Chapter 58.1 – Cross-dresser Jiang (x) (2)
During the traffic jam, none of the luxury cars could match the efficiency of a small electric scooter.
Weaving through the multitude of four-wheelers, Jiang Yujin finally parked the electric scooter in front of the hotel.
The hotel provided valet parking service. The attendant approached as soon as they noticed someone arriving, but upon seeing the electric scooter, they were momentarily stunned, unsure of what to do.
Initially, Jiang Yujin wanted to speak but then realized something. He gestured towards himself and then pointed to the designated area nearby specifically for parking electric scooters.
The meaning was for him to park the scooter himself.
The attendant cryptically understood his gesture and stood aside, observing as Jiang Yujin swiftly parked the vehicle.
His sole purpose today was to help preserve a helmet. After handing the helmet to the attendant, Jiang Yujin took out his phone, tapped a few times, and showed something to the attendant, indicating that the helmet should be given to a round-faced girl with a bodyguard who would arrive later.
The attendant held the helmet, observing the person before them—a demeanor cold and distant, yet adorned with long eyelashes.
Sometimes, the colder someone seemed, the more others wanted to do for them. The attendant cautiously asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
Jiang Yujin shook his head. His white hair swayed with the movement, contrasting starkly against the black skirt. The attendant's heart fluttered for a moment, murmuring softly with a hint of regret, before leading the person into the hotel.
Inside the hotel, another person guided them, confirming their destination and identity. Another attendant took over, leading Jiang Yujin upstairs as if in a relay.
The ballroom was on the second floor, accessible directly via the stairs on either side of the lobby.
After being tripped by the overly long skirt for the second time, Jiang Yujin's patience wore thin. He simply lifted the skirt and continued walking.
The attendant ahead glanced back, involuntarily scanning the blindingly white legs, swiftly retracting their gaze afterward.
The attendant opened the doors to the ballroom.
The lobby was indeed grand, split into two levels with a massive chandelier hanging from the second floor all the way down to the first. Apart from the grand ballroom visible upon entry, there were specialized dining areas for friend gatherings, a chess room, and a tabletop gaming room.
Listening to the attendant's introduction, Jiang Yujin scanned the entire lobby with his gaze.
Rich people certainly knew how to indulge.
The other early arrivals headed to the specialized dining area on the second floor while familiar stairs lined the edge of the second floor.
With a twitch at the corner of his eye, Jiang Yujin once again pinched the hem of his skirt.
The attendant escorted him to the room's entrance, bid farewell, and left.
Before entering the room, footsteps echoed from the end of the second-floor corridor—two sets, two people.
Jiang Yujin turned to look and spotted a man and a woman emerging from the corner. The woman wore a green fluffy skirt, while the man donned casual clothes and carried a small yellow bag, obviously belonging to her.
Though the two weren't touching, they conversed with laughter, an air of intimacy between them.
Having seen pictures before, Jiang immediately recognized the man as Tang Guo's ambiguous companion, the person he needed to clearly express his stance to today. If memory served, the guy was called Wen Yang. However, from the current scenario, it seemed Wen Yang might not be the only ambiguous companion of Tang Guo.
Encountering a sleazy guy, it seemed less crucial to express a stance in this situation.
Clearly, the other party had noticed him too, freezing for a moment while holding the bag.
Today's main objective was to smoothly enjoy the gathering without getting involved in any odd emotional disputes. Before the two individuals approached, Jiang Yujin took the initiative, pushing the door open and entering the room directly.
Inside the room, there were sofas, a small coffee table, and in the middle, several people sat around a round table, holding glasses and chatting merrily.
They were all youngsters exuding an air of youthfulness.
When he entered, the people inside paused, then someone realized and stood up, helping to pull out a chair beside them.
Others were amazed and waved, "Tang Guo, you finally made it!"
They had thought Tang Guo looked good in the photos, but the impact in person was even stronger.
Jiang Yujin sat down, politely nodded by way of greeting. It was a gesture of civility.
By the time he sat down, someone had already poured a drink for him. Objectively speaking, the liquor smelled delightful.
Just as Jiang Yujin was about to reach for it, someone swatted away the server's hand, saying, "Guozi, your throat isn't good; let me pour the drink for you."
The server remembered and sheepishly withdrew.
Jiang Yujin just looked at the glass, feeling disheartened. Even the slightly raised eyelids drooped a little more.
In a short while, both seats beside him were occupied.
The door reopened, and Wen Yang and the girl in the fluffy skirt appeared. Naturally, Wen Yang handed the bag back to her.
Others glanced at them. Someone half-jokingly said to the girl in the fluffy skirt, "You're not clueless about who Wen Yang is, don't let the playboy deceive you."
The girl in the green fluffy skirt sat down with the bag behind her back, smiling and saying she knew. In just that brief moment, the ambiguous atmosphere between them dissipated.
Citizen Jiang, who had been repeatedly called "uncle" by his big son's friends, once again marveled at the complexity of relationships among young people.
Wen Yang scanned around the table and noticed that both sides of the person with long white hair were already occupied, so he casually found a seat and sat down.
The world of young people was indeed colorful, delving into things that the normally soap opera-watching, puzzle game-playing Citizen Jiang wasn't familiar with.
Being unable to speak was quite handy. He only needed to listen to others talk, occasionally nod, and frantically use a search engine on his phone, all the while updating Tang Guo, who was already at the hotel, on the progress.
There wasn't much to report at the moment, so he only mentioned matters related to Wen Yang.
After years of friendship, Tang Guo actually knew Wen Yang was a bit of a playboy. She had thought he might be sincere with friends, hence the ambiguous relationship, but it seemed he was like that with everyone.
Tang Guo, despite her soft demeanor and slow speech, made decisions surprisingly quickly. She quickly decided he wouldn't need to say much to Wen Yang. As long as he kept eating and drinking without being discovered as an impostor by others, it would be fine.
Task 1 – Once he finished reporting the progress, Jiang Yujin had completely lost track of the conversation among the others. So, he put away his phone and focused on eating.
The food at this hotel was actually quite delicious.
While the others conversed, they also kept an eye on the person who couldn't talk due to a throat issue. Seeing Jiang Yujin focused on eating, they started recommending dishes they thought he might enjoy.
Truth be told, these recommendations aligned well with Citizen Jiang's taste.
A person seated nearby observed the rise and fall of Jiang Yujin's cheeks as he ate, feeling an inexplicable boost in their own appetite.
The group gradually shifted their focus from chatting to enjoying the meal.
After eating to his heart's content, Jiang Yujin lounged lazily in his chair, feeling a bit drowsy. He wanted to yawn but resisted, holding back the physiological tears welling up in his eyes.
The scent of the alcohol he was destined not to taste tonight lingered in the room. After a brief contemplation, he decided to step outside for some fresh air to clear his head.
Remembering the balcony the attendant had shown him, Jiang Yujin gestured towards himself and then towards the door, indicating his intention to go for a walk outside.
The person beside him nodded in understanding.
The others watched him leave, and someone nearby explained that he was just going out for a walk. Wen Yang stood up, seemingly inclined to leave as well.
Someone stopped him, saying, "What are you going out for? It's fine to have fun, but don't make advances on our friend."
Wen Yang was thus stopped and sat back down.
It wasn't until the room door closed completely that someone remarked, "Did anyone else feel like Tang Guo tonight was a bit… distant?"
Although she had a face resembling a highland flower, Tang Guo was actually quite talkative and smiled a lot. In group chats, her messages were often filled with laughter. Today, due to her throat issue, she couldn't speak much, which was understandable. But upon closer observation, she only smiled briefly when she first entered. After that, she mostly listened to others speak and ate, her facial expression remaining unchanged.
Another person gestured, "Maybe she hasn't adapted yet. She might open up later."
"Opening up" wasn't something he could easily do; Citizen Jiang was better off on his own.
