Chapter 38 – Tower on the Sea (3)
Outside, the seawater flooded in, crashing against the stone wall with a tremendous roar before receding. The barbershop owner sat beneath the tower, glancing at the rapidly falling water-blue crystals outside the window before lowering his gaze to the situation below.
Apart from three high schoolers, there were several individuals dressed in dark red attire. Both groups continuously traversed between floors, each attempting to eliminate the other without any sign of yielding.
It was evident that the red-clad faction outnumbered their opponents, yet they hadn't gained much ground. They were marked with injuries, blood staining the ground.
Jiang Yujin's cheap son was also injured, but like his cheap father, he fought fiercer with each injury. Wiping the blood off his face, he swiftly pivoted and stabbed the person behind him with certainty and rapidity, devoid of hesitation.
Xiao Pang by the side widened his eyes, "Have eyes grown on your back?"
The ground was littered with corpses, blood seeping into the ground tiles of the first floor, turning the once grey fish tail into a patch of red.
Eyes rimmed with blood, sparks dissipating in the air, Zhang Xin exhaled heavily, her chest heaving.
The towering fortress was already significantly destroyed, statues shattered, stairs fragmented, oil lamps overturned, sparking flames on the ground. Scorch marks adorned various parts of the tower.
Glancing at the time, Chen Jing looked towards the entrance they had arrived from, stating, "Let's get out first."
With the cigarette burnt out, the barbershop owner stubbed it out and casually pulled down a lever hidden in the pillar. It was something they stumbled upon during their last visit, unexpectedly finding use for it today.
As the lever was pulled down, the tower rumbled, echoing with the sounds of gears in motion, followed by the rush of gushing water.
All exits of the tower sealed shut, concealed by stone bricks. Water streamed into the tower, rapidly rising. The sea water surpassed the statues, subtly altering something in its quiet intrusion.
All statues came to life, their pure white eyes fixed on the three individuals standing in the center of the grand hall.
A sense of despair enveloped them.
Zhang Xin was instantly alert. Xiao Pang, who was still catching his breath, widened his eyes in agony. Chen Jing quickly scanned the tower, not missing even the tiniest detail.
The tower's rooftop was now devoid of any individuals. These things were enough to keep the three high schoolers engaged for a considerable time.
The barbershop owner left after pulling the lever, lighting up another cigarette.
When he came out again, the entire island had transformed. The land that extended far away had vanished. Upon exiting the tower, there was only raging seawater. The fog that previously enveloped the island had now spread endlessly, the sea beneath it swirling into vortexes, stained red with blood.
As a vortex approached a specific area, it shattered instantly, reverting to normal seawater, ebbing and flowing with the waves.
Jiang Yujin had already ventured into the seawater, willingly stepping into the enemy's primary battleground.
The mermaid with algae-blue hair and light blue pupils gazed at the approaching figure, wielding their scepter with a solemn and sacred expression that didn't remotely resemble an attempt to kill someone with all their might.
Instantly, the winds and waves on the sea calmed, not a ripple in sight, as if the water had turned into a lifeless pool. With the absence of the waves' sound, the surroundings fell abruptly silent, resembling a dead space.
While the sea surface lay tranquil, beneath, hidden currents surged, a tremendous force pulling relentlessly downward, compelling individuals to sink into the ocean.
Jiang Yujin still held the dried branch he had casually picked up earlier. As the branch cleaved through the sea, fishes were swept along. When they departed once more, they had become just another lifeless being in the depths of the ocean.
The water parted, revealing the mermaid at the heart of the sea. The person who had just stepped into the water vanished instantly from his spot, his movements invisible to the naked eye. When he reappeared, one hand was already gripping the mermaid's throat, the other hand crushing the mermaid's hand holding the scepter.
The deep blue scepter shattered along with the mermaid's finger bones.
The individual made the mermaid feel the feeling of the scepter breaking in their own hand, then swiftly pushed down on the mermaid, making them rapidly descend into the depths of the ocean.
As the sight grew dim, the mermaid's light blue pupils met the gaze of the individual almost directly upon them.
The individual's slightly longer hair fluttered backward, gradually losing its black hue as the water deepened and the pressure increased, turning his hair into a shade of grey-white.
Standing on the last remaining patch of land by the tower, the barbershop owner heard a distant, thunderous sound emanating from the deep sea. It sounded like something collapsing or breaking, causing a crack in the ocean, allowing a massive influx of water. Yet, it seemed bottomless, never to be filled.
The commotion seemed a bit too excessive altogether.
The other party letting go always led to such a situation, and the barbershop owner wasn't surprised. Instead of the cracks, he was more concerned about other things and immediately protected the only remaining two small boats.
After a long while, the sea finally ceased its continuous flooding, rippling and gradually calming down, just as it usually did.
A figure emerged on the surface of the sea, drenched all over. His hair, faded in color, turned grey, and he retied the red string around his hand. Slowly wading through the water, his eyes were colder than the sea itself. Only when he looked up and saw him, did his eyelids droop as they always did.
Jiang Yujin approached, then extended his wet hands, a smile on his face, and said, "Could the boss please dry me off?"
Without mentioning the mermaid, he could already guess the outcome. The barbershop owner didn't ask either; he simply said, "Shall I burn it for you?"
Eventually, the barbershop owner lit a fire. The flames were intense, illuminating almost half the island.
Jiang Yujin, drenched to the bone, stood nearby, occasionally turning around, trying to dry both sides. As he grilled, he asked, "What about Chen Jing and the others?"
The barbershop owner didn't elaborate on what he had done; he just said, "They might need to stay inside a while longer."
Jiang Yujin nodded, then sneezed, saying, "Let's head back. Who knows, we might catch an extra hour or two of sleep once we're back."
The barbershop owner silently brought the skiff over. Sitting back on the small boat, it was still the barbershop owner rowing.
He wasn't even considered cheap labor; he was merely unpaid labor.
Jiang Yujin returned the skiff to the rental shop owner, not saying a word when returning it. The rental shop owner took the boat back, also without much conversation, just briskly getting it done.
…
Back in the car, the barbershop owner glanced at the person beside him and said, "Is it okay to just leave him like that?"
The 'him' here obviously referred to the rental shop owner.
Jiang Yujin waved his hand, appearing entirely unconcerned, "He knows what to say and what not to say."
The barbershop owner glanced at him once more, then shifted his focus back to the steering wheel.
If he said it was fine, then it really was fine.
The car returned to A City and once again paid the toll.
Jiang Yujin couldn't manage to go home and get a good sleep as he had hoped. Instead, he found himself back in the barbershop's chair, urging the barbershop owner to work overtime to fix his hair which had been soaked and faded by sea water.
The moment he sat in the chair and closed his eyes, he was awakened by the person behind him.
The barbershop owner couldn't sleep, and so, neither could he. The two tortured each other like this until dawn broke. Only then did Jiang Yujin find peace and doze off, leaning against the chair directly.
…
At dawn, the first bus from C City to A City departed, carrying only a few middle-aged and elderly passengers and the three minors at the very end.
The three minors had changed their clothes and wore hats to cover the injuries on their faces.
The previous night had drained a lot of their energy, but their minds were preoccupied, and they couldn't sleep at all.
Xiao Pang was still trying to analyze, "The water in the tower definitely didn't appear out of nowhere. Besides us, there should have been other people there at that time."
He furrowed his brow, "Was it the Zero people?"
