No. 7 Safe House.
Following Lan Junxian's instructions, Jiang Qian focused his mind and "searched" inward, sensing his body after its genetic recombination and the additional bodily function that let him control toxins.
He even activated Spirit Vision to assist this mental "vision."
Every sensitive radar in his body was engaged, repeatedly sorting through the kinds and quantities of toxins he had greedily stored in himself over the day since leaving the instance.
He seemed to know all of it by instinct:
The toxins in the junk food his aunt had made were negligible.
His most "valuable" harvest was the toxin the Peacock Spider had left on his wrist.
Jiang Qian hadn't even felt a bite. Mere contact had left his flesh torn open, and the intermittent stinging had lasted until the wound was bandaged. By then, his body had absorbed all the toxin from the wound.
He had to admit, taking in deadly poison had greatly satisfied a certain physiological need of his Super-species body.
The toxins accumulated in his tissues, letting him surpass ordinary human limits and circulate them at will without harm.
It was an intimate experience of becoming one with the toxins.
Now, he was immersed in another kind of profound experience—the combination of Spirit Vision and Poison Resistance.
After repeatedly searching for a point of entry, Jiang Qian's inward gaze gradually opened up... and his "perception" expanded with it.
He focused on himself, drawing on his knowledge of the human body and its organs and tissues as he gradually examined and adapted to the body that housed his consciousness.
From his pores and skin to his glands and muscles, then to his flowing blood and beating organs.
With every breath and turn of his thoughts, he could sense the close coordination among his body's various tissues and organs. It was so strange that he couldn't help imagining what would happen if he cut them apart.
Of course, a simple external injury wouldn't be enough to collapse the body's order. It would take extensive, concentrated damage.
Or a targeted attack on vulnerable, undefended vital points.
The scene would be spectacular and shocking. A flood of bodily fluids would break free of their usual channels, carrying his life away with them.
His unique genes would vanish into the long river of history.
No, I'm the Jiang Family's only heir... Jiang Qian pulled himself back from his wild imaginings and began searching for the "tumor" that would truly cause his body to collapse...
He turned his attention to his vital organs, letting Spirit Vision linger on every weak point and flaw.
As time passed, fine beads of sweat began to appear on Jiang Qian's forehead.
The task was physically exhausting.
At last, he found the source of danger on the outer wall of his heart, in the deep groove outside the right atrium and right ventricle—the Spider Cocoon.
It was hidden in the groove, connected to the capillaries of his heart by fine strands of spider silk. Like a web clinging to a corner, it drew nourishment from his body and had become part of him.
There seemed to be signs of life at the cocoon's center. It pulsed faintly in time with his heartbeat.
What the hell is that? Another consciousness...? Jiang Qian furrowed his brow slightly.
When Spirit Vision reached its limit, he had no choice but to open his eyes and stop looking inward.
Outside No. 7 Safe House.
The two official License Holders on duty stared at the monitor, their faces full of confusion.
"What's wrong with him? His complexion suddenly looks awful..."
"Maybe he's been scared out of his wits?" the older License Holder replied helplessly, as though he'd seen this kind of thing countless times before.
"No way. This guy's a genius who cleared the Nightmare Trial!"
"Geniuses are human too. Who could take that much? Think about it. He barely made it out of a cannibalistic instance alive, then the wanted criminal Peacock Spider set her sights on him. He narrowly escaped death and finally got in touch with the proper authorities, only to be issued a critical-condition notice! Who wouldn't crack under all that?"
"Yeah, he's had terrible luck..."
At that point, the two License Holders exchanged glances and let out a series of heavy sighs.
Watching Jiang Qian rise from the table on the monitor, the older License Holder's eyes flashed with wisdom. "Look closely. He's still forcing himself to stay calm, but inside, he's already on the verge of panic and could break down at any moment. We need to watch out for self-harm or suicidal behavior."
"I understand, senior... Wait, hold on?"
The other License Holder nodded along, but then watched as Jiang Qian walked straight toward the bedroom.
To their utter disbelief, he lay down on the bed as if no one else were there... He yawned naturally, rolled onto his side, and closed his eyes.
"Did he just..."
"Go to sleep??"
Inside the Peacock Spider Task Force's temporary office.
Lan Junxian paced around the room, taking and making calls as he prepared for the impending decision.
Beside him, a young woman in a beret tapped away at her laptop, her face expressionless.
Suddenly, the girl stopped typing. After a brief silence, she reported in a toneless voice, "Boss, the Special Task Force meeting has reached a decision."
"What is it?" Lan Junxian hurried to the computer and stared at the internal communications screen...
