Chapter 190.2 – We are V587 (5)

◎ The Last Disciple ◎

On the floating car heading to the laboratory, Zhuang Qingyan’s two terminals kept lighting up with various pending messages. Since he voluntarily submitted “partial” research data, his Key identity no longer existed. Regaining his freedom, he no longer had to hide like he did in the past.

“The new city defense modifications have been approved by General Ye and will be implemented effective immediately.”

“I won’t return to Beijun temporarily… just inform General Xie of that.”

“A series of zombie outbreaks? Let the 27th squad handle it. Isn’t Sanada Nobumasa a Metal-element awakener? He’s suitable for the role of a cleaner.”

If Song Ke still had her memories, she would recall that Sanada Nobumasa was the other squadron leader of Azure Phoenix they encountered the first time they met Punk. Due to conflicts with Wu Juemin, the vengeful Zhuang Qingyan had made life difficult for this “former squadron leader,” and now, the entire squad had been scattered into disarray.

Song Ke rested her chin on her hand, curiously observing Zhuang Qingyan. Fang Zhixu leaned in mysteriously, lowering his voice to gossip, “Our Princess Zhuang is in quite a situation now. He’s simultaneously in charge of affairs in the Northern Base and Beijun, and the two generals have fought over him several times.”

Song Ke glanced at the elaborately crafted silver cane, “Is his leg very serious? Why hasn’t it been cured?”

Fang Zhixu’s expression was peculiar as he stammered, “Uh… his leg… well, it’s quite serious.”

Song Ke looked skeptical, “Aren’t you an orthopedic doctor?”

Fang Zhixu responded, “You can criticize Princess Zhuang’s character, but you can’t question my medical skills.”

Song Ke raised an eyebrow, confused.

Fang Zhixu found it hard to explain. Zhuang Qingyan, the scheming green tea male, insisted on keeping his lame leg until Song Ke returned. He thought she would feel sorry for him when she saw it, refrain from making trouble in the future, but who would have known that when Song Ke returned, her memories were completely gone. Zhuang Qingyan’s plan fell through, and his pitiful look was thrown to a blind man.

Unaware of their hushed conversation, Zhuang Qingyan continued to work. He handed a light screen to Song Ke, showcasing various dazzling pictures of diamonds, saying, “Pick one you like, and I’ll have it customized. The space sculptor has already been contacted.”

Song Ke’s expression remained blank.

Zhuang Qingyan’s deep eyes gazed at her, and his awakened energy silently activated Song Ke’s silver rings. “Look, the ones given by wild men are just not good enough. The quality is rubbish, and they can’t hold much. Let’s get a bigger one.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Song Ke took off the ring and tossed it at his handsome face.

Impossible. This guy was definitely not her boyfriend. Her taste couldn’t be this bad!

Zhuang Qingyan caught the ring smoothly, smiling with a satisfied air, “Got it. I’ll dispose of it for you.”

Song Ke remained expressionless and stood up to change her seat.

“Xiao Star, what are you looking at?”

Xu Xing confidently propped his legs on the vacant seat in front, with three or four varieties of special fruit juices within easy reach. He took a sip and switched to a different cup.

“Sister, I’m watching the auditions for the awakener challenge,” he replied, sharing the light screen with Song Ke.

Song Ke lowered her gaze, and the screen displayed the latest popular matches. Eleven-year-old prodigy Dylan from the Cario Empire showcased S2-level skills, completing a series of ten individual challenges and setting the current record for solo performance.

Song Ke noticed that Xu Xing had donated quite a bit of money to Dylan’s support channel.

After a year of intense preparation, the first global awakener challenge was finally underway, a grand event on a worldwide scale. The ultimate reward included substantial Alliance coins, crystals, and the qualification to reside in an S-level city, Utopia.

Observing Xu Xing’s excited profile, Song Ke couldn’t help but ask, “V587 isn’t participating?”

“No, I hate Utopia,” Xu Xing’s eyes flashed with a hint of shadow, but it quickly disappeared. “And since Sister isn’t here, we won’t go. All of V587’s actions are decided by Sister.”

Song Ke smiled without saying anything.

Indeed, now wasn’t the right time. If she could heal Su Cha and Lin Youyou, and regain her memories…

Actually, the other rewards of the competition were quite substantial.

*

In the busy laboratory, Dr. Ning Rong, wearing a white coat, and with graying temples stared fixedly at Song Ke.

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Song Ke used her eyes to ask the people nearby, “Is he reliable?”

Zhuang Qingyan shook his head with a smile. Ning Rong did seem a bit out of sorts, but it was normal. “This is Dr. Ning Rong, the lead of the organ regeneration project.”

