CHAPTER 16-20

Chapter 16 – 001's Fanatic Follower

The man in the black woolen hat held a rusty utility knife in his hand as he slowly backed away with Jiang Yujin.

Jiang Yujin gently pushed away the knife that was almost touching his neck and tried to reason, saying, "Hey, buddy, keep that knife away from me. If it slips and nicks me, even the doctor can't fix a bad wound like that."

"I just got back from the hospital; I don't want to go back," he added.

The man in the black woolen hat was highly tense, saying, "Don't speak!"

Understanding his demand, Jiang Yujin obediently stayed quiet.

Surrounded by onlookers and two men in black, they continued to retreat slowly, descending the stairs until they reached a blind spot out of sight.

As the man reached the blind spot, the two men in black were about to follow, but suddenly someone from upstairs jumped down. Clad in white, their clothes billowed in the wind, exuding a vibrant youthful energy.

An unexpectedly young man.

Without glancing at them, the young man continued to jump down, holding onto the railing, and chased after.

Confused by the sudden turn of events, the two men in black exchanged a glance before joining the pursuit.

The man in the black woolen hat, holding the hostage, remained cautious as they retreated. Upon passing a corner, upon closer look, an additional young man had inexplicably joined the group. Yet, this figure appeared to be a high school student, posing minimal threat.

Jiang Yujin turned to him, asking, "Hey, what's your name?"

The man in the black woolen hat warned him in a hushed tone, "Don't inquire."

"Alright, won't inquire," Jiang Yujin lowered his voice and continued, "But why are they chasing you?"

"Don't inquire," the man responded.

Nodding, Jiang Yujin said, "Okay, okay, I know your name's Don't Inquire. I'm asking why they're after you."

Don't Inquire fell silent.

Moments of amusement come and go swiftly, Jiang Yujin sighed.

Don't Inquire continued down the stairs; the mall's security had arrived but remained at a distance, afraid that any sudden movement might provoke the hostage-taker.

As they turned a corner, upon catching up, the stairwell lay empty, devoid of the two figures.

Losing sight of their target, Chen Jing furrowed his brow, leaped downstairs, swiftly traversing through the crowd.

Don't Inquire slipped into an employee corridor, leading Jiang Yujin to the underground parking lot on the negative second floor.

Upon reaching this spot, no one followed them further. He appeared somewhat relieved, searching through the cars, presumably looking for his own.

Initially willing to help, Jiang Yujin wanted to assist in finding the car. However, Don't Inquire refused to disclose the car model and plate number, leaving Jiang Yujin to casually glance at the parked cars while waiting for him to find his.

When Don't Inquire found his car, his eyes, the only visible part of his face, seemed to light up. He approached the vehicle slowly, instructing Jiang Yujin to stand aside quietly once the car's lights turned on.

The quietness of the underground garage was disrupted by the sound of a vehicle entering, followed by footsteps.

It wasn't the person who had been chasing them earlier; these were distinct footsteps of polished shoes approaching methodically. The person who appeared at the exit was dressed in a precise grey suit with a perfectly tied black tie, the silver edges of their glasses slightly hidden in the darkness.

Initially relaxed, Don't Inquire instantly became alert, reflexively touching a pocket containing something, turning to the newcomer cautiously and inquiring, "Who are you?"

The person in the suit continued to approach slowly, chuckling in response, "Didn't the one who sent you tell you whose things you've stolen?"

While smiling, their eyes betrayed no emotion, their voice deep and deliberate, striking as if resonating within the heart.

Don't Inquire hesitated momentarily, glanced at the key not yet inserted into the lock, then at Jiang Yujin standing idly by. Eventually, he opted to retrieve the utility knife he had just stashed away, pressing it firmly against the newcomer's neck.

The ordinary civilian, Jiang Yujin, who thought his hostage role was nearly over, hadn't expected to find himself in a second hostage situation so soon. But this time, the person standing opposite didn't resemble a high schooler or a justice-driven security guard.

At that moment, it seemed like self-rescue was necessary. Jiang Yujin hesitated slightly between continuing to act as a hostage and making a small attempt at resistance. However, when Don't Inquire's hand, holding the knife against his neck, trembled, it caused a momentary pause.

The moment Don't Inquire pointed the utility knife at the neck of the person next to him, he saw the smile on the face of the person standing opposite disappear instantly. An indescribable sense of immense panic flooded his chest. He unconsciously wanted to retract the knife but found himself immobilized, unable to move a muscle, watching the other person draw nearer and nearer.

Intense pain ensued, and Don't Inquire couldn't react. He could only soberly feel his body propelled away, a numbing sensation overcoming the pain. He couldn't even perceive the pain at the back of his head, just a cooling sensation, his vision gradually blurring.

"…"

Casting a pitying glance at the bald head of the person lying on the ground, Jiang Yujin, who had been standing by the car, finally understood why this person wore a hat.

Before completely losing consciousness, a vague figure appeared in Don't Inquire's sight. Then, he felt something pierce his palm. He heard the person squatting in front of him say, "Don't touch him."

The bald man lost consciousness entirely.

Jiang Yujin, standing with folded arms, watched as the man took something from Don't Inquire and discarded him before turning and walking closer.

"001," the man, impeccably dressed, smiled at him and said, "Or perhaps Jiang Yujin suits you better, quite a coincidence."

Jiang Yujin lifted his eyelids slightly. "Coincidence, Lu Yi Yi."

Hearing this name from him, Lu Dongcheng first hesitated, then realized, "Liu Cheng's loose lips, as always."

The mention of Lu Yi Yi (Lu 100million) was a clear jab at him spending a fortune on a name. He wasn't surprised that the person had found out about the transaction with Liu Cheng and didn't deny it.

Returning what he found on the bald man back into his pocket, he chuckled, saying, "I should have prepared a gift knowing you'd be here."

Jiang Yujin scoffed.

Lu Dongcheng approached a bit closer, asking, "Did you receive the invitation I sent earlier?"

Jiang Yujin replied bluntly, "Refused."

As if not hearing the refusal, Lu Dongcheng stepped closer, brushed past his hand, and touched his black hair, the eyes behind the silver-rimmed glasses squinting slightly in admiration, praising, "Black looks good on you too."

Jiang Yujin patted his face and asked sincerely, "Are you unable to speak when the distance is more than one meter?"

