Hand in Hand

"What's going on?"

It was Chen Jing. She sounded worried.

Under normal circumstances, the quality of sound via the earpiece was supreme. At this moment, however, it wasn't so clear.

Under the red moon, almost all the fish were screaming and struggling. Their mouths were opening and closing dramatically, and their fins were slapping the ground frenziedly. It was total madness. Their voices had combined into a frightening force, hammering on Lu Xin's ears and piercing into his brain like waves of needles.

The other three members of the investigation team gripped tightly onto their guns in fear. They kept on turning and looking around them, unable to respond to Chen Jing.

"The source of corruption…"

Lu Xin only managed to say those words in his haste.

"Quick…"

Chen Jing said at once as if she was hurriedly giving another order.

"Splash…"

At this very moment, a scarlet wave surged toward Lu Xin and the investigation team.

As if the wave had gained consciousness from the red moonlight, it swept up the screaming fish and stormed toward Lu Xin and the rest in the blink of an eye. At the same instant, all the fish exploded under the wave's force. Shreds of flesh and blood were spewed all over the place.

Lu Xin and the other three investigators had hardly any time to react before being hit by the force head-on. They were thrown backward by over five meters and landed in the mud. Covered in fish scales and mud, they looked miserable.

That wasn't the end yet. A few faint shadows flashed across the sky under the red moon.

In the next instant, the three investigators were suddenly hurled into the sky, struggling.

Everything in their hands, including the detectors, fell hard on the ground.

Chen Jing's hasty voice came from the earpiece on the muddy floor. "Fall back. Now…"

…

It was an eerie and frightening sight to see the three fully armed soldiers being suddenly lifted into the sky.

The soldiers stationed in the far distance, responsible for guarding the barriers, watched with their eyes wide open.

Lu Xin remained on the ground. But when he picked himself back up, he saw a shadow dashing toward him.

The shadow was dark red in color. It extended its arms as though it wanted to hug him.

It was too fast. Lu Xin could hardly dodge in time. At this crucial moment, a cold, tiny hand took hold of his hand. In the next second, Lu Xin made a strange, inconceivable move. With one hand on the ground, he twisted his waist and flipped his whole body to the left before moving backward by three meters. It was a narrow escape from the shadow's "hug".

It was his sister. She had come to him just in time to pull him aside.

At this moment, Lu Xin looked up. His pupils constricted in shock.

The other three members of the investigation team were floating midair with their bodies twisted stiffly and unnaturally. They were still struggling, but it was obvious that they could no longer control their bodies. If one looked closely, they would see a creepy, blurry red shadow right behind their backs, holding their arms and legs.

Behind those shadows were faint vines, extending toward the puddle of water in the center of the lake.

…

"It's a psyche impact…"

Information analyst Han Bing said over the radio. Her voice had changed under fear. "Based on the data from the detectors, the psyche power eruption is of a magnitude of at least 200. Super Level 1 Psyche Monster confirmed. Eruption of a psyche plague confirmed!

"Corruption level updated to medium, danger level temporarily changed to high…"

"…"

Chen Jing took a deep breath and shouted, "Lu Xin, fall back now!"

Han Bing's voice followed. "Be careful of your teammates…"

In the next instant, all of those on standby saw that the face of the three investigators in the air had turned purple. As though driven by an invisible force, they moved their arms and legs and slowly turned around. Then, in a twisted and anguished manner, they pulled out their guns.

They were still struggling, but the force controlling them was unbeatable. In a split second, the guns had begun to fire.

As the bullets rained down, the mustached team leader used all his strength to spit out one word from his teeth. "Move!"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Mud splattered up as the bullets hit the ground.

At that instant, Lu Xin had dashed to a muddy hill and crouched behind it.

Han Bing shouted, "Target suspected to be a Super Level 1 Psyche Monster. Three soldiers of the investigation team have been corrupted. I suggest we withdraw all survivors and deploy the patrol troops to eliminate the Psyche Monster with fire!"

"Agreed!"

Chen Jing's voice was cold. "Prepare a helicopter. I'm going there, now!"

Then, she ordered Lu Xin. "I order you to fall back immediately, Lu Xin. Everybody, fall back by 500 meters…"

"I can't!"

Lu Xin interrupted her in a low voice.

Chen Jing couldn't believe her ears. "What?"

Lu Xin said, "The three investigation soldiers have not been corrupted. They're just been controlled, that's all. Besides…"

He quickly turned to take a look. Stationed 1km away, the patrol troopers were petrified by the sight as the three men got carried into the sky and suddenly started shooting at their comrades. They were shocked and fearful.

Lu Xin lowered his voice. "They can't escape!"

Chen Jing suddenly thought of something. "You…"

"I'll take care of it!"

Lu Xin had made up his mind.

"It's dangerous…"

As Chen Jing spoke, Lu Xin turned to look at his left.

His sister was squatting beside him, smiling. Her smile was twisted and ugly, yet somehow Lu Xin saw heartfelt happiness in it.

He nodded and suddenly ran out from behind his hiding place.

At that moment, the three investigation soldiers were slowly drifting toward Lu Xin under the invisible force because it was impossible to shoot him when he was hiding behind the muddy hill. As they were trying to look for a suitable angle, to their surprise, Lu Xin suddenly jumped out and dashed toward them head-on.

Controlled by the force, all three of them lifted their guns and aimed at him at once.

They couldn't bear the sight and closed their eyes, but their fingers pulled the trigger nonetheless.

Bullets flew toward Lu Xin mercilessly.

But Lu Xin reached out to the side as he ran.

His sister was running beside him, reaching out as well.

Holding her small hand, Lu Xin's figure suddenly faded.

It was as if he had become a ghost.