Chapter Forty-One: Wang Qingshan and His Daughter

Although Ma Zhanlin and Wang Qingshan had no idea what a “put-back” was, those around them understood. After a round of explanation, they too began to yearn intensely for the potion in Professor Liu’s hand.

“Professor, with all due respect, you didn’t have any Awakened by your side when you developed this potion, and none of us have ever participated in your experiments. So how can you be sure of its effects?” Ma Zhanlin’s question snapped Shen Lie and the others out of their excitement. He had hit the nail on the head: no matter how promising an untested substance might seem, no one would dare use it. Who could say what unacceptable side effects it might have?

“That’s right, Professor. We’re not familiar with your level of expertise, and everything we know about this potion is just your word. Our top priority should be getting out of this accursed forest as soon as possible. Du Tianwang, I don’t think we should waste any more time here. If more mutated monsters show up, we might not have the chance to leave!” This time it was Wang Qingshan who spoke. Shen Lie sensed the strong urge to leave in Wang Qingshan’s tone and couldn’t help but glance at him in surprise. This man’s nerves were unusually frail; those crows, though troublesome, didn’t yet exist in numbers sufficient to present an overwhelming threat to a group of Awakened like them.

“Heh, Wang Qingshan, if you’re scared, you can leave on your own. No one’s stopping you,” Ma Zhanlin sneered, glancing at Wang Qingshan with undisguised contempt. After seeing the evolution potion that Professor Liu had produced, Ma Zhanlin’s attitude had clearly shifted.

But one couldn’t really blame him. Among the Awakened in the town, he was the weakest. Although he possessed a fire-based ability with decent attack potential, he could only cast small fireballs—mediocre in both destructive power and speed. He was nothing compared to Du Lili, and even Wang Qingshan’s speed ability was more practical—at least it could be used to escape in a pinch.

Thus, Ma Zhanlin was the most eager for an evolution of his ability, and he had been the first among them to exhaust the effects of the phantom mushroom. Now, learning that the liquid in this vial was an evolution potion, how could he not be moved? His attention was now fixed on the potion, and he was in no rush to leave.

Wang Qingshan’s face flushed at Ma Zhanlin’s jibe, but he quickly scoffed. “Hmph, we don’t even know if that stuff works. Even if it does, how much stronger can a few vials make us? Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but there’s more than just those crows in this forest—something even more dangerous is closing in!”

“Oh? So Wang Tianwang has awakened a precognition ability now? You sound so sure,” Ma Zhanlin retorted coldly. He was used to throwing his weight around in the town, a local tyrant even before the apocalypse, and he looked down on country folk like Wang Qingshan.

At that moment, Shen Lie noticed Wang Qingshan’s daughter tugging hard at his sleeve from behind. Wang Qingshan’s expression instantly changed. No longer caring to argue with Ma Zhanlin, he spun around to look at his daughter. When he saw her nodding rapidly, her face filled with terror, his body shuddered. He no longer cared about appearances—he grabbed his wife and daughter and bolted, running back the way they had come.

“Wang Tianwang, have you lost your mind? There are mutated crows that way!” Yang Weiguo was astonished at Wang Qingshan’s behavior and immediately tried to stop him.

Ma Zhanlin hadn’t expected Wang Qingshan to react like that. He exchanged glances with Du Lili, then looked at Shen Lie, and finally watched Wang Qingshan’s figure disappear into the mist, suspicion clouding his face.

“That old fool must have lost his mind,” Ma Zhanlin cursed angrily, then turned back to stare at the glass vial in Professor Liu’s hand, waiting for his explanation.

“It seems there are other hidden Awakened in this town,” Professor Liu murmured, a puzzled look on his face.

“What? Professor, what did you just say?” Ma Zhanlin was closely following Professor Liu’s explanation about the evolution potion, and was caught off guard by this sudden, seemingly irrelevant remark.

“I said, Wang Tianwang’s daughter is also an Awakened. If my guess is correct, her ability is likely some kind of sensory power. She must have sensed some danger, or they wouldn’t have fled so urgently.”

“Impossible!”

“No way!”

Cries of disbelief erupted around Professor Liu, but upon recalling Wang Qingshan’s behavior, everyone began to realize it was possible. They looked at one another, at a loss for words.

“Heh, what’s so impossible about it? Did you really think you were the only Awakened in this town? You asked how I tested the potion’s effects, didn’t you? To be honest, this old man is also an Awakened—though not of the offensive variety.” Professor Liu’s statement landed like a hammer blow, stunning everyone into silence.

“The professor is right,” Yang Weiguo said with a sigh. “Not all Awakened abilities are offensive. If someone awakens a different kind, they’d have no reason to advertise it—in fact, it might even get them killed instead of benefiting them.” It was clear that Yang Weiguo already knew about Professor Liu’s identity as an Awakened.

In this era, at least in situations like this, any ability without combat value was essentially useless, no different from being an ordinary person. If Professor Liu had awakened a power like Du Lili’s, the military never would have lost control of the town, and they might have found a way out long ago instead of being trapped as they were.

“So the professor is an Awakened as well. What is your ability, Professor?” Upon learning this, Ma Zhanlin’s tone softened considerably, the arrogance vanishing.

“My ability? It’s a kind of computational power. If I had to describe it, I’d call it ‘analysis.’ After awakening, I found my mind much clearer for research, and that’s why I was able to develop this potion so quickly.”

A collective gasp escaped Shen Lie and the others. That was a remarkable ability—useless in battle, perhaps, but in a large settlement or a city that hadn’t fallen, it would be highly valued. Strictly speaking, a scientist with this power would be even more valuable than a powerhouse like Du Lili.

Unconsciously, Shen Lie and the others scanned the crowd. They now realized they’d been arrogant to think they were the only Awakened in town. Who knew what kinds of people might be hiding among them? Those were the true experts, the ones with the best odds of survival.

“No need to look. There shouldn’t be any more Awakened among these people. Physical mutation is the norm for the Awakened—few are like Wang Qingshan’s daughter. I suspect such exceptions are related to the purity of awakened bloodlines, but that needs further research,” Professor Liu said, pulling back his collar to reveal star-shaped markings on his skin, evidence that even his awakening had come at a price.

“If that’s the case, I’m sure none of us doubts your potion anymore, Professor. How do you plan to distribute these, sir?” Ma Zhanlin returned his gaze to the box of potions.

“If Wang Qingshan’s daughter does have a precognitive ability, we’re likely facing an even greater catastrophe ahead. These potions should be divided equally among us. Save as many as you can, and if all hope is lost, everyone should try to escape on their own,” Professor Liu said, glancing in the direction Wang Qingshan had vanished. For the first time, his face showed deep and grave concern.