Sliding down the rope, Ji Yushi descended swiftly.

He knew that Tang Qi and Tang Le had found nothing on the 116th floor. They were already surrounded by zombies, and after Zhou Mingxuan and Duan Wen descended, they were too busy to help, only barely confirming that the control room wasn’t on the 116th floor. At this moment, Duan Wen, who was hanging on the railing below, boldly and accurately jumped into the hallway on the 115th floor, joining Li Chun, who was firing at the zombies. They had already begun exploring the next floor.

Everything was unfolding in the sequence Ji Yushi remembered. He could even clearly recall the next moves his teammates would make and the next words they would say.

Amidst the concentrated gunfire from various floors and loops, Ji Yushi calmly observed everything, striving to stay clear-headed and not let his memories interfere.

As he slid down from the 122nd to the 119th floor, a loud explosion suddenly shook him, causing him to instinctively stop.

“What’s going on?!”

Song Qinglan, who was hanging a distance above him, shouted sharply.

Ji Yushi looked back and saw that a large hole had been blown in the railing on the 119th floor, and a group of zombies was falling through it like dumplings.

Dust and smoke quickly spread, obscuring the scene behind the railing.

Ji Yushi inadvertently inhaled a mouthful of smoke, which caused him to cough uncontrollably. “…cough, cough, cough!!”

This scene was not in Ji Yushi’s memory.

If his current situation could be described as “role-playing,” then this plot development was completely unexpected.

Song Qinglan, who had just experienced death and rebirth, also realized this, which is why he asked the question.

Ji Yushi’s eyes reddened as he continued coughing, tears welling up.

He was about to respond when the smoke in front of him began to clear, revealing a tall figure.

The figure had broad shoulders and a dominant presence, holding a powerful weapon with a red energy magazine flashing.

It was yet another Song Qinglan!

Ji Yushi instantly understood. This was Song Qinglan from the previous loop. After being wiped out on the 119th floor, they had entered the current loop. In other words, he had encountered Song Qinglan from the previous loop—a paradox was about to occur, meaning that he and his current teammates might soon disappear!

The other person also saw him, and his expression subtly changed on that icy face.

One was hanging in the air, while the other stood at the broken railing.

They were only two or three meters apart.

This Song Qinglan was identical to the one above him.

But strangely, those deep black eyes, like the bottom of the sea, gave Ji Yushi an indescribable feeling, as if a faint, sensitive electric current was running through him, making his fingertips tingle.

The Song Qinglan above was still saying something, but Ji Yushi couldn’t hear it anymore.

In that moment, the gunfire, the zombies’ growling, and the cursing of his teammates from various floors and loops all faded away.

How could this be?

Why was the Song Qinglan from the previous loop acting differently from what he remembered?

Wasn’t he from the previous loop? Then why was he on the 119th floor?

The figure before him only had time to meet his gaze for two or three seconds before a new wave of zombies approached from behind, forcing him to split his attention to shoot.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion in Ji Yushi’s eyes.

He realized he was disappearing.

It started from his feet, then his calves, and continued to spread upward.

By the time the figure turned back to look, his expression changed, and he instinctively shouted something.

But Ji Yushi had already completely disappeared into the air along with his teammates in this loop.

[02:41:31]

Ji Yushi opened his eyes. The transparent panel once again displayed garbled code, and the same time coordinates appeared on his communicator.

Here it comes again.

He numbly accepted the fact, taking a few sips of the nutrient liquid offered by the robotic arm, feeling like he was almost immune to the side effects of the transition.

The scene from earlier flashed through his mind. What was that unexpected development?

Ji Yushi had no clue.

His fingers unconsciously tightened around the nutrient bottle. He didn’t allow himself to dwell on it, quickly opening the capsule door and stepping out.

The sky was still very dark.

His teammates emerged from their capsules one by one.

Ji Yushi instinctively looked at the tallest person among them. The man was acting completely normal, nothing like the person he had just seen on the 119th floor, and didn’t even notice Ji Yushi’s scrutiny.

After a few brief words, Song Qinglan addressed the group: “This time, we’ll head to the 116th floor. Tang Qi and Tang Le, you go first and take the lead. The others will follow in sequence. Any objections?!”

Everyone: “None!!”

116th floor?

Ji Yushi was stunned. Hadn’t they just been there?

Song Qinglan noticed nothing, turning to look at him: “Consultant Ji, you go last. First, because you need to rest due to the mental strain. Second, because only you can calculate the sequence to shut down the energy source control after we find the control room, so you need to survive as long as possible each time.”

Seeing Ji Yushi’s unusual reaction, Song Qinglan frowned: “What’s wrong?”

The entire team turned to look at their consultant with concern.

Under their gaze, Ji Yushi had no choice but to say, “Nothing.”

Aside from him, none of them had any memory of the previous loop, not even Song Qinglan.

Moreover, ever since he saw the other Song Qinglan deviating from the script, everything seemed different.

Was it his memory that was faulty, or had things actually changed?

Ji Yushi didn’t know the answer. After experiencing a changed loop, he couldn’t be sure of what he wanted to say anymore.

Tang Qi and Tang Le shot out their grappling hooks and descended along the ropes.

The team members followed one by one.

Everyone was risking their lives, advancing and scouting with their flesh and blood.

