Jiang Zheyu slowly made her way to the restroom sink to wash her face.

After washing her face in the restroom, she finally felt a bit more comfortable.

She walked out of the restroom. "Captain Shan, I’m ready!"

Shan Xun saw the obvious happiness on her face.

His deep purple eyes glinted, and a faint smile touched his lips, but his expression quickly returned to its usual coldness.

Jiang Zheyu wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. ’Did I just see Shan Xun smile?’

She didn’t press the issue and followed Shan Xun to an office door.

Shan Xun pushed open an office door and spoke directly, "Come check this female, see if she’s been parasitized by the Zerg Race."

"Alright." A familiar, cool and clear voice responded.

Jiang Zheyu paused. Peeking out from behind Shan Xun, she saw a familiar face.

He was dressed in a white lab coat, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He had choppy, silver-white hair and a pair of eyes as cool as snow.

’Isn’t that her former attending physician, Li Xingbai?’

Jiang Zheyu was especially happy to finally see a familiar face here.

"Doctor Li!" Jiang Zheyu waved a greeting to Li Xingbai.

Li Xingbai wasn’t surprised to see Jiang Zheyu. Everyone in the Research Institute knew a female had arrived, and he knew that female was her.

"Long time no see, Miss Jiang." Li Xingbai returned her greeting politely.

"You two know each other?" Shan Xun frowned.

"Yes, I was Miss Jiang’s attending physician for a while," Li Xingbai replied with a nod.

Jiang Zheyu walked over. "Doctor Li, what brings you here?"

"I was transferred," Li Xingbai said, looking at Jiang Zheyu. "I’m serving as both a doctor and a researcher."

"Just check her for any Zerg Race parasites," Shan Xun said coolly, standing at the doorway without coming in.

Li Xingbai nodded, then turned to Jiang Zheyu. "Miss Jiang, please follow me over here."

Jiang Zheyu followed him.

The test was simple. A beam of light scanned back and forth over her body. Finally, Li Xingbai nodded. "No Zerg Race spiritual power detected. Miss Jiang, you have not been parasitized."

"Okay." Hearing this, Jiang Zheyu let out a sigh of relief.

"Let’s go," Shan Xun said, still standing in the doorway and looking at Jiang Zheyu.

Jiang Zheyu had wanted to catch up with Li Xingbai, but after a moment’s hesitation, she slowly walked toward the door.

"I’ll see you later, Doctor Li," Jiang Zheyu said, looking back at Li Xingbai before she left.

Li Xingbai’s gaze faltered for a second before he nodded and replied, "Alright."

’She used to like me,’ he recalled. ’She even got into a huge fight with other females over me.’

’But then, her attention was gradually captured by other Beastmen, and she stopped bothering me.’

’Back then, I was honestly relieved and felt much more at ease.’

’But as time went on, she became more and more dazzling.’

’My gaze was gradually drawn to her, too. But I’m a passive person by nature; I prefer to leave things to fate and mutual affection.’

’My personality has always been a bit distant.’

’I’ve never been one to actively pursue someone. I’m just not a passionate person.’

’If no one pursues me, then what’s missed is simply missed.’

Meanwhile, Jiang Zheyu followed Shan Xun out. She actually had something she wanted to ask him, which was why she hadn’t lingered.

"Shan Xun, the Star Emperor sent me here to treat the Beastmen whose spiritual power has been damaged. You must know that. So, when can I start? And where are they?" Jiang Zheyu asked, looking up at him.

Perhaps because of the incident in the restroom, Jiang Zheyu wasn’t as afraid of him anymore.

"I was just about to discuss that with you," Shan Xun said with a glance at her. "Are you ready? If so, I’ll take you there."

"Yes, yes, I’m ready! I’m ready," Jiang Zheyu quickly replied.

"Follow me, then." Shan Xun started walking.

Jiang Zheyu followed him.

Perhaps because of Jiang Zheyu’s earlier reminder, he now matched his walking speed to hers.

’This guy is actually alright,’ Jiang Zheyu thought. ’I was just biased because of his intimidating looks.’

Shan Xun led Jiang Zheyu to the first basement level.

The entire way was lined with guards.

They stopped in front of a laboratory door.

"Captain Shan." A Beastman greeted Shan Xun with a slight bow.

Shan Xun nodded. "Open the door."

The Beastman complied, opening the laboratory door.

Shan Xun entered first, with Jiang Zheyu following behind him.

As far as the eye could see were rows upon rows of beds, and lying on them were rows upon rows of Beastmen.

All the Beastmen lay on the beds with their eyes closed, so still they looked like corpses.

The stark white light from above made every detail exceptionally clear.

Jiang Zheyu swallowed. ’Why does this place feel like a morgue?’

’Did we really come to the right place?’

Jiang Zheyu scanned the room and estimated there were about a hundred people in this one laboratory alone.

"Captain Shan, are... are these Beastmen still alive?" Jiang Zheyu asked, instinctively moving closer to him. "Why does this place look so much like a morgue?"

Shan Xun simply explained, "These are all Beastmen whose spiritual power was damaged. Since they’ve lost all combat ability, they’re kept here as research subjects."

He then added, "They’re not dead, but they won’t wake up either. Every day, someone from the Research Institute injects them with Nutrition Liquid and sedatives. After all, if they were to wake up, their spiritual power is so chaotic they would cause a lot of accidents. It’s easier to manage them this way."

Besides, these men were soldiers. They were always meant to be dedicated to the Empire.

Even after death, their bodies would be left to the Research Institute for study.

Jiang Zheyu fell silent. ’These men aren’t dead, but they’re forced to sleep here... Still, maybe it’s better than being awake and tormented by the agony of their spiritual injuries.’

’She really didn’t know.’

"So if I heal their spiritual power, what will the Empire do with them afterward?" Jiang Zheyu asked, glancing at Shan Xun.

Shan Xun replied flatly, "Beastmen whose spiritual power is healed will be sent back to the Imperial Capital Star for rehabilitation. Those who pass will remain in the Imperial Army. Those who don’t will be discharged."

"Okay." Jiang Zheyu nodded.

But then she asked, "How many more labs like this are there?"

"There are ten labs like this in total," Shan Xun said with a frown. "One thousand men."

’And this is just the number of men at one of the Empire’s research bases,’ Jiang Zheyu realized.

’There was no telling how many other bases there were, or how many more men were in them.’