Zhu Jiu had come to the laboratory with a simple purpose: deliver the evolution serum.
Of course, that purpose might have been a little less "simple" under different circumstances, but Ruan Qingyan had made it clear—absolutely no fooling around in her lab. For now, Zhu Jiu had to settle for delivering the serum and nothing more.
The lab had been outfitted with a custom-built fireplace under Zhu Jiu's orders. The warm glow of the fire filled the room, casting a soft light on the instruments and the slender figure of Ruan Qingyan, dressed in her white lab coat.
Nestled in Zhu Jiu's arms, her cheeks flushed, she murmured in a soft, almost pleading tone.
"Jiu-ge, not here. There's too much delicate equipment around, and my experiment's at a critical stage. Can't we wait until tonight?"
Zhu Jiu chuckled, his powerful arms holding her gently. Her protests only made her look more endearing.
"Of course," he said with a grin, pinching her cheek affectionately.
Letting her go for now, Zhu Jiu handed her the serum he had brought.
"This is… an evolution serum?"
Ruan Qingyan's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took the vial, holding it up to the light for a closer look.
"It's beautiful, like a ruby."
The crystalline liquid shimmered like a precious gemstone, dazzling in the soft glow of the fireplace.
"Such a pretty thing, and it can grant evolution? I wonder how it works…" Ruan Qingyan mused aloud, giving the vial a gentle shake. Then, after a moment of hesitation, she handed it back to Zhu Jiu.
"You should use it, Jiu-ge," she said with a smile. "I'm just cooped up in the lab all day anyway. It'd be a waste on me."
Her tone was lighthearted, but her meaning was clear: she believed Zhu Jiu deserved it more.
"Besides," she added, her smile widening, "you'll protect me, won't you?"
She leaned up to kiss him lightly on the lips, her eyes full of trust.
"No," Zhu Jiu said firmly, pushing the serum back into her hands.
Ruan Qingyan's playful demeanor faltered at his unyielding tone.
"You don't understand how valuable this is," Zhu Jiu explained, his voice serious.
Even a lowlife like Huang Long had been able to put up a tough fight against him thanks to this power. It was a rare and formidable ability, one that Zhu Jiu couldn't afford to squander.
He had already decided that this kind of serum would only go to those closest to him: people he trusted with his life, people who shared his burdens, and—most importantly—people he wanted to see thrive in this harsh new world.
Ruan Qingyan fit all three categories.
"Fine," she said, feigning a pout, though her eyes shone with warmth.
Her fingers lingered on the vial for a moment before she opened it and took a cautious sip.
To her surprise, the liquid was sweet, with a pleasant warmth spreading through her body almost immediately.
"Wow, Jiu-ge, this tastes surprisingly good," she said, her tone light.
But her expression quickly changed as the warmth intensified, spreading through her veins like a rising flame.
"Hmm… that feels a little strange."
Zhu Jiu watched her closely, noting the gradual rise in her body temperature. Suddenly, flames erupted across her body, her pristine white lab coat igniting in an instant.
Yet, remarkably, the fire didn't harm her.
"I'm… not burning?" Ruan Qingyan said in amazement, twirling around to examine herself. Her skin, glowing with health, remained untouched by the flames.
Her lab coat, however, had been reduced to ashes, revealing her flawless, alabaster skin beneath. Standing there amidst the flickering firelight, her figure was striking—like a mythical fire spirit come to life.
"Jiu-ge, what kind of serum was that?" she asked, her voice filled with awe as she experimented with the flames, making them appear and disappear at will.
Her innocence and excitement made her even more captivating.
"Let's talk about that later," Zhu Jiu said, his voice thick with emotion. Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her to the shower.
A startled yelp echoed from the bathroom, followed by the sound of running water.
Some time later, the pair emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed but with Ruan Qingyan's cheeks still flushed.
"Bad man," she muttered, giving Zhu Jiu a playful pinch.
He only grinned, pulling her close again.
After some lighthearted teasing, Zhu Jiu got down to business.
"Your new ability is classified as a Beast Mutation Power, specifically, the Phoenix Mutation," he explained.
"At its current stage, your ability has three main features.
"First, your physical constitution has improved significantly. You're now stronger than most first-tier evolved humans.
"Second, you have the ability to control fire. You can summon flames on any part of your body or conjure fireballs to attack from a distance.
"Finally, you're immune to fire. Ordinary flames won't harm you anymore."
Ruan Qingyan's eyes widened as she listened, the weight of her newfound power sinking in.
"This ability… it must be incredibly valuable," she thought, recalling the mythical reverence surrounding the phoenix in Chinese folklore.
As the queen of birds and a symbol of rebirth, the phoenix was second to none in the animal kingdom.
This wasn't just any ability. It was something extraordinary.
Grateful and deeply moved, she leaned in to kiss Zhu Jiu's cheek.
"Thank you, Jiu-ge."
Zhu Jiu smiled warmly. "Come on, let's put your new powers to the test."
Under Zhu Jiu's guidance, Ruan Qingyan quickly grew accustomed to her abilities.
Within half an hour, she had mastered basic flame control, summoning fire to her limbs and creating fireballs for ranged attacks.
Her physical enhancements also made her a fast learner, enabling her to pick up some basic martial arts techniques with astonishing speed.
Watching her execute the moves he'd taught, Zhu Jiu couldn't help but feel impressed.
"How am I doing, Jiu-ge?" Ruan Qingyan asked, her voice filled with excitement as she launched a series of kicks.
Her strikes were swift and precise, each one cutting through the air with a sharp whoosh. Despite being a beginner, her technique was already impressive.
Zhu Jiu easily blocked her attacks, analyzing their power.
"Not bad," he thought. "She could probably take down most first-tier evolved humans already. And ordinary infected wouldn't stand a chance."
The Phoenix Mutation was truly extraordinary, elevating Ruan Qingyan's combat prowess to incredible heights in such a short time.
"It's no wonder Zhao Feng said that ordinary humans and evolved ones live in entirely different worlds," Zhu Jiu mused.
"Though," he added with a grin, "I'm not really either. Not a human, not an evolved."
"No," he corrected himself, his grin widening.
"I'm a martial artist."