"I just didn't expect... the harvest this time would be even greater than I imagined."
"What do you mean?" Liang Guang’s heart skipped a beat, and he spoke with renewed caution. "I have no interest in what you have to say. I only need you to fulfill your promise."
"Hmm..."
Fine. Since "talk therapy" wasn't working, he would have to resort to "self-dissection."
"Don't be nervous, it's just..." The System shook its head with a look of feigned regret. "After seeing this, I realized you've wasted so much time."
"Your background is clearly much stronger than a deviant like me, who rose up halfway without any support."
Liang Guang’s brow furrowed. "...A deviant?"
"After all, you had a good grandfather who brought back a wondrous bloodline; you were born with a guiding star." The System carelessly traced the rough texture of the book's cover. "Unlike me, who could only use some rather... unseemly methods."
As if suddenly struck by a desire to share, he looked up at Liang Guang with a smile. "Do you want to know what those methods were? They might even be helpful to you in the future."
Liang Guang’s hand, hidden behind his back, instinctively gripped a defensive tool infused with psionic energy. He tried his best to maintain a calm expression. "Go on."
The young man leaned back against the sofa, shrouded in the dim light, his features obscured by the shadows.
"Find a child like you. Use him as a medium to obtain an entry ticket."
His tone was casual, but Liang Guang was jolted by the words.
What? What did that mean?
"It means..." Upon receiving the young man's reply, Liang Guang realized he had spoken his thoughts aloud.
"Utilizing a blood pact to exchange half the blood in our bodies, sharing everything from then on." Liang Guang saw the corners of the young man's mouth curl slightly, as if he were recalling something pleasant. "But unfortunately, the child I caught was far too soft and harmless."
"So you incited him to commit a crime!?"
"My, so agitated? I thought you had already prepared yourself when you brought me out." The young man glanced at Liang Guang with mild surprise, then seemed to realize something. "Oh, so you're worried about your own fate?"
"Relax." He made a soothing gesture. "It was only by accident that I discovered that child. Ordinary people—ha, including those 'Specials' who think so highly of themselves—would never have noticed you."
"I was only able to sense you because I have that child's blood."
"And..."
Liang Guang felt his limbs go cold under the man's scrutinizing gaze.
"Reshaping an adult is quite difficult."
The other party gave a polite smile, then retracted the oppressive aura surrounding him, like a satiated predator showing mercy to a terrified, frozen little animal.
Liang Guang’s scalp tingled from the sudden influx of information.
Vague, chilling conjectures crashed into his mind, causing the last bit of joy he felt at the prospect of gaining power to dissipate. In its place, an indescribable sense of loathing surged within him.
Liang Guang: "..."
System: "?"
Why did he go quiet? Was he intimidated?
An unbearable silence stretched through the warehouse for a long time.
"So... it's still fake, then," Liang Guang murmured in a low voice.
"This kind of power... this chasm that is even more distant and heartless than the psionic world..."
"So that's how it is..."
His voice was pale and raspy, like the struggling whispers of a long-ailing patient. His gaze wandered, looking as if he had lost his soul.
System: "?"
He spoke tentatively, "What? In all this time, you're the only one I've encountered with a natural bloodline. Shouldn't you be happy?"
Liang Guang twitched the corner of his mouth and asked back, "Happy? Happy that ordinary people have to use such disgusting methods if they want to walk this path?"
"'Disgusting'? Since you took the initiative to contact me, did you really not have this basic psychological preparation?"
The young man looked perplexed, as if he were the mastermind on the set of a mystery film, about to share his philosophy with a partner, only to find that the person opposite him was just a villain from a children's play, with a head full of naive and innocent villainous declarations.
"Besides, you aren't an ordinary person in this regard," the System said with feigned comfort. "Why empathize with those mediocre people?"
"..."
Liang Guang no longer had the energy to answer.
He thought of his childhood, of the world he had imagined based on the fragments of words from his grandfather—that fantastical, brilliant world of absolute freedom and flow.
Then came growing up and realizing he was just an ordinary person, because the existing psionic system shut out everyone who craved the extraordinary but lacked innate awakening.