His tone was still equally blunt.

Lu Dongcheng took a step back as he followed Jiang Yujin's words, then, hearing footsteps from the staircase, calmly said, "I have other matters to attend to today. Until next time."

Jiang Yujin remained non-committal.

When Chen Jing arrived downstairs, he saw the hostage, Jiang Yujin, standing by a car looking unharmed, and the bald man lying near a cracked pillar.

A vehicle, exuding discreet luxury, slowly departed from the parking lot.

Approaching quickly, Chen Jing examined Jiang Yujin from head to toe, ensuring he had no injuries, then asked, "What happened?"

Jiang Yujin clarified it wasn't his doing and that he had brain freeze from eating the sundae, leaving his mind still foggy, unaware of what had occurred.

"…"

Chen Jing unconsciously rubbed his forehead.

Meanwhile, in the just-departed vehicle, the driver glanced at the rearview mirror and suddenly widened their eyes, their voice trembling as they said, "Sir, your face…"

Lu Dongcheng raised his gaze to the rearview mirror.

On one side of his cheek, tiny bloodstains had appeared at some point, slowly trailing down his face.

Recalling the tap the other person had made on his face earlier, Lu Dongcheng fell silent for a moment, then smiled, wiping away the bloodstains.

…

Despite the twists and turns at the mall, Jiang Yujin successfully brought back a new dishwasher. It gleamed brightly, a stark contrast to the humble kitchen.

Along with the dishwasher, a large bunch of red roses was delivered, vibrant in color. The recipient's name was written on it without the sender's name or a note.

Later that evening, when the high schooler returned home, Jiang Yujin took him to a nearby romantic spot in a small park. They spent two hours there, selling flowers, making a few hundred yuan. Some even appreciated his flower quality and asked if they would sell flowers there regularly.

With a few hundred yuan in hand, Jiang Yujin indulged in a few sips of wine that night.

The price of having a little wine was struggling to get up from the sofa the next afternoon.

As he turned on the TV, the front door opened, and the high schooler returned, accompanied by someone this time, a chubby guy. Chen Jing introduced him as his friend, here to study together.

This was the high schooler's first time bringing a friend over. Jiang Yujin, feeling like a proud father, shed tears of joy, warmly greeting the chubby guy.

With the lingering scent of alcohol in the air, the chubby guy, observing the slightly stubbled chin of the man on the sofa, greeted him, "Hello, uncle."

Elevated to an uncle's status, Jiang Yujin still smiled happily and enthusiastically offered, "Would you like something to drink? Uncle has water and some wine."

After a brief pause, he added, "And water."

The person accepted the role of uncle quite naturally.

"…No need for anything," Chen Jing said, "We'll go to our room to study."

So, Jiang Yujin stayed in the living room, continuing to watch TV. Incidentally, he spotted someone familiar on the screen.

In the upper right corner of the TV, there was a wanted poster. The face on the poster was unfamiliar, but the bald head was striking.

Below the news was a line: [Serial thief arrested].

Jiang Yujin raised an eyebrow and slowly took a sip of water.

…

The TV's sound was blocked outside the door. Chen Jing and Xiao Pang sat at the table in the room. Xiao Pang pulled out a folded photocopy of an invitation, whispering:

"Do you remember Lu Dongcheng? The fanatic follower of 001?"

He continued, "If it's him, he might try every means to find out about 001. In half a month, he'll attend a banquet, a good opportunity to get closer to him."

Lu Dongcheng, ranked fourth in the game, a notorious zealot known for dedicating his life to pursuing 001.

Due to his high status and infrequent public appearances, it was challenging to access the places he frequented. Compared to other venues, a banquet was one of the easiest places to infiltrate.

Chen Jing nodded, then glanced at the invitation again, feeling strangely familiar.

It seemed like he had seen the same pattern somewhere, perhaps in a trash can.

Chapter 17 – E City Tour Guide (1)

Chen Jing thought of it and also voiced it out.

Xiao Pang pondered for two seconds, then waved his hand, saying, "These patterns all look similar. You must have seen the flyers for ads somewhere."

It was difficult to get hold of the invitation letter. Objectively speaking, they couldn't currently reach the social strata that casually threw away such letters.

He said, "I'll take care of the invitation letter, and you think about how to ask Lu Dongcheng about it later."

For the time being, this matter was considered settled. Xiao Pang put away the photocopies and remembered the people in the living room outside, asking, "Has Uncle always been running the office here?"

Chen Jing started to say something but then stopped, falling silent.

It was only then that he realized he seemed to know nothing about Jiang Yujin's past, only that there was already an office here when he was brought in.

He couldn't give an answer. Xiao Pang realized he'd asked an unanswerable question, so he changed the subject, asking, "Why didn't Zhang Xin come today?"

Chen Jing said, "Her school went on an educational trip to the neighboring E City. She went to school this morning to prepare and will be there for the whole week."

Xiao Pang nodded, pursed his lips, and said, "That's nice."

He sighed while looking at Chen Jing, who stood up and took the exam paper from the desk. He opened his eyes wide, asking, "What are you doing?"

Chen Jing put down the exam paper. "Study."

When he returned and said they were going to study, there was absolutely no falseness in his words.

And they really studied, uninterrupted for two hours. When the door reopened, Xiao Pang almost fled, not daring to turn around and look behind him.

When they came out, the person who had originally been sitting on the sofa watching TV had already turned off the television, cleared the table of the empty liquor bottles, was currently on the phone, quickly jotting something down with a pen and paper on the table. He noticed them, waved, and smiled.

Xiao Pang remained silent, waving back, put on his shoes, and left.

When Chen Jing returned after seeing Xiao Pang off downstairs, the person who had been in the living room were nowhere to be seen, and there was noise coming from the bedroom.

He went to take a look and saw Jiang Yujin tilting his head, holding a phone while still listening to it, both hands rummaging through the wardrobe, pulling out a few pieces of clothing.

When the other person hung up the phone, Chen Jing asked, "What are you doing?"

Putting the clothes aside, Jiang Yujin briefly said, "Accepted a commission."

*

Several buses were cruising along the road, filled with students in matching uniforms happily chatting, their faces lit up with excitement. The air inside the bus carried the aroma of snacks and beverages, filled with the joy of not having to attend classes.

