Chapter 47: New Superpower

Chapter 47 New Superpower

A term surfaced in Qi He’s mind: third evolution.

But an Ice Superpower combined with poison… was that even possible?

In front of him, Mo Jiayan crouched down and prodded Gong Lianyu’s motionless body: “How could there be poison in an Ice Superpower? He’s probably just frozen stiff. Huh…? You’re still warm, though.”

Everyone: “……”

Gong Lianyu, indignant: “I’m not dead yet!!!”

Xia Jiu cupped her chin, assessing for a few breaths. “There is indeed a trace of toxin, but it’s harmless to humans. More like… paralysis?”

All eyes turned to Yan Chuanbai—

Yan Chuanbai stood to the side with his hands in his pockets, silent for a few seconds before speaking calmly: “It should be an effect after the third evolution.”

“Third evolution!?”

A collective gasp followed.

The crowd surrounding Gong Lianyu whirled around: “So that means you’ve reached 4S-tier!?”

“Why would an Ice Superpower evolve a paralysis effect?”

“Brother Yan! Say something, Brother Yan!”

In her shock, Meng Yan blurted out: “Is this also one of the wonders of your physique!?”

The noisy chatter abruptly fell silent: “?”

Qi He: “……”

System: “……”

The odd phrasing made Yan Chuanbai shoot a sharp glance at Qi He beside him. Then, he dismissed it: “It just evolved; I’m not sure yet. Let’s handle Gong Lianyu first.”

…Handle? Gong Lianyu, tears welling in his eyes, widened them and twitched on the floor, *pat, pat*.

All eyes returned to him: “How do we handle his condition? Is there an antidote?”

“The paralysis should wear off on its own. Maybe just let him be.”

Gong Lianyu: “Waaah!”

Yan Chuanbai stood leisurely to the side, saying nothing.

Finally, You Tianxing couldn’t take it anymore and let out a “Ha-ha” laugh, calling over Yu Jiang: “He secretly ate alone and got poisoned. Can your ‘Purification’ cure the poison?”

Yu Jiang blinked, understanding: “Eating alone… causes poisoning.”

She added: “Yes.”

With that, she picked up a cup of water and poured it into Gong Lianyu’s mouth. Amid the gurgling bubbles, the toxin gradually broke down.

…

Over there, Yu Jiang was dousing someone with water.

Qi He stood at the edge of the crowd, narrowing his eyes in thought: Theoretically, that doesn’t add up. And Yan Chuanbai said this evolution of his was somewhat different…

As he thought, he looked toward Yan Chuanbai.

Yan Chuanbai noticed and turned to meet his gaze: ?

Qi He stepped closer, leaning in to whisper in his ear: “What else?”

Yan Chuanbai turned, their cheeks brushing past each other: “What?”

“Your third evolution shouldn’t just be ice containing poison.”

“Hm.” With a rising tone, Yan Chuanbai seemed to understand. He also leaned in closer, whispering: “After the gathering ends…”

His breath brushed against Qi He’s cheek, carrying a suggestive hint.

Qi He tilted his head toward him.

His eyelashes lowered, his gaze blocked by Yan Chuanbai’s turned face. From an outsider’s perspective, it looked like they were nuzzling…

Suddenly, a choked, bubbling sound erupted:

“Gurgle! St-stop… Wah!”

Qi He turned and saw Yu Jiang, who had just looked away from them, jumping as she glanced at Gong Lianyu lying on the floor. The continuous pour of water into his mouth stopped. Her cheeks flushed: “Sorry.”

Gong Lianyu could finally move again, sitting up as if resurrected.

Water still dripped from his chin as he glared resentfully at Yan Chuanbai: “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Yan Chuanbai: “Get some rest.”

Gong Lianyu’s expression softened slightly.

Yan Chuanbai: “After that, mop the floor.”

Gong Lianyu: “……”

After speaking, Yan Chuanbai turned and went back to getting the food ready.

The gazes in the living room were filled with admiration and resignation. Some even sighed in relief: “That’s more like it, that’s Brother Yan.” “The way he speaks so forthrightly feels much more straightforward.”

Qi He withdrew his gaze and said to the system: “See, this is how reputations are made.”

“……”

-

Yan Chuanbai was still Yan Chuanbai.

This realization made the atmosphere of the gathering, except for Gong Lianyu, even more relaxed.

All the dishes were served, and everyone began eating.

Yan Chuanbai sat down beside Qi He.

