Chapter 125 Research Center, Yu Xing is at a Loss

Chapter 125: Yu Xing, Adrift in the Research Center

Yu Xing couldn't answer. She longed to declare her innocence, to say the fault wasn't hers, but the world's.

Unable to respond, Yu Xing remained silent. She entered the clinic and settled onto the sole recliner.

“I need your help with something,” Yu Xing said, turning her head to Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui’s emotions were complex. While his business was never entirely legitimate, harboring such a high-profile fugitive made him undeniably nervous.

“What is it?” Jiang Hui asked. “Do you want me to help you escape Seven Cities?”

He gave a bitter laugh. “I don’t possess that kind of power.”

“No,” Yu Xing shook her head slightly. “Can you get me the layout of the Seven Cities Research Center?”

Jiang Hui: “...”

Jiang Hui stared at Yu Xing, unblinking, and Yu Xing returned his gaze with equal intensity. A long silence passed between them, devoid of any spark of understanding.

In a voice he didn't realize was trembling, Jiang Hui asked, “What… what do you intend to do?”

“You’re better off not knowing,” Yu Xing said sincerely. “The more you know, the greater your danger.”

Jiang Hui: “...”

Why did that sound so chilling?

He turned to look outside. His intense internal struggle made him feel warm, so he unbuttoned his white coat. Suddenly, Jiang Hui spun back, as if a decision had been made. “I can get what you need, but you must tell me your plan.”

Yu Xing looked at him, a troubled frown creasing her brow.

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Xing voiced her concerns.

“My not telling you is genuinely for your own good. Because if I tell you and you betray me, I will absolutely not let you go—I will kill you.” Yu Xing’s words were heartfelt. “Even if you don’t betray me, what if you’re mistaken for my accomplice?”

Observing Yu Xing’s earnest expression, Jiang Hui’s mouth twitched. “Rest assured, I won’t betray you. I’m simply too curious.”

“And I won’t get caught.” Here, Jiang Hui offered a confident smile. “You know what I do. If I lacked capability, I wouldn’t be in this line of work.”

With his assurance, Yu Xing had nothing more to add. She informed Jiang Hui that she needed to retrieve a crucial research sample from the center, hence her need for its layout.

Jiang Hui was half-convinced, half-skeptical. Yu Xing said, “Just wait a few days; you’ll definitely see news about me.”

Jiang Hui was shocked. She intended to make headlines?

But what Yu Xing sought wasn’t difficult to acquire. While the research center was a vital facility, obtaining a simple area layout, without needing details on specific personnel or sample distribution, was relatively easy—Jiang Hui already possessed one.

While Yu Xing examined the layout, Jiang Hui used his connections to ascertain what was truly happening in Seven Cities.

...

At the Divine Chosen Affairs Department in Seven Cities, Miao Nianzhen was leading a meeting.

During the meeting, she played a surveillance video.

“This was recently discovered by tracking Yu Xing’s spending account.” The video showed a dessert shop with only one customer—a person in a pink hoodie, their face obscured.

The scene shifted, from the dessert shop to the entrance of the Divine Chosen Affairs Department.

In the video, Yu Xing walked out unhurriedly, passing several administrative staff, yet no one noticed her. She simply walked away.

“When she left, she was wearing yellow clothes,” Miao Nianzhen pointed at Yu Xing in the dessert shop footage. “Not long after, she appeared at the dessert shop, already in different attire.”

Someone watching couldn’t help but comment, “She actually had the nerve to eat dessert? How audacious!”

“Audacious?” Miao Nianzhen gave a bitter smile. “After that, she vanished, never to be seen again—as if she evaporated from Seven Cities.”

“We’ve dispatched so many people, conducted a city-wide search, and every surveillance camera is being monitored, yet we still haven’t found a trace of her.” Miao Nianzhen asked, “Does anyone present have any ideas?”

The attendees exchanged glances. Though Seven Cities was blanketed in surveillance, if someone was determined to hide, they were indeed difficult to find.

Unless Yu Xing reappeared, using her account to buy things or book a hotel. But Yu Xing was clearly not so foolish; she only bought dessert initially and left no further spending records.

Bai Lujun, recently discharged from the hospital, said coldly, “There’s no need to search for her. She will undoubtedly go to the research center to save her grandmother. We simply need to set a trap there.”

“Deployments at the research center have already begun,” Miao Nianzhen said, her face etched with deep concern. “But with Seven Cities’ current strength… we may not be able to hold her.”

“How can that be?” someone immediately countered. “She’s merely a Level 2 Divine Blessed. Even without deploying Divine Chosen, regular soldiers with heavy weaponry should be enough to stop her.”

Miao Nianzhen sighed. Without further explanation, she displayed several photographs.

The first photo showed a person flying on a broomstick, wearing a Bull Warrior mask and a red trench coat. The figure was above a mountain, one hand raised as lightning struck.

