After absorbing the memories, Xie Qi remained dazed for a long time. Only after a while did he come to his senses, as if waking from a dream, and asked the System with an expression of disbelief, "Am I supposed to be Tang Monk meat now?!"
Facing Xie Qi's question, the System replied in its usual calm tone, "It would appear so."
Upon receiving confirmation, a complex look crossed Xie Qi’s face. After a moment of silence, he began to mutter to himself, "If that's the case, doesn't that mean anyone who takes a bite of me won't be infected?"
Immediately after, as if struck by a thought, he frowned and continued to murmur, "But... is there enough of me to go around for everyone? Maybe I should just let them drink my blood instead... That should be enough to share, right? Do I need to add some water to dilute it? There are so many people in the world... I guess that wouldn't be enough either... How much powder could you get if you ground up my bones?"
Hearing this bizarre string of reasoning, the System felt speechless. It had to interrupt his rambling to explain, "Host! Your blood is not effective for everyone. It is completely useless for ordinary humans; only infected ability users can benefit from it. Furthermore, this curative effect is limited to the first 24 hours after infection. If that time passes, it loses its efficacy."
Xie Qi nodded thoughtfully, indicating he understood. Then he pressed further, "Aside from Professor Xie, do you know anyone else whose research capabilities are on par with his?"
The System pondered for a moment before responding, "Well... there is actually someone named Wu Longcheng. He also successfully developed a virus antidote in the later stages. Although his results weren't as perfect as Professor Xie’s—unable to completely cure infected humans—it was still quite remarkable. Moreover, Professor Wu was a classmate and close friend of Professor Xie."
Xie Qi clapped his hands upon hearing this and said, "That’s it! He’s the one. Let’s find him and have him perform a dissection on me. As long as he has the human serum from my body, combined with the unfinished research materials in the original owner's grandfather’s basement, he should be able to successfully develop the antidote! Wouldn’t that complete our mission?"
Hearing Xie Qi so calmly talk about having himself dissected, the System was shocked. While it knew the Host had this idea, it certainly never expected him to say it out loud.
Still, 948 asked in disbelief, "Host, you have such a positive mindset? You can even easily accept being dissected?"
Hearing this, Xie Qi just stared at the System, his eyes gleaming with a playful, mocking smile as he retorted, "Since you put me in this body, wasn't it your intention to have me lying alive on a lab table, waiting to be butchered and dissected for research?"
Realizing that Xie Qi had misunderstood, 948 hurriedly explained, "Although that was an initial thought... but don't worry, Host. At that time, the System will activate 'painless mode' for you, ensuring you won't feel a thing throughout the entire process! You won't be butchered!"
After hearing this from 948, the tension in Xie Qi’s face finally eased. After all, no one wants to lie alive on a table to be dissected.
Since these things wouldn't cause any physical pain, it wasn't a big deal to him after all; he could just treat it like taking a nap.
Once he had cleared everything up, Xie Qi took a deep breath and sat up. He slowly stood and walked toward the wardrobe. He stood in front of it, staring intently at the clothes inside, and began to pick and choose carefully.
"948, aren't you giving me an ability?"
The System remained silent for a moment before replying, "I apologize, Host. According to the settings, the original owner did not awaken an ability."
Xie Qi frowned and muttered, "Of course I know the original owner didn't have an ability! You want me to do the saving, but you won't even give me one ability? How am I supposed to save anyone?! And in the original owner's current state, I really can't guarantee I'll live long enough to be dissected."
The System seemed somewhat helpless, and after a while, it asked, "Then... Host, what type of ability do you want?"
Hearing this, Xie Qi knew there was room for negotiation. He leaned against the wall and smiled, saying, "With the original owner's germaphobia, I don't want to get involved with disgusting zombies. So, you catch my drift, right?"
948 hesitated for a long time before finally replying, "...The System has added 'Zombie Shield' for you. Zombies will not see you, smell your scent, or feel your presence. Everywhere you go, zombies will treat you as if you aren't there."
948 then added in its cold, mechanical tone, "However, Host, please remember: this is just a one-time perk for a novice. Subsequent tasks must be completed by you alone. This System will no longer provide any assistance."
"OK, got it, got it."
Hearing Xie Qi’s perfunctory reply, the System felt a surge of powerlessness, yet it had to force a smile as it carefully asked, "Then, honorable Host, have you already mapped out your plan of action?"
Xie Qi lazily brushed his hair back, revealing his refined features, and then put on a pair of sunglasses, hiding his confident and spirited eyes.
He spoke slowly, "Naturally, it’s to go wait for our male lead."
He paused, seemingly thinking, then continued, "As long as I follow the male lead and make it back to the base alive, the rest depends on whether Professor Wu can develop the antidote. It seems this mission isn't as difficult as I thought."
However, no sooner had Xie Qi boasted about the mission’s simplicity than he encountered the first obstacle of his life.
"Damn it! What is wrong with this door?!" Looking at the dust on his hands, Xie Qi couldn't help but kick the iron door. The door emitted a loud, resonant "clang," as if mocking his helplessness.
This left Xie Qi feeling exceptionally frustrated and agitated. He hadn't expected the original owner's condition to have such a significant impact on his own emotions.
But for now, he had no choice but to slowly adapt to this body, hoping there wouldn't be any further accidents with the mission ahead.