Chapter 4179: Chapter 4167: Hidden Incident

Zhao Wenwei looked at Li Qingyue.

"You’ve been doing research on this aspect, talk to Lin Yi about it."

Lin Yi’s gaze also turned to Li Qingyue.

"So far, it hasn’t been found anywhere else," Li Qingyue said:

"Over the years, I’ve conducted experiments all over the country, but nowhere can sustain life for even a month, even if we simulate the environment of Ailao Mountain, the Black Teeth Worm can only survive in Ailao Mountain."

Habitually, Li Qingyue tidied her hair slightly, "This is also a good thing, if they could survive elsewhere, it might have led to a massive insect pandemic."

"What exactly causes this?"

Li Qingyue shook her head, "I’ve conducted investigations and research, but have discovered nothing definitive, only that Black Teeth Worms can only survive in Ailao Mountain."

Listening to Li Qingyue’s words, Lin Yi gathered some important information.

The Black Teeth Worm species has not gone extinct yet.

But because they cannot survive elsewhere, they’ve been confined to Ailao Mountain.

"In your research, apart from spreading plagues, do Black Teeth Worms have any other functions?" Lin Yi asked:

"For example, some insects are pests but have certain medicinal value."

Li Qingyue shook her head, "They have no positive uses, nor can they be used in medicine, and they are the best carriers of viruses. We found a total of 23 viruses in them, and these viruses achieve a delicate balance within the Black Teeth Worms."

After a pause, Li Qingyue continued:

"Back then, the insect plague in Ailao Mountain was hard to cure and erupted on a large scale for this reason. Different viruses create different diseases, and once they breach the human immune system they cause various infections, hence there are no positive contributions from the Black Teeth Worms. This situation is very rare."

After a brief silence, Lin Yi didn’t speak.

"Teacher Zhao, Li, you are experts in this field. I’ll put the question more extremely: Is it possible to say that the Black Teeth Worm is the only insect in the world that has no positive effects, only negative ones?"

This question left the two silent for a while as they contemplated deeply.

They did not immediately give a response but exchanged a glance.

"From an extreme standpoint, you could say that," Zhao Wenwei said:

"Some insects, even though their positive effects are small, have uses. Also, our research found that the Black Teeth Worm doesn’t belong to any known category, and in the end, we had to classify it under the Chelicerata subphylum, so your statement is somewhat unfounded, because..."

Zhao Wenwei paused, lighting a cigarette.

"Back then, the Black Teeth Worm had another name, Alien Worm, as it doesn’t fit Earth’s biological characteristics."

Lin Yi remained silent.

Everything the two said was moving in the direction he expected.

For a long time, Lin Yi held a certain notion in his mind.

Land and Tilia Island are different, and so are the creatures there.

Zhao Wenwei called the Black Teeth Worm an Alien Worm; in a way, perhaps it’s something from Tilia Island, hence they had never seen it and came up with such a name.

This could signify that, in Ailao Mountain, there might be something related to Tilia Island or the Natives.

"Teacher Zhao, the Black Teeth Worm has no benefits, why do you still invest so much effort into researching it? Don’t you think it’s a waste of time?"

"Scientific research is like this, there’s no concept of wasting time," Zhao Wenwei said with a smile:

"Think about it, it’s uniquely the only insect that has no positive impact in the world; that’s already very special. Also, those viruses achieving a mutual restraint balance within one organism is intriguing. From another perspective, if we unravel the causes and mechanisms, there could be significant breakthroughs in biomedicine in the future."

"That’s true," Lin Yi said with a smile:

"Aside from the Black Teeth Worms, are there other similar creatures on Ailao Mountain that have never been encountered before?"

Zhao Wenwei took a moment before replying, contemplating.

"We haven’t found any, at most some variants of known species, which follow traces. But the Black Teeth Worm alone stands apart, unlike any other creature."

"Is there documented data on the Black Teeth Worm? I want to see what exactly it is."

"That can be arranged, but the video data is at our institute. I can take you after dinner to have a look."

"Sounds good, thanks for your trouble, Teacher Zhao."

Since no alcohol was consumed, after more than an hour, the meal concluded.

The three returned to the school, heading to Zhao Wenwei’s office where they found the video data on the Black Teeth Worm.

Its size is similar to a woman’s fingernail, between 1 and 1.5 centimeters, with eight appendages on its mouth resembling interlaced pincers, which Lin Yi found nauseating.

During viewing, Li Qingyue provided explanations.

Lin Yi watched attentively; the insect’s attack methods and tactics weren’t surprising to him.

Over the years on Tilia Island, he had seen all kinds of insects, some even more frightening than the Black Teeth Worm.

Lin Yi almost had a premonition; this type of worm might also exist on Tilia Island.

"Teacher Zhao, according to your research, has this worm’s population decreased or increased?"

"Overall, it has decreased, and in recent years, the pandemic hasn’t reoccurred. We can only find this worm in Ailao Mountain."

Lin Yi nodded, having understood enough about the Black Teeth Worm, now he needed to ask something else.

"Teacher Zhao, I heard that when you led the team to Ailao Mountain to treat the insect pandemic, something happened—a member of the entourage..."

"Qingyue..."

Zhao Wenwei interrupted Lin Yi, "You go out first, I’ll talk to Lin Yi privately."

"Understood."

Li Qingyue left, leaving the two alone in the office. Zhao Wenwei sighed.

"Lin Yi, some things can’t be asked about, and I can’t really say much."

"I understand," Lin Yi nodded:

"Teacher Zhao, just tell me who’s responsible for this, who gave the order not to discuss it, and leave the rest to me."

"You are capable in this field?"

Lin Yi smiled slightly, "The problem should not be too big."

"It’s the leaders of the Health Commission."

"Alright, I understand."

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