IABI -Chapter 118 Humanity’s Counterattack (19)

Yu Shizhao looked past Jing Xiubai’s shoulder, his expression clearly anxious. “What happened? Why aren’t we going in? Is Yu Xiang okay?”

He was panicking because of concern—under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have asked such an illogical question.

They had all arrived outside the door at the same time. How could Chi Xin possibly know what had happened inside?

Jing Xiubai spoke softly to calm him. “Don’t panic yet. We can handle this.”

Yu Shizhao snapped out of it as if waking from a dream.

He looked at Jing Xiubai, whose eyes were filled with calm composure, then at Chi Xin, whose face was solemn but showed no sign of panic. Add to that Huo Lai—whose depth was hard to gauge, but whom Chi Xin had specifically called over as backup, clearly no weakling—and Yu Shizhao suddenly realized something.

He was the only weak link here, like a newbie who had accidentally wandered into a group of big shots.

So he fell silent as well, patiently waiting for the heavy hitters to make their move.

Chi Xin, the biggest boss among them, stepped forward and turned to the second boss. “Huo Lai, can you sense what’s going on inside?”

Huo Lai’s gaze darkened. Without a word, he closed his eyes. Chi Xin felt an invisible ripple spread out from him, just like the energy fluctuations that had appeared when he activated his ability back at Donglu Fortress Prison.

Powerful energy overflowed, enveloping the entire research institute.

After a moment, he opened his eyes. “There’s a very strong interfering energy inside. That should be Lou Chen, right?”

“But Lou Chen was clearly sealed inside the vertical helmet…” Chi Xin replied instinctively, then realized something was wrong halfway through. Her face darkened.

She looked at Jing Xiubai, whose expression had also grown heavier. He confirmed her suspicion. “Someone unlocked the helmet. Lou Chen has probably already come out… How’s the situation inside? How many people are still alive?”

That last question was directed at Huo Lai. Chi Xin noticed that although Jing Xiubai’s tone remained calm, his body was noticeably stiffer than usual. The arm he had raised to block Yu Shizhao was taut with bulging muscles—he was clearly exerting great restraint.

“I can sense twenty-seven living presences,” Huo Lai said. “Is that number right?”

Jing Xiubai’s arm visibly relaxed.

“Including my father, there should be twenty-six researchers inside. They, along with Yu Xiang, are all alive,” Jing Xiubai said. He then looked at Chi Xin. “Outsmart them or force our way in?”

Chi Xin pondered for a few seconds, then made a swift decision. “Huo Lai, separate Lou Chen from the others. Lock him alone in a separate space. We’ll go straight in.”

The corner of Jing Xiubai’s mouth lifted slightly. “That’s exactly your style.” Then he said to Huo Lai, “The person closest to Lou Chen—lock them in a separate room as well.”

“Oh, right,” Chi Xin added as she realized something else. “The one who released Lou Chen probably hasn’t left yet. I’d really like to see who’s so outrageously bold.”

Following the order, Huo Lai made a few motions in midair. The space containing the research institute twisted slightly, signaling that the internal layout had already changed.

“I can’t forcibly suppress Lou Chen,” Huo Lai said. “That mental energy is very unstable right now. A forced collision could have unpredictable consequences. I could only isolate him and put him in a corner, as you asked.”

“That’s enough,” Chi Xin said. “Brother Yu, are you sure you want to go in?”

Yu Shizhao, who had been waiting for them to finish handling things, immediately replied, “I’m going in. Yu Xiang is my brother. I can’t just stand by while he struggles alone in there.”

Chi Xin sighed inwardly. This was the answer she had expected, and the other two probably had as well. No one tried to dissuade him.

“Stay close to Jing Xiubai and me,” Chi Xin instructed.

She lifted her leg and stepped into the research institute. Inside was pitch-black, making her eyes shine with a feline clarity.

The interior layout had already changed. Huo Lai had moved all the researchers to a safe location and cleared the route. Upon entering, there was only one flat road leading straight to where Lou Chen was being held.

With him around, they really did save a lot of trouble.

They soon arrived at the space where Lou Chen was confined. What should have been a wall was now completely transparent. Huo Lai snapped his fingers, and lights hidden somewhere instantly turned on, flooding the area with brightness.

