Chapter 708 - 579: Hard Bones

"What’s so great about it, Brother Su? I’m not quite human, not quite zombie. What can I do now?"

Liu Tianji was frustrated, and even the originally intriguing black-and-white world appeared unpleasant to him, with his eyebrows furrowed, fuming.

Zhang Su smiled mysteriously, patted Liu Tianji’s shoulder, and said, "It’s such a simple question. The most direct; zombies aren’t interested in you, so you can move freely amongst them, creating endless possibilities.

Gathering intelligence, discovering resources, those are basic operations. For instance, the city is probably overrun by zombies now, so we can’t go, but you can, like entering a land of no one, you know!"

Zhang Su started to envy him a bit, but unfortunately, the reason for such ability remains a mystery for now. Preliminary observation suggests first letting a zombie bite you, removing the bitten area, and then injecting the mysterious Corpse Transformation Inhibitor, a process full of risks.

Just because Qiu Hui and Liu Tianji both developed this ability doesn’t mean the probability is high. There are also four injured who remain unconscious, proving it’s all luck!

Although Liu Tianji still had some doubts, Zhang Su’s words sparked a hint of longing in his eyes. He flashed an odd smile and said, "So, you’re saying I’ll be even busier from now on?"

"Exactly!" Zhang Su affirmed, "Capable people should do more work. You’ll certainly have more tasks, but you won’t be alone."

"What do you mean, could it be... Qiu Hui as well?"

Liu Tianji quickly caught on, realizing he hadn’t heard about Qiu Hui’s situation before now.

"Yes, your Sister Hui also has the honor of gaining this ability. From now on, the two of you can make a duo, Liu Tianji and Qiu Hui, call it ’Qiu and Ji Duo,’ how about that, haha."

Zhang Su said with a laugh.

"Qiu and Ji Duo..."

Liu Tianji felt at a loss whether to laugh or cry, but overall, things were heading in a positive direction.

"Now, you all listen carefully. None of today’s events are to be disclosed. Also, your limb regeneration should not be mentioned to anyone, nor should you tell Qiu Hui. Her condition is still unstable. Wait and see before deciding to inform her. Understand?"

Zhang Su issued a secrecy order once again.

The trio nodded very seriously.

"Mr. Zhang, do you have time? I’d like to discuss the progress on the Liquefied Gas Zombie research with you."

Xie Yanshan noticed Zhang Su planning to leave and promptly tried to keep him.

Zhang Su really intended to check out the dinner preparations in Village No.1; time wasn’t early, it was already dark outside. Upon hearing about the Liquefied Gas Zombie, he immediately perked up.

"You two stay here and observe for the night, wait until tomorrow to return. You won’t catch the lively hot pot banquet tonight, but I’ll have someone bring you some, and you can eat with Qiu Hui. We’re leaving now."

After saying that, Zhang Su left the room with Xie Yanshan.

They went to the room where the Liquefied Gas Zombie’s corpse was stored. Without turning on the light, Zhang Su instantly spotted the black-as-ink square crystal. At the moment, the Liquefied Gas Zombie had been dismantled beyond recognition, with many areas showing bone. Based on characteristics, it resembled a human form, but far from flesh and blood.

With a snap, Xie Yanshan turned on the light and walked to the experiment bed, saying, "This is the energy source Weijun extracted from its skull. Additionally, I’ve conducted various tests on the corpse and found something unusual."

"Oh?"

Zhang Su was bent over examining the black crystal, and upon hearing Xie Yanshan mention something unusual, he turned his head to him, "Tell me."

"This fellow’s humerus, radius, and ulna; come, look at the lower limbs, femur, fibula, and tibia are unusually hard!"

Xie Yanshan pointed to different parts of the Liquefied Gas Zombie’s bones like a biology teacher in class.

Zhang Su was instantly confused by the random bone names. Luckily, Xie Yanshan was using the actual objects while explaining; otherwise, besides the femur, he wouldn’t know any other parts...