After leaving the room, he encountered those cursed stairs again. Jiang Yujin gathered his skirt and descended, crossing the lengthy lobby.
The balcony was wide open, offering a much fresher breath of air.
Just as his hand touched the balcony door, Jiang Yujin glanced back towards the entrance at the end of the lobby, where he had come in. His hand twitched for a moment before he remembered that his mission today wasn't to solve strange species. He continued walking onto the balcony to enjoy the breeze.
Tang Guo remained seated in the hotel lobby. Her driver and bodyguard were in the parking lot; she sat alone, observing people coming and going in the hotel.
The staff had already noticed the young lady sitting there but didn't say much or disturb her.
Tang Guo had booked a room upon entering the hotel; she was a guest and had no problem sitting there for as long as she wished.
The sound of the automatic door opening echoed again, and she turned her head to see two men in casual attire entering.
These two individuals appeared ordinary yet not quite usual. Upon entering, they surveyed the hotel with an inexplicable, intimidating gaze that ordinary people didn't possess. Their focus lingered notably at the entrance of the lobby on the second floor.
Ignoring the staff's suggestions, the two burly men insisted on booking the cheapest standard room. They declined the company of a staff member, took the room card, and went upstairs on their own.
Chapter 58.2 – Cross-dresser Jiang (x) (2)
In contrast to the other bustling area on the second floor where friends gathered, this part of the second floor had only two people present: Lu Dongcheng and a man with a crew cut.
The table displayed an array of beautiful bottles of liquor, while Crew Cut attempted to explain to Lu Dongcheng how lucrative it was to invest in the business of strange species.
Lu Dongcheng listened without changing his expression. His face didn't reveal a lack of interest but also didn't indicate any notable enthusiasm.
"Do you know that sometimes physical evidence might be more convincing? Today, I brought something here specifically for you."
As there was no one else in the lobby, Crew Cut had to handle it himself. He pushed a sizable box closer, visibly struggling. After positioning it at a certain distance, he turned around, grabbed a pry bar, and pried open the wooden casing.
As the wooden panels were levered off one by one, it exposed the iron bars inside. While prying, Crew Cut commented, "Our security measures are foolproof; there won't be any escape of the exotic creatures."
The scattered wooden pieces made a clatter as the full view of the iron bars emerged.
There was nothing inside the iron cage—only red and yellow liquid.
A cold sweat instantly broke out; Crew Cut widened his eyes, gripping the iron bars in disbelief.
Had it escaped? How was that possible? Where could it have gone?
"No need to worry; your item will be found soon."
Hearing the voice, Crew Cut turned to look at the person behind him. The person continued, "It will be found by the SIU."
This person seemed unsurprised by the escape of the exotic creature.
Finally freed from sitting and listening, Lu Dongcheng stood up and flexed his wrist slightly. He chuckled, "The SIU has been investigating me lately."
Crew Cut widened his eyes.
This person knew he was under investigation yet agreed to meet with him…
No, he knew he was under investigation, so he agreed to this meeting!
One reckless yet fast way to divert suspicion was to shift the focus onto someone else.
The SIU was investigating the other party. Perhaps they might show up here today.
At this stage, they were merely discussing a trade. The other party was innocent, while he himself was involved in the trade of strange species, attempting to drag someone else into the situation.
—The strange species he brought was released by the other party!
After all, Crew Cut was a businessman, so his brain was not slow at all, but it was useless to turn around now.
Lu Dongcheng strolled away casually.
"Lu Dongcheng, you've damned me!"
Crew Cut reached for the pry bar nearby, intending to move forward. However, Lu Dongcheng turned around lightly and glanced at him.
It was a look that spelled death.
Frozen in place, unable to take a step forward, Crew Cut's hand went limp. With a clang, the pry bar fell straight to the ground, emitting a sharp noise.
Chaos erupted within the hotel. As the lobby doors swung open, various shouts filled the air.
The strange species brought by the man with Crew Cut today was called 'Rotten Wolf', and to demonstrate sincerity, he brought the alpha.
The Rotten Wolf was originally an illusionary creature capable of conjuring more secondary rotten wolves through the alpha.
The silent howls resonating in the lobby were from the secondary rotten wolves.
*
After witnessing two casually dressed men getting on the elevator, Tang Guo vaguely heard some strange noises, like scratching sounds, but assumed it was staff working and didn't pay much attention.
It wasn't until a person suddenly darted out from a nearby corridor, loudly shouting for help, that everyone's attention was drawn.
Chasing closely behind him was a relentless wolf.
—Perhaps a wolf, but not quite; more accurately resembling a decaying corpse of a wolf. Most of its head's skin and one eye were missing, and the ribs on the wolf's body were faintly visible. Its dangling entrails swung up and down as it ran, dripping a mix of red and yellow fluids along the way.
The entire lobby erupted in horrified screams.
Security swiftly approached wielding riot forks, attempting to subdue the creature. However, more of the same beings inexplicably poured in from various corners, leaving everyone overwhelmed.
Tang Guo initially intended to run towards the exit, but the first person who made a dash for it collapsed in front of the door. The automatic sensor malfunctioned, rendering the door inoperable.
Some attempted to break the glass, but a server informed them that the ground-floor windows were reinforced with toughened steel glass to prevent theft, making it impossible to shatter.
No monsters had yet targeted her, so she relied on instinct and dashed towards the second floor.
The commotion on the ground floor was so intense that it could be heard even on the second floor. People who had been chatting stopped abruptly, and some rushed to look out the windows. While they couldn't see much, the noises from below were clearer—a blend of cries for help and piercing screams, sending shivers down their spines.
Someone suddenly remembered, saying, "Tang Guo left earlier!"
A group quickly descended the stairs.
Fortunately, Tang Guo hadn't gone outside the main lobby; they found her on the balcony outside the hall.
Amidst this chaos, the other person remained unusually quiet, as if the changes outside had nothing to do with them.
Jiang Yujin remained focused on his game of Xiaoxiaole amidst all this disorder.
This was the ultimate test of his remaining game energy. Whether he could continue playing depended on this particular level.
As someone grabbed his wrist, he had just exhausted his final move, failing to clear the level.
With a profound sense of sorrow, he allowed himself to be pulled away from the balcony by others.
There were arched glass windows near the main hall's entrance, offering a view of the outside situation. The group cautiously stood by the window, peering down to witness creatures they had never seen before—hideous, savage, dragging decayed yet surprisingly agile bodies.
It was evident that they couldn't escape from there, and they lacked the means to climb out through the windows. Someone suggested, "Let's retreat to the rooms upstairs for now. If something happens, the special ops team will surely come over, and everything will be fine then."
As of now, no monsters had reached their floor, making it temporarily safe here—at least safer than moving around without a plan.
Jiang Yujin, emerging slowly from the heavy blow, happened to overhear these words.
Though he hadn't seen it before, he could smell the odor of the Rotten Wolves. Rotten Wolves didn't rely on their eyes to hunt; they relied on their noses, capable of sniffing scents from two kilometers away. The reason they hadn't arrived yet was likely because the prey on the ground floor hadn't been chased down completely. Soon—perhaps it wouldn't take too long—they might reach this area.
He thought about it but didn't voice his concern, following the others back upstairs.
It was the same room they had dined in earlier, yet the atmosphere was completely different. Everyone remained silent, listening to the incessant noises emanating from below.
The waiting process always induced anxiety. They had listened to the sounds below for too long, unable to discern if they were coming from within or outside the lobby, unsure if the chaos persisted or if someone had come to rescue them.
This was the moment to send someone out to investigate.
Despite its slim likelihood, they feared something might rush in, so the windows had been closed. The room lacked ventilation, there were no games at hand, and it was getting dull. Jiang Yujin had just raised his hand to volunteer when Wen Yang, seated nearby, stood up.
As he rose, he caught sight of Jiang Yujin's attempt and said, "You can't say anything when you notice the movement, so I'd better go."
He appeared somewhat composed, but his hand gripping the door handle was noticeably trembling.
