157. The Setup
“First of all…”
“Is there only one Life Core?”
Just as Su Zeheng was about to speak, Wen Han interrupted him.
The black-clothed men silently looked at her. Su Zeheng could only nod his head. “It’s fine.”
The black-clothed men exchanged glances before speaking.
“Yes.”
“So after Ou Xiwei stole it, there hasn’t been another one?” Fat Brother pondered.
The black-clothed man spoke sparingly. “Yes.”
“Then…”
Just as Su Zeheng was about to speak, Wen Han interrupted again. “Does Ou Xiwei know about this?”
“Yes.”
“If that’s the case…” Wen Han pinched her chin. “That means Hu Ming can no longer continue living, right?”
“Pretty much.”
“You finally decided to say more than three words?” Wen Han smiled coldly.
Su Zeheng ignored these side remarks. “Are there any other ways for Hu Ming to continue living in this world?”
“No.” The black-clothed man hesitated after saying that. “To be accurate, we don’t know. Reviving the dead is against nature. In fact, it was Ou Xiwei who first discovered that the Life Core could temporarily bring people back to life during her research.”
“Oh?” Wen Han’s eyes lit up. “Ou Xiwei discovered that the Life Core could bring people back to life?”
“Yes.”
“No wonder she carried research tools even while fleeing. She wanted to extend Hu Ming’s life…”
“But it seems like it didn’t work out.” Su Zeheng followed up. “I want to know, how much time does Hu Ming have left?”
“We’re not sure about that.” The black-clothed man shook his head. “At most, not more than a month.”
“A month?” Wen Han raised her gaze.
Now that the Recycling Station and the Light Magic Society are working together, both sides must find Ou Xiwei before An Lisen captures her.
She immediately spoke. “This means that Ou Xiwei must be desperately searching for a way to keep Hu Ming alive!”
“This is a breakthrough.” Su Zeheng hesitated for a moment, then looked at the black-clothed man. “You said you’re not sure if anything can extend Hu Ming’s lifespan. That means… Ou Xiwei can’t confirm it either, right?”
The black-clothed man nodded. “There are no absolutes in this world. Just like the earliest research on the Life Core wasn’t about extending lifespans, but Ou Xiwei discovered and used it to revive Hu Ming. It could have had greater uses! So Ou Xiwei must be held accountable!”
“…Uncle.” Wen Han finally turned around. “Can’t you mobilize the resources and channels of Star River City? Immediately spread the news that the Academy of Sciences has discovered ‘rebirth research’!”
“But…” Old Bai shook his head. “Ou Xiwei isn’t stupid. Will she believe it?”
Before he finished speaking, Su Zeheng nodded.
“She will believe it.” He looked up at everyone. “For Hu Ming, she would betray the Academy of Sciences, steal the Life Core, and go on the run for five years. And in these five years, she never gave up. Everything she did was to keep Hu Ming alive.”
“So—” Wen Han took over. “Even if she knows it’s fake, she’ll still come out because Hu Ming’s time is running out, and this is her last chance to save him.”
Beep beep beep… beep beep beep… beep beep beep…
At the same time, the alarm clock on the table finally rang.
The black-clothed man pressed a button, said nothing, and then turned to leave.
“Let’s act quickly!” Looking at their backs, Su Zeheng rubbed his stomach. “We need to find Ou Xiwei quickly!”
…
Dusk.
In a remote mountain in Star River City, it was extremely primitive, making one imagine that such a bustling city could have such a primitive place.
Hiding in the forest, Ou Xiwei cautiously surveyed her surroundings, holding Hu Ming in her arms. She carefully fed him the new medicine she had developed.
“It won’t work,” Hu Ming said, drinking it with a pale face. “Being able to accompany you for five more years is already enough for me.”
“I don’t believe it!” Seeing no improvement in Hu Ming, Ou Xiwei suddenly smashed the bottle in her hand. “The dean once said I was the top genius at the Academy of Sciences! If I could discover the energy of the Life Core, I could develop new inventions!”
“Cough cough!” Hu Ming coughed a few times. “Xiao Wei, it was my fault that ruined your future. You should have become a rising star within the Academy of Sciences, not me… You completed the purification long ago and joined the Light Magic Society.”
“I wouldn’t join the Light Magic Society anyway!”
Black fog continuously swirled in her eyes, and her eyelids twitched slightly.
“All I want is… I just want to be with you! I don’t want to lose you anymore, and I don’t want to go back to that day when I heard about your car accident!”
“Xiao Wei…”
“You don’t need to say anything.” Ou Xiwei firmly shook her head. “There are seventeen days left… I will definitely find something in seventeen days!”
Whoosh!
Before she finished speaking, a gust of wind howled through.
The two were forced to close their mouths and raise their hands to shield themselves from the wind.
Rustling, a newspaper fluttered in the wind and eventually landed on the muddy ground.
“Hmm?”
Ou Xiwei glanced suspiciously, picked up the newspaper cautiously in silence, and scanned it.
“What is this…”
A quick glance revealed a celebratory article in a small corner.
[Star River City Science Bureau discovers “Life Core,” potentially for future “Cosmic Plan”]
“Life Core?!”
She frowned instantly.
“It’s fake.” Hu Ming took the newspaper. “How could it be so coincidental? Don’t be silly, it’s just a ploy to lure us out.”
“No…” Ou Xiwei slowly shook her head. “The Academy of Sciences found only one Life Core, but it doesn’t mean there’s only one in the world! After five years… they might have really found another one!”
Hu Ming frowned. “Xiao Wei, what are you going to do?!”
“…Even if it’s fake, I still need to go back and try.”
“Xiao Wei! You…”
“Aming, rest for a bit.”
Under the terrified gaze of the other, Ou Xiwei placed her husband on her meticulously arranged “bed.”
“Wait for me to return… We’ll leave Star River City.” Her eyes glistened, and she reached out to rub her husband’s head.
Hu Ming’s eyes widened in excitement, but his weak body made him gradually feel tired, and he fell unconscious again.
“Dear, wait for good news from me.”
She kissed his forehead lightly.
The next second, her slender figure stood up with a whoosh.
The twilight was gradually obscured by dark clouds, and thunder rumbled.
Two short knives were gripped in her palms as she raised her bloodthirsty eyes. With a swoosh, she vanished into the distance.
…
Night, Star River City Science Bureau.
A light rain drizzled down from the sky, evoking the poetic charm of ancient Jiangnan.
With a golden lightning tearing through the sky, the security guard guarding the entrance hurried inside.
“Why did it start raining suddenly?… Why can’t the lights be turned on? Is there a circuit breaker issue?”
The security guard, wearing a mask, couldn’t see clearly in the dim light.
She slowly picked up a flashlight.
Click!
The flashlight flickered a few times, and the items in front of her instantly became clear.
“Go check the circuit breaker box.”
The security guard finally sighed in relief and was about to take a step.
But a glance revealed a shadow appearing behind her in the flashlight’s reflection.
