Chapter 164: You’re So Stubborn
Zhou Qian was at a loss for words.
He had raised mutant creatures—two of them, in fact—and it seemed like he’d been raising them for quite a while. But even now, he still couldn’t tell which one was which…
All buffs were maxed out, but his dear sister Huai Yu was still alive.
He could only wipe his face and fall silent.
He then watched helplessly as the mutant goose paced around the hospital room, looking around here and there, shuffling along slowly like an old man.
Looking at its mutant physique, its attack method was probably like a porcupine—shooting out spikes?
The spikes didn’t look very long, and he had no idea how much combat power it really had…
But since he’d shut up, Huai Yu had plenty to say. She immediately asked, “Did you change the bedding? Isn’t this a bit thin?”
Zhou Qian’s face darkened. “It’s not thin, it’s just right.”
He remembered when he changed the bedding last night. The nurses were switching shifts, and the nurse who had once yanked his blanket saw the soaked sheets, pillows, and bedding. Her expression was quite complicated, full of sympathy and understanding:
“I told you your face was flushed from the heat today, didn’t I? And you said you were just weak… Come on, it’s already May. Let’s get you a lighter set—if it gets too hot again, just tell me and I’ll apply for a fan for you.”
She whispered, “The medical storage hired a water-type mutant, specialized in ice and snow mutations. Should I get you a basin of ice?”
That was incredibly considerate—about as good as it gets even for friends or relatives. Zhou Qian was deeply moved but politely declined:
“Thank you, no need.”
As she left, the nurse gave him a final look, her eyes full of motherly judgment—“You’re just being stubborn.”
But, of course, he couldn’t tell Huai Yu any of that.
So Zhou Qian changed the subject: “It’s true that mutant creatures get agitated at night. Right now, you don’t have much ability to protect yourself. If it’s not urgent, you can wait a few more days. After I recover, I’ll go with you to the expressway station.”
Huai Yu shook her head. “I want to hear more stories about the wilderness! Plus, Uncle Zaozi doesn’t have any powers either, and he goes. I’ll just stick close to him.”
After all, he really did look like someone easy to beat up—very weak.
Zhou Qian nodded. There were defense troops stationed at the expressway too, and even if there were occasional disturbances, they’d be quelled quickly. If Huai Yu wanted to check it out, it was fine.
Also…
He looked at his leg. After drinking those two pots of ginseng tea yesterday, he could clearly feel his vine prosthetic becoming stronger.
Whether it was the strength to move his body or its toughness, it seemed different from the initial feedback when the nerves were first connected.
But his own physical fitness hadn’t improved, so to use it perfectly, he’d still need proper training and adaptation.
He looked at Huai Yu. “About your ginseng tea yesterday…”
Huai Yu remembered and quickly took out her water bottle from her basket. “I brought a concentrated version for you today!”
Zhou Qian: …
That super strong medicinal effect yesterday was actually the diluted version?
Seeing that Huai Yu was already enthusiastically unscrewing the lid, about to pour the water into his cup, he quickly refused:
“No need. You drink it.”
He thought for a moment. “I heard ginseng is a great tonic, but my body just recovered. What if it’s too much for me?”
In fact, the moment Huai Yu unscrewed the lid, his vine prosthetic seemed to sense something and started creeping forward under the blanket.
If he weren’t suppressing it hard, it probably would’ve sprouted new branches from the nerve connections and lunged for that water bottle by now!
But yesterday, he only drank it because he sensed it could make him stronger.
Now that the side effects of getting stronger hadn’t been fully observed, Zhou Qian wasn’t planning to drink it again for the time being.
Huai Yu didn’t know all this, but she was familiar with the phrase “too weak to handle tonics.”
Thinking back to how she’d stabbed him dozens or even hundreds of times before, and he had to get a blood transfusion to be saved… what if he drank this concentrated version and ended up with a nosebleed…
That’d be such a waste!
But Huai Yu stared at the thick yellow ginseng water in the cup, sniffed the strong medicinal smell, thought about it, and silently screwed the lid back on.
She was still young and had to stay up late to head to the expressway tonight. She’d save it for later.
After all, it smelled super bitter—maybe it’d help keep her awake?
The smell quickly dissipated from the room, and the vine prosthetic on Zhou Qian’s leg gradually calmed down. Huai Yu stared at the blanket, a curious look on her face.
Zhou Qian’s expression tightened, slightly nervous.
“You…” Did you notice something?
“Brother Zhou Qian, the bio-material bricks your leg is made of are green. Is your leg green now too?”
Zhou Qian: …
“How do you know it’s made of bio-material?”
“You said so before! And the nurse mentioned it too.”
Zhou Qian silently breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing her suddenly acting sweet and calling him “brother,” he went ahead and asked, “Wanna see?”
“Yeah.” Huai Yu nodded, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the blanket. “Why isn’t it bright red? Aren’t there types that can bloom flowers?”
That question stumped Zhou Qian.
He thought for a moment and answered seriously, “If flowers bloomed on your leg, wouldn’t it be inconvenient to wear pants?”
That’s true.
Huai Yu nodded, seriously imagining the scene. “If the flowers bloomed and got rubbed off by your pants, you’d have to wash them, dry them, and brew flower tea, right…?”
Zhou Qian was speechless. “Can’t you think of something normal?”
Huai Yu looked surprised. “That is normal, isn’t it? Oh, are you worried that if it blooms, it might be poisonous and inedible? Will your leg bloom?”
Zhou Qian, exasperated, lifted the blanket.
Because the bio-material still had growth potential, his pants only reached his amputation site. Right now, oil-green vines were wrapped around his leg—his thigh, knee, calf, ankle, and foot…
“Is there something like a bone structure inside for support?”
“Yes.” Zhou Qian nodded. “It’s a cycad bone frame combined with mutant rubber adhesive joints—the small green tendrils are the vine’s mutant gripping claws, which can connect to nerves and muscles. With enough training, it’ll feel like a real leg.”
“So cool!”
Huai Yu stared without blinking, her fingers itching to touch, but she remembered her own powers and quickly clasped her hands behind her back.
She asked, “So is your leg… good now?”
Zhou Qian thought for a bit and answered seriously, “Very good.”
Even better than expected.
“That’s great, then.” Huai Yu nodded, her nose feeling a little sore.
Just as she was about to do something to cover it up, there was a loud bang from the bathroom, like something had fallen.
Huai Yu froze, then suddenly remembered something and rushed into the bathroom. “Big Cub, Second Cub!”
At the sink, in the middle of the ceramic basin, there was a smooth, shiny dent letting in light. A piece of broken ceramic lay on the floor, and Big Cub and Second Cub stood there, looking obedient and innocent:
“Ahhh…”
This white thing was so crispy when pecked—nice and crunchy!