Ji Yushi poured two pills from the medicine box and chewed them down without blinking.

Song Qinglan turned back just in time to see this: “Consultant Ji, don’t you find it bitter?”

Ji Yushi’s expression was calm: “Not really.”

After doing it so often, the bitterness was no longer noticeable.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Yushi attached himself to the rope and leaped down.

122, 121, 119…

As he passed the 119th floor, he didn’t even glance at it. There was no need to look; he knew those floors were playing out scenes of their bloody battles from previous loops.

The team split up to different floors. Upon reaching the 114th floor, Ji Yushi curled up his legs and then kicked out, using his strength and flexibility to hook onto the railing of the 116th floor in a dangerous yet effortless manner. As soon as he landed, he saw Duan Wen being chased by zombies.

Ji Yushi quickly drew his Diamond Bird, shooting each zombie in the head.

His marksmanship was precise, his shots almost instinctive, and this time, he was even faster, making Duan Wen almost unable to keep up.

The zombies fell to the ground, and Duan Wen, covered in blood, shouted: “I’ll take the left side!!”

Splitting up was the fastest method.

Li Chun, who had been with Duan Wen, was probably gone. Ji Yushi said nothing, just nodded slightly and turned to go in the opposite direction.

The Light Source Group’s building was cylindrical, with the internal atrium also in a circular structure, making it very difficult to hide and defend. The high-level zombies had completely mutated and could slightly discern human intentions, making it common for them to swarm from behind.

Ji Yushi threw a few energy grenades without holding back on his equipment. He held the Diamond Bird as if it were an extension of his body, leaving a trail of blood mist and brain matter in his wake.

He felt the need to kill more.

Among the bloody mud lay a laser gun, which belonged to Zhou Mingxuan.

Ji Yushi picked it up and fired with full force.

Whether it was due to the pills or not, he felt a rush of euphoria in this state of excitement.

He had never experienced such a moment.

“Bang!”

Suddenly, someone fell beside him, having jumped down to this floor and then roughly pushed Ji Yushi against the wall.

He looked up and saw a pair of angry eyes.

It was Song Qinglan.

Ji Yushi sobered up slightly, realizing his breathing was rapid, and his hands were shaking badly from the recoil of prolonged shooting.

He had lost control.

The two stared at each other, neither speaking.

Ji Yushi thought Song Qinglan would let him go after restraining him, then continue with their mission. But he was still pinned against the wall, unable to move.

Then, he sensed something different.

In those black eyes was a completely different emotion, like volcanic seeds buried beneath the dark ocean, filled with pain that Ji Yushi could almost feel.

These eyes overlapped with the ones he had seen in 1439, just before the end.

As if confirming something.

The next second, the other man lowered his head and kissed him.

Ji Yushi’s mind went blank, his body trembling.

The warmth on his lips was so familiar, it sent electric shocks through his body, even making his lips tremble.

“Clang—”

The heavy laser gun slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.

Song Qinglan kissed him fiercely, pressing down on his trembling, utterly powerless arms. Soon, the taste of blood filled their mouths.

Ji Yushi knew his tongue was bleeding, but in this intense moment, he felt no pain.

Gunfire echoed around them, waves of explosions resounded.

The world was still in chaos.

But their heavy breathing was so clear.

Without lifting his head, Song Qinglan pushed open a nearby door, continuing to kiss Ji Yushi as he pushed him inside, kicking the door shut.

There might have been zombies inside; he didn’t care. But then there was the sound of bones breaking.

Song Qinglan had already snapped the zombie’s neck with his bare hands.

Then, his large hand reached into Ji Yushi’s clothes, gripping his waist tightly—as if only by touching his skin, feeling his warmth, could he confirm that Ji Yushi was real.

The kiss was wild.

Song Qinglan barely gave Ji Yushi a chance to breathe.

Their tongues tangled, exploring every inch of his mouth, licking his palate, his teeth, greedily sucking on his lips, changing angles with each invasion, making him shiver.

This desire made Ji Yushi tear up.

His tears intensified the kiss.

He trembled, unable to hold back a soft sound, tinged with pain.

Finally, Song Qinglan released him, pressing his thumb against Ji Yushi’s swollen lips, his own hand shaking.

Their foreheads touched, neither able to speak a full sentence.

This separation, they never wanted again.

Finally, Song Qinglan took a deep breath, trying to speak, but then saw Ji Yushi’s eyes widen in shock.

He was disappearing.

Within two minutes of their reunion, the paradox occurred.

He vanished in Song Qinglan’s embrace.

Song Qinglan grasped at empty air, his jaw trembling.

After a long moment, he cursed: “Damn it…”

He punched the wall hard, his expression turning cold again, ready to go out and search for Ji Yushi once more.

Loop after loop, he would always die, and the Ji Yushi from the next loop would always appear.

But then he turned and saw someone standing at the door.

Ji Yushi, in his black combat suit stained with zombie blood, stood there, coldly watching him. “Song Qinglan, what are you doing?”

Song Qinglan’s heart sank.

This was the Ji Yushi from the current loop, the one with whom nothing had yet happened.

It was clear he had seen everything.

Song Qinglan felt a sudden panic: “…”

He paled and stammered, “If I say it’s not what you think, would you believe me?”