Chapter 9: The Tragedy of the Apocalypse

"X System, analyze the available solutions for treating Mouse's injuries!"

After helping Mouse to a resting position, Wang Ji summoned the X System.

Within seconds, the X System presented its recommendations.

"To treat the target's injuries, according to Commander permissions: materialize bio-repair nanite smart microbots, capable of mending rib fractures and relieving internal blockages; materialize a hemostatic capsule to mitigate internal bleeding; materialize an external wound repair spray to ease the contusion on the chest; total energy required: 55 points."

Wang Ji glanced at Zhao Gang and the other two, then, in his urgency, dashed back to the previous room. He materialized the required items from his backpack, pretending to take them out as if they had been there all along.

Taking out the capsule containing the bio-repair nanite microbots, Wang Ji administered the medications and sprays to Mouse. Zhao Gang and the others, unable to discern the truth, assumed Wang Ji was making a final, desperate effort to save him.

Seeing Wang Ji busying himself with the medicine and sprays, Zhao Gang shook his head, sighing inwardly.

"You two, bring over the survivors we found earlier, and check the nearby area. Be careful," Zhao Gang instructed, then went over to inspect the corpse of the mutant wolf.

A few minutes later, after Wang Ji had finished his work, Mouse felt his pain subside considerably.

"Huh? Brother Wang... cough..." Mouse spat out a mouthful of blood, but his complexion returned to normal. "I... I actually feel much better."

Wang Ji smiled faintly, knowing the nanites were taking effect. He patted Mouse's shoulder.

"It's alright. As long as I'm here, you won't die."

"Alright! I knew it—Brother Wang, you're no ordinary man!"

Mouse's trusting gaze met Wang Ji's. Though they had known each other for less than a day, their bond had already become one of life and death.

"Captain Zhao, we've brought the survivors over. There seem to be more people over there."

The two who had gone with Zhao Gang returned with several people, among whom was Little Yin. She was sobbing quietly, her face streaked with tears, her father nowhere to be seen.

When Wang Ji saw the crying girl, he hurried over and gave her a warm smile.

"Don't cry, Little Yin. Where's your father?"

Recognizing Wang Ji—the big brother she had only recently come to know—Little Yin's fear and grief exploded into tears.

"Big brother! Sob... my papa... papa was eaten by the monster... sob..."

Wang Ji's expression froze. He hadn't expected that strong man who had shielded his daughter to have perished; a wave of sorrow washed over him.

He reached out to embrace Little Yin, gently stroking her hair.

"Don't worry, Little Yin. Big brother will take care of you."

In that moment, Wang Ji seemed to forget the dangers of the apocalypse, determined to protect this orphaned girl—even if, in times like these, a child was little more than a burden.

"Alas, chaos has come to the world, and so many have suffered calamity," Zhao Gang said with a sigh, joining them. As the captain of the town's police station, he had always served the people with dedication. Now, recalling the hundreds of students at the school, he felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on him.

"Captain Zhao, these are all the survivors we could find nearby..."

The search party returned with a few shell-shocked men and women. One of them, a middle-aged man, glanced at Little Yin, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly before he slipped to the back of the group.

"Brother Wang... I need to tell you something," Mouse, somewhat recovered, propped himself up and beckoned Wang Ji over.

Wang Ji carried Little Yin to Mouse's side, where Mouse pointed discreetly at the group and whispered in Wang Ji's ear.

Wang Ji's face grew cold as he listened. He cast a frosty glance at the strange man, then said to Mouse, "Don't worry. Rest now. I'll get justice for Little Yin."

He settled Little Yin by Mouse's side, then strode back to the group, seized the man at the rear, and clamped his hand around the man's neck.

"You're the one who pushed Little Yin, aren't you?! If it weren't for you, her father wouldn't have had to die!"

"Ah—cough—let... let go of me!" The man, pinned against the wall by Wang Ji's iron grip, clawed desperately at his hand, struggling in vain to free himself.

"Speak! When you ran, did you shove Little Yin?!"

Furious, Wang Ji tightened his hold, lifting the man—who weighed over a hundred pounds—into the air with one hand. The man's legs flailed, his face turning purple.

"Brother Wang, don't be rash. Let him go!" Zhao Gang intervened, seeing the man's condition deteriorating, and pulled Wang Ji aside.

With a thud, the man collapsed to the ground.

"Cough... ah... cough..."

He gasped for air, clutching his throat, yet showed no remorse as he faced Wang Ji's fury.

"Yeah! I pushed her! If I hadn't, I'd be dead! Do you get it?!"

The man stood, shouting hysterically, tears and snot streaming down his face in utter disgrace.

"And what right do you have to decide another's fate?!"

