Chapter 49: All In
The system was stunned: [You actually stole data!]
Qi He shook his head. “Taking data can’t be called stealing. When it’s part of the script, can it really count as theft?”
[……]The system’s tone turned sharp: [So you’re the real Qi Yiji!]
“Now your energy reserves are full,” Qi He said. “Enough to run any program you want.”
He tapped his fingertip lightly. “Come on, load the main storyline.”
The system rummaged through the files.
The interface flickered, and soon, a brand-new, never-before-revealed storyline appeared before them:
『[Year X145] — A large-scale viral outbreak erupted silently, spreading rapidly across the globe. All infected individuals lost higher brain function, retaining only their basic motor skills and predatory instincts. The infection rate was extremely high, and these beings came to be known as — zombies.
In order to survive, the remaining humans began to awaken supernatural abilities, collectively referred to as ability users.
Within Country H, at the early stage of the outbreak, Yan Chuanbai quickly awakened his ice-type ability. He gathered his equipment and resources, preparing to head to headquarters.』
…
Qi He’s gaze lingered on the summary of the first section. It wasn’t long; the perspective soon shifted to Yan Chuanbai in Country H.
The script scrolled page by page, soon reaching the part where Yan Chuanbai altered his route midway and was forced to pick up “him.”
The main storyline unfolded mostly through a god’s-eye view and Yan Chuanbai’s own perspective. Qi He carefully memorized every potentially useful detail, reading through each segment.
Until he reached the point of the final storyline’s integration:
『…F City was on the brink of collapse. At that moment, the parasitized and mutated Yan Chuanbai suddenly appeared. Using his mental power, he commanded all zombies and led them outside the base—annihilating them all.
『The human base was saved—but the fact that he had become the “Zombie King” could no longer be concealed. He left the base on his own and continued to fight alone. 』
When the story reached this point, the system suddenly went, “Huh?”
[…He, there are still several more pages after this.]
Qi He’s gaze sharpened. “Turn them.”
The text on the panel flickered downward—
『At the same time that Yan Chuanbai left the base to fight the zombie tide alone, a large-scale infection broke out within the human base itself. 』
Qi He’s heart lurched violently. He held his breath.
…The human base—infected?
The system seemed stunned as well. The screen froze for a long moment, until Qi He finally took a deep breath. “Keep going.”
『The number of human survivors plummeted.
『Even S-rank ability users could not escape their fate. Humanity faced an annihilating crisis—and at that moment, all hope rested upon the 4S-class “Zombie King,” Yan Chuanbai, who still retained his consciousness.
—By this point, Yan Chuanbai had already evolved to 4S-class. 』
Qi He narrowed his eyes. There were only two pages left.
『…In the end, on the 120th day after leaving F City, Yan Chuanbai eradicated every zombie and mutant along his path. Through synchronized mental perception, he located the source of the viral outbreak, and with 5S-level spiritual energy, self-detonated—thus ending the catastrophe.
Humanity was finally redeemed, and they would forever remember the hero who brought the apocalypse to its end. 』
The final page fell.
The system gaped: [I bah!]
“……”
Qi He patted its interface gently. “Now, add bookmarks to the pages I mentioned earlier.”
The system grumbled and cursed under its breath—but still did as told.
Qi He went over the information points again.
Some of the minor details could wait — the two key pieces right now were:
The apocalypse had a “source”, and it likely wasn’t a simple one — it needed to be dealt with.
The human base would soon experience a large-scale infection outbreak.
The source could be investigated later.
The more urgent matter was the impending internal infection—
According to the storyline, it would happen when Yan Chuanbai reached 4S.
That was well before he dealt with the “source,” meaning it could happen within the next month.
Qi He thought for only a few seconds before pulling out his communicator and sending a mass message:
“All S-rank members, emergency meeting.”
—
On the third floor, the meeting room was full.
This time, it was Qi He standing at the front.
Yan Chuanbai sat on his left, head slightly tilted up to look at him.
On the other side, Yu Tianxing smiled warmly and asked, “Calling a meeting all of a sudden—what’s the urgent matter?”
Qi He’s expression was calm. “In this meeting, I have two important dream revelations to share.”
Everyone: “……”
Yu Tianxing’s smile cracked slightly. “What?”