He opened the door and went downstairs.
Jiang Yujin felt like he had forgotten something. He was thinking about it even after Wen Yang hadn't left yet.
Someone noticed his apparent distraction and softly called out, "Tang Guo?"
It struck Jiang Yujin what he had forgotten.
He had forgotten his entrusted person. With them gone, the very essence of that trust was lost.
In an instant, he abruptly rose from his seat and pushed open the door. As the door swung open, the glass windows on the lobby's side shattered, and a Rotten Wolf leaped in through the window, completely unaffected by the shards under its feet.
In the lobby were two people: Wen Yang, who had gone downstairs to check the situation, and Tang Guo, whom he had been about to search for. They were at the other end of the lobby, not a short distance away. Yet, in a matter of seconds, the Rotten Wolf effortlessly bridged that gap.
A putrid stench rode the breeze, and the foul, bloody tongue felt alarmingly close.
Without needing to lift his skirt to walk up cursed stairs, his light-colored pupils slightly turned. Jiang Yujin scanned the surroundings, then propelled himself with a single push, crossing the distance from the stairs to the chandelier, using the momentum to swiftly descend along the chandelier's rope.
The chandelier swayed, emitting a clash of glass as it moved. People below heard the commotion, looked up, and saw what seemed like the sharp-edged petal of a dark flower.
Jiang Yujin bent down, snatched the glass piece hanging from the chandelier, and forcefully cut the rope.
In an instant, the chandelier plummeted, crashing the Rotten Wolf to the ground just before its claws could touch human skin, shattering the glass into a cacophony of piercing sounds.
The thunderous noise drew the attention of those upstairs. Someone anxiously asked what had happened.
No one below responded.
Tang Guo watched as someone descended from the chandelier, reaching out a hand toward her with clear. Her eyes met the clear and light-colored pupils, and the hand that was originally weak from being touched miraculously stretched out.
Meanwhile, Wen Yang, also seated on the ground, turned his head, his entire gaze engulfed in a flurry of white hair, his pupils trembling incessantly.
Chapter 59.1 – Cross-dresser Jiang (3)
As Jiang Yujin patiently waited for Tang Guo to reach out, Jiang Yujin noticed another hand in his peripheral vision. He followed the gaze and found himself locking eyes with Wen Yang.
Was this person also feeling weak in the knees?
Jiang Yujin, an enthusiastic citizen, did not give any preferential treatment to anyone except his employer. He very cruelly only pulled Tang Guo up, leaving the person next to him to stand up on his own.
His hand, slender yet strong, supported Tang Guo, who trembled while her face and neck flushed.
For a while, those above hadn't heard any response from below. So, cautiously, they cracked open a door to look down, spotting the three standing in the lobby.
Unexpectedly, a stranger had joined them, but that wasn't the focus. The focus was the shattered lobby window, the main source of light, with the chandelier now lying on the floor, apparently weighing down on something. Clearly, something had happened.
While not quite understanding how the chandelier had fallen, it was evident this place was no longer safe. Unable to leave outside and feeling unsafe within, those above gestured for them to come upstairs, at least offering temporary refuge.
Tang Guo was ushered upstairs as well. Though still shaken from earlier, she wasn't trembling anymore, sticking close to Jiang Yujin.
Just being around this person inexplicably brought her a sense of stability.
A girl in a green fluffy skirt handed her a glass of water. "Don't be afraid. We've contacted the SIU, they said they've sent people over."
She added, "The water's been sitting for a while, might not be very hot."
The room was filled with friends known for several years. Tang Guo took the water and sipped slowly, seemingly not as frightened as moments before.
Jiang Yujin glanced at her.
Meeting his gaze, Tang Guo fell silent for a while, as if contemplating, then spoke, "Your mission is over."
"Thank you."
Her speech remained slow but not halting, clearly conveying her thoughts.
Jiang Yujin smiled faintly.
"Is anyone in there? This is the SIU. Please respond!"
Voices echoed from outside the room, prompting swift reactions from those inside. They opened the door, waving, "We're here!"
Tang Guo also spotted the people below. One of them was among the two casually dressed strangers she had seen today, but this time, the individual didn't look as pristine. Their clothes were stained with blood, and their face bore injuries.
The SIU assured them they would evacuate them.
The ground floor had been completely cleared, considered safe, yet there was still the risk of turned Rotten Wolves coming back upstairs. Jumping from upstairs was too difficult for these guests, so they were guided downstairs until they were physically out of the hotel.
Jiang Yujin mingled with the crowd, following them towards the exit.
This time, the group was larger, increasing the probability of Rotten Wolves turning back. The SIU remained vigilant, scanning their surroundings.
Their initial purpose for coming was merely to investigate an individual, not expecting such a sudden turn of events.
With an excessive number of Rotten Wolves around, there had to be an Alpha Wolf. However, their primary concern was evacuating the guests; they didn't have the capacity to handle the Alpha Wolf. They had requested backup from headquarters, and while they dispatched a captain to assist, the captain was occupied and would take some time, leaving them to manage on their own for now.
They couldn't let the Rotten Wolves escape and endanger others outside the hotel. Rather than breaking the tempered glass, they found a staff-only backdoor to evacuate all guests.
Reaching the backdoor still required passing through the lobby, a sight that chilled them to the bone.
Unlike their earlier entrance, the lobby had undergone a complete transformation. It no longer exuded the previous grandeur blended with natural freshness; instead, it bore traces of red and yellow, scratches on sofas, and tables strewn across the floor.
There were still others in the lobby, clutching their suits, seemingly not planning to leave but preparing to step into the elevator.
Right before stepping into the elevator, one of them turned around, locking eyes with precision.
Jiang Yujin distinctly saw the person's eyes shift from dim to bright, then, at an unimaginable speed, swiftly pulled out a phone to take pictures.
The phone clicked continuously, almost like a burst of dozens of shots. The sound, though faint, still drew attention in the quiet space.
The others glanced over.
The person, usually unfamiliar with manners, now seemed to attempt a polite greeting.
Before the person could call out his own name, Jiang Yujin swiftly moved forward to cover their mouth.
His rare attempt at courtesy was forcefully suppressed as Lu Dongcheng lowered his head, his hand conveniently resting on the shoulder of the person beside him.
Clearly out of the protective range of the SIU, Tang Guo anxiously called out, "It's dangerous…"
The SIU member said, "It's safer by that person's side."
Though not entirely understanding the current situation, it was evident that the two individuals across from them knew each other. Purely in terms of strength, being beside Lu Dongcheng was indeed much safer than staying with the team.
Jiang Yujin still firmly covered the person's mouth, gesturing to the others that they would catch up later.
The SIU protected civilians but also respected their personal choices. Once they confirmed the other party's safety, they nodded and departed.
As the group of young people left, they frequently turned their heads back in this direction.
The SIU didn't quite grasp the current situation, truth be told, neither did they.
It wasn't until everyone's figures disappeared from sight that Jiang Yujin finally withdrew his hand from covering the person's mouth, then extended his hand, saying, "The phone."
It was clear he intended to delete the photos.
Regaining the chance to speak, Lu Dongcheng immediately avoided his words, saying, "I have a room upstairs. Shall we go inside to catch up?"
Footsteps approached from nearby, indicating another group of guests beginning to appear.
The two entered the elevator.
They stepped into the elevator, Lu Dongcheng pressed the floor button. Before Jiang Yujin could insist on the phone again, Lu Dongcheng remarked, "This outfit suits you well."
He smiled, "You look beautiful today."
Jiang Yujin swatted away the hand Lu Dongcheng placed on his shoulder and gave him a thorough once-over, "Are you a pervert?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized it was a foolish question.
Indeed, this person was a pervert.
Lu Dongcheng appeared to be in a good mood, smiling without any retort.
This person's smile made him seem even more like a pervert.
As the elevator reached the floor, it chimed, and the doors opened.
