IABI – Chapter 103 Humanity’s Counterattack (4)

Chi Xin didn’t just freeze—she also subconsciously reached up to touch her chin, worried she might do something improper.

Only after confirming that her chin was still firmly attached to her face did she steady herself and look up to size up Professor Jing, a towering authority in the academic world.

He wasn’t wearing the white lab coat that symbolized medical researchers. Instead, he had on a silk-white outfit like what elderly men wear for morning exercises in the park. His hair was white too—but a healthy, silvery white that even gleamed under the fluorescent lights.

As for his face… well, since it was currently buried against Jing Xiubai’s body, she couldn’t see it.

Truly, one should never judge by appearances.

Chi Xin marveled inwardly. Seeing that Sero and Albert wore expressions much like her own, she finally felt reassured.

Yu Xiang seemed accustomed to scenes like this. With an unsurprised look, he leaned closer to Chi Xin and whispered, “Uncle Jing is always like this—he practically treats Xiubai like the apple of his eye. Usually Xiubai doesn’t really indulge him. Just watch—he’ll definitely… eh?”

He let out a puzzled sound. At the same time, Professor Jing—who had been keeping his eyes tightly shut as if waiting for something—also lifted his head. The look he gave his son was filled with obvious confusion.

That movement finally let Chi Xin see Professor Jing’s face.

How to put it… Jing Xiubai must have taken after his mother in looks.

Professor Jing widened his bright, spirited eyes, scanned his son from head to toe, and asked in a booming voice, “Are you really my son?”

Before Jing Xiubai could answer, he shook his head and muttered to himself, “Must be. Who else but my son could be this handsome?”

Chi Xin: …

Is this really Jing Xiubai’s father, and not Yu Xiang’s?

“Since you’re my son…” Professor Jing looked up at Jing Xiubai, “…then let’s have a hug!”

With that, he went in for another bear hug.

Chi Xin froze again.

“Father,” Jing Xiubai sighed, helplessness edging into his voice.

“I have to hug you while you haven’t reacted yet,” Professor Jing said in a muffled voice. “Otherwise you’ll definitely pry me off again.”

Jing Xiubai glanced up at Chi Xin.

Chi Xin: ?

Why are you looking at me?

Then, the next second, she saw Jing Xiubai stiffly raise his arms and lightly return the hug.

He clearly wasn’t used to doing this. When he hugged back, he even turned his head aside, not letting anyone see his expression.

Chi Xin saw that the moment Jing Xiubai’s hands touched Professor Jing, his whole body trembled. The joking tone vanished. Professor Jing tightened his arms around his son and stayed silent for a long while.

“I’m back, Father,” Jing Xiubai said softly.

“Good. Good child.”

Professor Jing didn’t linger for too long. When he lifted his face, Chi Xin saw that the corners of his eyes and the tip of his nose were tinged red.

The look he gave Jing Xiubai held some lingering confusion, but far more shock mixed with deep, heartfelt relief.

Jing Xiubai patted his shoulder and stepped aside, making room for the others. “Let me introduce everyone.”

Yu Xiang was a child Professor Jing had watched grow up, so there was no need for a formal introduction. After responding to Yu Xiang’s grinning greeting, Professor Jing’s gaze immediately settled on Sero and Albert.

Although Sero hadn’t followed a traditional academic path, the achievements she’d obtained in the field of biology were more than enough to earn Professor Jing’s attention.

He subconsciously overlooked Chi Xin, assuming his son would first introduce this female doctor.

Yet Jing Xiubai didn’t hesitate at all. He directly gestured toward Chi Xin and said solemnly, “Father, this is Chi Xin—my… hero.”

A flicker of astonishment flashed through Professor Jing’s eyes, quickly concealed.

“Hello, Professor Jing,” Chi Xin greeted him politely, full of respect for a giant in the research world.

Professor Jing keenly noticed that while Chi Xin was speaking to him, Jing Xiubai’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly. As a father, he immediately understood—his son was nervous.

Nervous? A girl who could make his iceberg of a son nervous?

Professor Jing smiled without giving anything away. “Chi Xin, is it? My son used quite a solemn word to describe you.”

Though Professor Jing’s smile looked kindly and approachable, Chi Xin was no longer the naïve, timid girl she once was. At a glance, she could see the probing hidden beneath that benevolent exterior.

