ABFMV Chapter 17 Part 2

Looking at it this way, maybe Xu Linlang didn’t actually dislike who he really was. She might not have even wanted him to be detained.

He still remembered how she had kept signaling with her fingers for him to hurry up and escape, while he pretended not to see.

Was it because he saved her? But she had clearly saved him first.

Besides, he’d helped plenty of people before. Yet once they found out who he really was, without exception, every one of them turned against him—as if they couldn’t wait for him to disappear from the world.

Those people had shown him the darkest side of humanity, while this girl had shown him the light.

When he unfolded the paper crane, he had paid close attention to how it was folded. Now, following the creases, he carefully folded it back into shape until the tiny crane rested neatly in his palm once again.

He slipped it into the small pocket over his chest—right next to his heartbeat.

Thinking about that, the tips of his ears burned hot.

He lowered his head, his soft black hair falling forward to hide his expression.

Sure enough, he was wretched at heart—greedy.

So greedy that even the smallest taste of warmth made him crave more.

And now, he no longer wanted to let it go.

One day, others would notice the kindness hidden beneath Xu Linlang’s spoiled exterior. They’d fight him for her, try to take her away.

If Xu Linlang ever fell for someone else…

Qiye shut his eyes, swallowing down the darkness rising in his gaze.

That couldn’t be allowed. She wouldn’t have the chance to fall for anyone else.

He would grow stronger—so strong that everyone else could only look up to him.

———

The cell door opened again, and five people in white uniforms entered. Right behind them was Rong Ruyue.

At the lead was Academician Chu Shao, the empire’s foremost genetic expert. As soon as he received information about Qiye, he rushed to Lilan Star.

Using a blood sample, he had already begun his research—and the results had shocked him.

The possibility of Zerg genes in Qiye’s blood was 0%.

Not 0.000001%. A flat, absolute zero.

Such an impossibility left Chu Shao stunned. Even humans and Celestials who gave birth to “pureblood human” children still passed down at least 0.1% Celestial genes.

But here—Qiye had none.

Historically, there had never been a known case of Zerg crossbreeding, so there was no data to compare against.

But one idea grew clearer in his mind: maybe Zerg had, in fact, interbred with other races. Only their genes couldn’t combine or be inherited, so the resulting children carried only the non-Zerg parent’s genes—and nobody ever noticed.

Could this be a unique form of genetic isolation in the Zerg?

With that thought in mind, Chu Shao entered the cell. He pressed two fingers against either side of Qiye’s head—no protrusions.

The characteristic Zerg horns were absent.

Could it be true? Were Zerg genes really incapable of inheritance?

In truth, Chu Shao had brushed against part of the truth. The reality was that Zerg could cross with other races—but not pass down even a trace of Zerg genetics.

What he couldn’t have imagined, however, was that Qiye’s mother was the exception.

She was the only known four-race hybrid in existence. Not only could she pass down Zerg genes, but she could even filter them—passing along only the strongest traits to her son.

Once Qiye fully merged with his bloodline, he gained the ability to control his genes.

His beast form no longer surfaced only at his weakest. He could summon it at will. For now, his transformations were incomplete—still in their juvenile stage.

But whenever he wished, he could return to the form of an ordinary human with no trace of mixed blood.

And his complete form would no longer erupt only under extreme stress and mental collapse—he could unleash that power at any time.

None of this even crossed Chu Shao’s mind.

He turned to Rong Ruyue and said, “Based on the test results, he truly has no trace of Zerg genetics. My theory is that Zerg cannot pass down genes when crossbreeding.”

Rong Ruyue considered this carefully, then said, “Report this to the military. As for me, if he’s human, there’s no reason to treat him harshly. And his father did fight at our side against the Zerg. Later, he retired and lived in seclusion. If not for his death, he would have kept hiding his identity, simply wanting to live as an ordinary man.”

Qiye slowly stood. “There’s something else I’d like to report as well.”

The two looked at him. “What is it?”

Unruffled, Qiye explained, “The beast that attacked Miss Xu in the trial grounds may have been a Zerg–beast hybrid. More than a hybrid, it looked like some kind of twisted experiment. Its body is still in the cave. Academician Chu, you should study it. I suspect this may be part of a conspiracy against the empire.”

At the word “experiment,” Chu Shao’s expression hardened. He exchanged a look with Rong Ruyue, then immediately sent people to the trial grounds.