Chapter 164 - 161: As Expected, Inhuman

Chapter 164: Chapter 161: As Expected, Inhuman

Chen Xing’s head ached even more.

’She didn’t know if the Research Institute had already created many people like her and released them into the world long before she escaped.’

’Or had they created all these similar people just to monitor her and get close to her?’

’If it was the latter, then the secret she carried must be huge.’

’But she felt the first possibility was more likely.’

’Judging by Xiao Nan, he had been living outside even before the apocalypse began—he was out earlier than she was.’

’The Research Institute couldn’t have possibly predicted her escape and set up such a grand scheme in advance, could they?’

’How omniscient would they have to be?’

’Unless... someone else had been reborn, just like her, and knew she would escape.’

’She felt that possibility was slim as well.’

"Are you okay?" Suspecting that Xiao Nan might also be one of the Research Institute’s lab rats, Chen Xing’s attitude softened considerably.

Xiao Nan had to compose himself for a long moment before his complexion returned to something resembling normal.

He was just about to say he was fine.

But then, a jolt like an electric current suddenly shot through his brain, and he unexpectedly began to receive some kind of information automatically.

His eyes shifted from pained, to dazed, and then to a chilling clarity. The way he looked at Chen Xing was now tinged with malice.

Chen Xing was facing him directly, taking in his every change.

She was certain that the gaze now fixed on her was not Xiao Nan’s.

’As for who it was?’

"He’s smarter than we thought. It seems he’s useless now," "Xiao Nan" muttered to himself.

’The moment he realized he was also from the Research Institute, he was already a dead man.’

In Chen Xing’s eyes, the "useless" one he was talking about had to be Xiao Nan.

’Useless means... termination?’

Chen Xing thought of the two lab rats who had dissolved into pools of blood.

’Logically, they should have still been useful. As for why they self-destructed, she couldn’t guess.’

"So, am I still useful to you?" Chen Xing asked in a sarcastic tone.

She actually hoped she was useless to the Research Institute. It was unsettling to be constantly on their minds.

’She never knew which person who appeared by her side might be an agent sent by the Institute.’

’If she didn’t dislike companionship, she would probably be surrounded by a whole crowd of them by now.’

"Xiao Nan’s" lips curled into an eerie smile. He didn’t answer, instead asking, "How did you figure out something was wrong with Xiao Nan?"

"Is Hao Wenli a lab rat too?" Chen Xing countered with a question of her own.

This time, a flicker of surprise crossed "Xiao Nan’s" otherwise impassive face, but it was incredibly brief.

So brief that he thought Chen Xing couldn’t possibly have noticed. "Hao Wenli is an employee of the Research Institute! You seem to know that already. In fact, it looks like you took her file!"

Chen Xing laughed sardonically.

’For now, I’ll let him think I believe him.’

"In that case, your Research Institute can’t be anything to be proud of, right? After all, you even hire idiots like Hao Wenli."

The fully controlled "Xiao Nan" was speechless. He was a little annoyed.

’No one had ever slandered his Research Institute like this before.’

The Research Institute had been established for decades. Although it hadn’t always been on an upward trajectory, recently, the mere mention of the Xingguang Research Institute would earn a look of admiration from people.

’How did it sound so pathetic coming from Chen Xing’s mouth?’

"She doesn’t represent the Research Institute. She’s just there to provide you with information or help when you’re in danger. After all... of all the people, she’s the only one you’ve spared, isn’t she?"

’Hao Wenli, help her?’

’It would be an act of great mercy if Hao Wenli didn’t kick her while she was down or stab her in the back!’

The reason Chen Xing had spared Hao Wenli’s life was because she wanted to know why someone so utterly clueless would be chosen by the Research Institute.

’In her previous life, Hao Wenli had spared no effort to get close to her.’

’Although she had caused her all sorts of suffering and misery, she never directly tried to kill her.’

’If Cheng Fang hadn’t killed her, she believed the Research Institute would have kept Hao Wenli by her side.’

’But... in her last life, were Hao Wenli and Cheng Fang the only ones from the Research Institute?’

’Thinking back, she couldn’t recall anyone else who was suspicious.’

"Then should I just go ahead and kill Hao Wenli?" Chen Xing asked deliberately.

"Do as you please."

Chen Xing was quite annoyed.

’To the Research Institute, no one’s life was important.’

"You truly are inhuman!" Chen Xing made no effort to hide her contempt.

"Anyone else can say that about us, but not you!"

’Bullshit!’

Chen Xing gave a cold smile, not wanting to talk to him any longer.

’Perhaps from the Research Institute’s perspective, sparing her life... or even saving her, was all for her own good?’

’But to her, the only reason the Research Institute kept her alive was because she had a greater purpose. If she were useless, they definitely wouldn’t have hesitated to get rid of her.’

Seeing that Chen Xing had fallen silent, the entity controlling "Xiao Nan" knew there was no reason to keep its vessel alive.

As his senses returned, the real Xiao Nan’s face was a mask of terror.

He turned his palm upward and slowly clenched his fist.

The seemingly ordinary fist began to expand at a visible rate.

"I don’t want to die..." Those were Xiao Nan’s last words.

After saying this, he leaped up in agony and slammed his fist violently into the cluttered ground.

Tears flew from his eyes, scattering everywhere.

With a tremendous BOOM, the entire ground split open.

If Chen Xing hadn’t dodged, she would have certainly fallen into the ruins below.

Looking back at Xiao Nan, his terror-stricken face was filled with astonishment.

’He probably never even knew he possessed such earth-shattering power, did he?’

In the blink of an eye, he slid downwards and dissolved into a pool of blood.

Chen Xing immediately moved toward him, but before she could reach the pool of blood, zombie dogs began to emerge from the surrounding, shattered ground.

’Right!’

’Of course. So many of the Research Institute’s zombie dogs must have survived.’

Xiao Nan’s action had undoubtedly cleared a path for them.

Chen Xing couldn’t reach the pool of blood in time; she had to kill them as she fought her way closer.

From beneath the rubble, not only were there zombie dogs, but some human survivors had also crawled out.

However, their luck had just run out.

The zombie dogs that had emerged before them weren’t about to let their prey escape. Seeing movement, they began to attack.

Chen Xing didn’t want all these people to die.

’Regardless of whether they would be a threat to her later, for now, she wanted them to survive as much as possible.’

There was no time to pick up the ID tag; she began to rescue them.

The number of zombie dogs was overwhelming. Chen Xing could save one person but not the next.

These people who had crawled out were deathly weak, likely due to starvation.

One or two of them who still had some sense and strength could only use all their power to survive.

Using their power was a fatal mistake. After unleashing their abilities, there was only one outcome: they dissolved into a pool of blood.

She slightly regretted not bringing Meng Hu with her.

Seeing a few people escape the zombie dogs’ pursuit and run into the distance, Chen Xing didn’t stop them. Instead, she blocked the pursuing dogs.

「Time passed...」

The zombie dogs were nearly all wiped out, but there were also numerous human corpses and pools of blood.

Chen Xing felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

For the first time, she truly understood how insignificant one person’s strength could be.

Sighing, she walked slowly toward the pool of blood to pick up the ID tag.