She shot Jing Xiubai a look—half reproachful, half amused.

“…” Jing Xiubai opened his mouth, then closed it again.

He only looked at Chi Xin, returning her steady, composed smile. “Jing Xiubai likes to joke. How could I dare accept the word ‘hero’? Please don’t take it seriously, Professor—don’t laugh at me.”

Jing Xiubai… likes to joke?

Everyone else in the room, aside from the Jing father and son, couldn’t help but shiver.

Professor Jing’s gaze flickered. He drew out a long “Oh—,” with no telling whether he believed it or not.

Only then did they move on to introducing Sero and Albert. Both of them offered sincere greetings to the respected elder professor. Professor Jing showed no airs at all; he didn’t even cast any unusual looks at Albert’s half-beast form. Smiling as he responded, he invited everyone to sit and talk.

Yu Xiang was the first to lay on the flattery. “Uncle Jing, you’ve been away for over a year, and you haven’t changed at all—still as young as ever.”

“It’s only been a year. Were you expecting me to age that much?” Professor Jing shot him a glare, not holding back in the slightest.

“I wouldn’t dare. Just look at that immortal, otherworldly bearing of yours—you can tell you won’t age,” Yu Xiang replied with the same cheeky grin, completely unfazed.

“You know how it is with you kids—once I leave the lab, I don’t like wearing that stuff anymore, or people start looking at me like some kind of mad scientist.” Professor Jing spoke as he tugged at his clothes. “This outfit is loose and comfortable. There’s been too much going on lately. I’ll get cooped up in the lab for days on end until I’m stiff all over. I want to throw a few punches, but they won’t even let me—treat me like some Stone Age man who’d crumble the moment a breeze hit him. Sigh.”

He sighed long and hard, his face full of worry, truly looking as though this troubled him.

It made Chi Xin stifle a laugh.

She really hadn’t expected Jing Xiubai’s father to be… like this.

That laugh drew Professor Jing’s gaze to her.

Chi Xin’s smile froze. For some reason, she was suddenly transported back to her previous life, to those moments when elders at home tested her lessons. She quickly reined in her expression, straightened her back, and sat up impeccably proper.

Yu Xiang found this sight novel and even leaned over to poke at the hollow of her waist. “Sister Chi, if you’re not this well-behaved, I almost forget you’re actually a pampered young lady.”

Chi Xin was nearly infuriated by him. Her eyes flicked sideways as she shot him a glare.

Yu Xiang laughed. “That’s more comfortable.”

Chi Xin: …My mom doesn’t let me play with idiots.

She elegantly withdrew her gaze, pretending he didn’t exist.

She didn’t notice that Professor Jing had taken the whole exchange in, then turned to glance at his son. When he looked back again, the kindly, smiling expression on his face had gained a hint of something intriguing.

“Ms. Chi, there’s no need to be so restrained,” Professor Jing said with a smile. “I’m easygoing—you see, even that rascal Yu Xiang isn’t afraid of me.”

Embarrassed, Chi Xin lowered her eyes slightly. “You can just call me Chi Xin.”

It was as if she had rediscovered the etiquette she’d once practiced to perfection in her previous life. Her voice softened again, gentle and graceful, with a touch of proud refinement.

These traits didn’t look out of place on her at all—yet everyone else, seeing this side of her for the first time, wore expressions of utter shock.

Everyone except Jing Xiubai.

After all, when Chi Xin disguised her identity to board the ship, she’d been just like this. He’d already seen it.

Professor Jing swept his gaze over the others, silently revising his assessment.

“Father,” Jing Xiubai suddenly said seriously, as if he weren’t deliberately easing the situation for Chi Xin. “Our communications have been intermittent for a while. There were many things I didn’t get to ask in detail. How has the research been progressing lately? Did Donglu Fortress play its part?”

“Speaking of that, I haven’t yet asked how things have been going on your end,” Professor Jing replied. “Before today, the last message you sent me said you’d reached the Moriko Rainforest, and then there was nothing. Do you know how terrified I was? Couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep—looked pale and frail.”

Chi Xin glanced at his rosy cheeks and vigorous demeanor and fell silent.

It was Sero who spoke first. She said apologetically, “We installed a signal-shielding device in the rainforest. I’m very sorry.”

