"Zi Qi, did you bring the healing potions?"
China had experience in self-researching healing potions, and coupled with the spoils captured from HSAC before, the production of healing potions was now without any obstacles. Although it was still far from regenerating flesh and bone from mere blood or possessing the ability to immunize against zombie infection, it was enough to shock the entire world before the apocalypse.
"We brought them," Jiang Zi Qi took out a syringe and shook it.
This item was now standard issue for their frontline combat units.
"That's good."
With healing potions readily available, Lin Yuan felt reassured to proceed with the attempt, not withdrawing his hand.
"Anna, if you want freedom, you'll have to endure this."
Carol Anna had initially thought Lin Yuan was conducting some absurd experiment and didn't pay much attention, considering it a game. However, the moment Lin Yuan uttered those words, she instantly felt something within her mind trying to burrow its way into her nostrils.
An intense pain flooded her entire face and brain. Her once exceptionally beautiful face became grotesquely distorted.
"It... hurts, ah!"
After letting out a scream, Carol Anna collapsed to the ground. Numerous fine bloody threads had already emerged from her nostrils.
"Quick, Zi Qi, the healing potion, and clean out the things from her nose!"
Jiang Zi Qi immediately understood. Her tentacles separated into fine, thin black-red threads and burrowed into Carol Anna's nostrils to clean them.
Lin Yuan's hand had not left her until no more bloody threads emerged, then he pulled away.
The healing potion had already been administered. He hoped the final result would be good.
After finishing the cleaning, Jiang Zi Qi meticulously checked Carol Anna again and said in disbelief, "Brother Lin Yuan, are you Tang Sanzang? How can blood have such efficacy? All the blood threads in Carol Anna's brain have been drawn out, and the damage is minimal. She might be a bit disoriented after waking up."
"Disoriented?"
"Uh, meaning reduced memory, lethargic, and her mind not working as well. These are all temporary, and she should recover in about a week."
This aftereffect, it sounded suspiciously like the consequences of excessive traditional crafts.
Tsk.
"Alright, have Academician Anna taken to the infirmary. We'll proceed with the surgery after she wakes up," Ying Tian Long instructed Jiang Zi Qi to handle this matter, while he stayed behind to speak with Lin Yuan privately.
"Wait! I need to check the Captain's body." Since returning from the aircraft carrier, Jiang Zi Qi's perceptive abilities had significantly improved. She would conduct checks on Lin Yuan and the others every time they returned.
Her tentacles swept over, pausing on Lin Yuan's arm. After concentrating, she found nothing out of the ordinary.
"Brother Lin Yuan, did Andrea do something to your arm?" Even before her perceptive abilities were this strong, Jiang Zi Qi had vaguely sensed something was amiss with 'Wang Xiaoxin', but the fleeting anomaly prevented her from speaking out. When Lin Yuan revealed that Wang Xiaoxin was Andrea in disguise, while she was 80% expecting it, the remaining 20% was still surprising.
Therefore, now, whenever she detected even the slightest abnormality, she became exceptionally cautious.
"She did draw my blood before, with the aim of becoming human. I mentioned this in the diary I submitted. They came to China because they received information from HSAC. I still can't believe their biggest mole was their president. Truly..."
He left the rest unsaid, but his expression of wistful reflection perfectly conveyed the thoughts of everyone present.
It was a typical Western tradition, no need to be surprised.
"In that case, Lin Yuan, don't meet Osiris immediately after you arrive. You must wait until the finished product from the Academy of Sciences is ready and has been inspected before meeting him, understand?"
"Understood. You should hurry, the doctors are already far away, and Andrea still needs you to watch over her."
After seeing Jiang Zi Qi off, Ying Tian Long shook his head. Some matters were not for Lin Yuan to decide.
"Xiao Yuan, the two of us need to talk."
"Okay, let's go. I've packed my things anyway."
Following Ying Tian Long to the rooftop, they sat on the ground and gazed at the stars.
"Do you have to leave at night? Isn't it unsafe to fly?"
"Don't worry, the pilots in the safe zone have flown at night more than once. Because you concealed information about Andrea, and this capture operation also had its peculiar aspects, the command center is now holding a reserved attitude towards you.
Therefore, you must go on this trip, and there can be no mistakes. Firstly, to investigate the truth behind Osiris's ravings, and secondly, to eliminate the command center's suspicions towards you.
I've relayed what you told me to the leader privately, but I couldn't discern his emotions. It all depends on you now.
Your child's matter is also being reported, and the results should be out tomorrow."
"And what about you?" Lin Yuan asked back, not answering immediately. He knew Ying Tian Long had taken on a lot of burdens for him, and it was impossible for him to remain uninvolved.
"After the post-war cleanup is completed, I'll be retiring to live out my days." Ying Tian Long showed no hint of regret on his face, only a relaxed expression.
Finally, he could rest.
He had been very tired during this period. With his previous health, he would have long been in the cemetery. Now, with retirement, he could live for several more years, which was a fitting end.
"I'm sorry for dragging you down." Lin Yuan sighed. Today had been a truly surreal day. He had originally planned to tour Wumu Forest and experience the grassland scenery, but ended up almost losing his wife and soldiers.
Ying Tian Long was quite open-minded and replied with a smile, "I was due for retirement anyway. I should be thanking you. This time, when you go to Wumu Forest, you need to be careful of two individuals."
"Who?"
"Xie Bei and Xie Nan brothers. One is the warden of the Wumu Forest Super Prison, and the other is the director of the Wumu Forest Military Base's Academy of Sciences. They have significant opinions of you."
"I don't recall offending them?" Lin Yuan's head was already spinning. He hadn't even met them yet and had already angered the two top figures there.
"It's not that you offended them. Rather, they believe individuals like you, Jiang Zi Qi, Ji Xuan Yan, and other humans who have naturally broken through to peak enhancement are unstable factors. They even proposed to the command center to have you all placed under centralized management. Furthermore, Xie Nan is very keen on treating you as experimental subjects for human experimentation.
So, you must be exceptionally cautious this time."
"Ah?!" Lin Yuan was completely stunned. 'Doctor Mundo' is by my side!
Oh no, perhaps it's 'Singed' as well.
"Why would they have such ideas?"
"Everyone has different philosophies and viewpoints. It is precisely because of these views that Xie Nan was transferred from the main academy in Liao Province to Wumu Forest." Seeing Lin Yuan's lingering disbelief, Ying Tian Long quickly offered him some reassurance: "Don't worry, I've already spoken to the commander of the Wumu Forest Military Base, and the command center has also issued stern warnings to them. Moreover, there is a BIU investigation team escorting you for your safety. Setting aside your current situation, you are still among the top individual combat powers in China.
You are merely going to cooperate with the investigation, not to be dissected. As long as your heart is devoted to the sun, consider this month a vacation."