Ch. 72 - Viviparous Organisms

The voting result, in the end, was unanimous, except for Lao Xu.

Han Shu jumped down from the armored vehicle and saw Lao Xu smoking by the campfire, so he walked over.

He slapped Lao Xu's shoulder, and Han Shu also took out a cigarette and lit it, "That kid Cangdu always speaks without thinking, don't mind him."

Lao Xu blew out a smoke ring and shook his head, "He's actually not wrong. I've been dragging you guys down."

"Don't talk nonsense." Han Shu took a deep drag, and the cigarette tip glowed red, "It's never wrong for a family man to be cautious. But we're planning to continue exploring. Here's the deal, when we're on the move, you stay back with the soldiers and watch over the vehicles. If anything goes wrong, you don't have to worry about us, alright?"

Lao Xu didn't say anything, just nodded silently.

The two men finished their cigarettes and headed back.

After a while, the armored vehicle started up and left the camp.

Inside the vehicle, Sergeant Yan Bing drove towards the eerie small building discovered by Cangdu and Tianyang.

Since there were traces of some kind of ritual being held there, Han Shu thought it was necessary to check it out.

Sitting behind the driver, Tianyang lightly patted Yan Bing's shoulder, "How's the injury?"

Yan Bing raised his thumb, "Miss Ji Yu's skills are top-notch. She gave me first aid, and now my injury is stable. I just can't engage in strenuous activities, so the captain asked me to drive."

"As long as it didn't hit any bones, after we return, I'll go to the medical center to fill in with biological materials. That should restore me to my previous level," Tianyang suggested.

Yan Bing smiled and paused for a moment before saying, "No need. Using biological materials is too expensive. I plan to go to the soldier's hospital and fill it with synthetic polymer materials."

Tianyang frowned, "Synthetic polymer materials don't have a biological basis and will affect the mobility of your legs."

Yan Bing scratched his head and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm getting married soon and want to save more contribution points. Synthetic polymer materials aren't as effective, but I don't think it will have much impact on the lower leg position."

Tianyang couldn't agree. Even though it didn't affect the joints, the loss of calf muscles would still affect mobility. Even with biological material fillings, it would not be possible to fully recover, let alone synthetic polymer materials.

In the Reverse Realm, the speed of movement sometimes determines life and death.

"After we return to the fortress, go and fill in with biological materials. I'll cover the contribution points for you."

Before Yan Bing could refuse, Tianyang said, "Consider it a loan from me. When you're financially comfortable later, you can slowly repay me. Don't refuse, unless you want to retire. Otherwise, just do as I say."

Yan Bing remained silent for a long time before squeezing out a word, "Thanks."

The hand holding the steering wheel tightened even more.

"Too much of a do-gooder."

Cangdu, sitting beside him, commented as he looked out the window.

Tianyang smiled, "If you need it, I can lend it to you too."

"Hmph." Cangdu closed his eyes and said, "I don't need it."

Tianyang shrugged and closed his eyes to rest, trying to make the most of the time.

When the car stopped, it had already arrived at the alley leading to the eerie small building.

Han Shu spoke over the car's broadcast system, "Lao Xu and the soldiers stay behind to keep watch, everyone else come with me."

Tianyang patted Yan Bing's shoulder, cautioning him to be careful, then jumped out of the vehicle with Cangdu.

In another armored vehicle, Han Shu and Ji Yu poked their heads out of the vehicle's body and then got out together. After the four of them assembled, they entered the alley.

The alley was very quiet, except for occasional black mold on the ground walls, there were no other abnormalities.

In no time, the small building came into view, and the giant corpse lying on it had gradually exposed its skeleton. At this rate, in another 36 hours, there would only be bones left.

Outside the gate, the black with mysterious symbols was still there, and the body of the crazed dog worshiping the withered tree had not changed.

Han Shu gestured, and Ji Yu took out a small recorder, filming both the withered tree and the crazed dog, documenting them.

Tianyang and Cangdu then took out their collection tools and collected scales, tissues, and other samples from the giant corpse.

After returning, these things would be handed over to the experimental department. At the same time, they would bring some merit and contribution points to the Crow Squad.

After about 5 minutes of busyness, the team entered the small building and arrived in the eerie atmosphere of the living room.

Looking at the giant sac hanging in the middle of the living room, Han Shu waved his hand in front of his nose, "The smell in here is so damn foul, I almost thought I fell into a cesspool. Damn, these dark bastards are really disgusting. What the hell is this thing anyway?"

Tianyang had already drawn his Red Moon Warblade and pointed the blade at the gap in the sac, "Captain, look here, something has come out from here, and we found something like footprints, leading all the way to the window."

Han Shu shone the light on the ground, and sure enough, on the surging black sludge-like substance on the ground, there were imprints extending towards the window.

These imprints were not evenly spaced, looking like the thing had just been born and walked unsteadily, like a seven or eight-month-old baby just learning to walk.

The word "baby" made Han Shu feel a bit nauseous. The light returned to the hanging sac, "So is this thing some kind of incubation tank?"

Ji Yu crossed her arms and spoke in a low tone, "To know for sure, we would have to dissect it, but unfortunately, I don't have the tools."

"I do."

Tianyang raised the Red Moon Warblade and infused it with Star Essence, causing the thermally conductive patterns to light up. After a moment, the sac that had been cut open by the Red Moon Warblade was lying on the ground, split into two halves, allowing Ji Yu to have a good look.

"Look here." Ji Yu used a dry tree branch to pick up a thin film inside the sac, "What do you guys think it looks like?"

Han Shu snapped irritably, "If I wanted to know, I would have studied it myself. Do I need you to intervene?"

Ji Yu was used to his temper and calmly said, "This is similar to the amniotic sac, do you know what that is?"

Han Shu sarcastically replied, pinching his nose, "Should I know?"

Ji Yu looked at the other two, Tianyang and Cangdu, who also looked puzzled. She sighed lightly, "You men..."

"Hmm."

She picked out a piece of membranous sac from the sac, but this piece of membrane had black fur growing on it.

Next, Ji Yu found some strip-like objects in the sac. She stayed between the two halves of the sac for about ten minutes before coming out.

"As I guessed, this thing is an organ. Similar to the placenta, because inside, I found the amnion, the chorion, and something like an umbilical cord."

Ji Yu pointed back at the organ.

"So it is born in this ghost thing, it's a mammal?" Han Shu asked.

Ji Yu corrected, "I can only tell you that it's a viviparous organism. But obviously its 'mother' can no longer nurse it."

She pointed to the top of her head.

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