At the moment the elevator doors opened, a dark figure with a strong stench of decay lunged out. Lu Dongcheng's hand lifted slightly, and before the Rotten Wolf could get close, it was propelled out, crashing against the corridor, its entire head exploding.
Blood and flesh scattered, and the corridor bore the brunt of it, but the person in the elevator remained unharmed.
Lu Dongcheng considerately said, "Can't get your skirt dirty."
It was evident he genuinely liked that skirt. Jiang Yujin's lips twitched slightly, "Should I give it to you then?"
Lu Dongcheng replied, "It suits you better on."
Jiang Yujin chuckled and gripped his wrist.
His movement was precise; with a "click," the previously normal wrist went limp.
Lu Dongcheng's expression remained unchanged as he effortlessly reattached his hand and smoothly used the keycard to open the door.
He courteously gestured for Jiang Yujin to enter first.
Standing behind, he finally saw a black ribbon tied around the other person's neck, formed into a bow with its long ends cascading down the pale spine.
He proactively handed his phone to Jiang Yujin.
Jiang Yujin lowered his head to delete photos, the white hair draping on either side, making the black ribbon even more conspicuous.
Lu Dongcheng bowed his head to lightly sniff and reverently lifted the ribbon.
Jiang Yujin continued tapping on the phone, noticing movement behind. In a muted tone, he said, "If you dare touch it again, I'll use this thing to strangle you."
The pervert was truly a pervert; in such a short time, the person had taken over a hundred photos, making deletion quite a challenge.
Lu Dongcheng untied the ribbon.
The ribbon was used to cover the Adam's apple. It was wrapped twice around the neck. Upon untying, it slowly hung down, continuously drifting until he caught it.
"…"
Chapter 59.2 – Cross-dresser Jiang (3)
Jiang Yujin quietly finished deleting the last photo, tossed the phone aside, then took the ribbon from the person behind him and quickly strangled the other person's neck.
His force was considerable, causing Lu Dongcheng to stagger backward, stumbling over a chair leg and both of them falling onto the sofa.
While Lu Dongcheng managed to steady himself, Jiang Yujin solely focused on strangling, paying no attention to their surroundings.
The neck of the person lying on the sofa, originally of a normal color, turned red. Jiang Yujin lowered his head to look at the person beneath him, his white long hair falling onto the other's face as he chuckled, "Since you seem to love this thing so much, I'll weld it onto your neck."
As the ribbon gradually tightened, a piercing howl echoed from the other side of the hotel, causing a stir before everything settled down.
Though his neck was being constricted and clearly painful, Lu Dongcheng strangely laughed.
Outside the door came fierce pounding, accompanied by the scratching of claws.
A Rotten Wolf, drawn by the scent, had arrived, yet the expressions of the two inside the room remained unchanged.
Footsteps echoed from the corridor.
The moment he heard the footsteps, Jiang Yujin's eyes trembled. Seizing the opportunity, Lu Dongcheng swiftly flipped over, reversing their positions.
Lu Dongcheng took the black silk ribbon off the neck and tied Jiang Yujin's wrists together.
The banging on the door persisted from outside, footsteps growing nearer. In calmer times, Jiang Yujin might have considered strangling the person above him directly. But now he just felt that the world was fake and his life was hopeless. He even wanted to borrow a cigarette from the barber shop owner.
The door was broken down, and just before the Rotten Wolf with its unique scent could attack the people in the room, it was pierced through the head by a dagger, ceasing its movements entirely.
Xu Tonggui had arrived at the hotel not long ago, having dealt with the alpha wolf and now aiding others in clearing out the remaining Rotten Wolves. This was the hotel's highest floor and the last level that needed clearing.
Withdrawing the dagger from the Rotten Wolf, he glanced toward the room and immediately spotted the two figures on the sofa. The person pinned beneath had disheveled white hair, their wrists already halfway tied by the ribbon.
Noticing the gaze from nearby, Jiang Yujin slowly closed his eyes.
Damn this world; better to end it all soon.
Similarly, Lu Dongcheng noticed the person standing not far away. His expression changed slightly, but his actions remained unrestrained.
"Jiang Yujin," the man standing nearby momentarily paused, took a breath, and asked, "Is this your new boyfriend?"
Citizen Jiang immediately said no, voice flat.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Dongcheng, who was previously on the sofa, was flung a considerable distance, crashing into a pot of plants, the sound of the pot shattering filling the air.
Xu Tonggui abandoned using weapons, tossing the dagger aside and throwing a punch directly at Lu Dongcheng, who retaliated by kicking his knee.
The two didn't relent, and as the room contained a swimming pool, they continued their brawl towards its edge.
Xu Tonggui grabbed Lu Dongcheng's head, veins bulging on his arm, forcibly submerging him in the water.
The water surface kept splashing with water droplets. Lu Dongcheng had already been strangled by Jiang Yujin, struggling to breathe. He coughed in the water, the sound penetrating through the surface and into the ears. Xu Tonggui, however, did not let go.
"Captain Xu!!"
There was a rush of footsteps in the corridor. Then, members of the SIU, following the sound of a vase shattering, appeared at the door. The first thing they saw was the chaotic scene inside the room and a person lying hopelessly on the couch. Then, they heard a drowning sound.
By the side of the swimming pool was someone; Captain Xu was forcefully pushing someone into the water.
—Members of the SIU glanced for a moment. It was undoubtedly a person being pushed into the water, and the clothes seemed familiar.
Realizing who was being pushed into the water, they hurried forward, only to find that they couldn't persuade or stop the situation.
Citizen Jiang, who had been lying on the couch contemplating life, sat up slowly and called out, "Xu Tonggui."
Xu Tonggui stopped.
Afraid that he might act again impulsively, even though they didn't quite understand the current situation, the members of the SIU tactfully made up an excuse and took Lu Dongcheng away.
They had been wondering if there would be any abnormalities due to the drowning, but after getting up, Lu Dongcheng coughed a few times, remembered to pick up the phone lying aside, and greeted the person sitting on the couch.
Xu Tonggui seemed like he was about to act again.
Leaving the space to the two people in the room, the SIU quickly escorted the person away.
Looking at Xu Tonggui standing aside, it was difficult to explain the whole situation. Jiang Yujin summarized it by saying, "Long story short, it's all because of a commission."
Truly succinct.
Xu Tonggui first looked at him carefully for a moment, confirmed there were no visible injuries, then turned and walked toward the sink. After thoroughly washing his hands, he dried them.
Jiang Yujin watched him approach, continuing until he reached the edge of the couch, where he finally stopped.
Xu Tonggui half-knelt and bent down to untie the ribbon on Jiang Yujin's hand, then lifted his gaze, asking, "Where did this originally come from?"
Jiang Yujin cooperatively gestured toward his own neck, then added, "It's not needed now anyway…"
Xu Tonggui stood up, slightly leaning forward to adjust Jiang Yujin's disheveled hair.
He started to tie the ribbon, crafting a butterfly knot at the back, his sharp eyes focused, displaying a serious demeanor.
He diligently tied a very ugly butterfly knot.
Turning his head to see the butterfly knot on the back of his neck through the mirror, Jiang Yujin gave a thumbs-up, reluctantly praising, "Looks really nice."
Receiving the compliment, Xu Tonggui's lips curved slightly, then returned to normal. He extended his hand and asked, "Can you stand?"
Jiang Yujin privately thought he wasn't that weak. He stood up on his own and asked, "What about your work?"
"Work's finished," Xu Tonggui said, "This was the last strange species that needed to be dealt with."
Jiang Yujin coughed softly, admitting defeat in the battle of diverting the conversation to work.
"Where are you going later?" Xu Tonggui quickly glanced at the black skirt spread beneath Jiang Yujin, saying, "I'll take you."
Originally, Jiang Yujin's plan was to find a place to sleep after completing the commission and change clothes on the way. But after encountering two acquaintances in a hotel, his perception that "this city is small" deepened. He felt it might not be suitable to go find a place dressed like this.