Amidst the noisy conversations, Zhang Xin sat by the window, calmly closing her eyes, undisturbed by the outside commotion.

After several days of seeking information about strange species during the nights, this was her rare resting time.

The bus halted at a rest stop, students disembarked to use the restroom, causing slight movements among those seated. Zhang Xin instantly opened her eyes, reaching for the folded fruit knife placed beside her.

Xiao Mei, seated nearby and just starting to stand up, paused halfway, apologetically asking, "Did I wake you up?"

With the knife still in hand, Zhang Xin casually rose and took an apple, replying, "No, I woke up hungry myself."

She leisurely peeled the apple, dividing it into slices.

When Xiao Mei returned from the restroom, she brought back some news, saying, "I heard we have a new tour guide."

Zhang Xin handed the apple slices to Xiao Mei, acknowledging with a 'hmm'.

In the last few minutes before the break ended, a stranger gradually appeared at the front door of the bus. Clad in a white shirt, with slightly long disheveled hair obscuring his eyebrows and eyes, only a rough outline of his face was visible.

He had a blue work badge hanging from his neck, his sleeves rolled halfway, indicating his identity quite clearly.

Xiao Mei nudged Zhang Xin's arm, whispering, "Looks like a handsome guy."

Then, they watched as the handsome guy walked closer and sat in front of them. Both of them were seated in the front rows of the bus, with the seats in front of them kept empty for the guide's preparations.

Noticing their gaze, the person sitting in front turned slightly, politely greeting them.

He had a really pleasant voice.

Xiao Mei whispered, "He must be a good guide."

Then they observed the good guide sitting down and opening up his tablet, live searching for a comprehensive guide to the attractions in E City for the study tour.

Xiao Mei: "…"

Zhang Xin: "…"

Jiang Yujin swiftly revised his lessons, cramming back things that had already left his mind.

He had taken up this temporary gig after being invited by a former colleague, who went to an evening gathering and ended up with food poisoning and landed in the hospital along with others.

He wasn't particularly interested in this assignment, but the client offered double the usual fee, and the school had arranged everything, from accommodation to other facilities; he only needed to provide the tour guide service.

So here he was.

Zhang Xin, seated at the back, didn't continue sleeping after waking up, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside the window as she chatted with Xiao Mei.

When they glanced back at the guide in the front, they noticed he wasn't browsing the "E City Attraction Guide" anymore. He had already moved on to playing a game on his phone with undivided attention after finishing up with his former colleague lying in the hospital.

As the bus entered the E City area, they saw him put away his phone.

A half-hearted guide unexpectedly turned out to be reliable, knowledgeable about a bit of everything, with a cheerful voice and a relaxed demeanor.

Getting such a good job out of the blue made Jiang Yujin quite happy.

Halfway through the journey, a middle-aged man successfully mingled among the students, chatting and getting along with several male high school students, linking arms and shoulders. It was only when they found out he also had a high schooler child that the others gasped in surprise, not expecting him to have such an old son.

Jiang Yujin didn't explain but simply nodded and smiled.

When the bus stopped in front of the hotel, Jiang Yujin stood to the side, hands in pockets, watching the teacher herd the students into the hotel like she was herding ducks, a smirk playing on his lips.

Dinner was provided by the school, served at the hotel, and the school seemed quite generous; the dishes were all pretty good.

Evening turned into a time for students to visit each other's rooms and play around, unrelated to the adults.

Jiang Yujin found himself playing games in his room and chatting with Xu Gao, whom he had exchanged contact information with earlier.

Xu Gao didn't have any outstanding abilities, but he was excellent with gossip, always having fresh stories every day.

That night passed uneventfully, and before dawn, it began to rain.

The next morning, as Jiang Yujin stumbled downstairs with messy hair, the other students were already seated in the hotel lobby, bright-eyed and fresh-spirited, a stark contrast to him.

Yesterday, he had barely managed to look presentable, but today he had reverted back to his usual self, yawning as he ate breakfast. When he passed by Zhang Xin and Xiao Mei's table, he casually greeted them, nearly going unrecognized by the two.

The students were supposed to visit a museum that day, but the weather didn't cooperate. What was expected to be a sunny day turned gloomy with rain pouring down, dampening everything outside the hotel, creating a cold atmosphere.

However, the rain couldn't dampen the students' enthusiasm. Teachers distributed raincoats, but Jiang Yujin, not being a student, had to manage with his own umbrella as he boarded the bus.

E City and A City were close by but quite different. A City still relied on other provinces for drinking water, while E City had no shortage of water. Along the way, one could see large rivers and bridges.

Jiang Yujin stood up, leaning back against the chair, narrating about the long river they were passing by. His gaze swept over the dark surface of the river being lashed by rain, pausing for a moment before continuing his narration, his expression unchanged.

Zhang Xin, sitting by the window, looked down at the surging river, her brow slightly furrowed.

After finishing the explanation about the river, Jiang Yujin glanced down to send a message on his phone before pocketing it

The museum was half an hour away from the hotel. The students woke up too early and felt drowsy on the way after breakfast. They arrived at the museum's entrance still in a half-asleep state. When they got off the bus, one of them slipped, but thankfully, the enthusiastic guide, Mr. Jiang, who was holding an umbrella, lent a hand to steady him.

The museum had its own guides, and Jiang Yujin, having finished his morning work, felt idle and restless. He didn't plan on staying inside the vehicle with the older driver for a chat and followed along into the museum.

There were quite a few schools on a study tour at this time. He casually roamed the first floor and saw many students in different uniforms.

The museum had six floors, with a resting area on the top floor. After a quick tour of the first floor, he headed straight to the sixth floor, comfortably seated and ready to indulge in a day of gaming.

After playing a few rounds and successfully passing a difficult level, he finally glanced up and noticed that many students had also arrived on this floor.

Zhang Xin and Xiao Mei were there too, just opening a bottle of mineral water.

As they took a sip, someone by the huge floor-to-ceiling window looking at the scenery outside let out exclamations, mixed with some screams.

With a sense of foreboding, Zhang Xin instantly stood up. Xiao Mei, beside her, was startled by the exclamation and choked on her drink, patting her chest in response.

Some people by the window were stepping back while others curiously moved forward.

Zhang Xin stood by the window, peering through the rain-drenched glass along with the others, and spotted a large, dark figure slowly forming in the distance, concealed within the mist.

