Mr. Liang's Objective

On the other hand, Fang Pingfang conversation with "Mr. Liang":

"Based on the footage we observed, the beak and other physical characteristics of that 'giant raptor' resemble birds of the order Falconiformes. However, it is clearly different from ordinary birds; its body structure, muscle strength, and even its feathers are quite different. I suspect that it is either a new species that has never been seen by the public, or it has undergone some kind of mutation."

"I suspect that the creature it caught was either an undiscovered new species or a mutated one, just like it. It had wings, could fly, could burrow, could dig holes, and could refract visible light to achieve a certain degree of 'invisibility,' but obviously this 'invisibility' could not escape the senses of that 'giant raptor.'"

"We speculate that the 'giant raptor' did not live nearby before, otherwise, it would have been impossible for such a large bird to fly around unnoticed. The reason it appeared in Wushu Mountain Scenic Area, the reason it stayed there last night, and the reason it frantically dug at the ground later were all because of that 'invisible insect'. There may be a special ecological chain relationship between them."

"That 'invisible insect' should have been on the main peak of Wushu Mountain before the accident on the morning of the 18th where a tourist fell off a cliff. It was most likely caused by the 'giant raptor' hunting the 'invisible insect'. The 'small bird' that many witnesses saw was probably the 'invisible insect' that was seen after it became visible."

"Zhou Rui discovered that there seemed to be some missing ants on the main peak of Wushu Mountain. This has not yet been fully confirmed and requires a follow-up on-site investigation. He suspects it may be related to that 'invisible insect'."

"'Mr. Liang,' what should we do next? Do you need our help to find the whereabouts of that 'giant raptor'?"

"No need," Mr. Liang said. "You continue your investigation. I'll have someone else locate the bird. Once we find it, we'll send you over if needed."

"So... what direction do you need us to investigate? Should we focus on 'giant birds of prey' or 'invisible insects'?" Fang Pingfang asked.

"Follow your line of thinking."

Mr. Liang's answer left Fang Pingfang, Mi Qiao, Zhou Rui, and the others somewhat puzzled—wasn't it Mr. Liang's idea to send them here to investigate the unusual events? There must be some purpose behind it, right?

Not only Fang Pingfang, but others who had participated in field missions also noticed that Mr. Liang's requirements for the mission itself seemed a bit strange this time.

Fang Pingfang thought for a moment and said, "Last night we conducted extensive investigations at the spot where the 'giant raptor' was scratching the ground and where the 'invisible insect' was hiding. Although we didn't find any direct body tissue samples, we collected a lot of environmental samples, which require specialized equipment for analysis. If possible, it would be best to send one or two experts in zoology, entomology, or paleontology over."

Although he knew that their methods wouldn't yield any substantial results from analyzing those environmental samples, Mr. Liang still said, "The Research Base in Haixi Province is still in the planning stages. Our nearest fully equipped laboratory is in Yang City. You can have Ye Chong send someone there to send the samples you want analyzed, and entrust the researchers there to process and analyze them according to your requirements, or you can take them there yourself. I will also help you dispatch other experts, but don't count on them in the short term; for now, you'll have to rely on yourselves."

Fang Pingfang felt somewhat helpless. Of the six people in the room, besides herself and her old colleague Zhou Rui, Ms. Chen. Chen Tianhua seemed to know more about computers, the internet, and various electronic devices. Lin Chong was only responsible for logistical support for information and equipment and generally did not offer any proactive opinions or suggestions. As for Gao Shu and Li Shiping, they were both professionals in security and therefore could not provide any professional assistance in these related studies and investigations.

"By the way, we reviewed some of the footage from last night, and we discovered that the 'giant raptor' suddenly went berserk because it was almost hit by a smooth pebble."

Fang Pingfang spoke, she picked up a smooth pebble, no bigger than a fingernail, with her gloved hand and placed it in front of the camera, saying, "This is what we found near the location of that 'giant raptor' after we saw the video. Based on its descent trajectory observed in the video, we calculated that it seems to have been dropped from the location of the drone. However, the drone's technicians told us that the drone did not have such pebbles on it, nor did it have a device for launching pebbles."

