Chapter 71: Into a Post-Apocalyptic Superpower Novel, Day 23

Chapter 71: The Twenty-Third Day of Transmigrating into an Apocalyptic Superpowers Novel

Upon hearing this, Ji Zishi seemed caught off guard, was taken aback for a moment, then let out a sigh, his gaze unusually earnest and candid, as if it were the most natural thing in the world:

"At that time... I really didn't think that much. When I saw the muzzle aimed at you, my mind went blank, and my body moved on its own."

An Yi silently reached out, forming a fine mist of ice at his fingertips, carefully pressing it against Ji Zishi's scratched side to stop the bleeding and ease the pain.

The icy touch made Ji Zishi shiver, but then a numbing, warm sensation spread from the wound directly to his head, freezing him in place.

He stared dumbly at An Yi’s focused profile, so close to him, forgetting the pain, feeling as if his heart was about to leap out of his chest, the drumming sound thundering in his ears.

"Next time, don't bother."

An Yi's voice returned to calm, but if you listened closely, it seemed a hint softer than usual: "I can handle it."

"Not a chance!"

Ji Zishi blurted out without thinking, his tone resolute: "What if! Even if you can handle it, I can’t stand by and let you take that risk!"

"Even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of an accident, I can't afford to gamble!"

He said it with conviction, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

An Yi paused in his movements, lifted his eyes to meet Ji Zishi’s gaze, his expression was complex and unreadable. Without another word, he resumed his work.

An Yi couldn't help but recall his long life journey.

Whether it was Shao Xiuya’s deep, encompassing, all-forgiving love, or Ge Lian’s blazing, pure, reckless infatuation, he had truly possessed and felt them both.

If the old him had encountered such a situation, would Ge Lian have lunged forward? And Shao Xiuya?

An Yi was certain they would have.

Having lived through several lifetimes over nearly two hundred years, being cherished and deeply loved had become etched into his bones, as essential as breathing.

He had always been treated like a precious gem; being loved had become his instinct.

His life had been drenched in honey.

Without him realizing, people gave for him and fell in love with him, and he had grown accustomed to it.

He accepted it all as a given, even subconsciously believing that he deserved the most intense and genuine emotions in the world.

Yet even so, Ji Zishi’s reckless, life-risking protection and sincerity were still deeply moving.

At some point, the focus of the comments had shifted away from Ji Qin, focusing on them instead:

"Is this... a classic hero saving the damsel in distress?"

"I'm shipping them so hard! I can't even! He’s so in love with him! Using his own body to block a gun, boohoo! (madly pounding the bed)"

"When are they gonna get together?! I’ve been waiting till my flowers withered~"

"I've waited until the sea has dried up~"

"Hey! No singing here!"

"@Author! Take a picture of their marriage certificate and throw it in my face! Now! Immediately!"

"@Author, I'm warning you, don't be a fool!"

"Or else I’ll get down on my knees and beg you!"

An Yi: ...

Alright.

----------

A heavy, almost tangible pressure hung over Liao Yuan Fortress.

A stream of bad news came from various safe bases, making Ji Qin and Que Xiuqi realize that passive defense had its limits.

They had to sever the source of the mutation.

Late at night, with the lights blazing, Ji Qin and Que Xiuqi sat together, speaking in low tones.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

There was a knock at the door. Ji Qin and Que Xiuqi exchanged a glance, then nodded. "Come in."

The door opened, and An Yi walked in.

He still had that calm composure, his combat uniform so neat it didn't seem like he had just returned from a perimeter patrol.

His eyes swept the room, then he naturally sat down at the empty spot by the table, a relaxed smile on his face: "Chief, what orders do you have for me?"

In truth, he already had a guess—perhaps it was related to that thing beneath the earth's crust.

He kept his expression calm, waiting for Ji Qin and Que Xiuqi to speak.

Ji Qin smiled, then quickly became serious: "An Yi, I'm going to tell you something important. But first, I need to ask you a question: Are you loyal to Liao Yuan Fortress?"

An Yi paused, then chuckled lightly, quite honestly: "I’m loyal to my own beliefs and my life. That takes precedence over everything."

Que Xiuqi adjusted his glasses, the cold frames reflecting faint light, and made no comment on his words: "Are you loyal to humanity? Do you think the mutation is a good or bad thing?"

He paused, his eyes flickered: "After all, it destroyed the old world, but it also gave some people unprecedented power. Some see it as a disaster, others call it a new beginning..."

"They have gained the power to control their own lives."

An Yi smiled, speaking seriously: "Philosophical discussions can wait for later. I only know that I think from a human perspective."

Que Xiuqi curled his lips and gave an almost imperceptible nod, and didn't speak again. Ji Qin took over the conversation: "Since that's the case... fine."

The arrogance and cynicism on her face faded completely, and she sighed: "We know what the source of the mutation is, and now we've decided to get rid of it."

They observed An Yi's expression, but his face remained unchanged: "The source of the mutation..."

Que Xiuqi frowned, surprised that he showed no shock, and said to An Yi: "You know?"

An Yi’s demeanor clearly indicated he knew the mutation had a source, and perhaps even where it was!

An Yi nodded, smiling: "Not entirely sure, but I have a guess."

He couldn't exactly tell Ji Qin that he knew from the very beginning, from the original novel.

He looked at Ji Qin with a speculative expression: "Underground, right?"

His eyes crinkled: "The recent attacks on various safe bases and the mutant fungal mat we encountered at the beginning all came from underground. Their aura is very peculiar."

Ji Qin abruptly leaned back in her chair. After a long pause, she let out a low sigh, her tone filled with incredulous admiration: "...You're frighteningly sharp."

She gave An Yi a thumbs-up and nodded in acknowledgment: "That's right, it's just as you think."

"We have to destroy it." Ji Qin's voice was resolute, with unwavering determination: "Go underground, find the source of the mutation, and use my flames to purify it completely."

"We can't just passively take a beating. We must end this."

An Yi noticed the phrasing in her words, couldn't help raising an eyebrow. Was she being completely upfront with him?

He feigned inquiry: "Purify? With flames?"

"Ordinary flames probably won't work, right? That thing managed to trigger a global mutation—it must be far from ordinary."

Ji Qin paused, then gave a helpless smile, the gravity on her face easing a bit. She half-complained to An Yi: "You really have too many tricks up your sleeve, and you're too good at zeroing in on the key point!"