Ling Feng stood before his chalkboard, the one that had become both his sanctuary and prison. The air inside the lab was thick with the smell of chemical solvents and the faint hum of computers running simulations. Outside the lab's windows, the world continued, oblivious to the miracle unfolding within these walls. At just 35 years old, Ling Feng was regarded as the most brilliant mind of the century, and his research had brought him to the brink of something unimaginable. His IQ, measured at an unparalleled 200, had driven him to uncover secrets that most could only dream of.
But today, the unthinkable happened. The silence that had surrounded his work for months was shattered by the sudden pounding on the lab's heavy metal doors. A group of figures, clad in tactical gear, stormed inside. Their presence was menacing, their eyes cold and focused. The leader, a tall man with a scar running across his cheek, was the first to speak.
"Stop the project, Ling Feng," he demanded, his voice clipped and forceful. Ling Feng froze, his heart hammering in his chest. He had never seen these people before, but something about them felt wrong—like they were not merely here to stop his research, but to end it entirely.
Confusion flooded Ling Feng's mind. "What is this? Who are you?"
The leader's expression remained unchanged. "You've done enough, but now you need to stop. We can't let this continue."
Ling Feng's hand trembled as it hovered over his research notes. He looked at the equations, the formulas that had consumed his every waking moment. They were close—so close. The answer to humanity's greatest curse, the cure for cancer, was within his grasp. His heart raced as he understood that this was not just a matter of science—it was a matter of life and death.
"I can't stop," he said, his voice resolute despite the fear clawing at him. "I'm almost there. I'm on the verge of something that could save millions of lives. This is humanity's hope."
The leader's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he said nothing. But his lips curled into a small, knowing smile. It was a smile that sent a chill down Ling Feng's spine.
The leader spoke again, this time his voice softer, almost condescending. "You think you're the first to almost uncover the truth, don't you, Ling Feng? So many brilliant minds have come before you, each one thinking they were the ones to crack it. And yet, here we are—no cure, no solution, just the endless cycle of suffering."
Ling Feng felt his stomach churn. His mind was spinning. "But why? Why has no one done it before? Why can't we cure cancer?"
The leader looked at him with a mixture of pity and amusement. "Because the people who hold the power don't want it, Ling Feng. They don't want a cure."
Ling Feng's mind raced as he tried to process the words. "What are you talking about? The cure would save lives—it would end suffering."
The leader's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "It would, yes. But think about it. If cancer were cured, doctors, hospitals, pharmaceuticals—they would all lose their power. The entire medical industry would collapse. Too many people rely on this disease to keep the wheels of their empire turning. And that is something the higher-ups will never allow."
Ling Feng's pulse quickened as he grappled with the revelation. It didn't make sense. How could something so important be suppressed by greed and power? He had dedicated his entire life to this pursuit. He had watched people he loved suffer. He had lost family members to the very disease he was trying to cure.
"No," he muttered, his voice shaking with disbelief. "That can't be true. People are dying. They would never let this happen. This… this is too important."
The leader took a step closer, his gaze piercing. "You're still naive, Ling Feng. You think science will always prevail? That the truth will always rise to the surface? You've been living in your ivory tower for too long. Now, it's time for you to understand the reality of the world you're in."
Ling Feng felt a wave of nausea wash over him. The weight of the leader's words pressed against him, but he couldn't—he couldn't accept it. The people who controlled life and death, who controlled the future of medicine—were they really so corrupt? Could the cure for cancer really be buried because of the fear of losing control?
The room seemed to close in around him as Ling Feng struggled to find his words. He felt his hands shaking, his thoughts fragmented by the enormity of the situation. The leader's expression never wavered, his eyes cold and devoid of empathy.
Ling Feng stepped back, his mind fighting to process the truth. He had worked his entire life for this moment. The cure was almost complete—one final experiment and the world would change forever.
"Why?" Ling Feng's voice cracked. "Why kill me?"
The leader smiled again, a cold, detached smile that sent shivers down Ling Feng's spine. "Because, Ling Feng, you've become too much of a threat. You were too close to something that could change everything. But we can't allow that to happen. The world is not ready for it."
Ling Feng's heart pounded in his chest as the leader raised a gun, aiming it steadily at his head.
Time seemed to stretch as the cold steel of the weapon glinted in the light. Ling Feng's breath caught in his throat. He had reached the peak, only to be snuffed out by forces he could never have imagined. The dream he had carried for so long—of saving the world, of making a difference—was slipping away.
And then, with a smile, the leader pulled the trigger.
There was a flash of light, a sharp crack, and then silence.
Ling Feng's body crumpled to the floor, lifeless. His final thoughts were a blur of confusion and disbelief. The world he had fought for, the lives he could have saved—it all vanished in an instant.
The leader lowered his weapon, his eyes lingering on the fallen genius for a moment longer before turning away. His mission was complete.
Outside the lab, the world continued as it always had—unaware of the loss, unaware of the sacrifice. The higher-ups would carry on, their grip on the medical industry unchallenged. But somewhere, deep in the silence of that lab, the hope of humanity had been silenced forever.
And with that, Ling Feng's dream, his hope, his legacy—was buried.