Su Bai could not be bothered to count how many floors Kong Rui had carried him down in the elevator, nor did he care how many cold metal doors they had passed through. All he knew was that the air around him was growing more oppressive. They had probably entered an underground area sealed behind layer upon layer of security.
After they left the elevator, even Kong Rui's breathing grew heavier. The hum of ventilation fans reached their ears, but it did nothing to dispel the suffocating feeling.
An underground facility like this felt even more unsettling than the air of the Nightmare World.
Finally, Kong Rui gently laid Su Bai on a hard plank bed.
Su Bai remained in his "unconscious" state, continuing his calm meditation.
Jiang Hong stood beside Su Bai and bent slightly at the waist. His expression was not exactly malicious, but an inscrutable chill lurked in his eyes.
At that moment, Su Bai sensed Jiang Hong using his ability on him again. The water inside his body once more began to respond to some external force. Jiang Hong seemed to be trying to alter his physical condition with an ability, waking him from his "slumber."
Once he understood Jiang Hong's intention, Su Bai pretended to wake slowly from sleep. He deliberately slowed his breathing and "gradually came to," keeping his eyes half open as though he were still groggy.
"Mr. Su Heng, you're awake." Jiang Hong spoke at an unhurried pace, his voice sounding quite gentle.
Yet the anticipation in Jiang Hong's tone was unmistakable, as though he were waiting for Su Bai's reaction to his surroundings. He sounded like someone looking down from a position of absolute control, eager to watch his prey awaken and struggle helplessly in an unfamiliar, unknown trap.
Su Bai