Half a Miracle

Soon after, Mu Xiao took control of the floor's armed security system, blocking all outgoing communication signals. Then he activated the high-density laser grid. Black gun barrels emerged from the walls, aimed in every direction. Only after taking these security measures did he stroll outside. A squad of striking female bodyguards stood there, every one of them looking both furious and frightened. Seeing the armed system activated and Mu Xiao emerge unharmed, they clearly understood what had happened inside.

Mu Xiao amiably invited all the female bodyguards into the office. When they saw Shangguan Yuanxin lying unconscious, their faces immediately drained of color. One petite bodyguard, like an enraged leopardess, drew a High-Vibration Electromagnetic Military Saber and lunged at Mu Xiao with savage speed, seemingly intent on taking him down with her.

But before she could reach him, Mu Xiao controlled the room's hidden gun ports and shot her to the ground.

Mu Xiao did not kill her. He had used an electrical beam instead, so she had merely been knocked unconscious.

The other female bodyguards did not dare make any rash moves. The calmest among them was the bodyguard with an S-Class Physique.

"Don't worry. Your CEO isn't dead, she merely passed out." Mu Xiao pointed at the bodyguard who had been electrocuted unconscious on the floor. "This one isn't dead either. She just passed out."

"Who are you?! What is your purpose in doing this?!"

Dangerous light flickered in several bodyguards' eyes, as though they might deliver a fatal blow to Mu Xiao at any moment.

"I called you in here because I wanted to give you a beautiful dream."

Mu Xiao did not waste words on them. He activated the armed system's stun guns and electrocuted them all unconscious. Only the S-Class Physique bodyguard held on stubbornly and did not pass out immediately.

"It was my mistake not to kill you in the lobby, but you won't escape for many more days. If I survive, I'll smash every bone in your body into pieces." Her eyes were icy, their sharp light like blades.

With the extortion plan a success, Mu Xiao was in a good mood. He did not mind lingering for a moment to exchange a few words with this female bodyguard who still had "one breath" left, proving his sense of accomplishment.

Mu Xiao walked over, crouched down, and looked at the wild beauty before him. She had delicate, refined features, crisp short hair, smooth wheat-colored skin, and catlike eyes that were both seductive and fierce. "What if I told you I did this to protect your lives—what would you do then?"

"Bullshit!" she cursed rudely, clearly not believing him.

"I said, what if." Mu Xiao repeated seriously.

"If you did this to protect our lives, then from now on, I'm yours!" Her expression was disdainful, but her words were scorching.

"Wouldn't that make me the one losing out?"

Mu Xiao put on an unwilling expression and promptly angered this bold, wild beauty into unconsciousness.

The squad of twelve female bodyguards lay sprawled across the floor. Mu Xiao did not take any weapons from them, because their weapons were specialized equipment that others could not use without cracking their security first. So Mu Xiao did nothing unnecessary. He came cleanly and left cleanly, though he secretly emptied all of Bauhinia's liquid funds. Before leaving, he released the armed system's hypnotic gas in the office, letting them sleep soundly and preventing them from causing him trouble during the remaining few hours. Once the virus erupted, no trouble would matter anymore, because the whole world would become one enormous problem.

Moreover, Mu Xiao changed the office door's password. Even if someone outside noticed something was wrong, they would not be able to crack it and enter anytime soon. After all, Shangguan Yuanxin's office was a vital company location. Its door was exceptionally sturdy, and its Optical Brain system was highly advanced. If Mu Xiao had not possessed the ring authorization Shangguan Yuanxin gave him, it might have taken him one or two days to crack it successfully.

Mu Xiao did not return the ring to the unconscious Shangguan Yuanxin either. He was worried it might be useful if he encountered trouble outside the company. Besides, he believed Shangguan Yuanxin definitely had a backup ring that could reclaim the room's authority for herself.

Next, Mu Xiao returned to the lobby without obstruction. No cliché incident of several armed guards suddenly rushing out occurred.

Just as he was about to leave, the clean, delicate female voice he had heard upon entering sounded by his ear again. This time, however, it seemed much weaker and carried a trace of fear.

"Mu Xiao, can you come over for a moment?" Lü Xiaoman's timid voice called out.

Mu Xiao had not wanted to get entangled here any longer, but he remembered that this girl had spoken up for him earlier. At the very least, he should give her a hand so she would not die in the viral unrest a few hours from now.

"Is something wrong?" Mu Xiao walked over with a warm smile, completely ignoring the other person.

Seeing that he would not even look at her, Xia Qian looked awkward and troubled, deep regret filling her eyes.

"Xixi and I are about to get off work. Why don't we have lunch together?" Seeing Mu Xiao's friendly smile, the unease in Lü Xiaoman's heart gradually settled.

