Chapter 70

Chapter 70

"You may call me Boli, or Joan, either is fine," said Boli.Joan. His choice of words was polite, and his tone gentle, embodying the essence of the finest elders in human civilization.

An Zhe introduced himself.

"You are quite young, coming from the Northern Base?" Boli Joan inquired.

An Zhe nodded.

"How did you come to be as you are now?"

Boli Joan escorted An Zhe into the White Mansion, inquiring as they leisurely strolled along.

The floor was sleek, and Tang Lan stepped forward, extending his arm to support him. However, the man waved it off.

"I..." A shimmer disturbed his field of vision, and An Zhe slowly turned his gaze around.

Within the White Tower stood an expansive hall, spanning three stories. Unlike conventional structures where each floor is separated, this tower was interconnected. Gazing upward from the hall, one could see a spiraling staircase winding its way upwards, and through the semi-transparent dome above, daylight filtered in. At that moment, on the second and third floor railings, creatures began to gather silently, observing him with curiosity from above.

There were roughly forty creatures in total, most of them bearing human-like attributes, or at least humanoid — a third of them appeared identical to humans, a third had additional features reminiscent of other organisms. For instance, a gentleman on the second level was covered in ashen-gray fur, while a person on the third floor had hair that resembled coiling, delicate vines, subtly writhing. The remaining third were outright monstrous or bizarrely shaped, such as a blob of decaying flesh hanging from the railing on the second floor.

"They won't harm you," Boli Joan assured. "Should any one of them lose their will and succumb to madness, the others will restrain them."

Indeed, as he had said, An Zhe met the gazes of those deformed humans. Their eyes weren't the cold ones of beasts; he could comprehend the emotions behind them—curiosity, perhaps, or appraisal—but there was no malice in them.

"We're all Infected, or rather, Aberrants, yet fortunate enough to retain a portion of our own will. Mr. Boli brought us together," Tang Lan said, patting his shoulder. "We strive to control ourselves from turning on one another and unite against the monsters outside. There's no Tribunal here, so you can rest assured and make this place your home."

Boli Joan cleared his throat lightly, then he said, "There are no hierarchies among the Institute's members; we look after one another, with the strong protecting the weak. Welcome to this family."

An Zhe slowly withdrew his gaze.

"Thank you," he murmured softly.

Tang Lan inquired about how he had become an Other.

After a moment of hesitation, An Zhe replied, "I went out with a mercenary group of a friend's..."

This was where Others lived together, he knew. Yet, he was still different from the people here; they were humans infected by monsters, while he himself was a mushroom, and he had to conceal his true identity. Thus, he recounted An Zhe's life story – venturing into the wilderness, getting injured, and then...

"Before I lost consciousness, there was a white mushroom beside me. When I woke up, I found myself capable of turning into one." Drawing upon Tang Lan's narrative, he spun such a fabrication.

"Mushroom-induced infection..." Boli Joan knitted her brows slightly, then remarked, "This is the first case I've encountered where an animal would willingly touch a mushroom."

An Zhe replied, "I'm not sure either."

Indeed, he didn't. Mushrooms in the Abyss were as perilous as the creatures there, either filled with deadly toxins or shrouded in hallucinogenic mists that drove beasts into frenzies. It was a miracle that a weak and harmless mushroom like him had come into existence within a forest of poisonous fungi – and that he had even developed an independent consciousness of his own.

Boli replied, "Each member of the research institute has undergone unique mutations. While the research might yield no results, I would still appreciate it if you could share more information or allow me to examine your tissues. I assure you, I won't conduct any experiments that might harm you."

An Zhe agreed, there was nothing he wouldn't consent to.

Boli Joan proceeded to ask him more questions, not delving deeper into the specifics of his transformation process. Instead, she inquired about his life in the wilderness, whether he had endured hardships, if there were any animals that frightened him, and if his altered genetics had given rise to new habits. She seemed to be showing a genuine concern for him, much like an elder would. However, after An Zhe had come to terms with his non-human identity, he retained a fear of human researchers. He dared not grow too familiar with Boli; he answered her questions truthfully but cautiously.