Yan Chuanbai’s eyes darkened a little.
Xia Jiu seemed long accustomed to the Base I’s eccentricities and accepted it naturally: “Go ahead.”
After all, there was no way to explain that the information came from a ‘script.’
Qi He skipped any preamble and went straight to the point.
“Now that our fight against the zombie virus has come this far, I think it’s necessary to trace things back to the beginning. Do you know where the first outbreak occurred?”
Yu Tianxing thought for a moment.
“The zombie virus has a latent incubation period, and population movement was heavy at the time. Back then, reports of people being bitten by zombies appeared in several places simultaneously—it’s nearly impossible to pinpoint the exact origin.”
Moreover, the general consensus now was that the ‘source’ referred to a mutated strain of a virus—the pathogen itself.
He turned to Qi He. “Why? Did you find something?”
Qi He shook his head. “Not yet. But gather those early reports for me. There’s something I want to confirm.”
Yu Tianxing didn’t understand, but he seemed to sense something. “Alright.”
“Next,” Qi He said, “is the second dream revelation.”
“……”
Qi He maintained a straight face, speaking nonsense with a frighteningly precise logic.
“I believe the mutants are still evolving—possibly invading in subtler ways.”
The entire room went cold at once.
Yan Chuanbai looked at him—not questioning the claim itself, but asking simply, “What do you mean?”
“At present, we all know that mutants are capable of parasitism,” Qi He said.
He had been thinking about it on the way here: everyone entering the base had to undergo thorough screening, so where could an infection possibly come from?
Then it struck him—when Yan Chuanbai had returned carrying a parasitic organism, he too had passed security inspection without issue.
That meant the most likely vector of infection… was parasitism itself.
Originally, that “parasite” existed in the script merely as a plot device—to allow Yan Chuanbai to retain his consciousness. It was never meant to be the infection source.
But—what if the mode of infection itself had evolved?
Just like how he’d once produced serum outside the human body—first activating the antibodies before injecting them in—
Qi He swept his gaze across the meeting room, eyes clear and sharp.
“If the parasitic organisms also fuse with the infection source before entering the body, lie dormant inside, and then erupt only after the host returns to the base—”
Yu Tianxing quietly drew in a breath.
Xia Jiu glanced toward Yan Chuanbai. There was a living example right here—of a parasite merged with the virus.
She retracted her gaze, her expression hardening.
“If that’s the case, then all our entry screening checkpoints… are completely useless.”
Silence fell over the meeting room.
After a moment, Yu Tianxing said, “There’s no concrete evidence yet—but it’s not impossible. For precaution’s sake…” He turned to the highest-ranking officer in the base for direction. “What do you think?”
Yan Chuanbai thought for only two seconds before answering decisively: “Recall all field teams immediately and conduct a complete internal rescreening. Have the military department urgently upgrade detection equipment and draft a new strategic plan.”
“Also, share this hypothesis with the other bases. They can decide their own next steps.”
Once the orders were issued, everyone moved at once.
Yu Tianxing headed for the central control room.
Yu Jiang returned to maintain the water circulation system.
The base’s screening checkpoints had already shown vulnerabilities.
Xia Jiu’s gaze turned cold. She rested one hand on the gun at her waist.
“My ability—‘Identification’—can detect parasitic entities. I’ll guard the main gate.”
With that, she turned and strode out.
—
They all went their separate ways.
Qi He and Yan Chuanbai rose as well, preparing to head to the ability users’ residential sector to coordinate the rescreening.
The two of them walked out of the research institute side by side.
The slanted sunlight fell across their faces.
Qi He squinted slightly, then glanced sideways at Yan Chuanbai.
The main system had already been optimized. Under these circumstances—could he let Yan Chuanbai know about the existence of the “script”?
Sensing his gaze, Yan Chuanbai turned his head. “What is it?”
Qi He looked at him meaningfully. “Is there anything you’d like to ask me?”
“Anything at all?”
Qi He nodded.
Yan Chuanbai looked at him for a few seconds, then spoke: “What do you feel about me right now?”
“……”
[……]
Qi He froze mid-step, meeting his eyes deeply.
After a long pause, he inhaled, then exhaled.
“I feel… like I don’t want to say anything.”
