Chapter 126: Electric Shock

Yi Chen ran all the way, carrying Lu Yu on his back. Firstly, neither of them was in a state to use public transportation without causing a panic; secondly, the route he took was more direct and faster.

There was no time to lose. Having been delayed at home, Lu Yu’s condition had deteriorated significantly. He hung his head with his eyes closed, his body temperature fluctuating wildly, and his consciousness fading. Yi Chen spoke to him incessantly, hoping to keep his spirits up, though it was unclear if it had any effect. Yi Chen knew all too well what it felt like to be infected by the virus; it was a grueling process that one had to endure alone—there was no other way.

The headquarters of Future Pharmaceuticals was now in sight. Ling Lan was waiting anxiously at the entrance, having been briefed by Yi Chen over the phone. Seeing the two of them arrive, she rushed to meet them.

"Is there any way to save him?" Yi Chen asked, his voice laced with desperation.

Ling Lan shook her head regretfully; there was still no antidote. "He has lost too much blood. Let’s get him a transfusion as soon as possible!" she said, helping Yi Chen support Lu Yu.

Lu Yu was quickly moved into a transparent isolation chamber, where a group of doctors in airtight hazmat suits were already waiting, fully prepared. Outside, Yi Chen felt a suffocating tightness in his chest, pacing back and forth while glancing inside from time to time. If Lu Yu turned into a zombie, he would have to rush in immediately to ensure the safety of the others.

Next door was Liang Bing’s room. She hadn't woken up yet, and now there was another casualty. The constant string of events, coupled with the fact that the "Infiltrator" had slipped through their fingers once again, took a heavy toll on him.

His phone pinged. It was Bai Ge.

"We’ve cleared all the zombies at the Dream Resort Hotel," Bai Ge said, sounding a bit breathless.

"Is anyone hurt?" At this critical juncture, Yi Chen was hyper-sensitive.

"No, this level of trouble isn't enough to stump us. I’ve contacted Zhou Zihao; people from the Future Group will be here shortly to handle the aftermath. Once they arrive, the four of us will head back," Bai Ge replied.

"Thank you for your hard work," Yi Chen sighed with slight relief. No matter the situation, Bai Ge was a reliable companion who allowed him to leave with peace of mind; she always handled things in an orderly fashion, leaving him with nothing to worry about.

"I heard from Zhou Zihao that something happened at your place?" Bai Ge asked.

When Yi Chen left, he had been in such a rush that he hadn't said much to Cheng Xianglong or Chang Qing. Everything Bai Ge knew, she had learned from Zhou Zihao later.

"Yeah. The last infected one, 'Magneto,' attacked my family. Luckily, Lu Yu was there, so my mother and sister were spared. But Lu Yu got hurt and is currently undergoing treatment..." As Yi Chen spoke, his voice grew quieter. He pulled at his hair, feeling deeply distressed.

Bai Ge had never met Lu Yu, but she knew he had played a vital role at the Ivory Tower, assisting Liang Bing in taking down the Hypnotist and the Puppeteer. "Your friend is truly remarkable; he’s helped us out so many times! Don't worry, he has a strong constitution, so he should recover quickly. When he does, I’ll treat him to a meal!" Bai Ge said sincerely.

Yi Chen gave a bitter smile. Bai Ge didn't understand the implication of being "hurt." Without an antidote, being infected with this virus was effectively a death sentence. Even if Lu Yu were lucky enough to become an infected like him, his world would be completely overturned. There would be no going back to his normal life.

After ending the call with Bai Ge, Yi Chen dialed Zhou Shiwen’s number to check on his family. According to him, Chen Hong and Yi Lin had been taken to the city center hospital by Zhou Zihao himself. Chen Hong had been preliminarily diagnosed with a mild concussion; she was physically fine but needed to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days. Yi Lin was physically unscathed, but she seemed traumatized and had remained completely silent. No matter what anyone asked, she kept her lips tightly sealed, remaining eerily quiet. She stayed at the hospital as well, with the Future Group assigning staff to look after them.

Yi Chen had nothing to say about that. Half their home was destroyed, and Yi Lin was too young to stay there alone. He also heard about his father, who was always too busy to be home. Yi Zhuoming was currently on a business trip in Xijing and wouldn't be back for several days.

"We’ve explained this incident as a gas explosion. We haven't been able to reach your father yet. His current project is time-sensitive and involves a certain level of confidentiality, so he isn't allowed to carry a mobile phone," Zhou Shiwen explained.

"Heh, how many times have you used the 'gas explosion' excuse? Do you take the public for fools?" Yi Chen scoffed. Magneto had launched his attack in broad daylight, leaving the neighborhood in ruins. The incident had even affected neighbors within the magnetic field; while it wasn't certain if there were any witnesses, trying to pass it off like this was hardly convincing.

"It’s not that we take people for fools; sometimes, they choose to play the fool themselves. Many things are understood by everyone, but admitting them aloud is too terrifying. There’s nothing wrong with living in self-deception."

Yi Chen didn't want to delve into the meaning behind Zhou Shiwen’s words; he had too many other worries. His father was in Xijing, a city he knew nothing about and had no interest in, so he didn't press further. At the very least, he knew his father wouldn't be a target for the Infiltrator for the time being.

Yi Chen reported the day's pursuit of the Infiltrator to Zhou Shiwen. The entity had evolved and become much more troublesome. Now that it had escaped, it still held the upper hand. They couldn't predict where or when it would appear next.

Despite the dark clouds, there was a bright spot. Yi Chen’s team had gained the Ice Queen and Cyclops, strengthening their overall power. Now that all five infected individuals had appeared, their "performance" was over, which lightened the psychological burden on both the Future Group and Yi Chen. What followed would be a long, nerve-wracking wait and aimless searching.

Hanging up, Yi Chen rubbed his face hard. His physical exertion today had been immense, his spirit stretched to the breaking point; he truly understood what it meant to be physically and mentally exhausted.

*Snap!* The fluorescent light overhead suddenly went out. Yi Chen looked up in confusion to see that the lights and equipment inside the isolation chamber had also cut out.

"What’s going on?" the doctors were bewildered. The building had ample backup power; a blackout was impossible. Was there a circuit failure?

In the dimness, Lu Yu suddenly sat bolt upright on the hospital bed, startling everyone. Before the doctor closest to him could react, Lu Yu grabbed him.

"Ah!" The doctor screamed, his eyes rolling back as he convulsed violently and collapsed to the floor.

Something was wrong!

Yi Chen immediately kicked the isolation door open and lunged toward Lu Yu. The moment his hand touched Lu Yu, a jolt of electricity surged up from his fingertips! Yi Chen pulled back, but it was too late. His muscles stiffened, and he fell backward onto his rear.