“In the past few days, the sewer system has been explored by a C-level special investigation team. Starting from today, the B-level special investigation team will join the sewer system exploration operation, while the A-level special investigation team will be responsible for securing factory premises, government offices, and other important locations within the city. I will lead the Emergency Management Department for mobile support.”
“As for hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other special facilities, they will be specially protected by the two leaders stationed in Yandu and Linnan.”
Fu Xingchuan stood in the Shian operations meeting room and spoke with a booming voice.
Underneath the stage, members of the Emergency Management Department and all the core members of the special investigation teams stood crowded together.
On the screen, the complete information of the corpse centipede was playing, along with the approximate model simulated by the Identification Department. The hideous model was slowly rotating in the middle of the screen while its estimated ability values flickered beside it.
Fu Xingchuan: “The corpse centipede has lost its intimidation effect. In order to reduce the burden, Xiang Jiang will definitely deal with it as soon as possible.”
Upon hearing the familiar name, there was a commotion among the people below the stage.
Fu Xingchuan: “I am familiar with his spellcasting style. Considering that Xiang Jiang has already sided with the Other Side but is still active in this world, we have reasonable suspicion that he is highly likely cooperating with the scum from Sunken Society.”
At this point, he paused meaningfully.
As for the unfortunate handling of those cursed arms, Fu Xingchuan still had no clue. He knew well that Love’s intention was to fully invade the human world, but he couldn’t reveal it at this moment—only questions without solutions would cause panic.
As a vulnerable human, all he could do was try his best to set up the layout in advance and give Sunken Society another big blow.
“Everyone is well aware of Xiang Jiang’s abilities. Currently, his level will only be stronger, not weaker. We must not take it lightly.” Fu Xingchuan’s tone was so serious that it was frightening. “The situation across the country isn’t optimistic, and once Xiang Jiang takes action, Sunken Society will not let go of this opportunity to stir up trouble. What follows is likely to be a tough battle…”
“Those people from Yandu and Linnan are still here. It’s been months already that even eighteen legs could be healed.” Wang Zhou, the science post of Special Investigation Team Unit 7, muttered quietly below the stage.
Since the incident in Shian’s competition and the uncontrollable situation in the abandoned building of the hospital, Special Investigation Team Unit 7 had been stationed at the Municipal Hospital in Haigu, responsible for patrols and guard duty.
Special Investigation Team Unit 7 spent their days eating hospital meals, staying in the special ward of Shian, receiving regular salaries, and living a boring and monotonous life. As time went on, Wang Zhou had the illusion that all members of Unit 7 were seriously ill and nearing retirement.
Li Xiaozhen and Li Xiaoli from Unit 6, who were severely injured, had been discharged from the hospital, while Unit 7 was still stuck there. The rookies from Unit 9 were promoted to a B-level investigation team, but Unit 7 was still lingering in the hospital. If it weren’t for the recall for the meeting, Wang Zhou suspected they would have stayed in the hospital indefinitely.
But now things were different. The hospital was under the responsibility of the ministers from the Shian branch, and they could finally get rid of the smell of disinfectant.
Even if their next destination was the sewer, it was still better!
Wang Zhou rolled his eyes. Sure enough, his partner, Bao Linlin, was also eager, her eyes shining. “We will definitely be the first ones to find that unlucky centipede.”
“Yeah,” Xiao Zhao, the rear commander, agreed softly. “I have confidence in both of you.”
“I heard that the previous <Approaching Science> plan was proposed by Unit 9. Speaking of which, it seems that Unit 9 isn’t involved in the investigation this time?” Bao Linlin scrolled through the list on her tablet. “The core partners, Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo, are on a long-term business trip out of town. They only have two metaphysical posts left, plus a rear command.”
“They’ll probably be temporarily assigned to another team.” Wang Zhou also leaned out to take a look. “Without a science post, they definitely can’t go on missions independently.”
Half an hour later…
“Without a science post, we can’t go on missions independently.” Huang Jin put on a polite fake smile and reached out his hand to Wang Zhou. “According to the arrangement, me and Ge Tingting will temporarily be attached to Unit 7. Pardon our intrusion.”
Wang Zhou: “…”
Wang Zhou wiped the sweat from his forehead. “In terms of power distribution, it’s not ideal for B-level officers to be attached to B-level teams…”
“This was specially arranged by Fu Xingchuan.” Huang Jin’s forced smile twitched a bit. “He said he had a hunch that our two teams were destined to be together and that we would definitely be the first ones to find the corpse centipede.”
Unit 7: “…”
They couldn’t tell whether they were being praised or insulted.
After the meeting ended in the early morning, before the sun had risen, the members of the B-level investigation team packed their belongings and headed to their respective assigned locations.
