IABI – Chapter 85 A Shocking Reversal

“Bullshit!”

The very moment Yu Xiang’s mouth broke free from its restraints, he launched into a full-blown tirade.

“You old bastard, what the hell do you think you are? You tie us up here and think you’re some kind of god holding everyone’s lives in your hands? You’re like a tiger without pants—shameless and suicidal! Chi Xin, don’t waste your time on him, just finish this old coot off before he keeps yapping and makes everyone sick—”

Before Yu Xiang could finish, Holay’s face darkened. With a flick of his hand, an invisible force clamped over Yu Xiang’s mouth again, silencing him to muffled “mmmphs.”

The scene turned awkwardly quiet.

Holay then pointed at Jiang Congyun. “You—tell your goddess Chi to come and save you.”

Jiang Congyun lifted her eyes. The gentle, serene gaze that was so uniquely hers met Chi Xin’s.

Perhaps by now the two had become close enough friends, or maybe it was that mysterious bond that sometimes exists between women—but the instant their eyes met, the panic in Chi Xin’s heart smoothed out like a wave settling in still water.

“Congyun, are you hurt?” Chi Xin asked.

Yu Xiang immediately wriggled and made urgent “mmph” sounds, but Jiang Congyun gave him a look and replied softly, “We’re fine.”

Seeing them chatting as if they were catching up on old times, Holay’s eyes darkened.

Jiang Congyun said apologetically, “Just now, Yu Xiang and I fell into another room. If we hadn’t stuck together, maybe he wouldn’t have caught us so easily.”

“It’s not your fault,” Chi Xin replied without hesitation. “This place was created by him. No matter where you hide, as long as he wants to find you, you can’t escape.”

“Tell her to save you,” Holay interrupted coldly, glaring at Jiang Congyun.

But Jiang Congyun, stubborn as ever, ignored him and instead looked at Chi Xin. “Xin Xin, follow your instincts. We trust you.”

Something in Chi Xin’s chest gave a small, painful tug.

How could she save everyone in an instant?

Jiang Congyun and Yu Xiang were too far apart. If she rushed to save one, the other might be harmed. And deeper inside the castle… there were still all those ordinary people whose fates were unknown.

Chi Xin’s breathing hitched.

This crisis was unlike any she’d faced before. In the past, the enemy was right before her—she only had to charge forward and cut them down. Victory was straightforward.

But now, things were different. She had to make a choice. A single wrong move could endanger her closest allies—and worse than the world’s collapse, it was her own conscience that would tear her apart.

She looked at Jiang Congyun—calm and steady—and at Yu Xiang, whose ever-smiling eyes were now filled with trust.

They believed in her.

Chi Xin’s lips trembled violently. A sudden clarity welled up from within her, the ringing in her head drowning out Holay’s words completely.

She remembered the moment she first arrived on the island—how she had doubted the world’s consciousness, and because of that, had kept a faint distance from the trio of main characters. Perhaps she hadn’t realized it, but she had indeed resisted them, even if just a little.

But looking at them now, she regretted it deeply.

They were real—living, thinking, feeling people. They had their own will, their own judgment, their own love and courage.

They were the most important people to her in this world.

A flash of light seemed to streak across her mind. Her hands trembled slightly, her thoughts suddenly clear and sharp as crystal.

“…So, what do you say, Chi Xin?” Holay’s voice broke the silence.

Chi Xin looked at him and said evenly, “What did you just say? I didn’t catch that.”

Holay’s gaze sharpened. Something in her had changed, right before his eyes.

When she had first seen the scene before her, even though she hadn’t shown it, she’d lost a bit of her usual decisiveness. That had been his opening—his trap was working.

No matter how strong she was, she was still human—how could she stay unmoved when her friends’ lives were on the line?

Thinking this, Holay’s expression softened slightly. “If you agree to one condition, maybe I’ll let you all go.”

Chi Xin gave a short, ironic laugh. “After all the trouble you’ve gone through—rebuilding this place, setting traps, luring me here—just for one condition?”

Holay sneered. “If you hadn’t barged in and disturbed my peace, none of this would have happened.”

Chi Xin tilted her head. “How about this—you answer one question of mine first.”