If it was the Zero people, then they were completely exposed now. But if the other party were the Zero people, by this time, they would have already leaked information, and they wouldn't have been able to board this bus safely.
"It shouldn't be the Zero people."
Zhang Xin lowered her head in thought and said, "There was a fire outside."
Although the tower's doors and windows were sealed, the hole they had punctured in the wall before was still open. Through that hole, she saw a fierce blaze.
Similar to what happened in E City before, it was scorching hot, the fire was raging, and the individual characteristics were very distinct.
"It might be Yuan Sanshui," Zhang Xin said.
But she couldn't figure out the reason why Yuan Sanshui would confine them in the tower.
Was it for some specific reason, or simply out of malicious amusement?
If he truly wanted to kill them, the other party could have just acted directly instead of opting for a method that wasn't a hundred percent certain to result in their deaths here.
If it was for amusement, it's hard to fathom someone going out of their way to kill three completely unrelated individuals.
"Yuan Sanshui?" Xiao Pang suggested, "Did he join Zero?"
Without waiting for others to answer, he immediately refuted the idea himself. If the other party had joined Zero, he wouldn't stand by while other Zero members were being killed.
Dismissing his own theory, his mind grew more muddled, "Then what's his motive?"
Chen Jing, who had been silent, spoke up, "He might be stalling us."
"He might be trying to cover something up," he said, "Do you remember the ground we saw when we exited the tower?"
When all the statues woke up, he heard sounds from outside, the crashing of waves mixed with other noises, thunderous and continuous. The strange disappearance of the ground on the island was probably caused at that time.
But at that moment, Yuan Sanshui was still in the tower watching them, indicating there were others outside.
The sound of waves was probably caused by the mermaid they had been searching for but couldn't find for a long time. The other sounds were caused by the people outside. Perhaps Yuan Sanshui didn't want them to see the people outside.
All bosses have territorial instincts; as long as they are alive, they won't allow others to roam freely in their territory. When they came out, they didn't encounter the mermaid; the fate of the mermaid can be guessed.
Knowing Yuan Sanshui and being able to find and kill the mermaid in such a short time narrowed down the possibilities significantly.
They had heard that 001 and Yuan Sanshui had a decent relationship.
Following this line of thought, Xiao Pang straightened his posture gradually.
It implied that just on the other side of a wall, there was a possibility that 001 had been close to them.
"But Lu Dongcheng previously said that 001 remained in the Game," Zhang Xin pointed out.
Chen Jing looked at her and said, "That suggests he encountered 001 in reality."
Unless one actually sees the other person in reality, no one can accurately say who remains in the Game. If they had to say, it should be "unclear whether the person has actually come out."
—Of course, all this presupposes that the other person is telling the truth.
"…"
It sounds pretty plausible.
So much happened in one night, and there were plenty of things they needed to reconsider. In short, Zero didn't obtain the mermaid's blood, achieving their original goal.
Exhausted and lacking the strength to continue contemplating, the three of them paused the conversation, quieting down. Chen Jing, weary, closed his eyes.
The car passed through the toll booth, leaving C City and entering A City. After getting off the car, each of them went their separate ways.
Still needing to tend to his wounds at home, Chen Jing hailed a taxi after getting off and headed to his home.
It was the time when most residents were waking up, and when he returned to the street, many shops had already opened. Initially planning to head straight home, he glanced to the side and saw someone sleeping soundly in the barbershop chair.
Indeed, deeply asleep and completely unconcerned about appearance, the thin blanket draped over them was probably the last act of kindness from the barbershop owner.
Considering entering the shop, he remembered the evident wounds on his body that still needed attention. Chen Jing ultimately chose to quietly head upstairs.
As the high schooler ascended, downstairs, the first batch of morning customers had arrived at the shop. The person who had been sleeping peacefully was ruthlessly awakened by the barbershop owner, who also took back the blanket.
With the blanket gone, a sudden chill swept over. Jiang Yujin sniffed and instinctively rubbed his arms, inadvertently touching something smooth. He lowered his head and opened his eyes.
It was a scale, deep blue, with a colorful aura shimmering around its edges, clearly fallen from the mermaid.
Not noticing this on his body before, Jiang Yujin casually took it off and handed it to the barbershop owner for assistance before peacefully heading upstairs.
After taking a shower upstairs, he crashed straight into bed, starting to doze off. Next door, the high schooler silently tended to his wounds, not making a single sound.
It was very quiet here, unlike the bustle along the coast in C City.
At night, residents living by the shore faintly heard distant noises, mistaking it for thunder. Without further sounds, they resumed their sleep. It wasn't until the following morning that they realized the fog that had lingered over the sea had dissipated.
Hurrying to the shore to see what was happening, they found many people already there. The initial caution tape was still up, but it was merely symbolic.
The Special Investigation Unit, always occupied with missions, finally managed to organize a sea expedition. They went out but returned after a short time.
The residents gathered at a distance couldn't quite make out what was being said. They only witnessed police cars and ambulances arriving, followed by various other vehicles. A professor with white hair got out of one car and observed the footage transmitted by a drone heading toward the sea.
In just one night, a nameless fissure suddenly appeared in the sea depths, requiring specialized equipment for exploration. Currently, they could only circle the surface with the drone.
Due to the sudden fog, local authorities, fearing accidents, had installed multiple monitors on the shore. However, when they reviewed the footage, they discovered the monitors had been tampered with by unknown individuals. The last image captured was half a body dressed in dark red attire.
People in specialized clothing, an inexplicable towering structure, and a massive fissure formed overnight—a new addition to the unsolved case files.
The news about this incident appeared on television two days later.
…
Some people have weak constitutions; catching a cold might make them develop a fever after drinking just two bottles of cold beer. Yet, in some ways, they can be quite resilient.
After soaking in the sea despite having a fever, Jiang Yujin returned and slept the whole day, and bounced back energetically afterward.
Having had an overly abundant sleep, Citizen Jiang finally woke up one morning and had breakfast together with the high schooler, enjoying a heartwarming father-son moment.
The warmth referred to him playing Xiaoxiaole while the high schooler prepared breakfast. He turned on the TV, and the high schooler served the meal.
The TV broadcasted the host's voice, followed by experts analyzing the fissures formed in the sea.
Jiang Yujin sipped his congee and remarked, "Terrifying."
The TV mentioned the discovery of multiple bodies on the island.
Chen Jing lowered his gaze in response.
With a mouthful of bread, the thoughtful father, Citizen Jiang, suggested, "It's been a while since we've been to the seaside. Since you're on break, why not go for a visit? You can see lots of little fish."
"…"
Chen Jing replied, "No need."
He still remembered the revived statues swiftly swimming in the water—a flood of memories he preferred not to revisit.
Jiang Yujin, clad in loose pajamas, his features relaxed, couldn't help but chuckle.
Chapter 39 – Luosa Tree (1)
After finishing the meal, the high schooler washed the dishes while Jiang Yujin returned to his designated seat on the couch for some post-meal relaxation.
As his Xiaoxiaole energy depleted, just before he could ask his friend for energies, his phone vibrated—a call incoming.
Upon hearing the sound, the high schooler washing dishes in the kitchen glanced over before returning focus to the task.
Jiang Yujin bowed his head to answer the call.
It was Xu Gao calling, amidst a noisy background, clearly from a lively place. This time, it wasn't to share any explosive gossip but to enthusiastically invite him to watch a movie.
Considering his idle and uneventful day, Jiang Yujin stood up, walked towards his room while continuing the conversation on the phone.