Going home was not an option. By this time, the high schooler was already home, and he didn't want him to call him "Mom" before calling him "Dad."
Xu Tonggui lowered his eyes and said, "I live nearby."
Jiang Yujin looked up at him.
After a long time, Citizen Jiang found himself once again sitting in the passenger seat of Captain Xu's car.
When he arrived at the hotel, it was afternoon, but as he left, the sky had darkened considerably.
Expertly fastening his seatbelt, Jiang Yujin felt completely at ease, starting to enjoy the ride as he lowered his head.
He's prone to motion sickness, so the car window was left slightly open. As the night cooled down rapidly, the wind outside seeped in through this crack, carrying a hint of chill.
A few strands of hair tickled his nose, causing Jiang Yujin's hand, engaged in playing Xiaoxiaole, to slip, resulting in a sneeze sound of "Ah-choo," as an animal was mistakenly removed in the game.
Encountering a red light, Xu Tonggui leaned over and handed his uniform jacket to Jiang Yujin.
Jiang Yujin obediently put it on. The clothing fit well, but the sleeves were a tad long, constantly battling with the phone screen. Xu Tonggui leaned over and rolled them up for him.
After a defeat in the game and depleted energy, Jiang Yujin set aside his phone, lowered his head to look at the clothes he was wearing, and noticed the badge on the side of his chest. He chuckled, "Nice, now I'm Captain Jiang."
Feeling the part with the uniform on, he waved, "Xiao Xu, quickly sort out my last month's paycheck."
Clearly, Captain Xu had transformed into Little Clerk Xu.
Xu Tonggui nodded, "Okay."
Captain Jiang nodded, expressing satisfaction.
Little Clerk Xu hadn't lied; his place was indeed quite close to the hotel, just a ten-minute drive away.
While riding the elevator, Jiang Yujin couldn't resist letting out a yawn.
Xu Tonggui beside him glanced down at his hair, observing for a while.
Jiang Yujin generously put the hair into the other person's hand and said, "This is synthetic, but it looks pretty real, doesn't it?"
Xu Tonggui gingerly touched it, nodding thoughtfully.
As the elevator reached their floor, Jiang Yujin stepped out.
The other person's house was predictably monochrome, a palette of black, white, and gray—likely a result of spending most of his time working. The place was immaculate, resembling a display home.
The only contrast was a large goose sitting on the sofa, its fur in warm tones, distinctly out of place in the room's color scheme.
Xu Tonggui mentioned, "Da Bai was originally kept in the office."
But in less than two days there, he realized even people from other departments would sneak in to pet and cuddle it, so he brought it home.
Jiang Yujin politely greeted the long-unseen Da Bai.
After encountering rather unpleasant strange species at the hotel, the first thing Citizen Jiang did upon entering was take a shower.
With only a skirt on, Citizen Jiang quickly claimed one of Xu Tonggui's shirts and a pair of pants. Unlike his own perpetually crumpled clothes, the shirt and pants were pristine, free of any wrinkles.
Witnessing an unwrinkled shirt for the first time, Citizen Jiang uttered sounds of witnessing a miracle.
Carefully holding the "miracle," he went to shower.
Little Clerk Xu followed behind, fetching towels and adjusting the water temperature but couldn't find new body wash or shampoo. Luckily, Ever Adaptable Jiang, didn't mind and took the "miracle" into the bathroom.
Xu Tonggui showered after Jiang Yujin finished, surprised not to hear the sounds of Xiaoxiaole.
"Mom! You're making your son suffer so much!"
"… "
No Xiaoxiaole, but there was drama.
The person on the sofa held the goose, intensely focused on the TV. Eyes that usually seemed half-asleep were wide open now. Seeing Xu Tonggui, he shifted a bit and patted the spot next to him, gesturing for Xu Tonggui to sit there.
Behind all this warmth, there were hidden intentions.
The TV watcher changed from sitting to lying down, and the original TV partner became a freshly baked leg-supporting tool.
Chapter 60.1 – Search
Captain Xu accompanied Citizen Jiang to watch soap operas all night. During this time, the other person changed countless TV-watching positions, and Little Clerk Xu had no choice but to cooperate unconditionally.
Two commercials bridged the time until the soap opera finally ended, and it was already 1 a.m.
Just after finishing the soap opera, Citizen Jiang's brain was still excited. He took out his phone, intending to play a game of Xiaoxiaole, but was urged by the person beside him to go to the room and sleep.
Xu Tonggui said, "Staying up too late is not good for your health."
"This is earlier than usual…" Jiang Yujin abruptly stopped talking and tried to bargain, holding up a finger. "Just one game."
Under the supervision of Captain Xu, he played one game, luckily completing the task in the final step and winning.
Winning once made him want to play another round, but Jiang Yujin glanced up and caught the gaze of the person next to him, who was looking down.
Jiang Yujin took the big goose and went to sleep.
Xu Tonggui watched as the other person and the goose lay down together on the bed, turned off the light, closed the door, and left.
Back in his own room, he glanced at the door, then lowered his head to send a message.
[Send a copy of Lu Dongcheng's information]
When the message was received, the SIU's personnel were still working overtime and casually sent the file over.
*
Crew Cut had already been caught, and because Lu Dongcheng had met him today, he was implicated, so he also stayed at the SIU for a while.
When the time was almost up, someone escorted Lu Dongcheng out of the SIU. The driver was waiting on the roadside with the car already running, ready to leave as soon as he got in.
He remained silent, and the driver didn't dare to speak either. The journey was quiet.
With the phone screen bright, Lu Dongcheng sat in the back and restored all the photos from the recycle bin, over a hundred pictures all returned. He looked up at the driver and said, "Stop here."
The driver hesitated for a moment, then realized, slowly pulling over to the side of the road.
The driver got off, and Lu Dongcheng took the driver's seat. Instead of heading straight home, he took a detour and found a place to print each photo.
Most places were closed at night, but money solved most problems.
As he drove back, there was a paper bag on the passenger seat. The car moved, and the bag gradually opened, revealing thick stacks of photos inside.
The scenery blurred past, the car lights illuminated the way as it entered the garage, and when it stopped, all the lights inside the car turned on. Lu Dongcheng let go of the steering wheel, reaching for the photos in the paper bag.
In the warm yellow light inside the car, the person in the photos were clearly visible.
Among the crowd, the other person was always the most conspicuous, his white long hair swaying slightly with movement, light-colored pupils looking over, his features radiant under the lobby lights.
Lu Dongcheng slowly bent down, lightly pressing his forehead against the photo. After a long while, he smiled.
*
The next day, just as the day broke, while those who could sleep until noon regardless of sleeping early or late were still in deep slumber, Captain Xu, in the adjacent room, had already woken up.
There was some noise in the kitchen followed by silence. He returned to his room and made a phone call, requesting a day off.
All in all, this was his first time taking a day off since starting work. After confirming repeatedly with the person on the other end of the phone and receiving affirmative responses, the other party dashed off to complete the procedure, shocked.
Jiang Yujin eventually woke up in the morning, stirred by a phone call. Dizzy and unable to see clearly if there was a note on the screen or just an unfamiliar number, he answered directly.
A female voice came through, somewhat stuttering, with a reversed sentence structure and even a bit trembling.
It was Tang Guo calling, mentioning that the commission fee had been deposited into his account. She confessed everything to her friends, and they all accepted her. The main reason for the call was to inquire about his situation.
Their sudden separation yesterday made her want to call earlier, but fearing she might disturb his rest, she chose to call in the morning after settling everything.
She could have sent a message, but she chose to make a phone call. It's evident she's making an effort to change.
Jiang Yujin turned over, holding the goose, and responded a few times.
Noticing a hoarseness in his voice, Tang Guo asked, "Are you still resting?"
"No," Jiang Yujin slowly sat up and said, "I'm awake."