"You want revenge for her father? Go ahead, kill me! Just do it!"

"My wife... my child... they're already dead! I don't want to live either—kill me!"

With his outburst, the man collapsed, sobbing silently on his knees.

His words struck Wang Ji like a bolt of lightning.

What right do you have to decide another's life or death?

Indeed—even amid disaster, humanity endures because of order and conscience. If humanity and rules are lost, how are we different from the mutant beasts?

Was it wrong for him to fight to survive?

What right did he, Wang Ji, have to decide another’s fate?

Wang Ji stood rooted to the spot, his mind whirling with countless thoughts.

Zhao Gang, seeing the dazed look in Wang Ji’s eyes, gave a wry smile and approached. He sensed that this capable young man was teetering on the edge.

"Don’t dwell on it. The most important thing is to have a clear conscience."

He patted Wang Ji on the shoulder.

"A clear conscience... true to oneself!"

The light gradually returned to Wang Ji’s eyes.

"Since Heaven has granted me this opportunity, I must live with a clear conscience. First, I must protect those around me!"

He clenched his fists, his gaze sweeping over Mouse, Little Yin, and the other lost and broken souls.

"You may go... But if I ever see you harm anyone around me again, I won't let you off."

With that, Wang Ji released the burden in his heart and returned to Mouse and Little Yin.

Zhao Gang was quietly impressed by how quickly Wang Ji regained his composure, elevating his estimation of the young man’s mental fortitude.

A short while later, after gathering themselves, Zhao Gang approached Wang Ji.

"Brother Wang, I’m Zhao Gang, captain of the town’s police station. There’s a temporary shelter at the school. If you have nowhere else to go, I suggest you come with us to rest and regroup."

Wang Ji glanced at the badly injured Mouse, his own disheveled state, and the addition of Little Yin. They indeed needed a safe place.

He nodded readily. "No problem. Then I’ll be troubling you, Captain Zhao!"

Zhao Gang smiled, knowing Wang Ji’s power—he had witnessed Wang Ji defeat the mutant wolf leader single-handedly, with skills and marksmanship rivaling elite soldiers. With Wang Ji joining, their group’s strength would increase significantly.

After a brief rest, the group set off toward the school before night could fall.

Wang Ji carried the already sleeping Little Yin in his arms, while Mouse was transported on a makeshift stretcher fashioned by Zhao Gang’s men. As they moved, Wang Ji glanced back at the lone figure walking in the opposite direction beneath the setting sun, hesitating slightly.

"Isn’t he coming with us?"

Zhao Gang shook his head, shouldering his submachine gun as he led the way. "He has his own plans... Everyone here is a victim..."

The solitary figure fading into the sunset cast a heavy shadow over the group.

Wang Ji’s steps felt heavier as he tightened his hold on Little Yin, resolve shining in his eyes.

The journey to the school was tense but uneventful—perhaps because Wang Ji had slain the area’s mutant wolf leader, or maybe due to the effects of his new "Novice Butcher" title.

Along the way, Wang Ji and Zhao Gang cooperated silently, dispatching a few stray mutant beasts and earning a few energy points.

It was then that Wang Ji noticed something odd: after every kill, Zhao Gang’s team would open the beasts’ skulls to check inside.

"Captain Zhao, why are you inspecting their heads?"

Zhao Gang replied quietly, "Brother Wang, to tell you the truth, this morning I found a suspicious red crystal inside a mutant beast’s skull. I suspect these stones are related to the mutations, so we’ve been collecting them... but this one’s empty. Let’s hurry."

Wiping the blood from his hands, Zhao Gang rose and strode ahead.

Wang Ji was startled by Zhao Gang’s words and caught up to ask, "What kind of crystal is it?"

Zhao Gang took a fingernail-sized red crystal from his pocket and handed it over.

[Ding! Detected: 2 energy points can be absorbed. Absorb?]

"So it’s true! These mutant beasts’ crystal cores are the X System’s energy!" Wang Ji declined the prompt internally and examined the crystal.

The stone was diamond-hard, warm to the touch, and exuded a faint, bloody scent.

"Captain Zhao, do you have many of these crystals?"

Zhao Gang looked at Wang Ji in puzzlement. "Hmm, about twenty or so. Everyone’s just been collecting them because they look interesting. Do you know what they’re for, Brother Wang?"

Wang Ji laughed it off. "Not really, just have a feeling they’ll be useful in the future. If it’s alright, maybe I can trade you for some with supplies."

"No need. When we get back, I’ll have someone bring you a few—forget about payment." Zhao Gang waved the matter off, then glanced at the darkening sky, his tone urgent.

"Once night falls, these monsters become even more vicious. We need to speed up."

"Alright."