"A mutated one?!"
Zhu Jiu's eyes locked onto the hulking figure, instantly recognizing it for what it was—a mutation of the infected.
The grotesque creature had clearly consumed countless infected and grown to an enormous size. It was so large that it couldn't even fully straighten in the three-meter-tall hallway. On all fours, it scuttled toward him with frightening speed.
It wasn't just its size that was horrifying. Its back was covered in countless malformed arms and faces, grotesquely writhing and snapping as it moved.
"What the hell is this thing?!"
Zhu Jiu, who had seen his fair share of infected, couldn't help but feel a wave of revulsion wash over him. This was a new level of grotesque.
Before he could dwell on it, the mutated infected charged, closing the distance in an instant.
Reacting instinctively, Zhu Jiu pushed Ruan Qingyan behind him, planted his hand on the floor, and launched a powerful kick at the creature's head.
"Bang!"
The impact reverberated through the hallway, but Zhu Jiu felt as though he had kicked a steel wall. The creature barely flinched.
"Damn thing! You've got some tough bones, huh?"
Cursing under his breath, Zhu Jiu's demeanor shifted. He activated Iron Body, his signature martial art. His form swelled as his muscles hardened, his skin taking on a bronze sheen. Towering at over two meters, he now resembled a giant cast in bronze.
"Let's see who's tougher—you or me!"
With a roar, he threw a massive punch at the creature's head.
The mutation, though somewhat intelligent—akin to a three-year-old child—hesitated for a moment, its grotesque eyes blinking as if confused by Zhu Jiu's transformation.
That moment of hesitation was all Zhu Jiu needed.
"Boom!"
His fist connected like a cannonball, the sound echoing through the hall. The creature's head snapped back, momentarily dazed.
"Hell yeah!" Zhu Jiu shouted, adrenaline surging. He grabbed the creature's head with both hands and slammed it into the floor.
"Thud!"
"Thud!!"
"Thud!!!"
The hallway shook violently, the sturdy tiles beneath them cracking and pulverizing into dust.
Zhu Jiu didn't stop, his fists turning into hammers as he unleashed blow after blow. The mutated infected writhed and howled, but it was no match for Zhu Jiu's overwhelming power.
Finally, with a guttural scream of despair, the creature collapsed, lifeless.
[System Notification: Mutated infected killed. Commencing dark energy capture.]
[Dark energy successfully captured. You've earned 20 points.]
"Ha-ha-ha! Now that's what I call satisfying!" Zhu Jiu roared with laughter, dismissing Iron Body and returning to his normal size. He reached down and extracted the dark energy core from the creature's forehead. "Haven't had a fight this good in ages!"
The thrill of raw, unrelenting combat—and the reward of hard-earned system points—left Zhu Jiu exhilarated.
Behind him, Ruan Qingyan, who had been watching in stunned silence, turned pale. The violence had been overwhelming, almost too much to bear.
And yet, a blush crept up her cheeks.
It wasn't the carnage that caused her embarrassment—it was Zhu Jiu himself. His transformation had shredded his clothes, leaving him standing in nothing but his underwear. His towering frame, chiseled muscles, and glistening skin were on full display.
Zhu Jiu, still grinning, suddenly felt a chill. Glancing down, he realized his predicament.
"Uh… cough, cough," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Even Zhu Jiu, with his thick skin, couldn't help but feel a pang of embarrassment. Being nearly naked in front of a beautiful woman wasn't exactly part of his plan.
Ruan Qingyan, on the other hand, burst into laughter, her voice like silver bells. The stark contrast between his ferocious battle stance and his current bashful demeanor was too much for her.
Her laughter was radiant, a rare moment of lightness in the grim apocalypse.
Zhu Jiu froze, momentarily entranced by her beauty. But he quickly snapped out of it, clearing his throat and trying to change the subject.
"Ahem. Anyway, we can't waste time. Fatty's condition is critical. Let's head to the lab!"
Not waiting for a reply, Zhu Jiu scooped her into his arms and dashed forward, his steps as light as the wind.
In under a minute, Zhu Jiu reached the entrance of Linshui Academy's most advanced laboratory. On the way, he had smashed through several infected, each kill adding to his steadily growing point total.
By the time he reached the lab's heavy steel doors, he was just shy of 120 points.
"So, this is the academy's best lab?" Zhu Jiu muttered, taking in the reinforced steel and high-tech design.
The door alone was formidable—massive and airtight, resembling the entrance to a high-security vault.
"This thing looks solid as hell," he said, frowning. "But without a keycard or fingerprint access, how are we supposed to get in?"
"If only Fatty were here," Zhu Jiu mused. "His abilities could melt right through this door."
Before he could consider another plan, Ruan Qingyan crouched down, lifting the edge of the red carpet in front of the door.
Beneath it lay a silver key.
Picking it up, she slid it into the lock and turned it with ease. The door opened with a satisfying click.
"I often hide my keys under the doormat," she said with a wry smile. "Looks like the lab's designers had the same idea."
Zhu Jiu was momentarily speechless. The ever-dedicated scientist had a surprisingly relatable quirk.
The lab's interior was pristine, almost unnaturally clean. To the left were two shower rooms, while to the right stood rows of sterilized cabinets, each containing neatly folded lab coats.
Ahead lay the main sterile laboratory, encased in thick glass.
"Looks like we'll need to clean up first," Zhu Jiu remarked, noting the rigorous sanitation protocols.
Ruan Qingyan gave him a gentle push toward the showers, her face slightly flushed. "Stop standing there like an idiot. Go wash up—properly this time."
Zhu Jiu didn't argue. After two days of constant battle, he was more than ready for a shower. He stepped into one of the stalls and let the water wash over him.
As he was rinsing off, he heard the sound of another shower starting in the adjacent stall.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he glanced over. Through the frosted glass, he could see the faint outline of a slender, graceful figure. Long legs and elegant curves…
It was Ruan Qingyan.
Heat surged through him, and he quickly averted his gaze, turning the water to its coldest setting to douse the fire in his veins.
On the other side, Ruan Qingyan was equally flustered.
She had intentionally chosen the stall next to his. She wasn't sure why—only that being near Zhu Jiu made her feel safe.
Still, her heart raced. Did she want him to notice?
But when she finished her shower and stepped out, she found Zhu Jiu already fully dressed, waiting for her in a fresh lab coat.
A strange emptiness tugged at her heart.
"Does he not find me attractive? How could he be so indifferent?" she thought, biting her lip.
If only she knew Zhu Jiu's thoughts.
I went out of my way to hold back, and this is what she's thinking? If I'd known, I would've made my move!
Moments later, Ruan Qingyan emerged, her freshly scrubbed face glowing. Without makeup, she was breathtaking—her rosy lips, delicate features, and luminous skin radiating natural beauty.
Zhu Jiu froze.
He couldn't hold back any longer.
In one swift motion, he pulled her back into the shower.
"Isn't this… a bit sudden?" Ruan Qingyan stammered.
"I can't help it," Zhu Jiu replied, his voice low and steady.
"At least… turn the water back on," she whispered, her cheeks flaming.
The sound of running water resumed, filling the room once more.