Ling Jing smirked wickedly.
"Is that so? Should I thank you too?"
He glanced sideways at Xiu Jie.
"Do you really think I'm that stupid to let you keep sticking needles in me?
If you were lying to me, saying you've developed a vaccine, and then injected me with some poison, wouldn't I be dead for sure?"
"No, no, I... mmph..."
Before Xiu Jie could say anything more, a strong sense of suffocation hit his neck.
He struggled to pry Ling Jing's hand off, but it was as hard as iron, completely unmovable.
His legs kicked wildly, and his breathing grew weaker and weaker.
When Yun Xiaoxiao entered, she saw Xiu Jie, just having breathed his last, being casually tossed to the ground by Ling Jing like trash.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
But the next moment, both of them moved almost simultaneously!
Fortunately, Yun Xiaoxiao's mental defenses were quick, or she would have been turned into a fool right then and there.
The vines she shot out were also swiftly dodged by Ling Jing.
In an instant, a massive wave of black fog surged towards Yun Xiaoxiao.
Filled with intense dark power, it brought an inexplicable sense of terror and oppression.
Yun Xiaoxiao frowned, quickly teleporting before the black fog could engulf her, appearing behind Ling Jing.
She unleashed a layer of ice at his body.
Ling Jing seemed to sense it and moved away just in time.
In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged several rounds.
"Pfft~"
A burst of gas escaped from Yun Xiaoxiao's body.
Ling Jing was instantly frozen in place!
Yun Xiaoxiao closed in, swinging a hand knife towards the back of Ling Jing's neck.
With all her strength, Ling Jing immediately collapsed, unconscious.
"Ugh~ What's that smell?"
At that moment, Nie Yizhou just walked in.
He waved his hand in front of his nose.
Yun Xiaoxiao: ...
Some questions don't need to be asked so explicitly!
Earlier, as soon as she entered, she noticed Ling Jing's gaze was off.
His expression was cold, as if looking at a stranger.
There was even a hint of aggression.
This wasn't the usual Ling Jing.
She had suspected that Ling Jing might have developed another personality, just as Zhong Mingsheng had predicted.
Previously, she had been looking for an opportunity to spar with Ling Jing.
Coincidentally, she had also learned of Ling Jing's intent to attack her.
So she took advantage of the situation to make her move.
But she hadn't expected Ling Jing's strength to have increased so much.
They had actually fought to a draw.
So, as the saying goes, comparing oneself to others can be infuriating.
This was a stark example!
Although she had many advantages, she couldn't match someone with a special physique and extraordinary talent.
Of course, with her spatial cheat, Ling Jing definitely couldn't beat her.
She could just wear him out over time.
But she didn't have a masochistic tendency and wasn't planning to exhaust herself to death.
So after a brief spar, she chose the quickest and most effective method.
Her stinky fart ability, though unpleasant, was effective!
She glanced at the already dead Xiu Jie and felt a bit of sympathy.
Whether in his previous life or this one, he had played with fire, inviting trouble upon himself, leading to his own demise.
That was quite unique.
Actually, Xiu Jie was also a talented individual.
In his previous life, besides the evolution serum developed by the northern base, Xiu Jie had also developed one.
But his serum had too many impurities and obvious side effects, so it was eventually phased out.
"What happened to him?"
Nie Yizhou pointed at the unconscious Ling Jing on the ground.
Lu Chen and a few others also entered at that moment.
Yun Xiaoxiao briefly explained the situation about Ling Jing developing a new personality.
Afterward, everyone's expressions grew serious.
After looting everything of value from the hospital, Yun Xiaoxiao and her group hurried back to the base.
On their return, Zhong Mingsheng had already woken up.
He apologized to Yun Xiaoxiao, admitting that it was indeed his brother, Zhong Huainong, who had stabbed him.
Although he felt something was off with his brother and sister-in-law's behavior, as if they didn't recognize them,
they had indeed taken Ling Jing away and caused a lot of trouble for Yun Xiaoxiao and the others.
So he couldn't defend them anymore.
He told Yun Xiaoxiao to handle the matter as she saw fit, without considering his feelings.
He had no face to ask for leniency.
If it weren't for his pleading with Yun Xiaoxiao to take in his brother's family, this disaster wouldn't have happened.
Yun Xiaoxiao briefly explained Xiu Jie's ability to control people.
She also mentioned her arrangements for Zhong Huainong and his wife.
Zhong Mingsheng was immensely grateful, repeatedly thanking her.
Although he had said it himself, Zhong Huainong was still his brother.
Knowing they could stay, he was very happy.
He promised that after recovering, he would focus on research.
Yun Xiaoxiao didn't pressure him, telling him to prioritize his health.
There was no rush; he could start research after fully recovering.
Meanwhile, she had all the items from the northern research institute stored in the hospital's research building.
This would facilitate Zhong Mingsheng's follow-up research.
As for Ling Jing...
He woke up the same night they returned to the base.
Surprisingly, he had returned to normal.
This left Yun Xiaoxiao and the others feeling a bit awkward, fully prepared for a confrontation.
But as long as he was fine, that was what mattered.
Otherwise, she would have had to figure out how to deal with him.
She just hoped this normal state would last longer.
Long enough for Zhong Mingsheng to develop a treatment plan.
In the following days, Yun Xiaoxiao was busy arranging for Xie Youcai and others to start mining coal near Jin Xiaoqing's place.
She also brought a lot of supplies to Jin Xiaoqing's family, asking them to prepare meals for the workers.
Lu Chen's training of the guard team had yielded significant results, with many now capable of independent missions.
So some of the guard team was also assigned to the mining area.
Lei Ming led his team to execute this mission, responsible for ensuring the workers' safety.
Before they knew it, the time for the western base's symposium was almost here.
Yun Xiaoxiao planned to leave in a couple of days.
"What are you two grinning about?"
From a distance, Yun Xiaoxiao saw Nie Yizhou and Xiao Feng standing by the plaza, whispering to each other with mischievous smiles.
"Hey, kid, come take a look."
Nie Yizhou waved at her.
The smile on his face clearly said he had just gotten some juicy gossip.
Curious, she walked over.
Following their gaze, she saw Zheng Xin'er, the new leader of Yangcheng Base, holding a flower and offering it to Lu Chen.
She was smiling brightly, saying something.
That's right, Zheng Xin'er, the new base leader of Yangcheng Base, had come to their place early because she was also heading to the western base.
She said she wanted company on the journey and planned to travel together.
She also wanted to exchange for some evolution serum.
After seeing the internal scene of Yun City, they had marveled at it.
Immediately, they paid the accommodation fee and checked into the base's hotel.
Yun Xiaoxiao happily pulled out a handful of melon seeds, munching and enjoying the show.
"We don't hog the fun, right?"
Nie Yizhou naturally grabbed some melon seeds.
Yun Xiaoxiao generously offered some to Xiao Feng, "Want some?"
Xiao Feng shook his head.
"Don't mind him, let's eat." Nie Yizhou pulled Yun Xiaoxiao.
Then, the two squatted on the ground, eating melon seeds and watching the drama.
Their actions were indeed a bit... shady.