“This person is surely known to all—Bull Warrior, the mysterious Thunder God’s Chosen, suspected Level 4 Divine Blessed. First appeared in Seven Cities, and recently seen beyond the Wall.”

As she spoke, her finger moved, and another photo appeared.

It was a long-distance shot, clearly taken beyond the Wall. Trees filled the landscape, and in the distance, a giant bat hovered near the treetops. Beside it was another figure flying on a broomstick.

Unlike Bull Warrior, this person was dressed even more strangely. Their clothing was peculiar, seemingly pieced together from metal plates, with an odd, elongated headpiece and a Monkey mask.

“Monkey Man, first sighted outside the Wall, a Fire God’s Chosen, suspected Level 6 Divine Blessed.” Miao Nianzhen then displayed several more photos.

One showed a strange, deep crater; another, a giant tree engulfed in flames.

“Her fire can incinerate anything. Not only did she effortlessly burn the giant bat pollutant, but the residual flames continued to burn, scorching the ground into a massive crater.” Miao Nianzhen pointed to another photo. “As you all know, the giant tree in Twenty-Five Cities was destroyed—burned down by this Monkey Man. Considering the immense difficulty of destroying that tree, we can only speculate on this Monkey Man’s true power.”

The meeting room fell into stunned silence. Each person was filled with profound shock.

A Level 6 Divine Blessed? How many existed in the entire Federation?

Were Level 6 Divine Blessed as common as cabbages? Why had an unknown Level 6 Divine Blessed suddenly appeared?

Miao Nianzhen observed their reactions for a moment before continuing, “Do you think I’m merely telling you about a few unknown high-level Divine Chosen? Open your eyes and prepare yourselves; don’t let what I say next drop your jaws.”

As she spoke, she displayed more photos. The first was of a person—a young, rather handsome officer in military uniform. The next showed another deep crater, but this one was indoors, not outside.

“This is Lieutenant Colonel Di Shensi, a Level 3 Thunder God’s Chosen. He was the one who brought back crucial intelligence from Twenty-Five Cities—the leader of that expedition. Yu Xing was also part of that team. They faced life and death together in Twenty-Five Cities for several days, forging a deep friendship.”

Miao Nianzhen’s finger moved, and a video began to play, showing Di Shensi in distress.

“During this investigation, he deliberately concealed many things. After a day and night of interrogation, his will finally broke, and he confessed everything he knew. The truth is shocking.” Miao Nianzhen said, “According to him, there exists a Divine Chosen organization unknown to us. Bull Warrior and Monkey Man are both members of this organization. It is highly secretive, accepting only female members—and Yu Xing has been identified and accepted as a full member. During Yu Xing’s recent mission beyond the Wall, Bull Warrior and Monkey Man were secretly protecting her and intervened multiple times.”

The news delivered in this meeting was more shocking than the last. The attendees were too stunned to utter a single word.

Yet, Miao Nianzhen continued to reveal more.

“Do you think that’s all?” She pointed to the photos behind her. “This photo was taken in the interrogation area on the lower floor of our department. You can still see this crater if you go down now.”

“According to Captain Bai Lujun of Team One, this is what happened. He led his team down to the interrogation area, which was already on fire. Flames had burned directly through the wall, allowing Yu Xing to escape into the adjacent interrogation room. They were standing in accumulated water when lightning from an unknown source stunned them.”

After finishing, Miao Nianzhen asked, “Does any of this sound familiar?”

“Flames that burn a hole… and lightning…” Su Wenmo said incredulously, “Did Bull Warrior and Monkey Man rescue Yu Xing?”

Bai Lujun immediately shook his head, refuting the guess. “No, if those two high-level Divine Chosen had come, they could have simply fought their way out with Yu Xing. There was no need to complicate things so much. Besides, I was monitoring the surveillance the entire time, and no one else entered the interrogation area. I didn’t see anyone else there except Yu Xing.”

Bai Qinghe couldn’t help but interrupt him. “Are you suggesting that the fire and lightning were Yu Xing’s doing? She is a Follower of the God of Misfortune; no one has ever been a Follower of two gods simultaneously.”

Recalling the situation, Bai Lujun’s expression twisted slightly. “There’s more. She also seemed to be wearing incredibly strong body armor; my knife couldn’t even penetrate her defense.”

Finally, Miao Nianzhen summarized, “Regardless of whether someone rescued Yu Xing, we must be prepared. Our opponents could include a Level 6 Fire God’s Chosen, at least a Level 4 Thunder God’s Chosen, and Yu Xing, a Level 2 Follower of the God of Misfortune.”

Hearing this, the meeting participants were numb. How could they fight this? All of them combined wouldn’t be enough to trouble a Level 6 Divine Blessed.

