Everyone trusted Xie Youcai deeply.
So like him, they willingly submitted to Yun Xiaoxiao's leadership.
After Yun Xiaoxiao and Ling Jing killed all the zombies in the mining area, they gave all the food from the helicopter to Xie Youcai and his people.
"Will half a month's worth be enough?"
"Yes, it's enough."
"Good, then continue mining here for now. I'll come back in half a month to collect and take you all back."
"Understood!"
After Yun Xiaoxiao and her group left in the helicopter, Xie Youcai clapped his hands.
Everyone immediately focused their attention on him.
"From now on, we must speed up and get the remaining coal out of the mine."
"Yes!"
Everyone was full of enthusiasm.
Of course - with so much good food as payment, how could they not work hard!
Yun Xiaoxiao had planned to collect resources while traveling, but an unexpected situation arose.
She was originally observing the ground below, looking for factories.
Suddenly, the helicopter began to shake.
She immediately stood up and walked toward the pilot's seat with concern.
"What's wrong?"
Getting no response, she frowned and looked at Ling Jing.
She saw that Ling Jing's head was slightly lowered, as if he had... fallen asleep?!
Yun Xiaoxiao: ......
Brother, of all times to sleep, you choose now?
While flying the helicopter!
Her temples began to throb with pain.
She quickly squeezed through the gap between the two seats to reach the co-pilot position.
After her intervention, the helicopter finally stopped shaking and began flying steadily forward.
Only then did she try to wake Ling Jing by nudging him.
If he was really that tired, they could switch positions and she could fly the helicopter.
Although her legs were short, she could still operate the controls while standing on the seat.
After quite a bit of pushing, Ling Jing slowly opened his eyes.
However, his pale blue eyes now appeared completely bewildered.
Yun Xiaoxiao's heart skipped a beat.
Had he... changed again?
"Brother Ling Jing?"
She called out tentatively.
Ling Jing tilted his head to look at her, and then...
That was it.
Yun Xiaoxiao: ......
Sure enough, he had turned simple-minded again.
And it seemed even more severe than last time.
She looked down and spotted a large lawn below.
So she landed the helicopter.
She had to get him to move to the back; otherwise, how could she fly?
With him in this dazed state, she didn't dare risk having him change seats mid-flight.
If something went wrong...
She wasn't ready for a fatal accident just yet.
After landing, Yun Xiaoxiao used all her strength to coax him into the back seat.
Worried he might suddenly lose his senses and bite her from behind,
She secured him with the safety belt.
For extra precaution, she added a layer of vines, creating double protection.
After everything was set, Yun Xiaoxiao took off again.
With Ling Jing in this state, she had to change plans and abandon resource collection to return directly to the base.
When they returned, the base's entrance had been transformed.
Considering the possibility of visitors arriving while Yun Xiaoxiao was away and being unable to enter,
Liu Yi and Nie Yizhou had worked together to build a temporary reception house at the entrance.
It was specifically for receiving refugees and those coming to exchange for evolution serum.
Currently, about a dozen people sat on the benches in front of this reception house.
Three vehicles were parked nearby.
Yun Xiaoxiao gave these people a quick glance before heading straight for the entrance.
What she didn't notice was that after she turned away, a man sitting at the edge kept his gaze fixed intently on her and Ling Jing.
This was the man who had escaped their notice during the incident at the rice mill.
When he saw Yun Xiaoxiao and Ling Jing, he was completely stunned.
Only after they disappeared through the main gate did his shocked expression surface.
He never expected to see those two again.
Especially that strange man whose bite could turn people into zombies!
However, one thing confused him.
Previously, that strange man had been surrounded by an evil aura, emanating a powerful presence.
But now, he seemed like a completely different person.
With his blank stare, if it weren't for his striking good looks, his dazed appearance would have made him almost unnoticeable.
Yun Xiaoxiao was unaware of all this.
She was taking Ling Jing to find Zhong Mingsheng.
They ran into Mu Yang, who was just heading out.
He was carrying a box of evolution serum.
"Little one, you're back," Mu Yang smiled warmly.
But then he frowned, nodding toward Ling Jing.
"Is he..."
Yun Xiaoxiao shrugged.
Though she didn't say anything, Mu Yang understood her meaning.
He looked worried, "I feel this time is more serious than the last. There seems to be a gray ring forming around his pupils."
"Yes, that's right, so I'm taking him to see Grandpa Zhong."
"Alright, you go ahead. I'll deliver this evolution serum to the people outside and then come find you. I have something to discuss with you anyway."
"Okay."
After saying goodbye, Yun Xiaoxiao took Ling Jing directly to the hospital.
Though Ling Jing remained dazed, he seemed to trust Yun Xiaoxiao completely and followed right behind her.
The scene was quite strange.
It looked like a mother leading her child.
But the age difference created an extreme contrast that made the situation appear even more bizarre.
It looked odd from any angle.
"Knock knock knock~"
Yun Xiaoxiao knocked on the research room door.
Du Juan opened it.
"Little Base Leader?"
"Yes, I'm looking for Grandpa Zhong. I heard he's inside?"
"Yes, Director Zhong, Doctor Ye and the others are doing research inside. I'll take you to them."
With that, Du Juan stepped aside and led Yun Xiaoxiao and Ling Jing inside.
Soon, Yun Xiaoxiao arrived outside a transparent glass room.
Inside, Zhong Mingsheng, Fan Wenying, and Ye Shuyuan were wearing white coats, masks, caps, and white gloves, each deeply focused on their work.
Du Juan pressed the buzzer at the door.
All three people inside looked out simultaneously.
Upon seeing Yun Xiaoxiao, Zhong Mingsheng put down his work, instructed the others to continue, and walked outside.
Once outside, he removed his mask.
"Xiaoxiao, is there something..."
Before he could finish saying "wrong," he noticed Ling Jing behind Yun Xiaoxiao.
His brows furrowed, "His condition has worsened."
"Yes, Grandpa Zhong, so I wanted to ask if you have any good solutions."
She had bathed him in spirit spring water and had him drink it daily.
But it seemed to have no effect.
His condition continued to deteriorate.
Zhong Mingsheng sighed, "We don't have anything yet."
They had been working hard on research.
But it had only been about a month since they started.
This amount of time wasn't enough to develop a vaccine for such an aggressive virus.
More importantly, the research equipment and reagents here were inferior to those at the research institute.
That was the truth.
This would inevitably affect the progress of their research.
