After leaving the KTV, Rowan quickly turned off the main road and slipped into a maze of alleys. He weaved through several twists and turns before finally stopping in a deserted lane.
He looked around carefully to make sure no one was following him, then unzipped the black bag in his hand.
Inside were neat stacks of Huaxia currency dozens of them.
It was the six hundred thousand yuan that Howard Zhou had given him.
Because Rowan's identity papers hadn't been processed yet, he didn't have a bank account. There was no way to transfer money electronically, so Howard Zhou had given him cash.
"In two days, my ID should be ready. Once that's done, I can register at the Extreme Martial Arts School."
Rowan was genuinely looking forward to it.
Both the Extreme Martial Arts School and Thunder Martial Arts School offered free training for students aged sixteen to thirty.
They even provided instructors who taught classes without charge.
"At my current physical level, I'm only at the beginner student tier. I'm still far from becoming a true martial artist."
Rowan let out a sigh.
At sixteen and a half, he was a year younger than Luo Feng. But right now, Luo Feng had probably already advanced to the senior student level.
Catching up through training alone was impossible.
"Wait, something's not right…"
Thinking of the gap between him and Luo Feng, Rowan's expression suddenly changed.
His physical potential had limits. Luo Feng didn't or rather, the humans in the Swallowed Star world had much higher potential.
That was because Earth in that world had undergone a global transformation known as the Great Nirvana.
The RR virus had spread across the planet, pushing both humans and animals into frenzied evolution.
"The RR virus…"
"Damn it, how could I forget something that important!"
Rowan's face instantly darkened.
The reason humans in Swallowed Star gained superior physical traits was that they had been infected by the RR virus.
Those who survived gained significant improvements in strength, speed, cell vitality, and skin resilience. That's what enabled them to reach the level of martial artists through training.
And the RR virus was airborne.
Which meant…
Rowan felt heat rising in his body and a slight dizziness clouding his head.
"This is bad. I think I've been infected!"
A wave of panic surged through him.
The RR virus had a mortality rate of around thirty percent.
There was no known cure. Survival depended entirely on luck.
"What now? I can't go back if I bring the virus into the Marvel world, it'll be a disaster."
Rowan could already feel his temperature rising and his head spinning slightly.
He didn't know if he had already transferred the virus back when testing the ring earlier, but he definitely couldn't go back now. During the infectious period, he was contagious.
The RR virus could spread through water, bodily fluids, and the air. Once it reached the Marvel world, it would be unstoppable.
At least two billion deaths globally that would be the best-case scenario.
Thanos needed a snap to wipe out half of life. Rowan could accomplish a third of that just by breathing.
He'd go down in history as a supervillain.
"I need to find a hotel. Now."
Rowan knew he didn't have time. If he collapsed on the street, things would get worse fast.
Everyone on this Earth had antibodies to the RR virus except him. That was something he couldn't explain away.
Fighting through the discomfort, he approached a passerby and asked for directions to the nearest hotel.
Thankfully, his years of physical training were paying off. Otherwise, he might've already collapsed.
"Ma'am, I need a standard room. I don't have ID, but I'll pay double."
He stumbled into a small hotel called Yue Inn and saw a woman in her forties or fifties behind the front desk. Judging by her demeanor, she was probably the owner.
By now, Rowan's face was flushed from the fever. He didn't have the energy to argue, so he simply slapped four 100-yuan bills on the counter.
"No problem!"
The woman smiled warmly. Technically, they didn't require ID, but with cash on the table, she had no reason to refuse.
"I've given you a room with good sunlight, third floor, Room 305."
She tapped a few keys, swiped a keycard, and handed it to Rowan.
Rowan nodded and made his way quickly to the elevator.
Thankfully, the hotel had one. He wouldn't have had the strength for stairs.
Ding!
The elevator stopped on the third floor. Rowan found Room 305, swiped the card, and stepped inside.
The room was tidy and well-lit, just as promised, but he barely registered it. His vision was starting to darken.
With a thud, he shut the door behind him and stumbled forward, collapsing onto the bed.