“I have already requested assistance from the Federal Government,” Miao Nianzhen finally delivered some good news. “The Federal Government has promised that at least one Level 6 Saint will arrive in Seven Cities by noon tomorrow.”

...

Yu Xing rested at the clinic for a while, preparing to leave at dawn.

Jiang Hui, for the first time, tried to dissuade her. “The city is swarming with people searching for you. You won’t get far; you’ll likely be discovered before even reaching District B. I advise you to stay here with me for a few more days until things calm down, then I’ll find a way to get you out of Seven Cities.”

Yu Xing looked at Jiang Hui and had to admit he was right. With so many people searching for her, she wouldn’t make it far on her own.

As for disguises, Yu Xing didn’t believe others would be so foolish as to be easily deceived. And cosmetic surgery would still raise concerns about genetic checks.

Yu Xing pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Jiang Hui.

Jiang Hui, feeling an ominous premonition from her gaze, took two steps back and eyed Yu Xing warily, asking, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Will you help me?” Yu Xing grasped his hand.

Jiang Hui tried to pull his hand away, saying, “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but my abilities are truly limited.”

“You can, you absolutely can,” Yu Xing tugged hard on his hand. “If only you are willing.”

Unable to shake her off, Jiang Hui sighed helplessly. “Alright, let’s talk properly, no touching. Tell me, how do you want me to help you? If it’s feasible, I’ll definitely help.”

Yu Xing instructed him to stand at the bathroom door, facing away from it.

Standing at the bathroom door, Jiang Hui was bewildered. “It’s normal for you to use the restroom, but why do I need to stand at the door? No one here will peek at you.”

Yu Xing wasn’t going to the restroom. She entered, immediately pulling out a necklace studded with emeralds from her storage bag.

The gems on the necklace glittered under the bathroom light. Yu Xing’s fingers traced over the cool stones. This was her plan: transform into a specter, possess Jiang Hui, and use his body to enter the research center.

Jiang Hui had just agreed, so she felt no moral burden.

Thinking this, Yu Xing carefully placed the necklace around her neck.

The moment the necklace clasped, she felt an intensely chilling aura, as if the blood in her veins were freezing.

“Ah…”

Yu Xing couldn’t help but tilt her head back, exhaling a breath.

Cold white mist billowed from her mouth, and a thin layer of frost formed on the surrounding walls and door.

Xiao Li had said that possessing an ordinary person as a specter wasn’t foolproof, because a specter would continuously emit a chilling aura wherever it went.

Yu Xing looked at herself in the mirror. Her body had become translucent. Her skin was deathly pale with a bluish tint, her lips black, and pale ghostly flames flickered in her eyes.

Wow, Specter Yu Xing looks so cool…

Jiang Hui, standing at the bathroom door, couldn’t help but shiver. He looked around strangely. “Why is it suddenly so cold?”

At this moment, Yu Xing floated behind Jiang Hui, staring at him intently.

She didn’t open the door to come out, because passing through walls was a specter’s ability. As Xiao Li had said, all she needed to do was enter Jiang Hui’s body to possess him.

Thinking this, Yu Xing moved towards Jiang Hui, extending her pale, skeletal hands to touch his back. But they passed directly through him. It was a strange sensation; Yu Xing felt a burning heat, like the temperature of blood, yet she wasn’t truly touching him.

“Hiss…” Jiang Hui shivered all over, his lips turning blue. “It’s too cold…”

Just as he was about to put on a jacket, his body suddenly stiffened, freezing in place. After a moment, his hands twitched, his neck twisted, and pale ghostly flames flickered in his eyes.

“What a strange feeling,” Jiang Hui said, looking at his hands, then revealing a lewd grin. “Heh heh, can I try peeing standing up now?”

Indeed, Yu Xing had successfully possessed him.

She didn’t dwell on the sensation of her first possession. Instead, she immediately left the clinic, heading for the research center in District B.

Pushing the door open, the sun shone brightly today. The moment she stepped out, Yu Xing was bathed in warm sunlight, and she felt utterly unwell, intensely uncomfortable. “Ah… I hate sunlight…”

Yu Xing scurried back into the clinic, found an umbrella, and then ventured out again, holding it open.

In this world, where technology was so advanced that people could choose any skin tone they desired, no one paid attention to sun protection, and certainly no one carried an umbrella on a sunny day.

So, when Yu Xing stepped off the bus, walking down the streets of District B with an open umbrella, she immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Soldiers patrolling the street also noticed her, waving her over to the roadside.

Yu Xing walked over, umbrella still open. “Is there something wrong?”

The soldier gave her a strange look and said, “Sir, please show me your identification.”

Yu Xing pulled Jiang Hui’s ID from her pocket and handed it over. The soldier glanced at it, then said, “We need a drop of your blood.”

“No problem,” Yu Xing readily extended her hand.

