Zong Lin looked at Chen Jiahua’s shocked and curious gaze, his lips twitching.
He knew his partner’s appearance would surely cause misunderstandings again.
But he had promised Shen Jie to keep the secret, so he didn’t know how to respond for a moment.
Zong Lin furrowed his brow in thought.
Should he come up with a fabricated relative for Shen Jie?
That wouldn’t make much sense either.
The fact that he came from an orphanage was basically known to everyone in the entire Ability Center.
So all he could do was purse his lips and quietly squeeze Shen Jie’s hand.
Shen Jie, on the other hand, remained unfazed and calmly said, “My name is Zong Lian. Nice to meet you.”
“Ohhh,” Chen Jiahua elongated his tone, his expression suddenly enlightened, as if he had understood something. He grinned, revealing a set of teeth gleaming like a bald head, and said kindly, “Hello, hello, Zong Lian, right? I’m Chen Jiahua. Can I call you Lian Lian?”
Behind him stood three “Dawn” team members, two men and one woman, all peeking over to scrutinize the situation. Upon hearing Chen Jiahua’s overly familiar tone, they cast a disdainful glance at him.
Being so overly familiar, what if they frightened the captain’s precious baby?
Before Shen Jie could respond, Zong Lin interjected, “No.”
Feeling the captain’s cold gaze, Chen Jiahua couldn’t help but touch his nose and explain, “I just wanted to get closer to little Lian…”
“Cough, cough, cough,” maintaining the portal was a woman with red wavy hair, dressed in combat gear, her figure tall and agile. She said, “Captain Zong, we need to leave.”
Zong Lin nodded slightly, then turned to Shen Jie and said, “I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” Shen Jie was already satisfied that his usually taciturn partner hadn’t revealed anything in front of their teammates. He turned to Zong Lin, winked at him, and whispered in his ear, “I’ll be home cooking dinner waiting for you.”
The soft white hair brushed against his neck, causing Zong Lin’s earlobes to turn slightly red. However, in front of everyone’s eyes, he couldn’t do much, so he just uttered a “Hmm,” released his arm, and quickly stepped into the space crack, holding the long spear.
The researchers nearby quickly ran over, pushing the bandaged individual, and the wheelchair made a clattering sound as it rolled.
It could be seen that the identification badges they wore on their chests were all labeled with an A—rarely seen senior researchers in the research institute.
As the bandaged individual was being pushed, he remained motionless, like a zombie. However, when passing by Shen Jie, he suddenly stiffened and turned his head, as if “looking” at Shen Jie.
The bandaged person’s facial features were completely covered by bandages, not even his eyes were visible, only the curvature of his raised nose bridge could be seen.
Shen Jie “locked eyes” with him and caught a peculiar scent.
It was like the aroma emitted when bone marrow was roasted inside bones.
Very fragrant. It even made him feel… hungry.
A faint voice suddenly brushed past his ears, so fast it seemed like an illusion.
【 Can you… please… eat me? 】
Shen Jie: “?”
What kind of weird person asked such a question?
Meanwhile, everyone around seemed oblivious, and the bandaged individual had been swiftly pushed into the spatial crack.
The last redhead female team member to enter the crack waved at him, her beautiful face displaying a loving smile, “Zong Lian, darling, next time sister will bring you a gift when we meet again!”
With that, she turned and walked into the crack.
The narrow spatial crack closed instantly, as if it had never appeared.
Shen Jie: “.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
They came and went quickly.
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Looking down from Shen Jie’s position, one could see soldiers from the City Defense Bureau swiftly entering the Psychological Treatment Center, initiating the clearing of remaining aliens and the rescue of survivors.
Helicopters hovered overhead, their searchlights piercing through the rain, scouring within the barricades.
On the rooftop, another helicopter remained parked, its researchers curiously observing, though their faces were obscured by the pouring rain.
Ignoring them, Shen Jie flipped over and leaped from the rooftop.
With the wind whistling in his ears, he used his long knife to halt his descent against the wall, landing smoothly on the ground.