“Oh, that’s nothing,” Professor Jing waved it off, speaking as if casually. “So I’m not surprised at all by Hughes’s narrow, well-in-the-well view. After all, someone who locks himself away—how much of the world’s changes can he really see?”

An awkward look crossed Sero’s face, and then her hand was clasped by Albert.

“Father,” Jing Xiubai said mildly.

Professor Jing’s expression changed at once, returning to its genial warmth. “Of course. I know this is all your father’s obstinate stubbornness—it has nothing to do with you. Don’t take it to heart.”

Sero gave a bitter smile.

“As for Donglu Fortress, I’ve tossed that matter to Old Yu,” Professor Jing continued. “As for who he tosses it to after that, it’s none of my concern. But judging by the ample energy supply and the fact that we’ve got power and signal now, they probably negotiated fairly well.”

“Who else could he toss it to?” Yu Xiang muttered under his breath. “If old dad won’t handle it, then big brother steps up.”

Professor Jing pretended not to hear.

He looked straight at Sero. Though he was still smiling, his voice suddenly took on a weighty authority, like a deep tolling bell that struck people’s hearts.

“As for the research progress, I think I can have a discussion with this Dr. Hughes—as one researcher to another. What do you think, Dr. Hughes?”

Chi Xin felt she understood.

Dr. Hughes’s reputation must have long since gone sour in their elite academic circles. For something as vital to humanity’s fate as vaccine research, Professor Jing wouldn’t entrust everything unreservedly based on his son’s word alone.

This was a test for Sero.

“You don’t have to call me Dr. Hughes—just call me Sero, Professor,” Sero said, meeting Professor Jing’s gaze earnestly. “I came this time with all the usable research results from our lab. From now on, all of it can be shared with you. My only wish is for the vaccine to be released, no matter the cost.”

“Oh? And where are the materials?” Professor Jing asked.

Chi Xin lifted her eyes to Jing Xiubai. When he returned a confirming look, she cleared her throat lightly and stood up.

“Professor Jing, they’re with me.”

As she spoke, stacks upon stacks of files appeared on the ground in an instant.

Even Professor Jing, seasoned by countless major scenes, couldn’t help but pause.

He looked at Chi Xin with a peculiar expression. Before he could say anything more, his gaze locked firmly onto the documents.

Ignoring the fact that so many people were still around, he went straight over to them. His outstretched hand paused, and he looked to Sero. “These… are all of them?”

Sero nodded, stepping forward to explain everything to him.

Professor Jing nodded again and again, completely casting everyone else out of his mind.

“We can get ready to leave,” Jing Xiubai said calmly as he stood up.

“Huh?” Chi Xin looked at him, puzzled.

“Once he sees new materials related to academia, he won’t come out until he’s thoroughly studied every last bit,” Jing Xiubai said helplessly.

Yu Xiang clapped his hands and stood as well. “Uncle Jing, then we’re heading out?”

Professor Jing didn’t even acknowledge him.

Jing Xiubai walked over to Professor Jing’s side and said softly, “Father, let’s go see Uncle Yu first.”

This time, Professor Jing looked up. “Yes, you should. Given the current situation, I’m not very clear on things either. It’ll be faster if you ask him directly.”

Just as they were about to leave the room, Professor Jing called out again, “Xiao Bai, come to the lab later too. Don’t even think about slacking off!”

Jing Xiubai’s expression stiffened.

Yu Xiang burst into wild laughter.

“Xiao Bai?” Chi Xin instantly latched onto the key point.

Jing Xiubai directly shoved Chi Xin out of the room and slammed the door shut with a bang.

He took a moment to steady his emotions, restored his expression to calm, and looked at the young driver who had been standing guard at the door. “Mr. Yu and the others are also in this building?”

“Yes.” The driver pointed upward. “They’re on the top floor.”

He was naturally taciturn.

So why would someone with Professor Jing’s personality have a son like this—and subordinates like this?

With that question in mind, Chi Xin got into the elevator with the two of them.

As the elevator ascended, she suddenly reacted. “Wait, my mission seems to be finished. There’s no need for me to go with you to see Mr. Yu, right?”

Her original purpose in coming along was simply to deliver the files to Professor Jing. Meeting the base administrator hadn’t been part of her plan.

“Sister Chi, that’s not fair, is it?” Yu Xiang said pitifully. “You’ve already met Xiubai’s parent—won’t you meet mine too?”