The system marveled: [So the reason Yan Chuanbai can stay conscious—is because the zombie virus can’t infect a man in love, huh?]
Qi He gave it a silent, cutting look, then turned away and walked ahead.
Yan Chuanbai watched his back, the corner of his mouth twitching upward—then slowly pressing back down.
Just now, for a fleeting moment, he had thought of all of Qi He’s past actions—that slightly suggestive “high soup” incident among them.
He hadn’t been completely oblivious; he knew Qi He’s boldness, his recklessness—
It stirred something in him, yet at the same time, he feared even the slightest harm it might cause.
In the end, Yan Chuanbai said nothing—and simply followed after Qi He.
…
They had only walked a short distance when—
The system eyed Qi He’s expression like a farmer scrutinizing a prized cabbage:
[And how do you feel about that?]
Qi He asked, “About what?”
The system, secretly fishing for drama, prodded slyly: [Yan Chuanbai didn’t even catch your hint just now.]
‘He doesn’t understand you at all—his brain’s not synced with yours!’
Qi He thought for a moment, then decided to change perspective.
“I think… he definitely likes me.”
[……]
The system froze. ‘What on earth are you now?’
Meanwhile, the military department had already received the order and was moving into the residential zone.
Qi He and Yan Chuanbai were about to head over to join them when a soldier came rushing in from the other direction.
“Colonel! Mr. Qi! There’s been an incident at the base gate—!”
Both of them immediately stiffened and turned on their heels.
—
At the base entrance, Xia Jiu stood waiting.
It was the hour when most field teams were returning, but several squads had been temporarily stopped at the gate.
Even ability users who had already passed the initial screening were being called back, gathered on the open ground before the entrance.
Xia Jiu tested them one by one—and soon, cold sweat began to bead on her forehead.
Her ability required manual activation and was usually reserved for lab work. When Qi He had proposed his theory earlier, she’d understood it was serious—but she hadn’t expected that, upon testing—there were already individuals carrying parasitic organisms.
Fortunately, those people had been injected with antibodies; there were no signs of infection yet.
“You can go,” she told the cleared ones, then turned to another. “You—head over there first.”
The ability user she indicated looked tense, but Xia Jiu reassured them, ”Don’t be afraid. No infection detected yet—just isolation for observation.”
Once every squad inside the base had been screened, she moved to check those outside.
All personnel beyond the base perimeter had already donned protective masks.
The ability-user squads waiting in line were growing restless.
“What’s going on? Don’t we have scanners for this?” someone muttered.
Xia Jiu raised her voice so everyone could hear:
“A new parasitic strain has appeared—it may carry the infection source. But all of you received the first round of antibodies, so don’t panic!”
At that, the crowd seemed to calm—slightly.
However, near the end of the line, a few faces went pale.
Among them was Ke Yuan’s four-person squad, visibly uneasy.
They had once insisted, with arrogant confidence, that they didn’t need anything made by Meng Yan—Who could’ve known that was the antibody?!
They hadn’t swallowed their pride fast enough to register for it, and by the time they did, they were placed in the second batch.
Worse—someone in their team had already developed a fever.
The line inched forward bit by bit.
Xia Jiu scanned each group one after another.
“This squad—cleared. Next.”
But when it came to Ke Yuan’s team, her expression suddenly changed.
“Stop,” she ordered.
The four froze.
Ke Yuan, trying to sound fierce but clearly shaken, snapped, “What is it?”
Xia Jiu frowned and activated her ability again for confirmation.
A moment later, her voice rang out, solemn and firm: “Your entire squad is carrying parasitic organisms—and none of you received the antibody injection. There are already signs of infection. According to regulations, you are forbidden from entering the base.”
It landed like a hammer blow.
Ke Yuan’s face drained of color. “You’re talking nonsense!” he shouted.
But everyone knew the truth.
As an S-rank ability user, Xia Jiu’s “Identification” power was more accurate and detailed than any machine.
“Your infection level is the highest,” she said coldly. “Even the instruments would detect it. If you don’t believe me, go ahead—run the scan right now.”
Xia Jiu stood her ground, not backing down an inch. “But you all know what the result means.”
The gate to the base fell into absolute silence.
…
Amid the tension and shouting, Qi He and his companion happened to arrive.