Holay didn’t respond.

So Chi Xin continued, “You rule this place like a king, controlling everyone’s lives as if they were your puppets. Isn’t that because you’re trying to trade them for ability-enhancing drugs from the lab?”

At this point, there was no reason to hide anything. She might as well lay everything bare.

But the moment Holay heard the word lab, his face twisted horribly.

“You—so you are the lab’s dogs!” he shouted, his calm façade tearing apart, replaced by raw madness. “I’ve already hidden myself here! What more do you want? You think I’m the only one in this world with powers? Why can’t you just leave me alone?! Why won’t you leave me alone!”

His furious outburst stunned Chi Xin. Something about this didn’t fit.

“Your powers… weren’t given to you by the lab?” she asked quickly.

Holay froze mid-breath. He glared at her with a mocking sneer. “What, now you’ve thought of another reason not to let me go? You think I stole your drugs?”

“Wait,” Chi Xin started to step forward—but a laser beam suddenly cut the space before her, forcing her to stop. She kept her tone calm. “Holay, we’re not from the lab. In fact, we thought you were in league with them. If you’re not… then why lure innocent people here? Why send people to the lab regularly?”

That last detail had been her own secret—but now, she no longer cared.

“Still trying to trick me? Isn’t it a bit too late for that?” Holay’s emotions flickered wildly, his voice cracking into madness. “What luring? What sending? What are you plotting? You think you can use the law to control me? I’ll tell you this—rats like you who hide underground will never rule the world!”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Chi Xin felt both frustrated and alarmed. Yet amid all his nonsense, one thing was now certain: Holay might not be the monster they’d imagined. There was a massive misunderstanding somewhere here.

Holding onto that fragile thread of hope, she looked straight into his eyes, slowly raising her hands—the ones holding her gun—and dropped it to the ground.

“I’m really not from the lab. And if you’re not either, then there’s no reason for us to fight,” she said softly. “See? I’ve put down my weapon. Can we talk now?”

For the first time, uncertainty flickered in Holay’s crazed gaze. “You… really have nothing to do with the lab?”

“Truer than gold itself,” Chi Xin said—then paused, realizing she’d just used one of Yu Xiang’s silly metaphors.

Sure enough, Yu Xiang’s eyes were bright red, anxious beyond words, though his mouth was still tightly sealed.

Wait a second—where was Jing Xiubai?

The question flashed through her mind, but she quickly pushed it aside.

Of all of them, he was the one who could handle himself.

Holay stared at her for a long time. It was unclear whether he believed her or not, but at least the hysteria from earlier had faded. His voice turned cold. “You just said I lured people in from outside. Wasn’t that just to make me take the blame, get myself thrown into prison, so I could be easily controlled?”

Chi Xin hadn’t expected him to take it in that direction. She took a deep breath and said, “That’s really not what I meant. I said that because that’s exactly what this prison does! If you ask any prisoner from the East District, you’ll find out they’re not real criminals at all—just ordinary people who were caught and locked up!”

She never imagined the situation would twist into her needing to prove her own innocence to the warden.

But after this, she was more certain than ever that Holay probably had nothing to do with the laboratory.

A trace of shock flickered in Holay’s eyes. He didn’t speak for a long time.

“They’re all still trapped in those bubbles,” Chi Xin pressed on while the iron was hot. “Release them. Let them come out right here and face us. In front of you, no one would dare frame you with lies, right?”

“I don’t understand.” Holay’s voice suddenly dropped, full of confusion, as if he had lost all direction. He lowered his head, looking down at his own palms, his fingertips trembling faintly. “I don’t understand. I willingly shrank back to this deserted island, managing a prison for criminals, yet they still won’t leave me alone. There are so many people in the world with powers—why me? I’ve always feared this strength, I’ve never abused it. So why are they only after me?”

Chi Xin caught something in his words and exchanged a shocked look with the companion behind her. “Your ability… wasn’t gained through the serum?”

Holay’s reaction was instant, as if insulted. He snapped his head up, glaring at her fiercely. “I despise this demonic power! How could I ever want to have it? Those who use man-made methods to gain abilities have already sold their souls to the devil—they’re nothing but its lackeys.”