The river, at a distance, surged at an extraordinary speed, waves crashing over the bridge they had crossed earlier, flipping the cars driving over it in an instant.

"What is that thing?"

"The car flipped! There might be people inside!"

The alarm blared, piercing their eardrums.

All students were instructed to gather on the first floor immediately. The teacher, sweating profusely, counted heads in the crowd, becoming dizzy from the count.

"Teacher," Xiao Mei, standing in a corner, raised her hand weakly, her voice tinged with panic as if she was on the verge of tears, "Zhang Xin is missing."

The guide was also nowhere to be found.

The rain intensified. Jiang Yujin walked with an umbrella, along the streets, stepping on the cobblestones, arriving at the riverside, gazing down at the still surging river while leaning on the railing.

Near the city center, broadcasts quickly urged citizens to evacuate. Roads were cleared by designated personnel, pedestrians and vehicles dispersed, and after a prolonged period of hustle and bustle, the streets returned to tranquility.

Amidst the rain and shadows, Jiang Yujin walked on the deserted street with his umbrella. He lifted his drooping eyelids slightly, gazing at the increasingly towering dark silhouette.

The faint sound of footsteps disappeared into the heavy rain beating against the ground.

Chapter 18 – E City Tour Guide (2)

After the colossal black shadow emerged from the river, the E City branch of the Special Investigation Unit promptly dispatched personnel to investigate. Those who returned were soaked through, their expressions filled with terror. Amidst the sound of swallowing saliva, they dialed the headquarters' number:

"…Giant strange species sighted, estimated S-level threat, still in development. Requesting backup."

The call ended, and in the office, people glanced down at the monitor, feeling a palpable sense of overwhelming panic through the screen.

Waves surged, splashing the camera lens of the monitor, rendering the image instantly blurry. Worse yet, some cameras were swept away by the waves, plunging the screen into total darkness.

Someone asked, "Can't we attack it directly?"

The person in the lead shook their head, "Using conventional methods will destroy all surrounding structures. We must wait for headquarters' personnel to handle this."

Silence pervaded the office as they struggled to tear their gaze away from the screen. Someone spoke in a low voice, trying to reassure, "HQ's team is already on the way. No need to worry. Our main task is to assist in evacuating the hearing and visually impaired, ensuring no citizen gets left behind."

*

Zhang Xin hadn't worn a raincoat; she walked straight out of the museum.

Confirming the location of the colossal black shadow, she picked a direction and ran through the rain.

She knew what that thing was.

Though obscured by rain, she vividly recalled Chen Jing's explanation.

The Devourer, a strange species born in the great rivers and streams. Rain acted as its detector, leading it to suitable locations to descend. It used the water of rivers to shape its body, a slow process resulting in a massive form.

Chen Jing had described it as an S-class dungeon boss in the game, rarely appearing. Those who engaged it had a high probability of total annihilation. Two appeared together, a mother and a child, the mother several times larger than the child, with matured scales covering its body, unlike the smaller one. Both possessed remarkably high destructive power. Rumors circulated that even top fifty-ranked players were pierced through by the child Devourer while confronting the mother, instantly meeting their demise.

The Devourer was still growing; one hadn't emerged yet, making it impossible for Zhang Xin to discern between the mother and the child. She could only rush towards the sole visible one.

Crossing the hastily erected cordon, as she neared, she grasped the true enormity of the Devourer. In the misty fog, she couldn't even discern its full form.

"Boom—"

The Devourer's body expanded further, squeezing the bridge. The steel wires on the bridge snapped, the structure collapsed and tilted, crashing heavily into the river.

Standing by the riverside, Zhang Xin finally saw part of the Devourer's body.

—No scales.

This was merely the incompletely developed child Devourer.

Zhang Xin turned, her eyes wide, as if trying to peer through the heavy curtain of rain to discern the location of the mother Devourer, whose direction was unknown.

Unable to see clearly or differentiate, she withdrew her gaze, focusing on the Devourer still motionless in the river.

The young Devourer was highly aggressive, possessing formidable destructive power, but during its physical development, it was almost stationary—a prime moment for an attack.

Leaning against the railing and jumping down, Zhang Xin maneuvered past the wreckage unwittingly marred by the Devourer, making a forceful leap to stand on the collapsed remnants of the bridge jutting out from the water.

This was the closest spot to the Devourer.

Amidst the rain, flames leaped, piercing through the downpour.

A continuously burning flame appeared on the Devourer, scorching its bluish-gray skin.

Seemingly sensing pain, the Devourer slowly submerged into the river, extinguishing the flames.

As it moved, Zhang Xin noticed its form appeared to gradually cease developing.

It was reaching full development.

The flames appeared in her hand again, but suddenly, from a distance, there came a slow and heavy rumble. Zhang Xin turned her head.

The mother Devourer had appeared.

With no room for distractions, she stole only a glance before swiftly redirecting her focus to the young Devourer nearby.

The flames encircled the Devourer's body, causing its bluish-gray skin to wrinkle and turn black, filling the air with the scent of scorching.

Despite apparent effectiveness, Zhang Xin remained completely tense, her heart still suspended.

As expected, the dark river water solidified into a tangible form, slowly crawling up the colossal creature at the center of the river. The burnt skin reverted to its initial state.

Besides its immense offensive capabilities, the Devourer possessed extraordinary self-healing abilities in water.

—Its growth had entirely ceased. The enormous body, previously nearly motionless, began to move slowly, turning toward the collapsed bridge.

Realizing the need to lure the Devourer away from the river, Zhang Xin left the bridge, attempting to guide it towards an open area.

Jumping from the broken bridge onto the riverbank's railing, she glanced back and saw someone standing quietly on the opposite bank, holding a black umbrella. Faint crimson light emitted from beneath the umbrella, resembling a lit ember.

Originally intending to warn the person to leave quickly, she saw them seemingly flick something akin to a cigarette butt.

Faint points of light streaked through the air.

In an instant, dazzling flames soared into the sky.

Her vision was completely consumed by a blaze, the heat causing her hair to whip backward continuously. Under the scorching wave, the air seemed distorted by the heat, rendering distant buildings unclear.

The rain in that area evaporated instantly, and suddenly, her sight became clear.