"Ugh…"
His head felt like it was filled with fog, and a groan escaped his lips.
The RR virus was no joke.
Within ten seconds of hitting the bed, Rowan began to lose consciousness.
His entire body was flushed red, lips pale, and his limbs trembled sporadically.
Outside, the evening sun still burned gently, casting golden light through the window and filling the room with a soft glow. As time passed, the brightness faded to orange and finally to deep blue, as night quietly blanketed the world. Lights flickered on one by one across the city, signaling the end of day and the coming of night.
In the darkness, sweat poured from Rowan's body.
His immune system was working at full throttle, and the struggle continued until noon the next day.
"Mmm…"
When Rowan finally came to, his entire body felt sticky and gross.
"I… survived?"
He jolted upright in bed.
A glance at the digital clock on the wall confirmed it it was already noon.
He let out a long breath.
Looks like luck was on his side. The thirty percent mortality rate hadn't claimed him.
He got out of bed and looked at himself in the mirror. His lips were dry and cracked, his face pale, and his limbs still heavy with fatigue.
But the dizziness was gone, and he only had a slight fever left.
"I was infected… but I made it. That means… my physical abilities should improve, right?"
After the fear and anxiety had faded, a sense of excitement began to rise in his chest.
The reason humans in Swallowed Star could become martial artists was because the RR virus enhanced their potential.
Now that he had survived the infection, he should have gained the same boost.
Rowan clenched his fists, hoping for a surge of strength but instead, he just felt weak. His stomach even growled.
"Forget it. I need food first."
He picked up the bedside phone and dialed the front desk.
"Hi, could I get two meals sent up? And I'd like to extend my stay for another night."
"How about wonton noodles and green pepper beef stir-fry with rice?" the landlady asked over the line.
"Sounds perfect."
"Great. I'll bring it up in about twenty minutes."
Rowan hung up and headed for the shower.
As he peeled off his clothes, he noticed a layer of sticky grime on his skin a mix of sweat and toxins. A quick scrub revealed dead skin peeling away in clumps.
With no proper scrub towel, he had to make do with a half-damp towel, giving himself a thorough cleaning.
Just as he finished showering, there was a knock at the door.
Wearing just a pair of loose shorts, Rowan opened it to see the landlady holding a tray.
"Here you go, young man. Your food."
"Thanks. One sec."
He took the tray inside and placed it on the small table by the window. Then he pulled five 100-yuan notes from his travel bag.
"This covers the food and the room. Keep the change."
He handed the money to the landlady at the door.
Her face lit up.
It had been a long time since she'd seen a guest so generous.
"Thanks! Let me know if you need anything."
Rowan shut the door and sat down at the table. First, he opened a bottle of mineral water and chugged half of it.
Then he uncovered the plates. A wave of aroma hit his nose.
One dish was wonton noodles. The other was green pepper beef with rice.
Still piping hot, clearly just cooked.
Most likely made fresh in the hotel kitchen by the landlady herself or her husband.
Rowan's stomach growled fiercely.
He wasn't sure if it was because he hadn't eaten for a day or because the virus had burned through his energy, but he was starving.
He devoured everything in front of him, slurping the noodles and inhaling the rice.
Even after finishing both plates, he only felt about sixty percent full.
"My appetite's definitely grown."
He rubbed his belly and chuckled.
As his hunger faded, so did the lingering weakness in his limbs.
Even the fever seemed to have vanished completely.
Still, Rowan didn't rush to test his new physical condition.
Instead, he climbed back under the covers.
This was a habit he'd picked up during the COVID era before his reincarnation when your body's recovering, the best medicine is sleep.
He fell into a deep, restful slumber.
When he woke up again, the sky outside was completely dark.
The digital clock on the wall read: 6:52 PM.
"Almost seven already? No good. I have to get back."
Rowan quickly threw off the blanket and got out of bed.
Serena's field assignment ended today. If she came home and didn't find him there, she'd definitely worry.
But the moment he stood up, he realized something was… different.
He felt lighter.
Like gravity had eased its grip on him.
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