"Xiao, I hope you can give me a chance to explain." Xia Qian pleaded softly, her lovely, radiant face looking pitiful.

"No time." Mu Xiao calmly glanced at her and refused outright. Then he looked at Lü Xiaoman, who was about to speak. "Xiaoman, give me your communication Optical Brain."

Xiaoman was Lü Xiaoman's nickname. She did not mind Mu Xiao calling her that. Instead, it made her feel the same closeness as before. She readily handed Mu Xiao a round piece of pink metal, her miniature Optical Brain.

Mu Xiao opened her Optical Brain and set a timed reminder with a message attached. Once the time came, the Optical Brain would automatically display a prompt. After thinking for a moment, he wrote another encrypted message.

"All right." Mu Xiao returned her Optical Brain and explained, "I set some things on it. When the time comes, it will automatically notify you. Follow what it says immediately, understand?"

Mu Xiao had not let her see the contents just now, so she had no idea what was written.

"Also, I encrypted the contents, so don't let your curiosity get the better of you and peek early." Mu Xiao joked, while also hinting that Xia Qian should not try anything. As for whether Xia Qian could seize the chance to hide in Shangguan Yuanxin's office with Lü Xiaoman, that would depend on her luck.

"What exactly is it?" Lü Xiaoman was still as curious as a child.

"I put in a few good words for you before Shangguan Yuanxin. When the time comes, go upstairs for an interview and promotion." Mu Xiao casually made up an excuse. Without waiting for Lü Xiaoman to reply, he said goodbye and left. Given such a good opportunity, Lü Xiaoman was delighted, while Xia Qian was envious, jealous, and regretful. As she watched Mu Xiao's departing back, an incomparably complicated expression filled her face.

"So this is how it feels when someone is heartless toward you." Xia Qian sighed faintly.

"Xixi, don't be unhappy." Lü Xiaoman was loyal and sincere. "We'll go up together later. I'll put in a few good words for you too, Sister Xixi, and see whether CEO Shangguan can promote both of us."

No one else would do such a thing, because work was not child's play. Making excessive demands often caused even oneself to fail. This girl was simply too innocent.

"It's the thought that counts. Don't force it." Xia Qian's hidden gloom improved slightly.

After leaving Bauhinia Building, Mu Xiao rode his Little Sheep Maglev Scooter home. He found that his younger sister had not returned yet, so he called her again in concern.

This time, Mu Xuanyin answered quickly. Understanding that her brother was worried, she explained immediately, "Today is the big day of the New Human Plan. Many routes have been closed, so I can't get back that quickly."

She studied quite far away. Mu Xiao had always known his younger sister was highly independent, and he had never worried about her in the past. But the distance between them had been too great, leaving him unable to save her in time when the New Human Plan began. That had led to an irreparable disaster.

"Xuanyin, you must get back before five o'clock, no matter what method you use. Do you understand?" Mu Xiao said gravely.

"Mm." Mu Xuanyin did not say much, only answered heavily.

Mu Xiao had considered going to find his younger sister, but he was afraid of wasting time. He was caught in a dilemma.

As though she sensed his anxiety, Mu Xuanyin said sweetly, "If time is really too tight, I'll hire a small aircraft to get back. It may cost more, but I'll definitely return before five."

"Then go hire a small aircraft right away." If he had not been so worried about Mu Xuanyin's situation, he would have thought of this solution much earlier. Besides, money would be useless soon enough, so he might as well spend it.

"Then... all right." Mu Xuanyin hesitated. She was a virtuous, thrifty girl and naturally did not want to waste money.

"Good." Only after hearing her agree did Mu Xiao finally set down the heavy weight in his heart.

He took another refreshing shower, cooked himself a large meal, and after eating his fill, rested with his eyes closed for around half an hour. Then the delivery person arrived.

He was an extraordinary-looking man wearing flexible metal armor. Mu Xiao could tell at a glance that the clothes had strong impact resistance and could withstand most energy attacks—a high-tech "bulletproof vest." Several fully armed guards stood behind the man, clearly because this shipment was extremely valuable.

The man in charge had not expected the buyer to live in an ordinary district. But that was the customer's privacy, so he asked no questions. He simply had Mu Xiao verify his identity, then verify it again. Once there were no errors, they completed the receipt process.

The man in charge took out seven or eight metal spheres in Mu Xiao's living room, then controlled them to float in the air and form a circle of moderate size. After a ripple distorted the air, crates of goods appeared out of thin air within the circle.

This was a short-range cargo spatial transfer technology. Goods were first stored in a secure location not too far from the delivery destination. Once the person in charge arrived, they activated the transfer process. This short-range transfer technology invisibly reduced energy consumption while ensuring cargo safety. Furthermore, the shorter the distance, the more stable the space.

