A Grand Show (Part One)

After Xiang Kun flicked the Coin up, its speed in the air gradually decreased before it came to a stop three or four meters above the ground, which looked extremely strange.

Mr. Liang instinctively sensed something was wrong. Just as he stopped rushing forward, he saw the Coin, which had been frozen in mid-air, suddenly fly towards him.

The instant the Coin flew towards him, he heard a piercing buzzing sound, then everything went black, and his sense of smell was instantly cut off.

Mr. Liang instinctively fell to the ground and rolled to avoid the Coin that might come at him, and his body also entered a state of invisibility again.

After standing up from the ground, Mr. Liang wanted to directly spread the wings from the bulging "Biological Component" on his back and take off, but he found that he could not feel the "Biological Component" on his back and could not control the wings. Although he could still control the relevant propulsion modules on his back and put himself into the air, he could not spread his wings, and the relevant flight stability system could not operate. He could not maintain flight attitude or control direction, so it was meaningless.

In that instant, he immediately understood that Xiang Kun had suddenly affected all the electronic devices in some way—although the "Biological Component" on his body were very different from ordinary electronic devices, most of them still relied on microelectronic devices to realize their functions.

In fact, when analyzing Xiang Kun's abilities, Mr. Liang had already considered the relevant possibilities. After all, when the illusion of the Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Giant of Montamira appeared before, all electronic devices, including lights, were affected.

When Dr. Fang was working in the underground laboratory, the lighting equipment and computers reacted to varying degrees before and after he saw the rabbit meat hallucination.

However, judging from the subsequent use of those devices, the impact should not be very strong. Moreover, all of Mr. Liang's "Biological Component," including the drones, are equipped with strong anti-interference and anti-electromagnetic pulse capabilities. Originally, he thought that based on Xiang Kun's past abilities, he would not be able to have a significant impact on his "Biological Component."

Clearly, he misjudged the situation.

In this situation, not only are all his sensory abilities paralyzed, but he has also lost contact with all the drones around him, and most of his functions and methods have been rendered useless before they could even be used.

Mr. Liang wasn't too panicked. He didn't remove his "Biological Component" helmet but continued moving. He could sense that his "Biological Component" hadn't been fundamentally destroyed, and Xiang Kun's influence wasn't just a strong electromagnetic pulse; it probably wouldn't last long.

Then... he crashed into a tree.

But this was something he did on purpose, to lure Xiang Kun over.

As expected, Xiang Kun seized the opportunity to rush forward, and the two engaged in another fierce battle. However, this time Mr. Liang could neither see nor hear, and could only rely on contact to determine his location. He was immediately at a disadvantage, taking more hits than he could retaliate.

But Mr. Liang did not remove his helmet, remaining in a state of being unable to see or hear. Relying on close combat, he seized an opportunity and, during the entanglement, ejected a tiny metal cone from a mechanism on his left arm.

Because of the extremely close distance, the metal cone pierced directly through Xiang Kun's upper collarbone and disappeared into the ground behind him, with a tough metal wire hanging from its tail.

With a swift motion of his left hand, Mr. Liang used the metal wire to wrap Xiang Kun around a nearby tree, then quickly pulled away.

He knew this method wouldn't hold Xiang Kun for long, and he hadn't intended to use it to trap Xiang Kun anyway. He simply created some distance and then took off his "Biological Component" helmet—which, when opened, transformed into a thick collar that remained around his neck, seemingly integrated with the raised "backpack" on his back.

Mr. Liang reappeared, still covering his eyes with one hand, and shouted, "Xiang Kun! You can't beat me, let's talk."

Even though many "Biological Component" with microelectronic elements are unusable, Mr. Liang still has many methods he hasn't used, but most of them are highly lethal and powerful abilities that he doesn't intend to use.

Although Xiang Kun seemed to be fighting wildly and launching fierce attacks, as if he wanted to die together with Xiang Kun, he realized that Xiang Kun, like him, did not actually intend to kill him.

Earlier, Xiang Kun had somehow managed to suddenly shoot out that small knife, not aiming directly at his vitals, but seemingly intending to strike his shoulder. At the time, he thought Xiang Kun might simply be inaccurate. However, the continued fighting and grappling made him increasingly certain that Xiang Kun's seemingly fierce and fearless fighting style wasn't a genuine attempt to fight him to the death, but rather a test and... experiment?

If Mr. Liang's "Biological Component" were not completely blocked, he wouldn't mind continuing to Xiang Kun for a while longer, showing him more of the "Biological Component" abilities, and letting him know the imaginative space of his own evolutionary path.

Currently, although he still has some "Biological Component" abilities he can use, those abilities are too destructive, and he cannot be sure that Xiang Kun's current extraordinary recovery ability can heal fatal wounds.

After saying that, Mr. Liang removed his hand from his eyes and looked at Xiang Kun.