He had also gained a preliminary understanding of the research facility's situation. The first floor was occupied by laboratories and equipment rooms, while the second floor was home to human-animal hybrids. The third floor was inhabited by those with plant-like attributes. Everyone had their roles; some assisted Mr. Boli in recording experimental data, others maintained the equipment, some cultivated potatoes on the land behind the facility, and still others were responsible for hunting trips – these individuals, infected by fiercely aggressive monsters, possessed immense strength, like Tang Lan. When not hunting, they would place markers throughout the area. No creature other than humans could decipher these markers, which pointed the way back home for the stray mutated beings. The placement of these markers was not limited to the Abyss alone.

Tang Lan revealed that this place was connected to the Fusion Sect, but the people here weren't intentional products of fusion. Rather, they were victims attacked in the wilderness who, by some miraculous stroke of luck, retained their human consciousness. Guided by markers, they found their way to the research facility – the Doctor said it was a one-in-a-million chance.

The arrival of a new member was a cause for celebration, and the research institute had prepared a special welcoming feast for An Zhe - a main course of potato and cured meat soup, cooked by a diminutive male tree variant.

"Do you like potato soup?" The man ladled some into a bowl and passed it to An Zhe. His voice was slightly raspy, like the rough friction of tree bark.

An Zhe reached out to cradle the steaming bowl in his hands. He blew on it, and a warm mist veiled his face.

"I do," he said. "Thank you."

"Then I'll make this again tomorrow." The man looked at him. "How old are you?"

"I'm nineteen," An Zhe replied.

"In that case, you should call me uncle. My son is about your age. He lives in Sector Seven. Where do you live?"

"In Sector Six," An Zhe answered.

"I haven't seen him in five years. His name is Bai Ye. Do you know him?"

An Zhe shook his head gently.

"I hope he's doing well," the man said, and their conversation came to an end.

At mealtime, the researchers gathered in a circle, with no distinction of hierarchy among their seats. Boli Joan sat amidst them, enjoying a warm familiarity from everyone present.

— They were equally fond of An Zhe. Within the duration of a meal, at least ten people initiated conversations with him. Among them were mercenaries from the outer city and soldiers from the base. They were curious about his mutation process, inquired about recent developments at the base, or asked if he had come across any of their old relatives or friends. An Zhe didn't reveal the truth about the outer city being abandoned. He simply replied with "I haven't seen them" or "I don't know them." There was a sense of wistfulness in him. Such vague responses, it seemed, provided more comfort to human hearts than a direct answer about their loved ones' disappearance.

After the meal, Tang Lan led An Zhe to an empty room.

A young man, adorned with feathers, brought a quilt into the room.

"It was aired out just yesterday," he offered, assisting with the bed-making. "It gets chilly at night. Don't forget to close the window."

"Thank you," An Zhe said. Just like the uncle who had served him food today, this young boy's kindness also left him grateful yet somewhat at a loss.

After making the bed, the boy took out a bright red fruit from his clothes and smiled. "Here, have it."

Then, he pulled out a wrapped piece of jerky. "This is a gift from everyone."

An Zhe accepted it. The jerky was quite heavy. He didn't know what the living standards were like in the research institute, but in this era, no matter where one went, such a large quantity of jerky was a precious commodity.

"Thank you all," he said. "There's too much. I won't be able to finish it."

"Take your time," Tang Lan seemed to smile from behind him, reaching out to adjust the collar of his shirt.

"The new arrivals, we always give them gifts. When I found this place a year ago, everyone was very kind to me," the young boy said. "Life as an Other in the wilderness is too hard. You have to hide from monsters and find your own food. You remember you're human, miss home, but dare not return to the base. But it's great here at the research facility."

As he spoke, he gave An Zhe a warm smile.

An Zhe smiled back.

There was no breeze in the room, only a gentle warmth, with the fluorescent lights on the ceiling casting a translucent glow. Holding the jerky, An Zhe recalled his month-long trek through the dense forest and swamps of the Abyss; it felt like a dream.

"Don't cry," the boy said. "Now you'll have a home."

His tone was so certain and comforting, as if he had an unshakable trust in this research facility.

—This was something An Zhe had never encountered at the human base.

He asked, "Has it always been like this here?"

"Ahh?" The boy was momentarily taken aback before he realized what An Zhe meant, and he chuckled. "You'll get used to it soon."

No sooner had he spoken than he abruptly fell silent.

—A piercing scream echoed suddenly down the corridor.