Chi Xin gasped sharply.

Of all the possibilities she’d considered, she never once thought Holay could be a natural-born ability user.

A natural one!

It explained so much—his abilities were powerful, chaotic, and couldn’t be classified into any known category. Now she understood why.

When everyone else in the world would do anything—spend a fortune, risk their lives—for a single injection of power, there was someone born with it who had to hide away on a remote island.

In a flash, Luo Chen’s words from earlier resurfaced in her mind. He’d said that he sensed the same aura in Holay as in her… What exactly did that mean?

“Since you’re not with the laboratory, then I’ll change my request.” Holay finally calmed down and spoke evenly. “I won’t kill you. But in return, you must promise never to try escaping again. Stay here on this island forever. Don’t worry—there are plenty of supplies, enough food to last you the rest of your lives. If you agree, I’ll let you go.”

Chi Xin’s focus returned. Looking at Holay’s serious expression, she realized he meant it. He truly wouldn’t hurt them if they accepted his terms—he’d just keep them here like the other prisoners who’d lost themselves.

“Holay,” she said softly, “you might not be part of the lab, but you know about them, don’t you? You know what they’ve done?”

Holay’s expression didn’t change.

“The last time we met, you denied that the outside world had fallen into apocalypse. But you can’t seriously think it’s fine out there. The truth is far more brutal than you imagine,” Chi Xin said. “With how paranoid you are, how long do you think you can hold out? This island might seem safe for now, but how long will that last? When the world is completely overrun by zombies, do you really think you can die peacefully clutching this little patch of land? When the lab finally comes for you, do you honestly believe—with your current strength—you can escape?”

Her words hit hard, tearing through his fragile shell of denial. His eyes turned red.

“My only wish,” he bit out, “is to stay here with my wife and live out the rest of our lives in peace. I control the prisoners so they never think of escaping. As long as no one leaves, no one outside will know I’m here. It’s the same for you—so long as you don’t try to escape, they’ll never find us.”

“You… have a wife?” Chi Xin blinked in surprise. In all this time, she had never heard a single prisoner mention it.

Holay instinctively rubbed the ring finger of his left hand. “She’s fine. She’s waiting for me in my office. As long as no one comes to disturb us, we’ll be happy.”

Chi Xin frowned at his stubbornness but didn’t press the issue. “Open your eyes, Holay. We might not be from the lab, but we came from the outside. If we can get here, others can too. You think the lab isn’t looking for you just because they haven’t found you yet? They’re just busy with other things. The moment your value outweighs the cost of finding you—they’ll come for you without hesitation!”

“How would you know that?” Holay muttered nervously, pacing like a man on the edge. “I’ve fortified this island like an iron fortress! They can’t find me—they won’t find me…”

“Doesn’t seem that way,” Chi Xin said coolly. “After all, we found you quite easily.”

Before he could explode in anger, she continued quickly, “Do you know what’s keeping the lab busy? The supply ships—they’ve stopped coming, haven’t they? You must’ve been glad about that, thinking fewer people meant less chance of being discovered.”

“He’s never seen me,” Holay said stiffly. “Whenever the transport ships docked, Pei Jiade was the one who handled the reception.”

Chi Xin had almost forgotten that name. Hearing it again sent a flicker of unease through her mind.

“You say you’re not with the lab, but you seem to know an awful lot about them,” Holay sneered. “So what if I know? Whatever happens outside has nothing to do with me.”

“I know because the lab’s plans to destroy the world have already been interrupted—by us.” Chi Xin met his gaze steadily. “Do you think we came here willingly? Our ship was bound for the Banian Forest in Country A—to find the laboratory. If you hadn’t interfered, we might already be there, ending all of this.”

Holay’s pupils contracted sharply. “What did you say? You mean you actually intend to—?”

“That’s right.” Chi Xin’s lips curved into a sharp, resolute smile that matched the firmness in her tone. “You can keep hiding here if you want, clinging to your illusion of safety. But don’t forget—as long as the lab exists, your peace will never last. They’re the sword hanging over your neck, waiting for the right moment to fall.”

