Infinite Ebullience
Chapter 1193 - 68: Near-Death Experience_2

Chapter 1193: Chapter 68: Near-Death Experience_2

"Okay, don’t worry about it, and don’t be mad." Song Xin’s heart ached as she shed tears, looking at Tang Zheng’s pale face, her hands and feet in a flurry, unsure of what to do.

"You won’t turn into a zombie, you’ll be fine after some sleep." Tao Ran reached for the backpack; Tang Zheng was very meticulous and would definitely have brought emergency supplies.

"Tao Ran, help me get her out." Tang Zheng looked at the two girls, deeply moved, but he couldn’t drag them down with him. Suddenly, he used all his strength and swung his hand down on Song Xin’s neck.

Song Xin’s eyes went dark, and she collapsed stiffly beside him.

"Tao Ran, you’re a calm girl; don’t do anything foolish now. I know my own body. Take her out and block the door with furniture on your way." Tang Zheng wasn’t joking; his fingers had begun to stiffen. After the high fever subsided, his body temperature plummeted rapidly, shivering with cold. Worse still, his nerves were responding sluggishly, and his skin was losing sensation.

Tao Ran cried. She could see no fear in Tang Zheng’s eyes, only resignation. Such a good man should not have to die!

"If Dong Zixuan wakes up, you, Song Xin, and Dong Tao stick with her; your chances of survival will be much better. If you’re lucky enough to find a seed, you must use it as soon as possible." Tang Zheng took the last moments to entrust Tao Ran with these words. He actually wasn’t ready to let go; there were still so many things he hadn’t done, but he couldn’t show any sense of loss in front of the girls.

Tao Ran nodded, tears splattering on the ground.

"Go now, there’s not much time left." Tang Zheng’s breathing was weakening; he was so tired that even his eyelids wanted to close.

"Tang Zheng, thank you!" Suddenly, Tao Ran leaned in and lightly kissed his lips, a touch filled with a maelstrom of flavors and emotions that even Black Long Straight couldn’t explain.

"Heh, a young girl’s lips really are sweet!" Tang Zheng joked, then continued to cough up blood. Black Long Straight tried to wipe it off for him, but he pushed her away, "You’re strong, so live on. If possible, make sure Song Xin survives too."

Tao Ran nodded, picked up Song Xin, and exited the bedroom. Following his instructions, she blocked the door. After taking one final glance at Tang Zheng through the crack of the door, Black Long Straight crouched in the hallway, clutching her head, and wept uncontrollably.

The night was blurry, the starry sky dazzling, like a crystalline lake reflecting the world’s warm murmurs.

Tang Zheng thought of his parents back home and, for the first time, broke down in tears. He wanted to wipe them away but his arm was too heavy to raise. Then the images of Li Xinlan, Qin Yan, Lin Weiguo, and the entire Warhammer team flashed through his mind.

"I got too cocky. Lu Fan will probably cry when he hears of my death." Tang Zheng smiled bitterly, suddenly feeling powerless. Even against the Trojans, how were the fearless any different? They were still just ants to be toyed with.

Dizziness overcame him, and Tang Zheng closed his eyes, leaning back on the large bed.

"Big dummy, how can you give up? I want to grow up quickly and marry you!" Lu Fan stood with her hands on her hips, gulping down a bottle of milk before pouting and roaring at Tang Zheng.

"Brother, you’re not someone who gives in easily!" Lin Weiguo patted Tang Zheng’s shoulder, encouraging him.

Qin Yan didn’t speak, just silently watched Tang Zheng.

Li Xinlan lay on Tang Zheng’s legs, sobbing uncontrollably with her face bathed in tears.

Bai Guo squatted beside him, clutching Tang Zheng’s right hand tightly, her lips pursed in prayer, hoping he would pull through.

"Tang Zheng, I have no ability, but I’ve survived, aren’t you at least as strong as me?" Pang Meiqin grabbed Tang Zheng’s collar and kissed him on the lips, biting down hard.

...

"Ah!" Tang Zheng was startled awake, drenched in sweat as if he had just been fished out of the sea, "Cough, cough, I’m not dead yet. I was already starting to see my life flash before my eyes."

The house was quiet, but the faint sound of crying from the corridor warmed Tang Zheng’s heart. He knew it was Black Long Straight.