The Devourer was entirely engulfed by the inferno. Although still in the river, the water around it vaporized instantly and couldn't recover. It rolled futilely in the water, but it was useless, being incinerated until it became a lifeless, irretrievable heap of colossal debris.

As the searing blaze gradually dissipated, Zhang Xin looked up and found that the person who had been standing on the opposite bank was nowhere to be seen.

…

Not far away, amidst the rain's curtain, a dark figure began to emerge. Xu Tonggui, who had rushed from A City, dashed along the street. However, upon witnessing something, his steps abruptly halted.

There was someone in an alley by the street, holding an umbrella and squatting down, seemingly reaching out to pet a large orange cat sheltering under a canopy, an unexpectedly relaxed sight in such circumstances.

The person holding the umbrella tilted it slightly backward and glanced up.

"…"

Another familiar face.

Xu Tonggui asked, "What are you doing here?"

Evacuation orders had long been issued, and there shouldn't be anyone remaining here.

Almost scratched by the large orange cat, Jiang Yujin withdrew his hand, stood up, and explained, "My phone died, and I came back to the hotel to get the charger. The hotel happens to be nearby."

His expression was straightforward and innocent. Xu Tonggui fell silent for a moment before asking, "Did you get your charger?"

Jiang Yujin shook his head, "Not yet."

A flicker passed through Xu Tonggui's eyes.

As expected, this stubborn citizen, who hadn't retrieved his charger, had no intention of leaving. Holding the umbrella, he trailed behind him casually.

There was a highly destructive strange species nearby. While those who had arrived from A City were drenched, Jiang Yujin, who was following behind, was completely dry, as if on a spring outing. He was asked to stay put at a certain distance from the Devourer.

Jiang Yujin stationed himself where he stood.

Xu Tonggui had already leaped up from the riverside using his usual short dagger.

The mother Devourer was different from the incompletely grown child Devourer. Its entire body was covered with hard scales protecting its skin. Fire couldn't burn them, and it was difficult for a dagger to penetrate them head-on. Xu Tonggui found the scale's root and with a quick stroke of the dagger, blood spurted out instantly, splattering his face with tiny droplets, later diluted by the rain, trickling down his jawline.

Missing a scale, the once silent Devourer suddenly started moving. The river water churned, splashing onto the banks, washing over the nearby shops.

Things got intense as Jiang Yujin, standing not far away, stepped back two paces to avoid the splashes, glancing toward a distant, inexplicably glowing red.

His phone buzzed in his pocket; he glanced at it after retrieving it.

The message from the barber shop owner confirmed the situation was handled.

Putting his phone away, Jiang Yujin raised his gaze toward the nearby Devourer.

After slicing off another scale, Xu Tonggui opened a large gash along the scale's direction on the Devourer. The rate of repair couldn't match his speed; blood flowed out, dyeing the river red.

"Crack—"

The sharp blade clashed against the edge of the scale, split into two, and vanished into the roiling river in an instant.

Jiang Yujin slightly raised his umbrella, fetched a folding knife from his pocket, flicked it open, and tossed it over.

The sharp blade narrowly missed Xu Tonggui's arm, but he skillfully caught it. In one smooth motion, he plunged it into the Devourer's skin, the action natural and swift, taking barely a blink of an eye.

The wound on the body enlarged continuously. The Devourer ceased its repair. The splashed river water gradually solidified into a sharp triangular cone, aimed at the person's body.

Before the cone solidified completely, an umbrella tip silently pierced through it. The incomplete form dissipated, turning back into a puddle of water.

Turning his head, Xu Tonggui saw the ordinary citizen Jiang who obediently stood in place on the flooded ground.

The ordinary citizen Jiang seemed to have been splashed by the water splashing ashore, his once dry hair and clothes now damp, droplets trailing down his hair ends.

With the final stroke, the mother Devourer split in half irreparably, heavily sinking into the water, blood splattering and dyeing half of the river red.

Returning to the ground, Xu Tonggui picked up the walkie-talkie dampened on his shoulder, briefly stating, "Strange Species S03 neutralized."

Closing the walkie-talkie, he glanced at Jiang Yujin standing by the roadside, taking large strides closer.

He attempted to wipe the folding knife as dry as possible and handed it back, expressing his gratitude.

Jiang Yujin reached out to take the folding knife.

—And couldn't take it.

This person handed him the knife but didn't fully pass it, still exerting some force.

Jiang Yujin lifted his drooping eyelids, looking puzzled.

Xu Tonggui, with lowered eyes, asked him, "Have we met before?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Yujin nodded decisively, reaching out to pat Xu Tonggui's blood-stained face, smiling, then deadpanned, "Don't you remember? You're my ex-boyfriend."

This person couldn't stick to a truthful word, and yet again diverted the conversation.

Xu Tonggui didn't press further, releasing the folding knife.

Jiang Yujin took the knife, and waved with a smile, "Bye, ex-boyfriend."

Though calling him an ex-boyfriend, Jiang Yujin walked away briskly.

The large orange cat from before reappeared, and this person, without any principles, followed along, attempting to communicate with the cat.

Chapter 19 – E City Tour Guide (3)

After the personnel dispatched by the HQ reported that the strange species had been neutralized, the E City Special Investigation Unit personnel, who were waiting outside the cordon, quickly rushed to the scene. The first responders were utterly unprepared and felt a wave of nausea upon witnessing the scene, with some individuals vomiting on the spot.

Rain continued to fall on the wide river surface, but the splashing water now bore a faint red hue.

As far as the eye could see, the river had turned into a crimson expanse. The enormous monster's corpse lay half-submerged in the center of the river, its body exposed, flesh, unidentifiable organs, all laid bare, a mass of red-purple, emanating a strong and unpleasant odor.

It would likely take a long time to clean the river, but fortunately, the surrounding buildings hadn't suffered major damage. The bridge had been long gone from the outset, skyscrapers stood intact, though the riverside pathways and railings needed reconstruction and reinforcement. Some riverside shops had their doors and windows broken by the rushing water, requiring separate handling and resettlement.

Compared to this side, the situation was much better at the far end of the river, separated by a considerable distance.

The strange species' corpse in the river there was inexplicably charred, reduced to a small, quiet mass near the riverbank. Considering the colossal size of the child Devourer observed earlier, it was difficult to fathom how such a massive entity had diminished to this small remnant.