He felt that an ordinary person like him also had the right to grasp those incredible wonders, but no one listened to his ideas.
After hitting walls everywhere, it was Guang Rui who gave him a final shred of hope.
He had been ready to take a step back and compromise, but then this young man appeared before him. Just as his old dreams were rekindled, he learned such a cold, hard truth.
The barrier of bloodlines, and the evils that came with them... Was this the world he had once dreamed of?
Immersed in his own world, Liang Guang didn't notice that at some point, the breathing of a third person had appeared in the warehouse.
A moment later, that breathing vanished without a sound.
***
[System: I hope your side gets here quickly.]
When Mu Ran received this message from the System, Zuo Xiu happened to return, looking travel-worn.
He spotted Mu Ran sitting in the corner at a glance and asked Xu Qing with a frown, "What did you bring him here for?"
His tone was somewhat stiff. Hearing this, the boy in the corner looked up nervously and said softly, "I insisted on coming. I want to help..." His voice trailed off under Zuo Xiu's gaze.
"Tsk, find someone to take him back first."
"No need, Xiao Ran can stay with me." Xu Qing patted Zuo Xiu's shoulder, his attitude gentle yet firm. "If anything happens, put it on my tab."
"...Fine, fine."
Zuo Xiu stared at Xu Qing for a moment. Realizing the unshakable seriousness in his eyes, he gave up on persuading him and got straight to the point.
He looked at Guang Rui on the other side and asked, "How is it? Can you track anything through the scene's traces? Can we confirm where he went?"
The dark circles under Guang Rui's eyes were very prominent, making Zuo Xiu unable to resist asking, "What's wrong? Haven't slept well these past few days?"
"Ah... Xiao Guang has been on leave lately, so I've been doing his work along with mine." Guang Rui yawned, then answered Zuo Xiu's previous question. "There aren't many traces at the scene; they were likely erased by a psionic user. Preliminary judgment is that he might be a fugitive from another city who caught wind of the news. As for his location... there are currently seventeen possible places. Without more clues, I'm afraid we'll have to check them one by one."
"Seventeen..." Zuo Xiu took a deep breath, mentally calculating the team members capable of protecting themselves.
Bai Yu, who had already considered this, spoke up: "We can only split into four small teams at most, and that's including Xu Qing as an external member."
She was wearing a tight-fitting uniform for ease of movement, her hair tied back neatly, looking sharp and capable.
"Even if we investigate simultaneously, it will take a lot of time, and there's a possibility he might change his hiding spot." Bai Yu looked at Zuo Xiu and confirmed, "To ensure as much as possible that he doesn't hurt anyone after escaping, I believe we need to narrow down the range."
"Are the firearms ready?"
"Basically one for every person."
...?
Mu Ran had been confused when Bai Yu said they could only split into four teams. When he realized through the subsequent conversation that Zuo Xiu and the others were grouping based on the requirement that each team must have self-defense capabilities, he became a walking question mark.
Wow, what kind of monster do you guys think the System is?
...Hiss, wait, it seems part of the reason is that the setting I described was too transcendent and scared them.
Unknown things are always more frightening; that's the logic.
However... this seemed like a good excuse.
"Are we not going with Captain Zuo?" Once the two finally finished talking and turned to Xu Qing, Mu Ran immediately looked at Xu Qing, who had been assigned elsewhere, and asked with a hint of confusion.
Mu Ran naturally assumed he was following Xu Qing, so he said "we."
"Hmm, it seems not." Xu Qing rubbed the boy's head and smiled. "But don't worry, the sister with us is very powerful."
The boy seemed somewhat anxious. If he were a small animal, he would probably be nervously chasing his own tail right now.
"But Captain Zuo is stronger. Only he can protect you."
Bai Yu felt a slight stir in her heart. She smiled naturally and said, "Don't worry, Xiao Ran. You might not even run into that person, so there won't be any danger."
The boy didn't seem comforted by these words; on the contrary, he became even more tense.
