Beneath the Crimson Moon

This day, Lu Xin truly had his eyes opened.

He stood there, watching as less than half an hour later, rumbling trucks arrived, one after another, into the desolate factory grounds. Some set up temporary lighting equipment, others carried water pumps, and some hauled bundles of plastic pipes. Then, teams clad in protective suits disembarked and quickly set up the pumps, extending the pipes into the lake.

At the same time, on the other side, seven or eight teams were already digging pits with shovels, creating channels to divert water.

They had clearly done their calculations, intending to redirect the lake's water to a nearby depression.

Furthermore, military vehicles were approaching from further away, lining up sideways to form a barrier. Soldiers, fully armed, used the vehicles as cover, cordoning off the entire area. What was once a desolate, abandoned factory district quickly became bustling with activity.

"Thump thump thump."

With dozens of water pumps working simultaneously, the water level in the small lake began to drop rapidly.

Witnessing such a grand operation, Lu Xin and Qin Ran couldn't help but swallow: "Amazing!"

"Handling mental pollution incidents is an extremely dangerous job, and if not managed properly, it not only puts oneself at risk but can also trigger immeasurable disasters. Therefore, we always adhere to two principles in our work."

Chen Jing calmly explained to Lu Xin over the channel, "First, if it can be solved with material resources, then solve it with material resources."

"Second, if it can be covered by firepower, then cover it with firepower!"

"..."

Lu Xin listened for a long time before sighing in admiration, "The power of the collective..."

"That's about it. The support team withdraws, and the investigation team begins their work. Be ready for firepower coverage at any time!"

When the water level had dropped by more than half, Chen Jing issued another order.

All support personnel immediately retreated to a distance, not even taking their vehicles, some even leaving their shovels behind.

The entire area was soon left with only Lu Xin and Qin Ran, three members of the investigation team, and Sister, along with a few others.

The only difference was the addition of rows of armed blockades in the distance, and the presence of curious yet vigilant eyes.

"After the lake is drained, you few will still be responsible for the investigation."

Chen Jing said through the earpiece, "We still cannot definitively determine whether this source of pollution is highly contagious or low contagious."

"Although based on the data we have so far, the possibility of low contagiousness is greater, such bizarre events often have inexplicable sudden changes, so we must be careful. If it's low contamination, it's fine. But if we encounter a highly contagious source of pollution, sending too many people close could potentially provide it with more hosts, causing a greater disaster."

Listening to her words, Lu Xin suddenly understood.

The armed personnel outside were not just guarding against any potential mental monsters at the bottom of the lake.

They were also vigilant towards him and the members of the investigation team.

If he or any of the investigation team members were to become contaminated, they would be shot without hesitation.

"Now I understand why the reward is so high..."

He muttered softly.

Chen Jing, hearing him over the channel, suddenly chuckled, "Your attitude towards work is quite good. I'll help you apply for an additional reward."

Lu Xin's mood immediately improved significantly.

Soon, the lake water was almost completely pumped out. Under the stark white lights, the muddy bottom of the lake was visible, along with scattered puddles. Many fish and shrimp, struggling with their gills, flopped about in the mud under the lights.

"That's good!"

The investigation team members put on their helmets and then looked at Lu Xin for confirmation.

"I don't need one."

Lu Xin waved his hand.

Chen Jing had previously told him that one of the advantages of a mental anomaly was that they were not as easily contaminated. Not only did he have this reason, but he also had another: he seemed to be able to see the true forms of the mental monsters. Therefore, wearing a helmet would obstruct his vision, making it harder to see the monsters clearly and dodge their attacks.

Of course, he had his reasons, but this action made him appear even more mysterious in the eyes of the investigation team.

"Is this what an anomaly is like?"

They thought to themselves.

Although as members of the investigation team, they knew that Qinggang City had several ability users, this was their first time cooperating.

A long time ago, especially before mental anomalies were discovered and recruited.

The investigation of mental pollution incidents relied more on their lives...

Setting up the monitoring equipment and picking up their firearms, Lu Xin and the investigation team members slowly walked into the muddy lakebed.

The silver monitoring device glowed with a reassuring green light under the illumination.

They probed forward bit by bit, appearing to advance gradually. However, in Lu Xin's eyes, Sister was running across the mud. Her speed was still very fast; she would run to one spot to look, then to another. Under the moonlight, her small figure cast a faint, blurry shadow, and wherever she stepped, even on the softest mud, she left no trace.

Finally, as if confirming something, she suddenly stopped and raised her small hand, pointing to a spot in the center of the lake.

Lu Xin pretended not to see his sister, but he was deliberately leading the investigation team members towards the center of the lake.

From a distance, they could already see a small puddle at the bottom of the lake.

His sister was about seven or eight meters away from the puddle at this moment, pointing with her finger.

Lu Xin and the investigation team members slowly approached this area when suddenly, the lights on the monitor turned red.

At the same time, an extremely faint voice could be heard: "Qin Ran, you killed me..."

"What was that sound?"

Lu Xin and the three investigation team members abruptly stopped in their tracks.

For a moment, they felt their hair stand on end.

The faint voice continued to drift out, barely audible: "Qin Ran, you killed me, you will pay with your life..."

"It... it... it's it..."

As the voice sounded, one of the investigation team members suddenly cried out tremblingly, pointing to a spot.

Everyone followed his gaze and saw, on the silt at the bottom of the lake, a crucian carp about the size of a palm. It was lying on the wet mud, its mouth opening and closing forcefully as it struggled to breathe, emitting that thin voice.

"Qin Ran, you killed me..."

The light from the searchlights on the shore shone on the fish, making it look pale and eerie.

Its pair of pitch-black eyes stared intently in the direction of Qin Ran on the shore, shouting with all its might.

Whether it was an illusion or reality, at this moment, the Crimson Moon in the sky seemed exceptionally bright.

Dim red light spilled over everyone's heads.

Suddenly, another voice joined in, shouting along with it: "Qin Ran killed me, you will pay with your life..."

Lu Xin and the others quickly looked around and followed the sound to another fish struggling on the silt.

"Qin Ran, you killed me..."

"I have no grievance with you, why did you kill me..."

Soon, a third voice rang out, overlapping with the others.

And then, a fourth, then a fifth, a sixth...

More and more fish began to open their mouths, their voices overlapping and growing louder. In the end, it reached a point that was deafening and increasingly synchronized. Lu Xin and the others felt like they were witnessing an incredibly frenzied scene:

Under the Crimson Moon, all the fish were screaming their lungs out, emitting that piercing, headache-inducing shriek:

"Qin Ran wronged me, a life for a life..."

"Qin Ran wronged me, a life for a life..."

"Qin Ran wronged me, a life for a life..."