There was a sigh of relief from the other end. Then, it seemed like someone was calling her, so she said, "Uh… well, let's leave it at that for today. I'll hang up first."
Jiang Yujin bid her goodbye.
The call wasn't short, and after talking for so long, even the heaviest mind could clear up a bit. He didn't continue sleeping. He bent down with the goose, found his slippers, and got out of bed.
Upon opening the room door, he found the living room empty, a pleasant smell wafting from the kitchen.
The kitchen smelled nice, yet there was no one inside. Jiang Yujin searched the entire house, then heard the sound of running water from the laundry area.
Xu Tonggui, still doing laundry, turned around and happened to see Jiang Yujin approaching with the goose. Glancing at the time, he asked in surprise, "Awake already?"
A seemingly small action of checking the time, yet it carried so much weight. Wide-eyed Jiang, reproached, "How rude! I've always been an early riser!"
When he said this, he appeared completely genuine.
After falsely accusing Xu Tonggui of being rude, he leaned in and asked, "What are you doing?"
Xu Tonggui was doing laundry, washing the silk skirt he had worn last night. Since it was real silk, it couldn't be machine-washed, only hand-washed.
Unpleasant memories resurfaced, causing Jiang Yujin's eyes to twitch. "Are you planning to keep it?"
Xu Tonggui, with his light grey eyes, looked at him.
"…"
Looking at his expression, the answer was obviously a yes.
Jiang Yujin couldn't help but gesture, "Then, keep it."
Sure enough, this world is full of perverts.
Xu 'Pervert' Tonggui said, "There's porridge in the kitchen."
Glancing at the person wearing a crumpled shirt, scratching his back absentmindedly, Xu Tonggui finally cleaned up and said, "There are a new toothbrush and towel at the washbasin. I'll make porridge for you."
The one with the skill of always wrinkling shirts set the goose aside to brush his teeth.
Half of the morning was enough for Captain Xu to do a lot. Citizen Jiang, after finishing lunch, ended up with well-fitted new clothes and shoes.
Wearing the new clothes, Jiang Yujin asked, "Aren't you going to work today?"
Xu Tonggui said he had nothing scheduled for the day.
Jiang Yujin hung around here and had lunch as a guest.
The high schooler would be back home in the afternoon, dinner plans were already settled, and Citizen Jiang dashed off after receiving some extra energy in Xiaoxiaole from a friend.
Leaching food and drinks but never seeming to get used to it.
Seeing the suddenly quiet room, Captain Xu bowed his head to send a message, canceling his afternoon off.
Having eaten his fill and not in a hurry to return home, Citizen Jiang strolled around the neighborhood.
Walking around without holding anything felt like something was missing. He redirected his steps and walked into a nearby beverage store.
At this time, the shop wasn't crowded. After ordering a drink, he stood to the side.
A bunch of young people entered the shop, chatting and laughing, full of youthful energy. Jiang Yujin glanced at them, then shifted his gaze back to his game of Xiaoxiaole.
It was Tang Guo's friend from yesterday. Young people perhaps recover faster; despite what happened last night, they could still chat and laugh today.
Today, Wen Yang drew a winning lot and treated everyone to drinks. Others happily called out their drink orders. He behaved himself today, didn't flirt with anyone, just had normal conversations.
Someone in the group raised their hand, "Tang Guo still has something to do; she'll come later. She wants an iced peach juice."
Speaking of Tang Guo, someone tapped Wen Yang's arm, saying, "I saw you asking Guozi for that beauty's contact yesterday. Did you get it?"
Wen Yang twitched the corner of his mouth: "No."
Tang Guo seemed accommodating but also stubborn; if she didn't want to give it, she wouldn't. This morning when he called, she held the phone far away, determined not to give them a chance.
"It's okay," a friend patted his shoulder, saying, "Your infatuation will fade in a couple of days."
Wen Yang lowered his gaze, casually responding.
"Your fresh orange juice is ready."
The clerk's voice sounded. A person nearby, engrossed in their phone, looked up, politely said "thank you" as they received the juice.
After taking the juice, Jiang Yujin continued playing Xiaoxiaole, passed by the group of young people, and left the beverage shop.
Seeing the disheveled person leaving from the side, Wen Yang glanced and then averted his gaze, unconsciously pressing the phone's power button.
He'll search again later; this kind of person should be easy to find.
Chapter 60.2 – Search
When Captain Xu arrived at the SIU in the afternoon, he received glances from everyone entering. Unlike usual, today's gazes were oddly different.
Xu Gao from the Fourth Unit passed by and looked at him with the same look as the others. He very bravely asked the question that the others wanted to ask and said, "Didn't Captain Xu take the whole day off today?"
Xu Tonggui briefly replied, "It's okay now."
The expressions others looked at him changed slightly.
The tasks were never-ending. He conscientiously returned to work and within such a short time, piled up tasks on his plate. He left, lifting his feet.
As the tall figure disappeared outside the door, members from various teams instantly gathered, whispering among themselves, sporting expressions ready for gossip.
The person who went on a mission to the hotel yesterday wasted no time upon return, describing in detail just how exciting it had been.
Their Captain usually kept a low profile. Yet yesterday, he got into a fight with Lu Dongcheng over a certain person, showing ruthless determination that no one could deter.
This person acted silently but resorted to physical confrontation with Lu Dongcheng to claim someone.
According to sources privy to the intelligence, after the incident, Captain Xu even took the person he brought out from the hotel and drove off.
And then, today, he took leave.
Everyone's speculation converged on the same point. When Captain Xu arrived earlier, they were sneaking peeks at the only visible part of his neck, hoping to find something, but they didn't see what they wanted.
A collective sigh echoed through the room.
Had they known that tailing to the hotel would lead to such a dramatic scene, they would have fought over the opportunity. Now, catching only the aftermath left them feeling regretful.
During the gossip session, someone who witnessed the entire incident last night finally resolved the follow-up events at the hotel. Upon returning, they were immediately grabbed and brought into the gathering.
Someone asked eagerly, "Rumors got mixed up, was that person last night a man or a woman?"
"He was wearing a skirt, long hair," the witness said. "A man. He even called out Captain Xu's name, I heard it."
The witness blushed, "He was really good-looking."
And had a pleasant voice.
They regretted not looking more closely yesterday and the others who hadn't even caught a glimpse felt even more heartbroken.
Xu Gao quietly left the gossip session and, during dinner, promptly handed a large slice of melon to his gossip buddy.
However, the gossip buddy seemed occupied and didn't respond to his messages for a long time.
…
Jiang Yujin received a message from Xu Gao. His emotions were hard to express, and he couldn't decide how to respond at the moment. He chose to set it aside for now, opting to watch the evening news on TV.
The high schooler, back home from school, brought dishes out from the kitchen. Having had substantial meals both at lunch and dinner, Jiang Yujin gave a thumbs-up.
Watching TV while having dinner, Chen Jing casually dropped a bombshell, "I'll be going to H City for a competition tomorrow, probably for five to six days."
Translated, that meant no one would be cooking for the next five to six days at home.
Citizen Jiang, who had been engrossed in the TV, froze instantly.
After delivering such news, the high schooler asked, "Where did you go last night?"
Still reeling from the shock of the upcoming five to six days without meals, Jiang Yujin mechanically continued eating, saying, "Went to handle a commission, then… um, stayed at a friend's place overnight."
Chen Jing remained skeptical of his explanation but didn't press further.
That night, Jiang Yujin sat on the couch, holding the goose, watching the high schooler pack things in the room, emitting a sigh like an old father. He then messaged the barber shop owner, reminding him to remember x2 when buying groceries in the future.
After a brief thought, he added a colorful "Thank you" graphic at the end.
The message sent, but a red exclamation mark appeared again.
Jiang Yujin sighed, "Tsk."
What an unreliable friendship.
…
The next morning, Chen Jing woke up earlier than usual, prepared a simple breakfast for himself, and then prepared brunch for Old Father Jiang.