Just as he expected, the metal wire didn't hold Xiang Kun for long. He broke free and forcibly pulled the tiny metal cone from between his shoulder blades. Then, the hideous wound began to heal at a visible speed, and the blood that flowed out quickly turned to ash and dissipated.

This recovery speed is truly beyond imagination.

Mr. Liang suddenly noticed that after removing the metal cone, Xiang Kun stood still with his eyes closed, as if he were asleep.

What's going on?

In a daze, the sky, which was originally full of sunset glow, suddenly turned into a sky covered with dark clouds.

The surroundings quickly darkened, the entire mountain forest became gloomy and dim, and the wind howled.

Mr. Liang sensed something and looked up. A gigantic Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Monster staggered up from behind the mountain and looked down at him.

I've already been infected!?

Upon seeing the Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Monster, Mr. Liang was taken aback. He looked up at Xiang Kun's location, but it was now empty except for his cone-shaped head with the metal wire attached, which remained on the ground.

When and how was it affected?

Was it the moment the helmet was removed? Or after the sensory information gathering ability of the "Biological Component" was blocked? Or was the fight with Xiang Kun from the very beginning an illusion?

Thinking of Xiang Kun's incredibly fast recovery speed, Mr. Liang couldn't help but have some doubts.

But soon, he couldn't care less about these thoughts, because he discovered that the enormous Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Monster above his head, with its huge face, was rapidly changing. The eight eyes merged into two, and the black granite-like skin on its face turned white. The face was slowly overlapping with the appearance of "Xiao Xue".

"Xiao Xue" was very beautiful, with delicate features and fair skin, but the face "hanging" in the sky at this moment looked as big as several football fields, and her features were also incredibly huge. Her eyes were like two magic beads containing complex light changes, her nose was like the entrance to an abyss cave, and her lips were like two ancient creatures whose names she did not know hanging on her face.

Magical, eerie, terrifying, and filled with a sense of oppression.

"It's an illusion... it's fake... none of this exists."

Mr. Liang seemed to be trying to convince himself not to be affected by the illusion, but he couldn't control his emotions at all. In particular, the eight-armed giant "Xiao Xue's" expression slowly changed from ferocious and sinister to sorrowful and painful, with blood-red tears flowing from the corners of her eyes. Although she just stood there looking down at him and did nothing, she still made him feel an uncontrollable sense of fear.

This feeling of fear was complex. He wasn't afraid of "Xiao Xue"—even if she really had the body of an eight-armed giant, even if her abilities were countless times stronger than his, even if she could crush him instantly, he wouldn't be afraid. He would only feel anger and only want to fight.

But seeing Xiao Xue's expression, some memories in Mr. Liang's heart were awakened. It was as if he was being forced to look at a wound he didn't want to see. When he didn't look at the wound, he could endure the pain and pretend that everything was fine and had healed. But when he faced the wound and looked at the torn and festering parts with his own eyes, he could no longer escape.

Xiao Xue's face began to change again; her skin became rougher, her eyes became smaller, and slowly, the face of a middle-aged man appeared.

Mr. Liang also recognized this face; it was Academician Shen Haichong, the elder who had guided him in his research, made him aware of what was happening to him, and taught him how to manage, guide, and think about his situation.

Looking at him, Academician Shen's expression gradually softened from its initial blankness, and the corners of her mouth even curled up slightly, revealing a smile.

Mr. Liang sensed that in that smile there was regret, helplessness, concern, reluctance, and also relief.

Looking at that smile, more and more memories surged in Mr. Liang's heart. Those scenes and pieces of information had always been in his memory, never forgotten, but just temporarily hidden away.

Ever since "Xiao Xue" killed and devoured Academician Shen, and he then hunted down and devoured "Xiao Xue" in return, he has sealed this memory away and is unwilling to revisit it.

But now, those memories, those details he had always known and noticed, were forcibly brought to the surface in his mind, making him clearly aware of some thoughts that had once surfaced but which he had been unwilling to delve into.

Before that incident, Academician Shen had already told him about his assessment of "Xiao Xue". Judging from Xiao Xue's previous normal blood-drinking behavior, when the stage limit is reached, she may not be able to resist her bloodlust. If there is no way to help her find a suitable "Blood-feeding Creature" to devour, it is necessary to take coercive measures to control her.

At the time, he had a good relationship with "Xiao Xue" and thought that these words were just Academician Shen's more rigorous expression. He believed that when the time came, Academician Shen would naturally have a way to deal with it and would definitely be able to help "Xiao Xue" get through the stage of her limit safely. He had become accustomed to relying on Academician Shen and trusted Academician Shen.

Judging from some memories that he has deliberately avoided recalling over the years, Academician Shen was actually already nearing his physical limit before the incident.

It was relatively easy for "Xiao Xue" to overcome her stage limit, but it was not so easy for Academician Shen to overcome his stage limit. A suitable "blood source" was not easy to find, and ordinary "Blood-feeding Creature" could not help him complete the blood-drinking and breakthrough of the stage transformation.

At that time, he didn't think too much about it and believed that Academician Shen could solve everything.