Occasional contact strengthened their bond as friends who enjoyed fresh melons. Jiang Yujin accepted the invitation and, after ending the call, changed out of his pajamas, greeted the high schooler, asking if he wanted to join for a stroll.
Obviously, the high schooler wasn't interested.
*
After ending the friendly call, Xu Gao was already waiting at the agreed-upon cinema entrance. Spotting Jiang Yujin, he immediately waved.
Having previously been tasked during many vacations, this time he finally got a day off approved by the department, radiating sheer joy of leisure.
As Jiang Yujin approached, Xu Gao eagerly pulled him close, speaking rapidly like a machine gun.
He mentioned that all his friends outright refused to watch the movie with him, their attitude resolute without a hint of hesitation, utterly ruthless.
Fortunately, he still had a movie companion in Jiang Yujin.
Jiang Yujin asked, "By the way, what do you want to watch?"
Xu Gao exclaimed excitedly, "The Great White Shark versus the Man-Eating Flower, the masterpiece of the year!"
A movie whose production quality was apparent from its name alone.
Jiang Yujin understood that Xu Gao's friends were unwilling. He patted the person next to him on the shoulder, glanced at the movie poster outside the cinema, and kindly suggested, "They Love Each Other might also be good."
Lowering his gaze, he noticed green buds sprouting on the tree branches outside the cinema and asked, "Do you really have to go to this cinema?"
Xu Gao replied, "This is the only cinema showing this movie."
Unsuccessful in persuading him, the two went together to watch the blockbuster featuring the Great White Shark and the Man-Eating Flower.
It felt like a particularly special day today. Inside the movie theater, there were couples everywhere, and amid them, two single guys stood out—not so much awkward as recipients of sympathetic glances.
Xu Gao wiped away a tear, unwilling to confront this harsh reality. He attempted to steer the conversation elsewhere, bringing up the situation in C City, saying:
"Originally, the higher-ups wanted to send people from our unit there, but everyone was busy with the anti-social organizations before and didn't make time."
He patted his chest, a little shaken. "If it had been a day later, I might have gone."
The SIU typically assessed disaster levels swiftly, within half a day, but this time, two whole days had passed with no news.
Until now, there had never been an assessment delay at the SIU, and the only plausible explanation was that the results were in, but they weren't planning to disclose them.
The only reason they'd withhold information was if the level was too severe, causing panic once announced.
Because the surveillance showed individuals related to the previously dismantled organization Zero, the issue fell back onto the SIU, but fortunately, a separate team handled it. For now, he didn't have to worry about it.
Jiang Yujin empathized, "Your job seems pretty dangerous."
Especially with so few rest days.
Xu Gao sighed sadly. As the movie began ticketing, the moment of sorrow ended. He stood up eagerly to get the tickets checked, while Jiang Yujin took his time following behind.
Human interests sure varied widely; it seemed Xu Gao's interests were shared by quite a few. Ahead of them, several silly couples were energetically discussing the movie trailer's content.
The lights dimmed inside the theater, and the screen lit up.
Predictable production, yet every step unfolded with unexpected twists. Jiang Yujin's mind was profoundly impacted, his once-normal eyes gradually losing their spark.
He began pondering why he chose to spend a beautiful day watching this year's masterpiece, then delved into contemplating the universe's origin.
During the intense battle between the Man-Eating Flower and the Great White Shark by the seaside, one audience member closed their eyes.
Xu Gao was extremely excited, oblivious to the popcorn in his hand or his movie companion, his eyes fixed earnestly on the screen, his palms sweating.
There was movement by his feet. He slightly adjusted but whispered, "It's getting intense, please don't disturb."
The itching sensation persisted by his feet.
Xu Gao turned to look at his companion, only to find his eyes shut tight.
His eyelashes were oddly long.
Wait, that's not the point.
The person had fallen asleep, meaning he weren't the one who touched his foot just now.
The sound of the movie was still emanating from the speakers. Xu Gao bent down and, using the light from his phone screen, saw what was under the seat.
A brownish root was sprouting from some unknown place, slowly crawling towards his shin.
Xu Gao nearly jumped up, making a sound resembling a monkey's cry.
He disturbed the other audience members, and they all turned to look at him, expressing annoyance.
The intense battle sounds from the movie masked the rustling and the noise of something growing.
No one was spared. Even the displeased audience members made sounds resembling a monkey's cry. Someone, startled, pushed away their girlfriend, hopped onto their seat, squatting and shaking continuously. The girlfriend was incredulous, and the two started arguing on the spot, accusing each other.
The sleeping audience who had closed his eyes suddenly opened them, and the first thing he said was, "Is there some gossip?"
"…"
There was indeed gossip, but now wasn't the time for idle talk.
Xu Gao's heart was still racing; after calming down, he took out his phone. "I need to call the authorities immediately."
Jiang Yujin yawned, reminding him, "You're from the Special Investigations Unit."
Xu Gao replied, "Right."
On the movie screen, the fierce battle between the Great White Shark and the Man-Eating Flower reached its climax. As the screen brightened, the theater also lit up.
They saw the knotted roots of a plant winding around the walls and audience seats, thick and densely packed, completely obscuring the door to the projection room behind them, slowly and dramatically extending.
"… "
Xu Gao took out his phone again, trying to dial. He turned to the person next to him. "What's the Special Investigations Unit's number?"
Jiang Yujin said, "…"
Even Jiang Yujin didn't know.
The only two who appeared relatively calm were them. Xu Gao seemed only half composed, without any intention of taking action. Jiang Yujin managed to get through to the helpful Captain Xu on the phone.
Seeing Jiang Yujin dialing an unmarked number, Xu Gao asked, "Who are you calling?"
Jiang Yujin replied, "Captain Xu Tonggui."
Xu Gao waved him off, "He's heading for another task today. I'll find Deputy Hu's number."
The call connected, and a steady male voice came through, "Tell Xu Gao to manage things; I'm on my way."
Facing the gaze of his companion, Jiang Yujin ended the call, "He said he's coming. He told you to figure things out first."
Xu Gao said, "…"
He didn't need Jiang Yujin to repeat it; Xu Gao had heard and fell silent for a moment.
It would take some time for Xu Tonggui from the Special Investigations Unit to arrive, and it seemed the people around were of no immediate help. Xu Gao glanced at the roots already spreading onto the seats, then caught sight of a fire axe hanging on the wall, illuminated by the screen's light. He carefully navigated past the twisted roots on the floor, finally managing to reach and retrieve the fire axe.
As the Great White Shark roared on screen, he swung the axe at the roots blocking the exit.
It made a cut, but not enough—a minor gash appeared on the root, visible upon closer inspection.
Jiang Yujin bent down to inspect closely, clapping softly, "Well done! You've managed to create quite a significant wound!"
He was certainly good at encouragement.
Too consumed by sorrow, Xu Gao hadn't noticed the person beside him casually stepping on the roots and approaching. All he heard was the praise, and it instantly choked him up. As he geared up to continue chopping, the previously terrified couple ahead let out a sharp scream.
They had been too frightened to move before, their legs weak, and they only reacted now as they watched the roots entangle their legs, realizing the danger too late.
Xu Gao temporarily abandoned opening the door, turning instead to rescue the two entangled individuals.
The growth of the roots was slow, and as long as people could move normally, they wouldn't get entangled. Except for the couple, others managed to protect themselves.