The houses surrounding the river showed no signs of burning, except for a bridge that lay across the river, charred completely black, sparing the need for extensive cleaning afterward.

Apart from the bridge, the surrounding structures remained undamaged. However, some items within the houses melted due to the high temperatures, ranging from small to valuable belongings, which posed a headache for the finance department in estimating the losses.

…

In the neighboring A City, the temporary headquarters of the Special Investigation Unit for Strange Species held an emergency meeting.

According to the compiled summary from employees returning from the "Game," they knew that the Devourer operated as a pair, a mother and a child. Xu Tonggui dealt with the mother Devourer, while an unidentified individual resolved the offspring.

The appearance of the Devourer caused abnormalities in the cross-river power cables, leading to power outages in several streets. Public and private surveillance cameras along the route ceased functioning. The only operational camera by the river was either destroyed or obstructed by the water churned up by the anomaly, failing to capture any images. To date, they couldn't confirm who handled it.

Seated at the conference table, Hu Li flipped through the photos sent by the E City branch, pausing after two, closing his eyes for a moment in thought before picking them up again.

Amidst the random discussions of others, he set the photos down and stated, "It's Yuan Sanshui."

Instantly, everyone looked at him.

The person in the main seat asked, "How do you know?"

Casually lounging in his chair, Hu Li said, "Anyone who has come out of the Game knows this."

However, he happened to be the only one in the conference room from the Game.

The person in the main seat nodded. "Go on."

"Yuan Sanshui, ranked sixth in the game, gained the ability to manipulate fire after completing a certain scenario."

"Is that all?" someone countered, "We've previously apprehended anti-social players who could control fire."

Hu Li's tone remained steady, "Have you observed the size of the Devourer? Only he could burn something that massive like this."

He added, "There's another piece of information: Yuan Sanshui's wife, originally a top fifty player, was impaled by this thing and died on the spot."

The expressions of the others shifted as they began contemplating.

Someone suggested, "So, his handling of this strange species might not be out of goodwill but for revenge."

Hu Li adjusted his posture. "Based on the scene, he should have arrived within a short period—though not too short."

Others turned to look at him. He continued, "He's likely living in the residential area around E City."

Their eyes widened, thoughts suddenly clearing up.

Someone beside him asked, "Do you know what he looks like?"

Hu Li shook his head. "Never seen him."

*

In the end, Jiang Yujin didn't get to pet the large orange cat and didn't return to the fabricated hotel to retrieve the charger. Instead, he went back to the museum.

Upon his return, he witnessed Zhang Xin being scolded. Her homeroom teacher's face and neck were still flushed with anger.

Sighing, Jiang Yujin quietly joined the group.

His mistake lay in not remembering what the driver of the vehicle he sat in looked like, so he randomly stood next to the driver. The driver turned and asked, "Where were you? Didn't see you around."

Jiang Yujin waved dismissively and started concocting a story, "I went to the restroom."

The driver replied skeptically, "For this long?"

Jiang Yujin displayed a classic embarrassed expression, saying, "Truth be told, had a severe case of diarrhea for days."

Silent for a moment, the driver patted his shoulder. "You've been through a lot."

Jiang Yujin peacefully closed his eyes.

After spending some time at the museum, it was confirmed officially that the strange species had been eliminated, alarms deactivated, and they could continue their tour. However, the notification also informed them of the closure of two streets, forbidding citizens from entering for the time being.

Although they could continue their tour, after witnessing the colossal creature, no one had the heart to continue exploring. The teachers gathered for a brief discussion and decided to take the students back to the hotel.

When they returned to the bus, Xiao Mei was pulling Zhang Xin, and they saw their tour guide already seated in the bus, focused on his phone, furrowing his brows with intense concentration.

As they approached, they heard the sounds of the Xiaoxiaole game being played.

Upon hearing this familiar sound, they oddly felt a sense of relief.

After all, no matter how much the world changed, their tour guide would still play his Xiaoxiaole game as usual.

It wasn't until they were seated and the bus started moving that Xiao Mei noticed a long cut on Zhang Xin's palm, with traces of blood seeping through. She couldn't help but exclaim before lowering her voice, "What happened to your hand?"

Jiang Yujin, who had exhausted his game moves once again, heard the voice and turned his head.

Zhang Xin turned her palm downward and said, "It's nothing, probably got scratched accidentally somewhere."

Perhaps when she jumped onto the broken bridge earlier, she used her hand to support herself and got scratched by the debris. She felt the pain at the time but didn't expect it to leave a cut.

Finishing his game level, Jiang Yujin put down his phone, stood up, and took the first-aid kit from the bus.

Facing the curious gazes of the two, he said, "High schoolers getting injured is normal. My son often comes back with a bunch of injuries."

Zhang Xin fell silent for a moment. She didn't think normal high schoolers would be like that.

Jiang Yujin opened the first-aid kit, taking out alcohol and gauze.

Xiao Mei was surprised, "So, you know how to bandage wounds!"

People could be quite surprising.

Handing the alcohol and gauze to Zhang Xin, gesturing for her to bandage herself, Jiang Yujin turned his head, "Hmm?"

Xiao Mei: "It's nothing."

Ultimately, Zhang Xin's wound was handled by the teacher.

Unlike their arrival, the bridge they had crossed earlier had collapsed on their way back. The bus took a detour, and there was a dispirited atmosphere inside. The students peered out the windows, especially when passing the collapsed bridge, as if fearing something might emerge from it again.

There were no more sightings in the water. They crossed two other bridges and safely returned to the hotel.

Playing Xiaoxiaole on his phone until it almost died out of battery, Jiang Yujin hurriedly went upstairs to recharge after returning to the hotel.

Students were instructed to stay in their rooms and not go out. The teachers found a room and began discussing whether to cancel the educational trip.

When Jiang Yujin received the notification, he was informed that his tour-guiding career would continue, with changes to the planned tour location.

Temporarily setting aside his Xiaoxiaole game for a quick revision session, he once again searched the internet and happily resumed gaming after going through the "Travel Encyclopedia."

In the next few days, he spent his time moving back and forth between the scenic spots that must be visited by high school students during their study tour, pretty much idling around the entire time.

It turned out high schoolers were resilient. Rather than returning to school, they were more willing to continue playing in the city where a strange species attack had just occurred, and they played joyfully.

