Miao Yueling's Identity

"So that's how it is. What a relief."

Ruan Zaixing wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned. "Still, this virus is truly incredible. It can actually alter human genes and improve physical fitness."

"I feel like if I trained just a little, I could go break world records, haha."

With the worry in his heart resolved, he was in a very good mood.

Once people reached middle age, their physical functions inevitably began to decline, which had made life rather unpleasant for him.

But after being infected with the RR Virus, Ruan Zaixing felt as though he had returned to his twenties overnight, with endless strength coursing through his body.

For a middle-aged man, this was simply the finest gift heaven could bestow.

After sighing with emotion, Ruan Zaixing draped the towel over his shoulder and looked at Wu Ming. "By the way, why did you come so early today? Are you here to see Qingzhu?"

"No, I'm actually here to see you."

Wu Ming shook his head and chose his words carefully. "I need a batch of high-strength metal materials to forge some cold weapons. I heard Uncle Ruan's Xingzhu Group specializes in this area, so I came to ask if we could make a deal."

"As for payment..." He paused. "I can trade special medicine for them."

"After all, at this stage, every dose of special medicine is extremely precious. It should be more than enough to cover the material costs."

"Though you don't need it yourselves, those wealthy people without connections probably wouldn't mind paying a high price for it."

"Oh?" Ruan Zaixing was initially stunned, then burst into laughter. "So that's it. Then you've come to the right person."

"Our Xingzhu Group lacks everything except all kinds of premium metals. If you really need them, I'll have the factory transfer a batch to you. No need to pay."

As he spoke, he waved his hand generously, then asked curiously, "But what do you need cold weapons for? And with such good materials too? Don't tell me you're planning to go to war."

Ruan Zaixing said it jokingly, but Wu Ming nodded solemnly. "That's exactly right."

At that, not only he, but even Miao Yueling and Ruan Qingzhu turned to look at him, their faces full of surprise.

"Wait, you're really planning to go to war?" Ruan Zaixing asked in disbelief. "Then what's the point of forging cold weapons? You'd be better off carrying a few guns."

"But the country isn't preparing for war right now. Where would this battlefield even come from?"

Wu Ming fell silent, quickly considering his words before speaking. "Uncle Ruan, Aunt Miao, since you know that humans infected with the RR Virus experience a major increase in physical fitness..."

"Have you ever considered that the lives infected by the virus... might not be limited to humans?"

"Not limited to humans?" The couple exchanged glances, seemingly unable to process it.

Ruan Qingzhu, on the other hand, seemed to realize something and suddenly spoke up. "A-Ming, do you mean that animals around the world have also been infected with the virus? And that they will undergo Gene Evolution just like humans?"

"That's right." Wu Ming nodded and added, "Whether they live in the sea, the sky, or on land, as long as they are life forms living on Earth, none can escape being altered by the RR Virus."

"I'm afraid that before long, infected and mutated animals will begin appearing across the country. When that happens, they may attack human cities."

"So that's why you want to forge weapons, to protect yourself?" Ruan Zaixing frowned slightly. "Isn't that being a little too alarmist?"

"Leaving aside whether these animals would attack humans, even if they did, why would human civilization fear them with our technology?"

"The RR Virus's alterations may be powerful, but they can't stop bullets, can they?"

Wu Ming shook his head. "I'm afraid not."

"What?" Ruan Zaixing froze and couldn't help asking, "Are you saying guns can't kill these animals?"

Wu Ming gave a soft hum and offered no further explanation. He walked straight to the corner of the room, where an exceptionally thick barbell lay on the floor, weighing five hundred kilograms.

He bent down, gripped the bar in the middle with one hand, and without adjusting his stance, casually lifted it.

The next second, he raised the fully loaded barbell over his head with one hand, looking as relaxed as if he were merely lifting a bag of bread.

The three members of the Ruan family were dumbfounded at the sight, and Ruan Qingzhu instinctively covered her small mouth.

That was a five-hundred-kilogram barbell. Even she, the strongest person in the household, would struggle to lift it, yet Wu Ming had done it with just one hand.

"Still too light." Wu Ming shook his head. After setting the barbell down, he looked at Ruan Zaixing. "Uncle Ruan, to be honest, even if this barbell were twice as heavy, I could still lift it easily."

"That's because my genetic structure has already undergone a complete transformation. Even some small-caliber firearms can't penetrate my body now."

"And those mutated creatures will sooner or later reach, or even surpass, this level of strength."

"Uncle Ruan, do you think firearms can defeat monsters like that?"

Wu Ming brushed the dust from his hands and spoke calmly.

By now, Ruan Zaixing's expression had turned grave. He found it difficult to answer, but he already knew the answer in his heart.

Ruan Qingzhu looked worried. "A-Ming, are you forging weapons because you intend to fight those mutated creatures head-on? That's too dangerous!"

"It's hard to say for now, but it's always better to prepare for the worst."

Wu Ming said, "There are countless animals across the world. If every species evolved to my level, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe for humanity!"

"I have to gain greater strength if I want to survive that catastrophe."

He looked at Ruan Qingzhu with a serious expression. "Especially if I want to protect all of you."

Ruan Qingzhu was slightly stunned, and her face instantly flushed red.

She hadn't expected Wu Ming, that blockhead, to say something so sweet, and in front of her parents at that. Her heart immediately felt warm and sweet.

"Dad..." Ruan Qingzhu suddenly drew out the word in a soft, pleading tone, looking at Ruan Zaixing with eager eyes. "Please help A-Ming. He hasn't had it easy either."

Seeing his daughter like this, Ruan Zaixing felt a pang of bitterness. The little darling he had cherished for years had finally grown up and flown the nest. He couldn't help snorting. "I never said I wouldn't help."

As he spoke, his expression turned serious as he looked at Wu Ming. "A-Ming, you're right. Whether a catastrophe truly comes in the future or not, there's nothing wrong with preparing in advance."

"I agree to your request. I'll have the factory provide the best metal materials to forge weapons for you."

"Tell us what you need. Different kinds of weapons require different materials. Since your Aunt Miao is here, she can help advise you."

"Aunt Miao?" Wu Ming was slightly stunned.

"You didn't know?" Ruan Zaixing was also taken aback, then smiled. "Right, I almost forgot you're still a student. It's normal that you wouldn't know these things."

"Then let me formally introduce her." He pointed at Miao Yueling with a proud expression. "Miao Yueling, chief researcher of Xingzhu Group, specializing in metal materials research."

"She is also the developer of the aerospace material Titanium-Aluminum Alloy and an academician of the National Academy of Engineering. Xingzhu Group was able to transform into a military-industrial enterprise largely thanks to Yueling's research achievements."

An academician of the National Academy of Engineering! Titanium-Aluminum Alloy!

Wu Ming was stunned. He had never imagined that the usually low-key Aunt Miao possessed such an astonishing identity!