Qi He had just taken a few bites when he heard the question from beside him: “The stew—I modified it today. Which version do you think is better?”

It took him two seconds to react, recalling their late-night snack last time: “Each has its strong points.”

The dining table caught the subtext, looking up: ?

Yan Chuanbai leaned slightly toward him and asked, "Which one do you prefer?"

Qi He looked at it and replied, "The one you've reformulated."

Yan Chuanbai nodded and said, "Alright."

The others seemed to sense something, falling silent for a second before making strained small talk. Their eyes kept drifting toward the two, as if trying to pick up more information.

Behind her rice bowl, Yu Jiang revealed a pair of bright, eager eyes: If you don’t eat now, it’ll get cold... Which one do you like? The one you made for me before...

Her hand trembled slightly: So! Why haven’t you gotten back together yet?

A dinner filled with mixed feelings came to an end.

After sitting around for a while, everyone gradually prepared to leave. Gong Lianyu, having come back to life, stood in front of Qi He and snapped his fingers with a "Pop!" in a carefree manner:

"I’m off~ Let me borrow your power again. Half an hour should be enough for me to rush back to Base II, right?"

Qi He was amazed at his knack for forgetting past beatings.

…

After everyone had left and the door closed,

Qi He remained in the doorway without moving.

Night had fallen outside the window, and the lights in the living room were off, leaving only the row of lights above the kitchen counter.

Yan Chuanbai had just finished clearing the dishes and was drying his hands on a towel.

Qi He paused for a moment before walking up to him. "Can we talk now?"

Bright, soft overhead light shone down.

Their shadows intertwined in the space behind the kitchen counter. Yan Chuanbai looked at him and suddenly smirked.

"?"

Before Qi He could react, a tingling sensation brushed against his ankle. His eyes widened slightly, and the next moment, his ankle constricted sharply! A tug—

As he lost his balance, he quickly steadied himself, grabbing the counter edge!

At the same time, Yan Chuanbai pressed closer.

With both hands braced on either side of him—Bang!—he glanced down and said with a smile, "Figured it out yet?"

Qi He followed his gaze downward.

In the shadows cast by their bodies, several vines had coiled around his ankle, and a slight numbness crept in. In the moment he looked down, his wrist, pressed against the counter, was also quietly bound—

As if pinned between Yan Chuanbai and the kitchen counter.

Qi He looked up, meeting Yan Chuanbai’s gaze up close: his third evolution hadn’t deepened his Ice Superpower vertically but—

"Dual Superpowers."

Yan Chuanbai chuckled, pleased, "Mm."

Qi He tested it—his fingers could still move.

Then, he used his "power" to repel the vines binding him, but quickly, new ones coiled around him again. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant; on the contrary, it felt strangely thrilling.

He had mostly anticipated Yan Chuanbai’s moves, but now, more "unknowns" awaited him.

Yan Chuanbai seemed to understand his expression. "You like it?"

Qi He met Yan Chuanbai’s eyes, which felt as dangerous and enticing as the vines binding his hands.

His throat bobbed reflexively. "Mm."

Yan Chuanbai’s eyes darkened as the vines tightened bit by bit...

But Qi He drifted back into thought again.

Yan Chuanbai’s abilities had long been suppressed, making them unstable. It was likely that his second superpower had been triggered during the day. Coincidentally, Gong Lianyu had been snooping around at that time, so he had copied the traits of both superpowers simultaneously.

As for why the evolved vines carried a numbing effect...

The earlier infection from the Mutated Vine, combined with the third evolution triggered by near-death, had accidentally led to dual superpowers.

—He had thought that, as the "male lead," Yan Chuanbai having only Ice Superpower was a bit underwhelming.

As he pondered, a hint of breathlessness suddenly arose.

Qi He jerked back to awareness and realized that more vines had silently coiled around his waist. Yan Chuanbai remained leaning in front of him, seemingly either playing or experimenting...

He let out a breath and spoke, "Too tight. Ease up."

Yan Chuanbai seemed to pause.

Then, the slight toxins on Qi He’s skin were sucked back, and the vines obediently loosened.

Qi He: ?

The toxins can be sucked back?

He looked at Yan Chuanbai. "Why didn’t you suck them back for Gong Lianyu?"

Yan Chuanbai straightened up, without a hint of guilt: "He deserves a lesson. Besides, doesn’t he eat everything?"

"..."