Jiang Yujin moved slowly around the theater, glancing up at the intricate patterns of the coiled roots above, feeling a bit of strain in his neck, so he averted his gaze.
There was another fire axe on the other side of the theater. He walked over, weighed it in his hand for a moment, then glanced at the others moving cautiously around the hall to avoid entanglement. Feeling a bit idle, he crouched at the door and continued the task that Xu Gao couldn't finish.
He chopped away slowly, breaking off any roots that attempted to approach, finally making a slightly larger notch than Xu Gao had managed before.
Compared to the roots covering the entire door, it was tiny and utterly ineffective.
Then, someone kicked the door in, causing the roots clinging to it to fall around.
A figure appeared at the doorway, clad in sleek black combat uniform.
Jiang Yujin raised his eyes and met the person's gaze.
Xu Tonggui looked down at him, seemingly surprised to find him crouched there. He paused momentarily in his movement, then half knelt down, noticing the roots near Jiang Yujin that already had a small notch. After a moment's thought, he said, "Impressive."
He added, "You did well."
This person was quite good at praising others. After the compliment, he half-knelt and extended his hand.
Jiang Yujin smiled, graciously acknowledging the praise but refrained from taking the hand. He patted his clothes and stood up, feeling it was enough.
With Xu Tonggui's arrival, it signified that the situation was under control. Xu Gao felt a rush of excitement upon seeing him, almost more than when meeting family, and hurriedly approached.
Once he was near, Xu Tonggui assigned him a task—evacuating the remaining audiences from other halls.
As a part of the evacuating crowd, Jiang Yujin voluntarily started moving towards the cinema's exit but stopped abruptly in front of one of the halls. His droopy eyelids lifted, and he suddenly seemed more attentive.
Having physically removed the doors of all screening rooms with audiences, Xu Tonggui returned.
At the sight of Jiang Yujin standing there, he suspected something was amiss. He set down the walkie-talkie and drew out a dagger, striding purposefully closer, following Jiang Yujin's gaze.
The four people on the screen were watching each other. One is looking at that, and that is looking at the other, the other is looking at the other one, the other one is looking at the one, forming intricate relationships that could easily confuse anyone.
Beside Xu Tonggui, someone remarked in awe, "It is indeed the masterpiece of the year."
Such films could only be appreciated by those well-versed in melodramatic soap operas' greatness.
Xu Tonggui: "…"
Due to potential danger in the cinema, Citizen Jiang, among the evacuated citizens, missed witnessing the resolution of the four characters' love and hatred, feeling quite regretful.
Standing outside the cinema, it became clear what had unfolded inside.
On the otherwise ordinary cinema roof, a substantial canopy emerged, its roots spread throughout the building, penetrating inside and out.
With others around, Xu Gao efficiently completed the evacuation and tallying of the audience by the time Xu Tonggui finished dealing with the canopy.
As the canopy fell, glowing greenish particles flew in the air. Xu Tonggui raised his gun.
After a few shots, the green glow vanished. Xu Tonggui glanced at Xu Gao, briefly explaining, "It's a Luosa Tree. The green ones are spores that parasitize humans."
Though they knew what it was, the reason for its appearance here needed verification. Requests to check the street's surveillance cameras had been made, and hopefully, they'd find something.
Xu Gao's attention fixated on the word "parasitize," sending shivers down his spine.
It was evident that Xu Tonggui had driven there himself, with the rest of the team arriving later.
Xu Gao joined Xu Tonggui and asked the burning question, "Wasn't there something else planned for you today, Captain Xu?"
Xu Tonggui replied, "Hu Li wanted to go, so I let him."
…It was hard to imagine Deputy Hu voluntarily taking on work.
Having asked his question, Xu Gao gradually retreated, ending up at the edge of the crowd, squatting beside Jiang Yujin.
Crisis averted, he finally relaxed his nerves, glanced at the people around him, and began contemplating from a mystical perspective, "Every time, something happens when I'm around you. Is it your fate to attract trouble?"
Jiang Yujin glanced at him and pulled out a stress toy, "Maybe you attract trouble."
Xu Gao felt there might be some truth to that. Mid-thought, he received orders to check the surveillance footage and was called to review it.
The surveillance wasn't in vain; there was indeed something peculiar. Just before the incident, they distinctly saw someone wearing a hat passing in front of the cinema, dropping something casually but purposefully.
Then Xu Gao saw himself in the footage, followed by Citizen Jiang appearing in the crowd, engaging in conversation.
Before Citizen Jiang looked back at the cinema, the person operating the video hit pause, pointing at an indistinct green sprout in the video, saying, "The person dropped what seems to be a sprout, and at this point, it's clearly germinating."
The surveillance footage replayed. Jiang Yujin stood up, glancing at the screen from a distance.
The person with the hat looked familiar. Even though the face wasn't visible, he remembered the attire.
It was the kind passerby from the outskirts of F City who had previously guided him to the park. The attire was exactly the same as before.
Considering the situation at that time, it seemed this kind passerby was involved in the park incident.
It was precisely because of what this kind-hearted passerby did that Shi Bu returned to the city late. Because he returned to the city late, he met Xu Tonggui, leading to a conversation that was nothing short of astonishing until now.
"…"
Jiang Yujin's drooping eyebrows twitched slightly.
Great, another vivid recollection of that incident.
Someone else analyzed, "The Luosa Tree's branches take root when they fall. If there are branches, there must be a mother tree. To solve this completely, we need to find the mother tree."
Jiang Yujin stepped back, seamlessly blending into the crowd and disappearing.
After Xu Gao finished reviewing the footage and attempted to find his movie-watching companion, he realized the person had vanished from the scene.
Meanwhile, Xu Tonggui turned and caught sight of someone moving casually through the crowd in the distance. The person wore loose clothing, casually patting someone's shoulder in the crowd, smiling brightly, seemingly unaffected by what happened at the cinema just now. After exchanging a few words, they started chatting intimately, almost ready to become friends right there.
It seemed the peculiar events had no effect on this person; at least, there were no issues evident in their social interactions.
Chapter 40.1 – Luosa Tree (2)
Amidst the crowd, noise erupted. Xu Tonggui averted his gaze as another vehicle screeched to a halt by the roadside. A person in uniform hurriedly got out, panting, and rushed to his side, saying, "Captain Xu, there are issues in a few more places."
Apart from the cinema, several other buildings had sprouted this eerie phenomenon. The people inside hadn't managed to escape; by the time they realized it, they were all trapped within the buildings covered by roots. Fortunately, this happened after the cinema incident. It hadn't progressed to the stage of spore growth yet, so the people inside were temporarily safe, but it didn't seem like they could hold on for much longer.
Xu Tonggui asked, "Do we have enough manpower?"
The other person honestly replied, "It's not enough."
Too many things had been happening recently, and the department staff had been working overtime frequently, burdened with their own tasks. It was challenging to find additional help to handle this situation.
After checking the surveillance footage, Xu Tonggui said, "Send the surveillance video to the HQ and let them figure it out. Let's handle the branches of the Luosa tree for now."
The person holding the screen nodded, sent out the video, and swiftly moved to the next location, informing the finance management department to assess property damage levels on-site.
As the SIU vehicle departed, the onlookers at the scene lingered for a while.
*
After randomly grabbing a few passersby, Jiang Yujin managed to collect several brothers with different parents and some friends before leaving the area.