Zuo Xiu also noticed the boy's abnormality. After exchanging a look with Bai Yu, he spoke lazily, "I didn't realize you trusted me so much. But I definitely won't be in the same group as Xu Qing."
"Who told us our abilities were limited? We can't even find that person's location." He threw up his hands, acting helpless.
Under Bai Yu's hint, Xu Qing maintained a well-timed silence, only letting out a soft, helpless sigh.
The boy's fingertips pressed against the leather seat until they turned white, as if he were undergoing a fierce internal struggle.
"I... what if I can tell you where he is?"
After a moment of silence amidst the jolting of the vehicle, he spoke in a small voice.
Mu Ran closed his eyes, mentally rehearsing his explanation, waiting for the protagonists to question him.
A moment later, instead of questioning, he felt a warm touch on his back.
"In that case..." He opened his eyes to meet Xu Qing's smiling amber eyes. "You'll be our great hero."
***
[Mu Ran: We're here!!]
The System then spoke up, interrupting Liang Guang's despondent silence.
"Alright, let's not waste time." He lowered his eyes with a cold expression, seemingly bored. "It looks like you have no heart for learning."
"And to think I specifically set some things up here."
These words passed through the barrier of the door and reached the ears of Zuo Xiu and his group, who had just arrived.
Bai Yu's hand on Zuo Xiu's shoulder tightened slightly.
"Set things up?!" A familiar voice came from inside the room, filled with disbelief. "When...? What are you trying to do?!"
...Xiao Guang? Guang Rui recognized the voice immediately and accidentally made a sound in his surprise.
Without hesitation, Zuo Xiu immediately broke down the door and rushed in.
"Naturally, it's just a relaxed lesson..." Looking at the suddenly intruding Zuo Xiu, the young man showed a hint of surprise on his face, but then his smile deepened. "Hmm... it seems I have suitable experimental subjects now."
"Liang Guang?!" Zuo Xiu's attention had been on deciphering the young man's words; only now that he was inside did he realize the other familiar voice belonged to the promising newcomer on their team.
Liang Guang shrank under Zuo Xiu's gaze, but he felt an even greater fear within.
Please... don't let that person be here...
"Liang Guang, what are you doing here?" A familiar voice shattered all his hopes as Guang Rui stepped into the warehouse from the shadows behind Zuo Xiu.
His gaze was like a knife, stabbing straight into Liang Guang's heart.
"You're the one who let this person go." It was a statement, allowing no room for excuses.
Liang Guang was frozen, not daring to speak, but the young man took up the conversation with interest: "It was him. It seems your ability to manage subordinates is quite poor."
"However, your ability to find people is quite strong." He gave a mockingly insincere compliment, though everyone knew he was just being sarcastic.
Before Zuo Xiu could reply, Guang Rui frowned and snapped back coldly, "Thanks for the compliment. We have your child to thank for that."
Zuo Xiu saw the young man's smile vanish instantly, sensing trouble.
At the same time—
[System: Have you found it?]
[Mu Ran: Found it!]
"He's here too?" the young man asked in a low voice, his gentle, soothing tone like a slithering snake flicking its tongue.
His gaze looked straight into the darkness behind Zuo Xiu.
[System: Ready.]
In an instant, the entire dark, hidden warehouse lit up.
The young man's dangerous gaze immediately captured Mu Ran, who had been hiding in the shadows.
The boy had been somewhat out of sorts since entering the warehouse, and only now was he stung by the young man's excessively cold gaze. He barely snapped back to his senses, his breathing suddenly becoming rapid.
Mu Ran, who appeared terrified, was actually weeping with joy internally.
[Mu Ran: Wuwu, we finally meet again!!]
But then Mu Ran's vision was blocked by a back.
Xu Qing stepped forward, meeting the young man's gaze with a smile, silently expressing his protection. Bai Yu also stood beside him, gripping the boy's hand tightly.
Zuo Xiu abandoned his original plan for a surprise attack; the young man's sudden movement forced him to remain cautious.
"What did you just do?!"