The sudden appearance of goods in the living room did not surprise Mu Xiao. He had once possessed even spatial devices, let alone this low-level "spatial transfer" technology. Besides, this technology was only suitable for transferring "non-living objects" through space and could not transport living beings.

Of course, it was only low-level spatial technology in Mu Xiao's eyes.

Finally, the man in charge offered the customary line, "We welcome your future business," then left Mu Xiao's residence.

Soon after, several more batches of delivery personnel arrived one after another. Almost all used this "spatial transfer" technology to ensure the safe delivery of the goods.

By one o'clock in the afternoon, all the goods had finally arrived, but only four hours remained.

Soon afterward, a pure, lovely girl returned to Mu Xiao's residence. She had a delicate jade-like face, bright, wandering eyes, and a petite, slender figure.

"Brother." Mu Xuanyin called softly and sweetly.

Looking at this girl who always seemed to wear a clean smile, Mu Xiao's heart softened. Thinking of her death in the past brought another stabbing pain. After countless killings, even his will of steel melted into tenderness. His eyes reddened. He said nothing, only gently embraced the slight, delicate girl.

Mu Xuanyin sensed that her brother was different from usual. She hugged his sturdy waist in return and asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Brother?"

"Nothing." Mu Xiao released her and gently rubbed her hair as he always had.

Next, Mu Xiao did not have much time to explain the New Human Plan's disaster to Mu Xuanyin in detail. He only told her that the world would soon fall into chaos and that they had to prepare their defenses.

Perhaps because Mu Xiao was by her side, she did not show much fear. Or perhaps she had never witnessed the so-called true cruelty of reality.

Mu Xiao prepared a medicine using one of the medicinal ingredients he had ordered. He made it into a physique-strengthening serum and had Mu Xuanyin drink it, strengthening her body and vitality so she would not become a genetic monster when the virus erupted.

Once she fell asleep, Mu Xiao used his Optical Brain to record the important events of the apocalypse and printed them onto paper. When Mu Xuanyin woke up, she could understand the situation and avoid wandering around recklessly. She only needed to stay home and wait for him to return. To protect Mu Xuanyin, he had also ordered a large amount of food when buying medicinal materials, along with some reinforcement materials to fortify the door and windowsills.

After completing the home's defenses, Mu Xiao began making the most important bloodline serum.

His entire residence was piled high with crates of goods. If anyone knew there was a fortune here, he might have been robbed before the apocalypse even arrived. However, he believed no one would target him in the short term. Even if someone within the online marketplace harbored ill intentions, they would not act anytime soon. Therefore, Mu Xiao was at ease as he went about his work.

"This time, besides her blood, the ingredients for making the BUG Bloodline Serum from the Miracle Formula are only enough for five attempts. If all of them fail, then either this Miracle Serum cannot be made, or it simply isn't meant for me."

Mu Xiao prepared himself mentally and calmed his mind for a while. A moment later, he took out the precious medicinal ingredients and placed them into a metal barrel, then set the barrel into a pharmaceutical machine and began operating it. Each medicine had to be blended in sequence and at the right temperature...

After successfully combining ten medicinal properties, black matter appeared when he added the eleventh ingredient. The machine detected toxicity.

I never expected to succeed on the first try.

Mu Xiao calmly began the next attempt. He also stored the toxic waste medicines away. Once he learned more about medicinal knowledge in the future, he could extract the refined raw materials from the waste, turning trash into treasure. They would have many uses.

He was even more focused during the second attempt, but he failed while combining the eighteen medicines...

During the third attempt, his mind remained tranquil as he devoted himself wholeheartedly to making the serum, but he failed on the final medicine...

The fourth attempt also failed on the final medicinal ingredient, Golden Fruit. He could not integrate its medicinal property. Although he had only one final chance left, Mu Xiao did not become impatient or anxious. He had already grasped the key and was highly confident he could successfully combine the final medicine.

On the fifth attempt, Mu Xiao was not as cautious as before. Instead, he was thoroughly familiar with the steps. He added the materials with practiced ease and controlled the temperature...

At last, the final medicine fused successfully. The medicinal liquid shone with a violet-gold luster, releasing a faint, irresistible fragrance that made one want to drink it immediately.

"I've touched half a miracle..."

Mu Xiao carefully sealed the medicinal liquid inside a tube. Just as he let out a breath of relief, his heart overflowing with immense joy, the joy did not last long. He saw that the clock was already approaching four-thirty. In half an hour, the beginning of the apocalypse would erupt, and humanity across the globe would enter the bloody Evolution Era of the "New Human Plan"!