He wasn't great with long-term memory, but his short-term memory served him well. The few people he just caught were individuals who had appeared in the surveillance footage. He vaguely recalled the person with a symbol on their face and saw them heading in a certain direction.
The person's route seemed random, wherever they walked counted, without a specific direction. Their choice of locations to act upon was also random, with branches sprouting along the way, some branching out in bustling marketplaces, while others ended up in abandoned buildings.
This person seemed to have no specific target; it was purely to observe the effect of the branches.
Clearly, the effect was significant.
Moving his gaze from the building entangled by plant roots that was still under construction, Jiang Yujin casually crushed fluorescent green spores like mosquitoes and continued forward in a chosen direction.
Guided by several enthusiastic passersby, he stopped in front of an amusement park and walked toward the ticket booth.
He leaned slightly forward, bending down in front of the ticket window and asked with a smile, his eyebrows and eyes slightly lowered, and he looked quite charming.
The ticket seller blushed and nodded, "Yes, he has been here before."
Though there were many visitors at the amusement park today, this person's distinctive features made him memorable.
Jiang Yujin politely thanked her, appearing pensive.
This person not only didn't change clothes but also had the habit of casually littering. In addition, they also liked to visit the amusement park alone.
After confirming, Jiang Yujin spent a hefty sum to buy tickets to enter the amusement park, lifting his foot through the gates in front of the ticket seller's gaze.
Today was a workday, with most adults at their jobs. However, this didn't stop the elementary and middle school students from enjoying their summer vacation. The park was filled with youthful, energetic faces alongside the tired expressions of adults accompanying their children.
Having been away from the amusement park for a long time, Citizen Jiang noticed that the facilities had advanced significantly since his last visit. The various rides and attractions puzzled Jiang Yujin, who had to stand aside and observe for quite some time before understanding how they worked.
It all seemed quite amusing, with plenty of parent-child activities around.
Thinking about his usually solemn child, old father Jiang snapped back to reality, reminding himself of the reason for being there. His gaze shifted from the parent-child attractions, diverting towards a map posted on the wall for guidance.
During a previous conversation with the ticket seller, Jiang Yujin learned about an observation deck within the park, the highest point in the entire area. From there, one could see the entirety of the park and its surroundings. It was a spot for admiring the scenery and perhaps finding someone.
The view from there wasn't particularly outstanding. Compared to the long queues elsewhere, there weren't many people on the observation deck. Some children leaned against the railings, trying to catch a glimpse of the scenery beyond.
Jiang Yujin walked to the railing. A gust of wind blew from the distant sky, causing his clothes to flutter backward. With already drooping eyelids, he glanced downwards at the scene in the amusement park. From this vantage point, the liveliness of the park was more apparent, with screams from the roller coaster echoing from afar.
Jiang Yujin's gaze settled on a person sitting on a bench by the central fountain, within a small grove of trees. The person wore a hat, legs crossed, and casually twirled a twig in their hand, spinning it like a pen before confidently catching it right after letting it go.
'There you are.'
Leaving the observation deck, Jiang Yujin followed the crowd towards the central fountain. Along the way, several people dressed in costume offered balloons. Of course, the adult male Jiang Yujin accepted them, holding a bunch of balloons, eliciting envy from passing children.
Next to the small grove of trees, someone in a mascot costume sat resting. Jiang Yujin passed by, then hesitated and turned back, smiling at the person wearing a costume.
"…"
In just a few minutes, the person who had taken off the mascot costume happily went to buy water.
Carrying a large bunch of red balloons, the newly appointed mascot performer slowly walked into the small grove.
Within the grove, laughter could still be heard not far away, but overall, it was much quieter than other places, suitable for relaxation.
The teddy bear mascot walked along the path, its massive figure blocking the sunlight. The balloons it held swayed as it moved, brushing against the branches of a tree, emitting a spine-chilling sound.
The person sitting on the chair paused from playing with the tree branch, hearing a sound just before tossing the branch. They tightened their grip, lifted their eyes, only to see the teddy bear mascot already reaching the end of the path. It seemed to be approaching them, but its pace was neither hurried nor slow. It was trying to offer a balloon, appearing purely intent on giving one to them.
As the figure drew closer, the man with the branded face ceased fiddling with the branch, returning it to his pocket. He raised his gaze. His pupils were slightly smaller than normal, resembling those of a wild animal, exuding a predatory aura, fierce.
The teddy bear mascot stopped in front of him, extending its plush hand to offer a balloon. With a scoff, he swatted the doll's hand away, straightforwardly asking, "Who sent you?"
The teddy bear mascot glanced at its paw, where a couple of strands of fur had been knocked off, then turned around to tie all the balloons onto the tree.
The branded man persisted, "Was it someone from the SIU or that kid from the previous incident in F City?"
The response to him was silence followed by a right hook.
The small grove was an ideal place, devoid of surveillance and visitors, except for the short-statured kids who peeked through the tree trunks, observing the teddy bear mascot playing with someone. And the person playing with the teddy bear seemed to be so happy that they were dancing around with their hands in the air.
After a while, maybe a considerable duration had passed, the teddy bear emerged from the small grove once more, holding a bunch of balloons and generously distributing them to the passing children.
On the bench within the deserted grove, a person lay bruised and swollen, legs and feet twisted in a peculiar angle. The branch, originally in his pocket, had fallen out and been broken by someone's step. The tender green shoots atop it had turned dry and brown, brittle enough to break with a gentle touch.
The janitor, intending to take a break and rest here, abruptly halted midway upon seeing a sight not far away. Eyes widened, they swiftly turned and called out to the nearby security.
By the time the janitor led the security back, the person previously lying on the bench had vanished without a trace. Brown leaves from the branches lying on the ground had been crushed, their fragments scattered around. Amid explanations and confusion, the janitor chose to sweep away the litter on the ground.
While sweeping, they noticed beneath the brown withered leaves on the small branches, a cluster of tiny, fresh green leaves.
Chapter 40.2 – Luosa Tree (2)
At the back of the grove, in a corner enclosed by towering walls, the branded man limped along, holding a phone:
"The final branch release of the Luosa tree failed; I encountered an attack, the branch was destroyed. But judging by the previous releases, the branches possess strong survival capabilities, indicating the successful cultivation of the Luosa tree."
"The assailant might have been Shi Bu, but it's still unclear."
He hadn't avoided surveillance cameras along his path. The ones who swiftly located this place might either belong to the SIU, capable of accessing surveillance permissions, or potentially, Shi Bu, skilled at manipulating cameras.
Back in F City, he had only realized the presence of the arms manufacturer, Shi Bu, within the park when he heard the sounds of firearms and more potent weaponry from a distance.
Given his capabilities, Shi Bu might have already sensed that he was behind the deployment of the Ant Walkers. None of the people emerging from the Game bore no grudges. Due to the Ant Walkers, it wasn't implausible for them to keep an eye on him till now. The two little ghosts tracking him weren't strong enough to confront him, so they could be disregarded. If the SIU found him, they wouldn't simply let him go without questioning. Apart from Shi Bu, he couldn't fathom who else would abruptly intervene and then leave just like that.
The person opposite him offered no response, only instructing him to go back without attracting too much attention.
*
Spending hours trying to find someone just to give them a beating left Jiang Yujin feeling relieved and idle afterward. His movie companion was dealing with Luosa tree matters, with his day off completely ruined.
Jiang Yujin decided to find a nearby cinema, watching the annual blockbuster "He Loves Her, She Loves Him" alone. After finishing the movie, he headed home and had a delicious dinner, including the missed lunch.
