Apocalypse: Master of Soul Beasts

BANG.

The office door was forcefully pushed open. Qin Tian, his eyes bloodshot, emerged from the office. Behind him followed an expressionless Arthur and Wei Tian, who had blood trickling from his nose.

Given their expressions and Wei Tian’s still-bleeding nose, the outcome could hardly be described as pleasant...

”How is it?” Wen Yu casually inquired, considering they were teammates.

But there was no reply.

...

After a long pause, Qin Tian spoke in a hoarse voice, ”Wen Yu, I need your help!”

...

”According to my research, this virus slowly absorbs the host’s life force—you could also understand it as feeding on the body’s energy to grow. Currently, the virus in Qin Shiyuan’s body is still in its incubation period. With current technology and the Professionist system, there’s no way to completely eradicate this virus.”

”I believe the only solution to Qin Shiyuan’s condition is to nurture the virus inside her. After it matures, according to our recent research on this type of virus, it will likely transform into some kind of harmless substance, thereby achieving the goal of curing the illness.”

Hearing Wei Tian’s ”professional” explanation, Wen Yu sneered inwardly without turning his head. Sounds nice, but whether it’s true or not is a different story...

”Then nurture it. What’s the problem? If it’s a lack of magic crystals or points, I have plenty!”

A long period of only accumulation without expenditure had allowed Wen Yu’s points to grow to an astonishing level. Forget some unknown virus; Wen Yu could even nurture dozens of elephants to maturity!

Unfortunately, Qin Tian shook his head.

”Points and magic crystals are useless...”

Wei Tian, at his side, picked up the topic.

”What Qin Shiyuan needs is not points or magic crystals, but an external supply of life force. You should be able to see her current state. It won’t be long before her body is drained by the virus, after which comes death. Furthermore, given Qin Shiyuan’s current condition, it’s impossible for her to undergo a promotion trial...”

”So? Just tell me what I need to do!” Wen Yu was quite straightforward.

”She needs you to provide life force to Qin Shiyuan.”

...

A lengthy silence.

”Why me?”

”The life force intensity of a Breakthrough Achiever is far greater than that of an average Peak Level 5 professionist. It’s like two bottles with unequal pressure—the higher the pressure in one bottle, the easier it is to pour water into the other.”

”This explanation is acceptable.” Wen Yu nodded, acknowledging Qin Tian’s rationale.

”What would be the consequences of losing life force?”

”A reduction in the upper limit of one’s physical attributes. For average professionists, this is disastrous. However, for a Breakthrough Achiever, the upper limit of physical attributes is less important.”

Wei Tian’s words seemed to give Wen Yu some insight. A bright idea flashed through Wen Yu’s mind.

For the first time, Wen Yu turned his head and looked into Wei Tian’s eyes.

”Are you sure that only a Breakthrough Achiever can infuse life force into Qin Shiyuan’s body???”

Wei Tian paused slightly, then slowly shook his head.

”No, that’s not the case. However, if an ordinary professionist were to do it, the required equipment and preparations are very cumbersome. And ordinary professionists don’t have Limit Breaking Abilities; their physical attribute limit is reduced bit by bit as it’s drawn out, so...”

After hearing Wei Tian’s explanation, Wen Yu fell silent for a moment.

...

”How much is needed?”

...

”I don’t know...”

”Heh heh, so you’re saying that thing in Qin Shiyuan’s body, what you call a virus, could potentially suck me dry, right?”

”That possibility is very slim...”

”You and Lin Haifeng are in cahoots! I don’t believe a damn word of your bullshit!!!”

”Wen Yu!” Qin Tian, at the side, interrupted the increasingly hostile conversation between Wen Yu and Wei Tian.

”I want you to help me. It doesn’t need to be much. I just asked Dr. Wei; the necessary equipment can be ready within ten hours, but my sister can’t last ten hours. I want to ask you to help my sister hold on for these ten hours. Leave the rest to me...”

”And me,” Arthur chimed in from the side, not wanting to be left out.

Looking at the two pairs of eyes before him, pleading yet filled with determination, Wen Yu slowly opened his mouth...

The words ”You’ll be drained until you’re useless” were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say them. Looking at the two pairs of eyes before him, different in color yet brimming with persistence, Wen Yu sighed deeply...

”This is Lin Haifeng’s trick!” Wen Yu revealed the truth.

”From the very beginning! That damn marketplace, the Demon Fiend attack—they were all planned! All to seize your Achilles’ heel, to grab your weakness! Am I right, Wei Tian?”

Wei Tian, however, merely stood to the side in silence...

...

Wei Tian knew. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have cooperated with Lin Haifeng’s plan and concocted some non-existent virus... But what Wei Tian hadn’t expected was that Wen Yu would actually voice these words so bluntly.

After a long moment, Wei Tian slowly shook his head.

”I don’t know...”

At a time like this, anything Wei Tian said, whether he knew or not, would be a mistake. It was better to bite the bullet and insist he was completely ignorant.

”Then let me ask you another question. Is the thing in Qin Shiyuan’s body really some damn virus?”

”Yes, it certainly is!”

”Alright, I reckon I won’t get anything useful out of you. Qin Tian, now I’ll ask you something...”

Halfway through his sentence, Wen Yu suddenly paused.

...

It was only now that Wen Yu realized the essence of this whole affair... The words he’d just spoken were utterly useless. Lin Haifeng’s plan this time wasn’t afraid of others knowing, because...

”Wen Yu, that’s my sister, my own flesh-and-blood sister...” Qin Tian’s voice trembled slightly.

”Perhaps this is merely an accident...

”Or perhaps this is a charade directed and performed by Lin Haifeng...

”Perhaps it’s this, perhaps it’s that, but what it is no longer matters.

”Even if this matter truly is Lin Haifeng’s handiwork, I will find Lin Haifeng for revenge... But that must be after my sister recovers. Do you understand?”

Wen Yu swallowed hard.

”Lin Haifeng wouldn’t let Qin Shiyuan die like this! Believe me, he wouldn’t dare! If Qin Shiyuan dies, I’ll stand on your side and directly declare war on the Yanjing authorities! Don’t forget what the goal was when I established the Independents Mutual Aid Federation, when I formed our team! It was so we wouldn’t be casually toyed with by these scumbags!!!”

Wen Yu’s voice was cold and calm, but everyone present could hear the fury in his words.

Wen Yu was truly furious...

To do what one says—this was Wen Yu’s principle. Back when Wen Yu took the lead in establishing the Independents Mutual Aid Federation, what was it for? It was precisely to avoid being persecuted by the military.

And this incident happening now reminded Wen Yu of the scenes that had unfolded in Las Vegas... This time, if Wen Yu didn’t step up, then when the military extended its dark hand towards him again, who would be able to stand by his side and fight alongside him?

However, this idea that ”Lin Haifeng wouldn’t let Qin Shiyuan die” couldn’t convince anyone at all...

”I can’t gamble, and I don’t dare to gamble...”

”I’m begging you, alright? I just... I have to save my sister...”

Qin Tian gripped Wen Yu’s hand tightly, and then his legs slowly began to bend...