Chapter 72

The Beizheng Base sent three groups of people to Jizhou City, even working to open another railway line connecting to the city. In the end, they peacefully took over the New Jizhou Base.

Xue Ling wasn’t clear about the dispute between them and the managers of the Jizhou base. She and Wen Jiuze didn’t participate, but she heard it went more smoothly than expected.

Maybe it was also due to her “threat.”

During this time, Xue Ling and Wen Jiuze were busy with the cryogenics center.

After reviewing the materials that were moved from here, the Beizheng Base quickly decided to relocate the entire cryogenics center to their base.

They also banned the Jizhou base from freezing living people.

The senior officials at the Beizheng Research Base had examined the core freezing technology and hundreds of reports on live human cryopreservation. They believed the live freezing project was a lie.

Whether healthy or sick, the chances of successfully reviving people after freezing were incredibly low.

Especially after three years of freezing, almost all the frozen subjects experienced brain death.

To keep wealthy investors invested, the owners of the cryogenics center had created fake monitoring equipment, giving the illusion that the frozen subjects were still alive.

The only thing they accidentally got right was that this freezing technology worked on people infected with the zombie virus.

In cold temperatures, the zombie virus helped preserve life by halting the virus’s reproduction and activity while protecting its “nest” in the brain.

The energy provided by the zombie virus, combined with this freezing technology, could halt the infected person’s time.

This discovery was enough to make the Beizheng Base take the technology seriously.

The Beizheng Base had too many infected soldiers, and besides the missions assigned to Wen Jiuze and Xue Ling, soldiers were constantly carrying out dangerous and difficult tasks.

Being infected with the virus still meant death for them.

With this freezing technology, infected soldiers now had a chance of survival.

As long as they could be frozen before fully becoming zombies, there was hope they could be saved in the future by newly developed drugs.

During the construction of the cryogenics center at the Beizheng Base, Xue Ling received the tenth injection.

Wen Jiuze also finally agreed to freeze with her.

“You mean, you two will freeze together, hand in hand, lying in the cryo chamber?”

Wen Yi had just finished a research meeting when the couple blocked her at the door, sharing their freezing plan.

She paused for a moment, then said, “The last time I saw something like this, it was in ‘The Butterfly Lovers,’ you know, the two who turned into butterflies.”

Xue Ling felt a bit awkward.

Wen Jiuze, holding the handle he had just taken from Wen Yi’s door, didn’t react to her words.

“Fine, if you insist,” Wen Yi said, rubbing her forehead. “I’ll submit the request for you tomorrow.”

Xue Ling handed over the application she had already prepared. “The format is correct. If there’s anything to amend, I also have an electronic version.”

Wen Yi took the documents and the handle from Wen Jiuze, turned, and slammed her door shut, locking it behind her.

The Beizheng Base’s cryogenics center was completed, with only a hundred spots in the first batch. The spots were few, and with so many people at such a large base, it wasn’t enough.

They didn’t use the high-price auction method like the Jizhou base, but instead, only soldiers who had made actual contributions were allowed to apply.

The candidates would be personally approved by General Hao. The first batch would only include soldiers infected while carrying out frontline missions.

All loopholes were blocked, ensuring that no one could use connections to sneak in relatives or friends who didn’t meet the criteria.

The first freezing application General Hao received was one from Wen Yi. He sighed when he saw the familiar names.

If you looked at their contributions, Xue Ling and Wen Jiuze had done a lot. But because their contributions were so great, General Hao was reluctant to let them be frozen.

There were still many challenges to overcome, and having either of them present could save countless lives by minimizing sacrifices.

He called Wen Yi in.

“I know about Xue Ling. She’s in a state where she could lose her last bit of reason at any moment. If she wants to apply for freezing, I fully support it.”

“However, Wen Jiuze, is it possible to delay the freezing process? I think his condition is still stable. Maybe you could discuss it with him and arrange for him to be frozen in one of the later batches?”

Wen Yi had prepared for this and took out a set of printed documents.

“General, this is a report on Wen Jiuze’s physical changes over the past year.”

“He has undergone the Re-virus experiment and a second virus extraction experiment. His physical deterioration is even more severe than Xue Ling’s.”

“Six months ago, he began experiencing a continuous decline in mobility. Three months ago, his strength weakened, his eyesight and perception began to deteriorate… You should know, his task completion rate has long since dropped below 100%. He’s made several mistakes recently.”

“My prediction is that even if we don’t freeze him now, he won’t be able to complete any more important missions. He’s quickly approaching the final stages of physical decline and will be completely incapacitated soon.” Wen Yi spoke without any emotion.

General Hao stared at the documents in silence for a long time before picking up his pen and approving the request, signing his name.

He put down his hand covered with age spots and sighed:

“I will look forward to the day when they return, and hopefully our warriors can return home in the future.”

“Let’s hope that by then, our home won’t be in ruins.”

With the two freezing requests approved, Wen Jiuze was surprised. “It was approved this easily? There’s nothing more I need to do?”

He had expected a long conversation, but things turned out to be much simpler than he anticipated.

Xue Ling tugged at him. “I told you, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Wen Jiuze replied, “Then who was the one so anxious, sitting up in the middle of the night and tearing our blanket to shreds?”

Xue Ling shot him a look. “So what? We don’t need the blanket!”

Wen Jiuze smirked, “You remember saying ‘Although it won’t be cold, I still think we need a blanket,’ right?”

Xue Ling groaned. “Stop remembering everything!”

Wen Jiuze teased, “Are you jealous that my memory is better?”

Xue Ling didn’t respond further. She examined the two cards in her hand, shaking them before showing them to Wen Jiuze. “We’re number 001 and 002. We’re the first to be frozen in the Beizheng Base cryogenics center. It’s kind of symbolic, don’t you think?”