After dinner, in pajamas, lying on the couch watching a soap opera, his movie companion called, lamenting about his day-off and not finishing "The Great White Shark vs. The Man-Eating Flower."
Jiang Yu Jin's gaze remained fixed on the TV, nodding lightly. He casually responded, "I'm also sorry you couldn't finish The Man-Eating Flower vs. The Great White Shark.'"
Xu Gao corrected, "It's The Great White Shark vs. The Man-Eating Flower."
After earnestly correcting him, Xu Gao resumed complaining.
They put in a lot of effort today, traversing several places to finally deal with that damn Luosa tree. Afterwards, they were assigned to investigate the person responsible for releasing the Luosa tree branches. After searching for hours, all they found was that the person entered an amusement park. After that, there was no trace of them on the surveillance footage. They even went around asking people, but it seemed like the person had concealed their identity, changed their appearance, and no one admitted to seeing them.
The pleasant day-off ended because of this person. Xu Gao sounded genuinely infuriated, grinding his teeth, each word forced out from his throat. He said, "If I catch him, I'll give him a right hook first, and then…"
Jiang Yujin cut in, "Done."
Lost in his daydreams, Xu Gao didn't catch what Jiang Yujin said, "What?"
He asked, "What did you just say?"
Jiang Yujin casually tousled his hair, eyes fixed on the TV screen, "I said, I support you."
After finishing the complaints, Xu Gao went to the convenience store to buy his dinner and hung up the phone.
After ending the call, the high schooler finished washing dishes in the kitchen, dried his hands, and sat on the other end of the couch, asking, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Yujin didn't speak but brought up what happened at the cinema today.
Speaking in a nonchalant tone, as if recounting an ordinary incident from life, after living together for so long, Chen Jing had a good understanding of this person. His behavior wasn't surprising. Chen Jing glanced at him and then looked away, asking, "Do you know who did it?"
"I caught a glimpse," Jiang Yujin nodded, "It was someone with a circle drawn on their face."
Chen Jing sat up slowly, asking, "Can you be more specific?"
*
Early the next morning, the high schooler woke up and left while Jiang Yujin was still halfway asleep, faintly hearing some noises but didn't pay much attention. He went back to sleep and only opened his eyes again around noon.
He marveled again at the high schooler's energy. Standing by the sink, brushing his teeth and rubbing his wrinkled pajamas, eyes barely open, he heard a knock at the door.
A fairly young woman stood at the door. She entered cautiously, glancing behind her before swiftly closing the door—a movement, to some extent, more adept than that of Xu Gao, a member of the SIU.
An unexpected request after such a long time.
With a toothbrush in his mouth, Jiang Yujin tried to speak, "I-is something w-wrong?"
"…"
The woman was willing to wait until he finished brushing and changing before talking.
When he reappeared in the living room, Boss Jiang finally looked somewhat presentable.
The woman sat across from him and handed him a photo.
Boss Jiang took the photo and glanced down, seeing a curly-haired man. While he looked at the picture, the woman said, "This is my boyfriend, Cha Nan. I want you to help investigate if he's cheating."
Jiang Yujin instantly became alert, sitting up straight without realizing it.
The woman explained that she and her boyfriend went to see a highly anticipated annual movie together yesterday. However, an unexpected event occurred midway—an odd creature appeared, and her boyfriend immediately jumped out of his seat.
The plot sounded eerily familiar, almost like it happened yesterday. Jiang Yujin fell silent for a moment.
Continuing her story, the woman mentioned that her boyfriend, while in a rush, accidentally dropped his phone, and she, trying to overcome her fear, picked it up. She accidentally glimpsed at the contents—a chat interface. Despite not seeing the entire conversation, she noticed the word 'Baby' in it.
She confronted her boyfriend on the spot, and he explained. She pretended to believe him temporarily while discreetly gathering evidence of his infidelity.
Jiang Yujin nodded vigorously, "And then?"
His attentive attitude seemed to encourage the woman to talk more. She detailed various unsettling incidents that had been happening for a long time, and Jiang Yujin listened, even pouring her a drink midway.
"In short, he told me he was going on a business trip today, but he never left at all. He got up early and made a call, saying he was heading to Goose Square."
So, she went to work as usual today and came here during her lunch break.
Jiang Yujin nodded.
The woman had to get back to work. After venting and sipping her drink, she hurriedly returned to the office.
Boss Jiang, responsible for the task, headed to Goose Square after the woman left. It was hard to say if the person had stayed there after leaving early in the morning, but a quick look wouldn't hurt.
Goose Square, a renowned spot for romantic rendezvous, an area singles generally avoided. Jiang Yu Jin walked through without any discomfort, focusing on searching for Cha Nan, the curly-haired man.
The probability of finding someone among a crowd who might not even be there was small, but surprisingly, he found him. Not far away, by a popular spot for couples, two people stood holding bubble tea, sweet and tender, the man's curly hair matching the photo from noon exactly.
Jiang Yujin approached and naturally blended in, offering to take their photo when they reached the photo spot.
The couple thanked him, engaged in a friendly chat after the photo. They asked why he was alone there, and with a sincere face and unchanged demeanor, he replied, "Waiting for my boyfriend."
They nodded, bid farewell with regret, and entered a themed restaurant for couples.
*
Xu Tonggui and Hu Li were on a mission today.
Yesterday, someone searched the amusement park where the suspect vanished. They inquired with the security and janitors and eventually found a Luosa tree branch amidst the trash by the edge of the small grove, still alive with buds.
The Luosa tree had a peculiar characteristic—its alive but not fully grown branches maintained a connection with the main tree through perception, constantly aligning toward it.
Following this trail, they arrived here and so far hadn't found any similar trees.
Hu Li, wearing a floral shirt, focused solely on finding the tree without glancing around. This place had been part of his future travel plans, but in those plans, he was with an office colleague—a female. Unexpectedly, he was accompanied by an adult man, sparking no interest whatsoever.
Perhaps the most out-of-place here was Xu Tonggui—clad in all black, a face expressionless and cold, emanating an aura of aloofness.
While they were searching, someone passed by, wearing a familiar thin jacket with disheveled hair.
The person went into a themed restaurant for couples, then came out, dialed a number on their phone, holding it to their ear—a clear indication of making a call.
Hu Li raised an eyebrow, "Looking for someone to have a meal with."
In a place like this, the type of company one seeks was quite obvious.
Xu Tonggui glanced at his phone.
No missed calls.
Chapter 41.1 – Luosa Tree (3)
The theme restaurant was really meant for couples. The idea of ordering a meal for two by oneself was tactfully denied by the staff, prompting Jiang Yujin to try summoning a temporary dining companion.
The gossiping companion was still at work, and Shi Bu, this foolish chatterbox, only disrupted his work. Jiang Yujin didn't consider this person at all. He first made a call to the barbershop owner, who patiently listened to him until, upon hearing the name of the restaurant, abruptly hung up without a trace of mercy.
What a wonderful friendship. Jiang Yujin sincerely wished the person would smoke an extra cigarette and anticipate a one-day advance on their funeral.
Angrily setting down the phone, he resolved to pull out a similarly solitary passerby who wanted to dine at the theme restaurant from the crowd. However, the people passing by were in pairs, making it difficult to pick.
He looked around at the door, and saw someone looking at him. After a while, they probably finally made up their mind and walked out of the crowd and approached him, asking: "Are you alone?"
