Chapter 56: Station 22: Infected

Chapter 56: Station 22: Infected

Upon returning to the room, they all noticed a distinct drop in temperature inside the bedroom.

Yesterday, they were so warm they had to shed their coats; today, they needed down jackets to feel comfortable.

Not only that, the water flowing from the pipes was shockingly icy.

Ming Yiyang filled the bathtub with water and then turned on the tap slightly to let it drip, to prevent the pipes from freezing overnight and leaving them without water.

Chi Zihe sighed at the bathroom entrance,

"You know what, tomorrow we'll be survival experts in the wilderness, huh?"

"Bullshit about surviving in the wilderness! It's freezing outside, do you want to try it out?"

Ming Yiyang was displeased with Chi Zihe's lack of understanding about the severity of the cold:

"The outdoor temperature is already minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius, similar to a refrigerated warehouse. If someone stays in such an environment for a few hours, even with proper cold-weather gear, it would still be a real challenge."

In our group, we're all Southerners except for you, Xiao Ming, so the burden is on your shoulders now.

Chi Zihe didn't suppress his ill temper and turned to leave, chuckling:

"You've got quite a responsibility on your shoulders. If I freeze to death, I'll hold you accountable."

Ming Yiyang ignored him.

Once outside, Chi Zihe didn't revert to his playful demeanor. Instead, he said,

"Qi Yongxin went through such lengths to send us to find Song Yuan, indicating that their alliance has fallen apart. I calculated the location of the access card twice, and both times, it was not at the Star Disk. The position keeps changing; it seems that the Master of Wuji doesn't want us to locate it."

"However, now I can attempt to calculate Song Yuan's whereabouts."

Yan Qiling closed the manager's logbook:

"No need for divination. If the Master of Wuji doesn't want us to find Song Yuan, chances are we'll only stumble upon a corpse if you do manage to locate him. The Master of Wuji acts much faster than us. As for Qi Yongxin, whether we'll even see him tomorrow is uncertain."

An answer doesn't necessarily bring safety.

The entanglement between Qi Yongxin and Song Yuan had come to an end here. Pursuing it further wouldn't lead to more clues but more lives lost.

He had initially lured Qi Yongxin into this mess to force him into confronting Song Yuan and then use his hand to obtain the access card. He hadn't expected Qi Yongxin's act in the corridor.

Now, without anyone needing to make a move, it was already fortunate for him to survive until tomorrow.

Chi Zihe was somewhat puzzled.

"What about the access card?"

"There are two ways out of the ski resort. You can use the access card to open the door while the hotel still has power. Or, you can cut the electricity and collectively push the door open when there are many people around."

The man replied calmly,

"However, both paths could lead to a dead end."

As time passed, the hotel's power supply would worsen, and the number of people would dwindle.

After the hotel lost power, the access card would become meaningless. Ultimately, they'd have to rely on physical strength to open the door—the solid metal gate stood four meters tall and weighed several tons. Even if it were reduced to scrap metal, it would take hours to move it.

Chi Zihe remained calm, he had never been too flustered when entering the Boundless Realm with Yan Qiling:

"What's your plan?"

"I'll step out later tonight and directly search for..." the core of the hotel.

Seeing Ming Yiyang emerge from the bathroom after finishing his tasks, Yan Qiling swallowed the rest of his sentence and swiftly changed the subject:

"In any case, let's leave this matter for now."

"What matter?" Ming Yiyang asked, "Do you have a plan?"

A subtle feeling rose within Chi Zihe, and he quickly grasped the reason behind Yan Qiling's change of topic: he didn't want Ming Yiyang to know about his plans for the night.

Coincidentally, Chi Zihe also intended to keep it a secret.

For some reason, he felt that if Ming Yiyang found out, he would undoubtedly choose to accompany Yan Qiling on his outing.

"It's about the access card. We plan to follow Qi Yongxin's suggestion and look for Song Yuan tomorrow, as he is currently the only lead we have."

When it came to appearing nonchalant while actually being dismissive, Chi Zihe was an expert. Excuses rolled off his tongue effortlessly.

Just then, Si Shuhao, who had been holed up in her room, emerged wearing a bathrobe:

"Doesn't anyone think the heating is too high? I'm sweating like crazy!"

The three men, all bundled up, had initially intended to discuss some serious matters. Upon hearing her, their gazes shifted towards her simultaneously.

Si Shuhao: ?

Seeing Yan Qiling reopen his work journal on his lap, Chi Zihe's expression changed drastically as something dawned on him:

"Si Shuhao, you might be losing your mind."

Si Shuhao: ???

-

Si Shuhao put on her down jacket and sat on the sofa, placing her hands obediently on her knees. Vulnerable and pitiful, she felt exposed under the trio's watchful eyes.

The blue-robed Taoist observed her with his hands clasped behind his back.

She resembled the infected waiter in the diary entry to a tee. First, they were impervious to cold, then became irritable and unpredictable. Eventually, they could kill with a smile on their face, appearing no different from ordinary people on the surface, but their speech and actions would gradually become mechanized.

Si Shuhao was terrified, yet amidst her fear, a chilling thrill of exhilaration sprang from the depths of her soul. A latent gene that craved bloodshed and violence stirred, bringing an indescribable rush of pleasure in her imagination.

She dared not speak, fearing that these three might end her life in an instant.

