"Donât worry about the bulletproof materials, I still have some finished products rushed out over there. You plan to attack the Cyan Dragon Corps, right? Be extra careful!"
Fu Weijun rarely expressed such concern, then took a plastic bag out of his pocket and said, "These are thalami Iâve recently extracted. The failure rate is a bit high; hope itâs enough."
The thalamus must be extracted while alive, and with the current equipment conditions, itâs difficult to achieve a 100% success rate; basically, only one can be extracted from two zombies.
Zhang Su took a look and counted, seven in total, fully enough!
After witnessing the thalamus healing Yang Wenjieâs gunshot wound, he had already listed such items as top-level combat-ready materials, carrying one with him, and placing the other two with Zhong Xiaoshan.
He had been worried about the distribution, didnât expect Fu Weijun to come out with quite a few all at once, like suddenly wanting to eat ice and having hailstones falling!
"This stuff is really useful, Dr. Fu, the more the merrier!"
Zhang Su happily pocketed the thalami, even patting it lightly, just like when he used to carry pocket money to buy snacks as a child.
"Ahem. Mr. Zhang, Iâd like to have a word with you alone."
Fu Weijunâs expression suddenly changed, sliding his wheelchair a few meters to the side.
"You guys chat, Iâll go smoke a cigarette."
Duan Wuhu was very tactful, knowing that some secrets werenât meant to be overheard, he directly walked out to the gate waiting.
"Whatâs up?"
Zhang Su rarely saw Fu Weijun treating a conversation so cautiously; previously, he was never secretive, always straightforward, never caring what others thought.
"The effects of the thalamus are strong, but it is not omnipotent, and it has side effects, beware!"
Fu Weijun said with a slight furrow in his brow.
"Oh?" Zhang Su focused: "Quickly tell me!"
"After using the thalamus treatment more than three times, the fourth time basically has no special effects; not only that, look..."
As he spoke, Fu Weijun rolled up his sleeve to reveal a scar on his arm: "I cut this three days ago, and it still hasnât fully healed!"
"You mean... it not only produces very strong resistance, but also decreases the existing cellular healing capacity?" Zhang Su quickly grasped what Fu Weijun meant.
This matter indeed warranted keeping a low profile; just after letting people know about the miraculous healing properties, they would immediately hear about its severe side effects, which would leave a burden on anyoneâs mind.
Fu Weijun nodded: "Thatâs right, Mr. Zhang is very smart!"
Zhang Su smiled awkwardly, unable to remember when he was last praised for his intelligence, then asked: "Even if you tested with minor wounds each time, would it still fail?"
"Yes, you could think of it like a device that can only be activated three times. No matter whether itâs turned on for one second or an hour under full load, it canât be started a fourth time."
Fu Weijun explained with a vivid analogy.
"Hmm... could it be that the built-in cooling time hasnât passed?"
Zhang Su proposed his idea.
Fu Weijun was slightly taken aback, then pondered: "Mr. Zhangâs idea is interesting, but even if there is a cooling time, the reduction in self-healing ability is already a fact, a genetic-level change, difficult to reverse."
The meaning was clear, regardless of whether the thalamus could work again or not, heâd become weaker in some ways.
"Thereâs really no such thing as a free lunch; the thalamus isnât like a treatment but more like overdrawing the bodyâs own potential for self-healing. But still, three life-saving chances, what more can you say... So, Dr. Fu, constantly experimenting on your own body might not be a long-term strategy!"
Zhang Su looked at Fu Weijun with some concern; his actions were akin to Shennong tasting herbs, but this wouldnât last. Sooner or later, Duan Wuhu might come running over saying Fu Weijun was finished...
Fu Weijun calmly lowered his sleeve, smiling: "Then can Mr. Zhang provide me some test subjects?"
"People? No, not people..." Zhang Suâs mouth twitched. Rethinking, he said: "How about using animals? Pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, all fine, one pig and one sheep a month, three chickens and ducks each, no, make that two each, a total of six test subjects should be enough, right?"
"Canât say itâs enough, but we can certainly make good progress. Iâll trouble Mr. Zhang then!"