Only now, amidst the surging memories, did he suddenly realize that perhaps "that matter" was Academician Shen's solution:

Academician Shen was not unprepared to be ambushed by the bloodthirsty and crazed "Xiao Xue"; he deliberately allowed himself to be devoured by "Xiao Xue".

Because he knew that before reaching his limit, he would be unable to find a suitable "blood source," and ultimately his fate would be to return to dust.

He had once hinted to Lu Qinliang that he hoped Lu would inherit his mantle, but Lu Qinliang's reply made him realize that the boy regarded him as family and the most trusted elder, and that he would never devour him, even though he was doomed.

Then there's "Xiao Xue." After spending some time with her, he realized that this girl wasn't a qualified "researcher." She couldn't control her bloodthirsty nature and desires. When he was around, it was alright; he could manage to control her. But if he wasn't there, "Aliang," who had clearly fallen for "Xiao Xue," would inevitably be unable to deal with her ruthlessly or strictly control her.

At that time, if "Xiao Xue" killed someone—whether it was an ordinary stranger or another "Blood-feeding Creature" that did not meet the "standardized blood-drinking regulations"—or did something else that violated rules and regulations and harmed the interests of the organization and the country, Lu Qinliang handle it according to the rules?

Academician Shen knew very well that he couldn't do it.

Therefore, when "Xiao Xue" reached her limit and was dominated by her bloodthirsty instincts, Academician Shen did not resist or control her, allowing her to kill and devour him.

Only in this way can Lu Qinliang sever his illusions about "Xiao Xue" and obtain her "mantle" by devouring Xiao Xue.

Of course, it's also possible that Lu Qinliang won't even get to that point, and might be directly killed by "Xiao Xue," or might not be able to deal with "Xiao Xue" in time, allowing "Xiao Xue" to cause a major disaster.

Mr. Liang recalled the night before the incident, when he was keeping an experimental record with Academician Shen, while Xiao Xue was watching TV in the living room outside the lab. Those were the last peaceful moments for the three of them.

That evening, Academician Shen praised his experimental procedures and his theoretical conjectures about "mutation of Blood-feeding Creature," and said something to him:

"Ah Liang, I've always believed that you'll be a better researcher than me, and that you'll definitely find a way to break through the fog above us in the future."

His reply at the time was, "I think Xiao Xue is much smarter than me, but she hasn't been with you for very long. She will definitely be more capable than me in the future."

Academician Shen simply smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Believe in yourself."

It seems that Academician Shen was already prepared at that moment.

From the living room came Xiao Xue's voice. "A Liang! A Liang! Come out quickly, The Return of the Condor Heroes has started!"

"I haven't finished my experiment yet..." he shouted from outside the living room.

"Go ahead and watch TV, I'll clean up the mess."

That was the last thing Academician Shen said to him.

All the memories, all the details, were hidden in his mind. In fact, he had already made a vague judgment in his subconscious, but he had always been unwilling to face it, unwilling to think everything through and understand it.

Because he was afraid.

He was afraid to think about the right and wrong of the matter, he was afraid to analyze whether "Xiao Xue" knew about Academician Shen's plan, and he was afraid to dwell on whether "Xiao Xue" could control her bloodlust, whether she really couldn't control it at the time, or whether she deliberately complied with Academician Shen's plan.

He was even more afraid that he had let Academician Shen down and failed to find the path through the fog.

He feared that by abandoning everything and making a desperate gamble, he might not reach the end, and no one would help him continue.

He was afraid of dying.

Sometime later, the Eight-Armed Eight-Eyed Monster had disappeared, and the surroundings remained dark, but that was because it was already night.

The night sky was ablaze with stars, and the weather was excellent.

Clearly, he had been hallucinating and lost in memories for quite some time.

Mr. Liang rubbed his eyes and looked at Xiang Kun, who was standing quietly not far away. At his feet was the small cone with the metal wire attached. The tree trunks and the marks on the muddy ground around him proved that the close-quarters combat just now was not an illusion.

He felt that his connection with all the "Biological Component" had been restored, and he could take flight at any time he wanted.

Mr. Liang sighed and said, "It seems you know who I am."

Xiang Kun said, "I have studied 'Shenxing Technology'."

"Is it that Rabbit Woodcarving?"

"I did indeed make the wood carving."

"Aren't you afraid when you see what I look like?" Mr. Liang's voice was still deep and hoarse with a metallic scraping quality. He was no longer invisible. His inhuman body, covered with intricate patterns and special skin, along with his strange features and limbs, were all displayed in front of Xiang Kun.

Xiang Kun laughed and said, "Some people may appear refined and easygoing, like good people, but their hearts are more ferocious and cruel than wild beasts; others may appear fierce and ruthless, like thugs, but their hearts are kind and innocent."

Mr. Liang couldn't help but laugh, his laughter grating and harsh. "You think I'm kind and naive?"

I was referring to myself.

"..."