Fortunately, nothing happened in the following days. After their playtime, the students returned to school by bus.

Jiang Yujin didn't go to the school but had to return to A City. He caught a ride conveniently. As the bus entered A City's urban area, he got off at a rest stop. When he got off, the students inside the bus waved goodbye at him through the windows, especially a group of boys who seemed particularly excited, waving their hands wildly.

Jiang Yujin smiled, waved back, and then hailed a taxi.

After taking a refreshing shower and lying comfortably in bed at home, he received the payment for this assignment. Due to the appearance of a strange species within the city during his work, as compensation for any mental distress, he was paid a fee of 1.5 times the usual rate.

Even though he hadn't suffered any mental distress, being an honest citizen, Jiang Yujin accepted the money without guilt. Dreams inside his mind were all sweet.

*

Back in A City, it happened to be a Saturday. After getting off at the school, Zhang Xin called Chen Jing and Xiao Pang, and the three arranged to meet at the usual spot, downstairs from Chen Jing's place.

Chen Jing and Xiao Pang were busy with some formalities on the other side of the city when they returned to the building and coincidentally met Zhang Xin.

The barbershop downstairs was still open, bustling with people chatting. The owner was focused on cutting hair, eyes drooping in quiet concentration, the typical demeanor of a barber.

After glancing inside, the trio diverted their gaze. Chen Jing led the way upstairs, commenting, "He's out working."

He didn't specify who 'he' was, but the other two understood, following Chen Jing upstairs.

Using the keys, Chen Jing opened the door. The door made a faint sound as it swung open.

As the sound faded, another noise came from the bedroom, as if something had collided with a wall.

Xiao Pang and Zhang Xin became alert, while Chen Jing's eyes subtly shifted.

The bedroom door opened, and a person with disheveled hair walked out, wearing wrinkled pajamas, eyes barely open.

He looked familiar.

—After all, not long ago, they were all in a car together. Despite the change in clothing and appearance, he was still barely recognizable as the same person.

Zhang Xin's eyebrows lifted, momentarily unable to process the situation.

Squinting, Jiang Yujin tried to look towards Chen Jing's direction and raised his hand, "You're back."

Chen Jing remained composed and replied smoothly, "Yes."

Zhang Xin was utterly bewildered, rooted to the spot: "…?"

Chapter 20 – The Collector (1)

Jiang Yujin, who hadn't opened his eyes for half a day, finally did so. Although his vision was still blurry, he could at least make out vague figures. Noticing that more than one person had entered the room, he said, "You brought friends to play again today?"

Chen Jing responded and Xiao Pang politely greeted him. Zhang Xin, realizing, also followed with a greeting.

As the unfamiliar voice became gradually clearer, Jiang Yujin slowly focused his eyes and looked up, immediately catching sight of Zhang Xin's oddly perplexed expression. He waved his hand, "Coincidence."

Surprised, he said, "So, you're Chen Jing's friend."

"…"

To tell the truth, even Zhang Xin hadn't realized that the person mentioned in the car earlier was Chen Jing.

No wonder the other person had mentioned frequently returning with injuries.

The situation was hard to explain for a moment. Noticing the curious gazes from the other two, she said, "It's a long story."

Chen Jing and Xiao Pang diverted their gazes.

Jiang Yujin sat on the sofa in his pajamas and started watching TV while the three entered the room.

Zhang Xin struggled to explain the twists and turns of the educational trip.

Chen Jing listened silently, falling into a thoughtful silence.

Upon hearing about this matter, surprisingly, his immediate reaction wasn't disbelief; he even found it reasonable.

Xiao Pang, on the side, listened eagerly. After the topic concluded, he mentioned the gains from their outing today:

"We asked around. The invitation letter doesn't necessarily have to be used by the person it's addressed to. As long as we inform the organizers, someone else can go instead."

Meaning, they didn't have to acquire the invitation letter themselves. They just needed to find someone who had it and negotiate an exchange.

Zhang Xin asked, "Did you find someone with the invitation letter?"

Xiao Pang nodded, "We found two people willing to negotiate."

At this point, he paused mysteriously, glanced at Chen Jing, then continued, "But later, after careful consideration, we ruled out one of them. So, currently, there's only one person willing to hand over the invitation letter."

Zhang Xin curiously asked, "Why was one ruled out?"

Chen Jing fell into complete silence, and Xiao Pang seemed to struggle to organize his words for a while before saying, "That person is the son of a big shot. His condition was for Chen Ji—for us to help him pursue someone, and once caught, he'd transfer the invitation letter to us."

Zhang Xin said, "That condition doesn't sound too bad."

Pursuing someone might be challenging, but it was far better than demanding an exorbitant transfer fee or asking for bizarre tasks.

Xiao Pang averted his gaze, didn't dare to look at Chen Jing again, and said, "The thing is, he wants to pursue someone… it's a bit inappropriate, you know."

Zhang Xin wasn't quite sure and asked why it was inappropriate.

Xiao Pang closed his eyes, "That person you saw when you entered the house, that big shot's son wants to pursue him."

He spoke in circles, and it took Zhang Xin a long time to grasp the implication.

Her initially calm eyes gradually widened. She pointed toward the door of the room, with an indescribably strange expression, and asked, "Him?"

She was referring to the person currently outside, sitting on the couch watching the kind of countryside romance movies that middle-aged people loved.

Xiao Pang nodded with a serious expression.

The convoluted turn of events was as staggering as Zhang Xin's experiences in the past few days. It was hard for her to believe that the person riding the electric scooter on the road was the conglomerate son's target. It was equally difficult to fathom that this same person openly produced the invitation letter. What was even more shocking was the request for Chen Jing's help in pursuing the person who was, in reality, the adoptive father of Chen Jing.

"…"

Zhang Xin finally understood why they found it inappropriate and why Chen Jing had remained silent throughout the discussion.

The room fell into a terrifying silence, only interrupted by the melancholic background music coming from the TV outside.

Zhang Xin asked, "Alright, what's the condition of the next person?"

Xiao Pang replied, "The second person wants a specific type of alcohol. It's from a small brewery that ceased production over a decade ago, so this kind of alcohol is no longer available."

The alcohol wasn't expensive, but the challenge lay in its rarity.

Zhang Xin contemplated silently.

That seemed quite difficult to acquire.