Fu Weijun was very pleased with this outcome, then said: "You all have important matters to attend to today, so I wonât disturb you. Iâve previously handled a batch of bulletproof materials, just in time to put them to use! By the way, Mr. Zhang, please be sure to bring back 003, thanks."
With that, Fu Weijun moved his wheelchair toward the courtyard gate, swift and decisive.
"Brother Su, quick, look at this!"
As Zhang Su just walked out of the courtyard, he saw Liu Tianji enthusiastically running over with an RPG.
"Damn!"
Zhang Su was so shocked he instinctively dodged, almost involuntarily.
"No worries, no worries, itâs empty, no grenades loaded, haha!"
Liu Tianji handed over the jet-black rocket launcher to Zhang Su.
"Damn, I thought you were going to assassinate me! No grenades? Or no grenades at all?"
Zhang Su weighed the massive weapon in his hand; although he didnât know the exact model, estimated at over ten pounds, it was undoubtedly part of the military baseâs stockpile.
Liu Tianji pointed to the vehicle coming from the Cyan Dragon Corps: "Itâs not loaded, thereâs one inside, Old Guo said itâs an explosive round, Iâm not sure."
"Alright, keep it safe, bring it tonight. Besides this, what other weapons do we have?"
Zhang Su handed the rocket launcher back to Liu Tianji.
"Apart from the broken guns, weâve got twenty-five left, eighteen assault rifles, seven submachine guns, no spare ammo, all pressed in backup magazines, the Cyan Dragon Corps guys prepared quite thoroughly!"
"Haha, awesome, tonight weâll use their weapons against them!"
Zhang Su was delighted to hear it; in the post-apocalyptic world, the hunger for food and weapons was unparalleled, and suddenly expanding their arsenal felt fantastic.
"Let me out. Let me, out. Let me out..."
Zhang Su was just about to inspect the weapons confiscated from the Cyan Dragon Corps when he suddenly heard Su Xiaoyaâs various rhythmic shouts. Despite the glass and wall barriers, it wasnât noisy, but he could hear it vaguely; others likely couldnât hear much.
"Finish up and then go rest."
With that, he headed towards the inn where Su Xiaoya was detained, having forgotten the little spy all night long.
Finding the key and opening the door, Zhang Su saw Su Xiaoya sitting by the window in the dimly lit room, wrapped in a quilt, her eyes swollen.
Her hands and feet were restricted, yet she still managed to wrap in a quilt; quite the ability to toss around, too bad there was nothing in the room to cut the straps.
"Dead yet? Still pretty lively!"
Su Xiaoya sniffled, feeling aggrieved: "Let me out, I want to go home, I want to return to Kuanzhuang."
"Hmph..." Zhang Su found it amusing; he didnât bother looking at Su Xiaoya, lighting a cigarette, he said, "Forget about going back for now. We have matters to attend to, no time to care about you. Be grateful you have a place to stay!"
"I donât need your care, I can make my way back myself!"
Su Xiaoya stubbornly said, trying to punch, but her arms were bound, nudging her body, almost falling over, adding: "Even if I die on the road, I donât need your help!"
"Who cares if you can make it back or not, you really are something, huh?"
Zhang Su squinted at Su Xiaoya, having only given her a proper look after she was cleaned, feeling she was somewhat familiar, a strange feeling.
"What do you mean?"
Su Xiaoya sobbingly asked.
"No one cares about your life or death; perhaps Kuanzhuang already thinks youâre dead." Zhang Su spread his hands.
Su Xiaoyaâs eyes widened, angry: "Impossible!"
"Impossible? They sent you on such a dangerous mission without a backup, whatâs impossible? Itâs only because Iâm kind-hearted that youâre not dead eight hundred times over! Just stay put, and someone will bring you food. Weâll deal with you once weâre done with our business!"
Zhang Su turned and left the room, ignoring Su Xiaoyaâs shouting. There was no easy way back to Kuanzhuang; daring to send spies over wouldnât be let off lightly. Unless Kuanzhuang truly didnât care about Su Xiaoyaâs life or death, theyâd have to hand over a large ransom.