Wen Jiuze replied, “What if the freezing fails, and after many years, we get dug up by archaeologists? We’ll be ‘Mummy 001’ and ‘Mummy 002.’”

“Nonsense,” Xue Ling glared at him. “It’ll be ‘Mummy 002’ and ‘Frozen Beauty.’”

Wen Jiuze: “……”

With less than three days until their freezing date, the other infected soldiers being transported back to the base were mostly warriors who had taken the new virus vaccine with poor results, and their condition was worsening.

Some were fresh infections with skin starting to turn blue, still trying to smile stiffly as they were sent to the cryogenics center, saying things like, “This is amazing, just like in the movies. Can I lie in this for a hundred years?”

A young soldier was being sent off by his teammates, who laughed and shouted at him, “You’re dreaming! You want to rest for that long? You’ll get one year at most, then come back next year, got it?”

“Stop talking about lying for a hundred years. This spot is limited. Get better and give your place to someone else!”

“Don’t worry. The virus vaccine is improving slowly. Soon, there’ll be one that can completely control the virus. You won’t be frozen for long.”

Every person about to be frozen had someone there to say goodbye.

Xue Ling and Wen Jiuze were no different.

Xue Ling posed for photos with every person who came to send her off, while Wen Jiuze stood silently with the soldiers, the atmosphere around him tense and somber.

Unlike the warmth in other places, everyone around Wen Jiuze wore expressions as serious as those attending a martyr’s memorial.

Wen Jiuze broke the silence. “How about I lie down and you all can circle around to pay your respects?”

One soldier laughed at the comment but quickly restrained himself. However, it was hard to recreate the solemn expression at that moment.

Finally, Captain Shen Zhang stepped forward and said, “We’ve come to see you off… hope everything goes smoothly.”

Another soldier dryly said, “Last time on a mission, you saved me. You left quickly and I didn’t get to thank you then, so thank you now.”

“And me, you saved me twice, though I’m sure you don’t remember my name. I’ll come visit you regularly.”

Wen Jiuze quipped, “Just don’t bring chrysanthemums.”

Xue Ling, in the middle of a photo with someone, turned her head back to glance at Wen Jiuze. Seeing the group around him smiling, she finally relaxed.

There wasn’t much time for small talk. As their family and friends left, the soldiers began entering the freezing chamber one by one.

Wen Yi had specifically come today to handle their freezing.

Xue Ling and Wen Jiuze, a couple who seemed intent on sleeping side by side forever, had a disagreement right from the start.

“Why should I go first? No, you go first.” Xue Ling insisted.

“You’re number 001, I’m 002. It’s by order. What’s the problem?” Wen Jiuze responded.

“It doesn’t have to be by number. They’ve already started freezing those behind us. You go first! What if I go first, lose consciousness, and you change your mind and walk away?”

“Don’t trust me? What if I freeze you first and you change your mind?”

“I do what I say! You’re the one who likes to lie.”

“I like to lie? Seriously, when have I lied to you?”

“You’re so bold to say that. You lie to me every day! I complain casually, and you remember it clearly, but you don’t remember half of what you did.”

“Your situation is worse. I have to make sure you’re frozen first before I’m at ease, understand?”

“Are you an expert? You’re a patient yourself, and you’re worried about the doctor. Behave and go get frozen. You promised me!”

“……”

Wen Yi stood by, hands in her pockets, watching them argue. Her expression grew more and more indifferent.

Do these two have no trust in each other?

If I didn’t know they’re a couple who would love each other even after death, I would almost think they were playing out some tragic ancient lovers’ suicide scene, both regretting it at the last moment.

“Alright, there’s no time left, give me the tablet.”

“Inject the serum directly and press their heads down into the chamber.”

When the tablet was taken away, Xue Ling’s hand instinctively moved, raising slightly towards Wen Jiuze.

Wen Jiuze held her hand.

If he could speak, Xue Ling knew he would say, “It’s fine, don’t be afraid.”

Wen Yi said, “Separate and lie down. Don’t make me play the role of the Queen Mother here. I’ll call someone to separate you both if necessary.”

Xue Ling awkwardly released Wen Jiuze’s hand, gave him a gentle push, and returned to her own cryogenic chamber.

After lying down, she suddenly tilted her head back and saw Wen Jiuze lying down in another cryogenic chamber. Only then did she settle back into her own.

Wen Yi first controlled the cryogenic chamber for Wen Jiuze, then moved to Xue Ling’s side.

She said, “Don’t worry.”

Xue Ling felt fully reassured, mouthing a “thank you” and then tiredly closing her eyes.

The buzzing sound began, and the cryogenic chambers slowly sealed.

In the quieting chambers, Wen Yi tidied up the remaining medical supplies. She took a final glance at cryogenic chambers 001 and 002.

Both of them had visited her recently. Wen Jiuze had said that once Xue Ling was frozen, he would be woken up.

He wanted to stay alert, in case there were issues with the freezing, so he could stop it in time. He didn’t trust it.

Xue Ling had said that if Wen Jiuze wasn’t frozen, she had to be awakened.

If they were both frozen, she needed to be the first to be awakened in the future. If the awakening failed, they should not attempt to wake up Wen Jiuze again.

Wen Yi had agreed at that time.

However, of course, she wouldn’t do as either of them had instructed.

In November 3037, the first batch of infected individuals was frozen at the Beizheng Base.

In the following ten years, several infected individuals were frozen and thawed.

The first batch of frozen individuals was thawed and treated over the course of twenty years. Some survived, while others failed and died.

Except for 001 and 002.

They were never thawed.

That was the case until 3357.