“Yu Xiang” stood with his back to them, his forehead pressed against the corner wall, like a robot that had lost its instructions.

“Yu Xiang!”

Yu Shizhao immediately panicked. He tried to rush to Yu Xiang’s side, but the transparent wall stopped him cold.

“Yu Xiang” did not respond. Chi Xin frowned. “What’s going on? Whether it’s Yu Xiang or Lou Chen controlling the body, there shouldn’t be no reaction at all.”

“There’s another possibility,” Jing Xiubai said. “If Yu Xiang’s consciousness and Lou Chen’s are locked in constant, intense struggle, it could result in a situation where no one is actually controlling the body.”

“That’s likely,” Huo Lai agreed.

The situation seemed even more complicated now.

Yu Shizhao called Yu Xiang’s name several more times without getting any response. His face pale, he asked, “Isn’t there any way to help him?”

“I already said it,” Huo Lai frowned. “If we rashly interfere in a battle within the mental domain, we can’t predict the consequences.”

“So we just stand here and watch?!” Yu Shizhao’s voice rose uncontrollably.

“Brother Yu,” Chi Xin called, her voice firm.

Yu Shizhao froze. Under the glare of the bright lights, his face was deathly pale. A trace of shame flickered in his eyes. He turned to look at Yu Xiang’s back and murmured, “Sorry.”

No one reproached him. Chi Xin also glanced at Yu Xiang, clenched her fists, then relaxed them, and turned to Huo Lai. “Where’s that person?”

Huo Lai gestured toward another wall. It turned transparent as well, revealing a person crouched inside, clutching his head. The other three recognized him instantly.

“Ding Hongkai?!”

Chi Xin and Yu Shizhao spoke almost in unison.

It was fortunate that Chi Xin still remembered him. Her memory was good enough, and she had a clear impression of that face that always made people feel uncomfortable for some reason.

She narrowed her eyes. “Can you remove the wall? He can’t run.”

Huo Lai didn’t know the man, but seeing the hostile expressions on all three faces, he understood that something had gone wrong internally. With a silent wave of his hand, the transparent wall disappeared.

Jing Xiubai stepped forward and kicked Ding Hongkai, who was squatting on the ground. “Still alive?”

Ding Hongkai raised his blank eyes. When he saw Jing Xiubai clearly, he jumped up. “It’s you!”

His eyes darted wildly as he looked at Chi Xin and Yu Shizhao as well.

“Don’t move.”

An幽蓝 glow appeared in Jing Xiubai’s hand. A layer of icy light formed on Ding Hongkai’s shoulder, pressing him down as if a heavy brick were weighing on him. He let out a muffled groan as his shoulder sank.

Chi Xin walked over and looked down at him. “Listen carefully. We’re going to ask you some questions. If you answer honestly, you might still save your own life.”

Ding Hongkai barely lifted his head. “You dare talk about sparing my life? Who do you think you are? Even Yu Shizhao and Xiao Li wouldn’t dare touch me—who do you think you are to dare?”

Behind them, Huo Lai raised an amused eyebrow. “Chi Xin, I didn’t expect one of your own subordinates to be such a wild horse. Your management skills are truly eye-opening.”

Before Chi Xin could speak, Jing Xiubai’s expression turned cold. “Not just any trash is qualified to be Chi Xin’s subordinate.”

He lowered his head and looked at the struggling man. “Maybe there’s something you still haven’t figured out,” he said slowly. “Right now, whether it’s the Yu family or Xiao Li, they’ve all been consolidated under Chi Xin. She is the true master of Base A now. Do you even know who you’re shouting at?”

“You just propped up an ignorant little girl,” Ding Hongkai snarled, his face flushed red. “Do you think I don’t know the shameless faces of you politicians? And now you’re using her to threaten me?”

“Stop wasting time arguing with him,” Chi Xin said with a half-smile. “Ding Hongkai, do you even know what crime you’ve committed? Releasing the zombie king without authorization, posing an enormous threat to human society—even sending you to a military tribunal would be letting you off lightly. Even if your father were still alive, he wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

Hit the snake at its vital point. Without his old patron, Ding Hongkai’s entire body stiffened. His eyes darted around, and his tone suddenly changed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just saw the institute was always busy and got curious, so I came in to take a look. And you slap such a huge charge on me? I’m the descendant of a martyr!”