His exoskeleton lacked an ID card for the city, making his presence technically illegal; he couldn’t afford to linger outside for too long.
Standing in the shadows, he glanced back once. Due to the mist’s erosion, the Psychological Treatment Center was severely damaged, with rubble strewn everywhere and the entire building on the verge of collapse.
The survivors inside had been gradually rescued, each one unconscious on stretchers, carried out by soldiers.
However, one Psychological Treatment Center had been destroyed. Would another Psychological Treatment Center be established?
He turned back, discerning the lights through the rain, and darted toward the outskirts of the blockade.
As he ran, the system’s voice sounded.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully escaping from the “Despair Hospital”!]
[Completion calculation in progress… Calculation complete! Congratulations, host, you rescued a total of 3901 survivors during this escape process, successfully endured until the mist was cleared. Completion rate: 120%, Mission evaluation: SS.]
[You have received rewards: Exoskeleton Evolution Crystal Card. Hatched “Life Egg.” Due to your exceptionally high completion rate, you have earned additional rewards: 10 Exoskeleton Common Energy Cards and 1 Special Energy Card.]
Shen Jie’s footsteps paused in the rain, and he said lightly, “System, you’re back online.”
System: [Ahem, it was just a temporary malfunction before, nothing more. By the way, host, you were really amazing this time! I’ve never seen such an outstanding performance from you. Not only did you successfully escape from the S-level mist, but you also saved so many people. You’re simply the best host I’ve ever seen!]
The system showers praised, trying to avoid the issue.
But this time, Shen Jie didn’t give it a chance to evade the question. He asked directly, “What are you so afraid of when it comes to Zong Lin?”
He had noticed long ago that every time Zong Lin appeared or was about to appear, the system would disappear immediately. Even mice didn’t hide as well from cats as it did.
[…] The system’s incessant chatter abruptly ceased as if someone had zipped its mouth shut.
Seeing it feigning death, Shen Jie nodded and said, “Fine. Tonight, I’ll talk to Zong Lin…”
[No, no, no!] The system nervously interjected.
Shen Jie replied, “Then give me a reason.”
After some hesitation and struggle, the system finally relented, saying, [Host, your partner is an ability user of the ‘Soul’ category, inherently sensitive to perception and highly likely to detect me. In the future, he will be a Rank One ability user. Do you know what Rank One represents?]
Shen Jie responded, “…I’m not sure. Could you explain?”
The system exaggeratedly exclaimed, “[Rank One, the pinnacle of ability evolution. These beings are no longer mere ‘living beings’ but, in a sense, ‘demigods.’]”
[Of the seven major categories of ability evolution, there are seven unique Rank One, each possessing unimaginable power capable of radically altering the world—not just the current world, but even affecting the past, future, and any point their ‘selves’ can reach… Well, this matter is quite complex to explain, and you may not fully understand.]
[Anyway, although the possibility is very low, if you and I were to be discovered by the “future him” because of our contact with him now… it would be troublesome. Not only would I die, but you, as the host, would likely not escape either—believe me, “he” is not your partner, he would lack any humanity—so please, I beg you, do not tell your partner anything about me!]
The system’s tone sounded like the neighbor’s kid who got caught doing something naughty and feared getting punished.
Shen Jie responded, “Oh, you’re a bit late with that.”
The system’s voice trembled, [Huh? What do you mean, late?]
“The matter about the exoskeleton, he already knows,” Shen Jie said, although in truth, he had disclosed it voluntarily.
[What!!!] The system trembled violently, even adopting a slightly tearful tone due to extreme nervousness. [Did he… Did he ask you how you came to have it?]
“Well, no,” Shen Jie said, lips curling into a rare smile. “He promised to help me keep the secret.”
System: [Phew, that was close. You almost scared me to death!]
The tension in the air eased slightly. The system, belatedly realizing its blunder, found itself once again outsmarted by its host, inadvertently feeding him some invisible dog food.
At this moment, Shen Jie had already arrived outside the building repurposed as a temporary camp. Inside the camp, lights were on, and people were bustling around.