Xiao Zhao brought his equipment to Unit 9’s office and sat next to Lu Xiaohe. Ge Tingting, Huang Jin, Wang Zhou, and Bao Linlin formed a small team and headed straight to the old city district.
“I heard that your whole team went on a business trip, and you two came back early.” On the way, Wang Zhou tried to find a topic. “It’s quite rare in this situation. I hope you both are fine.”
Principally, members of the special investigation team had to act together. Wang Zhou could only think of unexpected injuries that required some members to return early.
“Nothing serious,” Ge Tingting replied fluently with the help of the AI. “Our mission is technically complete. Zhong Ge and Yin Ge still need to stay behind for some investigation work.”
For example, investigating the huge white web structure on the Other Side, or investigating their own biological species. They had heard about phenomena A-A0 “God”, which Huang Jin and Ge Tingting naturally had some knowledge of. Considering that Dr. Cat also belonged to this category, Ge Tingting remained calm.
Even if a Primordial Elemental fell from the sky and triggered a Divine Descent, it wouldn’t be a big deal.
“True, Xiao Zhong should also publish a paper.” The science post, Mr. Wang, who understood their focus, shifted to other matters.
Beside Ge Tingting, Bao Linlin happily chimed in, “I have a feeling that our mission this time will be very smooth.”
“Science post.” She pointed at Wang Zhou.
“Corpse servant, spirit smith, ghost master.” She pointed at Ge Tingting, Huang Jin, and herself, respectively. “Our team has the most diverse personnel, and we have two rear commanders!”
Huang Jin forced a smile in response.
At this point, there was nothing that could give him confidence in the mortal world. Poor Unit 7 still had no idea what was hidden behind Xiang Jiang and Sunken Society.
The car quickly arrived at their destination—Kaining Road in the Donghe District.
The faint morning light illuminated the area as the four of them carried their exploration equipment and disembarked one by one.
This used to be the office area of the old city district. Now, the aging buildings had relocated their businesses, and the remaining structures had either been converted into cheap apartments or left abandoned.
The sunlight was fragmented by the rows of buildings, casting beams of light onto the ground. Breakfast stalls were just starting to set up, and steam rose from the side of old, run-down shops.
Ge Tingting glanced around and bought a bunch of hot steamed dumplings. She divided them into bags for everyone, even giving one to the driver.
“I don’t know how long we’ll be down there. The sewer has a strong smell, so it’s better to eat more in advance.” She made a sincere suggestion.
No one objected, and Wang Zhou went to buy a bag of tea eggs and fried dough sticks. The four of them found a spot near the apartment complex’s grand entrance, which had a beautiful front garden.
Ge Tingting took a bite of the steamed dumpling, releasing a puff of steam. She looked up and caught a glint in her eyes.
The apartment building displayed the gilded characters: “Fanghua Apartments”. The gold coating seemed to have been recently restored—its shiny color contrasting with the nearby old residential buildings.
It seemed familiar, like she had seen it in the files. Ge Tingting swallowed the dumpling but couldn’t remember.
The temperature was low, so the breakfast got cold quickly. The group finished their meal with haste and arrived at the entrance to the sewer behind the building.
“Fortunately, it’s winter. If it were summer during heavy rain, who knows what it would be like.” Wang Zhou put on his mining headlamp, double-checked his gas mask and oxygen generator.
On the other side, Bao Linlin proficiently burned four talismans, sending her fierce ghosts ahead.
Ge Tingting was empty-handed—what the sewer lacked the least was the remains of small animals. However, just in case, she summoned a few dead stray cats and dogs to wait quietly by her feet.
Huang Jin expressionlessly slung his backpack over his chest, filled with tranquility talismans and explosive talismans. What Unit 7 didn’t know was that in a small pocket of his backpack, there was a small round ball.
“Puff…” The ball murmured melancholically.
“You can go down now,” Lu Xiaohe said. “The water level nearby is fine, and no toxic gases have been detected.”
“Roger.”
The four of them cautiously climbed down the ladder, gradually leaving the morning light behind as they descended into the depths of darkness.
Approximately three kilometers underground from this location.
The corpse centipede scurried through the pipes, and Xiang Jiang sat steadily in the gaps between several bodies, with Xiang Hai holding his neck from behind, muttering like a maniac.
Xiang Jiang didn’t wear any equipment; he just sat quietly, listening attentively, resembling a corpse among the bodies.
A faint smile graced his face.
……
Although Qi Xin agreed to cooperate, Meng Huai still refused to let Ms. Qi Xin enter the human stronghold. Yin Ren expressed understanding. For the sake of secrecy, he specifically imagined his favorite hot pot restaurant.
Thus, Qi Xin, holding a Lonely, sat in the empty lobby of the hot pot restaurant. The decoration here was all in vibrant red, which complemented the red hues at the corners of her eyes.
