After a while, Ding Junyi got ready and stepped out of the car with her computer, while Chen Sixuan took out the pot with the Hell Black Chrysanthemum.
The members of the research team saw the black, peculiar plant and immediately gathered around to start discussing with Ding Junyi.
Soon after, Guo Sicheng and others carefully escorted the Hell Black Chrysanthemum onto the vehicle, and Ding Junyi gave Lin Xian a brief signal before boarding the research team’s car.
"Make sure to protect it well. As soon as we go back, start organizing the experiment and call everyone who can help!" Professor Guo’s aged face seemed devoid of any fatigue, filled with excitement and eagerness, as he began organizing things even before he got into the car.
Yu Yuheng also came over to thank Lin Xian: "Captain Lin, I really don’t know how to thank you. Not only did you save our team, but you’re also willing to support the Phoenix Society’s work. Besides expressing gratitude, I don’t have much else to say. If we can escape this Extreme Cold Vortex, I will apply to the higher-ups for your abilities, which might provide a unique solution for our Emperor Plan."
"No need for such formalities." Lin Xian now had a good impression of Yu Yuheng, although, as KIKI mentioned, he’s a bit of a bookish type, his recent actions really caught Lin Xian’s attention.
Choosing cooperation over prejudice in crucial moments shows great character, which is precisely why Lin Xian admires these scientific workers.
By this time, everyone had gotten into the car, except Wei Kexue. He stood in the snow, anxiously searching for something in his coat pocket, then walked over to Lin Xian. Lin Xian saw him retrieve a black iron box from his inner pocket. He removed his gloves, breathed on his hands for warmth, and cautiously opened the box, revealing three rolling Level 1 Blood Essence. He held out the box to Lin Xian, smiling awkwardly:
"Professor Guo is an old academic type who doesn’t understand those interests disputes, always talking about moral righteousness. I know this Disaster Plant is very important to you, maybe after successful research, the Phoenix Society might give you some kind of reward. But our research team has nothing right now, so consider this as a small token from our group. I hope you don’t mind. We won’t waste a single day in the coming days, ensuring your trust in us is not in vain."
Lin Xian saw Wei Kexue’s weary face, knowing that it’s definitely not easy for him, as a technician, to gather this, he immediately pushed back with his hand and said: "Since I am willing to cooperate with the Phoenix Society, I naturally trust you all. There’s no need to mention benefits. Let’s just hope for an early discovery, which will truly help all survivors."
Wei Kexue listened, his smile slowly solidified, his gaze slightly darkened as he looked down at the iron box.
"Actually, the teacher proposed this theory long ago. Initially, I didn’t support him at all. Not just me, many were unwilling or afraid to believe..."
"Afraid of facing Dark Creatures, right?" Lin Xian said.
Wei Kexue spoke solemnly: "For survivors, yes. For Phoenix Society’s leadership, not entirely."
Lin Xian stiffened upon hearing this.
"If Dark Creatures attack by marking humans, treating them as bonfires or lighthouses to locate and attack, it also implies that pursuing dawn embodies greater risk for the Phoenix Society."
Lin Xian countered: "So the Federation’s defense plan is correct? Unable to solve the issue of dark invasion, humanity can’t thrive without sunlight. It’s just a matter of prolonged pain versus short-term pain. What’s the point of deceiving ourselves?"
Wei Kexue sighed helplessly: "I know, we all know. But ordinary people think very little. Most importantly, I feel it’s not just about stance but about how this theory might change humanity’s survival mode."
He spoke while raising his head towards Lin Xian: "If proven, it would mean letting the hard-earned survivors actively seek out Dark Creatures, putting their lives on the line. To put it bluntly, it’s sending them to their death."
Lin Xian’s words stalled, he said nothing.
"No investigation, no voice. That leader was right." Wei Kexue pondered: "Regardless of standing from a scientist’s perspective or an apocalypse leader’s view, we must present viable evidence for this dangerous theory, otherwise it might accelerate humanity’s extinction."
Lin Xian looked at him: "What did you experience at Wei River?"
Wei Kexue shivered uncontrollably upon hearing Lin Xian’s question, his expression plunged into immense anguish, his lips began to quiver unnaturally.
"The mark... reached a certain threshold."
"A certain fatal threshold."
These words caused Lin Xian’s hair to stand on end.
Wei Kexue’s eyes brimmed with agony and struggle, seemingly unwilling to recall: "At that time, I started to truly affirm the teacher’s theory. I repeatedly mentioned to Bai Shuang, our nightly death pressure kept growing, but at that time everyone believed we were about to join the reinforcement troops stationed nearby."
"Just short of... the last dawn..."
Lin Xian fell silent when hearing this, understanding the ordeal Wei Kexue faced.
Though successfully escaped from the climbing elevator, what they confronted was a Level 5 mark.
Infinity was lucky to escape from Rain Town, and upon discovery, they managed to suppress the Dark Mark thanks to a territorial parasitic monster; otherwise, the entire train wouldn’t have survived the night.