I'm being held captive by a monster

Chapter 251 The 4-Step Problem-Solving Method

Chapter 251 The Four-Step Problem-Solving Method

"Xiaoye, sleep a little longer."

"I can sleep a little longer... I have two more hours, I'll wake you up when it's time."

Lin Xing'an and Xu Ye returned home at 4:30 a.m.

Because the first-floor window was broken, Lin Xing'an carried Xu Ye directly to the second-floor bedroom.

Although it's smaller than the master bedroom on the first floor, it feels much cozier.

The air conditioner was turned on to heat the room, and it warmed up in no time.

"sleep together."

Xu Ye huddled under the covers, only half her face showing, staring longingly at Lin Xing'an. She shifted her body and patted the empty space next to her.

"I'll wash up first, it'll take five minutes."

"Then I'll warm the bed for you~"

Xu Ye shrank further under the covers, blinked, and said obediently.

Seeing her expression, Lin Xing'an leaned down and gently kissed Xu Ye's forehead.

This caused Xu Ye's face to turn red instantly.

"Thank Wife."

Lin Xing'an didn't give Xu Ye time to react and kissed him again.

Then he got up and went to the bathroom.

"call……"

Lin Xing'an washed his face with cold water and looked at himself in the glasses.

There are still gluttonous ghosts in the southern city, such as that mirror ghost.

Bringing Xu Ye and his family along is tantamount to bringing a "hostage."

Of course, most importantly, because of his contact with Qian Qiongzhi, Xu Ye can be basically certain that he has also been infected with the [epidemic].

By observing Xu Ye's condition, Lin Xing'an can more accurately determine the infection situation in Beicheng.

At the same time, if he felt the time was right to go back, but Zhang Guang didn't call him back, he could use "saving Xu Ye" as an excuse to return to Beicheng.

"...South City..."

Lin Xing'an said softly.

The thought of returning to this place that holds all his childhood memories stirred a strange feeling within Lin Xing'an.

Especially with Yu Yu's presence...

"..."

Lin Xing'an closed his eyes, placed his hand on his chest, and felt the feather that Yu Yu had given him.

Time really can heal all wounds.

It has been a full fifteen years since I was six years old.

Unbeknownst to him, Yu Yu's image in Lin Xing'an's mind had become blurry.

It seemed that only a gentle silhouette remained, but the face was somewhat indistinct.

Of all the people he knows in Nancheng, only Yunxia remains there.

Last time, his sister also told him about Taoyuan's entire plan to kill Xu Zhe.

The most crucial part is using Yunxia's abilities to summon Yu Yu's "illusion".

"Perhaps... this is the last chance I'll have to see Yu Yu again..."

Lin Xing'an thought to himself silently.

After a long while, he finally let out a soft breath, brushed his teeth, washed his face, and crawled into bed.

Xu Ye, as if she had been waiting for a long time, naturally snuggled into Lin Xing'an's arms like a clingy kitten and hugged him tightly once again.

Their breaths mingled, and neither of them spoke.

After a long while, feeling that Xu Ye in his arms had fallen asleep, Lin Xing'an quietly established a connection with Yin Hui.

He first glanced at the situation in the siege unit.

Zhang Guang was still in the office, looking rather unhappy, as if he had just finished talking with Xu Zhe.

As for the specifics of their conversation, Lin Xing'an wasn't particularly concerned about Xu Zhe's subsequent situation.

Because it seems that Xu Zhe no longer poses a threat to him.

What Lin Xing'an was more concerned about was...

He found his way to the underground medical clinic.

In Zhao Wuji's ghost realm, he was wearing a mask, his brows furrowed, and his expression unusually serious.

On the table to the side were various books, as well as bottles and jars.

Inside the room were Ke Ke and Tang Chen.

The two men clutched their water glasses, and despite wearing masks, it was clear from just half of their faces that they both looked unwell.

And every now and then he would cough uncontrollably.

"Old Zhao, how is it?"

Just as Lin Xing'an was about to leave, Xu Zhe's voice came.

"Very, very, very bad, extremely bad."

Zhao Wuji put away the Ghost Domain and shook his head.

"Old Xu, this is the [Epidemic], the work of the Sixteenth Month. I'm very familiar with it; I was analyzing her abilities thirty years ago as well."