"Yes, how can I give up, even if there is only a glimmer of hope, I should try." Tang Zheng, enduring the severe pain in his head, pondered ways to save himself, "Shang Wu, if you saw me in this sorry state right now, you would laugh yourself to death!"

The unstoppable memory of the first and only woman he had seen leave the Trojan Room alive appeared in Tang Zheng’s mind. He remembered the conversation they had in Uesugi Runa’s living room. Yes, the vending machine. She had mentioned that there were many secrets and rules in Trojan that were yet to be discovered, and finding them would bring additional rewards!

"Heh, my body is done for." Tang Zheng was frustrated. If he had thought of this sooner, perhaps he could have purchased a potion to treat the zombie virus. But now it was too late. "No, there’s still a chance for a last-ditch effort."

Tang Zheng’s gaze turned to his backpack. Using his last bit of strength, he took out two small refrigerated containers he had captured from Ada.

Looking at the two white metal cylinders that resembled canned beer, Tang Zheng let out a bitter laugh. Although Ada had claimed that this substance was a potent healing potion and that injecting it could enhance combat power and repair a wounded body, he absolutely didn’t believe it. But he had no choice now.

The LCD screen on the side of the can showed -20°C, flashing continuously, indicating that the refrigerated container was intact. Tang Zheng didn’t recognize the other data beside it, but it was no longer necessary. He pressed the button marked OPEN.

With a hiss, some type of freezing liquid came into contact with the room temperature air and vaporized immediately. A large amount of white freezing gas spilled out, and a metal bracket rose, with a semi-transparent metal test tube injector fixed on it, filled with blue potion that shimmered like the ocean.

Bubbling up, the potion’s activity was high, with small bubbles continuously rising from the bottom, reminiscent of an underwater volcano awaiting eruption.

Tang Zheng knew he couldn’t wait any longer. While he still had some strength left, he removed the test tube, which was essentially an injector marked with volume for easy use.

Not wearing a shirt, it was convenient for him to inject. Hesitating for a moment, he chose intravenous injection over intramuscular, as it would take effect faster.

Tang Zheng was ready with an alcohol swab for disinfection, but regretfully he no longer had the extra strength to reach for it. Lying on the ground, he got as close to the test tube as possible, then, with his right hand, he grasped the test tube and stuck the needle into his vein. Due to his diminished strength, his arm shook, and he failed on the first attempt.

With a rueful smile, Tang Zheng bit down on his teeth and tried several times until he finally succeeded. As his thumb pressed the plunger, the blue potion entered his vein.

An icy sensation hit him immediately, and Tang Zheng knew that in twenty seconds, the potion would flow throughout his body with his blood.

The previously weakening heart immediately began to beat rapidly, like a war drum. Looking at the full thirty milliliters of potion, Tang Zheng had no idea how much to use, but in a moment of resolve, he injected it all into his body.

"It seems to be working?" Tang Zheng felt his limbs regain sensation and some strength returned. His breathing became more steady. He struggled onto the bed, but the next moment his face drastically changed. His skin across his body cracked incessantly as if sliced by wind blades, blood oozing without stop. And with his heart beating faster and faster, reaching three hundred beats per minute and still increasing, he was going to die regardless.

Agonizing pain engulfed his entire body. Knowing Tao Ran was just outside the door and not wanting to worry her, he bit down hard on the pillow. Sweat from his forehead dripped down, mixing with the blood, quickly soaking through it.

The whole bed sheet was stained with Tang Zheng’s blood. It was as if he had been thrown into magma, his entire being on fire. After enduring non-human torment for a full five minutes, his heart underwent the most violent beat and then... stopped.

Tao Ran wiped away her tears, unable to resist pushing aside the furniture blocking the door, peeking through the crack to see Tang Zheng, whose body was soaked with blood as he lay on the bed with his head askew, eyes unfocused.

"Tang Zheng!" Tao Ran fell to the ground in agony. He was still dead.

"No, he won’t die." Because Tang Zheng’s strength had waned, Song Xin had not been knocked out until morning as he had intended, and she woke up. Stumbling out of the room, she saw Tao Ran crying, her cheeks flooded with tears. She pushed Tao Ran aside, intent on rushing into the room. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommended votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)