Chapter 343: Chapter 338: Apocalypse Sisters
Hearing that cooperation was not possible, Ying Yiming’s heart sank slightly, but he did not intend to give up. At best, Duan Kai was only stronger in superpowers. If there were better options, he didn’t believe that Ye Qiu and Ye Dong, the two sisters, would remain unmoved.
"Since that’s the case, I will report truthfully to the higher-ups, thank you Commander Duan for taking time out to engage in this lengthy conversation with us today." Ying Yiming said politely.
"It indeed has been a lot of pointless talk." Duan Kai’s smile was cold. Did he not see through this man’s schemes? But what made them think that Ye Qiu and Ye Dong would be theirs?
Working with him, Ye Qiu and Ye Dong had absolute autonomy. But if they cooperated with this group who thought too highly of themselves? They’d likely treat them as merely slightly capable scientific researchers and a strong enforcer!
These idiots have no idea what kind of deal he had struck with those two sisters.
"Captain, why do we have to plead so humbly? As long as we buy the Medicine and let the laboratory personnel test it, wouldn’t the composition be revealed?" Zhao Guanghua said, puzzled.
Ying Yiming’s expression was serious, his tone somber: "If you can think of it, don’t you think they can think of it too? Since they dare let us buy the Medicine, it proves that they are not afraid of people testing its components."
He pondered for a moment then said: "But after all, we still need to try. Guanghua, take the Crystal Stone and buy as much of their developed Medicine as possible."
"Yes."
Luo Yong, you and Li Lewei stay here to investigate their situation, remember, don’t provoke any conflicts with the base’s personnel. Zhao Guanghua and I will set out to return to Jiang Province in the next few days."
Li Lewei thought about it, although she was reluctant to part with Ying Yiming, she didn’t insist on going back with him. What she worried about was that Hu Province Base in the book had been wiped out by a horde of zombies and animals; could staying here be dangerous for her?
However, given that the current development of the plot had already deviated completely from the book, it should be different now, right? Besides, she was not without the ability to protect herself. She felt it would be better to keep an eye on Ye Dong here.
Three days later, Ying Yiming set out to return to Jiang Province with the remaining team and the purchased Medicine. At the same moment, under Ye Qiu’s instructions, Ye Dong was also preparing to search for a larger Mutated Vine.
Ye Qiu knew that Ying Yiming had come to the base, but she did not plan to interfere with his and Ye Dong’s emotions. In the first lifetime, Dongdong and Ying Yiming had met, mingled, and ultimately became spouses, with Ying Yiming being faithful from start to finish.
In the second lifetime, her sister had not managed to develop feelings for Ying Yiming before Li Lewei, an outsider, interfered. Her and her sister’s deaths had nothing to do with him.
If in this lifetime her sister still liked Ying Yiming, she would do her best to make it happen. If her sister had no feelings for Ying Yiming, she would not actively matchmake them. As for Li Lewei, she would never let her off.
"Be careful on your way, never risk your life, if it really comes down to it, you can ask Duan Kai for help." Ye Qiu earnestly instructed Ye Dong.
"Sister, I’ve brought enough manpower this time, don’t worry, I will be fine. Plus, you know I’m impatient with those matters at the base. Duan Kai is more ruthless; it’s better he manages than me."
Although she was one of the leaders at the base, Ye Dong had no sense of managerial responsibility, and she preferred going on missions rather than staying at the base; she was truly tired of those who constantly buzzed around her like bees.
"Then, take good care of yourself."
"Yeah, I know. Don’t you trust my strength?" Speaking of her superpower, Ye Dong’s eyes filled with confidence.
Ye Qiu would drink Spiritual Spring Water with Ye Dong every day. Even if she didn’t absorb the energy of the Crystal Cores, she progressed faster than ordinary people and also had no concerns for the future.
Originally, the mutated vines and golden soil found by the team at the base were enough for her experiments, but she did not expect the Golden Crow Egg to suddenly awaken and absorb all the energy of those mutated vines in one breath.
The golden soil also seemed to merge into the space, even developing a type of plant very similar to the mutated vine within the space, only much gentler; however, she discovered that this variant of the mutated vine even had a clearer consciousness than the mutated vines in the real apocalypse, no longer just blindly absorbing energy by instinct.
After sending her sister back, Ye Qiu returned to the space. The new mutated vine grew in the middle of the golden soil, its leaves greener than those outside, and it no longer grew clinging to the ground but curved and swayed in mid-air. When Ye Qiu approached, it would gently brush against her with its vines.
Ye Qiu had tested its energy. Initially, when its leaves were plucked, it seemed annoyed as if it was angry. Later on, whenever Ye Qiu took a leaf, she would pour a handful of Spiritual Spring Water on it, and it would actively offer its leaves.
The growth of its leaves was extremely slow, and its vines had only one strand, less than one meter tall, but whenever some Spiritual Spring Water was poured, it would become more active, and the vine would grow a little taller.
Ye Qiu also tried to plant other plants on this golden soil, but without exception, they all died. However, she noticed a pattern: medicinal plants like ginseng and he shou wu died slower, while common plants like chrysanthemum and vegetables died faster, and before dying, they would grow wildly as if unable to withstand the excess energy.
If it weren’t the apocalypse, she would have thought this was the soil of the Immortal Realm; but even the soil of Immortal Realm could still grow ordinary plants, this golden soil is indeed domineering.
After exchanging a leaf for some Spiritual Spring Water and a mutated vine, Ye Qiu returned to the laboratory. With just one leaf, she could produce a large quantity of medicine to eliminate the Zombie Virus. Could that possibly completely change the environment of this world?
Ye Qiu always had a feeling that the mutated vines outside were there to eliminate the remaining humans. Once the humans who destroyed the environment were completely gone, the mutated vines would also gradually dissipate, and Earth would slowly get back on track and heal itself.
If she could produce a medicine to improve the environment of the Earth, could humans be spared from vanishing?
At the same time, she had a doubt in her heart—does Earth really have consciousness? Why did it mutate? Is it unable to sustain the endless exploitation by humans, or is it that the fate of humanity has reached its end and a new Reincarnation has arrived?
She felt that if this issue is not thoroughly resolved, even with an anti-Zombie Virus medicine, they would definitely encounter new problems, and humanity would eventually be doomed. Since she has come to this world, it proves there is still hope for salvation.
The first thing she needed to do was to restore the Earth’s ecology; and for the sake of sustainable development in the future, a new mode of living must be established before they could find a new "Earth" beyond their current planet. They couldn’t just keep reproducing and expanding endlessly.
The future still holds heavy responsibilities and a long journey; what Ye Qiu needed to do was to take this first step.