After a prolonged silence, Chen Jing finally spoke, "There's a wine shop nearby whose owner enjoys collecting alcohol. Once we sort out our current tasks, we can ask him if he has this particular kind of alcohol. If not, we'll figure out another way."

The three discussed in the room, and when they left again, the person lying on the couch had started to doze off, blinking sleepily.

It was hard to imagine someone wanting to pursue this particular individual.

Without disturbing him and perhaps due to the uncertainty of how to confront him after hearing today's events, Xiao Pang and Zhang Xin left quietly.

After watching the two leave, Chen Jing closed the door. Before the eyes of the person lying on the couch completely shut, he asked, "What do you want for dinner tonight?"

Jiang Yujin turned over to get more comfortable, casually saying, "I'm going out to see friends tonight. You can eat on your own."

He always said that whenever he went out to drink. Chen Jing didn't say much, just cautioned, "Drink less."

The fact that he would be going out to drink tonight was exposed, but Jiang Yujin showed no sign of embarrassment or response; he just slept peacefully.

As the sky gradually darkened, the last rays of light disappeared from the city skyscrapers.

Jiang Yujin woke up when it was nearing evening, the living room dimly lit, and the high schooler was nowhere to be found.

Sitting up and straightening his wrinkled pajamas, he groped on the table until he finally found his phone and checked the time.

It was almost time to go for drinks.

He changed into fresh clothes in his room, grabbed his phone, and happily headed out.

There was a nearby pub that opened at night, frequented by many in the area. Business was as usual tonight.

He was a regular visitor, and the owner recognized him. When the owner saw him, he greeted Jiang Yujin and even cracked a smile, making his beard move along with his lips.

Finding a casual spot near the owner, Jiang Yujin said, "Same old, boss."

The owner turned to pour a drink as Jiang Yujin idly looked around.

Today, the shop was crowded, and the TV in one corner was still replaying the morning news, the sounds blending together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Remembering that he had missed several days of the morning news due to work, Jiang Yujin immediately fixed his gaze on the television.

However, today's morning news didn't seem to have any interesting stories. It continued discussing the progress of cleaning the river after the appearance of strange species in E City, maintaining a serious and solemn tone.

Just as he shifted his attention away, someone sat down beside him. Their voice was feeble, tinged with the exhaustion of a corporate worker, saying, "Boss, a large draft beer, as big as the tragedies in my life."

The owner responded, "…Alright."

It was a rather familiar voice. Jiang Yujin turned his head and saw his long-unseen online friend, Xu Gao, dressed in work attire. They hadn't met in person but interacted online daily, making Jiang Yujin naturally categorize him as an online friend.

It was surprising to encounter an acquaintance here, and Xu Gao seemed equally astonished. A faint smile appeared on his weary face, worn out by work. "What a coincidence."

Jiang Yujin asked warmly, "What's wrong?"

His tone was caring, his gaze sincere, but his face was filled with an interest in the gossip.

Fortunately, Xu Gao didn't notice Jiang Yujin's expression of interest in the story. Sadly, he said, "I need to rest my hand for a while, not due to encounters with strange species, but because of pending work. The office assigned me a new task, and it's just overwhelming."

He lamented by tapping the table, "It's impossible to finish, utterly impossible!"

Previously, after a meeting at the office concluded that a person from the Game was near E City, and since A City was nearby, Xu Gao "luckily" obtained a task to locate a player named Yuan Sanshui. All the information he had was the person was male, named Yuan Sanshui, and nothing else. After days of running around, finally, under his collapsed look, the higher-ups finally relented, granting him a single evening off.

The owner listened as Xu Gao poured his heart out, showing sympathy and consoling the young man overwhelmed by work.

Jiang Yujin offered his support while taking a couple of sips of his drink.

Streetlights flickered on, the number of pedestrians on the streets fluctuated, and the sky gradually darkened, leaving only the city lights.

As the other customers gradually left, bathed in the warm yellow light, Jiang Yujin, propped up on his elbows, leaned his face on the table, slouching. He held his glass and nudged Xu Gao's face, saying slowly, "Cheers."

Xu Gao slumped over the table, unable to get up, slowly extending his empty glass, "Chee… rs."

The owner, wiping glasses nearby, glanced at them and asked, "More drinks?"

Jiang Yujin raised his hand like a primary school student, "Yes!"

Though he was starting to slouch and squint, he answered rather quickly.

The owner nodded, "I have discontinued liquor; I'll fetch it for you to taste."

Jiang Yujin nodded and thanked him politely. Xu Gao, on the other hand, remained motionless, so Jiang Yujin pulled his head slightly, prompting him to show gratitude.

While the owner went away, Xu Gao struggled to sit up, running his hand through Jiang Yujin's hair, and asked, "Your hair… it's black and thick?"

"My hair's black?" Jiang Yujin waved his hand, "My hair isn't black…"

The door of the pub, which had originally been marked as closed, opened and made a soft sound, putting an end to this sensitive topic for the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged owner, already half-bald, reappeared with the liquor. Noticing the door open with no one outside, he closed it while holding the bottle.

As the door shut, all the lights in the pub instantly turned off, plunging the space into complete darkness.

In the darkness, the sound of the bottle hitting the ground echoed, followed by a… a snoring sound.

Some kind soul, unknown to them, helped switch off the lights. Xu Gao, who was resting on the table, fell asleep within seconds, slipping into a baby-like slumber.

It was evident this person was truly exhausted.

After contemplating for two seconds, Jiang Yujin decided to close his eyes as well.

After all, the darkness was indeed conducive to sleep.

The pub fell into an eerie silence until the owner's voice rang out, "I fell to the ground, come and help me up!"

Xu Gao, startled from the sound, jolted upright, half-awake from the alcohol. Realizing he was a public servant, he clumsily stood up, attempting to find the owner in the darkness.

Failing to find the owner, just as the closed door unexpectedly swung open again, a dark figure dashed out at incredible speed. Its silhouette was unmistakably non-human. The dim light outside illuminated spattered bloodstains meandering towards the street, and next to Xu Gao stood a yawning citizen surnamed Jiang, suddenly appearing beside him.

"What's that thing?" Xu Gao frowned. "Is it injured?"

"Probably hurt in the morning," Jiang Yujin replied, stifling a yawn, eyelids drooping, utterly exhausted and innocent-looking.