Qi He nodded, equally unbothered. "True."

The matter of the superpowers was now clear.

Seeing that it was getting late, he took his leave.

Outside, the elevator ascended in front of him. The system blurted out, dazed, "...Yan Chuanbai actually has Dual Superpowers? Doesn’t that make him even stronger? But wait, you’re a conceptual-class..."

Ding! The elevator doors opened.

Qi He stepped inside and said simply, "We’ll know if we fight."

-

Early the next morning, sunlight flooded the room.

Qi He sat up in bed.

He drifted in thought for a few seconds before picking up the Xiao Tiancai Watch nearby. With a "click," it reverted to its default sphere, and he turned it over in his hand.

The system was being flipped over repeatedly: "What are you doing? Please show some self-respect and stop fiddling with me."

Qi He said, "Congratulations on taking down the main program and achieving complete freedom."

The system's mouth curled upward: "Hmph, that's—"

"But after breaking away from the main program, your remaining energy probably won’t last long."

*Clunk.* The system froze: "Then what should I do?"

"Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan."

Qi He stroked its round, smooth surface: "Back when I dug the crystal core out of the Flying Zombie’s brain, I thought to myself—since crystal cores serve as the energy source in this world, they should be able to power you too, and even repair your panel at the same time."

The system was stunned for a moment, then furious: "You knew this the whole time! And you still let me stay broken like this!"

Qi He said, "If I fixed you, how would I exploit glitches?"

"…"

The system opened its mouth to curse, but then, thinking of the crappy main plot, it changed its tune: "Hmph, whatever."

Qi He got up and walked toward the desk: "Alright, alright, I’ll compensate you with a new look. What kind do you like?"

The system was quickly soothed, replying proudly: "I want a cool one."

A sheet of paper was spread on the desk.

He tapped the pen as Qi He pondered briefly, then quickly drafted a sketch and folded it: "I’ll go to the research institute later to find You Tianxing and get you an energy source, and change your appearance while we’re at it."

Its view was blocked by him: "What kind of look?"

Qi He had already stood up, confident: "The coolest one in the world."

With that, he took the system and headed to the research institute.

…

Third floor of the research institute, laboratory.

You Tianxing, wearing a white lab coat, was studying a new instrument when there was a knock at the door.

Qi He walked in.

For a moment, his silhouette overlapped with a memory—You Tianxing was dazed: the last time Qi He walked in here was to settle a major battle…

In a few steps, Qi He was right in front of him.

Snapping back to reality, You Tianxing asked: "What’s up?"

Qi He thumped the system down on the table: "My Xiao Tiancai Watch ran out of power."

"…" S-rank researcher You Tianxing, "What?"

Qi He said, "I’ve accumulated many crystal cores from past missions. I want to use all of them as its energy source." On the table, the spherical surface seemed to gleam with a soft, watery shimmer.

He then took out the design sketch and handed it over: "While we’re at it, let’s change its appearance. It shouldn’t require many materials."

You Tianxing took a moment to process this, then accepted it.

He examined it in his hand, confirming it was something he’d never seen before, and grew somewhat interested: "Ah~ no problem, but it might take some time. Would you like to leave it with me for now?"

The system jolted: "!"

Qi He sensed this and said to it: "There are no missions right now. You can be separated from me briefly."

"…"

"It’s not that you can’t leave me either, is it?"

The system stiffened its neck: "N-No way!"

Qi He said, relieved: "Then it’s settled."

He handed the system over to You Tianxing and was about to leave when the latter suddenly added: "By the way, the training room is still under reconstruction. But we’ve set up another one next door, just for you and Yan Chuanbai—no instruments or equipment, everything’s built to take a beating."

You Tianxing smiled: "You get what I’m saying, right?"

Qi He: "…"

He reassured: "We won’t fight anywhere else."

You Tianxing brightened up a bit: "Take care~"

The lab door closed.

Qi He stepped into the hallway. He didn’t have any classes today, and the system was temporarily sent off for upgrades. He was considering whether to take on a mission when his communicator suddenly buzzed.

He took it out and saw a message from Yan Chuanbai:

『Sixth floor training room.』

『My new Superpower at full capacity—wanna test it out?』

Author's Note:

Qi He: Go all out!

Yan Chuanbai: Entangle, entangle, entangle… *mwah mwah*.

*Qi He is the strongest, Yan Chuanbai is trying hard to keep up.

Only the strongest deserve Qi He’s full attention.