"Then Captain Jie Xi, does the Dawn Tower have any next steps?"
"We do."
"Can you tell me about it?"
"It's classified. What I can say is that we are already researching the Viral Antibody Vaccine. Once the research is successful, those injected with the antibody vaccine who are unexpectedly attacked by a Zombie will not become Infected. As long as the injury isn't fatal, there's a chance to keep living."
"Really! That's wonderful!"
Upon hearing about the vaccine, Wang Zhi seemed to see a glimmer of hope.
"Don't celebrate too soon. The antibody vaccine is extremely complex; we need a large number of experts in this field, and Dr. Yang Liu is one of them. Furthermore, this is ultimately just an antibody, not a cure. The antibody vaccine can, at best, address accidental infection."
"But at least we are one step closer to success."
"You're thinking too simply. Alright, let's stop talking about this heavy topic. Come with me somewhere."
"Huh? Where are we going?"
"You'll know when we get there."
Wang Zhi didn't know what mischief Jie Xi was planning this time. Following behind Jie Xi, Wang Zhi and Jia Liuli endured the stares of the gossiping passersby as they walked all the way to the third-floor training hall. Jie Xi found an empty training room and went inside. The training room was about 100 square meters, completely empty inside, with rubber flooring, looking like a place for sparring.
Wait! A place for sparring? Could it be?
"Uh... Captain Jie Xi, what are you planning?"
"You two, attack me with all your strength," Jie Xi said, turning to face Wang Zhi and Jia Liuli.
"Huh? This isn't really... *Pfft*!"
Before Wang Zhi could finish speaking, Jie Xi opposite him punched him back a meter.
"The next move won't be so gentle," Jie Xi said after landing the punch, pausing to let Wang Zhi catch his breath.
Wang Zhi knew Jie Xi was serious this time, and he too needed to use his full power to deal with Captain Jie Xi of the Guard Team before him!
"Jia Liuli, be careful," Wang Zhi also warned Jia Liuli, urging her not to hold back her full strength.
Seeing that the two had entered a combat state, Jie Xi began her attack. She pushed off the ground and instantly appeared to Wang Zhi's left. Wang Zhi was secretly alarmed; he and Jie Xi had been about five meters apart, yet she could close that distance in an instant. Wang Zhi could no longer predict Jie Xi's attack. *Bang!* Another palm strike hit Wang Zhi's arm. His left shoulder took the blow, forcing him back a few steps. He discovered he couldn't lift his left arm anymore.
As Wang Zhi staggered back a few steps after being struck, Jia Liuli, who was nearby, raised the sheathed Ye Linglong and swung it towards Jie Xi's chest. Liuli's draw was extremely fast; Wang Zhi observed that the strike was almost flawless, locking down any predictive movement by the opponent, making it an almost certain hit. But in the next moment, Wang Zhi redefined the limits of humanity: he saw Liuli's blade halt in mid-air before anything, while Jie Xi had already appeared behind her and clamped one hand around Liuli's delicate neck.
"Stop! We surrender," Wang Zhi choked out, clutching his dislocated left shoulder to halt the action.
Is this what the Captain of the Guard Team is capable of? She defeated me in just one move, and the seemingly inescapable, guaranteed strike Liuli delivered with her draw-slash was easily evaded by Jie Xi, who then circled behind Liuli for the fatal move.
Can a person really be this strong?
Wang Zhi stood frozen in place, replaying the events of the last five seconds.
Seeing Wang Zhi call for a stop, Jie Xi released her grip on Liuli's neck, walked up to Wang Zhi, and with a 'ka' sound, snapped his dislocated arm back into place.
"Ah!" The pain from the reduction made Wang Zhi cry out involuntarily.
"We lost."
Jie Xi looked at Wang Zhi, then placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't be too arrogant."
Wang Zhi remained silent, finding no reason to refute her, and in fact, strongly agreed with what Jie Xi had said.
Yes, I was just lucky to arrive here, lucky to have such strong teammates, lucky to become Captain, and lucky to have completed two missions successfully. These are nothing to boast about. Just two months ago, I was an ordinary person. Now, just because I killed a few people and some Zombies in this Apocalypse, I'm starting to become complacent and gradually losing myself in this world.
Now, having been sharply awakened by Jie Xi, Wang Zhi's gaze gradually focused. He snapped back to attention and said, "Thank you, Jie Xi."
After speaking, Wang Zhi instinctively raised his right hand and reached toward the hand Jie Xi had placed on his left shoulder.
When Wang Zhi touched her hand, Jie Xi instinctively wanted to pull away but managed to restrain herself. "Manage yourself well."
Saying this, she withdrew her hand from Wang Zhi's shoulder and walked toward the exit of the training room.
"Wait a moment, Jie Xi."
Hearing Wang Zhi call her, Jie Xi turned around, waiting for Wang Zhi to continue.
"How can I become strong quickly?"
"Heh, do you think there's a shortcut?" Jie Xi let out a scornful smile, then turned and left.
Do you think there's a shortcut? Right, where would there be a shortcut? Why did I ask such a foolish question?
"Liuli, please come over and help me up."
Wang Zhi, who had just taken two moves from Jie Xi, still felt a slight internal injury. He draped his arm over Liuli's shoulder, and the two supported each other as they headed back.
Returning to their quarters, Su Muying and Fatty were reclining on the sofa watching a movie being played on the Ling Lingyao. They saw Wang Zhi and Liuli enter, supporting each other.
"Yo, what's going on here? Don't tell me that Captain Jie Xi beat you up?" Su Muying joked.
...
Seeing that neither of them spoke, Su Muying sat up sharply on the sofa. "Did she really beat you up?"
Liuli nodded, while Wang Zhi remained silent, heading straight upstairs to his room to lie down on the bed.
"Damn it, that woman is too arrogant! How dare she hit our Captain Wang!? I think she's just showing off like a little cow flying in an airplane." Upon hearing the details from Liuli, Fatty immediately jumped up from the sofa, indignantly declaring.
"Liuli, are you saying that your signature move, the 'Blade Draw Slash,' not only missed, but she managed to get behind you?" Su Muying asked seriously.
She was very familiar with Liuli's swordsmanship; she couldn't conceive of a situation where an initial strike failed and the opponent still managed to circle behind them.
"Come on, use your scabbard and attack me with the same motion you used against Jie Xi just now."
Su Muying stood up, wanting to feel it out.
Liuli held the scabbard, preparing to strike, while Su Muying focused intently on Liuli's movements.
*Swish!* Liuli struck! Su Muying dodged!
Su Muying was startled. She could barely evade that strike, but getting behind the opponent would have been impossible. Yet, Jie Xi had done it, and with ease.
"By the way, what happened to Captain Wang? Did he get beaten up and run off to cry into his blankets?" Fatty asked.
"Oh? Then I'll have to go give him some proper comfort," Su Muying said with a wicked smile.