However, all of this changed because of a transmigrator named Xu Yi. Xu Yi had arrived in this world before the apocalypse even began.
In his original world, the original Xu Yi was the son of a high-ranking official, a layabout who spent his days idling away and indulging in hedonism. His academic performance was a disaster; had it not been for his family throwing money at his education, he likely would have struggled to even get admitted. Even as graduation approached, he paid no mind when his supervisor sent messages requesting his thesis, choosing instead to continue his indulgent lifestyle well into the night. It wasn't until he suddenly remembered his thesis was due that he opened his computer, intending to submit a piece he had paid someone online to write for him. But just as he was about to hit send, he suffered a sudden death brought on by his prolonged indulgence and debauchery.
It was then that the outsider transmigrated into his body. This transmigrator had been a doctoral student at a biological research institute in his previous life. Upon arriving, he was shocked to find himself in someone else’s skin. Lacking the memories of the original host, he observed his surroundings and, after some investigation, concluded that the original host had died of a sudden, fatal stroke. He then spotted the open graduation thesis on the computer, alongside a phone showing unread messages from a supervisor.
Xu Yi had a sudden epiphany, guessing that the original host’s death was likely linked to pressure from his supervisor. Perhaps the young man had been unable to handle the immense stress, combined with long-term exhaustion, leading to the tragedy. Thinking of this, Xu Yi couldn't help but feel a sense of pity and sympathy for the original host. He, too, had once suffered a similar experience, being blackmailed by a supervisor with his degree. Back then, his whole world had felt as gray and lightless as a void. Now, seeing what the original host had endured, those long-buried memories surged back, hardening his resolve to seek revenge for him; he would treat it as saving his former self.
The reason Xu Yi became the culprit behind the ruin of the original storyline was that the supervisor he sought to destroy was none other than the biology professor who would eventually develop the virus serum. At the time, Professor Xie had been invited by his alma mater to serve as an acting professor. It happened to be graduation season, and he was overseeing several students, Xu Yi among them. As for the claims of student oppression, they were entirely groundless; the truth was that Xu Yi was unruly and insubordinate, failing to submit his thesis even as graduation neared. Faced with this, Professor Xie had been anxious, and his tone was inevitably stern, but his motives were rooted entirely in professional responsibility.
However, the transmigrated Xu Yi, failing to grasp the situation, began his revenge, justifying it as seeking justice for the original host and himself. First, he posted several articles online that he had co-authored with other researchers in his original world. Then, he had someone distract Professor Xie while he snuck into the professor’s laboratory. Inside, he discovered that Professor Xie was researching a new type of virus; based on the materials listed on the desk, he realized it was a highly infectious pathogen. The discovery shocked him, yet he also found it laughable. He immediately took out his phone and photographed everything in the lab.
Next, he opened the chat history between Professor Xie and Xu Yi, selectively screenshotting portions of it. Without hesitation, he posted these screenshots to the internet. Not only that, he righteously accused Professor Xie of abusing his position to force students to obey him, claiming that anyone who dared to defy his orders would never receive their degree—an act he labeled a desecration and insult to the field of education.
He then switched to an alt account and leaked the contents of the lab online with the headline: "Shocking! Nationally Renowned Biologist Professor Xie Secretly Researching Infectious New Virus!" The post claimed that the content creator had defied personal danger to infiltrate Professor Xie’s laboratory and bring the matter to light. He not only accused Professor Xie of having tendencies that threatened social stability but also harshly criticized the virus being studied. Finally, Xu Yi whispered into the ears of his family elders, prompting his high-ranking relatives to add fuel to the fire, which ultimately led to the total destruction of Professor Xie’s reputation.
Even when Professor Xie explained that he had never coerced any students, netizens refused to believe him, as the articles Xu Yi had posted on other sites completely dismantled the professor’s claims regarding his student’s academic misconduct and lack of scholarship. Professor Xie also tried to explain to the public that the virus he was studying had been discovered during a field assessment by the research institute and that he had been authorized to study it, warning that it could bring great harm to humanity and potentially lead to an apocalypse. However, the research institute issued a public announcement at that very moment, claiming they knew nothing of the matter and had no idea what kind of virus the professor was studying. The institute’s move to shift the blame was due to both public pressure and the benefits they had received from Xu Yi.
Consequently, netizens branded Professor Xie a "biological madman" who had become obsessed with his research, accusing him of manufacturing panic. Keyboard warriors joined the cyberbullying in droves. Xu Yi even slandered Professor Xie to his own official father, calling him a national traitor who wanted to induce public anxiety. Ultimately, because there was no evidence to prove he was a traitor, Professor Xie was given a warning by his superiors and stripped of his position.
Returning home after being dismissed, Professor Xie felt heavy-hearted and profoundly disillusioned. Having dedicated his entire life to the nation’s research, he had never imagined he would end up in such a state. In the end, Professor Xie passed away on the very first day the apocalypse broke out. This outcome meant that the male protagonist in the later timeline could never bring Professor Xie back to the base alive.
This undoubtedly meant the loss of any possibility of developing the virus serum. Although the protagonist later overcame the powerful Zombie Emperor through countless hardships, the virus continued to spread, and new Zombie Emperors emerged one after another like mushrooms after rain. Ending the apocalyptic catastrophe seemed to have become an unreachable dream. In the end, the protagonist died, and the entire world teetered on the brink of total collapse.
"948, are you sure this mission is meant for a beginner?" Xie Qi widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief as he stared straight at the System.
After understanding the full story, the shock in Xie Qi’s heart grew more intense. This wasn't some simple world mission; it was a dead end with no possible solution! If he understood correctly, ending the apocalypse required two conditions: first, the protagonist had to defeat the Zombie Emperor; second, Professor Xie had to develop the virus serum. The aftermath had already shown that no one else could produce this life-saving serum; otherwise, the world wouldn't have collapsed in the absence of the professor.
But now, he was being told that Professor Xie was dead! What did that mean? It was the equivalent of extinguishing the last glimmer of hope. Xie Qi couldn't help but rub his temples, feeling a splitting headache. Such a monumental task was, for a "salted fish" who liked to slack off, an impossible challenge.