Normally, when they communicate with Mr. Liang, the other party can see their image, while they can only hear Mr. Liang's voice.

Inside Lab Six in D2, after hearing Fang Pingfang's words, Mr. Liang picked up a tablet and looked at the images being transmitted from it.

Fang Pingfang continued, "Judging from its trajectory, if it wasn't dropped from a drone, then it must have been dropped from a higher place. I asked the technicians, and they said that if there were other creatures or aircraft at high altitudes, it should have noticed them. So, it's more likely that this stone was thrown from the ground, reached a certain height, and then fell, landing precisely where that 'raptor' was."

"Based on its descent angle and the speed of descent in the video, we calculated the possible launch location, which is at least six kilometers away. Today, our drone has already scouted that area, and apart from the mountains and forests, there are no launch devices or signs of equipment movement. So we still find it very strange that this pebble came from there and how it happened to land right next to the 'giant raptor' at that exact moment, startling it."

Mr. Liang nodded slightly, seemingly lost in thought. After a while, he said, "We can start our investigation with this stone. You will be fully responsible for this matter."

After ending her call with Mr. Liang, Fang Pingfang looked at the others in the room and asked, "What are your thoughts? Let's hear them."

Fang Pingfang felt that regardless of what the others were good at or what their professions were, there must have been a reason why Mr. Liang had assigned them to this temporary investigation team.

Zhou Rui hesitated for a moment, then said, "After watching that big bird catch the big bug yesterday... I don't know why... it reminded me of the movie <Godzilla 2> I watched a while ago... Well, I was just saying it offhand... never mind..."

Fang Pingfang withdrew her gaze and looked at Mi Qiao: "Ms. Chen?"

Mi Qiao said, "Dr. Fang, since Mr. Liang said to follow your approach and take full responsibility, it means he trusts your judgment. Just tell us your ideas directly, and we will fully cooperate with you."

Actually, she was also very confused. There were many things Mr. Liang clearly knew, so why didn't he tell Dr. Fang and the others? Now she was also wondering whether she could tell them what she knew.

After much deliberation, she decided to do nothing for the time being and wait for an opportunity to contact Mr. Liang privately to confirm his attitude.

Fang Pingfang then asked Ye Chong, Gao Shu, and Li Shiping for their opinions one by one. Naturally, they had no ideas and would follow her lead. After all, Mr. Liang had already spoken, and Dr. Fang would be fully responsible for everything, so what could they say?

Since everyone said so, Dr. Fang thought for a moment and then began to assign tasks:

"Then we'll split up. Zhou Rui, you and Lao Li go to the main peak of Wushu Mountain to continue investigating the ants. Then investigate the habitat of that 'invisible insect' to see if there are any other of its kind. It would be best to find its nest. It's impossible that it left nothing behind; at least we should find some droppings or something."

"The two of you alone might not be able to handle it all. You'll also need to coordinate with the staff at the scenic area. If you need anything, let Ye Chong take care of it."

"Ms. Chen, Gao Shu, and I will go and re-examine the spot where that 'giant raptor' ambushed us last night, and then determine where this pebble came from."

Inside Lab Six, Mr. Liang looked at the Rabbit Woodcarving in his hand and checked the analysis results from Fang Pingfang and other researchers on his tablet.

These analyses include not only data and information about the wood carving itself, but also information about the images that may have been referenced for its shape, the carving techniques, and the tools that may have been used for carving.

Clearly, the person who carved this wood carving was not a "wild man" who had always lived in the wild.

Mr. Liang gently stroked the wood carving, imagining the image of an ordinary adult male in his mind.

After discovering that he had mutated and become a monster resembling a vampire, the man encountered other Blood-feeding Creature and found that consuming Blood-feeding Creature blood could make him stronger. Thus, he began to hunt them purposefully.

He discovered the video taken by Host Xue through the news, noticed the unusual circumstances surrounding the incident involving Host Xue and others, realized the existence of other "Blood-feeding Creature," and thus came to hunt them.

