Immunity!

"... You two are really something." Liu Bai, who had just arrived, was speechless after hearing what Mei had told him.

"Mei, do you think it's possible that the person under the most psychological pressure in this experiment isn't you, but me?"

"I understand how you feel, Professor... I'm sorry, Dr. Mobius was being a bit willful."

"This has nothing to do with being willful."

Liu Bai also knew that he couldn't keep his immunity to death indefinitely; he would have to use it sooner or later. It was better to use it on the experimental table first than to use it on the battlefield for the first time.

Mobius is probably also taking this opportunity to test the strength of his ability.

In truth, this ability should have been tested long ago. However, Liu Bai had to admit that he was somewhat indecisive in this regard, as the matter involved was too weighty, so much so that Liu Bai didn't even dare to try it.

This time it may seem like Mobius was being a bit "willful," but in reality, it was Mobius who was willing to make a sacrifice and actively gave him a push.

"This matter... well, I don't really have anything to say about it."

"You really do know Dr. Mobius very well." Mei looked at Liu Bai, who seemed to want to say something but ultimately sighed, and pushed up his glasses.

"I know you very well too."

Liu Bai reached out and tapped Mei on the head.

"Let's go, get ready to operate on Mobius... Sigh, I have mixed feelings."

Then, Liu Bai seemed to remember something and turned to look at Kalpas.

"Sorry, Kalpas, why don't you find somewhere to sit for a while and avoid getting into conflicts with others?"

"I can arrange for him to stay in the waiting room outside the operating room."

Mei stared at Qian Jie for a Kalpas, then looked away before Kalpas could show any impatience.

At another time, she might have been quite interested in this guy, but right now, the most important thing was Mobius's matter, and she didn't have time to care about Kalpas.

After walking for a while, the three of them arrived at Mobius's laboratory. Mobius, Danzhu, and Cangxuan were already waiting in front of the door.

Of the three present, it was Mobius who had a smile on his face, Cangxuan Danzhu sisters inevitably looked a little uneasy—this was the normal reaction.

Mei knew very well that neither her composure nor Mobius's relaxed demeanor were normal human reactions.

"Hey, you're here!" Mobius smiled at Mei and Liu Bai. "Are you mentally prepared?"

"I don't need to prepare myself mentally," Mei said calmly.

Liu Bai gave a wry smile, "There is no way out for me."

"Sorry, you silly ghost." Mobius smiled, recalling his childhood nickname for Liu Bai after a long time. "There are always things you have to try."

The long-unheard form of address made Liu Bai momentarily dazed, but he immediately nodded.

"... Honestly, I don't want to participate in this kind of thing at all..."

Danzhu looked completely unprepared.

"No matter what, this is just too crazy! Who would cut themselves like that!"

"Isn't it crazy to operate on other people?" Mobius glanced at Danzhu with a smile, immediately silencing Danzhu. "Putting everything else aside, I am quite confident in my own will. It may be a bit inappropriate to say this, but those veterans who have been through many battles may not be able to match the willpower of a researcher like me."

The terrifying will that comes with the resolve of martyrdom... not to mention those battle-hardened veterans, even if we broaden the scope to the whole world, it would be difficult to find many people who can compare with Mobius in this respect.

"... a raise."

After a moment of silence, Cangxuan uttered a few words in a somewhat indifferent manner.

"The piece-rate type."

"Hey, you're making us nurses handing things out and then paying us by piecework and extra wages?!" Mobius glared. "I suspect Cangxuan, you should see a psychologist about your money-grubbing tendencies!"

"... I've been trying really hard to convince myself to join." Cangxuan glanced at Mobius. "Who would want to participate in such a crazy event..."

"Okay, a raise it is, but how will the piece rate be calculated?"

"... We'll talk about it after the experiment."

"Hey, hey, hey! Sis, don't agree so quickly!"

Danzhu felt numb as her sister dragged her away, but Cangxuan completely ignored her sister's protests and pulled Danzhu away.

"I'm going to disinfect myself too," Mei said, and then followed Danzhu and Cangxuan.

"Danzhu Cangxuan are still not mature enough."

Mobius watched the two sisters' retreating figures and commented with a smile.

"A guy who wants to cut himself shouldn't talk about composure," Liu Bai sighed.

Mobius shrugged. "Please call this 'dedication to science.' What kind of scholar are you if you don't have this kind of awareness? But those two girls are actually aware, though they seem a bit conservative among us radicals."

Yes, they were definitely prepared, after all, they were sisters who dared to risk their lives to stop Judgment-Class Honkai Beast...

Mobius didn't dwell on the topic too much, and instead looked at Kalpas: "Oh... this guy is interesting."

Mobius's gaze, as if he were examining an object, made Kalpas frown.

"Young man, would you like to reserve a bed?"

"...roll."

"I knew it."

Mobius shook his head indifferently. "Just kidding. My name is Mobius. You can come to me if you ever feel unwell."

"..."

"Let's find a seat." Mobius pointed to the benches around them, then looked back at Liu Bai. "Let's go in first, and I'll see where we can lie down more comfortably."

How can I lie down to make myself more comfortable...? Liu Bai's eye twitched.

However, the nonchalant tone of Mobius's voice did help Liu Bai alleviate a lot of his tension... That's right, although Mobius usually appears as an indifferent scientist, as the only doctor who was willing to accept and treat Honkai disease more than ten years ago, he is actually very good at relieving patients' tension.