The passage of time within the mist didn’t align with reality. Although several hours had passed inside, in the real world, it had only been about fifteen minutes.
With over three thousand survivors rescued, it was impossible for the inspection to be completed so quickly, which suited him perfectly for blending in.
Finding a secluded room, he entered through the window, detached the exoskeleton from his body, and it transformed into a silver card. Shen Jie stashed it into his bag, then opened the door and mingled with the crowd, his expression calm as if he were just another survivor among them.
The resting areas for ordinary people and ability users were separated.
Among them, the severely injured and lightly wounded patients were also divided into two areas. He walked out from the shadowy corner and arrived at the busiest area for minor injuries. Many patients were tending to their wounds and dressing them themselves.
Shen Jie walked up to the nurse’s station and said to the nurse on duty, “Excuse me, could I have a testing card?”
The nurse on duty hesitated for a moment when she saw him, her cheeks slightly flushed. She quickly handed him a numbered card, labeled 1107.
Holding the card, he looked around and took a seat in a corner.
This area was close to the operating room for severe injuries, just a wall away. Perhaps out of fear of infection spreading from the ward, no one dared to sit here.
In the distance, the inspection officer from the City Defense Bureau was sitting at the exit of the blockade, setting up several inspection points.
According to city regulations, in order to prevent the spread of infection, both incoming city residents and survivors within the city’s mist must undergo inspection by the inspection officers before they can return to the city smoothly. Refusal or evasion of inspection would result in immediate arrest and pursuit.
The day before yesterday, after the mist in the subway ended, he was able to return to the research institute quickly because of special circumstances. Gu Nian’an, the director of the City Defense Bureau, provided him with a special passage and even sent a special vehicle from the City Defense Bureau to take him back.
However, today wasn’t so easy. His previous entry into the treatment center would surely be recorded in the city’s data, so to avoid trouble later on, he had to undergo inspection here as well.
“Numbers 301 to 320, please line up over here.”
A inspection officer walked over and announced.
One by one, the survivors called by their numbers walked towards the inspection point. Most of them passed the inspection and left, but some were seen shaking their heads, their legs going weak as they collapsed to the ground, only to be dragged away by nearby soldiers.
Unease and anxiety permeated among the survivors.
Even though they had escaped the mist, there was no guarantee that they would have the opportunity to return to the city smoothly.
Suddenly, screams and chaos erupted from the nearby area designated for severe injury surgeries.
“The patient’s infection level is rising sharply… we can’t control it! It’s about to mutate!”
“Soldiers! Inspection officers!”
Then, a gunshot rang out.
Looking in through the corridor window, Shen Jie saw a body covered in a cloth being stuffed into an isolation pod by the City Defense Bureau soldiers.
Although the white cloth covered the face of the body, the large syringe sticking out from its head was quite conspicuous.
— It’s the person rescued from the infusion hall earlier.
Several young nurses were scared and huddled in a corner discussing. They happened to be close to the window on this side of the corridor, and Shen Jie overheard them.
“How many is this now?”
“It should be… more than twenty by now.”
“These people… even if they are rescued, they can’t survive. The syringe is the source of infection, already connected to their brains. When stimulated, it changes shape like roots catalyzing, and the liquid spreads rapidly. The infection, initially at 60, instantly soars to 100. But if the infected area isn’t removed, the infection level keeps rising, and it’s hard to postpone it until tomorrow. The attending physician said, after treating infections for so many years, this is the first time he’s encountered such a tricky case.”
“Then why keep trying? More than twenty people, different surgical plans, all failed… If it were me, I couldn’t even hold the scalpel steadily. The psychological pressure is too great, and after leaving, I’ll still be held accountable.”
The young nurse sighed, “If it were another attending physician, they probably would have given up by now and started applying for nitrogen chamber spots for the patients. But the quickest one to arrive is Dr. Huo. He’s stubborn, won’t turn back until he’s exhausted all options.”
“Didn’t the research institute send a few ‘Life’ ability users over? Even they couldn’t save them?”