Ming Yiyang looked at her as if she were an artifact:

"If she's gone mad, does she count as one of us? Or should we assign her to Song Yuan and Qi Yongxin's group?"

"Let's consider her one of ours since she didn't receive an invitation," Chi Zihe replied. "Who knows, maybe Song Yuan's group was responsible for the source of infection."

Ming Yiyang asked,

"What have you been doing these few days? Were there any strange occurrences?"

Si Shuhao answered meekly,

"I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, I was right alongside you all... If I had to say, though... That first glass of wine we drank... Didn't any of you drink it?!"

Chi Zihe: "I blew bubbles in the wine and then wiped my mouth clean with a napkin."

Ming Yiyang: "I only tilted the glass slightly; I didn't touch it."

Seeing the young girl's disappointment, Yan Qiling said,

"Even if infected, there might still be a way out. The chef, although succumbing to madness, clearly retains more consciousness than others, and has some control over his actions. Perhaps there's something about him that can suppress this condition."

Ming Yiyang nodded.

"Alright, I'll go out and search now."

Yan Qiling looked at him,

"You alone?"

"Yes," Ming Yiyang replied matter-of-factly.

"You have to stay. Aren't those lunatics coming for a 'room check' tonight? With Chi Zihe's combat ability and that crazy woman who might stab him at any moment, they might not make it through the night if you don't stay."

Chi Zihe expressed his discontentment:

"When I was your senior, I could run across two mountain peaks without breaking a sweat. My stamina is still top-notch now."

Ming Yiyang didn't bother engaging in meaningless banter and headed straight for the door.

Footsteps echoed as his arm was tugged, and Yan Qiling held onto his sleeve.

"Take this."

The man handed him a mobile phone with a smile, "Contact me anytime if there's anything."

"I got it."

The young man replied calmly, grasped the phone, and disappeared down the hallway where the lights were still on.

Yan Qiling turned his head, meeting Chi Zihe's probing gaze.

Chi Zihe had shed his earlier nonchalant demeanor, his expression unusually grave:

"Yan Qiling, if you have any needs, feel free to tell Lingshuang or me. Ming Yiyang is just my junior; he doesn't owe you anything."

"I know that."

Faced with the Taoist's wary attitude, Yan Qiling dismissed it casually:

"Because you and Lingshuang have helped me so much, I worry about him getting into trouble, just as you do now. Zihe, I don't have any ulterior motives. If I did, I wouldn't hide them from you."

Chi Zihe hesitated, on the verge of speaking.

He trusted Yan Qiling's words, for there was no reason for this man to deceive him. Yet, he found himself unable to voice out, "I'm worried that Ming Yiyang might have other intentions."

After all, there was no solid evidence, and considering... Ming Yiyang's obliviousness, perhaps this matter could be left unresolved in its confusion.

Upon reflection, Chi Zihe decided it was unnecessary to complicate matters further.

Their cryptic conversation left the eavesdropping Si Shuhao confused. She lingered by the coffee table, trying to follow their discussion about weapon crafting but soon grew drowsy due to the heat, yet unable to fall asleep.

After enduring this for a while, she abruptly stood up and looked towards the door, "I think I smell something incredibly fragrant."

Chi Zihe sniffed the air, "I don't smell anything, though?"

"There is... It smells like fried chicken, so mouth-wateringly delicious... It's making me hungry."

Yan Qiling tilted his ear to listen and took two steps back.

Just as he stepped back, a sudden, loud knocking echoed, "Room service! Attention, room service! Guests in room 207, please be ready to open the door promptly! We need to ensure your safety! We will knock ten times, and if the door remains unopened after that, we will consider it a life-threatening situation and forcefully enter!"

Immediately after, an axe thudded loudly against the thin wooden door with a "crack"! Incredibly, the axe sliced through the door with just one swing!

The sharp axe was drawn, and the exhilarated breathing and intoxicating tones outside sent shivers down one's spine.

"Ten!"

Si Shuhao swiftly hid behind Chi Zihe, peering curiously.

"Help, they have axes! What should we do, what should we do!"

A glint of cold steel peeked from the sleeve of the maiden, her dagger poised for lethal intent. Before she could execute her design, the seemingly frail Taoist priest, with unexpected strength, deftly seized her wrist in a reverse grip. The dining knife clattered to the ground.

Chi Zihe's face was filled with disbelief.

"I just told you that I can run up two mountain peaks without breaking a sweat. How could I not know if you're up to something? The antidote hasn't arrived yet, so behave yourself."

The young girl struggled wildly, letting out a piercing scream that could shatter the heavens, akin to a rooster's crow.

Chi Zihe's ears suffered greatly.

The man with the yin-yang eyes approached her from behind, suddenly producing a white paper fan in his hand. With a slap, he struck the back of the young girl's neck.

Si Shuhao tilted her head, ceasing her chirping.

Outside the door, the ax had already struck the numeral "seven," splintering half of the door along with fragments.

Yan Qiling inquired,

"How did they locate us when we chose a room without a keycard?"

This room had been unlocked by Ming Yiyang. They never intended to enter the rooms that required keycards.

"Five!"

Another ragged gap appeared in the wooden door.

Chi Zihe pondered, searching for any extraneous items on his person.

"Three!"

This time, the doorknob was cleaved apart!

With a clatter, the wooden door was pushed against the wall, and a few excited servants streamed in.

Yet, all they saw were three straw rings, made from wheat stalks, discarded on the well-lit coffee table.