When they reached the shore,
the highly aggressive mermaids swimming through the lake withdrew on their own,
Even though many of their companions had been killed, they showed no intention of chasing after them... or rather, it seemed that they currently lacked the ability to come ashore,
After several minutes of intense escape,
even Edmund and the others, who were all well trained, began panting one after another and immediately checked their bodies.
They took a soft tube from one of the pockets hanging inside their coats,
then smeared the liquid inside the tube over the surface layer of their skin, washing away the bloodstains and lake water picked up during the battle.
Edmund even took the initiative to hand Yi Chen a soft tube.
"William, do you need some?"
"No... thanks."
Edmund shrugged, naturally realizing that Yi Chen was unaffected by the water quality.
"It's only been a day~ and this kind of trouble has already come looking for us. The next two days might be pretty rough. I estimate that a batch of examinees will die here outright."
As Edmund said this, he intentionally or otherwise cast a meaningful glance at Yi Chen,
However,
Yi Chen turned to look at the mermaids retreating across the lake while also examining the completely waterlogged corpse of the police officer,
"Can I have this corpse?"
"Of course. We have no use for a corpse like this... After all, none of the teams have a descendant of a 'Doctor' or a genius trained by a clinic.
By the way, dragging a corpse straight back like this won't look too good if someone sees you, will it?"
"Give me a moment."
Yi Chen jogged toward the town streets,
and within a few minutes, he had bought a burlap sack large enough, along with several spare small knives,
Using extremely practiced techniques, he packed up the swollen corpse and dragged it toward the inn like a piece of garbage.
Combined with Yi Chen's tall, slightly thin build and gloomy clothes, he gave off the impression of a "gravedigger."
"Hey, Mr. William~ I look forward to working with you again."
The sunny-faced Edmund waved goodbye to him,
Yi Chen merely turned his back, raised his free left hand over his shoulder, and gave a perfunctory response.
Once his figure had slowly disappeared,
Edmund deliberately furrowed and raised his brows,
"You all saw that just now, right?
That guy has even mastered the rare 'Plant-type' diseased trait. He might very well become a Doctor in the future, and organizations will definitely fight over someone like him.
William will certainly take one of the slots for the 'Quality Hide' corresponding to this assessment.
We'll have to stay sharp now."
Julianna quietly commented, "He's gloomy from head to toe, seemingly from a cemetery, yet he possesses the Plant Affliction symbolizing vitality... What a strange guy."
However,
what these people did not know was that
Yi Chen was still in the heated state following his escape after killing the enemies; he was merely suppressing his emotions on purpose.
"Their mental fortitude and combat fundamentals are far beyond those of ordinary people... They must have undergone long-term training, which makes them fundamentally different from me.
Teaming up with them might reduce the risks and let me obtain useful information.
But my 'rookie' trait would also be exposed,
and then they might use me, or even treat me as bait at a critical moment.
It's best to maintain this half-familiar relationship."
Back at the inn.
The Boss was still examining the fish specimens behind the counter, ignoring Yi Chen as he returned by boat.
Just as he passed the counter,
Smack!
The Boss suddenly slapped several white candles onto the tabletop and said without looking up,
"Don't get it everywhere. The smell will affect Sister's rest too. Keep the candles burning while you work."
"Understood."
After returning to his room and locking the door,
he arranged the candles around the bathroom. Once the scent of incense filled the air, he officially began his "work."
Yi Chen needed to figure out several things next,
1. Why had this police officer drowned instead of turning into one of the 'mermaids' swimming along the bottom of the lake after falling into the water?
2. What kind of bodily changes would the lake water cause in a human body?
Phew... Since he had never done anything like this while alive, it was inevitable that he felt a little nervous.
Before starting,
Yi Chen pressed both hands against the sides of his face.
Hiss, hiss~
One green plant sprout after another emerged from his fingertips. They crossed and interwove, forming a homemade Plant Mask.
Whether it was the stench of the corpse or the fragrance of the candles,
the mask could purify it all into fresh air.
"The diseased ability really is useful... According to Mr. Albert, as long as I pass the assessment, I'll be able to examine this ability in detail through some method.
I should be able to develop it further afterward,
perhaps even reaching the level of the Living Corpse, using roots as spears and turning tendrils into legs.
How interesting.
Even if it means risking death, it's still much more comfortable than being trapped in a laboratory writing papers day and night."
After everything he had experienced over the past few days,
Yi Chen could feel his True Nature gradually awakening, and he now clearly understood that this was the world best suited to him.
Creak, creak~
He continued weaving tender plant shoots into a pair of natural gloves,
picked up the sharp knives he had bought from the shop,
and began working.
Perhaps because William Berens's body possessed an innate talent,
the process of handling the "corpse" went remarkably smoothly, almost matching the level of proficiency he had possessed when conducting experiments in life.
He gradually became immersed in it,
and was completely fascinated,
to the point that even Little Grape was surprised by Yi Chen's focus on the matter.
Several hours passed before he realized it.
Before him,
the completely dissected corpse presented a sight that defied medical common sense,
its body cavity filled with mucus,
its various organs displaced,
with the cavity walls and organs, as well as the organs themselves, stuck together,
while the ribs had become thin and sharp, with additional branching bone spurs growing throughout the flesh.
Yet some parts still retained the original structure of a human body.
The changes were incomplete... as if it were an "evolutionary failure."
A clue pointing toward the source of Fish Scale Disease in Green Lake Town had surfaced.
"If that's the case, everything makes sense."
Yi Chen was extremely satisfied with the results of the dissection and even bowed to the "police officer" in thanks.
He packed up the remains,
dragged them away quietly,
dug a hole and buried them,
and by the time he had finished, it was already midnight.
"Let's try taking a bath~"
He turned the faucet in the bathroom all the way open, washing away the remaining tissue fragments and viscous fluids.
At the same time,
Yi Chen removed his clothes,
deliberately exposing his body to the cold water as he rinsed away the sweat and fatigue.
He chose to take a bath for two reasons.
First, he had come into contact with the lake water during today's battle in Green Lake, which had confirmed that his skin could resist external contamination from the lake water.
Second, this kind of experiment was necessary.
The situation over the next two days remained unknown. He might fall into Green Lake for any number of reasons, so it was essential to undergo "aquatic adaptation" in advance.
As he rinsed himself,
Yi Chen could clearly feel the Plant Root Tendrils surging inside his body and autonomously forming a defensive system.
"No problem... Even if I encounter danger and fall into the lake later, I can ensure that my body won't be invaded."
Feeling refreshed,
he collapsed onto the bed and quickly fell asleep.
However,
the night still failed to pass peacefully.
Yi Chen, sleeping soundly, was awakened once again.
Unlike last night,
this time, he had not been awakened by plant stimulation,
but by a series of sharp, anguished cries from outside the door, so shrill they nearly tore through the throat,
coming from "Sister's Room" at the end of the corridor.
He pushed open the door,
then pressed himself against the side of it, using Little Grape inside his sleeve to observe.
Through the shared field of vision,
the door at the end of the corridor had already been opened.
Intense candlelight spilled out from inside the room.
Running out of the room along with the candlelight was a red liquid,
cold, viscous, and carrying a fishy smell.
"What is this..."
After observing for a moment, Yi Chen decided to act.
He hung the Kerosene Lamp from his waist,
gripped an axe with both hands,
and just as he was about to approach "Sister's Room,"
the inn Boss's voice came from inside, tinged with impatience.
"Either stay away, or come in and help."
Before you continue