Chapter 138

Chapter 138

"You..."

Cheng Jing’s chest tightened, his hands gripping Jiang Nian's shoulders:

"Jiang Nian? What’s going on?"

"..."

Jiang Nian drew a shaky breath and looked down:

"Yesterday, when facing Xiao Qi’s master, I kept thinking... if my Superpower reached its highest level, maybe I could’ve saved someone like him in the future—as long as they weren’t deeply infected."

Those who were deeply infected, rotten, and fully zombified couldn’t be saved—their human consciousness and bodily organs were already dead.

"Stop this!"

Cheng Jing’s fingers dug into Jiang Nian’s shoulders:

"Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. I’m here..."

Jiang Nian returned the hug fleetingly and sighed:

"That’s exactly why I want to improve even faster... Brother Jing, I really need to push my limits right now."

He knew his duty and what he was capable of.

He wouldn’t offer himself up as some tool for others, nor would he play savior trying to redeem the world. He just wanted to protect those who mattered—especially the people around him.

He admitted that Xiao Qi and his master’s situation had gotten to him, making him put himself in their shoes.

If he didn’t have this Superpower, maybe he wouldn’t overthink it. But since he did, he couldn’t help but imagine the worst-case scenarios.

Logically, he knew it was unnecessary, but he couldn’t control it. The anxiety kept building.

He was afraid of Xiao Qi’s master’s fate befalling them, afraid of reliving some of his past-life experiences.

"..."

Cheng Jing couldn’t stand hardheadedness, but his lover’s bullheadedness just twisted his heart.

The insecurity in Jiang Nian’s heart, born from the trauma of death, was a wound Cheng Jing still couldn’t heal. He could only nod in agreement:

"Just this once. Never again. And no going behind my back—promise me first."

"Mm, I promise I won’t act recklessly in secret."

Jiang Nian answered immediately, then warned him:

"Pushing myself will hurt, but Brother Jing, you mustn’t stop me. I can handle it."

After saying this, he crouched down and placed his hand on the ground. Blue-white light bled from his palm, rippling outward with his will, eventually taking circular form that continued to grow. He and Cheng Jing stood at its edge.

With increased proficiency, Jiang Nian could now move freely inside or outside the Purify field at will.

Where the Purify field covered the ground, acrid black fumes began rising continuously.

10 meters... 50 meters... 100 meters... 200 meters... 300 meters...

350 meters... 380 meters... 400 meters...

His mind automatically registered feedback: the Purification aura, which had initially expanded rapidly, began slowing down as it approached its limit.

420 meters.

Jiang Nian's expression gradually changed from relaxed to strained, his jaw clenched and face pale.

After a while, he tasted blood, his messy hair stuck to his sweaty temples, and sweat dripped from his chin.

"......"

Cheng Jing watched from the side, fighting the urge to step in again and again.

440 meters...

Jiang Nian felt a searing, stabbing pain in his lower dantian, the energy center in his lower abdomen—where his Superpower Core was located.

Every additional meter the Purification aura expanded now sent waves of pain through him, leaving him gasping.

"Nian Nian..."

Cheng Jing reached out to steady his trembling shoulders, but Jiang Nian gritted his teeth and shook his head:

"I'm fine, Brother Jing—just leave me be!"

"......"

A buzzing noise filled his mind, his thoughts grew sluggish, and his vision blurred with double images.

Suddenly, warmth trickled from his nose. As blood dripped, everything went black, and the blue-white Purification aura gradually dissipated.

"Nian Nian..."

"Jiang Nian!"

His heart clenched. Cheng Jing caught him, wiping away blood and sweat. He'd bet anything this reckless bastard had pushed himself like this in their dorm before—he'd clearly done this before.

"......"

The extreme exhaustion left Jiang Nian soaked in cold sweat, his breathing grew shallow, his body chilled and twitching slightly.

No one could help with Superpower or mental exhaustion, unless they had a healer with Superpowers.

'Woof woof woof—'

Xiao Qi, who'd followed them out, barked anxiously. Seeing Cheng Jing just holding Jiang Nian without moving, the dog took off to get the others.

The teammates were startled upon seeing Jiang Nian unconscious.

"It's fine, don't worry..."

Cheng Jing explained before they could even ask. Learning Brother Nian had just pushed his Superpower too far, they relaxed.

As Jiang Nian's mild spasms subsided, Cheng Jing scooped him up to carry him back.

Xiao Qi kept pace beside them, letting out occasional, frantic barks.

The teammates followed silently, too shocked to speak. Liao Yu was the first to voice confusion:

"I never realized my godfather was someone so hard on himself before!"

They had also tried pushing their superpowers to the limit and exhausting their mental energy—it was truly excruciating to the point of disorientation, on a whole different level from physical pain.

After trying it once, they wouldn’t casually try it again; they'd stop well before that point.

As for someone like Jiang Nian, who drove himself to collapse—they couldn’t even imagine how painful it must have been.

Tang Yi also shook his head:

"The crazy part is that Brother Cheng actually let him push himself this hard..."

"Maybe it’s because Brother Nian’s superpower has reached a plateau, so he wanted to break through his limits this way..."

Jian Cheng ventured. Though daring, Brother Nian wasn’t the type to act without reason.

Zhou Rongbin rubbed his nose:

"Brother Cheng’s face was thunderous—he probably got maneuvered into agreeing by Brother Nian..."

"Maneuvered, maybe not, but he definitely got sweet-talked."

Lu Ningzhou spoke in a knowing tone, and Huang Qian agreed with her boyfriend.

Zhao Lei stayed silent. He now understood why Brother Cheng acted so paternal around Jiang Nian—a strong-willed boyfriend was truly hard to control.

"..."

Cheng Jing carried Jiang Nian back to the tent, and with everyone egging her on, Huang Qian followed.

Xiao Qi also wanted to follow but was held back by Zhou Rongbin, letting out whining protests.

"..."

After laying Jiang Nian on the sleeping bag, Cheng Jing took out a dry towel to wipe his sweat and fed him some energy water, his expression stony.

Seeing this, Huang Qian tentatively asked:

"If you’re going to change his clothes, I’ll step out first."

"Not now."

Cheng Jing glanced at her, choked up with emotion.

"Alright."

Huang Qian dropped down unceremoniously beside him, still teasing despite knowing his mood:

"What were you thinking, letting him go wild like that?"

"..."

Cheng Jing let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his forehead before finally saying:

"Nian Nian’s superpower will likely evolve its final property around 500 meters. You saw it—the effect of Purification ability on the zombie virus."

He hadn't finished, when Huang Qian jumped in:

"The final attribute will be even stronger, maybe even capable of purifying the infected... curing them, right?"

Actually, some things you can guess just by seeing them and thinking it through.

This was probably also the real reason why Big Brother had previously chosen to vehemently conceal Jiang Nian's superpower when so much was still uncertain.

Cheng Jing nodded, then shook his head:

"That's what he wanted to confirm... Xiao Qi's owner got under his skin."

"..."