“She’s the Fire Seed? Old Zhuang’s dream actually came true…”

Dr. Ning Rong wiped away tears and reached out to hold Song Ke’s hand.

Zhuang Qingyan’s cold cane directly blocked him, “Dr. Ning, don’t touch her randomly, let’s do the examination first.”

Song Ke sat quietly in the isolation room, with electromagnetic sensors attached to her head, limbs, and heart, connected to an external gene spectrum analyzer.

Zhuang Qingyan sat across from her, holding Song Ke’s slightly cool hand, and brought it close to his lips. “Don’t be afraid, it won’t hurt. I’m here with you.”

Staring at the beauty mark at the corner of his eye, Song Ke raised two fingers and pushed him away without mercy.

“I suddenly remembered some things.”

“Hmm? What is it?” Zhuang Qingyan’s voice was gentle as he gazed at her affectionately.

“Before, also in the laboratory, there was someone who always said I was ugly,” Song Ke asked seriously. “Do you know who he is?”

Zhuang Qingyan’s spine stiffened, silent for several seconds. After a moment, he kissed Song Ke’s fingertips and casually said, “Really? I don’t know, but he must be annoying. I’m different; I always find you cute. Look, no matter what you turn into, I can recognize you first, even if it’s a flea.”

Song Ke turned her head slightly, her lips subtly curling.

The researchers outside were fully focused on recording data, too busy to lift their heads. However, the small isolation room was tranquil, as if only the two of them existed, holding hands tightly.

Song Ke not only underwent genetic testing, but her awakener level also needed to be reevaluated.

Director Grace from Qianzhan City came over to help. When the values on the connected R-type tester reached the maximum, she was shocked into silence, “Oh my god…”

A year ago, Song Ke was an S8-level awakener. Now, her awakened energy had surpassed S9.

A super S-level awakener, unprecedented in the world. The existing instruments could no longer reach Song Ke’s limits.

The full-body examination continued from morning till evening, until the sunset shone through the window.

Ning Rong hurriedly approached with a light screen containing hundreds of pages of reports, “All the gene types have been determined, a total of 237, including 45 replicant genes, including the Phoenix.” He trembled with excitement as he spoke.

“Due to the success of the Fire Seed experiment, her fused genes cannot be deciphered, eliminated, or separated. The best solution is to freeze them, making them lose their activity. This way, not only can her body recover, but there’s also a possibility of curing albinism.”

“But there’s a problem,” Ning Rong hesitated, “To freeze the genes, we need to obtain the complete DNA sequence first. Ordinary genes are easy, but for those replicant genes, the original samples are not in the data, and we know nothing about their composition.”

“Do you have information on replicant genes in your head?”

Zhuang Qingyan frowned and shook his head, “Back then, Qinglan procured replicant genes for the fusion experiment, and there was no specific attempt to decipher their DNA sequences.”

The reason replicant genes were precious was that the organisms from which they could be collected had long been extinct in the natural world. In other words, using one original sample meant one less, and the supply would continually diminish.

“I remember that an organization was responsible for preserving replicant genes…” Ning Rong tried to recall.

“Tianyi,” Zhuang Qingyan squinted and whispered, “But Tianyi disappeared from the Alliance a long time ago.”

The situation once again fell into a deadlock, and everyone was at a loss.

“If we need to find someone, I should be able to help,” Lu Xiaoyu suddenly spoke, confidence shining in his unique ice-blue eyes. “As long as it existed, there must be traces left behind.”

After returning from Erjia, it seemed that his awakened ability had made a breakthrough, and his mindset had become more open.

“Give me four days, no, three days,” he declared.

…

Three days later, in the special protection ward, V587 sat in a row, listening to the good news brought by Lu Xiaoyu.

“Tianyi, originating from the ancient civilization era, was a Taoist organization. Its philosophy advocated following the principles of nature, the unity of heaven and man, and respecting the vitality of all living things.

They were skilled in using talismans to counter enemies, producing many ancient martial arts experts over the centuries. Replicant genes were extracted by the founder of Tianyi and have been preserved by inner disciples ever since.”

“Unfortunately, in the year 47 of the New Calendar, the year of the apocalypse, Tianyi Organization completely perished, leaving no one behind.”

“Is this your idea of good news?” Zhuang Qingyan mocked coldly.

Instead of immediately countering, Lu Xiaoyu used a strange look to assess him.

“Among the bad news, there’s a piece of good news. Even though everyone in the organization is dead, I found out that the last registered disciple of Tianyi…”

Lu Xiaoyu paused, looking at Zhuang Qingyan meaningfully.

“…is named Zhang Ting.”