“Shh…” The young nurse hurriedly hushed, “Even among ‘Life’ ability users, there are differences. Treating infections is extremely rare, to begin with, and most of them come to treat physical injuries. And even if they do, priority is given to the ability users. There’s no way around it, it’s clearly stated in the medical resource allocation guidelines…”
“Hey! You lot! Stop slacking off! Come over and help!” A man’s voice, sounding very irritable and gloomy, echoed.
The young nurses quickly responded, jogging over to assist.
The surroundings grew quiet. Only the patients’ groans, the gentle reassurances of the nurses, occasional gunshots, and the cries of collapse from the testing point echoed.
Shen Jie fidgeted with his fingers, saying, “System”
[I’m here!] the system reflexively responded, then suggested softly, [The ‘Life Egg’ has hatched. Wouldn’t you like to find a place to see it?]
Shen Jie got up and quickly walked to a secluded room.
He opened his palm, revealing a white egg with many silver patterns swirling around it.
At this moment, a crack had already appeared on the eggshell.
Crackle, crackle. Crackle, crackle.
Something inside was pushing and prodding, trying to break through the eggshell.
Crackle, crackle. Crackle, crackle—!
The crack widened more and more until, finally, the top of the eggshell completely split open. A wet, snowy-white little creature wearing an eggshell hat stood up straight and locked eyes with Shen Jie.
Though just born, this little creature was quite round and chubby, looking very cute. Its big eyes had orange irises and black pupils, giving off a slightly fierce predatory vibe.
The little creature looked up at him and started chirping in a series: “Cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep cheep?”
[Oh, look how adorable, a little snowy owl.] The system’s voice was very gentle.
Shen Jie: “…Is that how snowy owls sound?”
[Cough, cough, it might be a bit special.]
Shen Jie removed the eggshell from its head, and the little creature leaned in, nibbling on the eggshell in his hand, bit by bit. Then it tilted its head and rubbed against his palm with its head.
Fluffy. Wet.
Once it finished eating the eggshell in his hand, the little creature started eating the ones around it. After consuming all the eggshells, its body began to emit a white light, and then the whole bird turned into a chubby ball of light, flying up and merging into his palm.
Shen Jie noticed a ring of white feather appearing on his wrist, resembling a feather bracelet.
[It seems the little snowy owl really likes you and has accepted you as its master.] The system clapped its hands. [Congratulations, host, you have now obtained the evolvable special ability item of the ‘Life’ category -]
[‘Feather of Creation’.]
The system explained the item’s skill.
[‘Feather of Creation’ (Stage One): Able to absorb abnormal infection substances from ordinary people and convert them into self-evolution energy. Other functions: Locked.]
[As long as it continues to absorb infection substances and alien cores, the ‘Feather of Creation’ will continue to evolve, and its ability to absorb infection substances will become stronger and stronger, unlocking other special functions at the same time.]
[Starting from Stage Two, the “Feather of Creation” can absorb the infectious substances on Rank Nine ability users; thereafter, it progresses in a similar manner, all the way up to Stage Nine, where it can absorb infectious substances from Rank Two ability users. At that point, your partner can deviate from the predetermined path and avoid the fate of corruption.]
As the system spoke, its tone became excited with a touch of edginess.
[You, on the other hand, will become the savior of this world, spreading the light of hope amidst the apocalypse, erecting a barrier for the entire world with the Feather of Creation, preventing the arrival of the Evil King of Termination, and saving this world on the brink of falling into hell!]
Pfft. Like he wants to save the world. That’s just a bi product of saving hubby
Saving the world? Sure sure… pfffttt… he even wants to eat people now
Shen Jie: Oh dear, not the king of termination 😶
Thank you for the chapter!!
Shen Jie: Oh dear, not the evil king of termination 😶
Thank you for the chapter!!
Well whoops, sorry for the copy!
uhhhhhh if you put “save your husband” I think that’s better than asking him to k!ll h!mself….
Fluffy with special eyes! Thanks for the update 🤣❤️🥚
Shen Jie is working for their hubby