He halted at the entrance just as Xia Jiu’s voice carried over — once confirmed mutated, one must accept death.
— That was the unspoken rule in every human base.
Just like Yan Chuanbai back then — even when he hadn’t fully mutated and still had his sanity, he was ready to die at any moment.
Outside the gate, Ke Yuan’s entire team looked deathly pale.
Their hands trembled. Xia Jiu’s judgment was practically a death sentence. Especially Ke Yuan — he knew his condition too well to face the detector’s verdict.
After a few seconds of suffocating silence, he suddenly shouted, “Then where’s the antibody? Give me the antibody! Didn’t you say it works within twenty-four hours?”
Xia Jiu pressed her lips together.
She had been in the lab — she knew the progress better than anyone. “The first batch of antibodies has already been registered and distributed. The second batch isn’t ready yet. The soonest it’ll be done is three days from now.”
Ke Yuan didn’t believe it. “Bullshit! You and Meng Yan are in this together! You just don’t want us to live!”
The fear of death pushed him past reason.
His eyes went red, veins pulsing beneath his skin — those same veins now faintly purple, the mark of infection. If it weren’t for Meng Yan, they wouldn’t have swallowed their pride, wouldn’t have hesitated to register at the start!
And now this damn Xia Jiu — saying there’s no antibody!
If they wanted him dead, then he’d drag someone down with him!
His ability flared —
With a violent crash, he lunged straight for the unarmed Xia Jiu!
Qi He stood a short distance away, unmoving. Because—
Bang! The army’s bullet was faster.
Xia Jiu stood in front with her hands clasped behind her back, her expression utterly steady.
Even though she wasn’t in a combat division, she was still an S-rank under the military — the impenetrable wall of Base I.
She remained at the gate and said calmly, “Next.”
—
The scene outside was clearly visible from within the base gate.
The system observed in a daze: [So this counts as… him clinging to his past “connection” with Meng Yan, pestering an S-rank, getting close to the upper ranks of Base I, then deciding that if he had to die, he’d drag someone down with him — and finally meeting his end…]
“…”
[I used to think your ‘cannon-fodder’ role was exaggerated, but turns out people like that really exist!]
Qi He looked at Ke Yuan and his teammates outside.
And for a fleeting moment, it was as if he saw the “disposable” ending the script had once written for him —
His cannon-fodder storyline had been the embodiment of all those dark, cowardly, and extreme types combined.
“So,” he said quietly, “there’s no such thing as a predetermined fate. Every ending is made by one’s own steps.”
Qi He drew his gaze back and said to the person beside him, “Let’s go. They don’t need us here anymore.”
Next to him, Yan Chuanbai lowered his communicator.
The presence of “parasitic carriers of the infection source” had now been confirmed. He had already reported to Yu Tianxing at once, instructing them to contact headquarters through the control center and sync the information with the other bases.
As they walked back, Yan Chuanbai asked, “So, one of your ‘dream-talk predictions’ has been confirmed. What about the other one?”
Qi He looked straight ahead. “I suspect there’s a fixed infection source — one that continuously drives the evolution of mutant species.”
Yan Chuanbai gave him a glance and simply asked, “If there is, what would you do?”
A trace of sunset light sank in Qi He’s eyes.
In the original plot, Yan Chuanbai had self-detonated with his 5S-level spiritual energy.
“If you’re facing the source of all calamity and still holding back,” Qi He said, “you’re underestimating your enemy. Even the slightest shortfall in strength makes everything you’ve invested up to that point meaningless.”
The afterglow seemed to burn in his gaze, carrying that familiar edge of madness and resolve.
Qi He said, “If it were me, I’d go all in.”
Everything — or nothing at all.
————————————————————
Author’s Note:
Yan ‘Roast Chicken’: A little crazy… kind of irresistible. 💋❤️
System: …He, you two really are birds of a feather.
**TN
“Qi Yiji” is a play on “Kong Yiji,” a famous literary character who stole books but claimed it didn’t count as stealing.
Btw, Yan Chuanbai (闫川柏) sounds a little similar to “闫焗鸡 (Yán jú jī)” if you tweak the tones or deliberately mispronounce it in a playful way. 焗鸡 (jú jī) literally means “roast chicken” or “baked chicken.”