The shock on Holay’s face was overwhelming. He staggered back a step, speechless.

Chi Xin took the chance to glance toward the bubbles again—not just to check the wounded, but to look for Jing Xiubai.

She couldn’t spot him. Instead, she saw Skinny Monkey’s arm caught in a massive crab claw. Fortunately, Yan Lin was beside him—one slice of his wind blade severed the claw cleanly.

Chi Xin turned back, speaking faster now. “I know it’s too much to ask you to shatter your safety bubble and release everyone at once. But there’s a better choice right in front of you. Do you really want to keep running from reality? Once we destroy the lab, once we secure the vaccine and serum to restore the world, you won’t have to hide anymore. You’ll be able to live under the sun, openly and freely—don’t you want that?”

Holay’s eyes went unfocused. It was as if, following her words, he caught a glimpse of that bright, beautiful world he had never dared to imagine.

“Living under the sunlight…” he murmured.

“After talking with you for so long, I don’t think your kindness has been completely devoured,” Chi Xin said. “Deep down, you still long for the light, don’t you? Even if you’ve given up, what about your wife? Do you think she’s willing to live her entire life in hiding, always afraid and on edge?”

Chi Xin had never realized she could talk this much.

But apparently, it worked. The moment she mentioned “wife,” Holay’s defenses crumbled. He covered his face with both hands, not knowing whether it was guilt or sorrow that filled him.

“You really… can get the serum?” His weak voice came out, carrying a faint but fragile hope.

“I can’t promise that right now,” Chi Xin answered honestly. “But if we don’t try because we’re afraid of failure, then we’ll never have a chance at success, right?”

Holay trembled all over, then slowly lowered his hands.

He looked at Chi Xin and struggled to open his mouth. “I…”

“Your wife probably no longer has the chance to answer whether she’s willing or not.”

A cold, familiar voice came from behind the door. Chi Xin, who was facing away, narrowed her eyes slightly. From the look of shock on Holay’s face, she immediately knew who it was.

“Pei Jiade? How did you get out?” he asked.

Confirmed by Holay’s words, Chi Xin steadied herself and turned around.

Pei Jiade stood at the door, his security uniform torn into shreds, clearly having gone through a fierce battle. He was panting heavily, standing in the blinding sunlight, glaring at them viciously.

“It’s lively in here,” Pei Jiade said. Chi Xin noticed that he seemed to be tightly gripping something in his hand.

Holay turned to Chi Xin. “What did you give him to make him join you?”

Pei Jiade had indeed been her collaborator, but his attitude had always been ambiguous. Seeing his expression now, she was no longer sure.

“Captain, are you hurt?” Chi Xin didn’t answer Holay’s question and instead asked Pei Jiade.

Pei Jiade’s tone was strange. “You sound disappointed that I’m not injured. Pity I didn’t die here, huh?”

Chi Xin raised an eyebrow, her mind quickly fitting the pieces together.

She had personally experienced the power of this castle and had seen how ordinary people struggled inside. Escaping safely wasn’t something easy to do.

Yet Pei Jiade had not only escaped unscathed, but also managed to find the place Holay had personally chosen. If he was just an ordinary captain, that didn’t make sense.

And from her earlier talk with Holay, she knew he hadn’t committed those monstrous acts. So, on this island, who else could have deceived everyone and secretly controlled everything? The answer was already becoming clear.

“What a pity,” Chi Xin said bluntly, now that she understood. “But what I’m more curious about is—just how much do you hate Holay, to throw so much filth on him?”

Holay froze. “What are you two talking about? Aren’t you on the same side?”

Neither of them answered.

Pei Jiade gave a low laugh. “You’re quick to figure out who I am, but you still don’t understand why I did it?”

“I’m not interested in being your parasite,” Chi Xin said coolly.

Pei Jiade sneered. “I should actually thank you. If you hadn’t stirred up the rebellion in the East District, I wouldn’t have been able to push Holay this far.”

“Pei Jiade?!” Holay finally realized what was happening. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Those things Chi Xin mentioned earlier—it was you who did them?”