After intense debate among representatives of the five major families in the Beijing-Tianjin region over "the handling of Whispers of the Inner Demon survivors," they had finally reached a compromise:
Decision: retain under observation.
Note: The headquarters' Information and Intelligence Department will conduct periodic assessments and strictly monitor the subject's level of danger and potential for losing control.
Lan Junxian breathed a sigh of relief.
When he looked up again, his tense expression had finally relaxed.
"According to the meeting minutes, this Special Task Force meeting sparked heated debate over 'extreme talent.' Some hardliners even considered killing him. What ultimately turned things around was the Bear Clan representative's reference to the authorities' principle of maintaining order. The Feather Clan elder present supported him, which helped sway the decision," Xiao Jing added.
"Exactly. Bear Clan License Holders have always been steady in their work, and they understand the importance of maintaining order better than most. That Feather Clan elder is also a wise and principled senior."
Maintaining order meant having clear rules and bottom lines.
For a newly licensed License Holder with no prior record or evidence of wrongdoing, deciding to execute him would be a matter of principle. Compared with that, any potential costs or sacrifices weren't even worth discussing.
"That's only the first decision. They haven't reached a conclusion yet on the personnel arrangements," Xiao Jing said, swiftly flipping through the minutes and circling the key information. "They're waiting for the results of the medical experts' consultation."
Lan Junxian scoffed. "Fair enough. If the rescue fails, there'll be no need to waste time figuring out what to do with him."
As someone closely involved in the incident, Lan Junxian had been able to watch the entire Special Task Force meeting.
Half an hour later.
After a consultation with the medical experts from the Special Affairs Center, the official assessment of Jiang Qian's rescue plan remained pessimistic.
That was because no License Holder had ever had a Peacock Spider's cocoon removed from inside their body while they were still alive.
"Boss, the expert panel also left a note about the plan you proposed."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"They believe your plan is too dangerous and aggressive, and severely lacking in humanitarian spirit." Xiao Jing read out the assessment expressionlessly. "However, they couldn't come up with a more effective, safer rescue plan that met humanitarian standards, so they decided to retain their opposition to yours."
"Mm, just as I expected."
"Boss, the Special Task Force has sent you a meeting invitation. They'd like you to join the discussion on the rescue plan."
"Accept."
"Understood." Xiao Jing's fingers flew across the keyboard, and the video conference connected in no time. They waited for the administrator to start the meeting.
The girl then got up and yielded her seat, and Lan Junxian sat down in front of the screen.
"I'm guessing you'll probably end up taking charge of the meeting. You're the expert when it comes to handling incidents involving the Peacock Spider," Xiao Jing said, her expression unchanged as she flattered her superior.
At the same time, her boss handed her a list.
A look of surprise flashed across her usually composed, delicate features...
The toxins listed on the page had stunned her.
Potent biological toxins were precious and rare materials, even in the Super-Species World. Their complex structures made them difficult to deconstruct and replicate, making them biochemical weapons shrouded in mystery.
These were clearly meant for the operation to remove the Spider Cocoon.
"Retrieve these materials from the resource depot, as quickly as possible," Lan Junxian said casually.
"Are you planning to use these rare materials for charity?"
"I'm buying people's loyalty."
"Boss, this isn't a small sum." Xiao Jing reminded him rationally, "If these rare materials go to waste, you'll face criticism within the clan."
"Is being cautious and penny-pinching really how the Deep Sea Clan should treat talent? Just do as I say."
The girl let the matter drop without pressing him. "Understood, boss. I hope you're still this confident when you're eating out of the trash next half-year."
"Wait!"
While they waited for the video conference to begin, Lan Junxian turned to her. "Xiao Jing, is that how you're supposed to treat your direct superior?"
The girl, already at the door, looked back at Lan Junxian with an icy expression. "Boss, is that how you're supposed to treat talent?"
"..."
Northern outskirts of Baotian City.
Night had fallen.
A figure rolled out of the bushes, landed on all fours, and staggered toward a sealed phone booth by the roadside.
The figure belonged to a woman with a ponytail, dressed in leather.
A bloody, bony leopard paw shoved open the glass door and picked up the receiver. Her other hand struggled to dial... By then, she had already collapsed to the floor, too weak to stand.
The night and her tattered clothes concealed the strange markings all over her body.
Just before she lost consciousness, the call connected:
"Baotian Public Security Bureau Special Affairs Center. Please speak."
There was a pause on the other end. Then came a voice accompanied by heavy panting:
"Team Six... at the North Suburban Agricultural Trade Mall... attacked by a bug-type Mutant..."
"Above the Third State, possibly the Peacock Spi—"
Her words broke off, scattering into the wind.
The woman's body slid down the glass wall, and she lost consciousness.
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