After checking the blood, the person before them was indeed the individual on the ID, with no discrepancies. The soldier returned the ID to Yu Xing and said, “You may go. Try to stay indoors as much as possible recently.”

“Understood,” Yu Xing replied compliantly. “I came to District B for a very important matter. Once I’m done, I’ll return and won’t be going out again for a while.”

With that, Yu Xing continued walking towards the research center, umbrella still open.

It was around nine in the morning, peak commuting time. Yu Xing thought that by blending in with the crowd of people arriving at the research center for work, she could possess someone and slip in naturally.

She stood at the entrance of the research center, observing for a while, and spotted a slightly chubby young man walking slowly towards the building.

She quickly waved to the chubby man. “Hey! Hey! Come here for a moment!”

The chubby man was clearly a worker whose body had arrived at the research center, but his mind was still elsewhere. Hearing the voice, he looked around, then pointed to himself, asking, “Me?”

“Yes, you!” Yu Xing nodded. “Come here.”

The chubby man hurried over, sincerely asking, “Sir, do you know me? Do you need something?”

Yu Xing looked at him and asked, “You work at the research center, right?”

“Yes,” the chubby man nodded blankly.

“What’s your name?” Yu Xing asked.

“My name is Pan Dada,” Pan Dada replied with a naive expression. “Sir, what exactly do you need from me?”

Yu Xing looked up, past Pan Dada, towards the research center behind him. She said, “Has the research center been very tense lately?”

Hearing this, Pan Dada’s expression suddenly changed. He stared at Yu Xing warily and demanded, “Why are you asking that? What exactly do you want from me?”

“Sigh,” Yu Xing sighed in disappointment, regretting that she hadn’t managed to glean any information. She grabbed Pan Dada’s hand and grinned. “Let me give you a taste of the magic world’s joy.”

Pan Dada’s eyes widened in shock, then a layer of frost formed on his skin. The frost quickly vanished, and Pan Dada’s eyes rolled. He took the umbrella from Jiang Hui’s hand, then turned and walked towards the research center.

After Pan Dada entered the research center, Jiang Hui, standing by the roadside, looked around in confusion. He pinched his thigh hard, wondering if he was dreaming.

“Isn’t this the research center? How did I get here?” Jiang Hui suddenly sneezed. “Achoo!”

“A cold? I haven’t had one in years!” Jiang Hui felt his body shiver with cold.

Yu Xing, holding the umbrella, walked to the entrance of the research center, where two soldiers stopped her.

“I’m here for work,” Yu Xing said, pulling Pan Dada’s ID from her pocket. “I’m an employee here.”

The two soldiers, unyielding, stated, “Starting today, everyone entering the research center must undergo genetic screening.”

“Oh?” Yu Xing shrugged. “Alright.”

The soldiers took a drop of her blood, and after genetic testing, confirmed that the person before them was indeed Pan Dada, a researcher at the center.

“You may enter,” the soldier said.

“Thank you,” Yu Xing smiled, closed the umbrella, and walked briskly into the research center.

As soon as she entered, she felt a tense atmosphere. Here, she saw not only staff in lab coats but also soldiers stationed every few steps—and even Divine Chosen.

Yu Xing quietly exhaled, thinking to herself that she was fortunate to have the Undead Necklace; otherwise, infiltrating this place would have been impossible.

Keeping her head down, she hurried inward, the layout of the research center still clear in her mind. Yu Xing guessed that a specimen as important as her grandmother would likely be in one of the most crucial research labs. Those labs were underground, so she needed to go there first.

Following the layout, Yu Xing headed towards the elevator.

Finally, she found the elevator. As she waited for it, someone stood beside her.

Yu Xing glanced over: a blonde young woman, dressed in the same attire as Pan Dada, likely another researcher here. So she remained silent, quietly waiting for the elevator.

Then the blonde young woman beside her spoke.

“I’ve thought about it. Although you’re very intelligent and have a good personality, I cannot accept you,” the blonde woman said. “You have obesity genes. Even after genetic screening, those deeply ingrained obesity genes couldn’t be eliminated. I don’t want my descendants to inherit such inferior genes, even if there’s only a one-in-a-thousand chance.”

“…” Yu Xing turned to look at the blonde woman, bewildered, shocked, and speechless. What did she mean? Was she talking to her?

Seeing that the other person remained silent for a long time, the blonde woman turned to meet Yu Xing’s gaze. She said, “Pan Dada, from now on, let’s just maintain a simple colleague relationship.”

Yu Xing: “…”

Before Yu Xing could sort through her jumbled thoughts, a hand suddenly rested on her left shoulder.

Turning her head to the left, Yu Xing saw a tall, lean, handsome man with blue hair and a casual demeanor. The man whistled at her, his tone light. “You said last night that Director Wang harassed you. Have you decided what to do about it today?”