Chapter 90: Those Who Follow Me Prosper, Those Who Oppose Me Perish!

Chapter 90: Those Who Submit Will Prosper, Those Who Resist Shall Perish!

The hundred or so superpowered individuals seated in the cabin also saw the situation outside through the windows. Their airliner was now surrounded by missiles and superpowers. Even if they smashed the windows and jumped out now, it would be futile—they’d be instantly obliterated by the missiles and superpowers enveloping the aircraft, leaving nothing behind—not even bone fragments.

Bi Xue’s eyes brimmed with tears. She didn’t want to cry, but fear overwhelmed her, and the tears flowed uncontrollably. "When the apocalypse began and the zombies appeared, I was already prepared for death—it was only a question of when. I just never thought it would come so suddenly!"

He Tao gave a bitter smile, looking at his newly healed legs. He had hoped to achieve great things, but now... "I never thought my legs would just finish healing only for this. But whatever—at least I’ll die whole. That’s rare in the apocalypse."

Compared to the gloom of the other superpowered individuals in the cabin, Kong Zhongcheng remained as carefree as ever, laughing heartily. "Why so glum? Think of it this way—on the road to the underworld, we’ll have Divine Ji and the boss, two god-tier figures, accompanying us. That’s an honor most people could never dream of!

With Divine Ji around—someone so powerful—who knows? Maybe as ghosts, we’ll even be able to appear occasionally. This world could shift from an apocalypse to a supernatural one.

And once we’re ghosts, we won’t have to fear the zombie virus anymore. Instead, the zombies will be the ones afraid of us, running from us. Sounds pretty awesome if you ask me. Hahaha..."

Kong Zhongcheng’s loud laughter echoed. Everyone knew he wasn’t unafraid—he was just trying to lighten the sorrow in their final moments.

In the cockpit, faced with an inescapable death, Gu Jinsheng turned to look back at Ji An.

Perhaps facing death, the emotions Gu Jinsheng had long suppressed finally surfaced. Intense feelings melted in his eyes like magma on the verge of eruption. Just by meeting his gaze, Ji An could feel the scorching heat.

"If I’d known today would be my last day, I would never have brought you along," Gu Jinsheng said with deep emotion. "Xiao An, I love you—not just like, but a love that’s bone-deep. I’d rather die alone, forgotten by you, than have you die with me."

Ji An bit his lip. This was only the second time in his life he’d heard Gu Jinsheng express his feelings so openly. It seemed only in life-or-death moments that Gu Jinsheng couldn’t help but let a sliver of his emotions slip through.

"If I’d known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have let you see my memories that day. But since you did, I should at least explain. I don’t want to die with you still misunderstanding me." Gu Jinsheng continued, "After I was taken from the orphanage, my parents sent me to a military boarding school. During holidays, they’d send me to isolated training bases for military training all break long.

I begged my parents to bring you out of the orphanage too. They promised they would—but later, I realized you were never taken away."

Ji An recalled that shortly after Gu Jinsheng left, a childless couple in their thirties had come to adopt him. They were well-off. "No, someone did adopt me. But later, they had their own children—twin boys—and couldn't care for me anymore. So, I was sent back to the orphanage."

This had always been a burden on Gu Jinsheng’s heart. He couldn’t accept that Ji An’s entire childhood had been spent growing up in an orphanage.

If he’d never known, it might not have mattered—but he did know. He had met Ji An, and at that time, his family could have helped. Yet, he hadn’t been able to do anything.

His parents, furious that he’d dared to run away from home at such a young age, had been determined to discipline his rebellious nature. At that time, his words meant nothing to them.

Because of this, Ji An had endured an unhappy childhood. Gu Jinsheng blamed himself for all of it. His personality shifted from that of a bright, mischievous, and rebellious child—one bold enough to run away from home at four—into that of a cold, emotionless machine.

Hearing that his parents had at least tried to fulfill their promise—even if things had gone awry—brought Gu Jinsheng some peace.

"It wasn’t until I turned eighteen, legally an adult, that I finally had my first real break. I went to look for you then—but it seemed like you no longer needed the little brother from your childhood." Gu Jinsheng’s eyes burned with pain. He no longer hid his emotions; love and regret were clear in his gaze.

Eighteen—college age. That had been the first year of his relationship with Chen Chen. So, Gu Jinsheng had come looking for him back then.

"You came to find me." What Ji An had never resented was that Gu Jinsheng’s light hadn’t pulled him from the mud. Back then, Gu Jinsheng had been just a four-year-old boy. Even if his family was well-off, who would take a child’s words seriously?

So, he couldn’t have helped him—and Ji An had never blamed him for that.

What Ji An cared about was that the brief time they’d spent together had been so joyful, brightening his bleak childhood. That period might not have been the brightest part of Gu Jinsheng’s childhood, but at the very least, he could have come to see him. He’d promised they’d be each other’s only friend.

After learning of Gu Jinsheng’s wealthy background as a child, Ji An had known he must have had many playmates—unlike him, who wasn't well-liked. So, he hadn’t dared to hope for the precious promise of being Gu Jinsheng’s only friend. He’d only wished to be one of his best friends.

But after Gu Jinsheng left, he’d completely forgotten about him. Ji An had waited year after year at the orphanage gates, hoping throughout his entire childhood—but the friend who’d brightened his bleak world never came back to keep his promise.

Gu Jinsheng let out a bitter laugh. "Back then, you two were... deeply in love."

The word "love" twisted Gu Jinsheng's heart, and he almost forced it out through clenched teeth.