"Heh..." The young man let out a cold laugh, completely ignoring Zuo Xiu's question. He stared straight toward the door, as if he could see the person hiding behind Xu Qing. His tone was icy. "What? Has it only been a few days and you don't recognize me anymore?"
"Of course he shouldn't recognize you. After all, there's no bright future in following you," Zuo Xiu retorted dryly.
Just as the System shifted its gaze to Zuo Xiu, a faint voice came from behind Xu Qing.
"Go..."
"There's danger here..."
Everyone's nerves tightened instantly.
Danger?
Was it the array that killed the girl that day?
"When..." Liang Guang murmured in disbelief.
In the next second, a blood-red pattern condensed in the corner caught his eye.
The others followed his gaze, and their breath hitched.
They had all thought such a killing array couldn't possibly be set up in such a short time, which was why they were focused on capturing the young man as soon as possible.
But in these few short hours—even without Liang Guang, who had let him out, knowing—he had actually set up an array in this warehouse?!
What they thought was a capture was actually them walking into the young man's trap!
"Hmm, you finally noticed?" The others' reactions seemed to please the young man. He spoke with some regret, "A pity time was too tight; the setup is still a bit crude..."
His tone shifted.
"But it's enough to deal with you."
He sat leisurely on the dilapidated deep-blue sofa. Even though he was at an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers and physical force, he certainly had the ability to tear a whole chunk of flesh out of them.
He was certain the others wouldn't dare to act rashly.
And indeed, they didn't.
"Besides... you need me to understand those unknown powers."
He seemed to have sensed something during the first interrogation, and now he was even more emboldened.
"So even if someone dies today, I won't be sentenced to death."
And with that blood pact, he wouldn't die!
Unless...
Liang Guang, who knew a deeper layer of the truth, couldn't help but look at the boy behind Xu Qing, only to unexpectedly lock eyes with him.
Although the other quickly looked away, the words of revelation in Liang Guang's throat were suddenly blocked halfway.
His unusual reaction was caught by Guang Rui.
"Liang Guang, what do you know?"
The person questioned only gritted his teeth and remained silent, clenching his fists.
The System paid no mind to their exchange. His gaze swept over Zuo Xiu and Bai Yu before settling on Xu Qing.
An invisible pressure spread.
Everyone keenly sensed something, especially Bai Yu; she felt as if she were seeing the scene of the young man locking onto the girl that day all over again.
Tragedy seemed poised to repeat itself on her dear friend in the next second.
Now, the only breakthrough point, Liang Guang, was strangely silent.
"Xiao Guang!!"
Bai Yu's heart rate accelerated.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly!"
Guang Rui also urged him anxiously.
Liang Guang was suddenly pried open by this urgency. He gritted his teeth and spat out a few words.
"That child."
Silence.
It was like a fast-paced movie suddenly entering slow motion.
Bai Yu turned her head and saw the boy quietly taking a few steps back under their gaze.
A faint, morning-dew-transparent sorrow bloomed from the corners of his eyes.
He seemed to want to say something, but in the next second, his pupils dilated.
—Because the young man had also noticed.
A sense of unease prompted Zuo Xiu to act before he could worry about the consequences. He rushed forward, pinning the young man down firmly, attempting to stop whatever he was about to do.
But it seemed to be an exercise in futility.
With half his face pressed against the ground, looking utterly pathetic, the young man slightly curled his lips and spoke soundlessly.
—Found.
The shadow from seven days ago reappeared before Zuo Xiu.
—You.
He felt dizzy, a ringing in his ears drowning out everything, yet his grip on the man intensified.
—Now.
Stop!
Stop!
Stop it now!!
The whole world became incredibly noisy.
Until—
*Bang!*
It was a gunshot.
How could there be a gunshot?!
The chaotic, tangled voices in his head receded with the gunshot, and the black-and-white world returned to color.
Time resumed its normal flow.
Blood suddenly spilled from the corner of the mouth of the young man who had just been so confident. His pupils glazed over, his fingers nearly snapped as he clawed at the ground with all his might, as if enduring immense agony.
Invisible life force was being rapidly drained from his body.