After finishing the meal and checking the time, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and left.
This time, there were only two teachers and two students sent by the school to attend the competition, a small enough group that they could pick him up directly downstairs.
At that time, the other neighbors on the street had already gotten up. They saw him getting into a stranger's car on the street and worriedly asked about it. Later, they found out it was the teacher who had come to pick him up for a competition. They smiled and praised him for being successful.
Two teachers, one male and one female, went along with the student. During the journey, the teachers talked about precautions. Chen Jing, at such times, responded with a couple of words. During casual conversations, they hardly spoke, spending most of the time looking at the scenery outside the window.
"It seems like the prize money for this competition is quite high. Even the third prize is five thousand. The other reward rules haven't been released yet. When they are, I'll let you know right away."
Chen Jing, who had been gazing at the scenery, shifted his focus back inside the car.
As the competition selection reached its final stages, only a few outstanding students from nearby schools were selected. Chen Jing saw the news, and Zhang Xin mentioned being on the way here too.
Xiao Pang was on a study tour in the neighboring city, quite nearby.
For convenience, all the schools participating in the competition were staying at the same hotel. When they arrived, the staff informed them that many people had already checked in earlier.
No.6 Middle School's teachers and students were checking in at the same time. They nodded at each other and then went their separate ways.
Not long ago, Chen Jing had climbed over the wall of the No.6 Middle School. He stood behind the crowd, silent.
The competition was starting tomorrow; today was just for getting familiar with the venue and procedures. Once settled, the students either prepared or rested in their rooms. There was a meeting in the afternoon and rest at night.
Xiao Pang had previously exerted a lot of effort to finally secure a laboratory, researching tissues taken from various worms and One-eyed's corpse for a long time. Finally, he discovered something unusual and hoped to meet tonight.
Chen Jing replied to the message and then spread out his book.
After the meeting in the afternoon, it was almost dark. Chen Jing met Zhang Xin outside the hotel.
At their first meeting, Zhang Xin was the first to notice the small calico cat head on the other's shirt. Her eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but laugh, saying, "I didn't know you liked this."
The two met with Xiao Pang on the bridge that connected the two cities. Xiao Pang's first words were, "Your cat is oddly cute."
Chen Jing's lips moved, and finally, he uttered, "He bought it for me."
It was obvious who 'he' referred to.
Xiao Pang and Zhang Xin were astonished; they couldn't believe that Uncle Jiang would actually buy clothes for his son.
Chen Jing said, "Let's find a place to sit down."
They found a beverage shop with small private booths.
After the waitress left, Xiao Pang pulled out a messy stack of papers from his backpack, covered with various colorful annotations.
After quickly organizing the papers and with dark circles under his eyes, Xiao Pang took out a sheet of paper and said, "I've analyzed the nematode cells from the glass block, the cells from One-eyed, and also the cells from the worms crawling out of its body."
He then pulled out a few more sheets, saying, "I couldn't bring the petri dishes here, and they don't reveal much to the naked eye. I took a few photos and printed them out for you to take a look."
They swiftly glanced through several photos before getting to the main point.
Xiao Pang separately analyzed several different tissue fragments. First was the nematode cells labeled [C—A2—3.0], which, similar to One-eyed's cells, had merged two different genes. However, in comparison, the fusion in One-eyed seemed more successful.
The nematode cells accumulated a lot of meaningless substances, indicating an error in fusion that led to expression errors. There were no parts within the cells capable of eliminating these meaningless substances, so even if left unattended, the nematode cell would eventually die on its own.
One-eyed's gene was fused with the worm's gene, and the effect seemed to be good. Both abilities were strengthened, and he could also control the synthesis and changes of the worm's body based on his subjective will.
— At least that's what it appeared on the surface.
However, he actually died because of the strange species on his body. They initially thought the controlling factor was the strange species, but Xiao Pang discovered a third set of foreign genes.
After a series of observations, he found that the true controller wasn't the strange species or One-eyed, but this small segment of foreign genes. It linked One-eyed and the worms, exerting control over both.
The thoughts perceived by One-eyed or the strange species themselves were all outcomes of this small gene segment's orchestration. Moreover, he noticed that the cells, when facing death, completely defied common sense. They didn't resist the invasion of death but instead chose to prioritize protecting the foreign gene sequence with all their might.
It was a deeply chilling revelation.
"A preliminary assumption—because it's just that, a hypothesis—I'm being bold here, so it might not be entirely accurate. The source of this gene segment can break isolation, merging different species. Based on our previous investigations, it can also merge different species with others, repair them—I mean each distinct species—and assert dominance in orchestrating them," Xiao Pang stated.
It could merge various species, had reparative abilities, and exerted dominance in orchestrating them.
Inclusiveness, healing, absolute dominance. Xiao Pang asked, "What does this sound like to you?"
"…" there was a moment of silence before Zhang Xin raised her head and said, "Like a mother."
More precisely, a mother of strange species.
High inclusiveness, high reparative abilities, high control.
—They might have an inkling why Zero has been increasingly active lately.
There's more than one laboratory, progress could be made on One-eyed's side, as well as elsewhere.
Zhang Xin fell silent for a moment, then said, "Could this be what we've been searching for?"
A continuous source of strange species, potentially driven by some rule or due to the existence of a "mother" capable of producing strange species.
However, these were all conjectures, and they didn't have a clear understanding of the specifics.
After all the speculation, they circled back to 001, who was most likely to come into contact with the essence.
Zhang Xin said, "My uncle's son works at the SIU. I heard Xu Tonggui got into a fight with Lu Dongcheng at a hotel in A City."
Chen Jing pondered for a moment before saying, "Let's discuss that later. First, find the source of the foreign genes."
The involvement of Xu Tonggui and Lu Dongcheng might be related to 001, or maybe not. Even if it were, the chances of finding information were quite low. Instead of relying on luck, it was more practical to locate the actual source of the foreign genes.
The other two nodded.
*
Gossip always spread the fastest. By the time Hu Li returned to the office after a day out, people were passionately recounting the fresh gossip from the previous night.
After listening quietly for a while, Xu Gao, the perennial odd-job man, happened to pass by. Hu Li grabbed him and took him to an empty balcony.
At Hu Li's request, he vividly recounted the story from the previous night.
"Oh?"
Hu Li seemed quite interested after listening and playfully patted Xu Gao's shoulder, "Can you find out who that person is for me?"
"I showed you the footage of 001 before, didn't I? No one else got to see it, just you. Don't I deserve a favor?"
"Isn't that extra work?" Xu Gao's workaholic radar beeped, cautioning, "Besides, wouldn't it be faster to ask Captain Xu directly?"
"This matter needs to be investigated discreetly," Hu Li smiled and continued, "Go ask Captain Xu about that person. If Captain Xu's mind gets clear in the process, that person might dismantle the SIU, and the SIU will be disbanded tonight."
Xu Gao was good at catching the point and innocently scratched his head, "Isn't Captain Xu's mind already clear?"
The corner of Hu Li's mouth twitched: "Shut up and do as you're told."
Chapter 61.1 – Duolan Mountain (1)
Amidst the conditions set by Hu Li, Xu Gao eventually agreed to take on the job.
However, it can be said with a great deal of responsibility that every task he was responsible for, whether it was finding people or dealing with the information broker Liu Cheng, or locating Yuan Sanshui, none of them turned out successful.
You get what you pay for; knowing his capability yet daring to seek his help meant being prepared for the possibility of never finding out about that person. After completing the task, Xu Gao left work without any psychological pressure, glanced at his phone, and noticed that his gossip buddy hadn't replied to his message.
Imagining briefly the possible state of the other person's life, whether they might be starving at home or dead drunk in a tavern, Xu Gao, concerned for his gossip buddy, promptly made a call.
Fortunately, the gossip buddy was still alive. After a few rings, the call connected, and a voice came from the other end, with background noise of a TV, seeming like someone watching the news.