"... Let's go."

Liu Bai nodded and followed Mobius into the laboratory, or rather, the operating room.

"So, Liu Bai, is this your first time visiting my lab as a surgeon? Do you have a strange feeling about it?"

"Yes, it was very heavy—and besides, it was Mei who performed the surgery."

Mobius's laboratory was always filled with disinfectant and alcohol... well, it could be described as a "hospital smell." Liu Bai hadn't felt anything before, but the thought of Mobius lying on the operating table in a while made him feel the psychological pressure heavy again.

"This is what they call the 'heavyness of life'... Well, Liu Bai, you don't seem to be very interested in biology, so I won't talk to you about it. Besides, if we keep going on this topic, you'll probably start to panic again, right?"

Mobius laughed heartily.

Liu Bai felt like he was being teased again.

"Hmm, that's a pretty good expression. It feels like it's been a long time since I've teased you like this, you silly ghost... Over the years, I've matured, and so have you."

Mobius laughed first, then sighed softly.

She still remembered that back then, Liu Bai would hold a grudge if he was teased, and if she was bullied, he would immediately fly into a rage and take action... Well, maybe that hasn't changed at all, he's just hidden it now.

Now, apart from speaking like a young person, Liu Bai's slow and mature demeanor in doing things is completely unlike that of a young person. Well... is it mainly because Liu Bai is surrounded by young people?

Whether it's an ordinary human being like myself or a ghost like Liu Bai who disregards the passage of time, we are all being changed by the years.

Sixteen years have passed for me alone, but what about Liu Bai...?

Maybe a hundred years have passed... But it feels pretty good to tease this guy again after so long.

But speaking of which, during a casual conversation with Elysia, she seemed to have heard Elysia say that Liu Bai's shyness was quite amusing... How did that guy manage to do that?

Could it be some kind of humiliating play?

Mobius lay down on the operating table as he thought about it.

"Tsk, it used to be quite comfortable to laze around and sleep here, so why does it feel so awkward today?"

"... Don't be picky."

"Lying down is uncomfortable, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I just want to move around a bit." Mobius moved his body somewhat awkwardly.

"I think it's awkward enough that you put yourself on the operating table."

"Hey, yeah, how about we have some drinks first?" Mobius was unusually talkative today.

However, this reminded Liu Bai of Mobius in his youth, when Mobius was quite lively as well.

"If you want to smash up your lab, just say so."

"Can't you trust me a little more... By the way, after the surgery is over, keep an eye on things so she doesn't deliberately leave something inside me."

"... She wouldn't go that far."

"Then you should also watch out so she doesn't take the opportunity to sew me some little animal—actually, your students are pretty boring too."

"Talking behind someone's back is not something a respected old lady should do."

Mei, who had already changed into a white coat, led Danzhu Cangxuan in.

"I would be very happy if you didn't associate 'highly respected' with 'old auntie'," Mobius glared at Mei.

"Alright, lie down properly, put on the restraints... should we give you the anesthetic now?"

"... No need, no need for anesthesia or sedatives. This minor surgery isn't enough to make me as terrified as an ordinary person."

Mobius, who was lying down, shook his head.

"Anyway, I might have to give you on-the-spot guidance... Hey, speaking of which, I'm actually thinking of performing surgery on myself. Anyway, it's unlikely I'll go astray, and it seems like you're not of much use?"

"Give me a break. The fact that you even have this idea means you're really crazy—you really don't need tranquilizers?"

"Um... a little less is fine, but forget about the anesthetic. I need to sense your specific operation. Besides, when you really reach the fusion stage, the anesthetic won't work. It's not physical pain at all, but a process of human will fighting against the Honkai."

"Okay." Mei didn't ask any more questions and simply nodded.

"... Sister, why do I feel like we're watching a horror movie?" Danzhu felt a chill run down her spine listening to their conversation.

Cangxuan lowered his head. "... It's because neither of these two are normal people."

"Danzhu, Cangxuan, take your positions."

Mei glanced at the two people.

"Begin the surgery."

"Yes, yes, right, start cutting here. What are you measuring up and down for? Do you think this is picking out pork?"

"Hiss... any deeper, this knife definitely didn't cut enough, this mistake shouldn't be allowed, Mei, are you shaking a little? If you can't do it, give me the knife, I'll do it myself."

"... If you don't shut up, I'll stab you."

"Alright, alright, you young people are really... ugh...!"

"Begin implanting the Shesha gene, Cangxuan, monitor the Honkai Energy concentration."

"Yes."

"Dr. Mobius, how are you feeling now?"

"Um... It's cool and refreshing right now, and it feels kind of comfortable... Um, wait, it's starting, my bones... Tsk, it feels like my bones are twisting—ouch, it hurts... Wait, let me think of a word to describe this feeling."

"I see, your face is contorted too—but don't even think about it, let's move on to the next step."

"Ughh..."

"Dr. Mei! The concentration of Honkai Energy in Dr. Mobius's body has exceeded the standard! His internal organs have begun to bleed massively! He is only one step away from shock."

"..."

"Continue... I feel... I'm not going to die yet..."

"Dr. Mobius?"

"... Shesha... Shesha's immortality... ha... it's starting to work, look, my... my mind is still... still quite clear... hey!"

"...continue."