"But this pandemic is very well designed by her, and I don't see any way to break it at the moment."

"In other words, I won't be able to develop an antidote in three to five years."

"The only way to end the [epidemic] is to kill Sixteen."

Zhao Wuji's words caused Xu Zhe to visibly slump.

Ke Ke and Tang Chen, who were standing to the side, also turned pale.

"Junior..."

Koko clenched his fists in worry.

She was unaware of what had happened that night.

At this moment, all I could think about was my worry for Lin Xing'an.

After all, Lin Xing'an isn't very strong; if he gets infected, he'll definitely suffer even more than she is now...

"Old Zhao, this epidemic is contagious... cough cough!"

As Xu Zhe was speaking, he suddenly felt a tickle in his throat, and then his expression changed as he began to cough uncontrollably!

"Old Xu, put on a mask."

Zhao Wuji wasn't surprised at all.

He simply handed Xu Zhe a mask.

Xu Zhe took it, hesitated for a moment, and then didn't take it with him.

"Old Xu, the infectivity of this [epidemic] is quite terrifying, reaching over 90%, and the virus is transmitted through the air."

"Due to such high infectivity, the incubation period was extended to sixteen months."

"The current cough, sore throat, etc. are just the prelude. This epidemic will gradually reduce the immune system of infected people."

"I predict that the real outbreak of the epidemic will take about a month."

Zhao Wuji looked at the various data on the computer and spoke cautiously.

What does "outbreak period" mean? What is the mortality rate?

Xu Zhe also looked at the computer and continued to ask.

"The outbreak period is when the epidemic launches a full-scale attack on your body, and the mortality rate is at least 80% or higher."

"It will vary depending on each person's physical condition, strength level, and abilities."

"But even if you survive... the damage the disease has caused to your body is irreversible."

Zhao Wuji shook his head and sighed.

"Old Zhao, can you develop inhibitors or something like that?"

Xu Zhe paused for a moment and then asked.

"Yes, but I need time, at least a week. Even if it is developed, it can only suppress the epidemic for about a week."

"Moreover, it only suppresses the outbreak of the epidemic; it has no impact on the spread of the epidemic during this period."

Zhao Wuji said rather conservatively.

Seeing that Xu Zhe remained silent, a look of anxiety appeared on his face.

"Old Xu, what do we do now?"

he asked directly.

What do you think? What do you want to do?

Xu Zhe countered with a question.

Zhao Wuji took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and sat down in the chair.

"Declare martial law. Bring the first few infected gluttons here immediately and hand them over to the Divine Palace. Perhaps the Divine Palace can still find a way."

"Then the committee isolated and locked down the infected colleagues. Although it's too late now, we can only try to minimize the impact."

"Also, mobilize all manpower and resources as soon as possible to conduct a thorough search of the North City. Only by killing Sixteen Moon can we end the [Plague]." "She must be very well protected by humans and animals right now, but there's no other way. We must find Sixteen Moon as soon as possible, no matter what."

Zhao Wuji then looked at Ke Ke and Tang Chen.

A look of unspoken unease crossed his face.

If they discover anything unusual and self-isolate immediately, they might still have a chance.

but now……

Zhao Wuji sighed.

"Old Zhao, it's too late, isn't it?"

Seeing his appearance, Xu Zhe said in a slightly hoarse voice.

“From the time we came into contact with those gluttons, those sources of infection, until we returned to the committee, we had already brought the virus over.”

"Even if we are in quarantine now, there is still virus in the air."

"Moreover, Qian Qiongzhi was also in contact with the source of infection, and she had already started coughing before she left."

"After leaving, she came into contact with even more people."

A glint appeared in Xu Zhe's eyes.

Zhang Guang, Jiang Rong, Qian Sen, Mai Yuran, Mai Lingbu, and the elders the twins met after returning home...

The chain of transmission has now been formed.

"There's no way around it. It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost. It's always better to do something sooner rather than later."

"We can't do nothing, after all, the infection rate isn't 100%."

Zhao Wuji gave a wry smile and said.

"No, we might."

Xu Zhe clenched his fist, then relaxed it, and then clenched it again!

"...Old Xu, what are you trying to do?"

Zhao Wuji paused for a moment and looked at Xu Zhe.

Only now did he realize that Xu Zhe's condition was not right.

