Smoke and dust filled the collapsed factory.
Amid the siege of dozens of Ghouls, Wen Wen moved forward as casually as if strolling through a courtyard, lazily waving her hand and hanging one obstructing monstrosity after another on the razor-sharp crystal trees that had thrust up from the ground.
In response to her questioning, the voice on the phone continued without the slightest hint of impatience or displeasure. It was as though he had an inexhaustible good temper, patiently facing every question and accusation from every patient.
In any case, the consultation fee of 160,000 Federal Currency per minute wouldn't be reduced by a single cent. If it fell even slightly short of a minute, it would still be charged as a full minute.
Caller—[Hope Hospital · Lab Department]
"Your analysis report for Sample R54447, the virus sample from patient Zhu Hong that you submitted yesterday, has been completed."
The physician named Muller said slowly, "We regret to inform you that this isn't the standard sample of No. 109 Blood Thirst Syndrome from the previous tests. Instead, it's a new strain that underwent mutation and iteration on the basis of Blood Thirst Syndrome."
Wen Wen asked, "What does that mean?"
"Mm, in terms a layperson can understand, it's an upgraded, specialized version that's even stronger than the original!"
Muller explained, "As everyone knows, the original version of Blood Thirst Syndrome came from Central Earth. It was a plague produced after the Sacrificial King of Central Earth lost control during Sin Corruption. I won't go into detail about its specific symptoms here. The final result is the host's complete transformation into a β-type Ghoul among the Sin Corrupted creatures.
"But the strain you provided is completely different.
"Its transformation of the host is merely a superficial manifestation. It's more like the modification of a tool. The blood, life, and even Spiritual Substance that the host consumes will ultimately all belong to the strain itself.
"It resembles a parasite. The important thing isn't the host, but the strain.
"In the end, even the host itself will be completely devoured by the strain, leaving behind only the strain for the controller to draw upon and use. As long as it's used properly, gathering an enormous amount of life and Spiritual Substance within a few short days isn't difficult."
At this point, Muller couldn't help sighing with emotion. "As a tool, this strain is truly convenient and economical. It has excellent Cost-Effectiveness."
"Wait—"
Detecting a trace of Discord in the other party's tone, Wen Wen subconsciously ground her teeth. "Why are you so familiar with it? Don't tell me you bunch of bastards are involved too?"
"Of course. This is our hospital's patent! A classic variant cultivated forty-one years ago by Director Yan of the Infectious Disease Department!"
Muller answered proudly, "Although its large-scale public use is restricted by the T5 Protocol, not a single partner who has purchased the relevant technology has failed to heap praise on our hospital's technical expertise!"
"You fucking—"
Wen Wen nearly crushed her phone. Although she knew perfectly well that, to the research lunatics at Hope Hospital, morality and ethics were less useful than a diaper, she still couldn't stop herself from wanting to hit someone.
How the hell did I not choose that Matrix back then—the one that could reach through a computer and slap someone across the face?
Wouldn't have to put up with this bullshit otherwise?!
"However, please rest assured. Our hospital still lacks the qualifications and permits to conduct rounds outside the hospital, so naturally we won't interfere with sovereign territory beyond the hospital grounds.
"According to our Cooperation Agreement with the Federation's Security Bureau, whenever a terrorist attack of this nature occurs, we will certainly cooperate to the fullest."
Muller hurriedly said, "According to our hospital's regulations, all results and products rated C1 Level or above are strictly prohibited from being passed on to non-partners. Everyone who comes into contact with them will also leave a trace in the archives of the Visitor Reception Center.
"According to the records, there are currently forty-one people who possess and know how to use this strain.
"Among them, the only one with ties to the Dragon Offering Society is the former emergency-department assistant physician Andreas Lawrence, who was expelled from our hospital sixteen years ago for academic misconduct."
"Or perhaps you're more familiar with his other name..."
Muller spat out that name. "[Worm]."
A wanted criminal listed on the bounty boards of both the Federation and the Empire, an escapee from Northern Mountain Prison, and the cultist who single-handedly created the Empire Flower Moon Massacre in the past.
One of the sixteen Shepherds of the Dragon Offering Society, the Aberrant Worm.
"If it's him, you'd better be careful."
Muller gave his final warning. "That fellow always likes to cause a bit of a major disaster whenever he does anything..."
Wen Wen said nothing.
She silently turned her head and gazed from the foothills into the distance... at the scattered crimson lights slowly rising across the North Mountain District.
They were Aberrant Spirit Essence that ordinary people couldn't perceive with the naked eye. They rose into the sky as if tangible, then exploded with a roar. Countless crimson threads stretched and converged, like a Giant Tree woven from blood vessels.
Amid sharp laughter, it danced an enchanting dance.
Ten minutes earlier, Jici Hospital, inpatient building.
"Rounds, rounds."
The hurried nurse led the way, knocking on each door and first accompanying the Chief Physician on his inspection. "Everyone, please put away your clutter. Don't eat instant noodles in bed. Auntie, put away your underwear. You can't hang it outside the door!"
As she spoke, she tore down a huge pair of loose underpants so astonishingly large they left people speechless and tossed them back to their owner. Ji Jue, standing beside her, was dumbfounded. He had come in and out so many times, yet he had always thought they were an old man's undershirt!
Then he watched as the Old Woman reached behind herself... and hung them back up!
Ji Jue couldn't help giving her a thumbs-up.
Truly, she was tenacious and unyielding!