That cave was probably the lair of the "Blood-feeding Creature" that originally lived there, but why would that "predator" leave this Rabbit Woodcarving inside?

Mr. Liang also considered another possibility: that the cave was actually the hideout of the mutated human "vampire," and that another "Blood-feeding Creature" came to hunt him down.

However, based on his previous observations in the cave, there were no traces of human life. Even if "vampires" do not need to eat, drink, or relieve themselves like ordinary humans, the lifestyle of people from civilized society must be fundamentally different from that of wild beasts. If they really lived inside, the cave would not be like that.

Or perhaps this is a habit of his; he leaves behind a wooden carving after successfully hunting a "Blood-feeding Creature."

The reason it's Rabbit Woodcarving might be because the 'Blood-feeding Creature' he hunted was a mutated rabbit.

As for how this wood carving caused Dr. Fang and his Dr. Fang to have dreams and hallucinations, perhaps it wasn't its influence at all from the beginning.

Even if that "predator" has the same ability to "invisibly" as him, making it unseen by the naked eye, it would be difficult for it to hide if it got close, whether it was when Dr. Fang. Fang's team was camping in the Qinling Uninhabited Zone or around the research center.

Could he possibly evade infrared thermal imaging?

Mr. Liang thought for a moment and decided to take the Rabbit Woodcarving with him and observe it at any time. He even placed the carving beside him the next time he "slept"—he wanted to see what the so-called "rabbit meat in dreams" would look like.

If that "predator" truly imbued the wood carving with such magical abilities, then this might be his most valuable discovery in all these years.

This "predator" might be his greatest hope.

However, what he didn't know was that at this very moment, while he was making various guesses based on this wooden carving, the "predator" was carefully "observing" him in some form.

In his "Hyper-Sensory State," Xiang Kun was intently observing and memorizing certain special cognitive information around the Rabbit Woodcarving.

Although Xiang Kun had never sensed other Mutated Creature in his "Hyper-Sensory State" before, he had a hunch that the cognitive information he was now sensing belonged to a Mutated Creature, and most likely a human "vampire," possibly the strange-voiced Mr. Liang.

In the "Hyper-Sensory State," not only do they lack normal senses such as sound, image, smell, and touch, but they also need to rely on cognitive information to judge and interpret even basic senses like location and distance.

Sensing the information of the Mutated Creature in its "Hyper-Sensory State," Xiang Kun, though currently unsure of its meaning, knew that not understanding it now might not mean he wouldn't understand it later. Opportunities to observe Mutated Creature in a "Hyper-Sensory State" were rare, and this could very well help him understand and analyze his own mutation and its root cause.

So, without thinking twice, I'll just write it down first.

However, this information is extremely cumbersome, complex, and vast. At first glance, it seems like there is only one branch, but as his consciousness follows it, it divides into even finer and more branches, as if there is no end and it can continue to divide indefinitely.

Even though Xiang Kun's brainpower is now extremely strong, he can't sustain it for long and will soon exit the "Hyper-Sensory State".

But he was not discouraged. After resting for a while, he entered the "Hyper-Sensory State" again and continued to memorize the information, fearing that the Mutated Creature would leave the Rabbit Woodcarving soon, causing him to lose this important source of information.

Fortunately for Xiang Kun, the Mutated Creature remained within the Rabbit Woodcarving's perception range until the flight landed and they disembarked, allowing him to retain a large amount of cognitive information.

At this moment, he was like a mediocre student who knew nothing but a good memory, memorizing all the textbooks, reference materials, and exercises in order to pass the exam.

After getting off the plane, Xiang Kun felt a little dizzy and lightheaded, clearly indicating that he had overexerted his mental energy.

However, to others, this state appeared as if they were still a little groggy after just waking up, and they didn't find anything strange about it.

Xiang Kun, Tang Baona, and Yang Zhen'er took a bus directly back.

After getting on the bus, the three sat in a row. Tang Baona held out her phone and said with a smile, "Take a look at this video."