Chapter 1842: A Person Has to Do Something While Alive
Juan Er's perspective was a bit unique. Most people hearing this question would first be shocked by such a horrifying matter, then doubt its credibility, but no one cared about the ownership of the children born.
"Can humans really have children with Xenomorphs?" Brother Wu was truly stunned, staring at Chang Shoujie.
Everyone present wanted to know the answer, and along with this question came another: whether using humans and Xenomorphs could actually solve the population problem of Zone 010. If it could, what kind of hell would Zone 010 turn into in the future?
"I don't know." Under everyone's gaze, Chang Shoujie calmly gave this answer. Since Xu Huo had already exposed the matter, he couldn't continue hiding it. Besides, there was no need to conceal it.
"Dr. Joyce did initially have a plan to use Xenomorphs to cultivate the next generation, and he put it into practice. But the people of Zone 010 had lost their fertility. Even if they degenerated into Xenomorphs and seemed to possess stronger vitality, they still found it very difficult to get pregnant or make others pregnant. Like the ordinary people from other zones who came to Zone 010, no matter who it was, once they entered the environment of Zone 010, it seemed they automatically lost their reproductive ability."
He lifted his gaze slightly, looking out over the endless Sand Sea. "Just like this Sand Sea."
After a pause, he returned to the topic. "We conducted experiments in many places without success. In the year or two before I was about to give up, Dr. Joyce also became somewhat disheartened."
"The last time he contacted me, he only said things had made progress, that he was leaving Zone 010 to find helpers..."
"Whether it was finding helpers or something else, I'm not sure. But it was still a hope, even if a very slim one."
In fact, Chang Shoujie knew that this hope might be even slimmer than he imagined. In the years since he had lost his player identity, there had been no news of Dr. Joyce in Zone 010. If he had succeeded, he wouldn't have needed to wait for Chang Shoujie; he could have gone to any Safe Zone to change Zone 010's fate. The lack of news to this day—he understood what it meant.
"So those Safe Zones shut you out because of the experiments with living people and...?" Gao Dawei's worldview was being reconstructed as he struggled to say this, and he also realized, "So that's why the Polar Safe Zone people were unwilling to mention Dr. Joyce."
Inciting Zone 010 players to attack the Sand Sea Safe Zone might cause massive casualties, but regardless, Chang Shoujie's contributions were undeniable. Even if the costs couldn't be paid, he shouldn't have been denied even a place to stay. The reason for this situation was that many Safe Zones knew about the human-Xenomorph experiments, which was why they found him so repulsive.
"Using this method, even if it saved Zone 010, what good would it do?" Gao Dawei murmured. "If it were me, I would have driven you away too..."
"Do you think only Chang Shoujie was doing this?" Xu Huo spoke up. "I'm afraid the Safe Zones that initially accepted him and Dr. Joyce also participated in this experiment to some extent, which is why they kept silent after the failure."
This made it even harder to bear. At least before now, Chang Shoujie was still a person of noble character worthy of respect, and the players of Zone 010 were a group of determined individuals who refused to leave their homeland. From the perspective of Zone 010 people, they were all victims. Even if driven by extreme hunger to cannibalism, it was due to survival instinct, impossible to judge.
But now it seemed like everyone in Zone 010 was dragged into a muddy mess. They weren't just victims; they were also perpetrators, and utterly without bottom line!
A sound came from a distance. Pink Hair didn't seem very interested in their topic and turned to chase after the player who had been driven out by the mechanical rat.
"This doesn't even count as hope, does it?" Juan Er scratched her hair. "Even if humans and Xenomorphs really did produce children, would Zone 010 have to give birth like this from now on? Then humans wouldn't even be humans anymore."
"This matter didn't succeed," Chang Shoujie said.
So there was no point in continuing the discussion.
"Then where are we going now?" Deng Xiahei asked.
"The clue about Dr. Joyce is in the place they came out of. I'll make a trip." Xu Huo left Chang Shoujie and the others behind, signaling Deng Xiahei and Brother Wu to keep an eye on him and Gao Dawei.
Deng Xiahei naturally had no objection. Seeing Xu Huo take out a Teleportation Item, he instinctively wanted to remind him that Space Teleportation Items couldn't be used, but before he could finish speaking, the person in front of him vanished like the wind.
The temperature in the Sand Sea was high. Deng Xiahei and the others set up a prop tent. After retreating into the shade, Chang Shoujie asked Gao Dawei, "Did he know from the beginning what Dr. Joyce was doing?"
Gao Dawei wasn't sure either. "He came looking for you initially. He should know Dr. Joyce. Maybe Dr. Joyce told him what he was doing."
Otherwise, aside from the Zone 010 players involved, who else would know what Dr. Joyce was up to? And the people of Zone 010 wanted to erase even the traces of Dr. Joyce's presence, so they certainly wouldn't bring it up voluntarily.
Chang Shoujie closed his eyes and didn't ask any more.
Deng Xiahei and the others got some food and water, sharing a portion with Chang Shoujie. Juan Er still admired him a lot. She moved closer and chatted with him. "Sometimes I try to figure out the minds of people like you. Why would someone give up a good life right in front of them and choose a difficult path instead?"
Chang Shoujie didn't speak. Juan Er didn't mind. She took a sealed beef jerky stick and drew in the sand, adding, "But people like you usually die young. Even if you live a few more years, it's not a good life. What does it matter if you succeed? The one who enjoys the future isn't you, nor your family—it's all strangers."
"Does helping others fill your heart with strength?"
Juan Er was genuinely curious about this question, not sarcastic. Chang Shoujie opened his eyes and looked at her. "A person has to do something while alive."
"I know that," Deng Xiahei took a sip of water and chimed in. "For some people, daily life can't satisfy their hearts. These people prioritize their beliefs and have to find something to dedicate themselves to."
"Is that kind of person bad?" Juan Er turned back, smiling. "I think it's pretty good. With such diligent people, lazy ones like me can get lucky."
A few of them laughed. Their casual attitude made Gao Dawei a bit angry. He was about to say something when Chang Shoujie grabbed his arm.
"What? You want to argue?" Juan Er looked at him leisurely.
Instinct took over, and Gao Dawei looked away.
Juan Er then raised her hand and patted his shoulder. "Young man, when your strength isn't up to par, you have to know when to bow your head. That's how you live long."
Gao Dawei dared not speak, nor did he dare push her hand away. It was Brother Wu who cut in from the side. "That person is back." (Chapter End)