"Uncle, if it hurts, you can only take painkillers. Yours is rheumatism, oh, and gout too. Surgery can only treat the symptoms. Drink less alcohol and soup, and eat lighter, okay?"
"There are signs of inflammation in the wound. Talk it over with the family. We have to prevent suppuration, so the dressing still needs to be changed... A few extra bucks is better than amputation. Make sure you communicate the situation properly."
"It's almost healed. You'll be discharged soon."
Amid the faint voices, heavy footsteps reached the doorway. A doctor leaning on a cane appeared, with a brace strapped to his leg. In the sweltering weather, a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead, yet his expression remained eternally warm and gentle. After examining the conditions of the old men and women one by one, he finally looked toward Ji Jue in the innermost bed.
He flipped through the case file for the bed, then reached out and pressed the bruises on Ji Jue's body and the gradually healing burn marks on his back. With a satisfied nod, he said, "The recovery is going well. You're lucky too—no acute renal failure or nerve damage. Observe for another two days and adjust your endocrine system and hormones."
"Just take your medicine on time."
He waved his hand, and a nurse came over and placed a standard paper bag in Ji Jue's hands.
"Huh?"
Ji Jue was momentarily dazed. He lowered his head to look at the paper bag. "This medicine wasn't here this morning."
"Mecobalamin. It nourishes the nerves and supplements vitamin B."
The doctor pushed up his glasses and smiled. "It promotes nerve healing."
Two pills, together not even half the size of a pinky fingernail, rolled from the tilted paper bag into Ji Jue's hand. They were dark red, smelled as unpleasant as ordinary medicine, and carried a bitter taste.
"I'm a little afraid of bitter things."
Ji Jue hesitated. "Do I have to take them now?"
The nurse handed him a cup of warm water and urged him, "There's another dose tonight. Taking your medicine on time will help you recover faster."
Ji Jue fell silent.
He lowered his head and stared at the two pills in his palm. After being stained with sweat, they had become faintly sticky, and something within them burned with a vague crimson glow. Even the Wristwatch's pop-up window, which had been appearing nonstop since earlier, was still before his eyes.
[External active Aberrant Spirit Essence detected. Warning. Large active aberration source detected. Risk of Sin Corruption gradually increasing. Warning. Unknown Aberration detected. Warning. Warning. Warning. Warning...]
Warning, warning. It warned him all day long.
You fucking thing—why don't you call the police for me already?!
Ji Jue sighed and was just about to speak when he couldn't help looking toward the doorway. He froze in place.
"Feng Ge? When did you get here?"
Unfortunately, there was no Feng Ge.
The doctor and nurse turned their heads. Aside from the air and a pair of huge underpants billowing in the wind, the doorway was empty.
The bad news was that no divine reinforcement would descend from the heavens this time.
The good news was that he had divine reinforcement of his own!
Ji Jue had already drawn the pistol from beneath his pillow with his other hand and aimed it at the doctor's forehead. Without hesitation, he flicked off the safety and pulled the trigger with all the speed and strength of his life.
The roar erupted in an instant, overlapping and surging forth. The spreading muzzle flash danced and vanished in the blink of an eye, yet continued to reverberate through the thunderous report.
In less than a second, Ji Jue could barely feel his fingers anymore.
But he had no time to worry about that.
The instant he fired, he had already leaped from the hospital bed and sprung backward. His back smashed through the window, and he fell from the fourth floor.
The fourth floor—twelve meters. There was a shed for electric scooters below.
If he was lucky, he wouldn't die on the spot.
As long as he didn't die, he could land on the electric scooters and escape.
If all else failed, he could make a huge scene. Then the other side would have to refrain from acting rashly...
Refrain from what again?
With the wind rushing into his face, his mind went blank. He suddenly jammed up and forgot what came next.
Because his fall abruptly stopped!
Ji Jue hung upside down in midair, a pistol with a red-hot muzzle clutched in his hand. He struggled desperately, yet couldn't break free... from the bizarre tentacle wrapped around his ankle.
Then another tentacle extended from inside the window and coiled around his right foot.
Then came his hands.
The thing was even too lazy to take the empty pistol from him, its spent chamber producing nothing but the clack-clack of the firing pin.
Just like that, gently, slowly, and cautiously, it dragged him back into the ward.
And placed him on the bed.
In the deathly silence, even the sound of breathing seemed to have vanished. Only the people in the surrounding beds and the nurses stared at him with hollow eyes.
Like Jiangshi's minions.
Right in front of him, bullet holes still pierced the doctor's face, skull, neck, and chest. Blood slowly seeped from them.
Through the cracks, he could vaguely see clusters of writhing tentacles squeezed together inside, slowly extending from the fissures in the doctor's face and waving about.
"Was I discovered? How strange."
The doctor's face was split into pieces, yet the smile continued unabated as he slowly raised it. He spoke in that hoarse voice that seemed to come from a nightmare, filled with admiration. "As expected of a Chosen One who, after being cursed for ten years, could still awaken autonomously!
"Your Insight and instincts alone are enough to open one's eyes. No... even more impressive is your resolve. After sensing something amiss, you actually had the determination to point a gun at a stranger."
"I fucking curse you, you [bleep]!"
Ji Jue struggled futilely, but was ultimately bound layer upon layer with restraints. Then, a nurse who moved like a walking corpse stepped forward and drove a needle into his neck.
After that, his vision went black.
He lost consciousness.
At the final moment, the phone screen beneath the blanket lit up. The text-message interface popped open and sent Wen Wen the final message in his contacts.
—Help help help help help help help help!!!!
Before you continue