"Unusually hard? Give me a pair of gloves."

Zhang Su gestured to Xie Yanshan, took a pair of gloves, put them on, and prepared to experience the so-called unusual hardness himself. He gripped the Liquefied Gas Zombie’s humerus, the bone in the upper arm, using all his strength, but there was no reaction.

"Hey, damn?"

"Direct contact is fine, but crushing it is impossible," Xie Yanshan smiled encouragingly beside him, his gentle push like a lethal blow.

"Can’t believe it!"

Seeing his gripping strength was limited, Zhang Su decided to go for something more aggressive. With a fierce twist, he directly disjointed the humerus, since the Liquefied Gas Zombie is lean, its humerus is just around twenty centimeters in length.

"Hey!"

Zhang Su grasped both ends, took a deep breath, and, like bending a flex bar at the gym in the past, exerted effort. His arms trembled, muscles bulged, face turning red, and expression grotesque.

"Whoa... dammit, it’s hard!"

After five or six seconds, Zhang Su completely gave up. Even bending steel would show a slight shape change, but this not-so-thick femur didn’t budge at all, leaving no hope in sight.

"See? I said it’s tough," Xie Yanshan shrugged and said, "There’s a standard Mohs hardness testing pen over there. It measures eight, and the bone test results are off the scale, meaning the hardness is above Mohs hardness eight!"

"Above Mohs hardness eight; it could probably be compared to tungsten steel?"

Zhang Su, who used to enjoy crafting cold weapons, was well-acquainted with Mohs hardness. It’s a standard used to measure the hardness of natural minerals, which can also be used for synthetic metals. Human bone structure typically uses Mohs hardness as well.

Commonly seen construction steel bars range between four to five on the Mohs scale. Human fingernails are around two to three, enamel can reach five, even harder than regular steel!

"More than tungsten steel, I feel these bones can rival diamond in hardness, perhaps even surpass the hardest materials known on our planet."

Xie Yanshan offered extremely high praise.

"This light little thing, harder than diamond? Grinding it into a weapon—not right, the harder it is, the more brittle, not suitable for weapons... what a waste."

Zhang Su regretfully waved the bone, finding its lightweight even for striking not quite forceful enough, requiring added weight. If it could possess the toughness of metal while maintaining this hardness, it would be the dream weapon material.

"Not necessarily," Xie Yanshan evidently held a different view, he said, "Material brittleness indeed relates closely to hardness, but that’s because harder materials possess a tighter internal atomic structure; when external force is applied, atom sliding becomes difficult, hence displaying brittle characteristics.

But all these physical traits concern the known objects around us. For unknown entities like this, exercising caution and proof might be wiser, what if it possesses both hardness and toughness?"

"Alright, I’ll take it to..."

"Brother Su, Brother Su, what’s the plan for drinks tonight? A lot of people are asking if they can have some alcohol."

Just at this moment, Zhang Su’s pocket walkie-talkie buzzed; it was Wang Xin’s voice, background noisy, likely on-site preparing for the hot pot banquet in Village No.1.

Zhang Su pulled out the walkie-talkie, contemplated for a while, and said, "No alcohol permitted. Have someone inform Ju Mumio not to drink during the meal."

By rights, today, such a day worth celebrating, calls for a joyful feast, but as zombies outside grow stronger and defensive structures remain incomplete, feasting is utter recklessness!

Initially, Zhang Su considered allowing sub-leader ranks to have two shots each but decided against it. That wouldn’t only serve no benefit but also fuel hierarchical conflict; sub-leaders should lead by example rather than initiate drinking!

Yet, he felt complete prohibition too harsh, thus said, "No alcohol, instead allocate each person a pack of cigarettes as welfare!"

For seven hundred plus people, that’s over seventy packs of cigarettes. With the current ample stock, the camp could manage it.