"Everything is as usual. Keke and Tang Chen go to work as usual. They don't need to wear masks. Just pretend nothing happened."

"Old Zhao, you're researching inhibitors. I'll bring those owners over for you to study carefully."

Xu Zhe said in a deep voice.

"Old Xu, are you crazy?! At this rate, the entire committee will be infected in less than three days!"

Zhao Wuji's eyes widened, and he said in disbelief.

"There's nothing we can do, Lao Zhao. Even if we take measures now, we can't stop it. In fact, it will only cause us more trouble."

"Do you remember how Professor Yang taught us when we first arrived at the committee?"

Xu Zhe looked up and asked.

Zhao Wuji's expression changed once again.

"Keke, Tang Chen, you two listen up too."

Xu Zhe coughed twice more, unable to stop himself.

"When something happens, our first phase is to declare that nothing has happened."

"In the second phase, we declared that something might happen, but no action needed to be taken."

"In the third phase, we declared that we should take action, but there is nothing we can do at the moment."

"In the fourth phase, we declare that it is too late to do anything now."

As Xu Zhe spoke, he went to get a glass of water and drank it down in one gulp.

Then, without giving Zhao Wuji a chance to speak, he spoke again.

“Old Zhao, if we do as you say and start tracing the source, we will be the first to be affected.”

“But if we wait a little longer and give me some time to clean up the mess, then we can go from being the instigators of the spread of the epidemic to the first whistleblowers who discovered it.”

"Moreover, when the epidemic spreads, there won't be time to investigate us more thoroughly, making it easy to cover it up."

"Don't worry, it won't take too long. Anyway, it's already late, so let's delay it a little longer."

Xu Zhe patted Zhao Wuji on the shoulder and said.

Sensing Xu Zhe's presence and seeing the bloodshot in his eyes, Zhao Wuji had a strong feeling that Xu Zhe would instantly fly into a rage if he refused.

"Old Zhao, in the meantime, I'll secretly investigate the news about Sixteen Months."

"You just need to focus on researching this [epidemic]."

Xu Zhe said again.

"……it is good."

Zhao Wuji nodded as well.

Seeing this, Xu Zhe finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He rubbed the ring and gritted his teeth.

He needs time to think about Lin Xing'an's matter.

Considering Lin Xing'an's situation in Nancheng, how could he turn the tables on Lin Xing'an?
and many more……

Xu Zhe's expression hardened as he thought of Lin Xing'an again!
Ke Ke, Tang Chen, and Qian Qiongzhi, who had contact with the three owners at the same time as Lin Xing'an, and even Xu Zhe, who was infected by them a second time, all began to show symptoms.

Why was Lin Xing'an completely unharmed until just now?

"Old Zhao, there's one more thing. Could you take another look at this 'epidemic'? Is the transmission route the same for those who infect gluttonous ghosts and those who infect humans and animals?"

Is it possible for humans and animals to develop immunity?

Xu Zhe suddenly looked up and said.

"……it is good."

Zhao Wuji sighed silently and nodded.

"..."

After watching for a while, Lin Xing'an also lost contact with the gloomy person in the medical department.

Seeing Xu Zhe like this, he felt relieved.

In the interrogation room, he deliberately did not cough.

After all, even the infection rate of the gluttonous ghosts is not 100%.

It's understandable that he wasn't infected.

But the main purpose was to influence Xu Zhe.

He was far away in the south of the city. The more Xu Zhe wanted to investigate him, the less he could take care of anything else, and the more likely he was to make a mistake.

"Let me leave a final message for the cat..."

The sky was beginning to lighten.

Lin Xing'an stealthily made his way to the milk tea shop.

However, the discount sign at the milk tea shop hasn't been updated in a long time.

I wonder where I'll be when the cat finishes its mission...

Lin Xing'an sighed softly.

As per the agreed-upon special circumstances, a stone was found in the cat shelter opposite the milk tea shop.

There was a wooden board fixed to the ground under the stone.

Lin Xing'an infused the gloom into the template through the fiber pores.

Then, the broken wooden board was transformed into a small mobile phone.

After briefly explaining the situation on the phone, Lin Xing'an pulled out the gloomy object, turning the phone back into a wooden board.

After doing all this, Lin Xing'an awakened another cluster of gloom.