Chapter 746: Another Layer of Insurance

Chapter 746: Chapter 617: Another Layer of Insurance

Zhang Su arrived at Cui Leng Pavilion and happened to see Zuo Fengjuan coming out of Qiu Hui’s room, holding used dishes. After a brief conversation, Zhang Su didn’t go directly to find Xie Yanshan but instead walked into Qiu Hui’s room.

“Brother Zhang!”

Qiu Hui had just finished eating and was leaning against the bed watching a drama on her phone. Seeing Zhang Su enter the room, she quickly stood up, steady on one leg.

“Ha, you look pretty good, recovering well!”

Zhang Su was a bit surprised to see Qiu Hui, as he had been busy in the past three days and hadn’t visited her. She was a completely different person now, compared to the miserable state he remembered.

Qiu Hui hopped around the spacious area of the room on one leg, happily saying, “The headache is gone, and the tingling sensation is slowly fading. Although it hasn’t completely disappeared, the medicine Second Sister-in-law brought controls it within a bearable range. And… for some reason, my body has become stronger…

Not just stronger; my balance has also improved. I hardly trip on one leg, and my joints are more flexible than before!”

Zhang Su gestured for Qiu Hui to sit down and said with a smile, “These changes in you are closely related to the zombie virus that entered your body, not to mention the effects of the Corpse Transformation Inhibitor. It’s great, even better than I expected!”

Hearing Zhang Su’s words, Qiu Hui seemed a bit downcast and sat at the edge of the bed, “It’s fate’s trickery. The suffering is nothing, but losing a leg makes me forever less than a whole person.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic. Just like flowers bloom again, amazing things happen nowadays. Limb regeneration might not be impossible!”

Zhang Su said meaningfully.

Since Qiu Hui was getting better and better, he planned to share more and more secrets with her, as her unique situation would inevitably involve her in key missions, exposing her to many secrets.

“Limb regeneration? Oh my, I can’t even imagine. But you’re right, anything is possible in this world now. Brother Zhang, thank you for giving me hope!”

Freed from the torment of pain, Qiu Hui regained her usual cheerfulness, smiling more often.

Zhang Su thought for a moment and said, “Qiu Hui, you were once worried about this ability that doesn’t attract zombies’ attention. Are you feeling better about it now?”

“Much better!” Qiu Hui nodded honestly, “It was my own stupidity, not thinking deeply enough. Over the past few days, Dr. Xie talked with me, helping me understand the uniqueness of this ability. Now, I think I’m pretty amazing and look forward to contributing to the camp.”

Xie Yanshan was much better in this regard than Fu Weijun. If it had been Fu Weijun, he wouldn’t have had time to comfort and counsel the wounded.

“It’s good you’ve figured it out. Just to let you know, you’re not the only one with this ability. There’s another handsome young guy who also has it. Once you’ve recovered a bit more, I’ll form a special team for you all to handle special situations!”

Zhang Su crossed his legs and said with a smile.

There was actually one more thing he hadn’t told Qiu Hui—that there would be an even more special presence in this group.

Qiu Hui didn’t show the shyness typical of young girls after hearing Zhang Su’s words; instead, she was quite forthright, “Such a good thing, the organization is setting me up with a handsome guy?”

In the apocalypse, it’s not just men who have physiological needs; all people do.

Zhang Su smirked and stood up, saying, “Of course, the organization must consider individual happiness. Haha, you just finished eating, so rest a bit and make sure to exercise more. I’m off now.”

“I’ll see you out, I can manage.”

Qiu Hui quickly stood up, hopping on one leg to open the door for Zhang Su.

Zhang Su did not stop her, as the best care for a disabled person is to grant them dignity.

Leaving Qiu Hui’s room, Zhang Su listened intently and immediately knew which room Xie Yanshan was in. He walked over and knocked on the door, then pushed it open and entered.

Knocking is basic etiquette; entering directly is a leader’s privilege.

“Mr. Zhang, you’re here.”

Xie Yanshan turned around when he saw Zhang Su enter, handed the test tube in his hand to Zuo Fengjuan, and then gestured for Zhang Su to come to the desk.

“Previously, um… Good Fortune cooperated very well with my tests and we got some accurate data.”

Mentioning Good Fortune, Xie Yanshan had an odd expression on his face. Initially, he considered Good Fortune just a slightly smart dog, but it didn’t take long for him to realize it wasn’t only smart—it was practically human-like, understanding everything. Its comprehension was superb, its mind turned quickly, and sometimes before he finished speaking, it was already cooperating.

But there was one thing that frustrated him: the way Good Fortune looked at him… always a little disdainful.

Xie Yanshan once asked Good Fortune why it always looked at him with unfriendly eyes. Whenever he asked this, Good Fortune would grin, change to a normal expression, looking just like a naughty kid.

“It’s quite efficient. Tell me about it.”

Zhang Su immediately became interested.

“Good Fortune ate half a hen, um, I plucked most of the feathers for it, didn’t cook it, meat weighing about 800 grams, and afterward, Good Fortune got enhanced. Its speed increased by forty-five percent, jumping ability improved by thirty-six percent, and strength increased the most, reaching one hundred and twenty percent of its original strength, more than doubled!”