The voice sounded quite nervous.
Suddenly a stranger appeared next to him. Jiang Yujin was just about to answer truthfully. Then he saw a man in black clothes in the crowd and said, "Not anymore."
He spotted Xu Tonggui and his familiar colleague at a distance, and his mind instantly started working.
Xu Tonggui and Hu Li were watching as the person approached briskly, his hair swaying with each step, his smile shining brightly in the light.
It was evident he was scheming something.
As the person got closer, there was a sudden cool sensation on Xu Tonggui's wrist, a strange touch.
Gripping the person's wrist, Jiang Yujin gestured to Hu Li, "I'm borrowing him for a moment, just two minutes."
Xu Tonggui was indeed borrowed. The person was taken away silently, surprisingly without any resistance, with long legs effortlessly keeping pace with the other.
Hu Li raised an eyebrow, watching the two leave, then realized and waved with a smile.
Great, the workaholic had left; it was time for lunch break.
Xu Tonggui wasn't a workaholic but rather a versatile tool exclusive to the group. Someone by his side grabbed his wrist and successfully blended into the theme restaurant, sitting not far from Curly Hair and his partner.
After sitting down and casually ordering a dish from the menu, Citizen Jiang kept his gaze fixed on Curly Hair and his partner. When he snapped out of it, he noticed his companion across hadn't left yet. Just as he was about to signal that he could go, his companion's phone rang.
It was a call from the earlier colleague, Hu Li, mentioning that the Luosa branch was suffering due to the scorching midday weather, almost lifeless, and temporarily disconnected from the mother tree. Hu Li advised not rushing back, suggesting to eat a few bites first and then return to work after a while.
The suggestion to 'eat a few bites' meant the person had taken the chance to order an enormous deluxe seafood meal. He wouldn't resume work until he finished it, staunchly defending his lunch break to the end.
This person had been searching for a tree all day, becoming increasingly impatient. Now, finally finding a moment, he swiftly began his break, teetering on the edge of passive resistance.
Though the phone call wasn't loud, in the quiet space, it sounded crystal clear. Jiang Yujin, who had something to say, held his tongue and decided to continue observing Curly Hair and his other girlfriend.
Xu Tonggui simply looked at him quietly, his iron-grey pupils slightly dilated.
Midway through the observation, as the food arrived, Jiang Yujin retracted his gaze, coincidentally meeting the eyes of the person across. He said, "Do you want to ask something?"
He accurately guessed what was on the other person's mind.
Xu Tonggui replied, "I saw you on the phone just now."
Jiang Yujin simply nodded. No further explanation about the call or who it was to.
Xu Tonggui lowered his gaze.
Thinking he was looking at the food, Jiang Yujin casually said, "Eat first, whatever you want."
He needed to gather decisive evidence, securing the moral high ground in case of a future parting with his employer.
Jiang Yujin was sometimes quite understanding, but most of the time, his thought process was unconventional.
While they conversed, the other girlfriend of Curly Hair noticed him and waved excitedly.
This other girlfriend, named Xiao Li, was pretty and outgoing. Meeting the similarly outgoing Citizen Jiang, they hit it off immediately. Two tables became one, a date turned into a dinner.
With Citizen Jiang's charm in play, although his companion didn't seem like one to mess with, Xiao Li wasn't particularly worried. She smiled, "So, this is your boyfriend."
It was an odd pairing, to say the least.
Before Xu Tonggui could say anything, Jiang Yujin smiled and nodded first, "Yes, that's right."
Xu Tonggui glanced at the hand someone beside him quietly pinched, choosing to maintain his silence.
There were four people at the table. Jiang Yujin was chatting away, hardly eating much but drinking water instead. Whenever his glass emptied, he'd push it towards Xu Tonggui, his temporary boyfriend, successfully initiating an exchange and receiving a full glass of water in return.
He kindly helped Curly Hair and Xiao Li take plenty of sweet photos, both sides smiling and sharing laughter.
The other party got sweet photos, and he got sweet evidence. They both had a beautiful future ahead.
Before they could finish the meal, Xu Tonggui's phone rang. After taking the call and temporarily leaving, when he returned, he leaned down towards Citizen Jiang, who was taking a mid-meal break by drinking water, and said, "There's a task."
Understanding Xu Tonggui's meaning, Jiang Yujin casually patted his head, "You should go ahead."
As Jiang Yujin's hand touched Xu Tonggui's head, there was a slightly cool sensation. Xu Tonggui paused for a moment before straightening up and heading towards the door. With his long legs, he walked swiftly and vanished from sight in moments.
Xiao Li curiously asked, "Task?"
Jiang Yujin shrugged, launching into another train of thought, "He works at the small animal shelter. Every time he goes to tend to animals, he calls it a task."
Both across the table nodded, somewhat surprised. They hadn't expected this person, who appeared this way, to actually be so caring.
After finishing the meal, everyone accomplished their goals. Curly Hair and Xiao Li went to the parking lot to get the car, while Jiang Yujin fetched his electric scooter. They parted ways.
Work completed, everyone fed, things were going smoothly until the moment Jiang Yujin noticed the helmet missing from his electric scooter.
Jiang Yujin: "…"
The eyelids of a certain citizen surnamed Jiang lifted slowly.
*
The call Xu Tonggui answered was from Hu Li. Hu had finished the seafood feast, his voice oozing satisfaction. Additionally, with the help of the store's air conditioning, the almost lifeless branch had revived and started indicating directions again.
Following the indicated direction, Hu Li narrowed his eyes, "That's the entrance to the underground parking lot."
Things were about to get complicated.
Chapter 41.2 – Luosa Tree (3)
The underground parking lot at Goose Square was considered the largest in the vicinity. It had numerous levels, and some of the local residents also parked their vehicles there. Each level was packed full, and evacuating it was not a simple task.
Taking off his flowery shirt and tucking it into his waist pack, Hu Li said, "Anyway, let's go take a look."
"Take a look" meant conducting a systematic check on each level.
The terrain here had significant differences in elevation. Upon entering, they were on the highest level, and to reach the lower levels, they had to keep descending. The term "underground" was relative to the highest level; in reality, the natural light there was quite decent.
The branch seemed to stir in a manner unique to plants, with nearly invisible leaves rapidly sprouting, trembling in the air, conveying both joy and unease. The further they descended, the more pronounced this feeling became.
As the branch trembled more intensely, Xu Tonggui reached out and snapped the branch directly in half. What had just regained vitality now fell back into a half-dead state.
He acted without hesitation, and it was undeniably effective, making the air feel considerably quieter.
The mother tree of the Luosa tree should have been at the very bottom. Without circling layer by layer, they leaped down, one level at a time, which was convenient and swift. People were still coming and going in the parking lot, driving peacefully, only to be startled when they seemed to witness two individuals jumping down from above, causing their hearts to skip a beat.
The true underground was the bottommost level of the parking lot—damp, with walls and floors marked by moisture stains, covered in patches of dark green moss. There was a faint sound of water when they stepped on the ground.
The bottom level was damp, making it challenging for vehicles to navigate. Despite being planned as a parking area, there wasn't a single proper vehicle parked on this level, only old, rusted cars that their owners had clearly abandoned. This section had already collapsed significantly, with a large hole directly in the middle, and overturned abandoned cars lying around its edges.
Because no one came here, any strange occurrences wouldn't be noticed, or if noticed, wouldn't be cared about or reported.