*Clatter.*
Something was dropped to the floor.
Zuo Xiu jerked his head up, only to see the boy's body collapsing as well.
At the same time, the warmth beneath his hands vanished as quickly as flowing water.
Everything happened in a flash.
Everyone's mind went blank.
"So this is... your solution..."
The young man's voice, thin as a thread, echoed in the warehouse.
The others snapped out of it as if from a dream.
Solution? What solution?
Their minds only had time to grasp that one word.
"Quite a clever method..."
The voice was so faint it was like a whisper.
After that, there was no longer a heartbeat from the other party in the warehouse.
In just a few dozen seconds, the situation had undergone an incredible reversal.
...
[Mu Ran: Off work, off work!!]
The System, who went offline a step later, followed with a celebration.
[System: Off work!]
Two ghosts squatted above the warehouse, waiting for the experiment to conclude.
They saw Guang Rui checking his equipment in terror, saw Xu Qing checking Mu Ran's shell in despair, saw Zuo Xiu and Bai Yu contacting other team members while processing the scene, and saw Liang Guang explaining the reason in a daze after being interrogated...
They heard the argument break out between Liang Guang and Guang Rui.
[Mu Ran: Eh? Guang Rui is an ordinary person, no wonder he didn't notice when I stole his gun!]
[Mu Ran: Sigh, so what are those two agonizing over?]
By the time Liang Guang finally finished explaining the "blood pact" setting, the time of the entire world had not stagnated as they had expected.
...What's going on? Who else feels like things haven't ended!!
Hasn't the pressure of this new energy system been transferred to Liang Guang? The two of them are already gone, don't miss them, don't miss them...
After all, they had taken a certain risk to detach from their shells directly! If they possessed them again to "come back to life," they definitely wouldn't be able to explain it away!
Let's observe for a bit longer...
Mu Ran floated along, following Xu Qing back to the villa alone, while the System kept a close eye on Zuo Xiu and Bai Yu.
They saw Xu Qing looking through the surveillance footage bit by bit, observing every detail of his past interactions with Mu Ran.
They saw him go to Mu Ran's room and easily find the impression sketches of the three of them that Mu Ran had hidden.
They saw him sitting on the sofa in the hall until the sun set and night fell.
Mu Ran couldn't help but float down and sit obediently beside him.
The person beside him looked exhausted and pale, his eyelashes lowered.
Mu Ran mimicked the action the other often used to comfort him, lightly stroking the top of Xu Qing's head.
Moonlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto half of the sofa.
"Why..."
Xu Qing talked to himself in the quiet hall.
*Protect you...*
The determination he had seen in the boy's eyes before they left flashed through his mind.
Why hadn't he seen it then? Why hadn't he asked one more question? Why did he think it was just a light, casual remark?
After experiencing such things, why did he still want to protect others?
Moreover, in the emotional tug-of-war of the past few days, what the boy received was not equal to what he gave.
The three of them were always considering intelligence, considering information, filtering so-called "valuable" content from his words.
The boy's own information was pitifully scarce.
He thought they would have enough time to fill those blanks that had appeared for some unknown reason.
He felt that a brief period of acquaintance was probably not enough for the boy to pour out his heart.
He believed the vague, fragmented words from the other's mouth might be a form of concealment.
...But he only now realized that those words were already everything the boy had.
A tiny heart had already been tentatively offered up after receiving just a few warm words and comforts, yet none of them had noticed.
The party that was supposed to be the savior, when faced with the sincerity of the one being saved, had been shrinking back, still testing the waters.
"Why..."
No one would answer him.
Mu Ran, in his ghost form, could only fruitlessly stroke his head from a distance as a gesture of comfort.
"I have to leave eventually, after all..."
Just as he finished saying this, Mu Ran felt the time of the small world stagnate.
—Proof that the last person who still harbored doubts had finally let go.
Mu Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief. Taking advantage of the frozen time, he moved to stand directly in front of Xu Qing.
He used his hand to cover those tired, dim amber eyes.
He said softly, "Hurry up and forget me!"
...
The experiment was over.
***