“Yes,” Pei Jiade admitted without hesitation. His face, expressionless and half lit by the light, looked like that of a corpse—rigid and terrifying. “The first time I did it, I was cautious. After all, your demon-like power made me wary. But then I realized, despite wielding the power to destroy the world, all you ever did was hide. As long as I didn’t disturb you, you turned a blind eye to everything.”

“You… you…” Holay’s breathing became labored, his voice hoarse and raw. “I trusted you so much! Back when I interviewed you, you said—”

“Yes. You asked me one question,” Pei Jiade said calmly. “You asked: if you enter this place and have to stay here forever, would you be willing? And I said I would.”

“Then what made you do all this?” Holay took an urgent step forward. “What happened to that passionate young man? The things you did—they’re no different from a demon’s acts!”

“Demon? You think I wanted to become one?” Pei Jiade’s laugh was bitter. “Quite the opposite—I despise your kind. I dreamed of wiping you all out. The first time I felt your control over us, I stopped being that young man. Holay, only you were naïve enough not to see it.”

“You…!”

“You don’t need to hate me,” Pei Jiade said coldly. “I’ve realized the truth—only a demon can destroy another demon. This was my own choice.”

“Only a demon can destroy a demon?” Chi Xin repeated slowly. “So you mean—you got your power from the laboratory?”

“Got? No, no. It was a fair exchange of interests,” Pei Jiade frowned. “They needed people for experiments. I wanted power. That’s all.”

“Hah. I’ve been in the apocalypse for a long time, but it’s my first time seeing someone dress up their selfishness as righteousness,” Chi Xin said with a cold laugh. Her face quickly hardened. “You claim to hate those with abilities, but it’s just jealousy. Now that you’ve got powers yourself, why don’t you hate yourself?”

“What do you know?! What right does a monster like you have to preach to me?”

Something in her words had clearly touched a nerve. Pei Jiade’s face twisted. “If it weren’t for this damned power, my brother wouldn’t have—”

“Don’t waste your breath on him,” Holay interrupted. “Even if he has powers now, so what? Pei Jiade, maybe you have ambition, but you’re still an idiot. Do you think just because you have abilities, you can defeat me?”

With a sweep of his hand, a fierce wind began to roar around them. The trees that held Yu Xiang and Jiang Congyun swayed violently. Chi Xin was about to rush to help them when Pei Jiade stopped her.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you,” Pei Jiade said. “Holay, look who I’ve got here.”

Chi Xin turned and saw Pei Jiade yank on a thick rope—on the other end…

“Pei Jiade!”

Holay’s eyes instantly turned blood-red. He ground out the name through his teeth, his voice dripping with fury and pain.

Chi Xin saw a female zombie being dragged out like a dog—her hands and feet bound, her mouth muzzled.

“Shh.” Pei Jiade said softly. “If the warden gets too emotional and hurts me, I can’t promise what I’ll do to your dear wife.”

That confirmed Chi Xin’s suspicion.

The raging wind stopped abruptly. Clearly, Holay didn’t dare make a move.

“Not you,” Pei Jiade said, turning his gaze on Chi Xin. “I know what you can do. Step back—move toward the cliff. And don’t make any sudden moves.”

Chi Xin glanced back at the cliff’s edge. And just then, she caught sight of a lock of black hair flicking behind the tree where Yu Xiang was tied.

What?

For an instant she froze, then comprehension dawned. She forced herself to remain calm, keeping her excitement from showing.

“Hurry up! Don’t dawdle,” Pei Jiade barked.

Chi Xin turned back to him, looking at him with an unreadable expression.

Seeing her half-smiling face, Pei Jiade suddenly felt uneasy. He tightened his grip on the rope holding the female zombie. “Don’t try anything stupid,” he warned. “Or she’s finished.”

“You know,” Chi Xin sighed, “Holay just called you stupid—and he wasn’t wrong at all. That’s his wife. Using her to threaten me? What good will that do?”

Before anyone could react, Chi Xin shot forward like an arrow. In an instant, she was in front of Pei Jiade.

One hand locked around his throat, while the other seized the zombie woman. With a powerful shove, she pushed her backward. “Catch her!”

At the same time, Chi Xin felt the skin under her grip—once human—begin to change.