The Fourth Person

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If he did not still have to train at the Special Response Department, Xiao He would have almost forgotten that he was a Mutant.

After their morning run that day, Xiao He and Ye Wanqing arrived at the Special Response Department, where Cui Man had already been waiting for them. Before they entered the training room, however, they saw Xia Yu training inside.

"This kid is pretty hardworking..." Xiao He muttered as he watched Xia Yu punching a sandbag.

"Yeah, she has had it pretty tough too." Cui Man nodded. "Her family is not well-off. To give her younger brother a chance to go to school, she started working after graduating high school and became a clerk at that store. Kids like her know that they have to fight for their own happiness."

That was why she got used. Xiao He thought, but he did not dare say it aloud.

"We compared the results of your blood tests as well." Cui Man waved for the two of them to follow her. "Unfortunately, your genes are no different from those of ordinary people. So White Light did not mutate you; White Light itself is energy. I think there may already be a very rare type of gene among humans that allows them to control this energy."

"So ordinary people cannot use this energy?" Ye Wanqing hit the nail on the head.

"..." Cui Man seemed reluctant to admit it, but Ye Wanqing was clearly right.

"Dedicated researchers are handling those matters, so let's not talk about that for now." Cui Man led them into the room next door. "Today, we'll record some data for you two—your recent weight, body fat percentage, heart rate, and so on. Then we'll test Xiao He's bench press and standing reach."

Ye Wanqing's tests went relatively quickly, since she did not need to undergo physical fitness testing.

"Mm, your body fat percentage has dropped a little, and your weight is down to fifty-five kilograms now. Looks like you've been following that list." Cui Man smiled with satisfaction, then turned to Xiao He. "You, keep following me."

Xiao He's tests were much more troublesome. Most of his training lately had been strength training.

"Oh, you've improved quite noticeably." Cui Man looked over the data and said, "Your bench press has risen to three hundred and ninety kilograms, your right hook hits with one ton of force, and your standing reach is 4.8 meters. You've improved in every area. It seems training really does help, but the key is whether you've improved after activating your Superpower."

As she spoke, Cui Man waved and instructed, "Go bring Lin Tiannan up."

Soon, an unfamiliar man appeared before Xiao He, but Xiao He did not feel his body fill with strength.

"Still no good?" Cui Man asked tentatively. Xiao He shook his head. "His name hasn't been changed yet, right?"

"Sigh, it would be great if you could activate it directly." Cui Man sighed, then nodded at someone behind the glass window. After a while, Xiao He felt strength surging through his body, indicating that his ability had activated.

However, the test data after he activated his Superpower was not very accurate. The upper limit of his power after activating his Superpower was not fixed to begin with; it fluctuated with the enemy's strength. Therefore, the resulting data lacked a basis for comparison, and there was no way to directly determine whether his Superpower's effect had improved. Still, other training could be put on hold, but combat training absolutely could not.

Because regardless of whether Xiao He's Superpower was active or how high his physical attributes were at the time, skills like martial arts could improve his combat effectiveness. If he encountered a Mutant of the same level in the future, with similar strength and speed, then technique would determine victory or defeat. In theory, his Superpower could always let him defeat "Lin Tiannan," but who knew what its upper limit was?

After completing the data tests, Xiao He threw himself back into combat training.

Xia Yu's training was fairly similar to his, because their Superpowers were somewhat alike. Both were Superman-type Superpowers, and Xia Yu's Superpower was directly affected by her own baseline physical fitness, making exercise even more important. Martial arts training was also essential.

Watching the girl work so hard, Xiao He could not bear it: In the future, this kid will be the one acting as cannon fodder.

She was so small and frail, yet she would have to help buy him time. It really was...

But on second thought, Xia Yu's Superpower level was low entirely because her physical fitness was poor. If she could double her baseline fitness through training, she would not need to break Guinness World Records. As long as she could bench press eighty kilograms, her strength after activating her Superpower would reach four tons.

That way, her strength could barely qualify her as an LV4 Mutant.

This little girl has a promising future... Xiao He could not help thinking.

When Xia Yu saw Xiao He, she hurriedly greeted him. "Mr. Yinglong..."

"Oh, we're all colleagues in the Special Response Department now. Just call me Brother Xiao." Xiao He teased.

"B-Brother Xiao..." Xia Yu immediately blushed. "Last time, I caused you trouble."

"Eh, it was just work." Xiao He said indifferently. Xia Yu looked up at him and said anxiously, "I heard I almost killed you! I'm really sorry. Back then, I couldn't tell what you even were!"

"Oh, that..." Xiao He sighed. "I really did feel like I was about to die at the time, but..."

After all, Xia Yu would be the one buying him time and taking that risk in the future, so he could not bring himself to resent her.

At that moment, Ye Wanqing came in after changing into sportswear. Today, she had once again put on that sports bra and leggings combination. As she stepped onto a treadmill, she shot him a glare. "Brother Xiao, huh... You have no shame."

Xiao He wanted to snap back at her, but he had to admit that Ye Wanqing looked really good dressed like that, so he held it in. Xia Yu, meanwhile, looked at Ye Wanqing and smiled excitedly. "Are you Miss White Marsh, Yinglong's girlfriend?!"

Both Xiao He and Ye Wanqing were a little surprised at the time: Cui Man had not told Xia Yu that they were only pretending to be a couple.

"Ah, yeah... I am." Ye Wanqing said with a wry smile. "He's kind of shameless, so don't mind him."

"How else was I supposed to win over a girl as wonderful as you if I wasn't shameless?" Xiao He asked through gritted teeth.

"Darling, what are you talking about? Even being shameless wouldn't be enough to win me over." Ye Wanqing smiled with pursed lips.

Xiao He jumped onto the treadmill beside hers and asked while running, "Really? Then tell me, how does someone win over a girl like you?"

"Obviously, he has to be gentle, considerate, and devoted. The most important thing for a man is to be responsible." Ye Wanqing retorted without giving an inch.

"Oh? Being handsome and rich isn't necessary? Preferably some domineering CEO or something?" Xiao He mocked.

"You're crazy! That's television drama—I don't confuse it with real life!" Ye Wanqing snapped.

"You two have such a good relationship..." Xia Yu said enviously from the side.

Is there something wrong with this kid's brain...? Xiao He looked at Xia Yu in disbelief. Just then, Cui Man suddenly entered and smiled at them. "All right, pause for a moment. I have some good news to tell you."

After Xiao He and Ye Wanqing stopped their treadmills, Cui Man gave them a mysterious smile. "The fourth Mutant has appeared. After some persuasion from our Special Response Department, he has finally agreed to cooperate with us."

"It's wonderful if we don't have to fight," Ye Wanqing said with a smile.

"Yeah, it's great that your boyfriend won't have to take risks," Cui Man teased.

"No, that's not... I..." Ye Wanqing blushed at once and stammered. Cui Man cut her off. "All right, come meet him. From now on, you four will be the foundation of our Special Response Department."