“So you know you’re a martyr’s descendant!” Chi Xin’s expression changed, a commanding aura radiating from her. “If your father were still alive, and he saw his child harming the world he gave his life to protect, he would be ashamed of you!”

Ding Hongkai was clearly shaken. He opened his mouth, then stubbornly retorted, “You’re not qualified to mention my father.”

Chi Xin took a deep breath, losing patience. She tilted her chin toward him. “Mind-scan him.”

“What?” Ding Hongkai was stunned. “What are you doing to do to me? I’m warning you—don’t lay a hand on me! Otherwise, how will you ever face my father—”

Huo Lai answered Chi Xin and, perhaps finding him too noisy, quickly extended a finger and pressed it to Ding Hongkai’s forehead.

Ding Hongkai froze instantly. His expression gradually went blank, and even his struggles ceased.

Huo Lai frowned as he searched through Ding Hongkai’s mental sea. Chi Xin turned back to glance at Yu Xiang—he was still facing the wall exactly as before—then turned back again.

In just that short time, a fine layer of sweat appeared on Huo Lai’s forehead.

Chi Xin immediately sensed something was wrong. “Huo Lai, what is it?”

Huo Lai didn’t answer. Fear and shock surfaced on his face as he continued searching for a moment longer. Then he withdrew his hand and actually staggered back a step.

“He…” Huo Lai spoke with difficulty.

The other three all turned their attention to him. Huo Lai took a deep breath and spoke again. “I saw him.”

Him?

“Raphael?” Jing Xiubai reacted instantly.

Just hearing that name made Huo Lai shudder slightly, deep fear surfacing in his expression.

Chi Xin fell silent. Amid the storm of question marks in her head, she picked out the most important one. “What did he tell Ding Hongkai to do?”

“There isn’t much information in his head,” Huo Lai said. “I only know that Rapha—he told this Ding guy to release Lou Chen. They contacted each other using this.”

Huo Lai grabbed Ding Hongkai’s hand. On his wrist was a finely crafted mechanical watch.

Jing Xiubai took it, twisted it a few times, and dismantled the dial. A three-dimensional virtual screen appeared, displaying a password input interface.

Everything became clear.

Chi Xin felt a sudden realization. No wonder Raphael, thousands of miles away, could still grasp their movements. No wonder he could always make strategic moves one step ahead.

The most unlikely guess had turned out to be the correct one.

“To think there’s actually such a traitor inside our own base,” Yu Shizhao said, staring at Ding Hongkai as if he could devour him alive. “Ever since Old General Ding passed away, I’ve never treated him unfairly. Why… why would he do this?”

“Because you took what should have belonged to me!”

Huo Lai withdrew his ability, and Ding Hongkai naturally woke up. He threw his head back and roared at Yu Shizhao. “That base should’ve been mine! My father traded his life for it! And what did you do? You kept me like a useless pet, while all the authority and forces stayed in your hands! What about me? In the apocalypse, having no power is the same as waiting to die! You deserve to die—all of you deserve to die!”

“Do you even know what Raphael is using you for?” Chi Xin said coldly. “Once Lou Chen loses control, the entire world will fall into crisis. You want to drag us all down with you—but when that happens, who’s going to protect you? Do you think once we’re all dead, authority and forces will automatically fall into your hands?”

“Shut up! I told you, you’re not qualified to talk to me!” Ding Hongkai’s face twisted with rage as he turned his venom toward Chi Xin. “Whatever decisions I make are none of your business. If they won’t listen, Dr. Raphael has drugs to control them. Then I’ll be second only to one person and above everyone else. No one will dare look down on me again. No one will dare snatch things from me again! Hahaha—hahahahaha!”

He burst into mad laughter.

Chi Xin sighed, half pitying him, half hating him. “Forget him for now. Restrain him and toss him aside. Let’s check on Yu Xi—”

Before she could finish, Ding Hongkai’s endless stream of curses drowned out her words.

The next second, a thin layer of ice sealed his mouth shut.

Chi Xin was about to continue when suddenly an incomparably powerful surge of mental energy erupted from behind the transparent wall, instantly sweeping over everyone outside.

Huo Lai instinctively activated his ability to resist. And when the two immense mental forces collided, something unbelievable happened.