Xu Gao's concern for his gossip buddy turned into accusation as he questioned why the buddy hadn't acknowledged the heartfelt and emotionally charged message he had sent.
Jiang Yujin dodged and blurred the conversation, and after the other person finally accepted his explanation, he hung up.
After hanging up, he set his phone aside, and the barber shop owner, expressionless, came out of the kitchen with a dish in hand.
Jiang Yujin, obediently seated on the chair, reached out, "Where's the food?"
"Are you a waste?" the barber shop owner furrowed his brow sharply, saying, "It's in the kitchen, go get it yourself."
He wanted to have a meal but was called a waste, but after all, it was a free meal, so Jiang Yujin endured it.
When he returned with the fragrant rice, the barber shop owner asked him, "Have you met up with Xu Tonggui these past two days?"
In any case, food first. Jiang Yujin chewed for a bit and then replied, "How did you know?"
Of course, the barber shop owner knew.
The last time this person came here, he would take the initiative to find food, and now he is sitting in his seat waiting for others to serve him, such a change wasn't out of thin air. The only one who could raise a person to such a waste was Xu Tonggui.
Struggling to contain the urge to snap the chopsticks, the barber shop owner tried to advise in a softer tone, "Damn it, just go and be with him already."
"That's not feasible," Jiang Yujin lowered his eyes, a slight tug at the corner of his mouth, chuckling, "I haven't decided how to handle him yet."
Rubbing his face, he leaned on one hand, his light-colored pupils tracing the patterns on the wooden table, "What should I do with him?"
For a moment, his pupils lost focus, but quickly, as if an illusion.
The barber shop owner glanced at him, initially wanting to say something, but eventually chose to stay quiet, swiftly eating his meal.
What was supposed to be a meal turned into a battle for food between the two.
As soon as he finished eating and set down his chopsticks, signifying the end of his free meal, Jiang Yujin swiftly finished and slipped away.
The high schooler who usually stopped him from drinking wasn't around, so he wandered off and headed to a small tavern.
The barber shop owner watched him leave, got up to tidy the dishes, then cleaned the shop thoroughly inside and out. With nothing else to do, he leaned against the windowsill and lit a cigarette.
Feeling it was about time, smoking past halfway, he lowered his head and retrieved his phone. As expected, a call came through.
"Boss, Mr. Jiang has had a bit too much to drink again. Could you come over and pick him up if it's convenient for you?"
The barber shop owner sighed, hung up, grabbed the keys, and stepped out.
He had no intention of bringing a drunken mess reeking of alcohol back to his own place. He dragged the person upstairs, rummaged for his keys, opened the door, tossed him onto the sofa, then hurried downstairs. His movements were practiced, honed over years.
Closing the door, the person lying in the dark room opened his eyes. His light-colored pupils reflected the light from outside, then slowly closed again.
In the late hours, when it should have been time for sleep, the room's lights were still on, and downstairs, the barber shop owner was smoking another cigarette.
Clearly, despite a long time passing, he still remembered what happened before.
Regarding the special dungeon that appeared last, there were many theories and speculations outside, but most of them were actually wrong. The true situation was only known by them.
The dungeon was entered by the four of them together, and upon entering, it immediately started, allowing no reaction time.
There were no completion conditions, no time restrictions, and no tools whatsoever; it was simply a pure bloodbath. It was an eerie place, more primitive and brutal compared to other dungeons that underwent design and rule constraints.
No completion conditions meant there was never an end to be reached. To survive, one could only fight to the death—be it among the strange species or between them and the strange species.
The terrain here had undulations but lacked vegetation or water. Even the blood-red artificial sky they were accustomed to was absent; there was only an expanse of darkness, with the only life forms being them and the strange species. These strange species lacked thoughts; they only harbored the most primal desire to kill and territorial instincts—primitive and savage.
For a brief moment, in a low-lying area between two hills, a liquid began to flow, not water but the blood spilled from the strange species.
Ravines were filled by the corpses of these strange species, gradually smoothing out the once undulating terrain. The strange species were unending, for every one that fell, more surged forward.
Jiang Yujin had Shi Bu flatten the ground and build a long ladder that stretched from a higher point to where the strange species were fighting most brutally. The hillside over there turned into a huge pit, seemingly bottomless. The surviving strange species were still entangled within, causing tremors that extended to their location.
The ladder extended halfway into the air, and the people above leaped down from it. Upon their descent, the strange species, driven by the desire to kill those unlike them, pushed down on the ladder, causing them all to crash violently to the ground.
After Jiang Yujin jumped into the enormous pit, he and Shi Bu remained on the ground, witnessing Xu Tonggui, distant from them, instantly carving a path through the bloodshed and plunging into the abyss without hesitation.
Initially, there were long howls heard from within, but then everything returned to calm.
Inside, it fell completely silent.
After a brief calm, more intense changes ensued.
The mountain that had been completely motionless began to move slowly, the undulating curves continuously shifting. The bodies of the strange species heaped between the mountains were constantly compressed, all their tissues shattered, and the colossal bones flattened into pieces.
This space was alive, more accurately speaking, the place they were in was the body of something.
The undulating slopes might just be the epidermis of this entity.
The strange species ceased their unending appearances. After the prolonged stretch of flames and the thunderous gunfire echoing for kilometers, the numbers of the colossal strange species dwindled sharply.
As the last strange species was devoured by flames, the previously increasingly active ground gradually settled, seemingly deadened.
They moved towards the edge of the colossal abyss, only to find it sealed shut, the massive pit filled with the corpses of the strange species.
They had no choice but to wait. They waited in this place devoid of water, wind, nearly pitch black and suffocating.
Perhaps they waited for a very long time, so long that the stench of the decaying corpses of strange species could no longer be masked and permeated the entire space.
After setting fire to nearby corpses of strange species, they finally saw signs of change.
"Crack."
A sound echoed from a distant place, curling around their ears.
It seemed like a beginning, followed by a series of continuous cracking sounds.
The blackness that shrouded above them, extending to an unseen distance, split open, allowing light to filter through.
It was a golden light, piercing through the undulating mountainous terrain, illuminating the piled corpses of strange species.
Initially, they didn't quite grasp the significance of this light.
The crack widened further, revealing a fiery red something that seemed close by.
Shi Bu, bewildered, asked, "What is this?"
It was the sun. Perhaps it was the rising dawn or the impending sunset, but it completely filled their vision.
They had not seen the sky for so long that the sun was nearly fading from their consciousness.
The space started distorting from this moment, time became erratic. Surroundings became bewilderingly chaotic; they saw distorted versions of themselves recently engaged in killing the strange species, witnessed the reappearance and vanishing of strange species that were supposed to be dead, leaving no trace or sound. A massive rumble pounded their eardrums, as if something was collapsing slowly yet violently in a place they couldn't perceive.
In this convoluted and intricate space, a figure emerged against the light. Strands of bloodstained white hair tinged golden by the light, the clothes billowing in the wind, stained and disheveled.
It was the first time Shi Bu had seen this person in such a state—clothes disarrayed, chest soaked in blood, hands stained, drops trickling down the fingers.
It was 001, and it could only be 001.
Shi Bu glanced around and asked, "Where's Brother Xu?"
The figure standing in the distance lifted his head. Warm blood streaked down his face, devoid of any expression. His light-colored pupils were calm and still, exuding an intense lingering scent of blood, as if truly embodying the emotionless killer others described.
The massive golden sun slowly shifted, piercing through the darkness.
"He's dead," he said.
"Whoosh—"
Outside the window, the leaves rustled in the wind. A cigarette burned out, and Yuan Sanshui came to his senses, snuffing out the cigarette in his hand.
His deceased wife, former friends, the silent faces in the crevice, an array of varied images flashed through his mind, hauntingly persistent.
The barber shop owner lit another cigarette and glanced upstairs.
Liu Dongcheng was right; none of them had truly stepped out of the game.