Yu Yuan.

He wanted to call out to Colonel Yu, but his throat seemed glued shut, unable to produce any sound.

As if hearing the movement at the door, Yu Yuan slowly turned his head to look over.

Even though Yan Bubu had somewhat anticipated this and prepared himself mentally, the shock of seeing Yu Yuan's face made him stagger back two steps, biting his lip to stifle a cry of alarm.

It was unmistakably the face of a zombie.

Dark green skin, eyes black as voids, and dark, prominent capillaries on the skin's surface.

Yu Yuan sat motionless on the cushioned bed, while Yan Bubu and Feng Chen watched him through the window in utter silence.

Moments later, Feng Chen finally took a long breath as if he could breathe again, then pulled the statue-like Yan Bubu to the side and hoarsely asked Lin Fen, "He..."

He uttered just a syllable, unable to continue with his questions.

Lin Fen walked up to the window, his gaze full of tenderness as he looked at Yu Yuan inside.

"The temperature in the vial was about to drop below zero, and we were blocked not far from the central city, unable to move forward."

"He stopped me, called me back... As I turned around, I saw him press the vial against his neck, injecting the virus into his own body."

Feng Chen's shoulder hit the door with a dull thud. Yan Bubu suddenly bit his hand to stifle a cry, but tears still burst forth uncontrollably.

Lin Fen's eyes shimmered with tears as he looked at Yu Yuan and softly said, "Even as a zombie, his body temperature can be maintained at zero degrees, turning himself into a thermostat to preserve the original virus."