“Its speed was already so fast, and now it’s forty-five percent faster? But it has quite an appetite, devouring half a chicken…”

Zhang Su marveled, secretly calculating what his battle capabilities would be if he could receive the same enhancements. He had no concrete idea, just knowing it would be incredibly strong.

Even if we don’t mention him, members at the bottom of the Yama Corps like Wu Lue, Pei Lan, and Zhong Xiaoshan could handle a hulking beast together if they had the effects of Good Fortune’s pill!

Humans can’t rely solely on their own strength to fight zombies, but their combat power is a kind of assurance. The “Strength Pill” acts like a thalamus for healing wounds and bulletproof vests, providing another layer of security for human survivors.

Xie Yanshan beamed with joy and said, “It’s not just that, in a state of excitement, alertness, sense of smell, and vision all improve to a certain extent. It’s hard to quantify, but it starts to decline after ten minutes and returns to normal values after about twenty-five minutes, then enters a lethargic period for about half an hour. After recovery, according to Good Fortune’s account, its body experiences a slight enhancement.”

Zhang Su said incredulously, “You can enhance after tapping potential? No wonder that guy is eager to get his hands on chicken.”

“Mr. Zhang, with all due respect, temporarily boosting power by tapping potential is beyond doubt, but I’m skeptical about any subsequent bodily enhancement. Or that might be tapping potential in another form, which you could understand as consuming life energy in advance!”

Xie Yanshan explained very seriously. In his knowledge system, stimulants can’t have long-term effects; the stronger a stimulant is, the more severe its side effects become. Everything is conserved!

Zhang Su didn’t argue with Xie Yanshan, nor did he doubt Good Fortune because it’s too unique, perhaps fundamentally different from humans.

“Alright, let’s not worry whether it can enhance or not, the short-term burst is certainly not an issue. Can we calculate a safe dosage for humans based on Good Fortune’s parameters?”

“The safe dosage is relative. When I was testing Good Fortune, I monitored its vital sign data. During the process of its power enhancement, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels far exceeded normal values. Its body is strong enough to bear it, but if it were humans…”

Xie Yanshan didn’t finish, but the implication was clear: everyone’s physical condition is different, and the level of medication they can handle varies.

Zhang Su nodded; this is a very tricky issue. Based on the information he casually gathered, Tan Huajun and Zhao Dezhu from the Yama Corps have high blood pressure, not to mention the older Wang Longzhong. There might be others with high blood pressure, just without knowing it.

“Seems you need to conduct a simple physical examination on the Yama Corps before configuring medication doses. If we use stimulants without understanding body data, it’s disastrous if blood vessels burst later.”

“Very necessary, we can tailor more moderate doses for them.”

Xie Yanshan said cautiously.

“Exactly, safety is paramount, and we should start as gently as possible.” After saying this, Zhang Su added, “I’ll leave the entire experiment for you to handle, understood?”

Things that shouldn’t be eaten, even Fu Weijun dares to put them in people’s mouths. This stimulant is clearly meant for human consumption; rather not have him handle it.

Xie Yanshan smiled and nodded, “I understand, I’ll take full responsibility, and if anything goes wrong, I’ll bear all consequences!”

“Any progress on that thing’s research?”

Zhang Su asked.

“That thing?” Xie Yanshan was stunned for a moment, then realized with a bitter smile, “Mr. Zhang, I’m really stretched too thin, no time at all.”

He knew Zhang Su was asking about the black cube, whose research is far more troublesome than the “Strength Pill,” and currently, there’s no specific plan.

“If there’s no time for research… I’ll hold onto it for now. Just find me whenever you need it.”

Nobody yet knows what the black cube is for, but Zhang Su knows it’s precious and doesn’t feel secure leaving it at the Cui Leng Pavilion.

“Hmm, actually… I kind of want to find time to study the black crystal too.”

Xie Yanshan seemed a bit resigned.

The two of them went to the adjacent room. Zhang Su leaned in to take a look, but the crystal was jet black like ink, revealing nothing.

“Is this thing sturdy?”

Zhang Su picked up nearby tweezers and pinched it, finding it small yet with some heft.

“Remember those bones you retrieved from the zombies? Like those bones, you can’t measure its hardness value.”

Xie Yanshan contemplated as he looked at the black cube.

“Do you think… since this thing can provide power to liquefied gas zombies, could it be some kind of energy source itself, like a battery for an electric scooter?”

Zhang Su looked at Xie Yanshan.

“Energy source, electricity… Hmm, how about… Mr. Zhang, let me study this small block this afternoon. I’m really itching to do so, haha.”

Xie Yanshan rubbed his hands together, finding the “Strength Pill” less intriguing than the black cube.

“Alright, take your time with the pill research.” Zhang Su patted Xie Yanshan on the shoulder, checked his watch as it approached one o’clock, then said, “I have to handle the selection test this afternoon, so while you’re busy, I’ll go first.”

“Hey, Mr. Zhang, take care.”

As he watched Zhang Su leave the room, Xie Yanshan immediately focused on the black cube, his mind flickering with various ideas, deciding to test its strength thoroughly.

“Let’s start by researching with fire!”

Muttering to himself, Xie Yanshan placed the black cube on a Petri dish with tweezers, then left the lab.