"I thought you had long forgotten that little brother from childhood. Had I known you still remembered me, or that he would treat you like that, I would never have left so quietly that day." As if he had never existed, silently departing, then bearing all the pain and longing alone.

Gu Jinsheng's words loosened the knot in his chest. What he had resented all along was simply why the little brother from his childhood never came to see him—even just once would have been enough.

"Gu Jinsheng, I don’t blame you anymore." Ji An smiled, a smile as radiant as the child who had dazzled young Gu Jinsheng at first glance.

"Xiao An, dying with you is a privilege I never imagined this year. But if I had a choice, I would wish for you to live a long, long life. I can’t bear to let you go," Gu Jinsheng confessed.

A resolute glint shone in Ji An’s eyes, a firmness unlike anything before. "I can’t bear it either, so I won’t let you die. My childhood big brother, thank you for once brightening my gloomy childhood and protecting the weak, bullied version of me. Now, let me protect you this time!"

As soon as Ji An finished speaking, Gu Jinsheng saw countless psychic threads surge wildly from Ji An’s brain and eyes, rushing swiftly toward the rear cabin.

Ji An’s mental focus was locked on Bi Xue.

At that moment, Bi Xue suddenly saw a flood of mental energy rushing toward her. The others noticed it too. "What’s going on? Who’s doing this? What’s the point of a psychic invasion at a time like this?"

Bi Xue instinctively resisted, but the mental barrier she constructed felt as fragile as a sheet of paper. The intruding psyche was like a sharp needle, piercing through her thin defense in an instant.

Then, a familiar voice echoed in Bi Xue’s mind. "Don’t fight it. Let me take control."

"Researcher Ji!" Bi Xue exclaimed excitedly.

"It’s Ji the Divine! I knew Ji the Divine would have a way!" Kong Zhongcheng shouted excitedly, whipping his head around to look in Ji An’s direction. Sure enough, the other end of the psychic threads was connected to Ji An.

He Tao, unaware of Ji An’s true identity, had assumed Ji An was just an ordinary researcher—at most, someone tangentially linked to the inventor of the healing pod. Hearing Kong Zhongcheng, a Deputy Commander no less, refer to Ji An as "Ji the Divine," He Tao was stunned.

"Can... can he really do something?" He Tao asked uncertainly.

"If even Ji the Divine can’t find a way, then no one can. We’re just waiting to die," Kong Zhongcheng said pityingly to He Tao. "Since you’ve joined our Jing City Base now, prove yourself from now on. Once you reach a certain level, you’ll learn many secrets. Then you’ll realize how absurd your doubts today were!"

At that moment, He Tao couldn’t comprehend Kong Zhongcheng’s words—in fact, he found them ridiculous. But many years later, when He Tao suddenly recalled this day, he finally understood just how absurd his question had been.

How could he have doubted Ji the Divine?

"Ji the Divine, whatever you want to do with my body, go ahead. Don’t worry, I won’t resist at all," Bi Xue said, completely relaxing her body and even mentally urging herself to fully cooperate with Ji An.

This level of cooperation made it effortless for Ji An to invade Bi Xue’s mental domain. Her memories unfolded like a film reel, and Ji An could view whatever he wished.

Ji An had no interest in Bi Xue’s past. He manipulated her body, channeling nearly all his psychic energy into her superpower core. Unlike psychic cores, spatial cores were clear—perfectly transparent.

Outside, the missiles and superpowers were already striking the aircraft. He Tao saw the nearest missile right before his eyes—perhaps just a second, or even a blink, away from obliterating the plane.

At this point, even if Ji An had the greatest abilities in the world, escape was impossible. He shut his eyes in terror, bracing for death.

Similarly, Kobashi Ichiro, the Commander-in-Chief of R Base who had been monitoring the situation, grinned in triumph. He grinned at Dewitt on the screen. "Rest assured, Commander-in-Chief. This time, Gu Jinsheng and Ji An are definitely dead."

Dewitt nodded approvingly, then turned to another video feed with an ingratiating smile. "Commander Charles, are you satisfied with this outcome?"

"You’ve done well! M Nation won’t forget your contributions. I’ll put in a commendation for you!" Charles praised before ordering, "Tell Kobashi Ichiro to make sure the video is recorded properly—especially the moment the Jing City Base’s plane is destroyed, and the scene of Gu Jinsheng and Ji An being blown apart, their bodies mangled, leaving no trace of their bodies.

I’ll broadcast it on global broadcasts for the whole world to see. Let them witness firsthand what happens to those who oppose M Nation!"

Charles’ single eye gleamed with manic excitement. He threw his head back and laughed. "This is the fate of all who defy the inevitable!

What I cannot have, no one else will!

Those who submit shall prosper; those who resist shall perish!"

"Hahaha..."

He Tao, powerless to escape and helplessly awaiting death, suddenly heard peals of excited shrieks in his ears. The shrieks weren't of fear but filled with joy.

"Jump!" Ji An's voice barked across the cabin.

Just as He Tao was about to open his eyes to see what was happening, he heard a loud bang—the cabin door was blown open. A brutal wind whipped his face, making it impossible to keep his eyes open.

Then, he was abruptly kicked out of the plane. Even as he was booted clear of the plane, He Tao remained utterly bewildered. He had merely closed his eyes for a moment, yet it felt like an eternity had passed, with countless events unfolding beyond his comprehension.

All He Tao could muster now were three dazed thoughts: Was he dead? Where was he? What had just happened?