“A sneak attack on Love?” Qi Xin played with the limbs of the Lonely with her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“This is about smothering danger in its cradle,” Yin Ren, sitting across from her, said. “Physically speaking.”
Beside Yin Ren, Zhong Chengshuo pushed his glasses up. “Qi Xin, I agree with your speculation. The body created by Love won’t be weak, and coupled with Yin Ren’s recent maturity, the gap in their abilities is still unknown. Currently, its body hasn’t fully developed, which is our best opportunity.”
His hands crossed on the table, attempting to create a serious atmosphere, but it was weakened by the festive music playing in the hot pot restaurant.
Zhong Chengshuo continued helplessly, “Yin Ren and I have verified that the central hemisphere of the white web absorbs the power of ‘Satisfaction’. That is Love’s ‘cradle’. If my speculation is correct, the other hemisphere should be in an interstitial space, near Love’s true body.”
Love was most likely in the interstitial space, most likely personally guarding its yet-to-be-developed body, awaiting the moment of becoming a “God”.
“I see.”
Qi Xin rubbed her chin.
“You, me, and Yin Ren—the three of us will deal with Love and her ‘cradle’. That would indeed give us the greatest chance of success.”
Zhong Chengshuo: “Yes, the three members of Shian will be rescuing the missing people from the outside. At that time, we can lend a hand and cut off Love’s emergency supplies directly.”
Qi Xin snorted, almost writing “I don’t care” on her face.
“We need to hurry.” Yin Ren ignored Qi Xin’s disdain and changed the topic. “Qi Xin, Love won’t trust you. Once she senses any sign of you betraying her, she will expedite the birth of her body.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Qi Xin placed the small Lonely on the ground. “Then what are you waiting for? Go greet those humans quickly. Let’s go as soon as possible.”
Yin Ren and Zhong Chengshuo exchanged glances.
Yin Ren wiped the smile off his face. “Ms. Qi, the situation is urgent. Chengshuo and I don’t have time to slowly explore our own abilities. However, there is one ability that we must learn first, no matter what.”
Qi Xin raised an eyebrow.
“We need to learn how to travel between the human world and the Other Side,” Yin Ren said. “Better safe than sorry.”
As an “elite miner”, Love had been wreaking havoc for so many years; its understanding of space was incomparable. When Love finally descended, it would seal off all gaps, trapping them on the Other Side.
“Do I look like Charon to you? I can only travel if there are gaps or passages,” Qi Xin sneered.
“Teach us that, and we’ll figure out the rest ourselves,” Yin Ren lowered his head. “We’re counting on you.”
“Fine.”
Qi Xin sighed.
“First, you need to find a naturally weak spot in space…”
……
As far as Yin Ren knew, there were four weak points in space in Haigu.
First, the passage to the Other Side in Shian was absolutely not viable. That was their escape route and couldn’t be messed up.
There used to be a gap in the back mountain of Haigu Secondary School, created jointly by Mr. Le and Love. It was considered enemy territory. There was also a gap in the abandoned building of the Municipal Hospital, but it had leaked too much Evil Force and had long been sealed off by Shian.
The only remaining location for a gap was near Fanghua Apartments—where Gao Mengyu’s cat had unfortunately stepped into a pitfall. It was completely natural and hadn’t undergone intense processing.
There was no better practice ground than that.
Half a day later, the three “gods”, Yin Ren, Zhong Chengshuo, and Meiqiu, stood in a row in a corner of the Other Side.
Meiqiu: “Why am I here too?”
“The nature of our bodies and abilities is quite different between us,” Zhong Chengshuo earnestly explained. “In theory, we all possess the potential of a Charon. But who will realize it first is still unknown.”
Meiqiu blinked its fourteen eyes and didn’t curse or grumble again. Converted into a new species with an extremely long lifespan, its recent mood was very good.
“Surely, I’ll succeed first.” Its tail stood straighter than ever.
In front of the three “gods” stood Qi Xin and Gao Mengyu’s cat.
Qiqi waved its fleshy limbs, swiftly gesturing around its body.
[I got stuck nearby.]
It shuddered, still feeling frightened, and pointed to a specific area.
[At that time, I was chasing after an “Annoyance” and suddenly bumped into an unfamiliar place. I struggled and squeezed through any openings I could find and ended up in the human world.]
[When my whole body entered the human world, I felt extremely uncomfortable. After Gao Mengyu moved me back, I found a gap in her living room and settled in there to recover… That place was indeed “soft”, so I could destroy it easily.]
Gao Mengyu’s cat explained with great effort.
[Good luck, everyone.]
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Returning to Fanghua Apartments (×
Poor kitty, stepping into thin air.