Chi Xin: ?

Something about that sounded off.

“Chi Xin, since you came here, it wasn’t just to see how this base fell, was it?” Jing Xiubai said as the elevator hummed steadily. “From what you’ve seen in these few hours, how likely do you think its destruction is?”

Chi Xin froze.

A powerful enemy at the gates. Humanity tearing itself apart. Incompetent commanders guarding the city walls. Revered figures staying aloof.

“Very high,” she said.

Jing Xiubai lowered his head, his calm gaze falling on her face. “Base A isn’t just a base—it’s a symbol for survivors in the apocalypse. Once it falls, the fortress in people’s hearts will be breached. Broken remnants will never be able to unite again.”

“I know you don’t want to be involved in conflict. I know that all you really wanted was to survive.” Jing Xiubai looked away. “So before the elevator reaches the top floor, you still have time to give up.”

Neither he nor Yu Xiang spoke after that. Yu Xiang kept his hands in his pockets, head tilted up, looking toward the ceiling. His lowered profile actually carried a hint of melancholy.

The two men had clearly reached some kind of tacit understanding.

Chi Xin looked at one, then the other.

“You’re really sly,” she said, a trace of relief in her tone. “We’ve already come this far. I clearly have the ability to do this—if I backed out now, I wouldn’t be able to get past myself.”

When had Chi Xin’s simple desire to just survive changed?

From the moment she was forced to join the protagonist group?

From when she truly began to see these characters as part of a living world?

From the times she knew full well she was stepping into danger, yet kept breaking her psychological limits again and again—to save people, or for other reasons?

She couldn’t remember anymore.

Ding.

The elevator reached the top floor and opened.

“Actually, I was pretty scared just now that you’d really say you were giving up,” Yu Xiang said quickly before stepping out. “To be honest, even though the ones managing this base are my old man and my brother, without you, I’d be really afraid of how this place will end.”

After saying that, he took a step forward and even made a gentlemanly “please” gesture to Chi Xin.

“Thank you,” came Jing Xiubai’s voice from behind her, so soft it nearly blended into the air.

Chi Xin didn’t say anything.

Since she had already met Jing Xiubai’s father, before meeting Yu Xiang’s father, even though she didn’t want to imagine another train wreck, seeing Yu Xiang’s carefree manner still made her picture it anyway.

At the elaborately decorated wooden doors, attendants were also standing by. Seeing the three of them approach, they showed surprise, gestured for them to wait, and quietly went inside to report.

Moments later, they were invited in.

As soon as they entered, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere washed over them.

Only two people were seated inside—one was a middle-aged version of Yu Xiang, the other an elderly version.

Both Yus sat there solemnly, watching them enter, as if awaiting an audience with foreign envoys.

Chi Xin: …

Yu Xiang was still carefree. Even the obedient air he’d had when meeting Professor Jing was gone. He lifted a hand casually. “Dad. Bro.”

Jing Xiubai also nodded politely. “Uncle Yu. Brother Yu.”

Four nearly identical eyes swept over them. The middle-aged Yu spoke first. “Had enough fun outside? Finally willing to come back?”

“How can you call it fun?” Yu Xiang replied. “I went to work on a major project affecting humanity’s survival.” As he spoke, he gestured Chi Xin forward. “Let me introduce you—this is the greatest harvest of my trip: Goddess Chi Xin! She deserves the warmest welcome! Clap clap clap!”

He started clapping on his own. The other two “Yu Xiangs” didn’t move at all, just silently watching.

“You’ve really become more and more clueless,” the middle-aged Yu said. “Coming back to see us, and instead of catching up with your father and brother, you’re in such a hurry to bring your girlfriend?”

“What?” Yu Xiang almost bit his tongue. “She’s not my girlfriend! She’s—”

“You haven’t even caught her yet?” the elderly Yu cut in, the stern aura immediately halving. “And you still dared bring her home? That’s embarrassing me!”

Chi Xin entered a whole new level of stunned silence.

She watched Yu Xiang jump in agitation. “Can you at least let me finish talking? This is the war god I worked so hard to find to save our lives! Can you stop spouting nonsense?”

When did it become Yu Xiang’s turn to accuse others of spouting nonsense…?

