Chapter Fifty: The Death of the Royal Scholar

"You... what are you planning to do?" Academician Wang trembled all over when he saw Gu Sha draw his blade.

Major Wu, tense as well, said, “Mr. Gu…”

Gu Sha gave a cold snort and said, “Academician Wang, I’m asking you one last time: what exactly is the research data from that laboratory about? You have only one chance. There are several other researchers here—someone among them is bound to tell the truth!”

A change came over Academician Wang’s face.

His experiment was no secret. Not only those in the same lab knew about it—even the news had reported on it before. The reason he deceived Major Wu was because he knew that people like Wu would never pay attention to research news, and that they were men of deep conviction—soldiers who, even in doubt, would risk their lives for their beliefs.

But seeing Gu Sha’s posture now, he realized Gu Sha certainly knew about the research project, perhaps as an enthusiast who followed scientific news, or maybe he had learned something inside the lab earlier.

He also knew what kind of man Gu Sha was. If Gu Sha forced the others to speak the truth, none would dare refuse.

At once, Academician Wang fell silent.

Major Wu, though steadfast in faith, was no fool. Seeing Academician Wang cower into silence, he immediately understood that Wang had been lying to them.

In a flash, fury overtook him. He seized Academician Wang by the collar and roared, “You’ve gone too far! I respected you because you’re a scientist. So many of our brothers gave their lives to save you. I never asked for your gratitude—only that our sacrifice be worthy. But you—using our faith to satisfy your own desires? That’s sending us to our deaths! We’re flesh and blood, too!”

Major Wu, boiling with rage, wanted to strike Academician Wang, but when his fist hovered before Wang’s face, he held it back with a bitter snarl.

“To hell with you!”

He threw Academician Wang to the ground, but kept his composure and did nothing more. He turned to Gu Sha and said, “Thank you, Mr. Gu!”

Gu Sha shrugged, slid the Tang sword back into its sheath, and replied, “No need for thanks. I’m not interested in saving you. It’s just that, when you spoke of the mission and faith of Longzhou’s soldiers, I felt you shouldn’t die for the selfishness of such a man.”

However—

Just then, Academician Wang suddenly spoke again, his face dark and twisted. “I don’t care about any of that. That research data is my life’s work! If it’s destroyed, I’d rather die.”

Major Wu frowned. “What do you mean, Academician Wang?”

Wang’s voice rasped, “You people can’t possibly understand. That was the greatest research—one that would make me the world’s greatest scientist, immortalized in history! This damned apocalypse shattered my dreams and everything I had. I will not accept it! No matter what becomes of this world, my research must see the light of day!”

“You don’t understand. None of you understand. That research is my life!”

He stormed up to Major Wu, seized his collar, and glared fiercely into his eyes. “I know why you rescued me—you want me to do research for you in the fortress, don’t you? It’s my abilities you’re after, isn’t it? Did those people die for me? What does that matter to me? You only care about my value!

Fine! I’ll go to the fortress and work for you—but you must recover my research data. The lab is crawling with mutant wasps; that data won’t last long. If you don’t get it for me now, I won’t leave. I’d rather die right here. If I can’t have my research, what’s the point of living?

So go, right now, and bring me my data—bring it here! Otherwise, I’ll die right here. Don’t even think about getting me to do anything for you. I’ll die right here!”

Major Wu looked deeply troubled.

He knew how important Academician Wang was to the authorities, knew full well the immense significance of this man. Even when Wang made such an insane demand, Wu did not immediately refuse. After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Academician Wang, must you…”

“I’m not discussing this with you. You must go!” Wang’s voice rose to a hysterical shriek.

Major Wu kept his composure. “I need to report to my superiors.”

Academician Wang growled, “To hell with reports! I have only one demand: get my things back if you want my help. Otherwise, I’ll die before I do anything for you. Report, huh? You tell your leader—do you want me alive, or do you want my work? You—”

A sudden sound—“thud.”

In that instant, a blade pierced Academician Wang’s chest.

It was Gu Sha’s Tang sword, running straight through his heart.

Everyone froze.

Gu Sha gripped the hilt, pulled the blade out with a flick, and said coldly, “Damn it, I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Clutching his chest, Academician Wang pointed at Gu Sha, disbelief flooding his eyes. With a crash, he fell to the ground, convulsed a few times, and lay still.

Major Wu stammered, “Mr. Gu, you—”

Gu Sha waved him off. “Just tell your superiors what happened, and have them negotiate with the Transcenders’ Association.”

...

With that wretched mess of Academician Wang behind them, Gu Sha and his group made a smooth withdrawal from Qingtong Town.

The mutant wasps had made their nest in the research institute. As long as no one disturbed them there, they rarely emerged.

Without the wasps to deal with, fighting the zombies alone posed no pressure for Gu Sha. Along the way, he collected nearly fifty first-tier corpse cores.

Thereafter, the group made it back to the C City Fortress without further incident.

By the time they returned, night had already fallen.

After a shower, Gu Sha went straight to bed.

The next morning, before he was even up, his phone rang. He answered, and the voice of the operator, Nie Qingqing, came through: “Mr. Gu, sorry to disturb you. Are you available now?”

“Speak,” said Gu Sha.

“The president says he’s already learned all about yesterday’s events. As for Academician Wang, you needn’t worry—he’ll handle it. Also, your mission is considered complete. Someone from the Association will deliver your reward soon,” Nie Qingqing replied.

Gu Sha was a little surprised.

Killing Academician Wang was no small matter. Wang’s status was truly high—otherwise the fortress would not have gone to such lengths to rescue him, even losing more than a dozen Transcenders. Gu Sha had expected serious trouble, but to his astonishment, Han Ze shouldered the entire burden himself.

It made no sense.

Gu Sha asked, “Did Han Ze say anything else?”

“President Han said that in the next few days, please do not leave the fortress. Stay inside.”

(End of chapter)