Shining a light down through the central hole, they could already see the complex network of roots entwined beneath the ground.
Unable to see the interior, Hu Li asked, "So, do we need to evacuate the people and vehicles from the parking lot?"
Xu Tonggui looked up, saying, "It's not just the parking lot; it's the entire square."
Hu Li's eyebrows slowly lifted.
…
In the afternoon, all the broadcasts at Goose Square were open, instructing citizens within the square, including shopkeepers and their staff, to leave as quickly as possible. The broadcast didn't specify what had happened, but it was evident that something had occurred, prompting everyone to swiftly depart.
In less than an hour, all the masses were evacuated. The SIU's vehicles arrived at the perimeter of the square but didn't enter; they remained on standby.
After receiving the report confirming the complete evacuation of everyone, Xu Tonggui and Hu Li jumped down the hole.
Initially, Hu Li wasn't supposed to follow, but considering the tedious clean-up work that would follow, he thought it better to sneak in and be merely a hired hand.
They didn't need flashlights after jumping down the hole.
Beneath the parking lot was a vast space. Below were intertwined layers of plant roots, with fluorescent green spores floating on top, constantly undulating in the air, diminishing while generating new spores.
The branches of the Luosa tree were hidden in the darkness, their sparse fluorescence unable to illuminate the entirety. One could only judge its size by the space it occupied, far surpassing what could be achieved by the previous branches growing into mature trees.
Hu Li remarked as he observed, "This Zero is quite good at hiding things."
Moreover, they seemed to have a penchant for living underground, stuffing everything below without fearing the collapse of the structures above.
Mostly because they could actually find these places.
His words did not receive a response from anyone, but they seemed to resonate with the spores, and they became aware of the presence of others. The aimlessly drifting green fluorescent spores overhead instantly gathered into a luminous chain, surging downwards.
Hu Li raised his hand, blowing away the incoming mass, which then harshly collided with the wall covered in crawling roots.
The further toward the trunk they walked, the more traces of human activity and things that didn't belong here appeared on the ground. A metal walkway extended from one side to the edge of the trunk, reinforced with what seemed like sturdy thick glass, probably meant to ward off spore invasion. Near the base of the trunk, the walkway extended into a special platform, surrounded by branches identical to those previously seen—this was likely the place where Zero's people gathered branches for collection.
However, unfortunately, there was a finger-sized hole in the glass, seemingly caused by a bullet or some accidental discharge. In a place like this, any hole allowing spores to pass through would be deadly. The walkway was stacked with a pile of black objects, likely overlapping bodies.
Apart from the walkway, there were numerous lush, clustered, verdant leaves that looked vibrant and full of life.
It would've seemed beautiful if one could overlook the fact that these verdant leaves were sprouting from human bodies.
Kicking aside the bodies starting to sprout shoots on the ground, Hu Li remarked, "Looks like they've just died."
This probably happened while the crowd was still evacuating.
Xu Tonggui stabbed the pitch-black trunk with a knife.
A long crack swiftly appeared along the direction of the knife's thrust on the trunk. Green liquid continuously flowed out, almost spraying. Everything in the path of the liquid, living or non-living, disintegrated, leaving only rapid growth of trees.
The crack showed no sign of stopping and continued to lengthen. The once stationary roots began slowly and irregularly twisting, moving upwards. The entire incomplete tree seemed to rise, causing the ground to gradually elevate as well.
*
Jiang Yujin was still searching for his helmet, scouring every nook and cranny.
Since someone stole his helmet, it was likely they were riding a small electric scooter or motorcycle. If he couldn't find Helmet 2.0 in the square, he would head to the underground parking lot where the culprit might have parked their vehicle.
The last time he was at the square, there were still many people around. But now, as he walked by, the place was completely deserted, eerily quiet.
However, these details didn't concern him; right now, all that occupied his mind was his Helmet 2.0.
There was no one in the underground parking lot; most of the cars were gone, making it look considerably empty. A quick glance revealed no electric scooters or helmets.
Navigating through each level was a time-consuming process, and it was primarily exhausting, considering the physical exertion. The parking lot spiraled downward, layer by layer. Jiang Yujin opted to skip this by directly flipping over the railing at the edge of the parking lot.
He flipped through several levels consecutively but hadn't spotted his familiar helmet anywhere. By now, his heart had cooled considerably, as he hadn't been able to catch sight of it.
There was no helmet, but there were voices of other people talking. Inside the car parked near the bottommost levels, two people were still seated. The car window was slightly cracked open, and music could be heard emanating from within.
Objectively, the sound should have been quite loud; he could hear bits of it from this distance, an intensity that would likely deafen someone inside the vehicle.
As he glanced over, the occupants inside the car happened to turn. It was Xiao Li and Curly Hair, sitting together inside the car. Upon seeing him, they quickly rolled down the window and said, "What are you doing—"
Before they could finish their sentence, the ground began to tremble continuously. Assuming it might be an unexpected earthquake or structural issue, both hurriedly ran out of the car, struggling to maintain their balance.
It wasn't an earthquake or a structural problem. Gradually, the sunlight was obscured, casting darkness all around. A colossal noise emanated from not too far away. They looked up and saw the towering tree that overshadowed everything, surrounded by pathways that had been forcefully twisted and bent.
All of this appeared suddenly, completely beyond the scope of what they could comprehend.
The wind generated by the elevation of the colossal tree blew from the skies. Jiang Yujin stood in place, his clothes fluttering in the wind. The two behind him completely lost their footing and collapsed on the ground, their eyes widened in terror, unable to utter a word.
Atop the twisted and immense tree roots, someone was there. Hu Li stood above, looking down towards the underground parking lot, noticing the person standing nearby and the two collapsed behind him.
Ascending to a larger space, the originally coiled roots of the Luosa tree began stretching out in all directions, slowly and dramatically wrapping around the underground parking lot.
As the colossal roots extended, something rolled down and came to a stop right in front of Curly Hair and Xiao Li.
It was a person, but not quite; using the term "monster" might be more fitting. Clad in dark red clothing, the attire was tattered, with tender green sprouts emerging from within. The zipper on the person's head was pulled open, revealing skin pierced by the emerging shoots. Their eyes, wide open, had dilated pupils, red blood vessels spreading across the entire eyeball. A tender, yellowish sprout even emerged from the center of the pupil.
All of this served as nourishment for the Luosa tree.
The partially split trunk, having emerged from the ground, astonishingly and eerily accelerated its growth, visibly thickening and strengthening, with an exponential increase in spore quantity.
Xu Tonggui could handle the situation alone on-site. Hu Li descended along the expanding tree roots, intending to evacuate the people from the parking lot first.
The spores had already spread to the parking lot, a haunting shade of ghostly green.
Survival instincts kicked in. Curly Hair, already weak-kneed, instantly pushed away Xiao Li, who was holding onto him, and scrambled into the car, slamming the door shut with a "click," even managing to lock it.
Xiao Li was incredulous.
"Condolences," Jiang Yujin crouched beside her. "By the way, he has another girlfriend."
"I knew it! Why would he have a lipstick I don't use in his car!"
Xiao Li, performing a medical miracle by overcoming her physical reactions, swiftly stood up from the ground, determined to confront the person inside the car head-on.
By the time Hu Li arrived, chaos reigned at the scene. The only one who seemed remarkably composed was Jiang Yujin, seemingly aloof with drooping eyelids, casually observing the situation. He had his shirt half-rolled, maintaining a relaxed and even interested posture.