While Chi Xin was still reeling from the shock, the middle-aged Yu stood up, rubbing his forehead with a weary, impatient look. “Enough. Yu Xiang. Fine—seeing you so lively, you’re probably fine. Take your little girlfriend and go.”

Yu Xiang nearly puffed up like an angry pufferfish.

Just as a Yu-family domestic tragedy was about to erupt, Jing Xiubai spoke up in time. “Brother Yu, I heard you were in a meeting earlier. Has it ended?”

When speaking to Jing Xiubai, Brother Yu’s tone was noticeably gentler. “Yes, it’s over. It’s always the same things back and forth. When no one’s willing to compromise, talking more doesn’t change anything… Xiubai, my little brother caused you trouble. Thanks for taking care of him on the way.”

Neither he nor Mr. Yu addressed Chi Xin directly. Clearly, they hadn’t taken Yu Xiang’s earlier words seriously.

“No trouble at all,” Jing Xiubai said, smoothly steering the topic away. “This time, we came back to report some matters to you and Uncle Yu.”

“Oh?” Mr. Yu showed a bit of interest. “You really are steadier than Yu Xiang. What did you discover? Sit down and tell us.”

Jing Xiubai summarized the situation at the market and the laboratory as concisely as possible, then concluded, “The reason zombies keep attacking human cities is because Raphael is controlling them from behind the scenes. As long as we deal with him, the apocalyptic crisis will naturally be resolved.”

“Easier said than done,” Brother Yu said. “It’s not like we haven’t discovered someone pulling strings. But just defending against zombie sieges already costs us enormous losses—we don’t have the bandwidth to investigate anything else, let alone track that person down.”

“Is there only Base A nearby?” Chi Xin frowned. “This is exactly when all of humanity should unite. Base A is the hope of survivors worldwide—can’t you request support from other bases?”

As soon as she finished speaking, two cold gazes landed on her.

“You think of that, and we wouldn’t?” Brother Yu gave a faint smile, though it was hard to tell if there was mockery in it. “All of humanity is on the brink right now. The ongoing extreme heat and the threats from zombies and mutated beasts are catastrophic. Who would spare vital combat power to help another base?”

Before Chi Xin could react, Yu Xiang jumped up.

“Brother, you can talk to me like that all you want, but you’d better show some respect to Chi Xin,” he said bluntly. “Believe it or not, Chi Xin has saved my life, Xiubai’s life, and countless others. She doesn’t deserve this treatment.”

“Her?” Both Brother Yu and Mr. Yu looked at Chi Xin in surprise.

“Yu Xiang’s right,” Jing Xiubai added firmly, to their even greater surprise. “The lives Chi Xin has saved are worth the respect of anyone in the apocalypse.”

If only Yu Xiang had said it, they might have laughed it off. But now Jing Xiubai, serious and composed, said the same—it made both men straighten up.

“Fine,” Brother Yu said, still somewhat skeptical. “Miss Chi, let me answer your question again. Our requests for help failed. No one was willing to come die here.”

“How could that be…” Yu Xiang murmured.

“It’s not strange,” Mr. Yu said. “The news of the Zombie King’s emergence is enough to plunge all of human society into panic. Since he’s only targeting us for now, it naturally makes others hesitate.”

“So Lou Chen really is here?” Chi Xin’s throat tightened as she immediately sought confirmation.

Mr. Yu glanced at her. “Precisely because of him—if not for our side having a fierce general, you probably wouldn’t be seeing an intact Base A now.”

Those brief words were soaked in brutality.

“This fierce general—is it the Major General Xiao they’ve mentioned so many times?” Jing Xiubai asked.

At the name, Brother Yu gave a light scoff.

Mr. Yu patted his shoulder, then said, “Shi Zhao, I’ve said this many times. Although Xiao Li has many disagreements with you, the fact that he can hold this city gate is enough for us to trust him.”

When no one else noticed, Chi Xin shuddered.

Xiao Li! It really was him!

“If Father trusts him, I won’t say more,” Yu Shizhao said, though the dark look on his face showed he had plenty left unsaid.

Mr. Yu sighed and turned to the three of them. “As long as the Zombie King issue isn’t resolved, we may not be able to get past this hurdle.”

“Even if you trust Xiao Li, Father, this is impossible,” Yu Shizhao said. “That’s not a power humans can contend with.”

“What if I said I can deal with Lou Chen?”